VOLUME 148 ISSUE 25 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY NC DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
A lifetime of service North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey presented the Guardian Award to Jerry Ward for 60 years in the fire service. Ward served the Siler City Fire Department as captain and fire chief, and spent years training the next generation of firefighters.
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BRIEF this week
Chatham elections office launches redesigned website Pittsboro The Chatham County Board of Elections has launched a redesigned website to enhance accessibility and simplify navigation for voters, poll workers and candidates. The updated site at chathamcountync. gov elections features improved organization with distinct pages for voter registration, early voting, Election Day and accessible voting options. “With critical elections on the horizon, we recognized the need for a more user-friendly and accessible platform,” said Pandora Paschal, Chatham County elections director. Key improvements include streamlined content, enhanced mobile responsiveness, prominent links to voter lookup tools, an election countdown clock and expanded frequently asked questions sections. The site also includes information for prospective poll workers.
U.S., China extend trade truce for an additional 90 days President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened the U.S. would have ratcheted up taxes on Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing would have responded by raising retaliatory levies on U.S. exports to China.
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School superintendent turns down bonus pay Anthony Jackson was due a 5% bonus but declined it in light of the district’s tough financial state By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — In a rare act of humility, Chatham County Schools Superintendent Anthony
Jackson turned down his most recent bonus. At the Chatham County Schools Board of Education’s Aug. 11 meeting, Board Chair Gary Leonard said Jack-
son declined the 5% bonus payment offered to him by the Board of Education based on his performance. “We evaluated Dr. Jackson’s performance — and we do this yearly — and the board was very pleased with the job that he is doing,” Leonard said. “According to his contract, Dr. Jackson has a
Pittsboro Commissioners wish well to outgoing assistant city manager Assistant Town Manager Kent Jackson worked for Pittsboro for five years By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners met Aug. 11 for its regular business meeting.
The board recognized outgoing Assistant Town Manager and Engineering Director Kent Jackson, who is moving on to a new opportunity. Jackson joined town staff in 2020 as town engineer and en-
gineering director and earned the promotion to assistant town manager in 2023. “Obviously as a town manager, you need support from the elected board and the staff, and Kent has been probably the most supportive assistant town manager I’ve ever had,” said Town Manager Jonathan Franklin.
2 charged with murder in Harris Lake boating death A 10-year-old girl died and a woman lost her leg after an allegedly intoxicated boat operator struck them while they were swimming Aug. 2 Chatham News & Record staff A 10-YEAR-OLD girl is dead and her elementary school social worker lost a leg after a boat operator allegedly drove his vessel while intoxicated into three swimmers at Harris Lake on Aug. 2, striking two of them. Both the boat operator and the boat’s owner now face second-degree murder charges following a grand jury indictment on Aug. 11, according to court records. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, which
is leading the investigation, identified the deceased victim as Brooklyn Mae Carroll, a fifth-grade student at West Lake Elementary School in Cary. The injured woman, Jennifer Stehle, 41, worked as a social worker at the same school, according to media reports. Stehle’s left leg was amputated above the knee, and she suffered severe injuries to her right leg, according to court testimony. A family statement reported by ABC11 on Aug. 11 See BOAT, page A10
The DA said the severity of evidence, including the extensive alcohol consumption, failure to watch where the boat was traveling and Kight’s prior criminal history, warranted the enhanced charges.
5% bonus based on performance. There’s some money issues going on at the federal and state level, but the board felt that he was deserving of that. However, Dr. Jackson asked that we waive that bonus for this year due to the financial issues that are going on everywhere.” Jackson has a base annual salary of $205,000, which is set by the state salary schedule for superintendents. The 5% bonus would have paid him an additional $10,250. The board did, however, extend Jackson’s contract by another year, which will keep See JACKSON, page A7
During his tenure, Jackson played a key role in the award-winning Granular Activated Carbon advanced filtration system, the TriRiver Water Merger, the growth and advancement of Public Works, the expansion and improvement of the town’s multimodal transportation infrastructure, and the awarding of millions of dollars in state and federal funding. “It’s been a great five years, probably the most rewarding of my career,” Jackson said. “Great organizations and teams, they don’t withdraw from change, See PITTSBORO, page A3