Truth and numbers
The annual high school rankings have been rolled out by the good people at U.S. News and World Report and much to the chagrin of our fellow citizens who are fond of national rankings, less than three dozen schools on the list of 1,591 were from North Carolina. That was a good bit different from rankings by Newsweek magazine released earlier this year.

The main difference between the two magazines’ methods is telling.

Around here, the Newsweek rankings are typically received with glee because they have traditionally used SAT scores and percentage of students taking Advance Placement tests as their top (as in, just about only) criteria. We do pretty well by that standard.

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Blue Yodel No. 171
Randy Parton said it best the night he was told to leave his namesake theater. Speaking to a couple of reporters upon exit, Parton — brother o’ Dolly — noted that he’d fulfilled his obligations to the City Of Roanoke Rapids and then neatly summed up in a pissed-off-country-singer kind of way the state of what was once touted as Branson East.

“You see anything else out here?” he snarled.

Indeed, sport.

Parton was, save a Tuesday Christmas show with Charlie Daniels, the only thing on the schedule in the only building in a complex meant to rescue another beleaguered mill town from economic gloom.

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Chris Fitzsimon

State policymakers received some guidance Thursday on how they can reduce crime, save taxpayers’ money and make it more likely that troubled teenagers have a chance to turn their lives around.

Reports from Action from North Carolina and the Center for Disease Control call on the state to stop automatically sending 16 and 17 year olds accused of a crime to the adult criminal justice system and instead treat them in the juvenile system.

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Joint open house
As reported in The Carrboro Citizen, our nonprofit agencies recently held a joint open house for the community at our offices in downtown Carrboro. The scores of guests who attended enjoyed food donated by the following local restaurants:

Acme Food & Beverage Co., Boleros, Breadman’s, Café Carolina and Bakery, Chipotle, Hardee’s, Jason’s Deli, La Hacienda, Le Bleu Water, Mama Dip’s Country Cooking Restaurant, Margaret’s Cantina, Monterrey Restaurant, Open Eye Café, 35 Chinese, Top of the Hill and the Weather Vane.   More »

Mary Corcoran, 82, of Pittsboro died Saturday, December 8, 2007 at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas.

Roger Woodrow Ray, 59, died on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at his home.  He is the son of Robert Ray, who predeceased him, and Nelmer Bunn of Haw River.   Leaving behind him are people who loved him very much: a daughter,  Tonya St. Clair Parsons of Cary NC; fiancé, Beverly A Jinnette of Hillsborough NC; his beloved dog, “Tippy”;  his step father, Vernonn Bunn;  step sisters Linda Warren, Karen Johnson, and Sharon Butner. step brother, Jimmy Rogers.  Roger was a recognized Vietnam Vet, a longtime member of the Haw River Methodist
Church and to his closest friends he was known as “Mr. Rogey”.   He will be dearly missed.

Arrangements by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas.  Online condolences to www.cremnc.com.

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education last week elected board member Pam Hemminger as board chair. Hemminger replaces Jamezetta Bedford.

The board also elected Lisa Stuckey as vice chair. She replaces Hemminger.

In addition, new board member Mia Burroughs and returning board members Bedford, Mike Kelley and Annetta Streater were sworn in by Judge Joe Buckner.  More »

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education recognized several school sports teams last week.

• The board recognized the Chapel Hill High School football team, which made it to the Elite Eight in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s AAAA Championship.
• The East Chapel Hill High School women’s tennis team was recognized for their second-place finish in the state tournament. Team members include: Haley Booterbaugh, Tess Darling, Sydney Davis, Tegan Flynn, Danielle Fradin, Tamara Hill, Jennifer Huang, Megan Huang, Tessa Johnson, Britney Rider, Emma Shaw and Toni Wei. They are coached by Lindsey Linker.   More »

CHS winter concerts
The Carrboro High School chorus, orchestra and band will perform winter concerts this week.

The chorus and orchestra will perform a concert tonight (Thursday) at 7:30. The concert will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Southern Village.

The groups will perform selections from Vivaldi’s Gloria, highlights from Harry Potter and a little holiday music. More »

Culbreth Middle Boys’ Basketball
(via coach Mike Harris)

The Culbreth boys varsity basketball team opened play against Phillips Wednesday, November 27th. The two teams exchanged leads allgame, until Phillips pulled away in the end by six points, 38-32 thanks to powerful inside play by A. Esry, B. Meyer and C. Smith. Michael Thornton and Denzel Ingram played strong games for Culbreth. Ingram netted a game high 21 points in the loss. More »

Thursday Dec 13

Blue Horn Lounge: Bo Lankenau & Lucy Sumner. 9pm
The Cave: Early: Alias Smith and Jones. Late: TBA.
General Store Cafe: Club Boheme. 8pm
Local 506: Maple Stave, Wembley, Noncanon. 9:30pm
Nightlight: Engines, Soundpainting Orchestra. 9:30pm. $5 More »

Carrboro

Chatham Artists Guild Open Studio Tour – Center Gallery at The ArtsCenter, through Dec 18. All 52 artists on the tour are represented in this exhibit. 300-G E Main St, Carrboro. 929-2787, www.artscenterlive.org

Paitings by Stephanie Smith – Family rendering acrylic paintings. Through Dec 23, East End Gallery at The ArtsCenter. Artist’s reception: Fri, Dec 14, 6-9pm. 300-G E Main St, Carrboro. 929-2787, www.artscenterlive.org

Paintings by Peg Bachenheimer and Catherine Carter – Through December at Provence Restaurant, 203 W Weaver St, Carrboro. www.pegbachenheimer.com  More »