Stanly News Journal Vol. 146, Issue 60

Stanly NewS Journal

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Republicans decry new Democratic Socialists platform as Dem primaries split party

A new platform from the progressive Democratic Socialists of America is sparking Republican attacks. The DSA’s Workers Deserve More program proposes sweeping changes, like abolishing the Senate and allowing all permanent U.S. residents to vote. Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson are framing these ideas as communist threats. The DSA platform has created an opening for Republicans to attack Democrats broadly. Meanwhile, DSA-backed candidates have gained traction in recent Democratic primaries, challenging moderates, even as some try to distance themselves from the “socialism” label.

Biden interviews with ghostwriter reveal him discussing sensitive information

Newly released audio tapes appear to show Joe Biden sharing classi ed information with a biographer and sometimes claiming memory lapses during interviews that occurred before his election to the presidency in 2020. About three hours of audio and 117 pages of transcripts were released by the conservative Oversight Project, an arm of the Heritage Foundation. The audio and transcript feature frequent redactions. The conversations were released after Biden lost a prolonged legal ght to keep his talks with memoir ghostwriter Mark Lewis Zwonitzer private. In the sessions, Biden discusses a range of matters, shares notes from his vice presidency and appears to con rm to Zwonitzer that he retained some classi ed material.

Americans’ con dence in U.S. economy falls as Iran con ict sends gas prices higher Americans’ con dence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their ghting. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer con dence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. Consumers’ view of current business and labor market conditions fell by 3.6 points to 114.9, the third straight monthly decline. Consumer attitudes had improved modestly in June as gas prices came down.

Stanly County Schools to o er free meals to all students

Free breakfast and lunch will be available daily

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Schools announced last week that all enrolled students will receive free meals each school day during the 2026-27 school year through the federal Community Eligibility Provision. Beginning on the rst day of classes, every student in the

district will be eligible for one breakfast and one lunch at no cost, regardless of household income. Families will not be required to submit free or reduced-price meal applications to participate.

“At Stanly County Schools, we believe that nutritious meals help students learn, grow and succeed,” the district said in a July 23 statement. “By ensuring every student has access to healthy meals, we are helping remove barriers so students can fo -

cus on what matters most — learning.”

The Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP, allows qualifying schools and school districts to o er free meals to all enrolled students without collecting individual household applications.

“At Stanly County Schools, we believe that nutritious meals help students learn, grow and succeed.” Stanly County Schools

Because SCS quali es for the program, standard breakfast and lunch charges will be eliminated for families during the upcoming school year. District o cials said student participation will remain important to the program’s long-term success.

Albemarle honors Lewis after 44 years of service

The longtime city employee retired July 1

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Long-

time Albemarle employee Linda Lewis was recognized for 44 years of service during a presentation at the Albemarle City Council meeting July 20.

Lewis retired July 1 from the city’s Finance Department, ending a career that began in 1982 and included several roles involving nance, utilities and purchasing.

Mayor Ronnie Michael presented Lewis with a certicate of appreciation on behalf

of the city, saying that opportunities to recognize an employee with that tenure are uncommon.

“It’s not often I get the honor of celebrating someone with as many years of service as Linda has,” Michael said.

“Linda’s been a part of this organization for as long as I can remember.”

Michael noted that he and Lewis began working for the city around the same time.

Over the years, he watched her develop while taking on a range of responsibilities.

Lewis was hired as anance collection clerk in 1982. Later that year, she moved to

Both victims allegedly targeted for their Jewish and Asian identities are expected to recover

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — A suspect in two separate stabbings on New York City streets was arrested last Friday on attempted murder and charged with hate crimes relating to both victims, a Jewish man and an Asian man.

Raul Morales, 51, allegedly yelled the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar” while attacking the two men last Thursday on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to police accounts of what witnesses told them.

Morales was initially arrested last Friday on hate crime charges related to the Jewish man but not the other. He was arraigned later that day and charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes related to both victims.

As Morales was led out of a police station that evening, he shouted about seeking justice for someone. When reporters asked about the stabbings, he responded that he was “gonna talk about it” as he was ushered into a police car.

Morales’ court-appointed attorney did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Rabbi

The stabbings happened about two blocks apart last Thursday afternoon, police said. Both victims were taken to a hospital and were expected to survive. They were in stable condition the following day, state Attorney General Letitia James said at a morning news conference with other o cials and community leaders.

According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce, Morales approached the Asian man from behind and stabbed him with a knife “without provocation.” Then, after walking four blocks away, he stabbed the Jewish man wearing a kippah with a screwdriver, prosecutors said.

A witness followed Morales as he ed to the apartment he was staying at, prosecutors said.

The Jewish victim was attacked just after leaving a nearby synagogue, called the Jewish Center, Rabbi Yosie Levine said.

“He was just trying to pray at his synagogue, and now we’re the ones praying for his

recovery,” Levine said.

The Asian American Foundation, a New York-based advocacy group, said in a statement the attacks “underscore the persistent safety challenges” and mistreatment — from harassment to physical assault — facing Asian Americans in the city.

“We demand continued, meaningful investment in community safety and hate prevention that protects everyone,” the group said in a statement.

The charges Morales faces carry a consecutive total of 40 years in prison, prosecutors said. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 30.

Hate crimes in New York City have been on the rise in recent years, while overall violent crime rates have dropped, according to police data. A city rep said in April that more than half of all con rmed hate crimes in the city so far this year targeted Jewish people. Estimates of the size of the city’s Jewish community vary, but it’s far less than half the overall population.

“We are undeniably being disproportionately targeted, again and again and again,”

City Comptroller Mark Levine said at the Friday morning news conference, where he also told Asian Americans: “We stand in outrage with you.”

James and Levine are Democrats.

July 31

Live

7-10

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THE CONVERSATION

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

VISUAL VOICES

Rezoning should require a vote, not an expired clock

A rezoning is lawmaking about what may be built on the land, and the people who hold that power are the ones the voters chose.

THE NORTH CAROLINA Senate has passed Senate Bill 1047, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026, and its development-review provisions are now before the House. The bill is right to impose rm deadlines on local development review and to give those deadlines real consequences. Yet one provision deserves a closer look before it becomes law because it would deem a rezoning application approved solely because a review deadline expired.

Delay is a real cost, and it falls on the applicant. Carrying costs continue while land sits idle and nancing commitments lapse. A local government that will not decide can turn that refusal into a practical denial. On that point, the sponsors are right. The wrong answer is to treat an expired clock as if the elected board had voted yes.

Senate Bill 1047 applies to jurisdictions with populations of 20,000 or more. A covered government would have seven days to check whether an application is complete, staged periods for sta review and applicant response, and a nal 90-day period to decide. Extensions would require the applicant’s consent and could not exceed six months. If that nal deadline passes, the application would count as approved. For an administrative approval, a strong default remedy has some logic because such a permit turns on objective standards an applicant either meets or does not. Lawmakers may reasonably decide that a missed deadline should favor the applicant once those requirements are shown.

A rezoning is a di erent kind of act. Under North Carolina law, it is a legislative decision by the elected governing board that requires

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

published notice and a legislative hearing, referral to the planning board for review and comment, and governing-board statements addressing the amendment’s consistency with adopted plans and its reasonableness. If approved, the amendment must be adopted by ordinance. A rezoning is lawmaking about what may be built on the land, and the people who hold that power are the ones the voters chose.

Proposed North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 160D-707 would let a rezoning be deemed approved with no vote by the governing board, yet the bill does not explain how approval by expiration would interact with the legislative hearing, ordinance adoption, planning-board review, and consistency and reasonableness statements that state law still requires. What the bill leaves unanswered is who performs the legislative act when no one votes.

That gap is not only a problem for opponents. A conventional rezoning produces a clear public record of the required hearing, the governing board’s action and the amendment it adopted. An approval by expiration may instead require proof of when the clock began, whether it was tolled and which version of the application was approved. Those questions can surface during nancing, purchase or litigation, long after the approval is demanded.

The House can keep the binding schedule while xing this defect. It should retain the completeness review and the deadlines for rezonings but change what happens when a deadline expires. The consequence should be a decision, not a deemed approval.

The jurisdiction should complete any remaining notice, planning-board review

Trump’s war critics discuss everything — except the point

An analysis that calls the con ict a potential forever war while refusing to analyze the threat that caused the war is not analysis. It is a prosecution brief.

THE LOS ANGELES Times recently published a “News Analysis” headlined: “Trump, long a critic of ‘forever wars,’ may be stumbling into one with Iran.”

The analysis o ers legitimate grounds for criticizing President Donald Trump. He has described the objectives of the war against Iran in di erent ways. He has made changing predictions about its duration. He has repeatedly suggested that an agreement was near, only for negotiations to collapse. He promised no more endless Middle East wars, yet the con ict has continued for months, American servicemembers have died, and the administration has not clearly de ned what victory looks like.

All fair questions. But the article omits the most important question of all: Why did the war begin?

Similarly, recent analyses in Time, The Washington Post and Politico raise many of the same objections. Yet here, too, none addresses the threshold question: Was Iran close to obtaining a nuclear weapon — and if so, how close?

Trump, from the beginning of the war, said the primary purpose is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte publicly agreed with Trump and said Iran was close to acquiring a nuclear and ballistic-missile capability “which is posing a threat not only to the region, the Middle East, including posing an existential threat to Israel, it is also posing a huge threat to us here in Europe.”

Was that assessment correct?

The Times quoted three experts who explain why Trump may be “stumbling” into a “forever war.” Yet the article does not ask any of them whether Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon. It does not ask what Iran might have done with one. And it does not ask what they would have proposed to prevent it.

Suppose Iran was nowhere near a bomb. Suppose its nuclear program posed no imminent danger and could have been contained inde nitely through inspections, sanctions and negotiations. In that case, Trump’s decision to use military force becomes far harder, if not impossible, to defend.

But suppose Trump and Rutte were right. Suppose Iran was approaching the point at which it could produce a nuclear weapon along with increasingly capable missiles. It could intimidate its neighbors, protect its terrorist proxies and trigger a regional nuclear-arms race.

That would not automatically prove that every Trump decision was wise. It would not excuse shifting explanations, unrealistic timelines, failed cease res or poor planning, if that was the case. But it would establish that the president did not simply awaken one morning and decide he felt like bombing a country. It would establish that he took action when previous presidents chose not to — an action no other country on earth was willing or able to undertake.

Americans cannot intelligently judge this war when major news organizations discuss its

and hearing steps on an expedited schedule, place the application on the earliest legally permissible agenda and hold a vote soon after the hearing. The local government should refund the application fee for missing the deadline so the missed deadline carries a direct nancial consequence. If the board still fails to act, the applicant should have an expedited superior-court action to compel a vote, with docket priority and recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The statute should also state plainly that expiration of the review period does not by itself amend the zoning map. Supporters will say the consequence has to be approval itself because a board that can stall without losing will simply stall. The concern is fair, and any alternative must carry a real penalty. Together these remedies would impose a nancial cost, place the application on a mandatory decision schedule and give the applicant an enforceable right to the vote o cials failed to provide. They must also be usable by the owner of a single lot, not only a developer with a legal department, so the compulsory-vote action should be simple to le and shift fees.

A local government should not be allowed to avoid a decision. A zoning map, however, should change because the elected governing board voted to change it.

Colton Overcash is the founder of Vertex Strategies, a Charlotte-based government relations and strategic advisory rm. His work includes land-use policy, development approvals, and state and local government issues across North Carolina.

costs while barely mentioning the danger it was intended to prevent.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed recently denounced “a war we should have never started.” Yet the interviewer never asked: Was Iran close to a nuclear weapon? If not, what evidence disproves that claim? If so, what would you have done about it, if anything?

Sanctions? Iran endured them for years.

Negotiations? Iranian negotiators broke the memorandum of understanding before the ink was dry.

Inspections? Those work only when inspectors receive genuine access without notice and only if Iran allows the inspectors to inspect. Containment? That means accepting the risk that the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism remains determined to acquire a nuclear weapon while hoping deterrence works forever.

That is what serious analysis looks like.

Critics may conclude that military action was unnecessary, disproportionate or counterproductive. But they must confront the alternative. What was the likelihood that Iran would obtain a bomb? How soon? What would the consequences have been if and when Iran achieves this objective? And what nonmilitary policy had a realistic chance of stopping it?

An analysis that calls the con ict a potential forever war while refusing to analyze the threat that caused the war is not analysis. It is a prosecution brief.

The public deserves scrutiny of Trump’s inconsistencies, predictions and strategy. But it also deserves scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear progress, intentions and capabilities. This is not too much to ask from a “news analysis.”

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

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Suspect in Berlin Pride attack that left 1 dead, 29 injured killed by German police

The suspect had attempted to join the Islamic State and was released pending an appeal

By Geir Moulson, Kirsten Grieshaber and Stefanie Dazio

The Associated Press

BERLIN — The suspect in the deadly Berlin Pride attack that left one person dead and 29 injured was shot and killed by police during a confrontation on Sunday in a suburb of the city, authorities said.

Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, was killed following a search that lasted nearly 24 hours after the attack in downtown Berlin. Prosecutors said he had previously sought to join the militant Islamic State group.

Ballout was suspected of driving a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Pride festival Saturday night before apparently stabbing others with a machete in what authorities believe was an Islamic extremist terror attack.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack occurred a few hundred yards from a party near the Brandenburg Gate that was supposed to close out the city’s Pride festival.

MEALS from page A1 319 PALMER STREET ALBEMARLE NC 28001

Federal reimbursement is connected to the number of meals served, meaning higher participation can help the district sustain the program and continue providing free meals in future years.

The school system is encouraging students to take advantage of both breakfast and lunch each day.

O cials said regular participation supports the district’s School Nutrition Program while giving students access to balanced meals intended to support concentration, ener -

gy, healthy development and classroom engagement. The district also plans to launch a new campaign, “Nourishing Minds. One Meal at a Time,” during the school year. The campaign will highlight the work of School Nutrition employees, provide behind-the-scenes looks at meal preparation, feature menu options and student favorites, and explain how school meals can support learning.

School Nutrition sta members prepare and serve meals across the district each day, o ering fruits, vegetables and

Ballout was tracked down around 6 p.m. Sunday at a garden in Spandau, a Berlin suburb, the city’s police department wrote on X. They said he apparently ran toward o cers with a sharp instrument, and police red at least one shot. He died at the scene.

Ballout was born in Germany, the minister said. His mother was naturalized in 2002, three years before he was born.

Ashley Jump, a 26-year-old U.K. resident, had traveled to Berlin for Saturday’s Pride parade but had left the celebrations before the attack. They returned Sunday to leave owers at a memorial near the crime scene in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

“They’ll never erase us, we’ll never be gone,” they said. “As long as humanity has existed, we’ve existed. And as long as humanity exists, we will exist. We will not be removed.”

Suspect convicted of ties to Islamic extremism

Ballout traveled to Lebanon

a variety of entrees. The district said the team works to provide nutritious and appealing meals while creating a welcoming cafeteria environment for students.

No action is required from families for students to receive the free meals. Every enrolled student automatically qualies, and the program will begin with the opening of the 2026-27 school year.

In a statement, SCS said it hopes the expanded access will reduce meal-related costs for families and help ensure students are ready to learn throughout the school day.

in 2025 with the goal of going to Syria to join the Islamic State group, Berlin prosecutors said Sunday. There, he made contact with several people who were presumed members of the militant group — or at least he believed them to be, prosecutors said. He was arrested in Lebanon last year and sentenced by a military court to three months’ imprisonment for o enses including incitement to religious and sectarian con ict. He returned to Germany after completing his sentence, where he was arrested at the Berlin airport. In May, a juvenile court in Berlin convicted Ballout of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state, as well as publishing Islamic State propaganda on his Instagram account and other charges, prosecutors said.

The court handed down a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months in youth custody, which Berlin prosecutors had appealed.

The court said it took Ballout’s months of pretrial detention in Germany and Lebanon into account. It also said it considered that Ballout had confessed to the crimes, appeared to distance himself from the militant group and no actual threat had ever materialized. He was released from detention pending the appeal.

Berlin’s Pride festival one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations

According to police, a white van drove into the Tiergarten park around 10 p.m. and hit several people before colliding with a tree. The closing party at the Pride festival, known as Christopher Street Day, was ongoing at the time next to the Brandenburg Gate, a short distance away. The party followed a parade with some 80 trucks that had made its way through downtown Berlin earlier in the day.

The attack did not occur at the festival, along its route or at the closing party. Rather, the violence took place a few hundred yards away on a track in the Tiergarten park. The van drove into a crowd that was likely a mix of festivalgoers and other locals or visitors.

Police said a woman was killed.

On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mourners gathered at

a memorial at the iconic gate. They hugged each other and laid down owers, candles, rainbow ags and homemade signs, including a cardboard one that said: “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

Hundreds of thousands had come to Berlin to celebrate Saturday, though it’s unclear how many were still at the festival by late evening. It’s one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.

“We are simply stunned by what happened,” said Andre Lehmann, a top o cial with the main national LGBTQ+ association, LSVD+. “This suspected attack hits the heart of the queer community.”

Amsterdam says it will celebrate freedom in wake of Berlin attack

Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the nation to remain united in the aftermath of the attack.

“I would like to say this to Christopher Street Day participants here in Berlin but also across Germany: Don’t let yourselves, let us not let ourselves, be intimidated,” he said. “These acts have only one purpose: They aim to divide our society. They want to take away from us the most important thing we have: Namely our openness and our freedom.”

Dobrindt said he expected security measures at other major events in Germany, including Pride events elsewhere, to be reviewed and if necessary signi cantly boosted.

Berlin has seen Islamic extremist attacks before. In December 2016, a rejected asylum seeker from Tunisia plowed a hijacked truck into a Christmas market, killing 13 people and injuring dozens. He was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.

In February last year, a Spanish tourist was stabbed and seriously wounded at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, an attack that saw a Syrian man convicted in March and sentenced to 13 years.

This week, Amsterdam will be hosting World Pride alongside its own annual Pride celebrations. Mayor Femke Halsema said authorities and organizers “are closely monitoring the security situation” after the Berlin attack but aim to prevent any extra measures getting in the way of celebrating freedom and love.

Stanly County Schools will provide all enrolled students free meals each school day during the 2026-27 school year.

How lighthearted social media trend of ‘teen takeovers’ took serious turn

Teens say the gatherings o er community that pandemic disruption and school closures removed

By Sa yah Riddle and Corey Williams

The Associated Press

WHEN DAMARION Spann, 18, saw an Instagram ier calling for a massive gathering on a beach near downtown Chicago, he immediately wanted to go. Thousands of others joined him that night on the sand, blasting music and dancing.

The cultural trend of so-called teen takeovers has popped up across the U.S. in recent years, in uencing local policing and national politics. The events, often hyped online and captured in videos on social media, have led to shootings, theft and vandalism. City o cials and police are concerned about an increase over the summer and are under pressure to prevent similar gatherings or to punish those who participate.

Over the July 4 holiday weekend, several thousand young people converged in two spots in Raleigh, police said. Nine people, including an adult who was not part of the gatherings, were shot and wounded.

There were also takeovers in Pensacola, Florida, where a 19-year-old was shot and killed; and Newport Beach, California, where more than 400 were arrested after the police chief said teens launched “explosive mortars and other projectiles” at ofcers ordering them to disperse.

But Spann and other teens say that the events are largely misunderstood. They point to formal curfews or limits on group size at malls and movie theaters that have made it harder for teens to gather, exacerbating a feeling of disconnection they trace back to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

How cities track social media trend

Communities and police across the country are trying to identify organizers, ne parents of those involved and impose curfews.

In Detroit, o cials say they

LEWIS from page A1 the Water and Sewer Department, where she worked as a secretary. She then returned to the Finance Department as its secretary in 1988.

In 2004, Lewis became the city’s purchasing coordinator, a position she held until retiring. Her duties included handling purchase orders and preparing invoices for processing.

“We’ve been fortunate to have what Linda has done for us,” Michael said. “She’s grown through many di erent positions.”

Michael also pointed to

Hundreds of young people gather near the Gri n Museum of Science and Industry in the Hyde Park neighborhood as Chicago police o cers attempt to disperse them May 25.

“thwarted” 19 gatherings so far this year by monitoring time and location changes as young people coordinated across social media, said Teferi Brent, director of the Mayor’s O ce of Neighborhood and Community Safety.

“We have eyes on all the behaviors and activities of those who have expressed interest in trying to take over, and we have done a good job of being way ahead of the curve and being able to prevent a lot of these things,” Brent said.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, who chairs the Chicago City Council’s subcommittee on Youth Employment, said her ofce has tried to nd solutions that don’t rely exclusively on police and instead coordinate with parents and community members to prevent con ict or crimes.

Blue Island, a south Chicago suburb, has taken another tack: to ne parents or guardians and use the funds to cover cleanup after events. That might include debris left behind or other damages like cars dented from scores of teens clambering over them while eeing police.

Other places have taken harsher approaches, as in Florida, where state o cials said prosecutors can apply racketeering laws, typically targeting criminal gangs or organized crime, if takeovers appear to

the relationships Lewis developed with coworkers during her more than four decades at City Hall: “You can see Linda has a lot of friendships here, and she’s made a great impact on many di erent individuals.”

In a statement marking her retirement, the city described Lewis as a consistent source of knowledge and support whose in uence will remain within the Finance Department.

“Throughout four decades, Linda has been a steady and consistent source of expertise, professionalism and kindness,”

be facilitated by “an organized network.”

But some have pushed back on the idea that the threat of harsh legal punishment could prevent the gatherings in the rst place.

“What we know about adolescent brain development is that the stakes are not going to be what prevents a young person from engaging in risky behavior,” said Melissa Milchman, the executive director for the nonpartisan organization the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Milchman added that mass arrests often ensnare those who are going for innocent fun without preventing others from breaking the law. Teens say there aren’t safe spaces for them to gather

For Spann, the recent media attention on the events has largely failed to capture the appeal to young people.

“You feel like a young person who has freedom, who’s not being held to something,” said Spann, who is black. At the event he went to, he was able to catch up with people he hadn’t seen since eighth grade.

He said that the events are a direct result of a cascade of school closures across black neighborhoods over the past couple decades in Chicago. To deter people from gathering even at basketball courts, where there were

the city said. “Her dedication to the city has shaped the Finance Department in countless ways, and the legacy she leaves will serve as a strong foundation for continued growth in the years ahead.”

The city said Lewis will be missed by her colleagues but expressed excitement for her as she begins the next stage of her life. The certi cate extended best wishes to Lewis for “a wellearned rest and a long and happy life.”

The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

sometimes ghts, o cials have removed the nets. Spann said his mother, who grew up in the same neighborhood, frequently talks about how much easier it used to be to hang out outside without a fear of gun violence.

When Spann goes to malls in more a uent areas with his mostly black group of friends, shoppers often stare and security guards question them. To avoid scrutiny, Spann and his friends sometimes sneak into outdoor shopping centers or areas downtown in smaller groups at staggered times.

By contrast, in the same spaces, Spann said, “If I’m with my white friends, I feel like I belong.”

Despite the physical dangers that come with takeovers and the threat of getting a ticket or even arrested, the allure is strong, according to Je rey Bernstein, a psychologist and author.

“The kids still do it because they feel like it’s their second family,” which he said “really takes over as their primary sense of connection.”

“They’re getting things from their peers that they can’t get from their parents.”

Some cities have tried to meet that need head-on instead of cracking down with law enforcement.

In St. Louis, o cers have started to bring some teens to community centers instead of

jails so their parents can pick them up, and in Baltimore, ocials have tried leaning on public schools to provide alternative programming. In Chicago, Spann received an $11,000 grant from the city and partnering nonpro ts to host an event for his peers at the end of the summer in an e ort to give his community more places to gather.

What cities are doing to address “teen takeovers”

In April, Daveion Page, a 16-year-old in Detroit, was bored. He turned to his phone, creating a post on social media promoting a teen takeover. Hundreds of teens soon ocked to a site downtown and ghts broke out by the end of the night. At another takeover in May, a 14-yearold was shot and wounded.

After the Detroit event in April, Page told reporters that he didn’t intend for the takeover he organized to result in violence.

“I just wanted to get out of the house, have fun, enjoy time with my family and my homeboys and my homegirls, too,” said Page, who was anked by Detroit Mayor Mary She eld and other city o cials at a news conference.

He told city o cials that young people might respond if there were more safe places to gather.

Before the takeovers, there were already plans to use $1.5 million from the city’s budget for summer programming and to support violence prevention programs. In response to the takeovers, the city has launched an o ce of youth affairs, met and listened to students at schools, and created a youth advisory board composed of teens and young adults.

“We have brought them to the table and made them a part of our structure in regards to identifying what the needs and concerns are of the young people in the city,” Brent said.

In Detroit, a late-night basketball league has formed as an alternative hangout spot for teens and young adults. Jerseys and sneakers are provided by the city.

“This league just helps me nd something to do,” Cameron Chandler, 21, said while playing basketball at the recreation center.

He’s never participated in a takeover, but recently after practice, he stumbled on one near his home.

“There were a lot of cops and some people got arrested,” Chandler said. “You just have to think, ‘that could easily be me.’”

OBITUARIES

IN MEMORY

Gunther von Hagens, German anatomist behind ‘Body Worlds’ exhibition, dead at 81

His plastination method preserved corpses and sparked worldwide debate about death and dignity

By Geir Moulson The Associated Press

BERLIN — Gunther von Hagens, the German anatomist who generated both fascination and revulsion around the globe with his “Body Worlds” exhibits of preserved human corpses, has died. He was 81.

Von Hagens’ family and the Institute for Plastination, which he founded, said he died last Friday. A statement they issued on Monday gave no further details.

Von Hagens had announced in 2010 that he was living with Parkinson’s disease.

Von Hagens trod a ne line between science, entertainment and commerce with his touring exhibits, as well as headline-grabbing actions such as a public autopsy.

At the heart of von Hagens’ work was the so-called plastination process — replacing body uids with liquid plastic that then hardens. That technique, which he started developing in the 1970s, prevented decay, left tissues intact and allowed him to display preserved corpses and their inner organs.

The resulting exhibition, “Body Worlds,” rst went on show in Japan in 1995.

Two years later, the collection of partly skinless corpses went on display in von Hagens’ homeland, overcoming an attempt by local church leaders to block its opening on the grounds that it was disrespectful. Von Hagens said he was helping viewers understand how their bodies work.

The anatomist “is forced in his daily work to reject the taboos and convictions that people have about death and the dead,” von Hagens said of his work.

“I touch here a taboo, which is our body, and nothing is so near as our body is to us,” he said.

The shows used the corpses of people who agreed to donate their bodies for plastination. Critics argued that von Hagens bordered on sensationalism with his works, which included a corpse riding a plastinated horse, and a pregnant woman with an 8-month-old fetus inside.

Von Hagens “plays with the corpses like a child plays with dolls,” the Rev. Ernst Pulsfort, spiritual rector of Berlin’s Catholic Academy, said when the show rst opened in the German capital in 2001. He argued

LM OTERO / AP PHOTO

German Gunther von Hagens poses with a display from “Body Worlds” anatomy exhibit that puts real human specimens on show in Dallas, Texas, in January 2007.

that it catered to a “public lust for sensation.”

During a “Body Worlds” show in London in 2002, the anatomist — wearing, as ever, his trademark black fedora — conducted Britain’s rst public autopsy in 170 years before a sellout crowd of hundreds, defying government warnings that it might be illegal.

Von Hagens declared it a “huge success.” The British Medical Association’s head of ethics, Dr. Michael Wilkes, said it was “degrading and disrespectful.”

The “Body Worlds” exhibits were shown in several American cities after making their U.S. debut in Los Angeles in 2004.

Von Hagens’ “Plastinarium,” where bodies are prepared, opened in the eastern German town of Guben in 2006.

The anatomist was born Gunther Liebchen on Jan. 10, 1945, in what is now western Poland.

He went to medical school in Jena in East Germany but increasingly questioned the communist system and made a failed attempt to ee to the West. He was detained before West Germany bought his freedom in 1970, a regular practice at the time.

He continued his medical studies at the University of Luebeck and, in the 1970s, began working at Heidelberg University’s pathology and anatomy institute. He married a former classmate, Cornelia von Hagens, and took her surname.

His second wife, Angelina Whalley, heads his Heidelberg-based Institute for Plastination and curates his exhibitions. He had three children from his rst marriage.

Monday’s statement said it was von Hagens’ wish that his body be made available for plastination and “his family will respect and carry out this wish.”

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

ROGER VAUGHN SMITH

FEB. 14, 1949 – JULY 24, 2026

Roger Vaughn Smith, 77, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Ignite Medical Resort in Albemarle.

A graveside service to celebrate Roger’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Liberty Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Mount Gilead. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday evening at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle.

Born on February 14, 1949, in Montgomery County, North Carolina, Roger was the son of the late Edmund Giles Smith and Willie Blondell Batten Smith.

Roger spent his entire working career as a brick mason, a trade that re ected his strong work ethic and dedication. He was known by those who loved him as someone who could be stubborn at times, but whose quick wit and sense of humor kept family and friends laughing. He enjoyed tending his garden, following NASCAR, watching professional wrestling, and spending time doing the things that brought him happiness.

In addition to his parents, Roger was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Haire Smith.

He is survived by his children, Eric Culp, Heather Lee Smith Gri n and husband, Bobby, of Florida, and David Smith of New London; his sisters, Joy Wilson and Donna Deaton; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and other extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.

Roger’s family will remember him for the laughter he brought into their lives and the many memories they shared together. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

JIMMY ALLEN KIKER

JUNE 16, 1963 – JULY 24, 2026

Jimmy Allen Kiker, 63, of Stan eld, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 24, 2026.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

Born June 16, 1963, in Union County, North Carolina, Jimmy was the son of the late William Davis Kiker and Elsie Dean Mullis Kiker. He worked for many years as a selfemployed brick mason, taking great pride in his craftsmanship and strong work ethic.

Jimmy enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved shing, working on lawn mowers and just about anything that needed xing. He was an avid NASCAR and drag racing fan and could often be found enjoying the excitement of the races. More than anything, however, Jimmy dearly loved his family. In his nal days, he professed his faith in Christ and accepted the Lord as his Savior, bringing great comfort and peace to those who loved him. His family will remember him as a caring man whose love for his family was evident throughout his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Julie Eudy Kiker of the home; his son, Ashley Kiker (Jessica) of Oakboro; his daughters, Deanna Kiker of Oakboro and Shannon K. Miller (Brandon) of Gold Hill; his brothers, Ron Kiker (Karen) of Monroe and Rex Kiker (Tammy) of Pageland, South Carolina; his sister, Kelly Metcalf (Brian) of Cary; and his four cherished grandchildren, Mckenzie Kiker, Addyson Kiker, Abby Miller, and Eli Smith. He also leaves behind his beloved grand-dog, Macee, who held a special place in his heart.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Kim Ray and Rev. Ron Honeycutt for their kindness, support, and compassionate care during Jimmy’s nal days.

REV. ROY LEE BARBEE

MAY 21, 1941 – JULY 24, 2026

Rev. Roy Lee Barbee, 85, of Monroe, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 24, 2026.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Kinza Memorial Baptist Church, o ciated by Rev. Tab Whitley and Rev. Charles Dunevant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 2-2:45 p.m., prior to the service.

Born May 21, 1941, in Locust, North Carolina, Roy was the son of the late Melbert Arlene Barbee and Ella Mae Aycock Barbee. He faithfully answered God’s call to ministry and devoted his life to serving others through the preaching of the Gospel. During his years of ministry, he pastored Liberty Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina; Jonas Ridge Baptist Church in Jonas Ridge, North Carolina; Rittertown Baptist Church in Hampton, Tennessee; Middle Cross Baptist Church in Jackson Springs, North Carolina; and Community Baptist Church in Dallas, North Carolina. In retirement, he remained a devoted member of Kinza Memorial Baptist Church.

Over the course of more than ve decades in ministry, Brother Roy preached the Gospel with conviction, baptized new believers, o ciated weddings and funerals, comforted grieving families, and faithfully shepherded generations of people in their walk with Christ. His in uence extended far beyond the walls of the churches he served, and his steadfast faith, compassionate heart, and unwavering commitment to the Lord left an enduring legacy in the lives of countless individuals across North Carolina and Tennessee.

Those who knew Roy will remember him as a loving husband, devoted father, faithful servant of God, and a man of unwavering integrity. He was humble, kind, honorable, and a steady source of strength for his family. Blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, he found joy in making others smile and was a constant encouragement to those around him. His life was a re ection of his deep Christian faith and his desire to serve the Lord with all his heart.

Outside the pulpit, Roy enjoyed spending time in his woodworking shop, where he skillfully crafted countless projects. He also loved gol ng, shing, and singing. Among his favorite passages of Scripture was Psalm 23, whose comforting words re ected the faith that sustained him throughout his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Louise Carter Barbee; his daughter, Robin Barbee Grismer; his son, Je rey Barbee and wife, Pamela; his brother, Bobby Barbee and wife, Linda; grandchildren Jeremiah Grismer and wife, Lauren, Adrienne Grismer Byrne and husband, Christopher, Joshua Grismer, Brittany Grismer Bittorf and husband, Jesse, David Barbee and wife, Cheryl, Je rey Barbee (“Max”), and Alex Barbee (“AJ”); great-grandchildren Matthew Grismer, Michael Grismer, Victoria Grismer and life partner, Alex Garcia, Alec Ross, Summer Bittorf, Savannah Bittorf, Jacob Chapman, Ava Barbee, and Penelope Barbee; and one great-great-grandchild, Elijah Garcia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Louise Little, Bessie Tolbert and Frances Almond.

The family is deeply grateful for the many prayers, acts of kindness, and expressions of love shown during this di cult time.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” - Psalm 23:1

Rev. Barbee’s life was one of faithful service, humble leadership, and steadfast love for both God and others. Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy will continue through the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the faith he so faithfully proclaimed.

In lieu of owers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

LINDA CAROL FORSYTH

MARCH 23, 1945 – JULY 25, 2026

Linda Carol Forsyth, 81, of Norwood died Saturday Morning, July 25, 2026, at her home.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when they become available.

Linda was born March 23, 1945, in Cabarrus County to the late James and Mary Burleson Ward. She was a retired sales representative and a member of Annunciation Catholic Church.

She is survived by her husband, Robert William Forsyth. One daughter, Alissa Michele Taylor, and one son, Guy William Forsyth. 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Ronnie Terry Still Jr.

STANLY SPORTS

PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

Uwharrie Wampus Cats nish 2026 season

Albemarle’s college wood-bat team placed sixth in its rst BRL season

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — The Uwharrie Wampus Cats’ fourth summer season ended without a nal pitch after unplayable eld conditions forced the cancellation of Saturday’s scheduled home nale against the Queen City Corndogs.

The Albemarle-based college wood-bat team nished its inaugural Blue Ridge League campaign 8-15 in league play, placing sixth in the eight-team standings.

Uwharrie nished behind Queen City, the Carolina Disco Turkeys, Greenwood Flying Monkeys, Joanna Hornets and Marion Hungry Mothers while ranking ahead of the Davie Crocketts and Spartanburg County Peaches.

Despite the promising opening, the Cats were unable to maintain their early pace as the summer progressed. Thenal standings eventually left Uwharrie outside the championship eld, which was reserved for the league’s top two teams. The cancellation at Don Montgomery Park closed a season that began with momentum.

Uwharrie entered June with a 5-2 record after opening its rst season as a founding member of the new league. The move

“Thank you to our fans, sponsors, players, coaches and sta for making this season so memorable for us.”

Uwharrie Wampus Cats

marked another step in the organization’s growth after it spent its rst three summers competing as an independent club and in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.

“With the Corndogs beginning the Blue Ridge League Championship Series on Monday and other scheduling con-

siderations, the game will not be made up,” the Wampus Cats said in announcing Saturday’s cancellation.

The team credited its supporters and grounds crew for their work throughout a week disrupted by rain.

“Thank you to our fans, sponsors, players, coaches and sta for making this season so memorable for us,” the organization said. “We also sincerely thank our eld crew for doing everything possible to prepare the eld before Mother Nature ultimately made playing impossible.”

The Wampus Cats added that weather had created diculties for teams across the region before concluding, “We’re looking forward to more sunny

Pfei er alum selected to lead Lynchburg

The former Falcons standout takes over the Hornets’ women’s basketball program

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — Chris-

tina Harvey arrived at Pfei er University in Misenheimer still adjusting how to play in the post.

By the end of her four-year career, she had established herself as one of the most productive frontcourt players in Falcons women’s basketball history.

Now the former Pfei er standout will have a program of her own.

Harvey, who played for the Falcons from 2009-13, was named the new women’s basketball coach at the University of Lynchburg last month.

As an NCAA Division III school, the Lynchburg Hornets compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

The position is Harvey’s rst as a college head coach. She joins Lynchburg after ve seasons on the sta at Henderson State University, an NCAA Division II program in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, including serv-

ing as associate head coach since 2021.

“I am honored and excited to accept the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program here at the University of Lynchburg,” Harvey said in a statement. “When I stepped on campus, I could feel the pride, energy and commitment that makes Lynchburg a special place.”

Harvey said she plans to build relationships, invest in the Hornets’ student athletes and help them develop on and o the court. At Pfei er, Harvey nished with 1,200 points, which ranks seventh in program history. She also ranks ninth with 453 eld goals, sixth with a .527 eld-goal percent-

age, seventh with 281 free throws and eighth with 683 rebounds. Harvey averaged 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds as a senior in 2012-13, helping the Falcons reach the Conference Carolinas championship game and the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. She scored more than 20

days ahead! Until next summer!” While Uwharrie’s season is over, the league’s inaugural championship series began Monday. The top-seeded Corndogs, who nished 17-2 in league play, earned a 9-5 victory over the second-seeded Disco Turkeys in the opener at Queens University in Charlotte. Carolina entered the best- of-three series with a 23-8 league mark. Both of Queen City’s regular-season league losses came against the Disco Turkeys, adding a layer of familiarity to the title matchup. Game 2 was scheduled for Tuesday at Rich Park in Mocksville. If Carolina evens the series, the teams will return to Queens University for a deciding Game 3 on Wednesday.

“I am honored and excited to accept the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program here at the University of Lynchburg.”

Christina Harvey

points while playing every minute in each of Pfei er’s nal two conference tournament games and both NCAA Tournament contests.

Her senior honors included rst-team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team and NCAA Division II Southeast Region All-Tournament Team selections.

She also earned a place on the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll. Harvey was a three-year team captain and served on Pfei er’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee throughout her four-year playing career.

Her coaching path remained connected to Jill Thomas, her coach at Pfei er. Harvey later worked alongside Thomas for ve seasons at Henderson State, where she helped the program win the 2024 Great American Conference Tournament championship.

MLB Mets slugger Soto goes on 10 -day injured list with left calf strain

New York New York Mets slugger Juan Soto was placed on the 10 - day injured list with a left calf strain that’s expected to sideline him for at least three weeks and probably more. Soto felt discomfort pushing o when running to second base. He had been nursing the nagging injury since returning from the All-Star break last week. Soto is hitting .283 with 21 homers, 52 RBIs and an NL-best .947 OPS. He missed 15 games in April with a right calf strain.

NCAA ATHLETICS

NCAA Division I board: No plans to change age-based eligibility rule being challenged in court

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is standing rm on its new age-based eligibility rule despite legal challenges. The rule allows athletes ve seasons of competition over a ve-year period starting with full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday. Lawsuits were led, arguing the rule unfairly limits athletes’ college careers. It eliminates waivers for extended eligibility, except for speci c cases like military service. The SEC supports the rule, although some leaders have concerns about its timing and e ectiveness.

NFL 49ers coach Shanahan hurt in a car crash, limited as training camp opens Santa Clara, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan su ered a concussion and other injuries in a car crash earlier this month that will limit his participation at the start of training camp. The two-car accident happened July 14 in Palo Alto, leading to Shanahan being taken to the hospital. Police say there was no evidence that either driver was impaired. No one was cited. Niners general manager John Lynch says Shanahan sustained a concussion, broken nose, broken ribs and an injured hand.

NBA Curry to have dedicated exhibit at Basketball Hall of Fame, rst for active player Spring eld, Mass.

Stephen Curry is headed to the Hall of Fame, making more basketball history with a rst-of-its-kind exhibit for an active player. Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc celebrates the career of the two-time MVP and the NBA’s career leader in 3-pointers. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the exhibit was the rst time in the museum’s nearly 75-year history that an active player would have a dedicated feature experience. The exhibit will feature video footage of Curry’s career, memorabilia and audio and video components.

NFL

Former Cowboys QB Romo arrested on suspicion of operating vehicle while under in uence

Milwaukee CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the in uence. Romo reportedly performed poorly on eld sobriety tests after getting stopped. Romo was taken into custody, booked and released. The 46-year- old Romo has been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017.

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

Heim executes daring pass on nal restart, holds on for historic Brickyard 400 victory

The part-time Cup driver won for the second time this year

By Michael Marot

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Corey

Heim started Sunday by talking about being more aggressive on his restarts.

Then he showed everyone — including his team co-owner Denny Hamlin — what he’d learned.

The 24-year-old part-time NASCAR Cup Series driver rst made a daring outside move to pass Hamlin then slow him down on the nal restart with 35 laps to go before holding o the hard-charging cars of Christopher Bell and Joey Logano to capture his rst Brickyard 400 title.

Heim beat Bell by 0.287 seconds and Logano, last week’s race winner, by 0.972 seconds to become the rst Cup driver to win twice in his rst 15 career starts since 1965. A.J. Foyt, one of four four-time Indianapolis 500 champions, was the last to do it and, like Foyt, Heim didn’t even need a full-time ride to nish the job.

times. But neither could get close enough to try to pass Heim.

And with no more caution ags to bunch up the leaders, the stage was set for Heim.

“It’s a good second place,” said Bell, Hamlin’s teammate with Joe Gibbs Racing. “We’ve had a lot of bad second-place nishes, but this is a good one with where we were after qualifying. When we had the restart on the second row, I was really happy with our position. Really proud of our team, we pulled together a really good day.”

Heim wasn’t the only big winner Sunday.

Hamlin extended his points lead over Heim’s teammate, Tyler Reddick, who was 10th. Ty Gibbs, who is fourth in points, clinched a playo spot with a stage win and a 12th-place nish. And Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports de ed the odds by collecting the $1 million prize in the nal round of NASCAR’s second In-Season Challenge.

“Just had to be aggressive, man, it’s for the win,” he said after his second win of the season. “I would have to see it back to see if I really did anything wrong. You know, he has every right to be frustrated with me, but don’t get me wrong, I just had to be on top of it. Got to go quick for the 22 (Logano) to be in position, so thanks to him. Man, it’s crazy.”

fth, a descent he never recovered from as his winless streak at Indianapolis hit 18.

It’s the only crown jewel race of NASCAR’s four Hamlin hasn’t won.

Hamlin seemed more frustrated with Bell’s mistimed push, which allowed Heim to get past him, and that was all Heim needed to take charge. Hamlin wound up falling from rst to

“I mean everyone’s trying to ght to win the race, and you know you’re clear by an inch, you’re going to take that inch,” Hamlin said. “It’s really the 20 and (Bell) and the 19 (Chase

Briscoe) not orchestrating good pushes there, and we came detached for a long time. I thought the 20 was on board with giving us a push, it was just way too early before the restart zone.”

With Hamlin fading, Bell and Logano spent the nal 34 laps trying to catch Heim’s increasingly loose car. Each driver consistently closed the gap by running consistently quicker lap

But nobody was more satis ed with the results than Heim.

“That was a damn handful,” the Georgian said. “I was hanging on for dear life once the shade went down and the pace picked up. My car got really loose, and I never really got a lot of clean air throughout the day, so that was the hardest I’ve ever fought in my life to make sure I focused on the exits and get through dirty air.”

celebrates with a burnout after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis

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25SP000175-830 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sean Hubbard a/k/a Sean X. Hubbard and Ti any Hubbard to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), which was dated March 29, 2022 and recorded on March 29, 2022 in Book 1780 at Page 1128, Stanly County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on August 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Stanly County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at a new iron pipe on the southeasterly corner of Lot No. and the Northeasterly corner of Lot No. 26 in the Block “G” of Wall Heights addition as shown on a plat thereof recorded in Plat book 2, Page 123, Stanly County Registry; thence with the dividing line between Lots 25 and 26 N. 85-00 W. 128.83 feet to a new iron pipe on the Easterly Margin of Washington Lane (1.17 feet East of the old street line); thence S. 05-00 W. with the back of the curb on the Easterly margin of Washington Lane 107.50 Feet to a new iron pipe (Northwest Corner of Hamp Tyson); thence S. 86-00 E. 128.85 feet to a new iron pipe ; thence N. 05-00 E. 105.31 feet to the place of beginning and containing 0.31 acres by survey of Dent Hall Turner R.L.S. dated May 31, 1976. And including portions of Lot 26, 27 and 28 in block “G” of Wall Heights addition as shown on a map recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 123, Stanly County Registry and also including an addition parcel of land lying South of said Lot No. 28. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 593 Washington Lane, Albemarle, NC 28001. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental,

NOTICES

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 23E000112-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Riva Denise Mason deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Riva Denise Mason to present them to the undersigned on or before October 17, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 15th day of July 2026. Tamela Mason 2108 Waymeet Drive Apt. 105 Charlotte, NC 28216 Administrator

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000330-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Executor of the estate of John Parrish McIntyre deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said John Parrish McIntyre to present them to the undersigned on or before October 17, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 15th day of July 2026. Meredith McIntyre Curran 304 Castlestone Lane Matthews, NC 28104 Co-Executor John Robert McIntyre 1614 Arbor Way Albemarle, NC 28001 Co-Executor

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000334-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of James Floyd Walton, Jr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said James Floyd Walton, Jr. to present them to the undersigned on or before October 17, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 15th day of July 2026. Teresa Walton Lowder 1102 Greenwood Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Executor

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000082-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/ are Ti any Hubbard and spouse, Sean Hubbard.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 4521.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

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

If the transaction is

Having quali ed as Administratrix of the Estate of Walter Louis Blalock deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Walter Louis Blalock to present them to the undersigned on or before October 9, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 8th day of July 2026 Alice Fay Allen Blalock 40481 Mt. Zion Church Road Norwood, NC 28128 Administratrix

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000343-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Rosaland Elaine E rd a/k/a Rosaland Almond E rd deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Rosaland Elaine E rd a/k/a Rosaland Almond E rd to present them to the undersigned on or before October 31, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 29th day of July 2026. Je rey Paul E rd 620 Lower Stone Church Road Rockwell, NC 28138 Executor

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA

STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000310-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Leroy Douglas Smith a/k/a Leroy Douglas Smith, Jr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Leroy Douglas Smith a/k/a Leroy Douglas Smith, Jr. to present them to the undersigned on or before October 9, 2026 or the same will be pleaded

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR

Graney 116 Cardinal Drive Rockwell, NC 28138 Executor

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY. NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division File No. 26E000352-830 Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of JUDY COBLE TUCKER, Deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the decedent, or her estate, to exhibit them to the undersigned, on or before the 29th day of October, 2026, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate should make immediate payment to the Administrator. This the 23rd day of July, 2026. Larry T. Tucker Estate of JUDY COBLE TUCKER 19268 Sandbar Road Oakboro, NC 28129 JEREMY D. GRIFFIN MORTON AND GRIFFIN LAW FIRM, PLLC 161 Ray Kennedy Dr., PO Box 422 Locust, North Carolina 28097 Telephone: 704-888-2311 Stanly News Journal Publish: July 29, August 5, 12 and

the stream

‘Devil

Wears Prada 2,’ Ariana Grande, ‘Super Mario Galaxy’, ‘Diarra from Detroit’

Watch Lollapalooza live on Disney+ and Hulu all weekend

The Associated Press

THE “DEVIL WEARS Prada 2” and Ariana Grande’s new 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, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” “Diarra from Detroit” and Lollapalooza, from the comfort of wherever you choose to watch it.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Coming two decades after the original, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” (now streaming on Hulu and Disney+) reteams Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt in another trip through the high-fashion Manhattan world of Runway Magazine. With more than $688 million in worldwide ticket sales, the 20-years-later sequel was a hit at the box o ce. In it, Hathaway’s Andy returns to Runway to help save it from a sad media fate. In my review, I wrote that “mid-life career changes aren’t nearly as compelling or relatable as a newbie assistant thrown into the high-fashion re.”

An even bigger box-o ce hit, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” became the rst movie to cross $1 billion in cinemas earlier this year. The animated lm based on the beloved Nintendo game arrives Friday on Peacock. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that merchandising supersedes storytelling in the lm, “taking you out of the escape of this wondrous dream world and back into the realities of late-stage capitalism.”

Kristo er Borgli’s “The Drama” (Saturday on HBO Max), starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, tried to kick up some of its own drama when the dark comedy opened in theaters this spring. Zendaya and Pattinson play an engaged couple whose relationship unravels after a confession over dinner. In his review, AP’s Mark Kennedy

wrote that the lm “wastes two of the planet’s most gorgeous people and will surely get everyone involved in trouble for using a current American tragedy as a plot point.”

MUSIC TO STREAM

Grande’s “Petal” arrives Friday. It’s her rst full-length post-“Wicked” project and arrives two years after “Eternal Sunshine,” her seventh studio album. If the lead single “Hate That I Made You Love Me” is evidence of what’s to come, the album will be a collection of bubbling, arpeggiated synths and soft pop choruses, courtesy of Grande and her producer, the mysterious Swedish powerhouse Max Martin.

Lollapalooza returns to Chicago’s Grant Park on Thursday through Sunday and the lineup is stacked — Lorde, John Summit, Charli XCX, The Smashing Pumpkins, Olivia Dean, Jennie, Tate McRae and The XX are all scheduled to perform, and those are only just the headliners. Can’t make the trip? That’s no matter: Disney+ and Hulu will livestream the music festival throughout the weekend. Shaboozey has some big shoes to ll: his own. The country-hybridist made history when he dropped “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” the ubiquitous country-rap record that stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks. (The only other song to last that long at No. 1? Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.”) On Friday, the Virginia native will release his fourth studio album, “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales,” a concept record that includes far-ranging features like Kehlani, Gunna, Jamie Foxx, Sam Elliott, Teyana Taylor and more. Also Friday, Las Vegas-born hard rock out t Five Finger Death Punch return with its 10th studio album, “Legacy,” a metallic o ering that re ects on their 20 years together.

SERIES TO STREAM

You know those people who just seem to attract drama?

That’s the main character in the comedy “Diarra from Detroit,” played by series star and creator Diarra Kilpatrick. In

Season 1, she launched a missing person investigation after a date ghosted her. In Season 2, a mundane furniture delivery turns into a homicide investigation, a treasure hunt and the discovery of a secret society. The eight-episode season debuted Wednesday with two episodes on Paramount+. Stassi Schroeder was the queen bee of “Vanderpump

Rules” for eight seasons before she was let go from the show in 2020. Since then, she’s made lots of changes, including getting married, becoming a mother of two and launching a podcast. She’s even joined her old boss Lisa Vanderpump on the reality series “Vanderpump Villa.” Now Stassi is fronting her own reality series, “House of Stassi.” All episodes of

Season 1 drop Thursday on Hulu.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has a new crime drama series coming to Starz. Called “Fightland,” it follows Duke, a man who is crowned a boxing champion and loses everything in the same night. After eight years in prison, Duke returns to his hometown of London and is focused on revenge. The eight-episode series premieres Friday.

GAMES TO PLAY

VIDEO

The once-thriving fantasy world of Arsilthus was governed by a “great relic,” which some dumbbell decided to destroy, turning the place into an apocalyptic hellscape. Your job in “The Relic: First Guardian” is to collect the fragments, but you’ll need to ght through dozens of ferocious bosses before you can restore order. The whole project sounds a lot like 2022’s landmark “Elden Ring,” but South Korean developer Project Cloud promises to lean into Asian folklore with “a quest to lay troubled souls to rest and uncover their lost stories.” The search begins Friday on PlayStation 5 or PC.