Because I write, I’m always looking for hints to improve the quality or quantity of my writing. I also want to convey helpful, writerly guidelines to students I teach, such as those in OLLI … more

OXFORD — She opens the door wearing a gray tank top, Hello Kitty pajama pants and pink fuzzy slippers. With her 6-year-old son standing quietly beside her, she listens patiently as Liz Purvis … more

Prince Charming scours his kingdom, looking for the mysterious gal using this sole clue to her existence: her footwear lost in her hasty departure — a glass slipper! When you think about it, the entire plot and theme of Charles Perrault’s story of 1697 hinges on this one concrete object: a shoe made of glass more

SILER CITY — At the epicenter of President Joe Biden’s promised economic boom, a slow tractor can still halt traffic. 81,000 people live in Chatham County. There are 1,076 farms. The … more

Walking into Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, held this past weekend, the typical parking and entry headaches of events like these quickly disappear. The kind, welcoming staff and volunteers embodying the festival’s peaceful vibe invite each visitor to become part of a larger community. Stepping into Shakori Hills, a mystical and warming communal spirit is palpable. more

PITTSBORO — Crowds dropped in on Saturday for the Lowrider Show at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center. The event, now in its fourth year, is the brainchild of Manuel … more

Northwest of Pittsboro, amid sprawling fields and rustic farms, lies the small rural community of Silk Hope. A run-down gas station, doubling as a surprisingly delicious BBQ joint, suggests a community forgotten. But nearby, an immaculate fire station and the 5,000-square-foot Silk Hope Community building tell a different story. more

Last week regional and state agricultural leaders gathered for NC Ag Leads: Imagine Agriculture Day at the SAS campus in Cary, to talk about agriculture, challenges and how to move the industry forward. more

Two years shy of the 250th anniversary of 1776, nine high school students from around North Carolina gathered over the weekend at Chatham County’s Governor's Club to honor the founding fathers with short oratories of their own creation. more

PITTSBORO — As the old joke goes, how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. Thus we have Abigail Sabrina Wright, a junior at Northwood High School, has been … more

The Chatham County Partnership for Children held its 19th Reindeer Run 5K in Pittsboro last Saturday. Participants ran on a USATF certified course that started at Central Carolina Community … more

The United Pullers of the Carolinas honored two local tractor pullers at its awards banquet held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Nov. 18. Noble Hinshaw, a Siler City man, was one of four 2023 … more

SILER CITY — Darrin Locklear is on a different mission today than he might have been on growing up in Siler City in the 1970s and ‘80s. “People who remember me may remember I was a … more

PITTSBORO — Disney is coming to Chatham. Storyliving by Disney, a real estate brand of The Walt Disney Company, announced its plans to develop a new master-planned community within Chatham … more

“Paris is always a good idea,” Audrey Hepburn once famously declared. Before my journey from Raleigh-Durham Airport to Charles De Gaulle Airport on October 25, 2023, I was besieged … more

SILER CITY — The Siler City Fire Department, with a little help from neighboring fire agencies, celebrated its 100th anniversary in style this past weekend, marking a significant milestone … more

PITTSBORO — O'Quinn's Butcher Shop held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Friday, Oct. 27, at 193 Lowes Drive in Pittsboro. The family-owned business, which has been … more

Seaforth football head coach Terrance Gary didn’t have any more questions to answer in his post-game interview following the win over Jordan-Matthews on Oct. 19. After breaking the … more

RALEIGH — I made my annual visit to the fair on Monday with my wife, Beth, and our sons, Everett, 13, and James, 8. I've been going to the state fair since I can remember going anywhere. I've … more

PITTSBORO — October will again be designated as a month for local residents to take part in distance exercises as part of an ongoing campaign by the Chatham County Parks and Recreation.  … more