Slick Chatham roads kept law enforcement busy

By Melissa Ledgerwood

Saturday’s wintry mix made for slick roads in Chatham, causing several wrecks, according to law enforcement officers.

The Siler City Police Department handled four weather-related wrecks in an hour’s time while the Highway Patrol responded to eight, officials say.

Troopers in nearby Alamance County responded to 16 weather-related accidents Saturday, twelve of which reported injuries, according to the Patrol.

Icy road conditions forced the Highway Patrol to ask troopers to come into work earlier than scheduled Saturday afternoon, said First Sergeant G.M. Franks.

Chatham troopers responded to a steady stream of accidents between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., said Trooper B.M. Walker.

“The bridges were the worst,” Walker said.  “I didn’t see much ice anywhere else.”

“The Highway Patrol was so busy working on wrecks that we had to help,” said Siler City Police Major Bill Harman.

All of the weather-related wrecks that the police department responded to happened on icy bridges, the major said.

The busiest time for police was 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., said Officer Rodney Cook.

Although eight wrecks is a typical day’s work for Chatham troopers on a Saturday, that number is nearly double what troopers saw this same time last year, according to Franks.

“I guess people listened to the TV and stayed home,” he said.  “They used good ‘C.S.’—common sense.”

more- See Thursday, January 27 paper: Vol 85, No.9

Sanford considers sewer in Goldston to help industry

By Melissa Ledgerwood

The possibility of a Lee County industry expanding into Chatham County proves to be a win-win situation for all of the parties involved, according to officials.

“Chatham County wants to create jobs and they have a vacant building,” said Sanford city manager Leonard Barefoot in an interview Monday.  “The industry needs more space.  They need to put the two together but in order to do so there needs to be sufficient sewer service.”

And that’s where the city of Sanford comes in, Barefoot said.

Last week, Sanford city council members agreed to give further consideration to a request made by Chatham County officials and the industry to expand sewer service into Goldston at a capacity of 100,000 gallons per day.

  American Millwork & Molding, a company currently doing business on Broadway Road in Sanford, is considering expanding its operations into the old Kayser Roth Hosiery building on South Church Street in Goldston.

“But they can’t go without sewer,” the city manager said.

Goldston Mayor Tim Cunnup said he has been working on the project with the town of Sanford, Chatham County Commissioners and the Chatham County Economic Development Committee (EDC) for several weeks.

“The EDC and the county spearheaded this project,” Cunnup said in an interview Monday.

The project would bring much-needed economic development to Goldston, which is home to about 400 residents, the mayor stated.

more- See Thursday, January 27 paper: Vol 85, No.9

Group talks downtown revitalization

By Melissa Ledgerwood

Several members of the Siler City community are working together to create a vision for the town’s downtown business district and to breathe new life into an area with much potential.

A common interest shared by those at a downtown revitalization meeting January 20 in the woodworking shop of the Arts Incubator centered around developing the commercial section of the downtown area and finding ways to incorporate a residential section.

“How can we build up what’s already here?” asked Harvey Harman of Walk Softly, LLC.

“What can the vacant buildings be used for?” asked Leon Tongret, CEO of NC Arts, Inc.

There is a multitude of possibilities for small businesses such as cinemas or restaurants in the downtown area, according to Vince Sanabria, executive director of the Hispanic Liaison.

“Entrepreneurial spirit comes out if there are no jobs,” Sanabria said.

“It’s looking at what we have and recognizing how we can fill in the gaps,” said Judy Sharman of Walk Softly, LLC.  “As somebody put it, what will be ‘the next big it?’”

Downtown revitalization should include the whole community, said Donald Matthews of First Missionary Baptist Church.

“We need to get everyone involved,” he said.

“What can the community bring to the project?” asked Sanabria.  “How do you garner the support of the community at large?”

more- See Thursday, January 27 paper: Vol 85, No.9