VOLUME 146 ISSUE 57 | WEEKEND EDITION, JULY 18-19, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Lake daze There were perfect, sunny skies over Lake Tillery last Thursday. Above, looking east, the Uwharrie River flows into the lake on the left, and the sandbar is bottom left. Ahead is Montgomery County, with Stanly County below the camera.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Trump administration revives rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits The Trump administration is reviving a rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits that could include food stamps, Medicaid, housing vouchers and others. The policy, known as “public charge,” appeared on Thursday in the Federal Register and will be formally published on July 20. The policy was first implemented in February 2020 as one of President Donald Trump’s moves to limit legal immigration during his first administration, but it was reversed after Democratic President Biden came to power.
US designates 2 new Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations Mexico City The U.S. government has designated two new Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The Juárez Cartel, on the Texas border, and Los Viagras, from Michoacán, join six other Mexican criminal groups with this label. The Federal Register published the designations Thursday. President Donald Trump began labeling Latin American cartels as terrorist groups in February 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said these groups pose serious threats to U.S. security. The move increases pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration. The Juárez Cartel controls a key border crossing, while Los Viagras operates in Michoacán, producing synthetic drugs.
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Historical Society program explores Stanly County’s presidential connections Lewis P. Bramlett will share local links to the White House By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly County’s history includes unexpected connections to the White House, from a local florist who decorated the residence to a failed bank robber who reportedly plotted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman. Local historian Lewis P. Bramlett will share those stories during “Presidential Connections to Stanly County,” a special Stanly County 250 program presented by the Stanly County Historical Society. The free event is scheduled for July 26 at 4 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Central United Methodist Church at
172 N. Second St. in Albemarle. Carmella Hedrick and members of the Stanly County Concert Band are set to provide patriotic music for the program. Bramlett’s presentation will combine oral histories, photographs and historical accounts detailing Stanly County residents’ connections to U.S. presidents and other international leaders; attendees will learn which four future presidents visited Stanly County before reaching the White House. The idea for the program emerged from Bramlett’s research into Leroy Shadrick, a Korean War veteran whose brother was reported at the time to have been the first U.S. soldier killed in the conflict. According to Bramlett’s inquiry, Shadrick blamed Truman for his brother’s death and plotted to assassinate the pres-
“I go down so many different rabbit holes as I research different things about Stanly County history.” Lewis P. Bramlett, historian for Stanly County Historical Society ident. Needing money to support himself until he could carry out the plan, Shadrick decided to rob a bank. While staying at a Winston-Salem motel, Shadrick placed a map on the floor, tossed a coin into the air and allowed it to determine his destination. The coin landed on Albemarle, leading him to attempt an unsuccessful bank robbery in the city. “There are a lot of weird and
Camp Create returns to Albemarle for fifth year The free youth arts camp will be held Aug. 4-7 By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Registration remains open for Camp Create, a free youth arts program coming back to Albemarle on Aug. 4-7 for its fifth year. Families can register online at campcreate.works to attend the four-day camp held at Niven Community Center at 1816‑A E. Main St. According to Camp Create founder and executive director Kate White, 10 to 15 spaces are still open. Camp Create introduces children to visual art, music,
theater, pottery, culinary arts and other forms of creative expression, with programming intended to help participants explore their interests in a supportive environment. “So many people have been connected to this program — hundreds and hundreds. It’s too many to count at this point,” White said. “Partnerships with organizations such as USO North Carolina, 4-H clubs and Albemarle Parks and Recreation have allowed it to really grow. Now, its fifth anniversary is just a few weeks away.” White, a Stanly County native and North Stanly High School graduate, started the program in the spring of 2022 See CAMP, page A8
“It’s really grown into something bigger than I could imagine.” Kate White, Camp Create executive director and founder
unique connections like that, as I found with Leroy Shadrick’s story,” Bramlett said. “It just kind of snowballed on me as I kept running into more. I go down so many different rabbit holes as I research different things about Stanly County history.” His research uncovered ties involving Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Truman, among other presidents. The program will feature local residents who wrote a book about George Washington, attended Grant’s second inauguration and encountered Hoover during a trip to Peru. Another local met President Calvin Coolidge through her participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. See PROGRAM, page A5