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At its March 13 meeting, Locust City Council and Locust Police Chief Jeff Shew recognized the police department’s 2024 “Citizen of the Year,” Mitchell Cagle.
Cagle, who until recently served as general manager of the Locust Walmart, was described by Shew as very supportive of all police department activities and efforts.
“No matter what kind of program we had going on, Mitchell made sure that we had the support of the Locust Walmart,” he said, adding that Cagle provided the bulk of school supplies to the department’s annual drive, donated generously to LPD’s recent efforts to provide aid to flood victims in western North Carolina and provided snacks and supplies for the Junior Detective Summer Camp operated by LPD.
Mayor Steve Huber, a longtime law enforcement officer with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, observed that Cagle’s consistent support of and cooperation with LPD was much different than what he had experienced.
“I worked in a number of different districts during my years with CMPD, and almost all of them had a Walmart within the district,” he said. “Although we were often working with them in loss prevention, we never saw that reciprocated. We are thankful to Mitchell for providing such cooperation here in Locust.”
At the meeting, Locust council members also voted unanimously to grant a conditional rezoning to Greater Life Church for construction of a new facility on Locust Avenue.
“The church has outgrown its current facility,” noted Jody Jackson, the architect for Greater Life. “It currently has two services on Sunday mornings, with a total attendance of around 500.”
In other business, the council:
• Received a report on the 2025 revaluation from County Tax Assessor Clinton Swaringen;
• Approved a resolution to adopt the Cabarrus – Stanly – Union Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Recognized Police Officer Tim Flieger Jr. as Officer of the Month for February;
• Appointed Jarvis Williams as an alternate to the Locust Planning and Zoning Board;
• Scheduled a public hearing for conditional rezoning for Caliber Corner for April 10; and
• Heard from citizen Mark Barringer, who expressed concerns with vehicle speeds in his neighborhood (Tanglewood Drive).
The next regular meeting of the Locust City Council will take place on April 10 at 7 p.m. at Locust City Hall.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.