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? 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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 shares AI-generated image beside shackled alien DRC Ebola outbreak 'way bigger than what we see now', virologist says DRC Ebola outbreak 'way bigger than what we see now', virologist says Child survivor of San Diego mosque shooting describes ordeal Child survivor of San Diego mosque shooting describes ordeal Four crew members eject from middair collision at Idaho air show Four crew members eject from middair collision at Idaho air show
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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…