North State Journal Staff – Moore County Edition

Mar

06

2024

Pinehurst budget overspending lower than originally expected

News

PINEHURST -— The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Feb. 27, approving a fiscal 2024 mid-year budget amendment to the general fund. “I met with the managers and department heads to come up with our revenue and expenditure projections for the remainder of this fiscal year, FY24,” Financial Services Director Dana Van Nostrand told the board. “We’re estimating that our expenditures will exceed the revenues by approximately $541,000. If that is the year end result, we would be drawing down from fund balance, but our original budget for FY24 anticipated us having to draw $600,000 from fund balance, so we…

Feb

28

2024

By North State Journal Staff

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Azir Gillespie

Sports

Pinecrest, boys’ basketball Azir Gillespie is a senior guard for the Pinecrest boys’ basketball team. The Patriots enter the playoffs at 13-10, 7-7 in the Sandhills Conference. They earned the 22-seed in the 4A playoffs. Gillespie has been the third-leading scorer on Pinecrest this season, but he’s stepped up his production as the playoffs loomed. He’s had several double-figure scoring games over the last month, including a 20-point outburst in a win over Scotland in the conference tournament. He added 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in the victory.

Feb

28

2024

By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Aberdeen hears proposal to update South Street railroad crossing

NewsAberdeen Town Board

ABERDEEN – The Aberdeen Town Board met Monday, Feb. 26, approving ordinance change to increase the maximum height of multi-family buildings from 35 to 45 feet to accommodate sloped roofs. “When you’re doing a three-story multi-family building, you’re not able to get the proper slope” with the limit of 35 feet, Planning Director John Terziu told the board. Instead, architects are forced towards “a more urban style, flat roof without being able to put the pitched slope, which doesn’t really fit into our suburban population.” NCDOT’s Rail Division was also in attendance, proposing an update to the South Street railroad…

Feb

28

2024

By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Pinehurst council moves forward on SMPO

NewsVillage of Pinehurst Council

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Feb. 13, and approved updates to the fees and charges schedule for fiscal 2025. Changes include an increase for residential building permits relating to residential additions, alterations or new construction from $0.17 per square foot to $0.30 per square foot, an 2-4% increase in the base fee for the rental of the Fair Barn and a $5 increase in administrative fees for memberships, classes, programs and youth day camps for residents. The council signed off on a number of items related to the new Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMPO). “Once an…

Feb

28

2024

By North State Journal Staff

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.