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Ex-councilman, Metzger plan run for mayor

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LUMBERTON — With about a month to go until the filing period for elections begins, the Lumberton mayoral race is already taking shape.

Lumberton City Councilman Don Metzger has declared he will run for mayor, joining former Councilman Bruce Davis in the contest. Lumberton Mayor Raymond Pennington is not seeking a seventh term.

Metzger succeeded Davis in representing Lumberton’s Precinct 1 after Davis decided not to seek re-election to the seat. Davis served on the City Council for 24 years, including one term representing Precinct 8.

First elected to the City Council in 2007, Metzger was unopposed in a 2011 bid to hold onto the position. From the start, Metzger intended to serve just two terms on the council, and decided recently to run for mayor. He currently serves as mayor pro tem.

“The primary reason I want to run for mayor is I feel like Lumberton is on the verge of really taking some dramatic steps forward,” Metzger said, citing Northeast Park, a Sanderson Farms hatchery, two new hotels and downtown development as examples.

Since first running for council, Metzger has had a policy of spending conservatively while seeking new sources of revenue for the city. He says Lumberton needs to be a “destination” for travelers.

“… Tourism is potentially one of our biggest revenue generators if we will just do the right things in order to get people to stay more than one night,” he said. Metzger would like to see the city do more with the Lumber River and local historical sites and make Exit 19 a “gateway” to downtown complete with a river-side welcome center.

A retired businessesman, Metzger said he is comfortable leading groups and balancing budgets.

“I’m very much aware of our finances, our needs and our challenges,” he said.

As mayor, Metzger says he would like to organize regular “precinct meetings” as well as hold regular meetings that would include city staff and legislators.

“I’ve been told that I have the ability to meet with people and build community and we need that,” Metzger said. “If we’re working together, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”

Metzger says he would work to represent the entire city’s interests, not just Precinct 1’s. Addressing crime will be a priority.

“I make it a point to get out in the community. I enjoy meeting and relating to the community,” Metzger said. “To me, the mayor isn’t actually the manager of the city … but he is certainly an ambassador and he certainly can provide vision — and I think I’m uniquely qualified in those areas.”

Having run B.W. Davis Construction for 40 years, Davis says he also has the business know-how and the people skills to lead Lumberton.

“I have the business background and political experience to work with the council and help our city grow and prosper,” Davis said. “I think I can make a difference and truly look forward to serving as your mayor.”

Davis served as mayor pro tem twice during his six terms on the City Council and was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2008. He is credited with helping to make the Southeastern North Carolina Agricultural Events Center a destination for meetings.

Davis worked with four mayors while on the council, including Pennington, and says he would take cues from his predecessors if elected.

“Having been there a long time you really have a deeper understanding of the cycle,” Davis said. “Every year you have to spend money, you have to collect money, you have to improve things, you have to keep personnel in line, you have to keep employees happy … It all boils down to the more experiences you’ve had in that arena, the better you’ll be able to perform when you’re faced with an issue.”

Davis said he would focus on boosting tourism and recreation and recruiting industries in an effort to bring more revenue to the city.

“I think that recreation is important, I think that zoning is important and I think that keeping a balanced budget and the tax rates in line are paramount to keep the city moving in the right direction,” he said.

Davis believes he can reach voters beyond the precincts he has represented.

“As a person that has served two precincts. I know that there are needs that might be in one precinct and not in another precinct,” he said.

Davis says he is “as ready as I will ever be” to serve as mayor.

“I’ve been off the council some time and I think that when you’re off you really have the opportunity to turn and create a new perspective on what can be done,” he said.

The period for candidates to file for election begins at 8:15 a.m. on July 6 and ends at noon on July 17.

In addition to the mayor’s position and Metzger’s council seat, races will also be held for the following precincts: Precinct 4, currently represented by Harry Ivey; Precinct 6, currently represented by Robert Jones; and Precinct 7, currently represented by Leon Maynor.

Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.

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TDA approves 2015-16 budget

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The Franklin Tourism Development Authority held its annual board retreat Monday night, which included a vote approving the 2015-16 fiscal year budget of $113,700.

Premiere Marketing, which volunteers its services to the TDA, showed the TDA how its dollars were used over the last year and how to better utilize funds in the coming year. According to D’Anne Maddox with Premiere Marketing, with a revamp of the TDA’s website recently, Google Analytics reports that the top two cities visiting the TDA’s website include Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, NC, which are the two cities Premiere focused its targeted marketing last year. According to Maddox, about 50 percent of the TDA’s website visits came from Atlanta and Charlotte, while the other 50 percent included areas such as Durham, N.C., Rock Hill, S.C., Houston, Texas, and New York.

Last year, the TDA spent $35,000 on billboards in the Atlanta area; $20,000 for ads on the music streaming application Pandora; $5,200 for a membership for the Charlotte Chamber; $10,000 for Facebook; and $10,000 for Google AdWords.

Maddox covered how each of those advertising mediums fared over the year and explained to the TDA board how those funds could be maximized in the coming year. Looking toward the coming year, Premiere Marketing recommended that the TDA continue to market in the Atlanta area, but instead of having billboard placed in high traffic area for highway travelers, increase the number of billboards that are targeted for residential areas surrounding Atlanta.

Premiere Marketing also recommended advertising through Trip Advisor and targeting those efforts for the Charlotte and Atlanta areas, as well as contracting with the Asheville Citizen-Times for targeted and native advertising with sister online publications such as USA Today.

Premiere’s proposed budget for the TDA also includes $30,000 for festivals and miscellaneous requests and $4,000 for the contract for the mandatory annual audit.

Premiere Marketing has volunteered its services since Josh Drake was appointed to the board in 2013. Maddox presented TDA members with a look at the work the company has done for the TDA. Since May 13, 2013, Premiere Marketing has spent 597 man hours working on projects for the TDA, and if that is billed using account services rates, it accounts for $38,805 over the past two years. Because Premiere’s partnership with the TDA comes at no cost to the TDA, Maddox noted that the services holds a minimum annual value of $19,402.50.

During the retreat, the TDA voted to allow board member Summer Woodard to post advertisements for the vacancies on the board. Matt Bateman, who has served on the board since October 2011, gave the board his resignation before the retreat began. According to Bateman, his resignation was due to not having enough time to dedicate to the position. Bateman’s resignation leaves three vacancies on the board.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the TDA will be July 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom at town hall.

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Dover base veterinary clinic treats decorated military dogs

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From the panting yellow lab with the nasty ear infection to the quivering Siamese cat in need a nail trim, the Veterinary Treatment Facility at Dover Air Force Base is not as high-drama as one might expect.

Established in the 1980s to care for the base’s military working dogs, the center also provides care for private animals belonging to service members, retirees, reservists and National Guard members.

“They do things right here,” says Rebecca Childers, the wife of a retired staff sergeant who has brought multiple cats to the tidy clinic.

On a recent weekday, Childers’ Siamese cat, Maxwell, came in for routine vaccines.

Vet services here typically cost 25% to 50% less than a private vet office. Annual exams are $35 each; rabies shots are $10. Open five days a week, the facility does same-day appointments. Its budget is paid by taxpayers and by the revenue it generates.

Staffed by three active duty Army members and five civilians, the clinic sees an estimated 3,500 patients a year. Inside, there are three exam rooms, a lab area, an immaculate surgical suite, an ultrasound machine, and a high-tech table for dental cleanings.

The facility is only equipped to handle basic surgeries, such as neuter procedures and mass removals. Orthopedic surgeries and emergencies are referred to private vets in the area. Dog grooming and boarding are not offered. Exotic animals are sent to specialists off-base.

The base’s seven military dogs are top priority. Besides doling out preventative care, U.S. Army Capt. and veterinarian Amanda Jeffries is on call round-the-clock in case a military dog breaks a toenail or has a bout with diarrhea due to stress.

A few months back, she received an impromptu visit from more than a half-dozen U.S. Marine Corps dogs traveling from their assignment in Afghanistan back to Japan. They made a pit stop in Dover so Jeffries could give them U.S. health certificates.

Jeffries also handles health certificates for service members who want to take their animals overseas. It’s a complicated process that requires up-to-date rabies shots and microchipping to avoid extended periods of quarantine at the new location. Jeffries explains the risks of transport, especially for elderly or sick animals.

Still, she says, the majority of clients bring their pets to their next station assignment rather than leave them with a friend.

“I wouldn’t want to adopt her and then she gets so attached to me and then I leave,” explains Senior Airman Jason Melanson. Melanson visited the clinic recently to get a checkup for his three-year-old lab-pitbull mix, Diamond, whom he adopted two days before.

He appreciated the convenience of the clinic and the low prices.

The U.S. Army is tasked with maintaining similar facilities at bases for every branch of the military around the globe. Jeffries, 27, also manages smaller clinics at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

To Jeffries, providing good health care for pets reduces the risk of owners contracting intestinal parasites and other diseases.

A recent graduate of North Carolina State University, she joined the Dover facility after the Army paid for her vet training. In two years, she will be reassigned to another clinic.

She is the proud mother of four dogs, including two retired military working dogs. Her German Shepherd, Sebi, is a cuddle bug who can attack on command. But since retiring from drug detection patrol, he’s more comfortable chasing tennis balls and napping.

He “served our country for 10 years,” Jeffries says. “He can stay on my couch for as long as he wants.”

Sebi is well-adjusted, but Jeffries has seen other military dogs suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, leading her to prescribe anti-anxiety medication.

She also deals with more serious cases, including a white German Shepherd diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer and a pitbull mix puppy who developed a twisted bladder after an improper spay surgery. The puppy had to be put down.

“I used to cry during every one,” Jeffries remembers. Over time, she came to accept her role as preventing further suffering.

Facility operations assistant Amy Roberts recalls working at an animal shelter in Guam where the euthanasia rate was approaching 95 percent. Roberts blamed some service personnel who dumped their animals before moving to their next assignments.

When Roberts’ husband, a tech sergeant, was relocated to Guam, the couple spent roughly $1,000 to bring their Pomerian. While there, they adopted two other “booney” dogs, a terrier mix and pointer mix.

This fall, the Roberts will move the entire clan to Korea.

“Most bases only allow two dogs and we can’t separate them,” she says.

“Every move we make, we plan ahead for the dogs.”

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Boyle column: Has Asheville council veered too far left? – Asheville Citizen

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I’m not going to lie — it was like an election season dream come true.

Conservative icon/villain Carl Mumpower announcing that he plans to run again for City Council, I’m talking about. Some of my best memories as a journalist come from Carl, including a trip we took down to South French Broad Avenue in his car to chat up a local hooker, after which the then-councilman seamlessly whipped out his … squirt bottle of Purell for both of us to use.

He’s an interesting guy, this Carl Mumpower. A local psychologist who served on council from 2001-09 and conducted a losing yet highly memorable congressional campaign in 2008, Mumpower is a quote machine who’s never afraid to sprint into radical right territory, unleashing equal ire on illegal immigrants or current “communist” City Council members.

All with a smile and the manners of an English gentleman.

Amid all that sometimes outrageous verbosity, Mumpower often raises some very relevant points, as he did when he announced his council campaign plans this week. With seven “liberal Democrats” on board, City Council’s pendulum has swung to the far reaches of the left, Mumpower maintains, leaving Republicans in Asheville — and yes, there are some — with no voice.

And here’s a shocker: I agree with him. OK, I don’t think council members are communists, as Mumpower consistently called them when I interviewed him (I tried to get Carl to moderate his position to claim they’re just socialists), but I get what he’s saying.

It’s a far left board that represents a certain large slice of Asheville, but it leaves another sizable slice voiceless. And just like the situation in Raleigh now where Democrats really needn’t bother making the drive down the mountain, that’s not good for democracy.

“Having friction on the council, and to a reasonable degree on any elected body, is important,” Mumpower said. “The tension gets you closer to the truth. That goes back to George Patton’s famous comment about how if everybody is thinking the same, then somebody is not thinking. I’m not talking about fighting and fussing; I’m talking about the tension of ideas and getting closer to the truth, because that’s one of the most elusive things in life.”

I’m thinking about Mumpower and uber-liberal Councilman Cecil Bothwell going head to head on the issues during meetings like the Rock’em Sock’em robots of my youth. But I digress.

Undoubtedly, council has veered left from the days when Mumpower and fellow Republican Joe Dunn at least highlighted the conservative viewpoint and pushed for low taxes and spending. Councilman Bill Russell did the same later on, although he switched to the unaffiliated middle mid-stream.

But in the last half decade, the shift left has been noticeable. Property taxes went up once two years ago, and it looks like they’ll go up again this year, by 1.5 cents per $100 valuation. The city will also funnel more than $50 million in local, state and federal money to the riverfront redevelopment, and this year’s budget includes $500,000 for pavement replacement on the bicycling velodrome surface and $3 million over five years for soccer fields.

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Council is big on greenways and bike lanes and Beer City USA, which is great for quality of life and tourism. But those pesky taxes keep going up.

On the social side, members also flew a gay pride flag off of City Hall last year when gay marriage was approved for the state, a questionable move legally that undoubtedly rang triumphant with the liberal side of the city but irritated the center and right. And fairly or not, the city has also become known for a tawdry toplessness rally every summer that outside organizers host, in part because the city has no ordinance against it and seems uninterested in truly stopping it.

And among longtime residents and natives, the general feeling I hear from some quarters is the city has just gotten a little too freaky for some. Yes, it is possible to keep it too weird.

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Asheville is a Democratic stronghold, with 32,987 registered Democrats in 2013, compared to 11,185 Republicans, according to Trena Parker, director of the Buncombe County Board of Elections office. But here’s a number that jumps out at me: the city had 23,437 unaffiliated voters in 2013.

In 2005, Asheville had 13,476 unaffiliated voters, compared to 27,776 Democrats and 12,734 Republicans.

The Republicans, obviously, have got to be feeling unrepresented on council, but I suspect the liberal shift is leaving those moderates in the middle feeling unloved, too. And their number is growing.

Chris Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University, said the city undoubtedly “has seen a radical shift.”

“Even when you think about a Terry Bellamy Democrat versus the Democrats on council now, I think you see a real shift,” Cooper said. “Asheville has always been perceived as a stronghold of the left, but it’s a much more left-leaning city now.”

Bellamy, the former mayor, was a center-left Democrat, although Mumpower would certainly tag her as Stalin’s right-hand woman.

What Cooper sees is a void.

“I think there are a sizable number of Republicans in Asheville, and a sizable number of old mountain Democrats — Heath Shuler Democrats — and they’re not feeling very represented on the Asheville City Council,” Cooper said, referring to the former centrist congressman. “Whether or not Mumpower wins, I think he’s got a case that there’s a sizable minority view that’s currently not being represented on Asheville City Council.”

That’s not good for democracy, Cooper asserts, because those who feel left out just stop participating. They give up, close down, move on — kind of like Democrats feel with the state legislature veering so far right. Those in power move too far toward their base.

So, can Mumpower win? Can he become the red stick figure in the middle, holding hands with three blue council members on either side, as his campaign logo depicts?

You know he thinks so.

“I do, for the reasons you’ve picked up on,” said Mumpower, 62. “I’m hammering on this point that we need some balance on the council. We’ll never have a 50-50 council in Asheville, but we need a dissenting voice. A lot of liberals talk diversity, but I’m going to be curious to see if they mean it.”

With his far-right brand of Republicanism, Mumpower may not be the choice for many of those in the middle or near left. But he’s got a point about balance.

Right now, council has none, and democracy suffers when that happens.

This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 828-232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com

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Real Estate News — Foreclosures, past due loans sink statewide in first …

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Gregg joins major local real estate company

Century 21 Properties Plus recently gained a new Realtor who brings a design background from the West Coast.

Brittany Gregg works from the agency’s Summerville office, specializing in residential property sales in greater Charleston.

She attended Bellevue College in Washington state, studying interior design and receiving her associates in arts degree. From there, Gregg was employed at CTA Architects Engineers in Seattle as its interior designer for several years.

She and husband Forrest started a family and moved to the Summerville area. They have two children, London and Kaden. In the meantime, Gregg decided to use her design skills and love for real estate sales to join Century 21 Properties Plus.

“I am really excited to be partnered with such a great company that is providing me with all of the tools I need for success,” she says. “I look forward to serving in the community of Summerville.”

Local cash sales rates for homes fall in February

Property transactions without mortgages or other loans declined year-to-year in greater Charleston-North Charleston, according to a national real estate analysis company.

The all-cash sales rate in the Lowcountry decreased in February over the same period last year to stand at 27.3 percent. The drop was 3.8 percentage points, says CoreLogic, a California-based information provider.

Charleston-North Charleston’s cash sales share is substantially lower than the 37.9 percent national rate. South Carolina’s rate of cash sales, meanwhile, stands at 37 percent.

The cash sales rate across the country is down from 40.6 percent a year before. According to CoreLogic, the year-over-year share has decreased every month since January 2013, or 26 consecutive months.

The cash sales rate peaked in January 2011 when cash transactions made up 46.5 percent of total home sales nationally, the firm says.

“Prior to the housing crisis, the cash sales share of total home sales averaged approximately 25 percent,” it says.

CoreLogic broke down the present cash sales share by type. Real estate-owned sales, typically properties taken over by lenders in foreclosures, posted the largest cash sales mark in February at 59.8 percent. Next came resales at 37.6 percent, short sales with 34.3 percent and newly constructed homes, 15.8 percent.

Resales now make up 80 percent of home sales and likewise have the biggest cash sales share, CoreLogic points out.

As of February, Florida listed the largest share of cash sales by state at 54.6 percent, followed by Alabama at 51.9 percent; New York with 48.4 percent; Indiana with 47.8 percent; and Michigan at 44.9 percent.

Model homes open at The Ponds’ Cresswind village

An emerging neighborhood for active adults in Summerville has set up a home model “park” with an ample number of floor plans.

Cresswind at The Ponds opened eight model homes, which builder Kolter Homes says is the largest number of any “55 plus” community in greater Charleston.

According to the home builder, Cresswind at The Ponds comes designed specially for “vital, active, community-minded adults.”

Kolter Homes says many people age 55 and up “seek new adventures and freedom to live life on their own terms.” Sometimes, that can involve a new job or business venture. In other cases, it may mean relocating to “a destination driven community.”

The new model park comprises eight “decorator designed” homes for potential buyers to check out. Local residents and visitors are welcome to tour the model homes, view plans for The Club at Cresswind and see the lifestyle advantages at The Ponds, according to Kolter Homes.

Model houses can be viewed 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. They range from two-bedroom, two-bath homes to three-bedroom and two-and-a-half bath models, all with garages. Homes start in price at the low $200,000s.

Cresswind residents can view and use The Ponds attractions, including:

– Miles of walking trails

– Centuries-old oaks

– On-site YMCA

– The Ponds amenities center featuring a pool and restored 1840s farmhouse

– Multi-sport recreational fields

– Sidewalks throughout the community

– Two ponds and Schulz Lake for fishing, canoeing and kayaking

– Amphitheater

– Community parks

Cresswind at The Ponds is located in picturesque Summerville, situated 30 minutes from historic Charleston.

For more, visit www.kolterhomes.com/communities/47/cresswind-at-the-ponds or call 843-832-6100.

Headquartered in Palm Beach County, Fla., Kolter Homes has been ranked 54th on the Builder 100 list for its amenities and houses.

The Club at Cresswind, under construction and scheduled to open in spring 2016, will provide a fitness center for residents and a full-time activities director to coordinate events and volunteering. Activities will center on fitness, nutrition and rewarding relationships, Kolter Homes says.

Real Data founder to address rental execs

Local apartment managers will hear a top real estate researcher talk on the rental outlook for metro Charleston at a group’s dinner event June 16.

Charles Dalton, president and founder of Carolina Real Data, will be the main speaker at the Charleston Apartment Association’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd. in North Charleston.

The cost is $35 per member. Email info@CharlestonApartmentAssociation.com.

Dalton will share a Charleston Apartment Market Report and touch on various topics such as rent growth, market statistics and forecasts for the Charleston area, the association says.

A former commercial broker, Dalton is president and founder of Real Data. The company tracks apartment markets in 20 metro areas in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.

He’s an active member of several local apartment associations and chambers of commerce and served on the boards of the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association and the Charlotte Regional Commercial Board of Realtors.

Dalton, who has a business degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, launched his career in 1988 in the commercial real estate field. He’s “been on the market research side of the business” for the past 20 years, the association says.

Real estate counselor speaks on Charleston diocese

The chief of a Charlotte area firm addressed the 2015 Conference for Catholic Facilities Management on a strategic plan for the Roman Catholic Diocese in Charleston.

Kathleen Rose, Counselors of Real Estate and president of Rose Associates Southeast Inc., made the remarks at the Catholic Facilities Management event in May in Savannah. The management group is the professional association for people who work for the Catholic Church in real estate, construction and facility management.

According to the national Counselors of Real Estate, Rose was selected to speak “about recommendations made during a volunteer consulting assignment for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina.”

Rose, who is also chief executive of the Davidson, N.C., real estate counseling company, was part of a five-member team of experts from The Counselors of Real Estate professional association.

Working through the Counselors of Real Estate Consulting Corps public service program, they volunteered their expertise for the project.

Rose was chosen for the volunteer assignment “because of her expertise in market analysis and real estate development/planning strategy,” the real estate counselors group says.

The team’s recommendations are helping the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston improve management of its properties and develop short- and long-term strategies for expansion, according to the Counselors of Real Estate.

The Charleston Diocese asked the CRE Consulting Corps to work with them on four strategies:

– Establish a framework for managing existing Diocesan real estate holdings.

– Provide an action plan to implement recommendations.

– Develop short- and long-term goals for expansion.

– Draw up a “best practices” road map.

After interviewing the Diocesan staff, including the Bishop, the team provided its report to the Diocese. It included “a framework of broad goals and strategies and an ‘action plan’ for future implementation,” the Counselors of Real Estate note.

The CRE Consulting Corps, formed in 1997, serves as a volunteer public service program to lend expertise in real estate consulting to nonprofit groups and government entities including cities and towns.

Established in 1953, the Chicago-based Counselors of Real Estate is “an international group of high profile professionals including members of prominent real estate, financial, legal and accounting firms, as well as leaders of government and academia who provide expert, objective advice on complex real property situations and land-related matters,” the organization says.

Only 1,100 people in the world hold the CRE credential, it says.

For more, visit www.cre.org.

Mortgage banking group’s new delinquency info shows drop in S.C.

A lending organization’s survey in May joins a chorus of researchers who note that troubled loans, including in South Carolina, are shrinking as the economy recovers.

The state’s residential delinquency rate, typically involving mortgages that are 90 days or more past due, slid to 5.84 percent of all loans at March 31, off 1.16 percentage points from the last quarter of 2014.

The figures stem from a Mortgage Bankers Association study.

By comparison, the national delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties was 5.14 percent, down 0.85 percentage points from 5.99 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. The rates are not adjusted for seasonal influences. Typically, delinquency rates decline in the first quarter, the bankers group says.

The delinquency rate excludes loans in the process of foreclosure, according to the association.

South Carolina reported an uptick in cases in which lenders started foreclosure proceedings, rising .05 percentage points to 0.49 percent in the quarter. The share of loans in the foreclosure process at the end of March remained unchanged at 2.16 percent, the association says.

Legal factors also impact the rates. States with judicial foreclosure systems such as South Carolina post higher percentages of loans in foreclosure than do states with non-judicial systems, according to the bankers group.

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, South Carolina ranked 18th highest in delinquencies and 19th in foreclosures started. Mississippi ranked first in delinquencies with a rate of 9.15 percent and New Jersey placed first in foreclosure starts with a rate of 0.90 percent.

The Mortgage Bankers Association report also spelled out delinquency and foreclosure findings by type of loan in South Carolina, including:

– Prime adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans that are delinquent decreased 0.68 percent to 4.12 percent while past due fixed rate home loans dipped 0.68 percent to 3.26 percent.

– The delinquency rate for subprime ARMs involving borrowers with less than outstanding credit slid 3.35 percentage points to 17.71 percent, while the subprime fixed rate loans that are delinquent stood at 18.38 percent after dropping 2.97 percentage points.

– Delinquency rates for FHA and VA loans were 9.56 percent and 4.70 percent, respectively — down 2.23 percentage points for FHA loans and 1.16 percentage points for VA loans.

– Prime ARM loans headed to foreclosure dipped .01 percentage points to 0.36 percent, while those for prime fixed rate loans increased .04 percentage points to 0.27 percent.

– The foreclosure starts rate for subprime ARM loans decreased 0.49 percentage points to 1.20 percent, and the rate for subprime fixed rate mortgages rose .01 percentage point to 1.43 percent.

– Prime ARM loans in foreclosure dropped .02 percentage points to 2.10 percent and declined .04 percentage points for prime fixed rate loans to 1.12 percent.

– The foreclosure rate for subprime ARM loans decreased 1.05 percentage points to 10.65 percent, while the rate for subprime fixed rate loans rose .12 percentage points to 8.25 percent.

– The share of FHA loans in foreclosure increased .23 percentage points to 2.77 percent, and the rate of VA loans in foreclosure went up .14 percentage points to 1.67 percent.

The association culled the information from its National Delinquency Survey, conducted since 1953 and covering 41 million loans on one- to four-unit residential properties. Loans surveyed were reported by 120 lenders, including mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.

The Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Bankers Association describes itself as the national association representing the real estate finance industry, employing more than 280,000 people countrywide.

For more, visit the association’s web site at www.mba.org.

Century 21 holds grand opening of start-up West Ashley office

A crowd of agents and guests gathered last month to celebrate the opening of a sizable real estate company’s new location west of the Ashley.

Century 21 Properties Plus established the center at 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in May. According to the agency’s website, the office houses 11 associates including broker-in-charge Tim Rash and sales manager Bud Poston. Call 843-277-6677 for more details about the West Ashley office.

Century 21 also has offices in Mount Pleasant, dating to 1997; and Summerville.

For more, contact Ashleigh Kraemer, recruiting consultant and Realtor for Century 21 Properties Plus at 843-259-2217 or visit www.century21properties.com.

New home sites offered at upscale Nobel’s Point on Daniel Island

Buyers now can choose places for homes in a “very private” peninsula on Daniel Island.

Daniel Island Real Estate is offering the first 14 home sites in the new Nobel’s Point neighborhood.

The community stands on an exclusive spit of land in Daniel Island Park, the island’s “country club” neighborhood, the real estate company says. Lots border the 10th, 11th and 13th holes of the Ralston Creek golf course and navigable waters of Ralston Creek.

According to Daniel Island Real Estate, the property rates as “among the last, and most spectacular, places to be offered on the island.” Nobel’s Point also “presents a coveted combination of privacy, proximity, nature and extraordinary beauty,” the agency says.

If the top-notch marsh, golf and water views aren’t enough, Nobel’s Point will offer residents water access by way of its neighborhood dock. Also, as members of the private Daniel Island Club, Nobel’s Point residents would be able to enjoy exceptional sports and dining.

Land prices for the initial collection of 14 sites begin in the mid $200,000s for interior spots, $300,000s and $400,000s for golf and marsh views and $500,000s and $600,000s for places at the tip of Bermuda Isle Street “that are exceptionally large and feature extraordinary views,” Daniel Island Real Estate points out.

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Visual Arts Programming at An Appalachian Summer Festival: Exhibitions …

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Festival logo

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Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2015 11:00 am

Visual Arts Programming at An Appalachian Summer Festival: Exhibitions, Lectures and Workshops for Children and Teens

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA— An Appalachian Summer Festival will showcase an exciting lineup of the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film this July for its 31st season in the mountains of North Carolina. In partnership with the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA), the festival presents the visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, artist lectures and the 29th Rosen Sculpture Walk.

Summer Exhibition Celebration

Free Event – Open to the Public

On Friday, July 3, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the TCVA celebrates its new exhibition, “STREAM: Razi Projects, the Collaborations of Suzi Davidoff and Rachelle Thiewes.” Live music and an opportunity to meet the artists will be part of the evening’s festivities.

Featured exhibitions:

“STREAM: Razi Projects, the Collaborations of Suzi Davidoff and Rachelle Thiewes”

Main Gallery

July 3, 2015 – February 6, 2016

Finding ground in their shared interest in the landscape, pattern, light and the perception and navigation of the natural world, Rachelle Thiewes and Suzi Davidoff’s collaborative projects range from artist books to installation to video with a focus on human interaction with the environment.

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“Reassembling from the Heavy Metal Series” by Nancy Brittelle

Community Gallery

July 3 – September 26, 2015

Nancy Brittelle uses recycled and water-based materials to transform ordinary detritus into ancient sculptural forms made of precious metals that look centuries old but are shaped within a modern context.

“The Seen and the Unseen: Annie Waldrop”

Mezzanine Gallery

July 3 – September 26, 2015

Annie Waldrop’s sculpture re-imagines a feminine narrative by linking personal experience and cultural myths with elements found in nature. She pays homage to family ties across generations, an unbroken lineage suggested by intimate symbols of the life cycle, fertility, and rebirth.

Workshops

Workshops at the Turchin Center offer the opportunity for participants to learn a new technique or hone an existing skill. Below are the workshops offered during An Appalachian Summer Festival. Artists of all skill levels welcome. Advance registration and payment required. Enrollment is limited, so register today! For detailed information, visit tcva.org/workshops or call 828-262-3017.

For Kids:

Summer by the Sea

Ages 7-12

June 29-July 2

Students will spend the week exploring sea life using various techniques and mediums. They will paint watercolor seashells, create prehistoric fish using pastels, make Koi kites and sea mobiles, and even put themselves underwater! This workshop will be tactile and interactive.

Pictures Tell a Story

Ages 6-11

July 20-24

In this one-week workshop, students ages 6-11 will take inspiration from beloved children’s book illustrators and artists to create their own illustrations. Using paste paper, students will make playful painted paper collages like the ones found in Eric Carle’s books. They will create expressive drawings of imaginary characters while looking at the works of Dr. Seuss. Romare Bearden will influence an exploration of mixed media collage. Faith Ringgold’s storyquilts will be a jumping off point to investigate fiber art and its possibilities. Students will transform one of their characters from an illustration into a 3 dimensional puppet or doll using a choice of materials from felt to paper mache.

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Exploring Water Media

Ages 8-13

July 27-31

An introduction to watercolor media for students ages 8-13. Students will explore color and design as they explore watercolors, acrylic paints, watercolor pencils and watercolor markers under the direction of Dr. Alyssia Ruggiero. This is an opportunity for students to learn new skills as they create art that reflects their own unique view of the world.

For Young Adults:

Painting/Mixed Media

Ages 11-16

July 6-10

Students will learn about painting techniques, using both watercolor and acrylic-based forms of paint.

Journals for Young Artists

Ages 10-15

July 20-July 24

In this one week workshop, students ages 10-15 will create hand painted paste papers and craft a one-of-a-kind handmade artist journal. Throughout the week they will use their journals as a space to explore various art media and challenges, including scavenging for found art materials. Young artists will create felted wool puppets and figures and explore stories and characters through several mixed media art challenges. Participants can expect to experience drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and fiber arts during this week. They will leave with a journal containing many explorations and room for more. Instructor Kelly Snider aims to inspire students to continue their artist journaling well beyond the workshop time and to ignite a passion for personal art exploration.

For more workshops offered at the Turchin Center throughout the summer months, visit tcva.org/workshops.

Lunch and Learn Lecture Series

The Lunch and Learn Lecture Series features interactive and informative lectures that offer an insider’s look at festival programming from experts in the field. Lunch and Learns are held every Wednesday throughout July from noon to 1 p.m. in the TCVA Lecture Hall. These are free events; just bring a bagged lunch to enjoy during the lecture!

July 8 – “STREAM: Razi Projects” with Mary Anne Redding, Curator for the Turchin Center

July 15 – “Without Words; a bi-lingual theatrical adaptation” with Karen Sabo and Derek Davidson, In/Visible Theatre

July 22 – “Collaborations with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts” with Hank Foreman, Director Chief Curator of the Turchin Center

July 29 –“How to Look at Dance” with Ray Miller, Professor in Dance Studies in the Department of Theatre and Dance

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Rosen Sculpture Walk

Saturday, July 25

10 a.m. at the Smith Gallery, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

Free and open to the public

Join the Turchin Center’s curatorial staff for an outdoor tour of the featured work from the 29th Rosen Sculpture Invitational, consisting of work selected by the Turchin Center’s curatorial staff in honor of Martin and Doris Rosen. A variety of artists who have participated in past Rosen exhibitions were invited to submit new work for display on the Appalachian campus. Made possible by the continued support and generosity of the Rosen Family.

For more information on all of these events and more, visit appsummer.org or tcva.org.

Tickets:

With ticket prices ranging from $5-$50, as well as several free events, the festival offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets. To purchase tickets, call or visit the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046. Tickets can also be purchased online at appsummer.org.

About An Appalachian Summer Festival

An Appalachian Summer Festival is presented annually in July by the university’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. Beginning as a small chamber music series, the festival has emerged as one of the nation’s most highly regarded, multi-disciplinary art festivals, designated one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. True to a university-based arts festival, educational experiences such as lectures and opportunities to meet artists, artistic directors, competition jurors and other experts, have always been an important component of festival programming.

Festival Corporate Sponsors:Westglow Resort and Spa, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Northern Trust, McDonald’s of Boone, Mast General Store, Storie Street Grille, Goodnight Brothers, Boone Area Visitors Bureau, Sky Best Communications, Scholars Bookshop at the University Bookstore, Hotel Equities, Holiday Inn Express-Boone, Nationwide—Charles Eyler Agency, Peabody’s Wine Beer Merchants, Chetola Resort, Creekside Electronics and Boone Ford-Lincoln.

Festival media sponsors include:WBTV, WCYB, Charter Media, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News Record, PBS Charlotte, WNC Magazine, High Country Radio, WHKY AM 1290, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS 89.5FM, WASU 90.5FM and High Country 365.

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Sandy Selvy-Mullis is publisher of The Stanly News Press.  Contact her at (704) 982-2121 ext. 27, sselvy@cnhi.com or PO Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002.


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Summer Storytelling Series Begins June 13 at Blowing Rock Art and History …

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The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is hosting a monthly Summer Storytelling series beginning in June, one Saturday per month from 10-11 a.m. Three professional storytellers from North Carolina will take us on a voyage from traditional tales of English origin to authentic folktales from the Appalachian Mountains. A donation of $5 per family is suggested for admission.

“Sharing our stories and passing down folktales has been a tradition of the mountains for generations,” says Education Programs Coordinator Leila Weinstein. “We want to perpetuate those traditions as we bring generations together through the magic of stories.”2015storytellingposter

ReVonda Crow, a North Carolina native, will bring to life Traditional Tales, from fairy tales to Cherokee lore, on Saturday, June 13. She will present tales with a twist and ones that promise to captivate and make a connection with the audience.

Then, Sherry Lovett, a professional storyteller of fifteen years, will follow on Saturday, July 18th with A Hero’s Journey: Stories for the Young and the Old, the Meek, and the Bold. “There’s sure to be laughter and surprise and lots of fun along the way,” explained Weinstein. “And, who knows, maybe in the end you’ll see the hero in you.”

Last, but not least, Charlotte T. Ross, also known as the Legend Lady, will finish out the series on Saturday, August 15th with authentic folktales from the Appalachian Mountains, including one about Appalachia’s most famous ghost dog! According to Weinstein, Ross pulls the audience into each telling. “Her legends shimmer with emotional intensity and historical context; her voice is an artist’s brush painting vivid word pictures.”

Located at 159 Chestnut Street on the corner of Chestnut and Main in Blowing Rock, NC, the Blowing Rock Art History Museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday. General admission to the museum is $7 for adults and $6 for students, seniors and active military. Children under 4 years of age are free. Donations are accepted for admission to the Museum on Thursday’s. For more information, please call 828-295-9099 or visit www.blowingrockmuseum.org.

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The Helene & Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series at An Appalachian Summer …

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Saints

Saints

Stardom

Stardom

Reaching

Reaching



Posted: Friday, June 12, 2015 11:00 am

The Helene Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series at An Appalachian Summer Festival

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA — An Appalachian Summer Festival will showcase an exciting lineup of the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film this July for its 31st season in the mountains of North Carolina. This summer the festival is hosting seven films as part of the Weicholz Global Film Series.

Global Film Series

The Weicholz Global Film Series strives to select foreign and independent films that have won awards or received critical audience acclaim at major international film festivals. This year’s lineup includes films from the United Kingdom, Israel, Denmark, the United States, Kashmir, Brazil, and Australia. Prior to each screening at 7 p.m., film advisor Dr. John Pfeifer will host a discussion and share behind-the-scenes information about the film. All films are held in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. For more information and to view the trailers to these films, visit http://appsummer.org/schedule/id/pride.

• “Pride” – July 1

Inspired by actual events, director Matthew Warchus’ “Pride” details the unlikely friendship forged between a small community of striking miners in Wales and London-based gay and lesbian activists who raise funds to feed their families in the summer of 1984. With no end to the strike in sight, the urban activists venture into the countryside to deliver their donation in person and find they have more in common with the people of this struggling community than anyone on either side could have expected.

United Kingdom; Rated R; Directed by Matthew Warchus (2014); 119 minutes.

• “GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” – July 8

An Israeli woman seeking to finalize a divorce from her estranged husband finds herself effectively put on trial by her country’s religious marriage laws in this powerhouse courtroom drama. In Israel, there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce; only Orthodox rabbis can legalize a union or its dissolution, which is only possible with the husband’s full consent. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Viviane Amsalem has been applying for a divorce for three years, but her religiously devout husband, Elisha, continually refuses. His cold intransigence, Viviane’s determination to fight for her freedom, and the ambiguous role of the rabbinical judges shape a procedure where tragedy vies with absurdity and everything is brought out into the open for judgment.

Israel; Not rated; Directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz (2014); 115 minutes.

• “The Hunt” – July 15

This film is a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes the truth when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish and ignite a witch-hunt that soon threatens to destroy an innocent man’s life. Lucas is a former schoolteacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. As the lie spreads, Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity.

Denmark; Rated R; Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (2012); 111 minutes.

• “Twenty Feet From Stardom” – July 22

Filmmaker Morgan Neville pays homage to some of the greatest vocalists you’ve never heard of in this remarkable documentary. While the lead singers in rock, pop, and RB are the ones who get the glory, knowledgeable music fans will tell you the backing vocalists often add the touches that make a performance truly memorable, and though many backup singers have the respect of their peers in the music business, they’re all but unknown to the average listener. “Twenty Feet From Stardom” pays tribute to some of these unsung heroes, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and Lisa Fischer. The film also includes interviews with superstars such as Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger on the role backing vocalists’ play in music and the music business, while a number of veteran singers share their stories of the ups and downs of their careers.

United States; Rated PG-13; Directed by Morgan Neville (2013); 91 minutes.

• “Valley of Saints” – July 29

In war-torn Kashmir, a lakeside city is plunged into a military curfew. Stranded together on breathtaking Dal Lake, a working-class boatman and a beautiful young scientist form an unlikely bond. But as violence spills in from the city, their budding romance may not survive.

India/Kashmir; Not rated; Directed by Musa Syeed (2012); 82 minutes.

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• “Reaching for the Moon” – August 19

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bruno Barreto returns with a sophisticated tale of an unlikely romance between two extraordinary artists set against the backdrop of political upheaval and a clash of cultures. Grappling with writer’s block, legendary American poet Elizabeth Bishop travels from New York City to Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s to visit her college friend, Mary. Hoping to find inspiration on Mary’s sprawling estate, Elizabeth winds up with much more — a tempestuous relationship with Mary’s bohemian partner, architect Lota de Macedo Soares, that rocks the writer to her foundation. Alcoholism, geographical distance and a military coup come between the lovers, but their intimate connection spans decades and forever impacts the life and work of these two extraordinary artists.

Brazil; Not rated; Directed by Bruno Barreto (2013); 118 minutes.

• “Oranges and Sunshine” – August 26

Director Jim Loach and screenwriter Rona Munro collaborate to adapt Nottingham social worker Margaret Humphreys’ autobiographical account of her noble effort to expose the systematic deportation of British children to Australia and to reunite them with their devastated families.

United Kingdom/Australia; Rated R; Directed by Jim Loach (2010); 105 minutes.

For videos, images and detailed information about each performance, visit appsummer.org.

Tickets:

With ticket prices ranging from $5-$50, as well as several free events, the festival offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets. To purchase tickets, call or visit the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046. Tickets can also be purchased online at appsummer.org.

About An Appalachian Summer Festival

An Appalachian Summer Festival is presented annually in July by the university’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. Beginning as a small chamber music series, the festival has emerged as one of the nation’s most highly regarded, multi-disciplinary art festivals, designated one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. True to a university-based arts festival, educational experiences such as lectures and opportunities to meet artists, artistic directors, competition jurors and other experts, have always been an important component of festival programming.

Festival Corporate Sponsors: Westglow Resort and Spa, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Northern Trust, McDonald’s of Boone, Mast General Store, Storie Street Grille, Goodnight Brothers, Boone Area Visitors Bureau, Sky Best Communications, Scholars Bookshop at the University Bookstore, Hotel Equities, Holiday Inn Express-Boone, Nationwide—Charles Eyler Agency, Peabody’s Wine Beer Merchants, Chetola Resort, Creekside Electronics, and Boone Ford-Lincoln.

Festival media sponsors include: WBTV, WCYB, Charter Media, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News Record, PBS Charlotte, wnc magazine, High Country Radio, WHKY AM 1290, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS 89.5FM, WASU 90.5FM and High Country 365.

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Sandy Selvy-Mullis is publisher of The Stanly News Press.  Contact her at (704) 982-2121 ext. 27, sselvy@cnhi.com or PO Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002.


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Watch for Asheville local in ‘Jurassic World’ movie – Asheville Citizen

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Matt Burke does not get eaten.

That’s the first thing everyone wants to know when they find out the Asheville actor was cast in “Jurassic World,” the fourth installment in the dinosaur franchise that hits local theaters Thursday night.

The movie, produced by Steven Spielberg, has the heroics, action and special effects to dominate box offices this summer, so if you see it, watch for Burke in one of the early scenes — before chaos and people-eating ensue.

Burke plays a corporate sponsor who is considering investing in “Jurassic World,” a theme park built on Isla Nublar, where Jurassic Park was located 22 years earlier. Burke’s character tours the lab with the park’s operations manager, Claire Dearing, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. His big moment comes when Dearing announces the park has created a new breed of dinosaur.

“I essentially ask how you get two different types of dinosaurs to do it,” he says.

It’s a family movie, so Burke doesn’t say what the dinosaurs might actually have to do. Instead, he makes a gesture. Exactly how he should form this gesture was one of the major points of consideration during the day he spent filming the scene in New Orleans.

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‘Jurassic World’: This is what summer movie fun’s about

Director Colin Trevorrow helped him work out the motion. “He was like, ‘That’s a little PG-13/R version. Give me a PG version,'” Burke says. “We did that take several times, and every time, I was like, ‘Did I get it? Did I get it?'”

The role is relatively small with just a few minutes of screen time, but it’s a coveted spot, both professionally and financially. “Jurassic World” had an estimated budget of $150 million according to IMDB and the Hollywood Reporter, so it will release extensively in theaters, on TV and in digital media formats. Each time there’s a new syndication, Burke gets a cut, in addition to the money he received for his work on set.

How did he land the job? Burke has been a professional actor throughout his 20s and 30s, both onstage and on screen. He played a fairly significant role in the 2013 movie “Identity Thief,” which stars Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy.

His character, Ken Talbott, tries to prevent Bateman’s character from stealing his boss’ money — to no avail.

He says the folks at “Jurassic World” probably found out about him through Universal Pictures, which also distributed “Identity Thief.”

His agent, Jon Menick, who owns Screen Artists Talent in Asheville, says Burke has honed in on a very specific type of character that he’s good at playing, and casting directors are recognizing his knack.

“It’s very hard to beat Matt in a job that requires what I call an Iago character, Iago being the classical kind of smarmy guy (from Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’) that’s underneath trying to weasel his way into things,” Menick says. “He’s not like that at all, but he’s just able to pull that off.”

Harsh words? Burke says he doesn’t mind playing the sycophant.

“I’ve always been a fan of bad-guy characters as much as I’ve been a fan of good-guy characters,” he says. “Villains are so fun to play. It’s so boring to play the hero unless it’s a complex hero, like a real human hero who has levels and layers.”

Being the type of person audiences love to hate is a valuable skill, Menick says. “To find your persona as well as he has, that’s the art.”

Burke also teaches classes at the Screen Artists Co-op, where many of the actors who eventually sign to Screen Artists Talent train. After two years in business, the agency has signed 80 actors, all of whom vie for speaking roles in movies, TV series and sometimes commercials.

“If he’s not teaching class, he’s in class as a student,” said Jessy Boswell, an agent at Screen Artists Talent and the administrator for the co-op. “He is always striving to better himself.”

She said Burke has helped create the supportive acting environment. A few days ago, Boswell called another actor to tell him he had been cast in a tourism commercial for Asheville. Burke was in the office, and when she hung up her phone, his began ringing. His fellow actor was eager to share the good news.

Menick, who acted professionally in Los Angeles for decades, says Atlanta’s transformation into a movie hub combined with advances in technology have made an Asheville-based agency viable. The aspiring actors still compete with talent from Los Angeles, New York and Hollywood, but they’re not limited by geography.

Some actors, such as Burke, can create a living from the acting outpost on Riverside Drive. Others make a few thousand dollars a year to supplement other occupations, but everyone works, Menick says.

Looking for other local actors on the big screen? When “Masterminds,” the Zach Galifianakis movie that filmed in Asheville and its environs, debuts on Aug. 19, it will feature natives Candace Blanchard and Karsten Friske, both of whom play family members of the main characters.

Jennifer Gatti will play a recurring role on the HBO series “Vice Principals,” which is set to debut in 2016, and Eva Peterson will spend several weeks filming Melssia McCarthy’s new movie, “Michelle Darnell,” which is also set for a 2016 release.

Menick says the film industry used to see Asheville as a black hole in the world of film, but with every role an actor lands, that perception changes.

As for Burke, he wants Asheville to be more than just a good place for actors.

“I’ll tell you my dream,” he says. “An entirely local, locally branded project, whether that be a mini-series, television series, a movie, that’s written by local writers, produced by local producers, shot in Asheville.”

Watch the clip below. Matt Burke appears at the 1:19 mark.

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Gamecocks’ Frank Martin finally gets commitment from Raymond Doby

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Raymond Doby of Cahokia, Ill, who twice signed with DePaul when Oliver Purnell was coach, on Sunday committed to South Carolina at the conclusion of a weekend visit.

Doby, 6-7, picked the Gamecocks over the University of Illinois at Chicago, Bradley and DePaul. He also took an official visit to Bradley and was scheduled for another visit to DePaul Monday.

Doby signed with DePaul in November of 2013. Purnell was the only coach to offer Doby at the time of his commitment. But in August of 2014, instead of enrolling in the Chicago school, he reclassified for the 2015 class and enrolled at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wis. Doby signed again with Purnell at DePaul last November, but Purnell was fired after last season and replaced by Dave Leitao. Doby was granted a release from his letter of intent.

USC had been recruiting Doby since before he signed with DePaul the second time. He said having the chance, again, to play for Frank Martin was too good to pass up this time.

“I think he’s an excellent coach,” Doby said. “I know he’s a hard guy to play for but that’s all I need to get the best out of me. Frank Martin, from his coaching experience and the kind of players that he’s had, he always wants players that will just go out and play. I think I can bring that to the team.” D Doby is USC’s sixth recruit for the 2015 class. Two of them, 6-9 center Eric Cobb and 6-11 center Travon Bunch, did not sign a letter of intent as they finish academic work this summer. Cobb is finishing up some class work at his prep school in Baltimore. Bunch took the SAT Saturday for the final time in his efforts to qualify. He expects to receive his score on June 26.

Football

Notre Dame flexed its recruiting muscle in South Carolina last week with offers to defensive back Troy Pride of Greer and defensive back Thomas Jones of Laurens. Pride has been committed to Virginia Tech and said he remains solid with the Hokies while Jones remains undecided. He also has offers from USC, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Louisville, East Carolina, Georgia Tech and others. He’s also getting interest from Clemson.

Offensive lineman John Simpson of Fort Dorchester spent three days at Alabama for a camp. Simpson said he might go to Clemson for a camp this week and he’s also looking at attending USC’s Showcase Camp. He also plans to visit Tennessee, LSU and Georgia this summer.

Simpson had been favoring Clemson primarily because he’s had more exposure to the Tigers than any of his other favorites.  But after the extended stay in Tuscaloosa, Simpson said he’s wiped the slate clean. “Being that I had that in depth visit with Alabama, I’m not sure who’s on top right now,” Simpson said.

Defensive back Chris Smith of South Pointe camped at Wake Forest and Duke over the weekend. He will also attend USC’s Showcase Camp Saturday as well as camps at North Carolina and East Carolina. Smith holds offers from USC, Old Dominion, Mercer, Charlotte, Furman, Coastal Carolina, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Miami of Ohio, Air Force, Eastern Michigan, James Madison and SC State.  USC has been his favorite and the possibility of a commitment at the upcoming camp does exist.

USC threw its name into the hat for defensive end Khalid Kareem of Farmington Hills, Mich., with an offer last week and he’s interested enough to visit later this month while he’s on vacation in the Beaufort area. Kareem will announce his college choice on June 24.

“I do have interest in South Carolina,” said Kareem, who has not narrowed his list from his 40 offers. “They produce great defensive ends. They usually get drafted high in the first round or second round.”

Offensive line Brett Heggie of Mount Dora, Fla., added more offers to his list this spring with Florida, Mississippi State, Louisville and Miami joining the list of earlier offers that included USC, Central Florida, N.C. State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa State and Appalachian State.  His visit to USC for the spring game was his only visit of the spring but he’ll be on the road this summer. Heggie attended a team camp at Central Florida Saturday.

Newberry QB Yafari Werts is finished with recruiting after committing to Georgia Southern last week. Werts drew interest from major programs like Clemson, USC and Georgia Tech but none came thru with an offer.  Georgia Southern, however, showed Werts the plan for him to be its future quarterback, and he jumped at the opportunity.

WR Brad Hawkins Jr. of Camden, N.J. has 15 schools on his current  list and USC is one of them.  The Gamecocks are joined by Arizona State, Michigan, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Temple, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin. That list will be reduced to about five schools around the end of June or early July, according to Hawkins’ father who is also his position coach.

Heavily recruited DE Xavier Kelly of Wichita made a sweep thru some southeastern schools capping the tour at Clemson eight days ago.  Before that Kelly visited Georgia, Alabama and Florida State. Kelly got the full treatment from the Clemson staff spending time with Dabo Swinney and Brent Venables and touring the campus and facilities. “It was great,” he said.  “I got the opportunity to meet the coaches and learn about the whole program.  I loved it.  It’s a great environment.  The coaches are straight up with you. Coach Swinney talked about life after football.  He was telling Clemson is not all about football but about family and developing as a person.” After these four visits, Kelly said it’s impossible to rank them in any order because something stands out about each. He plans to piece together a top 5-8 list by the end of July or early August. Kelly said later in the summer he will take visits to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, TCU, Texas AM, Baylor and LSU.

LB Kenneth Huff of Fort Lauderdale had planned to release a top 10 June 1st but after an influx of new interest he has delayed that release until July 4th.  Michigan State and Florida State are two new teams showing strong interest. Huff plans to camp at Florida State June 9th.  USC remains his favorite and he will attend the Showcase Camp there. Huff said he’s been talking a lot with the Gamecock defensive staff and a commitment is a possibility at the camp.

Clemson last week offered OL Tremayne Anchrum Jr. of Powder Springs, Ga.  Anchrum also holds offers from Wake Forest, Syracuse, Nebraska, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, Boston College, Arizona State and others.

LB Kash Daniel of Paiintsville, Ky., will visit USC June 13 and Florida June 17. He’s also going to visit Kentucky and Louisville.

USC OL target Josh Ball of Fredericksburg, Va., committed to Florida State Friday.

Clemson commitment DE Rahshaun Smith of Baltimore was offered last week by Oregon.

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