Building fees waived for flood victims

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners voted last Monday to waive building and other construction-related permit fees for residents who experienced flood damage as a result of Tropical Storm Fay. The fee waiver will expire Nov. 24. The waiver will last for up to 90 days. “We wanted to help ease the financial burden and allow flood victims to get back in to their homes sooner,” said Jay White, chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. Within the past few weeks, more than 20 residents have requested building permits for home repairs as a result of flood damage. In light of the board’s recent decision, those residents will be contacted to have their fees reimbursed by the county’s department of commerce. For information about flood assistance and recovery tips, log on to www.cabarrus county.us and click on the “Help for Flood Victims” link in the center of the page.

Cities amend water restrictions

Recent rains have led to increased stream flows in the area. As a result, water use restrictions for customers of Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Landis and Mount Pleasant are amended effective immediately. These restrictions apply to the use of water sold by these municipalities. The following activities will be permitted only on Saturdays from midnight to midnight: • Residential car washing will be allowed using a hand-held hose or pressure washer, both equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle. • Lawn irrigation using any type of system shall be permitted (in-ground systems, soaker hoses, oscillating sprinklers, etc). • Residential use of water for wash down of outside areas using a hand-held hose or pressure washer, both equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle. The following activities are permitted only on Tuesdays and Saturdays from midnight to midnight: • Watering of trees, flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens for plant preservation using a hand-held hose equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle. The following activities will be allowed under the modifications to the Level III Mandatory Water Restrictions: • Irrigation services may be installed and activated. • Filling of swimming pools by permit. Topping off of previously filled pools is still acceptable at any time. • Pressure washing businesses with an appropriate privilege license are still allowed to use water for their normal business activities at any time. These businesses will continue to ensure that the waste of water does not occur. All other restrictions remain in effect. These modifications are in compliance with the Concord/Kannapolis Interbasin Transfer Certificate and with the guidelines set forth by Duke Management Advisory Group. The cities expressed appreciation at the continued efforts of citizens to conserve water and encourage citizens to remain diligent in their conservation efforts. Customers are reminded to pursue projects cautiously given the persistent drought conditions that we have experienced and should remain aware of current water use restrictions as published. The above amendments to our Level III Mandatory Water Restrictions for all city of Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Landis and Mount Pleasant customers will become effective. “We will continue to monitor the stream flows and water levels,” said Concord City Manager Brian Hiatt. “Water usage may become more limited again in the future if stream levels, lake levels or rainfall amounts indicate a need to reinstate more stringent water conservation methods. Continued water conservation is imperative in the event drought conditions worsen to prior levels. Concord will maintain the current water rate schedule incorporating pricing that encourages conservation.” “While we are relaxing the restrictions, we encourage our residents to remain diligent and limit water use wherever possible,” said Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg. “Even with our recent rain events, our cities will need to continue to conserve water whether we are under drought conditions or not.”

Cox named president of Chamber group

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives recently held its annual management conference at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, where the membership unanimously elected its executive leadership. John Cox, CEcD, CCE, president and CEO of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, was chosen as the president of Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Cox is ultimately responsible for leading the organization as well as its development and growth. Cox is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institutes of Organizational Management and is a member of the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100. He led the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce through the U.S. Chamber’s accreditation process and led the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation in achieving the Accredited Economic Development Organization designation, one of only 23 AEDOs in the nation. Cox also chairs the Food Lion Speedstreet festival in Charlotte, a motorsports-related event attracting more than 500,000 attendees each year. Cox is joined by Ben Haskew, CCE, president of the Greater Greenville, N.C., Chamber of Commerce, who will serve as the organization’s president-elect. Elyse Cochran, CCE, president of the Gaston (N.C.) Regional Chamber of Commerce, will serve as treasurer. Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is a professional development organization dedicated to improving the educational opportunities for chamber of commerce executives and staff members in North and South Carolina. The organization was formed in 1994 when the North and South Carolina state chamber associations merged. For more information on CACCE, or any of CACCE’s conferences or programs, contact Courtney Herring at 803.733.1112 or at www.     cacce.org.

Voter registration ends soon; one stop voting expands locations

Oct. 10 is the last day to register to vote or to update voter registration to be able to cast a ballot in the general election on Nov. 4. Individuals can verify their voting status by logging on to www.cabarruscounty.us/ Elections/newsandupdates .html and clicking the “North Carolina Voter Registration Search” link. One-Stop Voting will begin Oct. 16 in Cabarrus County to allow individuals to vote early and to avoid long lines on Election Day. Two new locations are available to make One-Stop Voting more convenient. In addition to the Cabarrus County Board of Elections Office, registered voters may vote early at the Kannapolis Train Depot and at the Harrisburg branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library. One-Stop Voting locations and hours are: • Board of Elections Office, 53 Corban Ave. S.E., Concord. Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, through Friday, Oct. 31; 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1. • Kannapolis Train Depot, 201 S. Main St., Kannapolis. Hours: 11a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Oct. 31 and 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 1. • Harrisburg branch of Cabarrus County Public Library, 201 Sims Blvd., Harrisburg. Hours: 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27, through Friday, Oct. 31; and 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 1.

No arrest yet in group home fire

Staff report A fire at a group home last week is still under investigation and no arrests have been made. According to the Kannapolis Fire Department, the fire started in the room of a juvenile at the home, but the youth is not a suspect in the case yet. The fire started in a bedroom closet at the home and is considered “suspicious” in origin. Last week, Kannapolis Police Sgt. Chris Nesbitt said that he has assigned the case to Detective Laura Carden, who has a number of people to interview, including the three juveniles who were living at the home at 414 N. Cannon Blvd. The home was operated by Americare Group Home Inc. Nesbitt said preliminary reports have estimated the fire caused $20,000 damage, and he characterized the damage as “pretty severe.” Fire officials still have the home closed as a fire scene. The fire broke out Friday evening, Sept. 5, and a smoke alarm alerted the juveniles and two adults at the home at the time. They escaped injury. Officials said flames filled the first floor of the two-story brick house across from the Big Lots parking lot. Firefighters arrived at 6:24 p.m. Friday to find heavy, black smoke and flames coming from both floors of the structure. “There was a good deal of fire coming from the structure,” Battalion Chief David Winecoff said in a press release. “When I arrived on the scene, I could see flames from the floor to the ceiling on the main level and up to the second level.” Winecoff said firefighters did an excellent job with their initial attack and had the fire under control by 7:19 p.m. Fire investigators determined the blaze started in a bedroom closet, Nesbitt said. But he said he did not know any more about the cause of the fire right now. To report any information about this, contact the Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers at 704-93-CRIME. You may remain anonymous and tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Kannapolis Fire Department responds to two structural fires in one evening

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 4:07 p.m., the Kannapolis Fire Department was called to 905-A Haley St. for a working structure fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 4:10 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames throughout the single-wide mobile home. Firefighters worked quickly to assist one resident from the structure. “There was a good deal of fire coming from the home,” said Battalion Chief Tracy Winecoff. “Upon arrival we could see smoke and flames spreading quickly through the house and one resident standing in the doorway. Within minutes of assisting her to safety, the home was completely engulfed in flames.” The fire department responded to the scene with 12 apparatus and a total of 20 personnel. Landis Fire Department and Odell Volunteer Fire Department assisted with district coverage.  Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services provided medical assessments for both residents. The home and its contents suffered significant heat and smoke damage. The residents will be staying with family members. The Cabarrus County American Red Cross will be working with them. Fire investigators remained on the scene to determine the cause of this fire late Wednesday, but could not find a source of the fire. Investigators say the fire was not suspicious. Later Wednesday evening, at 8:41 p.m., the Kannapolis Fire Department was called to 150 Waco Ave. for another working structure fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 8:45 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from approximately 75 percent of the single-story home. “The fire was fully involved when we arrived.” said Winecoff. “Because of the amount of fire, we immediately began a defensive fire attack.” The department responded to the scene with 13 apparatus and a total of 25 personnel. Landis Fire Department and Odell Volunteer Fire Department assisted on the scene, as well as Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services and Cabarrus Rescue. China Grove Fire Department, Cold Water Fire Department and Enochville Fire and Rescue provided district coverage. A 73 year-old female and her three adult children were at the home at the time of the fire. Luckily, all were able to escape. One of the residents had to use a window as a secondary exit. The home and its contents suffered significant damage.  The residents will be staying with nearby relatives. The Cabarrus County American Red Cross will be assisting the family. An electrical problem was determined to be the cause of the fire.

Don’t let mistakes destroy you

By Don Davis For the Kannapolis Citizen As young people, we played sandlot baseball and football in the nearest open field. One day during the fall, we were playing football and the quarterback intended to throw the ball to me, so he shouted to me using my nickname, “Duck, Duck.” I supposedly ducked my head. The passer was trying to get my attention, but I understood it as a warning to lower my head. This miscommunication resulted in little or no consequences for it was only a kid’s game. Though I may have been embarrassed, I went on to catch many balls in the future. All of us have obviously lived through similar experiences. I remember as a youth going to a girl’s house, only to discover she had stood me up. I became very angry and drove into the highway in my dad’s truck and shot down on the accelerator, not knowing I had lifted the emergency brake back at her house. Within a mile or so the truck started to buck and came to an immediate stop in the middle of the road. I could smell the smoke coming from the brake and knew the mistake I had made. There is no doubt that if anyone had been following me, there would have been an accident. Thank the Lord, even in my ignorance of getting angry, God spared me a worse fate. I got a good chewing out from my dad, but I learned a lesson. As life progressed, I learned quickly we are responsible for our actions and these can destroy us if we let them. King David was a good example of letting one moment of weakness spiral into the demise of his kingdom. On one occasion he decided not to go out with his army to fight the enemy. He stayed in his palace and that was when he saw the beautiful Bathsheba, another man’s wife, taking a bath, and lusted for her. He had her come to the palace and that is where his problems began. She became pregnant, thus David not only committed adultery, but later had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, placed in front of the battle lines to be killed. David started out with lust that moved into adultery and murder. As you know, Bathsheba and David’s first child was killed by the Lord. Even worse, this act of sin resulted in his kingdom, though not within his time, being taken from his descendants. The most popular of all verses, John 3:16, tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” This is a wonderful promise and gift from our Lord, but the following verse tells us, “For God sent not his son into world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” Thus, God sent his son to this world to save us rather than condemn us. He wants all to be saved. He also wants all of us to succeed and not fail. If we can trust in him, he shows us the way to trust him and to receive a full and meaning full life. Yes, we have our failures and setbacks, but God is available to give us a boost along the way of life. “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18) Test Christ Jesus today, you will find he is faithful. Don Davis is a local retired pastor living in Kannapolis. He writes a religion column for the Kannapolis Citizen. To have your column considered, e-mail jmorris@kannapolis citizen.com.

Faces of Faith

<b>First Presbyterian to host picnic this Sunday</b> First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis will hold its annual church picnic at Kannapolis’ Village Park, Shelters A and B, this Sunday. Activities will begin at 4 p.m. with old fashioned games such as tug-of-war, sack races, horseshoes, bocci and corn hole. An inflatable play area will be available for small children. Supper will feature grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings. Donations will be accepted to help cover the expenses. Dessert will follow the annual bake-off, which is open to men and women and will include adult and youth divisions. After supper, the Southern gospel trio One Faith will provide ministry in music. One Faith is based in Mooresville and is made up of Megan Riddle, Justin Hall and Dean Orbison. The church welcomes  guests to join the fun at the picnic. For more information, visit www.FirstPresb.org or call 704-938-4623. <b>Bethel celebrates 50 years</b> Bethel Baptist Church, 1209 Opal St., will celebrate 50 years of service this Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. Pastor Leroy Adams of Morning Star Baptist Church, Omaha, Neb., will be the guest minister. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., the church will host a special groundbreaking ceremony. For more information, contact the church at 704-938-8814. <b>Girl’s Jamboree</b> The statewide Girl’s Jamboree will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, at Highest Praise Worship Center in Landis. The event will last from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. All girls ages 3-11 are welcome to attend, but all 3- to 5-year-olds will need to be accompanied by a parent. Cost is $16 for girls and $8 for adult chaperones if registered by Sept. 25. Contact Lisa Flynn at Kannapolis Church of God if you or your daughter would like to attend and you haven’t already registered. <b>Baptism Sunday</b> First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, will host Baptism Sunday this Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. For more information, contact the church at 704-938-4697. <b>Midway UMC</b> Midway United Methodist Church, 708 S. Main St., will host contemporary worship service at 9 a.m. and traditional service at 10:55 a.m. Sunday. Scripture will be Matthew 20:1-16 and the sermon topic will be “How Much Do You Make?” conducted by the Rev. Dave Cash. For more information, contact the church at 704-932-3216. <b>Biker Sunday</b> Kimball Lutheran Church, 101 Vance St., Kannapolis, is hosting Biker Sunday this Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a morning worship service. Activities planned include individual healing and community offering, blessing of the bikes, free food, fellowship, free photo of bike and rider, commemorative cross, free T-shirt for bikers and passengers and free bike rides for kids of all ages. Bikers are asked to bring a teddy bear and canned food to benefit CVAN and Cooperative Christian Ministry. Sponsors include Brother’s Tire Sales, Falls Jewelers and Whitley’s Funeral Home. For more information, contact the church at 704-933-4101. <b>Blood drive</b> Bethpage Presbyterian Church will host a blood drive on Monday, Sept. 22, from 3-7 p.m. For more information, contact the church at 704-933-2209. <b>Send us your church news</b> The Kannapolis Citizen welcomes news from local churches. Fax church news or sermon topics to 704-933-3453, e-mail them to news@kannapoliscitizen.com or mail them to 221 West A St., Kannapolis, NC 28081. We welcome church bulletins or newsletters. Please submit items by noon Monday each week. For information, call the Citizen at 704-932-3336.

Cotton to towels: The Cloth Room

<i>Ninth in a series</i> By Norris Dearmon For the Kannapolis Citizen Cloth inspection has been an ongoing process since the beginning of clothmaking. The spinning and weaving of cloth has always had problems in manufacturing. Some could be corrected, while others could not. At first, the spinning of the yarn would sometimes cause lumps, called noils, to form along the yarn as it was being spun. When the yarn was then used in weaving, the lumps would show up in the material being woven. Sometimes, the lumps could be picked so that it did not show in the material. If it could not be fixed, it was then classified as a second. The material was OK but it did not look good. Even pieces of trash could make their way through the spinning room. The biggest culprit was in weaving. Early looms often made bad places in materials because of some malfunction in the loom. Remember, the early material for towels was not terry, but what was called huck. It was a flat woven material much thicker than sheeting or dress material. The women bought it by the yard, and cut and hemmed the towels to the length they wanted. Eventually, the manufacturers did some of it for the public. Terry was not invented until the early 1900s and did not become popular until after World War I. Weavers were responsible for the material they wove. Sometimes, a thread would break and not be caught for some time, causing a streak in the material. Flat material would look especially bad with a missing end. Terry looked bad also, but the flaw was not as evident as it would be in flat material. While weaving terry, at times the loom would make either or both long and short terry when the loom was not functioning correctly. It was difficult for the weaver to spot all flaws all the time. When the material was taken off the looms, the next process was the Cloth Room. There, a battery of tables were set on a slant with much light, so the operator could inspect the material. The rolls were mounted on a rack in front of the table. The material was brought across the inspection table to the top and attached to another tube at the back of the table, run by a motor. The motor was controlled by a rheostat,which allowed the operator to control the speed. Later, the material was run into boxes, which could then go directly to wet finishing. One or two inspectors stood at each table. Usually, they were women. As they viewed the material, they found flaws. An inspector could fix some flaws with a comb, which had a pick on one end, and then pass the material. The inspectors also cut off long ends left when an end broke and a new end was tied on by the weaver. They marked other flaws with a ticket attached to the side of the roll. The ticket showed the roll number so the weavers could be shown the problem. In the early years, the weaver would be called to the cloth room and shown the flaw. He or she would be docked a number of picks based on the extent of the flaw. If the flaw was bad enough, the roll would be cut and the flaw cut out so it would not reach the finishing process.Later on, the weaver would be written up instead of being docked. If he or she received a given number of write-ups, they would be removed from the set of looms. The work of the inspectors helped eliminate a lot of seconds or stopped them from going on in the process. The cloth rooms were eliminated about 2000. A limited number of extra weavers were employed to walk the rows of loom, looking for problems the weaver might not see because of other duties, which had cropped up. Inspecting was a huge factor in the cost of the goods. As the equipment became more efficient, fewer flaws could get through. The air jet looms and air-conditioning helped eliminate most of the flaws. A lot of time the terry towel rolls would be huge and had to be removed by machines. The reason the rolls were so big is because the looms ran so efficiently. That fact also helped in wet finishing, since there were no short rolls. Cannon Mills was always working to eliminate seconds, so its quality could be claimed the best in the industry. Norris Dearmon, a local historian and member of the Kannapolis History Associates, volunteers in the Hinson History Room at the Kannapolis Branch of Cabarrus County Public Library.

Celebrate Constitution Day

<i>Associated Press</i> Today is Wednesday, Sept. 17, the 261st day of 2008. There are 105 days left in the year. On this date: In 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1862, in the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history, Union forces fought Confederate invaders in the Civil War Battle of Antietam at Sharpsburg, Md. In 1920, the American Professional Football Association, a precursor of the National Football League, was formed in Canton, Ohio. In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault. In 1944, during World War II, Allied paratroopers launched Operation Market Garden, landing behind German lines in the Netherlands. (After initial success, the Allies were beaten back by the Germans.) In 1948, the United Nations mediator for Palestine, Count Folke Bernadotte, was assassinated in Jerusalem by Jewish extremists. In 1978, after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a framework for a peace treaty. In 1983, Vanessa L. Williams of New York became the first black contestant to be crowned Miss America. (The following July, she also became the first Miss America to resign in the wake of her Penthouse magazine scandal.) In 1988, opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics took place in Seoul, South Korea. Ten years ago: In Mexico, gunmen apparently sent by a drug lord yanked three families from their beds before dawn and opened fire, killing 19 men, women and children near a popular Baja California resort. Five years ago: Spain’s leading investigating judge, Baltasar Garzon, issued the first known indictment against Osama bin Laden in the Sept. 11 attacks. An audiotape purporting to carry the voice of Saddam Hussein, broadcast on Arab television, called on Iraqis to fight the American occupation. New York Stock Exchange chairman Dick Grasso resigned amid a furor over his $139.5 million pay package. Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark entered the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. One year ago: President Bush nominated former federal judge Michael Mukasey to become the next attorney general. The Iraqi government revoked the license of Blackwater USA security firm after a shooting incident that claimed the lives of civilians. During a forum at the University of Florida, Andrew Meyer, a student with a history of taping his own practical jokes, was Tasered by campus police and arrested after repeatedly trying to question Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

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