Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pinecrest High School Women's Golf Team on winning their second straight state championship.

Last month, for the second straight year and the sixth time in school history, the women of Pinecrest High School have brought the North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship back home to Southern Pines. The Patriots won this year's championship by a hefty 10 strokes over their closest rival, Northwest Guilford. After this year's victory, Pinecrest is tied for the most N.C. High School Athletic Association girls' golf titles of all time. Additionally, Pinecrest placed three individual golfers in the top 12 and four in the top 17.

The coaches and players of the Pinecrest Women's Golf Team have brought great pride to both their school and all of Moore County. I wish them all the best and hope to see them continue their great success next season. Go Patriots!

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in congratulating the coaches and golfers of Pinecrest High School on their victory in this year's N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A girls' golf state championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Deputy William ``Richard'' Maness on his retirement from the Moore County Sheriff's Office and to thank him for his more than 37 years of total law enforcement service.

Maness is a born and bred native of Moore County, North Carolina. He grew up in Robbins, attended North Moore High School and went on to college at Appalachian State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Shortly after graduation, he began what would be a dynamic career in law enforcement.

Over the course of his career, Maness would serve in various law enforcement capacities across the state. In 1990, Maness joined the North Carolina State Highway Patrol where he rose the ranks, achieving the rank of Captain before his retirement from the group in 2014. After leaving the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, he took a position as the school resource officer with STARs Charter School. Eventually, in 2018, Sheriff Ronnie Fields appointed Richard as his Chief Deputy, a position he has served in up until this day.

Maness' dedication to service and constant willingness to step up when needed is commendable and inspiring. It has been an honor serving the people of Moore County alongside him and I wish him all the best as he begins this next chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing William ``Richard'' Maness for his great service to our community and the great state of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Little for his great service to Sandhills Community College (SCC) and to thank him for serving as Chairman of SCC's Board of Trustees.

Earlier this month, George announced that he was stepping down as Chairman of the SCC Board of Trustees, a role he has served in for almost four decades. George became board chair in 1985 and under his leadership both the college and our community at large have grown tremendously. When George became Chairman, SCC was still a small, growing institution. However, George saw its potential as an academic institution and development driver. During his tenure, SCC has risen to become an academic powerhouse and established an endowment of over $50 million, a sum unheard of at the community college level.

George is a nationally recognized academic leader, great American and dear friend. While he will continue to serve on the college's board, I certainly know he will be missed at the helm. That being said, I know he will continue to serve with vigor and have full faith that his chosen successor, Larry Caddell, will be able to carry on George's great work.

George's dedication to service and constant willingness to step up when needed is commendable and inspiring. It has been an honor serving the people of Moore County alongside him.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing George Little for his service to our community and the great state of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Carl Colasacco on his retirement from the Aberdeen Police Department and to thank him for his more than 31 years of law enforcement service.

Colasacco's esteemed law enforcement career began over three decades ago in 1992, when he started as a reserve officer with the Pinebluff Police Department. Over the course of his career, he would serve in various law enforcement capacities across our community. In 1995, Colasacco joined the Aberdeen Police Department, where he steadily rose the ranks. He served as a patrol officer, detective, Captain, Deputy Chief and, eventually, Chief of Police. The wealth of knowledge and experience Colasacco has provided is astounding and I think I speak for the whole of our community when I say he will be dearly missed as he enters retirement.

Colasacco's dedication to service and constant willingness to step up when needed is commendable and inspiring. It has been an honor serving the people of Moore County alongside him and I wish him all the best as he begins this next chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing Chief Carl Colasacco for his great service to our community and the great state of North Carolina.

Mr, Speaker, I rise today to honor Stuart Mills on being named as the Man of the Year by the Moore County Community Foundation.

Stuart Mills' impact on Moore County is similarly robust and wide ranging. He has and continues to work in many important community leadership roles, including as Chairman of The Given Tufts Foundation, director of Pinehurst's Village Heritage Foundation, as well as board Chairman and trustee of The O'Neal School. Likewise, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Stuart to North Carolina's Financial Literacy Council last year. Stuart's most prominent community role is as Executive Director of Partners for Children and Families, a private nonprofit organization promoting early childhood development in Moore County.

Stuart's dedication to the people of Moore County is without question. His many years of service are both commendable and inspiring. I know I speak for everyone in our community when I say that we are grateful for all he has done to improve the place we call home.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Stuart Mills on being named Man of the Year and to thank him for all he has done for the people of Moore County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Amie Fraley on being named Woman of the Year by the Moore County Community Foundation.

A resident of Whispering Pines, Amie Fraley has headed Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills since 2014. Through providing financial backing, volunteering and advocacy services, Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills helps families gain the strength and stability needed to build better lives for themselves. Under her leadership, this organization engages in fundraising efforts to construct numerous homes and provide critical repairs to around 50 homes annually. Amie hopes, and expects, to reach 1,000 families helped in the coming year. Beyond her work with Habitat, Amie is an active member of the Southern Pines Rotary Club, Moore County Chamber of Commerce, as well as other community service focused groups.

Amie's dedication to the people of Moore County is without question. Her many years of service are both commendable and inspiring. I know I speak for everyone in our community when I say that we are grateful for all she has done to better the place we call home.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Amie Fraley on being named Woman of the Year and to thank her for all she has done for the people of Moore County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senator Jim Perry for his great service to the state of North Carolina and to offer my best wishes as he enters the next chapter of his career.

Earlier this month, Jim announced that he would not file for re- election for the North Carolina Senate after serving three terms. Jim has served in the state senate since 2019, and in that time, did much to support his constituents of the 2nd district and the state as a whole. He is a staunch supporter of North Carolina's agricultural industry, rural communities as well as our military personnel. What's more--Jim is a leader within the Senate itself, currently serving as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and is a Member of the Committees on Commerce and Insurance Health Care, Redistricting and Elections and Rules and Operations of the Senate. In his time, he's served in leadership roles on numerous other Committees. Furthermore, he also serves as Majority Whip, to which he was elected unanimously during his first term in office.

Jim is a born and bred son of North Carolina, great American and dear friend. Jim's dedication to service and constant willingness to step up when needed is commendable and inspiring. It has been an honor serving the people of North Carolina alongside him and I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing Senator Jim Perry for his service to our community and the great state of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the student athletes of Sandhills Community College's (SCC) Women's Golf Team on being recognized as Academic All-Americans by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

SCC has a proud history of both academic and athletic excellence and is a regional leader on both fronts. I was proud to see so many SCC student athletes carry on this great tradition and be named to the 2022-2023 Academic Teams of the Year.

In particular, I would like to recognize the SCC Women's Golf Team and the following members of this team on their achievement of this honor. Student athletes, Ava Ray and Trinity Ahing.

Their great success in the classroom is proof that each of them truly embody what it means to be a student athlete. I think I speak for everyone in our community when I say they have made Pinehurst and the whole of Moore County proud.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the SCC Women's Golf Team for this great achievement and to wish them continued success both on the green and in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the student athletes of Sandhills Community College (SCC) on achieving GPAs of high remark.

SCC has a proud history of both academic and athletic excellence and is a regional leader on both fronts. I was proud to see so many SCC student athletes carry on this great tradition.

In particular, I would like to recognize the following members of these teams on their achievement of this honor. Student athletes, Ava Ray, Trinity Ahing of the Women's Golf team, Emma Brown, Lannah Huneycutt, Keke Lawrence, Alyssa Maragelis, Anna Ty Ivey, Jalasia Ray, Mackenzie Swett, Rachel Burley, Olivia Barlowe Britta Martin of the Beach and Court Volleyball teams, Alon Hanani, Isaiah Nelson, Zac Sledge, Sam Stoltz, Kendall Wooldridge, and LeNijel Robinson of the Basketball team, and Logan Hay, Noah Maness, Alex Martin, Liam Harris, Supinat Rvjiranan and Ben Read of the Men's Golf team.

Their great success in the classroom is proof that each of them truly embody what it means to be a student athlete. I think I speak for everyone in our community when I say they have made Pinehurst and the whole of Moore County proud.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the SCC Athletics Department for this great achievement and to wish them continued success both on the court and in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the student athletes of Sandhills Community College's (SCC) Court and Beach Volleyball Teams on being recognized as Academic All-Americans by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

SCC has a proud history of both academic and athletic excellence and is a regional leader on both fronts. I was proud to see so many SCC student athletes carry on this great tradition and be named to the 2022-2023 Academic Teams of the Year.

In particular, I would like to recognize the SCC Court and Beach Volleyball teams and the following members of these teams on their achievement of this honor. Student athletes, Emma Brown, Lannah Huneycutt, Keke Lawrence, Alyssa Maragelis, Anna Ty Ivey, Jalasia Ray, Mackenzie Swett, Rachel Burley, Olivia Barlowe and Britta Martin.

Their great success in the classroom is proof that each of them truly embody what it means to be a student athlete. I think I speak for everyone in our community when I say they have made Pinehurst and the whole Moore County proud.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the SCC Court and Beach Volleyball teams for this great achievement and to wish them continued success both on the court and in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Veteran Golfers Association on reaching a membership of 20,000 people.

The Veteran Golfers Association originated as an idea amongst wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. Several friends routinely got together to play golf courses around the area to encourage each other to improve their game and heal through camaraderie and competition.

After recovering from their injuries, these friends relocated around the country and missed the opportunity to compete against one another regularly. Realizing that other Veterans might be in this same situation, these friends got together in 2014 to create the Veteran Golfers Association, which is currently based out of Pinehurst, North Carolina. The VGA is the first golfing organization dedicated to promoting the game to all veterans and their family members and annually hosts more than 450 local tournaments across the country.

The VGA develops programs that allow members to compete, socialize, and remain physically active through the game of golf. Through league play, regional tournaments, and national qualifiers, the VGA helps reinforce values like integrity, respect, and perseverance through the game of golf.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the Veteran Golfers Association on this momentous occasion and thanking them for all they do for our shared home of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) Scott Gronowski on his retirement and to honor him for his many years of dedicated service in the defense of our Nation.

Scott enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 1989 and undertook one of the most remarkable and decorated military careers I have seen. While serving as an infantryman, Scott attended Airborne School and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He eventually went on to serve in the 2nd Battalion of the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment In 1997, he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning him the coveted Green Beret. Scott went on to become a Warrant Officer in 2002 and served in numerous leadership and educational roles within the Army. His remarkable career culminated with his appointment as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for 1st Special Forces Command, where he served from April 2021 until June of 2023.

Throughout his career, Scott deployed on numerous occasions in support of U.S. operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. As a result of his bravery, Scott received many medals and distinctions including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Assault Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, among many others.

All of these accomplishments merely scratch the surface of Scott's illustrious military career. CW5 Scott Gronowski's dedication to the U.S. Army and the United States is both commendable and inspiring. I know I speak for the whole of our community when I wish Scott the very best as he begins this next chapter of his life. I thank Scott for his courage and sacrifice.

Mr Speaker, please join me today in congratulating Scott Gronowski on his retirement and thanking him for his decades of dedicated service to our military and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ron Maness on his retirement as Moore County Airport Director.

A native of Moore County. Maness displayed a deep passion for the skies throughout his entire career. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill as a member of the Air Force ROTC, Maness joined the United States Air Force and flew the premier interceptor jet of his time, the supersonic F-106. As his Air Force career progressed, he was promoted to the Air Force precision flight squadron, the Thunderbirds, one of the highest honors an Air Force Pilot can receive.

After his time in the military ended, Maness served as a pilot to U.S. Airways (now American Airlines) for 22 years. Much like his time in the Air Force, Maness' commitment to service and skilled leadership continued during his civilian career. Maness first became Moore County Airport Director in 2004 and would go on to serve in this role on four separate occasions. Each time, Maness set aside everything to answer the call to serve his community. Maness' dedication to service and constant willingness to step up when needed is commendable and inspiring. It has been an honor serving the people of Moore County alongside him.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in congratulating Ron Maness on his retirement and thanking him for his decades of dedicated service to Moore County and our entire Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate my friend David Whisenant on his retirement from WBTV after 32 years of service.

David Whisenant started his news career at Salisbury-based radio station WSTP while in high school in 1976. He went on to attend Appalachian State University, earning degrees in both Political Science and English. Throughout his four years, he worked at a radio station in Boone, North Carolina. After graduation, David returned to Salisbury and started a full-time job at WSTP.

When WBTV first created their bureau in Salisbury, David sent a handwritten letter to the news director expressing his interest in working for the station. David started at WBTV as a stringer and within a year was promoted to General Assignment Reporter.

David would go on to provide coverage for Charlotte as well as Salisbury, Concord, and Kannapolis. In his words, he would go ``wherever they send me.'' Some of David's biggest stories include the Pillowtex/NC Research Campus developments, the tragic fire at Salisbury Millworks, the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, NASCAR-related stories, and coverage and updates of Hurricane Katrina. I think I speak for the whole of our community here in North Carolina in wishing David all the best as he begins this next chapter of life.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing David Whisenant's retirement from WBTV and his 32 years of service to the people of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 546, NAY on Roll Call No. 545, and NAY on Roll Call No. 544.