The newest unemployment data for North Carolina’s 100 counties shows Chatham County had one of the lowest rates during a month when the unemployment numbers fell in all but one county.

In April, Chatham County had an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent, down from the previous month’s rate of 7.6 percent, according to data released May 28 by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina (ESC).

Chatham County’s workforce in April numbered 33,954, of which 31,548 people had jobs, according to ESC data.

Currituck County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, followed by Orange County at 5.9 percent. Chatham and Gates counties tied for the states’ third lowest unemployment.

Over the month, the unemployment rate fell in 99 counties while increasing 0.1 percentage point to 12.2 percent in Wilson County.

Forty-one counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 10.0 percent rate.

"The positive news in the April county data is that there has been an increase in the number of workers employed throughout the state," said ESC chairman Lynn R. Holmes.

"At the same time, the news is tempered by the fact that more than half of the counties still have unemployment rates over the unadjusted rate of 10 percent," Holmes said. "We continue to provide a variety of services in our 89 offices statewide to assist those seeking work."

The number of workers employed (not-seasonally adjusted) increased in April by 30,780 workers, to 4,089,754, the ESC reported.

On May 22, Chad Peele of Pittsboro was climbing at 24,000 feet on Mt. Everest, only 5,000 feet from the top of the world’s tallest peak.

Conditions were good as the Rainier Mountain Guides group moved towards Camp 3, but just as they were about to arrive at the fixed ropes of the Lhotse Face, one of the clients started having trouble.

"He was feeling dizzy and struggling to hold his vision," Peele said.

The client was probably suffering from altitude sickness. The air at 24,000 feet contains only half the oxygen of air at sea level. But "mountain sickness" can lead to a potentially fatal pulmonary edema.

"The climber and I dropped back to Camp 2 while the rest of the team continued on to Camp 3," Peele said. "Our intention was to rest and spend one more night at Camp 2, with another attempt the next day, summiting a day behind our primary group."

But that never happened.

"Unfortunately, [the client] woke that following morning and decided he didn’t have it in him to continue on," Peele said. "As heart breaking as it was and with the Expedition leader’s preference, we
both packed up and made the walk back to base Camp ending the climb for both

The story continues to spread of Joey Shelton, the Pittsboro man who suffered injuries trying to prevent an assault on a female UNC student in May.

Newspapers as far away as California have run the story.

A local man who didn’t know Shelton set up a fund in his name.

On reading of [Shelton’s] medical bills and lack of health insurance, Chapel Hill businessman Mike Miles established a bank account at RBC bank and donated $1000.

Others soon followed, with contributions locally and from around the country.

"I believe we are in a position to cover all expenses," Miles said last week.

The outpouring of support is not surprising.

Shelton has been hailed as a hero for thwarting a kidnapping attempt May 12 on an 18-year-old female UNC student.

The attack happened in broad daylight in downtown Chapel Hill.

Shelton, 51, a part-time barber and chauffeur, was in town with his brother Freddie to get a computer from the UNC surplus store.

more- See Thursday, June 3, 2010 edition

A multi-agency effort last week led to the discovery and eradication of more than $3 million worth of marijuana growing in Chatham County, according to authorities.

On Thursday, May 27, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, working with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the North Carolina National Guard, conducted a marijuana eradication operation in the county.

The National Guard provided air support, which was used to locate the plots and directed ground units to their location, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

During the operation nine outdoor plots were located where marijuana was growing, authorities said.

A total of 1,912 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. The estimated street value of the plants if they had reached maturity was estimated by authorities at more than $3,000,000.

Investigations are ongoing into the manufacture of marijuana seized from some of the plots.

No arrests had been made as of Tuesday.