VOLUME 146 ISSUE 49 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Pittsboro Farmers Market now accepts SNAP/EBT Holders of EBT cards can now use their SNAP benefits at the Pittsboro Farmers Market, open every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane). “It’s a meaningful step, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, can access quality, locally grown food for their households,” said Mackenzie Withington of LillyDen Farm in a statement. Expanding access to SNAP — still colloquially known as food stamps — is a benefit to both local farmers and recipients, and has been a growing movement at farmers markets around the country. The Pittsboro market is also working on a dollar-fordollar matching program that would double the purchasing power of SNAP beneficiaries at the market.
NC State Poetry Contest taking submissions The annual NC State Poetry Contest is open to all North Carolina residents, including out-of-state and international students at NC universities. It is one of the largest free-to-enter poetry contests in the South. The Dorianne Laux Prize for Poetry pays $500 to the winner. Contestants have until March 1 to submit up to three never-published poems via mail to: NC State Poetry Contest Department of English North Carolina State University Campus Box 8105
PJ WARD-BROWN | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Innovating the future
Atkins High biotechnology student Ashvath Ramesh speaks with first lady Jill Biden during a visit to Forsyth Tech last week. Biden was in Winston-Salem to promote a new $30 million investment in local STEM education and research. Turn to Page A3 for more.
Chapel Hill council declines to issue Gaza resolution By Matt Mercer Chatham News & Record CHAPEL HILL – The Town of Chapel Hill council met Wednesday, Jan. 24, hearing a feisty discussion on the Israel-Hamas war during the public comment period. Passionate advocates made arguments both for and against the passing of a town resolution
in support of a call for an immediate ceasefire. Following the 30 minute discussion period, the town council choose not to weigh in on the complex foreign policy matter, with Mayor Jessica Anderson making a lengthy acknowledgement of the fraught discussion and the heightened emotions on all sides. “Thank you for coming out to-
night and for giving comments and for your engagement on this important issue,” said Anderson, in an attempt to placate the crowd. “I want to begin by acknowledging the worry, the fear, the pain and the anguish that this awful situation is causing people across this community and within our own organiza-
“We choose the issues we weigh in on with great care and, as a matter of practice, we do not weigh in on things that are outside of our expertise or authority.” Chapel Hill Mayor Jessica Anderson
See CHAPEL HILL, page A12
Raleigh, NC 27695 Leave names off the poem so they can be judged anonymously, including name, address, phone, and email address on a separate cover sheet.
Pittsboro mayor joins EPA advisory committee
FEMA seeks applicants for Youth Preparedness Council
By Robert Owens for Chatham News & Record
FEMA is looking for future leaders in grades 8 through 11 to join the national Youth Preparedness Council, working on local and national projects and getting a sense of what it’s like to be an emergency manager. The one-year appointment allows members to engage with top leaders at FEMA and national non-profits. Applications must be submitted by March 4 on FEMA.gov.
PITTSBORO — Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp has joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). Chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act in 1993, the LGAC is comprised of representatives both elected and appointed from state, tribal, territorial and local governments. Shipp joins fifteen new members representing southern states. According to an EPA press release, the 37-member committee “will have 24 females and 13 males, including 13 people of color, and representation from 27 different states.” The 2024 committee will consider issues around community level communication, climate change initiatives, lead and copper rule changes, and plastics pollution concerns. Committee selections are made based on the number of applicants, geographic location, ethnicity and regional perspective. Mayor Shipp’s appointment will give a voice to the concerns of small towns across North Carolina and the southeast, particularly with how environmental policy can help or harm the community’s immediate concerns. One topic of concern will be polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, representing growing concern for public health and environmental well being in North Carolina and across the country. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has identified multiple areas
Pittsboro weathers latest 1,4 dioxane release Chatham News & Record
COURTESY PHOTO
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp where PFAS has affected local drinking water, including Upper Cape Fear River Basin near Pittsboro. Exposure to polyfluoroalkyl has been linked to numerous health concerns and represents a critical issue for the long term health of affected communities. “In joining the EPA’s Advisory Committee, I am eager to not only represent Pittsboro but to collaborate with other leaders in addressing PFAS challenges,” said Shipp in a statement. “Our town’s success in advanced water treatment showcases our commitment to public health and serves as a model for others. I look forward to working together with committee members to develop and share effective strategies for environmental protection.” The issue is of even greater significance this year with the challenges Pittsboro is facing with its drinking water. Shipp is in his first term as mayor of Pittsboro.
a day, drawing only the minimum amount needed to keep PITTSBORO — The Town the water system functional. Officials also asked cusof Pittsboro was notified on Wednesday, Jan. 24, by Burl- tomers to reduce or eliminate ington city officials that regular non-essential water uses intesting performed at the South cluding landscape irrigation, Burlington Wastewashing vehicles and water Treatment houses, filling pools, Plant showed the etc. The town is acpresence of 1,4 diox- “[T]he water tively working with ane in the effluent, or the City of Burlingwater released back plant ceased ton and the N.C. Deinto the Haw River pulling water partment of Envifrom the facility. ronmental Quality to Further test- from the assess and respond ing confirmed that Haw River to this event. 1,4 dioxane entered Pittsboro also reand began the Haw River afnewed its partnerter passing through determining ship with Chatham Burlington’s plant. the availability Marketplace to ofThe sample taken in fer drinking water Burlington a day ear- of rush treated with relier showed 1,4 diox- testing.” verse osmosis and ulane concentrations tra-violet advanced of 545 µg/l leaving filtration systems at Pittsboro official no charge to Town of the plant. “Upon receiving statement Pittsboro water custhis information, our tomers and customwater plant staff imers of Aqua NC who mediately began their process- receive their water from the syses for responding to this type of tem at Chatham Marketplace. event. Out of an abundance of Initial reports show positive caution, the water plant ceased signs for the town’s action. pulling water from the Haw Rush samples taken were River and began determining the availability of rush testing,” See DIOXANE, page A2 a statement from Pittsboro officials said in a statement. Following the disclosure, Pittsboro officials said testing and sampling would increase to being conducted daily until they were confident the incident would not impact the town or when testing indicated the slug would pass. In addition, water plant staff implemented a plan $2.00 to operate the plant 24 hours