Web Run

Chatham political group forms
[Dec. 17, 2006] Three new commissioners were elected to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners this November, and while their supporters are rejoicing, a newly formed political action group says they'll be carefully watching the board's actions. The Chatham Conservative Voice has been holding meetings since the election. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Area said to be haunted by the devil draws tourists, the curious
[Aug. 15, 2006] No one knows exactly how or when the Devil's Tramping Grounds got its reputation. All anyone can say is that the 40-foot diameter circle of (nearly) bare earth in southeastern Chatham County is pure evil. But exactly what kind of evil is anyone's guess. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Women's business group provides networking, advice
[Aug. 2, 2006] The Pittsboro Business Women's Group meets twice a month, and its members come from all over Chatham County and surrounding areas to make contacts with their fellow businesswomen. At Tuesday morning's meeting at the Chatham Mortgage office in downtown, more than a dozen women showed up, and each had a chance to promote her business and ask questions about others'. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

United Way to review funding request
[Aug. 1, 2006] The Chatham County United Way may reinstate funding to the Hispanic Liaison, a nonprofit organization the agency had denied support to earlier this summer. The United Way had determined the Siler City-based Hispanic Liaison's operating expenses were more than the maximum the organization allowed, said Dina Reynolds, the county United Way's executive director. However, officials from the nonprofit said they'd resubmit forms showing the Hispanic Liaison complied with the United Way's rules -- prompting the organization to reconsider, Reynolds said Monday. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

United Way to give group funds
[Aug. 1, 2006] he United Way of Chatham County has reconsidered and agreed to fund a local Latino-advocacy group.
But it won't release the money until the Hispanic Liaison can show that salaries are less than 25 percent of its annual budget. Ilana Dubester, the Hispanic Liaison's executive director, said the decision is good news but problematic. The agency's annual audit for fiscal 2005-2006 won't take place until October, as it does every year. That means the group will have to go without $20,000 in United Way money until then, she said. The grant would have started July 1. By WEB RUN - N&O

Tour points out needs at Northwood High School
[Jul. 12, 2006] A group of parents, school officials in community members tromped through the halls of Northwood Tuesday night to experience exactly what the three-decade-old high school had to offer. Every inch of peeling paint, every rust stain and every under stocked classroom was examined by the group. Yet, despite their stated purpose -- which was to find room for improvement in the aging school -- the tour-goers remained upbeat. Northwood was designed for 700 students and now exceeds that core capacity by more than 300. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

Parents target Northwood High School's condition
[Jul. 12, 2006] Parents and community leaders toured Northwood High School on Tuesday night, pointing out the warped and stained ceiling tiles, the moldy carpet dotted with trash and dead bugs, and the grimy school bathrooms. The group of about 50 people were frustrated to see the state of their children's school, and they vowed to take matters into their own hands. By WEB RUN - N&O

Orange, Chatham might get new judge
[Jul. 6, 2006] If the General Assembly formally passes its budget this week as expected, the courts in Orange and Chatham counties will be the beneficiaries of a new district judge. With an eye on always busy court dockets, the Legislature intends to fund 17 new district-court judges throughout North Carolina. District 15-B, which includes Orange and Chatham, was high on the list as needing another judge. District 15-B now has four district court judges -- Chief Judge Joe Buckner, Charles Anderson, Alonzo Coleman and Pat DeVine. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun

State, local governments agree on Haw River Trail
[Jul. 5, 2006] The state and nine local governments have reached a formal agreement to put the Haw River Trail, a hiking and paddle trail, across five counties in the Triad area. The project would serve hikers, campers, boaters and paddlers from the Haw River State Park that's being created on the Guilford-Rockingham county line to the river's terminus in Chatham County. By WEB RUN - N&O

UNC Hospitals taking over as Chatham preps $26M facility
[Jun. 28, 2006] University of North Carolina Hospitals will be taking over the management of Chatham Hospital this fall, just as the Siler City hospital prepares to break ground on a new $26 million facility. Chatham's board of directors last year weighed whether to spend $12 million to overhaul the hospital's operating rooms and bring its facilities up to code or start from scratch. It opted for the latter, citing a variety of problems with the existing 56-year-old structure and its location. By WEB RUN - Triangle Business Journal

Soft rain spares Chatham County any major flooding
[Jun. 28, 2006] Rain drops fell with a gentle pitter, patter Tuesday afternoon. They soaked sidewalks, filled puddles, and forced drivers to use their windshield wipers. But more important is what the droplets did not do. "We appreciate rain," said Chatham County Manager Charlie Horne, "but thankfully there's been no flooding." By WEB RUN - News14

Pittsboro development tabled
[Jun. 28, 2006] Mayor Randy Voller had to break a tie when the town's Board of Commissioners split over whether to send designs for Pittsboro Commons to the Planning Board. The American Asset Corp., the firm behind Raleigh's sweeping Brier Creek development, wants to build a grocery store-anchored shopping center at U.S. 15-501 and U.S. 64. By WEB RUN - N&O

Eyesore's days may be numbered
[Jun. 27, 2006] Wild, waist-high weeds and Queen Anne's Lace have overtaken much of the Five Oaks Mobile Home Park. So has talk that the ramshackle trailer park will be leveled to make room for Pittsboro's next shopping center. A major developer wants the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners to rezone 50 acres the trailers sit on -- across from Northwood High School at U.S. 15/501 and U.S. 64 -- from residential to commercial use to build a 191,500-square-foot, grocery-store-anchored shopping center called Pittsboro Commons. By WEB RUN - N&O

Pittsboro questions water plan
[Jun. 26, 2006] A recent decision by the county to spend more than $32 million on water has Pittsboro town officials asking why they were left out of planning. Although the county currently meets its residents' water demands, an influx of new developments over the next 10 years could exceed the current capacity. After exploring several options, the county recently approved a budget that included $5 million for the first stage of installing infrastructure to bring in water from Harnett County. By WEB RUN - Herald-Sun