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Publisher's Pen: Commending prudent leadership & calling for local accountability

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Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Written by Bill Bowman

Well, the Downtown Event Center is back in the news and not in a good way. The project's architects are suing Cumberland County for unpaid fees. Who didn’t see that coming? Before the saga continues, I want to again commend the current Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for their prudent and courageous leadership regarding the proposed Downtown Crown Event Center. Their decision in March to halt construction, and investigate alleged questionable spending, ultimately led to the June 4 decision to cancel the project altogether. This action reflects a renewed commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency. Under the guidance of Chairman Kirk deViere, the board demonstrated a clear shift toward protecting taxpayer interests and prioritizing community needs.
The original vision for the Event Center was ambitious—an 89,000-square-foot downtown venue designed to replace aging facilities at the Crown Complex. But over time, the project ballooned in both scope and cost, reaching a staggering $145 million. Multiple redesigns, delayed hiring of construction managers, and escalating prices of materials and fees created confusion and concern. The board’s decision to pause construction in March was both necessary and commendable.
Equally as important now is the board’s handling of the ongoing $1.3 million lawsuit filed by EwingCole, the Pennsylvania-based architectural firm originally contracted to design the Event Center. The firm claims it is owed for services rendered, including the disputed redesign fee. While the legal process unfolds, Chairman deViere and the board have approached the matter with professionalism and restraint, seeking resolution through mediation, which failed, and legal review. Their commitment to due diligence and accountability stands in stark and refreshing contrast to the opaque practices of prior county leadership.
However, for many of us in the community, this entire ordeal raises a deeper concern: Why were local architects, vendors, and construction managers not considered or prioritized from the beginning for this local project? Fayetteville and Cumberland County are home to many talented architects, contractors and building professionals who also understand our community’s values, infrastructure, and limitations far better than any out-of-town firm.
Had local expertise been engaged, we might have avoided the costly redesigns, missteps, , and delays that now burden taxpayers and erode public trust.
There are reasons outsiders are often chosen—and it’s time we examine those reasons. Whether it stems from outdated procurement practices, political favoritism, or misplaced perceptions of prestige, the exclusion of local businesses from major public projects is a disservice to our citizens and the local economy. I am hopeful that our newly installed Board of Commissioners will address these inequities. Under Chairman deViere’s leadership, we have an opportunity to restore integrity and trust to our contracting processes and ensure that future projects reflect the strengths and voices of the community.
The board’s decision to renovate the existing Crown Coliseum properties is a step in the right direction. This preserves a beloved venue, avoids unnecessary spending, and supports the infrastructure we already have. More importantly, it signals a shift toward practical, community-driven solutions. Let this be a turning point—not just in how we manage public funds, but in how we value local talent and invest in our own community.
I urge the Board to continue its investigation into the questionable actions of former leadership and to make its findings public when appropriate. Transparency is not just a legal obligation—it’s a moral one. The citizens of Cumberland County deserve to know how and why decisions were made, and what safeguards will be put in place to prevent future mismanagement.
In closing, I want to again applaud the work of our current Board of Commissioners for their clarity, courage, and commitment to doing what’s right. Let us build on this momentum by embracing local talent, forming local partnerships, demanding accountability, and ensuring that every public dollar serves the public good. That’s the way Cumberland County will prosper in the future.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

(A concept drawing from EwingCole, the architecture firm tasked with designing the new Crown Downtown Event Center, shows how the building could have looked. The firm is suing Cumberland County for $1.3 million for services rendered including the redesign fee. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County)

Our tax dollars at work: School vouchers

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Tuesday, 04 November 2025

Written by Margaret Dickson

I got an extension on my taxes this year, meaning I wrote checks to the US Treasury and the NC Department of Revenue earlier this month. No one, including me, enjoys fulfilling this obligation of citizenship, but at the same time, I want to drive on safe roads, have a law enforcement officer respond if I need one, and send my grandchildren to excellent schools with well-qualified and adequately compensated teachers.
Good luck on that last one.
North Carolina public schools, meaning those who attend them and those who work in them, are increasingly endangered by declining per-student funding from the North Carolina General Assembly. It seems intent on privatizing public education as we have traditionally known it. As the cost of everything rises, legislators have not funded public schools at levels that support the excellence of neither students nor teachers.
Instead, legislators have sent more and more hard-earned public dollars that people like you and me pay in during tax season to private schools. Some of them exclude certain children, perhaps including some dear to you and to me. This is tax money that coulda, shoulda, woulda have gone to North Carolina’s public school students that is instead landing in the coffers of private schools as vouchers.
All of this is happening under the attractive and innocuous banner of “Opportunity Scholarships,” though they are certainly not opportunities for all. We are not talking about peanuts here. As of earlier this month, the News and Observer reports that nearly 100,000 students are receiving these vouchers, an increase of 204 percent from 2 years ago and a 23 percent increase in the last year.
Businesses would jump for joy with such numbers, but taxpayers should not.
What began as a relatively modest idea for students from lower-income households to attend a private school that might suit their needs has ballooned into a program with no income limits. Everyone from poor families to the children of tech CEOs is eligible, and thousands of families are taking the legislature up on its generosity with our tax dollars.
With growing numbers come growing costs. Two years ago, North Carolina awarded a handsome $186.2 million in vouchers, and the state is on target to award almost $560 million by the end of this school year. Astonishing, with no limits in sight.
So where are all these tax dollars going?
Public Schools First, whose focus is on just what its name says, reports that the highest awards have gone to North Raleigh Christian Academy, which has received over $3 million so far this year and is expected to surpass the impressive $4.3 million it received last year. Many voucher-receiving schools report a religious affiliation, though not always a Christian one. Some schools have reportedly raised their tuition now that vouchers no longer have income limits and encourage families to apply for them. Cha-ching!
Public schools are just that—public. They welcome all students, the best that families have to send them. Private schools do not. They pick and choose students for reasons we will never know and reject some as well. North Raleigh Christian Academy, for example, welcomes state tax dollars but not students with non-Christian parents or students with IQs of 90 or less, according to the school handbook as reported by the News and Observer.
Having doled out so much tax revenue, what is the General Assembly up to now? Not much to provide for North Carolina’s future needs. State law requires legislators to enact a budget by June 30, but the current crowd has delayed with no budget in sight.
So, what is happening? Another round of gerrymandering of Congressional seats at a further stack of the elective deck.
The lesson here?
Elections have consequences.

Troy's Perspective: Political retribution not new

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Tuesday, 04 November 2025

Written by Troy Williams

On Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, several hundred impassioned protestors in Fayetteville, their hearts ablaze with the 'No Kings' cause, joined the nationwide demonstrations. The 'No Kings' movement, a fervent call for a future free from tyranny, is a response to perceived injustices and a desire for a more equitable society. Their fervor, like a raging fire, was a powerful force, and a coalition of more than 200 organizations led nationwide protests.

Early detection is crucial in Alzheimer's

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Tuesday, 04 November 2025

Written by Bill McMillan

Publisher's Note:
Wow!
The 2026 Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Segra Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, was a fun, joyful, and resounding success. Over a thousand people gathered in colorful and creative T-shirts to honor loved ones, support those affected by this heartbreaking disease, and advocate for a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Up & Coming Weekly newspaper has proudly supported the Walk for well over a decade. Thanks to the dedication of many local businesses and community members, this advocacy continues to grow and thrive. With an annual fundraising goal of $200,000, this year’s campaign and Walk have already raised $167,000 toward that objective. Dozens of hardworking volunteers rallied to make this event a triumph, led by the inspiring Victoria Huggins—Fayetteville’s adopted native daughter and Senior Manager, Walk to End Alzheimer's at Alzheimer's Association (Eastern NC & Western NC Chapters).
Her tireless work ethic, boundless enthusiasm, and deep faith make her a true blessing to our community. Paired with volunteer extraordinaire and businessman Bill McMillan—Director of Fayetteville’s Restore Warehouse and Alzheimer’s District Seven Ambassador—this dynamic duo creates a tour de force whose leadership practically guarantees success. We extend heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved for their incredible efforts in making this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s such a meaningful and successful event. But the fight is far from over. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is critical. It offers invaluable benefits.
This is the message behind the Letter to the Editor below: to raise awareness and support for the AADAPT Act (Advanced Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training). This legislation is a vital step toward equipping healthcare providers with the tools they need to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s effectively.
Get involved. Answer the call to action. We have nothing to lose—and everything to gain.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.
—Bill Bowman, Publisher

Dear Editor,
Time is critical in the Alzheimer’s world. Early detection of this disease improves proper diagnosis and, therefore, care and planning. This is why support in Congress for the Advanced Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT Act) is so vitally important. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease offers critical benefits, including access to treatment, participation in clinical trials, better planning for the future, and emotional relief for patients and families.
1. Early diagnosis allows individuals to begin treatment sooner, which may help slow cognitive decline and manage symptoms like memory loss and confusion.
2. Eligibility for clinical trials gives those diagnosed early access to cutting-edge therapies that could benefit future patients.
3. Early detection gives patients and families more time to make legal, financial, and care arrangements.
4. It also allows for discussions about safety concerns like driving and wandering, helping prevent crises later.
5. Families that recognize symptoms early can seek relief sooner and reduce anxiety, helping them better understand and support their loved ones.
Primary care physicians receive extensive training, yet very little time is dedicated to detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer’s and dementia. As a result, many are hesitant to render a diagnosis, losing precious time that could improve patient care.
The AADAPT Act will provide essential training for primary care physicians in early diagnosis, leading to more effective care plans, reduced crisis care, and better outcomes for families. Doctors need the knowledge and confidence to make proper diagnoses. Currently, 33 members of Congress have agreed to co-sponsor the AADAPT Act.
We need bipartisan support for this critical bill. Care for Alzheimer’s and related dementias could cost upwards of $1 trillion by 2050. Representative Rouzer, thank you for your leadership in representing North Carolina’s Seventh District. We respectfully ask that you encourage support for the AADAPT Act within your congressional delegation.
Together, we can work toward a world without Alzheimer’s.
Respectfully,
Bill McMillan
Alzheimer’s 7th District
Ambassador
910-978-2455
director@therestorewarehouse.org

Whitney Dawson
Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Manager – North Carolina
980-498-7736 ext. 2176
whdawson@alz.org
alz.org/northcarolina
For help regarding a loved one with Alzheimer's, call the 24-Hour Helpline at 800-272-3900.

(Photo: Participants in the Walk to End Alzheimer's depart Segra Stadium. Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association, North Carolina)