The Fayetteville Police Department has arrested one out of two men who are being suspects in the murder of Eddie Saez in early January.

Saez was murdered in his own store, Southern City Swag Boutique, on Jan. 4 along Yadkin Road.

28-year-old Rasheem Lopez Grant was arrested in South Carolina by the Columbia Police Department and was transported to Cumberland County. He is being charged with First Degree Murder, Possession of a firearm by a felon, conspiracy and robbery with a deadly weapon. Grant is currently at the Cumberland County Jail where he remains under no bond.

Detectives are still looking for the identity of the second suspect and the Infinity SUV (pictured below) that was seen at the scene of the murder. Anyone with any information should call Detective J. Olsen at (910) 709-1958 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477).

One man is dead following a shooting Sunday morning along the 5700 block of Weatherford Road.

Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department responded to the reported shooting around 12:56 a.m. 48-year-old Trenton Douglas was found with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Detectives have arrested 52-year-old Gary Duncan. He is being charged with First Degree Murder. He is at the Cumberland County Detention Center under no bond.

Political gerrymandering is dead in North Carolina, at least for now.

The state Supreme Court issued an order late Friday striking down the Republican-drawn political maps slated to be used for the rest of the decade. Groups challenging the maps hit a grand slam, winning on each of their constitutional claims.

A 4-3 majority of the Supreme Court found that the state legislative and congressional maps were “unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt under the free elections clause, the equal protection clause, the free speech clause and the freedom of assembly clause of the North Carolina Constitution,” according to the order, written by Democratic Justice Robin Hudson.

The General Assembly will have to redraw maps and submit them by noon Feb. 18 to a three-judge panel in Superior Court for approval.

If the panel decides the General Assembly’s new maps don’t meet the court’s new standards, it can select maps submitted by the groups who sued the state. Whatever the trial court selects, the state or any of the challengers can appeal the decision by 5 p.m. Feb. 23.

That’s the day before candidate filing is set to open again, so there is a chance North Carolina will see a repeat of what happened in December, when the courts shut down candidate filing — then reopened it, then shut it down again.

Because of the tight timeline, the Supreme Court only issued an order, not an opinion, meaning that it told the relevant groups what they had to do next but did not describe the full legal justifications underpinning the decision. The opinion will be submitted later, according to the document.

Chief Justice Paul Newby, a Republican elected in 2020, expressed his frustration with the decision in a snappy dissent, writing that the Democratic-majority court interpreted the constitution in such a way that left “no limits to this Court’s power.”

Since the state constitution does not put an explicit limit on partisan gerrymandering, Newby argued, the only ways to do so are by statute or a constitutional amendment. Both would require the legislature to act to limit its own authority to draw partisan maps.

Either the General Assembly takes the Supreme Court’s order and attempts to draw constitutional maps or takes the risk that the courts will choose maps submitted by the groups that sued. It will also have to submit the data it used to draw the maps and the methods used to measure partisan fairness.

The Supreme Court recommended, but did not require, five different metrics for measuring the partisan fairness of a map.

“​​To comply with the limitations contained in the North Carolina Constitution, which are applicable to redistricting plans, the General Assembly must not diminish or dilute any individual’s vote on the basis of partisan affiliation,” the majority wrote.

But Newby wrote those guidelines are “vague and undefined,” meaning only the court itself will be able to define the constitutionality of new maps.

“The question of how much partisan consideration is unconstitutional remains a mystery, as does what is meant by ‘substantially equal voting power on the basis of partisan affiliation,’” Newby wrote.

The Republican-controlled legislature, which drew the maps and whose leaders are the named defendants in the case, can partially appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, at least regarding the congressional map.

Though it’s speculation, that appeal is likely, according to Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer.

 Photo Credit: The Supreme Court of North Carolina building in Raleigh. Courtesy of the state courts.

State Capitol Police cited a protester for second-degree trespassing Wednesday outside the N.C. Judicial Center as he called for the arrest of an off-duty Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy who, weeks prior in Fayetteville, fatally shot Jason Walker, an unarmed Black man.

Shaun McMillan, an activist in Fayetteville, was leading a small protest right outside the building when a State Capitol Police officer approached and asked him to conduct the gathering off state property.

State Capitol Police Sgt. Michele Larson said a permit is required to protest on the grounds of the N.C. Judicial Center.

McMillan initially refused to relocate and continued to protest, along with a few others from across the state, until an officer handcuffed him.

Minutes later, officers released McMillan and cited him for second-degree trespassing.

Larson said they decided to release him because they wanted the protesters to speak their minds, as long as they did so legally.

After being released, McMillan and the rest of the protesters continued to gather on the public sidewalk just outside the N.C. Judicial Center premises.\

Reason for protest

On Jan. 8, Jeffrey Hash, an off-duty Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy, shot and killed Walker following an incident where Hash alleges that Walker stepped onto the street in front of his truck, ripped off a windshield wiper and broke his windshield.

In police body-cam footage released a week later, Walker’s father, in a witness interview with officers on the scene, seemed to confirm Hash’s retelling.

“(Jason Walker) pulled off one of the daggone windshield wipers and hit the windshield,” Walker’s father said in the video.

In the days after the shooting, Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins referred the investigation to the State Bureau of Investigation. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West handed any potential prosecution to the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys, which is housed at the N.C. Judicial Center, where Wednesday’s protests took place.

Officials sought this outside help to limit a conflict of interest, Carolina Public Press previously reported.

McMillan said in a phone interview prior to Wednesday’s protest that Hash should have been arrested immediately following the shooting. He called it “a critical mistake” by the Fayetteville Police Department.

“This is overdue,” he said. “Our patience is gone. We don’t have patience for a system that would allow somebody to be gunned down in their own neighborhood without so much as an arrest.”

He called on Kimberly Spahos, director of the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys, to press charges and have Hash arrested.

While the conference would lead any potential prosecution against Hash, Spahos said in a phone interview prior to the protest that no charging decision can be made amid an ongoing criminal investigation.

“We can’t make a charging decision on this case or any case until the investigation is complete,” she said. “It would be imprudent and improper to do so.” 

Once the SBI completes its investigation and submits its findings to the Conference of DAs, Spahos said a charging decision can be made based on that report.

She is bound by the rules of professional conduct from speaking on any facts regarding an ongoing investigation, she said.

The SBI coming in to investigate officer shootings is standard procedure legislated by the General Assembly last year, as long as certain public officials, such as Fayetteville Police Chief Hawkins, request it.

“This is a standard process for how this is handled,” Spahos said. “We wait for the full investigation to be complete before we make decisions.” 

McMillan said he understands the process and hopes Hash will be charged when possible.

“As soon as that SBI investigation is completed, she will make the decision, and we hope that she makes the right one,” he said.

Photo Credit: State Capitol Police handcuff Fayetteville activist Shaun McMillan while he protests outside the N.C. Judicial Center in Raleigh on Feb. 2, 2022. Police said McMillan was protesting without a permit. Officers released him minutes later and cited him for second-degree trespassing. Ben Sessoms / Carolina Public Press

President Joe Biden will be sending 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg to Poland and Germany in the coming days, according to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby. Kirby also confirmed that 1,000 service members from a Stryker squadron currently in Germany will be repositioned to Romania.

"The 82nd Airborne Division is deploying components of an Infantry Brigade Combat Team and key enablers to Poland and the 18th Airborne Corps is moving a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters to Germany," Kirby said in a press briefing Wednesday morning. 

Kirby said that these forces will not fight in Ukraine, rather they will give support to the allies of the United States. He also reiterated that these are not permanent moves.

"They are moved designed to respond to the current security environment," Kirby said. "Moreover, these forces are not going to fight in Ukraine. They're going to ensure the robust defense of our NATO allies."

The 82nd Airborne Division was chosen because they were already on heightened alert and they are multi-mission capable.

"I think their versatility, their ability to move quickly, and to conduct a range of missions across a range of contigencies which is well-proven, that is why the Secretary has ordered them to go," Kirby said.

These troops are separate from the 8,500 troops who were placed on alert in January for a possible deployment to Europe with the NATO Response Force.

Photo Credit: Fort Bragg Paraglide 

Amazon has confirmed they are building a 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment facility at the Military Business Park. According to a press release, this new facility will create more than 500 full-time jobs with hundreds of additional part-time opportunities.  

“Amazon is excited to expand operations in Cumberland County, North Carolina, investing in a new fulfillment center in Fayetteville,” said Amazon Spokesperson Nikki Forman. “We are committed to providing efficient delivery for customers and creating hundreds of jobs

This is the second building Amazon has under construction in Cumberland County. In May of 2021, Amazon announced a new last-mile facility. That facility is currently under construction at 1005 Dunn Road.

“I welcome the significant positive impact that Amazon will make here. The fact that Amazon has twice selected to invest in our area sends a strong signal to other potential employers about the many wonderful benefits this region has to offer, from our central location to the thriving workforce, and excellent business climate," Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said in the press release.

The City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County each approved up to $1.25 million to help assist with infrastructure improvements. For Amazon to receive the grants it must commit to investing $100 million in real estate and equipment in Cumberland County over the next five years and hire more than 500 full-time workers with an average annual wage of about $33,000.

“This Amazon facility in the Military Business Park means hundreds of new jobs for our County, as well as economic growth and advancement. This transformative investment is a major win for our community,” said County Commission Chairman Glenn Adams. “A sincere thanks goes out to Amazon’s representatives as well as Cloteen Jasmin, Senior Vice President of Development at Ryan Companies, who have been collaborating with FCEDC on the project since April. This project has an incredibly aggressive timeline, and we cannot wait to celebrate its opening in 2023. Thanks to all those who collaborated to make this a success.”

The new warehouse facility at the Military Business Park is expected to open in 2023. 

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has adapted significantly in the past two years due to the pandemic. And it continues to adjust based on changes with COVID-19.

In the original season schedule, the Feb. 5 performance was a joint performance with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Fayetteville Youth Orchestra. One hundred musicians would be playing side-by-side in a concert called "Better Together."

However, due to the most recent COVID-19 regulations, that 100-person symphony could not perform.

"Our goal is really to just keep moving forward. We do not want to go backwards from COVID," Anna Meyer, community engagement manager for the FSO, told Up & Coming Weekly. "We just want to keep the momentum going that we've built. And we're willing to revise our programming to fit the current societal implications of COVID."

While the Youth Symphony will not be performing with FSO this year, the professional orchestra wanted to highlight young people and their impact on music.

Wunderkinds (pronounced Vunder-kids) is a German word meaning child wonders — also known as child prodigies. In the classical music world, many well-known composers people still love today were considered Wunderkinds. Wolfgang Mozart wrote his first symphony at the age of 8, and Felix Mendelssohn started composing around the age of 12.

The FSO "Wunderkind" performance will feature a local prodigy, 15-year-old double bass player Gavin Hardy. Hardy is from Winston-Salem and won FSO's Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition. He began playing double bass at the age of 12, and when he was in middle school, he was the first chair of the Forsyth County "All County" Orchestra for two years straight. Last year he was one of ten finalists from around the world at the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Hardy participated in the 15-to-18-year-old division.

This concert will be the first subscription concert in 2022 as "Too Hot to Handel" was rescheduled for March. However, Meyer says they are still excited for people to come and support them.

"We've seen some lower numbers than we've seen in previous years, but we've still seen a lot of community members. At our 'Messiah' concert in December, we had around 300 people there. We filled the church up to capacity. So, we are seeing people," Meyer said. "We believe that people want to be out in a safe way and support local arts in the community."

The performance will occur at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. The total concert run-time is an hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets may be purchased online, over the phone at 910-433-4690, or in person. Tickets range from $5 to $25, and anyone five and younger can attend for free. For the originally scheduled "Better Together" performance, ticket holders will have their tickets automatically transferred to "Wunderkinds."

The Spring Lake's Board of Alderman met on Jan. 24. Among the topics discussed was a resolution supporting the stormwater program, which was approved, allowing the mayor to have voting authority, staggered terms, and confirming the meeting scheduled for Feb. 14. The Board also entered a closed session for just under an hour due to an N.C. General statute for personnel.

The discussion on the mayor's ability to vote met opposition from Mayor Pro Tem Robyn Chadwick with concerns for abuse of power and Alderman Marvin Lackman, who felt there were more pressing matters for Spring Lake.

"With everything going on in the town, I think we should concentrate on the issues at hand rather than a vote for you," Alderman said to Mayor Kia Anthony.

Alderwoman Sona Cooper expressed her desire to see the community have a say.

"Take it to the people and see how they feel about it and take it from there, " Cooper said.

Spring Lake Town Attorney Jonathan Charleston said that referendum was possible on the mayor's voting power, and Anthony asked Charleston to research options to present at a future meeting.

The meeting was adjourned immediately following the closed session.

It is a myth that adults cannot learn to ski because I started skiing when I was forty. It is easier for children, but these days, many adults are taking lessons. Skiing is an engaging aerobic and anaerobic sport that the entire family can enjoy. The Baby Boomer generation continues to hit the slopes, and it is not unusual to see skiers in their seventies.

Making a good plan for your ski trip is essential to having an enjoyable experience. Look for a beginner-friendly slope with a good rental department and quality instructors. In the beginning, avoid investing in expensive ski clothes and equipment to see if you like the sport. Wearing water-resistant clothing will help keep you dry when you fall. Let’s face it: you will fall, get cold, and get snow down your pants. Your clothing should be layered, moisture-wicking and avoid cotton because it absorbs sweat and will make you colder. My advice to the beginner is to buy an inexpensive pair of bibs, a jacket, a good pair of gloves and wear sunglasses with a holder strap or goggles and a helmet. Rent your skis or snowboard and go early because the lines are usually long. It takes a while to properly fit equipment, not to mention how long it takes you to get settled and put it on. Go to a ski slope that offers other activities such as ice skating or tubing for other group members that may not be interested in the sport.

A lesson or lessons are a prerequisite for navigating your skis or snowboards, to learn starting, stopping, and getting on and off the lift. Going straight to the top is no way to learn how to ski or snowboard and can be dangerous for you and the others around you when you are unable to stop. The “bunny slope, “ as it is affectionately called, is there for a reason and a fantastic way to learn and build confidence. Hydration is also a key factor for endurance during the day, taking breaks and eating something nutritious.

Choosing a slope suited for your level of experience is essential for building good memories and helping you look forward to your next trip. I have skied out west and in the North Carolina mountains, including Beach, Sugar, Appalachian, and West Virginia, including Winterplace and Snowshoe. The ambiance of the North Carolina mountains is perfect for skiing and shopping. Still, the downsides are the popularity and crowds. My suggestion for beginners would be Winterplace in West Virginia, which is usually less crowded with various beginner-friendly runs. Try to schedule that trip on weekdays instead of the weekend if you love the North Carolina mountains to avoid crowds.

Churches or schools offer road trips or weekends for youths, and these options are a fantastic way for your children to try skiing with supervision. Planning will save you time and money if you decide on taking a family trip. Plan out your lift tickets, available times, ski packages that include rentals, lessons and account for any days that may be sold out. Ski season on the east coast typically runs mid-December through March.

Adults learning to ski should take lessons from a qualified instructor to learn the basics and opt-out of lessons from those eager friends that want to teach you.

Enjoy that friend time later while you talk about your runs!

Live, love life with skiing and snowboarding!

As a publication, we get suggestions and requests weekly for content coverage. We cannot always follow up on every idea sent our way, whether because we have already budgeted the space in the paper or because we have already committed resources elsewhere. But, sometimes, the suggestion is so heartfelt, timely and important that you just make space where otherwise there might not have been. This is how it went a few weeks ago when Tammy Thurman, community relations manager at Piedmont Natural Gas and vice chairwoman of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, approached Up & Coming Weekly to cover Black History Month in a unique and important way. We met and discussed her vision. Some stories everyone knows explained Thurman. No matter their origins, some stories are told and retold every February, but there are more. Stories that go unnoticed but are equally important.

As Thurman explained, stories are repeated every February, and the leaders who are spoken into the fabric of our community and society through those stories are hugely important. But the lesser told stories, shared on a smaller scale, are quietly told among people of color, and they deserve a louder voice and a broader audience. It is these stories Thurman hoped we, at Up & Coming Weekly, would help to amplify.

This month we will be featuring a series on local Fayetteville Black history heroes. This week and for the next three consecutive weeks, we will feature the story of a Fayetteville-connected Black folk hero. We will share an account from the past that marks the struggles and triumphs in the history of our local Black community. This week we share the story of Isaac Hammond and the Fifer’s Grave, shared with us in an interview with Charles Anderson Jr., a history lecturer at Fayetteville State University (see page15). In the following weeks we will tell the stories of Robert R. Taylor, architect and educator; Mable C. Smith, local politician and fighter for the disenfranchised; and Charles Waddell Chesnutt, political activist and author. We are reaching out to Black community members to help us tell these stories, both through their time via interviews or through their writing.

In addition to our local Black History Heroes from Fayetteville’s past, we will also be speaking with Black community members making a difference and impacting our Fayetteville community today. Look for our cover story next week on a local veteran artist mentioned on pages 12-13, this week, Damien Mathis. And in the issue hitting stands on Feb. 16, we will be profiling veteran business owner Joseph Dewberry.

Join us on this journey while we share stories that may get overlooked in national headlines but are a vital part of the unique, diverse and storied Fayetteville community’s Black History. Pick up our paper each week this February or click in via our website and social media to read about and hear these voices.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

The Fayetteville History Museum will be opening a new exhibit: “African Americans on the River.”

This exhibit honors Black History Month and will become a semi-permanent feature in the Museum.

This exhibit highlights numerous free and enslaved African Americans who were integral to the story of the Cape Fear River and the region, including revered Steamboat Pilot Daniel Buxton. Also featured, are stories of resilience including one of the dozens of free African Americans who traveled down the river journeying to a new life in Liberia.

Admission is free to the Museum and galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.The Fayetteville History Museum is located at 325 Franklin Street and is operated by the Historic and Natural Resources District of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County Director of Operations, Antonio Renteria, has been selected as an Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC). The ELC is a free professional leadership development program and team-building workshop for early to mid-career arts and cultural administrators of color. Eighteen individuals from each of South Arts’ nine-state region were selected for the second Southern cohort of the program.

Renteria will participate in professional development and leadership training offered in partnership with South Arts and the Western States Arts Federation. The ELC Program provides tools, continued learning opportunities, and networks to arts administrators of color who seek to build their capacity as leaders in the arts and culture sector.

Staff, faculty, and alumni affiliated with the ELC Program selected Renteria because he exemplifies qualities in arts leadership and has the capacity to be a leader at his organization and in the broader community.

“I am committed to building relationships with local artists, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners who make Fayetteville a vibrant and welcoming community for artists and other creatives,” Renteria said in a press release.

Americans have traditionally valued education in general and higher education in particular. Harvard University was founded in 1636, more than a century before the United States managed to birth itself. As our newly formed nation was gelling, North Carolina legislators chartered our country’s first public university, what is now known as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is worth a mention here that an education-hungry young man named Hinton James walked close to 150 miles — you read that correctly — from his home in Wilmington to Chapel Hill to enroll as UNC’s first student. He was UNC’s only student for about two weeks until some others turned up, for an initial 1798 graduating glass of six. A 20th-century dormitory in Chapel Hill is named in James’ honor.

Since young Hinton took his long walk, millions of American families have sacrificed and saved, borrowed and sought financial aid to make higher education possible for those they love. Over the centuries, more and more of us have achieved that goal. Higher education has made us professionals of all stripes, led to successful careers in many fields and enriched countless lives the way only an understanding of the world around us can.

Here comes the challenging news.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that about one million fewer undergraduate students enrolled in higher education institutions in 2021 than in 2019. The declines are seen at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, at public and private institutions, at four-year institutions, most dramatically at community colleges and for-profit institutions. The declines are more pronounced among minority students as well.

While a million fewer students over two years is an eye-popping statistic, the trend is not new.

College enrollment has been declining for at least a decade, in part because our nation’s low birthrate means fewer 18-year-olds to enroll at all and because the cost of college continues to spiral. The COVID-19 pandemic, still besetting us in 2022, has merely accelerated the trend. “The reality is that the pandemic has disrupted the education of the next generation of young professionals, and that’s going to have immense consequences on the career options, their livelihoods,” said Doug Shapiro, executive director, Student Clearinghouse.

Shapiro is correct, of course, because educational attainment correlates with lifetime earnings. At the same time, declining higher education enrollment scares the socks off employers looking at fewer skilled workers in their immediate future.

COVID-19 and high costs are apparent factors in the decline, but other factors may be at work as well.In 2013 70% of adult Americans told Gallup pollsters they believed a college education was “very important.” In pre-Covid 2019, only 51% thought so.

Both students and parents are debating the value of higher education compared to its price tags, but is there something more? Something more nebulous and more difficult to pin down?

It is clear many Americans have thrown traditional scholarship and learning to the winds for reasons the rest of us will never know, much less understand.

How else do we account for Covid-deniers, anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists of all sorts—people who persist in their beliefs and behaviors despite scholarship and scientific evidence to the contrary? How else do we perceive a seemingly growing anti-intellectualism in our nation? I saw a woman on television tell a reporter that she simply did not care about the facts. “I just believe what I believe,” came out of her mouth before an international audience.

We need a visit from Hinton James to help us remember why education is important to us as individuals and as a nation.

Book Black Women, LLC will be hosting a night of performance, Feb. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the SkyView on Hay in downtown Fayetteville.

The concert-like event will feature four local female Black singers. Refreshments will be served by Chef Judy from Uptown.

"I created this entity [Book Black Women] because I wanted to provide performance opportunities for Black women. With colorism being loud and silent all at once, it can sometimes be hard for Black women to get the shots they deserve," said Ayana Washington, founder and CEO of Book Black Women, LLC.

Washington came up with the idea of holding a concert in the spirit of Nina Simone's "Four Women."

"Nina Simone knew the Black woman is not a monolith. She used that song to speak to that, and I hope to do the same," said Washington.

Washington will perform in the Feb. 13 show herself, reprising Simone's famous song during her time in the spotlight. Washington was born in Fayetteville and has performed with Cape Fear Regional Theatre. She last appeared on the CFRT stage as the Dragon in Shrek, the Musical.

Also performing will be North Carolina native Desiree Tolodziecki. Tolodziecki has also previously worked with CFRT and is currently pursuing a career in New York. Ashley Jones, a Fayetteville native who works in law enforcement, will also be taking the stage.

A fourth singer is in the works to round out the quartet.

"These ladies will sing songs that mean something to them and hopefully capture the attention of people in the audience who would like to book them for other events!" said Washington. "I am excited to watch these ladies perform and tell their stories through song. It's rare we get the chance to be 'unapologetically Black and female' and show people that that phrase has a range you wouldn't believe!"

Four Women is the first event planned by Book Black Women, LLC. Washington says she plans to stay busy and has several other events planned for the year. Potential performers and sponsors can contact her at bookblackwomen.nc@gmail.com. Performers don't have to be singers, according to Washington.

Those interested in attending can find information and tickets for Four Women at visitdowntownfayetteville.com/events/four-women-presented-by-book-black-women-llc/. Tickets range from $55 to $75.
Select tickets will have access to an open bar. Attendees can take photos in a 360 photo booth, and tickets include a swag bag. The event is formal, with black tie attire requested.

From time to time, we all have things pop up that throw a wrench into the works of our usual schedule, and as it turns out, I'm not immune.

I work in radio, and I host a local radio show that meets people in their cars on their way to start their day. However, on a recent morning, I had some appointments, so I prerecorded a portion of my on-air work the previous day.

I typically spend some thoughtful time preparing the things I'll talk about through the morning. I even prepare and plan to talk about what people think about as they head to work or school. In addition, there are remarks I'll make in passing – things that strike me at the moment or come out of something I recently read or heard someone say – and on this particular day, I made one of those passing remarks that caused someone listening to respond with a text message after it played on the air the following day.

Keep in mind that the number of comments and stories I might share over the course of a week (three and a half hours a day, five days a week) is considerable. Suffice it to say: I don't always remember exactly what I said.

The text message I received was, "I want to be a bridge." Though it came as a result of one of those comments I made in passing, it was driven by something that had been in my notes for a while.

As a Christian, it meant enough to me that I jotted it down to keep it as close to top-of-mind as possible.

What I said was more of a question on this day.

I asked, "What kind of representative are you as a follower of Jesus? Are you a bridge, or are you a barrier to people coming to Christ?"

Honestly, these questions should be top-of-mind for anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

What we do, the things we say, the love and compassion we lack or show – they all factor into what those around think and believe about who Jesus is.

Just as the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in ancient Corinth, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)

As an ambassador, people equate the message we bring or send with one coming directly from the one we represent.

In other words, the opinions others form about the one who sends us depends, to a great extent, on how we treat them as we deliver the message.

Whether you represent your family, our government, the place you work or – in this case – Jesus, it's best to be true to what you declare.

And like the person responding to my questions that day, as a Christian, I want to be a good ambassador and bridge rather than a barrier to people coming to Christ.

Being an Artist: A Way of Life is the newest upcoming exhibit opening at Gallery 208 on Feb. 8. What defines the nature of being an artist sounds like a riddle: "inside out, outside in." This exhibit will showcase artists with different art careers but live the riddle by remaining practicing artists. Being an Artist: A Way of Life includes a variety of styles, confirming how each artist experiences the "outside in," resulting in the expression of those experiences, "inside out."

Being an Artist: A Way of Life is one of four local exhibits in February and March celebrating how a historically black university (HBCU), Fayetteville State University, enriches the local, regional and national cultural landscapes.

HBCUs were founded in the 1800s to provide Black Americans an opportunity for higher education. Like all institutions across America, it was the path to becoming successful academically and professionally. Even today, black graduates of HBCUs are significantly more likely to have felt supported while in college than graduating from predominantly white institutions.

Fayetteville State University was established in 1867. Fast forward to the present, HBCUs now provide diverse learning environments for a diverse student population. Curating Being an Artist: A Way of Life is as much my story, after teaching at an HBCU for 29 years, as it is the 20 alumni who attended FSU and were selected to exhibit together. Like all my art colleagues, I have had the honor of having the participating artists in my classes, encouraging their development, witnessing their mastery of talent. And now sharing the courage they show continuing to be artists after graduating.

The exhibit is unique for several reasons. First and foremost, it takes courage to be an artist. Vulnerability is a consequence of expressing yourself to the public; courage requires centeredness within yourself and an assertion of self. It is rare to show a group of artists who have all attended the same university and see how their careers have unfolded due to their talent, perseverance, and courage. In the exhibit, each artist has a profile text panel explaining why being an artist is important to them and their way of life.

Second, many parents discourage their children from majoring in visual art because of the starving artist perception that lingers in our culture. Each text panel includes different art jobs and art careers of the artists in the exhibit.

This article below includes abridged versions of the art-related jobs, where each artist is located and answers explaining why they made personal choices for art to be their lifestyle.

Marcela Casals:

Professional Actor and Performance Artist, New York City, NY.

"Being an artist is not a choice; it is the thread by which I weave my life."

Dustan Elliot:

Graphic Designer for Champion Media and Results Optimized, Lumberton, NC:

"Art is simply everyday life for me. It was a huge part of my upbringing, and I want to pass that down to my children as well."

Namera Graybeal:

Cumberland County Art Educator, Fayetteville, NC.

"Creativity is the core of who I am that can't be ignored."

Carla Guzman:

G1-12 International School, Taiwan, recently moved to Fayetteville, NC.

"Being an artist is my career path; it is my preferred way of life."

Beverly Henderson:

Assistant Curator Ellington White Contemporary Gallery, Fayetteville, NC.

"Art continues to be a form of therapy for me, allowing me to leave the cares and stresses of everyday life outside the studio doors. I love the mess, the physicality of materials."

Babs Holland:

Illustrator and Designer for a marketing firm, Orlando, FL.

"I am a visual storyteller; I can't think of myself as anything else."

Andrew Johnson:

City of Fayetteville Graphic Production Supervisor, Fayetteville, NC.

"Being an artist brings me joy and allows me to share those moments with others. I can draw inspiration from all aspects of life."

Eric Longley:

Registered Art Therapist Department of Veteran Affairs, West Haven, CT.

"I use art every day as a healing tool both for myself and the Veterans I serve."

Damien Mathis:

Professional Artist, Fayetteville, NC.

"The freedom to express the emotions we sometimes can't explain. We all have something to give to the world."

Karmimadeebora McMillan:

Boston Center for the Arts two-year Residency Program, Boston, MA.

"Research and creating are an integral part of who I am along with constant curiosity and a thirst for knowledge."

Ebony Morlte-Oates:

UX/UI Design Intern at IBEX, Atlanta, GA.

"Art helps me determine what emotional state I'm in, in times where I'm not even sure. Art helps me express my view of the human psyche and the state of the world spiritually."

Vicki Rhoda:

Art Faculty at Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC.

"I consider my artwork political; there is always something to say! Making art makes me feel good about myself."

Stacy Robinson:

Illustrator and Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.

"I was always an artist. I teach art and make it."

David Scott:

Digital Projects Graduate Services Assistant at the University of Texas, Denton, TX.

"My art allows me to be the voice of those who may never be heard. I believe art, my art, can change hearts and minds, open eyes, reveal truths and change the world."

Shantel Scott:

Art Specialist-Ederle Art Center, Vicenza Italy, presently lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

"Visual imagery provides a sort of universal language by which viewers can interpret individually. Creating art is a source of catharsis. I am most myself when I am making art."

Angela Stout:

Painting Instructor, Cape Fear Studios, and FTCC Continuing Education lives in Broadway, NC.

"The process of creating is what my heart desires. The act of making helps me express what I struggle to express in words."

Amanda Stephens:

Lead Sculptor, Kerns Studio Mardi Gras World, New Orleans, LA.

"Art is inseparable from life. It is the most fulfilling endeavor both in the creation and the continued learning of skills and self."

Jean Newton Unser (Dieter):

Art teacher in NC schools lives in San Antonio, Texas.

"As an artist, I am a collector, a maker, a participant, and support other artists be an artist."

Aaron Wallace:

Self Employed Professional Artist, Willow Spring, North Carolina.

"I see my entire living space as a studio and canvas. I am lucky to have a life where I can work at my own pace and have plenty of space to create."

Neysa Wellington:

Master of Fine Arts in Photography graduate student, Tyler School of Art & Architecture at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

"Being an artist is embracing my ancestral calling of being a visual griot. Art saved my life, but photography changed my life."

Lastly, a reason for the exhibit is to share the diverse talent and styles of 20 artists. Jean Newton Unser (Dieter) from San Antonio, Texas, exhibits her refreshing approach to watercolors in a soothing painting titled Landscape. Unser's painterly work is in stark contrast to Ebony Morlte-Oates' digital work titled Layered Purging. Similar in color, Morlte-Oates' portrait is a flattened contemporary portrait evoking a psychological state of being.

Two artists have explored the portrait genre. Shantel Scott is exhibiting a female reduced to line, black and white. In her digital vector drawing titled Fruits of Self Trust, Scott has presented us with a stylized contour drawing - an encounter with a female cosmic oracle. Scott's minimalist approach is the exact opposite of Angela Stout's. Stout is the only realistic painter in the exhibit and exhibits a meticulously painted portrait titled His Story. Stout uses light in her painting to reveal meaning about the male subject; a crackled background texture compliments the subject's strength and permanence, and gaze.

Visitors to Being an Artist: A Way of Life should plan on spending time with the exhibit. A variety of styles and mediums to enjoy, but it will take some time to read the artist's profile text panel. The panel has an image of the artist, their art jobs, statements about attending an HBCU for their education, statements about art as a lifestyle, and links to the artists' website or instructional YouTube videos.

The exhibit opens at Gallery 208, Feb. 8 at 208 Rowan Street from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The public is invited to the opening.

The exhibit will remain in the gallery until late March. The gallery is open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For information on the show, call 910-484-6200.

Fayetteville State University will allow spectators back into the Felton J. Capel Arena for the first time since the pandemic. Facial coverings are required for everyone inside a campus building and/or facility.

The first game that will allow spectators is Saturday, Feb. 5 when the Broncos host Johnson C. Smith University. The basketball doubleheader will have the women’s game tip at 2 p.m. with the men to follow.

General Admission tickets can be purchased in advance online at fsubroncos.com/tickets or the door. The adult admission is $20. Visiting students and children over five years old are $10. Senior Citizens, faculty, staff, and military with ID are $15. Full-time Fayetteville State students will be admitted with a valid FSU ID.

Doors will open one hour before the game. No outside food or beverage will be permitted at the game.

The PNC Foundation is awarding more than $2 million to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina, including Fayetteville State University. PNC wants to establish the PNC North Carolina HBCU Initiative, an effort that aims to enrich the future of entrepreneurship and create workforce opportunities in the state.

The grants will be distributed over a three-year period to help fund the development and delivery of entrepreneurship resources and programming for students.

"At PNC, we recognize how important HBCUs are to our state's success," said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas. "HBCU graduates contribute significantly to the talent pipeline that is fueling North Carolina's economy, and these institutions are foundational to shaping the workforce North Carolina needs to remain competitive in business."

The money will be used to build the Fayetteville State University Entrepreneurship Lab (E-Lab), an action learning opportunity designed to help students accelerate new ideas and product development. Student entrepreneur teams creating or growing their own ventures may compete for E-Lab funding to help fuel their projects. Additionally, the E-Lab will offer business and economic development support for community members and foster self-employment opportunities.

Other colleges and universities receiving a grant from the PNC Foundation include Elizabeth City State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina Central University and Winston-Salem State University.

When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the economy stuttered to a standstill, and hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians lost their jobs over the next year and a half.

Amid the loss of income, the biggest expense for the vast majority of those workers was sometimes left unpaid: rent.

To answer this need, Congress allocated billions of dollars in rental assistance through federal stimulus funds. North Carolina cities and counties received those funds to oversee disbursement.

Cumberland County and the city of Fayetteville received a combined $18.1 million, which they jointly used to create the Fayetteville Cumberland Rental Assistance Program, or RAP.

Nearly eight months after RAP launched, more than $17.3 million has been spent — almost 96% — to aid more than 7,600 renting households, according to figures from the city and county provided to Carolina Public Press late last week.

As of Monday, the program is not accepting new applications until it gets new funding, as program administrators still need to work through over 5,000 pending applications.

More than 750 new COVID-19 cases, due to the omicron variant, were reported in Cumberland County on a typical day throughout January, well above rates before this surge.

If the pandemic continues to close businesses and eliminate jobs, then more help will be needed, said Dee Taylor, Cumberland community development director.

“There’s some uncertainty of what our future poses as it relates to this crisis,” she said. “If this continues, then yes, more than likely, we’re going to need additional aid in the future.”

‘We were already struggling’

Before the pandemic, tenants in Cumberland County were already struggling to pay rent.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s five-year American Community Survey in 2019, 48% of renting households spent 30% or more of their income on housing costs.

That’s higher than the statewide rate of 43% for the same time frame.

The target for many housing experts and advocates is to keep housing costs at or below that 30% mark.

“We were already struggling with the lack of affordable housing in our community,” Taylor said. “We’ve always had a short supply of affordable housing. As far as the housing market, it does not help those who are living in poverty. To be able to afford the market rate housing in our community — that’s where you have a big challenge, especially in this community.”

Increased fees on new round of assistance

In the last $1.7 million of federal funding into Cumberland’s portion of RAP, the county Board of Commissioners increased the portion of administrative fees and housing stability services from 8% to 25%, CPP previously reported.

This is the maximum that U.S. Treasury Department guidelines allow.

While RAP will spend 15% on administration by Innovative Emergency Management, the agency that the county and city contracted to disburse the aid, the remaining 10% will be spent on housing stability services.

The U.S. Treasury, in its guidelines for emergency rental aid disbursement, allows for eviction diversion programs and case management related to housing stability, among others, under these services.

Taylor said the eviction diversion could be used to offset the tenant’s costs for legal services and court fees when facing eviction.

She would anticipate that a majority, though, would be spent on case management, as it helps finalize rental assistance agreements between tenant and landlord, especially in Cumberland’s case as it navigates through its remaining applications, she said.

“In general, it helps (tenants) navigate through the application process,” Taylor said.

“When they submit their application, they still have to turn in certain documentation to show that they’re eligible for the program. … Sometimes, not always, a lot of times the applications are not always complete with the required documentation.

“So, the case managers are there to help them gather that information and service the end communication between the tenant and the landlord.”

 Photo Credit: Multi-family housing in the Stanton Arms complex off Whitfield Street in Fayetteville is seen on Saturday. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press

A new congressional seat in North Carolina is getting much attention from political hopefuls and resident politicians. Congressional District 4 will now encompass Cumberland County, Sampson County, Johnston County, most of Harnett County, and a section of Wayne County.

Many Republican candidates have thrown their names into the hat, hoping to become the Representative for the new district. This past Saturday, the Cumberland County GOP hosted a forum for ten candidates to discuss crucial issues and introduce themselves to voters in Fayetteville. Nine of the candidates were present, as Christine Villaverde was unable to come due to a case of pneumonia; however, her campaign team was in attendance.

Some of the issues discussed were national, such as opinions on federalizing the elections, solving the problem of illegal immigration, becoming energy independent, the security threat of China, and how the federal government can address the rising crime.

Other questions were more individualized, like which committees they would want to serve on and who they would support for a House Speaker.

Michael Andriani
Andriani is a newcomer to politics and recently resigned from the U.S. Army after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He did request to get a religious exemption, however, that was denied. Andriani was commissioned as an Army officer and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in history.

Andriani did not indicate who he would support for Speaker of the House but did throw out the suggestion it should be former President Donald Trump.

Andriani did say his priorities would be to defend the Constitution and enforce the law.

When it comes to being energy independent, he believes that the U.S. should look at multiple energy sources, particularly nuclear energy.

DeVan Barbour
Barbour, a native of Johnston County, has worked as a delegate for the Republican National Convention, but this is his first time running for office. He co-founded Cornerstone Employee Benefits and previously worked for Pierce Group Benefits. He is running a campaign as "one of the people."

He says he is a conservative Republican and wants to vote for conservative values. When it comes to the Speaker of the House, he says he will see who Trump endorses and would like to serve on the House Agriculture Committee or the House Armed Services Committee.

While he is not a fan of federalizing elections, he says he wants to look into a national voter I.D. system and a federal ban on ballot drop-off boxes. He also believes that the border wall needs to be finished, and he would like to see an end to all catch-and-release programs.

Rene Borghese
Borghese worked for 31 years as a nurse and is currently the Director for Logistics of the Air Medical Program for Duke Life Flight. She says she decided to run for the first time because she wants to see conservative values return to the country.

She would like to see streamlining in the government and create better communication between local/state governments and the federal government.
For Speaker of the House, she says she will vote for someone who shows up and votes and not someone who makes behind-the-door deals with lobby groups. She would like to serve on the House Committee on Appropriations and focus on healthcare due to her experience in that field.

She said she would like America to be more independent with energy and economics and be less dependent on China. She raises concerns about outsourcing jobs and the purchasing of companies and their properties by China-owned companies. She says you can't put the cart before the horse for energy independence, which she believes President Joe Biden has done with shutting down the Keystone Pipeline.

Bill Brewster
Brewster is a veteran from Charlotte but now lives in this seat's area for his business. He previously ran in the 2020 election for the U.S. House North Carolina District 12 but was disqualified after not paying his filing fee. He also launched his 2022 campaign for District 13 before the new redistricting map was published.

He says that the U.S. Government needs leadership with character, motivation and dedication. When asked about who he would support for Speaker of the House, he said it should be someone younger with vitality and not someone like Mitch McConnell - who currently serves in the U.S. Senate. He also stated that he would be interested in serving on the House Agriculture Committee and would like to work on a committee regarding business or one that helps veterans.

When it comes to federalizing elections, he said he would support a federal voter I.D. law, but everything else should be left to the state to decide on election law.

Tony Cowden
Cowden is a veteran and business owner in Sampson County. He is new to the political world; this is the first elected seat he has run for.
He says his decisions and core principles are based on the ten commandments, the constitution and constituents and announced that he would only serve four terms if he were to be elected.

Cowden says he won't vote for someone who compromises with the left when choosing the next Speaker of the House. If elected, he says he would like to serve on the House Agriculture Committee, House Homeland Security Committee, or the House Armed Services Committee. He did bring up concerns over barracks living and how the House could improve the lives of service members.

When it came to energy independence and illegal immigration, he believes America can resolve these two issues if the U.S. decides to invest more in our southern neighbors than Europe or the Middle East. He says we should focus on becoming a stronger hemisphere rather than worry about issues halfway across the globe. By investing in countries to our south, we could help support jobs that deter immigration to the U.S.

Renee Ellmers
Ellmers is no stranger to Cumberland County. She served as the U.S. Representative for District 2 from 2011 to 2017, when Cumberland County fell in District 2. She previously served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, House Agriculture Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee. She was endorsed by Trump in 2016.

Ellmers says she doesn't want to name anyone at the moment for a possible Speaker of the House but says she will pay close attention to the person's staff and who they pick to work with them. She also said she is open to someone new who may be running in the 2022 elections.

If she were to be elected, she would focus on ending the Green New Deal and help support an American Parents Bill of Rights that would allow parents to have the right to know what curriculum is being taught to their children and have a say in it.

She stated that she does not view President Joe Biden as a legitimate president but is against federalizing election law. She would help support Voter ID and Picture ID laws but it should be left up to the states.

Nat Robertson
Robertson is a familiar face to Fayetteville natives as Fayetteville's former Mayor. He was also appointed to the Trump White House Roundtable on Infrastructure, the North Carolina Governors Crime Commission under Pat McCrory, N.C. League of Municipalities, The Task Force on Veteran Homelessness, the Task Force on Opioid Addiction Awareness and the Fayetteville Police Foundation.

When it comes to the Speaker of the House, Robertson says he will listen to what the Republican leadership says and go with them. He said that making those connections early on would help him pass legislation later. He also said that he would be interested in serving on a committee that would work for veterans.

He says he is not a fan of big government and believes many issues, such as crime and elections, should be done on a state and local level.

He also emphasized family values throughout the forum. However, he says he is concerned that China-owned companies compromise those values.

Alan Swain
Swain is a veteran who previously worked at the White House under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as the Executive Officer to the White House Drug Czar. He told people at the forum that he knows D.C. and is a fighter.

He stated that he would have concerns if Kevin McCarthy was elected as House Speaker and be more comfortable voting for Steve Scalise. However, if Scalise doesn't run for House Speaker, Swain said he would also look at Jim Banks, a well-liked fresh face.

Swain also noted that he would be interested in serving on the House Oversight Committee, House Judiciary Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. However, he did mention that he would want term limits and would pass that if voted on.

He is worried about illegal immigration and how many federal departments are becoming biased and not enforcing what they are sworn to do, like the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security. He also noted that China is one of the U.S.'s most significant enemies, and we need to be more prepared in defense against them.

John Szoka
Szoka is a veteran and is currently a representative for North Carolina House District 45 and has been in that seat since 2013. He is currently serving on the Banking Committee, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform Committee, Energy and Public Utilities Committee, House Finance Committee, Health Committee, House Redistricting Committee and the Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committee.

Szoka says he currently has no favorite pick for a possible House Speaker and says that the Republican Party needs to focus on having a successful election. He would be interested in serving on the Armed Services Committee or the Energy and Commerce Committee.

He believes in making sure no federal law passes regarding state elections, even relating to Voter ID. However, he said the most significant impact that voters will have on election law is the upcoming fall election of the State Supreme Court.

Like the other candidates, he believes that the pipeline should reopen to secure energy independence. However, while companies should work towards sustainable energy, no mandates should force them to follow sustainable energy options.

He also noted that the United States needs to maintain a strong military force, especially against China and Russia.

He says he is concerned about online security, and that needs to be a more prominent topic on how to stop electronic hacks on our government.

Following the forum, the Cumberland County GOP Chapter held a straw poll, both in-person and online.

The top candidates for the in-house straw poll were Barbour, polling at 25.6%, Szoka, polling at 23.3%, and Cowden, polling at 20.9%. The people at the bottom of the poll were Brewster, Andriani and Borghese.

The Primary Election will take place on May 17.

The Cumberland County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) is seeking new programs to help serve delinquent and at-risk youth. The JCPC has announced that $1,119,291 will be available for various programs beginning July 1.

The JCPC anticipates receiving the funds from the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Community Programs for the state Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

The deadline for the proposal submissions is March 1 at 5 p.m. Applicant RFPs should address the following items:

• Program services that are compatible with research that is shown to be effective with juvenile offenders.
• Program services that are outcome-based.
• The program must have an evaluation component.

The JCPC will consider proposals for the following needed programs:

• Mentoring Programs
• Teen Court
• Mediation/Conflict Resolution
• Parent/Family Skill Building
• Tutoring/Academic Enhancement
• Interpersonal Skill Building
• Restitution/Community Service
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Sex Offender Treatment
• Vocational Development
• Group Home Services
• Counseling
• Clinical Evaluation/Psychological Assessment
• Temporary Shelter (Emergency/Crisis Placement)
• Juvenile Structured Day Programs
• Gang Prevention Services

Proposed programs should target the following risk factors for delinquency or repeat delinquency:

• School Behavior Problems
• In-School Suspension/Out-of-School Suspension/Teen Dropouts
• Behavioral Health Needs (Mental Health/Substance Abuse)
• Family Conflict/Parenting Skills
• Negative Peer Relationships
• Runaway Programs

An application must be completed and submitted online here.

Governmental agencies, 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporations and local housing authorities are invited to submit applications. After submitting the application electronically, print and submit hard copies. In order to be considered for funding, all required documentation must be submitted with the program application by the March 1 deadline. It is required that two copies of the RFP be submitted.

The applications can be mailed to Nichelle Gaines, JCPC Coordinator at Cumberland County, Suite 512, P.O. Box 1829, Fayetteville, NC 28302. Gaines can be contacted at 910-437-1884.

For questions about the proposals or assistance with submissions, contact JCPC Area Consultant Crystal Bennett at 919-710-5331.

Households in Cumberland County that had their water services cut off or have received notice that their water services are in danger of being cut off can apply for assistance in paying their bill through a new federal program called the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). 

LIHWAP is a temporary emergency program that will help eligible households and families afford water and wastewater services. The temporary program provides a one-time payment for eligible low-income households directly to the utility company. 

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit.

“This program will assist Cumberland County residents keep their water service running for proper hygiene and better health,” Heather Skeens, Department of Social Services Director, said in a press release.

All other households that have lost water services or are in danger of losing service can apply online at www.epass.nc.gov. Individuals can also apply by printing a paper application from www.epass.nc.gov and dropping it off at a drop box outside the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey Street in Fayetteville, or by faxing it to (910) 677-2885 or by calling (910) 677-2983 to apply by phone.

All households that are not in danger of losing their water service can apply for assistance if they meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible for the LIHWAP program, a household must have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen and:

• Has income equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty level,
• Has household services that are disconnected and are in jeopardy of disconnection or have a current outstanding bill
• Is responsible for the water bill

For more information on this program and eligibility, visit the LIHWAP website.

LIHWAP runs through September 2023 or until the funds run out.

Refresh this page for the latest information about closures, delays, and winter weather forecasts throughout Cumberland County.

City of Fayetteville

The City of Fayetteville leaders says that they will monitor forecasts which call for cold temperatures, rain and possibly light snow this weekend.

All Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation games, practices, programs and activities for Saturday, Jan. 29 have been canceled due to the anticipated snowfall and elevated risk of travel hazards. All facilities and gated parks will be closed on Saturday. FCPR said they will return to normal operations on Monday, Jan. 31.

“No matter how much accumulation we see, make good decisions,“ Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Bullard said. “Your life is important. It doesn’t take much snow to pose a hazard, slick roads can be deadly. A weather event can change your life. We’ve seen what a vehicle crash, wind and even power outages can do.”

Many City services such as Police Reports and Permit applications can be accessed online. Departments also recommend phone calls to assist with research and questions during operational hours.

Elements from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps from Fort Bragg have been placed on alert for possible eastern Europe deployment.

Other units placed on alert include the 18th Airborne Corps and the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, KY and the 4th Infantry at Fort Carson, CO. No deployment orders have been issued as of Thursday afternoon.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby made the announcement at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

"The vast majority of the troops that the secretary put on prepare-to-deploy are in fact dedicated to the NATO Response Force. And if and when they're activated, we'll be able to provide more specific detail in terms of breakdowns and numbers," Kirby said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III announced Monday that 8,500 troops were put on heightened alert, so they will be prepared to deploy if needed to reassure NATO allies in the face of ongoing Russian aggression on the border of Ukraine. If the NATO force is activated, Austin's order will allow the United States to rapidly deploy additional brigade combat teams, along with units specializing in logistics, medical, aviation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, transportation and more.

Kirby said Thursday that the buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border has increased “in the last 24 hours.”

"The Immediate Response Force is always prepared to go anywhere," Lt. Col. Brett Lea, a spokesperson for the 82nd Airborne Division told Up & Coming Weekly on Tuesday. "We are always on standby."

Passes and leave for service members on standby have been revoked.

 (DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley/Released)