VOLUME 146 ISSUE 46 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
SABA reclassifies as private school Pittsboro’s School of the Arts for Boys Academy has received a new private school certification from the state’s Division of Non-Public Education. The designation means North Carolina’s first charter school specifically for boys will remain in operation, with some two-thirds of enrolled families indicating they will continue in the new private school environment after the school’s charter was rescinded.
Red Cross warns of emergency blood shortage The American Red Cross warns of critically low blood supplies around the country, including in Chatham County, and asks for blood and platelet donors to help. In a press release, the organization warns of the lowest levels of donations in 20 years and says some medical procedures are at risk of being delayed as a result. As always, Type O blood and platelet donations are in the highest need. As a bonus, donors of blood, platelets or plasma in January will be entered to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas this year. A blood drive will take place in Bennet on Friday, Jan. 12, from 12:30 - 5 p.m. at Bennett Baptist Church, 68 Bonlee St. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to make an appointment or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
NCDOT Offers Free Helmets to Promote Bicycle Safety The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is accepting applications for its annual free bicycle helmet giveaway. Targeted at children, the initiative is a project of NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division, aiming to increase helmet usage and promote safe bicycling practices. Organizations statewide are invited to apply to distribute helmets to children in need. Brennon Fuqua, the division’s interim director, emphasized the role of helmets in reducing head injury risks. The application deadline is set for February 9, with options to request 25 to 100 helmets. Applications can be filled out on ncdot.gov. Since its inception in 2007, the initiative has distributed over 66,000 helmets, funded by sales of the “Share the Road” specialty license plate. In 2023 alone, nearly 23,000 helmets were provided to over 280 organizations.
PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
To accommodate the move, Town Offices will be closed on January 11 and 12.
Pittsboro Town Hall relocates to Main Street Station New facility opens January 16; closures announced during transition By Jordan Golson Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro has announced the relocation of its Town Hall to a new facility in the Main Street Station, effective January 16, 2024. The move from 635 East
Street to 287 East Street, Suite 221, addresses the need for additional space for the expanding Pittsboro Police Department. With this relocation, utility bill payments will see changes. Customers who typically pay in person will now need to enter the new Town Hall, as the drive-thru service will be discontinued. However, the drive-thru’s dropbox will remain operational. The town encourages residents to explore online bill payment
options at pittsboronc.gov. The existing Town Hall site will be fully occupied by the Pittsboro Police Department, which will soon announce its public services and operational hours. To accommodate the move, Town Offices will be closed on January 11 and 12. Additionally, offices will be closed on January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Residents are advised to complete any neces-
The move to 287 East Street, Suite 221, addresses the need for additional space for the expanding Pittsboro Police Department. sary in-person business with the Town either before January 11 or after January 16. Town officials appreciate the community’s patience during this transition and anticipate providing enhanced customer service at the new location. Further details about the relocation of specific departments will be shared post-reopening.
Chatham County announces 2024 property listing deadline and procedures Chatham News & Record
Property owners who do not receive their listing form by January 20th, should call 919-5428250 to make arrangements to list property by the deadline of January 31, 2024.
PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Tax Office issued guidance Monday for individuals and companies related to personal and business property taxes. The tax office will be mailing forms to real estate owners to file an updated listing of personal and business property and property owners may pick up forms at the tax office in Pittsboro or download the form at chathamcountync. gov/taxlisting. Property owners who do not receive their listing form by January 20th, should call 919-542-8250 to make arrangements to list property by the deadline of January 31, 2024. Listings submitted after the deadline will incur a late penalty of ten percent of the owed taxes. Completed forms can be mailed back, ensuring they are postmarked by January 31st, or delivered in person to the Tax Office at 12 East Street, Pittsboro. Real estate property and registered motor vehicles with tags are not listed using these forms. The listing requirement extends to properties such as unlicensed vehicles, trailers with multi-year registrations, mobile homes not classified as real property, watercraft, aircraft, and business-related items. For businesses seeking an extension, a request must be submitted by January 31st, extending the deadline to April 15th. 2023 property tax bills were due by January 5 and interest accrues on unpaid balances from January 6.
AP FILE PHOTO
People vote on Election Day, Nov. 7, 2023.
Judge recommends ending suit on prosecuting ex-felons who vote in NC, cites new law By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A North Carolina law that makes it a serious crime for someone to vote while still on probation or parole for a felony conviction shouldn’t be thrown out, especially with a change to the law that took effect this week, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Webster on Tuesday issued an order recommending to deny a
request by lawyers for groups representing poor residents and Black union members to invaliSee VOTING, page A7
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