by Susan Dickson Staff Writer After nearly five years, construction could begin this fall on a James Street sidewalk that residents say is long overdue. George Seiz, director of Carrboro Public Works, said that despite delays and design challenges he hopes sidewalk construction will begin this fall, with completion of the project about six months…
Category: News
Library cutbacks raise questions
by Kirk Ross Staff Writer A tight budget year has led to cutbacks in many county functions including local libraries. But Carrboro officials and library supporters are concerned that the Carrboro branch library at McDougle Middle School took a much bigger cut than its counterparts elsewhere in the county. “It is absolutely shocking,†Nerys Levy…
Glen Lennox neighborhood conservation effort moves forward
by Rich Fowler Staff Writer Glen Lennox area residents are one step closer to getting a Neighborhood Conservation District. At its meeting last week, the Chapel Hill Town Council allowed residents to go forward with the NCD process, which allows the planning department to hold an informational meeting for area landowners. The NCD petition was…
Town employee wants answers regarding racist graffiti
by Rich Fowler Staff Writer Jerry Neville is a Carrboro native, UNC graduate and has worked for the Town of Chapel Hill for over twenty years. For the last seven years, he has volunteered at the Hargraves Community Center, teaching tennis to local kids on Saturdays. He works in the brand-new Town Operations Center in…
Carson autopsy released
An autopsy report released Wednesday confirmed that Eve Carson, former UNC student body president, was shot at least five times with two weapons. According to the report, it appears Carson held her hand over her face as the shooter fired a shotgun that sprayed birdshot through her hand and into her temple.
Brief: Library hours reduced
The hours of operation for branches of the Orange County Public Library System were reduced starting July 1. Changes include: • The Carrboro Library at McDougle School will be closed on Mondays. In addition, Tuesday-Thursday hours have been reduced to 5-8 p.m.; • The Main Orange County Public Library’s Saturday hours have been reduced to…
Brief: July 4th lake hours
University Lake and the Cane Creek Reservoir are open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for fishing, boating and more on July 4. University Lake will also be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday and Cane Creek will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Both are alcohol-free…
County passes budget
by Susan Dickson Staff Writer The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a $183 million budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year, including a 4.8-cent property tax rate increase. The increase sets this year’s tax rate at 99.8 cents per $100 of property valuation, representing a 5 percent hike over the…
Butler hearing continued
by Kirk Ross Staff Writer At a public hearing Tuesday night at Town Hall, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen delved into the details of a proposed five-story condominium and commercial complex on Brewer Lane adjacent to the Libba Cotton Bike Path. “The Butler,†which is planned for the site now occupied by Butler’s Garage at…
Suspicious package investigated
The Durham County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad destroyed a suspicious package left in the middle of East Rosemary Street near Henderson Street Tuesday evening. According to the Chapel Hill Police Department, a witness saw a white male between the ages of 20 and 25 place a small package in the middle of the street and…
Rustic or regular?
Stop by the new Weaver Street Market on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and you could be witness to the first known store opening to include a baguette cutting in the history of Hillsborough. In celebration of the opening of the new market — the cooperative’s third — dignitaries, including Mayor Tom Stevens, will gather around…
OWASA committee recommends reduced rate increase
The OWASA board’s Budget and Financial Planning Committee last week agreed to recommend a combined water and sewer rate increase of 17 percent, instead of the previously proposed 24 percent increase. In addition, the committee recommended that OWASA carefully monitor water and sewer revenues and defer some budgeted expenses until it is clear that demand…
Commissioners to hold sales tax hearing
by Susan Dickson Staff Writer The Orange County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday set a public hearing regarding a possible referendum for a quarter-cent sales tax increase for Aug. 19. Voters defeated a 0.4 percent land transfer tax referendum by about 2 to 1 in May. In last year’s state budget, the Legislature gave counties…
Airport authority bill advances
by Kirk Ross Staff Writer The House Finance Committee is scheduled to take up legislation today (Thursday) that would allow the University of North Carolina and UNC Health Care to create an airport authority. Rules for the authority and its structure are contained within the university system’s capital projects bill, which passed the state Senate…
Yuhasz, Donnan win runoffs
Hillsborough lawyer and land surveyer Steve Yuhasz won a runoff for the Democratic primary for the new District 2 seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Yuhasz beat Leo Allison, gathering 1,486 votes, or 55.7 percent, of the total to Allison’s 1,183 votes, or 44.3 percent. Yuhasz had also won the previous round in…