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Police are offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of vandals who struck Pittsboro over the weekend, causing more than $80,000 in damage.

By far the worst damage was reported at a construction trailer owned by Barnhill Construction at the site of the new Pittsboro Community Library under construction on the CCCC campus.

That trailer was apparently struck twice, according to Detective Anthony Rosser of the Pittsboro Police Department.

Although police are still trying to determine the exact timeline, they believe vandals attacked the construction trailer Friday night, knocking out windows and causing $2,000 in damage, and also smashed the windows of a vehicle parked at a nearby residence.

The vandals also knocked out windows at the Health Department Building on Camp Drive, causing $600 in damage.

Then on Sunday night, there was a much more significant attack on the construction trailer.

"They went in and damaged a lot of the property," Rosser said, "punching holes in the sheetrock and knocking over toilets, causing water leaks. They went up under sinks and knocked loose the water lines causing them to leak water, causing more damage. They attempted to burn a calendar in the main open area like they were trying to catch the structure on fire, and also burned the shutters in one of the office rooms."

Rosser said the total damage to the trailer was estimated at $80,000 due mainly to the water damage and flooding.

Goldston and Bennett wound up the Chatham County parades Saturday with onlookers crowding the streets in both towns. The air was festive and more so when the band came through playing Christmas songs. The tuba player above decided to decorate his horn just for the holidays.

Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City is among the schools recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s new listing of America’s best high schools.

Jordan-Matthews was among the 461 schools to receive "silver medal" recognition from the news magazine.

"It’s quite an honor," Jordan-Matthews principal Norma Boone said Monday. "Just thinking of all the other schools in the category, we’re in good company."

Boone said she learned of the nationwide recognition last week.

"It was really exciting to hear about this," Boone said. "I sent out an e-mail to all the staff to let them know. We have to work together to be able to achieve success."

Another school in Chatham County — Woods Charter School — received honorable mention.

U.S .News & World Report collaborates with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business which provides parents with education data, analyzed academic and enrollment data from 21,786 public high schools throughout the county to make its determination of the best schools in the nation.

For the second year in a row, Siler City’s observance of "National Night Out," the nationwide festival sponsored by the National Association of Police/Community Partnerships, has earned special recognition.

In its first observance in 2008, Siler City won the Rookie of the Year award.

For this year’s National Night Out events, Siler City is being honored with an award for another outstanding program. Siler City ranked 23rd among 32 towns in the United States with a population under 15,000 to be honored for its participation.

Siler City is the only North Carolina town to be so honored this year.

The award will be presented to Siler City Police Chief Gary Tyson on Monday, December 21, during the next Siler City Town Board meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m.

Not even dropping temperatures could prevent Salvation Army bell-ringer Bob Holton from donning a red Santa hat and a smile while raising funds for the annual holiday Kettle drive.

Holton, who lives in Fearrington Village, knows a few things about being a bell ringer. For the last eight years he has volunteered for the Salvation Army, ringing the bells outside various stores and collecting money in the well-known red kettles.