Home Care In Redland, NC

New University of Redlands President Krista L. Newkirk said the school's commitment to innovation inspired her to make the move from South Carolina to Southern California.

"This wasn't a position I was looking at or even considering a move to California, but I was encouraged by a search firm to look at perspectives," said Newkirk. "I was struck by how great the opportunities were from the programs the University of Redlands offered, the train depot, the Forever Yours campaign, the merger with the theology seminary in Marin and a lot was the curriculum for students.

“The Johnston Center provides such an innovative approach to education. I thought there was a foundation here that we could build upon to take the university to new heights. And after meeting the people here, I was sure this was the right decision for me. I saw tremendous talent. It is such a warm and engaging community of people who are not stuck in their ways and are innovative."

Newkirk grew up on a cattle ranch in Missouri before attending the University of Missouri's Honor College. After two years, she transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she graduated in the top 5% of her class with a bachelor of arts in English and a minor in philosophy. She went on to earn her juris doctor degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virgina.

She worked for several years as an attorney in both private practice and at a Fortune 300 company before joining the Office of Legal Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2003. In 2012, Newkirk became the chief of staff at UNC Charlotte. In 2016, she became president of Converse College in South Carolina.

Under her leadership, Converse enhanced its financial, academic and cultural strength. Her accomplishments at Converse include developing an innovative strategic plan, launching Converse's first doctoral degree program, expanding its master's degree offerings, opening an extension campus, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Converse’s enrollment of African American students in a year-long celebration, establishing a campus Unity in Diversity Committee which developed a targeted strategic plan which in part implemented a restorative justice model for incidents of discrimination and expanding athletics.

Newkirk’s goals for Redlands include expanding opportunities and maintaining an innovative approach to education.

“I’m taking some time to listen and learn about the community,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of meetings with staff and students to understand Redlands because the community is fundamental to the success of the university. You want to build on the strengths that are there and make sure any plans are the right plans while expanding interests. We are looking at opportunities for continuing studies.

“We have fantastic certificate programs and are looking at how we can better partner with local businesses to expand the education of their workforce to give people additional skills and a boost in their careers. We have exciting new programs at the Marin campus and opportunities with our School of Business. We are also beginning to map out how to combine social justice with business platforms. It is exciting. A lot is in the works."

Newkirk spoke to the Redlands City Council during its meeting on Aug. 3 about how the Friends of Redlands' Growth Management Initiative would harm the proposed University Village development plans. Newkirk urged the City Council to forgo a special election this year. The City Council voted to place the initiative on voter ballots during the general municipal election in 2022.

"The university had just learned about plans for the village, and it was in the process of selecting a developer," said Newkirk. "It was at that stage when the growth initiative came to our attention. We showed the community plans that hadn't even been shared with the full campus yet during the City Council meeting. Right now, we are working on a compromise with some of the initiative leaders. I don't think it was intended for the initiative to have a negative impact on the university. It was a miscommunication."

The university is planning to build a 30-acre transit-integrated neighborhood envisioned as a new town-gown village center that includes diverse housing types, retail and restaurant destinations, a boutique hotel, an entrepreneurial office and work-live spaces that would benefit all Redlands residents. Proposed buildings are no higher than four stories.

“We are continuing to work with leaders while also engaging with our developer to finalize an agreement,” said Newkirk. “Once we get through that stage, then we can move forward. We are also waiting for the city plan. A number of things are in the works that will drive final construction plans."

Newkirk said, like most, the pandemic was hard on the university.

“We have had to make difficult decisions, but we approved a three-year healthy budget that includes new opportunities for diversity and enrollment growth,” she said. “The summer semester was open to the public and undergraduates. We have a new accelerated master of business administration certificate, new non-profit and project management certificates, which are helpful for the community. But we did make tough decisions that were responsible for dealing with deficits. Now, we are taking time to look at growth.”

Newkirk highlighted a couple of programs she believes makes the university unique.

“The Redlands Promise is for any student with a 3.5 GPA or higher,” she said. “In 2022, these students will only pay $22,000 in tuition or less. It puts us at the same level as a state university. Our smaller class size gives students a greater chance to conduct undergraduate research, and our study abroad programs are affordable. We want to make sure we are responsive to families impacted by the pandemic and remain affordable. Our Redlands Strong promise is we assure students will graduate on time. Delayed graduation has a serious impact on students. If they graduate on time, they spend 40% less and can begin a career sooner. That means they can start to compound earnings, which puts them on the right track. In our program, we map out what students need to do to graduate on time, and if something happens to prevent that, the rest of the tuition cost is on us.”

Newkirk is simply glad to be at Redlands and looks forward to the new year.

“It’s move-in day today, exciting!" she said.

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued in Davie County, listed by applicant, type of construction, estimated cost and location.

– Beam Solar, rooftop solar installation, $32,076, Tom Crotts Lane, Mocksville.

– Clayton Homes of Lexington, set up singlewide manufactured home, $90,000, Gladstone Rd., Mocksville.

– Donald Luffman, screened in patio, $4,999, Milling Rd., Mocksville.

– TCC Vanderbuilt, modular home, $298,000, Will Boone Rd., Mocksville.

– Bruce Burton, garage, $70,000, Howardtown Rd., Mocksville.

– Groundworks North Carolina (Tar Heel Basement Systems), foundation repair, $9,500, NC 801 S., Mocksville.

– Pilcher Custom Builders, single family dwelling, $329,000, Cedar Creek Rd., Mocksville.

– Band of Brothers Construction, deck, $17,479, McGee Ct., Advance.

– Timothy Thompson, utility building, $15,000, Liberty Church Rd., Mocksville.

– Band of Brothers Construction, deck, $38,229, Apple Acres Rd., Advance.

– Cleary’s Construction, repair from house fire, $50,000, Norma Lane, Advance.

– David Waterson, deck, $1,000, Covington Dr., Advance.

– Third Generation Homes, single family dwelling, $544,023, River Hill Dr., Bermuda Run.

– Jason Myrick, garage, $17,000, Loblolly Trail, Mocksville.

– ADT Solar, roof mounted solar panels, $33,306, Lakewood Dr., Mocksville.

– Palmetto Solar, roof mounted solar panels, $10,400, Gumtree Ct., Mocksville.

– Sebrina Haneline, replace singlewide mobile home with doublewide mobile home, $15,000, Glenn Allen Rd., Mocksville.

– Eric Brown Construction, renovate garage to suite, $38,000, N. Main St., Mocksville.

– Palmetto Solar, roof mounted solar panels, $10,400, Summit Dr., Mocksville.

– Cheryl Wright, renovation, $1,844.56, Random Rd., Mocksville.

– American Dream Solar and Windows, ground mounted solar panel, $8,000, NC 801 S., Mocksville.

– Craig Carter Builder, single family dwelling, $345,000, Mr. Henry Rd., Mocksville.

– Titan Solar Power NC, roof mounted solar panels, $24,000, Sain Rd., Mocksville.

– BRS Permitting, roof mounted solar panels, $3,870.44, N. Forke Dr., Bermuda Run.

– R&M Development Services, enclose metal carport, $12,000, W. Church St., Mocksville.

– Greg Loflin, install doublewide manufactured home, $138,000, Ridge Rd., Mocksville.

– Holiday Pools of Winston-Salem, inground swimming pool, $28,400, Tifton St., Bermuda Run.

– BRS Permitting, roof mounted solar panels, $8,796.45, Polaris Dr., Mocksville.

– Karen McGown, deck, swimming pool and fence, $2,250, Oak Grove Church Rd., Mocksville.

– Clayton Homes Mocksville, off-frame modular home, $210,000, 1761 US 64 E., Mocksville.

– Deena Abee, singlewide mobile home, $25,000, Fulton Rd., Advance.

– Pilcher Custom Builders, enclose carport, Milling Rd., Mocksville.

– Palmetto Solar, roof mounted solar panels, $9,600, Salisbury Rd., Mocksville.

– Pilcher Custom Builders, kitchen remodel, $20,000, Olde Stone Trail, Advance.

– Jordan Sarver, renovation, $25,000, US 601 S., Mocksville.

– Guy Bost, garage, $10,632.73, Pete Foster Rd., Mocksville.

– William Alley, overhead shelter, $2,000, S. Angell Rd., Mocksville.

– Damian Lewis, building, $50,000, Vanzant Rd., Mocksville.

– Built Right Custom Homes of NC, single family dwelling, $165,000, Hunters Trail, Advance.

– Greg Parrish Builders of NC, single family dwelling, $290,000, Reserve Dr., Mocksville.

– Tess Welch, garage, $41,500, Rock House Rd., Mocksville.

– All-State Buildings, accessory building, $54,000, Peoples Creek Rd., Advance.

– Shelton Construction General Contractors, metal shop building, $400,000, US 601 S., Mocksville.

– Shelton Construction General Contractors, trucking/office building, $675,000, Madison Rd., Mocksville.

Arrests

The following were arrested by the Davie County Sheriff’s Office.

Dec. 17: Nicholas Gage Teasley, 27, of Swicegood St., Mocksville, assault on a female.

Dec. 16: Stephanie Yarbrough Stefanutto, 34, of Lexington, non-support of child; Luis Alberto Portillo, 29, of Cleveland, NC, domestic violence prevention order violation; Travis Simeon Hicks, 33, of Salisbury, possession of stolen motor vehicle; Jerrell Martine Graves, 35, of Winston-Salem, driving while license revoked; Tyquis Jaqon Butler, 27, of Salisbury, failure to appear in court on felony charge.

Dec. 15: Bernardo Rorriguez-Ramirez, 20, of Cheyenne Lane, Mocksville, failure to appear in court; Luis Alberto Romero Portillo, 32, of Cleveland, NC, domestic violence prevention order violation; Reginald Antwan Miller, Jr., 22, of Winston-Salem, failure to appear in court; Elliot Gearald Martinez, 25, of Harmony, identity theft; Jennifer Blackwell Joyce, 44, of Lexington, conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana, allowing illegal conduct on licensed premises; Ashley Nicole Clarke, 29, of Shaw Road, Harmony, failure to appear in court, simple possession of Schedule V controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine.

Dec. 14: Anthony Albert Zaffino, 30, of W. Kinderton Way, Bermuda Run, damage to property, assault on a female.

Dec. 13: Alex Joseph Frye, 27, of Spring St., Mocksville, possession of methamphetamine; Sara Ann Holdren, 34, of Salisbury, larceny; Aaron Jaymes Lee, 30, of McKnight Road, Advance, assault on a female; Davie Lee Muyllins Jr., 44, of Caravan Lane, Mocksville, failure to appear in court; Jason Cahrles Pittman, 45, of Clemmons, open container of alcohol in vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle; reckless driving; Jessica Marie Taylor, 42, of US 601 N., Mocksville, assault with a deadly weapon.

Dec. 12: Michael Wayne Tilley, 49, of Cornatzer Road, Mocksville, non-support of child; Michael Shannon Smiley, 52, of Redland Road, Advance, failure to appear in court; Taylor Ryan Parks, 29, of Harmony Hwy., Harmony, assault on a female, attempted false imprisonment, injury to property; Sherry Lynn Pantovich, 45, of Wilkesboro St., Mocksville, violation of court order; Nathaniel Wayne Lemons, 30, of Wall St., Mocksville, non-support of child; Roger Lee Brown, 46, of Center St., Cooleemee, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine.

Dec. 11: Angel Joel Rivera Jesus, 21, of Winston-Salem, failure to appear in court.

Sheriff’s Office

The following are from Davie County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Dec. 17: suspicious activity, US 158, Bermuda Run; harassment, US 158, Bermuda Run; noise complaint, US 158, Advance; assault, Sheffield Road, Harmony; suspicious activity, US 601 S., Mocksville; disturbance, East Lake Drive, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Guinevere Lane, Mocksville; harassment, Old Home Place Drive, Advance; suspicious activity, Madison Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Corries Lane, Mocksville; damage to property, Park Place Court, Mocksville; larceny, Ijames Church Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Paso Lane, Mocksville; missing person, Deadmon Road, Mocksville; disturbance, NC 801 N., Bermuda Run.

Dec. 16: suspicious activity, US 601 S., Mocksville; disturbance, Stone Wood Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Guinevere Lane, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Ijames Church Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Thousand Trails Drive, Advance; trespassing, Twins Way, Bermuda Run; suspicious activity, Cornatzer Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Cooper Creek Drive, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Sheffield Road, Harmony; damage to property, Daniel Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Milling Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Bailey’s Chapel Road, Advance; suspicious actvity, US 64 W./NC 901, Mocksville; disturbance, NC 801 S., Mocksville.

Dec. 15: trespassing, Twins Way, Bermuda Run; suspicious activity, Bailey’s Chapel Road, Advance; burglary, US 64 W., Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Marginal St., Cooleemee; larceny, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; fraud, NC 801 S., Mocksville; domestic assist, Farmland Road, Mocksville; larceny, Ivy Circle, Bermuda Run; suspicious activity, Greenhill Road, Mocksville; fraud, W. Kinderton Way, Bermuda Run.

Dec. 14: suspicious activity, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Salisbury Road, Mocksville; domestic assist, Farmington Road, Mocksville; larceny, W. Carmel Dove Drive, Mocksville; domestic assist, Calvin Lane, Mocksville; assault, William Ellis Drive, Advance; suspicious activity, Twins Way, Bermuda Run; assault, William Ellis Drive, Advance; fraud, E. Brickwalk Court, Mocksville; domestic assist, Farmington Road, Mocksville; trespassing, Hardison St., Mocksville; fraud, Production Lane, Mocksville; missing person, Gladstone Road, Mocksville; harassment, Dogtrot Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Duke St., Cooleemee.

Dec. 13: domestic disturbance, W. Kinderton Way, Bermuda Run; assault, NC 801 N., Bermuda Run; fraud, Camden Point Court, Mocksville; larceny, Southpark Place, Mocksville; trespassing, Government Center Drive, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Underpass Road, Advance; domestic disturbance, Caravan Lane, Mocksville; assault, William Ellis Drive, Advance; disturbance, War Eagle Drive, Mocksville.

Dec. 12: domestic disturbance, Hillcrest Drive, Advance; domestic disturbance, Duke St., Cooleemee; domestic disturbance, Clairmont Lane, Mocksville; larceny, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; disturbance, Hobson Drive, Mocksville; larceny, Cooper Creek Drive, Mocksville; assault, William Ellis Drive, Advance; harassment, assault, Fairfield Road, Mocksville; domestic assist, Wilkesboro St., Mocksville; assault, S. Davie Drive, Mocksville; fraud, Marbrook Drive, Mocksville; suspicious activity, E. Depot St., Mocksville; suspicious activity, US 601 S., Mocksville; disturbance, Legion Hut Road, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Markland Road, Advance; fraud, US 601 N., Mocksville; suspicious activity, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; disturbance, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, E. Lexington Road, Mocksville.

Dec. 11: suspicious activity, Jolley Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity,k Crepe Myrtle Lane, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, Duke St., Cooleemee; missing person, Junction Road, Mocksville; damage to prperty, CPP Global Drive, Mocksville; larceny, Southwood Drive, Mocksville; larceny, Cooper Creek Drive, Mocksville; domestic disturbance, NC 801 S., Mocksville; larceny, NC 801 S., Advance; domestic disturbance, Neely St., Mocksville; suspicious activity, Yadkinville Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Yadkin Valley Road, Bermuda Run; disturbance, Wyo Road, Mocksville; disturbance, Farmington Road, Mocksville; suspicious activity, Gun Club Road, Advance; domestic disturbance, Gladstone Road, Mocksville.

This is the first in a series of articles about the Ramada Inn project.

When two California organizations came to Asheville in late 2021, eager to purchase and convert an old motel into permanent supportive housing for unhoused people, they pledged that their partnership would deliver “the solution” to “radically change how quickly housing is developed.”

The partners — a nonprofit called Step Up and a developer called Shangri-La Construction — presented their proposal for the Ramada Inn in East Asheville to city officials in December 2021.

For a majority of the city council, the proposal sounded like a solution to longstanding challenges with housing the city’s more than 500 unhoused people.

The city relinquished the right to purchase the property to Shangri-La a few weeks later.

At the time, Step Up CEO Tod Lipka assured the city that the experience of the two organizations was part of his team’s “special sauce” for speed and efficiency.

But the sauce may have expired.

In the almost 10 months since the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, no new construction beyond initial demolition has occurred.

The stakes are high.

“Creating this housing usually is a five-year process,” Lipka explained at the council meeting. “And so people die. People who need this life-saving housing with supportive services, die before the buildings are ever completed.”

Almost 22 months later, the need for stable housing continues, and the site’s proposed 113 units sit vacant.

None of the many cooks in the project’s kitchen have taken clear responsibility for the stalled development which was originally set to open its doors this summer.

The developer, Shangri-La Construction, attributed the delay to multiple causes: unexpected structural deficiencies found during demolition, financing issues and a struggle to come to terms with a contractor.

Meanwhile, court records from other projects in California show allegations of nonpayment by the developer.

Reasons for delay?

When Asheville leaders gave Shangri-La the right to purchase the motel, the partnership between the developer and Step Up was not new. Over the last decade, the two organizations have frequently partnered on renovation efforts, including eight projects in California.

The partners worked together on three projects as part of Homekey, a $1.4 billion government-funded program in California started in 2020 to convert motels into permanent supportive housing.

For the Asheville deal, Shangri-La said they could obtain the $10 million in private capital for the renovation of the motel. At the time, the city agreed to provide $1.5 million over three years in funding to Step Up to support social services at the housing site.

Shangri-La CEO Andy Meyers told BPR in August that the delay stemmed from being forced to refinance the project after failing to reach an agreement on a contract with the site’s demolition contractor, Asheville builder Beverly-Grant.

BPR requested the contract terms of the agreement with Beverly-Grant, but the contractor’s project manager, Jason Wightman, said they did not have a contract with Shangri-La. He said they completed the demolition based on an authorization to proceed.

“We did not have an agreement at the time, nothing officially inked in. It was moving very quickly, drawings were not completed, so there was no formal agreement,” he said.

Beverly-Grant received a permit for demolition in mid-March, but the developer filed the paperwork to release Beverly-Grant from the permits with the city in early July 2023.

According to Wightman, most of the initial demolition on the project was completed with the exception of some exterior demolition. Shangri-La confirmed to BPR that Beverly-Grant would not be the contractor moving forward.

“We don't have any issues, really, with the first contractor, it was just really hard to get to a contract with them,” Meyers explained in a phone interview in August.

Wightman said the two parties came to an impasse on the scope of work.

Asked if they were paid for the work they completed, Wightman demurred.

“We are working through that. I really wouldn't be at liberty to say about the current payment status,” he said. “From our perspective, you know, we just couldn't come to an agreement on a multitude of things. And, you know, everyone just kind of agreed to disagree.”

Wightman said Beverly-Grant would not be working with Shangri-La again, but he declined to elaborate on the reasons beyond saying the two companies operate in “different worlds.”

Meyers said the failure to move ahead with Beverly-Grant created a delay that necessitated a refinance of the loan.

“We just had a hard time coming to a contract, which meant we burnt a lot of time, which burnt a lot of time on the loan, which meant the loan had to be refinanced,” he said. “We could be under construction right now but we're just waiting to close the loan because, look, banks have exploded all over the country,” Meyers said.

Beyond the refinancing hurdle, a new contractor faces another roadblock. Permit records from the city show outstanding fees of $67,031 owed by the developer on the project.

Haley Mahoney, a development review specialist for the city, said the fees must be paid in order for Shangri-La or any new contractor to begin any construction work.

“I can tell you that the city of Asheville is not holding this project up,” Mahoney said. “We're waiting for them to get their ducks in a row.”

This week, Shangri-La declined to provide further comment about the unpaid permitting fees.

Lawsuits, liens and lessons learned?

The financial questions around the project are not a first for Shangri-La.

At one motel conversion project in Redlands, California, 13 contractors and suppliers filed more than $2 million in liens in March, April and May 2023, according to reporting by the Redlands Daily Facts.

Vivek Timbadia, Shangri La’s then-project manager for the project, told BPR that payments to contractors were delayed for around “six to eight months.”

Frustrated with what he said was a lack of communication from Shangri-La executives and the delayed payments to contractors, Timbadia said he left the company in August just shy of a year of employment.

“Some of the contractors really had faith in me and I used that credibility as long as I could. At some point they didn't value my words,” he said.

One of the subcontractors, BCM Construction, filed two liens for nearly $496,000 in April 2023.

Henry Castro, a project manager for BCM Construction, said he could not speak on the matter due to a non-disclosure agreement, but he confirmed that the company had received payment.

When contacted this week, Shangri-La representatives declined to respond to requests for comment about the subcontractors.

The Redlands project was not the only legal challenge for the developer, court records show. The company faces several lawsuits for other projects in California where other organizations allege they were not paid for work completed for Shangri-La.

In one case, Streamline Integration, a California electrical company, alleged Shangri-La failed to pay them for about $80,000 of work, according to court documents.

According to emails submitted as part of the legal filings, Streamline repeatedly asked Shangri-La for payment from mid-summer to early fall 2022.

In February 2022, Streamline filed a suit in Superior Court in LA County.

In an email in the court filing, Streamline CEO Brian Armstrong expressed concern about a lack of responsiveness from Shangri-La representatives.

“Is there a better contact than you to discuss this? Possibly accounting? Project manager? Legal team? I'm very concerned that I am again falling on deaf ears,“ he wrote in September 2021.

In November of the same year, Armstrong wrote again to Shangri-La Director of Development Robert Kuhl, court documents show. This time, he explained the inability to pay wholesalers when his company is not paid.

“I paid a partial payment out of my pocket despite no money from Shangrila. You guys are hurting my relationships with my vendors with how irresponsible your company has been and this is absolutely unacceptable. I know they have reached out to you many times and have NEVER heard back from you nor anyone else from your company. If you ruin relationships with wholesalers, how could anyone work for you?” he wrote.

Streamline representatives, including Armstrong, did not respond to interview requests by BPR.

One former Streamline executive, Vincent Castro, indicated he could not speak because of a non-disclosure agreement.

Shangri-La representatives did not respond to requests for comment on the litigation.

Coming soon, part two: Who is responsible for oversight on the Ramada Inn project? What city officials’ emails show about decision-making and accountability.

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. — A rejuvenated Baker Mayfield says he’s focused on defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, not the future of a career he’s revived by leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFL playoffs.

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft arguably has had his best season as a pro, guiding the resurgent Bucs (9-8) to what six weeks ago seemed an unlikely prospect — a third straight division title and a wild-card matchup Monday night against the reeling defending NFC champion Eagles (11-6).

Since joining Tampa Bay on a one-year, $4 million contract last March, Mayfield has positioned himself for a possible long-term deal with the Bucs or perhaps another club impressed with the way he’s bounced back from less successful stints with Cleveland, Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams.

“It’s meant the world to me just to be able to be in a stable place, to be the best version of myself (and) to (do) what they’ve enabled me to do. The organization, the staff, our locker room — it’s just a special place, so I’ve truly appreciated it,” Mayfield said.

“I hope the guys know that. I try to reflect that with just who I am every day coming to work, bringing energy and passion into it,” the 28-year-old quarterback added. “It’s been great for me, but (we’re) not done yet.”

Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title and three postseason berths from 2020-22 before retiring after an opening-round playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys a year ago.

Mayfield, meanwhile, split time last season between the Panthers and Rams, going a combined 2-8 as a starter.

When he signed with the Bucs and went on to win Brady’s old job in training camp, few people envisioned the team being successful enough to finish with a winning record, much less a franchise-best fourth consecutive playoff berth.

Coach Todd Bowles, however, not only viewed Mayfield as a good fit for a new system being installed by first–year offensive coordinator Dave Canales but for a locker room that’s been transformed from one of the oldest in the NFL to one of the youngest since Brady’s departure.

Star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin remain, as do defensive standouts Vita Vea, Lavonte David, Shaquil Barrett, Devin White and Antoine Winfield Jr.

Mayfield has prospered because of contributions from younger players such as second-year running back Rachaad White and the development of tight end Cade Otton and rookie defensive starters Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby.

One of the best things the quarterback did to win over teammates was not try to be like Brady.

“I think he’s relatable because he’s different, and I think we have a different team,” Bowles said. “I think we needed to go a different way. It’s worked out for us. The attitude that he brought in, I think would be infectious on a young or an older team. I think that’s just who he is.

“That part is not that big of a deal, but the leadership he’s shown and the way we’ve tried to change the team around has been outstanding. He leads the veterans, as well. He sits with the offense and the defense,” the coach added. “He really brought camaraderie and chemistry together in the offseason, as well as summer training camp, to have these guys on the same page so that when we hit hard times, we wouldn’t panic.”

Although his performance in games has been uneven at times, Mayfield completed 64% of his passes for career bests of 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also cut down of some of the costly mistakes that hindered him in previous stops.

To win the NFC South and land the No. 4 seed in the conference, the Bucs rebounded from a stretch in which they lost six of seven to go 5-1 over the final six weeks.

Mayfield’s start on Monday night against the Eagles, who were on track for the top seed before going 1-5 down the stretch to tumble to No. 5, will be his first in the playoffs since competing with the Browns in 2020.

“Those are all great things. I’m not going to not acknowledge it, at least, but our goal is much bigger than just winning the division and for me to have a great year,” Mayfield said. “We expected that within this building. We’re in the playoffs now, so it’s singular focus on the Eagles.”

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RIVERSIDE >> Redlands High School took top honors at the state mock trial competition Sunday.

The school’s blue team learned the news during an awards ceremony at the Riverside Convention Center hours after facing El Centro’s Central Union High School.

“I’m over the moon — I think we all are,” said team adviser Donna St. George after Redlands High’s name was called.

The blue team made it to the state round after defeating Redlands High’s white team in the county competition in December. The placement guaranteed the school its 13th county championship — a record — and a spot in the finals.

Redlands High was in the final round in Riverside two years ago but came in second.

Team captain Summer Zofrea, a 17-year-old senior, said the group was excited to go to the state finals.

“And we were sitting in the front row squeezing each other’s hands while waiting for the results. We were wanting to win so badly.”

Dozens turned out to cheer the team. Many of them captured the group’s celebration on their cellphones, including attorney-coaches Stephen Levine, Jack Juan and Derek Raynes, and Principal Christina Rivera.

“They worked really hard — all of the coaches and each and every student,” Rivera said. “And I just couldn’t be prouder. Hard work pays off.”

Two Redlands High students received individual awards for their work in the final round — sophomore Tiffani Le, 15, for her portrayal of a trial witness, and junior Ebram Naftzger, 16, for his work as a defense attorney.

Organizers of the competition also honored St. George with the Adult Advocacy Award for her decades in mock trial competition, first at San Bernardino High School and for the past 25 years at Redlands High.

“I am so honored by (this award) and so touched by it,” she said. “It’s an award that means a whole lot to me, and it means that other people took the time to nominate me, recommend me and fill out tons of paperwork. It’s pretty awesome.

“Mock Trial runs through my blood.”

St. George’s next step is to prepare her team for the nationals in May in Raleigh, N.C., and cover expenses for the trip.

Donations may be addressed to RHS Mock Trial, Attn: Finance Office, C/O Maryann Vore, 830 E. Citrus Ave., Redlands, CA 92374.