VOLUME 145 ISSUE 71 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
JESSE DEAL / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Remembering 343
The American flag flies at half-mast in front of the West Stanly Fire Department on Tuesday, two days before the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Three-hundred forty-three New York City fire fighters were killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Michigan judge tosses case against accused fake electors in 2020 A Michigan judge has dismissed the criminal cases against 15 people accused of acting falsely as electors for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. District Court Judge Kristen Simmons decided in a Tuesday hearing that the cases won’t go to trial. Charges were brought by the state’s Democratic attorney general over two years ago. The people charged include a few high profile members of the Republican Party in the battleground state. Each faced eight charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery. They had been accused of submitting certificates that falsely said Trump won the election in Michigan.
RFK Jr.’s latest “Make America Healthy Again” report calls for oversight of drug ads The Trump administration is urging public health agencies to prioritize investigations of vaccine injuries, prescription drug use, and the cause of autism. The call is part of a new report released Tuesday. Overseen by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the report aims to end childhood diseases in the U.S. by refocusing public health on his so-called “MAHA” movement’s priorities. The report suggests using personal medical records and health insurance data to investigate diseases and disorders, including autism. It also addresses issues like ultraprocessed food consumption and water quality. The report calls for increased oversight of prescription drug ads, especially those by social media influencers.
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Commissioners approve $280K budget amendment for sewer line The board also approved five resolutions
“There is a long-term fix coming.”
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $280,000 budget amendment to cover emergency repairs and a partial replacement of a degraded sewer line in Oakboro. At the commissioners’ meeting on Sept. 2, County Manager Andy Lucas told the board that in early August a section of the McCoy’s Creek force main blew out along Barbee’s Grove Church Road, spilling into a field. While an initial emergency repair was made, an additional section of the force main will need to be replaced as soon as possible with plastic pipe to avoid another leak at an adja-
Andy Lucas, county manager
COURTESY STANLYTV
Stanly commissioners approved funding for a degraded sewer line during the board’s Sept. 2 meeting. cent location in the old ductile iron pipe. “This budget amendment would allow us to go in and make a long-term repair to that section, cutting out sections on both sides of it and replacing it with plastic PVC, versus the ductile iron that’s currently there,” Lucas said. “This line is
part of the West Stanly Wastewater Treatment Plant project.” The county is partnering with Richfield-based utility contractor B.R.S. Inc. for the project, with work being part of broader efforts to strengthen the system. “There is a long-term fix coming,” Lucas said. “Unfortunate-
Stanly school board gives out recognitions to district staff One local employee won a national award By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Schools recently honored employees and staff with a series of district recognitions. During last week’s school board meeting in the Central Elementary School Auditorium, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Lydia Hedrick opened the ceremony by announcing the latest recipients of the district’s Stanly Stars awards. “Each month, Stanly County Schools proudly recogniz-
es exceptional, certified and classified employees as our Stanly Stars,” Hedrick said. Aquadale Elementary School’s teacher Meredith Lowder and data manager Sarah Lee joined South Stanly Middle School’s teacher Sarah Callicutt and data manager Heather Long as the four latest recipients in the award program. Hedrick introduced Lowder, a new member of Aquadale Elementary’s third grade team who previously taught fourth and fifth grade classes at the school. “While change is often met with apprehension, Mrs. See BOARD, page A5
“Each month, Stanly County Schools proudly recognizes exceptional, certified and classified employees as our Stanly Stars,” Lydia Hedrick, assistant superintendent of human resources
ly, this line is in such bad shape that we’re running into issues as we’re getting USDA authorization for the project and getting it under construction.” Later in the meeting, the board also approved five resolutions authorizing applications for North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality grants. One resolution seeks to replace an existing 16-inch McCoy’s Creek sewer outfall line; the other line is already scheduled to be replaced as part of the West Stanly Wastewater Treatment Plant project. See BUDGET, page A5