The presence of the military in our community is prominent and unmistakable; but far too often, the accomplishments and sacrifice of the individuals who serve this country, as well as their families, are neglected. Whether they are active-duty or veterans, the men and women who serve and who have served in the military deserve a resounding “thank you.” The Sandhills Purple Heart Committee is stepping up to applaud those brave men and women by hosting the third annual Purple Heart Dinner on Aug. 24.

“The Purple Heart is America’s oldest medal, established by George Washington to honor those wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States,” said Senior Vice Commander Barry Pearce, a representative of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. The first of the awards was given to three noncomissioned soldiers of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The order said, “Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the Purple Heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen.”

After the American Revolution ended, the award fell into disuse until 1932, when the Army declared the restoration of the use for “persons who, while serving in the Army of the United States, perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service.” Moreover, the award would once again be used to recognize soldiers who acquired wounds in the line of duty that necessitated treatment by a medical officer “with an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act of such enemy.” 

The mission of the Purple Heart Dinner is “to honor those who have given so much. We are honoring true heroes and role models,” said Andrea Tebbe, the cochairman of the Sandhills Purple Heart dinner. “Our purpose is to honor and thank Purple Heart recipients who shed their blood for our country, while also honoring Gold Star mothers and the families of those (killed in action).” 

Gold Star mothers are those whose son or daughter dies while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The number of Purple Hearts awarded since 1932, when it was reestablished by the Army, remains unclear, since the Department of Defense does not keep a record of the number of recipients. However, according to a 2019 report to Congress on the Purple Heart, military historians believe that 1 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932; the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimates the number to be closer to 1.8 million. According to the Fort Bragg Order of the Purple Heart, there are at least 476 Purple Heart recipients in the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg area. 

The Sandhills Purple Heart Committee understands the importance of showing support to the families of fallen soldiers and thus Gold Star mothers will also be recognized at the event. During World War I, families of service members flew service flags. The flag would have a blue star on it to indicate that the person with the flag had an immediate family member who was serving in the war. If the service member died in the line of duty, the blue star was replaced with a gold one as a reminder of the sacrifice the service member made for his country. 

 The first Purple Heart Dinner was held in 2009 in Wake Forest, and the initiative has since spread to seven other North Carolina cities and two other states. Since then, the numbers of attendees have continued to reflect not just the sacrifices of the recipients and their families but of the immense support for them from their communities. 

“We recognize Purple Heart recipients, Gold star mothers and the families of those who are (killed in action) or (prisoners of war). The numbers vary year to year; this year we have over 100 Purple Heart recipients and 12 Gold Star mothers and several families of those (killed in action) (being recognized),” Tebbe said. 

There will also be a recognition of World War II Veterans. 

In a community with a strong military presence, it comes as no surprise that there are several Purple Heart Chapters in the Sandhills area. “The one in Fayetteville is the Fort Bragg Chapter,” Pearce explained. Visit the website at http://www.purpleheartfortbragg.com/donate-to-the-bragg-moph-chapter.php for more information.

Pearce encourages the community to show its appreciation for the heroes who have sacrificed so much for their country. “If you know of a recipient, thank them for their service and sacrifice,” he said. “The volunteers of the committee believe it is important to recognize all they have sacrificed and what they have been through. (The dinner) is our way to say ‘Thank you,’ and ‘We support you.’”

While many ceremonies have a keynote speaker or several speakers, the Purple Heart Dinner’s focus is on the honorees. 

“We do not have speakers,” explained Tebbe. “The Walk of Honor, where we recognize the Purple Heart recipients, is what we do instead of a guest speaker.” The event opens with a reception for the recipients. After that, the Purple Heart recipients walk through a saber salute. During that time, the emcee will explain the military story of each individual. 

Most sponsors come from community business and families of recipients. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor, though, can visit www.sandhillsphdinner.com or contact one of the committee members, also found on the website. 

The Purple Heart Dinner will be held at the Crown Coliseum Expo center Aug. 24, from
5-8 p.m. The ceremonial dinner is open to the public for $25 per ticket. The Purple Heart recipient and two guests can attend for free. 

To show support of those being recognized, people can sponsor the event on a number of levels, starting at $100 for the first level. 

Visit https://www.sandhillsphdinner.com/ for more information on the event, purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor. 

The Sandhills Purple Heart Committee is hosting the 3rd annual Purple Heart Dinner on Aug. 24 at the Crown Coliseum Expo center from 5-8 p.m.

Photo credit: Kellie Marie Photography

In 2002, President George W. Bush, designated “National Airborne Day”’ to honor the nation’s airborne forces. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum, located in downtown Fayetteville, will celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Army’s first official parachute jump Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. Come out and enjoy displays and re-enactors from the XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command and 82nd Airborne Division. 

In 1784, after seeing the first successful hot air balloon flight, Benjamin Franklin envisioned the United States having a military force that could drop from the sky. Fast forward to Aug. 16, 1940, and the U.S. Army successfully conducted its first official parachute jump. It was the birth of the “airborne.”

Here are a few things that you may not know about airborne units and paratroopers. 

Airborne units may or may not perform parachute operations. Some units keep their Airborne designation because of their historical past. Some units that do conduct airborne operations may not have the word “Airborne” in the unit’s name. 

Paratroopers are looked upon with great honor and respect. Those who choose to volunteer to attend Airborne school take on an enormous amount of risk. The training is among some of the hardest training in the military, both physically and mentally. Upon completing training, the student is awarded the Basic Parachute Badge. 

Military parachuting is separated into “static-line” and “freefall” parachuting. Static-line parachuting means that the paratrooper’s parachute is hooked to a cable inside the aircraft and the parachute opens automatically as the paratrooper exits the aircraft. Freefall parachuting is an advance infiltration technique in which the paratrooper opens their own parachute. 

A static-line paratrooper has completed the basic parachute school and has been awarded the coveted Basic Parachutist Badge. 

Military Freefall is commonly done by either High Altitude Low Opening — HALO — or High Altitude High Opening — HAHO. HALO jumpers can exit an aircraft as high as 35,000 feet and open as low as 2,000 feet. HAHO jumpers can exit a plane at 35,000 feet and open their parachute seconds after exiting the plane to fly for miles to their target. 

For those seeking more significant responsibilities, they can attend the “Jumpmaster” course. Not to be confused with the Jumpmaster Badge. At the Jumpmaster Course, students learn the complexities of being responsible for all aspects of a jump — to include combat equipment, airborne and drop zone operations. Once completing the Jumpmaster Course and additional requirements, a paratrooper that has graduated the Jumpmaster course can earn their Senior or Master Parachutist Badge. 

The Military Freefall Parachute Badge is earned for completing the Military Freefall school. The Freefall badge is a separate badge from the parachute badge. Like the static-line Jumpmaster, Freefall has its own Freefall Jump Master Course. This badge is distinguished by a star and wreath at the top of the badge. 

If you see a paratrooper with a bronze star on their wings, they have parachuted into a combat zone. 

For more history about Airborne or National Airborne day, visit the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, or visit https://www.asomf.org/.

Static-line parachuting means that the paratrooper’s parachute is hooked to a cable inside the aircraft and the parachute opens automatically as the paratrooper exits the aircraft. 

Many Americans—I among them—thought that the bloody gunshot murders of 20 first graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December of 2012 would be the straw that broke the back of the gun lobby and would usher in reasonable gun laws that still respect the Second Amendment. Who on God’s green Earth could have imagined that it would be acceptable for young children, babies really, to be gunned down in their construction-papered classrooms?

It was and apparently still is — because the carnage continues.

Since Sandy Hook, the following mass shootings have taken place in our country, according to CNN chronicling, all but one by a single, male American shooter. There are, of course, many others not listed that killed fewer people.

September 2013—12 people killed at the Washington Navy Yard.

June 2015—nine people killed in the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

October 2015—nine killed and nine others injured at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.

December 2015—14 killed at an employee gathering by a married couple who left their baby with relatives in San Bernardino, Carolina.

June 2016—at least 49 people were killed and more than 50 injured inside a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

October 2017—58 were killed and nearly 500 injured at a concert venue in Las Vegas, Nevada.

November 2017—25 people were killed and 20 injured at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

February 2018—17 killed and at least 17 others injured in Marjory Stone-man Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

May 2018—10 killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.

October 2018—11 killed at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

November 2018—12 killed at a bar and grill in Thousand Oaks, California.

May 2019—12 killed and at least four injured in a city building in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

August 2019—22 killed, including parents shielding their 2-month-old ba-by, and more than two dozen injured in a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.

August 2019—less than 24 hours after the El Paso shooting, nine killed, including the gunman’s own sister, and 27 injured in an entertainment area of Day-ton, Ohio.

Death toll—246 innocent people, minding their own business, shot dead.

Truth be told, it is difficult to remember all of these because we in the United States have had so many mass shootings that in some ways, we have come to expect them. No other nation on earth tolerates anything like the number and scale of gunshot murders we experience all over our nation, most recently two in one 24-hour period. 

No other nation tolerates weapons of mass killing in the hands of ordinary citizens, either. In the wake of the latest carnage come the predictable calls for increased gun control. High on the priority list because they are easy to support for law-makers and even Donald Trump are red flag laws. They would require others to alert law enforcement when they think a person is dangerous. More difficult, but supported by law enforcement, are domestic terrorism laws similar to international terrorism laws enacted after 9/11. Also under discussion are widely sup-ported-universal background checks before someone can legally purchase a gun. Ditto for longer waiting periods before acquiring a gun. Most controversial of all are bans on assault weapons like the ones used in this month’s mass murders in El Paso and Dayton, weapons designed for military use to kill as many people as possible in a short time. No one “needs” these.

Sending “thoughts and prayers,” mouthing platitudes about beefing up mental health care, making symbolic and often unwelcome visits to scenes of massacres are no longer adequate to address the growing carnage in our country. 

Taking no action, which has been our national response, is a decision to allow mass killings to continue. This is not a Republican problem. It is not a Democratic problem. It is an American problem, and the first step in addressing any problem is acknowledging that we have one. Americans of good faith and good conscience must demand this and serious action from our leaders.

Sending “thoughts and prayers,” mouthing platitudes about beefing up mental health care, making symbolic and often unwelcome visits to scenes of massacres are no longer adequate to address the growing carnage in our country. 

The Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company is taking its act on the road to Hope Mills for the performance of a lesser known work of the legendary playwright entitled "Timon of Athens."

The outdoor performance is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Carleen’s of Hope Mills at the Moulder-Warner House, 5703 Rockfish Road. A preshow concert begins at 7 p.m., with the play starting at 7:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Jen Pommerenke is one of the directors of the play. She divides her time between Fayetteville and Brevard, where she is program director for a summer camp.

Pommerenke said the company performs mostly classical works with the goal of making their theater accessible, magical and delightful for people in the Fayetteville community and beyond.

“It’s kind of like a backyard barbecue with a bunch of family members and a play breaks out in the middle of it,’’ Pommerenke said.

Most of the company’s performances take place outdoors in Fayetteville on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear. When the weather turns colder, they move to indoor venues.

The company’s props and costumes are what Pommerenke calls minimalist and are designed in such a way that the performances aren’t tied to a specific time period. “We like to be very fluid with that,’’ she said. “We make the story the magical part of it.’’

Pommerenke said "Timon of Athens" enjoyed a resurgence about 10 to 15 years ago when the economy was doing poorly because of problems in the stock market.

The play tells the story of a benevolent philanthropist and businessman who has been exceedingly generous to friends over the years but eventually finds himself in debt.

The friends he once helped abandon him and he leaves Athens to live in a cave.

When another group that has been banished from Athens begins to raise an army to attack the city, the city reaches out to Timon to return and help against the attackers.

Pommerenke said the focus of the story is what do you truly value in life? Are you giving the people you love money and presents or time, care and compassion?

Are you a true friend or do you seek material things that don’t really matter?

The base charge for attending the play is $10, but for those who are able, Pommerenke said the group welcomes donations for an individual ticket up to $50.

The performance begins with a preshow concert at 7 p.m., which gives the audience time to chat, enjoy the local fare and hear a little about Sweet Tea Shakespeare. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

The audience is asked to bring its own seating for the outdoor performance. Rental options are available, but they are subject to availability. Spectators should bring their own insect repellent if needed.

Accessing parking at Carleen’s can be tricky. The best entry point is on Hill Street off Rockfish Road, which runs in front of the Baldino’s there, then turn right onto Newton Street. You can also turn on Johnson Street at Robin’s on Main off Main Street and enter from that direction. 

Last-minute changes in the performance time or issues with weather will be announced on the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Facebook page around
4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. You can also get information on the company at www.sweetteashakespeare.com, or by calling 910-420-4384.

"Timon of Athens" will also be performed at the 1897 Poe House Aug. 22-24 at the same times as the Hope Mills performance. 

The popular Sweet Tea Shakespeare company will be performing "Timon of Athens" in Hope Mills on Aug. 21. The show will be preceded by a concert at 7 p.m. 

 “Diabetes. Dodge It.” That’s the tagline for the annual Better Health Dodgeball Tournament scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24. It takes place at Freedom Courts Sportsplex, which is located at 3126 Gillespie St. According to Amy Navejas, executive director of Better Health, this unique fundraiser began because Better Health “wanted to come up with a fundraiser that was new and different for our area, but still highlighted our emphasis on moving and being healthy. After tossing around several ideas (Better Health) settled on the idea of bringing dodgeball to Cumberland County. It’s an incredibly fun, lively and competitive event that brings the community together.” 

 The fundraising goal for the 2019 tournament is $20,000. “Last year we were close,” said Navejas, “so we know that, with the community’s support, we can do it this year. This is a crucial fundraiser for Better Health programs. It allows us to continue to offer emergency medications and dental care to the uninsured, diabetes and nutrition education, (the) childhood obesity program and more.”

 Tournament teams are organized and fielded by various businesses, local gyms, professional organizations and personnel from some municipal departments like the Fayetteville Police Department. “This is a great team-building event,” Navejas said. “A lot of organizations do this as an opportunity for staff to come together, have fun and be active at the same time. We want people to see that there are tons of ways to work physical activity into your routine. It doesn’t have to be just sit-ups and push-ups, which can be daunting.” 

 Founded as a non-profit in 1958 with the mission to provide for the unmet healthcare needs in Cumberland County through assistance, referral and education, Better Health has been providing life-sustaining medications, dental care, diabetes education and medical equipment for over 60 years. Additionally, Better Health offers diabetes management clinics, cooking demonstrations and screening, a childhood obesity program — which teaches an estimated 1,200 children about healthy lifestyle choices — vision care for the uninsured, medical supplies and medical equipment loans. 

 In addition to the tournament, Better Health programs rely on the United Way and other local charitable foundations and trusts for funding, support from local churches and donations from the community at large. Many of the Better Health programs are staffed by health professionals who volunteer their time. Better Health also relies on donations of good used medical equipment such as wheelchairs. These donations are the sole source for its medical equipment loan program.

 “We encourage everyone to come out (for) Dodgeball … on Aug. 24,” said Navejas. “You won’t be disappointed. The closer we get to that final round, the more intense it gets. Let’s dodge, duck, dip and donate.” 

General admission to the tournament is $5 at the door. To find out more about registering a team, visit www.betterhealthcc.org.

The Better Health "Diabetes. Dodge It." tournament is set for Aug. 24. 

To the extent Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube and other online companies engage in viewpoint discrimination against conservatives and Republicans, they deserve condemnation and ridicule. But do they also merit oversight by lawmakers or regulators?

 Some politicians and talking heads appear to think so. They argue that when media companies de-platform individuals or institutions they label as “extremists,” or use search algorithms to steer readers away from such accounts or sites, the companies exhibit their own political biases by focusing on right-wing rather than left-wing actors — and fail to distinguish between challenging thinkers and mischievous provocateurs.

 So far, so good. But some go on to recommend that government respond to such corporate missteps in some fashion, through new laws or new regulations on online companies. However diseased our body politic may be at the moment, there is no cure to be found in de jure or de facto censorship.

 For conservatives, in particular, to suspend their traditional skepticism of big-government initiatives when it comes to online media strikes me as distressing and dangerous. There is no question which institution poses the greater long-term threat to freedom. I resent corporate bullies. I fear government bullies.

As a consumer, I choose which social media accounts to create, which websites to read and which search engine to employ. I certainly know what “network effects” and “path dependency” mean. If misbehavior prompted me to exit a popular online service, I know I’d pay a price, at least in the short run, by losing access to lots of contacts and information. But I’d still be free to leave and to patronize a new service that didn’t engage in pervasive viewpoint discrimination.

Would it truly be possible to create a competing service? I’ll answer that rhetorical question with another one: How worried are you that Netscape or Myspace will discriminate against you because of your political beliefs?

 Not very, I’ll wager, because you probably don’t use these products. Two decades ago, as the online world was growing by leaps and bounds, some 90% of internet users employed Netscape Navigator to surf the web. About a decade ago, serious people were asking whether Myspace was a “natural monopoly” given its overwhelming dominance in the new sector of online social networks. As of 2008, Myspace accounted for nearly three-quarters of all social-network traffic.

 Neither dominator remained dominant. As the Cato Institute’s Ryan Bourne explained in a recent paper on the subject, predictions of monopoly power have often proved ill-founded, particularly in our Information Age economy. It would be especially foolish to turn today’s market leaders into some version of regulated public utilities, as that would “entrench existing positions and deter entry into sectors that over longer periods would otherwise be incredibly dynamic,” Bourne observed.

 Any institution that tries to limit what is said, broadcast and shared on the internet will find the job taxing, frustrating and counterproductive. Corporations will struggle with it. Governments will, too. That’s because all institutions are populated by the same species — by human beings with our built-in predispositions and limitations. As my John Locke Foundation colleague John Guze put it, “absolute certainty is not an option. On the contrary, fallibility across the board is an inescapable part of the human condition.”

The difference is that our transactions with corporations, even market leaders on the internet, are typically voluntary. Compliance with government directives is mandatory.

I have no confidence in the ability of lawmakers or regulators to keep their political preferences out of any oversight role they might assume in the content of online media. That’s not because I think they are horrible people. I simply know that they are people subject to the same temptations as the rest of us.

 Their access to the coercive power of government should be restricted to cases in which life, liberty and property are in danger. That means police and the courts. It means regulating specific threats to public health and safety. It does not mean attempting to police online platforms.

Any institution that tries to limit what is said, broadcast and shared on the internet will find the job taxing, frustrating and counterproductive.

Coach: Rodney Brewington

2018 record: 11-3

Top returners:Matthew Pemberton, 5-9, 180, Sr., ATH; Kevin Brewington, 5-9, 165, Sr., WR; Mahlik Gonzalez, 6-1, 240, Jr., FB; Deshaun Rivera, 6-2, Sr., LB; Timel Smith, 5-9, 165, Sr., DB; J’marcus Ray, 6-1, 165, So, DB; Joshua George, 6-2, 235, Jr., TE; Michael Herbert, 6-2, 240, Sr., OL/DL; Tyrese Harris, 5-5, 155, Sr., RB; Taeveon Dove, 5-10, 265, Jr., OL.

Top newcomers:Ahmir Ashley, 5-10, 165, Jr., SS; Raheem Baldwin, 5-10, 165, Jr., S; Caesar Dais, 5-10, 260, Fr., OL; Bryan Brewington, 6-2, 190, So., DE/TE; Michael Breedlove, 5-9, So., LB; Isaac Evans, 5-10, 185, So., LB.

Team strengths: “This year’s team will have experience along the offensive line. There will be depth at running back.’’

Team concerns:“The major concern is replacing eight starters on defense and replacing a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard receiver and their leadership.’’

Pictured from top to bottom: Kevin Brewington, Timel Smith

Right now you are probably asking yourself, “What are Dog Men, and how should I feel about them?”

As a public service, today’s column is going to give you something new and exotic to worry about - Dog Men. America in the first quarter of the 21st century has a short attention span. We keep running out of things to concern us in the middle of the night. Trade wars, mass shootings, Mueller reports and bizarre weather events all fade into oblivion as the next fresh horror appears in the collective consciousness. 

Dear Leader himself has warned that the Chinese are not going to capitulate to his tariff trade war because they are waiting to see if a Democrat is elected to replace him in 2020. The Democrats are warning that the Russians will again be supporting Dear Leader’s re-election in 2020. This leaves America in the interesting position of the Chinese trying to manipulate our election to support the Democratic nominee and the Russians trying to manipulate our election to support Dear Leader. What could go wrong under these circumstances? Both the Chinese and the Russians want what is best for America. Pick your poison: A Chicom- or a Russkie-supported U.S. President. But even this colorful situation divides the country into tribes. 

What America needs in addition to a good five-cent cigar is a single issue to worry about that will unite us as one nation again. We need a boogie man who unites both the Left and the Right into a single fearful mass concerned about our collective self-preservation instead of dividing us up into political Shiites versus Sunnis. Fortunately, we have such an issue that will bring America together again: the rise of the Dog Men. The late great singer Warren Zevon once sang, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Warren is now sleeping, but his words linger on to guide us into yet another sleepless night. If you feel sleep is a waste of time that you should be devoting to worrying when the sun goes down, this column is for you. Lurking on the far edges of the internet and late-night a.m. radio are Dog Men. You may never have heard of Dog Men, but today you shall. Anxiety about Dog Men can fill in the vacuum in your bucket of worries to help keep you awake at night. 

Let us begin with a primer on Dog Men. Unsurprisingly, Dog Men are an unholy cross between dogs and men. A website devoted to Dog Men defines them as “cryptozoological beings that are large and look like upright canids.” I had to look up the meaning of the word “canid” because initially, I thought a canid was a candied sweet potato that could stand on two legs. I visualized a giant sweet potato — covered in marshmallows — stalking through the forests of North America looking for a roasted turkey to consume. It turns out a canid is not a sentient ambulatory sweet potato. According to the Google machine, a canid is a member of the species that includes dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals and dingoes. With the mention of dingoes as members of the canid species, I was sorely tempted to take a cheap shot at the dietary habits of dingoes. Displaying incredible self-restraint, I will resist the opportunity to quote Meryl Streep and Elaine Benes, who both famously said, “The Dingo ate my baby.” If a dingo could eat your baby, imagine what a Dog Man could do to a grown man. 

There are two types of Dog Men: the K-9 type, which looks like “Sasquatch with a muzzle,” who have canine-type legs without knees and very large heads and Type-2 Dog Men, who have human-type legs with knees and ankles, featuring claws on their fingers and toes. Dog Men tend to live in the deep forests with only occasional sightings by humans. However, some urban Dog Men have been sighted in Washington, D.C., making laws in Congress. Dog Men occasionally attack people, but most encounters with Dog Men result in the observer getting away without being mangled. 

Contrary to popular belief, Dog Men are not nocturnal. They have been seen at both day and night. There are numerous websites devoted to Dog Men on the internet if you need an additional source of worry. 

So what have we learned today? Sadly, once again, almost nothing of use. It is sad to think that a tree had to die to allow this stain on world literature to be printed. 

To prevent this column from being a total waste of your time, allow me to leave you with a couple of quotes. Groucho Marx said, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” 

Mark Twain advised: “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” 

If these quotes apply to Dog Men, you can decide if sleeping is still an option. 

Dog Men are an unholy cross between dogs and men 

Coach: Mike Paroli

2018 record:4-7

Top returners: Arden Billington, 6-0, 215, Sr., C; Zion Cameron, 6-3, 250, Sr., DL; Sabeon Campbell, 5-6, 155, Sr., RB; Jon Carroll, 6-1, 160, Sr., QB; Jajuan Boykin, 6-0, 195, Jr., DB; Zyon McEachin, 6-2, 270, Jr., OL.

Top newcomers:Alton Simmons, 5-6, 155, So., RB; Carmello Wesley, 5-10, 160, So., QB.

Team strengths: “Although few in number, our veterans are doing a great job of being leaders. We have the potential to have quality skill players on both sides of the ball.’’

Team concerns: “We will have a large number of freshmen and sophomores starting. We have very little 

depth on the offensive and defensive lines.’’

Pictured from top to bottom: Sabeon Campbell, Zion Cameron

Rocky Mount writer Etaf Rum, author of “A Woman Is No Man,” grew up in a Palestinian immigrant family in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1990s and 2000s. Her book is based on experiences in that community. We first meet Isra, a 17-year-old girl living in Palestine. Her family arranges marriage to an older man, Adam, who owns a deli and lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn, New York. Living in Adam’s family’s basement, Isra becomes a virtual servant to Adam’s mother, Fareeda, who pushes the couple to have children, males who can build the family’s reputation and influence. Isra produces four children, but because they are all girls Fareeda shows her displeasure.

Years later after Adam and Isra die, Fareeda raises the girls. The oldest, Deya, is a high school senior. Fareeda looks for a Palestinian man for her to marry. Deya wants to go to college, but she is afraid to bolt her family and the community’s customs. She knows of women who have stood up against male domination and then faced beatings and even death.

As Rum explains, the book “meant challenging many long-held beliefs in my community and violating our code of silence.” 

Elaine Neil Orr’s novel, “Swimming Between Worlds,” is set in 1950s Winston-Salem and Nigeria. The coming-of-age and love story is enriched by the overlay of the Nigerian struggle and the civil rights protests in Winston-Salem.

Tacker Hart, with an architectural degree at N.C. State, got a plum assignment to work in Nigeria, where he became so captivated by Nigerian culture, religion, and ambience that his white supervisors sent him home. Back in Winston-Salem, he falls for Kate Monroe, from one of Winston’s leading families. They become connected to Gaines, a young African-American college student who drags Tacker and Kate into his work organizing protest movements at lunch counters.

Orr blends civil rights and romance for a poignant and unexpected ending. 

Raleigh News & Observerpoliticalreporter and columnist Rob Christensen’s “The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys” follows the Alamance County farm family of North Carolina governors Kerr Scott and his son Robert.

 He describes how Kerr Scott defeated the favored gubernatorial candidate of the conservative wing of the party in 1948 and adopted a liberal program of road-building, public school improvement and expanded government services. He ran for U.S. Senate in 1954 as a liberal in a campaign managed by future Governor Terry Sanford. Once elected, Christensen writes, Scott nevertheless joined with fellow southerners to oppose civil rights legislation and became “just another segregationist, little different from most of the southern caucus.”

Christensen then follows the political career of Kerr’s son, Bob Scott, who when elected governor in 1968, faced mountains of bitter controversies in the areas of race, labor, student unrest and higher education administration. 

 In “Freedom Fighters and Hell Raisers: A Gallery of Memorable Southerners,” famed essayist Hal Crowther has collected a sampling of his best work — columns about memorable southerners — including Will Campbell, James Dickey, Marshall Frady, John Hope Franklin, Jesse Helms, Molly Ivins, Frank M. Johnson, George Wallace and Doc Watson.

All are dead, and Crowther, without funeralizing, sizes up their character and contributions.

Crowther’s essay about blind musician Doc Watson is my favorite. Neither blindness nor the loss of his beloved son, Merle, could keep him from using his music to bring people of all backgrounds and political persuasions to be moved by his songs and guitar playing.

 We need Crowther’s freedom fighters and hell raisers, but the real heroes will be folks like Watson who bring us together. 

Throughout its history, the United States government has enacted legislation protecting the civilian employment of men and women who serve in times of armed conflict. Congress passed the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act during World War I to offer employment protections to service members fighting in Europe. Shortly before the United States entered World War II, Congress passed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. Most recently, Congress passed the U.S. Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 to protect the civilian employment of active and reserve military personnel in the United States called to active duty. USERRA also makes major improvements in protecting service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law and improving enforcement mechanisms.

Just this month, the government won a North Carolina case of a senior noncommissioned Army reserve officer who lost his job while he was away on active duty. Command Sgt. Maj. Dwayne Coffer was dean of students at a Warren County middle school when he was called to active duty and found his job gone when he got back. U.S. Department of Justice officials said that the Warren County Board of Education agreed to settle a lawsuit brought on Coffer’s behalf. He was reportedly demoted to a gym teacher after his return. Coffer will be reinstated as dean of students at Warren County Middle School and will receive back pay and pension benefits as part of the settlement, court documents show.

“This settlement agreement with Warren County resolves the (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) claims brought by the United States and serves as a reminder that our service members, like Command Sgt. Maj. Coffer, deserve fair and lawful reemployment following their return from active military duty,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement. According to the Justice Department’s complaint this past April, Coffer was called up for a six-week active-duty period in July and August 2017. When he returned home, officials said his position as dean had been eliminated, and an offer of re-employment as a gym teacher was made. Justice Department officials said such a demotion violates USERRA, which protects military members’ jobs while they are serving.

Warren County has not admitted to that violation under terms of the deal but did agree to future compliance. In addition to being reinstated for the 2019-2020 school year under a two-year contract, the settlement permits that Coffer’s pension and health benefits, as well as his sick and personal leave days, be restored. Coffer will also receive $25,000 in back pay, settlement documents show. It turns out this is the second such settlement for Warren County. The Justice Department also sued the county in 2012 for reportedly failing to renew Coffer’s employment contract after an earlier period of military service.

Pictured: Command Sgt. Maj. Dwayne Coffer

Local bands. Diverse dining options. Fayetteville community. Downtown Summer Nights, a concert series presented by Cumberland Tractor Kubota of Fayetteville, has transformed Person Street into a full-blown block party every Thursday night this summer. 

“We had almost 3,000 people on Person Street,” said Kelly West, promotions and marketing director for Rock 103, about the night The Embers performed. “Everyone (came) down to shag. They even wore their shagging shoes.” Regional tribute bands Legacy Motown, Sidewinder and 20 Ride, a Zac Brown Band tribute, are a few more of this summer’s hits, West said.

Every genre from classic rock to 80s ballads, and plenty more, is  featured in the programming. There’s something for everyone, according to West. “We’ve had every kind of person down here, every walk of life, everything,” including families. The Kids Zone, presented by Fascinate-U Children’s Museum and sponsored by ShineLight, includes an inflatable house, crafts and other activities that change weekly. Popular activities have involved everything from making slime to growing chia pets.

Most importantly, the concert series highlights the brick and mortar on Person Street, said Isabella Effon, a member of the Cool Spring Downtown District Board of Directors. “I was the only one programming Person Street,” Effon said, referring to her time as a restaurant owner before spearheading Summer Nights Downtown with West. Effon also had Person Street in mind when she started the African World Peace Festival. “We’ve seen growth. There’s so much on Person Street, too.”

West and Effon provide crowd-pleasing food trucks, but they also encourage concertgoers to try the eateries lining Person Street. In fact, the food trucks were recently relocated to the parking lot next to Person Street to draw attention to restaurants like The Sweet Palette, Circa 1800, The Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop and, soon, Taste of West Africa, which Effon is planning to open after the summer.

“It’s opening people’s eyes to businesses that people have never paid attention to,” Effon said. “(It benefits) not only Person Street, but the whole downtown district.” According to West, shops like Ro’s Corner Barber Shop and Back-A-Round Records have also gotten more business since the series’ opening.

In the spirit of being community-minded, Summer Nights Concerts always has a local musician perform the National Anthem. Former “American Idol” contestants, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers and even Fort Bragg’s own Sargeant Mahoon have led or will lead the community in the Star-Spangled Banner this summer.

Downtown Summer Nights concerts will finish its first run with three August shows. Local band Tyrek and Lotus Sun will open the Aug. 8 show, headlined by Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute. On Aug. 15, 80’s Unplugged and an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band will take the stage. The season closes Aug. 22 with Dead City Symphony and Heart Breaker, a female-fronted Heart and Led Zeppelin tribute band.

The community can expect this year’s favorites, plus some surprises, to make an appearance at next year’s Downtown Summer Nights. “The Embers will be back. Legacy Motown will be back. (The) Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band will be back,” said West. She hinted that there may be completely new forms of entertainment next year as well.

Downtown Summer Nights concerts take place every Thursday through June 20-Aug. 22 on the 100 block of Person St., next to Ro’s Corner Barber Shop. Admission is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and music begins at 6 p.m. The event is brought to the public by Cumberland Tractor Kubota of Fayetteville, Cumulus Media, Cool Spring Downtown District and Five Star Entertainment. To become a vender, or for more information, call Kelly West at 509-901-3467.

Effective Dec. 1, 16- and 17-year-old young people who commit crimes in North Carolina will no longer automatically be charged in the adult criminal justice system. Two years ago, state lawmakers raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction for nonviolent crimes to 18. North Carolina became the last state in the union to do so. The “Raise the Age” initiative became law because of a strong, bipartisan coalition of leaders in all three branches of government. When the law updates, all criminal cases for juveniles through age 18 will begin in juvenile court. However, for class A-G felony complaints, the most serious charges, they will automatically transfer to adult court upon notice of an indictment or a finding of probable cause after notice and a hearing. For class H or I felonies, transfer to adult court will require a transfer hearing. The new statute also mandates that juvenile court counselors must begin conducting gang assessments during intake. These assessments will become part of the juvenile court counselor’s record. If a court finds that offense in question was committed as part of criminal gang activity, the counselor is required to increase juvenile’s disposition level by one. Victims of crime will also have greater administrative, prosecutorial protections.

Local college student is on the rise, literally

Fayetteville State University student Lenore Miller, who led the team that won the National Aeronautics and Space Administration best business case for rapid detection and identification of pathogens, has been awarded back-to-back internships at the NASA Langley Research Center. Miller will be conducting scientific research on thin-film coatings and the effect of hypersonic light projectiles on such coating at the center. She is in her final year with the department of chemistry, physics and materials science at FSU and has conducted her research projects under the supervision of Dr. Daryush Ila in partnership with Combat Capabilities Development Command of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. She has also conducted several presentations on her undergraduate research and has a pending publication in the Journal of American Institute of Physics. FSU is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in North Carolina. With more than 6,300 students, FSU is among the most diverse institutions in the nation. 

Michael Petti update

Up & Coming Weeklynews items sometimes become outdated so quickly that they miss our weekly deadline. Such was the case of an article published last week in the News Digest. We were in error reporting that former assistant police chief Michael Petti left the department recently but was rehired in order to work out his eligibility for retirement. We apologize for the error. The following is what we know to be factually correct: Petti has been with the Fayetteville Police Department for more than 20 years, since the fall of 1997. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to assistant chief several years ago by retired Chief of Police Harold Medlock. Petti confirmed that he was demoted to lieutenant by Chief Gina Hawkins, but he declined to provide details as to why. Neither the chief nor other city officials would elaborate, saying that state law defines it as a personnel matter. “That limitation both protects and hinders at times,” said City Manager Doug Hewett. Questions arose when Police Major James Nolette was appointed an assistant chief in July. No mention was made of why Petti was no longer serving in that role. 

Thousands of animals at the local pound will be euthanized this year

The Cumberland County Animal Control Department has a lot of dogs, cats and other domesticated animals up for adoption. A few hundred likely will get new homes this year. Anyone 18 or older is eligible to adopt a pet. The animal shelter is located at 4704 Corporation Dr. off Tom Starling Road in East Fayetteville. Responsible pet owners can make a difference by saving those animals that have a lot of life and love left to give. The Cumberland County Animal Control Department operates a shelter, not a permanent care facility. Its programs are sparsely funded by the county. They rely on the people of Cumberland County to adopt as many of these healthy animals as possible. For more information about animals that are available for adoption, call 910-321-6852 to confirm whether the animal you are interested in is still available. Pet photos and ID numbers can be found on the shelter’s adoptable animals page.

Athletic events will be an important part of a year-long celebration at Fayetteville Academy as the school marks its 50th year of being open in 2019-20.

Current head of school Ray Quesnel said the reason for coordinating the celebration with the school’s athletic side is common sense.

“Traditionally, most of the time our alumni are on campus revolves around athletic events,’’ he said. “We wanted to capitalize on the fact we usually have them here anyway.

“We want this to be for our current students and families but also for 50 years of Fayetteville Academy students and families.’’

The festivities begin on Friday, Aug. 9, at 6 p.m. with the annual alumni soccer game, pitting this year’s Academy boys soccer team against players from previous years.

“We are expecting a big crowd for that,’’ Quesnel said. “We’ll parachute in the game ball and we’ll have other surprises.’’

A free hot dog and hamburger cookout will also be held.

The next big event will be the alumni basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 26, which will include recognition of this year’s class of inductees into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Homecoming will be observed at a basketball game in late January or early March.

The big event will be a weekend long anniversary observance March 27-29. A formal gathering of some kind is tentatively scheduled on Saturday, March 28. There are also plans to possibly hold alumni games in spring sports like baseball, soccer and tennis.

• Village Christian Academy athletic director Harold Morrison announced earlier this month that the school would not field a football team this season.

“At this time, it is apparent that we do not have enough players to have a football team,’’ he said. “It is our priority and goal to continue to plan and evaluate our program in preparation for the future.’’

Morrison said the Sandhills Titans club football team has invited the remaining Village football players to join their team this fall.

The announcement of no team for the coming season is the latest setback for the Village football program. The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association previously cited Village for recruiting and offering impermissible benefits to players.

The penalty included forfeiture of all football wins in 2017 and 2018 along with state runner-up and state championship finishes.

• Former E.E. Smith High School football standout Junior Smith has been named to the East Carolina University Hall of Fame.

Smith is East Carolina’s all-time leading rusher with 3,745 yards. He was three-time honorable mention All-American and first team All-South Independent. He is the only player in ECU history with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

He averaged 5.1 yards per carry during his Pirate career from 1991-94.

Pictured: Ray Quesnel 

Another Best of Fayetteville has come and gone, and we couldn’t be more proud. Every year, our staff spend months consumed with the Best of Fayetteville. From tracking and counting ballots to notifying and celebrating with the winners, it’s a massive undertaking. But one that is well worth it. 

Seeing the smiles and hearing the chatter at our Best of Fayetteville Party last Tuesday brought home all the reasons we do this annual survey — to celebrate this community, to honor those who are committed to making a difference here, to reach out to our readers and to embrace the excellence that resides here. If you were at the party, you know what I am talking about. The businesses, nonprofits, individuals and groups who came out to let us honor them and their impact on the community had the Ramada Plaza buzzing with excitement. 

One of my favorite things about my job is getting to tell the good news stories here — and there are plenty. Fayetteville and Cumberland County are filled with creative, passionate people determined to do what they can to make their corner of the world a little brighter, and seeing so many of them in one place was invigorating.

Congratulations to the Best of Fayetteville winners. And a big thank you to our readers for participating and showing us exactly what it is that makes this place so special.

Here’s to you, Fayetteville and Cumberland County! Thanks for allowing us to celebrate your goodness and to share your stories.

Check out pages 28-31 to see pictures from the party! A big thank you to all our partners who helped make this event happen!

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Click Here for our complete Winners List:

They’re on television. They’re on the radio. They’re in our magazines, news papers and even online.

The “lynch-mob media” strikes again!... And again.... And again.
With so many treacherous issues going on in the world, why do so many news outlets choose to weave repeats of, for example, six-second video clips of someone famous doing something illegal, and basically demand their boss be fired, amongst larger, more important, fact-driven world issues?

This is a complex subject. Maybe the purpose was intended to make the news consumer feel as though there are newsworthy subjects that they can actually control the outcome of. Regardless, we, as broadcasters in any realm, have the responsibility to present the facts of what is happening in the world, and even to report the goings-on in the entertainment industry. However, there has been an increase in our media’s “lynch-mob mentality," setting fire to the image and reputation of any accused person before they’ve even stepped into a court room for a judge and a jury to decide their guilt or innocence.

This is not why we exist as broadcasters. This ‘lynching by media’ is quickly becoming the new way that assumed perpetrators (or the people in charge of them) are being dealt with. Apparently, there is no better system in place than to have a bunch of journalists deciding which person or company is evil and deserves the ‘Queen of Hearts’ treatment — “Off with their heads!” There are enough horrific things going on in our world — wars, rumors of wars, terrorism, the deaths of innocent people, dictators rising to power, nuclear threats, even beheadings. Someone has to pay, and apparently its our job as broadcasters to convict and demand resignation.

I feel that someone has the responsibility to apologize to you, news consumers. I give you my sincerest apology for the news media’s public lashings and constant backing of biased, negative news reports calling for someone’s head on a platter. Its almost all we can do to keep our heads above the noise. So, what can you do to help us?

Choose light. Choose life. Choose to find the positive in the midst of media lashing. Difficult? Maybe. But be assured you can find the roses among a garden of thorns. There are news outlets, even here in your own community, that strive to bring light to the darkness some media create in “lynching” those involved in the latest trending social issue. We highly value our relationship with Up & Coming Weekly for this reason. We both choose to promote the good things in life — the arts, family, education, our community, local businesses — the list goes on.

So here’s where you can start on your search for light in the media — check us out. We promise we will always deliver positivity, truth and a helping hand as we strive to “Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing” — namely Jesus Christ, and his message to bring light and life to a world in need.

Despite the overwhelming presence of the "lynch-mob media," positivity can still be found in the media when Jesus Christ is as the center of it. Photo by Elijah O'Donnell on Unsplash

Two more American service members have lost their lives at the hands of those they are sworn to protect. They were paratroopers of Fort Bragg’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division killed by an Afghan soldier in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The Pentagon identified the soldiers as Spc. Michael Nance of Chicago, Illinois, and Pfc. Brandon Kreischer of Stryker, Ohio. They were members of Company B., 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The Afghan soldier was wounded and is in custody, according to U.S. Central Command officials. 

The incident is the first known insider attack in Afghanistan since November when Maj. Brent Taylor of the Utah National Guard was killed by an Afghan soldier at a military training center in Kabul. Insider attacks as they’ve become known, have plagued American forces throughout the war, but enhanced security have made them less common in recent years. The most recent deaths brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan this year to 14. All but two were combat related.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the loss of two paratroopers from the Brigade during combat operations,” 3rd Brigade commander Col. Art Sellers said in the statement. “As we move forward together, I ask for your thoughts and prayers for the families affected and for the paratroopers of their unit who are still deployed,” Sellers added. Violence has continued across Afghanistan even as American and Taliban officials hold direct talks aimed at ending the U.S.’s longest war, now in its 18th year.

Although the number of American troops in Afghanistan has dropped to about 14,000, the American military has taken a more proactive role in assisting Afghan forces. The remaining American forces are helping the Afghan military defend its positions and have worked to deplete the Taliban through airstrikes and commando raids, partly to gain leverage at the negotiating table in Doha. More than 2,400 American military personnel have been killed since the war began in 2001, and more than 20,000 more have been wounded. General Scott Miller, who commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reiterated the need for a political settlement to end the conflict. “Peace talks (are) out there, regional players pressing for peace, the Taliban talking about peace, the Afghan government is talking about peace,” Miller said soon after his arrival in country earlier this year. 

Meanwhile, the U.N. has documented 1,366 civilians killed and 2,446 wounded in its latest report on Afghan noncombat casualties between January and June of this year. In April, the world body documented more deaths caused by pro-government forces for the first time since it began systematically tracking civilian casualties a decade ago. Together, the figure was down by over a quarter from the first half of last year and is the lowest number for the period since 2012. Despite the overall decrease, the U.N. said the numbers remained “shocking and unacceptable.” 

Pictured from top to bottom: Spc. Michael Nance, Pfc. Brandon Kreischer

When former Jack Britt High School standout Eric Mac Lain became an All-ACC lineman at Clemson University, his major was health science and his plan was to follow in the footsteps of his parents in the medical field.

But from his Britt days to his years at Clemson, Mac Lain had frequent positive encounters with the media and was always a good interview. The stars aligned and the next thing Mac Lain knew, he was offered the chance to come to Bristol, Connecticut and interview for a job with ESPN’s new ACC Network.

On Aug. 23, he’ll make his first appearance on "The Huddle," a studio program that will air each week on the new network on Friday evening and Saturday morning previewing that week’s ACC football games.

“What a cool thing for a young man to be able to pursue with this great company on an awesome network with its launching and us being the ground zero,’’ Mac Lain said. “It’s just a great opportunity and I can’t wait for the launch.’’

It was during his time at Clemson that he began to realize a medical future might not be his best choice. “When I figured out how much school that took after the fact, I kind of changed my mind and got my master’s in athletic administration,’’ he said.
The offer from ESPN came at Clemson’s National Championship game with Alabama earlier this year in Santa Clara, California.

Mac Lain got a text from an ESPN representative who wanted to meet and talk with him. He initially blew it off as just another request for an interview to get his opinions on the game.

He had been sightseeing in California with his wife and her family, until the ESPN representative finally pinned Mac Lain down for a meeting hours before kickoff.

The talk at first was about the upcoming game, but then the representative offered to fly Mac Lain to ESPN’s Bristol headquarters to audition for a job with the new ACC Network.

“I wasn’t pursuing a different career at all,’’ Mac Lain said. “I just stumbled into it.’’
Other than being interviewed by reporters for print and television, he’d had no previous TV experience. He had done some work hosting a postgame radio show for Clemson football that provided game analysis and commentary on other ACC games.

“You never really know which interview did the trick or who threw my name in the hat where,’’ Mac Lain said. “I knew all along something like this could happen.’’

He said he shares that same message when he speaks with college or high school students or church groups. “You create your brand with social media and all the opportunities you’re going to get as an athlete,’’ he said. “It’s cool to be an actual story and an actual example of that.’’

The show Mac Lain will help host, "The Huddle," will be anchored by Jac Collinsworth. Collinsworth has been the regular host of ESPN’s NFL Live since early 2018.

Joining Mac Lain and Collinsworth will be former Georgia and Miami, Florida, head coach Mark Richt and former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel.

“I love this team we have put together and the chemistry we already have,’’ Mac Lain said. “It seems like we have been working together for five or 10 years, but we just met a month ago so it’s really cool.’’

Mac Lain said the challenge for him in preparing for the show has been to expand his knowledge beyond his alma mater. “It’s an entire conference, not just one school,’’ he said. “I’m going to be faced with knowing the key players and the role players people may not be familiar with.’’

Mac Lain said his goal will be to avoid speaking in technical terms and draw a picture anybody can understand. He thinks the coaching and playing backgrounds of himself, Richt and Manuel will be an asset to the show.

“Just being able to dip inside of a player’s helmet or a coach’s headset, what was happening at this moment or what is this guy thinking,’’ Mac Lain said. “I think viewers will really appreciate that.’’

Mac Lain currently calls Charlotte home, but although ESPN has a studio there where it does production for shows on ESPNU and the SEC Network, Mac Lain will be flying to Bristol and the home office every weekend during the ACC season to do "The Huddle."

“We are very excited to get rolling,’’ he said. “It’s been a really cool thing to get to know these men and women throughout the network.’’

Eric Mac Lain points to the historic ESPN logo during his trip to Bristol, Connecticut for audition with ACC Network. 

Henrietta Jutson has been a member of the faculty at Jack Britt High School since it opened its doors in 2000.

Now she’s one of 50 finalists for a cash prize awarded by Harbor Freight Tools to teachers like her who specialize in the area of skilled trades.

Called the Prize for Teaching Excellence, the contest will award 18 teachers prizes ranging from $100,000 for first place to $50,000 for second place. Each winner will get a share of the prize money with a share also going to the school where they work.

Jutson was one of some 700 teachers nationally who entered the competition.

She teaches integrated systems technology at Jack Britt, which she called a concept of using all types of technology in a manufacturing environment.

As she put it, it’s when the various elements of technology begin walking and talking together. Her students work with such things as robotics, programmable logic control, hydraulics, pneumatics, plastics and some computerized controls.

They learn all that and it all starts to work together,’’ she said. “Then they put large projects together.’’

Jutson said the best part of her job is her students, most of whom are part of Jack Britt’s Integrated and Systems Technology and Applied Engineering Academy.

“They are interested in what we are doing,’’ she said. “Each of the three classes has its own capstone project they work toward. They really drive their own project. That’s the easiest part.’’

The problem is that not everyone works at the same speeds or at the same time, so it can be a challenge to get all the parts of the project to come together.

“It’s all about students doing what they want to do because everybody is doing something different at the same time,’’ Jutson said.

Jutson is bracing for the next round of the competition, which will require her to write essays in response to a series of questions.

“You want to answer them as clearly and succinctly as you can,’’ she said. “You want to give them some wow factor and you want it heartfelt and to do a good job writing it,’’ she said.

She praised the people with Harbor Freight Tools for recognizing the work teachers like her do by putting some serious prize money in the contest.

“I think it’s wonderful they’ve shone a spotlight on it,’’ she said.

Pictured: Henrietta Jutson

The Hope Mills Boosters American Legion baseball team saw their 2019 season come to an end when Wallace was declared the winner of their first-round Area II playoff series.

Though the series was tied at 1-1, Wallace was declared the winner after back-to-back rainouts of the third game made it impossible to complete the series by the time Legion officials said it had to be over.

Wallace was declared the winner because it was the higher seed in the playoffs, No. 3 to Hope Mills’ No. 6.

The finish was especially frustrating to Hope Mills head coach Mark Kahlenberg, who had four pitchers left who hadn’t thrown an inning in the series while the Wallace staff had exhausted its pitching after the first two games.

Hope Mills finished with a 10-11 record, which was close to what Kahlenberg predicted before the season began because of the amount of youth on this year’s team.
“We’re only losing four or five players,’’ he said. “That’s great. We also picked up Gray’s Creek High School this year, which we hadn’t done in a while. I hope that will continue in the future.’’

Two of the biggest losses will be Cape Fear’s Nick West and North Duplin product Colby Bass, who played for the Methodist University.
West batted .500 and played shortstop nearly every game. He plans to walk-on at North Carolina State.

Bass hit .415 and won the team’s first-ever Fred McFayden Scholarship. The $500 award, presented by the Massey Hill Lions Club, is named after the late McFayden, a longtime member of the club who helped bring the Lions on as a source of financial support for the team.

Kahlenberg feels the team’s biggest problem remains not being able to have players consistently available for games during the regular season.

“We didn’t play conference games as well as we should have,’’ he said. “We lost three or four games I felt we should have won.’’

Kahlenberg said there were multiple nights where the team only had 10 players available as some were on vacation while others were competing for travel ball teams.

“We missed those guys on certain nights and it hurt us,’’ he said.

But he’s hopeful things will continue to improve next season. Some of the young players who got their first taste of American Legion baseball saw that it offers the chance to play against college-caliber pitching and experienced competition.

“If we get those kids converted and committed, we don’t have to worry about conference games during the season,’’ Kahlenberg said. “Hopefully we’ll have 15 or 18 there every night. That’s how we’re going to win those conference games that let us down this year.’’

Kahlenberg expressed his thanks to assistant coaches Randy Nalls and Cecil Combs, and especially to the Massey Hill Lions Club for all they’ve done for the program. That includes the support at games, the scholarship and helping the team buy the bus it used this year to take to road games.

“The Massey Hill Lions have been a big part of turning us around,’’ Kahlenberg said. “I think we’re headed in the right direction.’’

Pictured from top to bottom: Coach Mark Kahlenberg, Nick West, Colby West receiving first the Legion Scholarship

For the fifth year, the Barber Kings of Hope Mills have helped to organize Cut My City, a charitable event aimed at helping the youth of Cumberland County get ready to start another school year. This year’s event is scheduled on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Crown Coliseum from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. All Cumberland County residents are welcome.

Chancer McLaughlin, development and planning administrator for the town of Hope Mills, said the mission of the Barber Kings is to instill pride in the young people of the county by providing them with free haircuts to begin the school year.

The Barber Kings have arranged for more than 100 local barbers to be on site at the Crown on Aug. 10 to provide free haircuts for any school-age youngster that shows up, from elementary school all the way to college.

While there is no fee, anyone wanting a haircut needs to register. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Crown, and everyone wanting a haircut needs to be signed up by 1 p.m. at the latest.

Haircuts for boys and hairstyles for girls won’t be the only thing going on at the Crown on Aug. 10.

There will be free gift bags of school supplies for the children, along with free face painting and other activities.

Representatives of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department will be on hand preparing free hot dogs for the children.

“Everything is free for the kids,’’ McLaughlin. “Nothing will be sold to the children.’’

There will also be a number of service-oriented vendors at the crowd to provide information for both parents and children.

Last year’s Cut My City attracted between 5,000 and 6,000 children and McLaughlin said a bigger crowd is expected this year.

If anyone has questions about this year’s event they can call 910-485-3111 or email cutmycitync@gmail.com.

As the summer season comes to an end, people are returning from vacations, headed back to jobs, or preparing for new school semesters, and Fayetteville After Five is a great way to end the summer and usher in the fall with family and friends. Friday, Aug. 9, at Festival Park, enjoy free music from 6-10 p.m. 

Kasey Tyndall is set to perform at Fayetteville After Five, Aug. 9 in Festival Park. 

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex has been educating Cumberland County and the surrounding area since 1988. With a focus on regional history, the complex covers seven acres and is home to a museum, the 1897 Poe House and Arsenal Park. While there are several informational exhibits, the historical complex offers interactive experiences and hosts live events geared to entertain and engage visitors so they can have fun and gain a deeper understanding of a variety of topics while they explore the property.

“The complex is made up of three elements,” said Megan Maxwell, the 1897 Poe House coordinator. “The museum is a regional museum with focus on the Cape Fear area. It has two floors of history exhibits from Native Americans to their first contact with Europeans. (Other exhibits include) the Scottish Highlanders, who founded Cross Creek and Campbellton, (which eventually became the city of Fayetteville). It goes to the early 20th century where we discuss Fayetteville. … We also have an old-time general store, which show what a typical store would look like where most people would shop.”

The 1897 Poe House offers guided tours every day. Maxwell noted that although it’s named after its owner, Edgar Allan Poe, the house belonged to a local businessman, brick factory owner and political activist and not the famed writer. “At the Poe House, people see what life was like for an upper-class family around 1900,” said Maxwell. “We do special events here, as well.  Sweet Tea Shakespeare just finished their summer (theater) season here. I think they have a Green Tea show coming up, too. Green Tea is their youth division. We host weddings, as well.”

The site where Arsenal Park is located used to house an arsenal. The Confederacy used the arsenal during the Civil War to produce rifles, ammunition and gun carriages. Union troops, commanded by Gen. William T. Sherman, destroyed the facility in 1865.

While there is always something to do at the historical complex, the coming months are an exciting time there as well with several events scheduled through the end of the year.

Festival of Yesteryear: Revolution on the Cape Fear

Saturday, Sept. 7, The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex will join with the Lafayette Society to celebrate Fayetteville’s namesake,  Gen. Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was a French  aristocrat who fought in the American Revolution and commanded American troops in their fight against the British.

There will be a variety of events and activities on the property from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with activities for kids and adults alike. The festival is set up to give the public a feel for what things were like in the Cape Fear Region during the Revolutionary War era. There will be re-enactors demonstrating everything from woodworking to militia drills. Enjoy demonstrations and check out the toys, games, music and woodworking practices of the time. There will be musical and artistic performances, military firing demonstrations and hands on-activities for kids.

Don’t forget to visit  Apprentice Alley, where children can participate and learn a variety of trades through hands on crafts and activities. Take a photo in the pillory, a wooden frame with holes for your head and hands that was a popular punishment in colonial days.

At 10 a.m., the Cross Creek Pipes and Drums and the Highland Dancers will perform. “If you want to see the Pipes and Drums  — they are amazing — they come in across the footbridge, and we have the Revolutionary War-era flags flying over the bridge,” said Maxwell. “And the Highland Dancers will perform there, too. So to see that, make sure you are there at 10 a.m.”

A puppet show is also part of the day’s entertainment. Maxwell explained that puppet shows were a big part of entertainment during the Revolutionary War-era. “People would set up in the town square and would do dramatic and comedic shows,” she said. “It is interesting to see. A group called Shades of Our Past did a Blackbeard puppet show last year and everyone enjoyed it. This year they are going to do a show themed around Lafayette.”

The puppet show is titled “General Lafayette and the Giant of the Revolution” and will take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Shades of Our Past also offers traditional silhouette drawings for a fee.

Actor Stephen Seals of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia,will portray James Armistead Lafayette. James was an enslaved African American who served the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette. Seals will be perform as James Lafayette on the main stage at noon and assist with the Lafayette Birthday Cake Cutting at 1 p.m. 

“James was an enslaved spy under Gen. Lafayette,” said Maxwell.  “He was an African American spy for the Continental Army. He loved (Gen.) Lafayette so much that he took his name.”

She added  “It is great to have a (historic) interpreter of that caliber coming to share at the event. We are excited to have him. His big stage performance is at noon with a 45-minute monologue and question and answer session.”

Crowd favorite April C. Turner of Life as Art Productions returns this year to share her program “African Spirituals: Freedom Prayers.”

“Turner comes every year and sings African spirituals,” said Maxwell. “She gives us the perspective of what life was like for slaves and how they coped using song and dance. This performance is at 2 p.m.

There will be military demonstrations, including cannon and musket firings, several times during the event.

Visitors can also learn about Native American life during the Colonial period. Other returning favorites include Camp Flintlock and the North Carolina Highland Regiment.

There will be food truck at the event and concessions for purchase as well. The museum will also be open during the festival and the Poe House will offer tours on the hour. 

The event is free, but the complex does accept donations.

Oct. 23-25 the organization Partners  with Gilbert Theater and do night tours of the Poe House. “It is like historical theater,” Maxwell said. “The actors are in the rooms portraying the Poe family. We run groups through every 20 minutes with 15 people per tour.” There are 540 tickets. They go on sale Sept 7. The admission is $5.

The complex will host a free trick-or-treat Oct. 26. “We have The Sandbox Band out of Raleigh, and we have Joy the clown, who does tricks,” said Maxwell. “We partner with a Jeep club — Nomad Jeeps — and they do a trunk-or-treat. We do a scavenger hunt, too.”

Dec. 8 from 1-5 p.m.,  is The Holiday Jubilee. It is an open house with holiday-themed activities. “It includes a concert, and you can tour the house and look at the decorations,” said Maxwell. “We cook on the 1902 stove and also have apple cider. And Santa comes. Parents can take photos of their children with Santa.”

Find out more about The Museum of the  Cape Fear Historical Complex at https://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or by calling 910-500-4240.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex offers interactive experiences and hosts live events that are both fun and educational.