Friday morning’s snow was pretty for those who could watch it fall from home.

But for many, the snow began falling on the way to work or school and soon, the white stuff was causing all kinds of problems.

School officials cancelled school before classes started, but after school buses had started picking up children.

Some children were already at school when the snow started coming down.

According to Assistant Superintendent Paul Joyce, who was one of the school employees charged with checking the roadways early Friday, most of the snow fell in a very short time, forcing school administrators to rethink their 5:30 a.m. decision to go ahead with classes.

Superintendent Larry Mabe said the suddenness of the storm put school leaders in a pickle.

"It absolutely dumped in a very short time," Mabe said. "We have about three inches in a dusting."

The snow’s timing appeared to cause the most problems.

more- See Thursday, January 15 paper: Vol 83, No. 7

Chatham County commissioners will have to defend their decision in the Chatham Downs zoning case in a court of law.

That’s because Hoyt C. Collins filed a petition in Chatham County Superior Court alleging that commissioners arbitrary in their ruling in favor of the development.

Collins owns property next to the 28-acre tract in northern Chatham County.

He says commissioners failed to consider all their own standards in voting 3-2 to approve Lat Purser’s request for a conditional use permit.

Purser, through his development company, Lat Purser and Associates, wants to develop a shopping center on the property, located near Cole Park Plaza on Highway 15-501.

Opponents of that plan were vocal in their dissent during public hearings held before the county commissioners and the planning board.

But commissioners approved the plan anyway, even though the planning board split 4-4 and offered no recommendation on the matter.

County officials estimate that around late spring or early summer, work on the first phase of the Southwest Chatham Community Park in Bear Creek will be complete and residents will be able to use the new facility.

County commissioners last week approved in a 4-1 vote a contract with Hairston Enterprise to construct the park. The winning bid was for $255,683.15.

Funds for the construction of the project were budgeted previously in the Southwest Chatham Park project budget and the project ordinance had been approved previously by county commissioners.

Commissioner Carl Outz voted against awarding the bid.

To date, approximately $124,000 has been spent on the project, including the purchase price for the 25 acres on which the park will be constructed.

more- See Thursday, January 15 paper: Vol 83, No. 7