VOLUME 146 ISSUE 25 | WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 21 – MARCH 22, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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Get your goat Goat Island and Lake Tillery, pictured looking north over the lake on the afternoon of March 14, are ready for warmer weather as boats start moving into the water now that spring has arrived.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Brother, sister charged after explosive device found outside Florida Air Force base A brother and sister have been charged after an explosive device was found outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa this month. Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng were charged Wednesday in separate federal indictments. FBI director Kash Patel says the sister is in custody, while the brother has fled to China. Alen Zheng is charged with attempting to damage government property, and unlawfully making and possessing an unregistered destructive device. The indictment specifically mentions the package found at MacDill.
Transgender women athletes banned from female Olympic events by new IOC policy Transgender women athletes are now excluded from the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy. It aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on women’s sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The International Olympic Committee says “eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females.” Eligibility will be determined by “a one-time SRY gene screening.” It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level.
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Stanly commissioners honor Sasser, Ford with road names Road changes are tied to the emergency training center expansion By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Commissioners has approved the closure and renaming of several roads tied to ongoing development at the North Carolina Emergency Training Center in New London. At their March 16 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved renaming two roadways in honor of local legislators who helped secure funding for the training center: former N.C. Rep. Wayne Sasser and current state Sen. Carl Ford.
Stanly County E-911 Director Kyle Griffin presented the recommendations, which centered on roadway changes associated with the facility’s Phase Two expansion. The board held public hearings on the proposed closures of three paper streets — Kirk Road, Todd Road and Diana Road — with no opposition reported. “During the internal review process for roadway and driveway naming and addressing associated with Phase Two of the North Carolina Emergency Training Center, staff identified three existing, recorded but unopened, unused public right-of-ways,” Griffin said. Commissioners approved See NAMES, page A5
COURTESY STANLYTV
Stanly County E-911 Director Kyle Griffin presents agenda items at the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on March 16.
Locust announces 2026 Summer Concert Series The music series will run from June to September By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal LOCUST — City officials recently announced the lineup for Locust’s free 2026 Summer Concert Series, a four-show event set to return to the backyard of Locust City Hall later this year. The annual concert series will be held on the last Saturday of each month from June through September, offering live music and family-friendly activities throughout the summer. “Get ready for the ultimate summer vibe!” the City
of Locust said in a statement. “Mark your calendars for the last Saturday of June, July, August and September, and join us in the backyard of Locust City Hall for our free Summer Concert Series. Bring your chairs, blankets and friends for a great night of music and community.” This year’s lineup begins June 27 with the Tams, followed by Gump Fiction on July 25, the Party Parrot Band on Aug. 29 and the Michael Christopher Band on Sept. 26. Each performance is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. In addition to live music, each event will feature craft and business vendors, along See CONCERTS, page A5
“Bring your chairs, blankets and friends for a great night of music and community.” City of Locust