Local/County

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.

Acme-McCray will lay off 200 workers at Siler City plant
[Jun. 30, 2005] Acme-McCrary Corporation of Asheboro announced that 200 workers at its Siler City plant will be pink-slipped when the facility is shut down later this summer. Some of those employees will be offered some of the 50 new jobs the company is creating at its Asheboro facility.

Two raccoons test positive for rabies in Chatham County
[Jun. 30, 2005] Chatham County Animal Control sent two raccoons to the state public health lab last week and both tested positive for rabies. These raccoons were located in the Goldston area and south of Siler City. By Carmine Rocco

Problems at water plant limits water supply
[Jun. 29, 2005] Residents in northern Chatham County are being asked temporarily to turn off the tap when bathing, brushing teeth and washing dishes, and to avoid washing cars and watering lawns. Mechanical problems at Chatham County's water treatment plant are limiting how much water is available to customers east of the Haw River and north of U.S. 64.

Wreck on US 64 closed road and prompted evacuation
[Jun. 29, 2005] At 3:25 p.m. today a truck loaded with explosive materials wrecked on U.S. 64 on the west side of Siler City in front of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. The potentially explosive materials were off-loaded from the scene and residents that were evacuated as a precautionary measure are allowed to return home at this time.

Whooping cough strikes mother and child
[Jun. 27, 2005] Chatham County's first two cases of whooping cough of the year were reported last week. A mother and her infant were diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough, which can cause such bad coughing that it can become difficult for babies to eat, drink or breathe.

Local church members spend week volunteering in Arkansas
[Jun. 23, 2005] Seven people from Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Pittsboro, N.C., and Woodhaven Baptist Church in Apex spent a week volunteering with Partners in Hope, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, in Helena, Arkansas. By Carla Wynn
Also: Partners in Hope

Chatham Habitat Home Stores: Getting their acts together
[Jun. 16, 2005] For the past two years, patrons of Chatham Habitat for Humanity's Home Stores have had to do a bit of traveling. The "Original" Home Store has been doing business at 467 West Street in Pittsboro, where its aisles have been crammed with household goods, furniture, and appliances. Meanwhile, " Home Store Too", which opened in 2003, has been selling building supplies, light fixtures, hardware, and plumbing fixtures at its rented quarters on Salisbury Street. By Ruth Leopold