UPDATE: 1/27/26

City Hall will be operating under normal hours on Wednesday, January 28th (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).

During the recent storm, our priority was the safety of both residents and city staff. We appreciate the community’s patience as conditions improved and travel became safer.

We are grateful to the Locust Police Department and Department of Public Works for their preparedness and responsiveness throughout the storm.

UPDATE: 1/26/26

Trash Day Update

Waste Pro is on a one-day delay, so Locust residents should plan for Saturday, January 31st pickup.

Thanks for your flexibility—stay warm!

 

---

UPDATE: 1/24/26 at 8:30 PM

Stanly County Alert: Emergency Shelter Opening

EMERGENCY SHELTER OPENING

In response to Winter Storm Fern, Stanly County, in coordination with the American Red Cross, will open an emergency shelter to provide a warm and safe place for residents in need.

Stanly County Senior Center

283 N Third Street, Albemarle, NC 28001

Opens: Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 a.m.

The shelter will offer sleeping cots, basic meals, and essential services. Those with special dietary needs should bring their own food. Residents are encouraged to bring medications, personal items, chargers, blankets, and enough supplies to last multiple days.

Zero-tolerance policy for drugs, weapons, and alcohol.

All shelter guests must sign in and out.

Medical Notice: The shelter cannot support individuals requiring ventilators, IVs, or continuous medical monitoring.

Please share this information with anyone who may need assistance during the storm. Additional updates will be posted as conditions change.

STATE OF EMERGENCY – WINTER STORM FERN

 

Stanly County has declared a local State of Emergency ahead of Winter Storm Fern. The State of Emergency went into effect Saturday, January 24th at 8:00 AM.

Public Safety and Emergency Services personnel from across the county are actively monitoring the storm and working to ensure the safety of all citizens.

 

Residents should plan for hazardous conditions, including:

Icy and unsafe roadways

Freezing temperatures

Downed trees

Possible extended power outages

 

Citizens are urged to prepare now:

Build an emergency supply kit

Sign up for Stanly Alerts

Plan for potential power outages

 

Stay home and off the roads during the storm whenever possible. This helps keep you safe and allows emergency responders and utility crews to work quickly and safely.

 

Call 911 only for emergencies.

 

Updates will be shared throughout the storm via social media and the county website:

County Website: https://www.stanlycountync.gov

ReadyNC: https://www.readync.gov

Stanly Alerts: https://www.stanlycountync.gov/412/Stanly-Alerts

Road Conditions: https://drivenc.gov

Please stay safe and continue to monitor official updates.

As we say goodbye to another wonderful year, we want to thank our residents and local businesses for your continued support, involvement, and pride in our community. You are what makes Locust such a special place to live, work, and play.

We’re grateful for all we accomplished together in 2025 and are excited to continue building an even brighter future with you in 2026. Wishing you a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year! 🎆

In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, trash collection will be delayed by one day during the weeks of December 25 and January 1.

Christmas Week

• Friday, December 26 pick up delayed to Saturday, December 27

New Year’s Week

• Friday, January 2 pick up delayed to Saturday, January 3

Please place carts at the curb by your regular collection time on your adjusted service day. Thank you for your patience, and we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

📢 Bulk Waste Pickup Alert – Saturday, January 17th 🛋️🗑️

The next Bulk Waste Pickup is scheduled for Saturday, January 17th! To ensure your items are collected, please follow these steps:

✅ Register with Waste Pro by calling 704-821-7578

📅 Deadline to register: Wednesday, January 14th by 12:00 PM

⏰ All bulk items must be placed curbside by 7:00 AM on pickup day

Don’t miss out — if you’re not registered, your items won’t be picked up!

Please share this post with your neighbors!

2025–2026 Season

Waste Pro will offer curbside leaf pick-up on the following dates:
November 8, December 13, and January 10.

Leaves may be placed in paper bags or enclosed in a tarp (“leaf burrito”) and set at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection days.

Please review the flyer below for full program details, including preparation guidelines and contact information.

For questions, contact Waste Pro at 704-821-7578 or visit www.locustnc.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025

City of Locust Awarded $500,000 Grant for Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park Redevelopment

LOCUST, NC – The City of Locust is proud to announce it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Accessible Parks Grant Funding Program to support the redevelopment of Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park. This highly competitive grant will allow the City to move forward with a major accessibility-focused improvement project, ensuring a more inclusive and welcoming space for individuals and families of all abilities.

The grant requires a 20% local match, and the Locust City Council has committed just over $300,000 to support the project, bringing the total investment to over $800,000.

Project Scope & Goals

The redevelopment project will include:

• Universal Playground – New, accessible play structures for children of all abilities
• Restroom Improvements – Upgraded facilities to meet ADA standards
• Accessible Routes – ADA-compliant pathways, a new bridge, improved parking, and updated signage
• Planning Costs & Contingency Funds – To ensure project quality and flexibility

These improvements aim to replace the current playground with universally accessible features, ensuring that all children can engage in active play, regardless of ability. Upgraded accessible routes will connect parking areas to the playground and restrooms, creating a seamless experience for all visitors. Enhanced restroom facilities will further support extended visits and comfort for all park users.

Importantly, the Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial will not be changed. The City is committed to preserving the memorial’s significance and the aesthetic value it brings to the park, honoring Officer Shelton’s legacy while making the park more accessible to all.

Project Timeline

The project may begin no earlier than September 1, 2025, and must be completed within three years. The City is eager complete the project well before the deadline, though an exact timeline will be determined as the planning phase progresses.

As part of this next phase, the City will continue working closely with local advocates for individuals with disabilities, building on the relationships and conversations that were started during the grant application process.

A Collaborative Effort

This grant marks the culmination of nearly a year of community engagement and strategic planning. The process began in late summer 2024 and included:

• Two open public forums
• Meetings with disability advocates and special interest groups
• Presentations to local organizations
• Thorough review and support from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
• Final approval from Locust City Council in March 2025

Out of 29 applications requesting over $11 million, Locust’s proposal was one of only nine projects selected and was tied for first place in the final scoring by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Parks Division, which had $3.76 million available to distribute.

Stay Informed

Updates on the planning process and construction timeline will be shared on the City’s website and social media channels. Community input will continue to be welcomed as the project moves forward.

Media Contact:
Emily Jones
Director, Locust Parks & Recreation
ejones@locustnc.gov
704-888-5260

Cesar Correa
City Manager
ccorrea@locustnc.gov
704-888-5260

City of Locust
www.locustnc.com
Facebook: @CityOfLocust

Join us for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the new West Stanly Senior Center!

🗓️ Date: Thursday, July 10th at 10:00 a.m.

📍 Location: On the site of the future center, to the right of the Locust Library at 186 Ray Kennedy Drive, Locust, NC

We look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you!

This calendar is updated with changes, as we are notified by Waste Pro. Typically, if a state recognized holiday is during the week, we expect a one-day delay.

Keep recycled items loose when placing them in your recycle cart or bin. Plastic bags are tanglers that get stuck in sorting machines and are dangerous to recycling workers.

For more information, visit: Waste Pro Facebook Page