Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor

News

Town scales back Halloween

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | December 3

After this year's last-minute campaign to make Halloween on Franklin Street smaller and safer local leaders are already evaluating the event and planning for next October. Officials said restrictions intended to keep out-of-towners from traveling to Chapel Hill and to prevent the alcohol problems usually inherent at downtown Halloween celebrations were overwhelmingly successful.

News

County impact fee may increase

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | December 2

Raising fees charged for new houses won't garner much money for school construction if houses don't sell Rick Perry told the Orange County Board of Commissioners on Monday. Perry who owns Rick Perry Construction Co. in Chapel Hill said he understands that commissioners want to raise the county's educational impact fee which helps pay for new school facilities to meet the needs of Orange County's growing student population.

News

Guilty verdict in kidnappings

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | November 19

HILLSBOROUGH — A jury found the man charged with kidnapping two UNC football players guilty on Monday. Michael Troy Lewis33 faces at least 23 years in prison for allegedly kidnapping the players in December and attempting to rob them.

News

Hogs not horses clear Franklin

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor and Evan Rose Assistant City Editor | November 3

Doogie Howser M.D." and a group of friends linked arms and stood in the street as the motorcycles approached. ""We were actually singing" ‘We Shall Not Be Moved' but we were moved" said UNC junior William Kumpf, dressed as the title character from the 1990s television show.

News

Parents told DA they're anti-death penalty

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | October 29

On the day before classes started in August 2007 Eve Carson explained that she didn't support the death penalty because of flaws in its application. Carson moderating a summer-reading discussion with then-Chancellor James Moeser primarily asked questions of the participants and only once offered her own judgment.

News

Town to set process for new appointment

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | October 15

For the first time in 10 years the Chapel Hill Town Council will alter its own makeup. The council will decide tonight on a process for replacing 11-year council member Bill Thorpe who died Sept. 27. Mayor Kevin Foy has said that the council might choose to appoint a black person to fill the spot. Thorpe was the council's only black member.

News

Thorpe leaves legacy of action

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor and Max Rose City Editor | September 30

When Bill Thorpe and Laurin Easthom joined the Chapel Hill Town Council in 2005 a tour of town facilities brought them to the top of a fire truck's ladder.Easthom then new to the council was terrified to ride in the truck's bucket but Thorpe encouraged her to hop in.

News

Bars want to stay open October 31

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | September 29

Banning or shutting down alcohol sales early on Halloween would cost thousands of dollars and probably wouldn't keep away the crowds local bar owners told town staff Friday. The about three dozen bar owners who met with the Chapel Hill staff at the Chapel Hill Public Library voiced almost unanimous opposition to proposals to curb alcohol sales in hopes of limiting the size of this year's festivities.

News

A new tenant to _¶ ll the Gap

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | September 24

Demolition crews have begun working inside but owner Riddle Commercial Properties is staying tight-lipped about the future tenant at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets. The commercial space at 108 E. Franklin St. housed a Gap clothing store until 2004 and the Carolina Theatre until 2005 but has been empty since.

News

Sixth charged in Aug. killing

By Emily Stephenson Assistant City Editor | September 17

A man who claimed to have been abducted in August by three of the suspects in the kidnapping and shooting death of a Chapel Hill man is now the sixth suspect. Matt Johnson is charged in the shooting death of 20-year-old Joshua McCabe Bailey District Attorney Jim Woodall said Tuesday.