VOLUME 147 ISSUE 7 | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Moon takes center stage An awe-inspiring total solar eclipse made its way across North America on Monday, with millions pausing to consider one of nature’s most incredible occurrences — and the last total eclipse in the United States until 2045. In the main photo, taken by NSJ’s Jordan Golson from the path of totality in Houlton, Maine, the sun’s corona is visible as a white halo around the black disk of the moon, bringing a few minutes of near-total darkness to those in its path. The composite image below is of the partial eclipse, taken in Randolph County by NSJ’s Scott Pelkey, with the moon only partially obstructing the sun. Mark your calendars: North Carolina will see its own total solar eclipse on May 11, 2078, then again on Sept. 14, 2099.
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Pittsboro’s Troop 93 celebrates new Eagle Scouts
BRIEF this week
Tree pollen counts hit record high in NC If your pollen allergies have been especially bad this past week, the NC Department of Environmental Quality Pollen Lab could have an explanation. On April 1, the lab recorded a tree pollen count of 16,284 grains, with another count of 11,340 on April 3. Those are the two highest numbers the lab has recorded since it began measuring in 1999. Mulberry, pine, oak, and maple were the primary pollen-producing trees this week, the lab said.
State moves forward with EV charging stations Businesses in certain areas of North Carolina can apply for federal funds to build electric vehicle charging stations along a network of charging corridors around the state. North Carolina received $109 million in infrastructure funds targeted for EV charging stations. The first batch will cover 11 clusters of chargers, including one east of Stanly County on I-74 around Exit 49.
Only 4% of Boy Scouts reach the lofty rank By Dan Reeves For Chatham News & Record
DAN REEVES FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Eagle Scout Seph Trageser with his dad, Paul Trageser.
PITTSBORO — It’s impressive to see a single member of a Scout troop achieve the rank of Eagle, the highest and most prestigious achievement in Scouting. On Saturday, Scout Troop 93 here in Pittsboro saw three of its members — Mason Powell,
Zack Wilson, and Seph Trageser, bestowed with the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout. Hosted by Scoutmaster William Huneycutt, Troop Committee Chairman Pete School, Assistant Scoutmaster Mack Thorpe and other members of Troop 93, the Court of Honor ceremony at Pittsboro United Methodist Church was alight with Scout decor and pageantry, with proud parents and city officials looking on. See SCOUTS, page A10
Local nonprofits unite to build upon their life’s work For several years, the pancake breakfast had been a significant fundraiser for Sonshine. But when COVID came along, that effort was put on hold.
Music, pancakes, and divine intervention bring helpers to Chatham By Bob Wachs For Chatham News & Record SOMETIMES a casual conversation can lead to big things. Such is the case for a local nonprofit organization, Sonshine and Blessings, and Pittsboro United Methodist Church. The Church will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser Saturday, in the church’s new Family Life Center, to benefit both Sonshine and Blessings and the church, the result of that conversation several months back. John Wilson, a member of the church, says the partnership of Sonshine and the church is “divine intervention,” in part because of the connection to a second nonprofit he started, Brightest Light. A lengthy musical background led Wilson to form a nonprofit aimed at bringing music to places where “music might not normally be,” he explained in an interview. “Where people might be, for lack of a better word, down and out. “Places like hospitals, prisons, rehab centers, homes for the aged, community needs. And I don’t mean just an acoustic guitar but a stage and production, something like a concert.” Pittsboro United Methodist’s choir director, David Smith, connected Wilson with Joyce Frank of Sonshine and Blessings. That led Wilson, Frank, Smith and pastor Lucas Nelson to get together and share ideas on how to meet the goals of their various organizations. See NONPROFIT, page A3
COURTESY MONCURE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The plane landed along Route 1 near the Sanford-Lee County Airport, striking two vehicles as it landed.
Plane lands on Moncure highway Two SUVs were hit, but no one was injured when the single-engine plane landed on Route 1
The Associated Press MONCURE — A small plane experiencing engine problems struck two vehicles as it landed on a highway near a North Carolina airport, but no injuries were reported, authorities said. The single-engine Lancair 360 with only the pilot on board landed near Raleigh Executive Jetport at
Sanford-Lee County Airport in Sanford around 4:20 p.m. Thursday after experiencing engine problems, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The FAA will investigate. See PLANE, page A2
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