VOLUME 146 ISSUE 10 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
EMELIA IRELAND FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Winter wonderland The streets of Badin were deserted Saturday night as snow blanketed the area.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Signs of forced entry found at Arizona home of “Today” show host Guthrie’s mother Tucson, Ariz. Investigators have found signs of forced entry at the Arizona home of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother. That’s according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press. Meanwhile, the host asked for prayers to help bring back the 84-year-old, whom authorities believe was taken against her will. The sheriff said Nancy Guthrie must be found soon because she could die without her medication. Investigators also found evidence showing there was a nighttime kidnapping. Several of Guthrie’s personal items, including her cellphone, wallet and her car, were still at the home.
NASA delays astronauts’ lunar trip after hydrogen leaks mar fueling test Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA’s long-awaited moonshot with astronauts is off until at least March because of leaking hydrogen fuel. The space agency announced the news Tuesday following a critical fueling test of its giant moon rocket in Florida.
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Albemarle selects artist for Courthouse Plaza mural project Bobby MaGee Lopez will create the artwork By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Bobby MaGee Lopez of Denver, Colorado, has been selected to create the artwork for Albemarle’s Courthouse Plaza mural project, city officials recently announced. Scheduled for completion by June 30, the mural will be
Courthouse Plaza’s upcoming art mural in downtown Albemarle will be completed by the end of June.
installed on the east side of the building at 119 W. Main St. adjacent to the entrance to Courthouse Plaza. In September, Albemarle introduced a new grant-funded public art initiative seeking professional artists to design a large brick wall mural for Courthouse Plaza. Artists were invited to submit proposals through the city’s website during an application window See MURAL, page A5
COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE
Stanly Chamber extends inside nomination deadline for annual awards
Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating groundhog, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter during the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
Entires can now be submitted until Feb. 11 at noon By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Anyone wishing to participate in the nomination process for the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Annual Meeting and Awards still has time to do so. On Jan. 28, the chamber announced it had pushed back the nomination deadline from Jan. 29 to noon on Feb. 11.
Award nomination forms, along with $50 event tickets, are available at stanlychamber.org. The forms can be downloaded, completed and returned by email to info@stanlychamber.org. “Recognizing excellence takes time, so we’ve extended our award nomination deadline to Wednesday, Feb. 11,” the organization said in a statement. “Help us celebrate the people who make our community thrive. The evening includes a delicious dinner, the transition of the Chamber’s
“Help us celebrate the people who make our community thrive.” Stanly County Chamber of Commerce
See AWARDS, page A4
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