Government – Moore County Edition

Mar

13

2024

21-year-old bests longtime Rep. in NC House primary

While his college friends celebrated the end of midterm exams with a spring break trip to Florida, 21-year-old Wyatt Gable entered the home stretch of his bid to oust a 10-term Republican from the North Carolina House. Weeks spent phone banking after class and driving about an hour home on the weekends to knock on doors paid off. The East Carolina University junior narrowly beat state Rep. George Cleveland, 84, this week in a primary election in which he cast himself as “the future of the Republican Party.” Gable’s victory comes as voters nationwide express misgivings about the older ages…

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…

Nov

08

2023

By North State Journal Staff

Taylor, Ficklin claim seats on Pinehurst Village Council

Government, News

PINEHURST — In completed unofficial election results for Pinehurst Village Council, John Taylor and Barb Ficklin prevailed on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Taylor won the most votes with 2,727, nearly 28% in the five-person race. Ficklin's total was 2,412, nearly 25%. Finishing in third and fourth were Claire Berggren and Lydia Boesch. Boesch, an incumbent, was elected in 2019. Cara Mathis finished fifth in the contest.

Nov

08

2023

By North State Journal Staff

Pizzella wins Pinehurst mayoral race

Government, News

PINEHURST — Pinehurst Village Councilmember Patrick Pizzella was elected mayor in completed unofficial results on Tuesday, Nov. 7. With all five precincts in Pinehurst reporting, Pizzella earned 2,477 votes, good for 48% of the total. Councilmember Jeff Morgan finished second in the race, with 1,892 votes, around 37%, and Kevin Drum, a former member of the village council, finishing with 765 votes, around 15% of the total.

Oct

11

2023

By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Pinehurst council approves RV space rental fees, reviews new library costs

GovernmentVillage of Pinehurst Council

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Sept. 26, primarily focusing on reports. The council began by appointing Carol Henry as the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction representative for the Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Adjustments. “[Henry] holds previous planning and zoning board experience with the Village of Pinehurst having served from around 2014 to 2016, and she’s going to be a benefit to us with that previous experience,” said Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jeramy Hooper. “Carol will not only fill the ETJ seat for the planning and zoning board but also she will be a voice for…

Oct

11

2023

By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Aberdeen to install stop signs on Shepherd Trail

GovernmentAberdeen Town Board

ABERDEEN — The Aberdeen Town Board tackled road and financial matters at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 25. The meeting kicked off with the Aberdeen Police Department swearing in two new officers, Jose Zapol and Seanessey O’Dowd. The board approved the installation of two stop signs at Shepherd Trail intersections in response to residents’ concerns about speeding. “A few weeks ago, we received phone calls from concerned residents within Shepherd Trail,” said Director of Public Works Joe Wood. “We’ve had this problem, several phone calls over the past few years… Shepherd Trail is being used as a shortcut from Roseland…

Oct

04

2023

By Ryan Henkel

CDP for S. Bennett Street mixed-use development finally approved by council

Governmenttown of southern pines council

SOUTHERN PINES – The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday, Sept. 12, with multiple developmental items on the agenda. In terms of action items, the council was first presented with a request for an architectural compliance permit for seven four-bedroom cottages and three eight-bedroom cottages off Country Club Circle for the Southern Pines Golf Club. The permit sought deviations from two architectural compliance standards, those being ones for building materials, as over 20% of the building contains stucco features, and one for windows because the style and choice reflect residential instead of commercial standards. However, due to the absence…

Sep

27

2023

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

New Pinehurst council member sworn in

GovernmentPinehurst Council

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Sept. 12, with the meeting being the first for its new member. To start the meeting, new council member Tom Hennie undertook the oath of office. Hennie replaces the late Jane Hogeman, who passed away suddenly in July and will serve out the remainder of her term, which expires in November. “We welcome Tom to the Village Council to fulfill the term of Jane Hogeman, and although that’s a period of only a couple of months, we know that your contribution here and interest in the Village is strong,” said Mayor…

Sep

27

2023

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Board of Education approves hiring of two virtual teachers at Crain’s Creek

Governmentboard of education

ABERDEEN — The Moore County Schools Board of Education met Monday, September 11, with various policy and contract discussions on the agenda. The board first approved the second reading of revisions to 15 new policies that had already previously been approved. “Most of them are essentially dictated by the state school board association, which tells us about the new laws, and we revised our policies to be consistent with those,” said Board Chair Robert Levy. “Although we do look at our policies. We don’t just blindly rubber stamp these from the state school board association.” There were two policies that…