📰 Today’s Local News from WSPC 107.3 FM & 1010 AM
Also heard on Magic 103.3 FM
Friday, September 26, 2025
🕙 Your mid-morning briefing from Dave Andrews in the WSPC newsroom
Brought to you by Friendly Chevrolet and Uwharrie Bank
🏫 School Board & Commissioners Divide on Grant
- After Monday night’s joint meeting, the Stanly County Board of Education adjourned, but county commissioners recessed and later reconvened.
- Commissioners voted 6–1 to apply for the state’s $52 million needs-based grant—but only for the new middle school project, not the Oakboro School. Chairman Mike Barbee voted no.
- The middle school plan would:
- Increase student capacity from 700 to 950
- Add a 56,500-square-foot expansion
- Cost $30.52 million total (construction + soft costs)
- Require a 5% county match of $2.6 million
- The remaining $22 million could fund multiple smaller additions to ease capacity issues.
🚔 Arrest on Multiple Charges
- Bradley Olson, 40, was arrested Sunday, Sept. 21, on a long list of charges including:
- Possession of a stolen firearm
- Larceny of a firearm
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Assault by pointing a gun
- False imprisonment
- Communicating threats
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Resisting a public officer
- Two misdemeanor domestic violence charges
- Injury to personal property
- He is being held at the Stanly County Detention Center under a $70,000 bond.
🦇 First Rabies Case of 2025 in Stanly County
- The Stanly County Health Department has confirmed the first rabies case of the year: a bat in the Oakboro area tested positive.
- Rabies spreads through bites or saliva contact with eyes, mouth, or open wounds.
- Health officials warn:
- Do not handle wildlife.
- Report abnormal animal behavior to Stanly County Animal Protective Services at 704-986-3881.
- For possible exposures, call the Health Department at 704-982-9171.
- Signs of rabid animals: aggression, excessive drooling, staggering.
- More prevention info: cdc.gov/rabies/prevention.
🚒 FEMA Grant for West Stanly Fire
- The West Stanly Fire Department has received a $261,009 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant.
- The funds will replace all of their self-contained breathing apparatus, which are 20–30 years old and beyond service life.
🚨 Albemarle Fire Department August Report
- In August, Albemarle Fire handled:
- 115 fire calls
- 193 EMS calls
- Average deployment: 1 minute, 13 seconds
- Average arrival time: 4 minutes, 21 seconds
- Year-to-date: 2,168 total calls.
🤝 Homes of Hope: 20th Anniversary Banquet
- Homes of Hope will celebrate 20 years of service with its Annual Campaign Banquet:
- 📅 Thursday, Nov. 6
- 🕕 6–8 PM
- 📍 Anderson Grove Baptist Church
- Executive Director Tiera McDonald: “Reaching 20 years is a meaningful achievement. This banquet is both a celebration of what has been accomplished and a call to continue building hope for the future.”
- Tickets are free via Eventbrite (search Homes of Hope Albemarle). Sponsorship opportunities available by contacting the organization.
📩 Have a news tip? Email us at news@1010wspc.com
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