His promise was disingenuous. He knew when he made it that he would be essentially powerless to lower grocery prices, and he is. We can’t blame him for the fact that eggs now average over $7 a dozen, an all-time high, though firing the inspectors employed to keep our food supply safe certainly won’t help.

But other actions are guaranteed to cost us all more, and the president and his administration know it, even if they won’t admit it. And he makes no bones about intending much of the money we’ll lose to extend tax relief to the millionaires and billionaires who are his cronies.

Deporting millions of migrants will raise prices as the country scrambles to find workers to fill jobs in construction, agriculture, food, service, and home healthcare that are undesirable to the rest of us.

So will rescinding the deal his predecessor brokered to lower prices on prescription drugs for conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes for those on Medicare or Medicaid. This action directly siphons money away from consumers and gives it to drug companies. At least one Wisconsin man died after the cost of his asthma inhaler skyrocketed, and more deaths will certainly follow. If you are on Medicaid, perhaps through the State’s recent expansion, the administration is coming for it. If you receive SNAP or WIC, likewise. Any benefits for middle- or lower-class Americans, including Social Security, are on the chopping block.

Then there are the new tariffs against countries like China and allies like Mexico and Canada that didn’t work during the first Trump administration and won’t work now. They may benefit the owners of big businesses, like steel manufacturers, but they will hurt individual consumers. Economists estimate the action will cost the average American $1200 each year—$100 out of your pocket every month—perhaps more, as the targeted countries retaliate with tariffs of their own. As a representative of the EU said recently, the tariffs will be “bad for business and worse for the consumer.” Regressive costs mean the less you earn, the more you will suffer—as if the goods you need aren’t expensive enough already. Prices are already rising on construction materials, so your kids can forget that first house they were saving for, and new car prices will escalate, too, because of tariffs on materials like steel.

The administration is eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It’s failing? Returning over $20 billion to working people’s pockets and protecting consumers from fraud or deception by predatory financial institutions. More money out of our pockets and more risk of financial harm.

And if the administration shutters the Department of Education as it wishes? Pain and suffering for low-income rural public schools in districts like ours. No more Federal student loans and the end of over $1 trillion of student aid. In the U.S., only the rich could once afford college, and without these government loans, that could once again be true.

The courts halted the federal funding freeze initiated by the President, but the administration promised to keep the funds frozen anyway because it rejects the principle of balance among the three branches of government guaranteed by the Constitution. (Congress is taking it all lying down, and we can’t expect help there.) The 2,600 federal agencies handcuffed by the freeze are far too long to list here. But billions of dollars in aid to those in need, including money for clinics for the uninsured and juvenile justice, domestic violence, and drug treatment programs; medical research; and environmental protections disappeared at a stroke of the President’s pen. Farmers were also left on the hook when USDA funds were frozen.

This is not a president who cares about your wallet or your financial future. For average middle-class Americans, Trump’s promise to Make America Great Again will come with a high price tag.

Editor’s note: The views in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Laurinburg Exchange.

I’m headed in a new direction

Today’s message is a testimony, a made-up mind statement. It is made on behalf of somebody whose mind is made up that for them things are going to be different. There is a positive change for the better in their lives. They are not going back, not looking back and not going to go the same old way; the old way was not working.

They are saying the buck stops here! I’m taking charge of this and I’m taking charge of my life; no more wasted days and wasted nights; things in my life are going to be different! On this Saturday in the second month of the brand-new year some things are going to change in my life because I am headed in a new direction, in Christ! Is that anybody’s testimony today?

Leaving old stuff, old habits, old excuses, I am going God’s way. First, I have a new attitude. I’m thinking differently, talking differently, and expecting differently. I’m not going to go the same way. Satan will not direct me. Oh no, he that comes to kill, steal, and destroy will not direct or stand in my way. I’m not holding on to anything or anybody that’s not going in the GOD direction that I am going in. The year 2025 is for me. It’s a brand new start. As we look down the road, we realize that we just cannot continue to do the same thing. Something has got to change and if we are doing good, we need to seek to do better. A new attitude in 2025 is what we all need.

Everybody this morning needs to take inventory of their lives and see everything that is wrong and be honest. We know everything about us that is wrong. We may not want to admit it, but we know it. We know where our belt needs to be tightened up, and where we stand with God.

My friends this morning, if we are traveling to a destination, New York, Atlanta or some other city, and we discover that we got off on the wrong road, we don’t keep going. The first thing that we do is turn around and make an adjustment. Our GPS will re-calculate. If we are headed in the wrong direction, we don’t keep traveling that road. We turn around and head in another direction. It makes sense. If what we are doing is not working, then it’s time to try something else.

If two people, a man and a woman in a relationship, keep butting heads and all they do is argue, fuss and fight; if they are not getting along, then a light bulb ought to go off in one or the other’s head saying this thing is not working. You go your way, and I’ll go my way. It’s time to head in a new direction. If being with someone is toxic, if they keep you stressed out, if you are trying to serve the Lord but there is somebody you are connected with that keeps pulling at you and taking away from you but not bringing anything spiritually good to you, then it’s time to disconnect and head in another direction.

Don’t keep knocking your head against the brick.

Community, we don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know when something is not working. When things are not clicking we CAN go in another direction. Once we find out that all the devil wants to do is destroy us, and cause us to go to hell, we turn to Jesus who loves us and died for us. When the car stops working, we get another car. When the computer stops working, we get another computer. When the refrigerator konks out, we ship it out and purchase another one. If the insurance company doesn’t want to pay the claim, we find another insurance company.

If we do the same old thing, we will get the same results!

Now I’m not saying that if a husband and wife are having some issues in their marriage, they should just walk away from their marriage. That’s not what I’m saying. Teeth and tongue fall out sometimes. Every marriage has had, is having, or will have some issues. Christians should try to talk, pray, communicate, define, identify their problems, and trust God with their marriage, and with the help of God they deal with them and make their marriage work. Of course, there are some exceptions.

In Isaiah 43:18,19 God said, “Remember not the former things, the old things; neither consider the things of old; behold, I will do a new thing.” Claim this somebody, in 2025! Head in a new direction, not going to go the same old way. If I want change, then I have to make a change.

Somebody needs to say “I’m not going to go the same old way; cutting all strings; not going to answer certain phone calls anymore; getting out of the cliques; deleting certain folk from my Facebook page; cutting loose bad relationships; I don’t need negativity in my life; I’m not going that way anymore; got a new attitude; a new mindset; going to get in my word; going to get in Bible study, Sundey School; forgetting those things behind us, I’m reaching forward in 2025.”

God said he’s going to do a new thing; that’s me, it’s mine; is it yours? Forget the past, forget the failures, the mistakes. That’s old stuff. In 2025 claim favor over your life. It’s Jesus and you. I don’t know about you, but I’m headed in a new direction for the best is yet to come.

LAURINBURG —The Scotland boys basketball team defeated the archrival Richmond Raiders 79-72 in the team’s regular season finale at Scotland High School on Friday night. The Scots finish the regular season at 6-16 (3-9 against conference opponents) with two straight wins while the Raiders conclude their regular season with two straight losses and at 14-9 (9-3 vs SAC teams). Scotland was able to split the season series and avenge a 65-29 blowout loss to Richmond in Rockingham back on Jan. 17.

That earlier season loss to the Raiders is something Head Coach Michael Malpass did not forget coming into Friday’s contest. Scotland’s ability to overcome that loss is something Malpass praised after the game.

“This team beat us at their place by 36, it was a running clock,” Malpass said. “To beat a team that beat you by 36 is a testament to their attention, toughness and ability to buy into what we’re doing.”

Early on the Raiders had the momentum as they scored the first four points of the game, though Dajuan Gibson erased that deficit by hitting a three-pointer as he was getting fouled. Scotland then hung around for most of the opening frame until Richmond scored 14 unanswered points from the 4:03 mark until there was just 1:30 left in the quarter to bring their lead up from 13-11 to 27-11. Chance Crowder’s layup at the very end of the period gave the Raiders a 29-13 advantage after eight minutes.

The Scots would flip a switch to start the second quarter, scoring 11 unanswered points within the first 2:22 thanks to two three-pointers from Gibson as well as baskets from Jerrison Dixon and Quatavius Everette. Even though Richmond responded with four straight points to bring their lead back up to nine (33-24), the Scots would score eight in a row thanks to five points from Tomek McFadden and Gibson’s third three-pointer of the quarter to suddenly make it a one-point game (33-32). The Raiders would be up 35-32 at the break thanks to another last second bucket from Crowder.

Malpass has made many adjustments during his 21 years of coaching. One thing he hasn’t done? Make a new offense for his team to use on the fly.

“We went to a horns offense that we’ve never run, all we did was extend for backdoors and we allowed for get action on the strong side,” Malpass said. “We literally just installed an offense in the second quarter and erased a 15-point deficit, that’s growth.”

The start of the second half simply saw Scotland continue to hang around, never falling behind by more than four but never getting back to even until the 4:54 mark when it was 40-40. The Raiders would go on a 5-0 run over a 49 second span that brought their advantage back up to five (47-42) with three minutes left in the period. The Scots would respond with seven unanswered points (five from Gibson and a bucket from Zion Morrison) in a 53 second span that gave them a 51-49 lead, though Amer Morrison made one free throw at the very end of the period as Scotland was up 51-50 after three quarters.

Scotland would then continue to make plays when it counted throughout the final frame, starting the period on an 8-2 run within 1:22 to expand their lead up to 59-52. Richmond would get the deficit as low as three on several occasions but the Scots always seemed to have an answer for any Raiders surge, the most important example being consecutive baskets from Shylan Harrell and Gibson after the game was 73-70 with 90 seconds left. Scotland led by as many as eight (71-63 with three minutes left) and would officially ice the game on a pair of free throws from Gibson with 10 seconds left.

Gibson was exceptional the entire night for the Scots, scoring nearly half the team’s points with 37. McFadden and Harrell added 14 and 11 respectively.

Gibson praised his teammates after his career night. In an energy filled affair, Gibson trusted the gameplan and knew others would do the same.

“Coach told us to play together as a team and that’s what we did,” Gibson said. “We just had to stay together and knew we had each other.”

Scotland will now head into the conference tournament starting next week. Their first round opponent is not known as of this writing.

Lady Scots drop regular season finale

The Lady Scots were defeated by the visiting Raiders in a 60-38 final on Friday night at Scotland High School. Scotland concludes the regular season at 12-8 (6-6 in conference games) while Richmond finishes at 18-5 (11-1 against SAC opponents) and on a nine-game winning streak. The Raiders took both regular season meetings from the Scots as they also won in Rockingham 54-37 back on Jan. 17.

The first quarter was a slugfest with neither team scoring at all until Morgan Thompson knocked down a three-pointer after 2.5 minutes had passed while Richmond didn’t get their first points until over four minutes had elapsed on a basket from Madisen Jackson. Kayla Simmons then drew a foul and made two free throws to five Scotland a 5-2 lead with 2:31 left in the opening frame. However, that lead wouldn’t last as the Raiders quickly scored seven unanswered to go up 9-5 before Madison Dixon got one more basket for the Scots with 16 seconds remaining in the period (Richmond was up 9-7 after eight minutes).

Head Coach Roshien McClain liked the start he saw from his team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Raiders getting back in the contest is something McClain explained as the Scots simply not sticking to what they were initially doing.

“I thought we started off good by holding them the way we did,” McClain said. “We just stopped doing the things we were doing like rebounding, hustling and getting those loose balls.”

Alicia McClain would knock down a three-pointer just 21 seconds into the second quarter to momentarily give Scotland the lead back at 10-9, though that momentum would quickly die out. Richmond responded with a 12-0 run that was only stopped by a McClain free throw with 3:48 left until halftime. The Scots would get the margin down to nine (24-15) at the 2:08 mark thanks to some free throws and a bucket from Thompson but the Raiders still led comfortably (28-17) at halftime.

Scotland managed to bring the margin down to eight (38-30) with three minutes left in the third quarter, though that would be as close as they would get to even again. The Raiders then scored nine unanswered points to inflate their advantage up to 17 (47-30). Thompson would get fouled on a three-point attempt at the buzzer and make all three free throws to make the game 47-33 after 24 minutes.

Jamyia Lindsey scored the first six points of the final period on her own to further stretch Richmond’s lead up to 20 (53-33). Thompson’s basket with 4:49 left were the first points Scotland scored in the fourth quarter but it would never get any closer from there as the Scots could only muster five points during the final frame, all of which came from Thompson. The Raiders led by as many as 24 (60-36) en route to victory.

McClain boiled down the second half issues to a lack of discipline and too many errors. When playing a team as good as Richmond, those problems get magnified.

“You have to be disciplined when you’re playing them and you have minimal mistakes you can make when you’re down,” McClain said. “They’re real solid at every position, they know their role and what to do.”

Thompson paced Scotland in scoring with 23 points. Dixon added eight.

Thompson, Dixon, McClain, Simmons and Emerie Snuggs were recognized for their contributions to Scotland on senior night. McClain was very grateful for all they have accomplished in the program, including a conference championship and two appearances in the third round of the state playoffs.

“They have been tremendous,” McClain said. “All five of them have been together since the 10th grade, it’s been a great group of seniors.”

The Scots as the No. 4 seed in the SAC will host No. 5 seed Lee County in the first round of the SAC tournament on Monday night at 6 p.m. Scotland took both regular season meetings from the Yellow Jackets, most recently a 57-35 road contest on Tuesday night.

LAUREL HILL — The Laurel Hill First Baptist Church recently recognized Alvin Lewis Breeden as the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award for 2025.

Breeden was selected because of his “adherence to the ideals of the late Dr. King.” In his acceptance speech, Breeden emphasized that the guiding principle that governed his daily living was the concept that love ought to be shown to one another.

“Regardless of the circumstances, we ought to love our fellow man”, Breeden said.

Breeden recently published a book titled “A Gifted Life.” In the book, Breeden shares an inspirational fiction piece that is infused with transformative revelations from God and positivity.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) committee released their third draft of what athletic conferences would look like during the 2025-2029 realignment period on Friday. A first draft was previously released back on Dec. 18 with a second draft getting posted on Jan. 21. Here is a breakdown of how the third proposal would impact Scotland and all of the other schools in the current 3A/4A Sandhills Athletic Conference (Union Pines, Southern Lee, Lee County, Hoke County, Pinecrest and Richmond) if the plan were to get finalized:

-Scotland would be placed into the 6A/7A Conference B as a 6A school with the other 6A teams being Gray’s Creek and Terry Sanford. The 7A schools in the conference would be Cape Fear, Lumberton and Purnell Swett.

-Union Pines, Lee County and Southern Lee would join the 6A Conference 1. The rest of the conference would be composed of Harnett Central, South Johnston, Triton, West Johnston and Western Harnett.

-Hoke County, Pinecrest and Richmond would head to the 7A/8A Conference A with Richmond joining as a 7A team while Hoke County and Pinecrest would compete as 8A schools. The other teams in the conference would be Jack Britt, Overhills and Pine Forest, who would all be 7A teams.

Here is how the proposal looked for the current SAC teams back in December:

-Scotland would be placed into the 5A/6A Conference B as a 6A team. The two 5A schools in the conference would be Douglas Byrd and St. Pauls while the other 6A schools would consist of E.E. Smith, Gray’s Creek, Seventy-First, South View, Terry Sanford and Westover.

-Union Pines, Southern Lee and Lee County would all become part of the 6A Conference 1. Harnett Central, Triton and Western Harnett would make up the other schools in the conference. All six schools would be 6A teams.

-Hoke County and Pinecrest would move to the 7A/8A Conference A as 8A teams while Richmond would join the conference as a 7A school. The remaining schools in the conference would be Cape Fear, Jack Britt, Lumberton, Overhills, Pine Forest and Purnell Swett. All of them would join under the 7A classification.

LAURINBURG — Seth Hatchell, the executive director of the Southeast Regional Airport Authority at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport was the guest speaker at this week’s meeting of the Laurinburg Rotary Club.

During his presentation, Hatchell reviewed the many improvements to the airport terminal building, plans for a new terminal building and general aviation upgrades that have made the local airport a “joy” for general aviation to fly into.

Hatchel also proudly highlighted several opportunities for members of the community to engage with the airport including the at September 2025 Sky High Aerospace Expo and Airshow that is expected to bring thousands to the local airport.

TROY —The Scotland boys basketball team snapped their four-game losing streak with a 77-59 road win over the Montgomery Central Timberwolves on Thursday night. The Scots improve to 5-16 on the season with the victory while Montgomery Central remains winless and falls to 0-22 with the loss. Scotland has swept the regular season series with the Timberwolves, having also beaten them 81-53 in Laurinburg during their season opener back on Dec. 2.

Dajuan Gibson led the Scots in scoring with 22 points while Jerrison Dixon and Shylan Harrell added 12 points apiece. Scotland had nine different players score and outscored the Timberwolves in every quarter of the game (19-18, 17-8, 21-15 and 20-18).

The Scots will have a fast turnaround with archrival Richmond (14-8, 9-2 in conference games) coming to town on Friday night for the regular season finale. Scotland lost their earlier season meeting to the Raiders in Rockingham by a score 65-29 on Jan. 17. Tipoff from Scotland High School is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

PEMBROKE — Hannah Pearson grew up watching her mother change lives—one lesson at a time. Now, at just 18 years old, she’s following in those footsteps, well on her way to becoming one of North Carolina’s youngest teachers. What started as a passion for tutoring classmates in middle school has turned into an accelerated path to the classroom, proving that a love for teaching runs in the family.

That passion took root early. “When I was in the eighth grade, I had the chance to job shadow one of my former teachers,” Pearson shared. “That experience made me realize I could see myself doing this for the rest of my life.”

While still in middle school, Pearson began tutoring her classmates, experiencing the joy of witnessing their ‘light bulb’ moments when concepts clicked. This sense of fulfillment solidified her desire to pursue a career in education—a path she has taken at an impressive pace.

As a dual enrollment student at Fairmont High School, Pearson got a head start on her college journey by earning college credits through Robeson Community College. By the time she officially enrolled at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) in spring 2023, she had already reached junior status, allowing her to jump straight into upper-level courses in the elementary education program.

The early college route to UNC Pembroke is one of several pathways afforded to aspiring teachers like Pearson, who was selected as a Brave Scholar after arriving on campus. UNCP offers several pathway programs and ‘Grow Your Own’ agreements with Robeson Community College, Cape Fear CC, Sandhills CC, Southeastern CC, Montgomery CC and public-school districts in Pender, Columbus, Moore and Whiteville City Schools. UNCP is also a partner institution for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.

Now a senior at UNCP, Pearson is on track to graduate in December—poised to step into a classroom of her own before her 20th birthday.

“Hannah’s path from early college to the Brave Scholar Program showcases what’s possible with hard work and determination,” said Dr. Tracy Mulvaney, dean of the School of Education. “She is an inspiration, and we have no doubt she will empower and shape the lives of countless students in her future classroom.”

Teaching runs in the family—Hannah’s mother, Dr. Miranda McNair, has dedicated 28 years to the classroom. Her stepfather, Brian McNair––a high school civics teacher––recently completed his teaching degree at UNCP, inspired by Pearson’s commitment. Her mother is also an alumna of UNCP.

Pearson credits her family and early experiences for igniting her passion for teaching.

“I’ve seen how some students struggle and how much of a difference encouragement and support can make,” she said. “I want to be that special someone in a student’s life, helping them realize their potential. Changing even one person’s life would mean I’ve achieved my goal.”

HAMLET — For the first time in eight years, a military band is coming to the Cole Auditorium to perform a free concert.

Heritage Brass will be at the Cole on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. This 14-member pioneering symphonic brass ensemble with percussion and vocals brings the military tradition of brass and percussion to the concert stage.

Representing Air Force professionals serving across the globe, Heritage Brass showcases the service’s excellence and precision in every performance. The ensemble presents a diverse repertoire featuring orchestral transcriptions, patriotic favorites, jazz standards, and new compositions.

As professional Airmen, the musicians of Heritage Brass are committed to inspiring patriotism, communicating Air Force priorities, and honoring military veterans through the power of music.

“We are excited to be one of four stops for Heritage Brass while they are touring in North Carolina,” Cole Auditorium Director Joey Bennett said. “Their music tells the Air Force story and presents the finest in musical culture and entertainment.”

The show is geared toward all ages and serves as an opportunity to generate interest in military service. No tickets are required.

There are two other shows coming to the Cole this spring.

TheaterWorksUSA will present “The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System” on March 28, at 6:30 p.m. Families will experience watching their favorite characters from the classic book and TV series come to life on an epic interplanetary field trip. Tickets are $10 to $20.

Uptown will bring a celebration of Motown and Soul music to the Cole on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. This group of men combines the smooth stylings of R&B with the fresh hits of today for a unique performance that will have the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along. Tickets are $20 to $35.

Tickets for these shows can be purchased in person at the Cole Auditorium Box Office or online at https://richmondcc.edu/showtickets. For more information, call the Cole Auditorium at (910) 410-1691.

PEMBROKE — Before the first whistle blows, whether it’s game day or practice, Layth Allan is already on the court, ensuring everything runs seamlessly for The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s men’s basketball team. As the graduate student manager, Allan’s responsibilities range from organizing equipment to assisting coaches.

Even with all of those responsibilities, his most significant impact isn’t what he does, it’s who he is. Born with cerebral palsy, Allan refuses to let challenges define him. Instead, he embodies resilience, positivity and an unbreakable spirit that fuels the team on and off the court.

“His energy is contagious,” says senior guard Nygell Verdier. “Being around Layth has taught me that no matter your challenges, there’s always a way to keep pushing forward. He refuses to let his disability limit him and that’s inspiring.”

Allan’s journey with the team began during his freshman year. After growing up in Lumberton as the manager of his high school basketball team, basketball wasn’t just a hobby, it was home.

While some students found their place in clubs or fraternities, Allan found his place in the rhythm of the game. Whether on the sidelines, in the gym or analyzing stats, he thrives in the camaraderie and competition of sports.

Before home games, the atmosphere in Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court pulses with energy. Bass heavy beats echo through the gym as players high five their way onto the court, where Allan greets them with his signature smile.

Clad in his all-grey UNCP tracksuit, he performs personalized handshakes with each player, which includes a lively mix of palm slaps, finger snaps and choregraphed moves. It’s a ritual that reflects the bond he shares with the team.

“Layth brings energy and good vibes,” says standout senior guard Bradlee Haskell. “He takes pride in his role, showing up for 5 a.m. practices when he doesn’t have to. It’s those little things that motivate the entire team.”

Former player Cortez Marion-Holmes first met Layth during freshman orientation and their shared love for basketball sparked a lasting friendship.

“Layth is strong, self-motivated and confident,” Cortez says. “He connects with the players, helps with development and is a huge part of this program.”

To Allan, who earned a broadcasting degree in 2023, cerebral palsy is just one piece of his story, not the defining chapter.

“I am disabled, and I do have limitations, but I don’t let that stop me,” he says, smiling confidently. “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you’re willing to put in the time and effort and work harder than anyone else.”

LAURINBURG —The St. Andrews Knights Equestrian Program has had a busy past eight days in regard to adding members to the team for the class of 2025. The program has announced the signings of three girls to join the team in the fall, the most recent being Lindsey Cook, which was announced on Thursday afternoon. Cook will come to Laurinburg from Vale, North Carolina.

Jaiyden Bilton has also committed to the program for the fall of 2025. Bilton comes over from Summerville, South Carolina.

Kenna Lampart will also be joining the team this fall. Lampart will be coming from High Point, North Carolina.

The three join Lauren Lauver and Ella Murphy as announced commitments for the class of 2025. The Knights as a program last competed at their own weekend show nearly two weeks ago on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. St. Andrews took home the title of Reserve Champion Team from the competition. The full highlights from the outing can be found here: SAU Hunter Seat takes home Reserve Champion Team at Weekend Show | Laurinburg Exchange.

Congratulations to Cook, Bilton and Lampart on their commitments to St. Andrews!

LAURINBURG —The St. Andrews Knights men’s basketball team took a 91-83 loss at the hands of the Johnson & Wales Wildcats on Wednesday night at Harris Court. The Knights fall to 3-17 on the season with their seventh consecutive loss while the Wildcats improve to 10-14 with the victory.

St. Andrews came out of the gates on fire, scoring the first 13 points of the contest on two three-pointers from Jaylin McDuffie as well as seven points from Kwashek Breeden. Ethan Smith finally would get Johnson & Wales on the board with 16:14 left in the first half, which would be the start of the Wildcats going on a 18-4 run over the next five minutes of game time to eliminate the entire deficit and be up 18-17. Johnson & Wales would score another seven unanswered shortly after as part of 16-3 surge that gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the contest at 34-21 with 4:51 left until halftime. They would enter the locker room up 44-34.

St. Andrews was able to win the second half 49-47 and stormed back to take the lead as late as the 6:53 mark of the game (74-73). Unfortunately for the Knights, they would run out of gas as Johnson & Wales answered back with an 8-1 run to give them their lead back at 81-75 with 4:44 left in regulation. St. Andrews was still within three (83-80) with 2:09 left in regulation but couldn’t finish the deal as the Wildcats made some clutch free throws down the stretch and ended the game on an 8-3 run to secure the win.

McDuffie led the Knights in points and rebounds with 21 and seven respectively. Ma’Nas Drummond dished out a team high nine assists, scored 20 points, grabbed five rebounds and had three steals. St. Andrews had four double digit scorers: McDuffie, Drummond, Breeden (18) and Christopher Coleman (14).

Despite the loss, St. Andrews held a few statistical advantages. Those include assists (16-7), turnovers committed (9-11), points in the paint (28-22) and fastbreak points (6-0).

The Knights will stay at home when they return to conference play on Saturday afternoon for a matchup with Reinhardt. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

Women’s basketball narrowly falls to Brenau

The Knights were defeated on the road by the Tigers in a 50-48 final on Wednesday night. St. Andrews falls to 10-16 (6-13 against conference opponents) on the season with the loss while Brenau improves to 7-16 (6-12 against AAC teams) with the win.

The Knights were outscored in every quarter of the game except for the third. Brenau won the first period 15-13, the second frame 7-6 and the fourth 20-10 while the Knights took the third quarter 19-8.

Londaisha Smith shared the team lead in scoring with Katie Moore as the pair had 13 points apiece. Smith also grabbed a team leading seven rebounds while Jamicia Davis led the Knights in assists with five.

St. Andrews had some statistical edges in the contest. Those areas include field goal percentage (39.2%-34.6%), free throw percentage (53.8%-43.8%), turnovers committed (8-16), points in the paint (32-22) and bench points (10-4).

The Knights will return home on Saturday afternoon for a matchup with Reinhardt. Tipoff is set for noon.

Beach Volleyball, Baseball, Men’s Volleyball have matches postponed

The three teams have all had games this week get postponed:

The beach team was scheduled to host Southern Virginia on Wednesday afternoon for a pair of matchups at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The team will next be in action on Friday and Saturday with home matchups against Salem College, Spartanburg Methodist, Liberty University and Wake Tech. The Knights currently sit at 2-1 on the season.

Baseball has had a game postponed for the second time this week after their home contest against William Peace from Tuesday was also postponed. This time, the first contest of their three-game road set against Union Commonwealth has been postponed. The 2-2 Knights will have a doubleheader against the Bulldogs on Friday with first pitch times of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball was set to host Truett McConnell on Friday night at Harris Court. The 0-2 Knights will next be in action next Saturday, Feb. 22 at home against conference foe Reinhardt. The game will start at 11 a.m. that day.

BRUNSWICK, GA —The St. Andrews Knights men’s golf team competed in the Coastal Georgia Winter Invitational over Monday and Tuesday, finishing in ninth place out of 17 competing schools with a cumulative score of +44 over the three rounds of competition. Keiser won the competition by shooting a collective -7, which was eight strokes better than second placed Coastal Georgia (+1), the hosts of the event. It was the first competition for the Knights since their fall conference championship on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29.

St. Andrews collectively shot a +20 in round one, +8 in round two and +16 on the third round. The team finished three strokes ahead of 10th placed St. Thomas and nine strokes behind eighth placed Columbia International.

Joe Stevenson was the highest placed individual finisher for St. Andrews, finishing in a tie for 14th with Lee Smith of Coastal Georgia with a cumulative score of +2. Stevenson shot even on the first round, -2 in round two and +4 in the final round. Matt Lefebvre finished in a six-way tie for 35th among all golfers with a total score of +9 (+4, even and +5 over the three rounds of competition respectively).

St. Andrews will be back in action for the Sandhills Shootout on Monday, Feb. 24. The event will be a two-day competition.

I’m sure most of us have heard our elders talk about taking corn or wheat to a grist mill and having it ground into cornmeal, flour or scratch feed for the chickens. This was a common practice during the 1800s and even through the first half of the 20th century.

Grist Mills were built along large creeks in just about every part of our country. Farmers would load several toe sacks of corn on their backs, their wagons or vehicles if’n they had one, and take it to the mill to be ground. People didn’t have much hard cash back in the day so the Miller would take a percentage of the meal for grinding it. When the people returned home the meal was put in the pantry and hopefully, the weevils wouldn’t get in it too bad before time to grind some more.

The actual mill was usually a two-story wooden structure with loading docks on one end and the mill pond on the other. Inside would be at least two milling stones, all-size shafts, gears and belts. Outside the paddle wheel was turned by the water to power the mill. Most mills were built out of heart pine. This plus the dusty dry conditions and the heat generated by the equipment would catch on fire in a heartbeat if everything was not properly greased and maintained.

The Miller had to be a jack of all trades for the mill to operate. Most mills employed two or more local people. Sometimes when a Millwright couldn’t be found locally they were hired from off and their family would move into a house close to the mill. My Dad worked at Capel’s Mill until he was drafted in the Second World War. When he got out in forty-five, he planned to go back to work at the mill but the mill burnt down one day before his discharge from the Army. He really missed this place and had a lot of fond memories of the mill. After I was born we had a lot of picnics and fishing trips on the old mill pond.

Saturdays, especially the evening, were the busiest time at the mills. Farmers would have most of their work caught up for the week or just wanted to take a break from their hard work. Their whole families would head out for the mill. It was like going to town for the rural folk. While waiting in line to get their corn ground, the men would talk about farming and the weather, while the women did their socializing. The children got to do their things also like skip rocks, swim, or fish in the mill pond. It was just a nice family outing.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a few grist mills that operated in Richmond Co. like Everett’s Mill which was on Marks Creek toward Cheraw; Capel’s Mill and Baldwin’s Mill which were on Big Mountain Creek in the northern end of the County; Peggy’s Mill in the southeast part of the county; and Camp Millstone, northeast of Ellerbe where the grindstones were actually mined and cut.

Also, there was a big grist mill in Scotland Co. known as X-Way Mill which may still operate. I’m sure there were a lot more. When electricity came around, mills that could go all electric but most went by the wayside. Most of the old mills are gone now, replaced with newer and more modernized ones. A few still have their dams and mill ponds left. Those that are left are a product of a bygone era.

If you travel to the actual mill site you will most likely find old chimneys, piles of rocks, and cement covered with lots of vines and vegetation. This is where the snakes come in!!!! Snakes like this type of environment, especially where there are mice and a good water supply.

Next week I’ll tell you about my encounter with a rather large serpent while hunting around one of these old abandoned grist mills. Folks you don’t want to miss this one cause it gets interesting, don’t you know!!!

SANFORD —The Lady Scots basketball team bounced back from their Friday night home loss to Pinecrest with a 57-35 road victory over the Lee County Yellow Jackets on Tuesday night. Scotland’s second win over Lee County this season improved their season record to 12-7 (6-5 in conference games) while the Yellow Jackets fall to 8-12 (3-8 against SAC opponents) with their fourth consecutive loss.

Alicia McClain led Scotland in scoring with 17 points. Kayla Simmons added 15 while Morgan Thompson had 10 to give the Scots three double digit scorers. 34 of Scotland’s points came in the second half.

The Scots will wrap up their regular season schedule on Friday night when they welcome archrival Richmond to Laurinburg for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Scotland lost their earlier season meeting to the Raiders in Rockingham by a score of 54-37 back on Jan. 17.

Boys basketball routed by Lee County

The Scots were defeated by the Yellow Jackets in an 87-53 final on Tuesday night. Scotland falls to 4-16 (2-9 against conference opponents) on the season with their fourth straight loss while Lee County improves to 11-10 (6-5 against SAC teams) with the victory. The two teams split their regular season series with Scotland winning on their home floor 51-49 back on Jan. 14.

Marquis McNeill paced Scotland in scoring with 17 points while Jerrison Dixon added 10 in his return to the lineup from an illness. The pair were the only two Scots to score in double figures.

The Scots will stay on the road for a nonconference matchup with Montgomery Central on Thursday night. Scotland previously defeated the Timberwolves in Laurinburg by a score of 81-53 back on Dec. 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

WAGRAM — When Keith Stephens isn’t working as a behavior support specialist at Scotland County Schools, he’s creating pop culture-inspired mixed-media paintings and comic books featuring loved ones.

His artwork is the reason the Arts Council of Scotland County chose Stephens as their February Artist of the Month, meaning his paintings will be on display through the end of the month at the Storytelling Arts Center, located on South Main Street in Laurinburg.

Stephens, a Wagram resident who is originally from Hoke County, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He said his artwork draws inspiration from anime, Godzilla, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In addition to being an artist, Stephens has worked for Scotland High School since 1997.

Asked how he finds the time to do art, he said, “Well, my kids are all older now, so that makes it easier. I try to find some time every day to draw, sketch, or paint. I carry a little notebook around with me so I can write down my ideas as they come to me.”

Through his art, Stephens said he tries “… to traverse the intersection of pop culture and profound human experience.

“My work endeavors to capture the essence of freedom — both in artistic practice and the narratives I choose to explore. Each piece … encourages a deeper reflection on the themes of heroism, transformation and resilience.”

Stephens has repurposed a shed on his property to serve as his art studio, and this is where he does the majority of his work. He said, “I employ a diverse array of materials and techniques allowing for an unrestricted flow of creativity.”

Asked to elaborate, he explained, “I like to use different textures and 3-D elements in my paintings. I use things I find around the house a lot. I’ve used items like cotton balls, synthetic hair and fake flowers.”

“My main art form as a kid was drawing, but when I went to UNCP, it broadened my horizons. My professors encouraged me to paint and to incorporate different elements into my art,” Stephens said.

In addition to painting, Stephens also does sculpture and has published a comic book. He says his sculptures focus on the human figure in motion.

“I love to play around and figure out how to create the motion and then see the outcome,” the Artist of the Month said.

An example of heroism in Stephens’ works is displayed in “Significant Six,” a 66-page comic book loosely based on his family but not autobiographical. According to the blurb on the back of the book, it tells the story of a mystery man who shows up in the family’s life and causes chaos. The family must band together to overcome this stranger’s agenda, and in doing so, they learn that “family is the most significant force in our lives.”

Stephens’ family includes his wife, two daughters, twin sons, and now, a granddaughter.

“My family is my biggest inspiration,” Stephens said. “Their support keeps me going and creating art.”

Stephens said he started the comic book on a whim and created a page a week. He drew and inked the pages by hand and then uploaded them to the computer to add the dialogue. As he completed each page, he shared it on Facebook with friends and family.

“I didn’t know it would get such a good reception,” Stephens said. “People on Facebook started telling me I should publish it. That wasn’t my intention to start, but based on the commentary, I decided to do it.”

The book went live on Amazon in February 2023, and he said people have been clamoring for part 2 ever since.

Traffic was halted Saturday along Main Street in Laurinburg Saturday to make way for the procession of the Black History Month Parade, an annual event organized by the African American Heritage Committee. This year’s parade featured hometown heroes and was led by the grand marshall, the late Chief Robert Lee Malloy, celebrated posthumously. His wife Blanche Malloy and family will ride in his honor. Editor’s Note: See more photos on page 6A.

Escorted by the Laurinburg Police Department, students, churches, dance teams and more parade through Laurinburg during the Annual Black History Month Parade. The parade began at Legion Park and ended at the I.E. Johnson Community Center.

LAURINBURG —The St. Andrews University Knights baseball team has had their previously scheduled home matchup on Tuesday afternoon postponed. The Knights were scheduled to host William Peace University from Clark Field with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.

Their Tuesday afternoon matchup was set to be the first game for St. Andrews in a week with their last contest being a 15-3 road loss to Spartanburg Methodist College last Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Knights currently stand at 2-2 on the season as they took 2 of 3 from Montreat at home to start the season before dropping their game against the Pioneers.

With the postponement, St. Andrews will next be in action with three away games over Thursday and Friday against conference foe Union Commonwealth. They will play one game on Thursday at 2 p.m. and then a doubleheader on Friday with start times of noon and 3 p.m.

The Knights will travel to face William Peace next Tuesday, Feb. 18. First pitch is currently scheduled for 3 p.m.

The next time St. Andrews will be at home is for a three-game series against Reinhardt that is set to be held over Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22. Those contests will be the first of seven straight home games for the team.

LAURINBURG — St. Andrews University recently participated in the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl, held at the State House in Raleigh on Feb. 7-8.

The event brought together students from across the state to engage in thought-provoking debates on this year’s theme, “Ethics in Health and Wellness.”

The St. Andrews Ethics Bowl Team included Israel Cleveland (freshman), Kaydon Harriott (freshman), Avarie McPhillips (junior), Olivia Plybon (sophomore), and Noah Sorrells (senior). The team was led by Tim Verhey, the SAU department chair for Liberal and Creative Arts, who served as the team coordinator.

Over two days, the team participated in four debates, winning two and narrowly losing two — one by a single point. Their performance demonstrated “exceptional critical thinking, teamwork, and ethical reasoning, especially impressive given the team’s youth.”

In addition to the debates, the students attended a reception and dinner at the North Carolina Museum of Natural History. The evening featured a keynote address by Secretary Kody Kinsley, former Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Kinsley shared insights on public policy, public service and the collective responsibility for improving the quality of public life.

Reflecting on the experience, Verhey said, “I am really proud of our team. Not only were the students articulate and thoughtful, they also worked together really well as a team. In fact, of all the teams, they seemed to be having the most fun. They smiled, and laughed, and really enjoyed one another and the competition. With such a young team, I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in coming years.”

The NCICU Ethics Bowl provided an invaluable opportunity for students to develop their skills in ethical analysis and public speaking while fostering connections with peers and professionals across the state.

St. Andrews University leaders said they look forward to building on this year’s success and returning to the Ethics Bowl next year with even greater determination.

For more information about St. Andrews University and its programs, visit www.sa.edu.