From the Publisher...
PUBLISHER
WEST
Roger Watson
STANLY
THE MAGAZINE
Happy New Year!
The New Year brings lots of conversation about the future and what to expect in this
new decade.
For West Stanly, the future looks bright.
Locust will likely continue to see high levels of residential growth as Charlotte’s outer
band finally begins to push toward the eastern side of the city.
Perhaps Oakboro will get some good news in 2020 about that large industrial prospect
that was expected to be announced last summer and then in September and now it is
really unclear what the prospects for an announcement are. Nevertheless, when the
announcement does finally occur, it will be a game-changer for the town.
In this issue of the West Stanly magazine, we look at “The Shop,” a charming location
that hearkens back to the day when gas stations were community gathering places.
These days we just swipe our card, pump our gas and generally talk to no one while
filling our tanks.
Chris Miller profiles Larry Wilkins, a pastor of a non-denominational church in
Albemarle who changed the course of his life and now works to help the downtrodden
and addicted at the Sober House in Locust.
We also take a look back at some of our best Christmas photos from Locust and
Oakboro.
Whatever the New Year brings, may your family be blessed with clear skies and smooth
roads as we all move into 2020.
Sincerely,
Roger Watson
Publisher
The Stanly News & Press
2
WEST STANLY – THE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2020
EDITOR
BJ Drye
WRITERS
Chris Miller
Lisa Geraci
ADVERTISING STAFF
Ally Ward
Keir James-Little
Sherry Nance
DISTRIBUTION
Deborah Holt
West Stanly - The Magazine
is a quarterly publication of
The Stanly News & Press
237 W. North Street
Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: (704) 982-2121
Editorial contributions should be sent to:
Stanly News & Press
PO Box 488
Albemarle, NC 28002
or emailed to [email protected]
Address advertising inquiries to
Ally Ward – 704-982-2121
[email protected]
West Stanly - The Magazine
may be found online at
www.thesnaponline.com