Blog – Moore County Edition

Jan

26

2022

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By Brett Friedlander

Pinecrest hires football coach with winning track record

Sportsfootball, Nick Eddins, Pinecrest, sports

SOUTHERN PINES — In addition to his duties as athletic director, Jeff Hewitt is also the baseball coach at Pinecrest High School. As such, he knows a heavy hitter when he sees one. That’s why he was drawn to Nick Eddins as he conducted his search to fill the Patriots’ vacant football coaching position. “We had five unbelievable candidates that we interviewed, but it quickly became known to us that Nick was the guy,” Hewitt said. “I knew we’d hit a home run with hiring and getting him. I knew it was a grand slam. In my opinion, we got…

Jan

26

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Haddock becomes police chief in Robbins

Government, Newspolice, Robbins

ROBBINS — A former Vass police officer was sworn in last week as the new police chief in Robbins. Benjamin Haddock worked with the Vass police department for eight years. Haddock takes over a position that has been vacant since July, following the resignation of former chief Lawson Thomas. The Robbins police force had been depleted following other officer resignations in 2021 but recently hired additional officers before hiring Haddock.

Jan

26

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Vass charter school to phase out high school

Business, Government, NewsEducation, schools

The Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School of Vass, known as STARS Charter, will phase out its high school program citing declining student numbers. The school said their enrollment numbers did not meet expectations and the high school caused a budget deficit. Executive Director Wes Graner said in a January 9 letter to parents that “if things continue as they are, which I clearly believe they will, or I would not have started this process, I have the following concern for our entire school’s future.”

Jan

26

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Pinehurst Village Council meeting goes virtual

Business, Government

PINEHURST — The January 25 regular meeting of the Pinehurst Village Council meeting was moved to a virtual meeting due COVID-19 concerns. Moore County is still considered an area of high level community transmission by the Centers for Disease Control. The county’s daily case rate was around 300 cases per day as of Sunday, January 23. That was a 5% decrease from the prior week. Over 90% of the county’s population over 65 is fully vaccinated. More than 68% of the county’s adult population is vaccinated.

Jan

26

2022

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By John Wawrow, The Associated Press

Bills add ‘13 Seconds’ to history of heartbreaking losses

SportsBills, NFL

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After “Wide Right” and “Music City Miracle,” the Buffalo Bills begin the offseason adding a new entry into their history of playoff heartbreak: “13 Seconds.” That’s how much time separated the Bills from securing the next step in their Super Bowl aspirations. Instead came a stunning 42-36 overtime loss at Kansas City in a divisional playoff game on Sunday. While some on Buffalo’s sideline were spotted laughing after Josh Allen completed his fourth touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis — an NFL playoff record — to go ahead 36-33 with 13 seconds remaining, the quarterback sat in…

Jan

26

2022

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By Mark Sherman, Associated Press

Justices to hear challenge to race in college admissions

Business, Government, Nation, NewsHarvard, SOCTUS, UNC Chapel Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda. The court said it will take up lawsuits claiming that Harvard University, a private institution, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a state school, discriminate against Asian American applicants. A decision against the schools could mean the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Lower courts rejected the challenges, citing more than 40 years of high court rulings that…

Jan

25

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Annika Sorenstam contemplating a return to US Women’s Open

News, SportsPGA, Pine Needles, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, US Open, USGA

Annika Sorenstam, of Sweden, acknowledges the crowd after putting on the 18th green during the final round of the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) NEW YORK — After 13 years in retirement, Annika Sorenstam returned to competition last year. She made the cut in the Gainbridge LPGA, playing only because it was her home course of Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida. And then she won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. That victory earned her a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open this year, which is being played at…

Jan

25

2022

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By Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press

Young players highlight first USWNT camp of 2022

Sportssoccer

The next wave of U.S. soccer talent includes several players who are under 22 The new year has brought new faces to the U.S. women’s national team. The back-to-back World Cup champions opened their January camp in Austin, Texas, with 14 players who have fewer than 12 appearances for the United States. Coach Vlatko Andonovski is taking a look at the team’s next generation as it begins preparations for qualifying this summer for the 2023 tournament. Among them is Ashley Hatch, a 26-year-old forward who plays for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League and who won the…

Jan

25

2022

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By Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press

Prosecutor: Alex Murdaugh now faces 71 charges; $8.5M stolen

News

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A once-prominent South Carolina lawyer now faces 71 charges that he stole nearly $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements from more than a dozen people after another round of indictments against Alex Murdaugh were handed up Friday. The 23 new charges issued by the state grand jury covered new victims but similar schemes, prosecutors said. Murdaugh, 53, would negotiate settlement money for his clients without telling them what they earned, then deposit the checks meant to pay for their pain and suffering or the anguish of the death of a loved one into his own…

Jan

25

2022

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By Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

MLB negotiators meet in person for 1st time since Dec. 1

Sportsbaseball, MLB

Spring training is scheduled to start Feb. 16, but only if a new deal can be agreed upon NEW YORK — Negotiators for locked-out baseball players and management met in person Monday for the first time since Dec. 1, the day before the start of the sport’s first work stoppage since 1995. Veteran reliever Andrew Miller was the only player to attend the bargaining session. Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, the chairman of baseball’s labor policy committee, was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem and executives Morgan Sword and Patrick Houlihan. The players’ association planned to make a counteroffer to…