VOLUME 145 ISSUE 51 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Harmanco’s, an Albemarle institution for 72 years, announced Monday it would be closing its doors July 20.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Albemarle man arrested on murder charges Albemarle The Albemarle Police Department were dispatched to the 1600 block of Amherst Street just past 5 p.m. Monday and arrested one alleged suspect who now faces multiple counts of murder. Alex Jamies Meras has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in the deaths of Lucio Carranco, 33, and Jesus Carranco, 34, both of Albemarle.
Wildlife commission promotes Operation Dry Water Stanly County Officers of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will participate July 4-6 in Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to inform boaters of the dangers of boating while impaired. According to a release from the WRC, the use of alcohol while boating is the leading contributing factor in deaths for recreational boaters. The WRC plans to increase water patrols this weekend and inform boaters on the dangers. It is against North Carolina law to have a blood alcohol level of .08 or more and operate a recreational vehicle, or while being appreciably impaired by drugs or other imparing substances. The WRC also reminds boaters to wear lifejackets around or on the water.
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Harmanco’s Restaurant to close The longtime Stanly County staple closes on July 20 By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — A 72-year Stanly County institution for food, family and fun will close its doors later this month. Harmanco’s on Main Street in Albemarle announced Monday that the restaurant will close its doors on July 20. Owner Jamie Johnson, who purchased the business five years ago from Steve Voula Kambouris, confirmed in a
phone interview that the building in which the restaurant is located has been sold and her lease has been terminated. Johnson purchased the business but not the building, which would have cost an extra $500,000, so she leased the space to operate the restaurant. The Kambouris family operated Harmanco’s for 11 years before selling the business to Johnson. The original restaurant opened in 1953. “All I know is somebody bought the building and told me I had 30 days to get out,” Johnson said. “I cried for two days.”
“I love my customers. A lot of friendships have been made here. We are a family here. It breaks my heart.” Jamie Johnson, owner
She said she has not been told what the future of the building will be. “People are sad,” Johnson said. “I’ve got customers that say they’re not go-
Richfield will keep its dedicated sheriff’s deputy Commissioners voted 3-1 to keep funding the deputy for another year By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal THE TOWN OF Richfield will have a full-time law enforcement officer on duty for at least another year. The approval of a contract with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office to fund a deputy dedicated to Richfield was made Monday night at the Richfield board of commissioners meeting, where there was a long discussion between a near-capacity crowd, the board and Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco. In the end, the board voted 3-1 to continue the contract, with newly appointed Mayor Pro Tem Barry Byrd the only dissenter. It will cost the town $105,000 to have a single, full-time deputy dedicated to Richfield for the next fiscal year. In a prior meeting, discussion was had about how much the coverage the town could get with a cheaper option — with the sheriff saying a $73,000 contract would get 103 hours of monthly coverage. That’s down from the 168 hours a month for what is ef-
fectively a 40-hour per week position where the deputy would be expected to spend at least 85% of their time within the city limits. Crisco also brought data from Stanly County 911 showing that Deputy Danny Belcher, the current deputy assigned to Richfield, had spent 85% of his time within the city limits last month. He also said that Belcher will not be returning to Richfield as its deputy. “I was elected to look after the best interests of the taxpayers of the town of Richfield,” Byrd said in an interview Tuesday. “I made my decision on what was the best, economical option for police protection for the town of Richfield. The other commissioners did not see it the way I did, but I stand by my decision.” One of the sticking points for Byrd’s opposition to continuing the contract was the need to purchase a new squad car for the officer. Crisco said cars are replaced every five years. The standard procedure is the county buys the car up front and is reimbursed by the municipality over the length of the contract. The new squad See DEPUTY, page A2
“I made my decision on what was the best, economical option for police protection for the town of Richfield. The other commissioners did not see it that way.” Barry Byrd, Richfield mayor pro tem
ing to ever come back here.” She said she hear stories about many married couples who had their first date at Harmanco’s. “I have people who come here every year on their anniversary because this is where they met,” Johnson said. “I love my customers. A lot of friendships have been made here. We are a family here; it breaks my heart.” Johnson said she will sell everything from the restaurant in the building, from the chairs, tables and kitchen appliances to the pictures and signs, including the original Harmanco’s sign.
inside Jesse Osborne fields a grounder during a Uwharrie Wampus Cats game earlier this season. See an update on the Wampus Cats’ season on page B1.