Chatham County Roundup: Commissioner Karen Howard

UPDATE: The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said Friday the two recovered boaters are believed to be 25-year-old Daniel Garcia Garcia and 36-year-old Manuel Mauro Sifuentes Soto, who are both Durham residents. Positive identification by the state medical examiner’s office is still pending. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of these two young men,” said […]

Noah Smalls is a curator, exhibition designer, gallery director, and consultant committed to advancing equity and social impact in the arts. He currently serves as Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management at the Williams College Museum of Art and as Gallery Director at Rush Arts in Philadelphia.

The Manifold Recording studio and Chatham County property is for sale, and its owners are seeking a buyer with a similar vision to theirs.

Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 the Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, June 24, discussing town news and events. He talked about cooling centers being activated with the extreme temperatures this week. He also gave us the latest on Disney's Asteria development. He talked about the ribbon cutting at a new ABC Store in town, the master planning for a new park, and more.

Three new high-speed internet projects are coming to Chatham County thanks to grant awards from NCDIT.

This Week: Melissa Driver Beard, CORA, Executive Director Melissa has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, including 20 years in executive leadership. She has directed local, state, national, and international programs that advocate for basic human needs and rights. Under Melissa’s leadership, CORA has achieved over a 200% increase in income and an 88% rise in direct client services, demonstrating her ability to drive transformative growth. With a background in global advocacy, program development, and organizational capacity building, Melissa has championed solutions to food insecurity since 2009, fostering collaboration and sustainability. Rebecca Hankins, CORA, Development and Communications Director Rebecca brings more than 20 years of experience as a skilled fundraiser, communication strategist, and project manager. During her tenure at CORA, she spearheaded initiatives that increased fundraising revenue by 250% and expanded donor support by 50%. Rebecca is known for her creative approach to donor engagement, digital and traditional media strategies, and rebranding efforts that elevate CORA’s visibility. Her expertise lies in leveraging partnerships and technology to ensure program sustainability and community impact.

After searching Thursday evening and early Friday morning, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said first responders recovered the body of a drowned fisherman just south of Jordan Lake.

Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, June 18. She discussed the passage of the budget for Chatham County, including what she is most proud of in the budget. She discussed the latest on Wolfspeed as that company cuts positions as part of a Chapter 11 restructuring. She also talked about new "Welcome to Chatham County" signs that will be put on 15-501, and more.

This Week: Steve Sandeep Rao, a native of Charleston WV, Steve serves as an At Large Council Member for the Town of Morrisville and served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2015-2017. He served as a Senior Business Development Executive at Alphanumeric Systems, a global tech company headquartered in Raleigh from January 2011 to May 2020 and now serves as Of Counsel and Adviser to State Federal Strategies, where he advises Technology Companies on State and Local Government Business Development Strategy. Council Member Rao is the longest serving Asian-American elected official in NC

Randy Voller — a realtor and former mayor of Pittsboro — joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, June 11 for the "Chatham County Roundup."