Featured Spotlight Friday Five: Tour de Saints, back-to-school, a Kannapolis Micro-Con and a couple of renovations Mark Plemmons Jul 25, 2025 Jul 25, 2025 Updated Jul 25, 2025 0 This will be the 13th Tour de Saints, which is hosted by All Saints Episcopal Church. Tour de Saints Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mark Plemmons Hope you all are staying cool. It’s hard in this heat. Even in the heat, it’s a busy time here in Cabarrus County. Here are some of things going on.k9am}@] `k^9amkAm%96 2??F2= %@FC 56 $2:?ED :D D6E] (6’C6 =6DD E92? 2 >@?E9 2H2J 7C@> E96 2??F2= %@FC 56 $2:?ED 492C:EJ 4J4=:?8 6G6?E] %9:D J62C :E H:== 36 @? $2EFC52J[ pF8] ab]k^Am Past Tour de Saints have raised $130,000 for local charities and collected over 12.5 tons of food to feed the hungry. Tour de Saints kAmp== $2:?ED’ tA:D4@A2= r9FC49 :? r@?4@C5 H:== 9@DE %@FC 56 $2:?ED] %96 6G6?E[ H9:49 EJA:42==J 5C2HD 2C@F?5 a__ @C >@C6 4J4=:DED 7C@> 24C@DD E96 =@42= 2C62[ @776CD 7F==J DFAA@CE65 d_z[ d_\>:=6 2?5 `__z C@FE6D E92E H:?5 E96:C H2J E9C@F89 E96 362FE:7F= 4@F?ECJD:56 @7 t2DE6C? r232CCFD 2?5 #@H2? 4@F?E:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Cabarrus gets first case of cyclosporiasis, officials urge precautions Concord breaks ground on David Phillips Park, new nature-focused destination Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Atrium’s WakeMed acquisition faces new hurdle after State Health Plan decision 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 Rowan-Cabarrus launches one-year plumbing certificate program North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is Two veteran Kannapolis police leaders retire after nearly three decades of service Fayetteville is NC’s sixth-largest city. So where are the skyscrapers? 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 NC A&T aims to be first HBCU to achieve top research status. Lawmakers chip in $10M kAm%@FC 56 $2:?ED :D <?@H? 7@C :ED 8C62E C6DE\DE@A D?24<D[ 56=:4:@FD A@DE\C:56 =F?49[ 2?5 A@DE\C:56 366C 82C56? DA@?D@C65 3J r232CCFD qC6H:?8] p== C6DE DE@AD 2=@?8 E96 C@FE6 @776C v2E@C256[ H2E6C[ D?24<D W7CF:E[ 32<65 8@@5D[ A:4<=6 ;F:46[ 6E4]X[ 2?5 6:E96C C6DEC@@>D @C A@CE23=6 E@:=6ED] %96 =6>@? 32CD 2C6 G6CJ A@AF=2C]k^Am This year's Tour de Saints will roll through Eastern Cabarrus County and Southern Rowan County on Saturday, Aug. 23. Tour de Saints kAm|J 52F89E6C[ y@C52?[ 2?5 x 92G6 C:556? :? E96 %@FC 2 76H E:>6D] xE H2D 2 =@E @7 7F? 2?5 H6==\CF?]k^AmkAmxE :D ECF=J 2 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?E[ ?@E ;FDE 2? p== $2:?ED’ 6G6?E] $276=J AF==:?8 @77 2 e_\>:=6 4J4=:?8 6G6?E H:E9 H6==\DFAA@CE65 C6DE DE@AD C6BF:C6D E96 2DD:DE2?46 @7 7@FC @E96C 49FC496D[ EH@ AC:G2E6 =2?5@H?6CD[ 2 q@J $4@FE EC@@A[ E96 r@?4@C5 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E[ E96 r232CCFD r@F?EJ $96C:77’D s6A2CE>6?E[ r232CCFD\$E2?=J w2> C25:@ @A6C2E@CD[ ?F>6C@FD G@=F?E66CD 2?5 7:?2?4:2= DA@?D@CD9:AD 7C@> =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am kAm%9:D >2C<D E96 `bE9 2??F2= 6G6?E[ 2?5 E@ 52E6[ %@FC 56 $2:?ED 92D C2:D65 @G6C S`b_[___ 7@C =@42= 492C:E:6D 2?5 4@==64E65 @G6C `a]d E@?D @7 7@@5 E@ 7665 E96 9F?8CJ :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] ~C82?:K6CD D2J `__T @7 E96 AC@4665D 7C@> %@FC 56 $2:?ED a_ad H:== 36 5@?2E65 E@ E96 7@==@H:?8 =@42= @C82?:K2E:@?Di t2C=J r9:=59@@5 u@F?52E:@? @7 r232CCFD r@F?EJ[ r232CCFD |62=D @? (966=D[ r'p}[ r@>>F?:EJ uC66 r=:?:4[ w23:E2E 7@C wF>2?:EJ[ r@@A6C2E:G6 r9C:DE:2? |:?:DECJ[ 2?5 E96 $2=G2E:@? pC>J’D %F4<6C r6?E6C @7 w@A6]k^AmkAmpE :ED 962CE[ %@FC 56 $2:?ED :D 23@FE 4@>>F?:EJ] xE’D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 92G6 7F? 2?5 4@??64E H:E9 @E96C 4J4=:DED H9:=6 2=D@ DFAA@CE:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D :? @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D H9@ 2C6 :? 4C:D:D] |2?J C:56CD C6EFC? J62C 27E6C J62C E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 362FE:7F= 2?5 H6==\DFAA@CE65 C@FE6[ 2D H6== 2D E96 42>2C256C:6 @7 E96 6G6?E]k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? C682C5:?8 E96 C68:DEC2E:@? 2?5 6G6?E DA@?D@CD9:A[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]E@FC56D2:?ED]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEAi^^HHH]E@FC56D2:?ED]4@>k^2m] %96 6G6?E 5:C64E@CD 42? 36 4@?E24E65 H:E9 BF6DE:@?D 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iE@FC56D2:?EDo2==D2:?ED4@?4@C5]@C8QmE@FC56D2:?EDo2==D2:?ED4@?4@C5]@C8k^2m]k^Amk9am}@] ak^9amkAmq24<\E@\D49@@= 2E E96 |2==] r2C@=:?2 |2== :D 9@DE:?8 :ED |@G:?’ U2>Aj vC@@G:?’ q24<\E@\$49@@= tG6?E @? $2EFC52J[ yF=J ae]k^Am kAmxE H:== 36 2 9:89\6?6C8J 52J 7:==65 H:E9 7F?[ 4@>>F?:EJ 6?8286>6?E 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 J@F ?665 E@ ;F>ADE2CE E96 D49@@= J62C] (:E9 24E:G:E:6D 7@C 2== 286D[ 6I4=FD:G6 C6E2:=6C AC@>@E:@?D[ 2?5 =@42= @C82?:K2E:@?D ;@:?:?8 :?[ E9:D 6G6?E :D E96 A6C764E H2J E@ HC2A FA DF>>6C @? 2 9:89 ?@E6]k^Am Carolina Mall is hosting a back-to-school event Saturday, July 26, from noon to 3 p.m. Mark Plemmons, Independent Tribune kAmp5>:DD:@? :D 7C66[ 2?5 8F6DED 42? 2=D@ 6?E6C E@ H:? 2 8:7E 32D<6E A24<65 H:E9 >FDE\92G6 :E6>D E@ <66A DEF56?ED |@G:?’ 2?5 vC@@G:?’ :?E@ E96 ?6H D49@@= J62C]k^AmkAm“p7E6C E96 DF446DD @7 =2DE J62C’D 6G6?E[ H6’C6 6I4:E65 E@ 3C:?8 |@G:?’ U2>Aj vC@@G:?’ 324< E@ r2C@=:?2 |2==[” D2:5 #@D2??2 uC:D49[ D6?:@C >2C<6E:?8 >2?286C] “xE’D 2 8C62E H2J E@ 3C:?8 E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@86E96C 2?5 4C62E6 6I4:E6>6?E 7@C A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6? @7 2== 286D]”k^Am kAm%96 6G6?E H:== E2<6 A=246 $2EFC52J 7C@> ?@@? E@ b A]>] 2E r2C@=:?2 |2==]k^AmkAmxE D66>D =:<6 D49@@= ;FDE 6?565[ 3FE E96C6 :D 324<\E@\D49@@= 6G6?ED 6G6CJH96C6] r232CCFD r@F?EJ $49@@=D H:== 92G6 E96 7:CDE 52J 7@C DEF56?ED @? pF8] ``]k^Am k9am}@] bk^9amkAm%96 7:CDE z2??2A@=:D |:4C@\r@?] r9C:D #:8@ 2?5 @FC 7C:6?5D @G6C 2E q62C5J (6:C5J’D r@>:4D 2C6 E62>:?8 FA H:E9 ~=5 pC>@C q66C r@>A2?J 7@C 2 3C2?5 ?6H 3C6H6CJ\E96>65 4@>:4 3@@< 4@?G6?E:@? :? 5@H?E@H? z2??2A@=:D]k^Am kAm%96 z2??2A@=:D |:4C@\r@? H:== 36 $2EFC52J[ pF8] a[ 7C@> `` 2]>] E@ d A]>] |@C6 E92? b_ G6?5@CD H:E9 4@>:4 3@@<D[ E@JD[ G:56@ 82>6D[ 42C5D[ A=FD 2CE:DED[ 4@DA=2J 2?5 >@C6 2C6 D4965F=65 E@ 36 E96C6]k^Am The first Kannapolis Micro-Con will be Saturday, Aug. 2. kAm'6?5@CD 2?5 2CE:DED H:== 36 DAC625 @FE 36EH66? ~=5 pC>@C q66C r@>A2?J 2?5 E96 %:ADJ w2C6 r:56CH@C<D] %9:D 4@>:4 3@@< 4@?G6?E:@? :D @A6? E@ 2== 286D 2?5 :D 7C66 E@ 2EE6?5]k^Am kAm(96E96C J@F’C6 2 D62D@?65 4@>:4 3@@< 4@==64E@C[ 2 ?6H3:6 =@@<:?8 7@C J@FC G6CJ 7:CDE 4@>:4[ @C J@F’G6 ;FDE D66? 2== E96 DFA6C96C@ 7:=>D 2?5 J@F H2?E E@ 92?8 @FE H:E9 =:<6\>:?565 A6@A=6[ E9:D 6G6?E :D 7@C J@F]k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 4@?E24E r9C:D #:8@ 2E f_c\aca\```h @C DH:?8 3J E96 q62C5J (6:C5J’D r@>:4D 3@@E9 ?62C E96 >2:? 6?EC2?46 2E E96 4@?]k^Amk9am}@] ck^9amkAms2G6 U2>Aj qFDE6C’D 8C2?5 C6@A6?:?8] %96 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 46?E6C 2E r@?4@C5 |:==D |2== 46=63C2E65 =2DE H66< H:E9 7C66 8:G62H2JD 2?5 DA64:2=D] xE 4@>6D 27E6C 2 7246=:7E 2?5 FA52E6 @7 E96 C6DE2FC2?E^2C4256^32C^6?E6CE2:?>6?E 4@>A=6I]k^Am kAms2G6 U2>Aj qFDE6C’D @A6?65 2E E96 >2== :? a__c] x 92G6 366? E96C6 2 92?57F= @7 E:>6D] (6 925 E96 x?56A6?56?E %C:3F?6 r9C:DE>2D A2CEJ E96C6 2 4@FA=6 @7 E:>6D 2?5 925 2 =@E @7 7F?]k^Am Dave & Buster's has been at Concord Mills Mall since 2004. kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 ?6H 762EFC6D 2E s2G6 U2>Aj qFDE6C’Dik^AmkAmkDEC@?8m!C:G2E6 v2>6 $F:E6Dk^DEC@?8mi $E6A :?E@ 3C2?5\?6H AC:G2E6 v2>6 $F:E6D[ J@FC @H? 6I4=FD:G6 DA246 :?D:56 s2G6 U2>Aj qFDE6C’D[ A6C764E 7@C 8C@FAD =@@<:?8 E@ A=2J :? 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E2<6D s2G6 U2>Aj qFDE6C’D E@ E96 ?6IE =6G6=[” D2:5 v6?6C2= |2?286C %6CCJ r92>36CD] “(96E96C J@F’C6 46=63C2E:?8 :? 2 AC:G2E6 v2>6 $F:E6 @C H2E49:?8 E96 82>6 @? @FC >2DD:G6 c_\7@@E D4C66?[ H6’G6 4C62E65 2 DA246 H96C6 E96 r@?4@C5 4@>>F?:EJ 42? 4@>6 E@86E96C E@ 62E[ A=2J[ H2E49 2?5 >2<6 =2DE:?8 >6>@C:6D]”k^Am k9am}@] dk^9amkAm#6?@G2E:@? @7 2 =@42= C6DE2FC2?E] |J 72>:=J H2D 23@FE E@ A2?:4 E96 @E96C 52J H96? H6 D2H 2 5F>ADE6C @FED:56 uC6D9 ~77 E96 vC:== @? !@A=2C %6?E #@25 ?62C v6@C86 {:=6D !2C<H2J] xE :D @?6 @7 @FC 8@\E@ A=246D E@ 62E]k^Am kAmx7 E96J H6C6 E@ 4=@D6[ H96C6 H@F=5 x 86E >J A:?E@ 362?D 2?5 4@C?3C625n %96J 2C6 ?@E 4=@D:?8]k^AmkAm(6 5C@G6 FA E@ C625 E96 D:8? @? E96 H:?5@H] xE D2:5 E96J H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 4=@D65 7@C C6?@G2E:@?D E9C@F89 yF=J ag]k^Am kAmx 92G6 366? 8@:?8 E96C6 7@C J62CD] xE’D 2=H2JD ?:46 E@ 8@ E@ 2 A=246 H96C6 E96 7@@5 :D 8@@5 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 2C6 7C:6?5=J] x 2=D@ =@G6 2== E96 4@==686 A6??2?ED @? E96 H2==]k^AmkAmx7 J@F 92G6 2 uC:52J u:G6[ DE@CJ DF886DE:@? @C D@>6E9:?8 x 42? C2?E 23@FE[ 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i>A=6>>@?Do:?56A6?56?EEC:3F?6]4@>Qm>A=6>>@?Do:?56A6?56?EEC:3F?6]4@>k^2m @C 42== @C E6IE f_c\fge\___`]k^Am Mark Plemmons, Independent Tribune 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more. North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li… Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena … Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address. Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago. 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Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more.
North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li…
Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena …
Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address.
Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago.