Jury hears five days of testimony in wrongful firing trial

By Cara Rotondaro

After five days of testimony, a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Dan Phillips four years ago against former Chatham County Sheriff Ike Gray rested in the hands of the jury Tuesday afternoon.

The jury deliberated over the case for about an hour before deciding to resume the case the next morning.

Phillips, who was fired by Gray from his job as school resource officer and deputy with the sheriff’s office on January 18, 2001, claims he was wrongfully fired for two reasons.

He believes he was terminated in retaliation for helping initiate a federal investigation into thousands of pounds of missing marijuana from the sheriff’s office after a drug raid in 2000.

Phillips also claims he was fired for attempting to report racial problems going on at Chatham Central High School, where he was stationed as school resource officer.

Gray claims that Phillips was fired for insubordination. He said that Phillips made threatening comments to then Chief Deputy, Randy Keck on January 16 when he was asked to take a polygraph test regarding a tape made at Chatham Central.

The tape featured then principal Buddy Fowler making racist remarks about black students at that school.

Taping conversations without permission can be considered a felony.

The crux of the case rests on whether or not the jury believes that the incidences concerning the stolen marijuana and reports of racism at a county school have anything at all to do with Gray’s decision to fire Phillips.

more- See Thursday, March 10 paper: Vol 85, No.15

Jeff Davis photo

Five year old Eric Kidd stays warm last Wednesday as he watches the softball game between Eastern Randolph and Jordan-Matthews. Even with the cold temps, the game still went on as planned . . . and Eric was able to get a snack in too.

Amberly development to bring new homes to county

By Randall Rigsbee

More than a decade after it was approved, Amberly – the 5,000-home development that covers 1,000 acres, straddling Wake and Chatham counties – is becoming a reality.

First approved in 1994, Amberly is one of the largest planned communities in Wake County and will consist of twice as many homes as the recently-approved Briar Chapel in north Chatham.

In Wake County, Amberly will consist of approximately 470 acres and will contain approximately 3,500 houses and townhomes. The Wake County portion will also consist of approximately 400,000 square feet of retail space.

The Chatham County portion will be nearly 520 acres and include approximately 300 homes and a large retirement community with 1,200 homes.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners chairman Bunkey Morgan, in a Monday interview, said Amberly can be good for Chatham County.

more- See Thursday, March 10 paper: Vol 85, No.15

County's facility needs grow

By Randall Rigsbee

Chatham County needs approximately $152 million worth of new facilities, county commissioners learned Monday.

Last week, the Chatham County Board of Education presented to commissioners a list of approximately $100 million in school construction needs, a total of 18 projects including three new schools.

But the county faces other capital improvement needs as well, among them a new judicial center, more space for the already-overcrowded Department of Social Services, new buildings for Central Carolina Community College, and infrastructure for the county’s industrial park property.

County finance officer Vicki McConnell reviewed the county’s capital needs during a board work session Monday afternoon.

more- See Thursday, March 10 paper: Vol 85, No.15