VOLUME 145 ISSUE 57 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Boating holiday N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission officers were training on Lake Tillery this week, with nearly a dozen boats spotted on the water Monday. Four NCWRC boats, along with a pontoon boat, cruised the lake on the hot summer day.
MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
WHAT’S HAPPENING Trump administration withdraws from UNESCO again United Nations The Trump administration has announced that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. The move Tuesday was expect and has the U.S. further retreating from international organizations. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency promoting anti-Israel speech. The UNESCO chief said she “deeply” regrets the U.S. decision but the agency “has prepared for it.” She denied accusations of anti-Israel bias.
Pentagon tightens rules on medical waivers to join the military Washington, D.C. The Pentagon says people with congestive heart failure, undergoing treatment for schizophrenia or who have a history of paraphilic disorders will no longer be eligible for a medical waiver to serve in the military. The guidance signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and issued Tuesday updates a list of conditions that disqualify potential recruits from service. Waivers have long been granted for a long list of medical conditions including asthma or past sports injuries. Hegseth says the change will help ensure the physical and mental capabilities of service members.
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Albemarle city council reviews new study for business center ElectriCities of N.C. sponsored the report By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — At the Albemarle City Council meeting on Monday night, councilmembers were presented with the Speculative Building Feasibility Study conducted for the Albemarle Business Center. Sponsored by ElectriCities of N.C., in partnership with the Albemarle’s Economic Development Department, the study was designed to determine if a spec building program would be successful for the ABC — a 282-acre industrial park located adjacent to N.C. 24/27 and U.S. 52 — and to present recommendations to the council. Crystal Morphis, founder and CEO of Creative Eco-
COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE
Crystal Morphis, founder and CEO of Creative Economic Development Consulting, addresses the council with the study’s results. nomic Development Consulting, addressed the council with the study’s results in favor of the project, revealing that a proposed 100,000 to
200,000 square-foot concrete spec building would add up to a $8.5 million cost. Site preparation work and other contingencies would cost
Community to weigh in on Stanly County Schools at Thursday forum The event will be held at the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Questions, concerns and ideas regarding the future of the local public school district will be expressed by community members Thursday night at the Better Stanly County Schools Forum. Organized by the recently developed “Reclaiming Greatness in Stanly County Schools” Facebook group, the forum will take place from 7-9 p.m. at the Farm Bureau
Livestock Arena in Albemarle. Anyone with any connection or affiliation to the SCS system is invited to attend the forum, where public discussions and presentations will take place on school consolidation, “mega schools” and the direction that the Stanly County Board of Education is going with its funding plans. “Right now, decisions are being made that will shape the future of our schools and our kids for decades to come,” event co-organizer Andrew Mullis said in a post. “This isn’t just about buildings or budgets. It’s about whether we create schools that build See FORUM, page A5
“Right now, decisions are being made that will shape the future of our schools and our kids for decades to come.” Andrew Mullis, event co-organizer
around $2.5 million, while the building cost is estimated at $6 million. See CENTER, page A4