Chatham County Roundup: Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard

This Week: Emily Sutton is the Executive Director of Haw River Assembly ("HRA") as well as being the Haw Riverkeeper. She joined the staff of Haw River Assembly in 2016, managing citizen science projects to watchdog against sediment pollution and monitor the tributaries and main stem of the Haw River. She has been Haw Riverkeeper since 2018, leading the fight for HRA against pollution in the Haw River on many fronts, including emerging contaminants, Jordan Lake nutrients, and sediment pollution. She is a current member of the NC Sedimentation Control Commission. Emily grew up paddling rivers in the Midwest, and moved to North Carolina to receive her B.A at Appalachian State University in Sustainable Development, where she studied Agroecology, Watershed Ecology, and Outdoor Education. Emily lives in Durham, NC.

Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, October 3. He discussed how two new laws in North Carolina will affect the work of Sheriff's offices in the state, including Chatham County. He also discussed safety on Jordan Lake, with dangerous situations occurring every summer. He also discussed the growth of Chatham County and how it affect's the sheriff's office's work, and more.

Two food truck employees suffered burns after a gas leak caused an explosion inside their truck at the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival in Pittsboro on Thursday afternoon.

Chatham County Commissioner Katie Kenlan spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, September 30. She discussed a pair of recent meetings the county commissioners held. The first was a joint meeting with the Siler City Board of Commissioners. The second was a joint meeting with the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners. She discussed the takeaways from both meetings, as well as the similarities and differences in the needs of those two towns. She also discussed upcoming community events and more.

This Week: Born into a blue collar and agricultural clan in rural Pennsylvania, Dr. Jim Crawford was the first in his family to graduate from college. Earning his PhD from the University of North Carolina, he taught US and World History at several universities in the piedmont North Carolina for several decades. He served as chairman of the Chatham County board of commissioners, and currently serves as trustee for Central Carolina Community College. He is a firm believer in American democracy and trusts that the constitution will hold firm now as it has in past crises despite the broken, distempered electorate.

The Chatham County fair turned 75 years old last weekend. It is one of the longest-running African American fairs in the country.

Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, September 16, discussing county news and events. She shared details of a presentation from the United Way about their role in addressing housing affordability in Chatham County. She also discussed highlights from the recent board of commissioners meeting, including discussion of early childhood programs in the county and more. She also previewed this weekend's Chatham County Agricultural and Industrial Fair, which will be the 75th in the fair's history. She shared memories of taking her kids to the fair, and the importance it has for the Chatham community. She noted some of the fairs highlights, including the food, rides, and more.

Tobais Palmer, who grew up in Pittsboro during the 1990s, has seen many changes around town. Now, he is running to be an elected official.

After testing THC-A products purchased at two businesses, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office announced charges against the operators.

This Week: Tami Schwerin is a re-developer of The Plant, taking a cold-war industrial plant and creating a community hub of food, beverage and experiences. Her past experience includes founding a local food, renewable energy and cultural non-profit; Abundance NC. Before that she helped build Chatham Marketplace, a local co-op grocery store. She has served on art and environmental boards of directors. She traveled the world selling software in her younger years and renovated several old broken-down houses. Tami loves a challenge and creating a world that she wants to live in. She grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and loves the south and Pittsboro.  Kyle Shipp serves as the Mayor of Pittsboro, North Carolina, where he focuses on responsible growth, infrastructure, and transparent governance. He previously served as a Town Commissioner and Planning Board member. In his full-time role, Kyle works as an engineer in the data center industry, specializing in industrial control systems. He also serves as Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, supporting youth development across the region. With a background in engineering and a passion for community service, Kyle works to ensure Pittsboro grows in a way that reflects its values and long-term vision.