Blog – Moore County Edition

Jan

11

2024

Pinehurst warns downtown businesses on public trash cans

Newscommerical, Pinehurst, trash

PINEHURST — The Village sent a letter to the downtown business community last week to remind business owners to not use public garbage cans for commercial trash. “Village staff has noticed increased commercial trash being placed in the Village’s public receptacles scatter throughout downtown,” the message read. “This trash has included boxes, papers, food containers, etc., with the names of several downtown businesses on the garbage itself.” In some instances, the trash receptacles have been overflowing with so much commercial garbage that they aren’t able to be used by the public. The missive didn’t name names, but the message was…

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…

Jan

04

2024

By Lauren Rose

First Medicaid expansion data shared

Newsmedicaid expansion

More than 600,000 North Carolinians are newly eligible for health coverage through a recent expansion of NC Medicaid, and the state has recently shared numbers on how many residents have enrolled in the expansion. Moore County has seen 1,980 newly eligible adults sign up for Medicaid, some 3.6 percent of the county’s 54,637 adult population between 19 and 64 years of age. This data is current as of December 1, though the data was only recently made available by the state. Numbers will be updated monthly. "Hundreds of people each day are gaining health care coverage and getting the care…

Jan

03

2024

By North State Journal Staff

Rockingham teen brings Christmas cheer to Pinehurst senior residents

Events

PINEHURST — This Christmas, the residents of The Inn at Quail Haven Village experienced the joy of the season thanks to a thoughtful gesture by a Rockingham teenager. Grayson Wrenn, a 10th-grade student at Richmond Early College High School in Hamlet, decided to make the holiday special for the seniors at the Pinehurst community. Wrenn, whose grandfather is a resident at The Inn, organized a gift-giving initiative as part of his Beta Club project. He raised funds, carefully selected, and personally delivered presents to 50 residents in rehabilitation and skilled nursing care at the senior living community. The gifts ranged…

Dec

27

2023

By Randolph Record

North Carolina State Parks to Host First Day Hikes

Featureshikes, mountains

On January 1, 2024, North Carolina joins the nationwide tradition of First Day Hikes, an event organized by the National Association of State Park Directors. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that the state will host more than 50 staff-led hikes across its state parks. State Parks Director Brian Strong expressed excitement about the expanded First Day Hikes program for 2024. "After a few years of smaller programming, we are offering a wide variety of guided hikes and events at most of our state parks," Strong said. He encouraged visitors to bring family and friends for outdoor adventures,…

Dec

27

2023

By Ryan Henkel

Pinehurst council discusses roads and committees

GovernmentPinehurst Council

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Dec. 12. It was the first regular business meeting for newly elected mayor Pat Pizzella and council members John Taylor and Barb Ficklin. In regards to the still vacant council seat, Village Manager Jeff Sanborn reported that the Village had received 12 applications for people interested in filling the seat. “We will have a discussion on how we can move that along and hopefully by the next time we meet, we’ll have a fifth councilmember,” Pizzella said. “I’m optimistic.” In addition, Sanborn reported that there were four applicants for two vacancies…

Dec

27

2023

By Ryan Henkel

Aberdeen Town Board convenes for swearing-in, infrastructure talks

GovernmentAberdeen Town Board

ABERDEEN – The Aberdeen Town Board met Monday, Dec. 11. To begin the meeting, the board swore in the elected members from the recent municipal election.‌ Teressa Beavers and Bryan Bowles were resworn in and Elease Goodwin took the oath of office for the first time. “What is neat about these communities in Moore County, none of them are partisan and I hope they never become partisan,” said Mayor Robbie Farrell. “When you run for an election in a small town, like any of the towns of Moore County, it is about the citizens. It is not about a party…

Dec

27

2023

By Connie Lovell

LOVELL: Resolution

Opinionseditorial, opinion, sandhills

Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an article advising “How to Avoid Being Boring at 60”. The essay was authored by Rob LaZebnik, co-executive producer of “The Simpsons. This may explain everything. The suggested resolutions included: “make an announcement on an airplane”; “make a shirt” and “take a sound bath”. Seriously? These stultifying suggestions are ridiculous, no matter one’s age. The New Year tradition of making sound resolutions to improve personal and community enrichment is as old as the Babylonians. That tribe began the ritual by honoring their gods, “promising to pay their debts and return borrowed farming equipment.” The…

Dec

20

2023

By A.P. Dillon

Carthage Elementary 3rd-grade teacher honored

News2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year, Sandhills Region

CARTHAGE — Jennifer Blake, a third-grade teacher at Carthage Elementary School, has been named the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year for the Sandhills Region The announcement, a surprise event in her classroom, celebrated Ms. Blake's outstanding contributions to education and her dedication to making a positive impact on her students' lives. “One must love teaching enough to survive it. You have to get excited when those little 'light bulb' moments happen,” Blake said. “You have to be reflective and willing, not only to make changes but also to embrace mistakes when they happen.” Inspired by influential teachers…