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Election consequences: Where have all the children gone?

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Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Written by Margaret Dickson

Elections, as the trite but true saying goes, have consequences.
Many of those consequences are unintended and unforeseen until they jump up to bite us.
That is the case with what is happening in North Carolina’s public schools, including those in the Cumberland County system. In part because of changes made at the state level in the North Carolina General Assembly, parents have many more options regarding where their children go to school, and a lower percentage of school-age students are now in traditional public schools. Layer on a national birth rate that began falling sharply in 2007 and has not recovered, and there are simply fewer children sitting in desks at the public school in your neighborhood.
Cumberland County School Board members learned earlier this year that system-wide enrollment is just over 47,000 students, down more than 2.5 percent, or 1,242 students. Picture that number of kiddos on a playground in your mind, and it is apparent that this is a lot of young people. The Digest of Education Statistics reports that fall enrollment in the local school system was 53,346 in 2004. In other words, lack of normal growth notwithstanding, almost 6200 students are somewhere else.
So, where are all the children most of us expected to be in those desks?
Some, including many military dependents, moved with their families to other communities. Some, fortified by your tax dollars and mine in the form of so-called Opportunity Scholarships, are in private schools with next-to-no official oversight and some of which have decidedly religious slants. Others are being educated at home, with wildly varying outcomes. Some children have simply fallen through the cracks, especially after COVID, a time when some parents simply quit sending their children to online classes or to any sort of school at all.
Some of these departed students will do well in the individual situations, some will not do as well as public school students, and some we will never hear from or about again.
The financial bottom line here is that Cumberland County Schools, as well as other North Carolina public school systems experiencing similar enrollment declines, may receive lower levels of state and federal funding. This means less money to maintain aging facilities, to pay teachers and other personnel, to establish and maintain programs for exceptional children of all levels, and next to no money for “educational extras.”
It also means there is more school room than students to fill it, indicating some schools may close altogether. Cumberland County School Board members are already dealing with what to do with several aging and emptying elementary school facilities as well as building a new EE Smith High School to replace the storied original. These are hard choices facing our community and the reason the Cumberland County schools are asking for almost $671 million to fund the next school year.
Back to elections have consequences.
Most people, both Democrats and Republicans, are increasingly focused on the midterm elections, widely viewed as a referendum on our current national and international situations. Maybe, just maybe, we should give more thought to candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly. Do they support our state’s public schools? Do they support sending tax dollars, yours and mine, to unregulated private religious schools? Generally speaking, do they believe that solid public education promotes a stronger and more competent populace and a more competitive state?
Maybe, just maybe, we should vote accordingly.

Welcome to ... Thoracic Park

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Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Written by Pitt Dickey

Hello to both my readers, I’m back. Once upon a time, I thought I was immune to gravity. My intimations of immortality were in error. Allow me to explain. Becoming calendar enhanced and retired, vacant time ensues. Nature abhors a vacuum. In place of work, Nature provides visits to medical specialists where there were none before. For several years, I made an annual Autumn visit to the local friendly cardiologist. He would listen to my heart, frown, and tell me my heart murmur is getting louder. Eventually, the day would come when he said it was time to engage the services of a heart surgeon. Last October, I reached that time and place. It was show time at the Cardiac Corral.
He referred me to Duke Medical Center. (Author’s note- Duke Medical Center is outstanding and shall always be spelled correctly. Dook basketball is puke and shall never be spelled correctly.) For those of you who have not enjoyed heart surgery or are squeamish, consider stopping reading at this point. For post-op cardiac patients, if you know, you know. Actually, no one should read the rest of this story.
The journey to open heart surgery begins with a call from Duke Cardiology. The next step is a visit to a Cardiologist to enjoy a heart catheterization. Initially, the diagnosis was a need for a relatively simple aortic valve replacement. This might be doable by stenting tonight on the old cardiac campground. The cardiac cath, as the pros call it, would determine if stenting was the answer. To get the cath, you lie on a table surrounded by ominous machines. Then a total stranger shaves your naughty bits. The staff is very professional; they neither pointed nor laughed as I lay there exposed to the world. After some pretty good drugs, you don’t mind the exposure. They played rock music during the procedure, ending with “A Horse with No Name.”
Unfortunately, the cath found that in addition to the faulty valve, I had one completely blocked artery and a partial blockage of another. Welcome to the wonderful world of open-heart surgery. I asked why I was still alive with a blocked artery. Turns out the heart is pretty smart. It developed smaller arteries called collaterals detouring around the blockage. Got to love collaterals. Ask not what your collaterals can do for you. Ask what you can do for your collaterals.
Surgery set for late January, which was postponed due to the Blizzard of ’26. Fun fact: Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery is medically abbreviated as CABG and pronounced like leafy green “Cabbage.” I checked into Duke on Super Bowl Sunday, the night before surgery, for some pre-op stuff, including yet another full-body shave. Once you take off your clothes to wear the hospital gown, your dignity is gone with the wind. Strangers poke and prod you. Always be nice to anyone nearing you with sharp metal objects. While we watched the Super Bowl halftime show starring Bad Bunny, I collected a harem of nurses who wanted to see Mr. Bunny perform. I was the Prom King of Floor Six for a bright shining moment.
Surgery Day dawned before the sun came up. Got wheeled into the operating room with even more intimidating equipment surrounded by masked people. I asked them to remember to count the sponges before the Spicy WD-40 happy juice sent me into LaLa Land. When I awoke, it was a day later. I had more tubes coming out of me than an octopus has right arms. Tubes hooked up to a bunch of boxes the size of car batteries, where spooky, angry-looking fluids were draining out of my body.
The surgery had gone well. My faulty valve had been replaced by a donated cow valve. My possible 2 CABG job had been cut back to only one bypass on closer examination. The most challenging in-patient part of the recovery was living with all these tubes inside me. They kept bumping on internal parts unused to being bumped. It was an uncomfortable tubular experience lasting about a week. When the drainage stopped sufficiently, they released me to go back into the wild on Saturday. There is a certain amount of fatigue inherent after open-heart surgery. The fatigue remains in place but seems to be fading. Much to the relief of anyone within earshot, I was unable to get out more than a few words before descending into a coughing fit. After a post op visit to Duke in which a Roto Rooter drained some chest fluid away, the coughing subsided.
My wife Lani never left my side the entire week. She is my hero. She sorts out all my exciting new pills for me. I would not be able to sort them due to post op fuzziness. Curiously, due to my new cow heart valve, I have developed an overwhelming desire to eat lawn grass. Fescue is very delicious.

Democrats disrespecting democrats: Need proof?

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Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Written by Bill Bowman

Every so often, our readers appreciate a dose of editorial reality. This is not an attack on the Democratic Party, nor is it an attempt to berate lifelong Democratic voters. In fact, many of the most patriotic, community minded people I know are Democrats. But there comes a point when the actions of political leadership in Washington must be held up to the light—especially when those actions harm the very people they claim to represent.
For decades, Americans have suspected that Congress cares little about its constituents and far more about its own comfort, privilege, and political survival. It’s no wonder: many enter Congress with modest means and leave as millionaires. And while most of us lack the resources to trace every suspected thread of influence and self interest, our instincts are rarely wrong. Gallup’s March 2026 survey puts Congress’s approval rating at 15%. That means 85% of Americans—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike—disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Yet this same Congress expects us to take them seriously while they collectively create chaos and hardship for millions of Americans.
And at the center of this dysfunction is the Democratic leadership in Washington—specifically Senator Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—whose refusal to compromise has prolonged a partial federal government shutdown now stretching beyond a month.
A Shutdown With Real Victims—Including Democrats
Congress has repeatedly failed to reach the 60 vote threshold needed to fund the Department of Homeland Security. As a result, TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and CISA are operating without pay. These are not abstract agencies—they are staffed by real people with real families, many of whom are Democrats.
Proof that Democratic leadership is failing its own base:
1. The Shutdown is now one of the longest in U.S. History
Democratic leaders say they oppose the bill because it includes immigration enforcement funding for Border Patrol and ICE. But these agencies protect all Americans. Why object to funding the very people who keep our borders secure and our communities safe?
2. TSA Officers—Tens of Thousands—Have Missed Paychecks
Hundreds have quit. Absences have doubled. Families are struggling. These are not Republican families or Democrat families—they are American families. Yet leadership in Washington seems unmoved.
3. Airports Are in Chaos
Three hour lines. Closed PreCheck lanes. Delayed flights. Exhausted passengers. Airline employees are stretched thin. Many of these frustrated workers and travelers are Democrat voters. Their inconvenience and suffering is ignored.
4. Coast Guard, FEMA, Secret Service, and CISA Employees Are Working Without Pay
For over a month, these patriots have been forced to seek charity, food banks, or second jobs. These hardships do not fall along party lines. Democrat families are being pushed toward poverty while their leaders refuse to act.
5. The Iran War Is Escalating
Cyberattacks. Drone threats. Rising global tension. Yet Democrat leadership refuses to fund DHS—the very department responsible for protecting Americans at home.
6. Crime From Illegal Immigration Affects Everyone
Democrat leaders insist that concerns about criminal illegal aliens are exaggerated. But the victims of rape, robbery, assault, murder, and trafficking are not exclusively Republican. Democrat families suffer too. Democrats are often the victims, yet leadership refuses to acknowledge this reality. And then, there’s the SAVE Act.
Perhaps the clearest example of Democrat leadership disregarding its own voters is the opposition to the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship and voter ID for federal elections.
Here’s the inconvenient truth: Over 80% of Democrat voters support voter ID. They believe in honest and secure elections. They believe in protecting the integrity of the vote. They believe that only American citizens should cast ballots in American elections. Yet Democrat leadership calls these measures “voter suppression.” Why? Because they know their base is shrinking—and they need new voters. Their opposition to the SAVE Act aligns perfectly with their open border policies and their refusal to deport or prosecute criminal illegal aliens. The pattern is unmistakable.
Democrats Deserve Better Than This
The Democrats I know, my friends, neighbors, colleagues, and business associates, are intelligent, patriotic, and grounded in common sense. They are not calling for open borders. They are not defending criminal behavior. They are not demanding boys compete in girls’ sports. And they certainly have no objection to showing an ID to vote. They simply want a safe, stable, prosperous America. Yet their Democrat leaders in Washington are consumed by a singular obsession: stopping Donald Trump at any cost—even if that cost is the well being of their own constituents.
Meanwhile, media outlets like CNN and MSNow amplify the hostility, division, and fear, painting Trump as a villain while downplaying atrocities committed by the Iranian regime, which murdered 32,000 of its own citizens and recently publicly hanged three teenagers for demanding freedom.
With Congress at a 15% approval rating, it’s clear that Democrat leadership is not in the majority—the American people are. And when Democrats, Republicans, and Independents unite around common sense, accountability, and national security, the political landscape shifts. This November, voters, especially Democrat voters, will decide whether they want more chaos, more shutdowns, more open borders, and more disregard for their safety—or whether they want a stronger, healthier, safer America for future generations. One thing is for certain: We will get what we deserve.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

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)