After more than four hours of closed-door meetings yesterday, City Council members still aren't ready to offer the city manager job to one of three finalists announced last week.

"We’re still deliberating," Mayor Bill Bell said last night.

"Would we have liked to have come to a consensus before now? Sure, fine. But we’re not there yet for reasons I’m comfortable with."

Bell wouldn't go into detail about what those reasons were. He said in an interview before the first round of council deliberations last week that he had the finalists ranked 1, 2 and 3. "I suspect the rest of the council does, too," he said then.

Last night he wouldn't say whether his No. 1 matched that of the majority of council members.

Bell also has said that there's no guarantee the new manager would come from the slate of finalists. He wouldn't say last night whether the prospect of reopening the search was on the table.

Bell noted that Patrick Baker isn't slated to leave office until July 1.

"We have the luxury of not having to rush a decision," Bell said, though he added he didn't want to string the three finalists along more than necessary.

The council has scheduled another closed session meeting for Wednesday.

This week, TORC announced the Triangle MTB XC Series, a series of five mountain bike races at local venues, culminating with the championship in September. On the eve of the first race — tomorrow's Little River, Big Race at Little River Regional Park — Sean Callihan, the man behind the series, answers a few questions about the series and offers insight into what else may be in store for local mountain bike racers.

Q: Where did the idea for the Triangle MTB XC Series come from and who's behind it?
A: As you know there are some great local trails, including some relatively new ones such as Carolina North and Little River Regional Park. We (TORC) wanted to hold a couple races to highlight these trails. Happy Fun Racing had been putting on a race at Lake Crabtree County Park the past several years and Middle Ring Racing ran a race at Harris Lake last year. We all got together and decided to combine these races and run it as a local series.

The five-race Triangle MTB XC Series begins tomorrow (weather permitting).

Q: Tell us about your background as a race organizer, including the races you organized with the Cyclopaths.
A: I’m not really sure I would consider myself a race organizer. I just have a passion for racing and going to racing events. Some people have asked “why should I come to a race and pay to ride a trail I can ride for free?”. My answer is that it is just a different experience at a race. Whether you are racing for the first time or the fortieth time, there is just something about lining up with other riders, setting out to see how well you can do, and sharing the experience with your friends once it is over. Your goal might be to just finish the race, beat a previous time, or try to make it to the podium. Or maybe it is just to come out and ride with others who enjoy mountain biking. It really doesn’t matter as long as you are riding and enjoying the camaraderie that occurs at these events.

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In case some of you guys missed it, WakePol blogged earlier this week about the sales tax fight between the school board and county commissioners.

Commmissioners have accused the school system of costing taxpayers more than $600,000 through delays in transferring property to the county. School officials say the delay only cost $70,000.

The goal is to temporarily transfer ownership of school property to the county while construction work is performed. This allows taxpayers to take advantage of the sales tax exemption that counties, but not school systems, enjoy.

Click here for the WakePol post.

Click here for an WRAL story in which Commissioner Tony Gurley is out for the blood of the school district's attorneys.

The late Frank Zappa is said to have declared, "Rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read." Two of those might be true -- but don't try to tell me Patterson Hood can't talk. In contrast to many of the terse-spoken folks I deal with, the Drive-By Truckers' spiritual leader is an absolute joy to interview. During a recent phone chat, the five questions I asked Hood yielded 40 minutes of talk about kids, the previous night's Springsteen show, firebrand politics and the real-life subjects of various Truckers songs, among other topics. Most of the conversation centered on the Truckers' latest album, "Brighter Than Creations Dark" (New West Records), which is named after a line in the song "Checkout Time in Vegas." According to Hood, settling on a title was the hardest part of making this record.

"We were thinking about 'Urban Bovine Kneivel,' a line from 'Opening Act,'" Hood said. "That was our second choice. But Wes Freed, who does our artwork, told us, 'I don't care what you call it, I'm drawing "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" because that's what I'm seeing.' So there it was."

For more, including talk about the Truckers' collaboration with soul goddess Bettye LaVette and their split with former bandmate Jason Isbell, see the interview in Friday's paper; and if that's not enough spieling for ya, click through to see a 2004 Q&A interview with Hood. The Truckers open a two-night stand at Carrboro's Cat's Cradle on Tuesday.

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Among their handful of restricted free agents, the Hurricanes have two that present a unique negotiating challenge: Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu.

In Gleason's case, there's no question he's earned a substantial raise on the $1.175 million he made last season. The question is whether the two sides will look at a two-year deal that takes him up to his eligibility for unrestricted free agency or a longer deal that buys him out of a year or two of free agency.

"That’s been part of the negotiation," Rutherford confirmed Thursday.

Ruutu made $2.25 million last season, obviously more than the Hurricanes would like to pay for a player who, when everyone's healthy, slots into their third line (and a salary range of $1.5-$1.8 million, where Ruutu was in 2006-07). So some creative negotiations will be required there, although Ruutu could end up moving up the depth chart if the Canes trade a forward for a defenseman, which Rutherford has hinted he may do since the season ended.

Other contracts on the agenda this month, all restricted free agents: Patrick Eaves, Chad LaRose, Dennis Seidenberg. Any negotiations with Michael Leighton are on hold until June's hockey meetings, although he remains the front-runner for the opening as Cam Ward's backup.

Inspired by the recent closings of Red Palace and Tasca Brava, today's Chew on This! column in the N & O reflects on restaurants which have contributed something special to the Triangle by virtue of their going against conventional wisdom. I cite these restaurants as examples:

The Roast Grill, Raleigh - The granddaddy of no compromise, serving hot dogs grilled the old-fashioned way in a tiny shop that hasn’t changed since 1940. Still open for lunch only, and last time I checked, you still entered through a screen door. Don’t want a hot dog? You’re in the wrong place, because that’s pretty much all they sell. And whatever you do, don’t ask for ketchup.

Chops Steakhouse, Garner - A steakhouse that dry-ages its own beef on premises is rare, though I suppose it wouldn’t be too shocking to learn that one is opening in some trendy spot such as Glenwood South. But the outskirts of Garner? Where a dry-aged 14-ounce rib-eye will only set you back $26.95? Including sides?

Jibarra, Raleigh - In a region where, just a few years ago, avocado slices on your Tex-Mex combo plate were considered cutting edge, Jibarra’s elegant fine dining take on Mexican cuisine is daring indeed. And most welcome.

Piedmont and Rue Cler, Durham - After several false starts, it looks like the downtown Durham renaissance is finally for real this time. A lot of the credit goes to these two excellent restaurants, whose openings less than a month apart in late 2006 were the among the first signs of life in a long-dormant area.

Skipper’s Fish Fry, Apex - Talk about daring. How about opening a New England style fish fry in the heart of Calabash country? Fortunately, those of us who grew up believing in the sanctity of Southern style cornmeal-breaded flounder can assuage our guilt over enjoying cracker meal-breaded cod with a side of hushpuppies.

What do you think? Do you have any additions to the list?

This week I review The Mint in downtown Raleigh. You can find the review here: http://www.newsobserver.com/1132 . Do you agree with my rating of 3-1/2 stars?

Note: I just read the final copy of my review in the N & O, and noticed that someone - presumably a copy editor trying to be helpful - had inserted a "definition" of the term "sous vide," describing it as "a type of cooking with pressure." While that description may be scientifically correct (I'm certainly no scientist), it misses the point. "Sous vide" is French for "under vacuum," and it's just that: cooking under vacuum, usually in an airtight plastic bag. Just wanted to clear that up.

• Thursday: Boston College and Clemson
• Today: Florida State and Maryland
• Monday: N.C. State and Wake Forest
• Tuesday: Va. Tech and Virginia
• Wednesday: Miami and Ga. Tech
• Thursday: UNC and Duke

If you thought the ACC was bad last year, or the year before, or the year before ... brace yourself for 2008. The league could be even worse, if that's possible.

Attrition, either through the NFL Draft, graduation or suspensions, has hit the division champs, Boston College and Virginia Tech, hard.

Traditional powers Miami and Florida State, who went a combined 12-13 in 2007, are no longer reloading but out-and-out rebuilding. FSU is doing so with the handicap of an academic scandal.

The ACC, and Coastal Division in particular, is so bad that Duke could equal its combined win total since 2004 before October ends.

=> Read more!

2007 record: 7-6, 4-4 ACC

Returning starters: Offense 7, Defense 7.

Quarterback?: Yes. Drew Weatherford (9 TDs, 3 INTs)

Avoid in the ACC: Duke, UNC, UVa

Coaching situation: Bobby Bowden enters his 33rd season at FSU as the all-time winningest coach in I-A history (373 wins in 42 total seasons) but with pressure to recapture the program's form from the 1990s. At 78, Bowden won't be fired but he might be asked to resign if the Noles post a third straight 7-6 season.

Second-year offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has been designated Bowden's successor, the head-coach-in-waiting.

"I'm on a one-year basis now," Bowden said. "I'm still the head football coach, nothing has changed there. As I've looked at the end of my career, you wonder how you're going to retire. It has been a relief for me."

Spring issues: FSU almost didn't have enough bodies for the Music City Bowl after 36 players were suspended in a university-wide academic fraud scandal.

There are seven starters who will miss the first three games because of the academic suspension. Backup quarterback Xaiver Lee and defensive tackle Letroy Guion left school early to avoid further punishment from the scandal.

Linebacker Geno Hayes had other legal issues and also decided to leave the program after his junior season.

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A jogger enjoys the Hinshaw Greenway this afternoon.

When Allen de Hart is out and about discussing his "Trails of the Triangle: Over 400 Trails in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Area" ($12.95, Blair), the second edition of which came out late last year, he always has especially nice things to say about the book. His words reflect his entry in the book: "From the distinguished Hinshaw Greenway and its dark deep forest, the relatively new trail extension offers sunshine on an artistic pedestrian bridge over U.S. 1/64."

Indeed, the 1.4-mile Hinshaw Greenway is one of the Triangle's older, more established greenways, offering passage through a lush forest. We can see how it's one of Allen's favorites.

Check out our list of favorites in next Thursday's Life, etc., section, and keep an eye out in the next few days for the launch of our new greenways site on www.triangle.com. I'll keep you posted.

The Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference tournament is next on the Wildcats' schedule but they've already got plans for next week. West set its playoff softball opener today. West Johnston will host Green Hope in the first round of the NCHSAA 4-A softball playoffs on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
West is one of five Johnston County teams likely to make the NCHSAA playoffs. West, North Johnston, Princeton and South Johnston are locked into the playoffs. Smithfield-Selma will make the playoffs barring an upset winner of the GNRC tournament. Clayton, winless on the season, would have to win the GNRC tournament to advance to the NCHSAA playoffs.
We'll update you on the other softball playoff openers once we know the whos, wheres and whens.

It's not often you get the story behind the highway marker. Susan Lefler of Brevard shared one today.

On May 17, in the little town of Cooleemee in Davie County, a highway marker will be dedicated to her father-in-law, the late Dr. Hugh Talmage Lefler, state historian and beloved professor of history at UNC.

Here's an excerpt from her e-mail:

Hugh Talmage Lefler was born on a farm near a crossroads they call “Greasy Corner” just outside of Cooleemee. He attended school in an eight-room schoolhouse. Dr. Lefler was head of the Departments of History and Political Science at N.C. State College (now N.C. State University) from 1926 to 1935. He then moved to Chapel Hill where he taught history for 35 years. His textbook "North Carolina: History, Geography, Government" was for many years studied by all seventh graders in North Carolina.

Lefler was resolute about recording only historical truth that could be documented and he resisted pressure throughout his career from politicians who only wanted him to write flattering things about the state and its people. Lefler’s iconoclastic edge was part of what endeared him to his students. He loved history and he invited his students to love it along with him. He was also a man who never forgot his roots. He always said: “I’m just a dirt farmer who loves to teach.”

On May 17 this dirt farmer will be honored with a highway marker commemorating his life and his contributions to the state of North Carolina. The marker will be located on N.C. Hwy. 801 South in Cooleemee. It reads:

Hugh T. Lefler 1901-1981. Preeminent historian of North Carolina, author, & editor. Professor at UNC, 1935-1972. His birthplace is one mile east.

Susan Lefler
667 East Main St.
Brevard, NC 28712
828-884-4728
susanbartee@citcom.net

Duke starting offensive tackle Cameron Goldberg was officially released from his punishment, for breaking team rules on April 15, on Thursday.

"Cameron has done everything I asked him to do in a timely manner," Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said. "I appreciate his sincerity and attention to detail while handling this situation. We have fully reinstated him to the program and he will resume off-season conditioning with his teammates immediately."

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Curt Johnson, the former N.C. State soccer player who joined the Hurricanes as director of marketing in January 2007, has left the team to become senior vice president of marketing for US Club Soccer, a South Carolina-based organization that … wait for it … promotes club soccer.

Johnson came to the Hurricanes after spending seven years as general manager of the Kansas City Wiz/Wizards of MLS.

During his 18 months with the Canes, he was in charge of the "Hurricanes 10th Anniversary Giveaway" promotion, which saw the Hurricanes give away a St. Lawrence Homes house in Wake Forest on the final day of the season. (And was not, as many fans surmised, a mission statement for the Carolina blue line.)

Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday he had not yet decided whether to replace Johnson or fill his role with existing personnel.

"We’re looking at that now," Rutherford said. "The majority of Curt’s job was obviously related to the house promotion."

For those who like this time of year, not because of fuzzy baby animals and blooming spring flowers, but because it's budget season, here's good news.

County Manager Mike Ruffin will present the 2008-2009 Recommended Budget to the Board of County Commissioners at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7. This presentation is when we find out the proposed tax rate for next year, and about any possible hike.

The commissioners' regular session was moved to Tuesday because of the memorial day holiday.