Controversial development gets county ok

By Randall Rigsbee

Despite the concern of one county commissioner that the 180-home, 294-acre Booth Mountain housing development is a “disaster waiting to happen,” county commissioners approved a conditional use permit for the plan in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night.

“To me, the development is a disaster waiting to happen,” said commissioner Patrick Barnes, who, with commissioner Mike Cross, voted against granting a conditional use permit to allow Booth Mountain.

Barnes, who said he grew up playing on the Booth Mountain property in north Chatham County, which is bordered by Lystra Church Road and Jack Bennett Road, expressed concerns that the property’s terrain, much of it steep, makes it unsuitable for the manner in which it is to be developed, particularly with the use of spray irrigation of treated wastewater.

“Spray irrigation is unproven,” said Barnes. “Nobody knows what it’s going to do in 15 years. All we’re doing is adding to the younger generation’s problems.”

Barnes said runoff will go to Jordan Lake, a resource he said should be better protected.

“It’s just a lousy place to put a housing development of this type,” said Barnes, who added that he was displeased with the county Planning Board’s controversial 4-2 decision last month to recommend Booth Mountain’s approval, saying that because not all planners were present, the recommendation was “a sham.”

Cross also expressed concerns about Booth Mountain, the slope of the property, and its proximity to Jordan Lake.

“I’m not convinced that this piece of property, as steep as it is, is the right place for it,” said Cross.

“I’m really concerned,” he said, “about what might get into Jordan Lake and that critical watershed area.”

more- See Thursday, January 20 paper: Vol 85, No.8

Weather claims lives of two county residents

Two Bear Creek residents died on wet Chatham roads in unrelated wrecks during heavy rains that passed through the area late last week.

Ahmed Fahmy Sherif, 19, of 15291 NC Highway 902, was traveling south on Old US 421 near Siler City about 0.3 miles south of Foust Road when he lost control of his vehicle in a curve, according to Trooper D.C. Pate.

The accident occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on January 13.

Sherif overcorrected and ran off the roadway to the right, the trooper reported.

The Bear Creek man was thrown from his 2002 Toyota after the vehicle traveled down an embankment, striking several trees, Pate said.

The trooper estimated Sherif was originally traveling 65 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.

Road conditions were wet, which contributed to the wreck, according to Pate.

Several hours later, a second Bear Creek resident, who resided just a few doors down from Sherif, was killed on a slick Chatham road while on her way to work.

Patricia Fields Hart, 51, of 16062 NC Highway 902, was traveling north on Al Davis Road near Siler City about 0.6 miles north of Hanner Town Road when a vehicle traveling south on Al Davis Road struck her vehicle head on, according to Trooper S.L. Bridges.

more- See Thursday, January 13 paper: Vol 85, No.7

Flu shot restrictions to be lifted

By Cara Rotondaro

All restrictions on who can be immunized against flu will be lifted next week and as in years past, everyone in the general population will be encouraged to receive a flu shot. Public health officials made the decision recently in order to ensure that no flu vaccine is wasted this season.

Restrictions were placed on flu shot immunization distribution after a major flu shot shortage in October. Only individuals in high risk categories were allowed a shot.

However, as of January 24, the state health department is encouraging everyone in the general population to receive a flu shot so that every dose available is used to protect against flu infection.

State health officials estimate that about 100,000 doses of flu vaccine remain at the health department level.   

 The flu vaccine will be available by appointment, while supplies last, starting next week at the Pittsboro office of the Chatham County Public Heath Department. Appointments will be made for Tuesday or Thursday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

According to the health department, it is definitely not too late to vaccinate against the flu. The peak of the flu season usually comes in February and vaccinating now through the beginning weeks of February can still prevent serious complications of the flu.

more- See Thursday, January 20 paper: Vol 85, No.8