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  • 06 marathonThe Fayetteville/Fort Bragg sixth annual All American Marathon and Mike to Mike Half Marathon will be held Sunday, March 24, in downtown Fayetteville. A third race, the All American 5K, starts and finishes on post at the Main Post Parade Field, sharing the finish line with the full and half marathons. All registered participants will receive performance T-shirts and customized finisher medals.

    Fort Bragg Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, an organization that manages a network of activities and leisure services designed to serve the needs, interests and responsibilities of the Army community, hosts the events. MWR programs enhance the quality of life for military and family members with youth and recreation programs, sports, entertainment, travel and leisure activities.

    A pre-race health and fitness expo will be held at The Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville on Friday, March 22, from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information packets will be available for pick-up during the fitness exposition.

    All American Marathon runners will depart Festival Park and run up Ray Avenue to Hay Street, where they will run through the heart of the historic downtown area, past the Market House. The route will then take runners past Freedom and Veterans Parks and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, which is home to the historic Iron Mike Statue. Racers will run through the Haymount District of Fayetteville, traveling rolling hills until reaching the All American Expressway.

    After running along the All American for about 4 miles, participants will enter the Fort Bragg installation via Gruber Road. The race course will then lead runners past the home of the 82nd Airborne Division and past Pope Army Airfield. Marathoners will finish the course with scenic views of Forces Command Headquarters and Fort Bragg’s Iron Mike statue, ending at the Main Post Parade Field.

    There will be 23 water stations along the route. All registered athletes wearing race bibs on course will be granted access to Fort Bragg during their marathon and half marathon races. Individuals who are not Department of Defense ID card-holders who wish to enter Fort Bragg before race day must go through the Automated Installation Pass process.

    The All American 5K is wheelchair, walker and stroller friendly. Children may participate so long as they are registered runners. Children in strollers do not have to pay a registration fee. The 5K race on post begins at 7:30 a.m. 

    Courtyard by Marriott at 4192 Sycamore Dairy Rd. is the host hotel. It is located 5 miles from the start line and 7 miles from finish line. Rooms cost $89 per night. Pre-race and post-race shuttles will be provided.

    All runners who complete the races within the seven-hour time limit will receive finishers medals. The All American Marathon and the Mike to Mike Half Marathon begin at 7 a.m. at Festival Park. The 5K race begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Main Post Parade Field on Fort Bragg. Register for any of the races at active.com.

  • 05 News digest“I’ll guarantee you, this has got to stop,” declared Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., March 7, during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which he is a member. Reports that private military housing companies are asking service members to sign agreements promising to keep silent about their poor housing conditions must stop immediately, Tillis told the service secretaries and chiefs of staff. “I’ve been a landlord before and it never would have occurred to me to say I want you to sign away your right to say you’re living in inadequate conditions,” Tillis said.

    Senators have been investigating housing issues that some military families have faced, including black mold, pest infestations, water leaks and other problems. The senators claim they have been unable to get satisfactory responses from civilian housing managers.

    Tillis said he learned about the agreements from families at Fort Bragg, when he and Army Secretary Mark Esper visited recently. Esper said it was the first time he’d heard about the agreements. Officials at Corvias Military Living, which is the property manager at Fort Bragg, could not be reached for comment.

    Green Beret preliminary hearing canceled

    An Article 32 hearing scheduled in a murder charge against Green Beret Maj. Mathew Golsteyn has been canceled. It now appears he could be headed for court-martial. Fort Bragg’s U.S. Army Special Operations Command said USASOC’s commanding general, Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette, would consider the evidence and other matters concerning the charge.

    A charge of felony murder was preferred against Golsteyn in December, more than eight years after the alleged incident in which investigators claimed he killed a Taliban bomb-maker after Afghan authorities had released the man.

    Golsteyn maintains he acted under the laws of armed conflict. Prosecutors have declined to comment.

    Electronic waste disposal drive

    Getting rid of unwanted electronics can be cumbersome. North Carolina law prohibits the disposal of computer equipment, televisions and other electronics in landfills. An e-waste recycling opportunity is set for Saturday, Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cumberland County Courthouse parking lot at 117 Dick St., Fayetteville.

    Electronics that can be recycled include, but are not limited to, lamps, vacuums, televisions that are 50 inches or smaller in size, DVD players, radios, computers and small appliances.

    Cumberland County Solid Waste Management will collect the electronics for recycling. Televisions larger than 50 inches, large kitchen appliances and hazardous waste materials can be dropped off at the Ann Street landfill or any of the container sites in the county.

    The locations of container sites and operating hours are listed at co.cumberland.nc.us/solidwaste.

    Massey Hill public art exhibit

    A unique exhibit portrays “a special people and a proud history of the Massey Hill community,” said former Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne, who grew up in Massey Hill. A grouping of public artwork was recently unveiled in the new traffic circle at the intersection of Camden and Cumberland Roads.

    “The Massey Hill Heritage Discovery Project is a great example of the positive impact that the Arts Council has in our community,” Chavonne said. He added that the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County brought people together in a collaborative way to help support the arts while also telling the story of the former mill town.

    Chavonne chaired the committee that worked with artists Michael and Leah Foushee-Waller of Hillsborough, North Carolina, to create the art that celebrates the historic textile industry.

    The Arts Council committed $20,000 in artist fees, and the Massey Hill Heritage Discovery Project community group raised additional donations to support the project. The Community Foundation, Fayetteville/Cumberland Parks and Recreation, Massey Hill High School Alumni, Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex and The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum provided additional funding.

    ‘Maid Marian’ presents a twist

    The latest taste in Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s “Honey” series, written by local playwright Jessica Osnoe, blends the familiar, spirited notes of the classic legend of Robin Hood with a zing from a new voice in the narrative: Maid Marian.

    “Maid Marian,” a new take on the familiar tale of adventure, bravery and friendship, explores what happens when a group of resourceful women take up arms against greed and injustice in a time of war and unrest. Fall in love with the new faces in this never-before-told Robin Hood tale.

    The cast includes Jen Pommerenke, Laura Voytko, Linda Flynn, Evan Bridenstine, Arlyn Slade, Lee Jean, Michaela Kroll, Gabe Terry, Nelson Soliva and Karen Messaros.

    Performances are scheduled for April and May at various local venues. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 910-420-4384 or email info@sweetteashakespeare.com.

  • 04 KarlThis is the third article in a series. Here is the opening from the first; it will repeat in each column in this series:

    “There is a dangerous, but tremendously effective, political approach employed in America. It could be called ‘thought deprivation.’ It’s conditioning people so they do not think with depth regarding the issues that face us as a nation. Sadly, allowing this thought deprivation approach to become routine and embedded in the political process has brought us to a point of real danger in the governing, and very survival, of this nation.”

    In that initial article, my observations as to how thought deprivation is developed and sustained in a person, by others, were presented as including seven steps. The first two steps were addressed in the first column; steps three and four in the second. The final three will be explored here.

    Step five is to convince a target group, or groups, that they are entitled to certain benefits. Accomplishing this step is pursued by use of several tactics. Primary among them is the civil rights argument.

    Before examining this argument, consider the following from “What are human rights?” at www.equalityhumanrights.com: “Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life.

    “They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted — for example if a person breaks the law, or in the interests of national security.

    “These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. These values are defined and protected by law.”

    Lock in on the last line of the quote above that addresses the basis for human rights. Now move to the civil rights argument. The following segments are from an article by Rebecca Hamlin, at www.britannicacom, titled “Civil rights.”

    It reads, “Civil rights, guarantees of equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other personal characteristics.

    “Unlike other rights concepts, such as human rights or natural rights, in which people acquire rights inherently, perhaps from God or nature, civil rights must be given and guaranteed by the power of the state. Therefore, they vary greatly over time, culture, and form of government and tend to follow societal trends that condone or abhor particular types of discrimination. For example, the civil rights of homosexuals have only recently come to the forefront of political debate in some Western democracies.”

    This tactic alone allows politicians and other agenda-promoting individuals and groups to argue that certain individuals or groups are entitled to benefits, accommodations or privileges not currently available to them. This action, almost always, garners political support for the offering party, or parties, from those for whom benefits are pursued.

    In my estimation, a prime example of how this tactic is employed, and the profit to entitlement-promoting politicians, shows in North Carolina’s recent battle over allowing individuals to use the public bathroom consistent with their gender identity.

    Without doubt, politicians who embraced the change enhanced their support among the LGBTQ community. This is only one example of civil rights shaped by time and a changing culture overriding human rights where, from www.equalityhumanrights.com, “These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence.” The course pursued in the situation mentioned above certainly seemed unfair, from a human rights perspective, to those of us who opposed allowing gender identity bathroom use. However, this kind of action works for winning votes.

    Once citizens believe they are entitled to certain benefits, the sixth step is promising to deliver the benefits to which people believe they are entitled.

    The examples at this step seem endless. Here is a sampling of what is being proposed by various 2020 presidential candidates from an article by Quartz Staff titled “Meet all the Democratic candidates in the crowded 2020 race.” The list includes free college tuition, health care for all, jobs for everybody, saving the environment from climate change, middle- class tax cuts, programs that would give every newborn a bond that would increase in value over time, an increase in Social Security benefits, $1,000 per month to every citizen over age 18, reparations to black Americans and higher taxes on the wealthy.

    Every idea listed above and, almost certainly, any others put forth, will appeal to the needs and wants of citizens. Except for calls to tax the wealthy more, there will not likely be a single proposal that requires sacrifice or taking of individual responsibility on the part of citizens. No, this strategy is to promise the world, win the election and start running again while using the same tactics.

    What I have addressed to this point in the series of columns works because the math is solid. Following are segments from an article by Catey Hill titled “45 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax.” The article said, “An estimated 45.3 percent of American households — roughly 77.5 million — will pay no federal individual income tax, according to data for the 2015 tax year from the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan Washington-based research group. (Note that this does not necessarily mean they won’t owe their states income tax.)

    “On average, those in the bottom 40 percent of the income spectrum end up getting money from the government. Meanwhile, the richest 20 percent of Americans, by far, pay the most in income taxes, forking over nearly 87 percent of all the income tax collected by Uncle Sam.”

    When the richest 20 percent of Americans pay 87 percent of all federal income taxes and 45.3 percent of households pay nothing, the math is easy … turn the 80 percent against the 20 percent. In the process, take from the 20 percent the funding that is needed to win the votes of the 80 percent.

    Here is where the rubber meets the road. There comes a time when taxing the rich heavily is not sufficient to keep promises to the 80 percent. That is because the rich are no longer motivated to take the risks necessary to maintain high incomes, or they move to lower-tax countries. Further, if all the assets of the wealthy were confiscated, I hardly believe it would pay the cost of all that is being promised by so many of today’s politicians.

    That brings us to the final step — step seven. That is, when the promised benefits do not materialize, blame others. This is particularly the case with political parties. When a promise is not kept, blame the other party. Since the voting public, for the most part, depends on sound-bites, headlines and emotions, promise-breaking politicians are hardly ever held accountable. The public keeps experiencing the abuse.

    That abuse happens because developing and sustaining thought deprivation is an extremely effective strategy that has been mastered by far too many American politicians and others who influence the political process.

  • 03 MargaretAll parents want the best for their Precious Jewels.

    We want them to be healthy and happy as they grow toward adulthood. We want all doors open to them as they develop. We expose them to various life experiences, and we do our best to position them for success. We cheer them along the way to help them and others see them in the most positive light.

    But sometimes some of us go too far in helping our children. Some of us cross the line between encouragement and manipulation, even cheating. The college admissions scandal uncovered this month displays that and more, undermining trust in our nation’s higher educational institutions and sending all the wrong messages.

    The broad facts are these. Somewhere around 50 people, some famous and some not, allegedly participated in a plan to cheat on tests and misrepresent the academic and athletic achievements of high school students to get them into at least eight prestigious universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, and one of North Carolina’s own, Wake Forest. Thirty-three parents so far face federal charges in the scandal, and the institutions involved have been publicly compromised. At a time when colleges and universities are in the thick of the admissions process, they now have to weed through for unqualified applicants seeking unfair advantage.

    Even preschoolers know it is wrong to break into line ahead of those who arrived first, and that is what happened here. Movie stars and other designing parents paid for their children to move to the head of the line and made headlines.

    But the trouble is much deeper than that. This type of situation allows children of profoundly advantaged people entry into academic environments for which they are very likely unqualified, displacing other students who are qualified, ready and eager to excel. Whether some students — or people acting on their behalf — cheated on tests, lied about athletics or simply paid to move to the top of the lists, the bottom line is that the ones who succeed with deception very likely displace truly qualified applicants.

    We will never know how many students moved from the front to the back of the applicant queue at some of our nation’s finest universities, and those students may never know either. But it is safe to say that the lives of the unqualified students who were accepted into those universities through deception, and the qualified students who were kicked to the curb, have been changed in ways that will resonate throughout their careers and private lives.

    Some students apparently knew about the cheating at the time and some did not, but either way, they now know they were likely not qualified for their universities, and they may struggle with academic rigor. They have learned their parents cheat. Those who knew they were qualified may always wonder why they were turned away.

    Individual lives — those of parents, students, university personnel — have veered way off course, but the damage is far greater than those individuals alone. Institutions of higher learning, long held in high public esteem, have been compromised. We know now that ivory towers, whether the ones now in the public spotlight or others, are not pure — that money talks in those hallowed halls just as it does in lesser places.

    We know now that very little separates higher education from business, politics and other institutions in our culture.

    It is enough to make even Pollyanna cynical.

  • 02 pub penLast month, I wrote that local leadership comes in many forms. Friday, March 8, more than 100 residents gathered at Cape Fear Botanical Garden to celebrate The Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40 winners. And rightfully so. These select few have achieved benchmarks of success in their personal and business lives, through dedication, hard work and perseverance. That is something worth celebrating. The editorial page of last week’s Fayetteville Observer did, however, double down on my observation and concerns that these same young outstanding individuals are shying away from getting involved in local government. Why the reluctance?

    For years, and to its credit, The Fayetteville Observer has done a good job of recognizing potential local talent in a way that is well balanced, politically correct and representative of our diverse population in business, education, the military, the medical field and nonprofit organizations.

    These extraordinary young people have made their mark and are now contributing to the personality and fabric of our community — except when it comes to leadership. As the newspaper reiterated, it does not bode well for the future of our community when many of our young, intelligent achievers remain on the sidelines of local leadership.

    Except for Tisha Waddell, District 2 Fayetteville city councilwoman, they seem to avoid public service as elected officials. 

    Are we doing enough to engage these ambitious young professionals? Are we encouraging them to get involved politically? And, are we setting the right example for them?

    Many think not. And, the subject matter alone has many people and organizations who traditionally have been responsible for nurturing local leaders on the defensive, refusing to acknowledge this void that could hinder our future growth and development.

    To their credit, organizations like the Greater Fayetteville Chamber have for years offered leadership and development programs like Leadership Fayetteville, the ambassador program and the Fayetteville Young Professionals networking group, which are all explicitly designed to familiarize the next generation with community, business, government and civic responsibility.

    Cumberland County the town of Hope Mills and the city of Fayetteville all have initiated leadership academies designed to demonstrate how our local government operates and to familiarize residents with the myriad leadership opportunities designed to motivate and groom young talent for business, industry and public service.

    It is encouraging to see civic organizations like Cumberland County Kiwanis Clubs stepping up and embracing young people, providing leadership and direction. They cultivate pride, responsibility and values and offer community engagement and life lessons that pay big dividends.

    So, while many are content with the status quo of our community — and others refuse to take responsibility for leadership development while witnessing the dumbing down of standards and events — we must realize this is no way to prepare for a prosperous future.

    Again, at the risk of being redundant, millennials are the future of our community. We need to make it our highest priority to get them involved, engaged and excited about the future right here at home. They are the future of the community.

    We have done an excellent job identifying these potential future leaders. Let’s continue to advocate for and support the effective programs and organizations that encourage these young people to step up into leadership positions.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 01 cover

    Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the bond referendum was passed by both Cumberland County and city of Fayetteville citizens. The article has been corrected to state that the bond referendum was passed only by citizens of the city.

    The Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation department provides services and amenities for the residents of Cumberland County and the city of Fayetteville. This organization offers extensive programs such as youth sports, affordable golf services at Kings Grant Golf Course, instructional camps, summer camps for children, and recreation services for seniors.

    These programs improve the quality of life for Cumberland County residents and increase general community pride in countless ways. Now, more than ever, the FCPR recognizes the need to develop recreation and park services to meet the needs of the growing community it serves.

    The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was created in 2006 to address the needs of an evolving and growing population into the future.

    But there is a cost to operate and expand current facilities. That’s where the $35 million FCPR Bond Referendum comes into play. The bond referendum was passed by the citizens of the city in 2016 and paves the way to grow the vision of the FCPR.

    Project updates

    The projects in the referendum include two senior centers, a tennis center, a sports field complex, skateboard parks, the Cape Fear River Park Downtown Riverfront and seven splash pads. Also included are park improvements to the following parks: Brentwood School Park, Clark Park, Dorothy Gilmore Therapeutic Recreation Center & Park, Massey Hill Recreation Center Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Mazarick Park and Seabrook Park.

    Since the passing of the bond referendum in 2016, three new splash pads have been constructed. They are located at the Kiwanis, Massey Hill and Myers Recreation Centers. In addition, each of the splash pads are handicap accessible, offering opportunities for those with disabilities to participate in a fun outdoor activity. The pads are equipped with a recirculation system that recycles the water and ensures it is clean for use.

    The Dorothy Gilmore project groundbreaking ceremony was held earlier this year, and work is now underway for the splash pad at that center. As with the other splash pads, the pad is handicap accessible.

    Kathy Jensen, city councilwoman for District 1, said the city has seen an increase in positive feedback from the community since the construction of the splash pads and pool upgrades.

    “People are embracing Fayetteville as a place to live and recreate,” Jensen said.

    The FCPR expects to have a groundbreaking ceremony soon for a new skateboard park that will be located at Rowan Park. The skateboard park is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

    Several partnerships with local universities and Fort Bragg are on the horizon, too. These partnerships will mutually benefit both the FCPR and its partners. For instance, a partnership with Methodist University to lease the Jordan Soccer Complex will result in extensive renovations to the complex. This will provide upscale facilities for teams to use for tournaments, and the state-of-the-art soccer complex will benefit all in the local community.

    Another partnership, this one with Fayetteville State University, will involve the construction of the Senior Center East. Upon completion, local seniors will have use of the Senior Center and the Life Center on the FSU campus.

    Negotiations are also underway with Fort Bragg for the construction of a sports complex. Details of the arrangement will be released upon successful negotiation of the agreement between the two entities.

    The 19,000-square-foot Senior Center West broke ground and is currently working to install the infrastructure to support the center. Construction on the center is expected to be completed by early 2020.

    Finally, a child-friendly water feature will be constructed at the entrance to Hurley Field, the site of the new Fayetteville Woodpeckers ballpark. The ballpark is the cornerstone of a large-scale redevelopment project in the Fayetteville downtown.

    Check out the FCPR centers and view all of the great upgrades in person. For more information on the development plan and updates, visit https://fcpr.us/parksbond.

  • 21Zareeya WatsonZareeya Watson22Felix Patterson McNeill Pine Forest

    Pine Forest • Softball • Senior

    Watson has a 3.44 grade point average. Last year, she was a Sandhills Athletic Conference allconference selection batted .472 with home run. She also 

     

    Felix Patterson- McNeil

    Pine Forest • Football/track • Senior

    Patterson-McNeil has a 3.5 grade point average. In addition to playing football and running indoor and outdoor track, he does volunteer work in the community and plans to attend William Peace College.

  • 20Carlie Myrtle Jack Britt softballFor veteran Jack Britt softball coach Sebrina Wilson, the start of the 2019 season for the Buccaneers doesn’t feel different so far.

    But you don’t have to look hard at Jack Britt’s softball field to notice one major change. That’s the big sign on the back of the press box proclaiming the team is the 2018 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A fast-pitch state champion.

    Wilson said that sign is the only evidence you’ll see of the championship the Buccaneers won in the finals against South Caldwell last year. “There hasn’t been any mention of anything in the past,’’ Wilson said. “I think that’s what we pushed all year long. Enjoy the time, but that was 2018, and this is 2019 now.’’

    That now means Britt lost four solid starters from the state title team, including some impressive bats from players like Savannah Roddy and Rayven Shepard.

    But the cupboard is anything but bare. Wilson returns a core of young standouts, the most notable being the versatile Carlie Myrtle, who sparked the Bucs both on the mound and at the plate in their run to the state championship.

    “We’re going to be very young,’’ Wilson said. “My young group stepped up at times (last year), but now they’ve got to be the go-to. They are the ones. It’s how we transition from being a part-time go-to person to full-time. You have to produce every game, not every other game.’’

    Myrtle will be counted on again for a lot of that daily production. Last season she batted .500 with 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs while driving in 35 runs.

    On the mound, she led pitchers from Cumberland County Schools with 138 strikeouts for the season. She compiled a 21-6 record that included a 2.37 earned run average.

    Myrtle said her team feels pressure to perform as well as they did last year but added the mood on the field so far has been loose. “We’re trying to do things the right way and keep errors low,’’ she said.

    As for her game, Myrtle worked in the weight room in the offseason to improve her flexibility and range of motion. She felt her pitches were a little flat toward the end of the season, so she’s worked on getting more movement on the ball.

    Her goal is to increase her strikeout total this season while also lowering her earned run average.

    She agrees with Wilson that the team’s younger players, including herself, have to produce for Britt to continue winning.

    Wilson doesn’t expect Myrtle to strike every batter out. She’s counting on Britt’s defense to help the team win like it did last year.

    “We’ve got to play solid defense and throw strikes,’’ Wilson said. “Our defense was exceptional in the state playoffs. We’ve got to do that every night and get timely hitting.’’

    While Britt brought home the state title, the Buccaneers didn’t win the tough Sandhills Athletic Conference title, losing out to Richmond Senior.

    Wilson felt the Bucs played in the toughest softball conference in the state last season, and she expects more of the same this year.

    “It’s not just Richmond,’’ she said. “There’s Lumberton and Purnell Swett. Pinecrest’s going to be an up-and-coming team. Each game, each week, you don’t get a game off. “You can’t make mistakes. That’s going to be key”

    Photo: Carlie Myrtle

  • 19Ashara Hayes copyHere is the Sandhills Athletic Conference all-conference girls basketball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

    Coach of the Year: Ronshau Cole, Pinecrest

    Player of the Year: Kenyan McLaughlin, Pinecrest

    First team:

    Pinecrest — Sara McIntosh, Malika Dailey, Kelly Clark, Zykra Blue

    Lumberton — Madison Canady, Rachel O’Neill

    Seventy-First — Taylor Allen, Amira Coles, Nyielah Nick

    Jack Britt — Ashara Hayes, Kaya Goldsby

    Richmond Senior — Jakerra Covington.

    Hoke County — Klya Locklear.

    Scotland — Asjah Swindell, Nadia Leak

    Purnell Swett — JaiLeana Deese

    Photo: Ashara Hayes

  • 18Brion McLaurinHere is the Sandhills Athletic Conference all-conference boys basketball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

    Coach of the Year: Ben Snyder, Pinecrest

    Player of the Year: Brion McLaurin, Seventy-First

    Team:

    Seventy-First — Demauriea Nickleson, Xavier Howard, Trevon Bell, Thomas Hendricks

    Pinecrest — Bradlee Haskell, Zion Bailey 

    Richmond Senior — Xavier Pettigrew, Rodrick Newton, Nygic Stroman

    Lumberton — Jordan McNeill, Kwashek Breeden

    Hoke County — Jaquantae Harris, Elijah Harris

    Jack Britt — Kean Keys

    Scotland — Garrett McRae

    Purnell Swett — Darriante Parker

    Photo: Brian McLaurin

  • 17Miles Ray Pine ForestHere is the Patriot Athletic Conference boys all-conference basketball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

    Coach of the Year: Jimmy Peaden, Pine Forest

    Player of the Year: Miles Ray, Pine Forest

    First team: Cinque Lemon, Overhills; Traymond Willis-Shaw, Westover; Jaylen Siermons, E.E. Smith; Marquell James, Cape Fear; Adrian Elliott, Pine Forest

    Second team: Marviere Smith, Douglas Byrd; Antonio Dupree, Gray’s Creek; Xavier Marsh, Westover; Jay Hickman, Terry Sanford; Tyron George, Westover; Yates Johnson, Terry Sanford

    Honorable mention: Christian Locklear, South View; Davis Molnar, Terry Sanford; Lexus Fasce, Overhills; Christian Crockett, Gray’s Creek; Erwin Montgomery, Pine Forest; Felix Davis, South View; Ky’Ron Kelly, Terry Sanford

    Photo: Miles Ray

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    Fayetteville-Cumberland County Human Relations Commission Thursday, March 14, 5:30 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    Board of Commissioners Monday, March 18, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee Monday, March 18, 6 p.m., front conference room, Town Hall

    Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m., Parks and Rec Center

    Aquatics Feasibility Committee Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall. This meeting will be held for the purpose of exploring potential partnership opportunities for an aquatics center.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at the Parks and Recreation Center. The Senior programs for people ages 55 and older who are residents of Cumberland County have resumed. The rec center was closed in mid-September after Hurricane Florence. Various activities are now back and are scheduled Monday through Friday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at www.townofhopemills.com, call the rec center at 910-426-4109, or email Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    Promote yourself

    Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 16Gregory DickersonGregory Dickerson spent 21 years in the United States Air Force learning about firefighting and fire inspection. Now, he’s bringing some of that knowledge to Hope Mills as local volunteer.

    Dickerson was recently honored by the town as its Volunteer of the Month for a variety of activities, including work with the Hope Mills Community Emergency Rescue Team, serving meals at Hope House, working with neighborhood community watch groups and helping out at the local nursing home.

    Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner praised the work of Dickerson and volunteers like him, saying they provide countless hours of work in the community on a regular basis.

    “We are so fortunate to have volunteers that donate their time and expertise,’’ Warner said. “Recognizing the Volunteer of the Month is our way of thanking them publicly. Our volunteers share their Hope Mills pride in the work they do.’’

    Dickerson feels the most important thing he brought with him from his years in the Air Force was the ability to help people in need, whether they were involved in a vehicle accident or a house fire. “You’re helping people get better or try to limit the damage if they do have a fire,’’ he said.

    With both a background in firefighting and a degree in emergency management, Dickerson has used his military experience to lead basic training classes for the Hope Mills community emergency response team. He provides expertise in disaster preparedness, firefighting and rescue techniques.

    “It was my way of taking the knowledge I have received over the last 30 years and putting it to use in a small community,’’ Dickerson said. “Every little bit volunteers can do alleviates the town from having to pay extra money, whether it’s having police officers to work overtime or things like traffic control at Hope Mills Lake.’’

    At last year’s lake celebrations, Dickerson and other volunteers worked with a Hope Mills police officer to provide traffic control. The volunteers saved the town the extra cost of putting additional police officers to work. “That’s one of the ways we can give back,’’ Dickerson said.

    Another benefit of volunteer work, Dickerson said, is the volunteer can set his or her own pace and doesn’t have to cope with the stress that can come from having to show up daily for the same job. “The stress level is very minimal as a volunteer,’’ he said. “I don’t have to do it today if I don’t feel like it, but if there’s a need, I do it.’’

    Another area where Dickerson’s expertise is valuable is in his work with the Red Cross to inspect and install smoke alarms in private homes.

    “We work hand-in-hand with the Red Cross in Hope Mills,’’ he said.

    A major push is coming in the months ahead to install smoke alarms in neighborhoods that show a history of fire risk. May 4, Dickerson and other volunteers working with the Red Cross will install some 1,000 alarms in Lafayette Village off Hope Mills Road.

    Fire prevention and safety aren’t Dickerson’s only volunteer activities. As a lifetime member of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dickerson regularly spends time at local nursing homes.

    “One day I may be in that nursing home,’’ Dickerson said. “I want someone to come and see me. I don’t want to be left alone.’’

    He sees the nursing home visits, as well as working with neighborhood watch groups and serving meals at Hope House, as different ways of giving back to the community.

    He views the watch groups as a way to stop trouble before it gets a chance to start. “We try to help each other out and be good neighbors,’’ he said.

    Dickerson estimates he volunteered about 303 hours total last year. He’d like to get some younger people involved in the volunteer program in Hope Mills.

    “It helps you through your high school days, maybe even (in) getting scholarships for college,’’ he said.

    He’d like to see the volunteer program in Hope Mills grow and resemble one in Plymouth, a small town in the northeastern part of the state that he visited recently for the annual North Carolina Community Emergency Response Team Conference.

    Dickerson said Plymouth has about 4,000 citizens and they seem to almost work as a unit when it comes to volunteering. “When they need something, they work together,’’ he said. “You see a sense of achievement. It was made better by the amount of people that put effort into it.’’

    Dickerson has found a simple goal in volunteering that works for him and that he suggests others try. “Enjoy what you’re doing, whether you’re paid or unpaid,’’ he said. “Try to get satisfied doing it.’’

    Photo: Gregory Dickerson estimates he volunteered about 303 hours total last year.

  • 15EasterThe Easter Bunny will pay an early visit to Hope Mills this year. Local families will get the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with him, and it won’t be rabbit food on the menu.

    The Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Department will offer Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 6, at the recreation center’s main building on Rockfish Road.

    The event is similar to the Breakfast with Santa held last December, but now that the recreation center has been repaired following hurricane damage last fall, the event will move back to the recreation center after being temporarily held at the main Hope Mills fire station.

    Meghan Freeman, special events programs assistant director for the town, said Breakfast with the Easter Bunny in Hope Mills dates back 10 years or more.

    Freeman said the event is another of the town’s efforts to give families with children a chance to enjoy fun quality time together. Last December’s Breakfast with Santa was a big success, and Freeman is hoping for similar results with Breakfast with the Easter Bunny.

    There is one small difference between the two events. While Breakfast with Santa offered a meal and a chance to meet with Santa Claus, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny will be followed by an Easter egg hunt at the Hope Mills Municipal Park fields 1 and 2.

    While tickets to the breakfast are $6, the egg hunt is free. Anyone can come to the hunt, but attendance at the breakfast will be capped at the first 200 tickets sold.

    The breakfast runs from 8:30-11 a.m. and has a menu that includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon and juice.

    The Easter egg hunt, following the breakfast, has an age limit from 1 to 10, Freeman said. When the hunt begins, she said, the youngsters will be divided up in three different age groups.

    Children ages 1-3 will begin hunting for the eggs at 11:15 a.m. The 4-6 age group will start at 11:30 a.m. Children ages 7-10 will hunt beginning at 11:45 a.m.

    The children ages 1-3 will begin hunting on Field 1, with the children ages 4-6 going on Field 2. After the first group has finished, additional eggs will be hidden and the final group of children ages 7-10 will hunt on Field 1.

    Freeman said plastic eggs will be used that will contain either candy or, in some cases, small prizes.

    In the event of rain, the egg hunt will be moved indoors to the recreation center gymnasium.

    “I’m looking forward to seeing how many people are going to come out,’’ Freeman said. “At a lot of events recently, our numbers have increased. Hopefully, we’ll continue the trend.

    “I think it brings the whole community together. It’s a great plus for us. You can’t beat it.’’

    Reservations and advanced payment for tickets are required for the breakfast. The deadline to sign up and pay is Monday, April 1. Children ages three and under will be admitted to the breakfast free of charge but must still be registered.

    For further information about Breakfast with the Easter Bunny or the Easter egg hunt, contact the recreation department at 910-426-4109.

  • 14T CLOCKTire clock, get it? It is the beginning of riding season. You see motorcycles out swarming the town like bees, and you are ready to ride. You, my friend, are ready to ride. But before you jump on that bike, take 10 minutes and make sure your bike is safe and ready to be ridden.

    Check your personal safety equipment. Make sure you have your helmet, preferably a full-face one. I know that is touchy subject, but if you’d seen some of friends’ faces after accidents, you might feel differently. If you are not sure if a full-face helmet is for you, look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Aren’t I worth it”?

    Continuing on. Make sure you have good eye protection, a padded motorcycle jacket, gloves, pants (padded or leather) and motorcycle boots.

    I know these things are not cool, but if you can afford a bike, you can afford good safety gear that will provide plenty of protection and airflow.

    Now it’s time to check the actual bike. To help make sure you remember what to do, some smarty-pants came up with the acronym of T-CLOCK.

    “T” is for TIRES & WHEELS. Check their condition and air pressure. During the winter, air molecules compress and air leaks out of tires. You do not want to have a blowout because you missed a 10-minute stop at a gas station. If your tires are worn, cracked or dry-rotted, then get new tires before you ride. Motorcycle tires are not cheap, but that little bit of rubber is the only thing that keeps you from hitting the pavement.

    “C” is for CONTROLS. Check levers, cable, hoses and throttle. On the throttle, check its condition and look at the pivot points. For the rest, check the condition and routing of each. Make sure everything moves freely, has no interference and does not pull when you turn the handlebars.

    “L” is for LIGHTS. The battery should be in good condition (no acid), held down and fully charged. If you have a vent tube, make sure it is not clogged. The terminals should be clean and tight, and electrolyte levels should be full.

    Check the lights and reflector lenses. Make sure they are clean, that the bulbs are working and that the wires are not frayed or chafed. Check the routing of your wiring, too. This will help prevent a short in the electrical system. Check the headlamp; look at the aim of the light and adjust if needed.

    “O” is for OIL. Check the engine oil and fluid levels. The bike should be warm when you do this. Be sure you are on your center stand and/or make sure the bike is level. This may require a friend. Check the hypoid gear oil. This includes transmission, drive and shaft fluids. Check the hydraulic fluid. This includes your brakes and clutch. You can see this in their perspective reservoir and sight glass. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you change as things recommended. Check for leaks on all. Look at the ground. If you see where something has leaked, check the gaskets, housings, seals, master cylinders, calipers, tanks, pipes, lines, fuel taps and carbs.

    “C” is for CHASIS. Look at the frame’s condition. Check for cracks at gussets or accessory mounts and look for paint lifting. Check the steering head bearings and swing arm. Check the suspension, forks and shock(s). Make sure they have a smooth travel, equal air pressure/damping settings and that the linkage moves freely and is lubricated. Check your chain and belt. Check for tension at the tightest point and lubrication (note: DO NOT lubricate belts). Check the sprockets. Make sure the teeth are in good shape and mounted securely. Check all fasteners, clips and cotter pins. Make sure they are tight. Check for missing or broken bolts, nuts, and cotter pins.

    “K” is for KICKSTAND. If you have a center stand, make sure there are no cracks and that it’s not bent. The retention springs should be in place and working correctly. For a side stand, make sure there are no cracks and that it’s not bent. Make sure the safety cut-off switch or pad, if so equipped, is working properly.

    One way to help ensure you see all of this is to clean your bike. I like to use Honda’s High Performance Spray Cleaner and Polish. This lets me put my hands on every spot on the bike. I check for any loose bolts and give my bike a great look.

    Be safe and enjoy your ride.

    If there is a topic you would like to discuss, email me at this address: motorcycle4fun@aol.com.

    RIDE SAFE!

  • 13CarolinasWhy would anybody want to spend months walking from the South Carolina coast up through the Piedmont to present-day Charlotte and then back east to the North Carolina tidewater?

    There are two good reasons, one from more than 300 years ago and the other from modern times.

    First, in 1700, a newcomer to North America named John Lawson made this long trip to explore and learn about unfamiliar lands. He made the trip on foot because there was no better way to travel through the endless forests of backcountry Carolinas. Setting off from Charleston, he was accompanied by several Englishmen and Indian guides. The notes he took became the basis of a book, “A New Voyage to Carolina,” first published in 1709 and still a classic for its rich descriptions of flora and fauna and the conditions of the native peoples who populated the areas he visited.

    The more recent traveler, writer Scott Huler, made the long walk because he wanted to follow in Lawson’s footsteps. He said he looked for a modern book that explained where Lawson went and compared it to what is there today. When he found that it had not been done and that no one had even retraced Lawson’s journey, he thought, “That’s for me!”

    Of course, Huler could have made the trip of several hundred miles in a day or two in a car on modern roads. But he wanted to go slow, seeing today’s landscapes and peoples at the pace Lawson traveled.

    He shares his travels in a new book, “A Delicious Country: Rediscovering the Carolinas along the Route of John Lawson’s 1700 Expedition.” It was released by UNC Press March 4.

    Like most other readers of Lawson, Huler is impressed with Lawson’s descriptions of and attitude about the native populations. Lawson visited Sewee, Santee, Sugeree, Wateree, Catawba, Waxhaw, Occaneechi and Tuscarora Indians. Huler writes, “He (Lawson) stayed in their wigwams, ate their food, trusted their guides. And he emerged with their stories, for some of which he is the only source in the world.”

    Lawson, Huler continues, “documented native communities, buildings, agriculture, hunting, dance, trade, and culture through eyes clear, thorough, and respectful. Lawson depicts the natives as fully human—not some subspecies perceived only in comparison to European settlers.”

    Lawson’s words were, “They are really better to us than we are to them.”

    But Lawson found the native populations to be in a precarious situation. “The Small-Pox and Rum have made such a Destruction amongst them, that, on good grounds, I do believe, there is not the sixth Savage living within two hundred Miles of all our Settlements, as there were fifty Years ago. These poor Creatures have so many Enemies to destroy them, that it’s a wonder one of them is left alive near us.”

    Traveling Lawson’s route through the rural Carolinas, Huler found a surprising and discouraging similarity. The rural and small-town landscapes are littered with empty manufacturing plants, corporate farms and forests, empty main streets and deserted houses. Three centuries after Lawson, Huler found that “our world would teeter: a way of life dying in the countryside, implacable new forces once again balancing an entire civilization on a knife edge.”

    Setting aside this discouraging report, Huler’s adventures and misadventures on the road entertain and inform. He is the best type of tour guide, one who is well-informed but not at all pompous. His wry, self-deprecating sense of humor helps his serious medicine go down smoothly.

    For Lawson, his explorations and the reports about them opened the door to prominence and high positions in the young colony. That success came to a sudden end in 1711 when he was captured and executed by the Indians he had so greatly admired and praised.

  • 12veteransMilitary Friendly is a company that assesses quality for military-related issues. VIQTORY is a company that creates resources for people exiting military service. The two companies announced in January that Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked No. 1 in the Top 10 Gold Category College Award for large community colleges for 2019-2020.

    FTCC’s All American Veterans Center, located on Fort Bragg Road on the Fayetteville campus, and its new dedicated staff are working around the clock to ensure that veterans who wish to use educational benefits receive positive experiences at FTCC.

    The full-time and part-time staff at the AAVC works hard for veteran students by providing oneon- one support to help them maneuver the multistep enrollment process. The staff is committed to helping students accomplish this enrollment as efficiently as possible.

    The center’s staff includes school certifying officials, or SCOs, and is comprised of a diverse group that includes those who have served our country in the Air Force, Army and Navy, as well as civilians.

    SCOs audit students’ courses and information to submit information to Veterans Affairs for processing benefits. FTCC proudly has more than 2,000 students using some form of VA benefits to complete associate degree, certificate and diploma programs of study.

    Another recent change at FTCC and in the Veterans Services Office involves a new online system for electronically filing student documents. Students submitting paperwork to FTCC can now do so via the school’s website, www.faytechcc.edu.

    This means veteran students can now submit the new Veteran Student Intake Form online along with other important documents, such as the DD-214, commonly known as a Certificate of Eligibility.

    Students can receive help submitting the form at Thompson Library. They can also submit the online 

    Students also enjoy an open-door policy at FTCC and at the AAVC, providing veterans quick, easy, on-the-spot access to an SCO who can assist with questions.

    The AAVC provides students with a place to study, to conduct research and to interact with fellow veteran students. The Student Veteran Association holds monthly meetings at the center and invites students to express concerns and share experiences with fellow veteran students and staff members.

    Students can even enjoy coffee or tea in a relaxed environment while they complete school assignments at the AAVC.

    FTCC invites veterans who are interested in attending college to visit the AAVC, email vso@faytechcc.edu, or call 910-678-8395. It is an honor for the AAVC staff to serve our veterans and respond to their questions and needs to make a positive difference for them.

  • 11gardenThe Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Cumberland County presents its fifth annual spring symposium this month. The event has sold out the past two years and as a result has moved to the Ramada Plaza on Owen Drive. It takes place Saturday, March 23, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

    This year’s speakers, Tony Avent and Carol Reese, are at the top of the East Coast horticulture circuit.

    Avent is the Indiana Jones of horticulture. He’s a curator, breeder, columnist and creator of Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden, both in Raleigh. His talks are titled “Hot Plants in Cold Places” and “Our Fine Textured Friends — The Magical World of Ornamental Grasses.”

    Reese, a nationally known speaker, columnist and extension horticulture specialist at the University of Tennessee, blends gardening with her quirky humor. She’s offering talks titled “Beyond Azaleas” and “Sex in the Garden.” Yes, you read that correctly.

    Come to the Ramada Plaza to hear these speakers and enjoy visiting vendors and gathering information. Avent will end with a brief but exciting auction of some interesting plants he grows.

    This event raises scholarship funds for horticulture students at Fayetteville Technical Community College. It also supports the North Carolina/Cumberland County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in their effort to educate residents in state-approved horticulture practices.

    Registration, which is currently in its “late” phase, costs $60. To register, visit Eventbrite.com and search “Master Gardener Spring Symposium 2019” in Fayetteville. Or, make a check out to CCEMGVA and send it to Lynne Grates, Treasurer, 301 East Mountain Dr., Fayetteville, NC, 28306.

    For further information, call 910-261-1091 and ask for Judy Dewar.

  • 10PWCWhen the power bill arrives every month, most people don’t think about what PWC, Fayetteville’s hometown utility provider, does not just for its customers but for the community and for the environment, too. Now is the time to find out. Friday, March 22, from noon-9 p.m., and Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., PWC will host its 5th Annual Power & Water Expo at SkyView on Hay.

    Upon arrival, the first 500 visitors will receive a reusable tote. Carolyn Justice-Hinson, PWC spokeswoman, said that by the time people leave, their totes are filled with educational and useful items. These include fat-trappers, tree seedlings, LED energysaving light bulbs and other energy and water conservation tools. Attendees can register to win a $100 bill credit, too.

    There will also be a drawing for a smart thermostat, which Hinson said is one of the best tools available to help manage utility bills.

    The expo is also an excellent time to learn about upcoming billing changes. “Because we are going to change to time-of-use electric rates in May, this is a great time for customers who want to learn more about how it works and how they can take advantage of the lowest rates,” Hinson said.

    Hinson sees this as a great opportunity for the community to get to know PWC and the people who work so diligently to keep Fayetteville’s lights on. She invites the community to come and get answers to their questions about all aspects of PWC.

    “The cool thing is that we have employees from all over the company that volunteer to come to this, and they know the basic information about conservation and our programs,” Hinson said. “And they really enjoy interacting with people.”

    There will be PWC representatives from the customer service department as well as conservation specialists, utility workers with equipment to show off, system protection employees, engineers and field service workers. This gives attendees the opportunity to learn about almost every aspect of PWC and its reach. Hinson encourages people to chat with the representatives and ask questions.

    Several other organizations will be represented as well, including Sustainable Sandhills, the city of Fayetteville’s Stormwater program, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

    “The idea behind that was looking at organizations that we work with and that offer value to our customers,” said Hinson. “When they come, it gives them a place to interact with the public, and it showcases our partnerships we have year-round.”

    Action Pathways will also be at the expo to talk about its weatherization program and how it can have a significant impact on home utility bills. Cape Fear Botanical Garden will be at the expo, too. “They have a waterwise garden,” said Hinson. “We’ve partnered with them for 20 years.”

    Radio stations Bob FM, Sunny, WKML, and Old School Jamz will be on-site throughout the event.

    PWC has a long reach, to include Fayetteville Technical Community College, which will also participate in the expo. “We will be promoting in partnership with FTCC its new line worker program,” said Hinson. “(We want to) help promote that as a career opportunity. Additionally, people will be able to talk to line workers.

    “As we continue to expand, there are always different types of jobs in the utility industry we will be looking to fill.”

    While the event is free, Hinson suggests paying it forward and bringing a nonperishable food donation for the Second Harvest Food Bank food drive.

    This is a family-friendly event, so bring the children. For more information, visit www.faypwc.com/pwcexpo.

  • 09TrumboCape Fear Regional Theatre’s production of “Trumbo,” running through March 17, is not an easy play to review. The show’s program contains two pages of historical context and another two-page glossary to help orient theatergoers. There is no stage, no script and no action. To understand what plot there is, it helps to be a student of American political history. That said, “Trumbo” is a compelling drama.

    Spanning the period from 1947-1960, during which time capitalism and communism were locked in a pitched battle for global ideological dominance, the play tells the story of Dalton Trumbo, a highly successful, award-winning Hollywood screenwriter who ran afoul of the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee.

    Written by Christopher Trumbo, Dalton’s son, and ably directed by CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke, much of the show’s dialogue is taken straight from Dalton’s prolific correspondence between friend and foe alike. The juxtaposition in those letters between the noble and the mundane is both brilliant and spellbinding.

    We meet Dalton for the first time as he defiantly takes on his HUAC interrogator only to watch his defiance dissolve into irritability as he pens a longwinded complaint to the phone company.

    The audience is held rapt during the reading of a high-minded moral defense — with implications for our current political climate — only to dissolve in laughter minutes later as Dalton writes his college-bound son a hilariously ribald piece of fatherly advice.

    The role of Dalton is played by Larry Pine, whose screen credits include “Bull,” “House of Cards,” “Madame Secretary” and “The Good Wife,” among many others. Pine plays Trumbo as an unfailingly erudite curmudgeon who manages to hold onto his sense of humor as the world shifts beneath his feet and he plunges from fame and fortune to impecunious infamy, dragging his family along with him.

    That Dalton’s family unfailingly supported him is made evident by the role of his son Christopher in the play, who acts as the glue that holds the entire performance together. Played with endearing diffidence by Michael Tisdale, whose credits include “Law & Order” and “Third Watch,” Christopher provides the context for his father’s story and helps the audience see beyond the bluster to the man he loved.

    The play ends with an unflinching, yet humorous, summing up of the cost of hewing to one’s convictions.

    Whether Dalton was a martyr or a menace depends upon one’s political persuasion. But politics is a pendulum that swings both ways — which should make respect for First Amendment rights a matter of universal concern. That this has not always been so is what makes “Trumbo” an important piece of theater. Burke and CFRT are to be commended for bringing it to town.

    Showtimes and ticket information are available from the CFRT box office at 910-323-4233. The box office is open Tuesday-Friday from 1-6 p.m. and one hour before showtimes. Learn more at www.cfrt.org.

    Photo:  “Trumbo,” starring Larry Pine (right) and Michael Tisdale (left), is at CFRT through March 17.

  • 08Pope AFB GreenRampWreckageMarch 23 is the 82nd day of the year. On that day 25 years ago — March 23, 1994 — 24 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division died in the aftermath of a collision of a C-130 cargo plane and an F-16 fighter jet at Pope Air Force Base, now known as Pope Army Airfield.

    One hundred other soldiers were badly injured in a fireball that erupted when the jet crashed onto Green Ramp and into a transport aircraft.

    Five hundred troops had gathered in preparation for a routine training jump. Units on the day’s manifest were the 82nd Airborne Division’s 504th Infantry, 505th Infantry and 782nd Support Battalion (Main), as well as the XVIII Airborne Corps’ 525th Military Intelligence Brigade and 159th Aviation Group (Combat) (Airborne).

    The soldiers at Green Ramp were engaged in a variety of activities in preparation for the jump. Just after 2 p.m., the F-16D Fighting Falcon collided with the C-130 Hercules transport while both tried to land at Pope. The Hercules touched down safely. The F-16 pilots ejected as their plane plummeted to the ground. It crashed and slid across the tarmac into a parked C-141 Starlifter.

    Both planes exploded, spewing 55,000 gallons of fuel onto Green Ramp. A massive debris-filled fireball, described by some as 75 feet in diameter, roared through the staging area. Capt. James B. Rich, the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade’s logistics officer and a primary jumpmaster, had just finished rehearsing duties with the jumpmaster team.

    Rich said in an April 1994 interview that during the ordeal he felt “fully exposed.” The sensation of the “intense heat of the fireball as it passed over … was like being in a microwave with the temperature getting hotter and hotter.”

    He said he “expected to burst into flames.” Actually, the captain’s backside was on fire.

    Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, who attended the jumpmaster’s review while sitting on the ground, jumped up and scattered in several directions after the explosion. Some of them ran toward the Jumpmaster School training area. Others bolted toward a fence, and still others tried to race behind mock doors of a training device. Some found safety. Most did not. The soldiers who hit the ground and rolled fared better than the troopers who ran. Those who escaped injury went to the aid of the less fortunate, many of whom were on fire.

    General officers who later became legendary military leaders were among those in charge that day. Then-Lt. Gen. Hugh Shelton, the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, praised the quick and impromptu response of the soldiers and rescue teams after the explosion. “When fear sets in, training takes over,” Shelton was quoted as saying in the Fayetteville Observer-Times, Mar 31, 1994.

    One month before the accident, the 504th Infantry had to simulate evacuating dead and wounded soldiers during maneuvers at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. “Most of the things... (at the crash site) were exactly what we had trained for there,” said then-Lt. Col. Stanley A. McChrystal, the battalion commander.

    Proud of the heroes of Green Ramp, the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. William M. Steele, said in an interview in April of ’94 that “It was soldiers saving soldiers.” Soldiers did “anything they could do to care for their buddies that were more seriously injured.”

  • 07Downtown aerial viewFrom the mid-1970s well into the 1990s, downtown revitalization was a significant concern and topic of public discussion in Fayetteville. Newspapers, radio and TV carried sobering reports about the death of retail business downtown. Sears, J.C. Penney, Belk and numerous small shops had abandoned Hay Street. Cross Creek Mall and nearby strip malls became Fayetteville’s retail sales hub, serving south-central North Carolina.

    The opening in 2000 of the world-class Airborne & Special Operations Museum changed everything. Business investors and local government took a renewed interest in the heart of the center city.

    Today, less than 20 years later, businesses along Hay Street and the surrounding innercity streets yield more property tax revenue than the mall does. That was a surprising revelation by consultant Steve Auterman of Urban Design Associates of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. “You ought to be building more of what is getting you the best return,” he said.

    Auterman provided Fayetteville City Council an initial conceptual report of ways his firm believes Fayetteville’s downtown can be transformed into a vibrant business, entertainment, residential and government complex. He gave the council a detailed report Mar. 4.

    Auterman foresees a physical transformation of the downtown area, which he said extends far beyond Hay Street. He noted that the recent reconstruction of W. Russell Street can be utilized better, saying that only about 10,000 cars a day travel the six-lane road.

    He added that on-street parking and bike lanes could easily be carved out along Russell Street. It would be one way of addressing the need for more parking availability.

    “Make the best choices — not the easy choices,” was Auterman’s theme for almost every recommendation he made. “Increased value and vibrancy are the desired outcomes,” he added. 

    With the new Rowan Street railroad overpasses nearing completion, the consultant said improving downtown gateways will foster in-town living and improve mobility. Auterman envisions a downtown residential neighborhood but emphasized the need for updated zoning, which now limits progressive residential growth. Modern design standards, he said, would help stimulate investments.

    “It’s important that our decisions are critical and include well-planned areas,” said District 2 Councilman Dan Culliton. His district includes downtown.

    Auterman said the real estate that City Hall and police headquarters occupy is valuable, but they should be relocated in the city center. Some Council members have considered the southern tip of Murchison Road as a potential location for city offices.

    Urban planners believe that downtown expansion should occur east and south of the Market House. A performing arts center envisioned by county government could be built on Person Street. One location that’s been suggested is the former Greyhound Bus station property. Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said the next step for Urban Design Associates is to bring City Council specific ideas about how the city should implement downtown revitalization.

  • 06McCready posterThe North Carolina Board of Elections has set the dates for new elections that will decide the country’s last unsettled congressional race from 2018. The “redo” 9th Congressional District primary election will be held May 14, with the general election tentatively set for Sept. 10.

    If no candidate wins more than 30 percent of the vote in the primary, a runoff election will be held Sept. 10, with the general election pushed back to Nov. 5. The 9th District runs from Charlotte to rural Bladen County.

    Cumberland County is divided between the 8th and 9th Districts. The state elections board twice refused to certify the November 2018 election results because of concerns about tampering with absentee ballots. The Republican candidate, Mark Harris, has decided not to continue his quest for Congress. Democrat Dan McCready will seek the U.S. House of Representatives seat.

    The board of elections ordered a new election when it determined that public confidence had been undermined “to an extent that a new election is warranted.”

    Acting Cumberland County Schools superintendent named

    Dr. Mary Black, associate superintendent of student support services for Cumberland County Schools, is serving as CCS acting superintendent while Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. receives medical treatment. Connelly Jr. has a cancerous tumor in his jaw and is undergoing treatment for it but continues to serve as his schedule allows, he said. Connelly Jr. added that the prognosis is good and that he is maintaining a positive outlook. 

    Feb. 28, the county school board approved the appointment of an acting superintendent to serve as needed until Connelly Jr. recovers and returns fully to work.

    County schools’ proposed FY20 budget

    Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. recommended a local budget for the upcoming school year of $89 million. The county Board of Education received the recommendation at its finance committee meeting March 5. The budget requests an increase of $8.9 million in local funding from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. In North Carolina, school boards do not have taxing authority.

    Connelly’s overall recommended budget for the school system is $508.8 million, which includes state and federal funding. It proposes a pay increase of 3-5 percent for some staff members.

    “To adequately address the needs of the whole child, and plan for the success of all students, we must increase the number of social workers, school counselors and school nurses that serve our students,” Connelly Jr. said in a prerecorded video presentation. 

    Cumberland County’s pupil population has not grown in many years. It remains at approximately 53,000 students.

    Local tuberculosis case being investigated

    The Cumberland County Health Department is investigating a confirmed case of tuberculosis involving a person at Village Christian Academy on S. McPherson Church Road.

    The health department was notified about the confirmed case last month and is required by law to conduct an inquiry following North Carolina TB Control Program protocols.

    The private school’s administration is working closely with health officials to take appropriate action. Officials said there is a select group of people who may have been exposed to the disease.

    People with prolonged, frequent or close contact with someone who has TB are at high risk of becoming infected. The disease has an estimated 22 percent infection rate, according to the World Health Organization.

    The Cumberland County Health Department did not say whether the infected individual is a student or an adult. With the proper treatment, TB is almost always curable.

    WebMD says doctors prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause the disease. Patients with TB must take medications for six to nine months.

    For questions or concerns regarding exposure, contact Duane Holder, interim health director for the county health department, at 910-433-3600.

    Local government public relations

    The county of Cumberland, the city of Fayetteville and nine partner organizations have launched a project to cultivate communitywide branding. The idea is to better communicate the community’s strengths, assets, diversity and vision.

    The Fayetteville Cumberland Collaborative Branding Committee is leading this effort and includes representatives from the city, county, Tourism Development Authority, Vision 2026, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and other agencies.

    The FCCBC commissioned North Star Destination Strategies of Nashville, Tennessee, to help create a new community brand, apparently designed to replace History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling.

    “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not around,” said Will Ketchum, president of North Star. “Branding is what you do to change or refine that message.”

  • 05teachersIn any human enterprise as complex, varied and challenging as education, we shouldn’t expect a great deal of consensus, much less unanimity. Politicians, educators, parents and citizens debate education policy constantly — not only because it is of crucial importance to our shared futures but also because the field simply contains many highly debatable questions.

    Whether paying teachers extra if they obtain graduate degrees will make them more effective is not among those debatable questions, however, at least not anymore. In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. Pay bumps for teachers with graduate degrees is cost-ineffective. If you seek to improve student learning, such a policy isn’t worth pursuing.

    Over the past three decades, scholars have published more than 100 studies in peer-reviewed academic journals testing the proposition that possessing a graduate degree makes one a better teacher, all other things being held equal. In more than 80 percent of the empirical studies, researchers found no relationship between graduate degrees and measurable teacher effectiveness.

    Of course, that does leave room for a few studies finding a positive association (as well as a few finding a negative one). Even for the positive studies, though, the finding is often narrow. There is a handful of studies showing that when teachers possess graduate degrees in the subject they teach, rather than in education, their students may benefit. But this evidence has mostly to do with graduate-level mastery of math or science, not with degrees in any and all subjects.

    In a rare and praiseworthy occurrence of evidence- based policymaking, the North Carolina General Assembly decided several years ago to end the state’s pay supplements for graduate degrees. Lawmakers decided instead to reform the teachersalary schedule so that pay rose with gains in teaching effectiveness, which occur disproportionately in the early years of a teaching career, while also offering bonuses for exceptional performance.

    In addition, an increasing number of North Carolina school districts are pursuing the flexibility to adopt new compensation systems that pay teachers more for assuming advanced teaching roles. We may also see greater differentiation as teachers get paid more based on hard-to-staff subjects and hard-to-staff schools, although political resistance to such common-sense practices — which are common in other professions — remains significant.

    As North Carolina and other states continue to iterate and innovate, some promising teacher-pay reforms will pay off. Others may prove ineffective or even counterproductive. Policymakers should always be willing to subject their ideas to evaluation in realworld settings, which are inherently more complex than the models used to craft legislation.

    Does that principle sound reasonable? If you think so, keep in mind that you are obligated to apply the principle consistently. If you pounce on every adverse finding to savage an education policy you dislike, yet insist that North Carolina restore pay supplements for graduate degrees because “it just makes common sense,” you are being grossly inconsistent.

    But what about that narrow finding about students benefitting from teachers with advanced math or science degrees? Couldn’t North Carolina reinstate pay bumps for those special cases?

    In theory, yes. In practice, it’s neither necessary nor workable. It’s unnecessary because if obtaining such a degree will improve teacher performance, we can capture the effect of that by rewarding the performance itself — measured however you like, by value-added test scores or principal evaluation or student surveys or some combination — rather than the acquisition of the degree.

    Moreover, the distinction will never stick. When a few state lawmakers filed a bill this year to restore the pay bump, they extended it to all academic subjects. The North Carolina Association of Educators then welcomed the bill only as a first step to restoring the supplement for all graduate degrees, including those in education (which represent a large majority of the degrees at issue).

    Restoring pay bumps for graduate degrees would be a triumph of special-interest pressure over sound policy, of image over substance, of hope over experience. North Carolina shouldn’t backslide. It should move forward.

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