Blog – Moore County Edition

Nov

08

2024

Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Kruczek

SportsKaitlyn Kruczek, Pinecrest girls' golf, Pinecrest golf, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest girls’ golf’s Kaitlyn Kruczek is Athlete of the Week. Kruczek helped lead the Patriots to a third straight NCHSAA class 4A championship. Kruczek tied for first place after shooting a first-round 70 and finished with a 146, good for a fourth-place tie, along with teammate Ashley Lee (our athlete of the week two weeks ago). Kruczek improved by one stroke and moved up two spots from last year when she shot 147 for a sixth-place tie at states. The year before, she shot 172, tying for 38th.

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

27

2024

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Ashely Lee

SportsAshley Lee, Pinecrest girls' golf, Pinecrest golf, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest golf freshman Ashley Lee is Athlete of the Week. The reigning 2023 Tarheel Youth Golf Association Middle School State champion made a splash in her debut in high school golf. In her first season with Pinecrest, Lee led the Sandhills Conference in scoring average and earned first-team SAC All‑Conference honors, joining five of her Patriots teammates on the All-Sandhills team. She also won the Conference Player of the Year award.

Oct

24

2024

By Ryan Henkel

Board of Education members accused of accepting improper gratuities

Newsmoore county schools board of education

CARTHAGE – Tensions continue to rise between the members of the Moore County Schools Board of Education with the latest spat being over an ethics violation complaint brought about by board member David Hensley. Hensley, who was censured by the board earlier this year, claimed that members of the board, namely board chair Robert Levy, vice chair Shannon Davis, Stacey Caldwell and Pauline Bruno had accepted improper/illegal gratuities from an organization in which the board had contracted with. “As everyone knows, the US Open was held here in Pinehurst over the summer, a very successful event, and the PGA came…

Oct

18

2024

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Hailey Gibbons

Sportsathlete of the week, Hailey Gibbons, Patriots, Pinecrest, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots, Pinecrest volleyball

Pinecrest volleyball senior Hailey Gibbons is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots finished a perfect 12-0 conference season with wins over Hoke County and Union Pines. In the senior night win over Hoke, Gibbons led Pinecrest with 11 digs and 15 receptions, adding four service aces and an assist. In the regular season finale against Union Pines, Gibbons had 18 digs, 11 receptions, three assists and an ace. For the season, Gibbons leads the team in aces per set and is third in digs, receptions and total aces.

Oct

15

2024

By Asheebo Rojas

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…