Government – Moore County Edition

Feb

01

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Gregory will retire from board of commissioners

Government, News

CARTHAGE — Louis Gregory, who is serving his second term on the board of county commissioners, has announced his retirement, effective March 1. Gregory, a Republican, had a long career in law enforcement before joining the commissioners board, including serving as the police chief in Whispering Pines. He is serving his second year as vice chair of the board. Gregory’s replacement must be a Republican and reside in District 2, which includes Pinehurst, Seven Lakes and Taylortown. N.C. law requires the board of commissioners to consult with the county executive committee of the GOP before filling the vacancy.

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 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

21

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Robin Sage set to begin Jan 22

Business, Government

Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School patrol through a wooded area during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina, July 9, 2019. (Ken Kassens/U.S. Army via AP) RALEIGH — Special Forces candidates will participate in a two-week training exercise across 25 North Carolina counties this week, a news release from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School says. The participants are students at Fort Bragg. Robin Sage is the culmination exercise and has been the litmus test for Soldiers striving to…

Jan

12

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Moore County sees increase in Covid cases

Government, News, PoliticsCOVID

CARTHAGE — Covid cases have risen steadily in Moore County since mid-November. Through Sunday, January 9, the county experienced over 200 new cases per day. As of Monday, over 260 people have died with Covid in the county, according to public health officials. Over 90% of the deaths were in patients 50 years and older. No deaths have occurred in Moore County among residents under the age of 25. Over 91% of the county’s adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine with 89.6% of residents over 65 being fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Jan

12

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

School board reinstates mask mandate, bids farewell to superintendent

Government, Newsschools

CARTHAGE — The Moore County School Board voted 3-2 to reinstate a mask mandate for students, teachers, staff and visitors at its regular business meeting Monday. The board also met for a work session Monday ahead of its business meeting with the search for a new superintendent topping that agenda. Superintendent Bob Grimesey announced his intention to retire in October of 2021 with January 31, 2022, as his final day. The board heard an update on the search for a new superintendent from Jim O’Rourke from the N.C. School Boards Association which has been retained by the board to conduct…

Jan

09

2022

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By Associated Press

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has COVID

Government, Nation, NewsAOC, COVID

WASHINGTON, D.C. — New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has tested positive for COVID-19 and “is experiencing symptoms and recovering at home,” her office said in a statement Sunday evening. The Democratic congresswoman’s office said Ocasio-Cortez received a booster shot last fall. With the nation dealing with another surge of the virus since the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant, numerous members of Congress have reported breakthrough cases despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.

Dec

15

2021

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By Randolph Record

Board of Elections meeting nixed for December

Government, PoliticsAsheboro, board of elections, Melissa Johnson, N.C. Supreme Court

ASHEBORO — This week’s meeting of the Randolph County Board of Elections was canceled after the recent rescheduling of 2022 primaries in the state. Melissa Johnson, who’s director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, sent a notice announcing the cancellation of Tuesday’s meeting. The next meeting of the board is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 11. Last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court suspended candidate filing for all offices for the 2022 primary election. This included municipal contests. In doing so, the North Carolina Supreme Court pushed back the date of the primary from March 8 to May 17.…