Here is a followup to the school board meeting held on June 21.

I was not able to stay for the whole commissioner's meeting on June 21. Based on the discussion, and the very good questions asked by the commissioners, they were in favor of refreshing the high school laptops, but not, at this time, in favor of the iPads at the middle school. The proposal on the agenda, iPads for all 6-8 teachers and grade 8 students, was different than the oral presentation by Dr. McCoy, which was 660 iPads that might be given to 8th graders, or maybe 6th graders, or maybe kept as class sets on carts - we're not really sure how we're going to use them but we want flexibility.

Thirteen new state park rangers received commissions as law enforcement officers on July 1, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The rangers were sworn in by Superior Court Judge Gary E. Trawick at a special ceremony in Raleigh. Michael Lee Annas and James Lee Trostle at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area received commissions.

When the 2009-2010 budget was passed last year, George Lucier stated: "When recession struck, Chatham County immediately froze hiring for many positions as well as increases." He went on to announce that the pay-for-performance salary increases earned by county employees would not be paid.

A unique new writing contest organized by a local writer and a Chapel Hill-based literary magazine has named the winners of the inaugural competition. The Laine Cunningham Novel Awards are given for unpublished novels in any genre. The prizes include cash and signed books donated by various authors. The third place prize, a library, is being awarded to Ruth Moose of Pittsboro, NC.

While walking this morning, I circled the courthouse, Dunlap Building, Recreation Department, and Public Works, the purpose of an Obesity Director (OD) became clear. If I exercise to keep in shape and lose weight, maybe the OD can recommend how Chatham government can lose weight. Or, possibly, the OD can quit thereby saving approximately $ 70,000 per year in the budget and serve as a good example for the other positions created by our fearless leaders. When I served in the military, the Officer of the Day commanded respect. Here the OD holds a non-defensible position.

Chatham County deputies received the tip they needed in a series of ATV larcenies when they arrested a Sanford man in June. On April 23, a Yamaha four wheeler valued at $1,200 was reported stolen from the residence of Eddie Fields of Bear Creek; and on the same day Ronnie Cox, another Bear Creek resident, reported his Honda four wheeler stolen that was valued at $2,500.

Here's a summary of June 17 - 30, 2010's felonious and serious arrests by the Chatham County Sheriff's department.

Chatham Transit Network has future plans to improve transportation services for Siler City residents so that more of them have more reliable transportation to more places. Residents are invited to a public forum on Tuesday, July 13, at the Western Senior Center in Siler City from 3-4:30 pm to get information on the proposed shuttle service in Siler City and provide feedback.

The Chatham County Council on Aging has received donations from Progress Energy and Duke Energy to supply electric box fans to low income older adults and adults with disabilities. As the summer temperatures rise, the fans can make a substantial difference in the health and well-being of Chatham’s residents.

On June 21, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved an $84,401,967 general fund county budget for 2010-11. The board approved a tax rate of 62.19 cents, which is a 1.97 cent increase. The tax impact on a home valued at $200,000 is $39 per year.

I have not seen any notices posted about the termination of Bookmobile services. I first got wind of this early in June, and saw in a flyer handed out at the Bookmobile on Wednesday, June 29, that June 30 would be its last day of service.

Consumer Reports provides a list of useful smart-phone apps for drivers, tested for the major smart-phone platforms, in the August issue of the magazine. Some of the apps are free.

If you catch them, eat them. It is beneficial to the fish population to remove caught fish and make room for others to grow larger.

Are you interested in learning more about hunter safety? Chatham County 4-H is offering all youth ages 11-18 the opportunity to participate in the Hunter Safety program through the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission on July 12 and 13, 2010.

For those of you that have been patiently waiting since November 2009 for us to vend at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro starting this fall, it won't happen. Dr. Allen has now informed me that the vending contract doesn't come up for renewal until fall 2011.

Fifty years ago, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mocking Bird" gave us a sympathetic hero who seemed to stand up against the worst features of our region's social system.

Related:
NC Book Watch
Our State Magazine

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association was honored to host influential farmer and activist Joel Salatin as he visited Pittsboro, NC on June 30. Joel started his day with a brief stop by the CFSA office where staff filled him in on CFSA activities.

Summer is a great time to get out of the gym and hit the road-especially on a bike. Consumer Reports latest tests of bicycles found six Recommended models aimed at casual and fitness riders. And although a higher price means better components and lighter materials, consumers can still get a nice ride at a good price.

I saw on News14 a brief report on the community forum held about the restoration of the Chatham County Courthouse. I was not able to be present at the forum, but I believe the courthouse can and should be restored to look as it did before the fire, though not necessarily to house the same offices as before.