VOLUME 145 ISSUE 67 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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A summer swim This raccoon took an afternoon swim in Lake Tillery on Friday. Why did the raccoon swim across the cove, you ask? To get to the other side, of course.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Swift, Kelce announce engagement It’s a love story and, baby, she said yes: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. The superstar singer and football player revealed the news in a five-photo joint post Tuesday on Instagram. It’s the fairytale culmination of a courtship that for two years has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world. It’s unclear when and where the two got engaged. The announcement comes not long after Swift’s appearance on “New Heights,” the podcast hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce.
DOT threatens funding for 3 states for not enforcing trucker English proficiency Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says California, Washington and New Mexico could lose millions of dollars of federal funding if they continue failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers. An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn earlier this month found what Duffy called significant failures in the way all three states are enforcing rules that took effect in June after one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Truckers are supposed to be disqualified if they can’t demonstrate English proficiency, and Duffy said these states have hardly done that. The states didn’t immediately respond to the proposed sanctions that were announced Tuesday morning.
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Locust receives $500K grant for Shelton Park redevelopment It will be an accessibility-focused improvement project
“I think this is an incredible opportunity for Locust.”
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal LOCUST — Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park, located within the Locust City Park complex, is set for major upgrades thanks to a highly competitive state grant for redevelopment. The city announced last week that it received a $500,000 award from the North Carolina Accessible Parks Grant Funding Program to move forward with a major accessibility-focused improvement project for the park. Out of 29 statewide applications requesting more than $11 million, Locust’s project was one of nine selected and tied for the highest score calculated by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Parks
Cesar Correa, city manager
JESSE DEAL / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park in Locust is set to undergo a redevelopment project. Division, which had $3.76 million available to distribute. Work on the park may begin as soon as Sept. 1 and must be completed within three years. The redevelopment will fea-
ture a new universal playground with accessible play structures, upgraded restrooms that meet ADA standards, new ADA-compliant pathways, a bridge, improved parking, up-
Richfield commissioners debate charter changes with versus nominations for mayor Board members differed on the right path forward By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal THE TOPIC of not having a mayor, along with the possibility of changing the town’s charter, generated spirited discussion between the Richfield Town Commission and members of the community at Monday’s meeting. Richfield has been without a mayor since the recent resignation of Ian Focht, who was elected to the nonvoting office running unopposed in November 2022. Since then, Commissioner
Barry Byrd was elected mayor pro tem and has served in that capacity for several meetings. The topic of nominating a mayor came up when C.J. Crisco, a local citizen, asked to speak to the commission about the possibility of nominating him to the position. Crisco graduated from North Stanly High School and works at Charlotte Pipe in Oakboro. He has served in the community, umpiring and coaching youth sports, and previously was the public address announcer for Comets football. “I believe this is a pivotal moment for us to unite and See MAYOR, page A5
“I believe this is a pivotal moment for us to unite and continue moving Richfield toward progress and prosperity” C.J. Crisco
dated signage, and planning and contingency funds to ensure quality and flexibility. “I think this is an incredible opportunity for Locust,” City Manager Cesar Correa said, “A few years ago, our city council made a commitment to really focus on our ability to expand and elaborate on the amenities that we provide for Locust Parks and Recreation. This is their leadership and effort put into practice.” The Locust City Council has committed just over $300,000 to support the project due to a required 20% local match, bringing the total investment to See PARK, page A2