City briefs

Area counties receive grants to curb drug, alcohol usage

Orange and Chatham counties received a Drug-Free Communities matching grant last week for The Community Backyard from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Community Backyard is a collaborative that serves children in the two counties.

The $100,000 grant will allow the group to work toward preventing and reducing drug, alcohol and tobacco use among area youth.

It is one of 176 grants awarded to community anti-drug groups nationwide. The grants totaled $17.1 million.

More than 400 groups applied for the 176 grants, and the grantees were selected through a review process.

The Drug-Free Communities Program gives grants to community organizations that involve residents in the effort to prevent drug use.

 

Police report many incidents of local property vandalism

The Chapel Hill Police Department is looking for information about several incidents of vandalism.

During the past month, police have received numerous reports of vehicle windows being broken by rocks and BBs. In the last two days alone, eight vehicles had windows broken, seven had at least one tire punctured, and two had both.

Most of the crimes occurred overnight and were in the northern part of town.

Police also still are looking for the person who broke into Big John's Store at the intersection of N.C. 54 and Barbee Chapel Road.

Warrants have been issued for the identified suspect, James Michael Lloyd, but his whereabouts are unknown.

Anyone with information regarding any of the incidents is asked to call the police department at 968-2760 or Crime Stoppers at 226-CRIM(E).