North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 5

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022

AP PHOTOS

UNC coach Hubert Davis and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will meet for the third time this season when the Tar Heels and Blue Devils play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a Final Four matchup Saturday in New Orleans.

Unrivaled game: DukeCarolina meet in the Final Four NC Values Coalition poll shows Budd leading Senate primary Raleigh A poll of Republican primary voters commissioned by the NC Values Coalition gives three-term U.S. Rep. Ted Budd the edge over former Gov. Pat McCrory and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker in the May 17 Republican U.S. Senate primary.

The poll of 504 respondents gave Budd the edge with 32% of the vote, McCrory at 29% and Walker at 12%.

“We strongly encourage evangelical, Catholic, and Republican voters to vote for candidates who will support human life, allow marriage and families to flourish, and protect our religious liberty,” said executive director Tami Fitzgerald.

NSJ STAFF

US job openings, quitting at near record high in February Washington, D.C. Job openings hovered at a near-record level in February, little changed from the previous month, continuing a trend that Federal Reserve officials see as a driver of inflation.

There were 11.3 million available jobs last month, matching January’s figure and just below December’s record of 11.4 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

The number of Americans quitting their jobs was also historically high, at 4.4 million, up from 4.3 million in January. More than 4.5 million people quit in November, the most on records dating back two decades.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The best rivalry in sports meets on its biggest stage ever

By Shawn Krest North State Journal Sorry America, but you’re going to hear a little bit about this game. Again.

Carolina-Duke is always the most hyped series of any basketball season, as the two regular season showdowns at Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Dean Smith Center are preceded by a week of analysis, speculation, smack talk and a steady stream of classic games and highlights on

television. The hype ends with a game that almost always lives up to the attention.

Three weeks ago, we thought we saw the Carolina-Duke hype to end them all as the teams played in Coach K’s final home game, with UNC springing an improbable upset to ruin the party.

It turns out that circus was a mere appetizer for the smorgasbord of attention the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will attract over the next few days. After 257 Duke-Carolina games, the two teams will meet for the first time on basketball’s biggest stage — the Final Four.

Both programs are familiar with the Final Four. Coach K is

Meet the 24-year-old North Carolinian behind a national movement for a “race-blind America”

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Color Us United, an organization based out of Morrisville, North Carolina, is behind a national effort advocating for a “race-blind America.”

According to the group’s website, “We are the voice of those who oppose dividing America by race, religion, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. We resist those who divide Americans in the name of “racial equity” — in government, schools, corporations, journalism, or social media.”

At just 24 years old, Kenny Xu serves as the president and main spokesperson for Color Us United. In an interview with North State Journal, Xu noted the debates going on in the public discourse about what the appropriate response to race relations should be in this country and he says that the best response is “race blindness.”

“We should not use it [race] to hire. We should not use it to promote. We should not use it to admit either for or against anybody,” Xu said. “We should strive

returning for the 13th time, setting a record for most Final Fours by a college coach. North Carolina is headed back for its 21st trip, more than any other program in basketball history.

The teams have combined to cut down the nets at the Final Four 11 times, winning the title an average of one out of every eight years. Since 1991, Duke and UNC have combined to win nine of the 30 titles — or just about one every three years.

Transition game Many fans have dreaded this game — North Carolina and Duke meeting in the Big Dance

— out of fear of being the team to come out on the short side and suffer the ultimate loss in bragging rights.

In many ways, however, this is the perfect time for the two teams to meet with all the marbles at stake. It’s a period of unprecedented transition for the rivalry.

Duke is in the last season under its Hall of Fame coach, while Carolina is in its first since its own Hall of Fame coach retired.

The Tar Heels reached the Final Four under rookie head coach Hubert Davis, a former UNC player and longtime assistant to Roy Williams. The last first-year coach to reach the Final Four was another longtime UNC assistant who took over from a Hall of Famer.

In 1997, Bill Guthridge became head coach of the Tar Heels after 30 years as Dean Smith’s assistant. The Tar Heels made the See DUKE-CAROLINA, page A2

New Leandro judge sets criteria for responses ahead of NC Supreme Court deadline

to treat people as individuals.”

Xu is the author of the book An Inconvenient Minority, and the host of the podcast Inconvenient Minority, which does deep dive investigations into race, identity, and culture.

“The current narrative, unfortunately, is propagating a very divisive view that says that we need to use race in everything and furthermore that America is a racist country and they use the racist country to justify that,” said Xu. “And I think both of those tenants are seriously questionable and need to be taken down, which is why we [Color United] started.”

Xu is a graduate of Davidson College with a major in math and minor in philosophy. He currently resides in Raleigh. Before leading Color Us United, Xu worked at Young America’s Foundation before writing his book.

“I fell in love with NC while at Davidson and always knew it would be the place to make my home and build a national nonprofit based upon the ordinary goodness of Americans,” said Xu

RALEIGH — The newly appointed judge in the long-running Leandro case gave instructions to both parties in the case ahead of the April 20 informational deadline imposed by the N.C. Supreme Court in a March 18 order.

Special Superior Court Judge Michael Robinson was appointed to oversee the case on March 21 by Chief Justice Paul Newby. Robinson was first appointed to the seat in 2016 by former Gov. Pat McCrory and was re-appointed in 2021 by Gov. Roy Cooper.

The N.C. Supreme Court’s March 18 order instructed Robinson to examine the impact of the 2021 biennial budget on his predecessor retired Judge David Lee’s funding order. Lee’s order directed three state agencies go around the legislature to transfer $1.7 billion from the state’s coffers.

The N.C. Court of Appeals blocked Lee’s transfer order in December of 2021.

Robinson has instructed the defendants to provide his court with their assessment by April 4 of just how much of the $1.7 billion is impacted by the 2021 budget.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) filed to become intervenors in the case last December. The attorney rep-

See RACE, page A2

See DEADLINE, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 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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DUKE-CAROLINA from page A1 1998 Final Four, and Guthridge reached the Final Four twice in his three years as coach.

Davis, who played in the 1991 Final Four with Smith and then-assistant Guthridge, became choked up when asked about his rookie success connection to Coach Gut. “I just wish he was here,” Davis said. “And I wish that I could give him a hug, and I hope I’m making him proud.”

Emotions were also high for Davis after a tumultuous first season that saw the team lose two players from the roster, handed blowout losses in the nonconference season and then suffer an embarrassing loss to Pitt that almost popped UNC’s NCAA bubble. The Tar Heels were able to rally late, however, starting with that upset of Duke in what was supposed to be Mike Krzyzewski’s going-away party.

Riding into the sunset Ninety-six former Duke players packed Cameron Indoor Stadium for Coach K’s final game, only to stand by helplessly as the Blue Devils lost to their archrivals.

Before the postgame ceremony honoring him started, Krzyzewski took the microphone and apologized for the loss, saying, “It was unacceptable.”

That moment seems to have been transformational for a Duke team that had struggled with inconsistency, particularly on defense, late in the season.

Krzyzewski, who has always been a master motivator and able to connect with his players, has played the role of a proud grandfather — fitting since his grandson is on the team — during the NCAA run.

After his Cameron farewell attracted so much attention and may have put pressure on his players, he’s insisted that this is his team’s time and “I just want to be invited to the party.”

When Duke beat Michigan State to reach the Sweet 16, he got choked up at the postgame press conference and told his players, “I’m so proud to be your coach.”

It’s time One team, seeing its first success under an emotional new coach, the other making one final ride with its reflective Hall of Fame coach. The game will attract all the attention this week while two other storied programs with three national title banners each — Villanova and Kansas — will also play for a spot opposite the Duke-Carolina winner in the championship game. Will the team to emerge from the rivalry game to end them all have any emotion left, or will the Villanova-Kansas winner be waiting like a vulture to swoop in and take the title?

It’s time to find out.

THE WORD: A HAPPY HOME

Parents are the custodians of their children’s lives. If they would meet their responsibility and be able to look God and their children in the face at the judgment, they must make their homes as nearly “gardens of Eden” as possible.

The way to save your children from the temptations of the streets — is to make your home so bright, so sweet, so beautiful, so happy, so full of love, joy and prayer — that the streets will have no attractiveness for them — no power to win them away. “Do not be overcome by evil — but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 The place of the home-life among the influences which mold and shape character, is supreme in its importance.

Our children are given to us in tender infancy — to teach them and train them for holy, worthy, beautiful living.

It is not enough to have an opulent house to live in. It is not enough to have fine foods, and luxurious furniture, and expensive entertainments. Most of the world’s worthiest men and women, those who have blessed the world the most — were brought up in plain homes, without any luxury.

It is the tone of the home-life, that is important. We should make it pure, elevating, refining, inspiring. The books we bring in, the papers and magazines, the guests we have at our tables and admit to our firesides, the home conversation, the pictures we hang on our walls — all these are educational. As in everything, LOVE is the great master-secret of home happiness.

The religious influences are also vitally important. In that first ‘garden home’, the Lord came and went as a familiar friend. Christ must be our guest — if our home is to be a fit place either for our children or for ourselves. If there is no sincere prayer in it, it is not a true home at all — it is only a heathen lodging-place!

How can we make ‘new Edens’ of our homes? What are some of the secrets of home happiness? I might gather them all into one word and say — CHRIST. If we have Christ as our guest — our home will be happy. He must be welcomed into all our life. He must be in each heart. He

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Fallingwater is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright which was built in the Laurel Highlands in southwest Pennsylvania in 1939. The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

must sit at our tables and mingle with us in all our family interaction. Christ can bless our home, only through the lives of those who make the home circle.

Make your home so sweet, so heavenly, with love and prayer and song and holy living — that all through it, there shall be the fragrance of the heart of Christ.

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.

Parental rights bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis The Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

DeSantis and other Republicans have said the measure is reasonable and that parents, not teachers, should be broaching subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity with young children. The law went into effect just days after DeSantis signed a separate bill that potentially restricts what books elementary schools can keep in their libraries or use for instruction.

“We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination,” DeSantis said to applause before he signed the sexual orientation and gender identity measure during a ceremony at a preparatory school outside Tampa.

The law states: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

Parents would be able to sue districts over violations.

As the bill moved through the legislature, celebrities mobilized against it on social media, and criticized it at this year’s Academy Awards. Some Florida students staged walkouts and packed into committee rooms and statehouse halls to protest the measure, often with booming chants of “We say gay!”

The Walt Disney Company, a powerful player in Florida poli-

RACE from page A1 of his decision to live in the Tarheel state.

Xu says his organization also does an “activists response to Black Lives Matter,” but that his own involvement in the debates on race stemmed from what he saw as discrimination in university admissions policies.

“We all knew in high school, that - Harvard, Princeton, Yale - those colleges are only going to take a certain number of Asians from our school,” Xu explained.

We knew that we were going to be judged at a higher standard.

That was common knowledge in my Chinese American Community where I lived in New Jersey.”

“And so, for me, that sparked an awareness about what’s going on in our country,” said Xu. “Then I saw it spreading. I saw

PHOTO VIA AP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school Monday, March 28, 2022 in Shady Hills, Fla. tics, suspended its political donations in the state, and LGBTQ advocates who work for the company criticized CEO Bob Chapek for what they said was his slow response speaking out against the bill.

After DeSantis signed the measure, Disney released a statement saying, “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

The law’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Joe Harding, has said it would not bar spontaneous discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools but

would prevent districts from integrating the subjects into official curriculum.

“Nothing in the amendment was about outing a student. Rather than battle misinformation related to the amendment, I decided to focus on the primary bill that empowers parents to be engaged in their children’s lives,” he said in a statement.

DeSantis signed the bill after a news conference held at the Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, about 46 miles north of Tampa. At the ceremony, several young children accompanied DeSantis and other politicians near the podium, with some holding signs bearing the governor’s “Protect Children/Support Par-

ents” slogan. DeSantis gave the children the pens he used to sign the bill.

The White House, which has sparred with the DeSantis administration over a range of policies, has issued statements against the law. “My Administration will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family — in Florida and around the country,” Biden tweeted Monday.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently held a call with LGBTQ students in Florida and said in a statement issued Monday that his agency “will be monitoring this law upon implementation to evaluate whether it violates federal civil rights law.”

it spreading and gifted talented programs, DEI [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion] programs across the country and I decided this is something I have to start speaking out on.”

Both Harvard and UNC Chapel Hill have been the subjects of lawsuits by the group Students for Fair Admissions (SFA). Xu was the youngest board member of SFA, as well as the board of the Asian-American Coalition for Education.

In late January of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would be consolidating the cases of SFFA v. Harvard University and SFFA v. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Depending on the outcome, it could spell an end to race-based policies in the college admissions.

Also on Xu’s mind is the increasing presence of Critical

Race Theory and other controversial ideologies in K-12 classrooms and the subsequent pushback from parents.

“The reason why people are pushing back is because they’re looking at their kids and their kids are coming home from school and they don’t know reading, they don’t know math,” said Xu. “People in North Carolina are really amped up over this issue,” said Xu. “I mean, you can see what’s going on in Wake County in the public school system.

Now, they’re trying to get rid of the gifted and talented programs for the sake of ‘equity’.”

Xu, who said his group is looking into Wake County Public Schools more closely, questioned whose fault it really was if gifted and talented programs] doesn’t admit enough minority

students.

“You know, it’s not the Asians fault for studying so hard that they get admitted into gifted and talented programs,” Xu said.

“It’s the school system’s fault for failing to educate at the level of which they should be educating Black and Latino students.”

Xu shared that Color Us United’s current campaign is on “fighting the leaching of Critical Race ideology into corporate America.” The group’s target at the moment is American Express.

“They’ve been conducting these trainings where they’re saying capitalism is racist. I’m like, you’re a credit card company,” said Xu, adding that “We say, “you don’t deserve the name upon which your card is printed.” We’re going to call you the UnAmerican Express.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Lt Gov Robinson releases video following abortion revelation North State Journal staff RALEIGH — Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson released a video last Thursday that addressed recently unsurfaced Facebook comments about an abortion he paid for in 1989. The Facebook post’s contents were confirmed by Robinson.

A favorite among Republican grassroots activists, the news quickly spread. An ardent pro-life messenger, Robinson sought to explain the decision sitting with his wife, Yolanda, who did not speak in the video.

Robinson said that before they were married and had kids, they had an abortion.

“Over 33 years ago before we were married and before we had kids, we had an abortion. It was the hardest decision we ever made. And sadly, it was the wrong one,” Robinson says direct to the camera.

Robinson continued, saying that the decision has been with them ever since and that he was sharing their story because the issue transcends politics and he hoped that sharing their story would help others going through similar experiences.

“We have a savior who forgives us of our sins and offers us grace.

No one is perfect. And no one is too far gone to be saved,” he continued.

The North Carolina Democratic Party commented on the news, saying that Robinson and Republicans shouldn’t push so-called “anti-choice polices” that limit abortion access.

“Everyone needs access to abortion, even Mark Robinson,”

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UNC Asheville Professor placed on leave after amateur sting video surfaces North State Journal staff

PHOTO VIA AP

North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson listens during a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 in Raleigh. said NCDP spokeswoman Rachel Stein.

The North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition, however, noted in a statement that many of the fiercest advocates of pro-life policies hold that belief because of their personal experience.

“Through prayer, healing and forgiveness, many former abortion clinic workers, OBGYN doctors, mothers and fathers have transformed their abortion regret into a mission to diligently advocate for the unborn,” said the organization’s executive director, Jason Williams. “We are grateful for the unwavering commitment from Lt. Gov. Robinson to protect life, including the unborn.”

“Over 33 years ago before we were married and before we had kids, we had an abortion. It was the hardest decision we ever made. And sadly, it was the wrong one.”

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

RALEIGH — A University of North Carolina Asheville professor has been placed on leave pending an investigation after an amateur pedophile sting video surfaced on YouTube.

George Heard, an inorganic and computational chemistry professor at UNC Asheville, is apparently the man featured in the sting video published by “Dads Against Predators – South Carolina.”

The video claims that Heard showed up at a mall to with a 14-year-old boy which he had met and been texting with using the social media app, Grindr.

The video clip was posted late in the evening on Mar. 22 and has already been viewed over 65,000 times.

Chancellor Nancy Cable and Provost Garikai Campbell of UNC Asheville issued a statement to faculty, staff and students, which said in part that the school “has been made aware of an issue involving a faculty member that recently took place off campus. This issue is currently under investigation and the University has placed the faculty member on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”

UNC Asheville takes allegations of employee misconduct extremely seriously,” reads the statement to students, staff and faculty. “University personnel matters are confidential and we are unable to provide additional information at this time. We will provide updates when we have

NC trial judges again allow more felony offenders to vote

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina’s law that prohibits people convicted of felonies from registering to vote while they are still serving probation, parole or other supervision discriminates against black residents and is unconstitutional, a panel of state judges ruled on Monday.

The decision expands on a preliminary injunction issued last August by the majority on the same panel that heard evidence in a trial challenging a 1973 state law that delays the restoration of voting rights for some offenders who aren’t serving prison or jail time. It could affect tens of thousands of people previously convicted of felonies.

That injunction was blocked by the state Supreme Court in September. But any offender who registered during a roughly 10day period when that injunction was in place could remain on voting rolls, the justices ruled last year.

Now Monday’s order essentially makes the content of that previous injunction more permanent. Lawyers for the state and General Assembly leaders could appeal the decision and seek to delay its enforcement for now.

But if upheld, the ruling signed

by Superior Court Judges Lisa Bell and Keith Gregory could mean offenders still on probation or parole or being formally supervised for a state or felony

DEADLINE from page A1 Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) filed to become intervenors in the case last December. The attorney representing them, Attorney Matthew Tilley, indicated they believe $900 million out of the $1.7 billion was funded.

After the plaintiffs file their response on April 8, final briefs will be due to Robinson by April 11. A hearing has been scheduled for April 13 at 9 a.m. in Raleigh.

On March 25, Robinson issued a supplemental briefing order, much of which appeared to be centered on how much of the funding ordered by Robinson’s predecessor has already been fulfilled through state budgets.

Robinson’s order wants to know “The amount of funds remaining in the General Fund currently both in gross and net of appropriations in the 2021 Appropriations Act.” An attorney with the N.C. Department of Justice handling the case for the state gave an estimate that the state budget might fulfill “30-35% “of Lee’s funding order,

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Early voters wait to cast their ballots at the South Regional Library polling location in Durham, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. conviction could register to vote.

Last summer, that would have affected more than 56,000 people, according to evidence at trial.

The North Carolina Constitution forbids a person convicted of a felony from voting “unless that person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law.” The law laying out those restoration rules requires the “unconditional discharge of an inmate, of a pro-

bationer, or of a parolee.”

Gregory and Bell agreed that the law violates equal protection and free election clauses of the state constitution.

They cited evidence presented during the trial that the felony disenfranchisement laws stemmed from a Reconstruction-era effort to intentionally prevent Black residents from voting. The 1973 law eased restoration requirements.

Evidence showed that today

however lawmakers say as much as $900 million of the $1.7 billion has already been covered through budgets.

This supplemental briefing order also seems to underscore that Lee’s order directing three agencies other than the legislature to transfer the funds is not a valid avenue.

Robinson’s supplemental briefing order also seeks “The effect of the appropriations in the 2021 Appropriations Act on the ability of the Court to order the Legislature to transfer funds to the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Instruction, and the University of North Carolina System.”

The State Controller’s office had previously objected to Lee’s order.

Linda Combs, the head of the State Controller’s office, said her office has never been involved in the Leandro case and that Lee’s $1.7B order would be in violation of state law.

Lawyers representing the controller’s office argued a legislative appropriation was needed before they could authorize such a transfer.

Black residents are disproportionately denied the right vote due to the felony supervision limits, the ruling said.

“The legislature cannot purge through the mere passage of time an impermissibly racially discriminatory intent,” Bell and Gregory wrote. “The legislature’s decision in the 1970s to preserve (the law’s) denial of the franchise to people living in the community was itself independently motivated by racism.”

additional information to share.

Heard’s bio on the UNC Asheville website says he has been at the school since 1999, and that prior to that he worked at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. The bio also says he obtained his doctorate at the University of Tasmania.

“I am interested in the electronic structure of molecules and transition state geometries, and in applications of computational chemistry to questions of bonding and atmospheric reactions.

I solve and write crossword puzzles, am the head writer for Asheville-based comedy group The Feral Chihuahuas, and am a Councilor for the Western Carolinas local section of the American Chemical Society,” Heard’s bio reads.

Voter registrations records show Heard is a resident of Asheville and member of the Democratic Party.

Heard has also been a regional director for the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO), which is a nonprofit organization with the mission to “attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers in North Carolina.”

According to the NCSO website, the organization hosts annual science tournaments on higher education and public school campuses across the state.

North State Journal reached out to UNC Asheville but no new information was provided.

The law also prevents people otherwise living in their communities from participating in the electoral process, the judges wrote.

“Elections do not ascertain the will of the people when the denial of the franchise to such a large number of people has the clear potential to affect the outcome of numerous close elections,” Bell and Gregory wrote.

Judge John Dunlow, a panel member who declined to issue the preliminary injunction last August, also issued a dissenting opinion Monday.

Dunlow wrote that establishing a process by which convicted felons regain their voting rights until after they complete post-release probation or supervision is “a valid and legitimate governmental interest.”

The law “does not bear more heavily on one race than another” and “does not have the intent nor the effect of discriminating against African Americans,” Dunlow added.

Several civil rights groups and ex-offenders had filed a lawsuit in 2019. Some individual plaintiffs testified to their desire to vote. Probation can last several years.

“People who work, live and pay taxes in our communities should not have their voices & votes silenced due to a previous felony conviction,” Durham-based Forward Justice wrote in a tweet. A lawyer for the group helped represent the plaintiffs.

Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, who were listed among the lawsuit defendants, didn’t immediately have a comment on the ruling.

FILE PHOTO

The N.C Supreme Court building in Raleigh is shown in this file photo.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount

73 NC counties grew since 2020

Former President Donald Trump holding rally for Ted Budd

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Carolina Demography reported the latest statistics made available by the U.S. Census Bureau on its annual population estimates.

Their analysis of the data shows that overall, North Carolina grew by 112,000 people from April 1, 2020 through July 1, 2020.

The counties with the fastest-growth were concentrated on the coast and in the suburbs of the Triangle.

Brunswick and Currituck counties had an estimated population increase of 5.5%, followed by Johnston (4.9%), Camden and Franklin (4.6%), and Pender (4.3%).

Other counties with growth above the state’s rate of 1.1% include Cabarrus, Carteret, Chatham, Cherokee, Dare, Gaston, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, Moore, New Hanover, Union, and Yancey counties.

WEST

RALEIGH — Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Johnston County on Saturday, April 9 according to a statement from his Save America PAC confirming the announcement.

The rally will be held in Selma, the site of one of his rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign’s final weekend.

Then-Vice President Mike Pence also held an event at the venue. The rally comes five days before Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is scheduled to keynote the Johnston County Republican Party’s annual Reagan Day dinner.

The statement says Trump will deliver remarks in support of U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd and other endorsed candidates. Trump is coming off a pair of rallies in South Carolina and Georgia to rally support for his endorsed candidates ahead of their state’s spring primaries.

Jonathan Felts, a senior advisor for the Budd campaign, said, “NC Republicans had a great time when President Donald Trump was last in North Carolina and we are thrilled to welcome him back.

PIEDMONT

Crews battle wind-driven wildfires

Sex offender convicted of two felonies for visiting park

Swain County Wind-driven wildfires around Great Smoky Mountains National Park burned hundreds of acres and forced the evacuation of several homes. Officials closed several trails and campsites in the park. Crews from the National Park Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Bryson City Fire Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs worked to contain two separate fires — the 140-acre Stone Pile Fire and the 170-acre Cooper Creek Fire.

Both fires started from power lines knocked down by high winds and were estimated to be 10% contained as of late Saturday. 15 to 20 homes were evacuated and two abandoned trailers destroyed.

Macon County Archie Picklesimer, 52, of Highlands, was convicted last week of visiting a park in 2019 despite being a registered sex offender.

Picklesimer was convicted in Georgia in 2012 on two counts of child molestation and served six years in prison. Upon his release, he moved to the area and registered as a sex offender, which prohibits him from visiting areas where children congregate, including Macon County Recreation Park. His GPS tracking device recorded him visiting the park twice. The conviction violates his parole, meaning he must serve the remaining 14 years of his original sentence, in addition to time from the new convictions.

AP

WLOS

Teacher back in classroom after using racial slur McDowell County Jack Jensen is back in the classroom teaching again. The McDowell County High math teacher was recorded on video using a racial slur in front of a class in November and served a paid suspension. The school confirmed that the suspension ended in late February and Jensen will keep his job. The school has not released any information on the decision, citing privacy with personnel information.

WLOS

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Police: teen fatally shot in vehicle on Interstate 85

National Weather Service confirms tornado Alexander County The National Weather Service confirmed Friday that a tornado touched down North Carolina earlier this week as severe thunderstorms moved through the region.

A team conducted a storm survey for the area northwest of Taylorsville in Alexander County and confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds of up to 110 mph, according to a statement. It was 6 miles long and 150 yards wide, officials said. Wednesday’s storm brought down trees and damaged homes in the area on Wednesday, news outlets reported.

Wilkes County Heavy winds two weeks ago brought down the roof of an area gas station. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph caused a wind advisory in the area. Midmorning on Saturday, Wilkesboro firefighters responded to a call from the Valero station and found that the canopy over the gas pump island had collapsed. No one was injured, and there were no vehicles damaged. The pumps under the canopy were not occupied at the time. Firefighters shut off electricity to the pumps. The station closed and will reopen after the roof is repaired.

MY FOX 8

Woman leads police on chase with unbuckled child, drugs in car

Autopsy: Black man shot by offduty deputy had 4 wounds

Perquimans County Kentre’ Dillard was arrested and faces several felony charges after leading police on a chase. Dillard was found with crack cocaine and marijuana in his car. Police attempted to serve outstanding warrants on Dillard and Destiny Gordon, but Dillard drove off, hitting an officer as he fled. He drove a short distance then ran from the car, where police apprehended him. A small child was also found, unbuckled, in the car. Dillard faces 16 charges.

Cumberland County A Black pedestrian fatally shot by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy earlier this year was hit four times during the altercation. The autopsy released by the Chief Medical Examiner said 37-year-old Jason Walker had wounds to his head, chest, back and thigh in the January shooting in Fayetteville.

The report noted no alcohol or illegal drugs were in his system. Walker, who was on foot, jumped onto the hood of the vehicle driven by off-duty deputy, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeffrey Hash, who is white.

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William Peace University reconsiders name, slaveholder ties

Winds collapse gas station

Gaston County A teen was killed when someone fired into a vehicle on Interstate 85 during Tuesday’s evening rush hour. Gaston County police said the shooting happened around 5:40 p.m. on southbound I-85 near Bessemer City. The road was shut down for several hours. Uriah Diondreus McCree, 19, of Kings Mountain was found “suffering from multiple gunshot wounds,” and was taken to a local hospital where he died, county police said. It’s not clear what led up to the shooting, police said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Bessemer City Police.

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Wake County William Peace University is considering a name change amid scrutiny of its namesake’s history as a slaveholder. School president Brian Ralph said the school will hold a series of “listening sessions” with faculty, staff, students and alumni on whether to rename the school. Ralph’s remarks came as the university released findings from a task force that reviewed the school›s historical ties to slavery and white supremacy. Peace owned more than 50 slaves, according to data from an 1860 census. The school said Tuesday that its Board of Trustees voted to remove a statue of Peace on campus.

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Police: Man killed in crash while fleeing police Lee County A man was killed in a crash while fleeing officers. Sanford police said officers were called to the Fastee Mart on Lee Avenue around 12:30 a.m. Monday after a man drove through the front of the store and was stealing from inside the business. Officers found extensive damage to the store and the man, identified as Scott Reid, 56, of Raleigh, drove away, refusing to stop for officers.

Officers pursued Reid, who crashed headon into another car and died at the scene.

Two people from the other car were taken to hospitals with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening.

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Woman dies when car crashes, splits in two

Audit: Virus business relief program lacks monitoring

Chowan County Joy Marie Nixon, 43, of Chowan County, was killed last weekend when she was involved in a single-car collision. She was traveling at a “high rate of speed” on Rocky Hock Road when she lost control of her car and hit a tree. The impact split her car in two, with the front and back halves of the vehicle going in separate directions, about 11 feet apart. Police smelled alcohol at the scene but couldn’t confirm that it was a factor in the crash.

Edgecombe County A nonprofit foundation that received $83 million to lend to small businesses struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic did not create procedures to ensure the public money was used properly, state auditors said. The performance audit declared Golden LEAF failed to monitor the federal coronavirus relief funds the General Assembly sent to the foundation in spring 2020 for the COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program. More than 1,250 loans were initiated for up to $250,000 each.

Auditors said Golden LEAF did not perform procedures to ensure recipients qualified for the loan and limited its use to business needs.

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It’s always great to hear from a Chief Executive who knows how to win backto-back victories in our great state.”

Trump endorsed Budd at the NCGOP Convention held in Greenville last June.

Budd’s campaign also recently launched their first television advertising in the primary which highlights the Trump endorsement and the three-term congressman’s support for finishing the wall at the southern border.

“Protecting North Carolina jobs and families starts right here. When I’m in the Senate, I’ll vote to stop Joe Biden’s reckless border policies,” Budd says in the ad, which was partially filmed along the southern border.

Trump has also endorsed newcomer Bo Hines in the 13th Congressional District primary that also includes Johnston County businessman DeVan Barbour, attorney Kelly Daughtry, former Republican U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, and Wake County resident Chad Slotta.

Barbour recently won a straw poll of attendees at a Harnett County candidate forum.

The visit by the former president comes 19 days before early voting in the primary is scheduled to begin.

State Bar complaint filed against former Democratic judicial candidate

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A former judicial candidate who won a 2020 election for a Superior Court seat but was later disqualified is now facing a complaint against him filed with the North Carolina State Bar. The complaint filed against Democrat Timothy Gunther alleges his past campaign activities violate the rules of professional conduct.

The complaint asserts the 63-yearold Gunther “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s fitness as a lawyer in violation of Rule 8.4(c) and failed to comply with the applicable provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct in violation of Rule 8.2(b).”

Included in the complaint’s list of supporting claims is that Gunther also changed his address from the Cary address to the Fuquay-Varina address on other official documents that included a “concealed handgun permit and his vehicle registration.”

Gunther was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1992, the same year he obtained his law degree from Campbell University Law School.

The allegations in the complaint go back to the 2020 election cycle involving the Judicial District 10F race that

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had only two candidates, Gunther, who received over 56% of the vote and Republican candidate Beth Tanner, who received just under 44% of the vote.

Gunther’s victory, however, was short-lived. Not long after the election, the Wake County Board of Elections announced that Gunther had been disqualified to hold the office after admitting he had violated state law by lying about where he lived in his campaign filings.

The Fuquay Varina address Gunther listed on his filings put his residence inside the 10F District, however, he did not actually live there. The Fuquay Varina residence is that of his ex-wife and their children. Gunther had actually been living in Cary since 2006, putting him in District 10D. During the last weekend of February, Gunther was arrested on felony obstruction of justice and false filing charges related to his campaign filings, according to arrest records. Following his arrest, he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

On April 13, 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper filled the vacancy by appointing Damion McCullers to the 10F seat.

“Damion McCullers is an experienced attorney and thoughtful leader who will make an excellent District Court Judge. I appreciate his willingness to serve Wake County and North Carolina,” said Cooper in a press release.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The celebration of failure

Here’s to never [expletive] forgetting about tonight.

AMERICANS SHOULD CELEBRATE FAILURE more in America, not fear it. Failure means a person is at least trying to do something positive. Failure is the best way to learn how to succeed in the future.

In a world today full of participation trophies, a lowering of academic standards and universal acceptance of mediocrity, a clear recognition of the value of failure and mistakes is a much-needed commodity.

Tom Jensen talks nearby about his admiration for the Saint Peter’s baseball team, not for their winning ways like their basketball team this season but for their perseverance in the face of losing repeatedly.

The Fighting Baseball Peacocks offer us almost a biblical lesson in recognition of the vital role defeat plays in our free society.

America is perhaps the best country in the world to embrace failure.

Our bankruptcy laws are lenient compared to other countries and times past. No one goes to debtor’s prison anymore ― many times, a business continues under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code; reorganizes and refinances its operations and then comes out the other side fully operational again. We have insurance and a social safety net that helps cover us in time of need.

Our educational system has multiple redundant levels of education for anyone who wants to take advantage of it. Our public education system was designed to help develop an educated voting populace since leaders from Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Lincoln recognized that a participatory democratic republic could not survive very long without voters who understand the basic underpinnings of western civilization and freedom.

America is not doing anyone any favor by accepting mediocrity in education, vocational pursuits or personal behavior. With today’s technology, remote learning access and ability to tailor specific programs to each student, there is no reason to push students along to the next grade without making sure they are proficient at grade level and can perform basic functions of math and English.

Dean Smith had a rule for his Tar Heel teams when it came to learning from mistakes on the basketball court ― “Recognize it. Admit it. Learn from it. Forget it” ― and move on to the next play.

“Learn from it” is the operative phrase in Dean Smith’s axiom. If a

player never learned what he was doing wrong, he would wind up on the bench and never get to play in games.

Duke was pummeled in the first round of the 1983 ACC basketball tournament 109-66 by Ralph Sampson and the Virginia Cavaliers. John Feinstein reported in the Washington Post “early the next morning, sitting in a Denny’s at 3:00 am with his coaches, Krzyzewski heard Duke Sports Information Director Tom Mickle raise a glass of water and say, “Here’s to forgetting about tonight.”

Krzyzewski picked up his glass and said, “Here’s to never [expletive] forgetting about tonight.”

Both legendary coaches learned from their failures and mistakes.

Neither settled for being “mediocre” or “fair and equal” to the rest of the ACC or NCAA ― they demanded excellence, sacrifice and discipline from their players so they could bring home national titles, not participation trophies.

The greatest impediment to success is the fear of failure, not the actual failure itself. Many high-powered, high-achieving people shy away from a new venture simply because they don’t want to lose. I see it every day as I try to recruit great people to run for public office. Many have never lost at anything really in the game of life compared to many from displaced and difficult backgrounds and homes. The thought of running for public office to help correct many of the ills that face us without knowing for sure they are going to win is just too much for many of them.

Each of us can help by congratulating and consoling our friends, family and colleagues when they take a chance and fail at something.

There should not be a stigma attached to failing at anything.

There should be much more of a stigma attached to not trying. After all, one can’t fail if they don’t even try. That is the worst mistake most of us make.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Does Ketanji Brown Jackson really need a biologist to define what “woman” means?

A woman is someone who is born with lady parts and who can give birth.

I HAVE TO ADMIT that one thing I wasn’t expecting out of the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson last week was her inability — or unwillingness — to define what the word “woman” means.

The moment occurred during an exchange with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) who was pressing Judge Jackson — who is President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace the retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer — for her thoughts on various issues surrounding the transgenderism debate.

“Do you agree with [the late Supreme Court] Justice Ginsburg that there are physical differences between men and women that are enduring?” Blackburn inquired of Jackson.

The judge responded by saying that she was “not familiar with that particular quote or case, so it’s hard for me to comment.”

Blackburn continued this line of questioning.

“Do you interpret Justice Ginsburg’s meaning of ‘men’ and ‘women’ as ‘male’ and ‘female’?”

“Again, because I don’t know the case, I don’t know how I’d interpret it,” Jackson told her. “I’d need to read the whole thing.”

“Okay,” Blackburn answered. “Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?”

“Can I provide a definition? No. I can’t.”

“You can’t?” Blackburn responded.

“Not in this context,” Jackson claimed. “I’m not a biologist.”

One had to think from listening to Jackson’s answer that feminists from the early days who fought for the right to vote and for a seat at the table to be treated as equal to men would be rolling around in their graves.

I mean, here’s a woman who is in line to be the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court and who will no doubt be deciding cases involving women’s and transgender rights saying she couldn’t define what a woman was because she wasn’t a biologist.

Like many others, I was stunned at her answer. I mean biologists determined what a “woman” was a long, long time ago, so there is no need to consult one, though perhaps in light of her answer perhaps

Jackson should for further clarification.

In fact, we don’t even have to ask a biologist. We can just look to Merriam-Webster, which defines “female” as “of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to bear young or produce eggs.”

In other words, a woman is someone who is born with lady parts and who can give birth.

Deep down, Jackson undoubtedly knows this. Every woman who was born a woman who is currently walking the face of the earth knows this. But instead of giving a direct answer, Jackson chose the “woke” way out. In the process, her answer told us everything we need to know about her and whether or not she’s fit to serve on the Supreme Court.

She isn’t, quite frankly, for the simple fact of the matter that no one — man or woman — belongs on the Supreme Court who can’t answer the fundamental question of “what is a woman?”

This is not just because the definition is more than clear despite what “woke” progressives would like you to think, but also because of the decades upon decades of battles fought and won by First Wave feminists for women to be taken seriously and respected for their contributions to society, no matter what form those contributions took.

Hard-fought-for women’s rights as we know them will be a thing of the past if “woke” Democrats continue unfettered on the dangerous gender identity politics trajectory they’re on. The last thing women need is a woman on the highest court in our land who despite her liberal political background doesn’t intuitively understand that with every fiber of her being.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022 COLUMN CHARLES MATTHEWES

COLUMN | TOM JENSEN

The Fighting Peacocks EVERY YEAR an unknown school becomes America’s darling during March Madness. This year it has been the Peacocks of Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City who did it with their surprise run to the Elite 8, scoring upsets of Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue along the way before losing to the Tar Heels.

The Peacocks are good at basketball. They are not good at baseball. In fact, they are the worst college baseball team in the country. But in a way the Losing Peacocks on the diamond are more inspirational than the Winning Peacocks on the hardwood.

By the standards of the Peacocks, they had an incredible season a decade ago. They went 20-34. They followed that up with another solid season in 2013, 17-34. Then things started getting kind of rough. 2014, 11-41; 2015, 10-38; 2016, 10-42.

Then in 2017, things literally hit the bottom of the hill. 0-38.

They got outscored 427-111, meaning their average game was an 11-3 loss. And they lost their first 39 games in 2018 before finally breaking their 77- game losing streak on May 13th. Amazingly, they won another game the same week to finish up the season at 2-42. But they still got outscored 485-98 for the year, making their average game an 11-2 loss.

Things have improved only marginally since then. 2019 was 5-46; 2020 was 1-15; and 2021 was 4-24. So far this year, they’re 3-17 and on a 16-game losing streak after starting the season 3-1.

And yet for all that, in a time when more and more small northern schools ― it’s very hard for them to compete in a sport that starts its season in mid-February when the ground is still covered in snow ― just eliminate their tragic baseball programs, the Peacocks keep on going.

Earlier this month, I went to see the Peacocks take on the Citadel in Charleston, wondering if they could actually be the worst team in the country.

They were. They issued 15 walks. They threw four wild pitches.

On multiple instances, their players collided into each other due to a lack of communication when they were playing defense,

allowing Citadel batters to reach base. They threw a ball so far down the right field line on a bunt attempt with runners on 1st and 2nd that both runners came around to score. When they tried to prevent a Citadel runner from scoring on a wild pitch, the throw pelted the baserunner instead of the pitcher catching it to make the tag.

I’ve been to well over a thousand college baseball games in my life and have never even remotely seen such a bad team.

They may not be good at baseball, but I have an incredible amount of respect for the Saint Peter’s players and coaches.

They know they’re not going to go to the College World Series.

Realistically they know they’re probably not even going to win 10 games. They know their schedule will be riddled with scores like 24-1 and 22-0 and 19-6, all outcomes just from the last month.

But knowing that there will be lots of pain and very little glory, they keep going for the love of the game.

The Peacocks baseball players may not end up with a lot of trophies, but they’ll sure come out of their college experience with a lot of life lessons. When they inevitably encounter failure and adversity in their work and personal lives, they’ll be better equipped to handle that than most of their peers. Learning to keep on going and doing the best you can even when the task seems impossible is a lesson that will take you far in life, and the Peacocks are learning that in spades.

So even though few of us may have heard of the college a month ago, here’s to Saint Peter’s. To the basketball team, yes, who dazzled us with their run in the NCAA tournament.

But even more so to the baseball team, who remind us of the importance of keeping on going even when life deals us its inevitable punches. Their ability to get up and keep fighting is the true inspiration.

Tom Jensen is Director of PPP Polling in Raleigh and an avid UNC Tar Heel baseball fan

COLUMN | STATE REP. CHARLES MILLER

NC healthcare heroes need our help WE HAVE ALL HEARD of the term ‘essential workers,’ a phrase commonly used during the COVID-19 crisis when referring to healthcare professionals. For these healthcare heroes, the term essential is an understatement. Healthcare professionals across North Carolina played a critical role in slowing the spread, flattening the curve, reducing the death rates, and conserving the seemingly depleted supply of resources needed to save lives. Doctors, nurses, and medical staff nationwide fought on the frontlines to ensure the continuation of critical functions in the United States.

While many of us stayed in the safety of our own homes, sheltered from the virus, healthcare professionals faced unprecedented capacity demands, which created major challenges in delivering care and navigating their own fears surrounding the pandemic. The last thing these healthcare heroes should be worrying about is violence from their own patients and the families they’re serving.

The unprecedented national quarantine and the sudden, self-generated recession of the once-booming economy only further escalated the already-rising tensions being felt in every facet of life. The release of data and the military metaphor of healthcare workers “waging war on the front lines” against COVID-19 has become a reality as we see rising numbers in workplace violence.

Prior to the pandemic we saw alarming statistics for nonfatal work-place violence-related injuries and illnesses.

Since the pandemic, more than 82% of healthcare workers have reported workplace violence, 64% have reported verbal threats, and 33% reported verbal assault based on their sex and/or appearance.

As the Chief Deputy of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, I can personally attest to the rise in violence since the beginning of COVID-19 as well as an increase in mental

health issues, substance abuse, and domestic violence.

Earlier this year, New Hanover Regional Medical Center experienced a violent assault on two hospital employees. It’s time to consider the alarming data for verbal and physical assault and consider how many instances of healthcare violence have gone unreported.

If we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic it’s that there are still so many areas that we, as a society, desperately need to take a closer look at, in order to create a better life for all. The ill-effects of the virus have highlighted the growing need for new policy against healthcare violence.

What does that look like and how do we start? Perhaps the first step would be implementing workplace violence prevention standards for all employers to cultivate and execute — maybe strengthening our current General Statues by making this a higher class of felony to serve as a deterrent.

Regardless of how we address it, I feel that we can all collectively agree that it is beyond time for us to begin having the conversations of how we can best support those who have served tirelessly on the frontlines of this pandemic for nearly three-years now.

To our healthcare heroes: Throughout the pandemic you were recognized as essential workers, the backbone of our society, and praised for your fearless service during the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. You had our backs, now it’s time for us to have yours.

State Representative Charles Miller is a member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing House District 19, which includes Brunswick County and part of New Hanover County.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

No, school boards are not ‘banning books’ ACCUSATIONS OF LEFT-WING FREE-SPEECH AUTHORITARIANISM — whether through corporate restrictions, the state targeting “misinformation,” the shouting down of dissent in universities or the canceling of dissenting voices — are well-documented. Attempting to even the ledger, liberals have begun alleging that conservatives are engaging in “book bans” in public school districts.

The newest outrage on this front comes from a ProPublica investigation in which Superintendent Jeremy Glenn of Granbury Independent School District in North Texas is taped saying chilling things like: “I don’t want a kid picking up a book, whether it’s about homosexuality or heterosexuality, and reading about how to hook up sexually in our libraries.” (“Minutes later,” reports ProPublica, “after someone asked whether titles on racism were acceptable, Glenn said books on different cultures ‘are great.’”)

ProPublica repeatedly refers to the efforts of a volunteer committee set up to review titles as a “book ban.” This is a category mistake. Public school curriculum and book selection are political questions decided by school boards.

Schools have no duty to carry every volume liberals demand.

Here are some examples: “The three books the committee voted to remove were ‘This Book Is Gay,’ a coming out guide for LGBTQ teens by transgender author Juno Dawson that includes detailed descriptions of sex; ‘Out of Darkness’ by Ashley Hope Perez, a young adult novel about a romance between a Mexican American girl and a Black boy that includes a rape scene and other mature content; and ‘We Are the Ants’ by Shaun David Hutchinson, a coming-of-age novel about a gay teenager that includes explicit sexual language,” according to ProPublica.

Now, though I’d always rather see more books on shelves than fewer, Glenn’s position isn’t unreasonable. If parents want, they can, in only a few minutes, order “This Book Is Gay,” “Out of Darkness,” or “We Are the Ants” at a reasonable price. But Granbury Independent School District has no constitutional obligation to stock its shelves with novels touching on rape, abortion or transgenderism; there is no

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tenet of free expression that demands libraries make books on racial identitarianism available to kids; there’s no rule that state schools must keep books on a shelf in perpetuity simply because a librarian ordered it. If such requirements did exist, do they also have a duty to carry “The Road to Serfdom” or “The War Against Boys”? Why are schools banning Heroes of Liberty or Ben Shapiro’s books?

Refusing to carry a book is not tantamount to the heckler’s veto, now regularly used by woke college students to shut down ideas in institutions where ideas are meant to be debated. Elementary-school-age kids do not get to choose the topics they learn. Adults do. The debate is about who gets to make that decision: parents or administrators?

Parents who choose to live in conservative communities are now expected to adopt progressive curricula and ideas.

The same people bleating about “democracy” are suddenly aghast at the prospect of school boards, elected by parents, using the same powers that districts around the country take for granted. Libraries in liberal school districts aren’t — and I can attest to this personally — home to anti-abortion messaging or books about teens finding God and rejecting gay lifestyles. The cultural conditioning that goes on in blue districts is simply relentless. And the kids — unless their parents are wealthy or make great sacrifices — are usually held captive in state schools. Most of these districts never need to remove books (unless, perhaps, we’re talking about classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “Huckleberry Finn”) because heterodox titles have never been welcomed in the first place. But why should parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, be empowered in ways that the parents of Hood County, Texas, are not?

If you don’t like this kind of stifling state-run school system, join me in advocating for choice. But you can’t have it both ways.

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

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com

or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300. Raleigh, N.C. 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

What does St. Augustine offer the 21st century?

AUGUSTINE AND SECULARISM In every age, humans learn only what their experience of the world renders them capable of learning. So it is, as well, with our own: To understand the value of Augustine, it helps to understand our world in light of our larger ongoing reflections, particularly in recent years, on the nature of the common world we inhabit, a world that we might describe as “secular.”

Consider how we see our world today.

Most would agree that we stand at the end of Christendom. This is so in two senses, one well known, the other not so well known. The wellknown sense is clear: Christendom is over. If we understand that term to designate a large-scale effort to shape and sustain civilization on explicitly Christian terms, states, citizens, and even most Christian churches have effectively surrendered that ambition. The status of religious convictions, confessions, and practices — their legitimacy in public, and the claim they make to organize our lives for us — is much more contested, far more fragile and recognizably contingent, than it has ever been before, and there are no signs that that trend is being reversed. Our world has been “secularized.”

But there is a second, less known sense to this claim. If Christendom has in one way ended, in another way it has been accomplished. Don’t look now, but we are living in the midst of a huge “moral revolution” that has occurred over the past several centuries. Slavery is now internationally illegal; equality is a watchword; we feel obliged, however faintly, to care about people far away; we feel morally outraged at our own history. This moral revolution is one deeply oriented and driven

by Christianity.

Materially, of course, this revolution has happened in no small part because of the vast increase of power and connection among humanity’s disparate peoples across the globe.

But those material powers have been oriented, motivated, shaped, and sharpened by the thinking of those who enact them, and that thinking has been basically shaped by Christian concepts, convictions, and ways of inhabiting the world.

We live in a world that has become radically Christian in shape and deep structure, even as it has lost the surface appearance of being Christian.

Augustine and Christianity Augustine’s “The City of God” is also crucial, though complicatedly so, for understanding the inheritance of Latin Christianity, not just historically but for today, both for Christians and for those who are, in one way or another, postChristian. If we are to understand contemporary Western Christianity, whether as members of the Christian churches or as those who wish to engage them, a serious acquaintance with The City remains urgent.

Similarly, to understand the “post-Christian” world we inhabit today, The City of God is equally essential.

It has exerted an unparalleled influence upon Western thought, which can be read as a history of readings of Augustine. Consider where he stands in the history of philosophy: Born in 354 CE, he lived roughly 800 years after Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and roughly 800 years before Aquinas, and there are roughly 800 years between Aquinas and today.

Augustine marks the transition between ancient and medieval philosophy. In many ways, modern thought “got beyond” the medieval by returning to the latter’s origins in Augustine. The “humanism” purportedly rediscovered in the Renaissance, the Protestantism and Catholicism discovered in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and the secular liberalism that began with the Enlightenment: All these defined themselves in terms of Augustine.

The Renaissance, Reformation, and CounterReformation did so by drawing powerfully from themes in Augustine’s writing and thought; modernity, by setting itself self-consciously against themes in his thought.

Indeed, even our purportedly most “secularized” understandings of the world today themselves descend from the very theological idea of the saeculum that Augustine pioneered. Hence, even to understand our own contemporary and resolutely secularized “social imaginary,” a deep appreciation of those assumptions, arguments, and influence of The City is invaluable. If we want to “provincialize Europe,” and make it just one participant in our global conversations, not the unquestionable judge of everyone else, then engaging Augustine is a very good place to begin.

Augustine and Modernity As one grows more aware of the pertinence of Augustine’s project to our world, his message to us becomes both pressing and perplexing. After all, his situation was not so different from our own: The City depicts, and tries to inhabit, a culturally turbulent age when people with very different philosophies and religious connections had to find some way to live, if not together, at least cheek by jowl with one another.

In the book, Augustine thinks hard about living faithfully and unapologetically, but also collegially, in a bewilderingly pluralistic society. Furthermore, The City invokes and engages a complicated, enormously rich, and inescapably ambivalent cultural legacy, one whose organic relation to a previous social order perpetually tempts those who admire that legacy toward a reactionary and sterile nostalgia. In its resolutely anti-nostalgic attitude, the work helps us reckon more carefully with our own relationship to that past. One can even argue that it is the first “Modernist” text, that is, the first text in which a proximate and immediate past is available but problematic for the present day, and can be apprehended only after radical and critical reinterpretation.

But while its influence is unquestioned, we can reasonably wonder whether the lessons we take from The City of God are the ones it meant to teach. The Middle Ages drew on Augustine’s writings but for very different purposes and within a very different social order and social imaginary than his own; hence, his worldview was largely obscured, and his thinking misunderstood.

Only in the past hundred years have we come to understand something of the context in which Augustine wrote, and in the process come to understand something more of him.

Charles Matthewes is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. This article was published by Praxis Circle on February 18, 2022 and is reprinted with permission

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

NATION & WORLD Biden finds no respite at home after returning from Europe The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the last nine, unscripted words of an impassioned speech about Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, President Joe Biden created a troubling distraction, undermining his effectiveness as he returned home to face restive Americans who strongly disapprove of his performance on issues that matter most to them.

His comment that Russia’s Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” — an assertion that his aides were forced to quickly clean up — overshadowed his larger message of solidifying the Western coalition that’s confronting Moscow.

It punctuated another frusCAORLYN KASTER | AP PHOTO trating moment for an administration that’s struggled to regain President Joe Biden arrives on Marine One on the South Lawn of the its footing — and the American White House, early Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Washington, after a electorate’s support — in the face four-day trip to Europe. of an ongoing pandemic, escalating inf lation and an increasingly complicated foreign policy crisis by the next day it became clear Biden’s final comment “plays that raises the specter of nuclear that the dramatic statement had into the hands of the Russian produced some of the first overt propagandists and plays into the conf lict.

Although he’s forged a unit- cracks in unity among NATO hands of Vladimir Putin.”

Secretary of State Antony ed front to punish Russia with nations that had just convened sanctions for the invasion of in Brussels for an emergency Blinken was forced to continue clarifying Biden’s speech during Ukraine, polls show Americans meeting.

Some leading Western Eu- a trip through the Middle East, feel no better about his leadership as the bloody war contin- ropean allies, including France where he had intended to focus ues. Meanwhile, Democrats are and Germany, tend to be more on solidifying American partin danger of losing control of cautious than the U.S. about nerships as the administration Congress in November’s mid- how to confront Russia. Until seeks a renewed nuclear agreeterm elections, leaving Biden Saturday night, Biden had cali- ment with Iran.

Speaking at a news conference with limited opportunities to brated his words carefully.

French President Emanuel in Jerusalem, Blinken said Biden advance a progressive domestic Macron said Biden’s remarks meant that “Putin cannot be emagenda that remains stalled.

Biden’s case isn’t helped by his could make it harder to resolve powered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or approval ratings. A slim 34% of the conf lict.

“I wouldn’t use those terms, anyone else.”

Americans think Biden is doing In case there was any doubt, a good job handling the econo- because I continue to speak to my, which is normally the top President Putin, because what Biden gave an emphatic “No!” issue for voters in an election do we want to do collectively?” when asked by a reporter outside year, according to a poll released he said. “We want to stop the war of church Sunday if he was calllate last week by The Associated that Russia launched in Ukraine, ing for regime change with the Press-NORC Center for Public without waging war and without remark.

Even as Biden seemed to go escalation.”

Affairs Research.

In Berlin, German Chancel- too far for some allies with his His contentious assertion about Putin in his Warsaw lor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that speech, Ukrainian President speech did little to help things. neither NATO nor Biden seek re- Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed to draw little comfort from it.

The White House rushed to clar- gime change in Russia.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, He accused Western nations ify that Biden wasn’t actually calling for “regime change,” but told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that of lacking courage to confront

Blinken tries to reassures allies ahead of new Iran deal The Associated Press JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday sought to reassure a wary Israel and its Gulf Arab allies that the Biden administration is committed to their security ahead of the possible renewal of global powers’ international nuclear deal with Iran.

Blinken made the comments shortly before joining his counterparts from Israel and four Arab countries at a special gathering where the Iranian nuclear deal was expected to top the agenda. Israel and many of its neighbors are fiercely opposed to the deal, which they believe with embolden and enrich Iran.

“When it comes to the most important element, we see eyeto-eye,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference with Israel’s foreign minister. “We are both committed, both determined that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The Biden administration has been working to renew the 2015 nuclear deal, which gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

With support from Israel, the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, causing it to unravel.

Although Iran has since raced ahead with its nuclear program, Israel and Gulf Arab countries are deeply concerned about restoring the original deal. Israel fears it does not include enough safeguards to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Both Israel and its Gulf allies also believe that relief from economic sanctions will allow Iran to step up its military activities across the region, including support for hostile militant groups.

AP PHOTO

A photographer in the foreground wears a kippah, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, back left, meets with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog at the Presidency, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Jerusalem.

Blinken said the U.S. believes that restoring the nuclear deal “is the best way to put Iran’s program back in the box it was in.”

He added: “Our commitment to the core principle of Iran never acquiring a nuclear weapon is unwavering.”

He also vowed to cooperate with Israel to counter Iran’s “aggressive behavior” across the region.

It remains unclear if or when the nuclear deal will be renewed, but there are indications it could be soon despite several last-minute snags, one of which involves Iran’s demand for the U.S. to lift its designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

Israel is deeply opposed to such

a step and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Blinken that he hoped “the United States will hear the concerned voices from the region — Israel’s and others — on this very important issue.”

Israel and its neighbors believe any easing of sanctions and the delisting to the IRGC would embolden Iranian-backed militant groups from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, who have recent launched several rocket attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

If a deal is reached, Israel has repeatedly noted that it is not a party to the agreement and reserves the right to take action, including a potential military strike, against Iran.

Russia, and he said criticized their “ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets” and other weapons to the Ukrainian military.

The speech in Warsaw was the third, and by far most consequential, of instances from the trip where Biden’s aides needed to clean up his comments.

During a news conference in Brussels on Thursday, he said the U.S. would respond “in kind” if Putin used chemical weapons in Ukraine. The next day, national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the president meant that “we’ll respond accordingly,” not that the U.S. would use chemical weapons of its own.

And then, while speaking to members of the 82nd Airborne Division soldiers recently deployed to Poland, Biden seemed to suggest they would be going to Ukraine. Speaking about the bravery of Ukrainians, Biden said: “Look at how they’re stepping up. And you’re going to see when you’re there.”

Afterward, the White House reiterated that Biden had no intention of sending troops into Ukraine, something the president has insisted since the beginning of the conf lict.

While running for office two years ago, Biden repeatedly told voters that “the words of a president matter,” and he promised that his foreign policy experience would serve the country well on the international stage.

Just 26% of Americans have faith that Biden can manage a crisis or the military, according to last week’s AP-NORC poll.

There’s also been a mixed response to Biden’s approach to Russia. Although Americans have been skeptical of getting involved in another foreign crisis, they’ve also watched with horror as Putin continues to raze Ukrainian cities despite an array of punishing sanctions.

Only 36% said his approach has been “about right,” while 56% said Biden has not been tough enough on Russia.

“Israel and the United States will continue to work together to prevent a nuclear Iran. At the same time, Israel will do anything we believe is needed to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

Anything,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said.

Underscoring regional anxieties, Israel’s government hastily arranged a meeting of top diplomats from Arab countries that have normalized relations with Israel. The two-day gathering, with Blinken, was beginning late Sunday at a kibbutz in the Negev Desert.

In addition to Blinken and Lapid, their counterparts from Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were attending. All four countries are considered moderate Sunni Muslim nations. Jordan, another pro-Western Arab country that has a peace agreement with Israel, declined an invitation, apparently in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The U.S. preoccupation with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and bolstering NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe has fueled concerns throughout the Middle East that America’s attention may be stretched thin.

While Iran may be the issue of most immediate concern to Israel and its neighbors, the war in Ukraine looms large.

That conflict has roiled world energy markets, leading the U.S. and Europe to appeal to Arab and other major oil suppliers to step up production. The war may also soon result in major food security challenges, particularly across the Middle East, which imports vast quantities of wheat from Ukraine.

Blinken later traveled to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and stress to him the U.S. commitment to help the Palestinian people and encourage a resumption in long-stalled peace talks with Israel.

Hungary’s Orban criticized for ‘neutrality’ in Ukraine war Budapest, Hungary Widely seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sought to assert Hungary’s neutrality in the war in Ukraine, even as his allies in the EU and NATO assist the embattled country and punish Russia for launching the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Orban, who faces a difficult election on April 3, has refused to supply Ukraine with military aid — alone among Ukraine’s EU neighbors — and has not allowed lethal weapons to be shipped to Ukraine across Hungary’s borders.

Arguing that providing such assistance to Ukraine would draw Hungary into the war, Orban has portrayed himself as the defender of his country’s peace and security.

“The answer to the question of which side Hungary is on is that Hungary is on Hungary’s side,” Orban wrote on social media.

While his approach has gained traction among many of his supporters, Orban’s reluctance to act unambiguously in support of Ukraine and his insistence on maintaining his Russian economic interests has led to frustration and outrage among other European leaders — not least the Ukrainian president himself.

In a video address to a summit of EU leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a frank, direct appeal to Orban to take a clearer stance on Russia’s war on Ukraine and support his besieged country.

“Listen, Viktor, do you know what’s going on in Mariupol?” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Ukrainian city on the Sea of Azov that has undergone devastating Russian bombardment.

“Please, if you can, go to your waterfront. Look at those shoes. And you will see how mass killings can happen again in today’s world. That’s what Russia is doing today.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kentucky AG says he’s keeping options open for 2023 election Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron signaled that he’s keeping his options open for Kentucky’s 2023 election, tantalizingly adding more suspense to the evolving GOP competition to pick a challenger to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

In a local television interview, Cameron didn’t rule out a run for governor next year, saying he’s looking at “everything that’s on the table.”

Cameron, a former legal counsel to U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, was elected as Kentucky’s first black attorney general in 2019.

Pegged as a rising GOP star, Cameron landed a speaking slot at the 2020 Republican National Convention. He would be seen as a top-tier candidate if he entered what could become a crowded 2023 primary for governor.

During the TV interview, the program’s host asked Cameron if he plans to seek a second term as attorney general next year. Cameron replied that he intends to be on the ballot, adding he’s having conversations with his wife about “what that looks like for us.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hornets battle for playoff position, B4

AP PHOTOS

Duke and UNC meet Saturday in a Final Four matchup in New Orleans that will be the biggest game in the history of the rivalry between the two schools.

MLS

Charlotte FC wins again, shuts out Cincinnati Charlotte Karol Swiderski’s two goals and Kristijan Kahlina’s six saves lifted Charlotte FC to a win over Cincinnati on Saturday by a score of 2‑0.

Swiderski scored his first goal for Charlotte (2‑3‑0) in the sixth minute, assisted

by Benjamin Bender. He added a goal in the 55th minute. Cincinnati (2‑3‑0) outshot Charlotte 13‑11, with six shots on goal to seven for Charlotte. Kahlina saved all six shots he faced for Charlotte. Alec Kann saved five of the seven shots he faced for Cincinnati.

Charlotte next plays Saturday when it visits the Philadelphia Union.

NFL

NFL owners approve rule change for OT in playoffs Palm Beach, Fla. The NFL is changing its sometimes controversial overtime rules to guarantee each side gets the ball in the playoffs. Concerned that the coin toss to begin the extra period has too much impact on postseason game results, the owners voted Tuesday to permanently approve a proposal presented by the Colts and Eagles. Beginning this season, if the team possessing the ball first in overtime scores a touchdown on that series, the opponent still gets a possession.

In recent seasons, that touchdown would have ended the game. That second possession of overtime would extend beyond the initial 15‑minute period if needed. Should that team tie the game, it then would become sudden death.

Rich McKay, the Falcons president and chairman of the competition committee, admitted that Kansas City’s victory in January over Buffalo that came on the first series of OT, was a factor in the balloting by owners. He said that was well beyond the required 24 votes, but would not reveal the exact numbers.

Krzyzewski, Duke Rookie coach Davis rise from the ashes takes Tar Heels of embarrassing loss back to Final Four The Blue Devils rebounded after losing to UNC in Coach K’s Cameron farewell

By Shawn Krest North State Journal COACH K’S third season at Duke was very nearly his last. The Blue Devils had promising young freshmen on the roster, including Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie and Jay Bilas, but the team suffered through an 11-17 season.

As the year went on and Duke lost at home to Wagner, by 21 at UNC and by 24 to the Tar Heels at Cameron, the calls for Mike Krzyzewski’s job became louder.

The 1982-83 season ended with Duke’s worst loss ever in the ACC Tournament, 109-66 to Virginia.

The humiliation complete, Krzyzewski went to dinner after the game with members of the program and some friends. Someone removed the knives from the table, joking about Coach K doing something rash, and one person raised a glass to make a toast.

“Here’s to forgetting tonight,”

he said.

Krzyzewski refused to toast, instead offering his own.

“Here’s to never (bleeping) forgetting tonight,” he said.

The story has become part of the Coach K mythology. That season of embarrassment, and the 43-point loss that ended it, drove him to become the winningest coach ever, as the legend goes.

In typical Marvel Cinematic Universe fashion, that old story seems to be getting a reboot this year.

Coach K announced before the season that this would be his last year on the bench. He would retire once the last game was over. That immediately created a demand for the final game of the regular season — Duke-Carolina at Cameron Indoor.

Four tickets to the game sold for a million dollars at a charity auction before the season began, and as the game approached, the cheapest available tickets were at Super Bowl prices. The game attracted celebrities and 96 former See DUKE MEN, page B3

Carolina joins the blue blood party in a transition year for the program

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THIS YEAR’S Final Four features three of the most accomplished head coaches in college basketball today — and the new guy.

Much has been made of the fact that it’s an all-blue blood Final Four, with Duke, Kansas, Villanova and UNC tying a record by bringing a combined 17 titles to the last weekend of the tournament. The team wearing light blue, however, is also the lightest on head coaching experience.

The national semifinals feature Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, winner of five titles and headed to the Final Four for a record 13th time; Kansas’ Bill Self, like Krzyzewski a Naismith Hall of Famer, headed to his fourth national semifinal and looking for his second title; and Villanova’s See UNC MEN, page B3

Wolfpack season ends in heartbreak The NC State women lost in double overtime to UConn, denying them a Final Four spot

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal THE NC STATE WOMEN’S basketball team finally got over its Sweet 16 hump. The next mountain, however, was simply too steep to climb.

Forced to play a virtual road game in a hostile environment against the most dominant program in its sport, despite being the No. 1 seed, the Wolfpack came up one game short of the Final Four on Monday.

Coach Wes Moore’s veteran team nearly overcame the odds by rallying from another double-figure deficit and battling through two overtimes. That only added to the disappointment as the second-seeded Huskies and their star Paige Bueckers ended NC State’s most successful three-year stretch in school history with a 91-87 decision in the NCAA East

FRANK FRANKLIN II | AP PHOTO

UConn guard Paige Bueckers reacts in double overtime of the Huskies’ 91-87 win over NC State in the East Regional final Monday in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Region final in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

“We knew it would be hard coming in. Getting this far in general is hard,” said junior for-

Jay Wright, who is making his fourth trip and looking for his third title in the last six tourneys.

Then there’s Hubert Davis.

He’s just the ninth coach in history to make the Final Four in his first season at the helm. While the other coaches can break out their Final Four protocols and rely on what’s worked and what hasn’t in past trips, Davis is doing everything for the first time as the head coach.

That’s not to say he’s brand new to the big stage. Davis played in a Final Four at UNC, leading the team with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting. He’s also been to two as an assistant to Roy Williams. The 2017 national championship team credited his emotional halftime speech in the title game with motivating them to wrap up the crown in the final 20 minutes.

Still, there’s a difference between being there and leading a team there. Davis admitted as much before the Elite Eight win over Saint Peter’s.

ward Jakia Brown-Turner, whose team-leading 20 points included a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first extra period.

“I know everyone was saying

that it was UConn’s backyard or whatever. But we just came out, played for each other and we gave it all we had.”

Whether it was the environment, the pressure or simply bad shooting luck, things didn’t go well early for the normally sharpshooting Wolfpack.

Going just one for its first 10 from beyond the 3-point arc, State fell behind by 10 late in the first quarter before fighting back, just as it did during the regular season against Louisville and again two days earlier in a come-from-behind Sweet 16 win against ACC rival Notre Dame.

The lead changed hands six times in the fourth quarter before the Wolfpack (32-4) gained possession with a chance to win in regulation. But Diamond Johnson’s attempted drive was cut off by UConn center Aaliyah Edwards, forcing Kai Crutchfield to put up a long 3-pointer that missed everything as time expired.

Brown-Turner’s dramatic 3-pointer extended the game into a second overtime before Bueckers — who scored 15 of her 27 points after the end of regulation, including 6 of 6 from the See NC STATE WOMEN, page B4

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

WEDNESDAY

3.30.22

TRENDING

Pat Narduzzi: The Pitt football coach signed a new contract that will keep him with the Panthers through at least 2030. The deal announced Monday comes three months after Narduzzi led Pitt to its first ACC championship on its way to an 11-3 record and a No. 13 ranking in the final AP Top 25 poll, the program’s highest postseason ranking since 1982. Narduzzi is 53-37 in seven seasons with the Panthers. His 53 wins rank fourth all-time in program history.

Scottie Scheffler: The Texas-raised golfer won the Dell Technologies Match Play for his third title in his last five starts, moving to No. 1 in the world. The 25-year-old Scheffler never trailed against Kevin Kisner, building a 3-up lead through six holes and giving him no chance to catch up. Scheffler closed him out with a par on the 15th for a 4-and-3 victory. The previous No. 1, Jon Rahm, lost in the fourth round in 19 holes to Brooks Koepka, paving the way for Scheffler to replace him by winning the Match Play.

Rob Lanier: The Georgia State coach was named the new SMU coach on Sunday after he took the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament this season. Lanier was 53‑30 in his three seasons at Georgia State. He previously took Siena to the NCAA tourney in 2002 in the first of his four seasons as coach there. In between those head coaching stints, Lanier was an assistant at Tennessee, Texas, Florida and Virginia. Tim Jankovich announced his retirement Tuesday after six seasons as SMU’s coach.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NASCAR

NASCAR issued steep penalties against Brad Keselowski and his new race team last Thursday for illegally modifying a supplied part on the Next Gen car. Keselowski was docked 100 driver points and the No. 6 Ford team docked 100 owner points.

Crew chief Matt McCall was fined $100,000 and suspended from the next four Cup races. Additionally, should Keselowski qualify for NASCAR’s playoffs, he will be docked 10 points at the reset ahead of the first round.

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

“I’m standing for freedom.”

Nets point guard Kyrie Irving after he played his first game at home this season following New York City lifting its private employer COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

STEPHEN SPILLMAN | AP PHOTO

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

DAVID J. PHILLIP | AP PHOTO CHRIS O’MEARA | AP PHOTO

“We all have to look ourselves in the mirror.”

AJ Allmendinger after spinning out battling for the lead with eventual winner Ross Chastain in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

Villanova guard Justin Moore will undergo surgery this week for a torn Achilles tendon, a brutal blow for the Wildcats ahead of their Final Four game with Kansas. The 6-foot-4 guard is the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer and averaged 34.4 minutes, 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per outing in 36 games.

BASKETBALL

CARLOS AVILA GONZALEZ | SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA AP

Stephen Curry and Shaquille O’Neal joined Kobe Bryant as Oscar winners Sunday after the film they produced, “The Queen of Basketball,” won the Academy Award for short subject documentary. The film is about Lusia Harris, the trailblazing basketball Hall of Famer who was the first woman drafted by an NBA team.

MLB

PRIME NUMBER

$850M Cost to taxpayers for the Buffalo Bills’ new proposed $1.4 billion stadium as part of a 30‑year lease agreement reached Monday. It is believed to be the largest public commitment for an NFL facility.

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

Albert Pujols is heading back to where his major league career began. The 42-year-old slugger is returning to St. Louis on a one-year deal. Pujols, who played last year with the Dodgers and previously with the Angels, spent his first 11 seasons with the Cardinals, helping them to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. He is 21 home runs shy of 700 for his career.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B3

Rewind: Duke, UNC made adjustments in 2 previous meetings The rubber match between the rivals will take place on a neutral court after each won on the road during the regular season

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal ADJUSTMENTS are a part of all sports.

Hitters adjust to the way they’re pitched from at-bat to at-bat. Football offenses adjust to what defenses give them from half to half, and hockey coaches adjust to the ebbs and flows of their sport by changing their line combinations to create different matchups.

Many times, the adjustments are so subtle that they’re barely noticeable to fans in the stands and those watching at home.

Other times, as with the two regular season meetings this season between basketball rivals Duke and North Carolina, they are glaringly obvious.

The Blue Devils dominated the first game 87-76 at Smith Center on Feb. 5 before the Tar Heels’ adjustments helped turn the tables a month later in a 94-81 victory that spoiled coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Now that the teams have found themselves back on a collision course for one epic final clash in the national semifinals in New Orleans on Saturday, it’s the Blue Devils’ turn to adjust.

Here is a look back at the two previous matchups and some of the reasons why the outcomes were so different, as well as the possible adjustments that might be made for the most important game in the storied history of the rivalry: The Bacot effect The pivotal moment in the first meeting came in the opening five minutes when UNC coach Hubert Davis opted to have his only legitimate big man, Armando Bacot, defend Duke freshman standout Paolo Banchero. The plan backfired when Bacot was assessed with two quick fouls.

Even though he picked up only one more the rest of the way, the 6-foot-10 double-double machine was never a factor, finishing with 12 points and only five rebounds.

In the second game, the small-

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Duke forward Theo John goes up to block a shot by UNC guard Caleb Love during the second meeting between the teams on March 5 in Durham. er but more agile Leaky Black drew the defensive assignment on Banchero, and while the Duke star led his team with 23 points, Bacot more than made up the difference by going for 23 points and keying a Tar Heels offense that scored 40 points in the paint — 14 more than in the previous game.

Offensive defense Duke’s defense didn’t force a lot of turnovers in either game, but its production off UNC’s mistakes made a huge difference. In Game 1, most of the Tar Heels’ eight turnovers were of the liveball variety, leading to 14 Blue Devils points. In the rematch, UNC in general and point guard Caleb Love in particular did a much better job with ball security. As a result, Duke managed

only two points off five turnovers.

Love committed four miscues while going just 3 of 10 overall and 1 of 5 from 3-point range at Smith Center. Although he didn’t shoot particularly well from the floor in Cameron either, going 4 of 17 (2 of 7), his increased confidence and aggressiveness helped get him to the free-throw line 12 times while committing only one turnover. The game became a springboard for a spectacular postseason that will make defending him a priority for the Blue Devils.

X-factors Duke’s A.J. Griffin was a difference-maker in the first game, scoring a career-high 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. A month later, though, the fresh-

man was barely noticeable while making only two of his five field goal attempts (1 of 3 from three) and being held to five points.

On the reverse, UNC’s RJ Davis went from going 4 of 11 (0 of 3) with 11 points in his team’s loss to a much more effective 9 of 16 (2 of 4) and 21 points to key a balanced attack that saw four Tar Heels finish with 20 or more points.

If you’re looking for a potential X-factor Saturday, the Blue Devils’ Jeremy Roach is a prime candidate. His 15 points off the bench in the regular season finale led to his addition into the starting lineup in place of Trevor Keels. Since then, he’s averaged 12.5 points and 2.4 assists while adding a steadying presence that has significantly improved the Blue Devils’ fortunes late in close games.

UNC MEN from page B1 “I think that’s the biggest difference between being an assistant and a head coach,” he said. “As an assistant you’re always making suggestions, and as a head coach you’re always making decisions.”

Any trip to the Final Four is a tall task, but Davis is facing one of the toughest challenges as Carolina will play Duke on Saturday in what will undoubtedly be the biggest game ever played in the best rivalry in sports.

Davis already pulled off a miracle upset of the Blue Devils, winning on a day his Tar Heels were expected to play the Washington Generals to Duke’s Harlem Globetrotters in Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Tar Heel faithful printed T-shirts commemorating that win, and many proclaimed it the biggest regular season win in program history.

Now, Davis has a chance to top that performance a mere four weeks later.

The pressure and emotion will be ratcheted up to all-time highs

DUKE MEN from page B1 Blue Devil players, who posed with Coach K on the court prior to tipoff.

ESPN devoted the entire weekend to the event, running retrospectives, classic games and plenty of analysis of Krzyzewski’s career.

There was just one thing: No one told the Tar Heels they were supposed to lose. UNC broke open a close game late and cruised to a 13-point win in front of a slackjawed crowd that had arrived ready for a party.

The internet, always ready to crow about any Duke loss, erupted in celebration. UNC printed T-shirts celebrating the event, and Coach K endured the postgame ceremony, seething inside as he waited for the first moment he could watch film to see what went wrong.

Before the ceremony, he apolo-

“As an assistant you’re always making suggestions, and as a head coach you’re always making decisions.”

Hubert Davis, UNC coach

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Point guard Caleb Love’s dominant second-half performance against UCLA vaulted UNC into the Elite Eight, where the Tar Heels easily dispatched Saint Mary’s. Now Carolina readies for a Final Four matchup against hated Duke on Saturday in New Orleans. on both sides, and it will take an expert approach to have the team prepared for the game.

That’s a lot to ask of a rookie, but Davis has already done a strong coaching job this season. In November, the Tar Heels dropped back-to-back games in Uncas-

gized to the crowd, calling the loss “unacceptable,” once again standing defiant in his moment of abject humiliation.

And once again, it’s worked.

Duke has won six of seven games since that night. The team has shown fight, mounting late comebacks against Michigan State and Texas Tech to advance through the tournament to reach the Final Four — and an improbable rematch with UNC. Once again, just when Duke seemed done, Coach K fed on the bile from his worst moment to build something amazing.

“When you only have them for a year, you’re trying to avoid as much adversity.” Krzyzewski said, “but in the last 10 days or so of the regular season and the tournament, we experienced a very deep level of adversity, and … it really helped us. I would rather not have experienced it, but I think it helped us. It hurt.

ville, including an embarrassing 17-point loss to Tennessee. In December, they were crushed by Kentucky, 98-69. January saw Miami beat them by 28 and Wake Forest by 22 in consecutive games. Duke beat them by 20 in February, and that month also saw UNC’s NCAA

Tournament hopes get put on the wrong side of the bubble with a home loss to Pitt that was, according to analytics, UNC’s worst loss in more than a decade.

Along the way, Davis lost two players — Anthony Harris was declared out for the rest of the season in January, and Dawson Garcia left the team in February due to family issues.

Just when the team seemed dead in the water, things turned abruptly. UNC has won 10 of 11 games since the Pitt loss, including the win over Duke at Cameron.

In the tournament, UNC has

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP PHOTO

Duke forward Paolo Banchero celebrates after Duke defeated Arkansas last Saturday to reach the Final Four and set up a date with archrival UNC this Saturday in New Orleans.

They grew together and took — we all took responsibility and figured out what was wrong, and then we tried to correct it. It was actually, in some respects, a good thing.”

Krzyzewski admitted that focusing on his past leading up to the game was a mistake, and he’s been relentlessly focused on the present since. He’s also been adamant

Under pressure Which team will handle the moment better?

The Blue Devils carried a heavy weight on their collective shoulders for Coach K’s farewell at Cameron, and it showed. The pressure has become even more intense now that each game could be the Hall of Famer’s last, but his players seem to have learned to channel it better and are playing better and looser than ever.

UNC, on the other hand, had nothing to lose and everything to gain in the regular season finale that solidified its NCAA Tournament bid. How will the Tar Heels react now that the stakes are just as high for them will go a long way toward determining who will move on to face Kansas or Villanova for the ultimate prize on Monday.

also seen a roller coaster, looking unbeatable in a 32-point win over Marquette and building a 25-point lead over top seed Baylor.

UNC saw that entire lead disappear before surviving in overtime.

The Heels then finished strong to get past UCLA and blew out Saint Peter’s to reach the Final Four.

“I believe that what has allowed us to get to this point has been time,” Davis said. “This has been a year of newness: new head coach, new coaching staff, three new players, transfers, two new freshmen, some tweaks, pivots, changes in our style, both offensively and defensively. I just think it’s shared experiences over time, and I know that everybody wants everything to fit perfectly in November and December, and it just takes time.”

Time may be the key to UNC’s turnaround, but it’s also the area in which the Tar Heels and Davis are at the largest disadvantage in facing three other coaches who have spent more time on the biggest stage than anyone else coaching today.

Will they be up to the task?

Time will tell.

about this being his team’s journey — not his, and not the former players that his team may have felt they let down that evening in Cameron.

It’s been a softer approach, and his team has responded.

“During those 10 days I learned something, and I saw my team hurt. Not just by a loss, but by a whole bunch of things,” he said. “I just had a good meeting with myself. I said that I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to help in some way, and part of it was my approach with them. Not that we haven’t.

We’re really close and all that, but I just changed a little bit in doing it.”

Now, Krzyzewski and Duke have a chance to avenge that loss to Carolina on the stage of the Final Four — or have UNC deal an even more damaging loss to end his career.

It’s the stakes on which legends are made.

Here’s to never forgetting Saturday night.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Hornets fight for playoff position as end of regular season nears Charlotte’s final six games will determine its playoff seeding

“It’s all business. It’s all focused right now.”

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

James Borrego, Hornets coach

CHARLOTTE — After a disastrous February in which the Hornets won only two of 12 games, Charlotte turned around its season in a major way in March by winning nine of 13 games.

The pendulum-swinging pattern comes just at the right time for the Hornets (39-37), who have only two games at home and four on the road left as the NBA’s regular season winds down.

With a spot in the Play-In Tournament likely, ninth-seeded Charlotte is now finding itself jockeying for Eastern Conference positioning in a primary battle with the eighth-seeded Brooklyn (39-36) and 10th-seeded Atlanta (38-37).

The Hornets’ final six games — and the remaining games against their conference foes — will determine which of these teams have an upper hand in the play-in games on April 12-15.

Beginning in 2020, the NBA unveiled its Play-In Tournament format that allows more teams to have a shot at the postseason. While the top six teams in each conference have a playoff

7 or No. 8 seed as opposed to a No. 9 or No. 10 seed — the former each have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the latter each have to win two consecutive games to earn a playoff spot.

The Hornets’ fate in the playin bracket is not guaranteed — Charlotte only trails sixth-seeded Toronto (43-32) by 4.5 games, while 11th-seeded New York (3442) is just five games back.

The first of Charlotte’s six remaining games will be at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday against the Knicks, who have won four games in a row behind RJ Barrett and Alec Burks.

That is followed by a road game with Philadelphia on April 2, a road game with Miami on April 5, a home game with Orlando on April 7, a road game with Chicago on April 8, and finally a home game with Washington (32-42) on April 10.

On paper, it looks to be a moderately difficult end to the regular season, although the Hornets’ road record (19-18) is nearly

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

Miles Bridges and the Hornets are jockeying for playoff position with Kevin Durant and the Nets as the end of the regular season approaches. spot automatically locked in, the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10thranked squads now battle it out for a chance to enter the playoff bracket as the seventh or eighth seed.

Per league rules, the team with the seventh-highest winning percentage in each conference gets to host the team with the eighth-highest winning percentage. The winner of that 7-8 game in each conference earns the No. 7 seed.

Subsequently, the team with the ninth-highest winning percentage in each conference hosts the team with the 10th-highest winning percentage. The loser of the 7-8 game then hosts the winner of the 9-10 game, with the victor earning the No. 8 seed.

If the season ended today, the seventh-seeded Cavaliers (42-33) would host the Nets, while the Hornets would host the Hawks.

In the play-in format, there is a clear advantage to being a No.

UNCW ends season with win, claims CBI title Coach Takayo Siddle has the Seahawks on the right path after two seasons back in Wilmington

identical to their performance at home (20-19).

“Our group is very resilient on the road,” Hornets coach James Borrego said Monday. “We’re OK being on the road. It’s a bunker mentality. It’s all business. It’s all focused right now.

“These are important games and our group battles on the road, so I don’t mind being on the road with them. It’s going to be a little bit of back and forth — I don’t think we’ll be out on the road for all 10 days — but it’s going to be a great time to come together even more down the stretch.”

For Charlotte, all eyes are on Atlanta, Brooklyn and the single game that separates the three teams in the standings.

Led by dynamic point guard Trae Young, the Hawks have won seven of their past 10 games and, like Charlotte, are playing their best basketball at the right time.

With three home games and four road games left, Atlanta’s final seven opponents have a combined record of 246-280.

One of those Hawks games will be against Brooklyn, which has also won seven of its past 10.

With Kyrie Irving returning to a full-time role now that he’s able to play in home games after New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate was lifted, the Nets are primed to challenge Charlotte and Atlanta in the seeding war, especially with five of their final seven games being at home. Additionally, the Nets’ final seven opponents have a combined record of just 225-302.

With Charlotte, Brooklyn and Atlanta all peaking at once, the next week and a half of basketball could be very interesting.

“Only four or five teams in the nation can say they ended their season in a win, and we were one of those.”

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

Jaylen Sims, UNCW guard

THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL Invitational doesn’t get quite the same fanfare as the NCAA Tournament, especially this year with rivals North Carolina and Duke set to meet in Saturday’s national semifinal in what could very well be the most anticipated matchup in the event’s storied history.

But as far as UNC Wilmington coach Takayo Siddle is concerned, there’s no difference between the joy his players felt while cutting down the nets following their CBI championship in Daytona Beach last week and that of the team that ultimately wins the national title in New Orleans on Monday.

“I can only imagine what it’s like to win a national championship,” Siddle said. “We’ve been through a lot and we fell short in our conference tournament. For us to be able to end the season on a high note and win a postseason championship was special.”

The Seahawks (27-9) came agonizingly close to earning a spot in the 68-team NCAA bracket before losing to fifth-seeded Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association final.

The disappointment of that defeat was compounded when conference rival Towson, with whom UNCW tied for the regular season league crown, was chosen ahead of them by the NIT. Even though the CBI allowed the Seahawks to keep playing, Siddle said his players seemed to treat it as more of a consolation prize rather than an opportunity.

able to muster 27 wins in the three previous seasons combined.

Sims is one of several players that endured the struggles and stayed to help turn the program around. The 6-foot-6 senior wing from Charlotte said he and his fellow holdovers bought into Siddle immediately after the former NC State and UNCW assistant was hired to replace C.B. McGrath in April 2020.

“In the low times, it sucked. It was so hard to find any energy or enjoyment in what you were doing,” Sims said. “When you have a new coach there’s always an adjustment.

But he had won at UNCW before, and he had a lot of pride in UNCW. I respected that aspect of it.”

By winning a postseason tournament, the last two games of which were nationally televised by ESPN2, Sims and his fellow upperclassmen did more than just add a banner to the rafters of Trask Coliseum.

According to Siddle, they helped lay a foundation for those that follow.

“This gives us a lot of momentum moving forward with our younger guys that are coming back and in recruiting,” he said. “To have the experience of playing in the postseason through March definitely helps us out.

“We’re in a really good place. We have some holes to fill, but we have some really good players in the program and the culture has been set.

(Winning the CBI) is nothing but positive for our group.”

NICK WASS | AP PHOTO

Guard Jaylen Sims helped UNCW to the College Basketball Invitational title, earning MVP honors for his performance during the postseason tournament.

At least initially.

“It was tough to get them to practice longer than an hour and get energetic,” the second-year coach said. “We had to go get that first game under our belt and win it. After that they got excited, and I could tell they wanted to be there and compete for a championship.”

That first game, a 93-78 victory against VMI, was followed by a 7675 victory against Drake, the No. 1 seed in the 16-team field. UNCW then beat Northern Colorado 8064 to advance to the championship game — its fourth game in as many days — where it outlasted Middle Tennessee 96-90 in double overtime.

Siddle called the final win “fitting” because of the way it summed up his team’s entire season.

Twelve of the Seahawks’ 27 wins this season came by six points or less. Ten of their wins came after trailing by 10 points or more. And five of their wins came in overtime.

The CBI final against MTSU checked all those boxes.

While the clutch performances from tournament MVP Jaylen Sims and fellow seniors Mike Okauru and Jaylen Fornes were also familiar, it took unexpected contributions from deep reserves Jamarii Thomas and Khadim Samb to bring home the trophy.

Thomas averaged 6.9 minutes

NC STATE WOMEN from page B1

free-throw line, in just her ninth game back from a knee injury — finally put the Huskies (29-5) over the top.

While UConn denied State its second Final Four appearance and first since 1998, the Huskies will be heading back for the 14th straight year.

“We fell behind again and had to dig ourselves out of a tough situation,” Moore said. “I’m really disappointed I didn’t call another timeout there at the end of regulation.

“It’s a tie game so you don’t want to leave time on the clock for them to have a chance to win it in regulation, but we should have got a better look than we did.

That’s what I’m going to have to live with for a while. I wish I had that possession over.”

Moore isn’t the only one left with a feeling of regret. The Wolfpack’s core group of All-American center Elissa Cunane and

AP PHOTO

NC State forward Jakia Brown-Turner’s 3-pointer near the end of overtime sent the Wolfpack’s Elite Eight game with UConn to a second extra period. graduate students Crutchfield and Kayla Jones — along with two-year transfer Raina Perez — all saw their college careers end without the one accomplishment they most desperately wanted.

Their play on the court and leadership off it helped State compile a 72-11 record over the past three seasons. That includes three straight ACC Tournament championships and the first out-

per game and Samb saw action in only 14 contests this season. But pressed into service after four regulars fouled out, each went 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the overtimes to pull UNCW through.

“Guys had to step up, and we won a game when everybody said we were going to lose,” said Sims, who tied Okauru with a team-leading 28 points against MTSU. “Only four or five teams in the nation can say they ended their season in a win, and we were one of those. I still haven’t grasped the idea of us winning 27 games this year and basically beating the odds.”

To put the Seahawks’ success into perspective, they were only

right regular season league crown since 1990.

That success was tempered by some bad timing and even worse luck in the NCAA Tournament.

The event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic in 2020. The following year, a knee injury to Jones left the team shorthanded in a Sweet 16 upset loss to Indiana. The latter was such a disappointment that Jones, Crutchfield and Perez all chose to return for a fifth year of eligibility to get one more shot at a Final Four.

It’s a shot that was at least partially blocked by an NCAA selection committee — whose chair was Duke athletic director Nina King — that chose to give a decided advantage to a lower-seeded team in its bracket.

“We were No. 1 seed for a reason,” Cunane said. “We proved that over the whole course of the season. I think coming in here we knew we were capable of. We were supposed to be a No. 1 seed and

“We definitely got all the effort and heart that you could ask for out of them.”

Wes Moore, NC State coach we came in with that attitude.”

Although they leave with a hole in their collective resume, Moore said that Cunane and her fellow upperclassmen have earned a special place in Wolfpack lore because of all they did accomplish.

“What a legacy they have now,” he said. “Again, another step would have made it a better legacy. But we definitely got all the effort and heart that you could ask for out of them. I can’t say enough about that group and what they’ve done, not only hanging banners in Reynolds Coliseum but also just the lives they’ve touched and the people that just have really bought into our program.”

The 3 big questions nob

A7

normal

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

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

The e eing thrown out of work.

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

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

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

If th will extend into May. Since when did state’s stay-at-home orders They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. und any of these emergency have to be thankful “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Wall Street Journal writer aroundStacey the world, and thehas investtic programs, and the remaining President Biden dState and Legal Insurrection. compiled after evaluating had figured out what they were doing. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Presi- worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will.

After and is a regular contributor to Re ments needed to continue our eqbalance would go to mandatory Some qualified papers accepted for publication 2,500 employers. theSocial H1N1Security, virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic,uitable growth and build a better spending from such as dent Joe Biden announced a bud- suffering in academic advocated training America.” ble gapsbecause betweenall theofpromises of up Medicare, Medicaid andextra net inget blueprint Monday that calls I’ve been trying to take precautions, this brings Foundedjournals in 2014, men like dogs and punishing white male It’s a midterm elections pitch what is being offered and the reterest on the national debt. for higher taxes on the wealthy, way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat.

MAKOstudents Medical college forishistorical slavery by to alities of what ultimately emergThe higher taxes outlined on lower federal deficits, more monBut what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has a nation still off balance from a College asking themof toAmerican sit in silence on the floor ey in for police and greater funding Monday would raise $361 bil- es. Biden has backed many of a chaotic few years caused by chains during class and to be expectedfor to education, public health and lion in revenue over 10 years and these ideas previously without the pandemic, an economic re(CAP) Pathologists learn from thelaboratory discomfort.that Other papers apply to the top 0.01% of house- necessarily getting a full buy-in cession, a recovery, challenghousing. accredited celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life es to U.S. democracy, and war holds. The proposal lists anoth- from Congress.

Appearing at the White House operates more than 70,000 choice and advocated treating privately The proposal includes a mini- in Ukraine. The Biden budwith his budget director Shalan- er $1.4 trillion in revenue raised square feet of laboratory conducted masturbation as a form of da Young, Biden said the propos- over the next decade through oth- mum 20% tax on the incomes of get foresees cutting annual defisexual women. Typically, spaceviolence acrossagainst two North al sends a clear message to the er tax increases that are meant households worth $100 million cits by more than $1 trillion over academic editors public about “what we value.” He to preserve Biden’s pledge to not or more, similar to an earlier pro- the next decade. Those reducCarolinajournal facilities, onesend in submitted papers out to referees for review. In outlined a focus on fiscal respon- hike taxes on people earning less posal Democrats in Congress be- tions would occur in large part Henderson and one in recommending acceptance for publication, gan debating late last year in or- through higher taxes and the exsibility, safety and security and than $400,000.

The Henderson Raleigh. many reviewers gave these papers glowing The 156-page plan also shows der to pay for Biden’s domestic piration of relief spending tied to investments to “build a better praise. facility was expanded the splinters that persist in spending plans. But those spendAmerica.”

ZachtoGoldberg ran The document essentially tries Biden’s coalition and the possi- ing plans were put on hold after See BUDGET page B6 inPolitical 2020 inscientist response certain grievance studies concepts through COVID-19, increasing the the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often lab’sappeared capacity 50,000 they in from our press over the years.

COVID-19 tests per day to usages He found huge increases in the of “white privilege,” “unconscious over 150,000 tests per day. bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.”

Since April 2020, MAKO All of this is being taught to college Medicalmany has processed students, of whom become primary more than 10school million and secondary teachers who then indoctrinate our young people.

COVID-19 tests utilizing I doubt whether the coronavirusRT-PCR technology and caused financial crunch will give college industry-leading testing who are a and university administrators, assays, including crossbreed between athe parrot and jellyfish, the guts and backbone to restore academic Applied Biosystems respectability.

Far too often, they get much TaqPath COVID-19 Combo of their political support from campusBy Scott McFetridge Assay. Currently, grievance people whothe areMAKO members of The the Associated Press team processes samples faculty and diversity and multicultural “Lenders need to recognize administrative from over 40offices. states.

BERLIN — The world needs to that coal and fossil fuels are The best hope lies with boards of take “radical action” to shift away Last year, MAKO Medical AP PHOTO trustees, though many serve as yes-men from fossil fuels and ensure glob- futile investments that will formed a comprehensive for the university president. I think that a al warming doesn’t pass danger- lead to billions of dollars in Hilda Nakabuye, center, Fridays for Future activist from Uganda, partnership with CDC good start would be the to find 1950s or 1960s ous thresholds, the head of the talks with Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister, and Robert catalogs.

Look at the course offerings at to provide next-generation International Renewable Energy stranded assets.”

Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate asequencing time when college graduates knew how Agency said Tuesday.

Protection, at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue at the Federal of SARS-CoV-2. to read, write and compute, and make The agency’s 348-page report U.N. Secretary-General Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

Since January 2021, MAKO them today’s curricula. Another helpful concluded that investments of Antonio Guterres haswould utilized sequencing tool be to give careful consideration $5.7 trillion in renewable energy processes analyze a to eliminatingtoall classes/majors/minors a dramatic change in the way we that coal and fossil fuels are fuare needed globally each year uncontaining the word “studies,” group of more than 5,000such astil 2030 to reduce emissions and tile investments that will lead to produce and consume energy.” women, Asian, black or queer studies.meet the goals of the Paris climate enheit), ideally no more than 1.5C Abu Dhabi-based IRENA sug- billions of dollars in stranded assamples for sequencing I’d bet that by restoring the traditionalaccord. Currently those emissions (2.7F), to avoid potentially cat- gested that investments of $700 sets,” he said. per weekmission from tests academic to colleges, they would With some countries ramping astrophic consequences for the billion should be diverted away are going up, not down. conducted across put a serious dent intomore the COVID-19 “The energy transition is far entire planet. A recent report by from the fossil fuel sector annu- up domestic fossil fuel production budget shortfall. than 40 states. To date, from being on track and any- a U.N. science panel found that ally to avoid creating wells, pipe- amid energy price hikes and fears thing short of radical action in with temperatures already more lines and power plants that can’t of supply shortages because of these efforts have identified Walter E. Williams is a professor of the coming years will diminish, than 1.1C above the pre-industrial be used anymore.

Russia’s war in Ukraine, Guterres the occurrence ofMason multiple economics at George University.

This was echoed by U.N. Sec- urged governments not to delay even eliminate chances to meet average, billions of people around variants of the SARS-CoV-2 our climate goals,” said Frances- the world are vulnerable to im- retary-General Antonio Guterres, the shift away from fossil fuels. virus, including the B.1.1.7, “The current crisis shows that who called for an end to private co La Camera, the director-gener- pacts from climate change.

La Camera told an energy con- sector financing for coal power, we must accelerate, not slow, the al of IRENA. B.1.351, B.1.429, B.1.617.2 Countries agreed seven years ference in Berlin that “not only the which surged to record highs last renewable energy transition,” he and now the B.1.1.529 said. “This is the only true path to ago in Paris to limit global warm- 1.5C, the 2C goal is really in dan- year. variants.

“Lenders need to recognize energy security.” ing to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahr- ger if we don’t act and don’t make

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B6

Southwest will add a fourth fare level to boost revenue The Associated Press For the week ending 3/18

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,827,349,645 Add Receipts

$265,280,050 Less Disbursements

$101,196,107 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,782,825,894 Loan Balance:

$340.3M

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines will add a fourth fare category as part of changes designed to attract more business travelers and boost revenue.

The new fare level will be priced higher than Southwest’s cheapest tickets but below the airline’s top two fare categories.

Southwest executives think this will fill the large price gap between the cheapest fares, called Wanna Get Away, and more-expensive tickets.

Consumers who buy the new fare level, called Wanna Get Away Plus, will get 33% more frequent-flyer points than the basic ticket, and they will be able to transfer the value of a ticket to another Southwest customer.

It’s the first major change in Southwest’s fare structure in 15 years. Airline officials said the changes announced Thursday will take effect in May or June.

Airlines frequently tinker with fares and fees to squeeze more revenue from passengers. In recent years, Delta, American and United have reacted to compe-

AP PHOTO

In this April 20, 2021 file photo, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger plane takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. tition from discount airlines by rolling out new, bare-bones “basic economy” fares. The big-three airlines then nudge customers to pay more for regular economy seats that include the amenities that they have come to expect.

Southwest hinted at the chang-

es back in December without giving details. The new fare level is among several moves, including a new credit-card deal with Chase Bank, that the Dallas-based airline hopes will collectively boost annual revenue by between $1 billion and $1.5 billion next year.

Executives declined to say how much more Wanna Get Away Plus seats will cost compared with cheaper seats, but it will vary by flight. Besides more frequent-flyer points and the ability to transfer credit, Plus buyers will be allowed to fly standby at no extra cost, even if there is a higher fare for the new flight.

Southwest will also add early-boarding privileges to the next priciest fare, called Anytime, to avoid cannibalizing sales of fullprice tickets. Early boarding is a perk because Southwest does not assign seats, meaning that the last passengers to board a crowded flight wind up in middle seats.

Andrew Watterson, the airline’s chief commercial officer, said all the changes should be particularly appealing to business travelers. Southwest is trying to take more business travel away from Delta, American and United.

Southwest’s most expensive tickets, called Business Select, are fully refundable and include early boarding, a free drink, and the most frequent-flyer points.

Anytime tickets are also refundable, while Wanna Get Away ones are not. All three include up to two checked bags for free – something other U.S. airlines don’t offer – and free ticket changes.

A majority of Southwest customers buy Wanna Get Away fares.

BUDGET from page B5 the coronavirus outbreak that began in 2020.

The proposal faced immediate criticism from Republican lawmakers. They noted that deficits well in excess of $1 trillion annually would persist, said higher taxes could hurt growth and objected that additional government spending would feed into inflation.

“What this budget shows is that President Biden values more spending, more debt, more taxes and more pain for the American people,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the top Republican on the House Budget Committee.

On the tax front, it’s unclear how Biden would get his polices through Congress. He had previously negotiated down the proposed 28% corporate tax rate, and his new minimum tax on the ultra wealthy would include “unrealized gains,” which are potential profits that exist on paper because the underlying asset has yet to be sold.

The result is that the special tax on people worth more than $100 million is unlikely to become law any time soon, said John Gimigliano, head of federal legislative & regulatory services at KPMG. “That is kind of like a slow burn proposal, like let’s continue to have this conversation over months or maybe years,” Gimigliano said.

While the budget would elevate funding for education, public health and provide $48 billion to increase the supply of affordable housing, it fails to spell out what the broader successor to Biden’s stalled “Build Back Better” agenda would be. That proposal from last year included money for child care, preschool, clean energy and lower health care premiums, but it was blocked by Manchin, the decisive Democratic vote.

White House Budget Director Shalanda Young told reporters the blueprint does not include line items tied to that possible bill because “discussions with Congress are ongoing.” But the budget plan includes a “ deficit neutral reserve fund” to account for a possible agreement being reached.

The Biden administration looked at a tax increase last year that resembles the 20% minimum on the full income of people worth $100 million or more.

But Manchin nixed that idea as divisive. What the Biden administration outlined on Monday would raise $361 billion over 10 years and apply to the top 0.01% of households. The proposal lists another $1.4 trillion in revenue raised over the next decade through other tax changes.

Among the tax changes is a 28% corporate tax rate and top individual rate of 39.6%, both increases.

Undergirding the plan is a forecast that the economy will return to normal next year after the unprecedented spending tied to the pandemic and inflation.

The budget forecasts 4.7% inflation this year and 2.3% in 2023, which would be down from 7% in 2021. Yet prices kept climbing in the first two months of 2022, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed oil, gasoline and natural gas prices higher in ways that could spread across the economy.

What to expect from the Fed’s interest rate increases The Associated Press THE FEDERAL RESERVE announced earlier this month it was raising its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. The raise was expected, but it’s still unknown how the conflict in Ukraine will impact the Fed’s plans going forward. The crisis in Ukraine may eventually slow the pace of the increases, but experts still predict more increases, possibly through 2023 or beyond.

After many years of historically low-interest rates following the 2008 financial crisis, surging inflation has forced the Federal Reserve to increase its rates. Rate rises have implications for businesses and households alike, so here are five things to expect from the increases and the parts of the economy that may be impacted.

US Dollar Strengthening On one level, an increase in inflation should mean that a currency loses its value. After all, if you can buy your weekly groceries for $100 one month, but inflation means that the same grocery shop costs $110 a few weeks later, the purchasing power of a single dollar has reduced.

What happens on a macroeconomic scale?

Usually, inflation harms a currency relative to the currencies of other nations. This assumes that other currencies haven’t also experienced inflation - and rising prices

have practically been a worldwide phenomenon since Covid-19.

A currency’s value relative to others also links to interest rates.

For example, when the Fed increases interest rates to control inflation, it may increase the demand for foreign investment since returns become higher. Yet many other aspects influence investment in a country, such as its economic and political stability.

What we’ve seen so far is the product of various factors - inflation and interest rates increases are playing a role in the value of the US dollar, but so are international affairs.

Oil and Other Energy Prices Rising Oil is notorious for being one of the most volatile markets there is, and it’s hit the headlines even more recently for being volatile due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With sanctions imposed on crude oil from Russia, oil prices are likely to continue increasing.

However, even before the conflict in Ukraine, inflation and rising interest rates pushed up the oil price. Rising prices and oil are interconnected - higher inflation pushes oil prices up, but more significant oil prices raise prices elsewhere since almost everything in the economy relies on oil.

It’s not always simple to figure out which direction the cause and effect run in, but it’s reasonable to expect oil prices to keep rising.

houses should theoretically mean that house prices fall (assuming that supply remains around the same).

We’re yet to see the product of this so far, but as interest rates begin to change, a very different housing market is likely to form.

US Bond Rates Increasing

Stock Prices Decreasing

Bonds can be a good predictor of prices and inflation. The interest rates that bonds offer to investors partly depend on how much inflation a country is experiencing.

The theory goes, with higher inflation, interest rates rise in response to compensate for the additional risk that comes with investing. We can see this borne out with lower bond prices and higher yields (falling bond prices mean higher yields). Yet, lower rates are typically on offer in a low inflation environment like the one we’ve seen recently.

The bond yield curve (with bond maturity on the x-axis and interest rates on the y-axis) demonstrates this relationship. A steep yield curve suggests inflation, while a flatter curve indicates uncertainty.

With the Fed raising interest rates, bond yields are likely to increase in the future.

We’ve already seen the effects of this. US Treasury yields have increased faster than forecasts, while the yield curve has flattened (suggesting uncertainty about whether rate hikes will be steep enough).

Yields have reached 2% for the first time since 2019.

The higher interest rates are, the more expensive it is to borrow money. That isn’t just a problem for individuals but also businesses since they rely on borrowing to grow their operations. Considering we’ve already been through a tumultuous period and we’re entering another one, this could spell tough times.

Bad news for businesses means bad news for their shareholders.

Higher interest rates could be one reason (among many more) why the stock market has declined since the start of 2022, and it may mean the trend is likely to continue. At a minimum, we can expect some big swings in prices and volatility.

Then there’s the fact that higher borrowing costs make it more expensive for consumers to spend money, which affects the businesses selling to the consumer. Considering the prices of goods and services increase with inflation, people can now afford relatively less.

Some individual investors may also get spooked by inflation and decide to sell their stock holdings, resulting in greater stock price volatility particularly in the opening range of the trading session.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to sell, though - if you’re brave, you could try to “buy the dip.”

The best advice is to stay informed on all fronts and take action accordingly.

House Prices Declining When interest rates are higher, it’s less appealing for prospective homebuyers to take out a mortgage because their monthly payments will be higher. So less demand for

AP PHOTO

A box filled with dollar bills is shown in New York, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B7

2022 Kia EV6

PHOTOS COURTESY KIA

Fast, Faster, Fastest The roadside assistance is pretty solid too The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — Electric cars, aside from some of those made by Tesla, haven’t been the most exciting vehicles on the market.

That’s a problem because as much as people like sensibility and good fuel economy, many car purchases are made with the heart rather than the brain.

Car dealers know this, which is why Chevy dealers always have a gorgeous new sports car sitting front-and-center when you walk in. Some guy (or gal), who has secretly always wanted a little red Corvette, will come in looking for a new Tahoe or something and walk out with a brand new droptop simply because it was there.

Electric cars... well, they’ve gone a different direction.

The Nissan Leaf is a fine automobile, well suited to picking up groceries or getting you to and from the office. But it doesn’t stir passion outside of its vocal but diminutive ownership. The Kia Niro EV is a great little electric crossover, but it’s far from exciting.

However, this practicality-first approach is getting tossed aside in favor of the tried-and-true automotive method of bigger, better, and bester.

The new GMC Hummer EV pickup is a 9,000-pound monument to excess, living up to the Hummer nameplate and sticking a thumb in the eye of environmentalists by taking sensible batteries and electric motors and using them to drive sideways up a

cliff.

And thank goodness, because electric cars can be incredibly fun. With instant torque and a low center of gravity, cars like this week’s tester — the Kia EV6 — are a joy to behold and drive.

Mine was a rear-drive version with a single electric motor making 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version makes 320 hp and 446 lbft, so I was afraid I’d have the pokey, slow version. Oh, how wrong I was.

There are certainly faster versions of the EV6, including an upcoming EV6 GT that will make 576 hp — but this one was the epitome of a hot hatch, and I’d easily take it over a Volkswagen GTI. With wheels pushed far out to the car’s corners, the EV6 handled like a go-kart. The 77.4 kWh battery pack, good for 310 miles of EPA-estimated range, sits low beneath your feet, good both for performance and overall storage in the car.

There isn’t so much power that you can’t plant your right foot and scamper away from a red light, and goosing it up an on-ramp gets you onto the highway in a flash but not at such prodigious speeds that you need to stomp on the brakes when you get there.

The most impressive part of the EV6 is the charging. I was able to fill the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes at a 350 kWh Electrify America DC fast charger, spot on with what Kia claims. That’s more than 200 miles in less than 20 minutes, twice as fast as similarly-priced competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen

ID.4.

An 18-minute fast-charge stop is not far off what you’d spend at a typical gas station on a road trip, between pumping gas, hitting the restroom, and deciding which can of Pringles you want.

Kia swears that the EV6 is an SUV or a crossover or some such, but that’s nonsense. This, like its corporate sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, is a hatchback to those who know and a “crossover” to those who think hatchbacks are boring.

The outside is swoopy and slippery, and the Steel Matte Gray paint was stunning. Usually, matte paint is reserved for ultra-pricey luxury cars, but thank goodness they put it here. More cars need matte paint.

The interior is much more tra-

ditional than the wide-open design in the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

There’s a gap between the floating center console and the dashboard, giving access to a large storage bin on the floor between the driver’s and passenger’s feet.

This is a striking design difference from the Ioniq 5, and if you put the two side-by-side, I suspect you’ll have strong feelings one way or the other. As is often the case with design, the better interior is solely in the eye of the beholder — or, perhaps more likely these days, the better one is whichever one you can find to buy.

The interior is a bit tight for my liking, however. The seat feels too high, which gives an SUV-style upright leg position, but my head was just a bit too close to the ceil-

ing for my liking. I didn’t actually touch the roof, but it was right there. I’d make sure to find an EV6 to sit in before you buy it.

My EV6 GT-Line RWD priced out to $53,405, and it’s eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. Lower-priced versions are available, including one with a smaller battery starting around $43,000.

I liked the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and I’ve long-recommended the Tesla Model 3 and Y solely on the back of the Tesla Supercharger network. But now, the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 get my wholehearted recommendation on the back of incredibly high-speed charging and excellent driving experience.

But, most excitingly, it’s proof that EVs are finally getting fun.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B8

features Women’s History Month | Greensboro’s Cindy Mondello brings hope and healing

By Lindsay Morris North State Journal Throughout the month of March the NSJ will be celebrating the remarkable contributions of North Carolina women for Women’s History Month AS SOON AS YOU enter Restoration Place Counseling (RPC), you are greeted with a verse from Isaiah 61:4 “restoring the places long devastated.” For Cindy Mondello, the founder and executive director of RPC, this verse is the foundation of nearly two decades of work with girls and women, ages 12 and up, who have needed affordable Christian counseling to not only address issues ranging from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sexual abuse, trauma, relational struggles, body image issues, as well as others, but to bring restoration. And for Mondello it’s personal. Having spent her youth and early adult years struggling with bulimia and alcoholism, Mondello’s passion is to walk alongside women, and her life’s work has impacted countless lives throughout the Triad and beyond.

Despite growing up in a Christian family in Louisiana, Mondello found herself empty and suffering as a young woman, struggling with issues people usually tried to keep quiet. With a history of alcoholism in her family and at a time when eating disorders were not readily diagnosed, Mondello found herself in and out of treatment. However, Mondello says that God mercifully woke her up one late night in December of 1996 and finally called her to sobriety. She had done traditional counseling and eating disorder related counseling for years, but it wasn’t until after she moved to Greensboro in 1997 that true healing began. Mondello remembers well the emptiness in her life.

“While the behaviors were gone, I was still struggling with eating and body disorder issues and broken relationships,” says Mondello. To her surprise, the restoration she needed came through the loving prayers and biblical guidance of a trained Christian counselor.

With a spiritually grounded group of friends encouraging

COURTESY PHOTO

Christian counselor Cindy Mondello of Restoration Place Counseling. her and financially supporting her, Mondello decided to enroll in a master’s program at Gordon Conwell in Christian counseling in January of 2001. It was also during those final semesters of graduate school that Mondello provided low-cost counseling for young women at UNCG as a counseling intern. She was able to speak to their hearts as they battled their own struggles with body image and social pressures and share her own journey from suffering to restoration through a blended form of counseling that uses proven psychological principles with a biblical worldview. It was also during this time that Mondello realized that many young girls and women did not have insurance that covered Christian counseling.

Once again her friends and counselor challenged her to use her heart, knowledge and faith to open a nonprofit that provided affordable Christian counseling to women. To this day, Mondello humbly credits everything to God’s hold on her life by put-

ting the right people at the right time in her path. So it was in the spring 2005, just prior to graduation, that Mondello filed to incorporate RPC as a 501c3. By June, RPC was incorporated and Mondello was seeing clients.

Mondello says RPC’s “goal is to journey with our clients through a process of healing and restoration that allows them to fully accept and experience God’s unconditional love and find freedom from life crippling issues that inhibit them from reaching their full potential and to do this on a sliding scale fee basis.” She says “until we know God’s Word, we will always flounder trying to make life work and trying to make sense of a fallen world.” For Mondello, “He alone is the one true healer.” Mondello acknowledges there will be tremendous highs and lows as clients go through counseling. According to her “there is no magic pill. Instead our clients will have assignments, exercises, writing journals, and perhaps other projects.”

For Mondello it has not al-

ways been easy, but she knows that God has equipped her when she didn’t know how to navigate the steep learning curve of running a nonprofit, fundraising, hiring staff and adhering to the path that God has called her to walk.

One of Mondello’s friends and faith partners through her journey, Joan Whitcomb, says this about Mondello’s work, “When God plans a thing he delivers the right package, to the right place, and at the right time. He has gifted Cindy with the ability to organize, lead and inspire others, and with the wisdom to lean on the people He has placed in her life.”

Mondello’s creative fundraising work has also been incredibly successful. “Restoration Runway” for nearly a decade has offered past clients the opportunity to walk in celebratory confidence for the restorative care they’ve received. The event has grown in its fundraising support and now grosses over 200K each year. Clients regularly offer positive reviews of RPC from “I’m beginning to have a better understanding of

myself” to a graduate student’s “I can afford to come and my mental health is improved.” This year, Mondello has announced that RPC will not only be celebrating their clients, but will feature Grammy award winner Mandisa at the Carolina Theatre on September 23rd. The community is invited to attend this exciting event and support the future work of RPC. While Modello no longer sees clients, she is motivated by the stories of healing that her talented team of counselors share each week. Mondello says “I am in a sweet time right now. I am able to pour my heart into my staff, be present with them so that they can effectively pour into their clients.” And there’s no slowing down for Mondello. Her energy still focuses on the hope she was given: “that each client will persevere through the pain and experience liberating joy on the other side.” And for her this is a daily victory and one that inspires other women as they gain ground towards restoration.

Oscar Moments: The night emotion won, for better and worse In an Oscar ceremony that will live in infamy, NC native Ariana DeBose wins Best Supporting Actress for “West Side Story”

gized to the academy and said he hoped he’d be invited back. And Hollywood clearly was expressing its love: A stream of celebrities came over to comfort Smith after his slap moment, including Washington, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, Tyler Perry and others.

The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Did I miss anything?” quipped Oscars cohost Amy Schumer, returning to the Dolby Theatre stage after a break. “There’s a different vibe in here.”

Oh my, was there ever.

With a sudden, shocking outburst of anger from actor Will Smith, who bounded onstage to slap Chris Rock after the comedian joked about his wife’s appearance, the theater was thrown into a state of deeply uncomfortable shock.

“Did we just see that?” people said to each other, as realization grew that the outburst was not pre-planned or meant as a joke.

Phones buzzed, too, with many audience members saying they were getting texts from friends or family watching at home, asking if they had seen what they thought they did.

The discomfort continued through the end of the show, even as a tearful Smith, as expected, won the best actor prize for “King Richard” and apologized to the academy, though not to Rock.

There were history-making wins, impassioned speeches, a smidgen of politics, and hardly a thought about the pandemic as revelers packed into the postshow Governor’s Ball.

Some key Oscar moments: To be in America Holding her Oscar in triumph, Ariana DeBose echoed the words of her famous character in “West Side Story,” Anita. “Now you see why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’” said DeBose, who won for best supporting actress, as ex-

Campion celebrates

PHOTO BY JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP

Ariana DeBose, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for “West Side Story,” poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. pected. “Because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true.” There was much that was special about her win.

DeBose won the trophy 60 years after Rita Moreno claimed the award in 1962 for the original film version of the Broadway musical.

And she made history as well, becoming the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actor to win in the category. “To anybody who has ever questioned your identity,” she said, echoing more lyrics from “West Side Story,” “I promise you there is a place for us.”

Beyoncé holds (tennis) court After an opening greeting from Venus and Serena Williams, whose

tennis-playing youth and life with their father is the subject of “King Richard,” the opening number was performed by none other than Beyoncé. The superstar sang her nominated song, “Be Alive,” in a dance-heavy performance from an open-air stage in Compton, where the Williams sisters were raised.

Even her star power didn’t win the song an Oscar, though. It was Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas, who won for their “No Time to Die” James Bond theme song.

Finneas thanked the duo’s parents with words that brought smiles to many, saying: “We love you as parents and we love you as real people, too.”

But speaking of ‘King

Richard’ …

(You knew we had to get back to this one.) “King Richard” may not have won best song but it took the prize for Smith himself, not long after the slap heard ‘round the world. A hugely emotional Smith rose to accept his trophy and began with a clear reference to what had just happened, noting that “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. ..,” He also noted that Denzel Washington had told him that “At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.” He apolo-

At the post-Oscar Governor’s Ball, where stars and guests guzzled Champagne and munched on smoked salmon hors d’oeuvres shaped like Oscars (and many other things), it was a jolly mood but especially for Jane Campion, who impulsively broke out dancing in the packed room, surely an expression of joy at having won the best director Oscar for “The Power of the Dog.” Her win was a moment for history, as it marked the first time the directing award went to women in back-to-back years, with Chloé Zhao’s victory last year for “Nomadland.” Campion is the third woman to win in the category. Her win was the only one for her reimagined Western despite 12 nominations. Campion lost out on best adapted screenplay to Sian Heder of “CODA.” Oh yes, partying was back After last year’s distanced pandemic Oscars, partying was back with a vengeance. The audience — all vaccinated and COVID-tested, twice — packed into bars during the awards and then at the Governor’s Ball, where hardly a mask was to be seen. The main subject of conversation at the Ball was, no surprise, the Will Smith developments. “At first everyone thought it was fake,” said one guest, real estate broker Sara Roche from Charlotte, N.C. “Everyone was texting from home and saying, ‘What is going on?’” But Roche also had thoughts about “CODA,” whose win made her happy. “I’m not an emotional person and not a cryer,” she said. “But I got a lump in my throat when ‘CODA’ won.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B9

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 46 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Delvea N. Releford (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Delvea N. Releford) to H. Terry Hutchens, Trustee(s), dated December 13, 2002, and recorded in Book No. 5936, at Page 256 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 639 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Flossie Sue Ivey(PRESENTRECORDOWNER(S):FlossieSueIvey,Heirs of Flossie Sue Ivey: Steven Ivey a/k/a Stevie Ivey, Roddie Hancock) to K. Smith, Trustee(s), dated July 16, 2009, and recorded in Book No. 8205, at Page 0653 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 April 4, 2022 and will sell to

21 SP 699 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 William Parker and Tabol Parker to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), which was dated April 13, 2016 and recorded on April 13, 2016 in Book 09840 at Page 0527, 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 conducting the sale on April 13, 2022 at 01:30 PM, and will

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP791 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES R. BUTLER AND ROSA WILLIAMS DATED DECEMBER 22, 1998 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5009 AT PAGE 201 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.21-111662.FC01.202* 21-111662 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP791 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES R. BUTLER AND ROSA WILLIAMS DATED DECEMBER 22, 1998 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5009 AT PAGE 201 IN THE CUMBERLAND

21 SP 806 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY

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 April 11, 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 No. 460, Harris Place, Section Two, Phase Two, according to a Plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 102, at Page 34, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 838 Schley 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.

Should the property be purchased by a third

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: All that certain parcel of land in Cumberland County, State of NC, as more fully described in Book 2702 Page 338 ID#0415-79-2223, being known and designated as Lot 29 Woodlea, Section II, recorded in Plat Book 32, Page 26. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4512 Dominion Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Being the same fee simple property conveyed by deed from Max Cleland, as Administrator of Veteran Affairs to Charles Walton Ivey and wife Flossie Sue Ivey, dated 03/16/1979 in Book 2702 Page 338 in Cumberland County Records, State of NC. The said Charles Walton Ivey having departed this life on 02/7/07 thereby vesting fee simple to Flossie Sue Ivey.

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

sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 18, in a subdivision known as Hawthorne, Section One, Part Two, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 68, Page 80, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA A M H J H J G KG M H J B L F P G N E J G K ALMCPLMPPNIOLEHMLFNBLK AMOJODMHGAAJDNDALFFECK ALIPDLJGNGAPIBAGHNKABK ALPGCBMFCEDFDKEJMJCKCK DLLDDLLLLDLDLLLLLLLDDL NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on April 4, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed James R. Butler and Rosa Williams, dated December 22, 1998 to secure the original principal amount of $64,368.00, and recorded in Book 5009 at Page 201 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may

and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on April 6, 2022 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit:

19 SP 1125 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

conducting the sale on April 6, 2022 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit:

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

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

BEING ALL OF LOT 219 IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS ACORN RIDGE, SECTION TWO, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 112, PAGE 11, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1462 Oldstead Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306.

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 21SP738 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SALE

situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Joanna P. Gilmore, dated February 17, 2012 to secure the original principal amount of $66,104.00, and recorded in Book 8837 at Page 862 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21sp440 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY THOMAS R. WISE AND JAMESENA WISE DATED JULY 24, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7665 AT PAGE 309 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.19-106517.FC02.202* 19-106517 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21sp440 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY THOMAS R. WISE AND JAMESENA

($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.

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.

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

Property Address: 6752 Saint Julian Way, Fayetteville, NC 28314

Said property is commonly known as 512 Andover Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28311.

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 1:30 on April 6, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements

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

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

9487-24-1309

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

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOANNA P. GILMORE DATED FEBRUARY 17, 2012 RECORDED IN BOOK 8837 AT PAGE 862 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

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

Said property is commonly known as 6752 Saint Julian Way, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

ID:

Being all of Lot 38 in a Subdivision Known as Oakland, According to a Plat of the Same Duly Recorded in Plat Book 55, Page 49, Cumberland County, North Carolina, Registry.

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jaharii D. Collier and Kendra L. Collier to Steve Bunce, Trustee(s), which was dated February 23, 2005 and recorded on February 25, 2005 in Book 6800 at Page 597 and rerecorded/modified/ corrected on November 18, 2019 in Book 10631, Page 0157, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

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 William Parker and Tabol Parker.

Parcel

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Luis Fernando Molina Rosales to Law Office of Miranda R McCoy, Trustee(s), which was dated June 11, 2018 and recorded on June 13, 2018 in Book 10322 at Page 0322, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY

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

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

Address of property: Madison Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax Parcel ID: 8460 Present Record Owners: Joanna P. Gilmore

4

7

6

8

0 4 1 3 -7 5 Heirs

of

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Heirs of Joanna P. Gilmore.

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

WISE DATED JULY 24, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7665 AT PAGE 309 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on April 11, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Thomas R. Wise and Jamesena Wise, dated July 24, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $202,000.00, and recorded in Book 7665 at Page 309 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate,

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 5 3 1 Address of property: Edgecombe Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28301 0 4 3 8-24Tax Parcel ID: 4452.000 The Heirs of Present Record Owners: James R. Butler The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of James R. Butler.

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

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 Luis Fernando Molina Rosales.

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.

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 Jaharii D Collier and Kendra L. Collier.

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

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

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.

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9 4 9 7-7 0 Thomas

R.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Thomas R. Wise and Jamesena Wise.

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

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.: 18-12252-FC01

The date of this Notice is March 15, 2022.

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

Suite

400

21-111662

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

File No.: 21-08551-FC01

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.

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

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.: 17-20124-FC01

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

0

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: 2924 - 7083

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

but no representation or warranty is intended.

5

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.

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.

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

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: 5083 - 19468

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.

IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse

Address of property: Ridgemont Pl, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID: 8394 Present Record Owners: Wise and Jamesena Wise

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.

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.

Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Posted: __________________ By: __________________ Ingle Case Number: 4526-5131

The date of this Notice is 3rd day of March, 2022.

Posted: By:

__________________ __________________

Ingle Case Number: 4526-5131 Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160

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 March 1, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-106517 19-106517

Suite

400

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 21 SP 723 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE In the matter of the Foreclosure of that certain Deed of Trust executed by DARYLL L. LAWRENCE AND LAYOYA M. JOHNSON to DENNIS F. HARDIMAN, Trustee, payable to EMBRACE HOME LOANS, INC., Lender, dated January 30, 2013, and recorded in Book 9104, Page 25 of the CUMBERLAND County Public Registry by Frances S. White or Rick D. Lail, Substitute Trustee either of whom may act as successor trustee under the Deed of Trust.

DAVIDSON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 235 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Millard Monroe Pendry and Jacqueline C. Pendry aka Jackie C. Pendry (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Millard Monroe Pendry and Jacqueline C. Pendry) to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), dated May 10, 2012, and recorded in Book No. 2057, at Page 1584 in Davidson 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 Davidson 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 20sp313 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LUTHER JAMES NEWBY, III AND AMY D. NEWBY DATED APRIL 29, 1999 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1132 AT PAGE 886 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.20-110495.FC01.202* 20-110495 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 20sp313

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 67 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Claymon Rutledge aka Claymon R. Rutledge (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Claymon R. Rutledge, Heirs of Claymon R. Rutledge a/k/a Claymon Rutledge: Timothy Rutledge, Wanda Gayle Foraker, Claymon Kyle Rutledge, James M. Steffey, Travis Steffey, Brenda Puckett) to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), dated March 31, 2015, and recorded in Book No. RE 3223, at Page 3980 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 37 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Alana M. Anthe and Willard E. Anthe, Jr. (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Willard E. Anthe, Jr. and Alana M. Anthe) to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), dated December 23, 2015, and recorded in Book No. RE 3265, at Page 2233 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on April 6, 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:

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 53 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Barry J. Smith (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Barry J. Smith) to Investors Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated May 5, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 4955, at Page 768 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 door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on April 5, 2022 and will sell to

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECOSURE SALE 21 SP 349 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David Robert Brown (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David Robert Brown) to Teresa Nixon, Trustee(s), dated October 5, 2011, and recorded in Book No. 3663, at Page 313 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 42 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Teresa Ann Mason and Laurence F. Mason (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Laurence F. Mason and Teresa Ann Mason) to Fidelity National Title, Trustee(s), dated December 30, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 5353, at Page 442 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

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of a default and failure to perform the agreements contained therein, and pursuant to the demand of the holder of the secured debt, the Substitute Trustee will expose for sale, at public auction, at the usual place of sale, at the CUMBERLAND COUNTY COURTHOUSE on APRIL 6, 2022 at 11:00 AM, all of that certain parcel of land and all improvements thereon, as secured by the above-referenced Deed of Trust, recorded in Book 9104 at Page 25, of the CUMBERLAND County Register of Deeds, and as situated in CUMBERLAND COUNTY, with said parcel being more particularly described therein, and with said legal description being made a part hereof and incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein, and being briefly described as BEING ALL OF LOT 23 IN THE SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS ACORN RIDGE, SECTION FIVE, PART ONE, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 116, PAGE 91, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. ADDRESS SHOWN AS SECURITY ON THE NOTE AND DEED OF TRUST: 2257 CHASEWATER ROAD,

door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on April 6, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 0102300000011 Land situated in the Township of Abbotts Creek in the County of Davidson in the State of NC BEGINNING: at a point in the center of the public road leading from Canaan Church to Highway 109 at Shady Grove Church the southeast corner of the tract in E.F. Smith’s line at Robert F. Smith’s corner; thence about N. with Robert F. Smith’s line 217 feet to an iron stake, Welter Craven’s corner; thence a new line about West 143 feet to an iron stake; thence a new line about South 217 feet to the center of the above named road in E.F. Smith’s line, thence with E.F. Smith’s line East 143 feet to the beginning.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1236 Shady Grove Church Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Commonly known as: 1236 Shady Grove Church Road,

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LUTHER JAMES NEWBY, III AND AMY D. NEWBY DATED APRIL 29, 1999 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1132 AT PAGE 886 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 10:00AM on April 6, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Luther James Newby, III and Amy D. Newby, dated April 29, 1999 to secure the original principal amount of $77,688.60, and recorded in Book 1132 at Page 886 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the

FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28306 TAX ID: 0415-76-8214 PRESENT RECORD OWNERS as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds: DARYLL L. LAWRENCE. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the tax of forty-five cents per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S § 7A-308(a)(1), up to a maximum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). The property to be offered pursuant to this NOTICE OF SALE is being offered for sale 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 makes 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 liabilities or responsibilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed by the Trustee and/or the holder of the note herein. This sale is subject to all prior liens, encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments, including any transfer tax associated with foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, or $750, whichever is greater, is required

Winston Salem, NC 27107

In the event the property which is the subject of this NOTICE OF SALE is residential real property with less than fifteen (15) rental units, 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 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

State laws.

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

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: Lexington, NC 27295 Tax Parcel ID: 1801600000001R Present Record Owners: James Newby, III

from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds or cash at the time of sale. This sale will be held open for ten (10) 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 paid 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 Trustee, or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

119 Hettie Dr,

L u t h e r

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Luther James Newby, III. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the

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

in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. The notice shall also state 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.

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10700 Abbott’s Bridge Duluth, GA 30097 Telephone: (470) 321-7112 Facsimile: (404) 393-1425

CRANE

&

Road

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: 4689 - 17467

holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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 February 23, 2022.

20-110495 Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-110495

Suite

400

courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on April 13, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Belews Creek in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 6970-49-5784.00 Land Situated in the County of Forsyth in the State of NC Beginning at a point in the north line of Tract 2 and the south line of Tract 3 of the W.L. Abbott Estate as recorded in Map Book 2 at Page 79 in the Forsyth County Registry, said point also being North 62 degrees 35 minutes West 185.62 feet from the north east corner of Barak Loynab Property as recorded in Deed Book 1701 at Page 991 and running thence South 29 degrees 42 minutes 50 seconds West passing through an iron pipe at 6.42 feet a total distance of 296.82 feet to an iron pipe; thence North 60 degrees 17 minutes 10 seconds West 150.00 feet to an iron pipe; thence North 29 degrees 42 minutes 50 seconds East passing through an iron pipe at 290.40 feet a total distance of 290.80 feet to a point in the south line of Tract 3; thence with the south line of Tract 3 South 62 degrees 35 minutes East 150.12 feet to the point of beginning. Said tract containing 1.01 acres. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 7340 Pine Hall Road, Belews Creek, North Carolina.

Together with a right-of-way easement being 30 foot in

width, and running parallel with the following described line; beginning at point, said point being the northeast corner of the above described tract of land; and running thence with the south line of Tract 3 South 62 degrees 35 minutes East passing through iron pipes at 185.62 feet; 943.02 feet, a total distance of 967.45 feet to a point in Sr. No. 1975 (Pine Hall Road).

NOTE: The company is prohibited from insuring the area or quantity of the land. The Company does not represent that any acreage or footage calculations are correct.

References to quantity are for identification purposes only.

Commonly known as: 7340 Pine Hall Rd, Belews Creek, NC 27009 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.

Tax Id Number(s): 5895-93-7259.00 Land Situated in the County of Forsyth in the State of NC Tract #1: All of that Condominium Unit 111 as referred to in that instrument entitled “Declaration of Condominium” (Hereinafter called “Declaration”) recorded in Book 1239 at Page 1792 on June of Cedar Lake Condominiums, Section 1, which are recorded in Condominium Book 1 at Page 18 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina.

Tract #2: An undivided 3.1250% interest in and to the “common areas and facilities” as defined in paragraph E of said “Declaration”, to which reference is made for a more particular description of “common areas and facilities”.

Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 111 Cedar Lake Trail, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Also conveyed is a membership in “Cedar Lake Recreational Corporation”, as defined in said “Declaration”.

Provided, the aforesaid Condominium Unit shall be used for residential purpose only, and the party of the second part and 111 Unit shall be subject to the regular monthly assessments, duties, obligations, limitations, and rules specified in said Declaration and the by-laws of Cedar Lake Condominiums, Section 1, hereinafter called “by-laws” which were recorded simultaneously with the Declarations

and both of which documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set out herein.

The property address and tax parcel identification number listed are provided solely for informational purposes.

Commonly Known as: 111 Cedar Lake Trail, Winston Salem, NC 27104 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.

the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Princeton in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: That lot in the Town of Princeton, situated on the northwest corner formed by the intersection of East Street and South Pearl Street, and bounded on the north by the lot of Andrew Brewer (formerly H.M. Fitzgerald); on the East by First Street; on the South by Pearl Street; and on the West

by Robert Glenn Watson’s (formerly H.A. Watson) lot; and more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at the northwest corner of East First and South Pearl Streets, and runs thence with the line of Pearl Street South 58 degrees West 150 feet to a stake, Robert Glenn Watson’s (formerly H.J. Watson) line; thence North 32 degrees West 150 feet to a stake, Andrew Brewer’s (formerly H.M. Fitzgerald) corner; thence with said line North 58 degrees East 150 feet to East First Street; thence with the line of said East First Street South 32 degrees East 150 feet to the BEGINNING and containing a fractional part of an acre according to survey and plat made by C.B. Fulgham, Surveyor, June 11 1934; and being that identical lot conveyed to W. J. Massey by S.S. Holt and James A. Wellons, Commissioners, by deed dated December 14, 1914, and recorded December 17, 1914, in Book 0-13, page 7, Johnston County Registry; and being the same lot (designated as Tract #6) conveyed by deed October 14, 1930 from W.J. Massey and wife, Millie Massey, to Henry M.

Fitzgerald and wife, Agnes Fitzgerald and recorded in Book 275, page 68, Johnston County Registry. Being also the same property conveyed to Smithfield Savings and Loan Association by Trustee’s Deed from James A. Wellons, Jr., Trustee, dated June 5, 1979, and recorded at 4:50 P.M. on 7 June 1979 in Book 857, page 241, Registry of Johnston County. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 108 East 1st Street, Princeton, 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

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 April 7, 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 11, Block E, according to plat entitled, “Subdivision Map No. 1 of Northwoods II, Jacksonville, NC dated March 1958, prepared by Herndon Edgerton, Engineer, and recorded in Map Book 5, Page 68, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 411 Woodhaven Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

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),

designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on April 7, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hubert in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land referred to herein below is situated in the County of Onslow, State of North Carolina, and is described as follows: Being all of Lot 49 and 10 feet off the North side of Lot 50, as shown on Map of Quail Point. Part III, as recorded in Map Book 13, Page 73, Onslow County, North Carolina, to which Map reference is hereby made for a more particular description of said Lot. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 402 Prince Drive, Hubert, North Carolina.

Also being the 0.328 Tract as shown on that boundary survey for L.F. Mason and Wife, T.A. Mason as recorded in Deed Book 2760 Page 160 of the Onslow County Registry.

Parcel ID: 005208 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.

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: 6083 - 23469

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: 6073 - 23408

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2042 - 4347

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: 4913 - 18601

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: 5345 - 21106

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

B11

TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 28 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Leonard Baruso (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Leonard Baruso, Heirs of Leonard Baruso: Daniel Baruso, Raiden Baruso, Ginamarie Baruso, Olivia Baruso, Everett Baruso, Elizabeth Baruso) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated February 13, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 4114, at Page 141 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on March 25, 2019, in Book No. 4915, at Page 956 , default having been made in the payment of the

RANDOLPH

UNION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION UNION COUNTY 21SP359 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY HAZEL BOYD AND MARY RUTH BOYD DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 05945 AT PAGE 0598 IN THE UNION COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

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 April 14, 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 95, as shown on that plat entitled “Final Plat Wantland’s Ferry, Section I-A at Towne Pointe” as recorded in Map Book 66, Page 12, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 301 Samuel Run Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Phillip Garris and Jessica Anne Tarlton Garris (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Phillip Garris and Jessica Anne Tarlton Garris) to Neal G. Helms, Trustee(s), dated May 29, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 4905, at Page 695 in Union County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on December 8, 2010, in Book No. 5453, at Page 0352 A Loan Modification recorded on August 6, 2014, in Book No. 6276, at Page 0209 A Loan Modification recorded on August 23, 2018, in Book No. 7221, at Page 0792 , default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the

12 SP 1003 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, UNION COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Edward J. Harty and Margaret L. Harty to James R. Manion, III, Trustee(s), which was dated August 13, 2002 and recorded on August 16, 2002 in Book 1890 at Page 170, Union 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

WAKE Notice to Creditors

Notice to Creditors Having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Helen Francis Aldridge Woodcock (Wake 22-E-1262), late of Wake County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 21SP2133 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT D. HIBBARD AND MICHELLE A. HIBBARD DATED AUGUST 24, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 15421 AT PAGE 1202 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.21-111758.FC01.202* 21-111758 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 21SP2133 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Nancy W. Crabtree (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Nancy W. Crabtree, Heirs of Nancy W. Crabtree: Andy Learon Crabtree, Tina Crabtree; Heirs of Tina Crabtree: Jonathan Earl Lazenby, Alex Raeford Lazenby) to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), dated February 6, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 011808, at Page 01683 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 21SP1526 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY WAKE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BAZEKA L. VALAKA AND NDIDILA K. VALAKA DATED MAY 2, 2006 RECORDED IN BOOK 11940 AT PAGE 1912 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default

20 SP 683 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 Judith M. Lynn and Ronald F. Lynn to Fidelity National Title Ins. Company, Trustee(s), which was dated June 8, 2013 and recorded on June 28, 2013 in Book 015338 at Page 01863, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee

State laws.

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.

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.

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: 6044 - 23257

Linda Faye Parker aka Linda Church Parker

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale

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

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

Having qualified as (executor(administrator) on the estate of Linda Fay Parker, aka Linda Church Parker, deceased, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, 2021 E 001342 this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate

of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of June, 2022, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This 30th day of March, 2022,

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on April 11, 2022 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Union County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Hazel Boyd and Mary Ruth Boyd, dated February 21, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $132,000.00, and recorded in Book 05945 at Page 0598 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.

Address of property: Old 5115 Pageland Marshville Road, Monroe, NC 28112 Tax Parcel ID: 03129007 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Hazel Boyd

conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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

Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on April 14, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 3 (1 067 acres) of the John Scott Tarlton and wife, Mary Annette Rushing Tarlton Property according to boundary and division survey dated 04/04/2006 by Caroll L. Rushing, P L S, a map of which is recorded in the Union County Register of Deeds Office in Plat Cabinet J, File 275, reference being made thereto and the same being incorporated herein by reference for a more particular description. Being a portion of that property described in Deed Book 4350, Page 0545, Union County Registry.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2513 Braswell Rushing Road, Monroe, North Carolina.

Being subject to drainfield easement serving Lot 2 as shown on the recorded plat, and being subject to right-of-way for Braswell-Rushing Road.

The purpose of this deed is to create a tenancy by the entireties by Grantor to Grantees.

This is the same property conveyed to Mary Annette Rushing Tarlton by deed filed 10/30/06 Book 04350 Page

0545. It was later conveyed to Jessica Anne Tarlton Garris and husband Phillip Garris by Deed filed Oct. 9, 2007 Book 04708 Page 0123.

Tax ID 08-096-007K Property Address 2513 Braswell Rushins Monroe, NC 28110 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.

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on April 5, 2022 at 12:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union 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.

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

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

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

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,

File No.: 12-05849-FC01

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 50

for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Being all of Lot 50 in the Potters Trace Subdivision (The Subdivision), Phase II, as shown on a map thereof recorded in Plat Cabinet G, File 842, of the Union County, North Carolina Public Registry, Reference to which maps are hereby made and incorporated herein.

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

Said property is commonly known as 818 Circle Trace Road, Monroe, NC 28112.

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

Having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of June N. Thompson (Wake 22-E-1124), 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

notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July 2022 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will

OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT D. HIBBARD AND MICHELLE A. HIBBARD DATED AUGUST 24, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 15421 AT PAGE 1202 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA A M H J H J G K H M H J B L F P H L B J G K ALMCPLMCHFIOLEHMLHPHNK AMOJODMHGAAJDMDBLJPGCK ALIPDLJGPFLNPFDFHCLODK ALPGAAHNGKIIFAIJCAFICK DLLDLLDLLDLDLLDLLLLDDL NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on April 8, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of

Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on April 4, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a new iron pipe set in the northern right of way line of Marsh Creek Road, said pipe being North 54 deg.

15 min. 48 sec. East 139.4 feet from the centerline junction of Marsh Creek Road and Field Street; runs thence North 02 deg. 53 min. 54 sec. East 239.9 feet to an existing iron pipe; runs thence South 89 deg. 07 min. 08 sec. East 102.67 feet to an existing iron pipe; runs thence South 01 deg. 25 min. 51 sec. West 203.60 feet to a new iron pipe set in the northern right of way line of Marsh Creek Road; runs thence along said right of way line South 72 deg. 33 min. 05 sec. West 115.00 feet to the point and place of BEGINNING, and being all of that 0.537 acre parcel as shown on map prepared

by Robert G. Williams, RLS, entitled “House Location for Harvey E. Crabtree and wife, Nancy W. Crabtree, City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina” dated 7-1097. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4003 Marsh Creek Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.

in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 12:00 PM on April 11, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Bazeka L. Valaka; Ndidila K. Valaka, dated May 2, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $11,269.59, and recorded in Book 11940 at Page 1912 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Knollbrook Court, Raleigh, NC 27616

5

1

0

4

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 April 13, 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: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF WAKE, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING LOT NUMBER 1, BUILDING 24, RIDGELOCH TOWNEHOMES AS RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1979, PAGE 528, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 5748 Three Oaks Dr, Raleigh, NC 27612.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent

And Being more commonly known as: 5115 Old Pageland Marshville Road, Monroe, NC 28112 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Hazel Boyd.

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

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 Edward J. Harty and wife, Margaret L Harty.

or before the 25th day of June 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.

This the 30th day of March 2022.

please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

Michael Ray Parker Executor/Administrator of the Estate of

Ford O. Arnett Jr. Executor of the Estate of June N. Thompson c/o Lisa M. Schreiner P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street

Estate of Helen Francis Aldridge Woodcock c/o Lisa M. Schreiner P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

This the 30th day of March 2022.

Joseph Isaiah Woodcock, Jr.

The date of this Notice is January 5, 2022.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-111868

Parkway,

Suite

400

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: 1628 - 2913

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

Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 3/23/2022, 3/30/2022, 4/6/2022 and 4/13/2022)

(For publication: 3/30, 4/6, 4/13 4/20/2022)

Trust executed Robert D. Hibbard and Michelle A. Hibbard, dated August 24, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $143,775.00, and recorded in Book 15421 at Page 1202 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 816 Laurens Way, Knightdale, NC 27545 Tax Parcel ID: 0314348 Robert Present Record Owners: D. Hibbard and Michelle A. Hibbard The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Robert D. Hibbard and Michelle A. Hibbard.

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.

Property Address: 4003 Marsh Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27604

property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property

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

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

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

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

Tax Parcel ID: Present Record Owners: Valaka; Ndidila K. Valaka

0233415 Bazeka

L.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bazeka L. Valaka and Ndidila K. Valaka.

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

(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

expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

lawful heirs of Judith M. Lynn.

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

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 March 7, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 21-111758

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: 1679 - 3088

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 14th day of February, 2022.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 2538-2780

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-02628-FC01

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From March 23, 2022

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Left to right, Robert Graves, Tim Hasty and Sheriff Greg Seabolt in the Sheriff debate during the North State Journal Debate at the Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro, on March 28, 2022.

COUNTY NEWS Fort Bragg soldier’s death is under investigation

Randolph Record staff

Southern Pines A soldier who lived in Southern Pines was found unresponsive in his vehicle Friday and later died.

According to local news reports, Maj. Eric “Adam” Ewoldsen, 38, was an infantry officer and entered the Army in 2007. He had deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq and received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, among other decorations and awards. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. His death is under investigation.

Cooper nominates Jacobs for Special Superior Court opening Raleigh Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that he was nominating Tenisha Jacobs for the Special Superior Court opening with a designation to the Business Court. Jacobs is currently the general counsel to the N.C Department of Revenue and was previously an administrative law judge at the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. “The Business Court plays a critical role in North Carolina’s justice system, and Judge Jacobs has demonstrated the leadership skills and legal knowledge throughout her career that will make her a great addition to this court,”Cooper said in a release. “I am grateful for her willingness to serve.”

The vacancy has been open since Dec. 30 of last year when Greg McGuire resigned.

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20177 52016 $1.00

Republican candidates debate as primary campaigns kick off

8

ASHEBORO — Candidates for Randolph County commissioner and Randolph County sheriff debated Monday night with conservative principles, the role of local leaders and the use of public funds as primary topics. North State Journal editor-in-chief Matt Mercer served as the moderator of the two debates, which featured seven total candidates at the Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro.

Before the debates started, North State Journal publisher Neal Robbins welcomed the crowd of nearly 300 to the first debate sponsored by the newspaper. Sunset Avenue Church of God pastor Boyd Byerly also welcomed the audience and candidates and gave the invocation. Robbins introduced Randolph County Board of Commissioners chairman Darrell Frye, who is running unopposed in both the GOP primary and the general election.

The first group onto the stage was the county commissioner candidates. Incumbents Hope Haywood and David Allen both drew primary opponents with local farmer Craig Frazier challenging Haywood and Ramseur Pastor and Faith Christian School administrator Todd Daniel challenging Allen.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Over 300 county and city residents came out to listen to GOP candidates during the North State Journal Debate at the Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro.

After opening statements, the candidates faced three questions from Mercer. The first question addressed the COVID lockdowns instituted by Gov. Roy Cooper which included church closures. Mercer asked the candidates if the county commissioners have the authority to question state leaders or disobey their orders.

Haywood, the first candidate to answer, focused on the importance of staying united and said she knew that the governor’s orders would

not be enforced. Concerning challenging state leaders, “Jesus said, render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s,” said Haywood.

Allen said the county did not increase mandates and only did what was mandated by Cooper. “The county is a creature of the state,” said Allen. “We are somewhat subjected to what the dictates of the state are, and that includes the governor.” Allen added, “I am not one to contest someone else. I follow

Early voting site moves to Trinity Former school to be location for polls this spring Randolph Record staff ASHEBORO — An early voting site for the Archdale and Trinity areas is moving to a new location to help alleviate congestion and create a smoother voting experience, the director of the Randolph County Board of Elections said.

The board gave its approval Monday to move the one-stop early voting site to the former Braxton Craven School gym for this spring’s primary.

The new location is near Trinity High School. The address is 3037 N.C. Highway 62, Trinity.

This is 3.2 miles from the previous location in Archdale.

Early voting is scheduled from April 28-May 14.

Board director Melissa Johnson said gaining more room was a priority.

Based on turnouts for the 2020 general election, it be-

came clear to some board members that a different location should be sought, Johnson said.

She said concerns from representatives of both major political parties also factored into seeking a different site.

“We had just an enormous number of people coming for that election and we also had a need for more curbside voting,” Johnson said. “We really didn’t have enough room. We just wanted to be making sure we had the most space available.”

The past location was at 213 Balfour Dr. in Archdale. It’s a Randolph County-owned building that also houses some offices for the county health department and the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce.

At the former Braxton Craven School, which most recently had been a middle school, there should be more parking available. The set-up also will make it easier to have a better entrance and exit so those can be separate.

There’s also more space for covered areas that should make

it more comfortable as voters wait for their turn at the voting booths.

With early voting lasting several weeks, a venue that could accommodate an extended period was needed, Johnson said.

She said there will be extensive signage to direct voters to the site, though she said many community members are familiar with the location because of the school.

Johnson said several issues wouldn’t have been solved at the Balfour Drive site, while making some accommodations to adjust the flow in the voting process there would have cost $8,000-$10,000, so moving was the ideal solution.

Plus, the parking situation at the past location tended to be split in different areas. That sometimes meant quite a bit of uncertainty about where campaigners might focus their efforts.

This is the only change in voting locations in the county for this election cycle, Johnson said.

the rules. Sometimes those rules need to be broken, but I’m proud of our churches.”

Daniel questioned whether Cooper had the right to issue orders shutting down churches and pointed to a court case that ultimately blocked Cooper’s church closures.

“I think churches should’ve had a right to choose,” said Daniel. “If you can go to a Walmart and 1,035 people can be in Walmart, 500 people can be in this sanctuary.”

He said he believed in the situation surrounding church closures that commissioners had the right to say, “We will not comply.”

Frazier said he would take it a step further. “It is your personal responsibility to look after your personal freedoms,” said Frazier. “[County commissioners] are supposed to look after your constitutional rights, that’s their job.”

He said church closures were the choice of churches, not the governor.

The candidates were also asked about gun rights and the right to carry firearms in county buildings and meetings. The final question related to state and federal COVID funds, some of which have been earmarked for local projects.

All of the candidates expressed opSee CAMPAIGNS, page 2

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 3.30.22 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST WEEKLY FORECAST

Randolph

#1

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

JULY JUNE 30 21

HI HI

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

88° HI 70° 67° LO 91°

JULY 1JULY 22 HI 91° LO 70°

LO LO PRECIP 15% PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP

“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

by North State Media, LLC 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Suite 300 STANLYJOURNAL.COM Raleigh, 27609 Raleigh,N.C. NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 orSUBSCRIBE: online at nsjonline.com TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 TO 704-269-8461 oronline online at at nsjonline.com nsjonline.com or Annual Subscription Price: $50.00

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PeriodicalsPostage Postage Paid Paid at Periodicals at Raleigh, Raleigh,N.C. N.C. POSTMASTER: and atadditional additional mailing mailing offices. and at Stanly County Journal offices.

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Send address changes Send address changes to: North State Journal to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Suite 300 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 Raleigh, NC 27607

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 MAR 30

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of Asheboro, died July 11, 2021.

HI 70

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, LOW 59 age 85, of Asheboro, died July PRECIP 87% See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY MAR 31 See OBITS, page 7

HI 66 LOW 43 PRECIP 49%

FRIDAY

JULY 2

FRIDAY

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JULY 23 JULY 3

88° HI LO 67°

HI78° 66° LO

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PRECIP 5%

57% PRECIP

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81°HI 62°LO

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JULY 24 JULY 4 HI

86° 84° 69° 62°

JULY 25 5 JULY

HI HI LO LO

86° 88° 65° 69°

LO 43% PRECIP 32% 17% PRECIPPRECIP 24% 24% PRECIP

Guide MONDAY TUESDAY

JULY JULY 26 6

TUESDAY

JULY 27

The Randolph HI 87° GuideHIis HI 89° a LO quick look at what’s LO 67° 69° LO PRECIP going on in24% Randolph PRECIP 24% PRECIP County.

88° 69° 24%

April 2

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Randolph Freedom Rally

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag 6pm

A fundraiser hosted by

the Randolph Young PJ Ward-Brown sion, there’s enrollment of 915. before those classes start.

Williams said there’s an ef- That’s off slightly from the usual More Mattfort to bolster enrollment. He cit- number that ranges up to 1,000,Republicans.

“There has been a information andnever tickets Williams said. ed the RCC Commitment Grant, ASHEBORO — speaks Enrollment Sheriff Greg Seabolt while one of his opponents Robert Graves listens during the North Lauren better opportunity to attend at randolphrecord.com/ State Journal Debate at the Sunset Church of Godas in aAsheboro.

Traditional enrollment numa program designed funding at Randolph Community Col- Avenue ryrevent. lege isn’t likely to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap that’s bers have flattened, but it’s the RCC and not have to worry Frank pre-pandemic levels right away not covered by federal or state aid number of high school students about how to pay for it.”

Cory“We CAMPAIGNS fromofficial page 1 pointing cars.” designed for dual endid a return on invest- working in on programs to students. despite a school three candidates their and thathas return on been invest-a bet-All rollment that hassaid dropped, never out unprecedented financial in-ment, “There RCC president experience was just a factor in howthe level showed that we would have RCC position property tax- ment April 9 Dr. Robert “We’re not seeing ter opportunity to attend centivestoforraising potential students.

Who is “Editor?” they would serve as sheriff.

Both it paid for within 12 months to 13 es toChad supplement state and federWilliams, vice president and not have to worry about how of engagement that we had seen,” Shackleford Jr.

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Seabolt and Graves Wefor didit,” it in 11 months,” alfor funds.

Asheboro Easter Egg Williams said.had careers to pay RCC president Dr. student services at RCC, said amonths. with theRCC N.C. held Highway Patrol. break Seabolt.

“Not only Jr. didsaid. we “We In the second three insaidRobert Hunt a one-week Shackleford decline in highdebate, schoolthe students Hasty earlier spent more than 30amid yearsthe sumthe students taxpayersexactly money, we they Republican candidates for sheriff this month where dual enrollment has been the big-savemeet took the stage. Incumbent Greg brought a safer vehicle to our pa- working in the Randolph County 10am-1pm are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip.

Sheriff’s Office.

Seabolt is facing former sheriff trol officers.”

24 and concludes July 26. Late “Overall, we’re still seeing a de- can possibly go.”

The candidates spent time disGraves said he favored using Robert Graves, who he defeated The city of Asheboro will registration fall Beginningfor with the fall semesenrollment comparing cussing drug cases for andthe their en-semester maintenance incline 2018,inand longtime deputy Tim tolocal businesses host its annual Easter runs strategies through Aug. with classqualifying students previous years prior to the pan-andter, forcement along10,with called the fleet full-time maintenance Hasty.

Egg Hunt at Bicentennial es beginning Aug. will abe“dream.” eligibleRecalling for up tothe $1,000 demic,” Williams said. faced “I don’tfacility their plan to combat the16.rising The sheriff candidates Still dealing adjustments per semester. know if we’llfrom get to we’veprior Park in downtown and childwith abuse in program, Graves said using rates of elder six questions thenumbers moderator made All because the coronavirus That “put makes seen in previous fall their semesters. the county. three of candidates moneyattending back into RCC on topics that included prior …local shops Asheboro. The egg pandemic, fall semesmost enticing from the a finanWe’re reaching experience, out to every expressed supportnot for all the2021 Second economy” and “allowed law enforcement thestu-our the hunt is divided into age ter classes be their in person. cial if standpoint the 16in years dent we created can in every waygarage we can.”officers, Amendment and will voiced de- Some they were in working recently service with 1-2 yearuse purchase a hybridpermits model with groups a Williams hasLiberty been at the school, fall semester two-yearArchdale sire towill get pistol Trinty, of wherthatAwas instituted atbythe Seabolt, olds and 3-4 year-olds mixture carry of face-to-faces said.

He be, previously in concealed school in purchases.

Asheboro would ofteneverhe permits intosessions they might to have worked their and and pistol The final and of virtual sessions.

Many RCC’s financialHasty aid office. have 2,600 to 3,000 students starting at 10am, 5-7 citizens as quickly as classserviced.” said he the hands question related to the countyen-vehicle a betterand timepossible. to es provide students with options evaluatenever the garage rolled. and At the the detention beginning of thiswould “There’s funding center. year-olds at 11:30am and Theon debate was livestreamed a financial review Seabolt defended establishhow to attend and participate, go back to college,” he and said.“if week, that numberhis stood at aboutperform 8-10 year-olds at 1pm. via YouTube andsaid. can be watched keep thesummer garage, sesment of with the fleet maintenance Williams Forsense the tocurrent 1,900 about a month fato goit makes All participants receive a at randolphrecord. cility and citedCRIME the fiscal and safe- then it will stay.” He also said, online WEEKLY LOG goody bag in addition to “There will be no sworn officers com/2022debate. ty aspects of the move.

the eggs they find.

♦ Williams, Denishia Lorren (B /F/30) Arrest on chrg of WEEKLY CRIME 1) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 2) LOG Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 3) Possess X WEEKLY CRIME LOG

April 22

♦ Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), 176 E. Salisbury St, Asheboro, on Arrest on charge of Resisting ♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison (M, 39), Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor 07/13/2021.

Public Officer, 321 Kings Ridge Rd, Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Liberty Antiques Courthouse.

Property, on 3/23/22, at 4350 ♦ Arroyo, Eber (M, 24), Arrested Possession of Schedule IV CS, Randleman, on 07/14/2021.

Larceny, at 2587 Wayne White Rd, Walt Brown Road. on charge of Domestic Criminal ♦ Millikan, Bobby Wayne (M, 33), Festival Possession of Stolen motor Pleasant Garden, on 07/14/2021. ♦ Morton, Nicholas Henry (M, 51), Trespass, Misdemeanor Arrest on charge of Assault on a ♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), use of a dealer Arrested on charge of Assault ♦ McIntyre, Barbara Jean (F, 60), Twice vehicle, a year,imporoper 400 BE withJames Intent to Female, at 8300 Curtis Power Rd, Arrestononcharge chageof ofAid Misdemeanor ♦Stalking, Bolton McKee, Henry tag, failure to deliver title, failure to on a Female, Communicating Arrested and Terror/Injure Occupant, onof dealers from more than Bennett, NC, onat07/14/2021.

Larceny, atDriving, HooverAid Hill and Rd/Slick Threats, (M, 47), Arrest on charge appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, on 3/22/22, 6432 Abet Impaired 3/23/22, at RCJ. 25 states pack a 100Mtn, 07/14/2021.

Possession of Stolen Goods, at on 07/13/2021.

Heathwood Dr. AbetRodk DWLR, onon 3/23/22, at ♦ Passmore, Casey Lynn, Arrest on 6469 Clyde Rd, Seagrove, on 5062 Old Bachelor Creek Rd. acre farm in Randolph ♦ Carter, WandaKing Sheree (F, of possession ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), ♦ Willard,charge Matthew Michael (M,of marijuana ♦ Cheek, Spinks (F, 64), 07/15/2021.

County withHelenia 18th to 40), Arrested on charge of up to 1/2 at Randolph Arrest onDurward charge ofMark Misdemeanor21), Arrested on oz., charge of ♦ McLaughlin, Arrest on charge of Assault by Misdemeanor Larceny, on 20th-century furniture Courthouse, 7/13/2021.

Possession Schedule ♦3/23/22, Pugh, Robert of Meth,on Possession (M, 61), Arrestedofon charge VI CS, Possession pointing a gun, Discharging a at 275Daniel Allred(M, St.39), and accessories, Possessiong ofThreats, Stolen Motor Arrest on charge of Simple of Drug Paraphernalia, on of Communicating firearm to cause fear, Reckless ♦ Roark, Justin Steven (M, 30), pottery, glass, clocks, Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, 3/22/22, at 1145 Loflin Hill Rd Resisting Public Officer, on ♦ Clay, Ryan Charles (M, 27), driving to endanger, Seagrove, on military Lot 1. Arrest on charge of Possession dolls, toys, 3/23/22, at 739 Dawson Miller.

Arrested on on charge of Assault 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021. of Meth, Possession with intent items, advertising, on a Female, on 3/23/22, at ♦ Jernigan, Clarence Raysell (M,or distribute Lance Foster (M, 54), to manufacture, ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35), ♦RCJ. Richardson, Erwin Quint Jr (M, ♦ Hill, ♦ Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest decoys, jewelry, charge of Arrested heroin,on Simple possession of Arrestononcharge chargeofof Possession 71), Arrested 31), Arrest on charges of Felony on charge Felony folk art of and “in Sexual Operate/Possess Drugup Paraphernalia, ♦ Fore, Timothy Derrick (M, of Stolen Possession Schedule II,Slot III, IVMachine CS, Maintainingquilts,Exploitation of Marijuana to 1/2 oz., Larceny and Possession of a minor in the (3 counts), Manufacture/Sell the rough” country Felony Possession of Cocaine, 54), Arrested on charge of Trail, Place, Possession of Drug Possession of drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams second degree (10 counts), 727 Slot Machine (3 counts), Slot on 3/22/22, at Bethel Dr and Unauthorized Use of Motor Americana.

Paraphernalia, at 1029 High Point Failure to appeal on felony, failure Seagrove, on 07/14/2021.

McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on (3 counts), Prospect St. on misdemeanor, at Machine Vehicle, on 3/23/22, at 1182 Rd,Agreement on 7/13/2021. to appear 07/12/2021. on 3/21/22, at Randolph ♦Oakland Seibert,Ave. Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32), ♦ McCoff, Nelson Ian (M, County Courthouse.

65), Arrested on charge of ♦ Hale, Matthew David (M, 27), 14th Celebration of Communicating Threats, on Arrested on charge of Assault Spring Pottery 3/22/22, at Randolph County on a Female, Injury to Personal

10am

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY APRIL 1

By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Shelby Barrett McDaniel, 85, of

Randleman died on March 20, HI 63 LOW 35 PHILADELPHIA — Triple H 2022 at her home. walked with his arms crossed PRECIP 10% like ♦ Jeana Elizabeth Dunn Hannah,

♦ Kent Steven Fox, age 78, of Greensboro died on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at High Point Medical Center.

Haven of Randleman. ♦ Michael Lynn Spoon, 68, of Asheboro, died on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Woodland Hill Center in Asheboro.

The Seagrove Potters will hold their annual Spring kiln openings Aprilple 22-24.

An over him, or booing cheering unprecedented number over him or going into different of pottery shops directions over will him,” have benefitLevesque opened,their doorssaid. to “But that’s the beauty of what we celebrate. The self- do, to go be entertained, however you want to guided tour starts at be entertained. As a performer, the Luck’s Cannery sometimes that’s difficult.” in Seagrove WWE’swhere July 5 “RAW” on USA Networkcan hit 1.472 viewers, attendees pick million up the lowest in the 28-plus year hismaps and special offers tory of the show. before they visit shops.

an X — his signature Degenera- age 81, of Troy, NC died ♦ Claris “Tee” Leigh Harrison tion X symbol — with his 7-foot peacefully on Saturday, March Vaughn, 94, of Asheboro, died tag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to 26, 2022 at Randolph Hospice ♦ James Thomas Lee, 82, died Friday, March 25, 2022 at SATURDAY ring a ceremonialAPRIL bell last2month House, Asheboro, NC. Thursday, March 24, 2022 at his Randolph Health in Asheboro. before a Philadelphia 76ers playhome. off game. ♦ Irene Mae Gregory Clifton, 86, of ♦ Johnathan Christopher Mast, ♦ William “Bill” Wyatt Walters, born His theme music blared age 50, of Star, died on March Asheboro, died Thursday, March HI 58 in 1933 in Bluefield, WV, died Levesque, WWE EVP of globthrough the arena, and near- 24, 2022 at his home.

24, 2022 at her home.

35 from the Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at al talent strategy and developly 19,000 fansLOW hanging Woodland Hills in Asheboro. ♦ Judy Tilley Williams, 78, of 10% ment, said the company would rafters roaredPRECIP when the wrestler ♦ Travis Nathan Brock, age 77, of Asheboro, died Monday, March “take a hard look” at how it can hoisted his bad-guy weapon-of- Star, died on March 23, 2022 at ♦ Jack Leo Walter Jr, 72, died 21, 2022 at The Randolph attract more fans to the product choice sledgehammer and struck First Health Moore Regional.

Friday, March 18, 2022 at Hospice House in Asheboro each week. WWE can only hope the bell.

SUNDAY APRIL 3 Magnolia Gardens in Southern ♦ Thelma Greene “Peggy” Mabe, the combination of live crowds Sure, the setting wasn’t WresPines. ♦ Rodney Warren VonCannon, 81, of Biscoe, died on March and the returnFarce” of box office attractleMania — though Triple H lost a “Unnecessary 51, of Randleman, died Monday, 20, 2022 at Spring Arbor of tions such as Becky Lynch, Goldmatch in the same building when March 21, 2022 at Brookstone Albemarle.

HI 58 berg,& and Cena can ignite interest the event was held there in 1999 — 7:30pm 2:30pm and grow ratings during the build but for the superstar-turned-exLOW 37 the marquee 21 SummerTwoto motel rooms.Aug. Three ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere PRECIP 1% SlamEight at thedoors. home of the Las Vewas a reminder of what WWE crooks.

Raiders. lost during the 16 months it ran Go! gas Come on a wild ride “It never is one thing,” Levesque without live events and raucous of mistaken MONDAY APRIL 4 said. “We identities, see this as a moment in crowds. sharp dialogue time to shift and everything. I think “It was a fun opportunity to get show-stopping you’ll see it inphysical just the layout of evback into an arena packed full of erything, the cops set designs, the way fans and have them comedy as two HI 28go nuts,” said PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP it’s presented.

There’s a greater Triple H, known these days as save their jobs LOW 43Levesque. In this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, Paul “Triple H” Levesque participates in the “WWE Monday Night try to emphasis on utilizing the spacWWE executive Paul the biggest you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestoneWinter Press by cracking PRECIP 1%there’s Raw:Do es that we have and the TV aspect “That adrenaline rush, 25th Anniversary” panel during the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association case this small town has the fans. of it while still engaging nothing like it.”

Tourto in Pasadena, Calif. celebrate?

Contact us at celebrations@randolphrecord.com. ever seen.

This hilarious A lot of that comes from the time WWE hasn’t been the same we had to experiment without its “Yes!” chants or “This comedy deftly makes inside the TUESDAY APRIL 5 ThunderDome.” is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pay-per-view Sunday in Texas and former,” Reigns said. “As a live WWE then moved to its in-house a place for itself in the first start is putting fans pandemic relegated the company Dallas on Monday for the flagship performer, that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on grand The comedic tradition to running empty arena match- “Raw” TV show on USA. WWE sponse keeps you sharp. We had March 13, before setting up what — holding their homemade signs Produced bycatchphrase HI with 69 a piped-in spruced up sets, brought back old to adjust and adapt to the times it dubbed The ThunderDome of and wearing their -- farces. es every week Rhino Leap— Productions T-shirts back in the seats. where fans registered for spots stars and hit the reset button on that were in front of us.” soundtrack and virtual LOW 54fans. and performed at the “When we have that live crowd, With Hulk Hogan in the house, on LED digital videoboards — for TV programming humbled with No more. PRECIP 23% sometimes almost become With most American sports record-low ratings and a strong WWE held their only Wrestle- stretches in Florida at the Amway historic Sunsetthey Theatre.

Mania with fans this past April Center, Tropicana Field and the the cameras for a lot of the perleagues settled in to their old rou- need 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. tines, WWE ditched its stopgap “People like Roman have been you don’t have that real-time, flesh home in Florida and resumed in front of the live crowd, it would dium. WWE last ran a weeknight touring last Friday night with have been a situation that would televised event with a paid crowd able to emotionally bring a per- interaction, the red light becomes “Smackdown” from Houston, a have made me an even better per- on March 9, 2020, in Washington. formance that, maybe with peo- the focal point for the performer.”

4” Ad

April 22 – May 8

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Thank a farmer

Four out of every ten largescale farmers and ranchers reported trouble buying necessary supplies, especially fuel.

“AGRICULTURE IS OUR WISEST PURSUIT.” President Thomas Jefferson had it right when he discussed the importance of agriculture in our nation, which remains the same today. Last week, we celebrated National Agriculture Week, where we recognized America’s hardworking farmers, ranchers, and ag producers for all they do to feed, clothe, and energize our country.

Agriculture is the backbone of our nation, contributing trillions of dollars to our economy, creating millions of jobs, and supplying essential commodities to families worldwide.

However, farmers in our region and across the nation are facing threats like never before from inflation, record fuel prices, and supply chain shortages.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted a 7.9% decline in farm income for 2022 largely due to increases in production expenses. In fact, four out of every ten largescale farmers and ranchers reported trouble buying necessary supplies, especially fuel.

The average price of all types of gasoline has shot up 38% from February 2021 as a result of President Joe Biden’s policies restricting American energy. Tractors and combines need a lot of gas to operate – as prices continue to increase, so will the burden on our nation’s farmers.

Another issue contributing to the assault on American agriculture is a fertilizer shortage. Biden’s inflation crisis caused the price of fertilizer in America to increase by 17% in 2021.

The war in Ukraine has worsened what was already a major supply and demand crisis. Around 80% of the fertilizer used on American farms is from overseas, including from hostile nations like Russia.

As a result of the conflict, fertilizer prices have skyrocketed nationwide, including by 500% in some states. This will greatly impact our farmers both by increasing costs and lowering crop

yields. Last week in Brussels, President Biden even admitted food shortages would “be real.”

It is clear that like unleashing our domestic energy production, boosting America’s agriculture industry is more critical than ever. That’s why I am committed to keeping agriculture a top industry in our state and country. To do this, we must advance common sense initiatives that address both immediate risks to this sector, as well as promote its growth in the long term. This starts with cutting burdensome regulations and making it easier for farmers to get what they need to produce crops effectively.

Last week, I made efforts to do just that. I urged the U.S. International Trade Commission to suspend duties on certain fertilizer imports in order to increase supply and lower costs for American farmers. I also co-sponsored the Emergency Relief from Duties Act, which will help farmers by making it easier for them to petition the government over unfair regulations. To help lower fuel costs for our farmers, I cosponsored the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, a bill that will boost our domestic energy production and drive down costs across the board. These are rational measures that will help trim government overreach and make it easier for farmers to get the materials they need to get the job done.

We are blessed in our country to have a rich and vibrant agriculture sector. However, we must work to support our farmers and ranchers. In 2022, Americans were already paying 12% of their income on groceries compared to 8.6% in 2020.

These price hikes are likely to worsen if our leadership does not change course. We need policies from Washington that will reverse these trends and end inflation, not make them worse for farmers and your family. As your congressman and chairman of the Agriculture and Rural America Task Force, I will keep working to do just that.

COLUMN | DAVID ASHLEY

We the People need constitutional carry Land of the free is quickly transitioning to land of the fee.

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS — a right freely given to all, but are we really as free as we think we are?

The concept of owning a gun is a societal norm; however, legally carrying a gun in the State of North Carolina requires one to openly display it. In order to conceal your firearm, an individual is required to pay for a class; invest their time to attend; pay the fee for their concealed carry permit at the sheriff’s office, and then maintain the permit.

Land of the free is quickly transitioning to land of the fee.

The pistol permit process is an embarrassing regulation that was enacted in 1919, as a direct result of Jim Crow policies.

North Carolina remains the only southern state to still require the ever-so-arduous pistol purchase permit process. If we truly are home of the free, then why have we not taken charge of this initiative and pushed for the passing of constitutional carry and nixing the Jim Crow-era pistol permit system? Are we content with lagging behind other states and clinging onto our watereddown gun rights?

Additionally, open carry is riddled with its own ill-effects.

The uneducated general population may see someone openly carrying a gun and automatically assume the law is being broken. Intimidation is a huge issue that not only causes unnecessary concern but could lead to law enforcement being called, which directs their time away from actual emergencies.

A vague report from an individual informing the police that there’s a man or woman with a gun has the potential for detrimental results.

Openly carrying a gun does anything but deter criminals. It allows them to assess the situation and figure out how they are going to disarm the legal gun carrier, as well as the potential for this to escalate even further. Having your firearm removed from your hip is not an unlikely scenario. At some point your back will be turned to something or someone, especially in crowded public areas. Poorly designed holsters and weapon retention skills also play a huge role in the risk of being disarmed.

The driving force behind this issue is whether one believes the right to bear arms should be regulated by the government or if it’s a God-given natural right outlined by our founding documents. As partisan politics continues to steadily rise and broker our freedoms, we need to continue the fight for our right to bear arms so that we’re prepared to defend ourselves against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Like the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass once said, “A man’s rights rest in three boxes. The ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”

It’s time for North Carolina to pass constitutional carry.

David Ashley is a retired state law enforcement officer who lives in Asheboro.

3

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NHL

Senators owner Melnyk dead at 62 Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has died from an illness, the team said Monday night. He was 62. The team announced Melnyk’s death with a statement from his family that mentioned “an illness he faced with determination and courage.” The statement did not explain what the illness was, and a team spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking additional details. Melnyk had a liver transplant in 2015 after a public campaign for a donor. He had owned the Senators since 2003, when he bought the NHL club for $92 million. The Toronto native was involved in other businesses around Canada and in 2010 had an estimated net worth of $1.21 billion.

NFL

Sources: Governor to propose $500M for new Titans stadium Nashville Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee plans to propose $500 million in bonds in the state budget to help fund a new covered Tennessee Titans stadium envisioned for Nashville, two sources confirmed to The Associated Press. The sources mentioned that the new stadium plans would include some kind of roof, with one source saying the funding would be contingent on the stadium being enclosed. A covered stadium, whether it’s a fixed or retractable roof, could help Nashville compete for the biggest events in or outside of sports, from the Super Bowl to the NCAA’s Final Four.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Legette-Jack hired as Syracuse women’s hoops coach Syracuse, N.Y. Felisha Legette-Jack was introduced Monday as the women’s basketball coach at Syracuse after a decade at Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference. She replaces Vonn Read, who guided the Orange through a difficult season after his predecessor, Quentin Hillsman, resigned amid allegations he mistreated players. The 55-year-old Legette-Jack is the fourth woman to lead the program. She started her coaching career as an assistant at Boston College in 1991 and was an assistant with the Orange under the previous woman who held the job, Marianna Freeman.

Legette-Jack has a 343-279 record as a head coach.

SOCCER

Canada advances to World Cup for first time in 36 years Toronto Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and Junior Hoilett scored and Canada secured its first World Cup berth in 36 years with a 4-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday. Canada has been to the World Cup just once before, in 1986.

Canada missed out a chance to secure a spot in Qatar last week with a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica. It was Canada’s first loss in three World Cup qualifying rounds and it snapped a six-game winning streak. Canada coach John Herdman became the first coach ever to lead both a men’s and women’s team to a World Cup berth. He coached the Canadian women’s team from 2011-18.

STEPHEN SPILLMAN | AP PHOTO

Ross Chastain celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Chastain pilots Trackhouse Racing to 1st Cup win AJ Allmendinger spun out battling for the lead on the final lap at Circuit of the Americas The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Ross Chastain bumped and banged his way around the final overtime lap at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday for first career Cup win and upstart NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing’s first trip to Victory Lane.

Trackhouse is owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull and is in its second season of competition.

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Florida, was kept on by Marks for Trackhouse when Marks bought out Chip Ganassi’s entire NASCAR

team ahead of this season.

Chastain celebrated by spiking a large watermelon off the top of his Chevrolet.

“It’s never tasted sweeter, I tell ya,” the 29-year-old said with a piece of rind stuck in his beard. He then took another huge bite.

The two-lap sprint produced the most aggressive action of a long Sunday of racing on the permanent road course used primarily for Formula One. The race had nine cautions and ran 3 hours, 20 minutes.

Chastain wasn’t even the leader — Tyler Reddick had somehow moved to the front in the previous single lap run between the eighth and ninth cautions — and Chastain also had to contend with former teammate and mentor AJ Allmendinger.

Chastain and Allmendinger restarted second and third, while sitting back in fourth was Alex Bow-

man. He’s been chided for “backing into victories,” and for a moment, it looked as if another would indeed fall in his lap.

Chastain used an aggressive move to get past Reddick to the lead, and Allmendinger followed. Bowman also jumped past Reddick and closed the gap on Chastain and Allmendinger as the two friends jostled and bashed for the lead.

The overtime featured four lead changes — Chastain and Allmendinger swapped it twice, and Bowman even got to the front — but Chastain decided the race by divebombing inside of Allmendinger. That spun Allmendinger, winner of the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, into Bowman and Allmendinger went from second to 33rd.

“I was so worried about AJ on that second-to-last restart that I let Tyler drive right by both of us,” Chastain said. “AJ is so good, I’ve learned so much from him, and it’s like ‘How do you beat the guy? He taught me so much!’”

He wasn’t thrilled to have won the race with the dive-bomb on Allmendinger.

“I feel bad about AJ,” Chastain said. “I mean, he’s gonna be upset with me, but we raced hard and he owes me one.”

Allmendinger was openly annoyed after a mandatory trip to

the care center.

“At the end of the day, we all have to look ourselves in the mirror. If you are OK with it, you’re OK with it. Each person is different,” he said of how Chastain raced him.

“I was doing everything I could do to try to sweep the weekend. We were that close. We know we had a shot to win the race.”

Chastain — and Trackhouse — have been fiercely competitive since the start of the season as its drivers have been terrific in NASCAR’s new Next Gen racecar.

Daniel Suarez, who spent all of last season as Trackhouse’s only driver, dominated early and led every lap of the first stage before a blown tire destroyed his race on the second lap of the second stage.

Chastain then took over.

He’s been fast and led laps this year and was close to a win at both Las Vegas and Atlanta. On the Austin road course, Chastain led four times for a race-high 31 laps.

His win was his first in 121 career Cup starts.

Bowman finished second for Hendrick Motorsports and a Chevrolet sweep. Christopher Bell was third for Toyota and followed

by Chase Elliott of Hendrick, the defending race winner. Reddick was fifth and pole-sitter Ryan Blaney was the highest-finishing Ford driver in sixth.

No regrets, no what-ifs for Kyrie Irving after home debut The Nets point guard played his first game this season in Brooklyn after New York City’s COVID-19 mandate ended

“There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

The Associated Press NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving is not about to look back now.

Not at a loss in his first home game.

Nor at how many more losses in home games might have been avoided if he were playing previously.

His refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus left him ineligible to play in home games until Sunday, when a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets dropped the Brooklyn Nets into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

It took 75 games into the season for Irving to finally play at Barclays Center, and it may be too late for the Nets to turn into the championship contender that was widely expected. But he said the sacrifices of he and his teammates make his refusal to get vaccinated as mandated to perform in New York City worth it.

“That’s the only thing that I’m really focused on, is the now and getting back ready for the next game and just going from there,” Irving said. “But the point of this season for me was never to just take a stand. It was really to make sure I’m standing on what I believe in and freedom. Freedom.

I don’t think that’s a word that

Kyrie Irving, Nets point guard

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

Nets guard Kyrie Irving shoots during Sunday's game against the Hornets in Brooklyn. gets defined enough in our society, about the freedom to make choices in your life without someone telling you what the (expletive) to do.”

The former Duke star said that could apply to politicians or anyone who holds positions of power.

“So I’m standing for freedom, so that’s in all facets of my life and there’s nobody that’s enslaving me,” Irving said. “There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

Irving’s teammates and many

of his fans seem to accept his stance. He got a loud ovation before the game from the sellout crowd of 18,166, the largest crowd ever for a Nets game at Barclays Center.

But, perhaps tired from playing on back-to-back nights for only the second time this season, his game wasn’t there. He shot 6 for 22 from the field and finished with just 16 points and 11 assists.

“Not the result we wanted, but definitely grateful that we were part of history tonight and we got to do it here,” Irving said.

The Nets didn’t know when he would get opportunity until Mayor Eric Adams exempted athletes and entertainers from the mandate last week, in time for the end of the NBA regular season and for the start of the Major League Baseball’s.

But with the loss Sunday giving the Hornets the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams finish tied, the Nets would be ninth in the East if the season ended Sunday. That means they would need to win two games in the playin tournament just to make the postseason.

They have seven games left, all but one of them in New York.

Without Irving, the Nets could have been in real danger of not even making the playoffs.

With him, Brooklyn can still salvage the season, which is where Irving is focused.

“I mean honestly, there’s no time to consider the past,” Irving said. “It’s not going to do anybody in our locker room or anybody any justice thinking about what could have been, the shoulds and the coulds. We only can control what we can control moving forward.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

5 BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Rob Hales

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Racing has returned this month to Caraway Speedway.

Heady overcomes Labonte, others in Caraway event Randolph Record staff SOPHIA – Caleb Heady won a late-lap showdown with Burt Myers in Saturday night’s SMART Modified Tour race at Caraway Speedway.

Bobby Labonte, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver, made a late pass of Matt Hirschman to gain third place. Brian Loftin placed fifth.

Earlier leaders in the race included pole sitter Jonathan

Brown, Luke Fleming, Bobby Measmer Jr. and Labonte.

The SMART Tour will return to the track in June.

In action among the Caraway Speedway regulars Saturday, Carson Loftin in the Modifieds while pole sitter Cody Norman was the runner-up.

In a 40-lap Mini Stocks event, Tyler Bush pulled away from Patrick Mullen and Levi Holt for the victory. Mullen and Tyler Bush went to the front earlier in the

COURTESY PHOTO

race, but Bush was undone by a blown engine.

Nathan Bess won the Challengers race in a field of 15 cars. He navigated the 35-lap race ahead of Brian Rose, JR Goode, Ronnie Riggs and Michael O’Brien.

In the UCAR feature, Corey Rose was the winner, with Steven Collins the runner-up and followed by Jeremy Kidd and Josh Williams. Josh Phillips and Corey Rose were tops in five-lap qualifying heats.

In the Super Trucks division, Robert Tyler claimed the checkered flag, ahead of Jason York and former track champion Billy Hogan. This was the first of four Atlantic Turfscapes Super Track races at the speedway, with the next one set for July 23.

Wheatmore, baseball Hales did important work on the pitching mound and at the plate as the Warriors won a pair of games against Eastern Randolph.

Hales threw six innings in the first meeting, giving up one earned run and two walks while striking out 10 across in an 8-2 outcome.

Three days later, Hales drove in two runs and had a double as the Warriors posted an 11-1 victory while compiling their highest run total of the season.

Wheatmore improved to 4-5, winning its Piedmont Athletic Conference games for the first time and also capturing back-to-back games for the first time this season.

COLLEGE NOTES

Asheboro’s McDowell lands freshman honors Randolph Record staff

Top, Randleman’s Hunter Atkins hits a double in the bottom of the fourth inning against visiting Southwestern Randolph during a Piedmont Athletic Conference game Friday night.

Randleman won 11-1 to remain undefeated.

Asheboro’s Makena Ayers makes a catch in short left field against host Union Pines in the first inning of a nonconference softball game last week at Carthage. Asheboro won 8-5.

ANDERSON UNIVERSITY freshman Diamond McDowell of Asheboro was named the Freshman of the Year in the South Atlantic Conference for women’s basketball.

McDowell, a freshman guard, averaged 8.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She started in 22 games while playing 29.5 minutes per game on her way to five double-doubles.

The Trojans finished with a 2110 record and reached the SAC Tournament championship game.

McDowell became Anderson’s second Freshman of the Year honoree since the school began playing in the SAC a dozen years ago.

McKinney transfers Former Asheboro standout Dyvon McKinney transferred to Mississippi Valley State after two football seasons for Mercer McKinney appeared in four games in the 2021 fall season for Mercer, gaining 25 yards on three rushing attempts. He was used on defense more often during the hybrid 2020-21 season.

He played in a total of 11 games for Mercer.

Mississippi Valley State lists McKinney’s position as hybrid.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PREP NOTES

Randleman coach picked for special honor

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record COACH BRANDON VARNER of the Randleman girls’ basketball team was selected as Coach of the Year for girls’ basketball in District 8 by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.

Varner led Randleman to an undefeated regular season and into the Class 2-A regional semifinals of the state tournament.

The Tigers finished with a 25-1 record.

Players chose for the All-District girls’ teams include teammates Gracyn Hall (first team) and Elizabeth York (third team)

of Randleman, Alexis Maness (third team) of Southwestern Randolph and Autumn Gentry (third team) of Trinity.

On the boys’ side, the All-District team has Zane Caudle of Providence Grove and Ashton Troutman of Uwharrie Charter Academy on the first team, Dominic Payne of Trinity on the

second team and Tramir Martin of Asheboro on the third team.

Last week, the NCBCA named all-state teams. Senior Indya Nivar of Apex Friendship was the Player of the Year for girls and senior Chase Lowe of Weddington received that distinction for the girls.

For statewide Coach of the

Year, Kerri Snipes of Northwood was picked for the girls’ honor and Gary Ellington of Weddington was tabbed for the boys’ honor.

Dunn picks college Senior Dawson Dunn of the Uwharrie Charter Academy boys’ basketball team announced last week that he’ll play in college for Pfeiffer, a Division III school in Misenheimer, Dunn is a guard.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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Randolph entrants excel in hunter kills tourney

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record BEAR CREEK — Students from Randolph County were among the top entrants in the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament held for District 5 earlier this month at Chatham County Wildlife Club.

In the high school division, Providence Grove was the overall team runner-up to Southern Alamance among 41 team entries. Wheatmore placed fifth and Randleman was sixth.

Austin Williams of Providence Grove had the top score in archery among 203 participants.

Second place and third place went to Wheatmore’s Stephen Marshall and Austin Cox. All three of those entrants had scores of 199, but their placements were determined by tiebreakers.

In hunter kills, Williams was the winner with 168 points compared to runner-up Will Faulk’s 162 for Southeast Guilford.

In rifle, Cash Brown of Providence Grove had the top score with 197, a total matched by Marshall. Brown was the winner based on tiebreaker criteria.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NCWRC

Members of the Providence Grove team were highly successful in the NCWRC’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament earlier this month at Chatham County Wildlife Club.

Williams was third with 196.

Providence Grove had the top team score in rifle, followed by Wheatmore, while Randleman was fifth.

In shotgun, Brown, Williams and Seth Turner were among the top Randolph County entrants with 200 points. Cooper Wright of Providence Grove, Ethan Hu-

lin and Dillon Kology of Randleman and Carson Albertson of Wheatmore were also among that group.

In the middle school division,

It’s time to get your pressure canner tested

By Jeannie M. Leonard For the Randolph Record IF THE PAST TWO YEARS has taught us anything it is that home food preservation is on the rise in Randolph County. With all the work it takes to preserve garden foods, make sure you are off to a successful canning season and get your pressure canner gauge tested.

The main reason for testing; pressure canning is for low-acid foods. Low-acid foods include red meats, fish, poultry, and all vegetables, except for most tomatoes. Low-acid foods can support the production of the deadly botulism toxin if they are not processed properly in a pressure canner. A pressure canner needs to reach a temperature of 242° F or above to kill and destroy the spores that produce the botulism toxin. Clostridium botulinum bacteria are on most fresh food surfaces, but because they grow only in the absence of air, they are harmless on fresh foods.

The conditions which favor the germination of these spores are low acid foods (like vegetables and meats) in anaerobic environ-

FILE PHOTO

A pressure canner is pictured in this undated file photo. ments (without oxygen), such as sealed canning jars. Clostridium botulinum is a very deadly tox-

in or poison, commonly known as botulism. Botulism is the most-deadly food poisoning.

Home-canned vegetables are the most common cause of botulism outbreaks in the United States. These outbreaks often occur because home canners did not follow canning instructions, did not use pressure canners, ignored signs of food spoilage, or were unaware of the risk of botulism from improperly preserving vegetables. https://www.cdc.gov/ features/homecanning/.

Only use current with up-to-date, scientifically tested guidelines like the USDA National Center for Home Food Preservation, http:// nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Don’t use outdated publications or cookbooks, even if they were handed down to you from trusted family cooks.

There are two types of pressure canners; dial gauge and weighted gauge. Weighted pressure canners release any pressure above the desired amount of pressure and the weight will rock gently and make frequent jiggling noise to indicate the correct pressure is maintained. Reference the manufacturer’s instructions to use a particular weighted gauge properly. Weighted gauges do not re-

s .

Kenny J Kidd

IRT-1948J-A

Financial Advisor 211 Worth St Asheboro, NC 27203-5557 336-328-0416

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

the top score in archery among 94 participants went to Trevor Kirkman of Northeastern Randolph Middle School. His score was 193.

That carried Northeastern Randolph Middle School to the event victory with 909 points, finishing ahead of Southern Alamance Middle School’s 901.

Kirkman also had the best score in hunter skills with 154 as Northeastern Randolph Middle School placed second in that category.

For middle school rifle, the winner was Dylan Pierce of Northeastern Randolph Middle School with 190. Kirkman was fourth with 182 and Williams was fifth with a 181.

In shotgun, Colson Allen of Uwharrie Charter School matched the best score with 200 and was dubbed as the runner-up based on tiebreakers.

These competitions were held at nine locations across the state on the past four Saturdays. More than 3,500 students were signed up to take part in the 44th year of the tournaments. Orienteering and a written hunting skills exam were also part of the competition, which was open to students ages 18 and younger. District 5 consists of 11 counties.

quire testing. Dial gauges operate by indicating pounds of pressure on the dial while you control the pressure using the stove burner knob to adjust the heat up and down. Dial gauges require annual testing for accuracy By testing your dial gauge annually, you know if the canner will process high or low. If a dial gauge reads low, it can result in under-processing resulting in unsafe food. At high, the food will be over-processed, which affects quality. Pressure adjustments can be made if the gauge reads up to 2 pounds high or low.

With a difference of more than 2 pounds, gauge replacement is required. In addition, replace gauges that are cracked or the glass covering is missing. Only annual testing will determine if a gauge is safe to use.

How do you test your gauge?

Check with the Randolph County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension. We offer free pressure canner testing clinics on certain scheduled dates or you can drop off just your lid and we can test it as our schedule allows and call you when it is ready to be picked up. For more information, call 336-318-6000.

Jeannie M. Leonard is Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent with the N.C. State Cooperative Extension Service.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

6

Randolph entrants excel in hunter skills tourney

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record BEAR CREEK — Students from Randolph County were among the top entrants in the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament held for District 5 earlier this month at Chatham County Wildlife Club.

In the high school division, Providence Grove was the overall team runner-up to Southern Alamance among 41 team entries. Wheatmore placed fifth and Randleman was sixth.

Austin Williams of Providence Grove had the top score in archery among 203 participants.

Second place and third place went to Wheatmore’s Stephen Marshall and Austin Cox. All three of those entrants had scores of 199, but their placements were determined by tiebreakers.

In hunter kills, Williams was the winner with 168 points compared to runner-up Will Faulk’s 162 for Southeast Guilford.

In rifle, Cash Brown of Providence Grove had the top score with 197, a total matched by Marshall. Brown was the winner based on tiebreaker criteria.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NCWRC

Members of the Providence Grove team were highly successful in the NCWRC’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament earlier this month at Chatham County Wildlife Club.

Williams was third with 196.

Providence Grove had the top team score in rifle, followed by Wheatmore, while Randleman was fifth.

In shotgun, Brown, Williams and Seth Turner were among the top Randolph County entrants with 200 points. Cooper Wright of Providence Grove, Ethan Hu-

lin and Dillon Kology of Randleman and Carson Albertson of Wheatmore were also among that group.

In the middle school division,

It’s time to get your pressure canner tested

By Jeannie M. Leonard For the Randolph Record IF THE PAST TWO YEARS has taught us anything it is that home food preservation is on the rise in Randolph County. With all the work it takes to preserve garden foods, make sure you are off to a successful canning season and get your pressure canner gauge tested.

The main reason for testing; pressure canning is for low-acid foods. Low-acid foods include red meats, fish, poultry, and all vegetables, except for most tomatoes. Low-acid foods can support the production of the deadly botulism toxin if they are not processed properly in a pressure canner. A pressure canner needs to reach a temperature of 242° F or above to kill and destroy the spores that produce the botulism toxin. Clostridium botulinum bacteria are on most fresh food surfaces, but because they grow only in the absence of air, they are harmless on fresh foods.

The conditions which favor the germination of these spores are low acid foods (like vegetables and meats) in anaerobic environ-

FILE PHOTO

A pressure canner is pictured in this undated file photo. ments (without oxygen), such as sealed canning jars. Clostridium botulinum is a very deadly tox-

in or poison, commonly known as botulism. Botulism is the most-deadly food poisoning.

Home-canned vegetables are the most common cause of botulism outbreaks in the United States. These outbreaks often occur because home canners did not follow canning instructions, did not use pressure canners, ignored signs of food spoilage, or were unaware of the risk of botulism from improperly preserving vegetables. https://www.cdc.gov/ features/homecanning/.

Only use current with up-to-date, scientifically tested guidelines like the USDA National Center for Home Food Preservation, http:// nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Don’t use outdated publications or cookbooks, even if they were handed down to you from trusted family cooks.

There are two types of pressure canners; dial gauge and weighted gauge. Weighted pressure canners release any pressure above the desired amount of pressure and the weight will rock gently and make frequent jiggling noise to indicate the correct pressure is maintained. Reference the manufacturer’s instructions to use a particular weighted gauge properly. Weighted gauges do not re-

s .

Kenny J Kidd

IRT-1948J-A

Financial Advisor 211 Worth St Asheboro, NC 27203-5557 336-328-0416

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

the top score in archery among 94 participants went to Trevor Kirkman of Northeastern Randolph Middle School. His score was 193.

That carried Northeastern Randolph Middle School to the event victory with 909 points, finishing ahead of Southern Alamance Middle School’s 901.

Kirkman also had the best score in hunter skills with 154 as Northeastern Randolph Middle School placed second in that category.

For middle school rifle, the winner was Dylan Pierce of Northeastern Randolph Middle School with 190. Kirkman was fourth with 182 and Williams was fifth with a 181.

In shotgun, Colson Allen of Uwharrie Charter School matched the best score with 200 and was dubbed as the runner-up based on tiebreakers.

These competitions were held at nine locations across the state on the past four Saturdays. More than 3,500 students were signed up to take part in the 44th year of the tournaments. Orienteering and a written hunting skills exam were also part of the competition, which was open to students ages 18 and younger. District 5 consists of 11 counties.

quire testing. Dial gauges operate by indicating pounds of pressure on the dial while you control the pressure using the stove burner knob to adjust the heat up and down. Dial gauges require annual testing for accuracy By testing your dial gauge annually, you know if the canner will process high or low. If a dial gauge reads low, it can result in under-processing resulting in unsafe food. At high, the food will be over-processed, which affects quality. Pressure adjustments can be made if the gauge reads up to 2 pounds high or low.

With a difference of more than 2 pounds, gauge replacement is required. In addition, replace gauges that are cracked or the glass covering is missing. Only annual testing will determine if a gauge is safe to use.

How do you test your gauge?

Check with the Randolph County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension. We offer free pressure canner testing clinics on certain scheduled dates or you can drop off just your lid and we can test it as our schedule allows and call you when it is ready to be picked up. For more information, call 336-318-6000.

Jeannie M. Leonard is Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent with the N.C. State Cooperative Extension Service.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

7

obituaries

Mollie Leonheart Gregg

1938 - 2022 Mollie L. Gregg passed away on March 24, 2022.

Mollie was a person full of life. She enjoyed shopping, spending time with family and friends, dancing, playing Bingo, crafting, and making people laugh.

She is preceded in death by her husband Donald Gregg, son Scott Gregg, brother Ike Leonheart, sister Sarah DeWoody, and brother Frank Leonheart.

She is survived by two daughters, Debra “Debbie” Griffin and Diana Nance; four grandchildren, Rita Cockerham (Randy), Jason Nance (Kristy), Ron Stanley (Lem), and Danielle Nance; seven greatgrandchildren, Kara, Caleb, Colton, Dale, Brooke, Abbie, and Ashlyn; one sister, Betty Bado; and many nieces and nephews.

Exie Ray Burgess Craven

1932 - 2022 Exie Ray Burgess Craven, age 89, of Asheboro passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Alpine Health & Rehabilitation.

Mrs. Craven was born in Ramseur on September 13, 1932 to William and Myrtle Pope Burgess. Exie was retired from Belk’s in Asheboro after 10 years of service. She had been a member of Asheboro Pentecostal Holiness Church since 1968, where she was a former choir director, Sunday School teacher, and served as Secretary/Treasuer of Sunday School and the Women’s Ministries. In addition to her parents, Exie was preceded in death by her husband, Bryant Craven, 2 brothers, and 3 sisters. Exie had a good sense of humor and was a prankster. She loved gardening her flowers, cooking, and was known for her country style steak, biscuits, and chocolate pie.

She is survived by her sons, Mark Reynolds Craven (Deana) of Ramseur and Kelly Ray Craven (Pat) of Randleman; grandchildren, Holly Craven Deakins (Alex), Dalton Reynolds Craven, and Kelsey Bryant Craven; great granddaughter, Aubrey Deakins; sisters, Kathleen Gray of Greensboro and Carol Casey of Salisbury; and brothers, Wayne Burgess (Linda) of Fuquay-Varina and Larry Burgess (Judy) of Asheboro.

James Richard “Jimmy” Curran

Charlie Zayden Millikan

2020 - 2022 Charlie “Zayden” was sent to us from Heaven on May 5th 2020 but God needed him to return early. On March 18th 2022 he entered the gates to his heavenly home.

“I asked the lord to give me this boy and he has granted my request.

Now I am giving him to the lord his whole life. And they worshiped the lord there. “ 1 Samuel 1.

He was also known as Bubba, Charlie Boy, Zaebae, and Zayden Bayden. Zayden as a beloved son, brother, grandson, and friend.

Zayden was the light of our world, and not just ours but everyone he met. He was always full of life, laughs, fun and love. He was our tractor loving, 4 wheeler riding, water playing little boy. When he wasn’t riding, playing in water or outside, he was playing ball with his bubba, singing and dancing with his sisters or cuddling anyone who would let him. He sure had everyone wrapped around his little finger, but Pawpaw was undeniably his favorite. It didn’t matter the day or time, he and pawpaw were into something and never stopped.

If he wasn’t with pawpaw, he was making mischief and tiktoks with his sisters. He was his momma’s curly headed, brown eyed, little boy full of love and laughter that was an answer to her prayers. Yet his life was short, he impacted all the people who came in contact with.

God allowed so many to see his love and light radiate through Zayden’s bright smile or contagious laughter.

Despite the multiple battles he faced in his short little life, he continued to spread joy and love everywhere he went. When God called him home, we were not ready but stand fast in our faith and trusting that Gods plan is greater than ours could ever be. Although the family is left behind to grieve, Zayden has been made whole.

His family cherishes his memory as the brief yet fulfilling gift it was. Surviving Zayden are his mother, Meredith Millikan; father, Shaun Lavette & family; sisters, Kaylee Millikan and Rylynn Gaines; brother, Ke’mari Caviness; grandparents, Jeff & Marianne Millikan; great grandmother, Joan Redding; aunt and uncle, Kendyl & Aaron McCaskill; aunt, Keyonna Lilly; and Zayden was preceded in death by his great grandparents, Charlie & Shirley FORECAST Millikan “PawPaw & Granny,” Frank Redding III “Granddaddy,” and great great grandmother, Florine Sistrunk “GiGi.”

1972 - 2022 James Richard “Jimmy” Curran, age 49, of Asheboro passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at his home.

Mr. Curran was born in Orange County on May 9, 1972 to James Francis Curran, Jr. and Cathryn Woodbury Curran. Jimmy was a 1990 graduate of Asheboro High School. He was an expert tile man for 25 years and was the owner/operator of Curran Custom Tile. Jimmy was a perfectionist and very detailed individual who had a great relationship with his contractors and homeowners. In addition to his father, Jimmy was preceded in death by his stepfather, Kenneth L. Walker. He was a loving husband and father, and his daughter, Josie was his pride and joy and best friend. Jimmy was a sweet man, great friend, and a wonderful son and brother. He loved playing golf, was a lover of music and going to concerts, watching movies with his daughter and traveling with his family.

He is survived by the love of his life, Dana Holt Curran, whom he married in 2000; daughter, Cathryn Josephine “Josie” Curran; mother, Cathryn Woodbury Walker of Asheboro; brothers, Christopher Morris Curran (Heather) of Indian Trail, Matthew Patrick Curran (Meredith) of Weddington, and Michael Collier Curran (Hannah) of Charlotte; step brother, Brian Walker of Asheboro; step sisters, Melody Walker of Raleigh, Alisa Deans (Stacy) of Garner, and Alana Follas (Brian) of Belews Creek; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy & Frank Holt of Asheboro; brother-in-law, Christopher Franklin Holt of Asheboro; several nieces and nephews; and uncle, Richard Woodbury of Montana.

Ryan Nathaniel Rose

1988 - 2022 Beautiful soul, Ryan Nathaniel Rose, left this earth on March 24, 2022.

He leaves behind a heartbroken family which includes, his mother, Shana Rose; father, Robert Rose; step father, David Senkus; step mother, Jodi Rose; sisters, Ashley Colton Harper, Michaela Rose, Arianna Ferris, Hailee Rose; brother, Parker Rose; brother-inlaw, Blake Harper; uncle John and aunt Robin Rose; nieces, Virginia Rae Harper, Ruby Ryan Harper; nephew, Beckett Rose; grandparents, Charleen Fischer, Denise Rose.

Ryan was an amazing person who radiated joy and blessed the lives of all who knew him.

His glorious spirit spread light and love to everyone. His pure heart extended unconditional acceptance and kindness to others. Ryan’s dazzling smile was like sunshine; his laughter was infectious. He had the most wonderful sense of humor and connectedness.

Ryan enjoyed music, Facetiming with family and friends, playing video games and cards, doing puzzles and board games and watching TV. He really liked watching Hallmark movies, baking and cooking shows and home renovation shows. He was a Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Buffett, Taylor Swift, Scooby Doo, SpongeBob and Muppet fan.

Ryan’s parents, Shana and Rob, gave him profound support and love, with his mother being his devoted full-time caregiver. Ryan leaves a legacy of divine love. His life was truly an inspiration.

Randolph Record for Wednesday

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2

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WEDNESDAY

7.21.21

WEDNESDAY

7.7.21 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST WEEKLY

#1

1986 - 2022 Gustavo Simental-Rodriguez, age 35, of Asheboro passed away FRIDAY THURSDAY on March 20, 2022 asSATURDAY the result of an automobile accident. JULY 3 JULY 2 JULY 1 Gustavo was born on August 15, 1986 in Zacatecas, Mexico. He HI78°animals andHI 89° 88° HI HI 91° 88° HI loved was employed 81°HI as the Farm Manager with LO 66° Equestrian LOCenter.

62°LO LO 68° 67° LO LO 70° 67° Townley Gustavo was a member of PRECIP 57% PRECIP 43% 15% PRECIP PRE 13% PRECIPPRECIP 5% St. Joseph’s Catholic20% Church, where he always volunteered in any capacity that he was needed. He was a loving and r caring husband. Gustavo loved working outside, had a green 1940 - 2022 thumb, and loved working with Joan Snider Brewer, age 81, of plants. Gustavo was always Asheboro passed away on Friday, willing to help others and loved to March 18, 2022 at her home. help with organizing events in the Mrs. Brewer was born in community.

Asheboro on March 28, 1940. Joan He is survived by his wife of 4 worked for several local attorneys years, Ana Luisa Flores-Sanchez; before and after retiring from step daughters, Yadira Montes Hammond & Hammond, (Juan Portugal) and Natalie Attorneys. She was a member Montes; step son, Francisco of First E&R Church of Christ Montes; step grandchildren, Aldo where she was a member of the Aaron Portugal Montes, Eric choir. Joan was a member of the Portugal Montes, and Nathan Red Hat Society and the Randolph Depaz Montes; parents, Gustavo Community Choir. She was very Simental-Recendez and Ma del artistic and loved making pottery Refuguio Rodriguez-Simental; and oil painting. She was preceded brothers, Daniel, Valentin, in death by her husband, Bobby and Roberto Efrain SimentalGene Brewer.

Rodriguez; and sisters, Maria She is survived by her daughter, Guadalupe, Maria del Refuguia, Bobbie Brewer; and many loving and Maria Auxilio Simentalnieces and nephews.

Rodriguez.

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

JULY Celebrate the life JUNE 30 21 of your loved ones.

HI HI 91° Submit obituaries 70° LO and deathLOnotices PRECIP to be published in 15% PRECIP Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com

“Join the “Join the conversation” conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North State Journal (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins

Editor

Publisher Xxx

Neal Robbins Sports Editor Cory Lavalette Editor

Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Gustavo Simental - Rodriguez FRIDAY

THURSDAY

JULY 23

JULY 22

S

Joan Snider Brewe

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFs

PJ Ward-Brown before those classes start. said there’s an MattfortWilliams to bolster enrollment. He ed the RCC Commitment Gra ASHEBORO — Enrollment Lauren at Randolph Community Col- a program designed as a fund lege isn’t likely to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap th Frank

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

pre-pandemic levels right away

not covered by federal or state

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Some states push direct payments to citizens with federal money

By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — With inflation raging and state coffers flush with cash, governors and lawmakers across the U.S. are considering a relatively simple solution to help ease the pain people are feeling at the gas pump and grocery store — sending money.

At least a dozen states have proposed giving rebate checks of several hundred dollars directly to taxpayers, among them California, Kansas and Minnesota. Critics, including many Republican lawmakers, say those checks won’t go far enough given the pace of inflation and are pushing instead for permanent tax cuts.

A proposal from Maine Gov. Janet Mills is among the most generous in a state where the cost of food and fuel has skyrocketed in recent months. The Democratic governor wants to send $850 to most residents as part of the state’s budget bill.

The rebate “will help Maine people grapple with these increased costs by putting money directly back into their pockets,” Mills said.

But Wendell Cressey, a clamdigger in Harpswell, said the soaring

AP PHOTO

Gas prices are displayed at a gas station Friday, March 11, 2022, in Long Beach, Calif. cost of fuel for people in his business means the check will provide just temporary relief.

“It might help a little, but it would have to be a lot more because we’re paying for gas. Most of us have V-8 trucks,” Cressey said. “I just don’t think it’s going to help as much as they think it is.”

In addition to the direct rebates, lawmakers and governors across the country are considering cuts to sales taxes, property tax relief and reducing or suspending state gas

taxes.

The proposals come at a time when many states actually have historic amounts of money on their hands because of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid and ballooning tax revenue. It’s also happening as the war in Ukraine has compounded soaring prices for fuel and other essentials.

It’s also no coincidence that the relief is being floated during an election year, said Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the

University of Maine. “There’s some real policy reason to do this,” Brewer said. “But at the same time, it’s also clear that this is an election year, and in an election year there are few things as popular as giving voters what voters see as free money from the state.”

The states are moving toward sending people money as consumer inflation has jumped nearly 8% over the past year. That was the sharpest spike since 1982.

Inflation boosted the typical family’s food expenses by nearly $590 last year, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.

Overall, the average family had to spend $3,500 more last year to buy the same amount of goods and services as they purchased in previous years.

In New Mexico, some have questioned whether Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan for a $250 rebate goes far enough given how much consumer prices have risen.

Wayne Holly and his wife, Penny, were among the small business owners in the state who were forced to shut their doors early in the COVID-19 pandemic because of

the governor’s public health orders.

“Do we get customers who are angry and irate because things have changed? Yes, we sure do,” Wayne Holly said. “Do we get customers who say ‘I never used to pay that before?’ I say ‘Yeah, I’ve never paid $4.50 for a gallon of gas.’”

“State legislatures should not rush into enacting permanent tax cuts based on what very well might be temporary growth in real revenues,” Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, wrote in a recent analysis.

The relief plans vary by state.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, released a plan for spending the state’s budget surplus that included a proposal for income tax rebate checks of $1,000 per couple.

In California, Democratic lawmakers have released separate proposals to send rebates of $200 to $400 to each taxpayer, while Gov. Gavin Newsom said he wants to distribute fuel debit cards of up to $800 to help ease the burden on residents paying the highest gas prices in the nation.

Proposals for relief haven’t gone so smoothly in other states. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has proposed returning half of a $90 million surplus in the state Education Fund to the state’s property taxpayers with a check of between $250 and $275, but the Democrat-controlled Legislature has shown little interest.

“Typically, when you overpay for something, you get some of that money back,” Scott said when he made the proposal earlier this month.

Nuclear fears in US amid Russia-Ukraine war: AP-NORC poll

By Ben Fox The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Russia’s war on Ukraine has most Americans at least somewhat worried that the U.S. will be drawn directly into the conflict and could be targeted with nuclear weapons, with a new poll reflecting a level of anxiety that has echoes of the Cold War era.

Close to half of Americans say they are very concerned that Russia would directly target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, and an additional 3 in 10 are somewhat concerned about that, according to the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Russian President Vladimir Putin placed his country’s nuclear forces on high alert shortly after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Roughly 9 in 10 Americans are at least somewhat concerned that Putin might use a nuclear weapon against Ukraine, including about 6 in 10 who are very concerned.

Seventy-one percent of Americans say the invasion has increased the possibility of nuclear weapons being used anywhere in the world.

Fear of nuclear war has been a fact of life for decades. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published its “Doomsday Clock” since 1947, showing a theoretical countdown to nuclear annihilation. The latest update, in January, put the time at 100 seconds to midnight — unchanged since 2020, but still closer than ever to Armageddon.

It’s difficult to measure the public’s degree of fear over time because polls use different methodologies or pose questions in different ways. Alex Wellerstein, a nucle-

AP PHOTO

A fallout shelter sign hangs on a building on East 9th Street in New York, Jan. 16, 2018. ar historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, said people often won’t bring it up on their own but list it among concerns if given the choice.

The fear, naturally enough, also tends to rise and fall depending on what is happening around the world. “We have these moments that are sort of high crisis periods,” Wellerstein said. “And then they come and go, and people forget that we had them.”

One particularly high point, he said, was in 1983, a time of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the year that a highly watched movie about nuclear war,

“The Day After,” first aired on TV in the United States.

In the recent AP-NORC poll, close to half of Americans say they are “extremely” or “very” concerned that the U.S. might be drawn into a war with Russia. Roughly 4 in 10 Americans said they are “somewhat” concerned.

The findings reflect not just anxiety about what seems like a proxy war with Russia, even if the U.S. isn’t directly involved in the conflict, but also the unprecedented saturation coverage of the war through traditional news outlets and social media.

“We are seeing almost moment

by moment what’s happening to these poor people,” said Linda Woodward, a retired phone company technician from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

The concern about nuclear war cuts across party lines and even resonates with some young adults who were born after the Cold War. Caleb Pack, a 21-year-old Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, was among those who said that they were “somewhat concerned” that the U.S. would be drawn into the war and that Russia would target the United States with nuclear weapons.

“If Russia’s end goal is to reclaim

Soviet Union territory, that means they’re going to push into NATO countries, which obviously I think could escalate very quickly,” said Pack, who works in information systems.

Certainly, Russia hasn’t taken steps to alleviate concerns. Putin issued what appeared to be an ominous threat when he reminded the world in a speech the day he launched the invasion that his country is “one of the most powerful nuclear states.”

In that context, concern is justified, said Tara Drozdenko, director of the global security program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Whenever you have nuclear-armed nations getting closer to conflict, there’s always a risk of nuclear escalation,” she said.

So far, NATO and the Biden administration have been careful not to escalate the situation, Drozdenko said. But she believes the public should use this time to push for changes to limit the risk.

That would include adopting a formal policy that the U.S. would not strike first with nuclear weapons, to reduce the risk of an accidental strike by an adversary, and taking the final authority for a launch out of the hands of the president alone.

Historian Wellerstein also sees a possible upside to the heightened state of concern. He cited research showing that a crisis can have the long-term effect of getting people more engaged with an issue.

“This thing with Ukraine will inevitably end, hopefully sooner rather than later,” he said. “This could be an opportunity for getting a lot more people, especially younger people, invested in this as a political issue.”

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Stanly County Journal

COURTESY PHOTO

Former Sheriff Ralph McSwain is joined by local leaders at a county meeting in the this undated file photo.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Tobacco store bust seizes 4,800 edibles Stanly County North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents and the Oakboro Police Department busted a tobacco store in Oakboro, seizing 4,800 marijuana infused edibles.

Oakboro Tobacco and Vape on Alonzo Drive brought in the gummy candies from California. 4,872 packages were taken, as well as marijuana paraphernalia and illegal detox drinks. Hazem Musaed Ahmed Al-Hariri was arrested and faces charges of trafficking and possessing items to defraud a drug test.

WCNC

US Black population: The biggest growth is in smaller cities Mecklenburg County The largest African American population growth over the past decade didn’t take place in Atlanta or Houston, long identified as hubs of Black life, but rather in less congested cities with lower profiles: Fort Worth; Columbus, Ohio; Jacksonville, Florida; and Charlotte. Each gained between 32,000 and 40,000 new Black residents from 2010 to 2020, according to 2020 census figures.

Meanwhile, Black residents left the nation’s largest cities, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, by the tens of thousands. Fort Worth, Columbus, Jacksonville and Charlotte all saw explosive growth — from 15% to 24% — in their overall populations over the past decade.

AP

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County’s longest-serving sheriff is remembered Ralph McSwain died March 24

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Former Stanly County Sheriff Ralph McSwain, the county’s longest-serving sheriff, died at 91 on March 24. Soon after, there was an outpouring of sympathy from law enforcement and everyday citizens.

The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office posted on their social media, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sheriff Ralph Lee McSwain.

Sheriff McSwain was known by many not only in Stanly County but across this state. Sheriff McSwain will be missed but will always remain in our hearts as our Sheriff.”

Other local law enforcement agencies also expressed their condolences. “The Locust Police “Sheriff McSwain will be Department sends our depart- missed but will always ment’s sympathies to the family of former Stanly County Sheriff remain in our hearts as our Ralph McSwain who at 28 years Sheriff.” is the longest serving Sheriff in Stanly County history. Thank Statement from the Stanly you for your service and contriCounty Sheriff’s Office butions to Stanly County.”

McSwain’s funeral was held at Green Memorial United Methodist Church, where he was a member, on March 27. He was iff from the county.

McSwain served on the N.C. buried at Rehobeth Methodist Church Cemetery with honors by Sheriff’s Association’s original the Stanly County Sheriff’s Of- Training and Standards Comfice. Rev. David Lowe and Rev. mission and also on the N.C. State Contractor’s Licensing Ron Drye officiated the service.

McSwain was born in Stan- Board.

In his spare time, McSwain ly County in 1930 and lived in Norwood. He was a veteran of was a wood worker and “master the Army Reserves and served craftsman” who was a licensed as sheriff of Stanly County for 28 contractor. He was also heavily years, the longest ever for a sher- involved as a Freemason, being a

past master of Albemarle Lodge #703 and a master mason.

Many praised McSwain for his Christian faith, solid moral character and kind spirit.

“Sheriff Ralph McSwain hired me in 1980 as the first female deputy sheriff to work outside the office. Also I am African American,” one woman said in an online tribute. “He was the most kind, considerate person to work with. I will always be grateful to him for starting me on a career path that lasted thirty years. To his wife Pat and family I pray God give you comfort and strength at this difficult time.”

The Stanly County History Center posted on social media, “Thank you Sheriff McSwain for your many years of service to Stanly County,” along with an black-and-white photo of him.

Before the funeral and burial, McSwain had lain in state at the Stanly County Ralph L. McSwain Detention Center from noon until 2 p.m. In 2019, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to name the county’s detention center after him.

He is survived by Patricia “Pat” Van Hoy McSwain, his wife of 42 years.

Man charged with bank robbery and Pfeiffer lockdown instigation

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — A crime case that took the community by storm last week has been solved by local officials.

On March 25, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office announced that it made an arrest in a case that led to an active shooter lockdown throughout Pfeiffer University’s campus on March 24.

Following an investigation by the county’s Criminal Investigations Division, Concord resident Kelvin Wayne Simmons, 45, has been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and a false report of mass violence on educational property.

Simmons was taken into custody in Charlotte and transported back to Albemarle’s Ralph McSwain Detention Center with an initial court date of April 2.

Around 1 p.m on March 24,

Pfeiffer campus police received an alarming call indicating that a gunman was shooting people on campus with multiple individuals already deceased.

Pfeiffer, as well as Gray Stone Day School and other surrounding businesses in Misenheimer, immediately went into a temporary lockdown while officers could arrive at the scene.

Just as officials were arriving at Pfeiffer to complete a security clearance of the entire campus, deputies with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office received a call at First Bank in Richfield in reference to an active robbery situation. No employees were injured in the altercation as Simmons left with an undisclosed amount of money.

After deputies cleared and searched the entire Pfeiffer campus and did not find anyone with a weapon, the university’s lockdown was lifted around 2 p.m.

Investigators used evidence at the scene of the bank robbery to latch onto Simmons as a suspect for the crime while learning that was also responsible for the fictitious threat of an armed gunman at Pfeiffer. Detectives were able to locate him at the Days Inn on Sunset Rd, near Interstate 77 in north Charlotte, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Per his arrest, he was also served with numerous outstanding warrants from surrounding jurisdictions — he was charged with outstanding warrants from Cabarrus and Rowan counties for robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of larceny of motor vehicle, felony larceny, hit and run property damage, and fleeing to elude arrest.

The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office addressed the case on so-

cial media on March 25: “We would like to express our appreciation to the Badin Police Dept.

Norwood Police Dept, Oakboro Police Dept, Locust Police Dept. Misenheimer Police Dept.

Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, NC Highway Patrol, NCDMV License and Theft, Stanly County EMS, Station 22 from Richfield, CMPD and the NCSBI.” “We appreciate the quick and professional response to Pfeiffer University as well as the diligence in protecting students and staff from a possible active shooter threat, as well as assistance in taking the suspect into custody without incident,” the office’s statement continued.

“We would also like to share our appreciation to the telecommunications staff at Stanly County 911 for dealing with two high call volume incidents at the same time, and handling both of these flawlessly.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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Experts worry about how US will see next COVID surge coming

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

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

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ CARPENTER, JOE FRANK (W /M/45), arrested 3/28/2022 on the primary charge of AWDW SERIOUS INJURY by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ LEWIS, CARLOS SYLVESTER J (B /M/32), arrested 3/28/2022 on the primary charge of FAIL REPRT NEW ADDRESS-SEX OFF by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

The Associated Press NEW YORK — As coronavirus infections rise in some parts of the world, experts are watching for a potential new COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — and wondering how long it will take to detect.

“We’re not in a great situation,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Brown University pandemic researcher.

Scientists acknowledge that the wide availability of vaccines and treatments puts the nation in a better place than when the pandemic began, and that monitoring has come a long way.

For example, scientists this week touted a 6-month-old program that tests international travelers flying into four U.S. airports. Genetic testing of a sample on Dec. 14 turned up a coronavirus variant — the descendant of omicron known as BA.2 — seven days earlier than any other reported detection in the U.S. More good news: U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths have been falling for weeks.

But it’s different elsewhere. The World Health Organization this week reported that the number of new coronavirus cases increased two weeks in a row globally, likely because COVID-19 prevention measures have been halted in numerous countries and because BA.2 spreads more easily.

Some public health experts aren’t certain what that means for the U.S. BA.2 accounts for a growing share of U.S. cases, the CDC said — more than one-third nationally and more than half in the Northeast. Small increases in overall case rates have been noted in New York, and in hospital admissions in New England.

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Some health departments also have used sewage to look for variants. New York City, for example, detected signals of the omicron variant in a sample taken on Nov. 21 — about 10 days before the first case was reported in the U.S. But experts note the system doesn’t cover the entire country. It also doesn’t distinguish who is infected.

“It’s a really important and promising strategy, no doubt. But the ultimate value is still probably yet to be understood,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, the health officer for Seattle/King County, Washington.

Hospital data

AP PHOTO

Firefighters from the Marins-Pompiers of Marseille extract samples of sewage water at a retirement home in Marseille, southern France, Thursday Jan. 14, 2021 Some of the northern U.S. states with the highest rates of BA.2, however, have some of the lowest case rates, noted Katriona Shea of Penn State University.

Dr. James Musser, an infectious disease specialist at Houston Methodist, called the national case data on BA.2 “murky.” He added: “What we really need is as much real-time data as possible ... to inform decisions.”

Here’s what COVID-19 trackers are looking at and what worries scientists about them.

Test results Tallies of test results have been at the core of understanding coronavirus spread from the start, but they have always been flawed.

Initially, only sick people got tested, meaning case counts missed

people who had no symptoms or were unable to get swabbed.

Home test kits became widely available last year, and demand took off when the omicron wave hit.

But many people who take home tests don’t report results to anyone.

Nor do health agencies attempt to gather them.

Nuzzo said: “The case numbers are not as much a reflection of reality as they once were.”

Sewage surveillance An evolving monitoring system is looking for signs of coronavirus in sewage, which could potentially capture brewing infections.

Researchers have linked wastewater samples to the number of positive COVID-19 tests a week later, suggesting health officials could get an early glimpse at infection trends.

Last month, the CDC outlined a new set of measures for deciding whether to lift mask-wearing rules, focusing less on positive test results and more on hospitals.

Hospital admissions are a lagging indicator, given that a week or more can pass between infection and hospitalization. But a number of researchers believe the change is appropriate. They say hospital data is more reliable and more easily interpreted than case counts.

The lag also is not as long as one might think. Some studies have suggested many people wait to get tested. And when they finally do, the results aren’t always immediate.

Spencer Fox, a University of Texas data scientist who is part of a group that uses hospital and cellphone data to forecast COVID-19 for Austin, said “hospital admissions were the better signal” for a surge than test results.

There are concerns, however, about future hospital data.

If the federal government lifts its public health emergency declaration, officials will lose the ability to compel hospitals to report COVID-19 data, a group of former CDC directors recently wrote. They urged Congress to pass a law that will provide enduring authorities “so we will not risk flying blind as health threats emerge.”

♦ RICHARDSON, JIMMIE EARL (B /M/36), arrested 3/28/2022 on the primary charge of PWIMSD COCAINE

by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ UCKER, DAVID LEE (W /M/38), arrested 3/28/2022 on the primary charge of FEL ASSAULT INDIV W/DISAB by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ MCDOWELL, JUSTIN WAYNE (W /M/39), arrested 3/26/2022 on the primary charge of MISDEMEANOR LARCENY by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ SIMMONS, KELVIN WAYNE (W /M/45), arrested 3/25/2022 on the primary charge of ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ ATTLE, BRANDON DEANDRE (B /M/27), arrested 3/24/2022 on the primary charge of FELONY POSSESSION SCH I CS by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ BENNETT, TONTAY RODDELL (B /M/24), arrested 3/24/2022 on the primary charge of CARRYING CONCEALED GUN (F) by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ COBB, RASHONDA EVELYN (B /F/32), arrested 3/24/2022 on the primary charge of ASSAULT AND BATTERY by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ CGRAW, JAMES PATRICK (W /M/36), arrested 3/24/2022 on the primary charge of ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON (M) by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ HARWARD, BOBBY DALE (W /M/51), arrested 3/23/2022 on the primary charge of PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ NANCE, DILLION EDWARD (W /M/24), arrested 3/22/2022 on the primary charge of POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

AP PHOTO

Ariana DeBose accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for “West Side Story” at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

NC native Ariana DeBose wins Oscar for best supporting actress The Associatd Press LOS ANGELES — Ariana DeBose lived up to Oscar predictions and followed the path of her “West Side Story” predecessor Rita Moreno.

DeBose won the best supporting actress trophy Sunday for her breakout performance as the fierce Anita, 60 years after Moreno claimed the award in 1962 for the original film version of the Broadway musical.

“Yikes, OK!” DeBose said, holding the statuette up in triumph.

“Now you see why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America.’ Because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true. And that’s really a heartening thing

right now.”

DeBose gave a shoutout to Moreno, who attended the ceremony.

“I am so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me,” she said. Moreno was an Oscar pioneer, the first Latina to win an acting award.

DeBose is a groundbreaker in her own right, the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actor to win in the category. In her acceptance speech, DeBose said she found her “strength in life through art.”

“To anybody who has ever questioned your identity,” she said, “I promise you there is a place for us.”

Largely unknown in film cir-

cles before landing the coveted role, the 31-year-old North Carolina native became the clear Oscar favorite after an awards season full of victories. She was previously primarily known as a stage actress, with Broadway roles in “Bring It On: The Musical,” “Motown: The Musical” and “Hamilton.”

“This is magic,” she said, waving her Oscar backstage, “but it’s magic that did not come without effort.”

She offered more praise for Moreno, saying she “opened many doors, not just for me but for many Latinas. When you’re the first of anything, it’s lonely. She’s not alone anymore.”

DeBose’s Oscar makes the third

time that two actors have earned trophies for playing the same role, following Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, and Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro as Vito Corleone.

Earlier this month, DeBose said she considered it important and “thrilling” to see Latino screen achievement celebrated after it was largely snubbed in 2021.

Progress means “getting people in front of the camera and behind the camera and into the writers’ rooms and in positions of power, so we can continue to tell our stories in an authentic” and expansive way, she told The Associated Press.

Moreno gave her helpful and concise advice before the ceremony.

“She just said, ‘Enjoy it, honey!’” DeBose told AP. Other nominees in the category were Jessie Buckley for “The Lost Daughter”; Judi Dench, “Belfast”; Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog” and Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

OPINION

3

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

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Thank a farmer

Four out of every ten largescale farmers and ranchers reported trouble buying necessary supplies, especially fuel.

“AGRICULTURE IS OUR WISEST PURSUIT.” President Thomas Jefferson had it right when he discussed the importance of agriculture in our nation, which remains the same today. Last week, we celebrated National Agriculture Week, where we recognized America’s hardworking farmers, ranchers, and ag producers for all they do to feed, clothe, and energize our country.

Agriculture is the backbone of our nation, contributing trillions of dollars to our economy, creating millions of jobs, and supplying essential commodities to families worldwide. However, farmers in our region and across the nation are facing threats like never before from inflation, record fuel prices, and supply chain shortages.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted a 7.9% decline in farm income for 2022 largely due to increases in production expenses. In fact, four out of every ten large-scale farmers and ranchers reported trouble buying necessary supplies, especially fuel.

The average price of all types of gasoline has shot up 38% from February 2021 as a result of President Joe Biden’s policies restricting American energy. Tractors and combines need a lot of gas to operate – as prices continue to increase, so will the burden on our nation’s farmers.

Another issue contributing to the assault on American agriculture is a fertilizer shortage. Biden’s inflation crisis caused the price of fertilizer in America to increase by 17% in 2021. The war in Ukraine has worsened what was already a major supply and demand crisis. Around 80% of the fertilizer used on American farms is from overseas, including from hostile nations like Russia.

As a result of the conflict, fertilizer prices have skyrocketed nationwide, including by 500% in some states. This will greatly impact our farmers both by increasing costs and lowering crop yields. Last week in Brussels, President Biden even admitted food shortages would “be

real.”

It is clear that like unleashing our domestic energy production, boosting America’s agriculture industry is more critical than ever. That’s why I am committed to keeping agriculture a top industry in our state and country. To do this, we must advance common sense initiatives that address both immediate risks to this sector, as well as promote its growth in the long term. This starts with cutting burdensome regulations and making it easier for farmers to get what they need to produce crops effectively.

Last week, I made efforts to do just that. I urged the U.S. International Trade Commission to suspend duties on certain fertilizer imports in order to increase supply and lower costs for American farmers. I also co-sponsored the Emergency Relief from Duties Act, which will help farmers by making it easier for them to petition the government over unfair regulations. To help lower fuel costs for our farmers, I cosponsored the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, a bill that will boost our domestic energy production and drive down costs across the board. These are rational measures that will help trim government overreach and make it easier for farmers to get the materials they need to get the job done.

We are blessed in our country to have a rich and vibrant agriculture sector. However, we must work to support our farmers and ranchers. In 2022, Americans were already paying 12% of their income on groceries compared to 8.6% in 2020. These price hikes are likely to worsen if our leadership does not change course. We need policies from Washington that will reverse these trends and end inflation, not make them worse for farmers and your family. As your congressman and chairman of the Agriculture and Rural America Task Force, I will keep working to do just that.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Another party hack president Biden’s job approval slipped under 50% after the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, and with inflation, illegal immigration and violent crime raging out of control, it has sagged to 41%.

“The language people speak in the corridors of power is not economics or politics. It is history.” So says former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, quoted in a column on Ukraine by historian Niall Ferguson.

Thus Democratic insiders and sympathetic journalists liked to describe President Joe Biden as another Franklin Roosevelt, even though Biden in 2021 didn’t face an economic collapse or have overwhelming partisan majorities as Roosevelt did in 1933.

But few politicians warrant comparison with the few universally recognized great presidents. The relevant comparison may be to what I call the partisan hack presidents.

Understand, please, that “partisan hack” is not meant as an insult.

Any democratic political system needs a certain number of dependable and dogged party loyalists. Sometimes one will rise to the top job and compile a more creditable record than most people predicted.

The problem is that, historically, partisan hack presidents’ policy successes have ended up hurting their party. My examples are four partisan hack presidents — two who succeeded to the office from the vice presidency and two who were “dark horse” candidates chosen after the ninth and 10th ballots at party national conventions.

My first partisan hack president was James K. Polk, a 20-year veteran Jacksonian Democrat elected in 1844. He successfully accomplished all four of his partisan policy goals: a lowered tariff, an independent treasury, peaceful acquisition of the Oregon Territory, and acquisition of California and the Southwest after victory in the Mexican War. But that last success raised the issue of slavery in the territories, which split the Democratic Party and produced the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. That led to the Civil War and to Republicans holding the White House for 44 of the next 52 years.

Next on the list is Chester A. Arthur, collector of the Port of New York (a lucrative patronage job) before becoming James A. Garfield’s vice president. Like other Stalwart Republicans, Arthur was from a modest background and strongly supported equal rights for black people — a stand well-born Republicans such as Henry Adams and Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices sniffed at.

Becoming president after Garfield was assassinated by a frustrated office-seeker, Arthur sponsored civil service reform, dislodging patronage politics from much of the federal government and relegating it to the usually Democratic big cities. That eroded the institutional base for equal rights policies and ensured Republican acquiescence in Southern Democrats’ imposition of racial segregation.

The often-disparaged Warren G. Harding, a solidly Republican newspaper editor and Ohio politician who stuck with William Howard Taft when Theodore Roosevelt ran against him, was nominated in the legendary smoke-filled room and elected by a 60% to 34% landslide in 1920. As president, he hired a first-rate Cabinet (comparing favorably to Woodrow Wilson’s or Franklin Roosevelt’s), lowered taxes, created the Bureau of the Budget, pushed through the Washington Naval Treaty, spoke out in Alabama for civil rights and restored civil liberties after Wilson’s prosecutions of wartime protesters.

Popular journalists of the day and New Deal historians blamed him retrospectively for the Depression of the 1930s, though he was actually responsible for the prosperity of the 1920s. They played up the routine Teapot Dome scandal and his personal life, which was far less lurid than, say, John Kennedy’s.

After 25 years in Congress, Gerald Ford was looking to retire as House minority leader when he became vice president after the resignation of Spiro Agnew in 1973 and president after the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. A supporter of balanced budgets, civil rights legislation and bipartisan foreign policy, he backed Henry Kissinger’s opening to China and detente with Russia. His pardon of Nixon hurt him in polls, but he came close to winning a full term in 1976.

But he didn’t set the future course for his party, which won fewer House seats in 1974 and 1976 than it has won ever since. Ronald Reagan embraced the Kemp-Roth tax cut and resulting deficits, increased the defense budget and worked successfully to end the Soviet “evil empire.”

Biden, like Polk, Arthur, Harding and Ford, is an intelligent man and a strong partisan with beliefs not contemptible in his times. He’s been in office far longer: 44 years as a Democratic senator and vice president. He sounded like a centrist when Delaware was a swing state and, like his party, has moved left since it became safe Democratic in the 1990s. He was a dark horse candidate in 2020 until Rep. James Clyburn’s endorsement gave him a decisive victory in South Carolina’s majority-black primary.

As president, he has faithfully embraced party priorities, with some policy successes. But his job approval slipped under 50% after the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, and with inflation, illegal immigration and violent crime raging out of control, it has sagged to 41%.

Biden’s response to Ukraine, or some other emerging issue, may raise his standing and even enable him to win reelection as he approaches age 82. But at the moment, he risks doing damage to his party as his four party hack predecessors did to theirs.

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

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NHL

Senators owner Melnyk dead at 62 Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has died from an illness, the team said Monday night. He was 62. The team announced Melnyk’s death with a statement from his family that mentioned “an illness he faced with determination and courage.” The statement did not explain what the illness was, and a team spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking additional details. Melnyk had a liver transplant in 2015 after a public campaign for a donor. He had owned the Senators since 2003, when he bought the NHL club for $92 million. The Toronto native was involved in other businesses around Canada and in 2010 had an estimated net worth of $1.21 billion.

NFL

Sources: Governor to propose $500M for new Titans stadium Nashville Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee plans to propose $500 million in bonds in the state budget to help fund a new covered Tennessee Titans stadium envisioned for Nashville, two sources confirmed to The Associated Press. The sources mentioned that the new stadium plans would include some kind of roof, with one source saying the funding would be contingent on the stadium being enclosed. A covered stadium, whether it’s a fixed or retractable roof, could help Nashville compete for the biggest events in or outside of sports, from the Super Bowl to the NCAA’s Final Four.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Legette-Jack hired as Syracuse women’s hoops coach Syracuse, N.Y. Felisha Legette-Jack was introduced Monday as the women’s basketball coach at Syracuse after a decade at Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference. She replaces Vonn Read, who guided the Orange through a difficult season after his predecessor, Quentin Hillsman, resigned amid allegations he mistreated players. The 55-year-old Legette-Jack is the fourth woman to lead the program. She started her coaching career as an assistant at Boston College in 1991 and was an assistant with the Orange under the previous woman who held the job, Marianna Freeman.

Legette-Jack has a 343-279 record as a head coach.

SOCCER

Canada advances to World Cup for first time in 36 years Toronto Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and Junior Hoilett scored and Canada secured its first World Cup berth in 36 years with a 4-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday. Canada has been to the World Cup just once before, in 1986.

Canada missed out a chance to secure a spot in Qatar last week with a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica. It was Canada’s first loss in three World Cup qualifying rounds and it snapped a six-game winning streak. Canada coach John Herdman became the first coach ever to lead both a men’s and women’s team to a World Cup berth. He coached the Canadian women’s team from 2011-18.

STEPHEN SPILLMAN | AP PHOTO

Ross Chastain celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Chastain pilots Trackhouse Racing to 1st Cup win AJ Allmendinger spun out battling for the lead on the final lap at Circuit of the Americas The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Ross Chastain bumped and banged his way around the final overtime lap at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday for first career Cup win and upstart NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing’s first trip to Victory Lane.

Trackhouse is owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull and is in its second season of competition.

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Florida, was kept on by Marks for Trackhouse when Marks bought out Chip Ganassi’s entire NASCAR

team ahead of this season.

Chastain celebrated by spiking a large watermelon off the top of his Chevrolet.

“It’s never tasted sweeter, I tell ya,” the 29-year-old said with a piece of rind stuck in his beard. He then took another huge bite.

The two-lap sprint produced the most aggressive action of a long Sunday of racing on the permanent road course used primarily for Formula One. The race had nine cautions and ran 3 hours, 20 minutes.

Chastain wasn’t even the leader — Tyler Reddick had somehow moved to the front in the previous single lap run between the eighth and ninth cautions — and Chastain also had to contend with former teammate and mentor AJ Allmendinger.

Chastain and Allmendinger restarted second and third, while sitting back in fourth was Alex Bow-

man. He’s been chided for “backing into victories,” and for a moment, it looked as if another would indeed fall in his lap.

Chastain used an aggressive move to get past Reddick to the lead, and Allmendinger followed. Bowman also jumped past Reddick and closed the gap on Chastain and Allmendinger as the two friends jostled and bashed for the lead.

The overtime featured four lead changes — Chastain and Allmendinger swapped it twice, and Bowman even got to the front — but Chastain decided the race by divebombing inside of Allmendinger. That spun Allmendinger, winner of the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, into Bowman and Allmendinger went from second to 33rd.

“I was so worried about AJ on that second-to-last restart that I let Tyler drive right by both of us,” Chastain said. “AJ is so good, I’ve learned so much from him, and it’s like ‘How do you beat the guy? He taught me so much!’”

He wasn’t thrilled to have won the race with the dive-bomb on Allmendinger.

“I feel bad about AJ,” Chastain said. “I mean, he’s gonna be upset with me, but we raced hard and he owes me one.”

Allmendinger was openly annoyed after a mandatory trip to

the care center.

“At the end of the day, we all have to look ourselves in the mirror. If you are OK with it, you’re OK with it. Each person is different,” he said of how Chastain raced him.

“I was doing everything I could do to try to sweep the weekend. We were that close. We know we had a shot to win the race.”

Chastain — and Trackhouse — have been fiercely competitive since the start of the season as its drivers have been terrific in NASCAR’s new Next Gen racecar.

Daniel Suarez, who spent all of last season as Trackhouse’s only driver, dominated early and led every lap of the first stage before a blown tire destroyed his race on the second lap of the second stage.

Chastain then took over.

He’s been fast and led laps this year and was close to a win at both Las Vegas and Atlanta. On the Austin road course, Chastain led four times for a race-high 31 laps.

His win was his first in 121 career Cup starts.

Bowman finished second for Hendrick Motorsports and a Chevrolet sweep. Christopher Bell was third for Toyota and followed

by Chase Elliott of Hendrick, the defending race winner. Reddick was fifth and pole-sitter Ryan Blaney was the highest-finishing Ford driver in sixth.

No regrets, no what-ifs for Kyrie Irving after home debut The Nets point guard played his first game this season in Brooklyn after New York City’s COVID-19 mandate ended

“There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

The Associated Press NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving is not about to look back now.

Not at a loss in his first home game.

Nor at how many more losses in home games might have been avoided if he were playing previously.

His refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus left him ineligible to play in home games until Sunday, when a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets dropped the Brooklyn Nets into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

It took 75 games into the season for Irving to finally play at Barclays Center, and it may be too late for the Nets to turn into the championship contender that was widely expected. But he said the sacrifices of he and his teammates make his refusal to get vaccinated as mandated to perform in New York City worth it.

“That’s the only thing that I’m really focused on, is the now and getting back ready for the next game and just going from there,” Irving said. “But the point of this season for me was never to just take a stand. It was really to make sure I’m standing on what I believe in and freedom. Freedom.

I don’t think that’s a word that

Kyrie Irving, Nets point guard

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

Nets guard Kyrie Irving shoots during Sunday's game against the Hornets in Brooklyn. gets defined enough in our society, about the freedom to make choices in your life without someone telling you what the (expletive) to do.”

The former Duke star said that could apply to politicians or anyone who holds positions of power.

“So I’m standing for freedom, so that’s in all facets of my life and there’s nobody that’s enslaving me,” Irving said. “There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

Irving’s teammates and many

of his fans seem to accept his stance. He got a loud ovation before the game from the sellout crowd of 18,166, the largest crowd ever for a Nets game at Barclays Center.

But, perhaps tired from playing on back-to-back nights for only the second time this season, his game wasn’t there. He shot 6 for 22 from the field and finished with just 16 points and 11 assists.

“Not the result we wanted, but definitely grateful that we were part of history tonight and we got to do it here,” Irving said.

The Nets didn’t know when he would get opportunity until Mayor Eric Adams exempted athletes and entertainers from the mandate last week, in time for the end of the NBA regular season and for the start of the Major League Baseball’s.

But with the loss Sunday giving the Hornets the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams finish tied, the Nets would be ninth in the East if the season ended Sunday. That means they would need to win two games in the playin tournament just to make the postseason.

They have seven games left, all but one of them in New York.

Without Irving, the Nets could have been in real danger of not even making the playoffs.

With him, Brooklyn can still salvage the season, which is where Irving is focused.

“I mean honestly, there’s no time to consider the past,” Irving said. “It’s not going to do anybody in our locker room or anybody any justice thinking about what could have been, the shoulds and the coulds. We only can control what we can control moving forward.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

5

MLB asks umps for more random Jaguars to play 1 home checks on sticky substances game annually at Wembley through ’24 Recorded spin rates increased toward the end of last season after an initial dip following the crackdown

Jacksonville played once per season in London from 2013-19 and again last season

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL is asking umpires to make more random checks of pitchers for sticky substances after watching its crackdown become less effective late last season.

MLB instituted regular checks last June 21 for grip aids. Seattle’s Héctor Santiago was ejected on June 27 and Arizona’s Caleb Smith was tossed on Aug. 18, and both received 10-game suspensions.

“After an initial dip in spin rates as a result of the periodic checks, unfortunately the data showed that spin rates started to rise toward the end of the season as players grew accustomed to the circumstances of routine umpire checks,” MLB Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Mike Hill wrote in a memorandum Friday to team owners, executives and managers, and all major and minor league players.

“As a result, umpires have been instructed to be more vigilant and unpredictable in the timing and scope of their checks during the 2022 season,” he said.

The memorandum, first reported by Sports Illustrated, was obtained by The Associated Press.

Last season, umpires checked all starting pitchers multiple times and all relievers either at the end of his first inning or when removed, whichever occurred first.

Caps, gloves and fingertips were checked.

“We are working with the umpires in an effort to make inspections less invasive,” Hill wrote.

“Rather than focusing on uniforms and belts, umpires have been given additional guidance to help them determine whether a pitcher’s hand or fingers contain a foreign substance in violation of the rules.”

“An umpire checking a pitcher for foreign substances will use his thumb to check for stickiness

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi, right, checks Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Hector Santiago’s hat during a game last June. on the pitcher’s thumb, index finger, middle finger, and palm,” Hill wrote.

While the timing of checks with be more random, it appears the frequency will not change.

“Starting pitchers should continue to expect more than one mandatory check per game,” Hill wrote. “Each relief pitcher will be subject to at least one check when he enters the game, at the conclusion of the inning in which he entered the game, or when he is removed from the game. In general, inspections will be conducted between innings or after pitching changes to avoid a delay of the game and to allow the umpire to perform a thorough check of the pitcher.”

Fastball spin rates declined from an average of 2,323 revolutions per minute in May to 2,258 in June, according to Statcast data. Plans for the crackdown first emerged June 3 following an owners’ meeting.

While the average was 2,239 in

July, it rose to 2,263 in September.

The major league batting average for the season dropped to .244, its lowest since the year of the pitcher in 1968.

“We now have extensive data, including testing by third-party researchers, which shows how the use of foreign substances on baseballs has a material impact on performance,” Hill wrote. “Specifically, foreign substances significantly increase the spin rate and movement of the baseball, providing pitchers with an unfair advantage over hitters that our playing rules were expressly designed to prohibit. We also learned about a dangerous side to foreign substances — that foreign substance use appears to be contributing to an overall decline in control because it enables a style of pitching in which pitchers sacrifice control in favor of spin and velocity.”

Velocity was virtually unchanged, increasing from 93.6 mph before June 3 to 93.7 mph after.

THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS have reupped their commitment to playing annually at Wembley Stadium in London.

The Jaguars received formal approval Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, to move forward with a three-year contract to play at Wembley, a deal that gives the small-market franchise exclusivity at one of the United Kingdom’s most iconic venues.

Jacksonville will have full control of the home game for the first time, a change that could mean increased local revenue for a team playing more than 4,000 miles from home. The Jaguars will be in charge of ticketing, merchandise sales and gameday management.

“It’s hard to believe it will have been three years since our last game at Wembley,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement. “But that changes this autumn, and we look forward to coming back to our London home.

“We have built a great fan base already in the U.K., and I look forward to that increasing as we reaffirm our commitment to the playing of one home game per season in the U.K. for the long term, as was always the ambition when we first played in 2013.”

Jacksonville played a “home game” at Wembley every year between 2013 and 2019 and would have played there again in 2020 had COVID-19 not halted international travel. The Jaguars returned to London last year and played one of two NFL games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jaguars initially signed a long-term deal with the NFL that granted them extended territorial rights — essentially allowing sponsorship deals — in the U.K. and landed them ticket revenue from Wembley, an 86,000-seat venue.

The 8,500-mile round trip is significant for Jacksonville’s financial stability. The Jaguars credit about 11% of their local revenue to playing annually abroad.

Jacksonville’s ticket, television, sponsorship and stadium revenue streams are smaller than NFL teams in larger markets. Earning money in London helps offset some of the disparity, and the game remains a critical part of the team’s long-term plan.

The Jags have built a dedicated U.K. fan base, Union Jax, and have made significant investment in community programs and charitable initiatives overseas. They also earned Sport England funding to ensure these programs are delivered to the most vulnerable areas throughout the U.K.

11% The percentage of local revenue the Jaquars make from playing annually abroad

U.S. Men’s National Team soccer players celebrate after their 5-1 win over Panama in their FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match Sunday in Orlando, Florida.

JULIO CORTEZ | AP PHOTO

Pulisic 1st hat trick leads US to win, World Cup brink The USMNT last played in soccer’s biggest event in 2014

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — American players unfurled a red-andblue banner with “QUALIFIED” in bold, white letters, when Christian Pulisic realized what was going on.

“The guys didn’t know at all what it said. It was just handed to them,” the U.S. star said. “Once we realized — there’s no need to show that off because we still have a job to do.”

Pulisic’s first international hat trick led the U.S. over Panama 5-1 on Sunday night and moved the

Americans to the brink of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

Only a loss of six or more goals in Wednesday night’s finale at Costa Rica would cause the Americans not to get one of three automatic berths from North and Central America and the Caribbean. They can finish no worse than fourth, which earns a June playoff, likely against New Zealand.

“We honestly approach it like any other game,” Pulisic said.

“We’re going to prepare exactly the same as we would if we needed a win.”

Pulisic converted two penalty kicks during a four-goal burst in the first half that also saw Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira score, then boosted the lead to 5-0 on a memorable goal with two brilliant

“I’m not celebrating anything. I was in this exact position or very similar position four years ago, and we know how that qualification ended.”

Paul Arriola, USMNT winger touches that evaded a pair of defenders.

Canada (28 points) secured its first berth since 1986 with a 4-0 win over Jamaica. The U.S. (25) is second ahead of Mexico on goal difference and Costa Rica (22) is fourth.

While the U.S. has never won at Costa Rica, goal difference is the first tiebreaker, and the Americans are plus-13 to the Ticos’ plusthree. The U.S. also has the second tiebreaker of total goals, 21 to 11.

In October 2017, the U.S. defeated Panama 4-0 in Orlando and needed only a draw at Trinidad four days later but flopped to a 2-1 loss. Pulisic and Arriola were the only holdovers from that night.

“I’m not celebrating anything,” Arriola said. “I was in this exact position or very similar position four years ago, and we know how that qualification ended.”

Pulisic’s 21 international goals include 12 in World Cup qualifying. Wearing the captain’s armband, he scored in the 17th minute and fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, both after fouls by

Aníbal Godoy. Pulisic is 6-for-6 on penalty kicks in his U.S. career.

His 65th-minute goal was exquisite. After Luca de la Torre and Antonee Robinson twice exchanged passes, Robinson crossed. With his back to the goal, a spinning Pulisic took a touch with his left leg, spun around Fidel Escobar and dummied the ball through his own legs. Pulisic poked the ball with the outside of his right foot through the legs of Andrés Andrade and slotted over the a leg of sliding goalkeeper of Luis Mejía with his right foot from 8 yards.

“I just really want to play in a World Cup and so does this team,” Pulisic said. “I’m just really happy that we’re able to be in a good position to go do that and finish the job off.”

6

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

House Republicans, bullish on midterms, plot return to power The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The House majority seemingly within their grasp, Republican lawmakers gathering at a retreat in Florida this week turned to the architect of the “Republican Revolution” nearly three decades ago — former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — for ideas on starting their own political revolt come November.

Needing only a handful of seats to recapture the House, Republicans are exceedingly confident of their chances. With incumbent Democrats retiring in droves, and President Joe Biden’s poll numbers slumping amid deep voter pessimism about the economy, many in the party — including their leader Kevin McCarthy — are treating the Republican victory as a fait accompli.

They see Gingrich, the man who swept away four decades of Democratic House rule with the “Contract With America” in 1994, as a model. He spoke to House Republicans Wednesday night as they gathered in Jacksonville, Fla., to prepare for the campaigning ahead. His message was simple: offer a contrast to what he called the failing Democratic agenda and then deliver to the American people.

“He saw the chance in Republicans when no one thought we

could win,” McCarthy said on Wednesday. “If we’re successful, in which we win 18 seats, that’s the same number of Republicans after the 1994 election.”

He added, “But it’s different than just recruiting candidates and raising money. It’s what you do with it. You make a commitment to the American public.”

McCarthy, 57, is charting his own delicate course as he works to become speaker in what would be a divided Washington, with President Joe Biden still in the White House. Last summer McCarthy tasked several groups of Republican lawmakers with drafting proposals on the party’s core legislative priorities, including lowering costs in the economy, securing the Southern border and countering China, in hopes of making a fast start in 2023.

But creating a governing majority is a daunting challenge.

Hard-right members of the conference are ascendant, creating headaches with their inflammatory actions and statements.

Many in the party are likely to welcome new rounds of brinkmanship over government spending and the debt. And some Republicans are already agitating for partisan investigations of figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, that could easily overshadow their legislation.

“I think right now, not being the Democrats is a sufficient answer to win the election. But that doesn’t make us worth a damn as a governing majority.

That doesn’t electrify our electorate. That doesn’t bring over folks that are in the middle.”

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump continues to hold enormous sway over the GOP despite his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his assertions about election fraud that fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. McCarthy has kept close to Trump, jetting to his private club to secure his support earlier this year, as the party relies on his brand and his fundraising prowess to motivate Republican voters.

North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is the top Republican of the Financial Services Committee and close to GOP leadership, said what comes after the election is what will de-

AP PHOTO

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 18, 2022. termine whether a new GOP majority endures.

“I think right now, not being the Democrats is a sufficient answer to win the election,” Rep. Patrick McHenry, the top Republican of the Financial Services Committee, told The Associated Press in an interview.

“But that doesn’t make us worth a damn as a governing majority.

That doesn’t electrify our electorate. That doesn’t bring over folks that are in the middle.”

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, in line to take over the powerful House Oversight committee, said the way for the conference to move forward is to focus on what they can realistically deliver to the American people.

“We’ve got plenty of things that I think the base and the American people will appreciate that we can do,” he said. “So let’s com-

mit to things that are achievable, not just talking points that will get you on Fox News for four and a half minutes.”

Members spent the damp and rainy days of the retreat reiterating that while there are loud voices on the fringe of party lines, including a few who have called for Biden’s impeachment, the majority are united behind McCarthy’s vision.

“I call it a 50-year election,” McCarthy told reporters. “It won’t come around like this in the House” for a long time.

Gingrich gave McCarthy a vote of confidence, saying he’s capable of leading them to victory.

“I think (Kevin) proved that in the last election,” Gingrich told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “If you look at who won and what their recruiting has been like.”

Biscuits or bratwurst: GOP weighs its convention choices

By Scott Bauer The Associated Press IN MILWAUKEE, one of two cities vying to host the Republican presidential convention in 2024, Democrats were pilloried by the potential visitors after predawn election results delivered Wisconsin for Joe Biden in the 2020 White House race. Rival Nashville, Tennessee, is run by a mayor whose Democratic brother was effectively redistricted out of his congressional seat by Republicans.

It’s safe to say those two Democratic strongholds have mixed feelings about landing the GOP convention. Hosting the once-every-four-year assembly is an immediate spending jolt, plus a few days of invaluable national exposure. But it also means rolling out a welcome mat for bitter political foes.

“Some people don’t want to see this happening,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat. “Some people are holding their nose about bringing this to Wisconsin. But when you set politics aside, this is how we’re going to jumpstart our economic activity in southeastern Wisconsin.”

The cities made their final pitches to the Republican National Committee in Washington last week and a final decision is expected soon. It may rest on whether Republicans see more value in the honky-tonk-infused branding that Nashville offers as a way to connect with the white working-class voters likely to be at the center of the 2024 general election — or the chance to stake a claim to Wisconsin, a perennial presidential swing state that has its fair share of those voters in play.

Wisconsin could determine who wins in 2024, while Tennessee has

AP PHOTO

The downtown area of Nashville, Tenn., and the Cumberland River are shown on Sept. 27, 2011. not backed a Democrat for president since 1996. For two decades, Republicans have placed their nominating convention in swing states — North Carolina, Ohio and Florida.

Former President Donald Trump beat Biden by 23 percentage points in Tennessee, while Biden won Nashville by 32 points.

But state GOP Chairman Scott Golden said choosing Nashville would let Republicans highlight a GOP state that has continued to grow even through the pandemic, while attributing successes to business-friendly state tax policies, including no personal income tax.

Backers also argue that Music City is a more enticing getaway for attendees. The arena and convention center are a block away downtown. The Country Music Hall of Fame is across the street. The arena dumps attendees onto the famed neon-lit strip of bars, with live music at almost all hours. Hot chicken and biscuits are never far away.

“This is really a very good narrative of America,” Golden said.

“Obviously, it doesn’t hurt that the country music world is also centered there.”

Wisconsin counters that the 2024 gathering, just like the past three Republican conventions,

should be in a crucial swing state.

Boosters are playing up the opportunity, with Democrats like Crowley joining Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Reince Priebus — a onetime Trump White House chief of staff and former RNC head — making the pitch.

Milwaukee is also pitching itself as turnkey-ready thanks to its work to land the Democrats’ 2020 convention, though that wound up mostly online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, Wisconsin’s polarized politics are evident even amid the bipartisan push.

The city’s top election official, Claire Woodall-Vogg, tweeted in

mid-March that if Milwaukee gets the convention she would work remotely that week “lest I be hung in the town square like some have threatened.” Three days after she posted that message, she deleted her Twitter account.

Peggy Williams-Smith, who as head of the city’s tourism bureau has helped lead the city’s bid, said the convention should be about the economic impact to the city, state and region.

“This to me is not red or blue, it’s green,” Williams-Smith said.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. has sounded the same note, saying its job is to book conventions “without bias,” and pointing out it has also bid for the Democratic convention, both at GOP Gov. Bill Lee’s request.

Mayor John Cooper, a Democrat, told The Associated Press that there is a “whole lot of homework” to be done about hotel rooms and security concerns. He said the RNC is probably “getting a little bit of sticker shock” on how much Nashville hotels cost. He promised that “we are not going to expect our hospitality industry to take a loss in order to have this.”

As for whether the convention location will give Republicans a boost, political science professor David Schultz of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, isn’t convinced. He studied convention locations from World War II onward and found no evidence to support an effect on the outcome of races.

“There’s this political folk wisdom out there that placing a convention in a state will somehow either flip the state from being Democrat to Republican or vice versa, or somehow really energize the base in some way,” Schultz said. “Largely, it doesn’t work out.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

7

obituaries

Ralph Lee McSwain

December 14, 1930 - March 24, 2022 Ralph Lee McSwain, 91, of Norwood passed away on March 24, 2022 in his home.

Born December 14, 1930 in Stanly County, NC he was the son of the late Charles Parker McSwain and Fannie Mae West McSwain. He was a member of Green Memorial United Methodist Church and a veteran of the US Army Reserves.

Sheriff McSwain was the longest serving Sheriff in Stanly County having served as Sheriff of Stanly County of 28 years. He served on the original Training and Standards Commission for the NC Sheriff’s Association and also served on the NC State Contractor’s Licensing Board. He loved wood working and was a master craftsman and licensed contractor. He was also a Master Mason and Past Master of Albemarle Lodge #703 A. F. & A. M. Sheriff McSwain is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patricia Van Hoy McSwain. Other survivors include son John Reid (Lora) of Asheboro, brother Belmont McSwain of Albemarle, granddaughter Allee Reid of Asheboro and grandson Bryson Reid of Asheboro. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Bryan McSwain, Hugh McSwain, Gilreath McSwain, C. E. McSwain, and Liles McSwain.

Shelia Jane Whitley

March 14, 1953 - March 21, 2022 Sheila Jane Whitley, 69, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, March 21, 2022 in Bethany Woods Nursing Home & Rehab.

She was born March 14, 1953 In Stanly County, NC to the late Noah Franklin Mabry and Lucille Helms Mabry. She was a Teacher Assistant with the Stanly County Schools with her last assignment as an EC Assistant at North Stanly. She loved her family especially her grands. Her gift was her strength and humor.

Sheila was a thirty-year cancer survivor who encouraged others that were undergoing cancer treatments and lifted their spirits by giving phone calls and visits.

Sheila is survived by a daughter, Cristy Lee Campbell and husband, John of New London; two grandchildren, Emily Ann Miller of Albemarle, NC and Ashlyn Campbell of Norwood, NC. She was also preceded in death by her fiancé, Newman Burleson and two brothers, Clay Mabry and Frank Mabry.

Danny Gardner Jr.

March 28, 1978 ~ March 25, 2022 Danny Ray Gardner Jr., 43, of Norwood, passed away Friday, March 25, 2022 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Jeffery Pope will officiate and interment will follow in Norview Gardens. The family will receive friends form 6:00 until 8:00 Tuesday Evening at the Funeral Home.

Danny was born on March 28, 1978 in Stanly County to the late Danny Ray Gardner Sr. and Melody Hamilton Gardner, who survives.

He was a member at South Stanly Baptist Church and worked for Norwood Manufacturing as a welder.

Danny loved his family. He cherished the times they spent together and the memories that were made. He also enjoyed watching the UNC Tarheels and Dallas Cowboys with his family and friends.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Kristy Sasser Cauble of the home; five children: Destiny Harrington (Brad), Dallas Gardner,Jazlynn Gardner, Cheyanne Barfield, and Kenny Barfield; one sister: Tish McNeill (Larry) ; grandmother: Rachel Hamilton; and two nieces: Kristian McNeill (Wil) and Hailey McNeill, all of Norwood.

Martha (Morgan) Little

January 21, 1933 ~ March 25, 2022 Martha Morgan Little, age 89, formerly of Indian Trail, NC passed away on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Coastal Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shallotte, NC. Martha was born January 21, 1933 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina the daughter of the late William McDonald Morgan and Annie Garmon Morgan. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Lemuel Little of 30 years; three brothers, Jim, Bill and Don Morgan and two sisters Frieda Morgan and Peggy Suther.

Surviving are her cherished family, a niece, Dawn McHale and husband Shane; nephews, Robert “Robin” Suther, John “Chip” Suther and wife, Bonnie; three great-nephews, Blaine McHale and wife, Sara, John Suther, and Andrew Suther; a great-niece, Katie Armstrong and husband, Paul; two step-daughters, Linda Little and Lorraine Carey; and countless devoted family and friends.

She enjoyed life to the fullest.

An avid gardener and crafter, she especially loved to spend time fishing with her husband, family and friends. Martha and Joe owned and operated Union Day School for many years and loved their time with all the children in their care.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 9:00 -10:45 AM at Hartsell Funeral Home, 12115 University City Blvd., Harrisburg, NC 28075, with the Funeral Service following at 11:00 AM. She will be laid to rest at Lakeview Baptist Church Cemetery, Unionville, NC. Memorials may be made in Mrs. Little’s memory to Community Home Care and Hospice, 497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 208, Belville, NC 28451 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Billy Lamar Huneycutt

July 21, 1961 - March 23, 2022 Billy Lamar Huneycutt, 60, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 in Atrium Health Stanly. A private celebration will be held at Murrells Inlet, SC at later date.

Mr. Huneycutt was born July 21, 1961 in Stanly County, NC to the late James Ross Huneycutt and Elizabeth Edwards Huneycutt. He was a graduate of West Stanly High School and was a self employed carpenter. Billy was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. He enjoyed motorcycles, football and cooking with his friends.

Billy is survived by three brothers, James “Jim” Huneycutt (Brenda) of Richfield, NC, David Huneycutt (Lynn) of Oakboro, NC and Johnny Huneycutt (Luanne) of Lutz, FL. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Judy H. Byrum.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of choice, in memory of Billy.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle was serving the Huneycutt family.

Tom Thomas

March 6, 1946 ~ March 22, 2022 Chappell Lide “Tom” Thomas, 76, of Norwood, passed away Tuesday morning, March 22, 2022 at his home.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Tom was born, March 6, 1946 in Lamar, SC to Pansy Hill Thomas, who survives of Lamar, SC and the late William Henry Thomas, Jr. Tom retired from Alltell/Windstream after 44 years of service.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his sons, Tommy DeWayne Thomas(Vanessa) of Bluffton, SC and Scott Howard(Carla) of TN; brother, Billy Thomas of Lamar, SC and five grandchildren.

Robbie Lee Tucker

September 15, 1959 ~ March 26, 2022 Robbie Lee Tucker, 62, of Albemarle, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2022 at his home.

Robbie was born September 15, 1959 in Stanly County to the late Earl Samuel Tucker and the late Juanita Tucker Owens.

The Family will gather at the home with family and friends in remembrance of Robbie.

Survivors include his wife, Lorene Almond Tucker; son, Clint Lee Tucker; daughter, Misty Winchell; brothers, Randy Tucker (Marie), Ricky Tucker (Natalie); sister, Regina Tucker Floyd (Tommy); grandchildren, Jacob Winchell and Megan Winchell.

Memorials may be made to Levine Cancer Institute at 1021 Morehead Medical Dr., Charlotte, NC 28204.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Tucker family.

Tracy Frances Howie

March 15, 1962 ~ March 23, 2022 Tracy Frances Howie, 60, of Lancaster, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at MUSC in Lancaster.

Tracy was born March 15, 1962 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina to the late Parks Hunter Howie Sr. and the late Carolyn Elizabeth Howie.

She was also preceded in death by her sister, Sandra O. Howie.

Her survivors include five loving siblings; Jim Wolfe and wife Ellen; Beth Alexander and husband Don; Jeanne Howie; Rebecca Beard; Hunter Howie and wife Robin.

She is also survived by nine nieces and nephews, Jon Wolfe and wife Mandy; Mary Katherine Hale and husband Gordon; Justin Alexander and Wife Dani, Andrea McCumber and husband Jeff; Catherine Nielsen and husband David; Ben Beard and wife Taylor; Weston Beard and wife Jessi; Jesse Beard and Matthew Howie; eleven great nieces and nephews, Jacob, Jared, Mia, Hannah, Abigail, Chandler, Parks, Logan, Thomas, Hollis and Rosalind. She is also survived by many other family members that she loved dearly and the biggest joy of her life, her brown lab, Lakota.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer or The Humane Society of York County.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Howie family.

Brenda Morgan Rummage

September 28, 1946 - March 26, 2022 Brenda Morgan Rummage, 75, of Albemarle passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Atrium Health Stanly.

Born September 28, 1946 in Albemarle, NC she was the daughter of the late Allen Earl Morgan and Louise Strother Morgan. She attended Community Full Gospel Church in Norwood and was a retired Store Manager with Super 10 and a former employee of Cassie Cotillion. She loved her family and especially her one and only grandson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dwight Wayne Rummage.

Survivors include son Samuel Moody Lemons III (Tracy) of Mt. Gilead and daughter Deva Rummage Dawson (Ricky) of Albemarle, grandson Trenton Adam Lemons, brother Jerry Morgan of Asheboro, Roger Morgan (Cindy) of Crumpler, NC.

Reather “R.C.” Cornelius Furr, Jr.

October 1, 1934 ~ March 24, 2022 Ret. Lt. Colonel Reather (R.C.) Furr, Jr., 87, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022 at his home.

R.C. was born October 1, 1934 in Stanly County, North Carolina to the late Reather Cornelius Furr, Sr. and the late Gladys Taylor Furr.

He lived a full and interesting life, always following his dreams all over the world. He loved flying and used every opportunity to be in the cockpit, whatever the vehicle.

What he did, he enjoyed, pursuing a lifetime of learning. He also enjoyed attending Porter United Methodist Church and encouraged others to join him there.

He was preceded in death by wife, Phyllis Marbry Furr; daughters, Susan Marie Underwood and Caroline Rebecca Norton; grandson, Garry Lee Lanham; and brother, Roland Anthony Furr.

Survivors include daughter, Cornetha (Kyle) Holcomb of Albemarle and son, Kelvin (Christina) Furr of Whiteville; sonin-law, Terry (Nina) Underwood; four grandchildren, Brittany Norton (Matthew) Brady, Lauren E. Holcomb, Gabrielle C. (David McCall) Holcomb, and Daniel J. Underwood; two great-grandsons, Liam McCall and Isaiah Brady; two great-granddaughters, Aurelia McCall and Millie Holcomb; sister, Nancy Pauline Furr of Albemarle; sister-in-law, Frances I. Furr of Albemarle; and a niece and nephews.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Some states push direct payments to citizens with federal money

By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — With inflation raging and state coffers flush with cash, governors and lawmakers across the U.S. are considering a relatively simple solution to help ease the pain people are feeling at the gas pump and grocery store — sending money.

At least a dozen states have proposed giving rebate checks of several hundred dollars directly to taxpayers, among them California, Kansas and Minnesota. Critics, including many Republican lawmakers, say those checks won’t go far enough given the pace of inflation and are pushing instead for permanent tax cuts.

A proposal from Maine Gov. Janet Mills is among the most generous in a state where the cost of food and fuel has skyrocketed in recent months. The Democratic governor wants to send $850 to most residents as part of the state’s budget bill.

The rebate “will help Maine people grapple with these increased costs by putting money directly back into their pockets,” Mills said.

But Wendell Cressey, a clamdigger in Harpswell, said the soaring

AP PHOTO

Gas prices are displayed at a gas station Friday, March 11, 2022, in Long Beach, Calif. cost of fuel for people in his business means the check will provide just temporary relief.

“It might help a little, but it would have to be a lot more because we’re paying for gas. Most of us have V-8 trucks,” Cressey said. “I just don’t think it’s going to help as much as they think it is.”

In addition to the direct rebates, lawmakers and governors across the country are considering cuts to sales taxes, property tax relief and reducing or suspending state gas

taxes.

The proposals come at a time when many states actually have historic amounts of money on their hands because of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid and ballooning tax revenue. It’s also happening as the war in Ukraine has compounded soaring prices for fuel and other essentials.

It’s also no coincidence that the relief is being floated during an election year, said Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the

University of Maine. “There’s some real policy reason to do this,” Brewer said. “But at the same time, it’s also clear that this is an election year, and in an election year there are few things as popular as giving voters what voters see as free money from the state.”

The states are moving toward sending people money as consumer inflation has jumped nearly 8% over the past year. That was the sharpest spike since 1982.

Inflation boosted the typical family’s food expenses by nearly $590 last year, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.

Overall, the average family had to spend $3,500 more last year to buy the same amount of goods and services as they purchased in previous years.

In New Mexico, some have questioned whether Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan for a $250 rebate goes far enough given how much consumer prices have risen.

Wayne Holly and his wife, Penny, were among the small business owners in the state who were forced to shut their doors early in the COVID-19 pandemic because of

the governor’s public health orders.

“Do we get customers who are angry and irate because things have changed? Yes, we sure do,” Wayne Holly said. “Do we get customers who say ‘I never used to pay that before?’ I say ‘Yeah, I’ve never paid $4.50 for a gallon of gas.’”

“State legislatures should not rush into enacting permanent tax cuts based on what very well might be temporary growth in real revenues,” Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, wrote in a recent analysis.

The relief plans vary by state.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, released a plan for spending the state’s budget surplus that included a proposal for income tax rebate checks of $1,000 per couple.

In California, Democratic lawmakers have released separate proposals to send rebates of $200 to $400 to each taxpayer, while Gov. Gavin Newsom said he wants to distribute fuel debit cards of up to $800 to help ease the burden on residents paying the highest gas prices in the nation.

Proposals for relief haven’t gone so smoothly in other states. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has proposed returning half of a $90 million surplus in the state Education Fund to the state’s property taxpayers with a check of between $250 and $275, but the Democrat-controlled Legislature has shown little interest.

“Typically, when you overpay for something, you get some of that money back,” Scott said when he made the proposal earlier this month.

Nuclear fears in US amid Russia-Ukraine war: AP-NORC poll

By Ben Fox The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Russia’s war on Ukraine has most Americans at least somewhat worried that the U.S. will be drawn directly into the conflict and could be targeted with nuclear weapons, with a new poll reflecting a level of anxiety that has echoes of the Cold War era.

Close to half of Americans say they are very concerned that Russia would directly target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, and an additional 3 in 10 are somewhat concerned about that, according to the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Russian President Vladimir Putin placed his country’s nuclear forces on high alert shortly after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Roughly 9 in 10 Americans are at least somewhat concerned that Putin might use a nuclear weapon against Ukraine, including about 6 in 10 who are very concerned.

Seventy-one percent of Americans say the invasion has increased the possibility of nuclear weapons being used anywhere in the world.

Fear of nuclear war has been a fact of life for decades. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published its “Doomsday Clock” since 1947, showing a theoretical countdown to nuclear annihilation. The latest update, in January, put the time at 100 seconds to midnight — unchanged since 2020, but still closer than ever to Armageddon.

It’s difficult to measure the public’s degree of fear over time because polls use different methodologies or pose questions in different ways. Alex Wellerstein, a nucle-

AP PHOTO

A fallout shelter sign hangs on a building on East 9th Street in New York, Jan. 16, 2018. ar historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, said people often won’t bring it up on their own but list it among concerns if given the choice.

The fear, naturally enough, also tends to rise and fall depending on what is happening around the world. “We have these moments that are sort of high crisis periods,” Wellerstein said. “And then they come and go, and people forget that we had them.”

One particularly high point, he said, was in 1983, a time of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the year that a highly watched movie about nuclear war,

“The Day After,” first aired on TV in the United States.

In the recent AP-NORC poll, close to half of Americans say they are “extremely” or “very” concerned that the U.S. might be drawn into a war with Russia. Roughly 4 in 10 Americans said they are “somewhat” concerned.

The findings reflect not just anxiety about what seems like a proxy war with Russia, even if the U.S. isn’t directly involved in the conflict, but also the unprecedented saturation coverage of the war through traditional news outlets and social media.

“We are seeing almost moment

by moment what’s happening to these poor people,” said Linda Woodward, a retired phone company technician from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

The concern about nuclear war cuts across party lines and even resonates with some young adults who were born after the Cold War. Caleb Pack, a 21-year-old Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, was among those who said that they were “somewhat concerned” that the U.S. would be drawn into the war and that Russia would target the United States with nuclear weapons.

“If Russia’s end goal is to reclaim

Soviet Union territory, that means they’re going to push into NATO countries, which obviously I think could escalate very quickly,” said Pack, who works in information systems.

Certainly, Russia hasn’t taken steps to alleviate concerns. Putin issued what appeared to be an ominous threat when he reminded the world in a speech the day he launched the invasion that his country is “one of the most powerful nuclear states.”

In that context, concern is justified, said Tara Drozdenko, director of the global security program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Whenever you have nuclear-armed nations getting closer to conflict, there’s always a risk of nuclear escalation,” she said.

So far, NATO and the Biden administration have been careful not to escalate the situation, Drozdenko said. But she believes the public should use this time to push for changes to limit the risk.

That would include adopting a formal policy that the U.S. would not strike first with nuclear weapons, to reduce the risk of an accidental strike by an adversary, and taking the final authority for a launch out of the hands of the president alone.

Historian Wellerstein also sees a possible upside to the heightened state of concern. He cited research showing that a crisis can have the long-term effect of getting people more engaged with an issue.

“This thing with Ukraine will inevitably end, hopefully sooner rather than later,” he said. “This could be an opportunity for getting a lot more people, especially younger people, invested in this as a political issue.”

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022

Twin City Herald

RODRIGO ABD | AP PHOTO

Ongoing conflict in Ukraine Halyna Falko, 52, talks to reporters while looking at the destruction caused after a Russian attack inside her house near Brovary, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 28, 2022.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Winston-Salem police get chilly for Special Olympics Forsyth County Winston-Salem police held a virtual polar plunge to help raise money for Special Olympics.

In previous years, the event has been held at Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe, but this year, it was relocated to the Hanes Mall Road Lowe’s parking lot, where officers and Special Olympians held a dance party, then doused themselves with buckets of ice water.

MY FOX 8

Weaver Fire Reimbursement Program update Forsyth County As of Friday, March 25, 180 households have received a total of $59,487 in reimbursement through a city program for expenses they incurred due to the evacuation during the fire at the Winston Weaver Co. fertilizer plant on Jan. 31. The reimbursement program is for Winston-Salem residents who live or work within the evacuation area and have a household income that is 80 percent or less of area median income, $55,100 for a family of four. Households can be reimbursed for hotel bills (four nights maximum), meals and other expenses related to the fire, such as replacing air filters in their houses. Those who were unable to work due to the fire can be reimbursed for lost wages.

Only expenses incurred from 9 p.m. Jan. 31 through noon Feb. 4 will be reimbursed. The city will reimburse each household for no more than $1,000.

CITY OF W-S

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

Wake Forest inaugurates first woman president Susan R. Wente welcomed as 14th president of University

“As a great university, we are going to be a catalyst for good."

Twin City Herald staff ON MARCH 25, in Wait Chapel, Wake Forest inaugurated Susan R. Wente as the 14th president of Wake Forest University. Wente is the first woman to hold that position at Wake Forest. She has served int eh role since last July, when she replaced Nathan O. Hatch.

Wente is a cell biologist who has won awards for her research.

Before arriving at Wake, she spent 19 years at Vanderbilt, including the last seven as the school’s provost and spent nearly a year as interim chancellor.

“Susan Wente is a singular leader in higher education, and Vanderbilt University is in the strong position it is today because of Susan and her tremendous leadership. She combines

Susan R. Wente

PHOTO VIA WFU

Susan R. Wente, president of Wake Forest University. a scientist’s precision and rigor, a leader’s strategic mindset and a dedicated mentor’s commitment to others. She leaves a lasting legacy on our community,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said when Wente left last year. “I am deeply grateful to Susan for her partnership and

many contributions and wish her much success at Wake Forest. She embodies the One Vanderbilt spirit, and we are forever in her debt.”

Wente leaned on her cell biology terminology during her inaugural address.

“As a great university, we are going to be a catalyst for good – for learning and discovery, for access and opportunity, for innovation and society,” she said.

“Through immersive education, ethical inquiry and experiential learning; from the fine arts to the social sciences; to offering exceptional opportunities for

scholastic, athletic and personal development, Wake Forest catalyzes the imagination, intellect and creativity of our students.”

Wente announced a fundraising goal that will result in 100 new scholarships before the end of this year to help lower barriers to education. She also stressed the importance of developing community partnerships with Winston-Salem businesses.

“Wake Forest must heed the call of our time,” Wente said. “We must lead by example – by being an institution renowned for trust, transparency and teamwork.… The value of Wake Forest must always be found in the value we bring to others.”

Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines was among a large number of school and local dignitaries to officially welcome Wente to Wake. Joines said, “We are grateful for the vision and willingness of Wake Forest leaders – past and present – to embrace many shared efforts for the good of this city.”

Governor Roy Cooper, who could not attend, sent a statement that was read at the ceremony, and other speakers included the student government president Ally Swartzberg and Winston-Salem State chancellor Elwood Robinson.

Reynolds American to cut 350 jobs in consolidation The Associated Press TOBACCOVILLE — Reynolds American Inc. will cut 350 full-time positions as it consolidates more production into its Tobaccoville plant, the company announced Thursday Reynolds American said the consolidation that begins next month will continue through 2024.

“These decisions are never easy. We are focused on delivering long-term, sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving environment,” Guy Meldrum, Reynolds’ president and chief executive, said in a news release.

Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc.’s operations in Oxford and American Snuff Co. LLC’s operations at the Taylor Brothers plant in Winston-Salem will move to Tobaccoville. The ASC

Traditional Oral operations in Memphis, Tennessee, will move to Clarksville, Tennessee, where Reynolds has another smokeless tobacco production facility.

Reynolds declined to say how many of 350 jobs being eliminated are local jobs, but said more than half of employees across the closing facilities will have the opportunity to transfer sites.

“While these changes are necessary to support the future of our business, they will be extremely difficult for our employees at the manufacturing sites that are closing, and today we are focused on providing support to them through this transition,” Meldrum said. The company is offering displaced employees a comprehensive severance and medical benefit continuation package and outplace-

ment support.

Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines told a local TV station, “You never want to hear about any potential job losses in your community. We do, however, understand the need for a company to maintain their facilities and keep their operation viable. For folks here in Winston, that’s not a big shift. For the folks down in Oxford down in the eastern part of the state, I think it would be a much more difficult thing, But I think the good news is it’s a very aggressive job market right now in terms of opportunities for individuals and there’s services that will be provided from the company, as I understand it, as well as our own governmental agencies.”

TCH staff contributed to this report

“These decisions are never easy. We are focused on delivering long-term, sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving environment.”

Guy Meldrum, Reynolds American president and CEO

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Another party hack president

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

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“THE LANGUAGE PEOPLE SPEAK in the corridors of power is not economics or politics. It is history.” So says former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, quoted in a column on Ukraine by historian Niall Ferguson.

Thus Democratic insiders and sympathetic journalists liked to describe President Joe Biden as another Franklin Roosevelt, even though Biden in 2021 didn’t face an economic collapse or have overwhelming partisan majorities as Roosevelt did in 1933.

But few politicians warrant comparison with the few universally recognized great presidents. The relevant comparison may be to what I call the partisan hack presidents.

Understand, please, that “partisan hack” is not meant as an insult. Any democratic political system needs a certain number of dependable and dogged party loyalists. Sometimes one will rise to the top job and compile a more creditable record than most people predicted.

The problem is that, historically, partisan hack presidents’ policy successes have ended up hurting their party. My examples are four partisan hack presidents — two who succeeded to the office from the vice presidency and two who were “dark horse” candidates chosen after the ninth and 10th ballots at party national conventions.

My first partisan hack president was James K. Polk, a 20-year veteran Jacksonian Democrat elected in 1844. He successfully accomplished all four of his partisan policy goals: a lowered tariff, an independent treasury, peaceful acquisition of the Oregon Territory, and acquisition of California and the Southwest after victory in the Mexican War. But that last success raised the issue of slavery in the territories, which split the Democratic Party and produced the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. That led to the Civil War and to Republicans holding the White House for 44 of the next 52 years.

Next on the list is Chester A. Arthur, collector of the Port of New York (a lucrative patronage job) before becoming James A. Garfield’s vice president. Like other Stalwart Republicans, Arthur was from a modest background and strongly supported equal rights for black people — a stand well-born Republicans such as Henry Adams and Republicanappointed Supreme Court justices sniffed at.

Becoming president after Garfield was assassinated by a frustrated office-seeker, Arthur sponsored civil service reform, dislodging patronage politics from much of the federal government and relegating it to the usually Democratic big cities. That eroded the institutional base for equal rights policies and ensured Republican acquiescence in Southern Democrats’ imposition of racial segregation.

The often-disparaged Warren G. Harding, a solidly Republican newspaper editor and Ohio politician who stuck with William Howard

Taft when Theodore Roosevelt ran against him, was nominated in the legendary smoke-filled room and elected by a 60% to 34% landslide in 1920. As president, he hired a first-rate Cabinet (comparing favorably to Woodrow Wilson’s or Franklin Roosevelt’s), lowered taxes, created the Bureau of the Budget, pushed through the Washington Naval Treaty, spoke out in Alabama for civil rights and restored civil liberties after Wilson’s prosecutions of wartime protesters.

Popular journalists of the day and New Deal historians blamed him retrospectively for the Depression of the 1930s, though he was actually responsible for the prosperity of the 1920s. They played up the routine Teapot Dome scandal and his personal life, which was far less lurid than, say, John Kennedy’s.

After 25 years in Congress, Gerald Ford was looking to retire as House minority leader when he became vice president after the resignation of Spiro Agnew in 1973 and president after the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. A supporter of balanced budgets, civil rights legislation and bipartisan foreign policy, he backed Henry Kissinger’s opening to China and detente with Russia. His pardon of Nixon hurt him in polls, but he came close to winning a full term in 1976.

But he didn’t set the future course for his party, which won fewer House seats in 1974 and 1976 than it has won ever since. Ronald Reagan embraced the Kemp-Roth tax cut and resulting deficits, increased the defense budget and worked successfully to end the Soviet “evil empire.”

Biden, like Polk, Arthur, Harding and Ford, is an intelligent man and a strong partisan with beliefs not contemptible in his times. He’s been in office far longer: 44 years as a Democratic senator and vice president.

He sounded like a centrist when Delaware was a swing state and, like his party, has moved left since it became safe Democratic in the 1990s.

He was a dark horse candidate in 2020 until Rep. James Clyburn’s endorsement gave him a decisive victory in South Carolina’s majorityblack primary.

As president, he has faithfully embraced party priorities, with some policy successes. But his job approval slipped under 50% after the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, and with inflation, illegal immigration and violent crime raging out of control, it has sagged to 41%.

Biden’s response to Ukraine, or some other emerging issue, may raise his standing and even enable him to win reelection as he approaches age 82. But at the moment, he risks doing damage to his party as his four party hack predecessors did to theirs.

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

DEATH NOTICES

♦ James C. Barcliff Sr., 74, of Rural Hall, died March 24, 2022. ♦ Rufus Manuel “Buddy” Crews, 77, of Forsyth County, died March 25, 2022. ♦ Carolyn Yvonne

Johnson Grinnell, 83, of Kernersville, died March 23, 2022. ♦ William C. Howard, Sr. “Clegg“, 90, of Advance, died March 23, 2022. ♦ Glenda Gail Knowles, 62, of Lewisville, died March

25, 2022. ♦ Jerry Lenior Ridings, 91, of Lewisville, died March 25, 2022. ♦ Okey “Oak” Webster Shamblin, Sr., 64, died March 24, 2022. ♦ Jule Christian Spach, 98,

of Winston-Salem, died March 26, 2022.

County, died March 23, 2022.

♦ Martha Christine Nelson Stewart, 60, of Forsyth County, died March 22, 2022.

♦ David Scott Sylvester, 59, of Winston-Salem, died March 25, 2022.

♦ Ralph “Randy “Andrew Sweat, 67, of Forsyth

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Alston, Preston Tsai (M/23) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi, M (M), at 6301 Cephis Dr/ lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 3/24/2022 03:13. ♦ Ballance, Mallory Christine (F/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Heroin (F) and 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 7910 North Point Bv, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 19:00. ♦ Blackmon, Timothy Lewis (M/42) Arrest on chrg of 1) Crime Against Nature (F), 2) Crime Against Nature (F), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 6085 Cain Forest Dr, Walkertown, NC, on 3/24/2022 23:30. ♦ Blakley, Austin Keith (M/24) Arrest on chrg of 1) Ccw (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 898 Bethania-rural Hall Rd/ sommerdale Ct, Rural Hall, NC, on 3/24/2022 23:52. ♦ Bonaparte, Michael Wayne (M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Impaired Driving Dwi (M) and 2) Speeding - Too Slow, Impeding Traffic (M), at 3100 Ridgewood Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/27/2022 03:30. ♦ Brent, Dewan Kenneth (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Interfering With Emergency Communication (M), at 100 Woodbriar Path, Rural Hall, NC, on 3/28/2022 14:37. ♦ Brown, Steven Austinziglar (M/23) Arrest on chrg of Weap-

poss By Felon (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/28/2022 17:34. ♦ COWAN, LENARD EVANS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 3/28/2022 ♦ Crane, Wade Barrett (M/57) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi, M (M), at 2268 Lewisville-clemmons Rd/s Peace Haven Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 3/27/2022 00:02. ♦ CRUZ PASTRANA, JORDANIS AISMAEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-POINT GUN at 719 FERNDALE AV on 3/27/2022 ♦ CUTHRELL, ERIC THOMAS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT - INFLICTING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY at 360 GLENDARE DR on 3/27/2022 ♦ Gonzalez Marsh, Patrick Miguel (M/30) Arrest on chrg of Possession Control Substance Jail (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 10:14. ♦ Gray, Raheem Shabazz (M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Impaired Driving Dwi (M) and 2) Ndl Suspended / Revoked (M), at Eb Salem Pw/s Main St, Kernersville, NC, on 3/26/2022 03:00. ♦ Hinshaw, Ryley James (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny By Check (F), 2) Larceny By Check (F), 3) Larceny/misdemeanor (M), and 4) Forgery-bank Notes (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-

salem, NC, on 3/26/2022 10:05. ♦ Jimenez Santiago, Santos (M/44) Arrest on chrg of 1) Impaired Driving Dwi (M) and 2) Ndl - Suspended / Revoked (M), at 123 Nb 52, Tobaccoville, NC, on 3/24/2022 01:05. ♦ Jimenez Santiago, Santos (M/44) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 5) Dwlr- Viol Of Restored License (M), at Us 52 North Mile Marker 123, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 23:45. ♦ JOHNSON, JONATHAN NICHOLAS was arrested on a charge of VAND-PERSONAL PROP at 2125 CLOVERDALE AV on 3/28/2022 ♦ Joyce, George Darren (M/61) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 5804 Sir Knight Cr, Clemmons, NC, on 3/23/2022 08:08. ♦ LINDSAY, TIA RICHELLE was arrested on a charge of ADW INFLICT INJURY at 625 W SIXTH ST on 3/27/2022 ♦ Martinez, Nick Mathew (M/54) Arrest on chrg of Vio. Protective Order By Courts Another State/ Indian Tribe (M), at 7799 Reynolda Rd/tobaccoville Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on 3/23/2022 18:06. ♦ Maxwell, Derrick Wayne (M/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larcenyfelony (F) and 2) Interference W/electronic Monitoring

Devices (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/26/2022 10:20. ♦ MORRISON, GEVONTAE DAERON was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 3/27/2022 ♦ PLOTT, CHRISTOPHER LEE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 3802 YADKINVILLE RD on 3/28/2022 ♦ POOLE, DEREZ RASHAN was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 7765 NORTH POINT BV on 3/26/2022 ♦ Randall, Derrick Andre (M/55) Arrest on chrg of 1) Indecent Liberties (F), 2) Indecent Liberties (F), and 3) Disseminate Harmful Material To Minor (F), at 4774 Eagle Pa, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/25/2022 11:45. ♦ Reavis, Jesse James (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Cocaine Fel (F), 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 3) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 5756 Birchdale Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 23:12. ♦ Reavis, Jesse James (M/30) Arrest on chrg of Vand-real Property, M (M), at 5756 Birchdale Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 21:51. ♦ REID, ISAIAH LEMUEL was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 400 BLOCK N LIBERTY STREET on 3/28/2022 ♦ Robbins, Javaris Terrell (M/22) Arrest on chrg of 1) Adw Minor

Present (M), 2) Assault On Female (M), 3) Battery On An Unborn Child (M), and 4) Possession Marijuana (M), at 6995 Logan Way Ct, Winstonsalem, NC, on 3/25/2022 13:35. ♦ Robinson, Christopher Rashawn (M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drive Veh. While Consuming Alcohol Or While Alcohol In Body (M), 2) Speeding - Exceeding Posted Limit By 15 Mph Or More On Hwy (M), and 3) Reckless Driving (M), at 50 Wb 74/reidsville Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/23/2022 02:01. ♦ SAPP, NISHEIKA DEQUAIL was arrested on a charge of CHILD ABUSE at 1 SALEM GARDENS DR on 3/27/2022 ♦ SCOTT, DARQUEAS DENA was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 121 S CAMERON AV on 3/27/2022 ♦ Sidberry, Steven Dwayne (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Vandpersonal Prop (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/24/2022 11:11. ♦ Todd, Verl Lee (M/50) Arrest on chrg of Sex Offender Unlawfully On Premises. (F), at 301 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/28/2022 08:37. ♦ VALENTINE, MARKES VASHAWN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 3/28/2022

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

3

SPORTS

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SIDELINE REPORT NHL

Senators owner Melnyk dead at 62 Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has died from an illness, the team said Monday night. He was 62. The team announced Melnyk’s death with a statement from his family that mentioned “an illness he faced with determination and courage.” The statement did not explain what the illness was, and a team spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking additional details. Melnyk had a liver transplant in 2015 after a public campaign for a donor. He had owned the Senators since 2003, when he bought the NHL club for $92 million. The Toronto native was involved in other businesses around Canada and in 2010 had an estimated net worth of $1.21 billion.

NFL

Sources: Governor to propose $500M for new Titans stadium Nashville Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee plans to propose $500 million in bonds in the state budget to help fund a new covered Tennessee Titans stadium envisioned for Nashville, two sources confirmed to The Associated Press. The sources mentioned that the new stadium plans would include some kind of roof, with one source saying the funding would be contingent on the stadium being enclosed. A covered stadium, whether it’s a fixed or retractable roof, could help Nashville compete for the biggest events in or outside of sports, from the Super Bowl to the NCAA’s Final Four.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Legette-Jack hired as Syracuse women’s hoops coach Syracuse, N.Y. Felisha Legette-Jack was introduced Monday as the women’s basketball coach at Syracuse after a decade at Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference. She replaces Vonn Read, who guided the Orange through a difficult season after his predecessor, Quentin Hillsman, resigned amid allegations he mistreated players. The 55-year-old Legette-Jack is the fourth woman to lead the program. She started her coaching career as an assistant at Boston College in 1991 and was an assistant with the Orange under the previous woman who held the job, Marianna Freeman.

Legette-Jack has a 343-279 record as a head coach.

SOCCER

Canada advances to World Cup for first time in 36 years Toronto Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and Junior Hoilett scored and Canada secured its first World Cup berth in 36 years with a 4-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday. Canada has been to the World Cup just once before, in 1986.

Canada missed out a chance to secure a spot in Qatar last week with a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica. It was Canada’s first loss in three World Cup qualifying rounds and it snapped a six-game winning streak. Canada coach John Herdman became the first coach ever to lead both a men’s and women’s team to a World Cup berth. He coached the Canadian women’s team from 2011-18.

STEPHEN SPILLMAN | AP PHOTO

Ross Chastain celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Chastain pilots Trackhouse Racing to 1st Cup win AJ Allmendinger spun out battling for the lead on the final lap at Circuit of the Americas

The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Ross Chastain bumped and banged his way around the final overtime lap at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday for first career Cup win and upstart NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing’s first trip to Victory Lane.

Trackhouse is owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull and is in its second season of competition.

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Florida, was kept on by Marks for Trackhouse when Marks bought out Chip Ganassi’s entire NASCAR

team ahead of this season.

Chastain celebrated by spiking a large watermelon off the top of his Chevrolet.

“It’s never tasted sweeter, I tell ya,” the 29-year-old said with a piece of rind stuck in his beard. He then took another huge bite.

The two-lap sprint produced the most aggressive action of a long Sunday of racing on the permanent road course used primarily for Formula One. The race had nine cautions and ran 3 hours, 20 minutes.

Chastain wasn’t even the leader — Tyler Reddick had somehow moved to the front in the previous single lap run between the eighth and ninth cautions — and Chastain also had to contend with former teammate and mentor AJ Allmendinger.

Chastain and Allmendinger restarted second and third, while sitting back in fourth was Alex Bow-

man. He’s been chided for “backing into victories,” and for a moment, it looked as if another would indeed fall in his lap.

Chastain used an aggressive move to get past Reddick to the lead, and Allmendinger followed. Bowman also jumped past Reddick and closed the gap on Chastain and Allmendinger as the two friends jostled and bashed for the lead.

The overtime featured four lead changes — Chastain and Allmendinger swapped it twice, and Bowman even got to the front — but Chastain decided the race by divebombing inside of Allmendinger. That spun Allmendinger, winner of the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, into Bowman and Allmendinger went from second to 33rd.

“I was so worried about AJ on that second-to-last restart that I let Tyler drive right by both of us,” Chastain said. “AJ is so good, I’ve learned so much from him, and it’s like ‘How do you beat the guy? He taught me so much!’”

He wasn’t thrilled to have won the race with the dive-bomb on Allmendinger.

“I feel bad about AJ,” Chastain said. “I mean, he’s gonna be upset with me, but we raced hard and he owes me one.”

Allmendinger was openly annoyed after a mandatory trip to

the care center.

“At the end of the day, we all have to look ourselves in the mirror. If you are OK with it, you’re OK with it. Each person is different,” he said of how Chastain raced him.

“I was doing everything I could do to try to sweep the weekend. We were that close. We know we had a shot to win the race.”

Chastain — and Trackhouse — have been fiercely competitive since the start of the season as its drivers have been terrific in NASCAR’s new Next Gen racecar.

Daniel Suarez, who spent all of last season as Trackhouse’s only driver, dominated early and led every lap of the first stage before a blown tire destroyed his race on the second lap of the second stage.

Chastain then took over.

He’s been fast and led laps this year and was close to a win at both Las Vegas and Atlanta. On the Austin road course, Chastain led four times for a race-high 31 laps.

His win was his first in 121 career Cup starts.

Bowman finished second for Hendrick Motorsports and a Chevrolet sweep. Christopher Bell was third for Toyota and followed

by Chase Elliott of Hendrick, the defending race winner. Reddick was fifth and pole-sitter Ryan Blaney was the highest-finishing Ford driver in sixth.

No regrets, no what-ifs for Kyrie Irving after home debut The Nets point guard played his first game this season in Brooklyn after New York City’s COVID-19 mandate ended

“There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

The Associated Press NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving is not about to look back now.

Not at a loss in his first home game.

Nor at how many more losses in home games might have been avoided if he were playing previously.

His refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus left him ineligible to play in home games until Sunday, when a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets dropped the Brooklyn Nets into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

It took 75 games into the season for Irving to finally play at Barclays Center, and it may be too late for the Nets to turn into the championship contender that was widely expected. But he said the sacrifices of he and his teammates make his refusal to get vaccinated as mandated to perform in New York City worth it.

“That’s the only thing that I’m really focused on, is the now and getting back ready for the next game and just going from there,” Irving said. “But the point of this season for me was never to just take a stand. It was really to make sure I’m standing on what I believe in and freedom. Freedom.

I don’t think that’s a word that

Kyrie Irving, Nets point guard

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

Nets guard Kyrie Irving shoots during Sunday's game against the Hornets in Brooklyn. gets defined enough in our society, about the freedom to make choices in your life without someone telling you what the (expletive) to do.”

The former Duke star said that could apply to politicians or anyone who holds positions of power.

“So I’m standing for freedom, so that’s in all facets of my life and there’s nobody that’s enslaving me,” Irving said. “There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

Irving’s teammates and many

of his fans seem to accept his stance. He got a loud ovation before the game from the sellout crowd of 18,166, the largest crowd ever for a Nets game at Barclays Center.

But, perhaps tired from playing on back-to-back nights for only the second time this season, his game wasn’t there. He shot 6 for 22 from the field and finished with just 16 points and 11 assists.

“Not the result we wanted, but definitely grateful that we were part of history tonight and we got to do it here,” Irving said.

The Nets didn’t know when he would get opportunity until Mayor Eric Adams exempted athletes and entertainers from the mandate last week, in time for the end of the NBA regular season and for the start of the Major League Baseball’s.

But with the loss Sunday giving the Hornets the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams finish tied, the Nets would be ninth in the East if the season ended Sunday. That means they would need to win two games in the playin tournament just to make the postseason.

They have seven games left, all but one of them in New York.

Without Irving, the Nets could have been in real danger of not even making the playoffs.

With him, Brooklyn can still salvage the season, which is where Irving is focused.

“I mean honestly, there’s no time to consider the past,” Irving said. “It’s not going to do anybody in our locker room or anybody any justice thinking about what could have been, the shoulds and the coulds. We only can control what we can control moving forward.”

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

4

STATE & NATION

Some states push direct payments to citizens with federal money

By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — With inflation raging and state coffers flush with cash, governors and lawmakers across the U.S. are considering a relatively simple solution to help ease the pain people are feeling at the gas pump and grocery store — sending money.

At least a dozen states have proposed giving rebate checks of several hundred dollars directly to taxpayers, among them California, Kansas and Minnesota. Critics, including many Republican lawmakers, say those checks won’t go far enough given the pace of inflation and are pushing instead for permanent tax cuts.

A proposal from Maine Gov. Janet Mills is among the most generous in a state where the cost of food and fuel has skyrocketed in recent months. The Democratic governor wants to send $850 to most residents as part of the state’s budget bill.

The rebate “will help Maine people grapple with these increased costs by putting money directly back into their pockets,” Mills said.

But Wendell Cressey, a clamdigger in Harpswell, said the soaring

AP PHOTO

Gas prices are displayed at a gas station Friday, March 11, 2022, in Long Beach, Calif. cost of fuel for people in his business means the check will provide just temporary relief.

“It might help a little, but it would have to be a lot more because we’re paying for gas. Most of us have V-8 trucks,” Cressey said. “I just don’t think it’s going to help as much as they think it is.”

In addition to the direct rebates, lawmakers and governors across the country are considering cuts to sales taxes, property tax relief and reducing or suspending state gas

taxes.

The proposals come at a time when many states actually have historic amounts of money on their hands because of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid and ballooning tax revenue. It’s also happening as the war in Ukraine has compounded soaring prices for fuel and other essentials.

It’s also no coincidence that the relief is being floated during an election year, said Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the

University of Maine. “There’s some real policy reason to do this,” Brewer said. “But at the same time, it’s also clear that this is an election year, and in an election year there are few things as popular as giving voters what voters see as free money from the state.”

The states are moving toward sending people money as consumer inflation has jumped nearly 8% over the past year. That was the sharpest spike since 1982.

Inflation boosted the typical family’s food expenses by nearly $590 last year, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.

Overall, the average family had to spend $3,500 more last year to buy the same amount of goods and services as they purchased in previous years.

In New Mexico, some have questioned whether Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan for a $250 rebate goes far enough given how much consumer prices have risen.

Wayne Holly and his wife, Penny, were among the small business owners in the state who were forced to shut their doors early in the COVID-19 pandemic because of

the governor’s public health orders.

“Do we get customers who are angry and irate because things have changed? Yes, we sure do,” Wayne Holly said. “Do we get customers who say ‘I never used to pay that before?’ I say ‘Yeah, I’ve never paid $4.50 for a gallon of gas.’”

“State legislatures should not rush into enacting permanent tax cuts based on what very well might be temporary growth in real revenues,” Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, wrote in a recent analysis.

The relief plans vary by state.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, released a plan for spending the state’s budget surplus that included a proposal for income tax rebate checks of $1,000 per couple.

In California, Democratic lawmakers have released separate proposals to send rebates of $200 to $400 to each taxpayer, while Gov. Gavin Newsom said he wants to distribute fuel debit cards of up to $800 to help ease the burden on residents paying the highest gas prices in the nation.

Proposals for relief haven’t gone so smoothly in other states. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has proposed returning half of a $90 million surplus in the state Education Fund to the state’s property taxpayers with a check of between $250 and $275, but the Democrat-controlled Legislature has shown little interest.

“Typically, when you overpay for something, you get some of that money back,” Scott said when he made the proposal earlier this month.

Nuclear fears in US amid Russia-Ukraine war: AP-NORC poll

By Ben Fox The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Russia’s war on Ukraine has most Americans at least somewhat worried that the U.S. will be drawn directly into the conflict and could be targeted with nuclear weapons, with a new poll reflecting a level of anxiety that has echoes of the Cold War era.

Close to half of Americans say they are very concerned that Russia would directly target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, and an additional 3 in 10 are somewhat concerned about that, according to the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Russian President Vladimir Putin placed his country’s nuclear forces on high alert shortly after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Roughly 9 in 10 Americans are at least somewhat concerned that Putin might use a nuclear weapon against Ukraine, including about 6 in 10 who are very concerned.

Seventy-one percent of Americans say the invasion has increased the possibility of nuclear weapons being used anywhere in the world.

Fear of nuclear war has been a fact of life for decades. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published its “Doomsday Clock” since 1947, showing a theoretical countdown to nuclear annihilation. The latest update, in January, put the time at 100 seconds to midnight — unchanged since 2020, but still closer than ever to Armageddon.

It’s difficult to measure the public’s degree of fear over time because polls use different methodologies or pose questions in different ways. Alex Wellerstein, a nucle-

AP PHOTO

A fallout shelter sign hangs on a building on East 9th Street in New York, Jan. 16, 2018. ar historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, said people often won’t bring it up on their own but list it among concerns if given the choice.

The fear, naturally enough, also tends to rise and fall depending on what is happening around the world. “We have these moments that are sort of high crisis periods,” Wellerstein said. “And then they come and go, and people forget that we had them.”

One particularly high point, he said, was in 1983, a time of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the year that a highly watched movie about nuclear war,

“The Day After,” first aired on TV in the United States.

In the recent AP-NORC poll, close to half of Americans say they are “extremely” or “very” concerned that the U.S. might be drawn into a war with Russia. Roughly 4 in 10 Americans said they are “somewhat” concerned.

The findings reflect not just anxiety about what seems like a proxy war with Russia, even if the U.S. isn’t directly involved in the conflict, but also the unprecedented saturation coverage of the war through traditional news outlets and social media.

“We are seeing almost moment

by moment what’s happening to these poor people,” said Linda Woodward, a retired phone company technician from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

The concern about nuclear war cuts across party lines and even resonates with some young adults who were born after the Cold War. Caleb Pack, a 21-year-old Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, was among those who said that they were “somewhat concerned” that the U.S. would be drawn into the war and that Russia would target the United States with nuclear weapons.

“If Russia’s end goal is to reclaim

Soviet Union territory, that means they’re going to push into NATO countries, which obviously I think could escalate very quickly,” said Pack, who works in information systems.

Certainly, Russia hasn’t taken steps to alleviate concerns. Putin issued what appeared to be an ominous threat when he reminded the world in a speech the day he launched the invasion that his country is “one of the most powerful nuclear states.”

In that context, concern is justified, said Tara Drozdenko, director of the global security program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Whenever you have nuclear-armed nations getting closer to conflict, there’s always a risk of nuclear escalation,” she said.

So far, NATO and the Biden administration have been careful not to escalate the situation, Drozdenko said. But she believes the public should use this time to push for changes to limit the risk.

That would include adopting a formal policy that the U.S. would not strike first with nuclear weapons, to reduce the risk of an accidental strike by an adversary, and taking the final authority for a launch out of the hands of the president alone.

Historian Wellerstein also sees a possible upside to the heightened state of concern. He cited research showing that a crisis can have the long-term effect of getting people more engaged with an issue.

“This thing with Ukraine will inevitably end, hopefully sooner rather than later,” he said. “This could be an opportunity for getting a lot more people, especially younger people, invested in this as a political issue.”

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Union Pines Lillian Jolly beats the tag from Asheboro’s Addison Aleen in the bottom of the sixth inning during a non-conference softball game at Union Pines High school on March 24, 2022.

Safe at home After a strong start, the Union Pines softball team dropped four straight games over the past two weeks, including a loss at home on Thursday to Asheboro. The Vikings then got back to their winning ways with two wins, over Southern Lee and Montgomery Central to improve to 6-5 on the season. The Vikings hosted cross-county rival Pinecrest Tuesday night after press time. The Patriots entered the Tuesday night matchup with a 4-5 record coming off of an 5-1 win over Hoke County Friday. In that game, Sophomore Maggie Drake blasted a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning.

COUNTY NEWS Film shoots for a golfloving audience A movie filmed in Wilmington is targeting golfers with an unconventional marketing campaign as the film’s backers seek to go direct-to-consumer.

“Birdies” evokes other golf comedies like “Caddyshack” and “Happy Gilmore” telling the story of a run-down golf course. The independent film opened at Thalian Hall in Wilmington on Feb. 22 to a sell-out crowd. The film will be promoted online during The Masters with ads pointing viewers to BirdiesTheMovie. com. Producers of the movie said they have a sequel, “Birdies 2: Double Bogey,” in the works.

95% of adults in Moore Co have had vax dose Nearly all adults in Moore County have had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine as of last week. As adults have reached peak levels of vaccination, cases have dropped to less than ten cases per day and there we no deaths attributed to COVID last week.

Hospitalizations have also dropped as the percentage of positive cases fell to less than 4%. Over 94% of Children under 12 years old and 87.4% of children over five had received at least one vaccine dose.

Fort Bragg soldier’s death is under investigation A soldier who lived in Southern Pines was found unresponsive in his vehicle Friday and later died. According to local news reports, Maj. Eric “Adam” Ewoldsen, 38, was an infantry officer and entered the Army in 2007. He had deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq and received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, among other decorations and awards. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. His death is under investigation.

Pinehurst could see insurance rates drop April 26 proclaimed Frederick Law Olmsted Day in Pinehurst

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal PINEHURST — Residents of Pinehurst could see their insurance rates lowered due to improved firefighting efficiency.

The Village of Pinehurst Council heard the good news about future insurance costs at its meeting on March 22 and took action on several agenda items.

The meeting also featured public comments consisting mainly of the ongoing debate over shortterm residential rentals.

Leading off the meeting, Mayor John Strickland reported that the Pinehurst Fire Department was awarded a higher fire efficiency rating than any fire department in Moore County by the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Marshal, Mike Causey.

“The village of Pinehurst had

a ‘double-bump’ as we call it in the rating we had, increasing the rating of effectiveness we have in not only Pinehurst, but in the surrounding community that we serve as well,” said Mayor Strickland. “The end result of this over time is, we hope, better insurance rates as those are dependent on the fire rating efficiency of the fire departments that serve the area.”

The council approved a proclamation to mark April 26, 2022 as Frederick Law Olmsted Day in celebration of the 200th year anniversary of his birth and in conjunction with planned educational events to honor the village’s founding. Olmsted’s landscape architecture firm was recruited to help design the Village of Pinehurst.

The council approved its audit contract for 2022 again with Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP. Although concerns were raised about the same firm having carried out the Village’s audits for over 15 years, the council approved the contract because the

firm has had a rotation of partners carrying out the tests as well as the lack of different choices in terms of firms that do local government audits.

“The challenge for a budget of our size is being able to go out there and attract a lot of bidders,” said Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Pizzella, who initially brought up the concern. “Obviously a large institution or a larger government, from a due diligence standpoint, just wants that healthy turnover, but when you’re dealing with a budget of our size, it’s difficult to find a lot of people that feel it’s a worthwhile thing to do for their company. That’s the challenge, but 15 years is a long time.”

The council also reconfirmed their prior decision from January to end on-street dining on April 1.

The allowance for on-street dining had been enacted to aid in providing additional relief options to restaurants during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move is not a ban on outdoor dining but puts an end to the

allowance for restaurants to use public areas as expanded dining areas.

The council cited several factors in their decision, including potential safety and aesthetic concerns, the lifting of many pandemic restrictions at the state and federal level and that state statute denies restaurants the ability to expand their allowed seating capacity with on-street parking.

The on-going discussion of short-term residential rentals continued with public comments at Tuesday’s meeting consisting mainly of statements from Pinehurst residents who were opposed to short-term rentals in their neighborhoods.

The Village council has not made any final decisions on what specific actions to take, but village staff has drafted an initial set of proposals to go over during the council’s work sessions, and some of them may be brought up for a vote in upcoming meetings.

The Village of Pinehurst will hold its next meeting onApril 12.

Town of Aberdeen to implement bonuses for full-time workers Police Lieutenants honored in front of board

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal ABERDEEN – The Town of Aberdeen Board met Monday, March 28 with police department honors and multiple budget reallocations on the agenda.

Newly promoted Police Lieutenant Christina Ricks was sworn in in front of the board, taking the oath of office and she was also presented an Award of Completion for her completion of the Law Enforcement Executive Program, which aims to build proactive leadership for law enforcement executives.

“Lieutenant Ricks accepted the job with the town in 2008 and in 2011 she was promoted to a Master Patrol Officer and in 2014 she was promoted to Sergeant,” said

Police Captain Brian Chavis. “She is currently attending Richmond Community College to earn her degree in business. Tonight she will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant.”

Police Lieutenant Jesse Smith was then awarded two Life Saving Heroics Awards for his effort in going above and beyond his duties in two separate incidents, one on Feb. 24, 2022 involving a driver who had ran off the road late at night and needed to be medically evacuated and the other on March 10, 2022 involving two passengers stuck in a burning car.

“It was very clear that if Lieutenant Smith had not arrived on scene and did what he did, these people would not be alive today,” Captain Chavis said. “Lieutenant Smith went above and beyond, but we expect that from him. That’s just the person that he is.”

The town board then approved two budget reallocations, one for

$116,000 from the Powell Bill Streets Resurfacing line item to the Colonial Heights Park Paving Project and the other for $69,960 from the Water Production Capital Outlay line for the purchase of 264 AMI Water Meters.

Finally, in an effort to improve the retention of town workers, the board approved the implementation of $2,000 retention bonuses for all full-time staff members.

The bonus money will be paid to employees up front, but would have to be paid back to the state if an employee elected to leave before a set amount of time.

“I think we’ve all seen the turnover rate, not only in our town, but in other towns,” said Town Manager Paul Sabiston. “We’re actually doing okay, but still not great.

We’re somewhere in the 9-16.5% turnover rate. Sometimes we’re pushing 25-35%. The idea is to give a good incentive for employees to stay who are working now.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

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North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Gunther reappointed to state moore happening occupational safety board

Publisher

North State Journal staff

Neal Robbins

Editor Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday

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

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ HAYNES, RICHARD MARTIN (W, M, 33) of Pinehurst, arrested 3/27/2022 on charges of Assault on a Female, Interfere Emergency Communication by Pinehurst PD. Bond: No Bond. Next Court Date: 4/14/2022. ♦ HEATON, DAVID MICHAEL (W, M, 44) of West End, arrested 3/26/2022 on charges of Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possess Methamphetamine by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $2,500 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/7/2022. ♦ EBB, DON CALVIN (W, M, 36) of Carthage, arrested 3/25/2022 on charges of IV-D Non-Support Child by Aberdeen PD. Bond: $2,337 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/5/2022. ♦ CAGLE, RODNEY DALE (W, M, 43) of West End, arrested 3/25/2022 on charges of Felony Worthless Check (x2), Obtain Property False Pretense, Larceny of Motor Vehicle, Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor Larceny (x2), PWISD Schedule I Controlled Substance, Possess Schedule I Controlled Substance, PWISD Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possess Schedule II Controlled Substance, Maintn Veh/Dwell/Place CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia (x2), Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, Simple Possession Schedule II Controlled Substance, Second Degree Trespass, Breaking and or Entering, Larceny after Break/Enter, and various misdemeanors by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $210,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/11/2022. ♦ BRITT, DARRELL RAY (W, M, 34) of Robbins, arrested 3/25/2022 on charges of Flee/ Elude Arrest With a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving to Endamger, Driving While Impaired, and other charges

by Robbins PD. Bond: $20,750 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/7/2022. ♦ YARTER, MARY ELISE (B, F, 22) of Carthage, arrested 3/24/2022 on charges of Misdemeanor Larceny, Obtain Property False Pretense (x3), Breaking or Entering by Carthage PD. Bond: $7,500 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/31/2022. ♦ SAUNDERS, JOHN WILLIAM (W, M, 27) of Robbins, arrested 3/24/2022 on charges of Assault on a Female (x2), Flee/ Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving to Endanger, Speeding, Probation Violation by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $46,500 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/4/2022.

PINEHURST — North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson has reappointed a local businesswoman to a state advisory council covering occupational safety and health policy.

Gloria Bone Gunther, of Pinehurst, previously served on the N.C. State Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health

and was reappointed as a representative of the management sector.

Gunther is president of Gunther Property, Inc., a real estate company, and was previously a physical therapist. She holds a degree in Physical Therapy from East Carolina University. In a release, Dobson said Gunther’s “many years of experience in the business community and civic

organizations, as well as her previous experience on the Council, make her an invaluable asset to North Carolina and the work of the Department of Labor.”

The council is charged with advising, consulting with, and making recommendations to the Commissioner of Labor on matters relating to the administration of the State Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

April 9 Southern Pines Garden Club Home and Garden Tour 10am-4pm

NC native wins Oscar for best supporting actress The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Ariana DeBose lived up to Oscar predictions and followed the path of her “West Side Story” predecessor Rita Moreno.

DeBose won the best supporting actress trophy Sunday for her breakout performance as the fierce Anita, 60 years af-

ter Moreno claimed the award in 1962 for the original film version of the Broadway musical.

“Yikes, OK!” DeBose said, holding the statuette up in triumph. “Now you see why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America.’

Because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true. And that’s really a heartening thing right now.”

Largely unknown in film circles before landing the coveted role, the 31-year-old Wilmington native became the clear Oscar favorite after an awards season full of victories. She was previously primarily known as a stage actress, with Broadway roles in “Bring It On: The Musical,” “Motown: The Musical” and “Hamilton.”

Pauline

Sandhills Horticulture Society Plant Sale

BRUN

9am-noon

For Moore County School Board

Listening to parents for our kids!

The Conservative Choice for Moore County Schools

I believe in:

Academics First Education NOT Indoctrination

Since the 1940s, SPGC members and volunteers have welcomed visitors from surrounding areas to experience some of the Sandhills’ most elegant homes and gardens. Adding to the visual impact of these lovely properties will be creative flower arrangements designed by talented SPGC members. This year’s tour showcases the interiors and landscape architecture of five of the area’s most amazing homes.

Call (910) 992-8289 for more information.

Listening to Parents Safety for Students and Teachers

The Sandhills Horticultural Society will hold its spring plant sale offering perennials, woody plants, and bulbs. The sale will be held in the Homer Parking Lot on the SCC campus.

Paid for by: Bruno for the Board

April 16 Corvette Show

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

11am Southern Pines Chevrolet will host a Corvette-only show that is free and open to the public. Registration will be from 9am-11am for those wishing to enter, with the show beginning at 11am. For additional information, call 734-306-9245 or email jimwfrazier@ comcast.net.

April 22-24 14th Celebration of Spring Pottery

TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

10am The Seagrove Potters will hold their annual Spring kiln openings April 22-24.

An unprecedented number of pottery shops will open their doors to celebrate. The self-guided tour starts at the Luck’s Cannery in Seagrove where attendees can pick up maps and special offers before they visit shops.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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

COLUMN | ROBERT LEVY

I think therefore I am free Teachers too often become mere sherpas guiding students into and around the teachings of anonymous and often “woke” curriculum “experts.”

AS A MEMBER of the Board of Education for Moore County Schools, I have more than a passing interest in laptop computers and expensive software. Such devices have exploded in the classroom just as they have exploded the budget of every school district in the nation. It is all part of a flawed mindset that traditional, classical education is insufficient. Students supposedly need “21st Century literacy.”

It is also called “digital learning.” But it is not. Indeed, modern computers do function digitally. That is, they can pick many solutions from 0 to 9 in any length or combination, (or 0 to 7 when they operate in base 8). But education software is designed for an analogue mind.

First, a problem is preprogrammed. The answer is then preprogrammed into a “yes” or “no” format. For example, if the program asks, “What was the cause of World War II?” The programmer’s answer might be that the Treaty of Versailles was flawed and led to the rise of Adolph Hitler. It’s a good answer, but one that requires no thinking or debate. Some might say Hitler alone caused the war. Others might say that the weakness of Neville Chamberlain in appeasing German expansion was the real cause of that war just as President Biden’s appeasement of Vladimir Putin caused World War III. It is all very interesting, but it is not conducive to laptops.

The true cause of most wars is always debatable. It requires the thinking and understanding of which machines are incapable. Laptops cannot think. They can either spit out the preprogrammed answer by saying “yes”; or, they can tell the student he is wrong by saying “no.” This is the analogue limit of our educational software.

What makes matters worse is that computer learning mirrors other aspects of life. “When garbage goes in, garbage comes out” And it is always good to know if your garbage is toxic waste.

How many genders are there? The computer says “15.” Why was The Constitution ratified? “Because a group of white slaveholders wanted to assure the survival of their “peculiar institution.”

In years past, a well-vetted teacher wrote the questions and designed the answers. Today, much of that is outsourced

to programmers and software designers. Teachers too often become mere sherpas guiding students into and around the teachings of anonymous and often “woke” curriculum “experts.”

Yet, by teaching in an analogue format, there is no room to question and discuss the premise it advocates.

Since computers don’t think, students are not encouraged to think. Is it any wonder that intolerance and authoritarianism are increasingly gripping our nation? Renee Descartes warned us: “Cogito ergo sum; I think therefore I am.

We only exist so long as we think. If we let machines think for us, our existence is, at best, superfluous. In such a world, only the machines and their programmers exist. The rest of us are merely slaves programmed by the cyber elites Nor should we be Luddites. We need not discard computers altogether. They are part of our world. In education as elsewhere, they are a necessary component to modern life. For instance, in grade school, math is most often itself analogue.

The answer is either right or wrong. And computers make great research tools, too.

But English and history classes should use computers sparingly. Students need to read and discuss real books with nuanced ideas that do not fit well into a Google format. In centuries past, students in monasteries studied and argued the penumbra of Greek and Latin passages, primarily as they appeared in the Bible. “Thou shall not kill” or “Thou shall not commit murder?” A willingness to go to war hinged on the debate and interpretation of those Biblical commands.

For both the ancient and the modern student, the outcome of the debate is not important. It is only important that through unbounded debate students learn to think. From that talent, innovation becomes possible. And that is a skill which our nation requires.

So, we must rethink our investment in technology. Even if we harness artificial intelligence, it will only be “artificial,” To exist as an exceptional nation, our students need the real thing. Their machines can’t think.

Students need to do so.

Robert Levy is a resident of Moore County

COLUMN | DAVID ASHLEY

We the People need constitutional carry Land of the free is quickly transitioning to land of the fee.

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS — a right freely given to all, but are we really as free as we think we are?

The concept of owning a gun is a societal norm; however, legally carrying a gun in the State of North Carolina requires one to openly display it. In order to conceal your firearm, an individual is required to pay for a class; invest their time to attend; pay the fee for their concealed carry permit at the sheriff’s office, and then maintain the permit.

Land of the free is quickly transitioning to land of the fee.

The pistol permit process is an embarrassing regulation that was enacted in 1919, as a direct result of Jim Crow policies.

North Carolina remains the only southern state to still require the ever-so-arduous pistol purchase permit process. If we truly are home of the free, then why have we not taken charge of this initiative and pushed for the passing of constitutional carry and nixing the Jim Crow-era pistol permit system? Are we content with lagging behind other states and clinging onto our watereddown gun rights?

Additionally, open carry is riddled with its own ill-effects.

The uneducated general population may see someone openly carrying a gun and automatically assume the law is being broken. Intimidation is a huge issue that not only causes unnecessary concern but could lead to law enforcement being called, which directs their time away from actual emergencies.

A vague report from an individual informing the police that there’s a man or woman with a gun has the potential for detrimental results.

Openly carrying a gun does anything but deter criminals. It allows them to assess the situation and figure out how they are going to disarm the legal gun carrier, as well as the potential for this to escalate even further. Having your firearm removed from your hip is not an unlikely scenario. At some point your back will be turned to something or someone, especially in crowded public areas. Poorly designed holsters and weapon retention skills also play a huge role in the risk of being disarmed.

The driving force behind this issue is whether one believes the right to bear arms should be regulated by the government or if it’s a God-given natural right outlined by our founding documents. As partisan politics continues to steadily rise and broker our freedoms, we need to continue the fight for our right to bear arms so that we’re prepared to defend ourselves against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Like the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass once said, “A man’s rights rest in three boxes. The ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”

It’s time for North Carolina to pass constitutional carry.

David Ashley is a retired state law enforcement officer who lives in Asheboro.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 30, 2022

4

obituaries

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

DEATH NOTICES ♦ Muriel Elizabeth Ryder, age 103, of Pinehurst, NC, slipped away peacefully at her home, Friday, 18 March 2022 - surrounded by tender loving care from family & her beloved caregiver Lottie Mason. ♦ Michael Jennings Keenan, born August 27, 1941 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin passed away March 16th 2022 in Pinehurst, NC.

Willie Mae Barry

July 27, 1936 - March 26, 2022

Francis Joseph Brennan, II

Willie Mae Barry, 85, passed away Saturday, March 26th in Pinehurst, NC. A memorial service will be held at her home church, Aberdeen First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Aberdeen NC on Wednesday, March 30 at 2pm. A visitation will precede the service from 1-2pm at the same location.

A burial at Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen, NC will follow the service.

Willie Mae was born July 27, 1936, in Aberdeen NC to the late William Brinkley Finch and Bonnie Yates Finch whom both preceded her in death.

Playing the organ and piano in church were what made Wille Mae the happiest, although knitting was not far behind.

Willie Mae loved her church family and whenever the church doors were open, she would be there helping in any capacity needed. Singing in the church choir also gave her a special feeling. Eating out was her favorite pastime (Johns BBQ - her favorite) and would also strive to look her best.

September 1, 1936 - March 21, 2022 Welcomed to heaven by his daughter Danielle, mother Rita, father Francis (the First), brother Jimmy and his sister-in-law Joyce Ann Strout. Survived by his wife of 45.5 years Mary “The Supreme One” Brennan, their three children; son Francis (III) with his wife Kristy, daughter and favorite Bettie-Rae and her husband Isacc, and son Raymond.

Leaving a legend with his 9 grandchildren; Gabriel, Kyaza, Kadin, Lorelei, Cassandra, Gracie-Rae Danielle, Francis(IV), Killian, Mary. As well as his sister Margaret Krupka, his cousin Germaine Vindigni, who may as well have been a second sister, and his brother-in-law Dennis Strout, along with many nieces and nephews.

Charles Wayne Poindexter

Bruce Edward Overton

August 29, 1986 - March 19, 2022 Charles Wayne “C.W.” Poindexter, 35, of Asheboro, NC passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday, March 19, 2022.

He was born August 29, 1986 in Pinehurst, NC. He was an avid hunter and golfer. He was a dedicated father, loving husband, devoted son and brother, and a friend to many.

He is survived by his wife Erin Maynard Poindexter; four children, Grace Poindexter, Colton Poindexter, Brooklyn Maynard, and Caroline Poindexter. He is also survived by his mother Belinda Craven Evans (John); and his father Randy Poindexter (Debbie); siblings Donnie Gillis, Alex Gillis (Amanda), John Poindexter (Raven) and Ivey Gillis; his grandfather Billy Craven, Shannon Roberts the mother of two of his children, and other extended family.

C.W. was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Carolyn Craven.

Frank was the life of any party, and if it wasn’t a party before he got there, it quickly became one shortly after his arrival! A proud veteran of the United States Army and New Yorker who loved his Green Bay Packers because New York kept changing teams.

June 20, 1958 - March 19, 2022 Bruce Edward Overton, 63, of Jackson Springs, NC passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at home surrounded by his family.

Bruce was born June 20, 1958 in Troy, NC to the late William Boyd Overton and Bonnie Marie Guinn Overton.

Bruce worked at Stanley Furniture in West End for 25 years. One of his favorite pastimes was sitting outside talking with his friends and watching the cars go by. However, his favorite thing was spending time with family, especially the grandkids.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife Brenda Collins Overton; two sons Bruce W. Overton (Jessica) and William E. Overton (Ashleigh); six grandchildren, Alexis, Natalie, Jada, Gracie, William K “Littleman”, and Temperance; siblings Bobby Overton (Linda), Nancy Bouwman (Dean), Linda Atkins (Harrison), and Jimmy Overton.

Mary Elizabeth Patton

November 20, 1947 - March 22, 2022 Mary Elizabeth Patton, 74, passed away Tuesday, March 22 at 6:05pm at her home in Aberdeen, NC, surrounded by her family.

A memorial service also will be held in Lima, Ohio soon. The date is to be determined and will be announced in the Lima News.

Mary was born November 20, 1947 to the late Donna Pebble Colley and Roger Eugene Rader.

Mary had a full life and ventured into many different areas to support herself and her family.

She owned a pre-school. She was a realtor. And the last part of her career had her providing home health care to the elderly and working as a nanny. Her heart was to serve others, most especially her family.

Mary is survived by children Kimberly Mims of Aberdeen, Lauren Clapper of Aberdeen, Joey Patton of Lima, Ohio, Darren Patton of Newark, Ohio, as well as eleven grandchildren - Anna, Ashley, Austin, Brooke, Chase, Ella, Ellie, Gavin, Jacob, Josh, and Matthew. She is also survived by her brother Danny Rader, of Sanford, NC, and sister Kathy Rader of Lima, OH.

Ruth B. Seevers

November 14, 1925 - March 20, 2022 Ruth B. Seevers, 96, of Jackson Springs, passed peacefully at the FirstHealth Hospice House on Sunday, March 20th.

Born in Johnsville, OH, she was the daughter of the late S. Steele and Stella Alma Vickory Baker.

In addition to her parents, Ruth is predeceased by her husband of 68 years, James Donald Seevers, her brother Richard Baker and sister Helen Edler. She is survived by nieces and nephew. Ruth was raised in Johnsville and after her high school graduation, she began working for North Electric as an engineering clerk. Over the years, she advanced within the company to becoming an Engineer before retiring in 1987. Ruth and Jim settled in Jackson Springs and had been faithful members of Our Savior Lutheran Church.

She enjoyed traveling the world, was an accomplished golfer, and spent joyful hours Tending to her flowers.

A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, March 31st at 1:00 pm at Our Savior Lutheran Church Columbarium, 1517 Luther Way, Southern Pines.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com.com

Colonel Edward L. Aschliman, US Army (Ret) January 15, 1935 - March 23, 2022

Edward Aschliman passed away at home in Pinehurst, NC on March 23, 2022. He was born January 15, 1935 to Nellie and Bill Aschliman in Auburn, Indiana.

Ed’s first eight years of school were spent in a one-room school house in DeKalb County Indiana. He laughingly said, “If you didn’t fully understand a lesson it was ok because you would hear it again every year.”

Upon graduation from Purdue University in 1957 he was commissioned second lieutenant in the US Army. While stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Ed met his future bride, Naomi Jean Lochenour, they were happily married in 1959 and remained that way for 63 years.

Ed spent thirty terrific years serving the country he dearly loved. During that time, he completed tours of duty in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and South Vietnam. He retired from the army in 1987, completing his final assignment at United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. In civilian life, Ed was the Chief Operating Officer of Bulldog Battery Corporation in Wabash, Indiana before retiring to Pinehurst, NC in 1991. During his active retirement years in Pinehurst, Ed was a daily tennis player and volunteered for local causes and events.

He is survived by his wife Jean and children; Edward Aschliman (Debby Hart) of Gainsville, FL; Katherine Rose (Michael) of Midland, TX; Amy Aschliman of Sanford, NC and grandchildren Robert Aschliman, Loren Rose, Nick Rose, and Emily Braren as well as brother Donald Aschliman (Janet) of Lafayette, Indiana.

Ed’s final resting place will be United States Military Academy, West Point, NY cemetery.

Services will be held at a later date.

Proudly supporting you every step of the way on your grief journey.

CONTACT

www.bolesfuneralhome.com Email: md@bolesfuneralhome.com Locations in: Southern Pines (910) 692-6262 | Pinehurst (910) 235-0366 | Seven Lakes (910) 673-7300

@BolesFuneralHomes