Shannon Beamon

By Shannon Beamon, for the SNAP As if to reflect the past year, West Stanly High School’s graduation started out with rain and ended with sunlight peeking through the clouds. Despite COVID complications overshadowing their senior year, the class of 2021 ended with 186 student graduates, garnered $5.6 million in scholarship money for college and sent more than a dozen students straight into the military or workforce.

Jeff Foreman wrangled something a little bigger than cattle recently. The low-boy driver from the N.C. Department of Transportation roped himself a first place trophy in Division 10’s Equipment “Roadeo” in Concord. The friendly competition pits heavy equipment drivers from the division’s five counties (Stanly, Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union) against each other in a contest of safety and skill.

The band room at West Stanly High School was packed. Every chair occupied, every corner filled with brassy sound. Perhaps on a normal day it wouldn’t have been so unusual. But this was the day after school let out. No one had to be there. “This” was jazz practice — the All-County Jazz Ensemble’s last one for the school year. A completely voluntary affair, directors had announced, but nearly every member was there just the same.