VOLUME 145 ISSUE 53 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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Happy birthday America! Oakboro celebrated America’s 249th birthday in style with its traditional parade and fair, drawing thousands of attendees from far beyond Stanly County. For more photos from Friday’s festivities, turn to page A4.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Stanly Democrats to host Rural Listening Tour Albemarle The Stanly County Democratic Party will host the statewide party’s “Rural Listening Tour” Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Special Events and Education Center at Atrium Health Stanly. The tour will give voters the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with Democratic candidates and elected officials. Special guests scheduled to appear include state Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Anita Earls and N.C. First Vice Chair Jonah Garson. Parking for the event will be in the parking deck off Hawthorne Avenue.
U.S. travelers may no longer be required to remove shoes before boarding planes For the first time in almost 20 years, travelers may no longer have to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the requirement, according to media reports. If implemented, it would put an end to a security screening mandate put in place almost 20 years ago, several years after “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s attempt to take down a flight from Paris to Miami in late 2001. Travel newsletter Gate Access was first to report that the security screening change is coming, with ABC News citing an internal memo sent to TSA officers last week that states the new policy lets travelers keep their shoes on during screenings at many U.S. airports beginning Sunday.
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Albemarle denies rezoning request for Faith Alive Ministries A tiebreaking vote by the city’s mayor settled the result By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — At the Albemarle City Council meeting Monday night, the council narrowly voted down a request from Faith Alive Ministries that would have rezoned a half-acre residential property to a hospital medical district classification. Councilmembers David Hunt, Bill Aldridge and Dexter Townsend voted in favor of the rezoning of 936 North Fifth St.; Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall and Councilmembers Chris Bramlett and Benton Dry voted against the move. The request was specifically to allow for the property to serve as a mixed-use area for both an administrative office space and a temporary foster care housing center in partner-
ship with the Stanly County Department of Social Services. Because of Councilmember Chris Whitley’s absence, Mayor Ronnie Michael was responsible for the final vote to break a 3-3 stalemate. His tiebreaking vote was against the rezoning request, citing the surrounding area of the property and the inconsistency that a zoning change would bring. “I’m not opposed to the reason or method to use the house,” Michael said. “I do have concerns that we are breaking up a residential lot where the entire block is residential, and we consistently hear that we do not have affordable housing in our city. Therefore, I am going to vote no.” Dry echoed the mayor’s sentiments: “If we go in the other way, we’re going to set a precedent that might be a little difficult to deal with in the future. It’s not that I’m against what they’re wanting to do. I’m in full favor of that, and I’d be
“If we go in the other way, we’re going to set a precedent that might be a little difficult to deal with in the future.” Councilmember Benton Dry happy to find other areas that would not break up neighborhoods. In God’s eyes, this (rezoning) might be the right thing to do, but in reality we have to make hard decisions — this is probably the hardest one I’ve ever had to make.” Jordan Whitley, co-founder and executive director of Faith Alive Ministries, had previously explained during the meeting that she wanted the building to serve as a “short-term overnight refuge” for children inside the foster care system. “Our mission is simple yet vital: to meet the physical and
Stanly commissioners appropriate $750K for West Stanly Senior Center Cinderella Partners is handling the construction process By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly County is making a financial contribution to the construction costs for the new West Stanly Senior Center in Locust. At the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night, the board unanimously voted to approve a budget amendment appropriating $750,000 into the county’s current operating budget to reimburse the City of Locust for the senior
center construction project. County Manager Andy Lucas explained that an agreement between the county and Locust was arranged more than two years ago. “This has been a couple of years in the making,” Lucas said. “This is actually a unique partnership between us and the City of Locust to construct a new senior center adjacent to their current library facility.” The county’s financial portion was originally estimated to handle around 50% of construction costs, although the pricing increased as the bidding process led to higher costs. On June 12, the Locust City See CENTER, page A2
“We’re hoping to be in it by next summer.” Commissioner Scott Efird
spiritual needs of orphans, widows and the broken-hearted, which is a mission grounded in James 1:27 and carried out through hands-on compassionate care,” Whitley said. “Right now, many children are removed from unsafe homes and spend their first night on an air mattress at DSS, scared, confused and without a sense of security.” Aldridge, who voted in favor of the rezoning request, acknowledged that the situation was a “tough deal” but noted that the Albemarle Planning and Zoning Board had voted 4-0 in favor of the request. “This was just not the location for that home to break up a general residential area, but I wish you well in finding another location,” Michael said to representatives of Faith Alive Ministries after the vote. The Albemarle City Council is set to hold its next regular meeting on July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.