North State Journal Staff – Moore County Edition

Nov

09

2025

Athlete of the Week: Madeline Dorsch

Businessathlete of the week, Madeline Dorsch, Pinecrest, Pinecrest cross country, Pinecrest cross-country

Pinecrest girls’ cross-country sophomore Madeline Dorsch is Athlete of the Week, and she’d like to remind everyone that girls’ golf isn’t the only one bringing home state titles for the Patriots. Dorsch was absolutely dominant in winning the NCHSAA Class 8A girls’ cross-country state title at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex. She ran a 17:09.28, giving her a margin of victory of over one full minute. The second-place finisher ran an 18:10.21. Dorsch’s win was one of the 10 largest in state history and was the second-fastest girl’s time ever run on that course. She also brought home the fourth cross-country…

Nov

02

2025

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Keira Rosenmarkle

BusinessApp State, Appalachian State, athlete of the week, Keira Rosenmarkle, Union Pines, Union Pines Vikings, Union Pines volleyball, Vikings

Union Pines volleyball senior outside hitter Keira Rosenmarkle is Athlete of the Week. She also plays lacrosse for the Vikings. The Vikings finished their season 24-3 with a loss in the state quarterfinals. Rosenmarkle helped pace their NCHSAA Class 6A run. In their two tournament wins, she posted a total of 32 kills, leading the team in both games, four aces, 12 digs and four receptions. For the season, Rosenmarkle ranked 10th in N.C. Class 6A in hitting percentage and eighth in kills and was second in the Carolina Pines 6A conference in service aces. She led the team in…

Oct

19

2025

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Madeline Adair

Businessathlete of the week, Madeline Adair, Union Pines, Union Pines Vikings, Union Pines volleyball, Vikings

Union Pines volleyball junior outside hitter Madeline Adair is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, cruising to a Carolina Pines 6A conference title. They then opened the conference tournament with a straight-set win. Their record stands at 20-2. Adair led the way in a win over Western Harnett to close the regular season, getting 18 kills, eight digs, two aces and 15 receptions. For the season, she ranks 15th in the NCHSAA in hitting percentage and is second in the Carolina Pines in hitting percentage and kills.

Nov

06

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Republican Ben Moss wins reelection for NC House’s 52nd District seat

News2024 election, Ben Moss, Jimmy Self, Moore County, NCGA

RALEIGH — Incumbent Republican Rep. Ben T. Moss, Jr. has won reelection over Democratic challenger Jimmy Self for the Moore County House District 52 seat. While results are still unofficial, Moss has taken in 61.08% of the vote to Self's 38.92% Moss has served two terms in the North Carolina House and now heads into a third term in January 2025. He represented District 66 from 2020-2022 before redistricting in 2023. Moss ran unopposed in the 2022 general election, but defeated incumbent Republican Jamie Boles in the primary by a thin margin: 3,688 votes to 3,226. He now represents all of…

Nov

06

2024

By North State Journal Staff

New faces dominate results for Board of Education, Commissioners

NewsMoore County Board of Commissioners, Moore County Board of Education

The Moore County citizens have spoken and there will be a little old and a little new in terms of a few local positions following the 2024 general election. On the Board of Commissioners, current board chair Nick Picerno, who ran unopposed, was reelected as the District II Commissioner. This is Picerno’s fourth term on the Board of Commissioners, having served two terms previously from 2008 to 2016 and then again from 2022 to today. There will however be a new face joining the board though as Tom Adams, who also ran unopposed, will be representing District IV as its…

Nov

05

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Republican Tom McInnis wins reelection for NC Senate’s 21st District seat

News2024 election, Maurice Holland Jr., Moore County, NCGA, Tom McInnis

RALEIGH — Republican Incumbent Senator Tom McInnis has defeated Democratic challenger Maurice (Butch) Holland, Jr. to secure reelection to Moore County's Senate District 21 seat. Results have yet to be finalized but voting data shows McInnis taking in 67% of the vote to Holland's 33% with 61% of precincts reporting. McInnis will advance to his sixth term in the North Carolina Senate in January 2025. McInnis has been an NC Senator since 2015 but was redistricted into the 21st district in 2023. In the 2022 general election, McInnis won a close race against Democrat Frank McNeill Jr, garnering 36,468 votes…

Nov

05

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Republican Neal Jackson wins reelection for NC House’s 78th District seat

News2024 election, lowell simon, Moore County, NCGA, randolph county, Rep. Neal Jackson

RALEIGH — Freshman Incumbent Republican Rep. Neal Jackson has defeated Democratic challenger Lowell Simon in the House District 78 race which covers portions of Moore and Randolph Counties. Results, while still unofficial, show Jackson taking in 71.63% of the vote to Simon's 28.37%. Jackson, a pastor, has served in the seat for one term having been first elected in 2022. Jackson originally took the seat in 2023 following the retirement of Allen McNeill who was District 78’s representative from 2012 to 2022. In that 2022 election, Jackson garnered 27,787 votes or 76.6% of the ballot, to defeat Democrat Erik Davis…

Nov

05

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Republican John Sauls wins reelection for NC House’s 51st District seat

News2024 election, ginger bauerband, john sauls, Moore County, NCGA

RALEIGH — Incumbent Republican Rep. John Sauls has defeated Democratic challenger Ginger Bauerband in the Moore County House District 51 race. Results are not final, however Sauls has garnered 64.37% of the vote compared to 35.63% for Bauerband. Sauls is in his sixth term in the North Carolina House and now heads into his seventh term in January 2025. The incumbent has been in his position since 2017 and will represent all of Lee County and the northeastern part of Moore County. In 2022, Sauls received 16,973 votes or 65% of the vote compared to Democrat Malcolm Hall’s 9,147 or…

Oct

15

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Four interceptions help North Moore spoil Seaforth’s homecoming, 38-20

SportsMoore County sports, North Moore, Seaforth

PITTSBORO — North Moore won the turnover battle in a 38-20 win over Seaforth Friday, spoiling the Hawks’ homecoming night and extending its win streak to three. Junior defensive back Martez Johnson grabbed two of the Mustangs’ four interceptions on back-to-back pivotal possessions in the fourth quarter. After a 4-yard touchdown run from junior Joseph Dunn put North Moore up 31-17, Johnson ended Seaforth’s ensuing drive by catching a tipped pass from sophomore punter Travis Mann on a fake punt attempt. Seaforth got another chance to make it a one-possession game after recovering a fumble on the following possession and…

Oct

11

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Banner week for Moore County high school football

SportsMoore County sports

Don’t look now, but North Moore is on a winning streak. Meanwhile, Pinecrest bounced back from a surprising loss, and Union Pines continues to roll. All three area teams posted wins on the gridiron last weekend. It was just the second time in the last two years that all three county teams won on the same day and the first since Sept. 1, 2023. It was the first time Pinecrest, Union Pines and North Moore all won conference games on the same Football Friday since Oct. 27, 2022. All three teams are in a good place as we enter the…