Police in Cary are searching for a suspect in the Feb. 11 burglary of a home on Kinellan Lane.

Officers said the homeowner was walking downstairs when she heard footsteps on the first floor.

As she went to investigate, the victim noticed a man inside the garage, police said.

The man fled the scene with the woman's purse, which police said contained her wallet and keys to her house and her car, among other items.

The suspect is described as a heavyset male between 25-30 years old and about six feet tall.

He was last seen wearing a black coat and driving a black 2007 Chrysler Town & Country van.

Harris subs for commissioner

FUQUAY-VARINA The Fuquay-Varina Town Board voted unanimously to appoint William H. Harris to finish the remaining term of Commissioner Jeff Wells, who passed away in December.

Harris, who served as a commissioner for 22 consecutive years, was first appointed to the board in 1987 to complete the unexpired term of the late William Freeman, who resigned after being elected a Wake County representative to the General Assembly.

After being reelected four times, then losing his seat to newcomer Jim Abernathy in November, Harris now returns to the board as he first arrived, fulfilling another's unfinished term.

Wells' term was to expire in December 2011.

"I feel very good about his experience," Fuquay-Varina Mayor John Byrne said.

F-V basketball coach suspended

FUQUAY-VARINA The coach of the girls varsity basketball team at Fuquay-Varina High School has been suspended with pay while authorities investigate an allegation of sexual misconduct with a member of the team.

Mardy Cutchin was suspended Thursday, said Michael Evans, a spokesman for the Wake schools.

"There were allegations made. We're investigating it," Evans said.

School officials have also reported the allegations to law enforcement, Evans said. "They're doing their investigation. We're doing ours," he said.

Wider driveways coming to town

HOLLY SPRINGS The town amended an ordinance to allow for wider driveways, which planners say have become more commonplace in recent years.

The new ordinance will allow driveways to extend at least 10 feet beyond the width of a home's garages on either side. "We needed to do something that's more realistic," said Gina Clapp, director of planning and zoning for the Town of Holly Springs, who called to previous ordinance antiquated.

By staff writers Jordan Cooke, Ted Richardson and Sadia Latifi