December 2020 - Kannapolis Matters

COVID-19 Testing

DECEMBER 2020

Cabarrus and Rowan counties have COVID-19 testing sites scheduled for the month of December. Anyone experiencing fever, cough and shortness of breath should consider getting tested. Find testing locations, dates and times at www.kannapolisnc.gov/covid19.

Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express Underway Now at Village Park

T

he City of Kannapolis Christmas Celebration will look different this year. The Grinch (COVID) has impacted our usual holiday events but we are working with our community partners to ensure we are able to celebrate the holidays in a safe and healthy manner.

Join us from through December 30 at the Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express located at Village Park, 700 West C Street. We have added more lights – we have more than 250,000, and fun for you and your family to enjoy. Admission to the park and viewing of the lights is free.

The Winterland Express train runs every evening until December 30 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) from 6-9 p.m. Sundays – Thursdays, and from 6 – 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Ride the train through the park and count down the 12 Days of Christmas as you view unique holiday light displays.

This year you will need to make a reservation and pay in advance to ride the Winterland Express. Reserve a row on the train for $6. A row can typically hold three children or two adults with a maximum of three people per row. There THE CITY OF KANNAPOLIS 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 www.kannapolisnc.gov

Continued on page 3

Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis), Instagram @KannapolisNC, LinkedIn (linkedin. com/company/cityofkanapolis), Nextdoor (nextdoor.com/Kannapolisnc.gov) and Twitter @Kannapolis for regular updates and more ideas for fun.

Kannapolis Fire Department Begins New Innovative Accident Scene Safety Program The Kannapolis Fire Department has launched an innovative accident scene safety program. This initiative is designed to protect police, fire, EMS personnel and others who are responding to accidents or incidents in high-speed and heavy-traffic areas such as the interstate, highways or other unsafe roadways. This program will also protect people who may have vehicles that are disabled or damaged in an accident.

The program involves four key components: signage, lights, portable speed bumps and shielding.

“Over the last several years we have noticed more and more incidents where emergency personnel have been injured while working accident scenes or assisting disabled motorists. Most recently, the Miller’s Ferry Fire Department and the

North Carolina Highway Patrol have had people hurt and equipment destroyed because other motorists are not paying attention, do not move over or slow down when they approach an emergency scene,” said Kannapolis Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff.

“Kannapolis has been fortunate to not have incidents where emergency personnel have been hurt at a scene and we want to ensure we continue to be incident-free. We hope that this new initiative will keep us safe while we work.”

Fire department staff have placed portable deployable speed bumps and pop-up signage on all fire trucks that typically respond to accident scenes. These easyto-carry portable devices can be deployed within 30 seconds to help control and slow down traffic flow.

As soon as fire department staff arrive on a call they will “shield” the accident scene by parking fire trucks at various angles and distances away from the accident in order for motorists to have more time to prepare to slow down before they reach the incident. They will then deploy the speed humps and pop-up signs.

New lights with different color schemes have also been installed on fire trucks.

Using these new lights will hopefully attract the attention of motorists, again helping motorists recognize that they should move over and slow down.

Kannapolis Fire Department personnel are also educating people on North Carolina’s “Move Over” Law. This law requires motorists to approach cautiously when

an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the roadway with its lights flashing. Motorists must change lanes away from the emergency vehicle on a multilane highway or slow down on a two-lane highway, and safely. Motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed. G.S. 20-157 (f).

“We will work to educate motorists on North Carolina’s ‘Move Over’ Law. Our message is simple – slow down, move over and pay attention. Our most valuable asset is our people and the people we are helping at an accident scene. We need everyone to be alert and cautious on our roadways so we can all stay safe,” Chief Winecoff further stated.

For more information on North Carolina’s “Move Over” Law, visit www.ncdps.gov.

Continued from page 1

will be nine rows available per train ride.

If there are any unsold rows per train ride, they will be sold each night at the Village Park ticket office on a first-come basis.

This reservation process allows us to plan appropriately for every train ride and to be as safe as possible. Social distancing and masks are required. The train will run every 15 minutes. This allows staff time to appropriately sanitize the train between rides. Make your reservations now, as seating is limited, by clicking this link – www.kannapolisnc.gov/christmas.

Favorite activities such as making s’mores around the fire pit and listening to the Singing Bears perform return as usual.

Again this year, kids of all ages will be able to visit Santa in his studio each night.

However, children will not be able to sit on Santa’s lap (We do not want him to be sick and unable to travel on Christmas Eve). You will be able to take a free photo with him.

The model train display and carousel will not be part of this year’s event due to indoor mass gathering COVID restrictions.

COVID health guidelines will be followed at each activity location.

Masks, social distancing and hand washing are required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Christmas Parade – Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions there will not be a Christmas Parade. We expect the Christmas Parade to return in 2021. For more information, visit www.kannapolisnc.gov/christmas.

Only Rain Down the Drain The City of Kannapolis would like to remind residents and businesses that only stormwater should flow into storm drains. Dumping pollutants such as construction runoff, fats, greases, fertilizers, car soaps and dog waste can degrade our local water quality. Storm drains do not lead to a water treatment facility. They lead directly to clean water sources that residents use for recreation, fishing and drinking.

Please be aware of the impact your actions can have on stormwater. Harmless tasks like washing the car or watering the lawn can have lasting effects on our water supply.

Please dispose of items properly to prevent pollution. Remember – only rain down the drain.

Kannapolis Fire Department Begins New Innovative Accident Scene Safety Program The Kannapolis Fire Department has launched an innovative accident scene safety program. This initiative is designed to protect police, fire, EMS personnel and others who are responding to accidents or incidents in high-speed and heavy-traffic areas such as the interstate, highways or other unsafe roadways. This program will also protect people who may have vehicles that are disabled or damaged in an accident.

The program involves four key components: signage, lights, portable speed bumps and shielding.

“Over the last several years we have noticed more and more incidents where emergency personnel have been injured while working accident scenes or assisting disabled motorists. Most recently, the Miller’s Ferry Fire Department and the

North Carolina Highway Patrol have had people hurt and equipment destroyed because other motorists are not paying attention, do not move over or slow down when they approach an emergency scene,” said Kannapolis Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff.

“Kannapolis has been fortunate to not have incidents where emergency personnel have been hurt at a scene and we want to ensure we continue to be incident-free. We hope that this new initiative will keep us safe while we work.”

Fire department staff have placed portable deployable speed bumps and pop-up signage on all fire trucks that typically respond to accident scenes. These easyto-carry portable devices can be deployed within 30 seconds to help control and slow down traffic flow.

As soon as fire department staff arrive on a call they will “shield” the accident scene by parking fire trucks at various angles and distances away from the accident in order for motorists to have more time to prepare to slow down before they reach the incident. They will then deploy the speed humps and pop-up signs.

New lights with different color schemes have also been installed on fire trucks.

Using these new lights will hopefully attract the attention of motorists, again helping motorists recognize that they should move over and slow down.

Kannapolis Fire Department personnel are also educating people on North Carolina’s “Move Over” Law. This law requires motorists to approach cautiously when

an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the roadway with its lights flashing. Motorists must change lanes away from the emergency vehicle on a multilane highway or slow down on a two-lane highway, and safely. Motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed. G.S. 20-157 (f).

“We will work to educate motorists on North Carolina’s ‘Move Over’ Law. Our message is simple – slow down, move over and pay attention. Our most valuable asset is our people and the people we are helping at an accident scene. We need everyone to be alert and cautious on our roadways so we can all stay safe,” Chief Winecoff further stated.

For more information on North Carolina’s “Move Over” Law, visit www.ncdps.gov.

Continued from page 1

will be nine rows available per train ride.

If there are any unsold rows per train ride, they will be sold each night at the Village Park ticket office on a first-come basis.

This reservation process allows us to plan appropriately for every train ride and to be as safe as possible. Social distancing and masks are required. The train will run every 15 minutes. This allows staff time to appropriately sanitize the train between rides. Make your reservations now, as seating is limited, by clicking this link – www.kannapolisnc.gov/christmas.

Favorite activities such as making s’mores around the fire pit and listening to the Singing Bears perform return as usual.

Again this year, kids of all ages will be able to visit Santa in his studio each night.

However, children will not be able to sit on Santa’s lap (We do not want him to be sick and unable to travel on Christmas Eve). You will be able to take a free photo with him.

The model train display and carousel will not be part of this year’s event due to indoor mass gathering COVID restrictions.

COVID health guidelines will be followed at each activity location.

Masks, social distancing and hand washing are required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Christmas Parade – Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions there will not be a Christmas Parade. We expect the Christmas Parade to return in 2021. For more information, visit www.kannapolisnc.gov/christmas.

Only Rain Down the Drain The City of Kannapolis would like to remind residents and businesses that only stormwater should flow into storm drains. Dumping pollutants such as construction runoff, fats, greases, fertilizers, car soaps and dog waste can degrade our local water quality. Storm drains do not lead to a water treatment facility. They lead directly to clean water sources that residents use for recreation, fishing and drinking.

Please be aware of the impact your actions can have on stormwater. Harmless tasks like washing the car or watering the lawn can have lasting effects on our water supply.

Please dispose of items properly to prevent pollution. Remember – only rain down the drain.

COVID-19 Testing

DECEMBER 2020

Cabarrus and Rowan counties have COVID-19 testing sites scheduled for the month of December. Anyone experiencing fever, cough and shortness of breath should consider getting tested. Find testing locations, dates and times at www.kannapolisnc.gov/covid19.

Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express Underway Now at Village Park

T

he City of Kannapolis Christmas Celebration will look different this year. The Grinch (COVID) has impacted our usual holiday events but we are working with our community partners to ensure we are able to celebrate the holidays in a safe and healthy manner.

Join us from through December 30 at the Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express located at Village Park, 700 West C Street. We have added more lights – we have more than 250,000, and fun for you and your family to enjoy. Admission to the park and viewing of the lights is free.

The Winterland Express train runs every evening until December 30 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) from 6-9 p.m. Sundays – Thursdays, and from 6 – 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Ride the train through the park and count down the 12 Days of Christmas as you view unique holiday light displays.

This year you will need to make a reservation and pay in advance to ride the Winterland Express. Reserve a row on the train for $6. A row can typically hold three children or two adults with a maximum of three people per row. There THE CITY OF KANNAPOLIS 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 www.kannapolisnc.gov

Continued on page 3

Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis), Instagram @KannapolisNC, LinkedIn (linkedin. com/company/cityofkanapolis), Nextdoor (nextdoor.com/Kannapolisnc.gov) and Twitter @Kannapolis for regular updates and more ideas for fun.