VOLUME 148 ISSUE 19 | THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Drake Powell is all smiles after being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
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Drake Powell headed to BRIEF this week Brooklyn with 22nd pick Chatham library to hold blood drive Pittsboro The Chatham Community Library will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Monday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a particular need, as ever, for Type O blood, and Type O donors will receive a bonus gift card as a thank you. Visit chathamlibraries.org to make an appointment or to learn more.
Jabil plans to create nearly 1,200 jobs in Rowan County with manufacturing investment Salisbury The electronics company Jabil plans to create nearly 1,200 jobs in central North Carolina by building a new manufacturing plant. The company is investing $500 million toward a facility to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence data centers. Officials announced Monday that the facility will be in Rowan County, northeast of Charlotte. The project includes a $264 million capital investment and 1,181 jobs by the end of 2030. North Carolina competed with Florida for the project and offered more than $21 million in incentives. Jabil already operates three facilities in the state, employing about 1,000 workers.
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The Pittsboro native celebrated the 2025 NBA Draft in his hometown By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — This dateline marked the site of many unforgettable basketball moments over the years.
Slam dunks, deep playoff runs, 1,000 career points and a commitment to UNC all took place there. But for the first time, Chatham County’s seat pinpoints the location of an NBA draftee. Drake Powell, the former Northwood High School five-star athlete, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 22nd overall pick in the first
round of the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25. The Hawks traded the pick to the Brooklyn Nets, sending Powell to The Big Apple to begin his professional career. Powell, who became the first Tar Heel selected in the first round since Brooklyn picked Day’Ron Sharpe in 2021, watched the draft and celebrated the news with his immediate family at his home.
Powell shared the moment with his family — parents Dedric and Cherice, his siblings Cera and Deuce, his cousin Jalen Mcafee-Marion — and agent Ty Sullivan, and the smiles radiating throughout the living area told all about the emotions of the moment. “The biggest (emotion) is just happiness,” Powell said. “I kept my circle pretty small. Honestly could have had a big party, invited a bunch of different people. But I just wanted to keep it small with the people I think know me best as a person, and I’m excited that I enjoyed this moment with them.” See POWELL, page A7
Commissioners adopt 2025-26 operating budget The county will have a property tax rate of $0.60 per $100 valuation By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners met June 16 for its
regular business meeting. The commissioners officially adopted the 2025-26 operating budget, which has a general fund balanced at just under $213 million. Highlights of the budget include substantial increases in funding for both education and public safety, a 4% salary adjustment for employees and an ex-
pansion of county positions (16). The budget also sets a property tax rate of $0.60 per $100 valuation. While this rate is lower than the prior year’s rate ($0.725), it is still nearly seven cents higher than the revenue neutral rate, meaning that most residents will still more than likely see an increase in their tax bill.
Chimney Rock State Park opens for first time after Helene The area was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane The Associated Press CHIMNEY ROCK — An iconic tourist attraction in an area of western North Carolina among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene reopened to the public last Friday, nine months after the storm brought historic flooding, destruction and loss of life. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and other officials attended a reopening ceremony at Chimney Rock State Park, which is about 25 miles southeast of Asheville. The main portion of the park will now be open again from Fridays to Mondays to visitors who make reservations, Stein’s office said.
Stein also signed into law before the ceremony’s crowd another state Helene recovery bill finalized by the General Assembly on Thursday that sends $700 million to the state’s Helene relief fund and appropriates $500 million of that. And Stein announced a new tourism campaign to encourage travel and spending in the North Carolina mountains. “Today’s reopening is a huge achievement,” Stein told attendees. “Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.” Last September’s storm swept away the ornate stone and concrete bridge across the Broad River to reach the portion of the park that contains See PARK, page A3
“Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.” Gov. Josh Stein
“Thank you to staff for all of the work that went into the preparation of the draft and the recommended budget and then to this board for the work that went into our work sessions,” said board chair Karen Howard. The board also held three public hearings for rezoning requests, See BUDGET, page A3