Lesa France Kennedy says Kansas may get a second Cup date, if a new casino is okayed

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When Lesa France Kennedy (R, talking with NASCAR president Mike Helton) asks for a Sprint Cup date, she probably won’t get a no from her brother Brian France and uncle Jim France (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for NASCAR) By Mike [email protected] Maybe it’s a case of ‘In your face, Bruton Smith,’ but the NASCAR […]


Angela Hall Jennings – Amherst, VA

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I recently made the mistake of buying my sons camera phones.  A couple of weeks ago I was exasperated with my seventeen year old because he left something at home that we needed on an errand.  He insisted, even swore on my (wishful thinking) future grave, that I had NOT handed him the paper and […]


J.W. Whitehouse – Sebring, FL

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(Scott Hollifield, who often graces this page with his incoherent ramblings, is on vacation.)Before leaving, Scott sponsored a contest to write a replacement column.  I decided to write about my recent trip to the Miami Monkey Jungle.My parents had recently helped me purchase my first car, a well-used 1970 Dodge Charger R/T.  I was cruising […]


Maxine Whitt – Danville, VA

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Beach Carolina Beach or Pleasure Island as it is known, is a wonderful place to go on vacation. We arrived there after a four-hour trip from Virginia and immediately were drawn into the magical world of sheer pleasure (lazing around on our butts doing nothing but eating and lolling in the sand and surf). Our […]


I need another vacation

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Sometimes taking time off means making more work for yourself when you return from the office reprieve, begging the question, ‘Is it worth it?’ Of course it is. Less than 10 minutes back from my vacation and I’m weeding my way through nearly 350 e-mails and a smattering of phone messages. A stack of mail […]


Two Cabarrus deputies honoroed for service

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By Josh [email protected] Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies were honored at the presentation of the annual Pugh Memorial Award on last week. Lt. James Bailey, a 13-year veteran on the force who oversees a patrol division, and deputy Anthony Haynie, who works in the jail division, were presented with a plaque and a $500 reward […]


Officials continue fine-tuning speedway incentives package

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By Eric C. [email protected] and Cabarrus County officials continue to fine-tune the $80 million incentive agreement proposed for Speedway Motorsports Inc. that will make for major road improvements around its Concord racetrack. County Chairman Jay White called the discussions “wordsmithing” the agreement, which must be approved by all three parties — SMI, Concord City Council […]


Schools show progress under state’s accountability model

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By Justin [email protected] of the 102 public schools in Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly counties achieved academic growth in 2007-08 as measured by the state’s accountability model, according to a report released by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Rowan-Salisbury Schools had the best results among the area’s four school systems, with 28 of its 34 […]


Cabarrus ranks high in unclaimed stimulus payments

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By Eric C. [email protected] County residents have $925,200 in unclaimed federal stimulus payments, which were sent out to taxpayers in May and June. With 3,084 residents having not claimed their payments, Cabarrus County ranks 11th in the state. Meg Gray, a policy analyst with the N.C. Budget and Tax Center, said most of the unclaimed […]


Charitable arts group to kick off another performance

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By Josh [email protected] Impact Productions will hold a kickoff meeting Saturday for potential participants in its upcoming musical variety presentation “’Tis The Season of Joy.” The production offers the opportunity to perform with special guest and multiple Grammy award-winning gospel recording artist Larnelle Harris in November.  Areas of participation include a mass choir, vocal ensemble, […]