Blog – Moore County Edition

Jan

31

2024

Aberdeen Board denies manufactured home zoning variance, approves off-duty PD pay increase

NewsAberdeen Town Board

ABERDEEN – The Town of Aberdeen Board met Monday, Jan. 22, starting with an approval of an increase in the off-duty police hourly rate from $45 to $70 starting in February. “A lot of officers are not wanting to work off duty because of pay,” said police chief Brian Chavis. “I called around to surrounding agencies. The Moore County Sheriff’s Office non-holiday rate is $50 an hour, their holiday rate is $70 an hour. Southern Pines Police Department is $55 for non-holidays and they’re in the process of increasing that. Pinehurst Police Department off-duty ranged from $45 to $60 an…

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 Matt Mercer

First lady Jill Biden visits Forsyth Tech, unveils $30m investment

Newsfirst lady, jill biden

WINSTON-SALEM — First lady Jill Biden made a pair of stops in North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 26, speaking at Forsyth Tech in the morning and then appearing at a fundraising event in Raleigh that afternoon. The visit came just eight days after President Joe Biden made his own visit to the state, and the third in the past four weeks for the administration after Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in Charlotte. At the campus of Forsyth Tech, Biden was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper and Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines to celebrate $30 million in grants provided to two entities…

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

24

2024

By A.P. Dillon

Moore County Schools ‘potential school shooting’ threat deemed not credible

NewsMoore County Schools

RALEIGH — On Jan. 18, Moore County Public Schools (MCPS) announced the district had received a threat to its schools which later was deemed to not be “credible” or “actionable.” “On Tuesday, at approximately 11:40 a.m., we received a notification from the Southern Pines Police Department regarding an anonymous threat call made to a local business, pertaining to a potential school shooting,” a MCPS update on the incident stated. “However, the call did not provide specific information about any particular time or school in Moore County.” The update said MCPS continued its typical operations but had initiated precautionary measures such…

Jan

18

2024

By Lauren Rose

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Elijah Melton

Sportsathlete of the week

Elijah Melton is a junior forward for the Pinecrest boys’ basketball team. Melton, who also starred for the Patriots’ football team in the fall, came up big in Pinecrest’s 62-58 win over Lee County last week. Melton hit 6-of-12 from the field for 13 points, with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Melton leads Pinecrest in scoring (13.3 ppg), shooting (63%), rebounding (5.2 rpg) and blocks. He ranks third in the Sandhills conference in double-doubles.

Jan

18

2024

By Randolph Record

New leader in boys power rankings as Union Pines falls

SportsMoore County sports

Boys’ basketball The Pinecrest boys snapped a two-game losing streak with a 62-58 win over Lee County. The win earned the Patriots their first conference win of the season and was enough to move Pinecrest past a slumping Union Pines in the Moore County rankings. Jaden Saunders had 15 points and Elijah Melton 13. Azir Gillespie had four steals. Pinecrest is now 7-4, 1-2 in the Sandhills. The Union Pines boys lost their second straight game and fourth in the last five outings. Richmond blew the Vikings out on their home floor, 75-47. Jaylen Kyle got a double-double for Union…