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Editor’s Note: In honor of its 140th anniversary, The SNAP will offer a glimpse at events of 40 years ago and beyond.

Friday, Dec. 19, 1980

Commissioners

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners picked a new chairman. Hazel D. Efird of Stanfield was elected by a three to two vote. Paul Bowers received two votes in his bid to remain chairman, a position he held for the previous two years. Leon D. Parker was re-elected vice chairman.

Friday, Dec. 17, 1965

Lodge

W.L. Goforth, well-known Albemarle man and member of the State Highway Patrol, would serve as master of Albemarle Lodge No. 703 A.F. and A.M.  for the coming year. He would succeed Harry Jarman as master. Other officers were Earl Hagans, senior warden; Ralph McSwain, junior warden; Jerry Earnhardt, treasurer; and John Lampsi, secretary.

Honor

Sgt. Merrill D. Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jethro Thompson of Norwood, had been awarded the Secretary of the Navy Commendation Achievement for outstanding performance during the Dominican Republic crisis.

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1980

Hospital

It was expected it would be late January or early February before the new $11.5 million Stanly Memorial Hospital would be occupied.

Agriculture

Heat, drought and pest struck North Carolina and much of the United States in 1980 leaving only dust and death. Consumers suffered from soaring prices and farmers suffered from lack of commodities. Corn, soybeans and peanuts suffered the worst, with yields being down 16, 18 and 19 percent, respectively.

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1965

Church

Anderson Grove Baptist Church approved plans for a new two-story educational building costing $176,500.

Schools

Albemarle City Schools planned to expand its emphasis on the arts. Superintendent Claud Grigg said that an application was being made under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with a view to set up this increased program of the fine arts — music, dance, drama and visual art.

Postal Worker

Claude B. Morton would retire at the end of December after being in the operations of the local post office for 40 years and four months.

Trees

The Albemarle Optimist Club had sold more than 1,200 Christmas trees and had completed its sale for the year.

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1980

Hospital

Stanly County Hospital, Inc. was to become Stanly Memorial Hospital, Inc. in January.

In keeping with the original intent of the hospital’s founders in 1945, the new Stanly Memorial Hospital was to be dedicated to all Stanly County citizens who gave their lives in defense of their country and to uphold the ideals of liberty, justice and peaceful coexistence.

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1965

Christmas Lights

First place winner in the overall category of the Home Lighting Contest for 1965 was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spear, 375 Park Road. Second place went to Mrs. James Norton, 701 E. Oakboro Ave., and third place was Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fuller, 615 Coble Ave.

First place in the tree category went to Tommy Hearne on West South Street. Harry Whitley, 524 N. Fifth St., won first place in the window category.

Armory

Work had begun on a new wing for the Air National Guard Armory between Albemarle and Badin. Dewey D. Treece of Albemarle was general contractor on the addition which would increase by 3,800 square feet the area of the facility.

The addition would house a modern kitchen facility of cafeteria style and an assembly area large enough to accommodate the membership of the squadron. This would also serve as a dining hall and could be divided into six classrooms by the use of folding partitions.

Game

The West Stanly High School men teachers were working out diligently for their Saturday, Jan. 1, basketball encounter against the All American Red Heads, a barnstorming group of talented hardwood women. Team members were Junior Morgan, Kenny Brown, Joe Smith, Boyce Caudle, Jerry Crayton, Tom Rogers, Bob Blalock, Bob Garmon and Gene Whitesides.