VOLUME 146 ISSUE 37 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Chatham County’s unemployment drops slightly The county’s unemployment rate decreased for the month of September, both from the previous month and from the same time period last year. Stanly’s 2.8% unemployment rate for September — 9th lowest across all 100 NC counties — was down 0.2% from a year ago, and 0.3% from the prior month. That translates to an estimated 1,074 of the county’s 38,789-strong total workforce being unemployed during the month. The unemployment rates, which are not seasonally adjusted for hiring trends like farming or holidays, decreased in 98 of North Carolina’s counties in September 2023 and increased in two. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6% while Swain and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 2.5%. The number of workers employed statewide increased in September by 53,039 to 5,134,777, while those unemployed decreased by 18,714 to 170,391. Since September 2022, the number of workers employed statewide increased by 142,319, while those unemployed decreased by 7,967. The county-level unemployment rates were released Nov. 1.
Randolph County approves Veterans Treatment Court Project Randolph County is adopting the Veterans Treatment Court Project as an alternative to incarceration for veterans who run afoul of the law. The program is designed to help military vets and service members who end up in court due to substance use, mental health disorders or trauma. The five-phase, 16 to 24-month program provides eligible vets with access to resources and treatments tailored to their needs. The process includes assessments of substance abuse, mental health, and housing needs, followed by a comprehensive case management plan. Participants will be required to make bi-weekly court appearances, meet with coordinators, and submit to random urine drug screens.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Leaving it all on the field Northwood junior Isaiah Blair secures a catch while a pair of Louisburg defenders go flying. Blair had two touchdowns for the Chargers, but it wasn’t enough. Northwood fell to Louisburg 46-43 in a season-ending playoff loss.
Wolfspeed reports investment losses, focuses on new Siler City plant U.S. FOREST SERVICE HANDOUT
The Collett Ridge Fire burns in the mountains a few miles south of Andrews.
Officials in North Carolina declare state of emergency as wildfires burn hundreds of acres The Associated Press HE N DER SON V IL L E — Officials have declared a state of emergency in a western North Carolina community where a wildfire has burned hundreds of acres, some structures and now is threatening dozens of homes. Crews are fighting several separate blazes in forested areas of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky as wide swaths of those states face moderate to severe drought condition s and warmer than normal temperatures. The 431-acre (174-hectare) fire in Henderson County, North Carolina, has destroyed two homes, a cabin and an outbuilding, county officials said in a social media post Sunday that declared a state of emergency. Officials have identified 75 other structures that are threatened and said fire departments are focusing on structure protection while North Carolina Forest Services is focusing on putting in fire lines. Meanwhile, crews are fighting a blaze in Cherokee County that has grown to more than 2,100 acres (850 hectares), but is not threatening structures, the U.S. Forest Service said. The North Carolina For-
est Service issued a burn ban Sunday for 14 counties in the western part of the state due to hazardous forest fire conditions and said it would stay in effect until further notice. “Several counties in Western North Carolina are currently in a severe drought, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions. Because dry conditions are expected to continue this burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly,” the statement said. In Virginia, the state Department of Forestry said a wildfire near Madison County has led officials to encourage some residents to evacuate as crews work to stop the blaze from spreading. That fire had burned nearly 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares) on Sunday, but no structures have been affected and firefighters were installing additional fire lines to maintain that, the agency said. In eastern Kentucky, where conditions were also dry, the top official in Harlan County issued a burn ban and a state of emergency on Sunday, saying there had been six forest fires in the last three days “that has caused a significant strain on See FIRES, page A10
Company is optimistic about the future of its Siler City semiconductor operation By Cooper Metts For Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — Wolfspeed disclosed a net loss of $402.7 million in its first-quarter earnings report for the 2024 fiscal year, despite substantial investments and state incentives aimed at expanding its semiconductor
manufacturing presence in Siler City. North Carolina has extended a state appropriation and a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) to Wolfspeed, potentially worth a combined $133.6 million, with $57.5 million guaranteed. These incentives were offered to encourage the company to establish its manufacturing plant in the area. Wolfspeed recently began hiring for the 1,800 Siler City plant See WOLFSPEED, page A10
Film on Wilmington Massacre sheds light on forgotten history “In the Pines” uses historical fiction to explore the events and impact of the 1898 racial conflict By Ashley White For Chatham News & Record ASHEBORO — The John Locke Foundation held a screening of “In the Pines,” a short film about the Wilmington Massacre of 1898, at the Asheboro Public Library on November 2. Directed by Dugan Bridges, “In the Pines” is a piece of historical fiction following Scarlett Manning, played by Pandora Broadwater, as she shares her memories of the events leading up to the massacre. The younger Scarlett, portrayed by Amara Ayler, navigates the challenges of the time with her friends Ashleigh, played by Corrinne Mica, and Ashleigh’s love interest, Sam, played by John Potvin. The film provides a narrative framework for understanding the often-overlooked Wilmington Massacre. “The purpose was not to be a historical documentary,” explained Greg de Deugd, the creative director of the John Locke Foundation. “It was to get people
interested.” In 1898, Wilmington, N.C., had a racially integrated government, with several black men in office. But following a White Supremacist propaganda campaign, the Democratic Party orchestrated the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history. On November 10, 1898, they killed numerous black citizens and officials, seizing control of what was then North Carolina’s largest city. The exact death toll remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 60 to 250. Potvin, who portrays Sam, emphasized the importance of recognizing these historical events: “It’s an important part of American history, and too often these stories get swept under the rug for no good reason. So to help shine a light on these events, it became See “IN THE PINES”, page A2
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