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Publisher's Pen: Sandra “Sandy” Cookman: Amazing Woman – Remarkable Accomplishments

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Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Written by Bill Bowman

For decades, Wes and Sandy Cookman were the dynamic couple behind Fayetteville’s local WIDU Radio Station. Together, they transformed the station from a single business entity into a vital communications network serving the citizens of Cumberland, Robeson, and Scotland counties.
As pioneering broadcasters, they understood that community media—especially radio—was about far more than music and news. It was about building relationships, strengthening connections, and giving people a trusted voice. Side by side, Sandy and Wes used their talents and media platforms to amplify local stories, celebrate culture, support charitable causes, and keep their communities informed through both joyful and challenging times.
Their insight and leadership helped shape WIDU into one of the region’s most trusted media voices.
On March 4, Wes lost his partner and the love of his life. In losing Sandy, he lost not only a beloved companion but also the visionary partner who helped turn their shared dreams into reality.
Together, they grew their Fayetteville based station from a single daytime AM signal into a 24 hour regional Gospel network serving Fayetteville, Lumberton, Laurinburg, and Red Springs. Sandy’s creativity and determination also inspired Wes to build a social media presence that now reaches more than 20,000 followers—an expansion that greatly increased the station’s reach and impact.
Sandra “Sandy” Cookman was a remarkable woman whose voice and leadership shaped the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. A dedicated radio professional, she believed deeply in the power of local media to inform, uplift, and unite people. She championed local stories, supported community initiatives, and opened doors for countless voices to be heard.
Her media philosophy and community values closely mirrored those of Up & Coming Weekly. And like us, she weathered recessions, the COVID 19 pandemic, and the constant evolution of media technology. Through it all, her dedication—to her husband, her work, and her community—never wavered.
Sandy was known for her generosity, mentorship, and unwavering belief in people. Her life was defined by service, leadership, and a genuine love for the community she served. Her influence will continue to inspire all of us to lead with kindness, purpose, and heart.
While her signal may have faded from the airwaves, her legacy will remain strong in the hearts of the community she helped unite. Our community and the world need more Sandy Cookmans. She will be deeply missed.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo: Sandra "Sandy" Coleman helped to shape local radio and so much more in the community. Photo by Troy Williams)

Back to the center of the 2026 political universe

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Margaret Dickson

Well, folks, we have collectively survived the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries, and love them or loathe them, we now have our candidates for this year’s mid-term elections.
Brace yourself.
North Carolina, once a longtime Democratic state that ceded control to Republican legislators in 2010, is now a brilliant shade of purple at the statewide level. And with an open US Senate seat and the clout that comes with it up for grabs, North Carolina is one of only two states with open Senate seats and is rated a toss-up by political observers. We are sitting on Ground Zero in a hot political war.
The party nominees are very different people.
Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee, is a former legislator, a 4-term Attorney General, and 2-time Governor who has never lost an election. Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee, is a Trump-endorsed party operative who has never held any elective office in any area of government. The great leveler here may be Trump’s endorsement, which relieves his MAGA supporters from having to assess the candidates for themselves.
We voters, as well as those among us who choose not to exercise that civic responsibility, are already feeling the effects of this contest, still 8 months away. Talking heads are going at it, and paid advertising has begun on both traditional media and in social media posts. Stuffed mailboxes are only a matter of time.
While the US Senate race is clearly North Carolina’s marquee contest for 2026, other offices are up for grabs as well and have profound consequences for local communities and our state.
Legislators and those who serve in local positions make decisions that affect all of us daily and that are generally less partisan than decisions made in the US Senate. School funding, for example, should not be a partisan issue, although it has become that in recent years as the General Assembly has siphoned public money away from public schools into private institutions. I care about that. Environmental issues, including PFASs, commonly called “forever chemicals,” found in the Cape Fear River and nearby ground waters, affect hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, and it matters how state and local governments deal with the problem. I care about that as well, along with other critical issues that will be addressed, or not, by elected officials closer to home than a U.S. senator.
As we go through the coming months, which might feel like years, leading to Nov. 3, pay attention to messages from candidates for the US Senate to legislators to local offices. Do you think they are presenting the truth both about themselves and about their political opponents? Do you think their messages are fair, or are they cleverly misleading? Is that person thinking for himself/herself, or is he/she following the directives of others? Based on their records, can they be trusted?
Pundits reliably assert that “this election” is the most important ever, and while there is no Presidential contest in 2026, this election is indeed important for both North Carolina and the United States. It will help determine the direction of the U.S. Senate and whether the NC General Assembly continues channeling public money to private, often religious, schools.
The choices we voters make in 2026 will prove yet again that elections do have consequences.

Key to strong movements? Partnerships

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Dan DeBruler

History tends to highlight an individual. We remember the leader, quote the founder, hail the visionary whose name becomes attached to some great movement. But when you zoom out, you’ll discover that’s rarely how the work actually happened. Most lasting movements aren’t built by individuals. They’re built by partnerships.
Take the early Christian movement. The name most people recognize is Paul the Apostle. His missionary journeys across the Roman world are well known. But Paul wasn’t a lone operator traveling from city to city with a message and nothing else.
He had partners.
I became intrigued by the seemingly insignificant mentions of Aquila and Priscilla—a husband-and-wife team who worked alongside Paul. They were tentmakers by trade. Business people. The kind of people you might pass on the street without realizing how much influence they carry.
They had been forced out of Rome and eventually landed in Corinth, where they met Paul. What started as a shared trade soon became something deeper. They worked together. Traveled together. Taught together. Their home became a place where believers gathered, learned, and encouraged one another.
They weren’t the headline speakers. They weren’t writing letters that would eventually become Scripture. But the movement would have been weaker without them.
In fact, one of the most telling moments in their story happened when a gifted teacher named Apollos arrived in town. He had passion and ability, but his understanding wasn’t complete. Aquila and Priscilla quietly took him aside and helped him grasp the message more fully.
No spotlight. No applause. Just partnership.
That pattern shows up everywhere if you start looking for it. Strong communities. Effective nonprofits. Successful local initiatives. They all share something in common: people who decide not to carry the work alone.
Some bring leadership. Some bring practical skills. Some open their homes.
Some encourage when others are ready to quit. Together, they move something forward that none of them could accomplish alone. We live in a time that celebrates individual success. Personal brands. Lone visionaries. But history tells a different story.
The work that lasts—the work that really changes lives—is usually carried by people who link arms and move forward together. Not alone. But in partnership.
Want the community to grow stronger? Stop asking, “What can I accomplish?” and start asking,
“Who can we accomplish this with?” Look around your neighborhood. Your church. Your workplace. This city. There are people nearby with wisdom, experience, and energy who are just waiting for someone to invite them into something meaningful.
The next great chapter of your community probably won’t begin with a single leader stepping forward. It will begin when a few people decide to walk forward together.

Troy's Perspective: CCS needs to look to future

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Troy Williams

Cumberland County school officials must confront significant challenges as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year. A critical decision lies in the $670.8 million budget request from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, which includes a crucial $6.5 million increase for employee raises. This budget will directly affect the quality of education and community resources, making it essential for residents to understand its impact.
Cumberland County Schools proposes consolidating eight or more schools, including five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, to address over $800 million in facility repair needs and save an estimated $31 million to $36.5 million annually. This plan aims to strengthen our community's educational future together.
Closing aging schools is a sensitive issue, and school officials must adopt constructive approaches when communicating this information to the community. Emphasizing respect and understanding can help residents feel valued and reassure them that their concerns are acknowledged. While it may sound insensitive, some citizens believe that certain changes are necessary to provide students and staff with access to modern learning environments. The community should focus on a brighter future rather than dwelling on the past.
A significant concern for part of the community is the proposed closure of Anne Chestnutt Middle School. Anne Chestnutt has historical significance in Cumberland County, as it was one of only two high schools for African American students during segregation. The last high school graduating class at Chestnutt was in 1969, meaning the youngest alums are now likely in their mid 70s.
Alums of Anne Chestnutt are understandably opposed to the proposed school closure. Their resistance reflects a deep emotional connection, and the school represents much more to them than a building. It is a place where they formed lifelong relationships and cherished memories. Closing the school would erase a part of their personal history and the community's identity. Additionally, given the school's ties to segregation, its closure would further symbolize the loss of an important aspect of its history.
While the community may empathize with Anne Chestnutt's alumni, it is crucial to consider an alternative perspective. School officials report that Chestnutt has the lowest facility rating among the 13 middle schools in the county, having received an unsatisfactory rating. The school requires $6,604,825 in deferred maintenance. In contrast, the neighboring school, Lewis Chapel, built in 1950 and expanded in 1973 with a 34,000-square-foot addition, has a fair facility rating and only needs $1,164,079 in deferred maintenance. The decision to close Chestnutt was likely very difficult, and on the surface, it seems necessary.
In the Broadell subdivision off the Murchison Road corridor, there is a proposal to build a new E.E. Smith High School and a new Ferguson-Easley Elementary School at their respective locations. What may be seen as a loss for some could be considered a significant win for the Black community in Broadell.
Modern education is vastly different from what it was 40 to 60 years ago. Students now require technology-ready classrooms, STEM labs, media spaces, flexible learning areas, and appropriate lighting and acoustics. Older buildings were not designed to accommodate contemporary teaching methods.
It's time to start looking forward instead of looking back.