Laura Hinson

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Town Enters 2nd Phase Of Ice Storm Cleanup

By Laura Hinson | January 22

The debris from the worst ice storm in North Carolina's history is finally disappearing from the roadways. Crews in Chapel Hill have worked tirelessly for more than a month clearing away tree limbs and other debris caused by the Dec. 4 storm. The first wave of the cleanup was completed Thursday, and the second phase is expected to start today. The crews from the town's Public Works Department are working on schedule, said Director Bruce Heflin.

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Protesters Prepare for Anti-War Rally in Capital

By Laura Hinson | January 13

"War is NOT the answer"; "Peace is Patriotic"; "Attack Iraq? NO!" These slogans on bumper stickers, along with others, littered the cars outside of The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist on Saturday afternoon. The Campaign to End the Cycle of Violence, an organization at UNC that grew out of responses to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, sponsored a nonviolence, civil disobedience and anti-war workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Community Church.

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Public Gets Final Input on OWASA Plan

By Laura Hinson | January 10

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority board of directors met Thursday night to hold a final public hearing on the proposed Water Conservation Rules and Standards before presenting the document to local towns and the county for approval. The proposed Conservation Rules and Standards will become an ordinance after approval by Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro officials next week. All resident comments at the hearing were met with discussion by board members. The members voted to decide upon those issues at a later date.

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Residents Show Support for Lee

By Laura Hinson | November 7

Local, state and national representatives, along with friends of Sen. Howard Lee, D-Orange, attended a reception Wednesday night in honor of the longtime state senator, whose term will end in January. The Orange County Board of Commissioners scheduled the reception to thank Lee for his service after he lost the Democratic primary to Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange. He and Kinnaird were forced to run against each other because of redistricting. Barry Jacobs, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, said the reception was well-deserved.

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Town Council Applauds Police, Suggests Improvements

By Laura Hinson | November 6

Chapel Hill Town Council members said in a work session Monday night that they are pleased with the job the Chapel Hill Police Department is doing though they believe public safety in the town can be improved. Chapel Hill Police Chief Gregg Jarvies gave a presentation regarding the status of the police department at the session, citing crime statistics, employment vacancies and other areas of public interest, including drug enforcement and panhandling. The session on public safety and downtown issues was planned at the council's Sept.

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Opinions on Occupancy Limits Vary

By Laura Hinson | October 29

Residents' and town officials' opinions are up in the air regarding occupancy issues addressed in the third draft of Chapel Hill's proposed land-use management ordinance. Occupancy is one issue that could directly affect students by determining the number of unrelated people allowed to live in the same dwelling unit. The Town Council held a public hearing Monday night to discuss issues raised by the ordinance, but occupancy was mentioned by only one resident.

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Town Council Slams Brakes on Duplex Construction

By Laura Hinson | October 22

The Chapel Hill Town Council voted 9-0 late Monday night to temporarily ban the building of duplexes townwide until June 30. The action essentially buys time for the council to devise a long-term duplex regulation that would more specifically address problems in the Northside neighborhood, whose residents have been the most ardent supporters of the duplex ban. Town Hall was packed with anxious Chapel Hill residents, 40 of whom signed up to speak in front of the council.

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Resident Lobbies to Post Signs on Utility Poles

By Laura Hinson | October 21

After facing opposition from some residents, the Chapel Hill Town Council could reconsider a ban that prohibits posting signs on utility poles. Town resident Eric Oso -- who was taken to court in regard to this ordinance -- started a petition, gathering more than 1,200 signatures, asking the town to revise or repeal the stipulation within Chapel Hill's development ordinance that outlaws any posting of signs on utility poles unless approved by the town manager. A public hearing was held Oct. 17 to discuss this petition among other issues.

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Business Expo Aims to Aid Economy

By Laura Hinson | October 11

Orange County businesses gathered at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel on Wednesday to showcase their services to the community and other employers. The Orange County Business Expo 2002 was the first countywide collaboration of this type. The expo was organized by the Orange County Economic Development Commission, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

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Aldermen Oppose Buh's Iraq Plan

By Laura Hinson | October 10

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to pass a resolution Tuesday night against the U.S. government's proposed unilateral attack against Iraq. "Basically, it's an anti-war resolution," Alderman John Herrera said. "We don't support the current resolution Bush is trying to pass through Congress, where he just gets a blank check to do what he wants." Alderman Joal Broun said that the town does not support Iraq's position but that Bush should create a coalition if he is going to make a pre-emptive strike against Iraq.