NEWS BRIEFS
Lions Club seeks members for Pittsboro Club
Will you consider joining the oldest, the largest, most diverse community service organization in the world? Are you willing to team up with others in your local community to help fill the needs of families, friends, and neighbors who are experiencing challenges with sight, hearing, pediatric cancer, hunger, diabetes, and other issues?
If so, the Siler City Lions Club is interested in you. The club is assisting with an effort by the Association of Lions Clubs International to establish a club in the Pittsboro area. If you are interested in being a part of this effort, please respond to Lion Secretary Barbara Ernst of the Siler City Club with your contact information by calling (919) 545-4729. For additional information about Lions Clubs International check out our website at www.lionsclubs.org/en.
Solid Waste & Recycling main office closed
PITTSBORO — The Solid Waste & Recycling main office, located at 28 County Services Road, will be closed Dec. 24-28 for Christmas. All 12 Collection Centers will close at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, and all day Dec. 25. The centers be open as usual from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26. The main office will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
— CNR + staff reports
Free Christmas tree recycling offered
PITTSBORO — Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling is offering free Christmas tree recycling at the Main Facility from Dec. 29 through Jan. 15. Trees can be accepted from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 28 County Services Road, Pittsboro. Please note: the office will be closed Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.
Only real trees can be accepted. All decorations, stands, and pots must be removed. After these dates, we will accept trees for our normal yard debris charge of $20 per ton, with a $2 minimum.
Artificial trees can be placed in the scrap metal recycling bin, but all decorations and lights must be removed. Pre-lit trees cannot be recycled, so throw those in with the regular trash.
Chatham County Seeks Applicants for Planning Board Vacancies
PITTSBORO — Chatham County seeks applicants for two vacant seats on the Chatham County Planning Board. Interested residents should apply by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8.
The Planning Board advises the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on planning, zoning and subdivision issues. One vacant seat is assigned to County Commissioner District 4, which is in the northwestern part of the county. One vacant seat is assigned to County Commissioner District 5, which is in the southwestern part of the county. Both appointment terms expire December 31, 2022. Residents from other parts of the county may apply also.
The duties of Planning Board members include monitoring trends related to land use; proposing needed amendments to the comprehensive plan; establishing development principles and guidelines; proposing ordinances for orderly development in accordance with the comprehensive plan; determining whether proposed developments conform to the comprehensive plan and development principles; keeping the board of commissioners and the public informed on planning issues and reasons for board recommendations; and conducting meetings to receive public input.
The Planning Board typically meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., usually in Pittsboro. During the COVID-19 pandemic, board meetings are conducted virtually. The county can provide space for members to attend the virtual meeting should they not have adequate broadband access.
To submit an online application to serve and to view a map of the districts of the board of commissioners, visit www.chathamnc.org/CommitteeAppointments. Applicants may also contact clerk to the board Lindsay Ray at 919-545-8302 or lindsay.ray@chathamcountync.gov to get a printed or emailed copy of the application form. Individuals with questions about the Planning Board’s duties may contact the Planning Department at 919-548-3896 or Planning Director Jason Sullivan at jason.sullivan@chathamcountync.gov.
— CNR + staff reports
NCDOT halts construction for holidays
RALEIGH — The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Dept. of Transportation.
• NCDOT is suspending most construction activity along its major highways to keep lanes open for those traveling through the holidays.
The work along interstates, as well as U.S. and key N.C. routes is expected to shut down through the evening of Dec. 29 and then again from the morning of Dec. 31 through the evening of Jan. 5.
There are some exceptions where construction conditions make it unsafe to open all lanes. This includes some locations where lanes are under construction or where a bridge is being replaced. Work that does not impact travel lanes can continue for some projects.
Before you head out, go to driveNC.gov for the most up-to-date traffic information.
• Holiday Booze It & Lose It program underway
It’s always important that if you plan to drink, you don’t drive. As part of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, more state and local law enforcement officers will patrol day and night to catch impaired drivers behind the wheel throughout the holidays. The annual holiday ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign runs now through Jan. 5.
• NCDMV moves to new HQ in Rocky Mount
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles has moved into its new headquarters in Rocky Mount. Occupying five buildings along Church Street are administrative offices for licenses, vehicle titles and registration, customer compliance, business services, license and theft, and human resources among others.
The DMV will hold nearly 500 workers at its new headquarters and is currently looking to hire more than 100 temporary and permanent positions. To learn more about the DMV’s job openings, go to oshr.nc.gov.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.
— CNR + staff reports
Governor’s School Supply Drive extended through
Jan. 16
RALEIGH — The 4th annual Governor’s School Supply Drive is being extended to encourage more donations for supplies to support North Carolina students and teachers.
Public health precautions have required the drive to go fully online with donations collected through the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association, a new partner for this year’s drive. Visit ncsupplies.ncpta.org to make a donation now through Jan. 16.
“Supporting students and schools in these challenging times takes just a few clicks and a few minutes,” N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said. “Kristin and I have made our personal contribution and we hope you can too.”
“Our children are remarkably resourceful and resilient, but they need your support during this difficult time. North Carolina PTA is proud to partner on this effort to make sure our children have the necessary school supplies,” Harold Dixon, president of North Carolina PTA. “Let’s rally together to defeat COVID-19 and lift up our students and schools.”
Cooper announces $30 million to expand internet access in rural areas
RALEIGH — Nearly $30 million will go to fund 18 broadband infrastructure projects with a goal of connecting 15,965 households and 703 businesses in rural North Carolina to high-speed internet, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced last Thursday.
The grants are part of the 2020 Special Supplementary Round of the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program and will be distributed through the N.C. Dept. of Information Technology (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).
Projects associated with the grant are expected to connect nearly 16,000 households and 700 businesses to broadband in counties across the state, although Chatham isn’t included among those named.
“This pandemic is shining a light on the need for better high speed internet access in rural communities,” Governor Cooper said. “These projects will the make sure the internet can connect people to the education, health care and jobs they need.”
The GREAT program provides matching grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives that compete for funding to expand high-speed internet service. For this special supplementary round, projects in Tier 1, Tier 2 and rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties were eligible.
A total of $29.8 million is being awarded to 11 providers and cooperatives for projects in 18 counties, including Harnett and Johnston.
Applicants are scored based on the number of households and businesses they propose to serve, the average cost to serve those locations and the speeds offered. Applicants receive higher awards for agreeing to provide higher speed service, defined as a minimum of 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload. All awards are contingent on final executed grant agreements with these broadband provider partners.