Sam Diminich, owner of Restaurant Constance, helped feed people who have gone weeks without power and food.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte volunteers are seeking solutions for western North Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. There are countless fundraisers and efforts and now an influential chef is feeding servicemen and servicewomen in the mountains.

Sam Diminich, owner of Restaurant Constance, and his team have been cooking up thousands of meals and taking them to the mountains.

"The emotional part was just seeing the best of humanity," Diminich said.

He went on a mission to feed those fueling missions in severely impacted areas.

"We got to go to an elementary school they turned into a base camp," he said. "These guys are camping out in tents."

Credit: Sam Diminich

His meals are making a bigger impact on the team than he expected.

"I heard multiple people say they hadn’t eaten in two weeks ... other than like beef jerky and peanut butter crackers," he said.

Diminich also worked with World Central Kitchen and Burial Beer Company to feed people who have gone weeks without power and food of their own.

"It’s just an unprecedented storm creating unprecedented circumstances," he said.

The devastation is widespread, and Diminich said the need for food isn’t letting up.

"To do a week where we served 5,000 meals and to go into the next week where you still need 5,000 motr meals... that says a lot about what we have going on up there," he expressed.

There will be a fundraiser on Mon., Oct. 28 to support the relief efforts. It will be held at Lenny Boy Brewing Co., which is located at 3000 South Tryon Street in Charlotte. The event runs from 6 p.m until 10 p.m. and will include cocktails, beer, wind and food.

Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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Beginning immediately, North Carolina’s public school athletes can monetize their NIL rights.

Earlier this month, Wake County Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley ruled in favor of a motion submitted by a family suing the state for NIL rights, granting a preliminary injunction to allow public school athletes the ability to earn money off their name, image and likeness. He signed that motion Monday afternoon.

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The family of Greensboro Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon, the No. 1 football recruit in the nation, previously sued the state and its Board of Education, claiming Brandon had lost out on substantial NIL money due to the current rules, which did not allow public school NIL deals.

The State Board then voted at its fall meeting to give preliminary NIL approval that could, if passed next year, allow athletes to benefit beginning in July, 2025.

Mike Ingersoll, a Charlotte-based attorney representing the Brandons, told The Observer that they asked the judge for an order finding the N.C. General Assembly intended that public school athletes would get access to NIL, and that the State Board would create rules permitting its use.

Ingersoll said the judge then wiped away a temporary rule prohibiting NIL access and ordered that the State Board’s proposed permanent rule, that could’ve gone in place next year, be put into effect now, until the lawsuit ends.

Shirley’s action Monday grants that immediate approval.

Despite the immediate ability for players to profit from NIL, the rules and regulations surrounding that access are not clear, as the State Board of Education has not yet set guidelines. During the State Board of Education’s public meeting in September, under the proposed new rule that was to take effect in 2025, athletes could be paid for:

▪ Public appearances or commercials.

▪ Autograph signings.

▪ Athletic camps and clinics.

▪ Sale of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”).

▪ Product or service endorsements.

▪ Promotional activities, including in-person events and social media advertisements.

There would be a list of things athletes couldn’t promote, including adult establishments, alcoholic products, tobacco products, cannabis, sports gambling and weapons.

Athletes would also be prohibited from doing things such as wearing their team uniform during their NIL activities or promoting goods during athletic competitions or school activities.

Schools would be prohibited from using NIL deals as a recruiting tool.

Athletes would need the deal to be approved by their parent or legal guardian if they’re under the age of 18.

The state’s private schools got NIL access earlier this year, along with a set of rules surrounding it. Those include:

▪ Student-athletes must keep their NIL activities and participation in interscholastic athletics separate.

▪ No collectives.

▪ Member schools cannot offer, secure or participate in NIL deals.

▪ Limited permissible activities.

▪ All NIL deals must be reported to and approved by the NCISAA State Office.

Brandon’s lawsuit, filed Aug. 23 in Wake County Superior Court, names the state Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction as defendants. It targets North Carolina’s uneven handling of NIL rights in high school athletics — that athletes at private schools are allowed to engage in NIL opportunities, while those enrolled in public schools cannot.

There are separate rules because there are separate organizations that govern North Carolina high school sports. The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association, which oversees most private schools, allows NIL deals. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, a state-run entity in charge of public high school athletics, has not.

During the state Board of Education’s monthly meeting on Sept 5, members heard a proposed rule change that would allow public high school athletes to enter into NIL deals, provided they don’t violate certain restrictions. Among those restrictions:

▪ That financial compensation isn’t based on athletic performance.

▪ That any NIL activity does not reference a school or conference.

▪ That athletes don’t appear in uniform or apparel of their school during any NIL activity.

The proposal passed, with a timeline projecting its implementation for the 2025-26 school year. The state board said afterward that it would take public comments from Oct. 1 to Dec. 6. A virtual public hearing is still scheduled for 10 a.m. on Nov. 8.

At the meeting, state board assistant general counsel Ryan Collins reminded the board that they could revise the rule or not approve it when it comes back for the January vote.

But by then, Brandon’s opportunity would have already come and gone.

Andrew Carter and T. Keung Hui of the News & Observer contributed to this story.

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Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.”

At long last, NC State got the last laugh on Triangle and ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina last March by topping both on the way to an ACC championship and a Final Four appearance.

As the new season approaches, those accomplishments didn’t carry over to the first AP Top 25 poll.

While No. 7 Duke and No. 9 UNC start the season as top-10 teams, the Wolfpack are unranked in the poll, which is voted on by a nationwide media panel.

NC State won its first ACC championship since 1987 by knocking off Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals before topping UNC, 84-76, in the championship game two nights later.

In the NCAA Tournament, on the way to its first Final Four since 1983, the Wolfpack defeated Duke, 76-64, in the South Regional final. Those accomplishments helped N.C. State to the No. 10 ranking in last season’s final AP poll, which was released after UConn beat Purdue, 75-60, in the NCAA Tournament championship game.

With N.C. State losing star players DJ Horne and DJ Burns from last season’s 26-15 team, the Wolfpack not only didn’t crack the preseason top 25, it didn’t receive a single vote. In addition to the top 25, 30 other schools received votes.

Duke returns two players who started games on last season’s 27-9 team in guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. But the Blue Devils brought in a strong freshman class that was voted the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and is led by 6-9 Cooper Flagg and 7-2 Khaman Maluach. Both are projected to be first-round picks in next summer’s NBA Draft with Flagg expected to the No. 1 overall selection.

UNC went 29-8 last season and returns the reigning ACC player of the year in senior guard RJ Davis. His starting backcourt mate, Elliot Cadeau, also returns with five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell expected to add punch as freshmen.

Both Duke and UNC will get chances to state their cases to move up in the season’s first three weeks.

The Tar Heels travel to play at No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 8, while the Blue Devils will face the Jayhawks on a neutral court in Las Vegas on Nov. 26.

Duke also plays No. 22 Kentucky on Nov. 12 in Atlanta, at No. 10 Arizona on Nov. 22 and plays No. 11 Auburn at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 4.

Also in November, UNC plays in a stacked Maui Invitational tournament field that includes No. 3 UConn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 11 Auburn. When the Tar Heels return to the mainland, they have a home game with No. 2 Alabama at the Smith Center on Dec. 4.

N.C. State plays No. 19 Texas at home on Dec. 4 and has its own chance to beat preseason No. 1 Kansas when they play on Dec. 14 at Lawrence, Kansas. The Wolfpack also have a neutral-site game with No. 14 Purdue on Nov. 28 at San Diego and will play either No. 24 Mississippi or BYU on Nov. 29.

While Duke and UNC are the only ACC teams in the preseason top 25, fellow league schools Wake Forest, Miami, Clemson and Louisville received votes.

This story was originally published October 14, 2024, 12:22 PM.

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Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

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Weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through the state as a tropical storm, several landmarks and attractions in Western North Carolina have been temporarily shut down, including some that were in the spotlight of big blockbuster movies.

For decades, the Tar Heel state has been the backdrop for many action, comedy and drama television shows and movies. Of the many popular movies captured around North Carolina, here’s which film sites around the mountain areas were impacted by the storm:

Featured in: “The Swan” (1956), “Being There” (1979), “Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “Forrest Gump” (1994), “Richie Rich” (1994), “Hannibal” (2001), “A Biltmore Christmas” (2023)

Biltmore Estate, which stood as the home of the billionaire mogul in the 1979 Oscar-winning movie “Being There” and the world’s richest comic book family in “Richie Rich,” as well as as the primary set for one of Hallmark’s newest holiday movies, is temporarily closed after Helene. The entrance to the home and other low-lying areas of the property did have some flooding, but Biltmore House, conservatory, winery, gardens, and hotels had little to no damage.

Featured in: “Last of the Mohicans” (1992)

Chimney Rock State Park is one of the 13 state parks in western North Carolina temporarily closed while officials work on post-storm recovery. Located in Rutherford county outside of south Asheville, the park was featured in the ending of “Last of the Mohicans” during the waterfall, fight and bathing scenes, according to the Rutherford County tourism site.

Featured in: “The Hunger Games” (2012)

Dupont State Recreational Forest, which where Katniss’ pond and the place where Peeta camouflaged himself in the movie based on the bestselling “Hunger Games” book series, has been closed since Sept. 30. According to the DSRF website, the park will be closed “for an extended period while public safety and emergency response are prioritized.”

Featured in: “Forrest Gump” (1994)

Grandfather Mountain is one of many spots featured in Forrest Gump’s 3+ year run across America in the iconic 1994 film — with a marker for what’s now known as “Forrest Gump Curve” between the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Both the private park and state park at Grandfather Mountain are closed at this time.

Featured in: “The Hunt for Red October” (1990)

Lake James, which was portrayed as Penobscot River in Maine in the film based on the thriller novel, is closed at this time. Along with Lake James State Park, all state parks west of I-77 are closed through at least the end of Oct.

Featured in: “Dirty Dancing” (1987)

Lake Lure, located in Rutherford County, was the backdrop for the famous lift scene in the classic 80s film, “Dirty Dancing.” According to the town of Lake Lure website, a curfew is in place at the lake from 7:30 p.m.- 7:30 a.m. and officials and crews have been working to remove debris from the lake.

Featured in: “The Green Mile” (1999)

If you’ve seen the 1999 drama starring Tom Hanks you might recognize Moses H. Cone Memorial Park as Paul Edgecomb’s nursing home. As of Oct. 11, The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed between mileposts 198.4 and 469, including Flat Top Manor at Milepost 294.

Featured in: “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” (2023)

“Saturday Night Live” comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy filmed the comedy film in various spots across North Carolina to depict the fictitious “Foggy Mountain,” including South Mountains State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park. All three state parks are among the parks with closures in effect until at least Oct. 31 due to Helene.

This story was originally published October 14, 2024, 11:07 AM.

READ MORE

Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

Expand All

North Carolina’s live Christmas tree industry — the second largest in the country — was not spared flood damage from Tropical Storm Helene, but industry officials remain hopeful there will be no “significant effect on supply.”

“It will take some time to fully assess the extent and implications of damage to Christmas tree farms affected by the hurricane, but our farmers have weathered the storm and are ready to persevere,” the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association said in a statement.

“At this point, we are still gathering information from our farmers regarding the extent that their farms were impacted by the storm. The next step will be working together to create a plan for harvest and shipping as we prioritize the safety and welfare of our farmers, their families, and their workers.”

That state is warning farmers to be cautious when visiting their fields “since crossovers or bridges to enter fields may have been compromised during the storm.”

It’s estimated N.C. has 1,300 growers raising Fraser firs on around 40,000 acres, most in the mountains. The crop accounts for about 20% of “Real Christmas Trees” sold in the country, the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association reports.

State agricultural officials say farmers growing a variety of fruits and vegetables in western North Carolina are reporting “impacts to fields in all landscape positions.” A field-by-field approach to assessing crops is being taken, officials said.

Henderson County’s farms were among the hardest hit, particularly the apple crop, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture reports.

“Most of the crops are gone. We are going to have some livestock mortality, there is no question about that,” North CarolinaAgriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told Southeast Farm Press.

“In one case the river has changed course and is now going through the middle of a large bottomland up there so it’s dangerous to even try to get to the fields.”

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September 30, 2024 7:32 AM

This story was originally published October 14, 2024, 7:55 AM.