Chatham News & Record Vol. 149, Issue 7

the BRIEF this week

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 20222023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

Siler City approves new panhandling ordinance

Violations of the ordinance can range all the way up to a Class 2 misdemeanor

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

SILER CITY — The Town of Siler City has passed a new ordinance to try and address pan-

The development will have 60 lots across nearly 124 acres

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Com-

handling within its corporate limits.

At the Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners April 6 meeting, the board approved a new ordinance for the town to establish regulations for panhandling, begging and solicitation in certain locations to protect public safety, pedestrian access and tra c ow.

“This has been about a year in the making,” said Chief of Police Brian Regan. “We did a lot of research into this to make sure we didn’t violate anyone’s rst amendment right of free speech.” According to Regan, the Siler City Police Department has received nearly 150 calls over the last 12 months related to tres-

passing associated with some form of solicitation or begging.

“We have seen an increase in the last couple of years of solicitation in public access places and roadways and so forth, which has always been a concern,” Regan said. “The main focus of this is the public safety piece. It’s the public safety of the person soliciting and also the person that’s being solicited. We want to make sure that was the main message behind this.”

The ordinance most directly addresses what is de ned as “aggressive solicitation,” which encompasses threatening or intimidating language or actions.

mind, the applicant has self-imposed a 50-foot bu er beyond the 100-year oodplain or the 100-foot riparian bu er, whichever is wider.”

The lots will utilize individual septic systems for wastewater and TriRiver for their water needs.

“We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.” Markwayne

Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary

missioners met March 24 for its regular business meeting.

The board approved a rst plat review for a subdivision, Bramblewood, consisting of approximately 124 acres of property located o U.S. Highway 64 West.

The plat calls for 60 lots of single-family homes, with an

The new DHS secretary removes red tape and pledges faster aid to North Carolina

By Rebecca Santana and Gabriela Aoun Angueira

The Associated Press

CHIMNEY ROCK — Homeland Security Secretary

Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday

toured North Carolina areas

devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, revealing plans to prioritize relief to disaster-impacted communities on his rst o cial trip since replac-

average lot size of 1.6 acres and lots ranging between 0.9 acres and 9.0 acres.

“The lots on the oodplain are by far the biggest lots in the subdivision, and that was consciously and intentionally done,” said attorney Nicolas Robinson, who was representing the applicant. “The other thing to keep in

ing Kristi Noem, whose leadership cast uncertainty over federal disaster response.

While the trip focused on emergency management, Mullin also weighed in on immigration enforcement, a centerpiece policy of the Trump administration, which his department also oversees. He suggested he might halt customs processing at airports serving cities whose local governments resist the administration’s immigration policies, a move that would align with his predecessor’s hardline approach.

While some nearby property owners raised concerns on the development and potential stormwater, ooding and runo issues, the board’s hands were pretty much tied on the decision.

THURSDAY 4.9.26

Bannon wins Supreme Court order likely to lead to dismissal of contempt of Congress conviction

He already served four months in prison for the contempt charge

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, on Monday won a Supreme Court order that is expected to lead to the dismissal of his criminal conviction for refusing to testify to Congress.

Prodded by the Trump administration, the justices threw out an appellate ruling upholding Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by a mob of Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

The move frees a trial judge

to act on the Republican administration’s pending request to dismiss Bannon’s conviction and indictment “in the interests of justice.”

The dismissal would be largely symbolic. Bannon served a four-month prison term after a jury convicted him of contempt of Congress in 2022. A federal appeals court in Washington had upheld the conviction.

The justices also issued a similar order in the case of former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who was pardoned by Trump last year.

Sittenfeld had served 16 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him of bribery and attempted extortion in 2022. The high court order allows a lower court to consider dismissing his indictment.

The Justice Department brought the case against Ban-

non during Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency, but it changed course after Trump took o ce again last year.

Bannon had initially argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege. But the House panel and the Justice Department contended such a claim was dubious because Trump had red Bannon from the White House in 2017 and Bannon was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with the then-president in the run-up to the Capitol riot.

Bannon separately has pleaded guilty in a New York state court to defrauding donors to a private e ort to build a wall on the U.S. southern border, as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail time. That conviction is unaffected by the Supreme Court action.

Steve Bannon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on March 27.

CRIME LOG

March 30

• Tony Ronald McIntosh, 63, was arrested for felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Adrian Lamont Turner, 41, was arrested for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

March 31

• Aaron Scott Chrisco, 34, was arrested for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and two counts of carrying a concealed gun.

• Harry Christian Kai Rattelman, 30, was arrested for communicating threats.

April 1

• Carlos Manuel Tula Pena, 23, was arrested for assault on a female and second-degree trespass.

April 2

• Zhari Zhane Goins, 31, was arrested for misdemeanor child abuse, reckless driving to endanger, driving or allowing a motor vehicle with no registration, operating a vehicle with no insurance, aggravated level 1 driving while impaired, driving while license revoked (nonimpaired revocation), failure to wear a seat belt (driver), failure to secure a passenger under 16 and child not in rear seat.

• Kelly Gene Headen, 40, was arrested for violation of parole.

• Kaleb Clay Dixon, 23, was arrested for carrying a concealed gun and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Pedro Mendoza Mendez, 22, was arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny.

April 3

• Adom Scott Silberman, 35, was arrested for driving while impaired and reckless driving with wanton disregard.

April 4

• Mathivanan Pothiyappan, 49, was arrested for assault on a female, communicating threats and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

April 5

• Stephanie Cotton Rogers, 71, was arrested for simple assault and crime of domestic violence.

ORDINANCE from page A1

Those actions can result in a Class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and/or a $1,000 ne. The ordinance also establishes reasonable time, place and manner regulations for soliciting, which attempt to prevent the impeding of streets, sidewalks, businesses and oth-

Central

er public spaces, with violations only going up to Class 3 misdemeanor.

“Some are generally seeking assistance, and we don’t want to stop anyone that wants to help someone in that case, but at the same time, we want to ensure the safety of everybody,” Regan said. According to Regan, the department will start out by educating the public by notify-

ing them of the new ordinance and utilizing a 30-day period where only warnings will be issued.

“The information aspect, the education piece is important,” Regan said. “In my opinion, we shouldn’t implement something and go straight into the enforcement aspect.”

The Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners will next meet May 4.

Electric providing grants to local educators to fund innovative projects

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom?

Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2026-27 school year. Educators in K-12 classrooms with creative ideas for learning projects are encouraged to apply for a grant up to $2,000.

Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 15. However, it pays to apply early.

CHATHAM happening

April

All teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be entered into a drawing for one of ve $100 Visa gi cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more information or to apply!

April 11

Pittsboro

VFW Steak & Bon re Night 5 p.m.

The local VFW post hosts an evening fundraiser featuring a steak dinner with sides, a bon re, and cigars; BYOB. Joe Wagner VFW Post 7313 Pittsboro

April 13

Chatham County Partnership for Children: State of the Child

8:30 a.m.

The Chatham County Partnership for Children hosts its annual breakfast gathering where community members connect, review progress on the Early Childhood Action Plan, and plan next steps to support young children and families. Free; registration was required by April 4.

Chatham Community Library, Holmes Family Meeting Room 197 N.C. Highway 87 Pittsboro

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon

yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August. Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel.

It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called

out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

Church News

OAKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

As Oakley Baptist Church (2300 Siler City-Glendon Road, Siler City) seeks to begin its next chapter, we are enjoying hearing a word from the Lord from various old and new friends. Our service begins at 10:30 a.m., but we also have Sunday School classes for every member of the family at 9:30 a.m. We would be blessed if you joined us for any and all of these speakers in the coming weeks.

April 12 – Jason Golden

April 19 – Gary McCollough

April 26 – Spencer Andrews

We look forward to meeting you at any of these services and in the future, and invite you to pray with us as we seek a new pastor. To learn more, go to oakleybaptist. org or email us at oakleybaptistchurch@gmail.com.

Horton High School Alumni Association 2026 Scholarship Application

Applications are being accepted for Horton High School Alumni Association 2026-2027 Scholarship

Descendent of Horton High School alumnus or attendee of Horton High School may apply.

• Apply on website: www.hortonhighalumni.com

• CLICK: “Scholarship”

Deadline for application: June 1, 2026

SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH, 2026 CONTACT - JIM SIZEMORE 919-545-5006

DEMONIC SPIRITS TAKING OVER!

Bible Study: Matthew 7:12-29 Church of Living Water; Preacher: James Mitchell.

To all our brothers and sisters, be steadfast in faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We must hold on and not allow evil doers to move us away from our faith in the Cross of Christ. We must continue sharing God’s Word! God’s Word tells us there are many false teachers. After that other woke Pope, I had hoped my Catholic brothers and sisters would have a truly God-called leader. Pope Leo doesn’t stand with Israel or America. Also, stop calling the Pope “holy father.” If you’re truly a born-again Christian, our Holy Father is Almighty God! Matthew 23:9. God has anointed President Trump and Israel to stop Hamas from killing our Jewish citizens. Now President Trump and Israel are united in destroying the evil empire in Iran. Look at what our military, with Israel’s help, has accomplished in 4 weeks. America, stop complaining about our troops on the ground and rising fuel prices. You fake/lying news media that support illegal criminals over American citizens, shame on you! Democrats, your minds have been taken over by evil spirits. Those who vote for these evil doers have also been taken over by demonic spirits. NATO and European countries, you’re no friends of America or Israel. Radical Muslims are taking over your countries! Obama, Biden, Democrats, and the fake lying news media did has opened the minds of American citizens! Praise God for President Trump, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and all our soldiers who are removing evil. I pray for all the families who have

THE CONVERSATION

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

VISUAL VOICES

Heaven, here and now

No path smells exactly the same twice. It’s like a river, always changing.

THIS IS RAMONA, lling in for Andrew, who worked hard all last week. Something about it being Holy Week. I spent the afternoons in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and birdsong. You tell me who worshipped! But last week was not all naps and chew toys. Andrew told me that his friend had lost his dog. No one consulted me before the little ceremony, but I’d have wanted to sni out the best spot. It would probably be a corner of the old boy’s yard that gets the morning sun and afternoon shade, a resting spot within view of the back gate to see when his loved ones return. Humans sometimes talk about heaven, and I understand that all dogs go there. Others say that cats have nine lives. I only know that I love life in this world. Truthfully, I doubt a celestial realm of

light in the air would top the scents, sounds and sights on the earth.

On our walks, Andrew’s mind is often elsewhere, maybe back at the church. I try to bring him back to the moment by yanking on the leash toward a rascal squirrel. I’m not sni ng for a perfect spot in the grass to do my business; I’m taking in the free gifts that are as close as my snout.

Here’s an idea for you to sni : Maybe heaven is here and now. Perhaps heaven is a playful romp in the grass, followed by a satisfying scratch behind the ears. Heaven could be in a bowl of cool water. Heaven could be family movie night when the kids let you snuggle on the couch. Whether we’re human or canine, we can realize heaven in every patch of clover or soft rug we roll around and rest upon.

You might say I’m a lucky dog and that not everyone has it so easy. Fair enough. However, I think we are at our best when we rub up against what we love, rather than what raises our hackles.

As I understand it, Jesus was raised into this world, and shortly after he came back, he met his friends for a cooked breakfast on the beach. That will preach! I say there’s nothing more holy than the sun on my full belly after breakfast.

Love, Ramona

Ramona’s owner’s latest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, co ee drinker and student of joy.

It’s still her birthday — no matter how long ago

She was good at “sticking her nose in my business.”

MY MAMA WOULD be 108 years old if she were still with me.

Her birthday was this week — Monday, April 6 — to be exact but she wasn’t around to celebrate it with us.

I thought about her, partly because I do that fairly often and partly because my older brother often mentions her to me. Some years ago, when he was still on earth, Paul “Bear” Bryant, the late, great University of Alabama football coach, starred in a television commercial for some phone company — AT&T, I think — in which he said at the end of the spot, “Pick up the phone. Call your mama.” My brother was fond of reminding me of that when we could do it.

I did that fairly often in the years after I left home, even and especially after she spent the last ve years of her life in a care facility.

Brother often talked about her kitchen skills, and we wondered if any of her recipes were oating around our place. There are a few here and there; his grown daughter has a number of them; and still others are with me, mainly around my waist, where mama put them years ago.

Mama could cook. She had to be able to in an e ort to feed three bottomless-pit sons and a hard-working husband, as well as herself, as well as the crowd of relatives who dropped by often, as well as the

neighbors who came over, as well as the friends we boys brought home from high school and college, as well as the families she fed when their luck got down or there was a death in their family.

That, of course, was not all she did. She was good at “sticking her nose in my business,” which was how I looked at it when I was 16 and 23 and even 30 -plus. It wasn’t until I had some birthdays and my own experiences at parenthood that I realized the truth of her words I often heard in such times — “nobody has your welfare at heart any more than me.”

That never stopped.

She was good at doing the “mama” things, which was the word I called her until her rst-born grandchild declared that she was “Ma” and we all fell in line. There was never a doubt we (my brothers and I) were high on her priority list.

She cooked (I mentioned that, didn’t I?)

She washed my nasty clothes.

She ironed my shirts.

She kept the house going, when it was clean and when it needed cleaning.

She made me pick up rocks as she tilled the garden.

She made me do my homework and go to church and learn some manners and respect for folks, regardless of the color of their skin or their station in life. “Sir” and “ma’am” weren’t optional.

She left a big imprint on my life; I miss her.

Sometimes in my quieter moments, I wonder what she would think today … and of today. Days when folks across the board aren’t all that “nice.” About her brood of grand- and great-grandchildren. About how her sons turned out. About this and about that …

Funny thing, she — who was so sharp, who became a licensed nurse after her brood became somewhat self-su cient and independent, who always wanted to “paddle her own canoe” — became a bit confused in the last few months of her life. She began to tell us she was born in a di erent year from when she was. And the last time I spoke with her, she told me from her nursing home bed that “if you see Bob, tell him to come see me.”

I assured her that “if I see that sorry rascal, I’ll tell him.”

Today isn’t “Mother’s Day” on the calendar, but if you’ve still got yours, it is. Tell her so, even if you don’t think she’s all that great.

Without her, you wouldn’t be here. How would you like that?

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

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

From reactivity to chocolate chip cookies

You’d think all my years of adulting, therapy and reading spiritually profound books would have completely stayed my reactivity.

YOURS TRULY (that would be me) is very emotionally reactive. Sad to say, my automatic reactions, when triggered, tend toward decimating bridges rather than laying them across chasms of di erences. Not terribly nifty for a self- declared bridge-builder, is it?

Blessed with such emotional reactivity, you can imagine how I react when triggered by con ict, di erences of opinion and opposing beliefs of others. It’s not pretty.

C’mon, where the heck did my automatic reactions to torch bridges, in times of stress, originate? Me! My little ol’ brain, that is. My little ol’ human brain, and to be honest, yours too. Our universal penchant for Grrrr(!) is derived from prehistoric reactivity and our desire to keep predators at bay. None of us gets a pass.

You’d think all my years of adulting, therapy and reading spiritually profound books would have completely stayed my reactivity. Sigh. This human is who she is. A work in progress for the rest of my lifetime. (You plan on joining me?)

So hard on myself! I truly need a little diet Dr Pepper and some intensely avorful dark chocolate to help my size 91⁄2 feet nd the ground. It seems my lifelong desire for doing con ict transformation work is

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

not my bag, after all. We can dream, right?

I did dream, and the universe wasn’t having it. Ah, but the universe sent me through a totally unexpected doorway. Totally. A path that didn’t entail reactivity to putative predators in my life. Such a relief, I cannot tell you.

You ready? Well, I’m not sure I am. It’s a bit embarrassing to share a path that seems so innocuous. But, hey, I’m pulling on my big girl pants and plan to share anyway.

Here ’tis. The big reveal …

Sharing “thanks” and “thank-you’s,” for just about anything, with all you humans on my daily path. That’s it! No, no, please don’t write this (or me) o . Small acts, like sharing thanks, can have enormous ripple e ects.

From those ne social scientist folks at the University of Texas:

“When in doubt, make the phone call, o er up the last chocolate chip cookie or let the stressed- out person cut in line. It means a lot more than you think.”

So there. My reactivity conundrum led me, instead, to becoming an ongoing scatterer of thank you confetti. Thanks, universe …

Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE deploys Marco Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar

MICHEL EULER / AP PHOTO

Marco Rubio met with other G7 Foreign Ministers near Paris at the end of March.

Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion. But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.” (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

COLUMN | BEN

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o - court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career- ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls. By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary — he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked. It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated. Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

obituaries

IN MEMORY

DONALD WAYNE “HODGE” HODGES

MAY 8, 1962 – MARCH 31, 2026

Donald Wayne “Hodge” Hodges, 63, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2026 at FirstHealth Moore Regional. Services will be held at a later date.

Donald was born in on May 8, 1962. He was a truck driver for Caviness Farms. He enjoyed NASCAR, playing golf and anything outdoors. He loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Donald was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

He is survived by his children, Daniel Hodges (Ti any), of Carthage and Lyndon Hodges, of Eastwood; grandchildren, Dawson Hodges and Gracelynn Hodges; brother Mike Hodges (Cathy), of Asheboro and a host of family and friends.

WALTER LEWIS (BUSTER) SCOTT

APRIL 2, 2026

Walter Lewis (Buster) Scott, age 97, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026 at Rock Hill Friends Church, where he was a member, with Pastor David Roudabush o ciating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

In addition to his parents, Claude and Ella Moore Scott, he was preceded in death by his infant grandson, Austin Tanner Scott; his daughter-in-law, Cindy Scott and sisters, Kathleen Abdo, Betsy Hussey, Geneva Dunlap and Juanita Maness.

He is survived by the love of his life for 72 years, Betty “Muriel” Scott, of the home; daughter, Gayle Maness (Garry); sons, Brantley Scott and Bradley Scott (Tina); sister, Judy Burns; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Margaret and Neda for their kind and compassionate care.

RENA LEE PURVIS KISER

FEB. 13, 1940 – APRIL 6, 2026

Rena Lee Purvis Kiser, 86, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family.

The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Fall Creek Baptist Church with Dr. John Williamson, Pastor Edwin Moore, Sammy Brewer and Kristy Staley presiding.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Following the interment, the family will return to the fellowship hall. At other times, the family will be at the home of Walter and Kristy Staley.

Rena Lee was born on February 13, 1940, to James Wiley Purvis and Maggie Myrtle Brewer Purvis. She was a lifelong member of Fall Creek Baptist Church. She owned and operated Kiser’s Florist & Gifts for over 50 years. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, cooking, making wedding cakes and Christmas candy. She adored her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kiser.

Rena Lee is survived by her children, Kirsty Staley (Walter), of Bennett and Rhonda Frye (Terry), of Robbins; grandchildren, Jamie, Jana, Josh and Haley; greatgrandchildren, Caleb, Maggie, Dalton, Lacey, Sadie, Mason and Carson; special cousin, Nancy Needham; her “boys”, Delmar and Je Gatlin and a host of family and friends.

Dr. Jimmy Horton

May 28, 1944 – April 1, 2026

James Horton, (Uncle Jimmy), was born in Alamance County May 28, 1944 and was selected to go home on April 1, 2026.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel Marie (Newby) Horton, of Siler City, NC; son, Chris Horton and (Keith Olson), of Portsmouth, VA; daughter, Angela She eld (Horton) and (Gary), of Siler City; brother, Jackie Horton and (Sedalia), of Greensboro, NC; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, plus great nieces and nephews.

We offer an on-site crematory with many options of Celebration of Life services, Traditional, and Green Burials. Call us to set an appointment to come by and learn more.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alma (Crutch eld) Horton; six brothers, June, Bill, Grady, Bobby, Fred, Tyree and two sisters, Ruth Price (Horton) and Mary Joyce Headen (Horton).

James was a proud, retired US Air Force Master Seargent, serving from 1964 to 1984, as a Jet Engine Mechanic. He and his family lived in several states; Hampton, Virginia, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. They lived overseas in The Philippines. After 20 years of honorable service, he returned to his hometown of Siler City.

Mr. Horton was a member Of Wesley Chapel Christian

Fellowship Church for over 35 years. He worked until his retirement from Townsend Chicken Plant and then decided to drive a school bus for Sage Academy for several years. Mr. Horton was a dedicated man to any endeavor he encountered. He was a devoted husband, father and loving father and faithful friend to many. A visitation will be held 6-8:00PM, Friday, April 10, 2026 at Smith and Buckner Funeral Home at 230 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344. A Going Home Service will be held 11:00AM, Saturday April 11, 2026 at Wesley Chapel Christian Fellowship Church - 11449 Hwy 64, Siler City, NC 27344. Burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery.

Dr. James Moore will o ciate the service. Smith and Buckner is honored to serve the family of Mr. James Edward Horton.

Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dead

The former basketball player negotiated talks between rival Koreas

By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea, including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died, the IOC announced Wednesday. He was 87.

The IOC said on its website that it had learned with “extreme sadness” of Chang’s death on Sunday. It said the Olympic ag will be own at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IOC statement didn’t describe the cause of Chang’s death. North Korea’s state media has not reported on his death.

Born in 1938, Chang was originally a basketball player who captained the North Korean national team. After retiring from the sport, he became an athletics administrator, serving as a vice sports minister, a vice chairman of North Korea’s national Olympic Committee and a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.

In 1996, Chang was elected to the IOC. As North Korea’s only-ever IOC member, he represented his country on international sports elds and headed numerous — if often rocky — talks with South Korea to promote sports exchange and cooperation programs between the rivals.

The most notable results of this diplomacy came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when athletes of the two Koreas marched together under a “uni cation ag” depicting their peninsula during

the opening and closing ceremonies, the rst joint parade since their division in 1945. Athletes of the Koreas walked together at following Olympic Games and major international sports events, including the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea. After watching a joint march in Pyeongchang’s opening ceremony, Chang told reporters that he was deeply moved.

Chang played a key role in earlier reconciliation talks with South Korea, which led to the two countries sending their rst uni ed male and female teams to the 1991 world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan.

In Pyeongchang, the two Koreas elded their rst combined Olympic team for women’s ice hockey.

In a 2004 interview with South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Chang said that organizing the 2000 joint march was “really a tough” job. He also said he strongly sup-

ported Pyeongchang’s earlier, failed bid to host the Winter Olympics.

South Korean Uni cation Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences over Chang’s death. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Chung, a staunch advocate of rapprochement with North Korea, recalled his 2007 meeting with Chang on taekwondo exchange programs and said he honors Chang’s “noble dedication to (Korean) unity and peace.”

Sports ties between North and South Korea have su ered as political relations frayed.

There have been no sports or other exchange programs between the countries for years. North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the U.S. since its leader Kim Jong Un’s broader nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim also branded South Korea as a permanent enemy and rejected the idea of future uni cation.

The IOC said Chang’s contributions helped advance sports participation, cultural exchanges and the role of sport in society.

“His e orts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.

The IOC said Chang served on several commissions, including Sport for All and the International Olympic Truce Foundation.

North Korea’s o cial news agency, KCNA, last mentioned Chang in 2023, when he was awarded the Olympic Order, an award given to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Olympics, during an IOC session in Mumbai, India. Chang, then an honorary IOC member, joined the ceremony by video.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamnewsrecord.com

MULLIN from page A1

At his con rmation hearing last month, Mullin tried to project a softer tone on immigration enforcement, after a backlash over high-pro le operations and the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal ocers. Mullin also signaled a different approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following criticism of Noem’s policies.

At a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Mullin said FEMA was focused on catching up on past disaster work and clearing a backlog of needs that stacked up during his predecessor’s tenure ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

“Disasters are happening constantly,” Mullin said, adding that he would brief President Donald Trump Tuesday on the 22 still pending major disaster declaration requests from states and tribes across the U.S. “We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Mullin also said he “may have identi ed” a candidate for permanent administrator of FEMA, which is on its third temporary leader since Trump took o ce, but declined to name them.

Asked if eliminating FEMA — which Trump has threatened to do — was still on the table, Mullin said “reforming FEMA would be a better term.”

Mullin’s visit comes less than a week after he ended Noem’s directive that all DHS expenditures over $100,000 be personally approved by the secretary’s o ce, a rule that critics said bottlenecked FEMA reimbursements and compromised

CBP o cers check all incoming travelers into the country as well as the billions of dollars of trade that enters through land crossings and airports.

The Trump administration has already threatened to withdraw funding to Democratic cities and states that it says do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Few disaster-hit areas experienced the impacts of FEMA’s recent tumult as acutely as North Carolina, where about $1.6 billion in FEMA public assistance dollars has been obligated so far and where roughly 2,000 projects are still in some stage of FEMA approval, according to a letter North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent Mullin after his swearing in.

disaster response and recovery.

While Mullin has already made strides on disaster response, he has yet to set forth a clear vision for immigration enforcement, although he is expected to align with the president’s vision. That was apparent in his comments about removing Customs and Border Protection o cers from airports in socalled “sanctuary cities.”

“If they’re not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city?” Mullin said, adding that the idea was still under consideration. He suggested he would raise the idea in his briefing to Trump.

Mullin gave no further details. But withdrawing CBP ocers from airports could disrupt international travel and trade.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis excoriated Noem for delays in reimbursements to his state just days before her ring, telling her at a Senate hearing she had “failed” at FEMA.

Mullin said at the roundtable that Trump had told him he wanted North Carolina to be his rst stop and had told Mullin “he wanted North Carolina to love him.”

North Carolina carries outsize political signi cance this year. Tillis, one of the state’s Republican senators, is retiring, raising Democratic hopes of a pickup this fall. The race is sure to attract hundreds of millions in campaign spending and pits Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s former governor, against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Helene, a 350-mile-wide hurricane, ravaged multiple south-

eastern states in September 2024.

The storm caused 108 deaths in North Carolina and $60 billion in damages. It destroyed homes, businesses and utility infrastructure. Entire communities were cut o , prompting helicopter rescues after roads and bridges washed away.

Hurricane damage is still visible, with cars and remnants of homes washed up on banks, remains of knocked-out bridges and piles of thick trees and branches that rushed down the river when it swelled to a torrent of water.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing some of the impacted areas who lost one of his own businesses in the storm, said Tuesday he also grew frustrated with what he called FEMA’s “bureaucracy” and the di culties local communities faced in receiving payments.

“Still plenty of bureaucracy there,” said Edwards, who praised Mullin’s removal of the $100,000 rule.

FEMA’s presence in North Carolina had a tense start as distrust grew among some impacted residents, fueled in part by then-candidate Trump’s own misinformation about the Biden administration and FEMA’s response in the swing state.

Edwards found himself debunking FEMA-related misinformation shortly after the storm, issuing a statement to his constituents that FEMA was not diverting donations to the border or seizing property, among other claims.

After an armed man was arrested in Lake Lure for making threats toward FEMA workers,

the agency temporarily suspended door-to-door home visits in the a ected areas.

Stein, a Democrat, welcomed Mullin’s visit. “It is encouraging that Secretary Mullin is getting down to business,” he told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, FEMA approved $26 million in buyouts of damaged and destroyed North Carolina homes, saying in a statement that Mullin encouraged the agency to “redouble its efforts” to help survivors.

Mullin’s remarks drew a sharp contrast from his predecessor Noem, who repeatedly called for FEMA to be eliminated “as it exists today.” Trump oated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether on a North Carolina visit just days into his second term, calling the agency a “very big disappointment.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states, and a presidentially appointed FEMA Review Council is expected to soon release a report recommending sweeping reforms of how and to what extent the federal government supports disaster-impacted communities.

While most FEMA sta are still being paid during the record-long partial government shutdown, many o ces were ordered to slow or stop work shortly after the shutdown began on Feb. 14.

Meanwhile, the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with about $3.6 billion remaining. The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with over $26 billion.

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Chatham, Guilford and Surrounding Counties

CREDITOR’S NOTICE

Having quali ed on the 26th day of September 2025, as Administrator CTA DBN of the Estate of Henry Roderick Alston, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 10th day of March 2026. Woods Doster, Administrator CTA DBN of the Estate of Henry Roderick Alston 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330

Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330

Publish On: March 19th, 26th April 2nd and 9th 2026.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM

THE UNDERSIGNED, having quali ed on the 30th day of March 2026, as Executor of the ESTATE OF ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN, AKA ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN JR., Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of July 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9th day of April 2026. CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL BEVIN SR., EXECUTOR ESTATE OF ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN c/o Shirley M. Diefenbach, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post O ce Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTE: For publication in The Chatham News on the following dates: April 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026. Please send the Statement and Proof of Publication to Walker Lambe, PLLC, Post O ce Box 51549, Durham, North Carolina 27717-1549. 4933-9682-7549, v. 1

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed on the 26th day of March, 2026, as Co-Executors of the Estate of Evelyn Barrow, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of April, 2026. Peter Barrow and Nancy Serrurier, Co-Executors of the Estate of Evelyn Barrow c/o Gwendolyn C. Brooks, Kennon Craver, PLLC

4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 THE CHATHAM NEWS: 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, and 4/23/2026

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed on the 20th day of March 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Jody Lynn Kulick, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of June 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

On this 26th day of March 2026 George Charles Kulick, Jr Executor of the Estate of Jody Lynn Kulick

Gwendolyn C. Brooks, Esquire Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 and 4/16 The Chatham News

NOTICE TO CREDITORS:

Chatham County, North Carolina

RE: THE ESTATE OF DOMENIC MAROTTA–

26E000068-180

Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DOMENIC MAROTTA deceased, CHATHAM County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 2nd day of APRIL, 2026.

ALFONSO MAROTTA, EXECUTOR DSR Legal, PLLC PO Box 51596 Durham, NC 27717

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against MARIELLE SHINE aka MARIELLE EMILIA SHINE, deceased, of Chatham County, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before, the 19th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This 19th day of March, 2026.

BRENDA SHINE, Executrix ESTATE OF MARIELLE SHINE aka MARIELLE EMILIA SHINE c/o Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130 Chapel Hill, NC 27514

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Peggy Alice Cockman late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 10th day of March, 2026. Kimberly Rose Cockman, Administrator Of the Estate of Peggy Alice Cockman 1034 Stage Coach Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor

of their recovery.

This the 26th day of March, 2026. Ronald P. Collins, Executor Of the Estate of Patricia Collins Perry 117 West Raleigh Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of

Patricia Ann Campbell a/k/a Ann Lindley Campbell a/k/a Anne Lindley Campbell late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 11th day of March, 2026. Casey Anne Campbell Administrator Of the Estate of Patricia Ann Campbell a/k/a Ann Lindley Campbell a/k/a Anne Lindley Campbell 255 Bob Clark Road Snow Camp, North Carolina 27349 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE

ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF CHATHAM

PUBLIC NOTICE HEARING ON INTENT

TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE A PORTION OF NC HWY 902 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing to consider the closing of a portion of NC HWY 902. The public hearing has been scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 6:00 o’clock p.m. at the Superior Court Courtroom, Historic Chatham County Courthouse, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. The hearing is being held pursuant to the provisions of NCGS §153A-241 and the Resolution of Intent to Permanently Close a portion of NC HWY 902 that was approved and adopted by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on February 16, 2026 upon Petition led by Gavin Mekemson, Maura McKeon and Triple A Homes, Inc. (“Petitioner”). This the 16th day of February, 2026. Chatham County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST: Clerk to the Board Chatham County Board of Commissioners

Notice to Creditors

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Anthony Michael Hayes, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are noti ed to present their claims to the below-named Administrator on or before June 26, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 26th day of March, 2026. Marsha L. Henthorn, Administrator c/o Thomas R. Crawford Attorney at Law Crawford Law Firm P.O. Box 300 Sylva, NC 28779-0300

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

26E000075-180

ALL persons having claims against Carol A. Moore, a/k/a Carol P. Moore, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jun 19 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 19th day of March, 2026. Leslie A. Argenta C/O Christopher S. Morden, Limited Personal Representative C/O Monroe, Wallace, Morden & Sherrill, PLLC 3225 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 117 Raleigh, NC 27612 M19, 26, 2 and 9

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

26E000128-180 ALL persons having claims against Linda Kay Betulius, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jun 26 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 26th day of March, 2026. Gregory Gary Duell, Executor C/O Huston Law Firm, PLLC 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 M26, 2, 9 and 16

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000168-180 The undersigned CARLA REIL, having quali ed on the 27TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of BARBARA FARRELL, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 9TH Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.

CARLA REIL, EXECUTOR 1270 MARTHAS CHAPEL ROAD APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: A9,16,23,30p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000181-180 The undersigned HELEN FAYE MARKHAM, having quali ed on the 1ST Day of APRIL 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of PHILLIP LAWRENCE MARKHAM, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 9TH Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.

HELEN FAYE MARKHAM, ADMINISTRATOR 4090 NC HWY.751 APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: A9,16,23,30p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000040-180 The undersigned SARAH ELIZABETH WILSON, having quali ed on the 16TH Day of JANUARY 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of CALVIN MARTIN WILSON deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 19TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 19TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

SARAH ELIZABETH WILSON, ADMINISTRATOR 1764 GLOVERS CHURCH ROAD

BENNETT, NC 27208 Run dates: M19,26,A2,9p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000130-180

The undersigned WALTER RICHARD O’CONNELL, JR., having quali ed on the 9TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of NANCY WRIGHT BEACH deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 2ND Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 2ND DAY OF APRIL 2026. WALTER RICHARD O’CONNELL, JR., ADMINISTRATOR 740 PENINSULA FOREST PLACE CARY, NC 27519 Run dates: A2,9,16,23p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000156-180

The undersigned TRACI B. NUNN, having quali ed on the 18TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MARY H. BROWN deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026. TRACI B. NUNN, ADMINISTRATOR 90 JOHNSON FARM ROAD NEW HILL, NC 27562 Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000153-180

The undersigned JEANNE P. MAXWELL, having quali ed on the 17TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARGARET ANGELA GILSENAN deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

JEANNE P. MAXWELL, EXECUTOR PO BOX 3052/27515

CHAPEL HILL, NC 27515

Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000148-180

The undersigned PAMELA HOWARD SCHAECHER,

having quali ed on the 17TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ROBERT FRANCIS

SCHAECHER deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

PAMELA HOWARD SCHAECHER, EXECUTOR 4624 FORSYTH PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of Gerald Stephen Koermer, deceased of Chatham County, North Carolina, on the 19th day of March, 2026, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of the attorney for the estate on or before the 28th day of June, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 26th day of March 2026 Scott C. Koermer, Personal Representative, c/o Larry H. Rocamora, Attorney for the estate, McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson & Hinkle, PLLC, 3211 Shannon Road, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27707. March 26, April 2, 9, 16 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000141-180 The undersigned JAMES TUCKER COWARD, having quali ed on the 12TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JAMES THOMAS COWARD deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 19TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 19TH DAY OF MARCH 2026. JAMES TUCKER COWARD, ADMINISTRATOR 6448 BUFFALO FORD ROAD RAMSEUR, NC 27316 Run dates: M19,26,A2,9p

Resolution of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners

Declaring Property Surplus and Authorizing Sale of Said Property WHEREAS, Chatham County has identi ed property listed in the attached document Addendum A/ Catalog they no longer needed or used; and WHEREAS, by authority of N.C.G.S. 160A-270 (public auction) requires the Board of Commissioners to adopt a resolution authorizing an appropriate County o cial to dispose of the property at public; and WHEREAS, Chatham County has identi ed the property to be sold and has set a date starting on April 20, 2026, and ending on April 27, 2026; and WHEREAS, Chatham County had identi ed the property to be sold through a public auction to be held online; and WHEREAS, the surplus property is located at the surplus lot on Renaissance Drive, Pittsboro, NC 27312. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Chatham: Section 1: The property identi ed in the attached document listed as Addendum A/Catalog is declared surplus. Section 2: The Board of Commissioners agrees to dispose of the identi ed property in Addendum A/ Catalog at public auction from April 1, 2026, and ending on April 9, 2026. Adopted, this the 16th day of March 2026. Amanda Robertson, Chair Chatham County Board of Commissioners

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC On Monday, April 13, 2026 at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following eight public hearings in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC: ZTA-2026-01. A legislative request by Town Sta to amend the De nitions found in the UDO Section 12.12. ZTA-2026-02. A legislative request by Town

Scandinavian cruise sparks realization about downsizing possessions

I’ve realized I will be content with an eighth of the stu I now own because this stu also owns me.

Surprising freedom found in smaller spaces

By Erika Ho man For Chatham News & Record

MY HUSBAND and I embarked on a Scandinavian cruise a few years ago. How young we felt when we scanned the dining room and witnessed fellow passengers clutching canes with a death grip or snuggled incognito in wheelchairs. Some faces we saw only at mealtimes and never on the excursions.

Many trips ashore were physically taxing. Inside the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, you walk miles and miles while elbowed right and left by hordes of tourists from other continents where it’s culturally acceptable to push one’s way through. It was a knock-down drag-out ght to glimpse a picture by Leonardo.

In Lithuania, we drove out to a national forest where the Soviets had hidden their missiles in silos. We descended into those now-vacated bunkers and stood on a grated oor gazing down the deep well of a silo that once hosted a missile aimed at a European country during the Cold War. This excursion wasn’t for the acrophobic, the claustrophobic or anyone in a wheelchair. Most eld trips were strenuous while highly educational.

Of the fascinating things I discovered from this cruise with ports-of-call such as Gdansk, Helsinki or Tallinn was something unexpected I discovered aboard the sailing yacht: My husband and I could make do in a tiny cabin.

What a revelation for me! We two live in a large, sprawling home lled with furniture. We have stu handed down from his parents, my parents, an uncle and grandparents. Messes collected by our four kids remain which they forgot to take with them when they ew the nest. I have accumulated souvenirs and bric-a-brac from everywhere we’ve ever been and delightful memorabilia from places we’ve not been to but that have been bequeathed to us.

On the ship, I liked eating in the dining room with meals prepared by cooks. I enjoyed the public areas where one could sit and chat or listen to a band or play a trivia game with other voyagers. I found it fun to mix with strangers and share their stories.

I didn’t miss my kitchen. I didn’t miss my car. I didn’t miss my disorganized study. I didn’t miss my wardrobe or possessions. I was content in our cubicle with a TV that didn’t work most days and Wi-Fi that was promised but never delivered. I was OK with limited space, fewer things and less privacy.

At home, I’m somewhat of a recluse and don’t seek out new people. I watch the same programs on television and shop at the same stores and socialize with the same people. Living on a ship was a change.

What I found remarkable is how easily we both adapted to this di erent lifestyle. True, if we downsize when we retire, we won’t have servants fetching our lunch or drinks like at sea. Nonetheless, I found I can be happy in a small room and reside among folks in large communal spaces.

This is good to know. I’m not planning to go to assisted living anytime soon, nor am I giving away our possessions, but I’ve realized I will be content with an eighth of the stu I now own because this stu also owns me.

When we returned from our adventure, my husband and I decided to give his mom’s dining room suite to one of our kids. Why have them wait until we downsize? Then we started going through our house and recognizing things we like but don’t need.

I picked up the phone and called my kids: What do you want and when can you pick it up? No need to wait for my demise.

I’ve determined I can be happy with fewer belongings. Many fewer. All a soul needs is decent food, a comfortable bed and cheerful fellowship. And a feeling of gratitude. Always that.

So, adios antiques! Farewell furniture! Auf Wiedersehen knickknacks! Au revoir unneeded clothing! Arrivederci Encyclopedia Britannica, Funk & Wagnalls and Compton’s. My new mantra? “Less is more.”

Cast o what anchors you to set sail for serenity.

NOTICE

Date

Description Record

Address

Deed

Dated:

any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. A cash deposit of 5% of the purchase price will be required at the time of the sale. Remote bidding will not be accepted pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.25 (a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certi ed check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real property with less than 15 rental units, including single-family residential real property: an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S.

in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

Dated: 2/10/2026 Philip A. Glass, Substitute Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on 2/10/2026 Exhibit A ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT, PARCEL OF LAND OR CONDOMINIUM UNIT

SITUATED IN THE CITY OF CHAPEL HILL, CHATHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 4, CHATHAM ONE SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT AND SURVEY THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 31, PAGE 48, CHATHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. THIS BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO SCOTT CARL KLEIST, DATED 07/29/2021 AND RECORDED ON 07/29/2021 IN BOOK 2234, PAGE 252, IN THE CHATHAM COUNTY RECORDERS OFFICE. 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: 978600575613 Property Address: 134 Woodside Trail, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Special Proceedings No. 25SP000217180

Substitute Trustee: Philip A. GlassNOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

Date of Sale: April 14, 2026 Time of Sale: 2:30 p.m. Place of Sale: Chatham County Courthouse Description of Property: See Attached Description Record Owners: LaShawn LaFranque Address of Property: 324 Arrowhead Loop Pittsboro, NC 27312 Deed of Trust: Book : 1577 Page: 280 Dated: August 8, 2011 Grantors: LaShawn LaFranque Original Bene ciary: State Employees’ Credit Union CONDITIONS OF SALE: This sale is made subject to all unpaid taxes and superior liens or encumbrances of record and assessments, if any, against the said property, and any recorded leases. This sale is also subject to any applicable county land transfer tax, and the successful third party bidder shall be required to make payment for

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, April 20, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312.

“This is an administrative decision,” said county attorney Emily Meeker. “There’s no room for policy choices, discretion. There are objective standards for rst plat, and if the applicant meets those standards, then the applicant is entitled to the subdivision. If the county doesn’t approve it, a court can order the county to do so.”

“The houses are as far away from the adjoining property owners in almost all cases as well,” Robinson said in response to some of the concerns.

“Our county values the land,” said Commissioner David Delaney. “I have rst-hand experience and dozens of neighbors who have experienced water problems from development that either wasn’t scrupulously planned out and updated in a methodical way or was just poorly done. So my encouragement is simply to ask the developer and the teams who are bringing us

(a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certi ed check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real property with less than 15 rental units, including single-family residential real property: an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

Dated: 3/10/26

Philip A. Glass, Substitute Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on 3/10/26 Exhibit A BEING ALL OF Lot 73, Bobcat Point Subdivision, containing 2.812 acres, more or less, and Lot 73A, containing 0.455 acres, more or less, as per plat and survey entitled “Survey for BOBCAT POINT SUBDIVISION PHASE III (Lots 60-74) and Revision of Lot 57 and Lot 59,” prepared by Van R. Finch - Land Surveys, P.A., recorded in Plat Slide 2001-442, Chatham County Registry, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. 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: 972400040904 Property Address: 324 Arrowhead Loop, Pittsboro, NC 27312

homes — which we do need in the county for a lot of di erent reasons — to make sure they are scrupulously working with the planning team to meet the very high standards that the county has.”

The board also approved a variety of items recommended by the Climate Change Advisory Committee, including a joint letter to be sent to the North Carolina Utilities Commission regarding the Duke Energy carbon plan and integrated resource plan.

“Duke used to submit an integrated resource plan every so often just describing how they were planning on producing electricity into the future,” said Environment Quality Director Kevin Lindley. “Now, there was a state law passed several years ago that required all electricity in North Carolina to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

The main requests in the letter include a call for greater transparency of the load forecasting methodology, a re-

concerning

discrimination at the local level. If any citizen experiences discrimination in housing because of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin, they may contact the Town Manager at (919) 7268627. Complaints will be reviewed and forwarded to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission in Raleigh (Phone: 984-236-1919; or Relay North Carolina TTY#800/735-2962) for further review and conciliation. Complaints concerning discriminatory housing practices can also be forwarded directly to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission, 1318 Mail Service Center. Raleigh, NC 27699-1318 (mail) or 1711 New Hope Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27516 (physical address). This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Jack Meadows, Town Manager, at (919) 726-8627, or at the Siler City Town Manager’s O ce, 311 N. Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en Español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Jack Meadows, Town Manager, al (919) 726-8627, o en Siler City Town Manager’s O ce, 311 N. Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC de alojamiento

quest for a reliable and resilient energy system, encourage creation of viable, cost-e ective clean energy procurement pathway, direct to fully value energy e ciency and protect existing ratepayers from disproportionate cost burdens associated with new large loads.

The letter is signed by multiple governments throughout North Carolina.

The board also approved a request for proposals for services necessary to develop a climate action plan for Chatham County.

“We have a lot of knowledgeable sta , but we really don’t have sta that can put this plan together in a timely manner,” Lindley said.

Finally, the board approved a resolution calling for the acceleration of North Carolina’s transition to a ordable, resilient and carbon-free energy and for the resolution to be sent to Gov. Josh Stein.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will next meet April 20.

CHATHAM SPORTS

addresses his team after a loss to Eastern Randolph on April 2.

Bears’ bats struggle in 8-1 loss to Eastern Randolph

Chatham Central logged one hit

By Asheebo Rojas

Chatham News & Record

RAMSEUR — Chatham

Central’s bats went cold in an 8-1 nonconference loss to Eastern Randolph on April 2.

Eastern Randolph junior

Cade McCallum pitched a one-hitter in ve innings, allowing the Bears’ only hit of the game on his nal pitch in the top of the sixth inning.

“We knew that regardless of what they had, we would see a quality arm tonight,” Chatham Central coach Brett Walden said. “And we did. I thought we had competitive at-bats, but we didn’t get a lot of guys on base.”

Junior Chance Holdaway led the Wildcats at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two runs. Sophomore Maddox Dunn went 1 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Eastern Randolph scored four runs on Chatham Central’s passed balls.

“We had a couple errors that extended innings that were problematic for us,” Walden said.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Ben Porter (51) gets ready to snap the ball in a 2024 matchup against Jordan-Matthews.

Porter commits to Mercer

The senior becomes next in line of Division I Northwood specialists

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News

&

Record

NORTHWOOD IS sending another specialist to Division I football. Senior long snapper Ben Porter announced his commitment to Mercer on March 30. Porter, who will join the Bears this fall, is set to become the third Division I specialist out of the program since 2020,

“I’ve got the potential to start as a true freshman.”

Ben Porter

following kicker Aidan Laros, who played at Charlotte, UT Martin and Kentucky, and Jake Mann, who played at Oklahoma, App State and NC State.

“It’s de nitely great,” Porter said. “It’s been a long time coming. I de nitely took longer than I’d hoped. I had a cou-

ple other schools I had o ers from, but after I got down to Mercer a couple of weeks ago, I just knew it was the right t for me.” Porter chose Mercer over other o ers from Towson, Richmond, Memphis and Jacksonville State. Mercer hired former West Georgia coach Joel Taylor to lead the program in December. Brandon Taylor coaches the special teams.

“Great academics, great campus,” Porter said about

See PORTER, page B5

“We knew that regardless of what they had, we would see a quality arm tonight.”

The top of the Wildcats’ lineup set the tone with three straight hits in the bottom of the rst inning. After a single from senior Bryson Marley and a double from McCallum, Dunn batted in the game’s rst run with a double to center eld.

In the next at-bat, Chatham Central’s rst defensive mis-

cue of the night, a passed ball, allowed Dunn to reach third. A dropped third strike shortly after led to Dunn giv ing the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Brett Walden 6

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Baseball

Northwood made a trip out east and fell to North Brunswick 5-2 on March 30, snapping its four-game win streak. The Chargers led 2-0 until North Brunswick scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Northwood nished the night with three hits and was held scoreless in the nal four innings.

The Chargers bounced back the next day with a 5-1 win over West Brunswick. Junior Finn Sullivan and senior Owen Zsuppan combined to allow zero earned runs and three hits on the mound. Sophomore Riley D’Angelo went 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI, notching a double in the top of the third inning.

Chatham Charter’s six-game win streak ended with a 5-3 loss to Southwestern Randolph on April 1. The Knights held a 3-0 lead until the Cougars scored all ve runs in the bottom of the fth inning with the help of a three-run homer from senior Lane Pool. Garrison Clark batted in the only run Chatham Charter needed to beat East Wake 1-0 Friday. Clark was also stellar on

Junior Carlos Cordero extended Eastern Randolph’s lead to three runs in the second inning with an RBI single, sending sophomore Miles Cox home. Another passed ball and an error on the Bears’ attempt to retire Dunn in a pickle led to two more Eastern Randolph runs in the fourth inning.

Eastern Randolph scored its nal two runs in a similar fashion in the fth inning. Cox reached home on a passed ball

Game winning streak for Chatham Charter snapped by Southwestern Randolph

the mound, striking out 10 batters and allowing three hits in ve innings.

Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference) Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. Chatham Charter (10-3, 4-0); T1. Clover Garden (6-6, 2-0); 3. River Mill (6-5, 2-2); T4. Central Carolina (0-4, 0-2); T4. Southern Wake (0-6, 0-4) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. South Stokes (10-4, 7-1); 2. Bishop McGuinness (9-6, 5-3); 3. Chatham Central (5-6, 4-4); 4. North Stokes (3-10, 3-4); 5. South Davidson (5-10, 0-7) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Northwood (9-5, 5-1); T2. Uwharrie Charter (11-3, 4-2); T2. Southwestern Randolph (9-3, 4-2); 4. Eastern Randolph (6-9, 3-3); T5. North Moore (4 -7, 1-5); T5. Jordan-Matthews (3-9, 1-5)

page

Garrison Clark

Chatham Charter, baseball

Chatham Charter’s Garrison Clark earns athlete of the week honors for the week of March 30.

In the Knights’ 1-0 win over East Wake on Friday, Clark knocked home Bryson Green for the only run of the game with a single in the top of the rst inning.

To keep East Wake at bay, Clark struck out 10 batters while giving up zero earned runs and three hits in ve innings on the mound.

As of Sunday, Clark has built a 5-0 record as a pitcher, and he has yet to give up an earned run. At the plate, Clark leads the Knights with 16 hits, and he holds a .444 batting average (second on the team).

College check-in: Spring 2026

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

BASEBALL

Aidan Allred (William Peace University, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Aidan Allred has logged a .247 batting average, 19 hits, 12 runs and nine RBIs in 21 starts. The former Chatham Charter standout most recently went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s loss to Mary Baldwin. His best game of the season so far was a 3-for- 4, three-run, three-RBI performance in a win over Rhode Island College on March 7.

Zach Cartrette (Guilford Tech, Chatham Charter)

Freshman Zach Cartrette has made 10 appearances on the mound this season, including eight starts. He’s recorded 23 strikeouts, a 1.96 WHIP, a 9.72 ERA and a 1-4 record. His best performance came in a win over Robeson CC on Feb. 8 in which he struck out a season-high eight batters and allowed two earned runs in ve innings.

Jackson Shaner (Guilford, Northwood)

Junior Jackson Shaner is seeing the eld a lot more than his rst two seasons, playing in a career-best 12 games, including his rst collegiate start Feb. 24. He notched his rst double of the season (second hit of the year) and went 1 for 1 at the plate in a loss to Shenandoah on Saturday. Shaner is batting .333 with six at-bats on the year.

SOFTBALL

Caleigh Warf (North Carolina Wesleyan, Chatham Central)

Freshman Caleigh Warf has made 15 starts and is batting .275 with 11 hits, 13 runs and four RBIs this season. Warf contributed to a win at Southern Virginia Saturday, going 1 for 3 with a run. Her best game was a 3-for-4, one-run, two-RBI night in a loss at Averett on March 13.

Logan Gunter (Furman, Jordan-Matthews)

Sophomore Logan Gunter has made six starts in her season back from injury, logging a .316 batting average, six hits and two runs. In a win over UNC Greensboro on Saturday, the former Jordan-Matthews

standout went 1 for 2, smash-

ing a double as her only hit.

Jaylee Williams (Maryland, Chatham Central)

Junior Jaylee Williams has played in 22 games and made ve starts in her rst season at Maryland. Over the weekend, Williams had a solid series against Penn State as she went 2 for 3 with a season-high two RBIs in Friday’s loss, and she went 1 for 3, including a triple, in Saturday’s loss. The former Chatham Central Bear had arguably her best showing against George Washington on March 18, going 2 for 2 with a run. This season, Williams has recorded a .261 batting average with six hits and six runs.

Delana Lo in (Blue eld University, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Delana Lo in has made 32 starts and has improved on her freshman season, recording career highs in batting average (.252), hits (26), doubles (four), slugging percentage (.291) and on-base percentage (.282). Lo in leads her team with nine stolen bases. She went 2 for 3 with a run in a win over Spartanburg Methodist on Friday.

TRACK AND FIELD

Lucas Smith (UNC Wilmington, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Lucas Smith set a new personal best in the men’s 200, clocking in at 21.68 seconds at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational in March.

Will Cuicchi (Charlotte, Seaforth)

Freshman Will Cuicchi opened his outdoor career with a time of 3:59.19 in the men’s

1,500 at the Charlotte 49er Classic in March. He placed fth in the USC Invite men’s 800 with a time of 1:53.09 in February.

Sebastian Calderon (Campbell, Seaforth)

Freshman Sebastian Calderon started his outdoor season with a time of 11.38 in the Charlotte 49er Classic men’s 100 and a time of 51.24 in the Bill Carson Invitational 400 (10th place).

Juana Silva Jimenez (Meredith College, Seaforth)

Freshman Juana Silva Jimenez clocked her best women’s collegiate 3,000 (indoor or outdoor) at the Phoenix Invitational in March, nishing with a time of 10:53.45. She also ran a personal best in the 1,500 with a time of 5:04.11 at the Trojan Challenge on March 28 (fourth place).

Anna Peeler (Catawba College, Woods Charter)

Freshman Anna Peeler ran her best collegiate mile (indoor and outdoor) at the Davidson Relays in March, clocking in at 5:20.12. She’s also run a 2:29.65 800 and a 4:50.99 1,500 this outdoor season.

Rachael Woods (NC Central, Jordan-Matthews)

Freshman Rachael Woods set an indoor women’s long jump personal best of 15 feet, 8.5 inches at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge in January.

Jack Anstrom (NC State, Seaforth)

Freshman Jack Anstrom nished fourth in the Liberty Open mile run with a time of 4:08.59 during the indoor season in January.

Powell dunks against the Sacramento Kings.

Big Seven 4A/5A: T1. South Granville (10-3, 6-0); T1. Cedar Ridge (9-4, 4-0); 3. Seaforth (9-4, 4-2); 4. Orange (8-6, 2-2); T5. Durham School of the Arts (3-7, 0-4); T5. Webb (2-9, 0-2); T5. Carrboro (2-10, 0-6)

Power Rankings (week of March 30): 1. Seaforth; 2. Chatham Charter; 3. Northwood; 4. Chatham Central; 5. Jordan-Matthews Softball

Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)

Central Tar Heel

1A: 1. Clover Garden (14-0, 8-0); 2. Chatham Charter (6-5, 4-2); 3. River Mill (6-5, 5-3); 4. Central Carolina (1-10, 1-7); 5. Ascend Leadership (0-8, 0-6) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1.

South Stokes (8-4, 6-1); 2. Chatham Central (10-3, 4-1); 3. North Stokes (5-7, 1-3); 4. South Davidson (4-10, 0-6) Four Rivers 3A/4A: T1. Southwestern Randolph (9-3, 5-1); T1. Northwood (9-3, 5-1); T3. Uwharrie Charter (4-8, 3-3); T3. Jordan-Matthews (8-3, 3-3); 5. North Moore (4-9, 1-5); 6. Eastern Randolph (2-10, 1-5) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Seaforth (9-0, 5-0); T2. Cedar Ridge (8-3, 4-1); T2. Orange (4-6, 4-1); 4. South Granville (5-6, 3-3); 5. Webb (9-3, 2-3); 6. Carrboro (2-9, 1-4); 7. Durham School of the Arts (0-11, 0-7)

Track and eld

Chatham Charter junior Torris Price nished second in the boys’ 1,600 at the App State High School Meet on Saturday, clocking in with a time of 4 minutes, 28.93 seconds.

Powell’s scoring rises in March

The former Northwood star logged ve double-digit performances last month

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

THE BEST OF former Northwood star Drake Powell’s rookie NBA season came in March.

In 11 starts last month, the Nets’ wing averaged a season-best eight points while shooting 34.8% from 3, which was his best monthly 3-point shooting split since December (35%). Powell logged a monthly season-high of ve games in double-digit scoring, notching more performances of at least 10 points than he did in his 15 games in January. The pinnacle of Powell’s March came in a 116-99 win over Sacramento on March 29. Powell matched his career high of 16 points while shooting 6 for 8 from the oor (4 for 6 from 3) to

6.5

Points per game for Powell in his rookie season

help Brooklyn snap its 10-game losing streak.

“Just trusting my work,” Powell said following the win over the Kings. “Obviously, just trusting my teammates as well. They made some great passes. And then, just trusting my coaches too.”

With Nets’ veterans Day’Ron Sharpe and Michael Porter Jr. out for the season and Terance Mann dealing with a lingering lower-body injury, Powell has seen an increase in opportunity. He averaged 25.6 minutes in March, the most of any month this season. He also averaged a season-high of 7.2 shot attempts per game. Rookies Egor Demin and Danny Wolf were also shut

down for the year, which may create more chances for Powell to develop his game in the last month of the season.

Overall, Powell’s rookie campaign has been up and down, especially as a shooter. He’s still looking to become a more consistent o ensive weapon, but that part of his game has shown signs of improvement as of late. A 13-point performance in the Nets’ win over Washington Sunday marked Powell’s fourth double-digit scoring output in his last six games.

“I think he’s done a good job,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said after the win over the Kings. “He always tries to do everything we ask him to do. Obviously, there’s struggles, there’s positives today. It was a little bit of up and down again but ended up being very positive. The shot went in, which is ne. And then at one point, he was more physical and aggressive defensively, and I want that physicality to be sustained for whatever minutes he plays.”

Swing, Splash & Socialize

Whether you’re learning the game, mastering your doubles strategy, racing down the water slide, or soaking up the sun, there’s something here for everyone. Perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike—for movers and relaxers. But don’t just take our word for it—come see for yourself!

2 Membership Levels Now Available— Full & Pickleball-Only!

Memberships are available to Chatham Park residents and non-residents.

SIDELINE REPORT

NHL

Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

NBA Mavs rookie Flagg

scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

Pioneering female NFL o cial sues league over her treatment, ring

Robin DeLorenzo is one of three women to o ciate in the NFL

By Larry Neumeister

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a new lawsuit, one of the rst three women to o ciate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal.

Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she su ered from 2022 to 2025 as a league o cial.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, led last Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspeci ed damages.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesperson, said in an email that DeLorenzo was terminated after three seasons of documented underperformance.

“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” he said.

A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

In a 2023 interview with NFL.com, DeLorenzo described her thrill at progressing at her father’s urging through the ranks of o ciating at the high school and college levels until the NFL’s senior vice president of o ciating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes,” she told NFL. com. “It was the most magical night.”

The lawsuit, though, suggested that the magic quickly ended when the longtime New Jersey resident reported for duty after being sent man-sized clothing to wear and being told to let her ponytail show out the hole in the back of her hat, apparent-

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes. It was the most magical night.”

Robin DeLorenzo on getting promoted to the NFL

ly to make clear a woman was on the eld. It said repeated references to her hair eventually made her want to cut it o . The lawsuit asserted that an NFL o cials’ crew chief told then-Pittsburgh Steelers’ Coach Mike Tomlin one day during training camp that she should be made to sing in front of everyone, like rookie football players, because she was a new o cial.

As a result, she said, she “put on an utterly humiliating singing performance” in front of the Steelers’ players, all the men on her o ciating crew and her boss, who she said had promised not to record her but did so anyway, according to the lawsuit.

In the following weeks, she was repeatedly shamed, harassed and subjected to profanity-laced trash talk by her crew chief, a man who had recently been accused of mistreating another female employee, the lawsuit said. By the end of the season, the crew chief would not even speak to her, it added. In 2024, DeLorenzo was forced to attend “an alleged training opportunity,” over her union’s objection, that catered to lower-level college o cials learning the trade — something no male o cial had ever been required to do, the lawsuit said.

“It was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plainti , shatter-

ing her con dence, and signi cantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit said.

DeLorenzo was red on Feb. 18, 2025.

“She worked her way through two decades of o ciating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit said.

“Instead of supporting one of the only women on its ociating sta , the NFL exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career based on tainted evaluations created by the very people who discriminated against her,” it said.

The lawsuit said the harm to her career was irreversible and the emotional and reputational damage was immense.

US players on World Cup roster bubble have soccer’s ultimate Fear Of Missing Out

There are 26 spots available and 12 players who are locks for the roster

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Now comes the wait, soccer’s ultimate FOMO.

American players across the United States and Europe will count down the eight weeks until coach Mauricio Pochettino picks his 26 World Cup players. Those bypassed won’t get a phone call.

“It’s going to be painful,” Pochettino said. “In that process, always you create links, no, emotional links, but it’s going to be di cult to pick 26 from 35, 40 players.”

Twenty-four players were used during the 5-2 loss to Belgium and 2-0 defeat to Portugal in the last two friendlies before Pochettino announces his roster on May 26 at an event in New York. A total of 38 players have appeared in the last eight matches dating to September.

Twelve players appear to be locks if healthy: goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner; right back Sergiño Dest; central defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards; left back Antonee Robinson; mid elders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman; attackers Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah; and forward Folarin Balogun. About two dozen others are possible: goalkeepers Chris Brady, Patrick Schulte and

week.

Jonathan Klinsmann; central defenders Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty; outside backs Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally and John Tolkin; mid elders Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Aiden Morris, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan and Tanner Tessmann; and forwards Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas.

Players will be concentrating on their club careers and as May 26 approaches will try not to dwell on their World Cup chances.

“Hopefully that time when with Celtic we’re playing (the Scottish) Cup nal. That’s the only thing I’ll be focusing on,” defender Trusty said.

Failure to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup and pro-visiting team crowds in the U.S.

amped up anxiety among fans and the former-player pundit class throughout the summer, but ending the year with a ve-game unbeaten streak boosted belief.

This month’s losses sent skepticism soaring.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction. I think obviously it’s hard to say that we’re where we want to be with results like this, but I think that we take a lot of positives away from the games that we played,” McKennie said. “We see that we can keep up. I think we just need to gure out how to be able to stay in the game if we don’t nish chances that we have early on.”

Pulisic hasn’t scored in a career-high eight straight national team games and also is scoreless in 12 matches for AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He just needs one to go in, get back on that wave,” U.S.

career scoring co-leader Clint Dempsey said. “Everybody goes through a little bit of a slump.”

Pochettino cautioned that U.S. players are not as good as some American fans think they are, pointing to the latest results.

“We are USA and we are competing against Belgium, Portugal,” he said. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players few or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have.” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez cautioned not to overanalyze the friendlies.

“I’ve been 10 years now in international football, and what you learn is that you should never assess teams in March,” he said. “The mindset is the players are some of them to try to be in the squad, others just not to get injured because they got important games with the clubs. I think what I’ve seen with the United States is a very well-worked teams.”

Pochettino pointed out his World Cup roster will have three weeks of training ahead of the Americans’ World Cup opener against Australia on June 12 and can work out issues such as getting caught up eld by counters and leaving opponents unmarked on corner kicks.

“I am more positive now than before because, seeing the team compete, we are not far away,” he said. “Is only details that we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match, of course we are going to have the possibility to beat them.”

AP national player of the year Boozer recovering physically, emotionally following UConn loss

The Duke freshman is recovering from fractures around his eye socket

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke star freshman and top NBA prospect Cameron Boozer is still healing, both emotionally after the Blue Devils’ devastating March Madness loss to UConn and physically after su ering a facial injury in that game.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward said Sunday he sustained “a couple of fractures” during the Blue Devils’ loss in the Elite Eight.

Boozer, who last Friday became only the fth freshman named as The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, was hurt in the rst half last Sunday when he went up for a shot against 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe. Reibe’s left elbow struck Boozer near his right eye as Reibe contested the shot, leading to signi cant swelling around and under the eye.

The swelling around his right eye was down Sunday, though the white part was still bright red. Boozer said he opted against having surgery in favor of giving it time to heal.

“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said during Sunday’s award presentation for winning the AP national honor, along with another from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. “Just going through the healing process.”

BASEBALL from page B1

during Holdaway’s at-bat, allowing freshman Levi Stalker, who stole second base, to reach third. Stalker then scored on a passed ball in Marley’s at-bat, and a elding error on Marley’s ground ball sent Holdaway home for an 8-0 advantage.

Chatham Central avoided the no-hitter with a sin-

PORTER from page B1

Mercer. “Obviously, one of the best FCS teams every year.”

Said Porter, “Coach Taylor, the special teams coach, and head coach Coach Taylor just made me seem like I was a priority, and it de nitely felt like the right t for me. And the possibility of contributing really early. I’ve got the potential to start as a true freshman, so that’d be awesome.”

Porter said it’s also “awesome” to play for a successful program

Boozer fought through the injury the rest of the way and nished with 27 points, including a tough spinning basket into the paint against tra c with Duke leading by just one in thenal minute. It was one of multiple examples this season of

gle from junior Reid Caviness in the sixth inning. Prior to that hit, junior Brett Phillips reached rst after the Wildcats dropped his y ball. Senior Westley Brower batted Phillips home to avoid a shut out with a ground ball. With the win, Eastern Randolph snapped a two-game skid and improved to 6-9.

Chatham Central fell to 5-6,

like Mercer, which won the last two SoCon titles and reached the FCS playo s the last three seasons.

“It’s just great to be able to join a championship contender team every single year,” Porter said.

Becoming a long snapper didn’t become a possibility until Porter’s freshman year. After beginning his football journey in middle school, Porter realized that he wouldn’t have the best chance of playing in college as a lineman at his size.

So in Porter’s rst year of high

Boozer playing through bumps, blows and hard fouls, such as a late-season win at NC State in which Boozer had gnarly long scratches near his right shoulder after being gouged by a Wolfpack defender. The Huskies went on to win

moving to 3-3 in its last six games.

The Bears are on pace to pass last year’s win total of eight, and they sit at 17th in the 1A RPI standings as of Sunday.

After the two-game series with North Moore, Chatham Central will have seven regular season games left.

The Bears will get four conference rematches against South

school, former Northwood assistant coach Fred Dale gave him a chance to handle arguably the most important job on special teams.

“He kind of just threw me in there,” Porter said. “And then, I gured, ‘Oh, if I can get good at this, I could turn it into a career.’ Especially since a couple of years ago, we had Jake Mann, the long snapper who went to Oklahoma. So just trying to follow in his footsteps.”

Porter recalled not being able to throw the ball 10 yards or

on Braylon Mullins’ last-second 3-pointer to complete a stunning comeback from 19 down. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, received torrents of online abuse after committing Duke’s last turnover before Mullins’ winner.

Stokes, South Davidson, Bishop McGuinness and North Stokes alongside a two-game series with Southern Wake and a tough nonconference matchup with Southeast Alamance. Considering the Bears are o to a better start than last season, Walden believes his team has the pieces to improve their play down the stretch, but they just have to do it.

in a spiral when he rst started. Becoming a Division I-level specialist was a “process” that included training with a Georgia snapping coach, who also trained other high-level specialists, and a few lessons with Mann when he was at NC State.

All the work showed up on the eld at Northwood.

Porter and senior kicker Leo Mortimer led a special teams unit that came up huge for the Chargers. The two combined for 21 kicking points, including 12 PATs and three eld goals. Por-

“Just going through the healing process.”

Cameron Boozer

Cameron pointed out that “that one play isn’t the reason we lost.”

“There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better,” Boozer said. “We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re going to get through it together. We’re a super-connected group.

“It’s de nitely a hard moment. But he’s a tough guy. We’re all tough, it’s going to make us so much better going forward. It’s something you’ve got to take on the chin and learn and grow from.”

UConn went on to beat Illinois in Saturday’s national semi nal but lost 69-63 in Monday’s national championship game to Michigan. Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, was one of three teams to beat Michigan all year.

Boozer’s award presentation came on the same stage where UConn and Michigan were holding news conferences ahead of playing Monday for the national title.

“It’s a lot of emotions going into it,” Boozer said of being at Lucas Oil Stadium. “But yeah, it’s de nitely tough being here for sure.”

“I think the biggest thing is if we pitch it better, throw more strikes,” Walden said. “Strike percentage as a team I think is around 58, 59%. We shoot for 65% as a team. If we’re around 65% strike percentage, we are usually in the game and usually win it. O ensively, got to score more than one run. You’re not going to beat anybody scoring one run.”

ter also helped facilitate four PATs and a eld goal for Campbell Parks in the win by Northwood as Parks lled in for an injured Mortimer.

“I know it de nitely helps in recruiting when you have some time to run down the eld on a good punt,” Porter said. “So we de nitely loved having (Mortimer) and just being able to make like 48-, 45-yard eld goals consistently.”

On top of football, Porter plans on studying business logistics at Mercer.

this week in history

Lee surrenders at Appomattox, Johnson signs Civil Rights Act, Titanic sinks

The Associated Press

APRIL 9

1865: Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, e ectively ending the Civil War. Remaining Confederate forces elsewhere surrendered by early June.

1939: After being barred from Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, singer Marian Anderson performed before a large crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

1940: Germany invaded Denmark and Norway during World War II.

APRIL 10

1866: Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York.

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic departed Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage to New York.

1919: Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata was assassinated by forces loyal to President Venustiano Carranza.

APRIL 11

1814: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of France and was exiled to the island of Elba. (He would brie y return to power in 1815 before his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.)

1951: President Harry S.

AP PHOTO

Sidney Poitier poses with his Oscar for best actor for “Lilies of the Field” at the 36th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California, on April 13, 1964. Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor.

Truman dismissed Gen. Douglas MacArthur from command of U.S. forces in the Korean War after the general publicly challenged administration policy.

1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including the Fair Housing Act and Indian Civil Rights Act, one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

APRIL 12

1861: The Civil War began when Confederate forces opened re on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

1954: Bill Haley and His Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock,” later propelled into the mainstream by the 1955 lm “The Blackboard Jungle.”

1955: The Jonas Salk polio

vaccine was declared safe and e ective after nearly a year of trials involving about 1.8 million U.S. children known as “polio pioneers.”

APRIL 13

1743: Thomas Je erson, the third president of the United States, was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

1964: Sidney Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.

1997: Tiger Woods, 21, became the youngest golfer to win the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, nishing a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite.

APRIL 14

1828: The rst edition of Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language was published.

1865: President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the following morning.

APRIL 15

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began sinking; more than 1,500 people died while about 710 survived.

1947: Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, becoming the rst black player of the modern major leagues.

1955: Ray Kroc opened the rst franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

On April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic o Newfoundland after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage. More than 1,500 people died while about 710 survived.

Ye attempts comeback with sold-out LA-area concert, support from Hill

He closed last Friday night’s show with his hit “Runaway”

By Ryan Pearson The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The art-

ist formerly and possibly again known as Kanye West reveled in support from one of his musical idols, Lauryn Hill, as he staged a sold-out Southern California concert meant to mark a comeback from years of controversy.

Eleven months after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and just over two months after publishing an apology letter for his antisemitism, Ye let two decades of hits — and 70,000 screaming loyal fans — speak the loudest last Friday night at SoFi Stadium.

“I want to thank y’all for sticking by me all these years. Through the hard times, through the low times,” he told the crowd. “I love you for that.” Hill joined Ye on a stage for the rst time for an energetic rendition of his 2004 hit “All Falls Down,” which original-

ly sampled her voice. Ye left the stage as she performed “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” before rejoining for his 2021 “Doo Wop”-sampling song “Believe What I Say.” They hugged as she exited.

Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Ye’s tween daughter North West also strapped on safety harnesses to join Ye high above the stadium oor atop a striking half-orb stage, which alternately depicted a moon, a rotating Earth and a smoking sphere throughout the two hours-plus livestreamed performance.

A loud singalong of “Heartless” midway through the more than 40-song Good Friday show seemed to boost Ye’s spirits: “That’s what 80,000 people sound like, ladies and gentlemen. … They said I’d never be back in the States. Two sold- out concerts, baby!”

The rst SoFi show last Wednesday, his rst major U.S. performance in nearly ve years, turned out to be more of a warm-up as Ye was tentative in his rapping and drew attention to technical mishaps.

Fans at that show said they

NH governor’s detail rescues

‘Bob’s

Burgers’ actor Eugene Mirman from ery crash

Gov. Kelly Ayotte herself secured a re extinguisher to assist

The Associated Press

BEDFORD, N.H. — “Bob’s Burgers” voice actor and comedian Eugene Mirman su ered serious injuries after crashing his car into a toll plaza and being pulled from the ery wreckage by a state trooper assigned to protect the governor of New Hampshire.

The crash happened just before noon last Tuesday when a northbound electric vehicle struck the Bedford Toll Plaza and caught re, New Hampshire State Police said. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte and her security detail came upon the crash soon after, and a trooper and two others pulled Mirman from the burning car through a window, said State Police Col. Mark Hall. The governor, who left her vehicle and retrieved a re extinguisher, was not in any danger, he said.

“Eugene was in a very scary

“Without hesitation, they put themselves in danger to render aid to someone who was in need of it.”

N.H. State Police Col. Mark Hall

car accident,” Mirman’s agent Jay Glassner con rmed in a statement last Wednesday. “He wants to thank the bystanders, state police, rst responders and hospital sta who saved him. He is grateful to be on the mend. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Eugene and his family as he focuses on recovering from his injuries.” Hall called the actions of the rescuers “heroic.”

“Without hesitation, they put themselves in danger to render aid to someone who was in need of it,” Hall said. State police identi ed the driver as Yevgeny Mirman, 51, of Massachusetts. Mirman, who was born in Moscow and grew up in Massachusetts, is known

for voicing musical middle child Gene Belcher in more than 300 episodes of the animated comedy “Bob’s Burgers” and its movie, in addition to roles on “Flight of the Conchords,” “Delocated” and “Archer.” He has built a loyal following with his o beat delivery, sharp observational humor and delightfully absurd storytelling. Mirman emerged from the Boston and New York comedy scenes in the early 2000s, developing a style that blends dry wit with surreal punchlines. A frequent presence on comedy stages and festivals, he is also known for inventive stand-up specials and recordings that lean into playful experimentation and unexpected comedic turns.

Ayotte said she and her husband were praying for the driver’s recovery.

“I want to thank the Trooper on my security detail and the bystanders who stepped up to help at the scene of the crash for their brave lifesaving e orts,” she said in a statement.

The crash remains under investigation. No charges have been led.

ASHLEY LANDIS / AP PHOTO

Kanye West, known as Ye, watches an NBA game between the Wizards and the Lakers in 2022 in Los Angeles. The controversial rapper performed to 70,000 fans at SoFi Stadium Friday night.

separated the 48-year-old performer’s personal beliefs and public statements from his music — and were ready to forgive after his January apology letter.

“You gotta back your family no matter what,” said Vince Da Prince, a rapper from Downey,

California. “He’s a part of our fam since we were little kids.”

Added fan Yovani Contreras: “I don’t really bring into politics or the way someone’s personal opinion are. I’m into the music artistry. … Like, I just, to me, Ye is always gonna be Ye. Kanye is always gonna be Kanye.”

Luis Velasquez said he’d been a longtime fan and had been put o by controversies in recent years but felt the apology was sincere. “Yeah, he did apologize,” he said. “He’s taking the medication I think is what he mentioned. … For me as a fan that’s, like, respect, right? Like I think that’s cool enough to bridge that gap.”

Ye released his latest album, “Bully,” under both the names Ye and Kanye West, at the end of March. He dominated hip-hop and pop charts in the 2000s and early 2010s, winning 24 Grammy Awards despite public outbursts and a polarizing personality. He lost nearly all his major business partnerships and many fans after a string of controversies in the last several years.

famous birthdays this week

Tom Lehrer celebrates 98, Dennis Quaid turns 72, Ed O’Neill is 80, Claire Danes hits 47

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

APRIL 9

Satirist-musician Tom Lehrer is 98. Actor Michael Learned is 87. Drummer Steve Gadd is 81. Actor Dennis Quaid is 72. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs is 63. Model-actor Paulina Porizkova is 61. Actor Cynthia Nixon is 60.

APRIL 10

Labor leader-activist Dolores Huerta is 96. Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount is 78. Author Anne Lamott is 72. Singer-producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is 67. Musician Brian Setzer is 67. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 56. Rapper-producer Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) is 56.

APRIL 11

Actor Joel Grey is 94. Actor Louise Lasser is 87. Actor Peter Riegert is 79. Actor Bill Irwin is 76. Former MLB catcher Jason Varitek is 54. Actor Jennifer Esposito is 53.

APRIL 12

Musician Herbie Hancock is 86. Musician John Kay (Steppenwolf) is 82. Actor Ed O’Neill is 80. TV host David Letterman is 79. Author Scott Turow is 77. Actor Andy Garcia is 70. Country musician Vince Gill is 69. Actor Claire Danes is 47.

APRIL 13

Singer Al Green is 80. Actor Ron Perlman is 76. Singer Peabo Bryson is 75. Bandleader-drummer Max Weinberg is 75. Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov is 63. Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III is 62. Actor-comedian Caroline Rhea is 62. Actor Rick Schroder is 56.

APRIL 14

Former NYPD detective Frank Serpico is 90. Actor Julie Christie is 86. Rock musician Ritchie Blackmore is 81. Golf Hall of Famer Meg Mallon is 63. Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux is 60. Actor

Michael Hall is 58. APRIL 15

Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Cooper is 70. Olympic track and eld gold medalist Evelyn Ashford is 69. Actor-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 67. Singer Samantha Fox is 60. Olympic swimming gold medalist Dara Torres is 59. Country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is 48.

Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ nale, Ella Langley

The fth and nal season of “The Boys” lands on Prime Video

The Associated Press

SYDNEY SWEENEY starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fth and nal season on HBO are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s “Christy” (HBO Max, Friday). The lm, which Sweeney also produced, drew some of her best reviews. Her distinctly unglamorous performance spans Martin’s small-town West Virginia beginnings to a professional career shadowed by her abusive manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Sweeney “imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

One of the highlights of last year, Akinola Davies Jr.’s tender father-son drama, “My Father’s Shadow,” begins streaming Friday on MUBI. The lm, penned by Davis and his brother, Wale, is loosely autobiographical. Their father died when they were young. But in “My Father’s Shadow,” two Nigerian boys have unexpected day with their father (Sope Dìrísù) in Lagos at a pivotal time for the country. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.” Jonah Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age skate lm “Mid90s.”

He returns to directing in “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire star-

ring Keanu Reeves as a movie star named Reef Hawk who fears a video could destroy his reputation. Hill, who co-wrote the movie, also co-stars as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer. It debuts Friday on Apple TV.

MUSIC TO STREAM

A chart-topping country hitmaker preps her sophomore album: Langley — known for such radio mainstays as the throwback “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green and the George Strait-referencing No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert — will release a new record Friday. If the whole of “Dandelion” is anything like those songs, she’s got a long career ahead of her.

The English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware will release “Superbloom,” also Friday. She’s as ready to soundtrack a late night on the dance oor as she’s ever been — like on the single “Ride,” which interpolates the theme from the 1966 spaghetti Western lm “The Good, the Bad

and the Ugly” and melts into her sequined synths. “Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,” she sings, more discotheque than honky-tonk. “You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The Boys” launches its fth and nal season on Prime Video. The critically acclaimed series is based on comic books and follows villainous superheroes and the crew trying to thwart them. Series regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford are all returning, as are more recent additions played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs also joins the cast.

Hulu’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” called “The Testaments,” is streaming now. Ann Dowd reprises her Aunt Lydia character from the original and is now in charge of a school for girls that basically prepares them for adulthood, marriage and babies. These young

women have never known anything other than Gilead. It stars Chase In niti and Lucy Halliday and is also based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen lead a new sci- comedy, “The Miniature Wife,” for Peacock. They play a couple working on their marriage when their lives are further complicated after an unusual accident. It premieres Thursday. Another series launching its fth and nal season is “Hacks” on HBO. The show, debuting Thursday, follows the love-hate relationship between a legendary comedian (Jean Smart) and a talented writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series has racked up a lot of hardware, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for the show, while Einbinder has taken home one.

Do you ever wonder how your favorite former TV stars would fare in the present day? “Malcolm in the Middle” fans are getting their wish. Twenty years after their show went o

“Sweeney imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP Film Writer

the air, Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek return to TV for a revival where Muniz’s character is now a dad to a teenage girl. The four episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” premiere Friday on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Just a month after releasing the cozy community-builder Pokémon Pokopia, it’s dropping the considerably less comfortable Pokémon Champions. This time it’s all about the combat, as you recruit and train monsters before pushing them into the arena to ght other trainers’ creatures. You can compete in ranked events with players from around the world or enjoy casual or private battles that won’t a ect your ranking. It’s a free-to -start challenge, but you may want to set some cash aside for in-app purchases. The ght club is open on Switch and Switch 2, with iOS and Android versions coming later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive’s People of Note tells the tale of a pop singer named Cadence who decides she wants to start a band. That means she’ll need to trek across the world of Note, where each city is de ned by its own style of music. In her travels, though, Cadence learns that a Harmonic Convergence is disrupting music itself, and she and her bandmates will have to solve puzzles, explore dungeons and ght tone-deaf villains to stop Note from going silent. Los Angeles-based Iridium Studios promises that “each battle is an interactive musical performance,” and you can pump up the volume on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.