LAURINBURG — Scotland County Teen Court recently held its annual banquet to honor the volunteers who help make the youth diversion program a success.

Teen Court is designed to keep youth from becoming formally involved in the court system. The program conducts court sessions that closely mirror real court proceedings, with students serving as attorneys, jurors, clerks and bailiffs. Youth participants are judged by a jury of their peers and must complete assigned dispositions to avoid further legal consequences.

Student volunteers take on various courtroom roles. Defense attorneys represent the youth defendant and present their case in the best possible light, while prosecuting attorneys represent the state and argue against the defendant. Bailiffs assist the judge and help maintain order in the courtroom, and clerks are responsible for documenting and managing case paperwork. Jurors listen to the case and determine a fair and constructive sentence.

An adult judge—typically a sitting or retired judge or a trained attorney—presides over each session.

The banquet served as a way to thank everyone involved in the program throughout the year. Organizers extended their appreciation to the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office for providing courthouse security during Teen Court sessions and to school resource officers for referring youth to the program, helping many avoid formal charges and a criminal record.

Thanks were also given to the Clerk of Court for allowing use of the courthouse facilities in the evenings, and to District Attorney Jay Todd Martin for frequently serving as a Teen Court judge. Additional thanks went to Judges Chris Rhue, Chevonne Wallace, and attorneys Timothy Snead and Tyler Miller for their service to the program.

A special acknowledgment was given to the student volunteers who dedicate their time, mentorship and community service to the youth of Scotland County.

Organizers also expressed gratitude to Scotland County United Way for supporting the program with operational funding.

Teen Court is always looking for new volunteers. Interested youth can contact Director Stephanie Johnston at 910-276-5477 or Coordinator Marty Crumroy at 910-217-1437 or via email at macrumroy@gmail.com.

PEMBROKE — Magally Ortiz-Rojas, a recent UNC Pembroke graduate, has been selected as a presidential scholar for the UNC System’s prestigious 2025–2026 academic year cohort — an elite honor reserved for some of the most accomplished and promising young leaders across North Carolina’s public universities.

Ortiz-Rojas, who graduated with summa cum laude honors in May, was among four recent graduates of UNC System institutions selected to serve as a presidential scholar.

“As a first-generation college student, pursuing and furthering my education has always been important,” Ortiz-Rojas said. “I’m beyond excited to get a deeper and broader understanding of higher education, especially how the UNC System works toward making higher education accessible for people of all backgrounds.”

The Presidential Scholar program is a one-year fellowship that enables graduates to serve in various professional functions in the UNC System Office. Scholars interact with the president, the senior leadership team and UNC Board of Governors. They also gain experience in academic affairs, public policy, research and strategic initiatives that affect higher education.

“Being named a presidential scholar is a true reflection of UNC Pembroke’s mission to change lives through education,” Ortiz-Rojas said. “My time at UNCP offered me invaluable learning and research experiences that shaped my understanding of higher education policy, university governance and students’ vital role in both. I found a supportive community that guided me through those four years and helped open the door to this incredible opportunity.”

“I’m honored to represent UNC Pembroke at the UNC System Office, where I’ll rotate through various departments as part of the fellowship.”

Ortiz-Rojas was highly active at UNCP, serving in several key leadership roles, including president of the Student Government Association and an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees. She earned a degree in political science with a pre-law concentration and sociology. She was a first-generation peer mentor with New Student Programs and was the manager of the Braves Resource Center. She founded the Latin Student Union Club, was a member of the 1887 Society and held other club positions.

Ed Brooks, chair of the UNCP Board of Trustees, saw firsthand Ortiz-Rojas’ thoughtfulness, maturity and clear passion for student advocacy during her time as an ex-officio member.

“Magally brought insight, professionalism and a strong student voice to the Board of Trustees,” Brooks said. “I have no doubt she will represent UNC Pembroke with the same dedication and distinction as a presidential scholar. She is a remarkable young leader with a deep commitment to education and public service.”

A daughter of Mexican immigrants, Ortiz-Rojas’ honors thesis research focused on immigrant students and the barriers they face when seeking access to higher education in the rural South. Following her year at the System Office, Ortiz-Rojas plans to attend law school and pursue a career in immigration law as an advocate for immigrant college students.

LAURINBURG — Songs, laughter, and high-energy fun echoed through the Scotland County Memorial Library on Wednesday as families gathered for two lively performances by the popular kids’ band Big Bang Boom.

The dynamic band had children dancing, singing, and clapping along in a celebration of music, movement, and summer joy. Their performance was part of the library’s ongoing Summer Reading Program, which has brought a variety of engaging, family-friendly events to the community throughout the summer.

With summer winding down, the library still has a few exciting programs in store before wrapping up the series in early August.

Next week, prepare to be amazed as Rockstar Magic of Chris & Neal takes the stage for two mind-blowing magic shows on Wednesday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Known for their high-energy illusions and interactive tricks, these performances are sure to captivate audiences of all ages.

On Tuesday, July 30, science takes center stage with Mad Science, bringing thrilling experiments, surprising reactions, and plenty of educational fun to the library at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Expect some bang, fizz, and pop as science comes to life before your eyes!

The Summer Reading Program will end with a splash during the library’s first-ever Messtival on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This hands-on celebration will feature Foam N Fun, tie-dye stations, chalk art, and a variety of messy, colorful painting activities designed to let kids get creative and a little bit messy in the name of fun.

All events are free and open to the public.

HAMLET — Hendrick Automotive Group Chairman and CEO Rick Hendrick said “this feels like home to me” as he stood at the edge of the building site of the future automotive training facility at Richmond Community College that will bear his name and produce highly skilled technicians for generations to come.

“This school is special, and we are very honored to be part of your program because I see unlimited opportunities and potential for young people here,” Hendrick said at the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the Hendrick Center for Automotive Training.

Hendrick started his first dealership in Bennettsville, S.C., and over the years, he developed many connections with people in Rockingham. Since those modest beginnings, Hendrick has built the largest privately held dealership group in the United States.

Brent Barbee, president of RichmondCC, thanked Hendrick and his team for their dedication and support of this project, which started six years ago.

“I know there were a thousand other places that you could have been today, but you chose to be here to show your support for this partnership, and that support has been evident since the beginning,” Barbee said.

In 2019, Dr. Dale McInnis, who was president of RichmondCC at that time, met with Hendrick to discuss workforce needs in the automotive maintenance industry. Leaders from the College continued the discussion over the years, making visits to Charlotte to meet with the Hendrick team to better understand the industry and its unique demands.

“Who better to rely on than an industry leader who has built one of the largest, most successful dealer networks in the country,” Barbee said.

Roger Mesiemore, vice-president of Fixed Operations for the Hendrick Automotive Group, explained the value of having an automotive trade school education, breaking it down into three categories: hands-on, real-world training; pride and purpose; and job security and demand.

“The students will be getting under the hood and using their hands to learn skills that they will use each and every day in the real world,” Mesiemore said. “There is something really prideful about fixing things with your own hands.”

Mesiemore stressed the need for more automotive technicians, providing figures for the number of dealerships across the country, as well as within North Carolina, and how many technicians they employ.

“These jobs are stable, high-paying and they can’t be outsourced,” Mesiemore said. “This automotive program that we are breaking ground on today will launch so many careers that are respected, rewarding and built for long-term success.”

The Hendrick Center for Automotive Training will be a 10,000-square-foot facility located on RichmondCC’s Hamlet Campus. In addition to being backed by the team from Hendrick and other private and public philanthropies, the project is also receiving support from the state of North Carolina.

Senator Dave Craven spoke on behalf of the N.C. General Assembly at the groundbreaking.

“This is an excellent example of what a private/public partnership should be in this state,” Craven said. “The N.C. Senate put a $2.5 million grant in our last budget to complete this project. That shows how dedicated we are to ensuring this comes to fruition, in addition to the $5 million the N.C. General Assembly has already appropriated for this project.

“I look forward to returning for the opening of this state-of-the-art facility and watching the future of the N.C. automotive industry take place right here in Richmond County,” Craven added.

Hendrick assigned himself the task of pulling in manufacturers like GM, Toyota and Honda to help with the training provided within the new facility and to make the program grow.

“We’re going to work hard to make this successful, and I believe in three to four years we will be expanding this building. We will make sure this school is one of the best in the state and the country,” Hendrick said.

The Hendrick Center for Automotive Training is scheduled to be completed in one year. Students will begin enrolling in the short-term, cohort-based training program in the fall of 2026.

LAURINBURG — Coachable, disciplined and humble. These are three words to describe the newest trio of receivers for the Fighting Scots football team.

With leading receivers Dajuan Gibson and Quatavius Everette having graduated, Tomek McFadden, Carter Williams and Andre McNeil are stepping into big roles for the Scots offense.

After the hiring of offensive coordinator Matt Quinn, who is looking to reshape the offense, Quinn has stated that he wants “to get the ball to players in open space, and our receivers have been electric in this type of offense.”

So far through this offseason, these wideouts have been putting together highlight-reel plays and have given opposing teams problems with their versatility, route running and ability to bring in contested catches.

As the X receiver, McFadden plays a key role on the outside for the Scots offense. Despite being a sophomore, McFadden has been drawing double teams from defensive units in offseason workouts, a testament to the threat he poses to defenses.

“This offense opens up a lot of opportunities for me to make big plays,” McFadden said. “The way we spread the field and the talent around me makes everyone better, and I can become even more explosive.”

McFadden also expressed confidence that the trio of receivers would “become the next big thing coming out of Scotland County.”

“We have the ability to make big plays,” McFadden said. “As an offense, we want to score points and outgain the opposing team. As a trio, we can get that job done.”

With the threat that McFadden poses on the outside, Carter Williams and Andre McNeil have thrived. With the versatility they both possess, Williams and Carter feed off each other’s ability to run precise routes and pick up yards after the catch, which will be crucial in Quinn’s offense.

“Throw the football,” senior Carter Williams expressed. “That’s the goal for this offense: we want to get better every day. This year, we want to come out of the shadows of Quatavius Everette and Dajuan Gibson.”

“The offense is improving on every level,” senior Andrew McNeil stated. “As a receiver trio, we plan on doing big things. The goal is to throw as much as we can compared to last year.”

In their previous season, the Scots completed 119 passes out of 205 attempts, accumulating 1,919 yards with a .580 completion percentage and averaging 147 passing yards per game. With the addition of the new receiving trio, will the offense take a leap in the 2025 season?

LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots football team is known for bringing the drive and excitement to Scotland County; now it’s time to take that drive to the golf course.

Come out and support the Scotland Football Golf Tournament presented by Driggers Construction on August 9 at 9 a.m. at the Scotch Meadows Country Club.

The tournament is limited to 20 teams, with a team fee of $300; a hole sponsor is $100 and a team & hole sponsor is $350.

Registration is open. Contact Richard Bailey or Chip Wells for further information.

LAURINBURG — Put away the baseballs and break out the softballs, as the countdown is on for the FCA Fundraiser Camp.

The camp is scheduled for Aug 2 at Optimist Park. Led by five outstanding athletes, Dawson Blue, Madison Dixon, Maddie Johnson, A’mari Adams and Lilly Fulghum, are teaming up to host a softball fundraiser camp to help focus on the fundamentals and empower young players.

Camp registration is currently open to girls aged 8-14; the registration deadline is July 31, and the cost to participate is $20.

The location of the event will be held at Optimist Park, 9961 South Turnpike Rd., Laurinburg, NC 28352.

For further information, email Dawsonpb2008@gmail.com for details.

LAURINBURG — Monday night was electric in Scotland County as the Hooligans won in a dramatic walk-off winner. The excitement didn’t stop there; former Major League baseball player Michael Wright was in attendance at Legion Park.

Wright grew up in Gibson, NC and Laurel Hill, NC. He would take the ceremonial first pitch in the Hooligans’ match against the Shallotte Shallywags.

Wright’s journey started at Pate Gardner Elementary School, Laurel Hill Elementary School, Carver Middle School and Scotland High School before transferring to Whiteville High School, where he graduated. After high school, Wright played collegiate baseball at East Carolina University, where he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round. He would later play for the Seattle Mariners, the White Sox and in South Korea.

“I played three years at East Carolina University,” Wright stated. “As a city, Laurinburg is growing. It’s awesome that Laurinburg has a team. These players have the opportunity to come from all over the world to experience Laurinburg.”

Wright spent the evening engaging with fans, signing autographs, taking pictures and giving away special pieces of his baseball journey, including a signed jersey and a pair of game-worn cleats.

“Billy Norris asked me to come here and throw the first pitch,” Wright said. “This is the first year Laurinburg has a team. I played at Legion Park, and it’s pretty cool to come back and see what the city has to offer.”

For Wright, the memories at Legion Park are deeply meaningful.

“It’s great; I played here my ninth grade year and also post-50 Junior Legion,” Wright stated. “The only bone I’ve ever broken in my body was on this field during practice. I’ve had a lot of fun here, lots of great practices, amazing memories.”

Laurinburg has been known for producing some of the best baseball talent, such as Russ Adams, Brent Butler, Willie Edward Jones, Wes Covington, Alex Malloy and Parker Byrd.

LAURINBURG — Known for its rich Scottish heritage, charming small-town atmosphere and vibrant cultural scene, Laurinburg is the heart and history of rural North Carolina. It’s where tradition and community remain strong.

Few people embody that Laurinburg spirit more than Al Blades. A lifelong member of the community, Blades is one of the pioneers of the town’s sports scene, from a Little League Baseball player to a Little League coach and Parks & Recreation leader. Blades has left a mark on generations deeply rooted in sports, service and pride, something that has never faded.

“I’m just a simple guy that loves sports,” Blades said, smiling.

From the Diamond to the Sideline

For a man whose dream was to become the second baseman for the New York Yankees, Blades still managed to leave a mark on sports, just not the way he envisioned.

“It all started in Scotland County when I was nine years old, playing Little League baseball. My dream was to become the second baseman for the New York Yankees. When I got to 12 years old, I figured out my baseball average; it was .097, and I knew I wasn’t going to play for the Yankees.”

Even though he began to acknowledge his limitations, sometimes your calling card might be closer than you think.

“I kept playing baseball until I was 15, when I stopped. I didn’t have a lot to do,” Blades stated. “Once I got to ninth grade at Laurinburg High School, I would hear the football and baseball teams practicing from my house, and I would go watch them practice alongside the basketball team.”

Until one day, a coach said something to him that would change his life.

“One day, the coach for the basketball team asked me during P.E. class if I would be interested in being a manager.” Blades was confused.

“What is that? He said I would keep up with the basketballs, timekeeping, making sure the gym stayed clean, keeping the uniforms clean and putting them inside lockers. Once I started, I enjoyed doing it and continued to do this throughout high school.”

This sudden interest in team management was a twist from his typical routine. From his days on the baseball field to transitioning to the sideline, it was not easy, but it ignited a new journey.

“Next year, I was at Scotland High School, and Coach Jenkins, my P.E. coach in 10th grade asked me to be the manager for the football team.”

By the end of his sophomore year, Blades managed both the basketball and football teams; though he reaped the benefits of these opportunities, it would also bring negatives alongside it.

“I felt the privilege of a star athlete; however, that’s the reason I’m so dumb, once I started managing these coaches who were teachers. Whenever I would walk into their classrooms, they would ask if I had studied for their test. Once I said yes, they would make me run errands while everyone else inside the class took the test.”

Life After School

After graduating high school, Blades was stuck at a crossroads. “When I finished high school, I had no plan of what I wanted to do,” he recalled. That fun of managing teams was now finished; he would now step into the real world and see where he could find his footing.

“I didn’t want to attend college because I wasn’t that smart and my grades were not that great,” Blades said. He got his big break when he saw an ad in the sports newspaper to become a sportscaster.

“My dad, for Christmas, would bring me the Sporting News subscription every year. One day, there was an ad named Career Academy to become a sportscaster. I thought this should be easy. I love sports, so I packed up and headed to Atlanta, GA, to be a sportscaster.”

From wanting to become a second baseman for the Yankees to managing his high school teams to now stepping into a new role in sports casting. Blades’ sports career was a roller coaster ride.

“The first week went pretty good, once they started giving me the script to read off of. Those words started to look like Beethoven and Bach music notes because I couldn’t understand or pronounce anything on that paper.”

“The instructor told me I had a heavy accent; he gave me a pencil and said to talk with it in my mouth to change my accent. That didn’t work either, so I just decided to go back home, and my parents were not too happy with me; they told me I would have to get a job.”

Finding His Footing

The harsh reality of having a passion for sports yet being unable to succeed leaves you with the unsettling necessity of taking jobs just to make ends meet.

“I began working at the J.P. Stevens warehouse. Things didn’t quite work out there; I didn’t care to do that. I was coaching Little League baseball and would always hang out around the Parks & Recreation.”

During this time, Blades connected with Bill Scott, the Parks & Recreation director. Scott played a significant role in shaping Blades’ career as we know it today.

“After I got laid off from the warehouse, Bill Scott offered me a job at Parks & Recreation; however, he said the position was a grant-funded program, probably no more than three days, three months or three years. I said, I’ll take my chances.”

This was a big risk on Blade’s part, after being laid off from your warehouse job. Now he was at risk of working for a job that was working on a limited duration.

“The program ran out in three years. Mr. Scott went to the county commissioner and tried to get a position available for me at Parks & Recreation. They approved it, and it was one of the best moments of my life.”

Impact

The recent opening transformed Blades’ career. “This was my dream job,” Blades claimed. During his 42 years of work, Blades worked with the basketball, football and cheerleading programs. When it comes to the sports scene in Laurinburg, Blades has seen it all.

At Legion Park, he has put together a collection that features Laurinburg, NC’s finest sports memorabilia. From the Original 4-Man Softball Club in Laurinburg, a 1920s football leather helmet from Laurinburg High School, the original Laurinburg baseball and football teams and vintage photos of Cotton Sutherland and more.

Al Blades is a walking sports archive of Laurinburg sports history.

“I know a lot of sports history; it’s because of my age. I’ve been here for a long time. A lot of the stuff that’s in this room was at the John Blue house. We moved it over to the Scotland County Museum and moved it again because most of the stuff there was agriculture. People are just excited to see everything from pictures to artifacts, which shows our history.”

“One of the most humbling and proudest things I love about my work is kids who played Park & Recreation ball 30 years ago. They come back, and we reminisce on the good days, and it was a joy working for all those years. Most of the time, I didn’t think anything of it. I was working seven days a week, but I loved doing what I wanted to do.”

On Aug. 16, Scotland County will be hosting its first-ever Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Seven nominees will be inducted into the ceremony to honor the legends in Scotland County’s long, rich history, one of whom is Al Blades.

“I was surprised about being a nominee,” Blades said laughingly. “But I am excited and grateful that people know what I did in the past. I always looked at this as my job. I never really looked for recognition; this is an honor to be inducted into the first Scotland County Hall of Fame.”

So if you ever see Al Blades around the town, at a Highland Hooligans game or at Legion Park, take the time to speak. You are in the presence of a Laurinburg legend; his legacy is carved inside of the history books of Scotland County Sports.

LAURINBURG — The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Patrick Terry, who was last seen in the early morning hours of July 10 on Boykin Lane in the Hasty community.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a possible missing person on July 12 in the area of Pea Bridge Road. The reporting party told investigators that Terry “did not appear to be in his right mind” at the time he was last seen.

Terry is described as a white male, born April 7, 1993. He is approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds, has blue eyes and short brown hair. His clothing at the time of his disappearance is unknown.

Detectives have searched all known locations Terry is known to frequent but have not yet located him.

Anyone who sees Patrick Terry is urged to call 911 immediately. Those with information about his whereabouts are asked to contact the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-266-4332.

LAURINBURG — With the addition of two new murals this summer, downtown Laurinburg is brimming with artistic flair.

The latest murals are located on the Railroad Bar and Grill building at the corner of South Main and Railroad streets and at Gibson Sign Shop near the corner of West Church and Atkinson streets.

Artist Amy Locklear created the mural at the Railroad Bar and Grill over five and a half days at the end of June. Fittingly, her scene depicts a red and white railroad car rolling through the countryside. The train features a Scottish flag and the words “City of Laurinburg” emblazoned on it.

The idea for the mural was provided by the business, and Locklear brought it to life by referencing photos of old railcars provided by the Arts Council of Scotland County. Representatives of the Railroad Bar and Grill were unavailable for comment as of press time.

Locklear, who has been a muralist for five years, said the most challenging aspect of the project was working in the heat.

“It was so hot,” she said. “I wore cooling fans around my neck. I also made sure to drink plenty of water and take lots of breaks.”

She said community support helped keep her motivated.

“People would drive by and wave and honk. Walkers would stop, observe, and offer praise. Some even offered water,” she said. “It helped me keep going.”

Locklear said she has always loved art, and her teachers recognized her talent even in elementary school, often asking her to help with bulletin boards and other creative projects. She left art behind for a time but rekindled her passion after taking a drawing class at Richmond Community College in 2010.

“I began doing pencil portrait drawings while still working as a retail merchandiser,” she said. “In 2020, Fayetteville Urban Ministries asked me to paint a large J. Cole portrait on a wall. Even though I had never done a large-scale painting before, I did it, and it came out really well. That’s when I realized I could do art for a living, and by 2024, it became my full-time job.”

Locklear also painted the dandelion mural on the side of Scotland Bling.

Art teacher and track coach Shaquille Ray is working on the mural at Gibson Sign Shop. Once completed, the mural will pay tribute to Laurinburg and its sister city, Oban, Scotland. The design centers around a large Scottish flag, with scenes representing Oban on one side and Laurinburg on the other.

Ray, who previously painted smaller murals at Carver Middle School and Sycamore Lane Elementary, said the most difficult part hasn’t been the heat.

“As a track coach, I’m used to the heat,” he said. “What’s been tricky has been working around the windows and camouflaging the various pipes, vents, meters, and other hardware protruding from the building, so it doesn’t distract from the art.”

Ray hopes to complete the mural in the coming weeks.

“There are a lot of details to this mural, so it will take a while,” he said.

Ray, who graduated with an art degree from UNC Pembroke in 2016, said art has always been a part of his life.

“I’ve been drawing all my life. Art has always been important to me,” he said.

The building is owned by Lee Howell, whose daughter, Sydney, participated in the Oban student exchange program about six years ago.

“My daughter and I wanted to do something to honor the sister city relationship between Laurinburg and Oban,” Howell said. “This is something we can show the students from Oban when they come to visit. It will make a great photo op for them. We’re excited to see the finished product.”

These murals are the third and fourth funded by the Arts Council of Scotland County. Director Olivia Fitzgerald said the project is partially supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, and some of that funding is earmarked for specific uses.

“Murals meet those guidelines,” Fitzgerald said. “Since we did the first bubbles mural by McDuffie Square, there’s been a lot of interest in murals.”

Susan Morrison with the City of Laurinburg works with the arts council to connect interested businesses with mural opportunities. Fitzgerald said the Arts Council then acts as a conduit between muralists and business owners. From there, the artist and business collaborate on the design.

“We’re glad to do it,” Fitzgerald said. “It helps tell the stories of our community.”

LAURINBURG —Clerk of Superior Court Philip McRae administered the Oath of Office to the Scotland County Jury Commission Wednesday at the Scotland County Courthouse.

The three-member commission includes Dr. Walter Jackson, who was judge-appointed; Ida McGill, county-appointed; and Mary Helen Norton, clerk-appointed.

The three-member commission oversees the creation and operation of the computerized lists from which jurors are randomly selected to serve. Each commissioner must be a county resident and serve a two-year term beginning in July of each odd-numbered year. One member is selected by the county commissioners, one by senior resident superior court judge, and one by the clerk of superior court.

LAURINBURG — Thanks to the Sunshine Foundation, a local child is now living out a dream that brings joy and calm to his daily life.

Dakstyn Lowery, who lives with Level 3 severe autism, recently received a Special Dream from the Sunshine Foundation — a new above-ground swimming pool installed at his home.

“We are beyond grateful to the Sunshine Foundation for making Dakstyn’s dream come true,” said his mother. “Watching him splash and smile in his very own pool every afternoon has been such a gift to our family. It has helped calm his meltdowns, ease his aggression, and bring him so much pure joy. For the first time in a long time, he is truly happy — and as a parent, there are no words to express how much that means. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving our little boy this happiness.”

The Sunshine Foundation is a national nonprofit that grants dreams to children with lifelong severe chronic illnesses and conditions, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Level 3 autism, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, deafness, trauma from abuse, and others. The organization focuses on children who may not qualify for other wish-granting foundations due to not having a life-threatening diagnosis.

Lowery’s dream was made possible by a generous gift from the Race for the Kids Foundation.

The Sunshine Foundation relies entirely on donations from individuals, organizations, and corporate sponsors to fulfill dreams like Dakstyn’s. Since its founding in 1976, the organization has made dreams come true for more than 43,280 children across the United States.

In addition to Special Dreams like above-ground pools, outdoor playsets, iPads, shopping sprees, adaptive tricycles, and special needs equipment, the most requested experience is the Magical Dream trip to Central Florida. Families visit theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, and SeaWorld, while staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village near Disney.

The Sunshine Foundation is consistently recognized for its transparency and impact, earning a 100% rating from Charity Navigator and an “A” grade from CharityWatch, making it the top-rated wish-granting organization in America.

To help make more dreams come true, visit www.sunshinefoundation.org.

LAURINBURG —The 2024 season was not the best season for the Fighting Scots. It followed a standout 2023 season in which the team went 10-3, expectations were high in 2024, but things did not go the way Scots players and fans had hoped. If the Scots want to get back to their winning ways of the past, the defense needs to force more turnovers. Head coach Richard Bailey is stressing this area as a concern during the offseason.

“One thing we have to do better defensively is forcing turnovers,” Bailey stated. “We drop too many interceptions, and in a real game, if you give a team another chance to score after having a turnover, anything can happen. We have to finish on the defensive side.”

The Scots allowed 22.6 points per game, 26 sacks and 16 turnovers in their 2023 season. These numbers would increase to 27 sacks and 20 turnovers in 2024, but they allowed 31.3 points per game. Despite accumulating more turnovers and sacks defensively, the most important factor is their win rate. The Fighting Scots would win seven games in 2024 compared to 10 in 2023.

“Coach knows we have the talent and wants our best individually and as a team,” senior Jesse Clifton stated. “We’re looking to get better every day and looking forward to having a winning season. If we execute our defensive scheme to the fullest, we are going to be a tough team to beat.”

The Scots will miss two of their leaders on the defensive side. Dylan Tilson was the sack leader who had 10 sacks and 80 total tackles. Dajuan Gibson was the team’s leader in interceptions last year with three. Bailey is looking for his team to stop the opposing teams rushing attack, which forces teams to put the ball in the air, which can result in more turnovers.

“I’m loving what I see in practice from the defense; however, I’m still concerned about up front defensively. We have to be able to stop the run. If we don’t stop the run, it’s going to be a nightmare,” Bailey claimed.

“As a secondary, we have to do a better job of high-pointing the ball and staying in our zones, and our linebackers have to be better at getting depth,” junior Keson Mcnair said.

One of the major problems with last year’s defense was the back end of the defense leading the team in tackling. Marlin Moore, a defensive back, was the team’s leader in tackles with 110 and 8.5 tackles per game.

In no defense should a player in the secondary be leading your defense in tackles, this shows that opposing teams offensively are getting to second level on the Scots defense which often can result in big plays for teams. If the Scots want any success at being a competitive team, this will have to change.

“We have to continue to work. I know our coaches on the defensive line are working with the defensive line, and they’re getting better, but I have to see improvement on the field,” Bailey said.

Although Bailey wants to see improvement, he highlighted several players who have seemed to stand out during offseason workouts.

“Jesse Clifton played tight end last year, and we moved him to outside linebacker, and he looks really good,” Bailey said. “Ja’kari Monley, Shylan Harrell and Marlin Moore have looked really good in the secondary. Keson Mcnair is a good player and is showing how talented he is.”

“Sophomore Jamaree Henderson, he has stocked up. I tell the guys to stock up, stock down. He’s only a sophomore, and I tell him, don’t settle for being on the junior varsity. Right now I would make him a starter on varsity with how he has played.”

The Fighting Scots will open their season opener at home against the Dillon Wildcats on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

LAURINBURG —“We were not as fresh today as we were days prior; we started off a little sluggish,” head coach Richard Bailey said after Wednesday’s scrimmage. “But we picked it up later on in the scrimmage, and we played really well.”

After a long 10-day break, the Scotland Fighting Scots were back on the football field in the North Carolina heat, competing in a seven-on-seven scrimmage. Unlike previous weeks, when the Scots faced Grey’s Creek and St. Paul’s, this time there were seven teams in attendance: Purnell Sweet, St. Paul’s, Fairmont, Red Spring, Hoke County, Grey’s Creek and Westover.

Competition was at an all-time high, with teams ranging from junior varsity to varsity. The Scots have demonstrated this off-season that they possess the talent to catch attention; however, will the scoreboard reflect that?

New addition Matt Quinn is the offensive coordinator for the Scots after being the former head coach at St. Andrews University. Quinn is bringing an up-tempo offense that prides itself on versatility and getting the ball to playmakers in space.

“Explosive, start fast and dictate the tempo,” Quinn said. “Our main goal is to get the ball to athletes in space and take what the defense is giving us, not trying to do anything too special.”

Traditionally, the offenses at Scotland High School have been the driving force of the program. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Scots averaged 30-plus points per game and won 17 games. However, last year the Scots took a step back, averaging only 28.8 points per game.

This season, Quinn and quarterback Bryson Powell are working to bring that work spark back. With versatile receivers and a dynamic group of players such as Samier Pate and Tyjurian White, the Scots have all the weapons to make this year’s offense a must-see on Friday night.

“Bryson Powell has taken great strides. Bryson has done a great job of picking up reads and understanding the offense,” Quinn said. “Our receivers have been electric for us; the diversity of our players allows them to move around the field. It gives us an advantage because we can create mismatches and headaches for defenses.”

“It’s all coming together fast,” junior Samier Pate stated. “We are growing together and getting that chemistry that we need. As a team, we are talented on both sides of the ball. If everyone can play their role, we have a chance to go far.”

Head coach Richard Bailey has emphasized to his team the importance of not getting carried away with seven-on-seven success, reminding them that they still finished last season with a 7-6 record.

“I don’t like to get the cart in front of the horse, because we were really good at seven-on-seven last year, but then when the season started, we went 7-6,” Bailey said.

LAURINBURG — Scotland County Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce a volleyball camp for Scotland County. The camp will be held from Monday, July 28 to Friday, Aug 1 with sessions from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

The camp is open to female athletes between the ages of 9 and 15. Registration is currently from July 9 to July 25 and the cost to participate is $50. The location of the camp will be held at the Laurel Hill Community Center. The link to get registered can be found here: Catalog - Scotland County Parks and Recreation.

LAURINBURG — Grammy Award-winning artist David Phelps is set to bring his signature sound and inspirational message to Laurinburg, NC, as part of his much-anticipated Speak of Love album, which is set to be released on Aug 30.

Phelps will be debuting his soon-to-be-released Speak of Love album on July 25 at 7 p.m. at the New Hope Baptist Church located on 11480 Hasty Rd.

For further information, visit www.davidphelps.com.