Stanly News Journal Vol. 146, Issue 24

Stanly NewS Journal

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Georgia could become rst state with weapons detection in all public schools

Georgia lawmakers may require that every public school student be checked for weapons each day. On Monday, a state Senate committee advanced a bill, pushing it closer to nal passage. The proposal follows a 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder that killed four. Supporters say detectors will help spot guns and knives. There’s little research, though, that their broad use stops school shootings. There are also concerns about how much the systems cost, how to guard against false alarms and whether detectors are really needed in elementary schools. Some opponents say the state should limit kids’ access to guns instead.

Some state o cials say shifting mail ballot deadline will complicate November elections

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether mail ballots that arrive after Election Day should be counted. If the justices decide they should not be, it would leave little time for election o cials and voters to adapt. Some election o cials said some material related to November’s midterm elections has already been printed. Others said informing voters of the change would be the biggest hurdle, to ensure they are not disenfranchised. In 14 states, all mail ballots will be counted if sent by Election Day and received within a certain period of days. Another 15 states have grace periods for military and overseas ballots.

Bad time to hunt for new jobs, most U.S. workers say in new Gallup poll

A new Gallup survey nds that Americans’ outlook on the job market is increasingly pessimistic. The negative shift may seem incongruous with the low unemployment rate, but the ndings likely re ect an ongoing hiring drought. Just 28% of workers in a quarterly Gallup survey conducted in the last part of 2025 said now is a “good time” to nd a job, with 72% saying it is a bad time. Those gures are a sharp reversal from just a few years ago, in mid-2022, when 70% said it was a good time. Pessimism is especially pronounced among young people and college graduates.

Arts Council honors local talent at Celebration of the Arts

More than 200 pieces of student artwork were on display at the event

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Students and community members gathered Saturday at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center to celebrate the county’s arts scene during the annual Celebration of the Arts.

The Stanly County Arts Council’s free event featured live performances, information tables, art displays and demonstrations, author sessions and an exhibition of stu-

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dent artwork from schools across Stanly County.

Attendees viewed more than 200 pieces of student art, with each school showcasing selections from its students.

“What a great celebration it was!” the Stanly County Arts Council said in a statement. “Many thanks to all the artists, arts groups, volunteers, event sponsors and community members who joined together to recognize the positive impact the arts have in our community. Thank you for your support of the Arts Council’s mission of encouraging arts for all. The arts are

in Stan eld house

re; origin of blaze under investigation

Several departments responded to the home on Brooks Road

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

STANFIELD — A house re early on Saturday morning in western Stanly County resulted in one death, according to the West Stanly Fire Department.

Emergency crews were dispatched just after 6 a.m. to the 13000 block of Brooks Road in Stan eld after a caller reported smoke and ames

visible on two oors of a residence, with the possibility of two people trapped inside, ofcials said.

Fire departments from West Stanly, Oakboro, Ridgecrest, New Salem and Midland responded to the scene, with an additional tanker task force requested due to a lack of hydrants in the area. This task force added Fairview, Endy and Unionville Fire Departments to the response.

The rst unit to arrive found a 1.5-story single-family home approximately 60%

MARRIAGE LICENSES

March 3

• Amber Elise McIlwaine & Wyatt Houston Helms

March 6

• Dajha Sade Medley & Ahmad Jamal Baldwin

• Deidra Ladawn Masters & Darryl Scott Thompson Jr.

• Sarah Marie Villegas & Robert Eugene Stinson Jr.

March 7

• Destiney Leann Nicholson & Casey Drew Holt

March 8

• Sarah Elizabeth Little & Ian Michael Hofelzer

March 9

• Maria Del Sagrario Vazquez Sauceda & Carlos Alberto Diaz

March 11

• Jaelynn Diane Wilson & Bryan Scott Blake Jr.

March 13

• Annie Marie Glick & Glenn Kemp Deberry

• Mya Noemi Illingworth & Logan Tomoss Rudd

• Heather Lorraine Spivey & Chad Anthony Springer

March 14

• Landis Amanda Bogle & Barry Evans McSwain II

• Nevaeh Love Smith & Ashton James Bucholz

• Crystal Morris Morris McPherson & Timothy Allen Dunn

• Haley Ann Watson & Jacob Miles Jordan

• Anna Christine Wallace & Jordan Taylor McClamroch

March 18

• Elia Del Carmen Figueroa Rodriguez & Bertin Osorio

Something fresh is coming to Stanly County. Vessel Church of God is launching weekly Sunday services in Albemarle at the Historic Central Elementary School, and it all begins Easter Sunday at 10:00 a.m. This isn’t just another church announcement — it’s the start of a movement built for families, for the unchurched, for the “been hurt before,” and for anyone who’s been praying for a place that feels like home. At Vessel, you can expect a worship experience that’s alive — your favorite praise and worship music from 91.9 to 94.1, an encouraging message from Pastor Chelsey Carpenter, and a church culture that’s welcoming, inclusive, and real. No pretending. No pressure. Just Jesus, community, and a fresh start. Why Vessel? Why now? Pastor Chelsey didn’t wake up one day and decide to start a church — she kept hearing the same thing over and over from people in our community: “I want to be closer to God, but I don’t know where I t.” “My kids need something solid.” “I miss worship — but I’ve been through too much.” That’s when it became clear: Albemarle needed a place where families could worship together, grow together, and heal together — without feeling judged or out of place. Vessel Church of God was born out of that calling… and it’s being built from the ground up with the community in mind. Each Sunday at 10 a.m., you’ll experience: • High-energy worship and praise featuring music you love from 91.9 to 94.1 • A hope- lled, Bible-based message from Pastor Chelsey Carpenter • Vessel Kids — a kid-friendly worship and learning experience designed so children can grow in faith in a way they understand and enjoy.

This Easter Sunday marks the very rst service — and you’re invited to be part of the beginning. Vessel Church of God First Service: Easter Sunday at 10 a.m. | Weekly Services: Sundays at 10 a.m. | Location: Historic Central Elementary School, Albemarle, NC | Phone: 704-438-0485 | Website: vessel-church.org

March 27

March 28

3rd

March 31

Uwharrie

uwharrie Various venues Albemarle

THE CONVERSATION

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

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Outrage hypocrisy: America’s accidental tragedy vs. Iran’s deliberate atrocities

What would Iran do with a nuclear bomb?

THE RECENT U.S. Tomahawk missile strike in Iran, which reportedly killed 170 school children, has ignited a restorm of outrage from anti-war critics. Former Clinton White House sta er Keith Boykin used the unintentional tragedy, under investigation by the Pentagon, to write o the three-week-old Iran war as “a disaster for the 170 school children” and “an unmitigated disaster for the world.”

Imagine the mullahs, who chant “Death to America” and fund proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, armed with nukes and missiles. They would not hesitate to threaten Israel, Saudi Arabia, Europe and America. Iran, since the state of this war, has launched strikes against over a dozen countries, including “neutral” gulf states.

hard-to -verify areas. Where was the outrage from the anti-Iran war critics when Obama ordered the attacks that killed civilians and children? Where was the outrage over Iran’s intentional mass killings of its own people, including the use of children and human detonators?

Apart from the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Iranian protesters killed early this year, consider Iran’s intentional history of using its children during the 1980-88 IranIraq War. To repel Saddam Hussein’s invasion, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini mobilized child soldiers — boys as young as 9 — from poor families to serve as human minesweepers. Children were promised martyrdom and given “keys to paradise” to wear around their necks. Iranian commanders sent waves of them, often tied them together with ropes to prevent retreat. They marched onto mine elds and detonated explosives with their bodies, clearing paths for tanks and adult troops.

Estimates suggest as many as 500,000 children were used in this way, with tens of thousands blown to pieces or mowed down by Iraqi machine guns. Some sources suggest some 100,000 died to clear the eld for tanks and soldiers. Survivors recount the horror — bound together, facing withering re, their small bodies exploding on mines. Iran’s leaders glori ed it as holy duty.

The depravity is staggering. Iran treats its children like disposable tools, exploiting their poverty and brainwashing them with visions of post-death paradise.

Their proxy wars have already killed thousands. A nuclear Iran could kill millions. The regime’s history of terrorism — from the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing to plots against dissidents abroad — shows they’re not rational actors. Preventing that nightmare is why this war, however messy, is necessary. Appeasement, as with former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal, only emboldened them.

Let’s not forget the civilian toll. During the Obama administration, drone strikes in places like Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, including children. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimate that between 300 and 800 civilians were killed in those covert operations (excluding active war zones like Syria and Afghanistan). The Obama administration itself acknowledged between 64 and 116 civilian deaths in nonbattle eld strikes from 2009 to 2016, though critics argued the true number was far higher.

As with the Tomahawk strike on the Iranian school, the strikes conducted under Obama were not a deliberate targeting of innocents. Those civilian deaths resulted from intelligence errors in remote,

According to the 2013 book “Double Down: Game Change 2012,” Obama reportedly told senior aides, “Turns out I’m really good at killing people. Didn’t know that was going to be a strong suit of mine.” It’s the kind of o -the-cu remark that, if made by President Donald Trump, would be yet another addition of the ever-increasing list of “why I hate Trump.” Yes, mourn the 170 children. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. But the fury should be directed to Tehran. That regime has been at war against America for 47 years, including attacks on U.S. bases; killing American soldiers with IEDs with Iran’s ngerprints on them; nuclear saber-rattling; and lethal regional aggression through its terror proxies. This is the real villain. America ghts with rules and restraint. We are civilized. We regret mistakes that cause civilian deaths and show genuine contrition. Iran ghts with fanaticism. It uses its kids as shields and mine detectors. Iran must be stopped. Standing against Iran’s evil protects innocents everywhere. This includes Iran’s own oppressed people, as well as Americans who hate Trump.

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Why Americans have soured on higher education

The depravity is staggering. Iran treats its children like disposable tools, exploiting their poverty and brainwashing them with visions of post-death paradise. Without standards, college degrees aren’t worth much. Americans have started to notice.

WITHOUT STANDARDS, college degrees aren’t worth much. Americans have started to notice.

A recent I&I/TIPP poll found that just 24% of Americans believe college degrees are worth the cost. Even among the college- educated, nearly half, 49%, said it wasn’t worth the expense. Another 14% were unsure.

This isn’t an outlier. Over the last year, polls from Gallup, Pew and NBC News showed a signi cant majority of Americans have soured on higher education.

It wasn’t always like this. In 2010, 75% of Americans said a college education was very important, according to a Gallup poll. In 2025, the number had plummeted to 35%.

For decades, popular culture has pushed college as the sure re path to nancial stability. You’ve likely heard some version of the claim that college graduates earn more than $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates.

There is ample statistical evidence for this — going back decades. More recently, full-time workers with a high school diploma earn a median of $1.6 million over their lifetimes, according to a 2021 Georgetown University report.

“Bachelor’s degree holders earn a median of $2.8 million during their career, 75% more than if they had only a high school diploma,” the report said.

Understandably, this led parents, the education establishment and popular culture to spend decades pushing students to college.

But as those poll numbers show, something has gone wrong.

A major factor is the destruction of educational standards. Think about what made a college degree valuable to an employer. Even if it’s printed on something fancy, it’s not the piece of paper. It’s what the piece of paper represented. That a student was smart or talented enough to receive admission. That he passed the college’s core curriculum. That he has specialized knowledge in his major. This learning makes him a more valuable employee than those without that pedigree. A degree from an elite college was especially sought after because it signaled that you were especially smart. Many jobs require signi cant on-the-job training. Degrees gave employers a legally safe way to hire smarter people, since formal IQ tests are legally risky.

Standards also help students ght procrastination, work harder and study more. Even though the pressure and stress can be unpleasant in the moment, they are essential tools to help students learn more. Standards also lead to racial disparities that deeply embarrass leftists who refuse to understand that disparities aren’t de facto proof of discrimination.

For decades, the educational establishment has lowered the bar. Elementary schools send students who can’t read to the next grade. High school students graduate without being able to do freshman-level work. Politicians eliminated

high school pro ciency exams that would make this failure obvious. Colleges lowered standards and went woke. For decades, supposedly elite schools racially discriminated to let in applicants with lower test scores but favored skin colors.

There are still excellent schools. My alma mater, Hillsdale College, and New Saint Andrews College come to mind. But many universities used the prestige they built over decades or even centuries to mask this shift. While gutting standards lowered quality, it didn’t stop college tuition from skyrocketing.

In 1970, the average cost of a public college was under $400. That’s not per credit hour. That’s total. At private colleges, average tuition was just over $1,700. Today, those numbers are more than $10,400 for a public college and nearly $40,000 for a private school. Tuition for students today is around 25 times higher than it was in 1970.

Increased demand, lower standards to accommodate more students and ample government student aid fueled these exorbitant price hikes. If you subsidize mediocre to poor education, you’ll get more of it.

P.T. Barnum is often thought to have said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Today, those individuals aren’t watching the circus. They’re attending college.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Trump administration to refund French company $1B for o shore wind lease o NC, NY coasts Concrete

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The company was working on o shore wind farms in the Atlantic

By Jennifer McDermott and Matthew Daly The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Trump administration will pay $1 billion to a French company to walk away from two U.S. o shore wind leases as the administration ramps up its campaign against o shore wind and other renewable energy.

TotalEnergies has agreed to what’s essentially a refund of its leases for projects o the coasts of North Carolina and New York, and will invest the money in fossil fuel projects instead, the Department of Interior announced Monday.

President Donald Trump’s administration has tried to halt o shore wind construction, but federal judges repeatedly overturned those orders.

The Interior Department hailed the “innovative agreement” with the French energy giant and said, “the American people will no longer pay for ideological subsidies that bene ted only the unreliable and costly o shore wind industry.″

Environmental groups denounced the deal as an alternate way to block wind projects, with one group calling it a “billion-dollar bribe” to kill clean energy.

ARTS from page A1

not extra — they are essential!”

As part of the event, the Arts Council recognized individuals who have made signicant contributions to the arts in the county through its annual awards program, which was established in 2014. Jordan Owen, a music teacher at Endy Elementary School, was named the 2026 Fine Arts Educator of the Year. She was also recognized as a recipient of a 2026 North

Carolina Arts Council grant. Bradley Eudy, treasurer for the Uwharrie Players and a member of the Stanly County Chorale, was named the 2026 Arts Person of the Year. This year’s celebration also included recognition of students who participated in the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee’s banner design contest.

Winning students included Sienna Ward and Riyaa Prabu of Oakboro Choice STEM School; Mary Misenheimer and

“After losing again and again in court on his illegal stop-work orders, Trump has found another way to strangle o shore wind: pay them to walk away,” said Lena Moftt, executive director of Evergreen Action.

In his second term, Trump has gone all in on fossil fuels, which he says will lower costs for families, increase reliability and help the U.S. maintain global leadership in arti cial intelligence.

TotalEnergies had already paused its two projects after Trump was elected.

The company pledged to not develop any new o shore wind projects in the United States. CEO Patrick Pouyanné said in a statement that TotalEnegeries renounced o shore wind development in the United States in exchange for the reimbursement of the lease fees, “considering that the development of o shore wind projects is not in the country’s interest.”

Pouyanné said the refunded lease fees will nance the construction of a lique ed natural

“What

Stanly County Arts Council

Camp Bell Blaylock of Heritage Classical Academy; Alex Coria Regalado and Miller Hernandez-Aguilar of Central Elementary School; Callie Huneycutt of North Stanly Middle School; Mia Arambula of West Stanly Middle School; Jaelyn

gas plant in Texas and the development of its oil and gas activities, calling it a “more ecient use of capital” in the U.S.

After it makes those investments, TotalEnergies will be reimbursed, up to the amount paid in lease purchases for oshore wind, according to the DOI.

“We welcome TotalEnergies’ commitment to developing projects that produce dependable, a ordable power to lower Americans’ monthly bills,’’ Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said Trump was “using a pay-not-to-play scheme” to pressure the French company not to build o shore wind, calling it “an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars.” Hochul said she remains committed to moving forward with an “all-of-the-above approach” that includes renewables, nuclear power and other energy sources.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, said this is “a terrible deal for the people of North Carolina and our country.”

“Our state has the o shore wind potential to power millions of homes with renewable American-made energy. It’s ludicrous and wasteful that the Trump administration is spending $1 billion in taxpayer money to pay o a company to stop it from investing private dollars to create the clean energy we need,” Stein said in a statement.

The Interior Department halted construction on ve major East Coast o shore wind projects days before Christmas, citing national security concerns. Developers and states sued, and federal judges allowed all ve projects to resume construction, essentially concluding that the government did not show the risk was so imminent that construction must halt.

On Monday, one of the wind farms targeted by the administration, Coastal Virginia O shore Wind, started delivering power to the grid for Virginia. The developer, Richmond-based Dominion Energy, announced the milestone.

Ted Kelly, clean energy director at the Environmental Defense Fund, called the proposed deal “an outrageous misuse of taxpayer dollars to prevent Americans from having clean, a ordable power exactly when they need it most.” East Coast states are building o shore wind because it boosts a ordable electricity supply on the grid, even as natural gas prices are rising, Kelly said.

TotalEnergies purchased a lease for its Carolina Long Bay project in 2022 for about $133 million. It aimed to generate more than 1 gigawatt there, enough to power about 300,000 homes. It purchased the lease o New York and New Jersey, also in 2022, for $795 million. This was planned as a larger project, with the potential to generate 3 gigawatts of clean energy to power nearly one million homes. TotalEnergies is involved in major oshore wind projects in Europe and Asia.

The Biden administration sought to ramp up o shore wind as a climate change solution. Trump began reversing U.S. energy policies his rst day in o ce with executive orders aimed at boosting oil, gas and coal. Globally the o shore wind market is growing, with China leading the world in new installations.

Grantham of Stanly STEM Early College; Jamiyah Mack of Albemarle High School; Lyric Rucker and Claire Mauldin of South Stanly High School; and Mitchelle Jones and Emma Melton of West Stanly High School. The event recognized winners of the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee’s fourth grade county ag and essay contest. Caroline, a student at Norwood Elementary School, was named as the county’s overall winner, while Riley

of Locust Elementary School was the runner-up.

Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed performances from local groups including the Stanly County Concert Band, Stanly County Chorale, Stanly County Indoor Percussion, Endy Voices, West Stanly Players, Oakboro School of Music, Melissa Kathleen’s School of Dance and groups representing Music on Main.

The Stanly County Arts Council has hosted the Celebration of the Arts since 2017.

Newly discovered photos show legendary astronaut Armstrong after Gemini 8 emergency

Photos reveal his remarkable composure following a nearly fatal orbital crisis

By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Sixty years after Neil Armstrong barely survived an emergency in orbit around Earth on Gemini 8, never-before-seen photos of his heroic return have been donated to the Ohio museum that bears his name.

Quick thinking saved Armstrong and fellow astronaut David Scott, who ended the mission early with a splashdown o Okinawa, Japan.

Previously unreleased photos taken by Ron McQueeney, an Army veteran and professional photographer who escorted Armstrong and Scott, show new angles of the pair.

Since the splashdown was unplanned, few members of the media were on site, though NASA and military photographers were there. People who were unexpected-

The NASA Artemis II rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building moving slowly to pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, last Friday.

in 1966.

ly called to help with recovery operations, like McQueeney, played a key role in capturing the aftermath.

“Sometimes, an incredible event can actually be documented by some of the most ordinary

means,” said Dante Centuori,

executive director of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Armstrong’s western Ohio hometown.

McQueeney’s widow donated the photos, which show Arm-

NASA hauls repaired moon rocket from hangar back to the pad for planned early April launch

Four astronauts ready for a lunar y-around after months of delays

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. —

For the second time this year, NASA moved its moon rocket from the hangar out toward the pad last Friday in hopes of launching four astronauts on a lunar y-around next month. If the latest repairs work and everything else goes NASA’s way, the Space Launch Sys-

FIRE from page A1

engulfed in ames. Crews began re suppression efforts while also attempting to search for potential victims inside the structure.

Fire ghters were able to search roughly 30% of the home before an evacuation was ordered due to a compromised roof, heavy re involvement and limited water supply. Crews then shifted to a defensive strategy until the re was brought under control at approximately 6:55 a.m.

After a relative con rmed that one person remained unaccounted for, re ghters conducted a secondary search of the residence and located a deceased victim inside.

During the incident, a reghter was struck but unharmed by a live power line that failed due to radiant heat from the re.

“The re fatality and origin investigation is currently

tem could blast o as early as April 1 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis II crew went into quarantine this week in Houston. The 322-foot rocket began the slow 4-mile trek in the middle of the night, transported atop a massive crawler used since the 1960s Apollo era. The trip was held up for several hours by high wind but completed by midday, 11 hours after it began. The three Americans and one Canadian will zip around the moon in their capsule and then come straight home

without stopping. Their mission should have been completed by now, but hydrogen fuel leaks and clogged helium lines forced two months of delay.

While technicians plugged the leaks at the pad, the helium issue could only be xed in the Vehicle Assembly Building, forcing NASA to roll the rocket back at the end of February.

The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was during Apollo 17 in 1972. The new Artemis program aims for a two-person landing in 2028.

being conducted by the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Ofce and the North Carolina

O ce of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM),” the West Stanly Fire Department said in a statement. “All further inquiries should be directed to the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s O ce. No further information is available at this time.

“We would like to thank all supporting agencies for their assistance.”

strong and Scott on the deck of a U.S. Navy vessel and waving to service members on land.

One shows the Gemini 8 capsule being lifted into the air for transport.

One of the mission’s goals was to complete the rst docking in space. Minutes after accomplishing this, both spacecraft started tumbling uncontrollably. The astronauts separated from the other spacecraft but the spinning got worse.

Armstrong made a calculated decision, deploying the craft’s thrusters to stop the spinning. In doing so, he ate into some of the vital fuel needed to get home. For safety’s sake, they had to end the mission early.

The duo splashed down about 10 hours after the March 16, 1966, launch. They were picked up by a recovery ship and brought to the Naha Air Base in Japan.

Centuori said one element of the photos that sticks out is the smiles on the astronauts’ faces, which he suggested shows their professionalism and ability to remain at ease even after a life-threatening mission.

Science historian Robert Poole said the grins point to something else.

“The obvious thing that sticks out to me is that they are very happy to be alive,” said Poole, of the University of Lancashire.

Armstrong’s ability to stay cool in a crisis was key to his getting picked as commander of Apollo 11, Poole said.

More than a half-century after the last Apollo mission, NASA is preparing to return to the moon with a lunar y-around by Artemis astronauts in April.

Past missions are a reminder of the e ort and preparation it takes to get to space and adapt when plans change.

“Seeing people launch to space frequently can suggest that it’s easy, but it’s very hard. And it requires a lot of resources and attention,” said Emily Margolis, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum.

The new images will help the Armstrong Museum ll in gaps when telling the story of the mission to visitors. The Gemini 8 capsule is already on display at the museum.

America’s o cial mammal, the bison, gets bronze tribute

Statues celebrate the bison’s remarkable comeback from near extinction

By Nick Ingram The Associated Press

KEARNEY, Mo. — The national mammal of the United States is getting in on America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Three bison statues cast in bronze have taken up a permanent display outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. The pieces — which are larger than real-life bison — made their public debut in the nation’s capital last Friday.

The bison earned its ocial status as the nation’s mammal under a law signed by former President Obama in 2016. Millions of bison once roamed the Great Plains but were nearly driven to extinction in the 1800s.

“It’s a wonderful story of conservation working, it’s a story of people seeing a need and getting behind that to conserve an animal that is speci c to North America,” said Gary Staab, a paleoartist who made the statues.

Staab designed and sculpted the statues in Kearney, Missouri, where he works full time to create sculptures of animals and historical artifacts for museums around the world. For the bison, Staab sculpted the full-size statues in foam and clay before they were cast in bronze and assembled at a foundry in Colorado. The three statues depict a bull, a cow and a calf.

He said it took about four months to complete the sculptures — a time frame he called “lighting fast” given the size of the pieces.

“They really represent a really unbelievably beautiful and unique thing about North America,” Staab said.

The West Stanly Fire Department reported to a house re in Stan eld on Saturday morning.

Among others, the department listed Stanly County 911, Oakboro Police Department, Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce, Stanly County EMS, Stanly County Emergency Management, Albemarle Fire Department and Union Power as agencies who assisted in battling the blaze.

O cials have not released the identity of the victim as of Monday. The cause of the re remains under investigation.

Bison statues cast in bronze are on permanent display outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History last Friday in Washington, D.C.

Randy Clayton Cole

May 31, 1954 –March 20, 2026

Randy Clayton Cole, of New London, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, at the age of 71.

Randy was born on May 31, 1954, to the late Clay and Velma Cole. He was a proud graduate of Albemarle Senior High School, Class of 1973.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Brenda Greene Cole, with whom he built a life centered on love, laughter, and strong family values. Randy was a devoted father to his sons, Joe Cole and Chris Cole (Alycia), and a proud grandfather to Kayla Cisneros (Luis), Ty Cole, Garin Cole, and Maggie Cole.

He is also survived by his siblings: Ben Cole (Doreen), Karen Earnhardt (Jerry), and Kim Sinclair, along with numerous nieces and nephews who will cherish his memory. In addition to his parents, Randy was preceded in death by his sister, Kathy Boone.

Randy dedicated many years of service to the Department of Corrections before retiring in 2018. He was known for steady character, warm heart, and unwavering love for his family. His greatest joy in life was the time he spent with those he loved, whether sharing stories, laughter, or simply being together. He also enjoyed hunting and making lasting memories with family and friends.

A celebration of Randy’s life will be held on Sunday, March 29, at 4:00 PM followed by receiving of friends at 1913 Badin Inn, 107 Spruce Street, Badin, North Carolina 28009.

Randy’s legacy of love, strength, and devotion will live on in all who knew him.

In lieu of owers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association.

P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692

OBITUARIES

IN MEMORY

MILLIS NEIL HOUGH

JUNE 25, 1933 – MARCH 18, 2026

Millis Neil Hough, 92, of Midland, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Millis was born June 25, 1933, in Midland to the late James Alvin Hough and the late Annie Belle Robinson Hough. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia Ann Horton Hough; sister, Lillie Elzina H. Fletcher; brothers, Dewey Richard Hough, Max Avery Hough, and Theodore Columbus “Lum” Hough; and granddaughter, Erin Nicole Hough.

Millis graduated from Bethel High School. He was an active member of Clear Creek Baptist Church with his wife, Pat, for many years. Millis was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion, Black-Phillips Post 433, Midland. He enjoyed farming, shing, and playing with his grandkids. Most of all, Millis was a loving Pops and Paw Paw. He will be forever loved and greatly missed.

Survivors include his son, Ronald S. (Laura) Hough of Midland; daughter, Michele H. Warren of Midland; daughter, Trena H. (Ray) Fagan of Midland; grandchildren, Johanna and Jordan Hough, Manning and Austin Floyd, Jesse Warren, Hailey (Dakota) Markgra and Je rey Scott Fagan, and Maggie (Josh) Perigo; great-grandson, Josh Perigo Jr.; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 10-11:15 a.m., Monday, March 23, 2026, at Clear Creek Baptist Church, 9015 Ferguson Rd., Charlotte. The funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m., o ciated by Rev. Brandon Mullis. Millis will be laid to rest with military honors in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Clear Creek Baptist Church, 9015 Ferguson Rd., Charlotte, NC 28227.

PATRICIA JOSEPHINE GRIGGS BOWERS

JULY 9, 1938 – MARCH 18, 2026

Patricia Josephine Griggs Bowers, 87, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully at her home on March 18, 2026.

A viewing will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle. A private burial will be held at a later time.

Born July 9, 1938, in Stanly County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Calvin Griggs and Thelma Josephine Forrest Bowers. She retired as a Department Manager with Walmart and attended Faith Free Will Baptist Church.

Patsy will be remembered by her friends and family as a strongwilled and beautiful woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She was loyal and devoted, an amazing wife, and someone with a truly generous and caring heart. Above all, she loved the Lord. She enjoyed attending car shows and watching NASCAR, a passion that began through her husband’s love of cars. Though she was often quiet and kept to herself, those who knew her best understood the depth of her love and kindness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Gene Bowers, in 2012.

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ stanlynewsjournal.com

ROBBIE RUMMAGE OWENS

AUG. 15, 1964 – MARCH 20, 2026

Robbie Rummage Owens, 61, of Norwood, died Friday evening, March 20, 2026, at Atrium-Union in Monroe.

A Memorial Service will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Norwood Church of God. Pastor David Shankle will o ciate. Interment will follow at a later date in Norwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Robbie was born August 15, 1964, in Stanly County to the late Ephriam Harding Rummage Jr. and Mary McBride Rummage, who survives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Lee “Tony” Owens.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by two daughters, Katie Blake (Travis) and Mandy Owens. Two grandchildren, Lexi and Grayson Blake. One brother, Je Rummage (Sandy), and one sister, Jeannie Rummage. Niece and Nephew, Will and Brittany Gregory.

BETTY RUTH (BALDWIN)

SMITH

JAN. 24, 1932 – MARCH 21, 2026

Betty Ruth Baldwin Smith, 94 of Norwood, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, Saturday morning, March 21, 2026, at Atrium-Stanly.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Memorial Baptist Church. Rev. Jon Fergerson and Rev. Richard Alexander will o ciate, and interment will follow in Norview Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Betty Ruth was born January 24, 1932, in Norwood to the late Homer and Rachel McKenzie Baldwin. She was a lifelong resident of Norwood and graduated from Norwood High School in 1950. She began her career at Norwood Elementary School as Secretary and Librarian, followed by 25 years with NC Federal Savings and Loan, and later Uwharrie Bank. She was a charter member of Memorial Baptist Church, where she had served in many phases of church work and was a 4-H leader during her daughter’s childhood years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Lee “Bo” Smith, and her brother, Thomas Baldwin. She is survived by her daughters, Pam Smith Lambert (Mike) and Patti Smith Smith (Larry). Two granddaughters, McKenzie Ingold Huneycutt and Carrie Smith Bostic (Blake). Five great-grandchildren, Smith, Reece, and Aubrey Huneycutt, and Kate and Caroline Bostic. The family wishes to express their thanks to the sta of Trinity Place for their loving care.

Memorials may be made to Stanly County Humane Society, 2049 Badin Road, Albemarle, NC 28001, Mt. Zion Methodist Church, 8402 Whitley Road, Norwood, NC 28128 or Memorial Baptist Church, 873 Pee Dee Avenue, Norwood, NC 28128.

Chuck Norris, karate master, actor whose toughness became a meme, dead at 86

The karate champion became an action star and internet sensation

By Jonathan Mattise The Associated Press

CHUCK NORRIS, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86.

Norris died last Thursday in what his family described as a “sudden passing.”

“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He became a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3,300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide. Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honor.

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor. At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California, and joined the U.S. Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.

“I went out for gymnastics

and football at North Torrance High,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I played some football, but I also spent a lot of time on the bench. I was never really athletic until I was in the service in Korea.”

After he was honorably discharged in 1962, he worked as a le clerk for Northrop Aircraft and applied to be a police o cer, but was put on a waitlist. Meanwhile, he opened a martial arts studio, which expanded to a chain, with students including such stars as Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and Steve McQueen, whom he later credited with encouraging him to get into acting.

Norris made his lm debut as an uncredited bodyguard in the 1968 movie “The Wrecking Crew,” which included a ght with Dean Martin. He had also crossed paths with Bruce Lee in martial arts circles. Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceo in the 1972 movie “Return of the Dragon,” in which Lee ghts and kills Norris’ character in Rome’s Colosseum.

He went on to act in more than 20 movies.

“I wanted to project a certain image on the screen of a hero. I had seen a lot of anti-hero movies in which the lead was neither good nor bad. There was no one to root for,” Norris said in 1982.

In 1993, he took on his most famed role, as a crime- ghting lawman in TV’s “Walker, Texas Ranger.” The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

“It’s not violence for violence’s sake, with no moral structure,” Norris told the AP in 1996, speaking about the show. “You

Chuck Norris appears at a ceremony in Garland, Texas in December 2010.

try to portray the proper meaning of what it’s about — ghting injustice with justice, good vs. bad. … It’s entertaining for the whole family.” Norris also made a surprise comedic appearance as a decisive judge in the nal match of the 2004 movie “Dodgeball.” He only on occasion has taken acting roles in recent years, including 2012’s “The Expendables 2” and the 2024 sci- action movie “Agent Recon.” It was around the time of “Dodgeball” that his toughman image became the stu of legend, literally: “Chuck Norris Facts” went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, “Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun — and won,” and, “They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mount Rushmore, but the granite wasn’t tough enough for his beard.” Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together “The O cial Chuck Norris Fact Book,” which combined his favorites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by. He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir,

political takes, Civil War-era historical ction and more.

“To some who know little of my martial arts or lm careers but perhaps grew up with ‘Walker, Texas Ranger,’ it seems that I have become a somewhat mythical superhero icon,” Norris wrote in the forward to the fact book. “I am attered and humbled.”

That book raised money for a nonpro t he founded with President George H.W. Bush that promoted martial arts instruction for kids.

The intentionally outlandish statements featured in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, when Norris endorsed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and shot an ad playing on the “Chuck Norris facts.”

President Donald Trump’s supporters later promoted Trump Facts in the same vein, and political pundits tried it as well, describing the commander-in-chief’s decision to seize Venezuela’s sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, as a “Chuck Norris Moment,” and its initial e ect on oil prices a “Chuck Norris Premium.” Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and he backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president’s 80th birthday. As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him the in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Norris has ve surviving children: stunt performers Mike and Eric with his late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, twins Dakota and Danilee with his wife Gena Norris, and Dina, the result of an early 1960s “one-night stand” revealed in his autobiography.

STANLY SPORTS

Eye on the ball

South Stanly baseball coach JP Lisk looks on during a game earlier this month. We have results and schedules for the Rowdy Rebel Bulls and all the area spring sports on page B3.

South Stanly girls’ soccer shuts out Albemarle

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls were 0-10 last season

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Opening Yadkin Valley Conference play with a 3-0 win, the South Stanly girls’ soccer team was victorious on the road at Albemarle on Monday night.

Freshmen Lana Lambert, Hinata Lee and Adriana Whitley each scored a goal for the Rowdy Rebel Bulls (2-2, 1-0 Yadkin Valley), who now have two wins after totaling one victory in their past two campaigns combined.

South Stanly defeated Anson 2-1 on March 11 in the Bulls’ other win.

On Monday, the Bulldogs (0 - 4, 0-1 Yadkin Valley), still winless this season, surrendered goals midway through both the rst half and second halves before allowing a third late in the contest. Three of the team’s four games have resulted in shutout losses so far.

Albemarle was 5-8-1 with a fourth-place 3-6-1 record in the YVC standings last season.

South Stanly will head to Spencer for a road matchup with North Rowan on Wednesday before coming home to Norwood to host North Stanly on Monday.

Still looking for its rst victory of the season, Albemarle will hit the road to challenge Union Academy on Wednesday prior to facing South Davidson on Thursday.

West Stanly 3, South Rowan 3

The West Stanly Colts (6 - 0 -1, 3-0 Rocky River) posted a tie with the South Rowan Raiders (4-1-1, 1-1 South Piedmont) in China Grove on Monday in a nonconference contest, ending their six-game winning streak to start the season.

West Stanly joins Mount Pleasant as the only teams in

the RRC still unbeaten in league play; the Colts played at Forest Hills on Tuesday and will host Anson on Thursday.

Gray Stone 5, North Rowan 1

The Gray Stone Knights (3-3, 2-0 YVC) defeated North Rowan Cavaliers (2-3-1, 0-1 YVC) 5-1 in Misenheimer on Monday for their second consecutive win and third since March 10.

Coming o a 12-8 record in 2025 with a third-place 7-3 tally in the Yadkin Valley Conference, the Knights’ 2-0 start in league action sets up the team for another run at the YVC title. The

Knights hosted Lee Park Prep on Tuesday.

Union Academy 9, North Stanly 0

Playing on their home eld in New London, the North Stanly Comets (0-8-1, 0-2 YVC) were shut out at home on Monday as the reigning conference champion Union Academy Cardinals (2-7, 1-0 YVC) won 9-0.

Hoping to bounce back from a 3-14-1 record last season and a fth-place 2-7-1 record in the YVC standings, the Comets have already dug themselves into a hole as they chase their rst win of 2026.

Pfei er baseball takes one of three against Greensboro

The Falcons are 4-2 in conference play

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — Two weeks into USA South Athletic Conference play, the Pfei er baseball team has positioned itself near the top of the standings, going 4-2 against league opponents and sitting in second place.

The Falcons (9-13, 4-2 USA South), who are aiming for their rst winning season in ve years, carried early momentum into conference play after sweeping William Peace in a three-game series last week.

That momentum continued last Friday at Joe Ferebee Field, where the Falcons opened a series against the Greensboro Pride (12-9, 4-2 USA South) with a 12-2 victory. Pfei er scored in ve di erent innings and tallied 14 hits, while holding Greensboro scoreless until the eighth inning.

Senior shortstop Austin Wood led the o ensive surge, going 5 for 5 with three runs and three RBIs. His performance included a run-scoring single in the fth inning and a bases-loaded hit in the sixth.

“I just wanted a simple approach,” Wood said. “I’ve been grounding out a lot, so I wanted to try to stay on top, see pitches deep and swing hard. Every game is fun when it’s easy.”

COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS

Pfei er’s James Eason celebrates during the Falcons’ 12-2 home win over Greensboro on Friday.

“My fastball was working, but I trust my defense no matter what,” Eason said. “I have to give them all the credit tonight because there were great plays by everybody.”

The Falcons were unable to sustain that momentum Saturday, however, as Greensboro responded with a dominant dou-

Sophomore pitcher James Eason earned his second win of the season, throwing 71⁄3 innings while allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out three.

“Every game is fun when it’s easy.”

Austin Wood, Pfei er senior shortstop

bleheader sweep during which Pfei er was outscored 32-9 across the two games.

In the opener, the Pride erupted for 21 hits in a 23-8 win, powered by four home runs from Trebor Testerman. The 23 runs marked the most allowed by Pfei er in a game this season. Later that day, the Falcons took an early 1-0 lead but stranded 11 runners as Greensboro answered with nine unanswered runs to secure a 9-1 victory. After opening the season with four straight losses, the Falcons have played .500 baseball over their last 18 games. Pfei er nished 14-26 overall and 9-12 in conference play last season, placing sixth in the USA South standings. The Falcons will look to bounce back this weekend with a three-game road series against Southern Virginia in Buena Vista, Virginia.

MLB

Arozarena apologizes to Seattle teammate Raleigh over WBC comments

Randy Arozarena apologized to Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh after Arozarena cursed out the catcher for not returning a handshake at the World Baseball Classic. Arozarena’s statement said he doesn’t want the incident to “be a distraction. Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game.” The incident took place March 9 when Arozarena reached down to greet Raleigh at home plate, and Raleigh declined to o er his hand back in a game where the Americans beat Mexico 5-3. Arozarena cursed in four dialects afterward as he reacted to Raleigh’s snub.

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Clemson shining March moment wiped out because of clock mistake

Columbia, S.C.

A clock issue cost Clemson an apparent buzzer-beater in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Mia Moore made a running 3-pointer at the buzzer against Southern California, but o cials looked at video and determined that the clock hadn’t started on time. That meant the 4.4 seconds left when Clemson inbounded the ball had expired before Moore got her shot o . USC went on to win 71-67 in overtime. Clemson coach Shawn Poppie called it “a tough, tough day.”

TENNIS

Wimbledon introduces video review on 6 courts for this year’s tournament

London Wimbledon will use video review technology for the rst time at this year’s tournament. The All England Club says it will have the technology available on Centre Court, No. 1 Court — the club’s second-biggest stadium — plus four other show courts. Players will be allowed to review speci c calls made by the chair umpire — such as double bounces. Video review made its Grand Slam tennis debut at the 2023 U.S. Open. The Australian Open also uses the technology.

NBA Durant passes Jordan for No 5 on NBA scoring list in Rockets’ win

Houston On the night Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan for fth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, the 37-year-old was already looking ahead. “Four more (spots) to go,” he said. Durant scored 27 points in Houston’s win to move past Jordan. Durant had 21 points entering the fourth quarter and hit back-to-back 3-pointers with less than ve minutes left, from nearly the same spot in the right corner, to give him 32,294 points, two more than Jordan.

NCAA BASKETBALL

NCAA asks court to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms such as “March Madness”

Indianapolis The NCAA led a complaint in federal court seeking an emergency restraining order against online sportsbook DraftKings. The NCAA wants DraftKings to stop using registered trademarks associated with its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The complaint for trademark infringement was led in the Southern District of Indiana and requests that DraftKings refrain from using terms such as “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight” and “Sweet Sixteen” or variations of them in sports wagering products, promotional campaigns and marketing. DraftKings denied it was engaging in trademark infringement.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@stanlynewsjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

The 23XI Racing driver overcame malfunctions to continue his hot start to the season

The Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. — A malfunctioning battery, a cool suit that got very hot and a big de cit to the leader with less than 50 laps remaining at Darlington Raceway.

The “Track Too Tough To Tame” tested Tyler Reddick in every way possible, and this year’s top star in NASCAR naturally passed with ying colors for his fourth victory of the season.

“I know never to give up,” said Reddick, who broke through after three runner-up nishes on the tricky 1.366mile oval. “I think it’s very tting that when we nally get our rst win here at Darlington that ‘The Lady in Black’ would test us like that. We’ve been so close so many times.”

Starting on the pole position for the 23XI Racing team co - owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, Reddick led 77 laps in the No. 45 Toyota for his 12th career victory. Chasing down Brad Keselowski after his nal pit stop, Reddick breezed to a 5.847-second margin of victory.

Ryan Blaney nished third, followed by Carson Hocevar and Austin Cindric.

The problems started on the rst lap for Reddick, who radioed his team about an alternator problem that caused his voltage to drop dangerously low. The team swapped a battery with larger capacity into his Camry after the rst stage, but the charging problems remained.

Reddick had to toggle o his cockpit fans and the pow-

er to his cool suit, which provides driver comfort through a water circulation system.

During a later pit stop, Reddick pumped water out of the suit, which had begun to cook because of temperatures in the high-80s.

“The battery wasn’t charging at all,” Reddick said. “All day long just not running fans and sweating my tail o inside the race car. We knew it was going to be physical. Really wore out, but I guess I don’t need as much of that cooling stu as I normally have.”

It might not quite have been a performance on par with the “ u game” that Jordan delivered in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, but it still pleased the basketball great.

“Pretty sure it’s frustrating for him because he had an unbelievable car, and I think the key to him winning was just keeping his head,” said Jordan, who has been on hand for every Reddick win this season and got to celebrate Sunday at a track he attended with his family decades ago as a child growing up in North Carolina. “We just had to get the car

BASEBALL

SOUTH STANLY (4-6, 2-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Gray Stone Day 17-2

• Lost vs. Charlotte Stampede 8-1

• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 11-1

This week’s schedule

• March 24 vs. North Rowan

• March 25 vs. Buford

• March 27 at North Rowan

WEST STANLY (9-0, 2-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Anson 16-6

• Won vs. East Rowan 5-1

• Won at Anson 7-1

• Won vs. West Rowan 6-3

This week’s schedule

• March 24 at Forest Hills

• March 26 vs. Carmel Christian

• March 27 vs. Forest Hills

NORTH STANLY (5-2)

• Won vs. Union Academy 7-4

• Won at Union Academy 11-1

Upcoming schedule

• March 25 at East Rowan

• March 26 vs. Cent. Davidson

• March 27 vs. Albemarle

ALBEMARLE (1-3)

• Won at North Rowan 8-6

• Lost vs. North Rowan 13-7

Upcoming schedule

• March 25 vs. South Davidson

• March 27 at North Stanly

GRAY STONE DAY

(3-3, 0-2 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. South Stanly 17-2

• Won at Central Academy 8-6

right, and I think he did an unbelievable job. I just wanted everything to be good because once he gets back out there, then I feel like his competitive juices are going to carry him all the way to the end. He earned it all week, and I’m real proud of the team.”

Keselowski led a race-high six times for 142 laps. But the Roush Fenway Keselowski driver made his nal pit stop four laps earlier than Reddick, who made the most of fresher rubber to erase a seven-second gap and complete the winning pass on the 266th of 293 laps.

“We didn’t have the best car today, not compared to Tyler,” Keselowski said. “Tyler drove a hell of a race, and he’s driving a rocket and making it count right now.”

Reddick began the season with a Daytona 500 win on the way to becoming the rst driver in Cup Series history to win the rst three races of the season. He joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt (1987) and Bill Elliott (1992) as the only Cup drivers to win four of the rst six races in a season.

• Lost at South Stanly 11-1

Upcoming schedule

• March 24 at Union Academy

SOFTBALL

SOUTH STANLY

(9-0, 2-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Gray Stone Day 16-0

• Won at Richmond 4-1

• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 11-0

This week’s schedule

• March 25 vs. Concord

• March 26 at A.L. Brown

WEST STANLY

(9-1, 6-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Monroe 18-0

• Won vs. Monroe 16-0

• Won at South Iredell 12-8

• Won at Anson 15-0

Upcoming schedule

March 24 vs. Mount Pleasant

March 26 at Central Academy

• Lost vs. Union Academy 5-3

• Lost at Union Academy 3-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 24 at Albemarle

• March 26 vs. Cent. Cabarrus

• March 27 vs. Albemarle

• March 30 vs. East Rowan

ALBEMARLE (0-1)

• No games last week

Upcoming schedule

• March 24 vs. North Stanly

• March 25 at Jay M. Robinson

• March 27 at North Stanly

GRAY STONE DAY (2-4, 0-2 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. South Stanly 16-0

• Lost at South Stanly 11-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 24 at Union Academy

• March 27 at Cent. Academy

• March 30 vs. Wheatmore

GIRLS’ SOCCER

SOUTH STANLY (1-2)

• Lost vs. Parkwood 7-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 23 at Albemarle

• March 25 at North Rowan

• March 30 vs. North Stanly

WEST STANLY (6-0, 3-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Parkwood 7-2

• Won vs. Monroe 6-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 23 at South Rowan

• March 24 at Forest Hills

• March 26 vs. Anson

• March 30 vs. South Rowan

NORTH STANLY (0-7-1, 0-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. Gray Stone Day 6-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 23 vs. Union Acad.

• March 25 vs. South Davidson

• March 30 at South Stanly

ALBEMARLE (0-3)

• Lost vs. South Davidson 3-1

Upcoming schedule

• March 23 vs. South Stanly

• March 25 at Union Academy

• March 26 at South Davidson

• March 30 at North Rowan

GRAY STONE DAY (2-3, 1-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at North Stanly 6-0

Upcoming schedule

• March 23 vs. North Rowan

• March 24 vs. Lee Park Prep

March 27 vs. Union Academy NORTH STANLY (1-6, 0-2 IN CONFERENCE)

• March 30 vs. Union Acad.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS

25E000483-830 NORTH CAROLINA GUILFORD COUNTY The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of William Claude Cook AKA William C. Cook, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before June 18, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 18th day of March 2026. Crystal C. Page Administrator of the Estate of William Claude Cook AKA William C. Cook PO Box 1273 Norwood, NC 28128 N. BLANE STANALAND Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, P.L.L.C. 101 South Elm Street, Suite 350 Greensboro, NC 27401 Telephone: (336) 272-4810 Fax: (336) 272-2448 Publication dates: 3/18/26, 3/25/26, 4/1/26, 4/8/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000113-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Executor of the estate of Jerry Ronald Aldridge aka Jerry R. Aldridge deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jerry Ronald Aldridge aka Jerry R. Aldridge to present them to the undersigned on or before June 13, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 11th day of March 2026. Ronald Scott Aldridge 9881 RIchard Sandy Road Oakboro, NC 28129 Co-Executor Nancy Aldridge Murr 5649 Aldridge Road Norwood, NC 28128 Co-Executor

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000237-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Kevin Bernard Almond deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Kevin Bernard Almond to present them to the undersigned on or before June 27, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 25th day of March 2026. John Thomas Almond 24806 Bost Road Albemarle, NC 28001 Administrator

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000100-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Edna C. Earnhardt deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Edna C. Earnhardt to present them to the undersigned on or before June 6, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 4th day of March 2026. David K. Earnhardt 2401 Hobart Court Charlotte, NC 28209

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000104-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Donnie Gene Smith deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Donnie Gene Smith to present them to the undersigned on or before June 6, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 4th day of March 2026. Heather Smith 265 Deese Street Rich eld, NC 28137 Administrator

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000132-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executrix of the Estate of Ronnie G Furr, deceased, of Stanly County,

Charlie Puth, Daniel Day-Lewis, Robyn, James Marsden, ‘Hannah Montana’ special

Red Hot Chile Pepper’s bassist Flea drops his debut solo album

The Associated Press

A “HANNAH MONTANA” anniversary special starring Miley Cyrus, fresh music from Robyn and a Charlie Puth album 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: the Oscar-winning Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value,” James Marsden as a hit man in “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,” and the San Francisco Giants host the New York Yankees on Net ix’s rst MLB broadcast.

MOVIES TO STREAM

In “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” (Friday on Disney+), Marsden plays a hitman named Mike who’s hired by a time traveler named Nick (Vince Vaughn). Nick wants to prevent the biggest mistake of his life by killing his past self. Writer-director Ben David Grabinski’s lm recently premiered at the SXSW lm festival.

Following its win at the Academy Awards, Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” is streaming now on Hulu. Nominated for nine Oscars, including best picture, it won for best international lm. In it, Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters who reconnect with their lmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård), who’s making an autobiographical lm starring an American actor (Elle Fanning). In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that the lm’s focus “may be small and limited — one Norwegian family struggling to connect and communicate — and yet its emotional scope is downright cosmic.”

Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to star in his rst lm since 2017’s “Phantom Thread” in “Anemone” (Saturday on Net ix), a family drama directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. In it, Day-Lewis plays a hermit in the North England woods who’s visited by an old friend (Sean Bean) sent to bring him back to his son. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it “bleak, somber, absorb -

ing but also sometimes frustratingly opaque.”

MUSIC TO STREAM

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ eccentric bassist Flea will release his debut album on Friday. And in a true shock to those who don’t know him, it’s a trumpet-forward jazz record. You read that correctly. Long before the rocker made a name for himself in a band known for songs about California, he was a huge jazz fan, a musical world he explores on the record titled “Honora.” Come for the name,

stay for his inventive improvisations and star-studded collaborations, which include Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and the always introspective Nick Cave. A lot has happened to Puth in the time since the singer/ songwriter’s last album, “Charlie,” was released in 2022. He got married. He’s expecting his rst child. He performed at the Super Bowl. Taylor Swift gave him a shoutout on her album “The Tortured Poets Department.” And now, he’s embracing it all on a new record, the playful “Whatever’s Clever!” Expect fun pop songs about life and its

“(‘Sentimental Value’ may be small and limited — one Norwegian family struggling to connect and communicate — and yet its emotional scope is downright cosmic.”

Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer

many transformative moments. That, and some Kenny G. Swedish pop savant Robyn has returned with “Sexistential,” her rst album in eight years. It is nine tracks of shimmering synths (“Dopamine,” “Really Real”) ascendant choruses (“Into the Sun”) and rebellious pop songs that double as emotional life rafts (“Sucker for Love.”) The songs are all about freedom, single motherhood, love and lust — often in the same breath. It’s a lascivious collection for the dance oor: exactly what most pop stars hope to achieve, many fail, and Robyn makes look e ortless.

SERIES TO STREAM

“Hannah Montana” made Cyrus a star, and a new special now streaming on Disney+ celebrates 20 years since the show’s

premiere. Filmed in front of a live audience, the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” features music, archival footage and an interview with Cyrus, hosted by podcast host Alex Cooper.

A bride-to-be starts to get a bad feeling about her impending nuptials. Is it cold feet or intuition? “Something Very Bad is Going to Happen” stars Camila Morrone (“Daisy Jones & The Six”) and Adam DiMarco (“The White Lotus”) star in the new creepy limited-series debuting Thursday on Net ix.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

In 2015’s Life Is Strange, a young woman named Max rewound time to save her childhood friend Chloe’s life. The series has bounced around since between di erent lead characters with di erent supernatural gifts, but Max and Chloe are back in Life Is Strange: Reunion. Max is now a teacher whose university has been destroyed by an inferno — and when she turns back the clock this time, Chloe shows up. Does she have mysterious powers of her own? Can they save the school and their relationship? If you’re craving an emotional, metaphysical mystery, you can check in Thursday on

5, Xbox X/S or PC.