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County heeds call to conserve water
By Randall Rigsbee
Chatham
County’s water utility system customers heeded Gov. Mike Easley’s
call to conserve, but fell short of the 50 percent reduction the
governor hoped for.
But that
isn’t necessarily bad news.
The Chatham
County utility reduced its water use by approximately 30 percent,
said county utilities director Roy Lowder.
"In my
opinion, it’s good," Lowder said.
Easley
announced late last week that water utilities representing 72
percent of the 6.8 million customers served by public water systems
responded to his call to provide information on water consumption.
Early
indications, based on analysis of information from the state’s 25
largest systems, show an average drop in daily water use of nearly
30 percent from the month of August compared to the last week of
October.
"I appreciate
the cooperation of everyone in the state in their efforts to
conserve and provide this important information," Easley said. "The
data collected last week, which will continue to be collected
through the drought, will help us track our water use. We now know
we can conserve. But it must become habit since it is unlikely the
drought will lift anytime soon."
In October,
Easley asked each of the state’s public water systems to increase
reporting to the state by recording the amount of water used daily
and sending that information weekly to his office.
Easley also
asked North Carolinians to try to cut their water use by as much as
50 percent by Halloween.
"My goal was
lofty," Easley said in a press release, "but all citizens must cut
water use as much as they can. Given the situation nearly all of
North Carolina faces, we cannot afford to do any less."
While some water systems
showed significant savings, others reported more modest results. The
governor said the information collected is helping identify those
regions and systems that must do more to save water and avoid more
drastic measures.
more- See Thursday,
November 15, 2007 paper:
Vol 87, No.50
Authorities still probing fatal fire
By Angela Delp
Authorities
say they are continuing an investigation into last week’s fire that
killed two young boys and are still considering possible charges in
the case.
The fatal
fire occurred Monday, Nov. 5 at Brookwood Apartments in Siler City.
"We are
continuing our investigation but it will likely be the middle of
this week before we know anything," Siler City Police chief Gary
Tyson said Monday. "The SBI is looking at evidence and had a
roundtable discussion last week."
Tyson said
investigators originally did not plan to release further information
on the ongoing investigation prior to Monday because they planned to
wait until funeral arrangements for the toddlers were complete.
A wake was
held Friday at the Hispanic Baptist Church in Pittsboro for
3-year-old Oswaldo Mendoza and his brother, 2-year-old Jose Manuel
Mendoza Ocampo, both of whom died from injuries sustained in the
fire.
Funeral
services were held Saturday at the church.
The boys were
in the care of their mother, Maria Inocente Ocampo Barbarosa, when
the fire started. Their father, Reyes Mendoza, was not home at the
time of the accident.
Investigators
have determined the blaze began in the downstairs living room of the
two-story apartment.
Officials say
the fire does not appear to have been intentionally set.
The cause of
the fire, however, has yet to be determined.
The Orange
County and Triangle Area Red Cross Chapters provided emergency
assistance in the form of food, new clothing, counseling and shelter
for those affected.
Damage
assessment indicates that three apartment units were affected, one
with major damage and two others with smoke damage. Four families
which include 19 individuals were displaced by the fire.
"The Red
Cross anticipates additional commitments of $2,000 for assistance
with burial expenses, first months rent, bedding and linens," said
Patricia Le Roy, disaster director for the Triangle Area Chapter.
"We are
coordinating mental health counseling with El-Futuo and have been in
communication with the Mexican Consulate office that will provide
additional assistance to the families," she said.
Caseworkers are working with
the apartment’s property manager to make sure each of the families
can move back in to their unit once the cleanup has been
accomplished.
more- See Thursday,
November 15, 2007 paper:
Vol 87, No.50 |
 Jeff Davis
photos
Veterans
Day...
Top: Congressman Bob
Etheridge places a wreath at the West Chatham Veterans Memorial
during a commemorative service at the monument Sunday.
Right: Jane Gaines
searches for names of friends and relatives on the memorial.
Veterans honored for answering call of duty
By Angela Delp
Chatham
residents gathered Sunday on the lawn of the West Chatham Veteran’s
Memorial at Bray Park to honor those who served their country.
In
commemoration of Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11, law enforcement officers,
Siler City government officials, members of the National Guard and
representatives of the Veterans Committee attended a wreath ceremony
held at the monument.
Sen. Bob
Atwater led the group in reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance" and
Rev. J.R. Bouldin delivered the invocation.
Ralph Parker,
chairman of the Veteran’s Committee, laid a wreath at the base of
the monument.
Congressman
Bob Etheridge served as the event speaker.
"Mr.
Etheridge is a Vietnam War veteran and a person of deep moral
conviction," said Jack Moody, a member of the Veteran’s Committee as
he introduced Etheridge. "You won’t find a gentleman more noble."
In his
remarks, Etheridge recalled being present when the monument was
first decorated.
He also
recalled standing on Normandy’s beaches on the 55 th
anniversary of the battle that occurred there and about the impact
the moment had on him.
"I saw rows
and rows of white crosses on the beach," Etheridge said. "That tells
you something about the price of freedom.
"We forget about that price
sometimes." more- See Thursday,
November 15, 2007 paper:
Vol 87, No.50
Board chair
takes leave
By Randall Rigsbee
Carl
Thompson, chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners,
announced Friday that he is taking a leave of absence for several
weeks while he receives treatment for prostate cancer.
"Taking a
leave of absence will help me recover much more effectively than
would be possible otherwise and also is in the best interest of the
Board of Commissioners," Thompson said in a statement issued Friday,
Nov. 9.
Thompson said
the cancer was detected in its early stages "and can be treated
effectively."
Thompson said
he anticipates returning to his county duties in early January.
During his
absence, board vice chairman George Lucier will serve as interim
chair.
"I have
complete confidence in our vice chairman George Lucier and the other
three commissioners to effectively conduct county business and keep
us moving forward in a positive direction," said Thompson. "I look
forward to being back with them again in just a few weeks."
In his Nov. 9 announcement,
Thompson noted that election to public office is "one of the highest
honors a person can receive. I cherish the faith that voters vested
in me to represent them as a Chatham County Commissioner.
more- See Thursday,
November 15, 2007 paper:
Vol 87, No.50
Bennett man
kills self, injures wife
By Spencie Love
A Bennett man
killed himself after wounding his wife with a handgun early Tuesday
morning, according to authorities with the Chatham County Sheriff’s
Office.
Around 4:29
a.m. Tuesday, two officers from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office
responded to the incident.
Charles
Gardner, Commander of Investigations for the Sheriff’s Office, said
75-year-old Odell Butler shot his wife, Ruby Butler, 72, in the
upper back before fatally shooting himself with a .22 caliber
revolver.
Ruby Butler survived the
shooting and was fully conscious as she was medically evacuated to
UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, authorities said. She remained
there Tuesday afternoon in "stable but serious condition," according
to Gardner, who was continuing to investigate the incident.
He said he could only
speculate about why the incident occurred.
more- See Thursday,
November 15, 2007 paper:
Vol 87, No.50 |
