VOLUME 146 ISSUE 34 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
In-person early voting begins Thursday The one-stop early voting period for Nov. 7 elections across North Carolina begins Thursday, Oct. 19. Voters must show identification in this year’s elections. On the ballot in Chatham County this year are contests for Goldston Gulf Sanitary District Board, Goldston Mayor and Town Commissioner, Town of Cary Mayor and Council, Pittsboro Mayor and Town Council, and SIler City Mayor and Town Council. Chatham County’s early in-person voting location is at the Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 U.S. Highway 64 West Business in Pittsboro. One-stop, in-person early voting ends for November municipal elections on Saturday, Nov. 4.
New names for Chatham County Aging Services locations Chatham County Aging Services has changed the names of its senior centers in Pittsboro and Siler City. The Eastern Chatham and Western Chatham Senior Centers have been renamed the Pittsboro Center for Active Living and the Siler City Center for Active Living. The names are meant to better describe the function and location of the facilities, as part of a broader strategic improvement plan by the Aging Services leadership team.
SRO, Crime Analyst Chosen for CCSO’s October ‘Exemplary’ Honors The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the invaluable contributions of its October Exemplary Employees: School Resource Officer Herbie Stubbs and Crime Analyst Tatjana Carranza. They were selected for their strong commitment and dedication to their roles within the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mike Roberson’s “Exemplary Employee of the Month” program acknowledges employees who consistently demonstrate excellence in their roles. Each month, both a Sworn and a NonSworn employee are selected for recognition.
NEAL ROBBINS | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
North State Journal publisher Neal Robbins tags the Pittsboro Kiwanis Club’s “World Famous” ham biscuit as the best at the fair.
Siler City town council meeting turns heated, mayor moves to fire town manager Town manager survives motion after a referendum to extend the mayoral term was accidentally left off the upcoming election ballot By E.J. Sellers Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — A missing referendum for the upcoming election ballot generated a heated discussion at Siler City town hall during the council’s second monthly meeting on Oct. 16. Town Manager Hank Raper told the North State Journal that they were surprised when they found out the referendum wasn’t included in the ballot. During the meeting, Mayor “Chip” Price questioned Raper about the steps taken by the staff. “Why was there no contact between town staff and the Board of Elections after May 31?” asked Price after reviewing email correspondence between the town clerk and the Chatham County Board of Elections shared in the agenda packet. The mayor insisted on determining who was responsible for the oversight, after everything had been approved months ago, pointing at the town manager for dropping the ball. “Who was responsible for seeing that this referendum was placed on the ballot? Who’s supposed to do that?” he asked. As tension continued to build, a few members of the crowd departed as Mayor Price continued to interrogate the town manager about the timing of disclosures. Raper responded that the meeting seemed the appropriate time to share it with the board. “We worked hard the last couple of weeks to try to remedy the situation and plan to get it on the primary ballot on March 2024, so it will have the same effect as it would have been in the ballot this November,” Raper told the North State Journal. “Election staff reached out Friday and said they would reach out to the School of Government for clarification and get back with us – they did not. I think the staff believed after that they had what they needed to get it added to the ballot.” Commissioner at Large Cynthia Bray, criticized the mayor’s
approach to handling the situation, stating that he was making it a personal issue. “It is going on too long for you trying to break him in front of everybody,” Bray added. The town attorney and the town manager mentioned a few times they might need to go into a closed session to discuss further. Raper stated that employee performance should not be discussed openly in a public meeting. Commissioner Lewis Fadely remarked “The solution cannot be in the past. We made it on the record. I don’t want to point fingers. We can go round and round. I think we made the record official and I think now we need to move forward to get in on the ballots as soon as possible.” After a resolution of intent and timeline schedule for the mayor’s term expansion passed, Mayor Price made a motion to remove the town manager. “I feel the time has come for the board to decide to replace the town manager,” said Price. He asked for comments, then moved for a vote. Three board members voted in favor of letting the town manager go and four voted against it. Raper told the North State Journal that he was “absolutely not expecting that. “Have you ever known of someone almost being terminated from the job because somebody on their staff didn’t send an email? That is not something you wouldn’t typically see in any position... I think people can see that for what it is,” said Raper. The town manager explained that when the emails were sent, the town clerk was out of the office, and the previous town clerk who now supervises her tried to help out by sending the email to the elections staff to get the ball rolling. “All employees report to me, so, I am responsible for what any employee does,” said Raper, who directly supervises 12 department heads and is responsible for the performance of 92 full-time employees. “I think the whole thing last night was unfortunate and it wasn’t necessary, now we have to pick up the pieces and move forward. We got a lot of things happening in Siler City. We need to move the town forward so this can be a successful place for people to bring their families.”
Rediscovering tradition at the N.C. State Fair A trip to the fair is a journey of community, tradition, and the simple joy of a good biscuit By Neal Robbins North State Journal RALEIGH — I made my annual visit to the fair on Monday with my wife, Beth, and our sons, Everett, 13, and James, 8. I’ve been going to the state fair since I can remember going anywhere. I’ve seen it all, tasted it all and walked it all. Each year, we dive into this kaleidoscope of food and fun, chasing the perfect bite amidst laughter and wild rides. With two adventurous boys, the new food choices often match the new rides in terms of excitement. The 2023 N.C. State Fair featured 48 new food offerings, from a colossal shrimp pop (voted best new item by local media and our own A.P. Dillon) to Hungarian chimney cakes (a must-have if you like sweets). It’s always fun to try new things at the fair (or at least see someone else try them - looking at you,
fried butter). But, most seasoned fairgoers have their staples that they just can’t miss. At the top of my list is a ham biscuit. Cary United Methodist Church was the first fair vendor to serve ham biscuits back in 1916. The Apex Lions Club has an extensive following for their ham biscuit, which is part of a larger menu on the main drag at the State Fair. My go-to ham biscuit has always been at the Pittsboro Kiwanis Club booth with its “World Famous” ham biscuits. Since 1964, this booth has been a fixture at the fair, mirroring my theory that a limited menu often leads to perfected offerings. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of Carolina-style hot dogs, I find the best hot dogs at the spots with the fewest options beyond a hot dog and its four accepted condiments (mustard, chili, slaw and onions). The same is true with the Pittsboro Kiwanis Club, where your options are a ham biscuit or nothing when it comes to food items. The Kiwanis Club was my See FAIR, page A3
Dairy ‘Hall of Fame’ farmers say ‘it’s a way of life, not a job’ Three generations of dairy farming earns the Jordan family a spot in the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame By Bob Wachs for Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — It’s been said some things run in families. Apparently that’s true, at least for the Jordan family of Siler City when it comes to a life’s work and an honor surrounding it. Norman Jordan, Jr. and his wife Karen are the third generation to continually milk cows on the family farm on Coleridge Rd. west of town. “My grandfather Claude started in the mid 1920s,” he says, “and my father
said he couldn’t remember not having them.” Now, not only is the farm still in production as the result of being handed down through the years but the history and reputation of its owners have landed them in the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame. The award, presented at this year’s fair, duplicates an honor Norman Jordan, Sr. was given in 1986. N.C. Department of AgriculSee DAIRY, page A3
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