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  • Fay City Council During a 37-minute Fayetteville City Council meeting on Monday, April 25, seven of the 10-member council present unanimously agreed to two significant actions totaling more than $14.8 million in City of Fayetteville improvement projects.

    Only six of the 10 council members were physically present at the City Hall meeting. Those present were Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, who chaired the meeting. Council members present were Antonio Jones, Larry Wright, Johnny Dawkins, Chris Davis, and Yvonne Kinston. Absent were Mayor Mitch Colvin and council members Shakeyla Ingram and D.J. Haire. One council member, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, joined the meeting remotely.

    Tucked away in the consent agenda, the City Council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution accepting American Rescue Plan funding from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for $10,550,000. The money is designated for stormwater infrastructure improvement projects. City staff presented the issue to the Fayetteville City Council during an earlier meeting.

    Stormwater improvement projects are slated for Adams Street, North Street, Ray Avenue, Spruce Street and Sunbury Drive.

    The North Carolina General Assembly created the fund, administered by the Division of Water Infrastructure, to assist eligible units of local government in paying for water and wastewater infrastructure needs.

    In accepting the state money, the City of Fayetteville must meet several obligations and requirements. First, the City must submit a bid and design package for the projects by Aug. 1.

    Additionally, the City must:

    • apply for and qualify for all necessary permits as soon as possible
    • have its bid and design package approved by Dec. 1
    • advertise the project, receive bids and have the authority to award contracts by April 3, 2023
    • execute all construction projects by May 1, 2023
    • and submit the last reimbursement for any of the projects by December 21, 2026

    The state warned that failure to meet or adhere to any requirements could forfeit the money.

    Also, on Monday night’s consent agenda was the adoption of a Capital Project Ordinance to appropriate state grant money for pedestrian safety improvements. The $4,319,350 will be used for 29,880 linear feet or 5.7 miles of sidewalks.

    Sidewalk construction includes:

    • McPherson Church Road from Collinwood to Raeford Roads
    • Yadkin Road from Skibo Road to Fort Bragg limits
    • Pamalee Drive from Murchison Road to Bragg Boulevard
    • Brighton Road from Raeford to Belford Roads
    • Old Owen Drive from Raeford Road to Owen Drive
    • Ann Street from Gorham Alley to Gray Street

    Proposed projects also include a Person Street round-about at B Street, citywide wheelchair ramps and the plan and design of a sidewalk on Blanton Road from Bragg Boulevard to Pamalee Drive.

    In other action, the City Council postponed the Fayetteville Airport Administration report to City Council. City staff on March 7 briefed the City Council on the airport’s operations. That report included a peer comparison with Killeen-Fort Hood, Texas and Albert J. Ellis Airports.

    At that meeting, Mayor Mitch Colvin asked for additional peer comparisons with other airports. Recommended peer city airports have demographics equal to or larger than the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area.

    The additional comparison airports include Charlotte International Airport, Asheville Regional Airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Comparisons include 2021 total passenger enplanements, parking revenue and rental car revenue, among others.

    The report states: “As expected,” the comparison data shows that Fayetteville lags in making money compared to larger airports.

  • Damon Javone Ward Cumberland County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting that left a 29-year-old man dead.

    On Sunday, April 24, deputies responded to a reported shooting at the Coliseum Inn on Gillespie Street. They found Donald Charles Owens III in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where he died Monday morning, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

    Investigators do have a person of interest they want to speak to about the case. 28-year-old Damon Javone Ward of Fayetteville, (pictured to the side), is wanted for questioning.

    Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call Homicide Detective Lt. A. Bean at 910-677-5496 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • 240986602 4599863756693182 2834177216228375197 n CSX Transportation will be repairing several train crossings in May which will require motorists and traffic to find an alternate route.

    The released schedule listed below is subject to change based on conditions and unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather that delays maintenance and scheduling:

    May 3-6: Hay Street at Hillsborough/Winslow Street
    May 16: Johnson Street (Hope Mills)
    May 19: Whitfield Street
    May 23: Cumberland Street
    May 23: Moore Street
    May 23: Franklin Street at Winslow Street
    May 23: Russell Street at Winslow Street

    Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes on the above dates and allow for additional travel time to and from destinations while crossings are closed.

  • The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted to earmark $450,000 for a proposed African American museum earlier this week.

    The county appropriation would pay for a portion of the first phase, a feasibility study, with the remaining $895K coming from the City of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville City Council will receive a similar briefing and funding request at its May 2 work session.

    Dr. Dauv Evans, the associate director of the proposed downtown museum, made the presentation, calling the museum a “must-see stop on the Civil Rights Tour.”

    Evans said the museum would be fully interactive as it would tell the story of Blacks in Fayetteville by collecting compelling stories from local African Americans.

    “It will reconceptualize the Market House from a source of division to a point of unity,” he said. The history will span from noted Fayetteville African American author and essayist Charles Chestnutt to locally grown rapper J. Cole.

    The vote was 5 to 1, with Commissioner Jimmy Keefe being the lone dissenter. Commissioner Charles Evans remotely voted by phone; however, Commissioner Michael Boose was absent.

    Before the vote, Keefe said he was not aware of the project. “What’s the process? I was not aware this was in the pipeline,” he said.

    The project was first introduced at the board’s agenda meeting on April 14, just prior to the Easter holiday.

    Keefe said he was uncomfortable fast-tracking a half-million-dollar project using taxpayer money without having more information and discussion.

    He asked what the total amount of the museum would cost. Another presenter, William Cassell, said he could not give Keefe a total dollar amount. “I can’t predict [the amount]. There’s no bottom-line number,” he said.

    He said the museum would bring people downtown and become a “model for how the community reconciles its history with race.”

    Commissioner Jeanette Council motioned to set aside the $450,000, saying she was excited over the proposed museum’s ability to become a teaching tool for young students. Commissioner Toni Stewart seconded the motion. While agreeing that the board was fast-tracking the project, she said it was “way overdue.”

    Commissioner Charles Evans said he was disappointed with fellow Commissioner Keefe for questioning the project, specifically asking how many other African American museums currently existed. He was told there were about 40, and Keefe – a former Army officer – suggested that Fayetteville’s history is heavily centered on the military, and they should look into honoring African American service members of note.

    Sir David Adjaye, a Ghanaian-British award-winning architect, is the proposed architect for the project. His company has offices located in London and New York. The largest project by Adjaye Associates is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which opened in 2016.

  • A special prosecutor announced Thursday that no charges will be filed against an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy accused of killing 37-year-old Jason Walker.

    The incident happened on January 8 along Bingham Drive and Shenandoah Drive. Witnesses told police that Walker jumped on the hood of a truck. Inside the truck was Lieutenant Jeffrey Hash, his wife and Hash’s teenage daughter. Walker allegedly tore off the driver’s windshield wiper and started to hit the windshield.

    The windshield was cracked and shards of glass were coming into the truck, which was confirmed by the Fayetteville Police Department.

    One of the witnesses was Jason Walker’s father.

    “He was out here in the daggone street when that fellow drove up. He jumped up on the guy’s hood, the guy got out…started shooting,” Walker told officers. “He pulled out one of the daggone windshield wipers, and he hit the windshield with the wiper.”

    Hash told police that he shouted at Walker to stop and he then got out of the truck. Hash said that Walker lunged at him and had something in his hand. Hash told police that he wasn’t sure whether it was the windshield wiper or something else. Hash pulled his .9mm pistol out and shot Walker four times.

    The Fayetteville Police Department was the first to be at the scene. Police Chief Gina Hawkins shortly turned the case over to the State Bureau of Investigations. The SBI, after conducting the investigation, turned the case over to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.

    The autopsy revealed that one bullet entered Walker’s lower chest and traveled through his chest, hitting multiple vital organs. Another bullet entered the top of Walker’s head and lodged in Walker’s spinal cord. A third bullet entered the front of the thigh and exited the left thigh. The last bullet entered Walker’s left-back and exited the left side.

    The report shows that with the wounds as they were, Walker’s back was not facing Hash when he was shot, rather Walker was standing to the side.

    The SBI report also states that the woman who was at the scene, Elizabeth Ricks, who identified herself as a trauma nurse and applied pressure to Walker’s wounds at the scene, was not and has never been a nurse. Ricks made several public statements following Walker’s death about how she felt a faint pulse when EMS arrived. EMS and multiple other witnesses confirmed that Walker was dead when EMS arrived.

    Other evidence found in the SBI investigation showed that two drops of Walker’s blood was found on the interior of the driver’s door near the door pocket. The SBI concluded that this was consistent with Walker being on the hood of the truck and moving toward the driver’s door when shot.

    The NC Conference of District Attorneys made the decision not to file any criminal charges against Hash after reviewing the state's evidence, according to a letter from Executive Director, Kimberly Overton Spahos.

    "The shooting was indisputably tragic, but based upon these facts, the state of North Carolina will not be able to provide beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting of Jason Walker was unlawful. Consequently, our office will not be seeking charges related to the death of Jason Walker, " Spahos wrote in the letter to the SBI.

    “While it is possible that Walker’s intent was not to enter the truck or to injure Hash or his family, the analysis in every self-defense case requires that we put ourselves in the position of the person who used deadly force. Hash was driving down a public roadway with his family in the vehicle when Walker charged the truck, mounted it, and began a violent assault upon the vehicle. Hash’s entreaties to stop and get off the vehicle were ignored, and when Hash exited the truck, Walker’s offense shifted from the truck to Hash himself,” Spahos wrote. “We cannot view these events from the comfort of our desks after cool reflection, as Hash was not granted the luxury of time and reflection. Instead, he had to make a split-second decision. Additionally, while it is possible that other alternatives were available to Hash, the analysis is not and cannot be whether his actions were the only option or event the best option. When determining whether criminal charges are filed, the question is whether the State can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the action he took violated the law.”

    Hash was put on administrative paid leave from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office the day after the shooting. He will remain on leave until after the Sheriff’s Office conducts its own internal investigation.

  • pub pen Just weeks ago, in March, the Public Works Commission was awarded the 2021 Spirit of North Carolina Award by the United Way of North Carolina for their dedication and consistent community investment in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. This award is earned not only by achieving annual campaign excellence but by demonstrating leadership, engaging volunteers and participating in and organizing events that impact the residents of the entire community.

    I don't think there is another quasi-government affiliated organization that has ever reached this level of success. Out of nearly two dozen United Way organizations in North Carolina, our Fayetteville ”Hometown Utility” has been distinguished and honored with this award 16 times. This success is excellent, born of not leadership, compassion and love of community. PWC's leadership and employees demonstrate what our community is all about every day.

    Just weeks later, the American Public Power Association recognized PWC with the Reliable Public Power Provider Diamond designation for providing safe, consistent and reliable electric service to their customers.

    Competing with over 250 public utilities nationwide, our Fayetteville PWC is the only power utility company that has earned the Diamond level recognition six times. It's hard to hide leadership excellence.

    This excellence was further demonstrated this weekend when PWC leadership under the ”PWC Jaywalkers” flag organized their own Jaywalkers Alzheimer’s Awareness Golf Tournament for retired Assistant City Manager Jay Reinstein, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Reinstein was a dedicated city servant but has become a spokesman and relentless supporter and advocate for Alzheimer’s Awareness.

    The event, held at Kings Grant Golf Course, was a huge success. In just five weeks, PWC CEO Elaina Ball and Communications Director/Community Relations Manager Carolyn Justice-Hinson rallied dozens of PWC employees, community volunteers, and local businesses. Together they successfully raised over $23,000. This money will support Reinstein’s Alzheimer’s medical treatments and benefit the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s on April 29th at Segra Stadium. Since Reinstein's retirement in 2018, his team of JayWalkers has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the cause.

    This golf tournament was a fantastic event for a great cause that benefited a great guy. The fun, fellowship and love that radiated from that gathering is inspiring and only reinforces what the Fayetteville community is and should be all about. Ball and her PWC leadership team continue to set gracious examples of how business, professionalism and humanity are achieved by just doing the right things for the right reasons. From this, we all can learn. A special shoutout to City Councilwoman Kathy Keefe-Jenson is in order; she was the only elected official for the city or county to come out in support of one of their own.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Fay clean up “Better Together” is the theme of this year’s initiative to clean up Cumberland County.

    Just in time for Earth Day and National Volunteer Week, Fayetteville Beautiful and Cumberland Clean invite volunteers to grab a pair of gloves and a few trash bags for some spring cleaning in Fayetteville on Saturday, April 23, from 8 a.m. to noon.

    These events, which happen twice a year, have only grown in popularity since their establishment in September 2006. In the fall of 2021, the most recent event welcomed over 500 volunteers who picked up nearly five tons of trash from over 100 miles of Fayetteville’s streets.

    “The goal is to attract as many people as we can,” said Jessica Howell, management analyst for the City Of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department. “This event is so important because we want to love where we live and take pride in our city. Litter is at an all-time high with the problem steadily growing.”

    For those willing to accept it, the mission is a fairly straightforward one. Volunteers can sign up as individuals or teams with supply pick-up between 9 and 11 a.m. Participants sign up to clean a particular area such as a neighborhood, street or stretch of highway and leave their haul in a designated area for pick up.

    Fayetteville Beautiful and Cumberland Clean volunteers will receive a t-shirt, trash bags and water before getting started. For the first 100 participants, donuts and other goodies await.

    As an added enticement, there will be a photo contest with a prize for those who snap a pic with the most trash bags.
    When speaking about this initiative with Anna Chott, the Waste Management Project Coordinator at Sustainable Sandhills, words like “awareness” and “impact” came
    up often.

    “As an environmental non-profit, we want to be picking up less litter in twenty years,” she said. “We’ve seen other cities and counties get control of their litter problem, and this is what it takes. Volunteers make a difference, but it takes awareness, litter pick-up, enforcement and education.”

    “We recently conducted a survey and learned that much of the litter in this area comes from open trucks and the debris that blows from them. Reusable containers, water bottles, grocery bags, all of those things make a difference,” Chott explained.

    Ultimately, these two events work as a call to action for the citizens of Fayetteville and neighboring areas to make this city the best it can be, which both women feel is at the core of the event’s success.

    “We work closely with Cumberland County, Spring Lake and Hope Mills, which have their events happening, and we’re all spending this Earth Day weekend making our cities more beautiful,” Chott said.

    Howell echoes the sentiment, adding, “everybody from surrounding areas comes together to work toward the same goal: keeping our city and county clean.”

    To register online with Fayetteville Beautiful, visit fayettevillebeautiful.com. Group representatives should include the total number of volunteers in their online form. Volunteers should scroll down to the active map and select a clean-up location before registering.

    To register with Cumberland Clean, email Tim Middleton at tmiddleton@co.cumberland.nc.us or call 910-321-6907.

  • Having a ruff week? Stop by Dog Day in the Garden on Sunday, May 1, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
    The seventh annual event is a fundraiser for the garden and Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, the only non-profit, no-kill animal shelter in Cumberland County. This year the event is presented by Riverbark Veterinary Hospital. Organizers have an afternoon of fun planned for people — and pups — of all ages.

    Dogs can participate in a pup pageant, obstacle course or get a free nail trim. Their human companions can opt for a family photo in front of a balloon backdrop and decorate a picture frame for their new snapshot. A caricature artist will be on-site to sketch families and furry friends.

    Both pups and their owners can visit nearly a dozen vendors with crafts, foods, jewelry, fragrances and home décor. Live music will be provided by Whiskey Pines, an Americana band from Southern Pines.
    Blood Connection is hosting a blood drive for those wanting to support multiple organizations in one day.

    Food truck Alamo Snow will have snow cones, cotton candy and lemonade, and Jaz-N-Soul will have Caribbean and soul food for sale. Grapes & Hops will be a vendor at the event with dog biscuits and a special dog “beer” for pups to sample.

    The event has grown in popularity over the years. In 2021, an estimated 900-1200 people stopped by throughout the day.

    Dog Day in the Garden began when both organizations had common board members who wanted to combine efforts to raise money for the garden and the animal shelter.

    “The partnership (with FAPS) has grown so much over the years, and it (has become) one of our favorite events,” said Meghan Woolbright, Cape Fear Botanical Garden Marketing Coordinator.

    Families looking for a canine companion can meet with dogs from FAPS looking for their fur-ever homes. After a meet and greet with the pets up for adoption, the potential new owner will need to go through the regular application and vetting process after the event.

    Jackie Stickley, executive director of FAPS, shared a story of Dodger, a husky and pit bull mix, surrendered to the shelter after his owners did not properly socialize him. He needed lots of support and love to adjust to his new surroundings. Stickley decided to take him to Dog Day in the Garden during his training.

    “We expected that he wouldn’t last through the entire event, as he was overstimulated easily. We expected this outing to just be a part of his training,” said Stickley. “(But) it ended up being the outing where he met his forever family. Dodger now is living life with people that love him in a home that he can call his own.”

    Garden members can attend for free. Tickets for non-members are $10. People over 65 and military receive a discounted rate of $9. Tickets for children 6 to 12 are $5, and kids under 5 get in free.

    The first 250 guests will receive a “sWAG” bag filled with goodies from event sponsors.

    For more information, visit www.capefearbg.org/event/dog-day-in-the-garden-3.

  • Fay His Museum logo The Fayetteville History Museum will be hosting a Facts or Foolishness Scavenger Hunt through April 23. This self-guided hunt will include clues throughout the museum and the museum annex.

    “We love to do scavenger hunts through the museum to make it a bit more interactive and provide a special activity for parents to bring their kids to do while they are off on spring break,” said Catherine Linton, Museum Specialist, Fayetteville History Museum. “We do something like this for Cumberland County spring break every year.”

    The scavenger hunt is best suited for elementary and middle school-aged children, although younger kids are encouraged to join in on the fun.

    Participants can pick up a clue sheet at the museum’s front desk.

    “The scavenger hunt will have clues all around the museum and annex, and it is up to the participants to decide if the clues are ‘fact’ or ‘foolishness.’ Once completed, the answers will be revealed, and they can pick up a spring break prize while supplies last,” Linton said.

    The Fayetteville History Museum has two floors of exhibits, ranging from prehistory to the present.

    Artifacts from Revolutionary War hero Marquis de LaFayette’s visit to Fayetteville in 1824 are displayed on the first floor.

    Fayetteville owes its name to the man who fought alongside General George Washington throughout the war and was the only city named for him that he visited on his tour throughout the U.S. years later.

    Across the hall, in the Cape Fear River Gallery, visitors can learn about the ship stores industry and how the Cape Fear River played a pivotal role in the creation and continuation of Fayetteville.

    Visitors can then venture upstairs to find Civil War exhibits, World War I and II exhibits, the role baseball played in Fayetteville and information about black artisans in the area.

    The creation of Fort Bragg is also included in the information found at the museum.

    Participants in the scavenger hunt will be looking through all of these exhibits to answer the clues given to them. According to Linton, one such possible question could ask for a “fact” or “foolishness” about LaFayette’s visit to Fayetteville.

    “We are hoping people come out to enjoy the museum and what downtown has to offer during spring break," she said. "Hopefully, we get some new visitors to the museum, and returning visitors learn something new about our history.”

    The Fayetteville History Museum, located at 325 Franklin St., is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 910-433-1457 or visit www.fcpr.us/facilities/museums/fayetteville-area-transportation-and-local-history-museum.

    The museum and scavenger hunt are both free to the public.

     

  • Hood Most states have still failed to recover the jobs lost during the depths of the COVID crisis in 2020. North Carolina is not, however, one of those states.

    From February 2020 to February 2022, we experienced an employment increase of 1.5%, representing a net gain of 67,600 jobs. That ranks us 6th in job growth since the onset of COVID. Only 10 other states are in positive territory over the past two years: Utah (5.1%), Idaho (5.1%), Montana (3.1%), Texas (1.7%), Florida (1.7%), Arizona (1.3%), Georgia (1.2%), Tennessee (1.2%), Arkansas (0.9%), and Colorado (0.3%).

    If we measure the recovery not by employment but by overall output, our state still fares well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, North Carolina’s real GDP has grown by an annualized average of 1.7% since the start of 2020, faster than the Southeast (1.1%) and the nation as a whole (0.8%).

    There’s no question our state suffered mightily during the COVID crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs or incomes. Millions suffered unprecedented restrictions on their personal liberty. And more than 23,000 of our fellow North Carolinians lost their lives.

    Whatever you think of the public-health benefits of the stringent executive orders Gov. Roy Cooper imposed during the first few months of the COVID crisis, they certainly had a substantial dampening effect on the state’s economy. I assume the governor would grant the existence of such a downside, arguing that achieving North Carolina’s lower-than-average death rates was worth the cost. Others might question whether the state’s mandates were really the main cause of those lower death rates.

    As an economic matter, though, North Carolina clearly bounced back more strongly from the COVID recession than most states did. Why? I'll offer three possible (and not mutually exclusive) explanations.

    First, our state and local governments were comparatively well-prepared. During much of the past decade, lawmakers had prudently increased state savings while making North Carolina a more attractive place to work, invest, and create jobs by reforming our tax code, regulatory process, and infrastructure programs. These policy decisions served as the equivalent of a giant neon sign with the words “Do Business Here!” and a giant arrow pointing to North Carolina.

    So even as some industries were swooning — and some businesses such as downtown restaurants were closing their doors for good — other industries were in a position to expand once the worst of the crisis was over.

    They were already in place in North Carolina or looking closely at the state for their next major investments.

    A second explanation might be that our economy's exposure to a pandemic-induced downturn was somewhat lower than those of our peers because of differences in structure. A smaller share of our population lives in urban centers, for example. And tourism, while an important part of North Carolina’s service sector, doesn't make up as large a share of GDP as it does in, say, our neighbor South Carolina.

    Finally, our state has what many households and businesses are looking for in COVID’s aftermath. Remote work has finally come into its own, freeing up some workers to choose homes and communities based on quality of life rather than proximity to downtown employment districts. While cross-state relocations don’t yet constitute a flood by historical standards, North Carolina is one of the most popular destinations for those looking to reinvent themselves — and their businesses — in more a more congenial clime.

    To say North Carolina is bouncing back is not to say everyone is coming along for the bouncy ride. Too many displaced workers remain on the sidelines of the labor market. Beyond a couple dozen urban and suburban counties, many other parts of the state continue to face major economic development challenges. Furthermore, increased reliance on remote work brings costs as well as benefits. Some restaurants and service businesses catering to office workers may turn out to be unsustainable in their current form.

    Nevertheless, things could be worse. In most of the country, in fact, they are.

  • Spouses in the Mil The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce is holding an expo and a luncheon with a question-and-answer session for military spouses on April 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at the Rudolph Jones Student Center at Fayetteville State University.

    “The lunch and the expo is free to military spouses; male or female, veterans, members of the Gold Star community, anybody who is or has been married to someone in the military is welcome to come to this event for free,” said Claudia Black, events coordinator and sales specialist for the Chamber. “We are really trying to cater to the military spouses.”

    Bronwen Pence, the wife of Fort Bragg Garrison commander Col. Scott Pence, will be moderating a question-and-answer session during the luncheon.

    “We will have a panel of four ladies from throughout different branches of the military. The panel will be giving spouses some insight on what military life is like, anything they feel might be helpful to the spouses,” Black said.

    The panel will include U.S. Army Special Operation Command-wife Kimberly Weimer and Garrison-wife Nikki Loehr.

    The panel will also have a newer military spouse so that the question-and-answer session can be diverse, Black said.
    Paul Mitchell will be providing makeovers throughout the day for the spouses, and Five West Media will be on hand
    to create headshots for the
    attendees. Spouses can receive professional headshots digitally.

    Breakout sessions will occur during the morning, the first being a mental wellness session. It will include office yoga and a discussion with a mental wellness doctor talking about stress and how to cope with spouses deploying.

    The second breakout room of the day will be geared toward extreme couponing, a subject Black said was very well received during the last military spouse event.

    An expo will also be available throughout the day. Thirty-eight vendor booths will be set up in the halls of FSU, and spouses are more than welcome to come and go. If spouses can’t attend the whole event, they can still come to the expo.

    Guests walking through the expo will be able to get free gifts and talk to the vendors. Those who come to the luncheon will also receive a swag bag.

    “We have a lot of great swag bags to give out,” Black said.

    “We still have room for more table sponsors. A business can sponsor a table. They get one seat at the table, and then we put seven military spouses with them, so they get some one-on-one time with the spouses. The business can decorate the table with signage,” Black said.

    “We really want these seats to be filled with military spouses. That’s the whole goal of this, for them to have a fun day and be pampered and hopefully learn some stuff.”

    The expo and luncheon are free to military spouses, but Black said guests should register before the event. To register, visit www.faybiz.com.

     

  • Pitt Excitement is boiling. Here comes Arbor Day. That celestial holiday got me pondering what the Vikings thought about trees. Voila: today’s lesson is about the Vikings’ sacred tree Yggdrasil. What? You say you have never heard of Yggdrasil? Well, listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight tree called Yggdrasil.

    The Yggdrasil tree is the pillar of Viking theology. It was so big it not only held up, but also connected all the elements of the universe. The Yggdrasil was like the Dark Matter that our modern-day astronomer theologists believe in. Yiggy, as his friends called him, was Norse for Odin’s Horse. Yiggy’s top branches reached somewhere far above the rainbow where only Elon Musk could fly.
    His roots went all the way into the underworld land of the dead. Yiggy was quite the tree. He was a veritable eco-system with a Dragon named Nidhogg and a bunch of snakes at the bottom, and an enchanted eagle at the top. There was also a pesky squirrel named Drill-Tooth who ran up and down the trunk causing mischief by repeating insults from the Dragon and the eagle to keep things stirred up.

    Odin was the King of the Viking Gods who hung out with the other lesser gods in a party treehouse called Asgard at the top of Yiggy. Yiggy’s roots dipped into the bottomless Well of Urd. Three bodacious goddesses called Norns were lounging around, deciding humanity’s fate. The Norns would cut Runes into Yiggy’s bark which dictated what would happen on Earth. This aggravated Odin because he couldn’t read the Runes. Odin cyphered that if he hung himself from a branch of Yiggy, stabbed himself with a spear, and stared into the Well of Urd he would come to understand Runes. After spending nine days hanging around, Odin had a moment of clarity. Eureka, he understood the Runes! But knowing the future does not always lead to safe and restful sleep.

    With Runic knowledge comes the Viking’s version of the end of the world — Ragnarok, in which the gods and man come to a bad end. If the Vikings are right, this is what is in store for us. The Norns bring on the world’s worst cold weather — The Great Winter, which lasts three years. Famine and pestilence stalk the land. Cannibalism becomes the new fad diet.

    The Two Big Bad Wolves Hati and Skoll, who have been chasing the moon and sun like a dog chasing a car, finally succeed in their quest. They chow down on all celestial bodies, including the stars. The sky turns black and empty. Even Yiggy starts to shake. Another giant wolf named Fenrir breaks his chain and runs wild on the land chomping hapless humans.

    Remember Cecil the Sea Sick Sea Serpent? His evil twin, the giant sea serpent Jormungand, rises like the Kraken from the ocean depths and swamps the land.

    The waves break loose the good ship Naglfar — the Nail Ship. The Nail Ship is so named because it is constructed of dead humans’ fingernails and toenails. Not sure what the Vikings were smoking when they came up with this, but you can probably buy it in California. The crew of the Nail Ship is a rowdy bunch of giants, led by Captain Loki, who start acting like drunken homicidal psychopathic sailors on extended shore leave. Fenrir the wolf is so big his upper jaw touches the sky as he eats everyone in his path. Jormungand spews venom all over the world, poisoning everything. Sort of like Putin in Ukraine or the former guy on Fox.

    About this time, the sky cracks open, plopping a bunch of Fire Giants onto the Earth, ready to duke it out with Odin and
    his boys.

    The Viking Gods versus the Fire Giants. Odin gets eaten by Fenrir the wolf. Odin’s son Vidar goes ballistic and shoves his magic shoe into Fenrir’s mouth. While Fenrir is choking on the shoe, Vidar cuts Fenrir’s throat. Fenrir then expires. Thor and Jormungand get into it, resulting in the deaths of both of them. What is left of the world then collapses into the ocean, leaving nothing behind but a giant pool of dirty, bloody, reeking water.

    The end.

    So, what have we learned today? The Vikings were much weirder than we give them credit for. There is a new movie coming out at the end of April called “The Northman” which is supposed to be historically accurate.

    Go see the movie if this column has not turned you off to Vikings. If someone yells Ragnarok in a movie theater, hurry up and finish your popcorn, as time is about up.
    Reading Runes is fundamental. Ragnarok and Roll is here to stay.

  • torch The Spring Lake Police Department will host the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run April 23 at 9:00 a.m. at Veteran's Park.

    “We are known as the Guardians of the Flame and we support the athletes who have intellectual and physical disabilities in life,” said Napolean McCormick, Evidence Sergeant and Special Olympics coordinator.

    “Everyone knows about the Olympics that occur every four years, but the Special Olympics summer games occur annually during the first week in June in Raleigh and the funds that we raise goes toward the equipment, uniforms, and other resources they need to help host their games,” he said.

    McCormick added that many of the police officers attend the summer games and the officers present the medals to the athletes at their games.

    The Spring Lake Police Department’s fundraising goal is $10,000.

    “Yes, our goal is $10,000, but I will be happy if we get $7,000 so we can get our name on the back of the Special Olympics t-shirt,” said McCormick. “If we get our name on the back of the shirt it shows that Spring Lake is heavily involved with Special Olympics.”

    The run is approximately two and a half miles long.

    “The runner will start at the flag pole at the intersection of Main Street and Ruth Street,” said McCormick. “Then they will continue up Main Street through town; circle the roundabout on the bridge; go across the bridge; turn left and run towards Lillian Black Elementary School; make a right on the street at the stop sign and run around the back of the school and come back to the flag pole.”

    He added, “If you are walking you will round the bridge and turn around and come back to the flag pole.”

    The Special Olympics is a worldwide movement that was founded in the 1950s by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of former President John F. Kennedy. She observed that individuals with intellectual and physical abilities were treated unfairly so she decided to take action. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts.

    The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina began in 1987 and raises more than 1.3 million for Special Olympics North Carolina each year and serves nearly 40,000 athletes.

    “We are asking for donations or to purchase a Special Olympics t-shirt or beach towel for $20,” said McCormick.

    “If you would like to get your name on the Special Olympics t-shirt, you can do this by becoming a corporate sponsor.”

    “It is not a race, it is a symbolic thing showing the community that we are supporting Special Olympics and these athletes,” said McCormick. “We are asking everyone to come out and support this worthy cause.”

    Join the Spring Lake Police Department as a “Torch Run Warrior.” Runners will receive a certificate of participation.
    Sponsorship information is available at www.sonc.net.

    There is no entry fee. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m. on the day of the run.
    For more information call 910-237-9470.

  • Poetry in Motion 01 Cool Spring Downtown is bringing poetry to Fayetteville. In celebration of National Poetry Month, the organization will host Poetry in Motion, featuring poet Nick Courmon on Friday, April 22.

    The event will take place onboard downtown Fayetteville’s “Can Do” Caldwell Banker Trolley and depart from Bright Light Brewing Company at 7 p.m., then again at 8 p.m.

    International poet and spoken-word artist, Nick Courmon, will bring his poetry to a moving stage as ticket holders enjoy a relaxing ride around the city, perhaps with a beer in hand.

    “In celebration of National Poetry Month, we want to highlight one of the many talented local poets in Fayetteville,” said Lauren Falls, director of marketing and events for Cool Spring Downtown District. “We are excited to have Nick Courmon perform his pieces on the ‘Can-Do’ Coldwell Banker Trolley.”

    A native of Greensboro, Courmon’s poetry focuses on social issues, mental health and African American history. Widely published, Courmon has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, and his work can be seen in BROAD magazine, and Teen Ink magazine, to name a few.

    Cool Spring Downtown, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the arts and entertainment district in downtown Fayetteville, is excited to host this unique event and invites anyone and everyone over the age of 21 to come out and enjoy.

    Falls wants ticket holders to “experience the vibe as you take a ride on the ‘Can-Do’ Trolley through Fayetteville and savor the powerful poetry from Nick Courmon. Alcohol will be available for purchase, and you’ll be able to bring your drink on the trolley.”

    National Poetry Month, founded in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, is intended to celebrate the lyrical expression of experience by honoring the presence of poetry and poets in our everyday lives.
    Cool Spring Downtown District wants to bring that effort to Fayetteville and introduce poetry to those unfamiliar with the art form and its established presence in the city.

    “We would like for those who participate in the Poetry in Motion event to get plugged into the poetry scene in Fayetteville and are also encouraged to join in on the fun events Cool Spring Downtown District hosts,” Falls said.

    In addition to Poetry in Motion, Cool Spring Downtown’s Fourth Friday Fayetteville will also be in full swing from 6 to 9 p.m.
    This event is free and open to the public every fourth Friday from March to October. On these evenings, Downtown Fayetteville plays host to live performers, musicians, artists, makers, food trucks and vendors along Hay and Person Streets.

    “Our mission for Cool Spring Downtown District is to continue building the arts and entertainment in downtown Fayetteville. We strive to program inclusive events that cater to a broader arts community in downtown Fayetteville,” Falls said.

    Tickets to the Poetry in Motion trolley are $25 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-in-motion-tickets-304081896137.

    The “Can-Do” trolley leaves from Bright Light Brewing Company, located at 444 West Russel St.

    For information about Nick Courmon and his poetry, visit www.ndcpoetry.com/.

     

  • comic con Fayetteville Comic Con is coming to the Crown Complex Convention Center from April 23 to 24 and promises two days of fun for self-proclaimed geeks of all ages.

    Fayetteville stands out because it draws people interested in all pop culture, not just comic books.

    “We're just fans who found that Fayetteville has an amazing collective of people interested in superheroes, movies, anime, cosplay, gaming, video gaming, tabletop role play (and more),” said organizer Keith Gibbs.

    “We're more of a homegrown community of geeks and nerds, and we think that there's a little bit of geek in everyone.”

    The guest list includes 30 voice-over actors, comic book legends and stars of television and screen, ready to meet fans, sign autographs, participate in Q&As and pose for photographs.

    Anime fans can meet Joshua Seth, one of the voices behind “Digimon Adventures,” and Wayne Grayson, a favorite from “Yi-Gi-Oh!”
    Guests representing "Power Rangers: Wild Force,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin” and several actors from action and horror movies will also be there.

    The Fayetteville convention is one of the most interactive iterations of Comic Con, according to Gibbs, because attendees can participate in multiple events during the show. There will be a spoken-word rap battle, a cosplay lip sync contest and specialty panels with topics chosen by fans.

    Attendees will also have a chance to compete in a trivia game show called Nerd Slam, where they can test their knowledge of geek culture. Contestants will be selected from the audience in a lottery-style drawing similar to “The Price is Right.”

    Attendees who come dressed as their favorite characters (known as cosplay) will have the chance to enter costume contests. Kids will have their own competition on Saturday.

    “We really like to celebrate the families who bring their kids in on the first day, so everybody walks (the) stage,” Gibbs said. “But that's really designed just to encourage cosplay among kids so that it's more of a celebration.”

    Adults will have a chance to enter one of two contests on Sunday. One is geared toward people who purchase pre-made costumes, and the second contest, the Master Class Competition, is for cosplayers who have crafted their own regalia. They will have a chance to win a $500 first-place prize for their craftsmanship.

    Cosplay is a big part of all Comic Cons, and the Fayetteville convention will be no different. Several local cosplayers will have interactive presentations that will educate and entertain onlookers, including an experience in creating a mythical land through set dressing and prop building.

    Special guest Karen Whitfield, who has been cosplaying since the late 1970s, will chat about her experience traveling to conventions as Bronze Batgirl with Adam West and Burt Ward, the actors better known as Batman and Robin from the 1960s television series.

    Since it started, Rocky Melvin, a cosplayer from Goldsboro, has attended Fayetteville Comic Con. He is debuting a new “Transformer” costume this year: Blue Angel. Melvin has been working on it for two years and spent one year training to wear the gear and learning to walk on stilts. He is 6’4” but will be an astonishing 10 feet tall when he is suited up.

    “I absolutely love getting in costume just to see kids’ (faces) light up and not know if what they are seeing is real,” he said.

    Wrestling will be returning to the Fayetteville Comic Con this year. The 2-6 Wrestling Academy will present live wrestling with Fayetteville-based performers and stars from the independent circuits on the East Coast.

    There will be many opportunities to shop for those looking to score unique souvenirs. More than 90 vendors will display and sell items like vintage toys, prop weapons and comic books, plus artisans showcasing handcrafted items and artwork.

    Fayetteville native Joe Covas, a comic book and pop culture fan artist, looks forward to sharing his work at the event.

    “I think what makes Fayetteville (Comic Con) special for me personally is that it's my home. Having a venue for fans of pop culture and comic books means a lot to me because growing up here, there wasn't anything like this,” he said. “It's also a great way to help support many of the local artists and offer them exposure.”

    The Fayetteville Comic Con started in 2015 as a one-day event but has expanded to a twice-yearly, two-day convention in the spring and fall. Gibbs expects upwards of 10,000 people for this year's spring show.

    Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for young adults 13 to 20 and are valid for one day of admission. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Visit https://fayettevillecomiccon.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

     

  • working dogs 1 With laser-eye focus, combat gear secured and tails wagging, eight military working dog teams launched into their real-world scenario based training lanes for one common purpose — to earn the title Military Working Dog Team of the Year.

    The first Military Working Dog Team of the Year Competition was hosted March 24 by Fort Bragg’s Public Health Activity at the Medical Simulation Training Center on Fort Bragg. Each dog and handler team, specializing in either narcotics or explosive detection, competed in different tasks throughout the cloudy and drizzly day, challenging them on their knowledge and skills.

    Two teams came out on top — Cpl. Taylor Reed and military working dog, Gert, for narcotics detection and Cpl. Jericho Arengo and military working dog, Serif, for explosives detection. Both teams are from Fort Bragg’s 550th Military Working Dog Detachment.

    “I am still astounded being named the Fort Bragg Explosive MWD Team of the Year,” said Arengo. “There were a lot of great MWD teams competing for the title. It was not an easy competition.”

    Arengo added that he and his canine partner worked well together, despite a few deficiencies that they will continue to work through as a team. However, he definitely made sure Serif got a lot of extra treats, belly rubs and free time to run around to be a dog as celebration.

    “We’ve never had anything like this,” said Reed, Narcotics MWD Team of the Year. “We had the opportunity to practice hands-on (training) in a simulated and controlled environment on what we need to know how to do as dog handlers. The entire event was far above and beyond any training I could have dreamed of and it was executed perfectly. I feel very honored and prideful of our detachment.”

    In total, three military installations across the country were represented: Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

    “It’s always nice to get camaraderie with our Army counterparts,” said Senior Airmen Devon Reynolds, whose canine partner is a 2-year-old German shepherd named Bruno from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, JBLE. “We don’t get to work with them all that often, so when we do it’s a great opportunity to learn from each other and have a little fun while we’re at it.”

    Each team was tested on their ability to detect the scent of either narcotics or explosives, how to administer first aid to both humans and dogs, how to use radio communications, how to operate in a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and high yield explosives environment, and assemble/dissemble their weapon — all the while tending to and protecting their four-legged partner.

    “I like how there’s so much variety while going through the training,” said Pfc. Gabriel Franco, 550th MWD Detachment. “You get a lot more experience and knowledge out of the competition so that we will be prepared
    if anything actually was to happen
    for real.”

    When coordinating the competition, Capt. Heather Weaver, the officer in charge of the event and assigned to the Fort Bragg PHA, said they had direct backing from her command team and their soldiers worked very hard as the main support. The detection, bite and medical lanes had graders from 3rd Special Forces Group, First Year Graduate Veterinary Internship captains and 4th Security Forces Squadron. The 550th MWD Detachment provided detection aids, weapons and basic dog needs like trailers and water. All the units working together provided an Army, Air Force and Special Forces perspective to the scoring of each lane.

    “We were looking for a competition to show us the most well-rounded MWD-handler team,” said Weaver. “These handlers also compete in the Expert Soldier Badge annually, but we wanted a way to tie in detection/bite work and daily tasks asked of these teams, Army Warrior Tasks, and medical training.”

    Weaver added that she frequently provides training to the 550th MWD Detachment teams and 4th Security Forces Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

    “Instead of becoming confident and complacent in our training, we wanted to see what the handlers would do in real-life scenarios without my direct guidance,” Weaver said. “This allows us to gauge where the most frequent gaps of knowledge lie, and it also allows us to come up with a course of action to close those identified gaps.”

    With the partnership between the different units, not only competing together but also supporting the event, many of the competitors agreed that they learned a lot.

    “I learned things I didn’t even know I didn’t know,” laughed Pfc. Sheridan Reagin, 550th MWD Detachment. “I definitely put myself to the test. The most challenging was the medical lane. I went in thinking I knew a lot about first aid, but then I sort of panicked.”

    The medical lane started off with a patrol walk through the woods when suddenly, simulated artillery rounds went off and there were human and dog causalities. The competitors rushed to their assigned lane and began to administer first aid to either the human or dog training aide.

    “The dogs that we worked on, they’re so realistic,” added Reagin, looking at Max, her 5-year-old German shepherd partner. “I feel like if I get efficient on the training dog, I will be able to remain calm and perform first aid on my dog if needed. It was a different experience tending to the human casualty than the dog. There’s that added emotional connection with Max. He’s my buddy.”

    The Advanced Canine Medical Trainer, K9 Diesel, is a full-body simulator used by handlers and veterinarians to practice medical aid. The fur covered robot dog whines, growls, breathes, bleeds, has a pulse, makes airway obstruction noises, has a real-time sensor that is customizable to different scenarios and reacts to treatments administered — it looks, reacts and sounds like a real dog.

    Teaming up with the Fort Bragg Veterinarian Clinic across the parking lot from the 550th MWD Detachment has its perks for the local teams that train monthly on different medical scenarios and utilize the K9 Diesel quarterly.

    “We are very fortunate to have (the vet clinic) so close to provide their expertise,” said Reagin. “We are our dog’s primary caregiver, we can’t just call for a medic. It’s up to (us) to apply first aid until (we) can get (them) to the vet.”

    With both winners coming from Fort Bragg’s 550th MWD Detachment, the event solidified that the training is being retained and that handlers are able to apply their knowledge when challenged, said Weaver.

    Arengo added that having both winners from the same unit correlates with the excellent training opportunities and trainers available at Fort Bragg.

    “The 550th Military Working Dog Detachment holds their handlers above the standard,” Arengo said. “That says a lot about the detachment.”

  • chemours In a lawsuit filed last month, Cumberland County alleges that Chemours and its predecessor companies have, over the past few decades, “secretly pumped millions of pounds of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” or PFAS, into the air above its Fayetteville Works facility in the southern part of the county.

    Chemours, a spin-off of the chemical company DuPont, is the maker of GenX, one of the PFAS substances, among others, referred to in the lawsuit.
    Cumberland County alleges that Chemours and DuPont have been polluting the air, groundwater and surface water with PFAS for decades with a “blatant disregard” for residents in the county.

    “As has been widely reported, defendants have used the environment surrounding theFayetteville Works facility as a dumping ground for hundreds of chemicals while assuring the EPA and state agencies that they were doing no such thing,” the lawsuit says.

    The lawsuit alleges that from the early 1970s until 2015, when DuPont owned the Fayetteville Works site, the company “discharged millions of pounds of PFAS.”

    Among these PFAS, the lawsuit alleges, was a chemical called C8, a substance previously produced by DuPont that may be related to health issues such as birth defects and cancer, when exposed at high levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

    In 2005, DuPont agreed to pay $16.5 million in EPA fines for violating a requirement to “report to EPA substantial risk information about chemicals they manufacture, process or distribute in commerce,” according to the regulatory agency.

    In 2009, DuPont began production of GenX as a replacement to phase out C8. While C8 has ceased, the production of GenX at the Fayetteville Works site continues, but there is limited information on the effect of GenX in humans, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

    In an emailed statement to Carolina Public Press, Chemours said the company was disappointed by Cumberland’s decision to file a lawsuit.

    “Our discussions with the county have included offering different alternative water systems to qualifying county properties,” the company said.

    “We are also working collaboratively with the county and (the Fayetteville Public Works Commission) water to connect impacted Cumberland County residents to public water where feasible.”

    In 2020, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $10.5 million in an effort to find an alternative water source for Gray’s Creek, an area south of Fayetteville where GenX was found in N.C. Department of Environmental Quality testing in some residential wells groundwater.

    Last month, commissioners were expected to finalize an agreement in which Fayetteville PWC would provide water to the area, but County Manager Amy Cannon requested more time to work on the contract with PWC.

    Since the Chemours facility is located off State Road 87, south of PWC’s water supply and further down the Cape Fear River, the GenX contamination attributed to Chemours does not affect the PWC, a spokesperson for the utility said.

    The company has also supplied bottled water to students and faculty at Gray’s Creek Elementary, the company’s statement said.

    On behalf of Cumberland County, the lawsuit against Chemours was filed by Crueger Dickinson LLC and Baron & Budd, P.C. Commissioners decided on these firms last June. According to the contract with the attorneys, the firms will receive 25% of any possible recovery for damages.

    GenX effects on humans

    GenX is used in products such as food packaging, nonstick coatings and firefighting foam, according to DHHS.
    The substance is part of a larger group of chemicals called PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their durability and virtual inability to be broken down.

    Exposure to high levels of some PFAS, according to the EPA, may lead to health issues in humans such as high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects in children and increased risk of some cancers.

    For GenX specifically, the link isn’t as clear.
    A study published by the EPA last year suggests that livers in animals may be sensitive to GenX. Other potential effects in animals include developmental issues and some cancers.

    More studies in people are needed to determine the chemical’s effect on the human liver or other organs, according to DHHS.

    A small, limited study from DHHS found that GenX may not stay in the human body for a long time.
    Chemours stands by the safety of the chemical, according to their website.

    “If incidental exposure were to occur, it’s rapidly eliminated from the body,” the company claims.
    Continued research on the effects on humans is ongoing among scientists, including those at N.C. State University’s GenX exposure study.

    State investigation

    The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has been investigating allegations of GenX contamination from Chemours since June 2017 when the Wilmington StarNews reported that the chemical had been found in drinking water in the lower Cape Fear River.

    In February 2019, DEQ filed a consent order against Chemours requiring them to address current and prevent future GenX contamination.
    Last year, DEQ found Chemours responsible for the contamination of groundwater and water supply wells in New Hanover County and possibly Pender, Columbus and Brunswick counties as well.

    As a result, the state required Chemours to sample the drinking water in those downstream communities. On March 28, DEQ sent the company a letter requiring the company to expand their plan for sampling within the counties.

    In their emailed statement, Chemours said they are continuing to comply with the state’s consent order.

    “We are committed to continued engagement with Cumberland County as we implement the terms of the consent order agreement,” the company said.

  • Contaminated Wells CPP The Gray’s Creek community in Cumberland County could receive federal funding to help address the GenX contamination of some residential wells.

    The county Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed Monday to apply for North Carolina’s drinking water reserve and wastewater reserve grant.

    The grant, which has two rounds of funding in the spring and fall, is financed through federal allocations to the state as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.

    The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will administer the funds and determine which applicants are awarded grant money.

    If accepted, the county could receive up to $15 million to fund construction of a new central water distribution system in the Gray’s Creek area in southern Cumberland County, according to county documents.

    The state’s grant is meant for at-risk water systems for which, among other purposes, the applicant’s intention is to connect residences in disadvantaged, underserved communities to a different water system.

    According to water sampling from DEQ, some residential wells in Gray’s Creek are contaminated with GenX, a chemical substance produced in the nearby Chemours plant.

    GenX is a trade name for one unregulated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS, used in manufacturing nonstick coatings, among other purposes, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Last month, Cumberland County filed a lawsuit against Chemours and its predecessor company, DuPont, for allegedly releasing millions of pounds of PFAS into the air above its Fayetteville Works facility in the decades following 1970, as reported by Carolina Public Press.

    To determine how GenX affects the human body, more studies need to be done, according to DHHS. A small, limited study from the state agency suggests the substance, which DuPont started producing in 2009, may leave the human body quickly.

    Previously, the county had allocated $10.5 million for providing an alternative water system for Gray’s Creek. A pending contract is in place with the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, but the board has not yet finalized and approved that agreement.

    The county has until May 2 to apply for the state grant.

    If DEQ doesn’t accept Cumberland County’s application, the department will automatically consider the application for the next round of funding in the fall.

    The state could grant a low-interest loan to supplement funding if Cumberland County accepts, according to DEQ.

    If funding is still available after both application rounds, DEQ will give more to accepted applicants in $5 million increments until all the money is exhausted. DEQ will reward applicants in increments in order of priority, which the agency will determine.


    PHOTO CREDIT: Chemours' Fayetteville Works Plant Manager Brian Long, describes a newly installed mechanism for waste management and emissions reduction in late 2018. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press

  • rollout logo Cora’s Community Foundation is hosting “The Rollout,” an event that seeks to bring local and state politicians together with their constituents for a night of skating and fun.

    “The Roll Out” will be held Tuesday, May 3, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Round-A-Bout Skating Center.

    “This event is an open invitation to all candidates, no matter their affiliation, to come under one roof and interface with the public. We want people to be able to put a face to the names on the ballot,” said Rakeem “Keem” Jones, Cora’s Community Foundation’s co-founder and executive director.

    “The Roll Out” is part of an initiative to engage more voters aged 18 to 35 to register 1000 new voters.

    “I want to engage the area where people don’t go. We already know where the voters are, so I want to engage the young dude from Murchison Road who maybe doesn’t know the importance of voting in local elections or voting at all,” Jones told Up & Coming Weekly.

    “Now that I know how voting affects us, I want to be a bridge between candidates and the community in a setting not so formal. It’s hard to skate in a suit and tie,” he joked.

    There won’t be any speeches on the night of “The Roll Out,” nor any big political ideas or agendas. Candidates will have on nametags and are encouraged to meet and engage in fellowship with potential voters.

    “So far, the response from candidates has been great,” Jones stated. Any candidate interested can participate in this event, but they must RSVP by April 22.

    “I want people to take away knowledge of the people they’re voting for instead of voting for the sign they see the most. I want people to ask the questions that help them make a more informed decision,” Jones said.

    Though Cora’s Community Foundation does not endorse any particular candidate, Jones speaks a great deal about accountability when it comes to politics.

    “If you don’t know who you’re voting for, you don’t know who to hold accountable,” he said. “You don’t have to be rude, but you can be informed and push back where it matters. This event is about bringing power back to the people.”

    “The Roll Out’s” mission is two-fold. Along with the candidate meet and greet, the event also hopes to bring some awareness to the rising violence in Fayetteville.

    Co-founder of Heal the Ville, Demetria Murphy, will attend to spread her message of peace and healing for the city.

    Jones, whose sister was murdered in 2019, feels strongly about this message and is always eager to partner with those who seek to uplift the community.

    Getting his start in social activism by leading a protest on Scarborough Road in 2020, Jones felt compelled to do more for the city of Fayetteville.

    Jones founded Cora’s Community Foundation in 2021 along with his fiance Grace Pelt, Alexis McLaurin and Shea and Christian Mosely.

    Cora’s Community Foundation, named after Jones’ late mother, Cora Denise Jones, is a grassroots organization dedicated to addressing systemic inequalities and providing solutions that benefit everyone.

    Since forming in May of last year, the Foundation has led or participated in several outreach projects that directly empower, support or celebrate the people of Fayetteville.

    Teaming up with big names in the community, such as Grammy-nominated Fayetteville rapper, Morray, celebrity barber Vic Blends, and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, to name a few, Cora’s Foundation has wasted little time in getting to work for its community, serving thousands thus far.

    Jones is hopeful that the “The Roll Out” event will be equally beneficial to the community.

    “Everyone likes to skate, and everyone likes to eat,” Jones said. “We want people to come out and have a good time, good food and a good vibe. We want people to get to know each other in a family-friendly atmosphere.”

    Round-A-Bout Skating Center is located at Eutaw Shopping Center at 880 Elm St.

    Candidates must RSVP by April 22 and can do so at 910-709-0826 or corascommunityfoundation@gmail.com.

    For more information, contact Cora’s Community Foundation at 910-709-0826 or corascommunityfoundation@gmail.com.

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