North State Journal Staff – Moore County Edition

Feb

28

2024

Four teams from county advance to playoffs

SportsMoore County sports

The regular season and conference tournaments are over, meaning the one-and-done playoff season has begun for North Carolina high schools. Two of Moore County’s three boys’ teams, and two of the three girls’ teams will be in action this week after receiving bids from the NCHSAA. Each school in the county has at least one team representing it as teams around North Carolina begin vying for the state title. Here’s a team by team look at the county boys’ and girls’ teams. Boys North Moore saw its season end with a 80-35 loss to Northwood in the Mid-Carolina Conference Tournament…

Feb

15

2024

By North State Journal Staff

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Christian Hackett

Sportsathlete of the week

Union Pines, track & field Christian Hackett is a senior for the Union Pines track & field team. The Vikings finished fifth in the boys’ indoor track state championships last week, and Hackett led the way in field events. His high jump of 6 feet, 8.0 inches was good for the state title, four inches higher than the next closest competitor. He also finished ninth in the triple jump with a leap of 40 feet, 5.5 inches. Hackett is a three-sport athlete who is also a forward on the boys’ basketball team and has played safety and wide receiver for…

Feb

14

2024

By North State Journal Staff

‘Drastic’ homeowners’ insurance rate hike denied

Newshomeowners insurance

RALEIGH — The N.C. Rate Bureau’s proposed statewide rate hike of 42.2% for homeowners insurance was rejected by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey on Feb. 6. “I haven’t seen the evidence to justify such a drastic rate increase on North Carolina consumers,” Causey said in a statement. “The Department of Insurance has received more than 24,000 emailed comments on this proposal, with hundreds more policyholders commenting by mail. Consumers deserve a more thorough review of this proposal. I intend to make sure they get that review.” This is the second time a large price hike has been submitted by the…

Jan

31

2024

By North State Journal Staff

MCS bans four books, restricts several more in contentious hearing

Newsbook ban, Moore County Schools

CARTHAGE – The Moore County Schools Board of Education considered recommendations from the District Media and Technology Advisory Committees reviews in regards to nine books that were challenged, at the Jan. 16 board meeting. The challenged books were: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Looking for Alaska by John Green Crank by Ellen Hopkins City of Heavenly Fire: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare The board agreed with committee recommendations on three books, which will…

Jan

31

2024

By North State Journal Staff

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: BROCK SULLIVAN

Sportsathlete of the week

Brock Sullivan is a junior for the Union Pines wrestling team. Sullivan rose to the top spot in the state 3A rankings at 175 pounds, and won the championships in the Sandhills Conference meet, as well as the PJ Smith Memorial, Bob Mauldin Classic, Union Pines Round Robin, Tiger Holiday Classic, Cold Turkey Invitational and Viking Invitational. As the postseason opens, he appears ready to add to his impressive accomplishments. Union Pines, the top seed in the 3A East region, swept through the first two rounds of the state Dual-Team playoffs, beating No. 16 South Johnston, 51-24, and No. 8…

Jan

24

2024

By North State Journal Staff

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Calissa Clendenin

Sportsathlete of the week

Calissa Clendenin is a junior center/forward for the North Moore girls’ basketball team. The Mustangs dropped both games this week, against Chatham Central and Northwood. Clendenin did her part to keep North Moore in the game, however. Against Chatham Central, she hit 5-of-7 shots, including a pair of three-pointers in three attempts, for a team-high 12 points. She also led the way on the Mustangs with 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks. For the season, Clendenin leads North Moore in rebounding, shooting, assists and blocks and is second in scoring.

Jan

24

2024

By Ryan Henkel

Pinehurst denies Golf Channel request to close downtown to traffic

Businessdowntown, Pinehurst, US Open

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Jan. 16 as a continuation from the prior week’s weather-delayed meeting. The USGA and Golf Channel sought to create a temporary pedestrian-only district in downtown Pinehurst to anchor its US Open broadcast, a decision the council would have to approve — but with local businesses most affected, they had a lot to say. “The USGA approached the Village and asked us if we would be interested in accommodating the Golf Channel’s request,” said Doug Willardson. “I reached out to all of our downtown business community and I had 39 responses, 22…

Jan

24

2024

By North State Journal Staff

5 members join Sandhills Community College Sports Hall of Fame

SportsSandhills Community College Sports Hall of Fame

Sandhills Community College held its induction for the school’s Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. The group was celebrated at a morning banquet and inducted at halftime of Sandhills’ basketball game against Mountain Gateway Community College. The Flyers won, 135-100, for their fifth straight win, improving to 14-7 on the year. Five new members joined the school’s hall: Emmett “Shelton” Raynor: A Clinton native, Raynor played for the SCC baseball team in the 1970s. He continued to play semi-pro baseball until age 62. He also contributed to the region by founding the Optimist Club of the Sandhills and the Sandhills…

Jan

11

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Union Pines still atop rankings as local teams struggle to start new year

SportsMoore County sports

Boys’ basketball The Union Pines boys have hit a slump. The Vikings lost two of three in holiday tournament action, then dropped their first game of the new year, 58-52, at Scotland. A 68-32 win over Western Harnett to close December broke up the three losses. In the two days prior, Union Pines fell to Overhills and Triton. Jaylen Kyle and Trent Hilburn tied for top scoring honors in two of the three holiday games, while Kingsley Donaldson led the way in the third. Union Pines is now 9-4, 1-1 on the year. The Pinecrest boys dropped their first game…

Jan

11

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Interest in school board leads Moore County primary ballot

NewsMoore County, School Board

CARTHAGE — Races for four of the five seats on the Moore County School Board will be narrowed down by voters on March 5. Filing for 2024 took place last month and candidates for this year’s primaries have just under two months to make their case to voters. The four school board races are nonpartisan and the top two vote-getters will move to the November general election. In District I, four candidates are on the ballot: Amy Dahl, Kevin Lewis, Oscar Romine and Jim Boyte. The current board member, Stacey Caldwell, did not file for reelection to the seat. In…