June household hazardous waste event to be held June 20
The June Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event of 2020 will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. The event will be at the Solid Waste & Recycling Main Facility in Pittsboro. HHW events are a way for residents to dispose of hazardous materials safely. Decals are not required, but residents will need to show their N.C. Driver License with their current address. HHW is only for households; no hazardous waste from businesses will be accepted.
At HHW events, the county accepts such items as oil based paints, solvents, stains, bleach, aerosols, cleaners, pesticides, brake fluid, fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks, etc. For a complete list, please visit the Household Hazardous Waste webpage or contact the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 919-542-5516.
Latex paint is only hazardous when it is in liquid form. Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash instead of bringing it to the Household Hazardous Waste collection. Approximately 60 percent of the material brought to the HHW collection is liquid latex paint. It is the most costly item we collect. To save our budget for handling the more hazardous wastes, we encourage residents to dry it up for disposal. To dry it out, take off the lid and let it sit outside in a covered area. Add kitty litter or sawdust to speed up the drying process. It does not have to be completely solidified- more like a paste.
The Sheriff’s Office will also be onsite to conduct a medicine take back as a way for residents to safely dispose of unwanted medications. No needles, sharps, or liquids will be accepted.
9th annual Randolph County Senior Expo set for September
ASHEBORO — Due to COVID-19, the Randolph County Boomer Senior & Caregiver Expo has been rescheduled for 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. on September 30. The event is free and open to the public. This year’s expo will be held at the Randolph Senior Adults Association’s Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Adult Resource & Education Center located at 347 W. Salisbury St.
For more information about the expo, please call Ashlee King at 252-796-7473, email boomerseniorcaregiverexpo@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page.
Chatham County recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness Day
PITTSBORO — Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. This day calls attention to an important issue facing a growing aging population in Chatham County and across the United States. According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, 10 percent of people 65 and older experience some form of elder abuse each year. In addition to physical, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse, elder abuse also includes neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation.
The past few months have been difficult for everyone, however, seniors in our community face a unique set of challenges. Due to their higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, seniors may be more isolated and avoiding visits with family and friends. This can make many more vulnerable to scams and other forms of financial exploitation reports Renae Minor, adult services supervisor at Chatham County Department of Social Services.
“Even while we are minimizing in-person contact with seniors, the DSS Adult Services staff are calling weekly to answer questions and address any concerns,” Minor said. “We are also sharing information about community resources for meals, supplies, and ways to stay socially connected. In addition, I think it is important to talk about the value in maintaining mental, emotional, and physical health and to encourage self-care even more now during these uncertain and high-risk times.”
Recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness this year looks different than previous years, but the message remains as important as ever. The Department of Social Services organized a #ChathamWearsPurple day and has participated in virtual presentations addressing many topics involving the mistreatment of seniors and vulnerable adults.
The Elder Justice Initiative and National Council on Aging both provide resources about the abuse and exploitation of older Americans. It is estimated that elder abuse costs older Americans between $2.9 billion and $36.5 billion annually, according to the National Council on Aging. To report elder abuse or exploitation, please contact the Chatham County Department of Social Services at 919-642-6988 or after hours to 919-542-2911.
FSA county committee nominations open
PITTSBORO — USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members. Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee.
“I encourage America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards to nominate candidates to lead, serve, and represent their community on their county committee,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “There’s an increasing need for diverse representation including underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and minority farmers and ranchers.”
Committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. Their input is vital on how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.
Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community are serving on FSA county committees.
The Chatham County Committee is made of three members and typically meets once a month. Members serve three-year terms. Producers serving on our FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency. Individuals can nominate themselves or others; also organizations, including those representing beginning, women and minority producers, may also nominate candidates to better serve their communities.
To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the area where the election is being held. To be considered, a producer must sign a nomination form indicating that they are willing to serve, even if nominated by another party.
The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections, or from the Chatham County FSA office. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the county FSA office by Aug. 3.
This year, nominations and elections for Chatham County will be held in local administrative area 1, which includes Albright, Bear Creek, and Matthews Townships, roughly the western end of the county.
Producers with questions should call the Chatham County FSA Office at 919-542-2244, ext. 2.
Duke Energy, county officials to perform maintenance on Harris sirens
NEW HILL — Annual testing of the public alert outdoor warning sirens within the 10-mile area around the Harris Nuclear Plant, which began on May 5, continues this week, said officials with Duke Energy Progress.
The tests are conducted at full volume and last approximately five to ten seconds. The work will be conducted Tuesday through Thursday, between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Since the sirens will be tested individually, there is no specific time when residents of Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Wake counties can expect to hear the sirens, officials said.
This testing is being performed to support the annual maintenance of the sirens. These audible tests are conducted to ensure each siren works properly after the maintenance is performed. Each siren may be tested multiple times. Residents may not hear the sirens unless they are close to one when it is being tested.
Because this is maintenance testing, local broadcasting stations will not interrupt regular programming to broadcast Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages. Duke Energy Progress officials said if there were ever a real emergency at the plant requiring the sirens to be sounded, local radio and television stations would broadcast information and instructions to the public.
For more information about the outdoor warning sirens, residents can refer to information available at duke-energy.com/NuclearEP.