Stanly News Journal 145, Issue 74

Stanly NewS Journal

THE

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Federal Reserve cuts key rate by 25 basis points, rst of year

Washington, D.C.

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market.

The move is the Fed’s rst cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed o cials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tari s, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on in ation and the economy. The rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to 6.26% from 6.35% last week, according to Freddie Mac.

Kirk’s Turning Point taps widow Erika as next leader

Phoenix Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie Kirk founded to mobilize young conservatives, has seen a massive surge in interest and support since the activist’s assassination last week. As conservatives mourn Kirk’s death, the group announced that his wife, Erika, will serve as its next CEO. More than just its leader, Charlie Kirk was Turning Point’s public face and crucial to its in uence, building it into a multimillion-dollar operation that has been credited with helping to return President Donald Trump to o ce. But Turning Point appears poised to remain a MAGA juggernaut, and Erika Kirk has a following of her own.

Albemarle announces mural project for Courthouse Plaza

The deadline for artwork proposals is Oct. 17

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Albemarle

introduced a new grant-funded art project for a brick wall mural at Courthouse Plaza on Monday. The city is asking any interested professional artists to submit their idea proposals to Albemarle’s website for review. Courthouse Plaza, extending from West Main Street to King Avenue in downtown Albemarle, has been redeveloped into a pedestrian-friendly gathering spot with lighting, seating and space for public art. Since its o cial opening in June 2024, the location has hosted festivals, art walks, seasonal cele-

brations and other community events.

City o cials are now wanting to add artwork to a prominent blank wall inside the plaza.

“This mural represents a meaningful investment in the continued growth and vitality of our downtown,” Main Street Manager Katie Lynn said in a city news release. “By adding a large-scale work of public art to Courthouse Plaza, we are not only enhancing a space that has already seen signicant improvements, but also creating a destination that will draw visitors, support local businesses and instill pride in our community.”

The mural will be installed on the building wall at 119 W. Main St., a location within the plaza that is visible to both pedestrians and drivers; it measures 100

feet long and 27 to 31 feet high, with a surface area of roughly 2,900 square feet.

The project is part of Albemarle’s downtown streetscape master plan, which has already brought improvements such as new signage, banners and outdoor furnishings. A proposed mural will build on those e orts by providing a cultural landmark that celebrates the city’s identity. According to project guidelines, the mural should be “engaging and inviting, beautify Courthouse Plaza, enhance the quality of life for Albemarle citizens, attract tourism, promote arts and culture, and encourage businesses to locate within the city.”

All artists with experience creating large-scale murals are encouraged to apply.

Stanly County Schools to pursue $52M capital fund grant

The funding would pay for two major capital projects

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Schools is planning to apply for a North Carolina Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund grant that would award the county $52 million for construction projects. At its recent work session on Sept. 11, the Stanly County Schools Board of Education voted to pursue the grant, holding the overall goal that it would pay for a new elementa-

ry school to replace Oakboro Choice STEM School and an addition to West Stanly Middle School.

On Monday night, the school board will meet with the Stanly County Board of Commissioners in Albemarle to approve a 5% local funding match required for grant applications.

The joint meeting between the two boards is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons. Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting that is open to the public.

“The board’s decision

“The board’s decision represents a signi cant step toward addressing critical facility needs in

“This mural represents a meaningful investment in the continued growth and vitality of our downtown,”

Katie Lynn, Main Street manager

The commission is worth up to $35,000, covering all costs, including travel, materials, surface preparation and insurance. Applicants must submit a written narrative, design sketches, a list of materials, a maintenance plan and samples of previous work.

The veteran faces misdemeanor charges for igniting res

By Michael Kunzelman

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

An Army veteran who set re to an American ag near the White House to protest President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on ag burning pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal criminal charges.

Jan Carey is charged with two misdemeanors that are not focused on the act of burning a ag. Making his initial court appearance, Carey was arraigned on charges of igniting a re in an undesignated area and lighting a re causing damage to property or park resources.

Chief Judge James Boasberg set an Oct. 17 deadline for Carey’s lawyers to le a motion to dismiss the case on constitutional grounds. Carey is due back in court on Dec. 1 for a status hearing.

Carey, 54, of Arden, was arrested Aug. 25 after he set re to a ag in Lafayette Park, which the National Park Service over-

sees. Earlier that day, Trump signed an executive order requiring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute people for burning the American ag.

The Supreme Court has ruled that ag burning is a legitimate political expression protected by the Constitution. Trump’s order asserts that burning a ag can be prosecuted if it “is likely to incite imminent lawless action” or amounts to “ ghting words.”

“You burn a ag, you get one year in jail. You don’t get 10 years, you don’t get one month,” Trump said. “You get one year in jail, and it goes on your record, and you will see ag burning stopping immediately.”

Carey said he served in the Army from 1989 to 2012 and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I served this country for over 20 years, having taken an oath to upheld our Constitution. I did not take an oath to serve a dictator, a tyrant or a wannabe king,” he told reporters after the hearing.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s o ce led the charges against Carey. Trump appointed Pirro, a former Fox

“I served this country for over 20 years, having taken an oath to upheld our Constitution. I did not take an oath to serve a dictator, a tyrant or a wannabe king.”

Jan Carey

News host and former judge.

“Although we respect the First Amendment, there is a law that prohibits the burning of anything, including a ag, on federal property,” o ce spokesman Tim Lauer said in a statement.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, one of Carey’s lawyers, said the charges against him represent an e ort by the Trump administration to sti e free speech and dissent.

“This is a desecration of the First Amendment by the administration, and it is crucial that people stand up and speak out, exercise their rights,” said Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.

Sept. 23

PLAZA from page A1

A seven-member committee representing local government, the arts community, the building owner and the Historic Resource Commission will review proposals. Ultimately, up to three semi nalists will be chosen, each receiving a $500 stipend to re ne their concepts, while the nal artist will then be selected following interviews. The deadline for proposals is Oct. 17. More details, including application instructions and a submission link, are available at albemarlenc. gov/muralproject.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Another tax revolt may be right around the corner

Property tax collections went up nearly 7% last year, easily outstripping in ation.

ANYONE OLD ENOUGH to have lived through the mayhem and economic decline of the 1970s probably will recall the tax cut heard round the world. That was the famous California ballot initiative Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes by more than 25% and then screwed a tight cap on future rate increases.

This was the tax cut that saved California, helping ignite the go-go days of Silicon Valley and build what are now trillion-dollar companies. This was also the dawn of the Reagan era of lower tax rates, the conquering of runaway in ation, and skepticism of big government at the state and local level.

Once Prop 13 passed in California, a dozen more states slashed out-of-control property tax levies that were driving older Americans out of their homes. Selling the house to pay the taxes was a routine occurrence.

Now even CNN reports another “property tax revolt is spreading.” Why?

Because nationwide, property tax collections went up nearly 7% last year, easily outstripping in ation. Over the past ve years, property taxes are on average up 27%. Not only are soaring property values squeezing many people out of the housing market once again,

but the accompanying tax increases are squeezing many families and retirees.

One of the major voices driving this upheaval is Arthur La er — the same economist who played a big part in the Prop 13 tax revolt. “Almost everyone in both parties was against us back then,” La er recalled of Prop 13. “No one saw the tidal wave coming. But we won with more than 60% of the vote.” The tax cut “really came just in time to save California.”

Now La er is working in nearly a dozen states to cap property tax tyranny.

He’s already succeeding. Last year, voters in nine states approved referendums to cap or curb rising assessments, from tying bills to in ation in Georgia and New Mexico to expanding tax exemptions in Colorado. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is exploring a ballot measure to curb property taxes. It would be accompanied by state audits into how spendthrift local governments overcharge for roads, school construction and parks. Other measures may appear next year on the ballot in Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, North Dakota and Ohio. The Ohio measure would eliminate property taxes altogether.

The states with the highest property taxes are New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut

and New York. New Hampshire has high property taxes, but that’s in part because the state has no income tax. What are New Jersey’s and New York’s excuses?

Anger over property taxes is especially strong in blue states, and one reason those taxes stay high is that these are all states that deny citizens the right to put tax limits on the ballot. Citizen initiative and referendum rights should be expanded to all states. The special interests in state capitals ght ferociously against property tax relief. Teachers unions say the cuts will drain schools of money. Others warn of potholes in the roads, library closures, and less re and police protection. These are the same stale and discredited arguments that were made against Prop 13, and real-world events proved these blowhard predictions false.

Over the past decade, nearly 5 million Americans have moved from high-tax blue states to low-tax red states. If the blue states don’t start reducing their tax burdens, that out ow could turn into a stampede.

Stephen Moore is a former Trump senior economic adviser and the cofounder of Unleash Prosperity.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk and the violent movements we must denounce

Ideologies that breed violence share three speci c elements.

LAST WEEK, my friend Charlie Kirk was murdered in cold blood in front of a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. He was assassinated while debating with students — something Charlie did frequently, and with aplomb — by a radicalized leftist with a trans boyfriend. That assassin decided to kill Charlie because of Charlie’s belief that men cannot become women, and vice versa; as he allegedly wrote in a text message to that trans boyfriend, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my ri e unseen, I will have left no evidence.” I was in Los Angeles when Charlie was shot. My rst reaction was shock; my second, horror; and my third, the realization that the shooting was almost certainly the result of a radicalized leftist, probably associated with transgender ideology. If we are to be honest with ourselves, we all have such reactions upon learning of acts of evil: We jump to the most likely conclusion about the source of that evil. If a synagogue is targeted in a mass shooting, the suspect will almost certainly be either a radical Muslim or a white supremacist; if a church is targeted, a radical Muslim or a trans activist; if a CEO is shot, a Marxist radical of some sort. There is a reason for such

suppositions: Not all ideologies are equally likely to produce violence at the margins. Ideologies that breed violence share three speci c elements.

First, they share a conspiratorial view of the universe in which a shadowy cabal of powerful people are responsible for all of your failures and shortcomings, and in which their arguments are not in fact arguments, but instead, a la Michel Foucault, a facade for power.

Second, such ideologies share a belief that you or your group are being targeted for destruction by that shadowy cabal.

Finally, such ideologies hold that violence is justi able self-defense.

All the ideologies listed above t this model. Trans ideology argues that trans people are victims of a conspiracy — a conspiracy to deny their identity; that such denial is responsible for all their life problems and amounts to a form of “erasure” or “genocide”; and that the proper response to such “hate” is violence. Radical Marxism argues that poor people are victims of a conspiracy of the wealthy, who exploit them; arguments on behalf of free markets are merely false consciousness promoted by the powerful; violence is therefore an appropriate response (“FREE LUIGI!”). White supremacy argues that whites are being

targeted by people of color, Jews and other minorities and fellow travelers; their very existence is a threat, and force is thus a justi able response. Radical Islam argues that the failures of Islamic civilization are due to imperialism and colonialism; that the success of the West is inherently violent; and that violence is the proper response. When politicians say, therefore, that they are against “political violence” but then move to justify violence by massaging these ideologies, their words are useless. They are a pretti cation of reality, an attempt to gloss over radical evils gnawing at the intestines of a functional society. Even worse, politicians who continue to foment such ideologies provide a permission structure for violence, excusing it and even valorizing it. The only way to truly ght political violence is to denounce the ideologies that breed it. Anything less means that more radicals take their ideologies to the logical extreme — and the result is blood in the streets, innocents dead and an ever-widening cycle of violence.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

BONNIE SHULTZ RANDOLPH

FEB. 8, 1936 –

MARCH

18, 2025

Bonnie Lou Shultz Randolph was born February 8, 1936, in Jonesboro, Arkansas and died on March 18, 2025 (age 89) in Mint Hill, NC. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on September 20, 2025, at Love’s Grove Methodist Church, Stan eld, NC. She was predeceased by all of her siblings, her daughter-in-law, Wanda Walden Randolph, and her husband of 63 years, Paul Randolph. She is survived by her son Patrick Randolph, and daughter Amy (Les) Leonard, along with her three grandchildren Jacob (Kanza) Randolph, Sophia Geil and Jack Geil. She is also survived by her adoptive grandson Josh (Hailey) Lee, and great grandson Vincent.

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

Dwight Farmer

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

JANICE CAGLE THOMAS

SEPT. 19, 1946 – SEPT. 15, 2025

Janice Cagle Thomas, 78, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Trinity Place, surrounded by love and care.

A graveside service, o ciated by Pastor Nathan Hammill, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Open Door Baptist Church. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no formal public visitation.

James Roseboro

Bonnie graduated with a BA from Central Michigan University in Elementary education, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. She was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. Bonnie had a 23-year career in education teaching in Michigan and North Carolina. She taught kindergarten through fourth grade, including special education classes and ended her career as a literacy specialist.

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

Born on September 19, 1946, in Stanly County, Janice was the daughter of the late William and Mildred Cagle. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Howard Thomas, in 2020.

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

John B. Kluttz

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

Janice was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She is lovingly survived by her children: Denene Mills (Michael) of Albemarle and James Derrick Thomas of New London; grandchildren: Ethan Thomas (Melissa), Erik Thomas (Cassie), and Madelyn Mills; three greatgrandchildren; three sisters; and one brother.

Doris Jones Coleman

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.

Bonnie was a lifelong Christian and attended Love’s Grove Methodist Church in Stan eld, NC where she and her husband lived for 27 years. She also served as education chairperson and was part of the intercessory prayer group.

An avid reader throughout her life, Bonnie helped form and belonged to the Book Belles in Locust, NC.

Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran.

ALVIN “PETE” BRACK HINES

Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld.

JUNE 27, 1943 – SEPT. 12, 2025

A hardworking and caring woman, Janice was the former owner and operator of Pat & Mick’s Restaurant in New London, NC. Her passion for cooking was well-known, and she took great pride in sharing meals with others; whether at home or through her work. She enjoyed a simple, meaningful life, often tending to her owers and taking joy in nature and quiet moments.

Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.

Alvin “Pete” Brack Hines, 82, of Newport, formerly of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 12, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle, NC. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Simpson Cemetery, Albemarle, NC, with Pastor Gerald Miller o ciating. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date at Grace Baptist Church in Newport, NC.

Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.

Born June 27, 1943, in Stanly County, Pete was the son of the late John and Dorothy Hines. He proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Army and later enjoyed a ful lling career in Law Enforcement. A man of deep faith, Pete was a devoted member of Grace Baptist Church in Newport, NC, where he found great joy in fellowship and in sharing the gospel through the FBN radio network.

He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.

Pete’s greatest treasures were his faith and his family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather whose quiet strength and steadfast devotion touched all who knew him. He is survived by his beloved wife, Florine Mills Hines; son, Edward Russell McArthur; daughter, Valorie McArthur McCray; grandchildren, Vickie Burgfeld, Warren McArthur, Keelin McArthur, and Jamie Bowers; and great-grandchildren, Hallie, Madison, Michael, Gabriel, Rain, and Taylor.

In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to FBN Radio, 520 Roberts Rd., Newport, NC 28570, or by phone at 800-245-9685 or 252-223-4600.

ALVA GOODMAN SELLS

FEB. 28, 1937 – SEPT. 14, 2025

Alva Goodman Sells, 88, of Gold Hill, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

A funeral service to celebrate Alva’s life will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Matton’s Grove Methodist Church (24732 Matton’s Grove Church Rd., Gold Hill, NC), o ciated by Rev. Martha Hayes. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 3:00 to 4:45 p.m. prior to the service. Born on February 28, 1937, in Stanly County, Alva was the daughter of the late Leland and Nora Goodman. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Robert Lewis Sells (2014); her brothers, Spencer Goodman and Bud Goodman; and her sisters, Carrie Mae Wood, Ann Robinson, and Melvene Koontz. Alva is lovingly survived by her children, Wes Sells (Tracie), Kelley Hu (David), and Robin Rogers (Tommy), all of Rich eld, NC; grandchildren, Lauren Holland, Amanda Adkins, Matt Hu , Katie Hu , Jonah Rogers, Jordan Sells, Jenna Stevens, and Carson Sells; and great-grandchildren, Barringer, Bennett, Asher, Chesney, Wesley, Beasley, Rhett, and Hayes.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Above all, Janice was a great mother and grandmother; ercely loyal, deeply loving, and always putting family rst.

The Thomas family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the sta of Trinity Place and Tillery Compassionate Care for the kindness and support shown to Ms. Jan during her time of declining health.

He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.

John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.

SAMUEL JASPER TURNER

MARCH 7, 1939 – SEPT. 15, 2025

Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long ght in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away ghting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.

Samuel Jasper Turner, 86, of Norwood, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 15, 2025, after several years of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Rev. Jason Almond and Rev. Larry Coley will o ciate and interment will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors and masonic rites. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary.

When John purchased his rst Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!

Jasper was born on March 7, 1939, in Anson County to the late Rosa Allen Turner and Kemp W. Turner. He graduated from Burnsville High School in 1957 and was drafted into the Army in 1959. After returning from the Army he worked for Stanly Knitting Mills and Union Power Company in Oakboro.

Jasper loved hunting, shing and played church baseball for many years. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where he served as Choir Director and Sunday School Teacher. He was a former member of Rocky Mount Baptist Church in Anson County where he served as Deacon, Sunday School Director, Choir Director and RA leader.

Jasper had a passion for fraternal Free Masonary. He was an active and faithful member of Pee Dee Lodge #150 where he served as Master for two terms. He joined Norwood Chapter #164 Order of Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron and District Deputy Grand Patron along with his wife.

At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Melton Turner, wife Christine and Wallace Turner, wife Ruth. Jasper took great joy in his family and enjoyed his life as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and most importantly a child of Christ.

Darrick Baldwin

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.

A 1955 graduate of Rich eld High School and the Charlotte Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Alva dedicated her career to caring for others. She started her career at Stanly County Hospital, then onto work with Dr. Brunson and nished her career at Wiscassett Mills, retiring in 1987. Faith and service were central to Alva’s life. An active member of Matton’s Grove Methodist Church, she volunteered with the American Red Cross for over 30 years and served with Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. In 1994, she was honored as Stanly County Woman of the Year.

John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Vivian Howard Turner; daughter Mitzi Webb, whom he loved dearly as his own; granddaughter, Attorney Macey Webb, the brightest star in his life, wife Attorney Caroline Latimer; sister, Lilly Keeter of Monroe, precious niece Lisa Burns, his rst love, husband Todd of Monroe; Nephew, Scott Keeter of Waxhaw, Nephew, David Melton, Jr; great nephew Nicholas Burns; great nieces’ Sally and Kylie Keeter. Also included, lifelong friends and family, Irene Thomas (Doug deceased), Anita and Scotty Alexander, Marsha and Mike Weeks, Terri and Kirk Kettwich, Rachel Huneycutt, John Alexander (Melanie, Kenleigh, Paisley), Luke Alexander (Katie, Ella, Will), Brett Morton (Heather, Adlee, Mayzie, Anson), and Jordan Morton and Chad Taylor.

This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men.

Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was sel ess, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.

Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, 32283 Bethlehem Church Road, Norwood, NC 28128 or Pee Dee Lodge #150, Norwood, NC 28128.

He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.

A ectionately known by her family as Nana, her commitment to be there for her grandchildren was unmatched. It was a rare occasion if Nana wasn’t in the stands at not only sporting events, but graduations, quiz bowls, and recitals. Truly, if it was important to one of the grandchildren, it was important to her.

Alva will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, her dedication to family, and her servant’s heart.

In lieu of owers, memorials can be made to the American Red Cross (redcross.org) or Matton’s Grove Methodist Church (24732 Matton Grove Church Rd, Gold Hill, NC 28071).

NEAL HATHCOCK

MARCH 31, 1962 – SEPT. 16, 2025

She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, out ts for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.

Kenneth Neal Hathcock, 63, of Norwood, passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood.

Neal was born on March 31, 1962, in Mecklenburg County to the late Jennings and Fay Kimrey Hathcock.

He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Becky Hathcock.

He is survived by his son, Tyler Hathcock of Norwood; brother Dale Hathcock (Rhonda); and sister Teresa Ann Hathcock.

John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.

Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

from page A1

represents a signi cant step toward addressing critical facility needs in Stanly County Schools,” SCS stated in a press release. “The proposed projects would enhance learning environments, provide additional capacity for growing student populations and support the district’s mission of ensuring high-quality education for all students. Stanly County Schools appreciates the continued support of our community as we work toward these important facility improvements.”

Resolutions of support for the capital fund grant have already been approved by city o cials in Oakboro, Stan eld and Locust during the rst two weeks of September.

In a resolution con rmed by the Oakboro Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2, the board agreed that “we here

The beloved journalist wrote restaurant reviews for more than 70 years

By Jack Dura The Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. — Marilyn Hagerty, a North Dakota newspaper columnist whose earnest review of her local Olive Garden restaurant became a social media sensation, died Tuesday. She was 99. Hagerty died at a hospital in Grand Forks from complications related to a stroke, according to her daughter Gail Hagerty. She remembered her mother as a journalist at heart who was more interested in giving readers an honest assessment of what to expect from a restaurant than in being critical.

Her 2012 Olive Garden piece was “unique and authentic, coming from a grandmother in North Dakota,” Gail Hagerty said. In the review, she famously wrote in praise of the chain’s chicken Alfredo as “warm and comforting on a cold day.”

“As I ate, I noticed the vases and planters with permanent ower displays on the ledges,” she wrote. “There are several dining areas with arched doorways. And there is a replace that adds warmth to the decor.”

It spread on social media and drew national media attention to Hagerty.

“She was everywhere and she loved it and it was a wonderful experience, although she had to ask my brother what does it mean if you go viral. She didn’t know that,” Gail Hagerty said. “She used to say that if you were going to have 15 minutes of fame and if you were 86, you had to do it soon. You couldn’t wait.”

The media attention even drew in famed chef and TV

host Anthony Bourdain, who defended Hagerty on Twitter from those who ridiculed her embrace of the Olive Garden chain’s food. He met with her and went on to publish a book of her columns, also writing its foreword.

In a 2014 interview conducted by oral historian Teri Finneman, Hagerty said the response to her review was unbelievable, including countless emails and phone calls as well as TV interviews and a tour of New York City.

“But most of all, it was people feeling in defense and people praising me for the way I write the Eatbeat. And — I wrote that Eatbeat column so fast one day that I never expected it to be repeated all over the country, but that’s what happened,” she said in the interview.

Hagerty was born May 30, 1926, in Pierre, South Dakota. Her newspaper career began while she was in high school, when she assisted the editor of the Pierre Capital Journal and wrote city briefs, according to her oral history. She earned a journalism degree from the University of South Dakota, of which she was quite proud, her daughter said. She added that Hagerty was a journalist at heart who took the e ort to get to know people and the community and was actively writing for more than 70 years.

Hagerty was beloved in Grand Forks due to her long career and community involvement, and in 2002 a lift station was dedicated and named in her honor. Hagerty arrived at the ceremony on a restaurant owner’s motorcycle, her daughter said.

“I’m going to leave some owers there this evening,” Gail Hagerty said.

Hagerty was writing at least occasionally for the Grand Forks Herald until last year.

The Stanly County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners will hold a joint meeting on Monday night in Albemarle.

eld believes that this project will address current and future educational needs, enhance student success and foster a stronger, more vibrant Stanly County.”

The Locust City Council’s resolution on Sept. 11 a rmed the school board’s “commitment to working with community partners to ensure that the educational needs of our growing region are met.”

The North Carolina NeedsBased Public School Capital Fund provides state-funded grants, primarily from lottery revenue, to eligible counties to help address critical school building needs. The fund is managed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and supports construction of new schools, additions and repairs or renovations to existing facilities.

SCS will provide updates as more information becomes available regarding the grant application.

The season has been unusually calm during peak hurricane period

By Dánica Coto

The Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —

Not a single named storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in nearly three weeks, even though it’s the peak of hurricane season.

“Where the heck are the Atlantic #hurricanes?” Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University, wrote recently on X.

Many are wondering the same thing.

Tropical Storm Fernand was the last named storm to form this season. It was short-lived, forming on Aug. 23 and dissipating on Aug. 28 while remaining over open water.

This is only the second time that no named storms have formed during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season since modern record-keeping began in 1950, according to Ernesto Rodríguez, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service forecast o ce in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Usually, conditions during this period are prime,” he said.

The quietest peak running from Aug. 29 to Sept. 15 was recorded in 1992, after Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida.

Why it’s so quiet

Three factors are to blame, or cheer.

One, a strong vertical wind

shear, which refers to a change in wind speed or direction with altitude. It has increased thanks to a cyclonic circulation in the mid-upper troposphere, which is the lowest region of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Two, persistent dry and stable air across the tropical Atlantic.

And three, a drop in the amount of rainfall in West Africa, where tropical waves form during the hurricane season.

“This is pretty positive, especially for us in Puerto Rico,” Rodríguez said.

The U.S. territory is still rebuilding from Hurricane Maria, which hit the island as a powerful Category 4 storm on Sept. 20, 2017.

The lack of storms prompted experts at Colorado State University to publish an explanatory report earlier this month.

“There has been considerable discussion amongst meteorologists, the media and the general public about the recent quiet period for Atlantic hurricane activity,” the report stated, which called it “quite remarkable.”

We’re not in the clear

Forecasters say we could still see a busy season in the second half of September and the first part of October.

A cluster of storms currently located hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean is forecast to become a named storm in upcoming days, although it’s expected to turn away from the region and remain over open water, possibly as a powerful hurricane.

Another cluster of storms is swirling behind it, but so far, it only has a 20% chance of formation.

“From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, conditions will be pretty prime,” Rodríguez said. He noted that ocean temperatures remain warm, which provides fuel to storms.

What history says

Up to 80% of hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs in August and September, but this year has seen only six named storms.

Uber Eats will soon launch US drone delivery in partnership with Flytrex

The companies expect to begin deliveries by the end of the year

By Dee-Ann Durbin

The Associated Press

UBER EATS WILL soon be making some meal deliveries with drones.

Uber Technologies said Thursday that it’s partnering with drone company Flytrex Inc. The companies expect to begin deliveries in test markets by the end of this year. Uber didn’t say where those markets will be, but Flytrex is already operating in Texas and North Carolina.

It’s the latest partnership in the fast-growing drone delivery space. Flytrex, which is based

in Tel Aviv, Israel, also makes deliveries for Uber Eats’ rival DoorDash. Wing, a drone company owned by Google parent Alphabet, works with DoorDash and Walmart. Zipline, a drone company based in South San Francisco, works with Walmart and Panera Bread, and it also makes deliveries for hospitals. Amazon also making deliveries with its own Prime Air drones.

“Autonomous technology is transforming mobility and delivery faster than ever before,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s president of autonomous mobility and delivery, in a company statement. “With Flytrex, we’re entering the next chapter — bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to

the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the rst time.”

“The promise of autonomous vehicles is here, rede ning logistics on the ground and in the air,” said Noam Bardin, executive chairman of Flytrex. “Autonomous drones are the future of food delivery — fast, a ordable, and hands-free. Flytrex has already delivered over 200,000 meals to suburban households in the past three years. Partnering with Uber — pioneers of ground-based mobility — brings together proven logistics expertise with aerial innovation. Together, we’re building the infrastructure for a future where autonomous systems seamlessly move goods through our communities, making faster, safer, and more sustain-

“One of the issues plaguing the Atlantic this hurricane season has been insu cient instability,” according to the report by Colorado State University. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. Of those, ve to nine were forecast to become hurricanes, including two to ve major hurricanes, which pack winds of 111 mph or greater. Erin strengthened into this year’s rst Atlantic hurricane in August, reaching Category 5 status as it bypassed land. No

Hurricane Erin, left, continues its slow west-northwest trajectory across the Atlantic Ocean in mid-August, as the National Hurricane Center watched two more clusters of Cape Verde storms o the west coast of Africa, right, that could have develop into tropical storms.

other hurricanes have formed since then.

A typical hurricane season in the Atlantic, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, will yield 14 named storms, of which seven strengthen into hurricanes and three become major hurricanes, according to NOAA.

“The conga line of tropical waves exiting Africa that hits its peak by late August and September — is a little late to the party this season,” wrote hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry in his most recent report.

able delivery the new standard.”

San Francisco-based Uber is making an investment in Flytrex as part of the deal. Financial details of the partnership weren’t shared Thursday.

Flytrex, which was founded in 2013, said it has made more than 200,000 deliveries

across the U.S. Flytrex Executive Chairman Noam Bardin said the partnership combines Uber’s logistics expertise with Flytrex’s aerial innovation. “Autonomous drones are the future of food delivery — fast, a ordable and hands-free,” Bardin said in a statement.

The gunman killed three o cers before police killed him

By Mark Scolforo, Marc Levy and Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press

NORTH CODORUS, Pa. —

The gunman who killed three o cers and wounded two more in southern Pennsylvania before he was killed by police was a 24-year-old being sought on stalking charges, according to court documents and law enforcement.

The violence erupted in rural York County on Wednesday as o cers sought Matthew James Ruth, who was also charged with trespassing, loitering and prowling at night in a domestic-related investigation that began a day earlier, court documents show.

Details on the domestic situation that led police to the farm were expected to emerge Thursday. The two injured o cers remained in stable condition in the hospital.

A few doors down and across the street from Ruth’s home outside Hanover, neighbor Rose Miller said investigators arrived in two waves Wednesday, rst around noon and again at about 5 p.m.

Miller said she didn’t know Ruth well but remembered him selling for fundraisers for the Boy Scouts. She said police removed items in bags from

Suspect in killing of 3 Pennsylvania o cers was 24-year-old being sought on stalking charges Brothers

the house before leaving after midnight. No one answered the door at the Ruth home Thursday.

A law enforcement o cial who con rmed that Ruth was the shooting suspect spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Families of the o cers in York County, and the community at

plead guilty to charges in shooting death of

Wake deputy

One man got a life sentence for shooting Ned Byrd in 2022

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two brothers pleaded guilty on Tuesday to murder-related counts for the shooting death of a North Carolina sheri ’s deputy three years ago when authorities said the ofcer approached a pickup truck late at night in a rural area.

Alder Marin-Sotelo, 28, pleaded guilty to rst-degree murder in Wake County court in the killing of 48-year-old Deputy Ned Byrd, a K-9 o cer. The man’s brother, Arturo Marin-Sotelo, 32, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to rst-degree murder.

Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley sentenced Alder Marin-Sotelo to life in prison without the chance for parole and Arturo Marin-Sotelo to a prison sentence of roughly eight to 10 years.

Both of them had previously been charged with murder and had otherwise been scheduled to go to trial in September 2026. Byrd’s co-workers, family and friends lled the courtroom to see the plea agreements carried out.

“We know that you can tell from the outpouring of love and support from the sheri ’s o ce — all of them who were present here today — that this has been a great loss for our community and for that agency,” Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told the judge.

Freeman said evidence would

have been presented at trial that showed Byrd was traveling the night of Aug, 11, 2022, in his patrol vehicle en route to a law enforcement training center for his dog when he noticed a pickup truck beside a fence on the side of a dark road. Byrd pulled over and moved his vehicle up to the truck.

A recording from his in-car camera showed that Byrd got out of the vehicle, and mere seconds later six gunshots could be heard, followed later by the pickup leaving the scene, Freeman said. An autopsy determined that the o cer was shot four times, three in the back of the head, the prosecutor said in court. The brothers, who were from Mexico, ultimately were located in separate vehicles in western North Carolina days after the shootings.

Legal proceedings had been delayed largely because in April 2023, Alder Marin-Sotelo escaped from a Virginia jail where he was being held after pleading guilty months earlier to a federal charge of rearm possession by someone in the country unlawfully.

The FBI said Alder Marin-Sotelo was taken into custody a few days later in Mexico. He was held there until February 2025, when Mexico agreed to send to the U.S. nearly 30 prisoners requested by the federal government.

First-degree murder can be punished by the death penalty in North Carolina. Freeman said Tuesday that getting Alder Marin-Sotelo back to North Carolina required prosecutors to take capital punishment o the table. Otherwise,

large in the rolling farmland of southern Pennsylvania, were left to grieve and search for answers a day later.

“We need to do better as a society,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon is the answer to resolving disputes.” Wednesday was one of the state’s deadliest days for law enforcement this century,

matching the toll from a day in

2009 when three o cers were ambushed by a domestic violence suspect sporting a bulletproof vest.

As news of the tragedy spread, community members held American ags and saluted as police and emergency vehicles formed a procession to the coroner’s o ce. Police departments across the region mourned their colleagues on social

“We need to do better as a society. We need to help the people who think that picking up a gun, picking up a weapon is the answer to resolving disputes.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro

media, while people left owers at the headquarters of the Northern York Regional Police Department.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi called violence against police “a scourge on our society.”

The confrontation unfolded on a rural road in south-central Pennsylvania, not far from Maryland. Neighbor Dirk Anderson heard “quite a few” shots from his home across the street and wondered what was happening. Then he saw a helicopter and police arrive.

Some 30 police vehicles blocked o roads bordered by a barn, a goat farm and soybean and corn elds. The area, North Codorus Township, sits about 115 miles west of Philadelphia.

Another o cer was killed in York County in February, when a man armed with a pistol and zip ties entered a hospital’s intensive care unit and took sta members hostage before a shootout that left both the man and an o cer dead.

she said, “if there was ever a capital case, this is the type of case that certainly would have been.”

Byrd’s sister, identi ed by Freeman as Mignon Perkins, told the court before sentencing that her brother “was one of the most amazing people you have ever known.” Byrd joined the sheri ’s o ce in 2009.

“You have stolen my happiness. You have stolen my joy,” Perkins told the defendants. “I’m a godly woman, but I will never forgive you for taking my brother from me.”

Through an interpreter, Arturo Marin-Sotelo apologized in court for what had happened and still asked for the sister’s forgiveness because, he said, he could do nothing else. Alder

“You have stolen my happiness. You have stolen my joy.”

Mignon Perkins, Deputy Ned Byrd’s sister

Marin-Sotelo did not speak at the hearing. Freeman said Alder Marin-Sotelo’s cellphone placed him at the crime scene during the shooting. She said evidence backed up Arturo Marin-Sotelo’s statement to police that the brothers had driven to a Wake County eld to hunt for deer. After Tuesday’s hearing, Freeman con rmed Arturo Marin-Sotelo told investi-

gators that he walked through the woods with a ri e while his brother parked the truck. Arturo Marin-Sotelo then said on the phone his brother “made statements that an o cer had been killed” and that the brother traveled to the other side of the eld to pick him up, Freeman said. Freeman said cartridge casings at the crime scene and in the pickup truck were red from the same unknown gun, and that a DNA sample from the younger brother matched a DNA prole collected from Byrd’s police-issued gun. The weapon was in Byrd’s holster when he was found, with the belt twisted around his body. It appeared that Alder Marin-Sotelo had tried to remove Byrd’s gun before giving up, according to Freeman.

Another beachfront stilt house collapses into Outer Banks surf

The 12th home falls to Atlantic Ocean erosion since 2020

The Associated Press

BUXTON — A beachfront stilt home along the Outer Banks in North Carolina has collapsed into the surf, bringing the total number of houses claimed by the Atlantic Ocean to 12 in the past ve years.

The two-story, wood-shingled home at the north end of Hatteras Island collapsed Tuesday afternoon, littering the sand with nail-studded debris. The house was unoccupied, said Mike Barber, a spokesman for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

“Seashore sta are out today, cleaning up the beach to the south of the collapse site,” Barber said in an email Wednesday. He said the homeowner has also hired a contractor to “work primarily near the house collapse site to remove the bulk of the remaining house structure and nearby debris associated with the collapse.”

The previous 11 home collapses since May 2020 were all in the tiny village of Rodanthe, the eastern-most point

CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE VIA AP

A collapsed beach cottage sits in waves on the shore Tuesday in Buxton.

in North Carolina, and made famous by novelist Nicholas Sparks. During the state’s recent brush with Hurricane Erin, many locals were watching two beachfront houses there, but they survived the surf.

The latest house to succumb was less than a mile from the famed Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which was moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999 to save it from erosion. It was one of about three dozen structures — including portions of two hotels — along that beach that were decerti ed for occupancy in late August, when Erin

skirted the coast, said Dare County Planning Director Noah Gillman. “The erosion in Buxton has signi cantly increased in the past couple of years,” Gillman said Wednesday. “And that continued increased erosion, compiled with the e ects of Hurricane Erin, got us to the point we are today.”

Gillman said the decertications were because of damage to the septic system and external stairs. He said it is up to the property owners to decide whether to do the work required to come back into compliance.

What is hospice care?

Hospice care aims to ease pain in patients who are not expected to recover from their condition; life expectancy is 6 months or less and treatment is no longer being pursued.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care aims to ease pain and help with symptoms caused by a chronic or serious illness but is not considered to be life-limiting at this time. This service adds an extra layer of support working in conjunction with an individual’s medical team and life-prolonging medications or treatments.

STANLY SPORTS

Pfei er men’s cross-country takes rst at home invitational

The Falcons made up ve of the top seven runners

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — The Pfei er men’s cross-country team cleaned up last weekend at the Pfei er Invitational 8K race in Misenheimer, grabbing a rst-place team nish with ve runners placing among the leaderboard’s top seven.

The Falcons (17 points) dominated the eight-team eld on Sept. 12, easily besting Mount Olive (64), Winthrop (67), Spar-

tanburg Methodist (112), Livingstone (144), Methodist (156), Winston-Salem State (185) and Johnson C. Smith (214).

Falcons senior Sawyer Helms, who earned USA South Men’s Runner of the Week honors, placed rst out of 91 runners with an overall time of 25:17.8 on the 8,000-meter home course.

“I’m really proud of all the guys,” Helms said. “We nished top four individually. We wanted to meet as a team and we beat some good competition, so it was a good showing to start the year.”

Pfei er runners Jorge Clemente-Garcia (second, 26:07.0),

Gray Stone aims to build on strong start despite Union Academy setback

The loss was the Knights’ rst since Sept. 2

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — The Gray Stone Day School boys’ soccer team su ered its rst loss in more than two weeks Wednesday, falling 5-0 at home to Yadkin Valley Conference leader Union Academy. Despite the loss to the Cardinals (10-2, 3-0 YVC), the Knights (5-3-3, 2-1) have been among the county’s most consistent programs this fall. Gray Stone is 4-1-1 in its past six matches and owns the most wins among Stanly County’s ve boys’ soccer teams.

The Knights are coming o a 2024 season in which they nished 13-7-4, placed second in the YVC behind Union Academy and reached the second round of the state playo s.

So far this year, Gray Stone is the only Stanly team with a winning record overall and in league play. The Knights have also built an unusual statistical pro le: Each of their eight wins and losses has been a shutout.

They have still outscored opponents 35-16 across 11 contests.

Albemarle (4-5, 0-1 YVC) currently ranks second among county teams in wins, followed by

West Stanly (3-7, 1-3 Rocky River), North Stanly (3-7, 0-1 YVC) and South Stanly (2-3, 0-1 YVC). Gray Stone’s o ense has spread the wealth, with six players recording at least four goals:

seniors Auden Pethel and Donovan Christlieb; juniors Walker Bullard, Harrison Banish and Jackson Cotoni; and sophomore Matthew Burleson. Bullard leads the team with seven assists.

Senior goalkeeper Matt Lappin has anchored the net for most of the season, while fellow senior Anthony Varbanov has also seen action in one match.

The Knights have already secured decisive wins in intracounty play, defeating West Stanly 5-0 on Aug. 19 and North Stanly 9-0 on Sept. 15. They will visit Albemarle on Monday before facing South Stanly on Wednesday.

Under coach Brad Harrington, Gray Stone continues to pursue another deep playo run. The program captured its rst state championship in 2023 in the NCHSAA 1A classi cation before moving up to 2A.

The Knights are also aiming to reclaim the YVC crown after Union Academy ended their run of ve straight conference titles last fall. A rematch later this season, scheduled as a seasonnale in Misenheimer on Oct. 22, could determine whether Gray Stone can take another step toward that goal.

“We’re really excited about the rest of the year.”

Sawyer Helms

Bricen Burleson (third, 26:14.2), Cannon Powell (fourth, 26:20.4), Ezequiel Cannas (seventh, 26:47.0), Alim Coleman (10th, 27:16.3) and Kohen Johnson (11th, 27:19.1) made up the other six Falcons within the top 11 scorers.

As a team, the Falcons averaged 26:10 per runner, with a 1:29 spread between their rst and fth runners.

“Coach (Bob Marchinko) talks to us about staying with each other 3½ miles,” said Clemente-Garcia, who was named the USA South Men’s Cross Country Rookie of the Week for his second-place performance.

“Then after that, everybody does what they want to do. Some people go for it and some people can’t nd another gear — it’s hard to nd another gear right after the 3½ miles. But I just felt good in that moment, so I took o and went for it.”

Last season, Pfeiffer put together strong performances on the way to claiming the 2024 USA South Athletic Conference Championship in Rocky Mount, marking the program’s first USA South title and second conference championship. Marchinko was named the USA South Coach of the Year for his coaching efforts throughout the season.

For the Falcons, this new season is heading in the right direction once again.

“It’s really promising going towards conference, where we’re looking to repeat last year of winning the title,” Helms said. “We’re really excited about the rest of the year.”

Up next, Pfeiffer will compete in the NCAA Division III Pre-Nationals at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday morning.

Texas A&M receiver Concepcion stars on eld, embraces speaking publicly while dealing with stutter

The former Wolfpack playmaker now sparks the Aggies

By Kristie Rieken Associated Press

COLLEGE STATION, Texas

— After KC Concepcion scored two touchdowns to help No. 16 Texas A&M to a win over Utah State last weekend, he con dently strode to the podium, warmly greeted the assembled media and ashed a huge smile before answering questions for almost 10 minutes.

It’s a scene the receiver couldn’t have imagined as a kid when a severe stutter led to bullying in school.

Now 20, Concepcion still stutters and admitted that speaking publicly remains challenging for him.

“I’m really still kind of getting comfortable with it,” he told The Associated Press after practice this week.

He recalled how some kids treated him as a child and that the classes meant to help him only made him feel more self-conscious about his stuttering. He was picked on.

“It kind of used to be really, really bad when I was a kid,” he said. “But, you know, just just taking my little speech classes here and there, I really didn’t like going to them because I kind of felt like I was a little weird. ... Just being taught how to try to like speak uently and and not stutter or anything.”

Those times were di cult, but he was helped by his father, Kevin Concepcion. Stuttering is often hereditary, and that is the case with Concepcion, whose father also stutters.

“As a little kid, it’s kind of tough having, having kids pick

on you for your talking,” he said.

“Just just seeing him deal with it also it helped me out, you feel me. And it made me feel like I wasn’t the only one.”

Concepcion abandoned his speech classes in middle school and decided the only way to improve his speech was to practice. That meant not shying away from talking in any situation. The receiver from Charlotte likened it to getting reps on the football eld.

“It’s literally just exactly like football,” he said. “Sometimes you know it it comes from the heart, but sometimes I can just sit down and and go over it and just make

sure that I know what I’m saying in the back of my mind sometimes and that can also help me to where I’m not trying to nd the words and it’s just coming out weird.”

Concepcion is in his rst season at Texas A&M after a transfer from NC State. Despite being one of the newer faces on the team, he’s already made his mark with the Aggies. He had a touchdown reception and returned a punt 80 yards for a score in Texas A&M’s opener before his two-touchdown performance in Week 2.

He’s the rst Texas A&M receiver to score two or more touch-

downs in consecutive games since Ainias Smith did it in 2021.

“He’s got a tremendous work ethic,” coach Mike Elko said. “I really enjoy the way he competes day in and day out, that really showed itself in the o -season as well. So there’s a maturity about him that I really like. He wants to be great and that shows every day, which is a really cool characteristic in a kid. And I think he’s a kid that rises to moments.”

Concepcion said realizing that everyone is dealing with something made him less hard on him-

self when it comes to his stutter.

“Everybody has their own aws, and it’s just about how you embrace those aws and that makes you you,” he said.

And he had a message for kids who are having a tough time or feeling down because they stutter.

“I’ve been stuttering since

I’ve been a little kid,” he said.

“It’s de nitely been a long journey from growing up with the horrible stuttering problem to kind of not growing out of it but, you know, getting better at it. So I would just say: You guys aren’t alone. I stand with you.”

Wesley Hooker

Pfei

er, soccer

Wesley Hooker is a sophomore forward on the Pfei er men’s soccer team.

The Falcons are 5-0 on the season, including shutout wins over Shaw and Randolph last week. Hooker assisted on the game’s only goal

in the 1-0 win over Shaw. He scored one of the team’s two goals against Randolph. For the week, he took 13 of Pfei er’s 31 shots, including six of the team’s 11 shots on goal.

Hooker has contributed to six of the Falcons’ 10 goals this season, scoring four and assisting on two.

Stanly vs. Stanly sports standings

A look at the rivalry games between county teams in volleyball, soccer and football

Stanly News Journal sta

THIS SCHOOL YEAR, we’ll be tracking the big rivalry games across the country. As any fan will tell you, we can lose every other game, as long as we beat those folks across town. Here’s a look at how Stanly County’s four teams have fared against each other so far this fall.

West Stanly volleyball shut out rival North Stanly 3-0. That wrapped up the Colts’ games against other county teams. West nished unbeaten against cross-county rivals.

North rebounded the next day with a 3-0 sweep of Albemarle. With three games between Stanly County teams left on the schedule, here’s how the area teams are doing in games against each other.

West Stanly 4-0

North Stanly 2-2 South Stanly 1-3 Albemarle 0-2

Next intracounty showdown: Albemarle at South Stanly, Sept. 23

14 former NC State athletes le civil lawsuit alleging abuse by ex-head trainer

By Aaron Beard

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Fourteen former NC State male athletes have led a civil lawsuit in state court alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine, expanding a case that began with a federal lawsuit from a single athlete three years ago.

The lawsuit led Wednesday evening in Wake County Superior Court alleges years of misconduct by Robert Murphy Jr., including improper touching of the genitals during massages and intrusive observation while collecting urine samples during drug testing.

Murphy, who was at NC State from 2012-22, is among the nine defendants named individually. The others are school ocials accused of negligence in their oversight roles in preventing it or adequately responding

to concerns raised to them about Murphy’s conduct. Twelve athletes are “John Doe” plainti s to protect anonymity, while two former men’s

soccer players are named. One is Benjamin Locke, who led the original complaint in August 2022. Two other athletes had followed with their own federal

lawsuits in February and April 2023. The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify those who say they have been sexually assaulted or abused unless the person has spoken publicly, which Locke has done.

Durham-based attorney Kerry Sutton, who has represented plainti s in the previous and new lawsuits, led to dismiss those pending Title IX lawsuits before moving the case to state-level jurisdiction — though now with 11 additional plainti s.

The new lawsuit outlines similar allegations in terms of Murphy’s conduct and the school’s response, including that concerns about Murphy’s conduct reached former athletic director Debbie Yow and other senior athletics o cials but nothing substantive was done to prevent misconduct or Murphy continuing to work with athletes.

“These 14 athletes have come forward together hoping to encourage others abused by Rob

North Stanly got a 4-3 win over South Stanly to take its rst county win of the season. Things are just getting started on the pitch with six more Stanly vs. Stanly games to go. Here are the rivalry game soccer standings

Albemarle 1-0

North Stanly 1-0

West Stanly 0-0

South Stanly 0-2

Next intracounty showdown: North Stanly at Albemarle, Sept. 24

In football, West Stanly opened the season with its three rivals and now faces an out-of- county foe for the rst time. With three showdowns to go, here are the rivalry game football standings.

North Stanly 1-0

South Stanly 1-0

West Stanly 1-2 Albemarle 0-1

Next intra-\county showdown: Albemarle at North Stanly, Oct. 3

Overall Stanly-on-Stanly standings: volleyball, soccer and football

West Stanly 5-2 North Stanly 4-2 South Stanly 2-5 Albemarle 1-3

Murphy to see it wasn’t just them, they did nothing wrong, and NCSU should have protected them,” Sutton said in a statement.

“A culture of fear in the NCSU athletics department led to this tragic set of circumstances. Athletes afraid of losing their scholarship or their spot on the team, trainers afraid of reporting their boss, coaches afraid of getting involved, directors afraid of harming NCSU’s reputation. Murphy took advantage of those fears to get away with abusing what we believe may turn out to be hundreds of former Wolfpack athletes.”

Jared Hammett, a Raleigh-based attorney working with Murphy in the earlier cases, didn’t immediately return messages from the AP requesting comment Thursday. An attorney who previously worked with Murphy said in 2022 that Murphy o ered “appropriate” medical procedures but “nothing that was ever of a sexual nature.”

NC State didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Yow declined to comment, deferring to NC State, in a text message to the AP on Thursday morning.

NOTICES

Let’s Work Together

• Director, Campus Food Services

• Instructor, Cosmetology

•

We are eager to welcome individuals who are dedicated to our mission and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse

NOTICE

has quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of PHILLIPPIE A. JAMES, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000357-830). This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Administrator or his Attorney on or before the 8th day of December 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to his estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Administrator or his attorney. This the 3rd day of September 2025. DAVID S. BRIGGS Administrator ESTATE OF PHILLIPPIE A. JAMES 26425 Scaleybark Albemarle, NC 28001 CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002-0400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: September 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK

25E000469-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having duly quali ed as Executrix of the estate of Larry Edward Mills, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, rms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or his estate, to present the same to the undersigned Executrix, duly itemized and veri ed on or before the 31st day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executrix. This the 25th day of August, 2025.

Drusilla J. Mounkes Executrix of the Estate of Larry Edward Mills 575 N. Williamson Blvd. Apt. 209 Daytona Beach, FL 32114

PUBLISH: August 31, September 7, 14, 21, 2025 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate and Process Agent P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 19SP000064-830 In The Matter Of MARK T. LOWDER, Public Administrator of the Estate of, BETTY TURNER, Deceased, Petitioner, vs. MARY HELEN WRIGHT WILLIAMS; EUNICE WRIGHT KENDALL; BONNIE WRIGHT HINSON; Heirs of James Wright Heirs of Diane Brown Wright; JAMES SWARINGEN Heirs of Bobby Ray Wright: JOWANNA FISHER; AUSTRALIA

W. THREADGILL; Heirs of Clark Oliver Wright, Sr.: MARY TYSON WRIGHT (wife of Clark Oliver Wright, Sr.CLARK WRIGHT, JR.; AARON WRIGHT; EARL O. WRIGHT; LADEBORAH W. BRUTON; BERNICE W. WANCHIA; ANGEL W. JOHNSON; Heirs of MARTHA ELLEN WRIGHT; Heirs of Mae Esther Wright Martin: TORRENCE LOUIE FUNDERBURK; TORRENA FUNDERBURK SMITH; Heirs of Connie Wright Rushing: BOBBY RUSHING, JR.; Heirs of Timothy Boyd Rushing: TIMOTHY RUSHING, JR.; MIRANDA RUSHING; ERNEST B. RUSHING; TRAVIS L. RUSHING; MARY R. STEWART;

& Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on June 30, 2025 Exhibit A Lying and being in Stanly County, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a stake on the North side of Coble Avenue In The City of Albemarle, which stake is S. 4230 W. 261 Feet from the Southwest corner of the Intersection of Williams Street and Coble Avenue, and runs thence N. 47-30 W. 166 Feet to a stake; thence S. 42-30 W. 46 Feet to a stake at the Northwest corner of Lot No. 55; thence with the West line of Lot No. 55 S. 34-15 E. 172.5 feet to a stake In the North edge of Coble Avenue; thence with Coble Avenue N. 42-30 E. 83.5 feet to the beginning, and being all of Lot No. 55 except for a strip of a 4 feet on the East side of said Lot of the D. S. Hathcock Estate Lands as shown in Plat Book 3, Page 152, In the Stanly County Registry. For reference, see Deed recorded In Record Book 1224, Page 412 in the O ce of the Register of Deeds for Stanly County, North Carolina. Subject to easements, restrictions and rights of way of record, and utility lines and rights of way in existence over, under or upon the above-described property. PIN: 653804814377 Property Address: 710 Coble Ave. Albemarle, NC 28001

NOTICE

The City of Locust will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Joel Huneycutt Community Room to hear citizens comments for or against the conditional rezoning request submitted by, Ray Ray’s Chicken Shack, parcel pin# 556504604676, 124 James Ave, Locust NC

NOTICE

The City of Locust will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Joel Huneycutt Community Room to hear citizens comments for or against the conditional rezoning request submitted by, Locust Mower, parcel pin# 557503436358, 202 N Central Ave, Locust NC

NOTICE

The City of Locust will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Joel Huneycutt Community Room to hear citizens comments for or against the conditional rezoning request submitted by, Two Buck Saloon, parcel pin#’s 557503106854 and 557503107828, 805 W Main St, Locust NC

Hurricane Helene hit a year ago; some students never returned to school

More than 2,500 students became homeless after the storm

By Makiya Seminera, Laura Hackett and Jose Sandoval

The Associated Press

SWANNANOA — When 12-year-old Natalie Briggs visited the ruins of her home after Hurricane Helene, she had to tightrope across a wooden beam to reach what was once her bedroom.

Knots of electrical wires were draped inside the skeleton of the house. Months after the storm, light ltered through breaks in the tarps over the windows. “All I could think of was, ‘This isn’t my house,’” said Natalie, who had been staying in her grandparents’ basement.

Thousands of students across western North Carolina lost their homes a year ago when Helene hit with some of the most vicious oods, landslides and wind ever seen in the state’s Appalachian region, once considered a “climate haven.” Across the state, more than 2,500 students were identi ed as homeless as a direct result of Helene, according to state data obtained by The Associated Press.

At school, Natalie sometimes had panic attacks when she thought of her ruined home in Swannanoa.

“There were some points where I just didn’t want people to talk to me about the house — or just, like, talk to me at all,” Natalie said.

While storm debris has been mostly cleared away, the impact of the displacement lingers for the region’s children. Schools reopened long before many students returned to their homes, and their learning and well-being have yet to recover.

The phenomenon is increasingly common as natural disasters disrupt U.S. communities more frequently and with more ferocity.

In the North Carolina mountains, the challenge of recovery is especially acute. After all, many families in rural, low-income areas already deal with challenges such as food insecurity and rent a ordability, said Cassandra Davis, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill public policy professor.

“I would almost argue that they don’t get the opportunity to recover,” Davis said.

Finding stable housing became all-consuming

After Helene ooded her rental home in Black Mountain, Bonnie Christine Goggins-Jones and her two teenage grandchildren had to leave behind nearly all their belongings.

“They lost their bed, clothes, shoes, their book bag,” she said.

The family lived in a motel, a leaky donated camper and another camper before moving into a new apartment in June.

Goggins-Jones, a school bus aide at Asheville City Schools, struggled to heat the camper during winter. Her grandchildren kept going to school, but it wasn’t top of mind.

The area around Asheville, western North Carolina’s largest city, still has a signi cant housing shortage a year after the storm.

The family of America Sanchez Chavez, 11, had to split up

to nd housing. Helene left their trailer home in Swannanoa uninhabitable, and money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn’t enough to cover the renovations.

America and some relatives went to stay at her grandmother’s apartment, while her older brother lived at a friend’s house. Eventually, America moved with her mother to a room at a Black Mountain hotel where she works.

America said she is still frightened by rain or thunder.

“At one point when the rain actually got, like, pretty bad ... I did get scared for a while,” she said.

Helene damaged more than 73,000 homes, knocking out electricity and water for weeks if not months. The destruction of local infrastructure also closed schools for large stretches of time, and a barrage of snow days exacerbated the time out of class even more. In rural Yancey County, which has approximately 18,000 residents, students missed more than two months of school last year.

Displaced students spread across North Carolina

After natural disasters, it’s common to see a surge in students living in unstable, temporary arrangements, such as sleeping on a couch, staying in a

shelter, or doubling up with another family, according to research from UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools. Those arrangements qualify students as homeless under federal law.

In Puerto Rico, more than 6,700 students were identied as homeless in Hurricane Maria’s aftermath during the 2017-18 school year, the study found. Hawaii saw a 59% increase in its homeless student population following the 2023 Maui wild res.

In Helene’s aftermath, student homelessness spiked in several hard-hit counties, according to AP’s analysis of data from the North Carolina Homeless Education Program.

Yancey County saw the region’s highest percentage increase. The number of homeless students went from 21 in the 2023-24 school year to 112 last school year. All but 15 were homeless due to Helene.

Some students enrolled in other school systems, at least temporarily. Others never returned.

Terri Dolan of Swannanoa sent her two young children to stay with her parents in Charlotte ahead of the storm. After seeing the extent of the devastation, Dolan had them enroll in school there. They stayed over a month before returning home.

“My job is to make money for

our family, and their job is to go to school,’” Dolan says she’d always told her kids. “Just because the school wasn’t open here, I felt like they needed to go to school and do their job.”

Some districts receive federal money for services such as transporting homeless students to their usual school buildings and providing tutoring under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. But districts must apply in a competitive process, and they can’t request more money immediately after a natural disaster until the next application cycle. Many miss out on McKinney-Vento funding entirely.

Helene-impacted students made up at least a fth of the homeless population in 16 counties, but only six counties received McKinney-Vento money last funding cycle. Nationally, only 1 in 5 school districts receives McKinney-Vento money due to limited funds, said Barbara Du eld, executive director of Schoolhouse Connection, a nonpro t that advocates for homeless students.

“If there’s a disaster, it’s going to involve districts that don’t get money from McKinney-Vento,” Du eld said.

Housing instability has lasting impact

Gwendolyn Bode, a prelaw

student at Appalachian State University, had to leave her mud-wrecked apartment complex after Helene. Told she couldn’t get campus housing, she found an Airbnb where she could stay at until her FEMA housing application went through, and then she moved into a hotel.

She felt like she was drowning as she tried to keep up with her classes and a part-time job.

“I can’t tell you what I learned,” Bode said. “I can’t even tell you when I went to class because (mentally) I wasn’t there.” She found more stability after moving into an apartment for the spring semester.

For Natalie Briggs, now 13, the grief of losing almost everything, coupled with the tight quarters in her grandparents’ basement, sometimes got to her — and to her mother, Liz Barker. Barker said it felt like a “time with no rules” because there was so much to deal with on top of her job as a health care worker.

The circumstances sometimes led to friction. But Barker said overall, she and Natalie had “done pretty well” together.

“She’s been a little bit more loving since all of this happened,” Barker said, smiling at her daughter.

“I give her hugs and stu ,” Natalie said, “and I’ll tell her I love her, more than I did.”

famous birthdays

this week

Bill Murray hits 75, Stephen King turns 78, Heather Locklear is 64, Serena Williams turns 44

The Associated Press

THE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

SEPT. 21

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 82. Musician Don Felder is 78. Author Stephen King is 78. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is 76. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 75. Filmmaker Ethan Coen is 68. Musician Liam Gallagher (Oasis) is 53.

SEPT. 22

Singer-choreographer-actor Toni Basil is 82. Musician King Sunny Adé is 79. Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael is 76. Rock singer David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) is 74. Singer Nick Cave is 68.

SEPT. 23

Singer Julio Iglesias is 82. Actor/singer Mary Kay Place is 78. Rock star Bruce Springsteen is 76. Director/playwright George C. Wolfe is 71. Actor Rosalind Chao is 68. Actor Jason Alexander is 66. Singer Ani DiFranco is 55.

SEPT. 24

Football Hall of Famer Joe Greene is 79. Actor Gordon Clapp is 77. Actor Harriet Walter is 75. Filmmaker Brad Bird is 68. Actor Kevin Sorbo is 67. Actor-screenwriter Nia Vardalos is 63. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine is 60.

SEPT. 25

Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown is 92. Actor-producer Michael Douglas is 81. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 78. Actor Mark Hamill is 74. Actor Heather Locklear is 64. Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is 60. Actor Will Smith is 57. Actor Catherine Zeta-Jones is 56.

SEPT. 26

Country singer David Frizzell is 84. Television host Anne Robinson is 81. Singer Bryan Ferry is 80. Author Jane Smiley is 76. Singer-guitarist Cesar Rosas

SCOTT A GARFITT / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Bill Murray poses at the premiere of the lm “The Phoenician Scheme” at the 78th international lm festival in 2025. The actor turns 75 on Sunday.

HARRIS / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Tennis champion Serena Williams, pictured at the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley, turns 44 on Friday.

AFROPOP WORLDWIDE |VIA WIKIPEDIA

African musician King Sunny Adé turns 79 on Monday.

(Los Lobos) is 71. Actor Linda Hamilton is 69. Actor Jim Caviezel is 57. Tennis player Serena Williams is 44.

SEPT. 27

Musician Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 82. Actor Liz Torres is 78. Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is 76. Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron is 62.

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow is 53. Musician-actor Carrie Brownstein is 51. Musician Avril Lavigne is 41.

Spinal Tap almost goes to 11 on ‘The End Continues’ soundtrack

Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Elton John and Trisha Yearwood are in on the fun

By Jim Pollock The Associated Press

THE OSTENSIBLY ctitious hard-rock band Spinal Tap has been together, o and on, slightly longer than Katy Perry has been alive, and as of Friday, has released four studio albums and two feature lms. Their latest album, “The End Continues,” continues to do what they’ve always done best: delightfully walk the ne line between clever and stupid. Its release coincides with the sequel lm, “Spinal Tap ll: The End Continues.”

When the mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” and the accompanying debut album were released in 1984, the idea of a band rocking into middle age still felt mildly ridiculous. Lead vocalist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) captured the majestic silliness of perpetual rock ’n’ roll adolescence.

The act has endured

through the decades because the core trio remains ercely committed to the bit. McKean, Guest and Shearer’s lyrics are still ridiculous, but plausibly so, and their musical craft and songwriting skills are legitimate. As Spinal Tap, their earnest belief in the everything-ness of rock ’n’ roll is at times riotously funny but ultimately endearing. With members now in their 70s and 80s, the band no longer goes quite all the way to 11, but the album rewards fans with crisp comedic writing, interesting collaborations with rock royalty, and surprisingly direct confrontation with mortality and the ravages of time. The 13-track release revisits four favorites from the original album with a little help from their rock-legend friends. Elton John o ers vocals on a straightforward remake of “Stonehenge.” As a pioneer of outrageous rock pageantry, John is the right vehicle to take the song right over the top. Paul McCartney ttingly takes the lead on the Beatles-inspired remake of “Cups and Cakes.” His chuckle early in the song is a little gift to fans, harking back to a similar laugh on the Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”

Husband-wife duo Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood o er the album’s biggest surprise with a raucous country reimagining of their 1984 track “Big Bottom.” Yearwood gamely serves as the butt of half a dozen cheekily o ensive couplets. When Brooks calls out, “Talkin’ ’bout mud aps,” Yearwood gleefully responds, “Yeah, I got ’em.” Age and mortality gure prominently in the nine new songs with titles such as “Rockin’ in the Urn.” The Survivor-inspired synth-rock “Let’s Just Rock Again” opens with the line, “Even though we’re old and gray / This feels like starting over.” On “The Devil’s Just Not Getting Old,” the band ri s on aging with the relentless energy they once devoted to goofy sexual innuendo. They muse on Satan’s immortality in a few lyrical lines: “He’s not starting to lose his teeth / He’s not starting to eat less beef,” goes one. “He’s not complaining of shooting pains / He’s not having varicose veins,” is another. Though “The End Continues” lacks some of the raunchy charms of their original release, it will bring joy to many who have laughed and grown older together with the band.

“The End Continues” by Spinal Tap coincides with the release of Christopher Guest’s mockumentary “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”

New Dick Van Dyke documentary shares untold stories

The lm will be in theaters this weekend ahead of the actor’s 100th birthday this December

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

MOVIE THEATERS across the country are pulling out the stops for Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday in December. A new documentary about the song and dance man’s life, “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration,” will be in theaters over his birthday weekend on Dec. 13-14.

“It’s wonderful; a total surprise for me,” Van Dyke said in a statement the lmmakers provided to The Associated Press. “If you don’t think luck has a lot to do with it, then you’re mistaken.”

The feature length lm has been in the works for over three decades. In telling the story of Van Dyke’s 80-plus years in entertainment, the lm weaves together clips from classic lms, like “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” and television shows, including “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Diagnosis: Murder,” as well as new interviews with Van Dyke in which he shares never-before-heard stories from his time in Hollywood.

The portrait is bookended with a trip to his hometown of Danville, Illinois, where he visits his childhood home, the radio station where he started his career as a DJ at age 16 and his old high school where he took the stage once more to join in with the students performing songs from

some of his most beloved lms.

“He couldn’t help himself,”

lmmaker Steve Boettcher said.

“He got out of the seat and went up on stage and sang and danced with them. It’s really a sweet coming home. Danville built him in so many ways.”

Over the past 30 years, Boettcher also spoke many of his closest Hollywood friends and collaborators, including Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Etty White, Tim Conway and Chita Rivera, all of whom have since died.

“We just wanted people who were there at the scene, on set with him and working with him,” Boettcher said.

The lmmakers didn’t plan on waiting for Van Dyke’s 100th birthday to release the lm, but when the landmark moment started coming into focus it seemed tting for a rollout.

“Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” will have its premiere in early December at Danville’s Fischer Theatre, where Van Dyke fell in love with the movies and the idea of being an entertainer watching Laurel and Hardy on the big screen on Saturdays.

“We’re really excited about the lm,” Boettcher said. “It’s very much in the style of Dick Van Dyke. It’s got laughter and music and touching moments. It’s pure entertainment, much like Mr. Van Dyke.”

this week in history

Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” published, Lewis and Clark expedition returns, Warren Commission released

The Associated Press

SEPT. 21

1922: President Warren Harding signed the Lodge -Fish Resolution, a Congressional resolution endorsing the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.

1937: “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was rst published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London.

1981: The Senate unanimously con rmed Sandra Day O’Connor as the rst female justice on the Supreme Court.

1989: Hurricane Hugo crashed into South Carolina; the storm was blamed for 56 deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the United States.

SEPT. 22

1776: During the Revolutionary War, Capt. Nathan Hale, 21, was hanged as a spy by the British in New York.

1862: President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, stating enslaved people in Confederate states would be freed as of Jan. 1, 1863, if the states did not rejoin the Union.

1975: Sara Jane Moore red two shots in a failed attempt to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford outside a San Francisco hotel.

SEPT. 23

1806: The Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis, more than two years after setting out for the Paci c Northwest.

1952: Sen. Richard M. Nixon (R-Calif.) salvaged his vice presidential nomination with a televised “Checkers” speech, denying fundraising allegations and referencing his family’s cocker spaniel.

On Sept. 27, 1940, Axis leaders signed the Tripartite Pact, with Saburō Kurusu, Galeazzo Ciano, Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop present.

1955: A jury in Sumner, Mississippi, acquitted two white men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, of killing Black teenager Emmett Till.

SEPT. 24

1869: Thousands were ruined in a Wall Street panic known as “Black Friday” after Jay Gould and James Fisk tried to corner the gold market.

1906: President Theodore Roosevelt established Devil’s Tower in Wyoming as the rst U.S. national monument.

1957: The Los Angeles-bound Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0.

SEPT. 25

1513: Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the rst European to sight the Paci c Ocean from the New World.

1789: The rst U.S. Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for rati cation.

1956: The rst trans-Atlantic telephone cable ocially went into service with a three-way ceremonial call between New York, Ottawa and London.

SEPT. 26

1777: British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution.

1986: William H. Rehnquist was sworn in as the 16th chief justice of the United States, while Antonin Scalia joined the Supreme Court as its 103rd member.

2024: Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, hit Florida’s Big Bend and tore through the Southeast, unleashing historic ooding in western North Carolina and Tennessee that caused $78 billion in damage and 219 deaths.

SEPT. 27

1779: John Adams was named by Congress to negotiate the Revolutionary War’s peace terms with Britain.

1939: Warsaw, Poland, surrendered after weeks of resistance to invading forces from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II.

1940: Germany, Italy and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, formally allying the World War II Axis powers.

1964: The government publicly released the report of the Warren Commission, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy.