How I feel about flags and babies

I got to take the Carolina banner off my car over the weekend. The best part was my husband told me to. And, being the devout, obedient wife I am, I was happy to oblige. It’s one of those flags on a little white pole that rolls up into your window and shows your appreciation of a particular team or person. In his case — not mine, as I’m not a Carolina fan by any stretch of the imagination, rather the opposite, since I’m with N.C. State — this flag is a staple of any college basketball or football season. As the basketball season is long over, I’ve been waiting for a chance to take this flag off. <!--more--> It’s not like I get to proudly display an N.C. State flag on the window of our car. Come to think of it, the only N.C. State games I’ve ever been to are at that nasty stadium in Chapel Hill. When he told me to take it down Saturday, I was happy. Of course, it was only so he could roll the windows down, mussing my beautiful hairdo. I wasn’t complaining, though. I’ve been waiting for this day for months. But, down the flag came and my spirits immediately lifted. It was a worn, tattered banner and I don’t like Carolina anyway. But it reminded me of those worn, tattered Dale Trail banners, and I thought I should do something to commemorate the occasion. That’s when the idea of a column came to me. It will give people a chance to bash my husband’s decision of taking the worn, tattered banner down from our car — because after all, I’m someone special and he knows I don’t like Carolina, and he does want to make me happy. So, let the bashing begin. In other news I’m expecting another baby. Just in case you didn’t know. Yep, we’re due in October and yes, we do have a son that will be less than 20 months old when this one arrives. I got to thinking the other day and I wonder if this one will look anything like me. My son sure doesn’t. If he didn’t look so much like his daddy — only difference is the hair and eyes — I’d wonder if he had been switched at birth with one of the other kids in the hospital and there is a mini-me running around out there somewhere. That’s not the case though, so we’re safe. When I was a kid, I used to sit around and wonder what my children would look like. I always imagined they would look like me — dark hair, dark eyes and of course, a wonderful smile (hey, it’s my fantasy). Having a blonde-haired, blue-eyed son put an end to that fantasy. So, keep your fingers crossed that this girl has my looks. I want at least one to look like me. Joanie Morris is editor of the Kannapolis Citizen. She can be reached at 704-932-3336 or jmorris@kannapolis citizen.com.

Neighborhood Yard Give-Away

By Joanne Gonnerman jgonnerman@kannapoliscitizen.com It took teamwork to make the dream work and by 1 p.m. Saturday, more than 200 people had visited Trinity United Methodist Church’s first-ever Neighborhood Yard Give-Away. The event, which resembled a massive yard sale but without the price stickers, put free clothing, shoes, books, toys and household items into the hands of local residents. More than 250 free hotdogs were given away and volunteers took the names <!--more-->of 185 Kannapolis City Schools students who will receive one free school uniform at the church’s back- to-school party on Aug. 23. “This was Preacher Judy (White’s) dream,” said Pam Carter, Trinity United Methodist Church member. “And it has been fulfilled.” In April, four staff members at Trinity began tossing around the idea of holding a free neighborhood give-away for residents in the areas surrounding the church  on East First Street across from A.L. Brown High School. “Within a few blocks of the church, there are people struggling, needing help,” said Jon Hutchinson, Trinity’s music director. “This event is like a mission trip, except we didn’t have to leave. Mission work could be accomplished right here in town.” The Neighborhood Yard Give-Away, which was held on a vacant lot at 406 S. Cannon Blvd., began with community members standing in a circle and singing, “This Is the Day,” lead by Judy White. Citizens of all ages reflected quietly as Erin Yow, co-pastor at Trinity, thanked God for bringing people together. “A blessing like this is good, it is good,” said Kathy Bush, a lifelong Kannapolis resident who headed straight to the sign-up table for school uniforms for her children. “Both (of my children’s) fathers are dead,” said Bush. “I’m doing the best I can. I love you. I love you. I love you. I appreciate you so much.” Precious Porter, 25, also provided the names of her children for the free school uniforms. “I think it’s good for low income people like me,” said Porter. “I don’t have a job right now. It’s a big help. I just lost my job last week.” “I never ever, ever dreamed this event would be so successful,” said White. “The way the congregation turned out to support this event by helping, giving items and money. It’s exactly what we wanted to have.” Local businesses contributed refreshments for the event and Carousel Kids Consignment on North Cannon Boulevard is helping to provide the school uniforms.

Council OKs incentives for Harmony Labs

By Hugh Fisher hfisher@kannapoliscitizen.com During their first August meeting, the Kannapolis City Council unanimously approved an incentive grant agreement with Harmony Labs Inc., which will receive an estimated three-year tax break of $43,732. Harmony Labs is headquartered in Kannapolis, with manufacturing and lab facilities in the former Wal-Mart location on North Cannon Boulevard. The company also has facilities in Landis. The company, which manufactures prescription drugs and <!--more-->high-end cosmetics for national and international markets, plans to invest more than $3.5 million to expand in Kannapolis. “Rarely, if ever, do you find such a productive use in a big-box facility,” City Manager Mike Legg said. He called Harmony Labs’ interests “one of the best things that could happen” in that part of the city. William Lynch, president and CEO of Harmony Labs, said the expansion will create approximately 50 new jobs. Lynch said the pharmaceutical business is growing. The company has grown from 88 employees in 2003 to 225 today. The company sought the grant to help aid in its growth. “The equipment we will be bringing in is, first and foremost, lab equipment,” Lynch said. “We plan to expand … to add more floor space for the sake of more filling lines, for the sake of more tech lab area and for the sake of having greater warehouse space.” With the approval of the incentive package, Harmony Labs will pay $7,717.50 in city taxes the next three years. The full tax payment to the city, beginning in the fourth year and following the company’s investments, will be about $17,150. In other business: • Council members approved a project ordinance to construct a maintenance and storage building at Village Park for Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Department. The department had requested the structure due to space concerns. The anticipated sale of the former Kannapolis post office, currently used for storage, brought about the need for expanded storage. The building will be constructed by Carolina Building Systems at a cost of $40,847. • The council unanimously approved a $2,000 bid by Castle & Cooke to purchase a 561-square-foot plot of land which was formerly the site of a Cannon Mills water vault. With the formal sale, the small plot will become part of a larger space where a parking deck serving the North Carolina Research Campus will be located. The land was acquired by a city-maintained corporation when former Cannon Mills infrastructure was taken over some years ago.

YMCA Moment — Y records part of history

In anticipation of their upcoming Centennial milestone later this year, on Aug. 8, members of Cannon Memorial YMCA staff met at the Kannapolis Visitor’s Center for a special video filming project. Brett Crosby, associate executive director, facilitated. He described the event as, “just a conversation among friends” that celebrated the YMCA’s long history here in Kannapolis and Cabarrus County. <!--more-->Present for the filming was Bill Fesperman, Martha Rutledge Macon, Ed Tyson, Paulette Lambert and Ray and Claire Waller. Paulette Lambert has been on staff at the YMCA since 1964 and serves as the human resources specialist in the YMCA corporate office. Bill Fesperman was the YMCA’s director at the time the YMCA chartered independently from Cannon Mills in 1987. His father, William Fesperman, was the YMCA executive director for 30 years, including the years that  YMCA Camp Elliott was the summer pastime for many Kannapolis young people. Martha Rutledge Macon, the daughter of the late J. Carlyle Rutledge, shared stories of growing up at the YMCA. Macon is a former staffer and long-time participant in YMCA aquatics programs. YMCA stories were shared by all. Ray and Claire Waller met when they joined the staff of the Kannapolis YMCA in 1952. At that time, both served in the aquatics department. Ray served as the men’s aquatics director, while Claire served as the women’s aquatics program director. They met and fell in love and were married in 1954. They told stories of raising their children at the YMCA’s Camp Elliott. There are many Kannapolis adults who were YMCA children in the 1950s, and learned to swim from Ray Waller. He also told the story of the day that A.L. Brown drove his Cadillac into Cannon Lake and drowned, a day those present will never forget. He was one of the ones who went into the water and pulled Brown out. Several others had tried before him to rescue Brown, to no avail. Even Walter Safrit Sr., the YMCA’s former executive director, had dared the cold water in an attempt to rescue Brown. Waller remembers lifting up the fully dressed Brown from the water and the sight of the partially submerged Cadillac in the lake. It is speculated that Brown may have had a heart attack before driving into the lake. Waller is still on staff today in the health services department of the local YMCA. The Cannon Memorial YMCA here in Cabarrus County has 100 years of history to celebrate and honor. Over the next few weeks, watch for more stories that tell of that history. For more information about YMCA programs visit www.cannonymca.org. or call 704-939-9622.

From cotton to towels: Warp and slasher rooms

<i>Fourth in a series</i> By Norris Dearmon For the Kannapolis Citizen This article is an extension of the Spinning Room article, but is usually associated with the Weave Room. It concerns the making of the warp, which goes on the back of the loom. It is called the Slasher Room. The yarn from the Spinning Room can go to two different uses in the Weave Room. One is for filling for use in the shuttle, and the other is for use in the making of the warp. <!--more--> The filling is usually of a single-ply yarn, and once the spinning of the single-ply yarn is produced, it is ready for the Weave Room. The exception is the yarn used in the making of percale sheets. Before the filling is made, the yarn must go through an additional combing process. The laps from the carding are further combed to make sliver, which eliminates the short filaments. The short filaments are combed out and sold as waste for some other use, often for mattresses. The resulting yarn is a much higher-quality yarn. The Spinning Room makes the yarn, called cheese or cones, by combining two or more bobbins for two-ply or more yarn. The process is called twisting. The machine is called a twister, located in the Twister Room. This yarn is a heavier yarn necessary for the warp. The cheese or cones are loaded on a Barbara Coleman (BC) Warper according to the pattern needed for the product. The yarn is pulled through the creel racks. Each thread (yarn) is laid through the combs to create the warp. A warper tender can usually pull all of the yarn through the combs in about an hour. The yarn is put on the warp in the design needed and rolled continuously on the cylinder side-by-side. The design may be stripes, either large or small, or no stripes at all. In the picture accompanying this article, an end has broken. The woman working at the machine, the warper hand, must locate both ends and reattach them by means of a knotter, making sure the number of rounds on the warp are the same. The warper stopped when one of the drop wires fell when the end broke. The drop wires are located on the side of the creel frame, which are being held up by the yarn. From the warper, it then goes to the Slasher Room. In the Slasher Room, the yarn is pulled through a slasher in a similar method in which the warp was made. When the yarn has been pulled through the combs, it is ready for a hot bath of starch for sizing. This bath adds strength to the yarn, since more strength is needed to pull the yarn through the weaving process. After this process, the warp is then ready for the loom. Generally, the warps were stored in a warehouse close to the Weave Room until needed. The yarn is never all the same size in length. Some is left on the cheese or cone and sent to the Winder Room. Here, the operator of a winding machine ties the ends of two unused portions together and back winds the two together to create a full cheese or cone. Notice in the picture, the operator has a device on her hand, called a knotter. She lays the two ends together on the knotter and presses a spring-loaded leaver. A weaver knot is made, which ties the two pieces together. In that way, all of the yarn is mostly used, saving the cost of the cotton, the cost of carding and spinning and reducing the handling of the waste. Any remaining small pieces are sent to the waste house. As in all of the different departments at Cannon Mills, much of the equipment was either made by the company or adapted for use at Cannon Mills. Not all of the equipment was purchased from a vendor. Mr. Cannon was extremely knowledgeable in all phases of the mill operation and was always open to any suggestions for improving the operation. It kept the company competitive in the industry. Norris Dearmon is a member of the Kannapolis History Associates. He is a volunteer in the Hinson History Room at the Kannapolis Branch of the Cab-arrus County Public Library.

RCCC to hold bioworks class information session this evening

CONCORD — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will host an information session tonight for persons interested in taking the BioWork course and learning more about career opportunities in the field of biotechnology. <!--more-->The college encourages prospective students to attend the information session before registering for the next BioWork course, which begins Aug. 25. RCCC will offer the information session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in room 9255 of RCCC’s Cabarrus Business & Technology Center, 660 Concord Pkwy. N. The session will give prospective students an overview of the BioWork course and inform them of the course prerequisites. These include a high school diploma or GED, basic computer literacy and career readiness certification (CRC). The information sessions will explain how persons without the CRC credential can schedule a career-readiness assessment through RCCC’s R3 Center. For more information about the BioWork course call 704-216-3542.

Back to School — Principals share vision for the new year

By Hugh Fisher hfisher@kannapoliscitizen.com The newest principal in Kannapolis has been working hard with staff to give his school a new vision and a new direction. Rob Knuschke came to Kannapolis from Brunswick County Schools last year, and worked as an administrator during 2007-08 before being tapped to lead Kannapolis Intermediate School.<!--more--> “I enjoy the challenge of trying to change directions at a school,” Knuschke said. The intermediate school concept, begun three years ago, has left many parents feeling that their children were transitioning too abruptly out of elementary school, he said. In response, the school has undergone a makeover this summer. “We are using more of an elementary school approach,” he said. Fifth-graders will not start out having class changes, but will be assigned to a single teacher who is part of a team of four instructors. Each of these four-teacher “pods” will have its own mascot and will strive for a community feeling, with teachers meeting for extended planning sessions and coordinating their lesson plans. Also in response to parents’ concerns, Knuschke and elementary school leader coordinated to develop a new random classroom assignment process for fifth grade. The goal is for each new student to have several peers from his or her former elementary school in the same class, to ease the transition. Art instructor Arthur Romano has created new murals and artwork in almost every part of the school, but especially in the fifth-grade halls. “Teachers are painting their rooms, too, trying to make things more colorful,” Knuschke said. “We want to keep our kids younger, longer,” he said. Another goal is teacher retention, keeping skilled educators in an environment that stresses collaboration and makes it fun for both teachers and students to learn. “I want folks to have fun coming here,” Knuschke said. With a new look and a new attitude, and a new leader at the helm, the 2008-09 school year should be full of opportunities for students at Kannapolis Intermediate School. Dr. Debra Morris Dr. Debra Morris is principal of A.L. Brown High School. “Believing that high school lays the foundation for what Americans become, we, the staff of A.L. Brown, pledge to provide for you the following,” she wrote in her biography on the Kannapolis City Schools Web site. • A learning community that expects academic achievement for every student. • A transitional experience that will get each student ready for the next stage of life, whatever it may be for that individual, understanding that, ultimately, each person needs to earn a living. • A gateway to multiple options. • The preparation to be a lifelong learner. • The underpinning for good citizenship and for full participation in the life of a democracy. • The opportunity for personal development as social beings that have needs beyond those that are strictly academic. • A foundation for students to be able to participate comfortably in an increasingly technological society. • The preparation for young people to live in a country and a world in which interdependency will link their destiny to that of others, however different those others may be from them. “As the principal, I give you my word that this institution will unabashedly advocate on the behalf of our students,” Morris wrote. “The entire staff of A.L. Brown High School is here to assist you and is looking forward to our best year ever.” Dr. Daron “Chip” Buckwell Dr. Chip Buckwell is principal of Kannapolis Middle School. “Kannapolis Middle School fosters a safe, yet fast-paced learning atmosphere. Kannapolis Middle School is a nurturing school for both students and staff,” Buckwell wrote in his biography. “Our ninety-minute block schedule allows for flexible, organized and cooperative programs to be held to address student needs. ... “Learning is not just a student activity. The staff of Kannapolis Middle School engages in many professional activities that lead to improvement of teaching strategies to meet the needs of the unique learner. ... “Our diversity in students, staff and community makes KMS an exciting place to learn and work. ... “Through high expectations — both behaviorally and academically, mutual respect, and a constant focus on safety, we can accomplish whatever we set out to achieve.” Todd Parker Todd Parker is principal of Fred L. Wilson Elementary School. “Fred L. Wilson Elementary School is a family of adults and children focused on learning and success,” wrote Parker. “High expectations, teamwork and a strong commitment to academic achievement for all students have led us to reach exemplary status in the North Carolina testing program for four years. ... “We are proud to have been designated a ‘Top 25’ school for the academic growth shown by our students. Our instructional staff is committed to improvement and continuous progress. Our school motto represents us well — Friends Learning and Working together for Success.” Jill Roach Jill Roach is principal of Forest Park Elementary School. “Forest Park Elementary School has a competent, caring staff with high expectations for student achievement and behavior,” she wrote in her biography. “In our new state-of-the art facility, surrounded by trees and nestled in a spacious natural setting, our students and staff use the latest technology, including school-wide Internet access. ... “The positive school climate is enhanced by the school emphasis on respect and manners and by classical music played in the halls.” Rachel Zaionz Rachel Zaionz is principal of Shady Brook Elementary School. “At Shady Brook Elementary School, our teachers, staff and parents all work together in a cooperative effort to ensure the highest quality education possible for each child,” she wrote. “Our faculty and support staff provide all students with a caring, supportive, learning environment that enables each student to reach his/her greatest potential.  What we do today, as a community and school, will help our children become happy and successful citizens of tomorrow.  ... “As a public educator, I believe we have a responsibility to all students to provide them with the best possible educational experience while being accountable for what takes place in the classroom. Shady Brook Elementary School is truly a great place for children to learn because we believe our children come first.” Lex Graham Lex Graham is principal of Jackson Park Elementary School. “One of the characteristics of Jackson Park Elementary School, which brings us the most pride, is our sense of community,” wrote Graham in his biography. “After all, this is where we spend the majority of our waking hours. ... “It is our desire to create a challenging learning environment for all (staff, kids, parents) that is so consistent and comfortable that everyone feels free to say, ‘Help me, I don’t know or I don’t understand.’ ... “It is my personal belief that in order to be a successful nurturer of children, we must first be nurtured ourselves. It is my responsibility as building leader to be the ‘facilitator of caring.’ ” David Fleischmann David Fleischmann is principal of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. “Woodrow Wilson Elementary School is a family made up of teachers, parents and children. The Woodrow family believes conditions at our school can and must be constructed that allow all children to develop to their fullest capacity,” he wrote. “Our family understands all children can learn, and we know that it requires more than good intentions to make this happen. Our parents are well intended, and they are also dedicated to supporting their school’s efforts to serve every child. “Our staff is well-intended, and they are also well prepared professionally to meet daily challenges. Our children are well-intended, and they work hard every day to meet our high expectations. ... “Woodrow is a special place, and it produces quality results.” Marty Williams Marty Williams is director for the McKnight Child Development Center Head Start program. “McKnight Child Development Center, an accredited facility, is a fun and exciting place to work and play,” said Williams in her biography. “Creating a stimulating and challenging school home for children is what our staff is all about. The staff works and plans closely together to provide an enriching, play-based curriculum in which children learn new concepts, ideas and skills. ... “We believe that happy, healthy children learn best and we strive toward that reality by providing a wide variety of experiences to explore. In short, we believe that the habits formed in childhood make no small difference, but rather they make all the difference.”

Tenant launches program to fight chronic kidney disease

By Emily Ford eford@salisburypost.com A founding tenant of the N.C. Research Campus has launched a program to fight chronic kidney disease, a condition that has reached epidemic proportions and costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Laboratory Corporation of America, or LabCorp, announced last Wednesday the CKD Education and Treatment Program, a collaboration with the nonprofit National Kidney Foundation.<!--more--> Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is a silent killer that affects 26 million Americans but often goes undetected until the patient needs dialysis or a transplant. The disease can be diagnosed early through simple tests. LithoLink, a subsidiary of Burlington-based LabCorp, developed the new program and will offer it to physicians and other health-care providers nationwide by the end of 2008 in an effort to better educate them about the disease and its prevention and treatment. “This is a disease that is not well understood, not well treated,” said David King, president of LabCorp. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.,who helped override a veto by President George Bush this year to pass Medicare legislation that includes money to combat the disease, attended the announcement at the Research Campus. LithoLink will offer the program free to healthcare providers, said Brian Coe, chief executive officer. Doctors with patients suffering from kidney disease can access the program by ordering tests through LithoLink, as opposed to another clinical lab, Coe said. In exchange, LithoLink will provide clinical guidance to physicians that is specific to each patient. LithoLink will track patients, comparing their progress against benchmarks, Coe said. Doctors will receive quarterly reports from LithoLink about their patients’ status. The program also offers sophisticated tools to help doctors make treatment decisions, Coe said. LithoLink will directly support patients as well, helping them better understand their doctors’ recommendations, he said. Many patients with chronic kidney disease don’t follow instructions. If a doctor recommends a low-salt diet, a patient may continue eating fast food. “They say they don’t use salt, but they don’t know that there is salt at McDonald’s,” Coe said. Some 15.5 million Americans have lost up to three-quarters of their kidney function, but 90 percent don’t even know it, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 25 percent will die within five years if not treated. Chronic kidney disease has become a major economic burden on the federal government because most dialysis treatment in America is paid for by Medicare. Roughly 400,000 people on dialysis consume approximately 6 percent of the Medicare budget. LabCorp believes the new program can save lives and health care dollars, King said. The program should boost early detection and encourage primary care providers and specialists to communicate, Coe said. A panel of experts created the program based in part on recommendations from the National Kidney Foundation. “There won’t be enough nephrologists to care for all the people on dialysis in 10 years,” said Leanne Skipper, chief executive officer for the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina. “Prevention is the only option.” Skipper came to Kannapolis directly from a summer camp in Flat Rock for kids with kidney disease. She told the large audience filled with local elected officials and N.C. Research Campus employees about a 15-year-old camper who’s already had two kidney transplants but may not live until he’s 30. Although anyone at any age can develop chronic kidney disease, people with diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease are most at risk. Obesity also contributes to chronic kidney disease. If caught early, the disease can be managed and kidney damage can be slowed or stopped. The N.C. Research Campus is a 350-acre $1.5 billion biotechnology hub under construction in downtown Kannapolis. Founder David H. Murdock, owner of Dole Food Co. and Castle & Cooke, is building the campus and leasing it to universities and private companies like LabCorp.

Back to School — What you need to know

Administration • Superintendent — Dr. Jo Anne Byerly. • Assistant superintendent — Peggy Wagstaff. Office address: 100 Denver St., Kannapolis, NC 28083. Phone number — 704-938-1131. Office hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Projected enrollment — 5,137. Proposed budget — $50 million.<!--more--> School board The school board meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. • Chairwoman — Danita Rickard, 704-933-4221. • Vice chair — Millie Hall, 704-933-0334. • Members — Todd Adams, 704-938-9879; Doris Buchanan, 704-933-8431; Charles Mitchell, 704-933-4411. Schools • McKnight Child Development Center, preschool only, 1300 Glenn Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081, 704-932-7433. Director — Martie Williams. Open house — Students and parents will come to orientation/staggered enrollment as assigned on Sept. 2, 3 or 4. The first full day of class with bus service for McKnight Child Development Center is Friday, Sept. 5. • Forest Park Elementary School, grades K-4, 1333 Forest Park Drive, Kannapolis, NC 28083, 704-932-8121. Principal — Jill Roach. Open house — Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops: Red, white, blue, black, orange and green. Bottoms: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Fred L. Wilson Elementary School, grades pre-K-4, 1401 Pine St., Kannapolis, NC 28081, 704-932-8656. Principal — Todd Parker. Open house — Thursday, Aug. 21, from 5-7 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops: Red, white, blue, black, orange and green. Bottoms: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Jackson Park Elementary School, grades K-4, 1400 Jackson St., Kannapolis, NC 28083, 704-933-2831. Principal — Walter “Lex” Graham. Open house — Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops: Red, white, blue, black, orange and green. Bottoms: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Shady Brook Elementary School, grades K-4, 903 Rogers Lake Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081, 704-933-2434. Principal — Dr. Rachel Zaionz. Open house — Thursday, Aug. 21 from 4-6 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops: Red, white, blue, black, orange and green. Bottoms: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, grades pre-K-4, 800 N. Walnut St., Kannapolis, NC 28081, 704-933-2935. Principal — David R. Fleischmann. Open house — Sunday, Aug. 24, from 1-3 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops: Red, white, blue, black, orange and green. Bottoms: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Kannapolis Intermediate School, grades 5-6, 525 East C St., Kannapolis, NC, 28083, 704-932-4161. Principal — Rob Knuschke. Open house — Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 1-5 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops for fifth grade: Navy blue and burgundy. Tops for sixth grade: Light blue and hunter green. Bottoms for both grades: Black, navy blue and khaki. • Kannapolis Middle School, grades 7-8, 1445 Oakwood Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081, 704-932-4102. Principal — Dr. Daron “Chip” Buckwell. Open house — Thursday, Aug. 21, from 2-5 p.m. Uniform colors — Tops  for seventh grade: Red and navy blue. Tops for eighth grade: Light blue and forest green. Bottoms for both grades: Black, navy blue and khaki. • A.L. Brown High School, grades 9-12, 415 E. First St., Kannapolis, NC 28083, 704-932-6125. Principal — Dr. Debra Sue Morris. Open house — Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 5-7 p.m. in the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center. Freshmen orientation will be Friday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. Rising ninth-graders will receive their schedules and get bus information at this time. This three-hour orientation is for students only. New students to A.L. Brown and upperclassmen may pick up schedules and bus information today though Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scheduling errors can be addressed at this time. Dress Code — Tops: Green, white, gray or navy blue polo collared shirts, tucked in. Any shirts/tops worn underneath the required uniform shirts must also be green, white, gray or navy blue. Bottoms: Blue and black jeans and khakis are permitted. Khaki or jean shorts are permitted as long as they are at least knee length. Cargo pants/shorts are also permitted. Jackets: Jackets and coats with zippers or buttons will be permitted to be worn over the top of the short or long-sleeved polo shirt. Jackets or coats must be unzipped and unbuttoned while in the building. Hoodies and sweatshirts are not permitted. School hours Elementary — 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Intermediate — 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Middle — 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. High — 8:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Meal Prices • Breakfast Elementary — Free Secondary — Free Adult — $1.50 • Lunch Elementary — $1.90 Intermediate — $1.90 Middle school — $2 High school — $2 Adult — $3 Severe weather policy The superintendent decides when students need to be dismissed from classes because of extreme heat, snow or ice, storms, water shortages or other unusual circumstances. When school is dismissed during the day, it will be announced on the area radio and television stations. In case of snow or other severe weather overnight, area radio and TV stations will be notified of school closings by 6:30 a.m. In cases when school is canceled or delayed, Kannapolis City Schools will send a ConnectEd message to all parents and staff. Fees • Fees — $4 instructional fee for all students. • Various fees at A.L. Brown depending on courses. School time insurance          coverage • Triple Option with extended dental is $32; without extended dental is $25. • Double Option with extended dental is $22; without extended dental is $15. • Single Option with extended dental is $16; without extended dental is $9. 24-hour insurance coverage • Triple Option with extended dental is $157; without extended dental is $150. • Double Option with extended dental is $82; without extended dental is $75. • Single Option with extended dental is $52; without extended dental is $45. Varsity football insurance • Triple Option with extended dental is $222; without extended dental is $215. • Double Option with extended dental is $157; without extended dental is $150. • Single Option with extended dental is $92; without extended dental is $85. Special Education For information about programs for exceptional children, including the academically gifted and the disabled, call Dr. Kathy Whaley at 704-938-3151. Before and after school care The Kannapolis Branch of the Cannon Memorial YMCA provides a safe and fun before and after school environment for your child. Activities include devotions, arts and crafts, songs, group games, swimming days and daily snacks. Children also receive homework assistance. The program teaches character development with an emphasis on our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. The Kannapolis YMCA is a 4-star licensed facility and accepts subsidized childcare vouchers. The Before-School Program opens at 6:30 a.m. The program is operated at the YMCA. Children are transported to school by YMCA mini buses and Kannapolis City School buses. Onsite programs are available at Forest Park and Fred L. Wilson elementary schools. The YMCA provides transportation to the following schools — Forest Park, Jackson Park and Shady Brook elementary schools. The school system provides transportation to the following schools — Fred L. Wilson Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, Kannapolis Intermediate and Kannapolis Middle schools. After-School Programs operate from school dismissal until 6 p.m. at all sites. A full day of childcare is offered on teacher workdays and certain holidays. Monthly fees for childcare are: • Member — Before school only, $100; after school only, $200; before and after school, $290 • Non-member — Before school only, $150; after school only, $300; before and after school, $425. There is a one-time registration fee for both members and non-members of $30. A 20 percent discount applies to second/additional child on monthly fees. Scholarship application and Purchase of Care Vouchers are accepted. Call 704-939-9622 for more information. New faces in new places • Ron Deaton is now director of student services and middle school education. Previously, he was assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at A.L. Brown High School. He replaced Rob Knuschke. • Rob Knuschke is now principal at Kannapolis Intermediate School. He was formerly director of student services and middle school education. He replaces Anthony Ratliff, who has taken a position outside of the system. • Patty Williams is now director of Title 1 and elementary education. She retired from Kannapolis City School in 2007. She replaces Judy Goodnight.

Jia named co-director of UNCG center

By Emily Ford eford@salisburypost.com Herbal and traditional Chinese medicines will play a key role in the research conducted by the Center for Research Excellence in Bioactive Food Components at the N.C. Research Campus. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has named Dr. Wei Jia as co-director of the UNCG center in Kannapolis.<!--more--> Jia is a leading researcher in the study of herbal and traditional Chinese medicines. Dr. Debbie Kipp, chair of the UNCG Department of Nutrition, is the center’s other co-director. Bioactive food components are molecules found in food, other than vitamins and minerals, that may affect health. Jia applies the latest scientific tools to analyze remedies used in traditional Chinese medicine. His research focuses on identifying and characterizing bioactive components from natural products and traditional Chinese medicine that can affect common metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. Jia, whose appointment includes a faculty position in the department of nutrition, joins UNCG from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He served as vice dean of the university’s pharmacy school. He was a principal investigator at the university’s Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, which focuses on drug discovery and development from herbal medicines and traditional Chinese medicines. Jia brings “alternative approaches to the study of human health and nutrition,” said UNCG Provost David Perrin. As chief scientist for China’s Walfen Medical Co., Jia developed a drug to treat bone disorders. He led the development of several botanical drugs in China and is an expert for the China State Food and Drug Administration. Jia applies cutting-edge biochemical and analytical tools to better understand how multiple bioactive components from plants interact with the human body. For thousands of years, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have combined plant species to treat sick people. Jia’s research proved that plant components used to treat a condition known as “Xiao-ke,” similar to early stage type 2 diabetes, can dramatically lower blood sugar. The N.C. Research Campus will provide an unprecedented opportunity for holistic nutritional and pharmaceutical research by bringing together scientists from varied cultural backgrounds, Jia said in a statement. The Research Campus is the brainchild of David H. Murdock, owner and chairman of Castle & Cooke and Dole Food Co.

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