City briefs

3 UNC students cited for underage alcohol possession

Chapel Hill police cited several UNC students this weekend for underage possession of a malt beverage.

Christopher Raul Ramos, 19, a freshman business major, was seen holding a 12-ounce can of Busch Light by a police officer in town parking lot 5 at 12:49 a.m. Sunday.

Ramos was cited and released by police. He is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 25.

Jessica Lynn Misenheimer, 20, a junior journalism major, and Whitney Edwards, 20, a junior political science major, were seen holding red 16-ounce cups of beer while walking on Church Street just before midnight Friday.

Both women were cited and released by police. They are scheduled to appear in Chapel Hill District Court on Nov. 30.

Town seeks out public input on development plans

The town of Chapel Hill will seek public input at special public information meetings on a potential downtown economic development initiative to convert town parking lots 2 and 5 into multi-story buildings with condominiums and shops, as well as a transit center and underground parking.

The meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4 and from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 5, both at the Chapel Hill Public Library.

The Chapel Hill Town Council committee exploring the feasibility of the project has called for further input from downtown neighborhoods, business interests, the Chapel Hill Downtown Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Commission, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the University.

The meetings will be held before the council considers authorizing the preparation of a request for proposals to developers.

Detailed information about the project is available online at http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/planning/downtown/Lots2and5/downtown-initiative.html.

Information also can be obtained by calling the town planning department at 968-2728.

County BOE clears confusion regarding voting procedures

One-stop voting sites have been open for more than a week now, but there have been reports of confusion about what is needed to legally cast a ballot.

Carolyn Thomas, director of the Orange County Board of Elections, said a registered voter only needs to provide some form of identification to be able to vote.

"People registering to vote in North Carolina need a valid state driver's license or some other identification, like a college ID or utility bill," Thomas said.

It is never necessary to provide a Social Security number, she added.

Questions on Election Day procedure and any voting-related problems may be directed to the county board of elections at 245-2350.