THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Sheetz Lays Out Plans for Southern Pines Site

The Southern Pines Town Council reviewed plans for a Sheetz at the corner of U.S. 1 and North Poplar Street. Sheetz submitted a permit earlier this year to develop a 6,132-square-foot convenience store with a restaurant, 12 fuel stations and about 30 parking spaces at 1930 N. Poplar St.

That location is currently home to American Guns and Ammo and Spice Cafe. The existing building would be demolished to create the desired Sheetz plaza. Derby Investment Company, LLC owns the lot and the building containing Trident Marketing off North Poplar Street.

Company representatives say work could begin later this year on the site. Another Sheetz, previously announced for Carthage, also could begin before the end of the year.

District Considers Tracking Software for School Buses

Students who ride Moore County Schools buses might soon be swiping in when they board under a new bus tracking system under consideration by the Board of Education.

Buses are already equipped with GPS trackers that the district’s transportation department can monitor while they’re on their routes. Next week the board will vote on a more sophisticated system that will also load route navigation information and transmit data about what students are on the bus in real time.

Read more from reporter Mary Kate Murphy.

High Speed Internet Expanding in Northern Moore

Work continues to expand fast, broadband service in rural areas of northern Moore County as part of the ReConnect Program.

Randolph Communications received a $2.3 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant in 2020 to deploy a fiber-to-the-home network in Moore County. The USDA ReConnect Program provides grants and loans to bring high-speed internet access to rural areas lacking it.

Work began in 2021 to extend fiber infrastructure from existing lines. The 48-mile mainline construction is complete, and workers are now installing “drops” to residents and businesses signed up for service — connecting the buildings directly to the fiber network.

Ahead of Adaptive Open, Walters is Up to His Tricks Again

Dennis Walters has provided many people around the world something that had never been seen before with his trick shots from his pivoting seat on a golf cart.

That being said, what Walters, 73, saw last year in Pinehurst as a competitor in the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open left him as the one in a state of bewilderment.

“I’ve been doing this for 46, and I haven’t seen everything, but I’ve seen almost everything,” Walters said. “And what I saw here last year was absolutely unbelievable. I still can’t tell you the words that I could use to describe what I saw and what everybody who was here saw.

Dig It: Monday night adult volleyball is underway for the summer season at the sand volleyball courts at Memorial Park in Southern Pines. Here, Jenna Johnson and husband Matt team up to return a shot. Photo by TED FITZGERALD / The Pilot