Jamie Dougher

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Denied Funds Could Leave Program Homeless

By Jamie Dougher | January 9

A Chapel Hill housing project for the homeless was denied federal funding last month and now might be forced to close its doors. The Inter-Faith Council plans to ask federal lawmakers to reallocate money for Project Homestart, a program some say was shortchanged. The loss of funds will cut 75 percent of Project Homestart's budget and force it to shut down on March 31, leaving 15 families and their 31 children homeless. "It's strange to us," said IFC Executive Director Chris Moran. "It's very disconcerting."

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Locals Don't Want School at Old Lystra

By Jamie Dougher | December 4

Some residents have voiced opposition to the proposed construction of a third high school near their homes on Old Lystra Road and Mount Carmel Church Road in Chapel Hill. Residents of the Old Lystra Road area expressed their concerns at a Monday meeting about potential noise issues from the high school's marching band and increased road usage, problems stemming from traffic caused by teenagers driving to and from school and the proximity of the school's athletic fields. Joseph Jones, who lives on Mount Carmel Church Road, attended the meeting to demonstrate his opposition to the site.

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Cause of Fatal Accident Unclear

By Jamie Dougher | October 24

Police say it was a 50-year-old man who struck and killed a pedestrian while driving down West Franklin Street on Tuesday night. The victim, 77-year-old James Elijah Ellis of Henderson, was crossing the street in front of Time Out when he was hit by a white BMW 5-series sedan. Police would not comment on the identity of the driver. Chapel Hill police reported that Ellis was transported by ambulance to UNC Hospitals, where hospital staff say he was pronounced dead about 10:10 p.m.

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Aldermen Discuss Road Expansion

By Jamie Dougher | October 3

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to support a specific alternative detailing development on Homestead Road. The options for Homestead Road included such improvements as bicycle lanes, sidewalks, paved shoulders, medians and roundabouts. The aldermen also discussed whether Homestead Road should be a two-, three-, or four-lane road. "The (Transportation Advisory) Board is comfortable with any of these alternatives," said Dale McKeel, Carrboro's transportation planner. The project overall covers the area between High School Road and Airport Road, with the portion betw

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Appeals Court Refuses to Halt CP&L Expansion

By Jamie Dougher | September 24

Orange County's attempt to halt Carolina Power & Light Co.'s expansion plans was struck down Thursday by the U.S. Court of Appeals. CP&L expansion plans include increased storage of uranium fuel rods in cooling pools at the local Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. The court's ruling went in favor of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which oversees the operations of the power companies, based on its research that the chance of a nuclear accident occurring would be extremely rare.

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Aldermen Discuss Land Annexation

By Jamie Dougher | September 19

For nearly two hours Tuesday, Carrboro residents -- some speaking with quivering voices -- debated the possible annexation of four parcels of land. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen held a public hearing to receive comments from residents about the possible annexation of the Winmore, Horace Williams and the Horace Williams satellite tract areas. As soon as the item came up for discussion on the agenda, Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson said no action on the plan would be taken that evening. "It's obviously going to be a painful and controversial decision," he said.

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Community Calls for Service

By Jamie Dougher | September 13

While many UNC students engage in community service, some say there exists a need for increased participation in local volunteer organizations. The Carolina Center for Public Service, Volunteer Orange!, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Public Service and Advocacy Committee of student government held a volunteer fair Wednesday on Polk Place to allow campus and community groups to recruit student and faculty volunteers.

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Carrboro Remembers 9/11 Victims With Flowers

By Jamie Dougher | September 13

Anyone walking toward Carrboro's Weaver Street Market on Thursday could hear the sound of a flute luring passers-by into the market. Anyone captivated enough by the sound to approach the market saw belly dancers mingling with the crowd, moving their hips rhythmically to the music. And anyone who walked up to the table where children crafted flowers out of colorful tissue paper discovered the larger project behind the festivities. The event was held as a communitywide reception for the 5,000 Flowers Project, a nationwide commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

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Local Firefighters Commemorate Fallen Brothers, Sisters

By Jamie Dougher | September 12

A group of about 100 people stood motionless Wednesday, fixated on two images -- the Chapel Hill Fire Department's silver bell and a U.S. flag. Nothing could be heard except the ringing of the bell, which then dissipated into complete silence. Fire Chief Dan Jones said the station sounded the traditional "5-5-5" last alarm bell during a memorial at the fire department in recognition of those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, specifically the 343 firemen and 70 policemen.

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Peace Movements Still Strong; One Year After Attacks

By Jamie Dougher | September 11

For many Americans, the knee-jerk reaction after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was a desire for retaliation against those responsible. But such widespread sentiment did not stop the peace movement in the community. After Sept. 11, 2001, a number of peace protests occurred on Franklin Street and in the area. The first effort to support nonviolence after the attacks took the form of a peace vigil Sept. 12 outside of the Franklin Street post office. An angry motorist driving past the protest shouted, "Fuck the Arabs. Kill them all," as people gathered in support of peace.