Local/County

Will 15-501 EVER be finished?
[Oct. 25, 2005] Construction crews started widening a section of Highway 15-501 from Pittsboro to Chapel Hill in February 2001. Turning the 12.7-mile stretch of two lanes into four lanes from the Highway 64 Bypass in Chatham County all the way to Highway 54 in Chapel Hill was supposed to be completed in 2003, but workers still are not finished with construction. But now the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) pledges that the 15-501 widening project will be completed by the end of the year.

Chatham honors 2005 volunteers
[Oct. 20, 2005] The United Way of Chatham County honored the 2005 Chatham County Outstanding Volunteers. The honorees were Arlene Ash, Chatham Outreach Alliance, Keith Bastow-Cox, Rosie Batcheller, Bertha Bruton, Mary Bullington, Edith Cox, Pauline Eaves, Bob Emery, Gene Galin, Wallace Goldston, Roxane Gwyn, Christian Hackney, Victoria Hackney, Joe Hardister, Bob Hoogstoel, Bill Patchett, Dee Reid, Linda Staley, Nancy Sweet, and Beverly and Jim Wiggins.

Janet Seiz named new Executive Director of ChathamArts
[Oct. 4, 2005] Janet Seiz, an arts historian and community arts advocate with 25 years of experience, is the new Executive Director of ChathamArts, the county arts council. She assumed her duties October 1. By Forrest C. Greenslade
Also: ChathamArts

Deer-motor vehicle crashes set record in 2004
[Oct. 4, 2005] Motor vehicle crashes involving deer remain a serious, growing problem in North Carolina, according to a new University of North Carolina study of data collected statewide during 2004. Chatham County came in seventh with 352 deer accidents. The deer-related crashes in Chatham represented 22.9 percent of the total reported crashes in the county.

2004 deer-motor vehicle crash data for North Carolina counties
[Oct. 4, 2005] Wake County, with 900, had the most deer accidents, which was nearly double the next leading counties, Duplin and Guilford. Chatham County came in seventh with 352 deer accidents.

New Hope Valley Railway plans spooky Halloween train rides
[Sep. 20, 2005] The gentle woodlands of Chatham and Wake Counties turn into some very spooky places the evening of Saturday, October 29th, when the New Hope Valley Railway runs its special Halloween Trains! Many things are afoot in our woods from the Ghost Locomotive to the Headless Brakeman to the Vampire’s Grave to the Witch's Path.
Also: New Hope Valley Railway

C.A.R.E. to gather donations for the orphaned animals of Katrina
[Sep. 9, 2005] Just put one paw in front of the other and your family is all set to join the fun at the Woof-A-Palooza dog walk benefiting Chatham Animal Rescue and Education, Inc. (C.A.R.E.). The 4th Annual Woof-A-Palooza will be held on Saturday, September 17th, 2005, from 10 am to 2 pm, on the campus of Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro, NC. You and your pet will have a howling good time as you enjoy the activities, shopping, contests, demonstrations and refreshments By Karen McMaster
Also: Chatham Animal Rescue and Education

Woof-A-Palooza: Movin' paws for a worthy cause
[Jul. 29, 2005] Just put one paw in front of the other and you're all set to join the fun at the Woof-A-Palooza dog walk benefiting Chatham Animal Rescue and Education, Inc. (C.A.R.E.). The 4th Annual Woof-A-Palooza will be held on Saturday, September 17th, 2005, from 10 am to 2 pm, on the campus of Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro, NC. You and your pet will have a howling good time as you enjoy the activities, contests, demonstrations and refreshments. By Karen McMaster
Also: C.A.R.E.

North Carolina sales tax holiday this Aug. 5-7
[Jul. 28, 2005] G.S. 105-164.13C provides an exemption for certain items of tangible personal property sold between 12:01 A.M. on the first Friday in August and 11:59 P.M. the following Sunday. For 2005, the dates are Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th. Clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item; and computers of $3,500 or less per item will be exempt.
Also: NC Sales Tax Holiday

Progress Energy customers set all-time peak for usage
[Jul. 28, 2005] Progress Energy Carolinas customers, seeking relief from the heat and humidity, set a record for electricity usage Tuesday, and with temperatures at or above 100 degrees today, another peak-demand record is possible. Between 4 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Progress Energy's 1.4 million customers in the Carolinas used an estimated 12,232 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, as cooling systems worked overtime to battle triple-digit temperatures. That figure surpassed the previous record of 12,004 MWh set the morning of Jan. 24 this year. The previous summer peak-demand record was 11,977 MWh set in July 2002.
Also: Progress Energy

Chatham YMCA will open its doors on Monday
[Jul. 25, 2005] The Chatham YMCA fitness “express” facility is scheduled to open in the former Premiere Motorsports complex on Monday, August 1st. The new Chatham YMCA is located at 964 East Street (next to the Pitt Stop Cafe). The Y includes weight and cardio equipment, locker rooms, and a supervised "kidzone" for kids (up to age 5) while their parents work out. By Allen Baddour
Also: Chatham YMCA

Raleigh-Charlotte bus line gets funding
[Jul. 11, 2005] The N.C. Board of Transportation has awarded $41,267 to Carolina Trailways to establish daily bus service between Raleigh and Charlotte. The route will travel along U.S. Highway 64 and N.C. Highway 49, connecting riders to a nationwide bus network via the Raleigh and Charlotte stations. Stops are planned for Siler City and Pittsboro in Chatham County.

Pittsboro man's death likely from exposure
[Jul. 9, 2005] A man with Alzheimer's disease whose body was found in January in the woods near his home likely died of exposure, the state medical examiner's office has determined. In October, Willie "Bill" Headen, 71, walked into the woods off Jack Alston Road and disappeared. After several searches, a 40-member team found his body about 500 yards from his home.

Chatham water plant to be running at full capacity
[Jun. 30, 2005] Chatham County's water treatment plant was expected to be running at full capacity Wednesday evening after being shut down for repairs for the day, but customers should continue conserving water today until the county's water reserves return to normal.