ROCKWELL — A 26-year veteran of the Kannapolis Police Department has opened a private investigation agency.
Rockwell native Kay Linker retired from the Kannapolis Police Department with 26 years of service, including 25 years as a criminal investigator. Her experience includes investigating murders and other felonies, missing persons, domestic issues, white-collar crime and more.
Linker also has experience conducting background investigations and said she hopes to market her agency to businesses that need such a service.
Linker Investigative Services is a full-service agency. Contact Linker at 704-202-3012 or kaylinker79@gmail.com. The company’s website is www.kaylinkerpi.com .
KANNAPOLIS — Kannon Creek Assisted Living celebrated National Assisted Living Week earlier this month with a weeklong celebration and balloon release.
Each department wore a specific color and performed a song throughout the week, which culminated with a rainbow celebration featuring rainbow cake and sherbet.
As part of the festivities, employees voted for two Happiness Heroes — resident David Horton and office manager Lynn Goins.
Kannapolis Mayor Bob Misenheimer read a proclamation at the event.

SALISBURY — Power Curbers Inc. invites visitors to its Salisbury headquarters to learn more about advanced lean manufacturing techniques as part of Manufacturing Day.
From 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Power Curbers will offer tours of the manufacturing facility at 727 Bendix Drive. Power Curbers staff will be on hand to answer questions.
A leading manufacturer of concrete paving equipment, Power Curbers has been practicing lean manufacturing principles for more than 10 years.
Parts move from cutting and bending and down the line through welding, power-washing, painting and final assembly on an assortment of carts and buggies, which allow for easier transport through the facility and less time handling materials.
A color scheme carried throughout the manufacturing area helps distinguish which pieces are for each of the major value streams: machines, molds and replacement parts.
To learn more, call 704-636-5871 or visit www.powercurbers.com.
Thorlo also will welcome the public for Manufacturing Day, giving tours of sock-making plants in Statesville and Rockwell.
The Rockwell plant at 319 Link St. will open from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, and the Statesville plant at 2210 Newton Drive will open from 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
To sign up for a tour of either Thorlo plant, call Jennifer Crawford at 704-902-0617.

SALISBURY — A new tobacco shop has opened near Harris Teeter.
Alexander Tobacco is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 850 Jake Alexander Boulevard West. Reach the shop by calling 704-637-0206.
SALISBURY — Steve Arey, manager of Biomedical Equipment Supply Technicians of Rowan LLC, is the owner and designer of a new piece of quality control medical equipment, the P+ X-ray QA Test Phantom.
Arey has published articles about radiation safety and the effectiveness of using X-ray phantoms for preventing unnecessary radiation exposure. In 1990, he became the first certified radiological equipment specialist in North Carolina and the 105th internationally.
Arey said he created the equipment because he has seen a shift in the ways in which x-rays are performed.
KANNAPOLIS — The N.C. Research Campus has two new ready-to-go laboratory spaces entering construction and slated to open in early 2014 on the third floor of the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory building.
The first ready-to-go laboratory space opens this fall with tenants that include a start-up biotech company developing a diagnostic product related to diabetes, General Mills and Carolinas Medical Center. The labs are each 1,500 square feet and include administrative areas, bench tops, fume hoods, sinks and storage.
Eighty percent of the future lab space is already committed.
“We have so many scientists and companies that are interested in the NCRC,” Vice President of Business Development Clyde Higgs said. “Our ready-to-go labs give them a choice of space that is flexible and helps them manage costs and gives them access to all of the scientific collaborators on campus.”
Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.