What's new? Find out what happened on the gridiron this past Friday, and remember to check back often for games scores on concordstandard.com! FAITH:Jesus in a shoebox? 9 to 5: McDonald's is lovin' S&D Coffee We're still collecting pork and beans and soup for CCM. Help us out by dropping off your donations at our office! |
This just in: Flooding closes schools, roads
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These photos of flooding on Old Airport Road were submitted by reader Jim Weddington, who lives near the site of the overflowed creek bank. Cabarrus County Schools were closed today due to widespread flooding. Kannapolis City Schools were on a two-hour delay.
Cabarrus County received up to six inches of rain overnight, resulting in road closings, power outages and trees in roadways.Similar photos of the Old Airport Road flooding were sent in by Doug and Christy Barnhardt.
The Kannapolis Village Long-term Care facility and Wagstaff Trailer Park were evacuated early this morning in Kannapolis due to flooding. Fifty-one occupants from the long term care facility and 12 occupants from the trailer park were moved temporarily to Fred L. Wilson Elementary School and are being transported to the Kannapolis YMCA for sheltering.
Cabarrus County issued the following update at 10:45 a.m.:
A shelter in Harrisburg is opening at Harrisburg United Methodist Church on NC 49.
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Three neighborhoods in Harrisburg are in the process of being evacuated - College Downs, Middleton subdivision and Harrisburg Estates.
Anyone located along the Rocky River should continue to be cautious as waters are expected to continue to rise. River levels in the northern part of Cabarrus County should crest within 2 hours. River levels in the southern part of the county are expected to crest within 2- to 10-hours after that.
There have been a total of 14 swift water rescues involving motorists. No injuries are reported. Motorists should continue to use caution and not attempt to cross areas with standing water.
Many school children are out of school today. Parents are asked to prevent children from playing in standing water due to possible water contaminants and the possibility of sudden rushing water.
In addition to Harrisburg, shelters also are open at the Cannon Memorial YMCA in Kannapolis and at Concord Fire Stations No. 3, No.7 and No. 8.
Two building collapses are being investigated:
- A commercial property at 625 Main Street in Concord experienced a roof collapse
- A home at 356 Dayvault Avenue moved off its foundation
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| Photos by Jen Carter Rushing water from Cold Water Creek spilled into fields surrounding the creek bed engulfing the Hayes Soccer Complex on 73 on Wednesday afternoon. |
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Photo by Gena Smith
George Thomas shuffles through some textbooks at the RCCC bookstore as the Philip Morris USA cigarette machine operator prepares to go back to school.
Philip Morris workers hit the books, brace
for shutdown
By GENA SMITH
gena.smith@concordstandard.com
MIDLAND — A 23-year-old son sits on a plaid couch looking at a yearbook contemplating his father's future.
"These poor people. They're all going to lose their jobs, every last one of them," said Aaron Thomas. He passed the Philip Morris yearbook off to his older brother. "Here you go, I've had enough depression."
George Thomas was in the first group of production employees hired in 1982 before the 2.4 million square-foot Philip Morris plant opened a year later. The plant, which sits on 2,100 acres in Concord will close, officials say, in 2010.
Thomas, a cigarette machine operator, said he's leaning on his faith to help him cope with losing the job he's had for more than 26 years.
Resources available for Philip Morris workers
By GENA SMITH
gena.smith@concordstandard.com
On June 26, 2007, Philip Morris announced it would close its Concord plant. At that time, the company had over 2,000 employees, 500 salaried and about 1,900 hourly.
The writing on the wall, according to past published articles when Concord won the bid for $200 million upgrades to the plant in 2005, was that the Richmond plant would close and come to Concord.
But it didn't. Some employees chose to transfer to Richmond, and some chose to stay. Some were laid off. Officials say by 2010, the Concord plant will close its doors. The economy may suffer. But both the company and the local community college say resources are available for those affected.
We have a winner!
Do you routinely visit the Standard's website at www.concordstandard.com?
No?
Well, look what you've been missing!
This week we launched our first-ever caption contest with the photo at right of Concord Mayor Scott Padgett and Bruton Smith, owner of Speedway Motorsports Industries, taken at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new zMax Dragway last week.
The winner wishes to remain anonymous, so if you want to claim bragging rights, just tell everyone it was you! We won't contradict you.
Meanwhile, we want to do more fun stuff like this in the newspaper and on our website. If you have suggestions, give us a shout. Email your photos, contest ideas, grocery lists, manifestos, story tips and anything else of interest to beth.feeback@concordstandard.com.
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| Photo by Jen Carter Standard Staff Writer Gena Smith prepares for her ride at zMAX Dragway. |
What is it like to speed down
zMAX Dragway?
The Standard's own Gena Smith and Scott Akanewich can tell you.
Read Gena and Scott's accounts of the ride and check out video exclusively on the Standard website.
Find out more about open house that was held at the new drag strip on our motorsports page!
The first event at zMAX Dragway is the NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 11-14. Visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway website for more information at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
