Featured Spotlight Friday Five: Cold and flu season, a columnist passes and new chamber members Mark Plemmons Dec 12, 2025 Dec 12, 2025 Updated Dec 12, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Can you believe it’s less than two weeks to Christmas? Ho! Ho! Ho! Let’s dive into this week’s Five.k9am}@] `k^9amkAmr@=5 2?5 7=F D62D@? :D 96C6] x H:D9 E96J 4@F=5 7:?5 2 8@@5 EC62E>6?E @C G244:?6 7@C E96 4@=5] x E@@< 2 3@EE=6 2?5 2 92=7 @7 }JBF:= =2DE H66< ECJ:?8 E@ 7:89E @77 E9:D >6DD] %92?<7F==J x 5@?’E 92G6 E96 7=F @C r~'xs Wx E@@< E96 D9@EDX]k^AmkAmw@DA:E2=D :? E96 %C:25 2?5 %C:2?8=6 92G6 368F? =:>:E:?8 G:D:E@CD] pEC:F> :D @?=J =:>:E:?8 G:D:E2E:@? :? 46CE2:? 2C62D]k^Am kAm{@42==J[ pEC:F> w62=E9 :D FC8:?8 6G6CJ@?6 E@ E2<6 DE6AD E@ AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E9@D6 2C@F?5 E96>] $:>A=6 24E:@?D =:<6 AC24E:4:?8 8@@5 9J8:6?6[ DE2J:?8 FA E@ 52E6 @? G244:?2E:@?D[ 2?5 DE2J:?8 9@>6 H96? D:4<[ 42? 96=A <66A :?5:G:5F2=D[ 72>:=:6D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D D276C E9:D D:4< D62D@?]k^Am People are also reading… Cabarrus gets first case of cyclosporiasis, officials urge precautions Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Concord breaks ground on David Phillips Park, new nature-focused destination Atrium’s WakeMed acquisition faces new hurdle after State Health Plan decision Rowan-Cabarrus launches one-year plumbing certificate program Cabarrus Elections Board approves 17-day early voting, four sites Free Charlotte speedway passes for NC leaders went undisclosed. That’s going to change AMC Concord Mills adds NC's first ScreenX auditorium Two veteran Kannapolis police leaders retire after nearly three decades of service Public hearing Tuesday on up to $400 million in Cabarrus education bonds Fayetteville is NC’s sixth-largest city. So where are the skyscrapers? North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is Fickenscher named GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway; Walter expands external affairs role 2026-27 Davis Theatre Season at the Cabarrus Arts Council unveiled Kannapolis Police officers for honored saving lives, outstanding service kAmw62=E9 6IA6CED DEC@?8=J C64@>>6?5 E96 36DE H2JD E@ 96=A <66A >@C6 A6@A=6 962=E9J 2?5 =:>:E E96 DAC625 @7 :==?6DDik^AmkAm$E2J 9@>6 H96? D:4<i !C@E64E @E96CD 3J DE2J:?8 9@>6 :7 J@F 92G6 DJ>AE@>D @7 C6DA:C2E@CJ :==?6DD[ DF49 2D 2 4@F89[ 76G6C @C 72E:8F6]k^Am kAmv6E G244:?2E65i '244:?6D C6>2:? E96 >@DE 67764E:G6 E@@= 7@C AC6G6?E:?8 D6G6C6 :==?6DD] |2<6 DFC6 J@F 2C6 FA E@ 52E6 @? 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DA6?E 564256D 2D 2 H66<=J ?6HDA2A6C 4@=F>?:DE 2?5 2D E96 9@DE @7 “}@CE9 r2C@=:?2 q@@<H2E49[” H9:49 9:89=:89E65 2FE9@CD 2?5 =:E6C2EFC6 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^AmkAms]v] |2CE:?’D =2DE 4@=F>? :D @? E96 =:76DEJ=6D 7C@?E :? E96 $2EFC52J AC:?E 65:E:@?] xE :?4=F56D E9C66 @7 9:D 72G@C:E6D — $E6A9 rFCCJ[ s2G:5D@? r@==686[ 2?5 9:D 72:E9]k^Am kAms]v] |2CE:? H2D gd] w6 H:== 36 >:DD65]k^Am Hot Tuna in Harrisburg is one of the newest members of the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce. Hot Tuna k9am}@] dk^9amkAm%96 ?6H6DE >6>36CD @7 E96 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46] w6C6 2C6 E96 ?6H6DE >6>36CD @7 %96 r92>36C {625:?8 qFD:?6DD :? r232CCFDik^AmkAmkDEC@?8mp=E>2?? U2>Aj !@CE6C x?DFC2?46 p86?4J[k^DEC@?8m h_g r@AA6C7:6=5 q=G5] }t[ r@?4@C5[ 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 286?4J]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mw@?6J4FEE vC25:?8k^DEC@?8m[ cd ~56== $49@@= #@25[ $F:E6 y[ r@?4@C5[ C2H =2?5 8C25:?8 2?5 4@?DECF4E:@? 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Sign Up Today Related to this story Friday Five: New businesses, a couple of fundraisers and the graduation schedule Mark Plemmons' Friday Five: A vacant building on Concord Parkway is getting a new business; a swimming school is coming to Afton Ridge; the W… Watch Now: Related Video Trump Says Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Will Be 'Maxed Out' With New Security Upgrades Democratic leaders respond to President Donald Trump's primetime address Democratic leaders respond to President Donald Trump's primetime address US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats
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Friday Five: New businesses, a couple of fundraisers and the graduation schedule Mark Plemmons' Friday Five: A vacant building on Concord Parkway is getting a new business; a swimming school is coming to Afton Ridge; the W…