April 17:

In 1521, Martin Luther went before the Diet of Worms (vohrms) to face charges stemming from his religious writings. (Luther was later declared an outlaw by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.)

In 1961, “The Apartment” won the Academy Award for best picture of 1960; Burt Lancaster was named best actor for “Elmer Gantry,” while the best actress award went to Elizabeth Taylor for “Butterfield 8.”

In 1961, some 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in an attempt to topple Fidel Castro, whose forces crushed the incursion by the third day.

In 1964, Ford Motor Co. unveiled the Mustang at the New York World’s Fair.

In 1969, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

In 1970, Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft while en route to the moon.

In 1972, the Boston Marathon allowed women to compete for the first time; Nina Kuscsik was the first officially recognized women’s champion, with a time of 3:10:26.

In 1973, Federal Express (later FedEx) began operations as 14 planes carrying 186 packages took off from Memphis International Airport, bound for 25 U.S. cities.

In 1975, Cambodia’s five-year war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted brutal, radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives until the regime was overthrown in 1979.

In 1986, at London’s Heathrow Airport, a bomb was discovered in the bag of Anne-Marie Murphy, a pregnant Irishwoman about to board an El Al jetliner to Israel; she’d been tricked into carrying the bomb by her Jordanian fiance, Nezar Hindawi.

In 1991, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 3,000 for the first time, ending the day at 3,004.46, up 17.58.

In 1993, a federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King; two other officers were acquitted.

In 2012, riding on the back of a 747 jet, retired space shuttle Discovery traveled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Chantilly, Virginia, to be installed in its new home: the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum annex in Virginia.

In 2013, 15 people were killed in an explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas.

In 2018, Barbara Bush, who was both a first lady and the mother of a president, died in Houston at the age of 92; she was survived by her husband, George H.W. Bush; their marriage of 73 years was the longest of any presidential couple in American history.

In 2020, President Donald Trump urged supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors, apparently encouraging protests against stay-at-home mandates aimed at stopping the coronavirus.

In 2022, Ukrainian fighters holed up in a steel plant in the last known pocket of resistance inside the shattered city of Mariupol ignored a surrender-or-die ultimatum from the Russians and continued to hold out against the capture of the strategically vital port.

The atmosphere may seem a bit oppressive today, Sagittarius. You like to be free to do what you want to do, and it may bother you that the people around you don’t make themselves available to you. They seem preoccupied by their own business. This could bring out some old wounds that haven’t completely healed.

Capricorn (Dec. 21 - Jan. 19)

You may feel a bit tied down today. It won’t necessarily be a bad day, but you may wonder about certain aspects of your family life. Don’t try and kid yourself. You should think hard about what you want for your family for the next few years and how you intend to go about getting it.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 17)

There are days when you should take everything with a grain of salt. Today you may realize how important it is to gain the appreciation and respect of a certain person. It isn’t worth getting worked up about. You will only make things worse. You may just need to do something that puts the fire back into your emotions.

Pisces (Feb. 18 - March 19)

Pisces, you shouldn’t even try to find a reasonable explanation for what goes on around you today. There isn’t one. Be carried by the tides of emotions from the past that run through your body and soul. There’s no use trying to control them - they need to come out. Instead, take the time to revitalize yourself in the intimacy of your home or at a friend’s, if possible.

Aries (March 20 - April 19)

Today you may ask yourself if you’re satisfied. How is your personal life? Do people live up to your standards or are you always left feeling dissatisfied? It may be time to make some important decisions in your life. What do you really want out of life? You might find some of the answers today.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Nothing is simple where your family is concerned. If you’ve forgotten that, don’t worry. Today will remind you. You may have to deal with some of your lingering problems with certain family members. You will find you have all the energy you need in order to find the solutions to the conflicts that have been eating at you for a while.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

You like to give people advice and help them find direction in their lives - sometimes when they haven’t even asked. But now it’s your turn to feel a little lost. You may need to get away from it all to get some perspective on your life. What about taking a trip to some faraway land? Today is a good day to make your future vacation plans.

Cancer (June 21 - July 21)

Cancer, you may put your integrity under the microscope today. We all have deep convictions that we would never let go of. But society pressures us, and it isn’t always easy to live in perfect harmony with our ideals. The question to ask yourself today is just how willing are you to change your most heartfelt beliefs in order to live in society? Do you have the courage of your convictions?

Leo (July 22 - Aug. 22)

Your freedom is more important to you than anything else in your life. It’s often very difficult for you to get involved, whether personally or professionally. Nevertheless, today you may have to think about it. Could it be that your thirst for freedom is just an escape? You may need to ponder this question. Who knows? You could decide to take the leap!

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)

Certain very narrow-minded people may get on your nerves. You’re lucky enough to be an open, tolerant person, Virgo. You take people and situations just as they come. Today you may find yourself in the middle of negotiations between two people with opposite views. Help them open their eyes to each other’s point of view.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)

Today you will be able to explore the power of your emotions. Don’t try and fight what you call your “oversensitivity.” A force from childhood will permeate you and help you to find out what your real needs are. Shouldn’t you think about staying away from people who influence you a little too much? Think about it and go with your emotions.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

Scorpio, you feel secure in the warmth and depth of your emotions. Today you will have the opportunity to reenergize and regenerate yourself from the inside out. Take advantage of the energies at play to deepen your relationships with the people you love. Get to know them even better. Your powers of seduction will mesmerize them.

LILESVILLE — Working in conjunction with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Anson County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at the Lilesville Game Room, located at 1522 West Wall St., and also at 100 Fellowship Dr. in Hamlet, regarding illegal gambling, on Friday, April 12.

During the search, officers discovered and seized firearms, U.S. Currency, and Narcotics.

Resultant of evidence obtained during the search, the following individuals have been charged, according to an issued press release from the ACSO,

“Monir Gorgy Scafik Dawoud, 67, of Norman, North Carolina, has been charged with Felony Operating more than 5 Video Gaming Machines. and was placed in the Anson County Jail under a $5,000.00 secure bond and has a court date of Monday, May 6, 2024, in Anson County District Court.

David Lee Painter JR., 54, of Hamlet, North Carolina, has been charged with Felony Operating more than 5 Video Gaming Machines and was placed in the Anson County Jail under a $5,000.00 secure bond and has a court date of Monday, May 6, 2024, in Anson County District Court.

Denise Ann Painter, 52, of Rockingham, North Carolina has been charged with Felony Operating more than 5 Video Gaming Machines and was placed in the Anson County Jail under a $5,000.00 secure bond and has a court date of Monday, May 6, 2024, in Anson County District Court.

Mary Christal Cummings, 53, of Wadesboro, North Carolina has been charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver, Schedule II Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana and was placed in the Anson County Jail under a $10,000.00 secure bond and has a court date of Monday, May 6, 2024, in Anson County District Court.

Sheriff Scott Howell would like to thank the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this case. He would like to remind all residents and businesses that it is illegal to play and/or have a business allowing others to play on any video gaming machines that have pay out cash prizes.”

POLKTON — In the early morning hours of Thursday, April 11, deputies with the Anson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Fast Stop convenience store on Highway 742 North, following a report of an armed robbery taking place.

Arriving at the scene, deputies found a female employee in the store who had been assaulted and robbed during the incident.

The victim was transported from the scene to Atrium Anson where her injuries were evaluated.

Armed with video footage of the crime from the store’s security system, in conjunction with witness interview statements, deputies developed an accurate description of the suspect.

Given the serious nature of the crime, deputies utelized K-9 Landi, who tracked the suspect to a location nearby the store.

Later that day, at approximately 1:00 p.m., deputies arrested Marvin Lee Medley at his residence.

Medley is charged with Robbery with a Dangerouus Weapon, Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, and Larceny of a Firearm. Placed in Anson County Jail, Medley has no bond, and a court date scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 in Anson County District Court.

Following the speedy resolution to the matter, Sheriff Scott Howell issued a statement wishing to thank the Burnsville community, stating, “It’s a perfect example of when the sheriff’s office and the communities we serve form a partnership to make our communities safer.”

Sheriff Howell added that he is praying for the victim in this case to have a speedy recovery.

ANSON — Congratulations to Luke Hyatt on his commitment to Guilford College to continue his academic and football career. Anson High School Athletics hosted a Celebratory College Football Signing Day on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The celebratory football signing day was filled with excitement and pride as Luke officially committed to play football at Guilford College. Friends, family, coaches, teammates, and school staff gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion and show their support for Luke as he pursues his dreams of playing at the collegiate level. Luke’s coach (Landon Allen), teammate (Kendrick Maye), and principal (Chris Stinson) gave speeches, reminiscing on their time together and expressing their excitement for Luke’s future in football. Today’s celebratory football signing day was a memorable event that highlighted Luke’s hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It was a day of joy, pride, and anticipation for the journey ahead as he prepares to take the next step in his football career.

My wife and I have been catching up on episodes of “The Mysteries of Laura,” the 2014-2016 NBC series starring Debra Messing. Forget murders and chases. The real reason the show resonates with me is because as Laura Diamond juggles the duties of a single mother and police detective, she’s understandably a slob with her car.

Yes, my poor Altima gets woefully neglected inside and out. It’s a magnet for the abundant tree sap in my yard and the interior is home to an archive of fast-food wrappers, receipts, seasonal changes of clothing, mail I dread taking to the kitchen table, books discarded by the public library, broken CDs, etc. No room for an air freshener “tree,” so I duct-tape a couple of Tic Tac mints to the rearview mirror.

It’s like the mobile version of that legendary school locker that houses everything. I mean, there are definitely science experiments being conducted on the floorboard. And I suspect that if I ever have a collision, instead of the airbag deploying, I’ll be greeted with a voice that advises, “Walk it off, walk it off.”

My conveyance has devolved into the opposite of the trope about new cars. You know, “As soon as you drive it off the dealer lot, it loses half its value.” No, whenever I drive off a parking lot, the real estate value of the lot doubles.

Although my car is a 2010 model, it’s a throwback to the 50s. Back then, lots of cars had FINS, and I wouldn’t bet against there being an aquarium somewhere in all the clutter.

Some guys baby their car because of a midlife crisis. I face more of a midwife crisis. (“I think another mouse is experiencing a breech birth in the trunk!”)

I know. You’re supposed to take pride in your vehicle and display it as a status symbol. Well, here’s my status: I’ve got a life! When sandblasting, vacuuming, waxing and decluttering become The Most Important Thing to Do Today, I’ll buckle down. But after all this time, the National Audubon Society fears I would disrupt the migratory pattern of all North American birds. (“Divebomb!”)

Yes, I could stop at one of those Saturday morning fundraiser carwashes, but I would feel guilty about the copious amount of elbow grease it would require. A carwash should be a fun entrepreneurial enterprise for teens, not a lesson in indentured servitude. I’m not out to proselytize, either – I would hate to force the Methodist Youth Group to send out for an exorcist.

Granted, my situation makes me more cautious about traffic violations. You don’t want to hear “May I please see your license and registration?” when your glove compartment is prone to projectile vomiting.

I struggle not to be jealous of those of you who have the time, money and energy to keep your vehicle immaculate. We all have our troubles. (“Oh, pooh, Biff! I ran over a unicorn and it’s going to take AAA a whole five minutes to get here and clean it up.”)

Sometimes I do get riled up about the “perfect” people and daydream about really telling them off, but then a little voice whispers in my ear, “Buddy, can you let us out of the back seat near that big tent? If we’re late, the ringmaster will hire 12 NEW clowns.”

In 1920, the taverns ran dry. The Eighteenth Amendment, also called the Volstead Act, was passed by the U.S. Congress and the amendment was ratified by three-quarters of the nation’s states, despite a veto from President Woodrow Wilson, (bless his heart). It was never illegal to “consume” alcohol during Prohibition, you just couldn’t make it, sell it or ship it.

Alcohol was condemned as the root of all evil. Many churches required their members to sign an abstinence pledge. Alcohol was the cause of the high crime rate, domestic violence, and child abandonment.

When the 1920s came roaring in, women could vote for the first time, and with that new-found power came freedom. Women bobbed their hair, smoked cigarettes, and danced the Charleston in short fringed skirts. Speakeasies operated in the back rooms of upstanding establishments and, by knowing the correct password or that special knock on the door, one could gain entry into an exciting world where it was considered chic to defy the law.

Due to the increased demand for alcohol, the price skyrocketed. To meet this new demand, bootleggers became major suppliers and distillers. Moonshiners became millionaires. Organized crime, led by Al Capone in Chicago, bribed political leaders as well as entire police departments. Mobsters like Lucky Luciano and Bugsy Siegel became famous, or, rather, infamous. It was not alcohol, but the lack of alcohol, that caused an increase in crime.

Gambling has been around since 1665, when settlers in Jamestown held a lottery to raise funds to support their colony. In 1776, Continental Congress organized a lottery to help finance the Revolutionary War.

In 1876, Wild Bill Hickok was shot while playing poker. He held all aces and eights, which became known as the dead man’s hand. However, gambling was acknowledged as acceptable entertainment in many states. But, in the 1920s, gambling became illegal, along with alcohol, and mobsters quickly expanded their operations to include casinos and gambling halls.

Book banning is nothing new. In 1873, Anthony Comstock (the Comstock Act) prevented pamphlets about contraception from being sent through the mail. In the 1920s, many authors wanted to have their books “banned in Boston” because they knew it would increase sales. Hitler not only banned books, but cosmetics as well. The Aryan ideal was a modestly dressed woman wearing no makeup and no jewelry.

Today, friends meet at their favorite watering hole to watch ”the game.” Forty-five states now offer government-operated lotteries and all but six states have casinos, many tribal. Books that were banned and burned remain on the best-seller list, while the “banners” continue to try to “take away.”

The United States still suffers from a high crime rate, domestic violence, and child abandonment. History tells us that none of these problems were solved by taking away freedoms that people had openly enjoyed since the first colonists arrived in the New World.

In 1933, the 21st Amendment turned the regulation of liquor laws back to the states. Two states (North and South Carolina) rejected the 21st Amendment preferring to remain “dry,” while Mississippi kept its Prohibition laws for another thirty years.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt amended the Volstead Act to allow people to have a beer or two while they waited for the 21st Amendment to be ratified – and the first team of Budweiser Clydesdales rewarded him with a ceremonial case of beer.

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who give and the ones who take it away. History has proven that “taking away” rights doesn’t always work out as expected.

WADESBORO — Following an article that appeared in the Richmond Daily Journal and Anson Record updating the case of Anson County’s Jane Doe, found behind the National Guard Armory on May 12, 2022, the ACSO released a statement on the case Friday, April 5th, that reads as follows,

“On Friday, January 19, 2024, dental records confirmed that the unidentified remains found in Anson County are not April Michelle Reid.

On January 19, 2024, Anson County called the Bullhead City Police Department in Arizona, asking to speak with Det. Sharpe and were told he no longer worked there. Bullhead City requested ACSO to contact a supervisor via email. The email was sent on the same day.

On the morning of Monday, January 22, 2024, Anson County confirmed Amber Johnston did not have dental records available via NamUS for comparison. Monday afternoon Anson County spoke with Det. Sharpe who stated we were told in error that he no longer works there. Det. Sharpe stated he would follow up with Sharon Johnston, mother of Amber Johnston, to get dental information. On this same date, ACSO spoke with Sharon Johnston.

Sharon Johnson has been an invaluable resource and has provided the ACSO with the names of every place she thought her daughter had or may have had dental treatment as well as insurance companies that would have covered the treatment. Every provided dental office and health insurance company in several states were contacted by the ASCO. The ACSO was able to obtain the dental records on February 26, 2024, from a dental office in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The records were sent to NamUs, the North Carolina Human Identification and Forensic Analysis Laboratory, and the Medical Examiner’s Office on the same date, for comparison.

On March 27, 2024, the Anson County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Medical Examiner’s Office that the unidentified remains located in Anson County on May 12, 2022, were referred to a forensic odontologist with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) for dental comparison with missing person Amber Johnston. In their expert opinion, there is insufficient information to support any dental exclusion or inclusion of Amber Johnston.

IMAGES

NamUs has been provided the original unaltered photos. None of the photos related to this case are in color, and all colorized photos have been altered.

The ACSO has not applied filters to any of the images but has compared photos taken during the day by the same trail camera, and confirmed what some see as possibly being individuals in the photos is the foliage and vegetation.

THE BACKPACK

An extensive search of the area for the backpack and any other items has been completed, as well as interviewing rabbit hunters from Florida who found the backpack in February of 2022. The hunters cannot recall what the backpack looked like or what area in the woods they saw it. There has been no information from any source indicating the backpack had a large sum of money or any personal items. As stated by Captain Tice in February, this information is not sufficient to determine whether the backpack is related to the unidentified remains.”

Law enforcement would like to remind and assure the public that, “The ACSO cannot disclose all details, and actions taken by ACSO related to this case as this is an ongoing investigation. The ACSO will continue to investigate and follow up all tips and leads in this case.”

April 10:

In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated.

In 1912, the British liner RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, bound for New York on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

In 1932, German President Paul Von Hindenburg was reelected in a runoff, with Adolf Hitler coming in second.

In 1947, Team President Branch Rickey called Jackie Robinson up to the Brooklyn Dodgers from their minor league affiliate the Montreal Royals. (Less than a week later, Robinson would become the first Black player in Major League Baseball when he took the field for the Dodgers.)

In 1963, the fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) sank during deep-diving tests east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in a disaster that claimed 129 lives.

In 1971, a table tennis team from the United States arrived in China at the invitation of the communist government for a goodwill visit that came to be known as “ping-pong diplomacy.”

In 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union joined some 70 nations in signing an agreement banning biological warfare.

In 1974, Golda Meir announced her resignation as prime minister of Israel.

In 1998, the Northern Ireland peace talks concluded as negotiators reached a landmark settlement to end 30 years of bitter rivalries and bloody attacks.

In 2005, Tiger Woods won his fourth Masters with a spectacular finish of birdies and bogeys.

In 2010, Polish President Lech Kaczynski (lehk kah-CHIN’-skee), 60, was killed in a plane crash in western Russia that also claimed the lives of his wife and top Polish political, military and church officials.

In 2012, Rick Santorum quit the presidential race, clearing the way for Mitt Romney to claim the Republican nomination.

In 2017, Justice Neil Gorsuch took his place as the newest addition on the bench of the Supreme Court, restoring a narrow conservative majority.

In 2018, during five hours of questioning from a U.S. Senate panel, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg batted away accusations that he had failed to protect the personal information of millions of Americans from Russians intent on upsetting the U.S. election, though he conceded that Facebook needed to work harder to make sure the tools it creates are used in “good and healthy” ways.

In 2019, scientists released the first image ever made of a black hole, revealing a fiery, doughnut-shaped object in a galaxy 53 million light-years from earth.

In 2021, speaking to Republican donors at his new home inside his Mar-a-Lago resort, former President Donald Trump slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as a “stone-cold loser” and mocked McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who had been Trump’s transportation secretary.

In 2023, a Louisville bank employee shot and killed five co-workers, including a close friend of the governor, and wounded eight others in a livestreamed workplace shooting at a bank branch; the shooter, 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, was fatally shot by police.

ELLERBE — Bridget Hudson of Ellerbe passed away unexpectedly on her way to work on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the age of 30.

Bridget was born on March 3, 1994, to William T. Hudson and Dianna Culley. She attended Richmond County Schools and later obtained her Bachelor of Science from Garner-Webb. She worked for Novant Health and really and truly loved her job as a lactation consultant.

Bridget had a firecracker personality while being willing to help anyone who needed it. She was a loving mother of four. Along with her children and her fiancee, Deion, Bridget found joy at the beach.

She is preceded in death by her father, her grandparents, Ben and Lib Nuttall, Monnie “Marie” Nuttall, Carl and Ruby Hudson.

She leaves behind her fiancee, Deion Davis, and her children, Aiden, Trinity, Arianna, and Olivia, all of Ellerbe; her mother, Dianna Culley, and her husband, Michael, of Hamlet; her brothers and sisters, William H. Hudson, Jordan Wilson, Makayla Wilson, Jennifer Culley and Matt, Phillip Culley; her grandparents, Donnie Nuttall, Sr. and his wife, Dottie, of Rockingham, James and Louise Culley of Hamlet, Archie and Flo Wilson of Auburn, AL; her great-grandmother, Monnie “Took” McCormick; her uncles, Donnie Nuttall, Jr. and his wife, Shari of Jackson Springs; Robbie Nuttall and his wife, Lisa of Rockingham, Aaron Davis of Mechanicsburg, PA; her mother and father-in-law, Shanta Hicks and Howard Davis; many cousins and friends whom she held very dear.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 3:00 pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. All other times at 190 Clayton Carriker Road in Ellerbe.

Interment will be in Eastside Cemetery in Rockingham following the service.

Care of the family is entrusted to Crumpler Funeral Home-Aberdeen.

RALEIGH — According to a statement released by the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, an offender’s death has now been ruled a homicide.

Offender Michael F. Crumbley, 58, was assaulted by fellow offenders while serving a twelve-year sentence for a 2018 conviction in Cleveland County as a habitual felon and for drug possession. Crumbley, who is originally from Bessemer City, was serving out his sentence at the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm at the time of the incident, which took place on June 9, 2023.

Following the assault, Crumbley was airlifted to ECU Health Greenville and admitted into ICU. Crumbley succumbed to his injuries five days after the attack at ECU Health Greenville, on Wednesday, June 14, at 1:33 a.m.

Conducting a lengthy investigation, the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has issued its final report on the incident Monday.

The State Bureau of Investigation and the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate the incident. The Department of Adult Correction has also fully cooperated with the above investigation as well as opened one of their own into the incident.

Crumbley had a projected release date of January 7, 2026 and was a minimum custody offender at the facility in Columbia at the time of his murder.

PEACHLAND — Ignoring the controversy swirling around them, the owners and representatives of the proposed Peachland Flea Market have quietly set about forging a livelihood in the long vacant, tranquil fields of the Burnsville area of Anson County.

With determination and grit, attributes long respected as representative of the ingredients integral to carving out one’s American Dream, the father and son duo, Jose and Tona Diaz, are painstakingly weaving their family legacy into the landscape.

“The middle is going to be for food trucks and parking is going to be out back, ” shares the son of the business team, Tona Diaz. He is proud to display the hard work already taking place at the site.

In addition to parking, an anticipated and widely publicized animal auction will be housed in the back, offering livestock options such as chicken, goats, and rabbits.

The proposed flea market is expected to accommodate upwards of six hundred people, and the Diaz’s are confident their freshly graded parking area will function under the burden of a heavy traffic flow pattern, should the venture take off as the Diaz’s envision.

Previously, a poultry farm operated on the site.

Now, one can hardly tell from the newly constructed joist beams, to the cleared away debris from the former dilapidated buildings, that the place was ever a home for fowl. With the sides of the abandoned barns now removed, sunlight can stream in, its rays lighting on various tools and neatly stacked planks of wood.

Gesturing towards the wide open spaces yawning down the length of neatly swept flooring, Tona Diaz confides, “Eventually these buildings will all be enclosed. We still have to put up a fire wall, I know the fire marshal has already mentioned that.”

The Diaz’s have steadily graded the site, aesthetically seeded areas for grass and peach trees, as well as designed an office operational for part-time hours during the week for the ease of customers desiring to rent booth spaces.

In a nod to their new community, the Diaz’s are planting peach trees around the flea market, good naturedly promising not to charge for any of its fruit.

“Before we open we want to invite our neighbors to come out and visit,” shares the elder Diaz, eager to foster goodwill. He is looking forward to breaking bread with their adopted community and building bonds through shared commonalities.

Diaz adds that, “We hope to one day offer horse or donkey rides here for kids. We really want to be a part of this community, a fun place for the people.”

The flea market plans on having ten restrooms, including handicap accommodations. Regular parking is located in the back, but handicapped parking is marked for the front area of the market.

Aware there are rumors circulating in the community, the Diaz’s want to assure residents that no one will be residing on the grounds of the facility. The flea market plans to operate as does any other standard business in the area.

Knowing that safety is of great concern to area residents, the Diaz’s hope to allay these concerns by confirming that Sheriff Howell will allow for at least two off-duty deputies to patrol the flea market’s perimeter, even granting a patrol car to be present at the facility during hours of operation. Should deputies be hired, the Diaz’s confirm that compensation for their security services will come from the flea market, and will not be passed onto tax-payers.

Hours of operation for the flea market are Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., though Jose Diaz does apologetically caution, “We have to open exactly one hour early for vendors to come and set up.”

ANSON — Spearheading the search for new Anson County teachers, Dr. Josh McLaurin has faced the good, the bad, and the ugly on his hunt to recruit educators to the district.

While on the trail, McLaurin traveled to four of the state’s largest universities. Regarded as the top two teacher recruiting schools in North Carolina, McLaurin first stopped in at East Carolina and Appalachian State.

“There are 271 graduates coming from East Carolina this Spring,” shares McLaurin, adding that Appalachian State is projected to have about 275 graduates from their teaching program.

East Carolina informed McLaurin that this is the first year the school has had under 400 graduates from their program, while Appalachian State reports that in a normal year they would anticipate 350 graduates.

McLaurin notes that one circumstance from his travels he found interesting was, “There were 115 different school districts that came from nineteen different states to recruit from our two biggest schools in North Carolina. Not only are we in competition with other districts in North and South Carolina, we are now in competition with districts all across the nation,” he laments.

When leaving the recruitment fair, McLaurin had an opportunity to speak with other recruiters on their shared walk back to their cars.

“I asked them, ‘ What makes you want to come to North Carolina? Why would you come from Alaska or Arizona all the way to North Carolina?’ Their simple answer back to me was, ‘We pay enough that we can come in here and grab four or five teachers from these two [schools].’”

Two of the smaller schools pursued by McLaurin are UNC Pembroke and UNC Charlotte, with 36 and 94 seniors graduating respectively from their combined education programs.

“We are projecting that when you figure the state has a little bit under 8% attrition rate, 12% attrition rate for beginning teachers, the state of North Carolina is going to have to fill 8,700 teacher vacancies this year,” comments McLaurin.

McLaurin recalls that by day 40 of the last school year, North Carolina was still short 3,000 educators across the state.

Getting to the ugly, McLaurin reports, “We are projecting that number to be higher this year, and this year is not even the bad year. Next year is the year that is going to be really tough as far as recruiting teachers.”

Recognizing the work of high school Principals Chris Stinson and Carri Decker, Dr. McLaurin chose to save the best for last.

Stinson and Decker are involved in a teacher cadet curriculum, aimed at encouraging Anson County school students to consider a career in education.

“Ms. Decker found where we can offer an Associates of Arts and Teacher Prep so that our students can graduate from the Early College or from Anson High School with an associates degree and have those credits there ready to go,” boasted McLaurin.

Another encouraging prospect announced by McLaurin is a teacher assistant apprenticeship available to students through South Piedmont Community College.

“We finalized everything with Wingate so that we are going to be able to send students to Wingate’s teacher assistant program. With the Gateway Scholarship we will be able to get them back to Anson County with almost zero debt for them,” said McLaurin, proud to find a silver lining.

Fans of Bojangles’ cult-favorite dipping sauce—Bo Sauce, a sweet, tangy and creamy sauce with herbs and spices—have been lamenting the disappearance of their favorite condiment since the flavor left menus in 2022, and they haven’t suffered in silence.

Described by one devoted fan as “the biggest crime of 2022 (#devastated)” and another who said, “Every day is dry without Bo Sauce,” Bojangles has received more than 24,000 pleas on X alone for a Bo Sauce return.

“Back by popular demand, Bo Sauce is now available in restaurants to pair with all your favorite menu items,” said Tom Boland, Chief Marketing Officer at Bojangles. “Bo Sauce has been a fan favorite for years, and we are delighted to bring our signature sauce with a creamy, bold bite.”

Bo Sauce is a great complement to just about anything, but pairs best with Bojangles’ bold, juicy, golden Chicken Supremes and perfectly seasoned fries, which are all available at participating Bojangles restaurants. Guests also can conveniently order through the Bojangles app, Bojangles.com and popular food delivery services.

And for the truly devoted, Bo Sauce will be available by the bottle in 1,500 stores across the Southeast, including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Ingles, KJ’s, Lowes Foods and Piggly Wiggly retailers, beginning in April. Bojangles is partnering with Sauer Brands to launch the new bottled dipping sauces.

“Bojangles’ dipping sauces hold a special place in our guests’ hearts because the flavors complement our delicious chicken so well,” said Boland. “We’re excited about the partnership with Sauer Brands, making it possible for even more fans to enjoy our most popular sauces in the convenience of their homes.”

In addition to Bo Sauce, the bottled dipping sauce flavors also include Bojangles’ signature Honey Mustard and BBQ. Each 14-oz bottle is sold individually.

WINGATE – Children around the world have adverse experiences that can hinder their development and lead to problems down the road. But are the difficult experiences of children in low-to-middle-income countries different from those in higher-income countries, and, if so, are the outcomes later in life appreciably different?

That’s what Dr. Shanta Dube, director of Wingate University’s Master of Public Health program, and her colleagues from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set out to explore in a special issue of the international journal Child Abuse and Neglect being released next week.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well studied, beginning with groundbreaking research by Kaiser and the CDC that Dube worked on in the 1990s. Most of the studies of ACEs, however, have been undertaken in higher-income countries and among adults.

For the special issue of Child Abuse and Neglect, Dube and her fellow guest editors, Dr. Leah Gilbert, of the NIH, and Dr. Francis Annor, of the CDC, solicited submissions from researchers working in low-to-middle-income countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, and Asia. What the research from the special issue shows is that ACEs in these countries – even if some of the experiences and context differ – lead to similar health outcomes and that the outcomes begin in childhood and young adulthood.

“What we’ve seen is that ACEs contribute to similar negative health and behavioral outcomes among youth and young adults to what we’ve seen in studies conducted in developed nations among adults,” Dube says.

In developed countries, ACEs typically include abuse, neglect, and household exposures to growing up with mental illness, domestic abuse, criminality in the home, and parental separation or divorce. In developing countries, children experience much of the same problems but also often deal with greater instances of orphanhood, poor nutrition, food insecurity, unsafe housing, unstable home environments, unhygienic living conditions, and exposure to pathogens and environmental toxins, among other things.

The studies show that ACEs are common and manifest as broadly similar outcomes in developed and developing countries.

“When it comes to childhood development, we are trying to increase awareness of these exposures in different contextual environments,” Dube says. “In these studies, youth and young

adults are at risk of HIV, mental illness, behavioral risk, suicidality – which is similar to what we have observed in developed nations studying ACEs among adults, as was the case with the original ACE Study.”

The editors spent a year and a half soliciting submissions, vetting them for relevance and scientific rigor, and then editing the chosen peer-reviewed studies. The result is a 16-paper issue.

Dube says that the special issue goes a long way toward filling in a research gap and raising awareness about ACEs and how they contribute to health outcomes in other contexts. It could also lead to substantial changes at a governmental level and to better health outcomes.

“Basically, the data are used by developing nations to inform programs and policies to help mitigate the outcomes and prevent future generations from experiencing ACEs,” Dube says. Check the Child Abuse and Neglect website for more information about the special issue.

ANSON — On the morning of May 28, 1900, hundreds flocked to the small town of Wadesboro, eager to glimpse the rare sighting of a total solar eclipse.

In addition to enthusiastic attendees, scientists the world over led scientific expeditions to the tiny southern town that had briefly gained status as a scientific wonder. For on that blistering day in May, Wadesboro lay in the sun’s path of eclipse totality.

Scientific entities present for the rare event included the University of Chicago, the Smithsonian, Princeton University, and the British Astronomical Association, among many others.

Trains brought in hundreds of people to view totality. Much as it does today, capitalization reigned supreme in early 1900 America, and the eclipse was no different. Jumping on the bandwagon, an excursion train from Charlotte barreled into Wadesboro, ferrying those fortunate enough to purchase a ticket on the special train.

Determined to be the best place to view the coming eclipse, the streets of Wadesboro were lined with spectators as effects from the eclipse became visible at 7:30 a.m. Believing a better vantage point might be gained with height, many spectators craned their heads out of windows, or clamored onto the rooftop of the buildings that lined downtown. Electrifying anticipation coursed through the gathered crowd, as viewers stood with their gaze transfixed on the sky.

Totality was reached at 1:54 p.m. and lasted for two minutes and ten seconds.

Mingled in among the crowd of eager eclipse viewers, was a reporter with the Anson Independent, who reported a significant, and welcome, drop in temperature during the eclipse.

According to a paper published on www.nc.gov, two previous attempts by the scientific community to view a solar eclipse during a rare totality event were unsuccessful. The Wadesboro eclipse widely became seen as a shot at redemption by scientists, excited to succeed in photographing the solar corona. Previous scientific expeditions to view a total eclipse occurred in 1896, when weather conditions prevented viewing, and also in 1898 when a plague affecting the area prevented entry.

This rare event will again be visible in North Carolina, though Wadesboro will not be a focal point for enthusiasts or scientists. Anson County will not be in the path of totality this time around, though the eclipse will appear as a partial solar eclipse to those in North Carolina during the Monday, March 8, 2024 eclipse. The eclipse will be visible across North America, passing through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Texas, where skies are expected to be clear, is widely touted as having the biggest view of this year’s eclipse. Visible effects from the eclipse will be seen in the Anson County area starting at 2 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.

ANSON — Addressing the Board of Education at the Monday, March 25 meeting, Dr. Mary Ratliff announced, “Mr. (Howard) McLean assigned me the task of researching the feasibility of an alternative school versus an alternative program.”

As part of her research, Ratliff toured Montgomery County Alternative School Program and Richmond County Schools, finding that the schools serve grades six through twelve on the same campus. She determined the setup worked for both schools as the sixth and eighth grade students are educated in a different area of the school from upperclassmen.

“They have separate lunches and they do not intermingle during the day,” informed Dr. Ratliff.

Great pains are taken to ensure age segregation, as Ratliff notes that students also remain apart for physical education classes and scheduled recesses.

Both districts explained to Dr. Ratliff that the decision to combine grades is one of safety.

“They felt like if they could address the issue early, they had a good chance of correcting the issue. If you wait until the ninth grade, then kids are already indoctrinated,” counseled Ratliff.

Acknowledging that she had no idea what to expect, Ratliff admitted, “I was really surprised by the atmosphere at both schools. I noticed that most of the students looked like they were very engaged. I did not see any of the behaviors I had expected to see.”

A practice employed by the schools that struck a chord with Ratliff, is hanging brightly colored posters announcing affirmative messages on school walls, gently reminding students passing under the encouraging signage of all that they can be.

In Richmond County, Ratliff discovered a Time Out Room, complete with punching bag for students to release aggression pent up throughout the school day.

Explaining the punching bag to Ratliff, Richmond educators clarified, “When a child gets upset in traditional settings, what you would do is send that child home on suspension. Because this is the last stop, you cannot come to an alternative school and act up. Our goal is to graduate these students.”

According to Richmond’s theory, students can go to the Time Out Room and decompress before returning to the classroom. Providing students with a decompression option allows for them to be present in the classroom for instruction, instead of, for example, home folding laundry or learning virtually, while suspended from school.

“I can tell you, we miss a lot of instructional days due to out of school suspensions. If you miss one day of instruction you get behind. If you miss ten days of school you are returning to school way behind.”

Ratliff went on to comment, “Students that graduate from an alternative school can graduate with 22 credits, while at a traditional school it is 28.”

In the proposal that the Anson County School District is sending to the state, two critical pathways are addressed, discipline and academic learning.

Should the alternative school application be approved by the state, Dr. Ratliff shares that, “We are looking at grades nine through twelve for credit recovery students and elementary grade students will only go based on referrals for discipline.”

According to Ratliff, younger students will attend the alternative school based on referral because parents of small children suspended for extended periods face childcare hardship. Once a referral is issued, a hearing will be called for the student to be attended by their parents, teacher, and relevant faculty members.

“We have had instances where children have been angry, are suspended, and when they finish that suspension, come back still angry. That is not a safe environment for everyone concerned… it is safer not to have that student back,” advised Ratliff.

At the Montgomery and Richmond alternative school or program, students are sat down on day one and asked about who they want to be and goals the student would like to set for themselves. A personal lesson plan is then devised from each student’s individual goals that is revisited throughout the school year to determine the student’s progress.

Touching on financial concerns, Superintendent McLean announced, “We are going to fund this program very similar to how we fund our programs now. If we get one hundred students, the state will pay for a principal. We do not anticipate having one hundred students so the coordinator for the program will need to be funded locally.”