Jack Kimball

News

Search for Alternative School Site Continues

By Jack Kimball | January 23

Many Orange High School parents might breathe a sigh of relief after the Orange County Board of Education decided Tuesday night to investigate other sites for an alternative school program for struggling students. An existing program in the area, Night Panther, runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., but the state mandates an alternative school program that operates during normal school hours. Many parents who spoke at an information session before the meeting said the school system definitely needs an alternative school but do not want it placed at Orange High School.

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IFC Funds To Keep Homestart Operating

By Jack Kimball | January 22

Despite losing 80 percent of its funding, Project Homestart, which provides temporary housing for homeless families in Chapel Hill, will remain open until June 30. The project lost $366,156 when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development decided to reallocate funds to other programs that provide for permanent affordable housing. "For this grant to go away is really going to make it difficult for the homeless community," said Chris Moran, executive director of the Inter-Faith Council.

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OWASA Cleans Up Wastewater Spill

By Jack Kimball | January 17

On Wednesday, 1,750 gallons of wastewater spilled into the Booker Creek drainage basin between Dobbins and Erwin roads. The spill was caused by a grease blockage in the sewer. The wastewater was able to flow down into the creek, which prevented the Orange Water and Sewage Authority from being able to pump it back into the sewer, said Greg Feller, director of public affairs for OWASA. The spill was reported at 9:20 a.m. and was stopped 25 minutes later by OWASA employees who were working in the area at the time of the spill.

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School Policy Targets Childhood Obesity

By Jack Kimball | January 16

With obesity becoming an increasingly apparent problem in schools, the N.C. State Board of Education approved last week recommendations for weekly exercise for K-12 students. The state already mandates time for health education and physical activity in the school week, but at a time when test scores are determining school funding, enforcement of this policy is difficult. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have been trying to integrate health issues into the curriculum despite limitations in time during the school day.

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Council Puts Off Anti-war Petition

By Jack Kimball | January 15

Deciding not to take any action on a petition condemning possible military action against Iraq, the Chapel Hill Town Council voted Monday to discuss the petition further on its retreat this weekend. The petition was presented by its author, resident Robin Helweg-Larsen, and received support from former council member and human rights activist Joe W. Straley.

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150 Show to Debate School Site

By Jack Kimball | January 14

Before the Chapel Hill Town Council could convene its meeting Monday, the fire marshal asked the audience, numbering more than 150, to clear the walkways to ensure safety. Most of the residents in attendance were there in support of two petitions -- one by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education and the other by a resident -- both concerning the placement of a third high school in the southern part of the district. The Town Hall conference room was filled almost to capacity with residents, some of whom had to stand along the wall and out in the hallway.

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Storm Cleanup Could Cost $1 Million

By Jack Kimball | January 13

Although the ice storm is over a month past, cleanup costs in Chapel Hill continue to rise and debris continues to be collected. Updated estimates given by the town Public Works Department predict that cleanup costs will exceed $1 million and that debris produced by the storm will measure about 18,000 tons. Cleanup costs originally were projected to range from about $500,000-$750,000, and the original estimate for the amount of debris was 20,000 tons.

News

Possible Arson Destroys Lounge

By Jack Kimball | January 13

Arson is being investigated as the cause of the fire that broke the early morning quiet for residents in Granville Towers on Friday. The fire occurred in West Granville Towers in the sixth-floor study lounge a little after 4 a.m. Fire officials said the fire had burned itself out by the time they arrived. Granville does not have sprinkler systems in the study lounge areas, but the fire was announced as an emergency over the intercom.

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N.Y. Pizza Closes for Remodeling

By Jack Kimball | January 10

A skeleton of wood is all that is left of the floor in I Love NY Pizza on Franklin Street. The walls are now bare, and stacks of 2-by-12 pieces of timber lie across the floor. The only remaining feature in the inside is the blue menu board. The owners are remodeling the restaurant at a cost of $125,000. It is slated to reopen in mid-February. Owner Abdou Mahmoud, who has owned NY Pizza for more than a year, said the store needed to be remodeled because it was designed poorly.

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Superintendent Candidate Withdraws

By Jack Kimball | January 9

The man who many people have supported for Orange County superintendent decided not to go through the application process again. Bert L'Homme announced he will not reapply for the superintendent position left vacant by Randy Bridges. L'Homme was unavailable for comment on the matter Wednesday evening. Orange County Board of Education member Delores Simpson said that she respected L'Hommes' decision to withdraw and that she thought he will do well in the Durham public school system.