VOLUME 145 ISSUE 93 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Fogging leaves There’s wasn’t much to see on this recent foggy morning, looking south over Lake Tillery with Stanly County off to the right.
MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
WHAT’S HAPPENING Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding prosecutor was illegally appointed A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging, was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. The rulings halt a pair of prosecutions that had targeted two of the president’s most high-profile political opponents.
DOJ renews bid to unseal Epstein grand jury materials The Justice Department has renewed its request to unseal Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking grand jury materials after Congress approved the release of investigative materials related to the prosecution of the late financier. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton signed a submission in federal court on Monday asking that the materials be released now that President Donald Trump signed the action requiring release of documents related to Epstein within 30 days. The DOJ said the congressional action was written to indicate an intent to override any contrary provisions of existing law.
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12 miles of Stanly County roads to be repaved by spring 2027 Portions of U.S. 52, N.C. 740 and six secondary routes will be improved
A work crew from J.T. Russell and Sons Inc. resurfaces a road during a previous contracted project with the NCDOT.
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
COURTESY J.T. RUSSELL AND SONS INC.
ALBEMARLE — The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently announced that it has awarded a $3.3 million resurfacing contract that will smooth over 12 miles of roads in Stanly County with new pavement by a Stanly County contractor. This funding will lead to improvements of portions of
Albemarle City Council votes to permanently close Jefferies Street “No operational concerns or objections were raised.” Lindsey Almond, Albemarle Economic Development director
The unanimous decision arrived after a quiet public hearing By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle City Council voted to permanently close Jefferies Street, which is near the intersection of U.S. 52 and N.C. 24/27 in Albemarle, at its Nov. 17 meeting. A public hearing, at the request of adjacent property owner, AOC 202, LLC.,
was held to consider a right of way abandonment of the 16,400-square-foot section in the city. “The owner wants to abandon the street here and, in the future, create a new street with access off 24/27 into the site, which will be a betterment,” said Calvin Holbrook, who spoke during the public hearing on behalf of AOC 202. Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall reiterated that while Holbrook is the current chair of the Albemarle Planning See COUNCIL, page A5
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U.S. 52, N.C. 740 and six secondary routes. The contractor, J.T. Russell and Sons Inc. of Albemarle, could start work as early as mid-December and be completed by spring 2027. The contract covers resurfacing on a selection of Stanly County roadways, including U.S. 52 from north of Finch Road to Lavasque Street; N.C. 740 from the Northeast Connector to Catalina Drive and back to the N.C. 740 bypass; as well as Big Lick Road, Elm Street, the Northeast Connector, Stony Gap See ROADS, page A5
inside The high school football season came to an end in Stanly County as both North and South Stanly were eliminated in the third round of the state playoffs. See more in Sports.
COURTESY CALEB STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY