VOLUME 146 ISSUE 35 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Teen Writing Contest Chatham Community Library invites Chatham County teens ages 12 to 18 to submit an original work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry (up to 3,000 words) in response to one of a series of writing prompts. Submissions can be sent during the month of November to Kathleen Pierce, Youth Services Library Assistant and advisor to the library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB). TAB members will judge the submissions. First, second, and third place winners will be awarded gift cards to McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, sponsored by the Friends of the Chatham Community Library. For more information, individuals may visit the Chatham County Public Libraries website at chathamlibraries.org, or contact Youth Services at youth.services@ chathamlibraries.org.
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The Siler City Wells Fargo branch caught fire this past weekend While working at a car crash on East 5th Street, a Siler City police officer noticed smoke coming from the roof of the bank. Siler City Fire Department units found a working fire, which was extinguished with mutual aid assistance from the Staley and Bonlee fire departments. Fire crews limited fire damage to the bank’s break room, mechanical room, and bathrooms. There was heat, smoke, and water damage to the lobby and office areas, and the branch will be closed for a considerable period of time. The fire is under investigation by Siler City Police and Fire Departments.
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Heritage Day Chatham County Aging Services held a Heritage Day Celebration on Thursday, October 19 at the Pittsboro Center for Active Living. Over 100 participants stepped back in time with food, music, heritage crafts, pioneer games and music from the Original Haw River Crawdaddies.
Another Republican enters North Carolina’s campaign for governor, preparing to spend millions The Associated Press
half of this year and holding more than $3 million entering RALEIGH — A veteran July, the latest figures availNorth Carolina trial lawyer able. Stein’s campaign raised has entered the Republican almost $6 million during the primary campaign for gover- same period and had over $8 nor, pledging to spend millions million in cash. And Folwell in personal funds toward a revealed in July that he had lent his campaign $1 race that’s already full million. of fellow Republicans While Robinson who got in months ago. has been considered Bill Graham of “We need the GOP frontrunSalisbury, who coma nominee ner, with former peted unsuccessfully President Donald for governor in 2008, who will Trump pledging to said last week he’s try- have the endorse him, some ing again because he GOP officials have considers himself the resources, questioned if his hiscandidate best able discipline tory of comments to break a dominant about LGBTQ+ isstretch of Democrats and sues and other topics in a state where Re- character could hurt his chancpublicans often have needed to es in a general elecan advantage in statedefeat the tion. wide races. Other Republican Democrats have far-left Josh gubernatorial candiserved in the Executive dates include former Mansion uninterrupt- Stein in ed since 1993 save for November.” state legislator Andy Wells and retired a four-year stretch in health care executive the 2010s. DemocratJesse Thomas. Reic Gov. Roy Cooper, Republican cent state Supreme who is term-limited gubernatorial Court Associate Jusand can’t run in 2024, tice Mike Morgan has endorsed Attorney candidate Bill announced his bid General Josh Stein, Graham for the Democratic who entered the race in January and has been the nomination last month. Graham, 62, is a former race’s top fundraiser so far. “We need a nominee who local prosecutor whose workwill have the resources, disci- ing has included suing the pline and character needed to federal government on behalf defeat the far-left Josh Stein of Marines at Camp Lejuene in November,” Graham said and their families who were while releasing a campaign exposed to contaminated kickoff video. “I am that can- drinking water and developed didate, and my campaign will cancer in some cases. He once worked for U.S. Sen. Jesse prove it.” Graham, a personal injury Helms on the Senate Agriculand wrongful death lawyer ture Committee. Graham entered the state’s who’s been involved in other business ventures and philan- public political scene in the thropy, said he’s investing “at mid-2000s, founding North least $5 million of his own re- Carolina Conservatives Unitsources” in the campaign, with ed and leading an effort to cut advertising on statewide tele- the state gasoline tax. Graham finished third vision to begin this week. Official candidate filing begins in the May 2008 GOP guin early December for primary bernatorial primary against then-Charlotte Mayor Pat elections March 5. Such an investment, along McCrory, receiving 9% of the with any traditional campaign vote. Graham’s campaign platdonations, would help him compete financially with GOP form includes eliminating gubernatorial candidates that the local 2% tax on groceries, include Lt. Gov. Mark Rob- creating tax credits for firstinson, State Treasurer Dale time homebuyers, seeking Folwell and former U.S. Rep. the death penalty for fentanyl dealers and human traffickers, Mark Walker. Robinson reported raising and creating a “North Carolina $2.3 million during the first Family Values Commission.”
Chatham County endorses longterm development plan for Moncure The “Plan Moncure” small area plan aims to balance growth and natural resource preservation over the next 20 years. North State Journal PITTSBORO — Moncure, a community in Chatham County, is poised for growth and development following the county Board of Commissioners’ endorsement of a long-term plan last week. The “Plan Moncure” small area plan is part of a county-wide initiative to balance development with the preservation of natural resources. The plan’s roots trace back to the county’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan and evolved with the arrival of the VinFast plant at
the Triangle Innovation Point site in March 2022. The Board of Commissioners led a collaborative planning process, engaging various stakeholders to shape the community’s vision for Moncure in southeastern Chatham County. “We are confident that this carefully crafted plan positions us well to address the future of the Moncure community and ties into Chatham County’s larger picture for growth and development that is tempered by protection of our natural resources and environmental assets,” said Karen Howard, chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. Howard praised the project team for ensuring diverse representation in the planning process. See MONCURE, page A8
Seaforth high school junior earns perfect AP score 96 Chatham County students get top marks By Abby Cavenaugh Chatham News & Record KENDALL ANDERSON, a junior at Seaforth High School, achieved a perfect score on her Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government and Politics exam, placing her among only 48 students globally to do so. This perfect score puts Anderson in the top 0.01% of students worldwide who scored all possible points on the exam. The AP program, provided by the College Board, offers rigorous college-level courses to high school students. These students can earn college credit with a score of 3 or higher. In North Carolina, public high schools
offer 38 AP courses, with exam fees covered for all state public high school students through the North Carolina AP Partnership. North Carolina is one of only 12 states in the U.S. that fully fund AP exams for all public school students. Chatham County Schools students performed well on their AP exams, with 65% of tests taken earning scores of Level 3 or higher versus 59.2% stateSee AP SCORES, page A6
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