VOLUME 145 ISSUE 79 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
DAVID SINCLAIR FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Fini flight Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Illerbrunn of Pinehurst sits in a helicopter during his retirement ceremony and symbolic “fini flight” on Sunday at the Pinehurst Harness Track. Illerbrunn, a helicopter pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, was severely injured in a drone attack on Erbil Air Base in Northern Iraq on Christmas Day 2023, sustaining a brain injury that left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to fly. The ceremony included a brief liftoff of the helicopter and a water salute from two fire trucks before Illerbrunn was presented with the Army Commendation Medal.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Supreme Court begins term that will examine Trump’s presidential power Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court has opened its new term. In its first arguments on Monday, the court appeared to be inclined to rule against a criminal defendant from Texas in a case about the constitutional right to a lawyer. A major thrust of the next 10 months is expected to be the justices’ evaluation of President Donald Trump’s claims of presidential power. Pivotal cases on voting and LGBTQ rights also are on the agenda. On Tuesday, the justices heard arguments over bans passed by many states on therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.
Weiss named new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website New York Paramount is buying the successful news commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, while anticipated, is a bold one for David Ellison, new corporate leader of Paramount and CBS. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and be responsible for shaping editorial priorities and driving innovation at CBS News. Ellison said he believes the majority of the country wants news that is balanced and fact-based, and he wants CBS to be their home. “I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News.”
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SCC to host grand opening event for Trades Facility The public is invited to attend the event on Thursday
Stanly Community College President John Enamait
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly Community College will hold a grand opening celebration on Thursday for its new Trades Facility, a $12 million investment designed to strengthen technical education and workforce development in the region. The 31,600-square-foot facility is complete, and classes are officially underway. The dedication event will take place on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the facility located behind the Morton-Moffitt Cosmetology Center on the college’s Albemarle campus at 141 College Drive. The public is invited to attend the community-wide
COURTESY SCC
Classes are taking place at Stanly Community College’s new 36,000-square-foot Trades Facility in Albemarle. dedication, where visitors can tour the new space, meet instructors and learn how SCC
is preparing students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades such as advanced
Stanly Health Department worker receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine award Wendy Dorsey Rachels was given the state’s highest civilian honor By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — A longtime public servant with more than three decades of experience in human services has been honored with North Carolina’s highest civilian award. Wendy Dorsey Rachels, a supervisor with the Stanly County Health Department’s adult Medicaid unit, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the Stanly County
“Hopefully, the commissioners believe that’s a worthwhile investment — not just for now, but for the future, and not just for the community college but for the county itself.”
Consolidated Human Services Board meeting on Oct. 2. The award was presented by Stanly County Health and Human Services Director Dolly Clayton. According to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, the recognition is bestowed upon individuals “for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.” “It is a great honor to present the prestigious Order of See AWARD, page A4
“Her 31year career has left an indelible mark on social services across North Carolina.” Health and Human Services Director Dolly Clayton
manufacturing, construction and engineering technology. Personalized tours can also be scheduled by visiting stanly.edu and signing up for an in-depth look at the new labs, equipment and classrooms. At the Stanly County Economic Development Commission meeting on Sept. 29, SCC President John Enamait said local businesses are already showing interest and touring the facility. “I must say to this group and to the commissioners, that was a vision realized — seeing not just students learning but a See SCC, page A5