Did Y’all Hear? A Cabarrus County Podcast

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

 

From the Ashes: The Frank Liske Park Barn

When is a building more than the wood and metal it’s made of?

For thousands, the barn at Frank Liske Park was more than a structure. It was a place where vows were made. Where families reunited. Where milestones were celebrated.

For over 40 years, the old barn served as the icon of Cabarrus County’s crown jewel park. Then, in just a few hours, it was gone.

On this episode of Did Y'all Hear?, we explore the past, present and future of the beloved Frank Liske Park barn. 

GUESTS

Londa Strong, Cabarrus County Active Living and Parks Director

Steve Morris, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners

Barbara Strang, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners 

Lynn Shue, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners

Kyle Bilafer, Cabarrus Deputy County Manager

Jack Rule, Cabarrus County Park Ranger

Lisa Wallace

PRODUCED BY  Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

***AUTHORITIES STILL NEED YOUR HELP***

The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information on the intentionally set fire that destroyed the Frank Liske Park barn. Anyone with information on the crime can call or text anonymously to Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers at 704-932-7463 or visit cabarruscrimestoppers.com. Rewards are possible. 

Unraveling the Mystery of CabCo’s ‘Birth Certificate’

This is a podcast about a place. And there’s no better way to talk about a place than to go back to how it all began. Welcome to Did Y’all Hear? A Cabarrus County Podcast. In this inaugural episode, we’ll unravel the mystery of Cabarrus' founding documents and travel down the sometimes bumpy path to becoming one of North Carolina's 100 counties. 

Along the way, we'll swing by the Cabarrus County Library's Lore Room, and learn the difference between the founding of counties and cities/towns in North Carolina. 

Guests:

Leslie Kesler of the Cabarrus County Library System

David Goldberg, Cabarrus County Deputy County Attorney

Learn more about the Lore Room here: https://www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Library/Local-History-Resources or call 704-920-2061.

Host:

Dominique Clark, with a little help from Jonathan Weaver, Jarrett Glass, Tiffany Powell and Kasia Thompson