SPORTS: URI’s Akeem Richmond to face the team he idolized • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC CHATHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE
TOWN’S HEART, UP IN SMOKE
LISA PEPIN/Special to The Herald
Firefighters stand in a cherry picker next to the drooping metal top of Pittsboro’s historic courthouse, which caught on fire the afternoon of Thursday. The courthouse was covered in scaffolding and some plastic, which made it harder for firefighters to aim water into the flames, witnesses said.
Fire difficult to watch for those with deep roots in Chatham town
Billowing black smoke covered town into the night; nobody hurt
By JONATHAN OWENS
By BETH VELLIQUETTE
owens@sanfordherald.com
Durham Herald-Sun
PITTSBORO — Laura Blair Johnson had a front-row seat as a fire destroyed the historic Chatham County Courthouse Thursday afternoon. But she could barely watch. Johnson, 90, a 70-year resident of the town, described herself as “heartbroken” as the flames engulfed the tower housing the clock that her husband, the late Jim Johnson, worked tirelessly to bring to his hometown landmark in 2000. “He always said when he was young, he was too poor to own a watch, and he always wished the courthouse had a clock,” Johnson said. “He put it in his
PITTSBORO — The historic Chatham County Courthouse was heavily damaged by a fire Thursday afternoon that officials say began in the attic area. The fire started about 4:15 p.m., according to Assistant District Attorney Kayley Taber, who was working in the building when the fire alarm sounded. Smoke and flames billowed from the building nearly two hours after the blaze began. By 9:15 p.m., firefighters had made progress in controlling the fire, but hot spots were still popping up periodically. The clock tower and third floor were severely damaged, with other areas
See Difficult, Page 6A
LISA PEPIN/Special to The Herald
Firefighters stand in a cherry picker in front of the remains of the bell tower on top of Pittsboro’s historic courthouse on Thursday. The fire broke out in the building at about 4:15 p.m., witnesses said.
See Fire, Page 6A
SATURDAY
BRAC IN LEE COUNTY
LAPTOP PROGRAM A SUCCESS IN LEE COUNTY
Area competing to attract military families
Lee County Schools continued rolling out laptops Tuesday, giving computers over to SanLee Middle students. In January and February, approximately 850 students and 35 teachers received them.
By CAITLIN MULLEN
In Saturday’s Herald
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 70 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — In the coming weeks, Lee County will get a better idea of the number of people that may move to the area as part of the upcoming BRAC relocation. About 700 “transfer of function” notices were sent to civilian employees of the U.S. Army
HAPPENING TODAY Temple Theatre’s production of Jason Petty’s “El Paso” begins at 8 p.m. “El Paso” details the performing life of Marty Robbins and pays tribute to Robbins’ heroes such as Gene Autrey and Hank Williams Sr. For tickets, call the Temple box office at (919) 774-4155, e-mail boxoffice@ templeshows.com or visit www. templeshows.com.
Forces Command at Ft. McPherson, Ga. on March 1. The letters are sent in preparation for the Base Realignment and Closure relocation from Ft. McPherson to Ft. Bragg, said Jim Hinnant, public affairs officer for Forces Command. The employees have until April 1 to notify the Army if they plan to move to Ft. Bragg. “That’ll affect the local area.
It’s a huge deal,” Hinnant said. To attract the employees and their families, Lee County officials are trying to market the area and provide information to those looking to move. Forces Command will know during the first week of April how many people will be part of the move, Hinnant said. These
See BRAC, Page 3A
High: 60 Low: 35
LEARN MORE Learn more about North Carolina’s efforts to prepare for the programs and people coming to Fort Bragg as part of Base Realignment and Closure by visiting the BRAC Regional Task Force Web site, www.bracrtf.com; or visit the government’s site at brac.gov.
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Joe Cook, 66; Sandra Jamerson; Edward Judd, 69; Larry Kirby, 64; William Turner; Norman Quick; Dr. Wolfgang Wessling
North Carolina’s community college system is pretty much back where it started
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ........................ xx Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar ...........XA Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B