Today in The Chapel Hill News

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

HONOR AND DEFEND? Local poet C.J. Suitt did not have all his facts straight, but some agree with his point: The statue on McCorkle Place honoring black workers who built the university seems insensitive compared to the much larger Confederate Monument a short distance away. Others defend the statue. Read out story and tell us what you think at editor@nando.com (please include your name).

NOW THE HARD PART: In today's My View, columnist Mark Zimmerman says Chapel Hill Mayor-election Mark Kleinschmidt can't afford to savor his victory too long. He didn't win by much, and he and the town have too much work ahead. What do you make of the mayor's race and results in the recent election?

RESTING PLACES REDISCOVERED: Under director Ernie Dollar, the Preservation Society has had a lot of great ideas. (Remember the "Three in the Attic" film festival? Too bad they still can't find a buyer for the Edward Kidder Graham House, where the movie was filmed.) Now they're using radar to find long lost gravesites in the African American section of the Old Chapel Hill cemetery. Read dave hart's story. 

ROGERS ROAD UPDATE: We didn't plan it this way. But three of the stories on our front page have to do with race. In today's lead story, staff writer Jesse James DeConto reports what the county is going to do to help Rogers Road area residents with failing well and septic systems. As for the transfer station, well, the signs opposing the Millhouse Road location went up two weeks ago.

And in our countdown to the reopening of the Varsity Theatre, today we turn to the Wicked Witch of the West. Did you know the character played by Margaret Hamilton is fourth on the American Film Institute's list of 50 Best Movie Villains? The top 3? Hanibal Lector, Norman Bates (Tony Perkins' performance still holds up) and Darth Vadar.

Thanks for reading,

Mark