As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the moments that shaped life in the Sandhills this year. Highs and lows alike, this year was a busy one, filled with debates, development, and even disaster. Here’s a look at the Sandhills Sentinel 2025 year in review
Carthage Elementary: The Great Debate
The future of Carthage Elementary dominated local conversation throughout 2025, becoming one of Moore County’s most divisive public issues. After months of tense meetings and public input, the Board of Education voted in December to place the new school on Vass‑Carthage Road. The 5–2 decision ended a prolonged search for a site but did little to quiet the debate around it.
Public speakers, county commissioners, town officials, and even school board members urged the district to slow down. Others questioned the process itself, saying the board appeared to dismiss alternatives—including a Needmore Road property the Town of Carthage offered at no cost and available capacity at Cameron Elementary.
Supporters of the Vass‑Carthage Road site countered that the land fits the county’s long‑term planning goals, avoids dense development, and offers a safer, more functional setting than the current campus.
The final vote capped a year of friction between the school board, Carthage leaders, and residents who felt unheard. Members of the board, however, say that the future looks bright for Carthage students, who will benefit greatly from this new school.
Tropical Storm Chantal’s Lasting Impression
Tropical Storm Chantal delivered one of Moore County’s most disruptive weather events in recent memory, overwhelming the region with historic rainfall and widespread flooding in early July.
County commissioners declared a State of Emergency as roads washed out, dams strained under rising water, and entire neighborhoods faced dangerous conditions. Aberdeen Lake and Crystal Lake both breached their banks, sending floodwaters across U.S. 1, Highway 5, and nearby communities.
While crews spent the summer assessing damage and restoring basic infrastructure, the effects lingered. As 2026 begins, several Moore municipalities, including Carthage and Aberdeen, are still repairing infrastructure that was damaged during the storm.
Saving High Falls Dam
Moore County spent much of the year locked in a high‑stakes fight over the future of the High Falls Dam, a 19th‑century structure that sits on one of the Deep River’s most sensitive stretches. County commissioners doubled down on their opposition in July, unanimously urging federal officials to halt a proposal that would dismantle the dam and drain the impoundment behind it.
Commissioners also questioned the project’s shifting ownership, the accuracy of early claims about community support, and the environmental case for removal.
Supporters of removal, including conservation groups, continued to argue that restoring the river would improve long‑term ecological health and resolve longstanding liability issues tied to the aging structure.
By October, the debate had reached Washington. U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson pressed the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to intervene, warning that removing the dam would damage habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife that rely on the impoundment. He pointed to more than 2,200 signatures from residents opposed to the plan and noted that local leaders across party lines had taken the same stance.
Jackson Hamlet’s Progress on Years-Long Road Repair Battle
Residents of the Jackson Hamlet community saw long-awaited progress toward repairing Gaines Road, a deteriorating dirt road that serves as the primary access point for several homes and has raised safety concerns for years. Community members had repeatedly appealed to state, county, and local officials as washouts and overgrowth had made the road increasingly difficult—and at times dangerous—for residents and emergency responders to navigate.
After years of advocacy and public meetings, the Pinehurst Village Council voted unanimously to apply for a $470,000 Community Development Block Grant to pave and reconstruct Gaines Road, along with portions of nearby Hazelnut Lane and Armstrong Road. Village officials believe the project will bring the roadway up to North Carolina Department of Transportation standards so it can be permanently maintained by the state. Jackson Hamlet residents and leaders praised the move as a major step forward after years of uncertainty, with village staff expressing optimism that the grant application could finally lead to a lasting solution for the community’s problem.
Coming Full Circle: NCDOT Unveiled Traffic Circle Redesign
Public pressure reshaped the future of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle this year, pushing NCDOT to abandon its earlier overhaul and return with a far more modest design. The revised plan preserves the circle’s character while adding coordinated traffic signals, a new connector road, and a roundabout to ease congestion and cut down on the steady stream of crashes. It also trims about $30 million from the original proposal and avoids the widespread tree loss, home demolitions, and right‑of‑way impacts that sparked a community outcry.
In October, a new design was unveiled by NCDOT. Hundreds of residents had participated over the course of the year to review the updated concept, and while opinions varied, many agreed it was a clear improvement. Currently, construction is expected to fall between the 2029 and 2035 U.S. Opens, giving Pinehurst time to prepare for changes at one of its most iconic gateways.
A Plan for the Land: Moore County Adopts New Land Use Plan
In the fall, county commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a sweeping new Land Use Plan, a document years in the making and shaped heavily by residents who served on the project’s Steering Committee. The plan lays out how the county hopes to manage growth while protecting farmland, small‑town character, and the rural landscapes that define much of the region. It introduces tools such as the Small Town Model Overlay and the Agriculture Transition Overlay to steer development toward existing infrastructure and away from open countryside.
Public input played a major role throughout the process, with residents repeatedly urging the county to curb sprawl and safeguard agricultural land.
There was, however, a slight upheaval toward the end of the process. Commissioners noted that last‑minute changes were required because of new state laws limiting local zoning authority, but said the final product still reflects the community’s priorities. The board ultimately approved the plan unanimously, calling it a roadmap built by—and for—the people who call Moore County home.
A Developing Story…Literally
Growth remained one of Moore County’s most polarizing storylines this year, as residents and local boards wrestled with how fast the region should expand—and where that growth ought to go.
Commissioners hit pause on a proposal that would have opened the door to major new subdivisions in Seven Lakes and Woodlake, saying the county needed clearer answers on water capacity, infrastructure, and the still‑evolving Land Use Plan. Residents echoed those concerns, warning that traffic, flooding, and school crowding were already straining daily life.
Even as some projects stalled, others moved ahead. Aberdeen approved the Ten Pines subdivision, a 305‑home development off N.C. 5 that trims earlier commercial plans but still drew questions about traffic and school capacity. Southern Pines explored zoning changes aimed at encouraging more attainable housing, such as duplexes and townhomes built with tighter design standards, in an effort to broaden the market without reshaping neighborhood character. Smaller projects advanced across the county as well, including Pinehurst’s 48‑cottage Trotter Drive development, a new subdivision in the Cameron countryside, and a 77‑home luxury neighborhood breaking ground inside Pinewild.
Commercial Airlines at Moore Airport
County commissioners considered whether commercial air service could finally land at the local airport. In a special meeting, commissioners heard a pitch from Moore County Airport leaders and aviation consultants outlining a partnership with a major regional carrier willing to offer daily flights to Washington Dulles. The route would give travelers access to dozens of connecting destinations and, according to the consultants, tap into a strong base of local demand.
But the proposal came with a caveat: a $3 million Minimum Revenue Guarantee to cushion the airline’s startup risk. Airport officials stressed that they’re seeking private and corporate backing, not county dollars, and said that the service would target a small slice of travelers who want an alternative to the drive to Raleigh.
Noise, infrastructure, and growth concerns also surfaced, though airport staff said the aircraft involved would be no louder than jets already using the runway. With no vote taken, the idea remains in its exploratory phase. Commissioners signaled they’ll keep listening as the community weighs in on whether Moore County is ready for takeoff.
Skatepark? Built. Elaine T. Baillie Skatepark Held Grand Opening in March
Moore County celebrated the long-awaited opening of the Elaine T. Baillie Skatepark at Memorial Park in Southern Pines in a culmination of years of advocacy, fundraising, and community input.
Skaters for Moore spent three years prior to the opening raising funds via corporate sponsors, a grant from the local Convention & Visitors bureau, and philanthropists such as Elaine T. Baillie, for whom the park is named. This was a grassroots effort by many volunteers to provide a fun, safe and free public park for young and old enthusiasts to hone their skills.
The park opened in December of 2024, but didn’t hold its official grand opening celebration until March of 2025.
“Fort Bragg” Returns
Fort Liberty’s name changed once again this year, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a February memorandum renaming the post Fort Roland L. Bragg.
The shift was intended to honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II soldier recognized for his heroism during the Battle of the Bulge. The installation had previously been redesignated as Fort Liberty in 2023 following a national review of Army posts named for Confederate figures, but was shortly thereafter restored (partly) to its former name.
19 Displaced, Firefighter Injured in Aberdeen Apartment Fire
Toward the beginning of the year, a large fire at an Aberdeen apartment complex displaced nearly two dozen people and injured a firefighter after flames tore through an eight-unit building. The fire broke out in February at Hawthorne at the Pines (now Southern Pines Reserve) off of Saunders Boulevard. The massive, intense fire drew multiple emergency calls and a large-scale response from local and regional fire departments.
Fire crews battled heavy flames for more than an hour before knocking down the blaze, which left eight apartments damaged and 19 residents displaced. One firefighter was injured when part of the roof collapsed and was transported to the hospital in stable condition. No residents were injured, and crews rescued a dog from the building.
Whispering Pines Firefighters Helped Deliver Baby Outside Firehouse
In June, a routine evening shift at the Whispering Pines Fire Rescue Department turned into a life-changing moment when firefighters helped deliver a baby outside the station. On June 30, a local family pulled into the station seeking help after realizing there was not enough time to reach the hospital as the mother went into active labor.
Firefighter/EMTs Glenn Boles and Reed Novak leapt into action and delivered a healthy baby girl just minutes after the family arrived. An ambulance later transported the mother and newborn to the hospital, both in good condition.
Local Rescuers Give Three-Legged ‘Petey’ a New Leash on Life
In October, a severely injured stray dog found wandering in neighboring Cumberland County was given a second chance after a coordinated rescue and emergency medical effort involving volunteers, veterinarians, and animal advocates. The pup, later named Petey, was taken in by It Takes a Village Rescue NC, a Sanford-based nonprofit, after being discovered with extensive injuries that ultimately required the amputation of one of his legs.
Rescue volunteers rushed Petey to urgent veterinary care, and staff at Pinehurst Animal Hospital cleared schedules to perform emergency surgery and administer a blood transfusion, aided by a donor dog brought in by a returning veterinarian. Veterinary staff worked late into the night to stabilize him before he was released into foster care.
From Special Olympics to Sports Management – The Journey of EJ Russell
Moore County native EJ Russell reached a milestone in 2024, graduating from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree. The 25-year-old, who has autism and ADHD, said his lifelong passion for sports, particularly basketball, helped guide his academic and personal journey
Russell is a longtime Special Olympics athlete, earning multiple gold medals in basketball, track and field, and a bronze medal in bowling, including helping lead his basketball team to a state championship. Coaches and mentors described him as intensely competitive and determined, traits that carried over into his education. After overcoming early academic challenges in Moore County Schools, Russell steadily improved, earning scholarships and completing his degree.
Horse Rescued from Deep River
Emergency responders and animal rescue teams carried out a complex large-animal rescue in February after an 18-year-old mare fell down a steep embankment into the Deep River near High Falls. A fallen tree destroyed a fence line, allowing three horses to escape. Two of the horses died, but crews returned the following morning due to safety concerns to attempt a rescue of the surviving mare.
The operation took hours and required transporting equipment by truck due to the remote terrain. A veterinarian from Polaris Equine Mobile Veterinary Clinic provided on-site care as rescuers treated the horse for exhaustion and hypothermia after she spent the night in cold water, using a fallen tree to keep her head above the surface. The mare was administered fluids and antibiotics and was able to stand shortly after the rescue. The horse lived, however, and was well into recovery within days of the incident.
Teens Received Guide Dogs from Mira Foundation
Two teens shared an uplifting moment in March when they were reunited with their guide dogs after months of training. Thirteen‑year‑old Eli Logue and 15‑year‑old Shaelin Shakespeare were paired once again with Maple and Guirro, Labernese brothers provided through Mira Foundation USA, the only group in the country that offers guide dogs free of charge to blind children.
The reunion was marked with a luncheon, ribbon‑cutting, and a walk through downtown Southern Pines.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Year-end review by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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