Did Y’all Hear? A Cabarrus County Podcast

From Bach to Ballots: Directing the 'Super Bowl' of Elections

Carol Soles is a Blizzard-makin’, Bach-playin’, cake-bakin’, bankruptcy advisin’ head of a very important County department. That importance is particularly so this year as she oversees the local process for the presidential election (and plenty of other important local races.) 

Carol calls it her department’s "Super Bowl." You know it as the 2024 General Election. 

On this episode, we talk with Carol about her winding path to becoming Elections Director. Then we get the inside scoop from Carol and other team members on what YOU need to know for Election 2024.

Get a wealth of voting information and resources at cabarruscounty.us/elections or call 704-920-2860. For statewide information, visit www.ncsbe.gov.

GUESTS:

Carol Soles, Elections Director

Wyatt Newsome, Deputy Elections Director

Irma Carrasquillo-Carballo, Elections Coordinator

HOST:

Dominique Clark

PRODUCED BY :

Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

Turning the Page: The County Jail Literacy Program

On this episode of Did Y'all Hear?, we're going behind bars at the Cabarrus County Detention Center to explore an inspiring collaboration among the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Cabarrus County Library System and a dedicated group of volunteers.

Together, they're staging a literacy program that transforms some inmates, providing them with the hope and skills they need to reintegrate into society.  

As Inmate Program Coordinator Charlotte Windley says: "They just need that one little light to let them know somebody cares." 

HOST:

Dominique Clark

GUESTS:

Cabarrus County Sheriff's Capt. Joel Wallace

Cabarrus County Sheriff's Inmate Program Coordinator Charlotte Windley

Cabarrus County Library Literacy Services Coordinator Aaron Clay

Volunteers Lallie Harling-Cummings and Tom Brown

Inmates Melissa, Ashley, Sheila, Kimberly, Corey and Paul

Secrets of the Stones: The St. Stephens Park Rock Wall Mystery

^{You’ll find plenty of interesting things on the 600-plus acres of diverse land off St. Stephens Church Road. The site near Mt. Pleasant will be the home of a new County nature park. It offers a variety of unique natural features.}

^{But something else has drawn interest, and it’s not so natural: Several hundred feet of meticulously stacked stone walls. The structures have puzzled County workers and residents.} 

^{There are plenty of questions, but two things are clear: Whoever built those walls put in a lot of time. And they did a great job—the walls have stood the test of time.} 

^{We went on a field trip to see the walls firsthand (photo below), then sat down with CabCo team members and property neighbors to get some answers to the St. Stephens Rock Wall Mystery.  If you can help us with the mystery, email host Dominique Clark at daclark@cabarruscounty.us.} 

^GUESTS: 

^{Jacob Wentink, Active Living and Parks Program Manager}

^{Daniel McClellan, Senior Resource Conservation Specialist}

^{Richard Earnhardt, Cabarrus resident}

^{Leona Brown, Cabarrus resident}

^{HOSTED BY:}

^{Dominique Clark} 

^{PRODUCED BY:} 

^{Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach}

Opening Doors to Hope: CabCo's Focus on Behavioral Health

As Cabarrus County enters a new era of behavioral health care, we're detailing the collaborative journey that led us to this stage. From discussions about the County's Behavioral Health Department to a first look at the "continuum of care" planned for the Regional Behavioral Health Center, this episode explores how CabCo is clearing a path forward for those struggling with mental health. 

HELP IS AVAILABLE

If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis, free, confidential help is available 24/7. Trained crisis counselors can be reached at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or 1-800-273-8255. 

Other resources:

Mental Health America of Central Carolinas: https://mhaofcc.org/

NAMI: https://www.nami.org/affiliate/north-carolina/nami-cabarrus/www.nami.org

Partners' 24/7 Help Line: 888-235-4673

Atrium Health 24/7 Behavioral Health Hotline: 704-444-2400

Daymark 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 877-492-2785

 

GUESTS:  

Jim Love, Mental Health America Storyteller and Kannapolis resident 

Steve Morris, Cabarrus County Commissioner

Aalece Pugh, Assistant County Manager 

Kamilah McKissick, Behavioral Health Director 

 

HOST: 

Dominique Clark

 

PRODUCED BY:

Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

 

INTERVIEW: Becoming—and staying—a homeowner with Prosperity Unlimited's Louise Mack

Prosperity Unlimited's Louise Mack has more than three decades of experience helping folks achieve the dream of homeownership. Her mantra: Get the math right and prosperity will follow.

We sat down with Louise to talk about her organization's origins and goals (1:16), then got her thoughts on financial literacy (5:37), budgeting (7:04), considerations to make before a home purchase (8:56), current challenges potential homeowners face (10:01), steps in the homebuying process (10:40) and resources for maintaining financial balance following a home purchase (18:44). Then we discuss how to get involved with Prosperity Unlimited (20:32), an upcoming homeownership event (22:27) and a NEW down payment assistance program (24:12) before ending with client stories, good and bad (26:11). 

Prosperity Unlimited is a Kannapolis-based organization that provides a variety of homebuying and financial literacy programs. The organization is a recipient of Cabarrus County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Recovery Grant program.

UPCOMING HOMEOWNERSHIP EVENT

Prosperity Unlimited is staging a workshop called Getting to "Yes" For Your Home Purchase. The event will be held on April 20, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bethel Enrichment Center, 2474 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. in Kannapolis.

Participating sponsors include First Citizens Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, SouthState Bank and Pinnacle Bank and supporting organizations include Bank of America, Truist Bank and Self-Help Credit Union. 

Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZH3LZ66

For more information or to get help, call 704-933-7405 or email education@prosperitycdc.org. 

Host: Dominique Clark

Produced by: Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

Festive Feasts: The New Year’s Day Menu with Cabarrus Cooperative Extension

On New Year's Day, what's on your plate? In this episode, we explore New Year's Meal traditions, from collards and cornbread to black-eyed peas and pork. We'll sample the New Year's meal, discover its local connections and learn why it's regarded as a symbol of history, culture and the promise of a fresh start. PLUS: we get educated on the wonders of Pot Likker Soup. 

HOST: Dominique Clark

GUESTS: County Extension Director Tracy LeCompte, Extension Agent Pam Outen, Horticulture Extension Agent Payton Berry

PRODUCED BY: Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach 

Did Y’all Hear That? Hunting the Ghosts of Cabarrus

What makes us love those SCARY stories? The ones that send chills down our spines? The ones that defy explanation and make us think twice about turning off the lights?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why we’re such suckers for a scary tale, but this much is certain: In places with a rich history, there are plenty of them around.  

Such is the case right here in Cabarrus County.

On this episode of Did Y’all Hear, we’re celebrating the spooky and touring the county with some of our favorite neighborhood storytellers: Vickey Cline and Carolyn Carpenter.  

NOTE: If you’re listening at home, lock the doors, dim the lights and grab the sage … we’re going on a ghost hunt.

SEE TIFFANY'S PHOTO

HOST: Dominique Clark

GUESTS: Vickey Cline and Carolyn Carpenter

PRODUCED BY: Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society

CabCo EMS: On the front lines of compassion and care

At its core, the job is about people helping people. 

Each year, they respond to about 40,000 calls. Their cardiac arrest survival rates exceed national standards. They routinely earn the American Heart Association's Mission Lifeline Gold Award. They achieve all that while being the calm in chaos and staying connected to the community. As the department prepares to move into a centrally located, state-of-the-art headquarters and celebrate 50 years of service, we sat down with those who do the job daily.

On this episode, we're on the front lines of compassion and care with Cabarrus County EMS. 

Guests: 

Paramedic Jake Bryant

Paramedic John Beall

Paramedic Tyler Carpenter

Deputy Chief Justin Brines

Deputy Chief Jonathan Maulden 

Community Paramedic Katie Currin

HOST: Dominique Clark

PRODUCED BY: Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach