GAINSWave® Treatment in Kannapolis, NC

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Icy roads. Snow plows. Closed businesses. It's a frozen sight Kannapolis hasn’t seen since 2004.

Despite the record-breaking snow, one supermarket stayed open.

What You Need To Know

Esther Carbajal, owner of Cancun Supermarket, says there’s a reason she wouldn’t close.

“I know they need this kind of store open because we sell a lot for food for, a lot of things," she said. "They need it.”

Carbajal lives in Charlotte and travels to Kannapolis each day. When the snow was at its peak Saturday, her normal 30-minute commute turned into two hours.

“I live in Charlotte, but I come here every day last week, too, and this week," she said. "It’s been hard but you have to do it.”

As one of the few places open, she says it’s been difficult to keep shelves stocked. Limes and peppers ran low. Some bins sat empty.

Much of the store’s food is imported from Mexico, adding another layer of uncertainty during winter weather disruptions.

“The bread, you see? Every day we stock, but the people take," she said. "Tortillas stocked every day.”

For Carbajal, staying open isn’t just about business. It’s about service.

“So happy. I stay here for the people. I don’t know, I never think about it. But when I stay here, I do everything for everybody,” she said.

While much of Kannapolis waited for roads to thaw, one set of doors remained open, lights on, register ringing and shelves refilled as quickly as they emptied, serving a community determined to weather the storm together.

Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Charity Baptist Church in Kannapolis, N.C., has dismissed longtime pastor Marty Payton after church leaders recently became aware of “serious allegations of a sexual nature” that occurred prior to his tenure at the church, according to a statement from the church.

The move came after the church was made aware of the allegations, which did not involve individuals in the congregation, according to the statement.

“Charity leaders took immediate action to address the matter, ensure the safety of the congregation, and provide care for all involved,” the statement said. “Marty Payton is no longer on staff at Charity.”

Payton had been on the pastoral staff at Charity Baptist for more than 20 years, according to a since-deleted bio on the church’s website. He joined the staff at Charity in August 2004 as youth pastor and became the church’s senior pastor in August 2010 following retirement of the church’s founding pastor.

Prior to joining the staff at Charity Baptist, Payton served in youth ministry at churches in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana. According to his bio, Payton began serving as youth pastor at Grace Baptist Temple in Salina, Kan., in 1992 after graduating from Bible College. One year later, he moved to Lubbock, Texas, where he served as youth pastor at Lubbock Baptist Temple. He moved to Louisiana in 1995, where he served as youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Monroe, La.

Payton’s bio said he graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo., with a bachelor’s degree in religion with a concentration in missions. He went on to earn a master of divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2011 and a doctor of ministry from Liberty in March 2015, according to his bio.

News of Payton’s dismissal was first reported by The Charlotte Observer.

Following is the church’s full statement:

“Charity Baptist Church was recently made aware of serious allegations of a sexual nature against our pastor, Marty Payton, occurring prior to his tenure at our church. The alleged actions did not include any other individuals in our congregation. Charity leaders took immediate action to address the matter, ensure the safety of the congregation, and provide care for all involved. Marty Payton is no longer on staff at Charity. We grieve with all those impacted by sexual sin and its effects. Our faith in Jesus Christ is unwavering. He offers hope and healing to us all.”

The longtime pastor of a North Carolina Baptist church has been dismissed “after “serious allegations of a sexual nature,” church officials said Thursday.

The allegations against Marty Payton, former senior pastor of Charity Baptist Church in Kannapolis, happened before he joined the church, according to a church statement to The Charlotte Observer.

He previously worked as a pastor in Texas and Louisiana, according to his website.

The church recently became aware of the allegations, according to the statement.

“The alleged actions did not include any other individuals in our congregation,” according to the statement. “Charity leaders took immediate action to address the matter, ensure the safety of the congregation, and provide care for all involved.”

“Marty Payton is no longer on staff at Charity,” the statement said. “We grieve with all those impacted by sexual sin and its effects. Our faith in Jesus Christ is unwavering. He offers hope and healing to us all.”

Church declines to give specifics

Efforts by the Observer to reach Payton and church officials by phone were unsuccessful.

No one responded to a voicemail left on Thursday morning with a phone number for Payton listed in public records.

In a reply to the Observer from the church email account, the person responding said there would be no further comment beyond the official church statement.

Payton was youth pastor at the church from August 2004 to August 2010, when he became senior pastor, according to his LinkedIn bio, which was taken down later Thursday. His website, MartyPayton.com, is down, according to a message on the site, and his Instagram profile is no longer active.

Payton obtained his master of divinity in 2011 and his doctor of ministry in pastoral leadership in 2015, both from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., according to his former LinkedIn page.

More on pastor’s background

An archived version of Payton’s website is available via the Wayback Machine.

He said in his bio that he was born in Texas and moved between Texas and Louisiana before settling in Ruston, Louisiana.

He also wrote that he worked at a church in Salina, Kansas, then in Lubbock, Texas. He then worked as a youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, and also hosted a morning radio show on 88.7FM The Cross, according to the bio.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

North Carolina was hit with another round of winter weather on Saturday. Here's where snowfall totals now stand.

Here's a look at snowfall totals across the state:

NOTABLE TOTALS

COUNTY BY COUNTY SNOW TOTALS IN INCHES

Ashe County

West Jefferson, NC — 5.5

NW Todd, NC — 4.5

WNW Aho, NC — 5

Jefferson, NC — 4

Watauga County

NNW Beech Mountain, NC — 12.5

N Beech Mountain, NC — 8.8

ENE Boone, NC — 3

Surry County

Dobson, NC — 5

WNW Toast, NC — 5

Mount Airy, NC — 4

Stokes County

Walnut Cove, NC — 9

Lawsonville, NC — 8.5

King, NC — 5

W Pinnacle, NC — 2

NE Danbury, NC — 1.8

Yadkin County

East Bend, NC — 8

Forsyth County

S Winston-Salem, NC — 11

N Winston-Salem, NC — 10

S Clemmons, NC — 9

E Walkertown, NC — 8.5

Walkertown, NC — 7.5

S Winston-Salem, NC — 7.5

N Winston-Salem, NC — 7

Clemmons, NC — 6

SE Lewisville, NC — 6.8

Pfafftown, NC — 6

NW Lewisville, NC — 5.5

E Lewisville, NC — 4.3

Davie County

S Mocksville, NC — 6

Cooleemee, NC — 4

Davidson County

Lexington, NC — 16

SW Lexington, NC — 16

SW Thomasville, NC — 15.5

S Thomasville, NC — 13.8

Thomasville, NC — 12

N Thomasville, NC — 9.3

WSW Thomasville, NC — 8.5

SE Thomasville, NC — 7

Denton, NC — 14

SE Welcome, NC — 13

Welcome, NC — 6

Iredell County

ESE Troutman, NC — 12

Troutman, NC — 8

Mooresville, NC — 11

ENE Mooresville, NC — 9.5

NW Mooresville, NC — 8.2

Statesville, NC — 7

Rowan County

China Grove, NC — 14

Rockwell, NC — 12

Faith, NC — 12

Spencer, NC — 12

W Salisbury, NC — 11

Salisbury, NC — 9

NW Enochville, NC — 8

Kannapolis, NC — 14.5

SW Kannapolis, NC — 12.5

N Kannapolis, NC — 12

E Kannapolis, NC — 10

Randolph County

Trinity, NC — 16.2

NNW Archdale, NC — 11.5

S Asheboro, NC — 10

Randleman, NC — 10.5

WSW Asheboro, NC — 9

E Seagrove, NC — 2.5

NNW Archdale, NC — 0.9

Guilford County

SW High Point, NC — 12.8

S Greensboro, NC — 10.9

NW Greensboro, NC — 10

Piedmont Triad Internat, NC — 10.4

Jamestown, NC — 13

E Stokesdale, NC - 12

NNW Jamestown, NC — 11.7

NE Jamestown, NC — 8.3

Jamestown, NC — 2.8

ENE Greensboro, NC — 7

S Summerfield, NC — 6.4

W Glen Raven, NC — 7

NW Greensboro, NC — 4.8

NE Greensboro, NC — 2.3

WNW High Point, NC — 5

SW High Point, NC — 5.7

NW Colfax, NC — 11

Alamance County

NW Graham, NC — 6

NNE Burlington, NC — 6.5

WNW Burlington, NC — 5.8

E Graham, NC — 3.5

Orange County

Hillsborough, NC — 3.5

SW Chapel Hill, NC — 3.3

Chapel Hill, NC — 3.2

NW Chapel Hill, NC — 3.2

E Chapel Hill, NC — 1.5

Fearrington, NC — 1.5

Rockingham County

Mayodan, NC — 9

W Eden, NC — 8.6

NNE Mayodan, NC — 7

Wentworth, NC — 5

S Reidsville, NC — 5.5

SE Stoneville, NC — 4.8

Stoneville, NC — 3.3

Caswell County

ESE Yanceyville, NC — 3.5

RELATED COVERAGE

More weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app

Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace drew hundreds in Kannapolis as they continue their journey toward Washington, D.C.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — By now, chances are your social media feed has been filled with images and videos of Buddhist monks walking mile after mile across America in what’s become known as the Walk for Peace. On Tuesday, that inspiration arrived in Kannapolis — and hundreds of people came out to witness it in person.

The monks are in the middle of a 2,300-mile journey from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., a walk that has already taken them through ten states and more than 1,000 miles on foot. After passing through Charlotte on Monday, their route brought them into Cabarrus County, where crowds gathered to hear their message of peace, mindfulness, and compassion.

Many of those onlookers filled Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, some waiting hours just to catch a glimpse of the monks and listen to them speak.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” one attendee said as the monks arrived.

Among the crowd were visitors who traveled far beyond North Carolina to be part of the moment. A group from West Bloomfield, Michigan, said they made an 11-hour drive, during a snowstorm, just for the chance to see the walk in person.

“We just winged it,” said Cinda Lark, who traveled with friends David Mills and Joe Whalen. “We decided this was our best chance to see them, and we just got in the car and left. We’re really happy to be here.”

The group said they were struck not only by the monks’ endurance, but by the response from the public.

“You can really feel how hungry people are for this message,” Mills said. “It was important for us to be a part of that.”

For many local attendees, the monks’ teachings felt especially timely.

Aruna Patki, a Concord resident and holistic practitioner who had just returned from India days earlier, said witnessing the walk in person was deeply emotional.

“When you’re present, it’s a totally different experience,” Patki said. “Listening online is one thing — but being here, feeling that energy, it brings a lot of emotion. I was crying just thinking about what they’re doing and how much they’re giving to the world.”

Others echoed that sentiment, describing the walk as a rare moment of unity.

“It’s simple — just walking — but it’s so powerful,” said Kannapolis resident Joy Hamilton. “People are looking for peace, for connection, and this brings everyone together.”

After their stop in Cabarrus County, the monks will continue heading north. They are expected to reach the Triad around January 19th or 20th, depending on weather and walking conditions.

Their final destination remains Washington, D.C., where the months-long journey will come to an end, but for many who witnessed the walk in Kannapolis, the impact will last far longer.