Unaccustomed to tooting my own horn, today’s column is full bore tooting. If reading another bragging Christmas letter is not your thing, kindly turn the page. Do not go any further.

Spoiler alert, this column will make both my readers feel inadequate.

Until this Christmas past, I did not realize that Christmas was a contest.

My youngest son, Will, pointed out that I had won Christmas this year.

How you might inquire, did I win Christmas? Funny, you should ask. Allow me to retort.

I accomplished something Dads, and Husbands face every Yuletide Season. I purchased an item that warned, “Some assembly required.”

These are words that strike fear into the hearts of men across the fruited plains. After my wife and I retired, the Rona arrived full force.

For over a year, we left the house only to purchase supplies. To deal with the prospect of massive boredom and to avoid having to talk to me 24 hours a day, my wife Lani took up painting.

Before Rona, she had been a painter but only painted Agreeable Gray on apartment walls. After Rona, she took up painting pictures, took art courses and turned a little-used room into an art studio.

It turns out she is an excellent painter. She had hidden her artist talents under a bushel for the forty-plus years we have been married. But enough about her, this column is about me.

Painting is a hobby similar to photography in that there are an almost infinite number of things you can buy to pursue your dreams of artistic immortality.

We acquired an easel and the usual widgets.

Lately, she had been sitting on the floor to paint, which was fine until the time came to get up off the floor.

We had not purchased a skyhook, so her rising was a bit more challenging than sitting down. Being observant for once, it occurred to me that if she had some sort of art desk/easel contraption, she might be a bit more comfortable sitting during painting sessions.

At a local art supply store, I found something called the Art and Crafts Creative Center, a fancy desk and stool.

It came in a box all the way from China with literally 97 pieces to be assembled.

The package was so heavy that I used a hand truck to haul it into the house. The 20-page instruction book was diagrams only. No words of comfort to encourage the would-be assembler. Just inscrutable diagrams with 17 easy steps to assemble the beast.

My favorite diagram, Step 9, illustrates this column.

To say I have few mechanical abilities would be to far overstate my skills in putting things together.

Flipping the correct switch on the breaker box exceeds my level of accomplishment.

Yet here I was, the day after Christmas confronting a seemingly impossible task. I was armed only with a screwdriver and a fatalistic determination to get the Creative Center assembled or die trying.

The magnitude of the task facing me was more daunting than the challenge faced by the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae. As you no doubt recall, way back in 480 BC, 300 Spartan warriors under King Leonidas fought 10,000 Persians under King Xerxes.

The 300 Spartans, against overwhelming odds, managed to delay the Persians long enough for the rest of the Greek army to get into position, and they ultimately defeated the Persians.

The bravery and stubbornness of the Spartans saved Western civilization.

As I faced the overwhelming odds of assembling the now unboxed artistic monster, I called upon the spirit of Leonidas to give me strength.

For three hours without a break, I valiantly did my best to assemble the mighty beast. Steps 1 and 2 were inscrutable as the diagram did not remotely resemble the legs that came with the box.

The actual legs were far different from those shown. Alas and Alack!

Trying to make sense of the incomprehensible instructions, I felt like the narrator in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven, who almost said: “Once upon an afternoon dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten diagrams.”

A lesser man would have quit in disgust.

But the spirit of Leonidas was with me. I persevered and innovated with the misbegotten legs. Conquering the first two steps gave me the confidence to move on to the next 15 steps.

Displaying an almost inhuman resolve to complete the task, I only cursed once during the entire process.

It was a relatively mild curse that Rhett Butler might have issued when he left Scarlett O’Hara at the end of Gone with the Wind.

Surprising my whole family and mostly myself, I constructed the artsy desk in one sweat-soaked afternoon with only three pieces left over. Lani was delighted with the desk. My son Will awarded me the Winner of Christmas Award.

Life was good. A picture of the desk with her latest artwork is attached above.
Moral of this story: When confronted with a difficult task, may the determination of King Leonidas be with you.

Three hundred kids from local Cumberland County schools, both public and private, will face off during the second annual MLK Dream Jam at Terry Sanford High School, Jan. 15th and 17th.

The event will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by advocating for children in the community to come together and play basketball.

The MLK Dream Jam began in 2020 as a way for public and private school students to play basketball against each other in a friendly but competitive environment.

Twenty-six teams will participate in the event this year, spread across two days. Twelve girls’ teams will challenge each other on Saturday, Jan. 15th, and 14 boys’ teams will compete against each other on Monday, Jan. 17th.

Karl Molnar, a coach and teacher at Terry Sanford High School, is the event organizer.

The idea of the MLK Dream Jam was to have public and private schools play against each other, explained Molnar, intending to keep it as local as possible. Molnar said that Fayetteville public and private schools have a history with one another.

“Private and public schools have an interesting dynamic (in Cumberland County) … I want to bridge the gap where schools are standing in the same room and won’t talk to one another. I want us all to play nice in the sandbox together,” said Molnar.

Holding the Dream Jam during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend helps the coaches and student-athletes celebrate and honor the legacy of the civil rights leader by coming together.

With the MLK Dream Jam, Molnar and other coaches in the area hope to ease some of these inter-school tensions. Every game features a public-school team against a private school team. Additionally, university coaches and scouts in attendance can watch talented young student-athletes from the community as part of the recruitment process.

“We wanted a reason for college coaches to come to one area on one day and see the talent in Fayetteville,” Molnar said.

As for the kids, Molnar said they are excited to participate Several young student-athletes in Cumberland County play on travel teams with each other throughout the summer, but with this event, they get to compete against their friends. At the inaugural event in 2020, Molnar said the games were all very close and competitive, making for an exciting day of basketball.

“The first event had six games during one day, and by the end of the day, the gym was packed. You couldn’t find a seat … the atmosphere was palpable. I’m excited for that to happen again,” he said.

Players from other teams were in the audience that day, and several went back to their coaches to ask if they could join in the event the following year.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event couldn’t be held in 2021. Molnar said he is anxiously excited about the event returning this year.

The rise in cases from the Omicron variant brings a threat of cancellation, but Molnar and the others remain optimistic the event will go on as scheduled.

The MLK Dream Jam will be at the Terry Sanford gymnasium on Jan. 15 and 17. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets at the door.

Doors open on Saturday at 10 a.m., and Saturday tickets are $10. Monday’s festivities kick off at 8:15 a.m., and Monday tickets are $12. Six games are scheduled for Saturday, and seven on Monday. Attendees will be asked to wear a mask.

Miller’s Crew food truck and Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop will be on location to provide food and refreshments.

Last month, the Fayetteville City Council decided who would be on the Community Police Advisory Board. The board function is to hear about concerns and complaints about potential police misconduct involving the

Fayetteville Police Department. In addition, they will help review and recommend ways to improve police department policies and practices.

According to the board charter, the nine board members and one alternate will meet monthly. However, their first meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The board is composed of six men and four women — many with previous police experience or who have worked/volunteered with police departments in the past. The majority of the board is also African-American with one Hispanic member and three Caucasian members.

Here is an introduction to who will serve on the board, their personal history, and how long each person will be on the commission.

Debra Slaughter

Slaughter, who will be serving a one-year term, is an Office Administrator for the non-profit Operation Inasmuch.

“I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem,” Slaughter said on her application. “The best way I see to do that is to become a member of a committee that will impact the relationship between the citizens of Fayetteville and our police department.”

She says her primary concern is that many citizens view police officers as the enemy so, officers need to have relationships with the communities they serve, according to Slaughter.

She would like the board to address the issue of equity in police stops, an expansion of the Police Activity League program, and reach out to elementary schools to educate students about police.

Gregory Perkins

Perkins, who will be serving a one-year term, is a contributing faculty member at Walden University and is a volunteer chaplain for FPD. He also previously served as a Juvenile Probation Officer.

“I believe that through assessing specific community profiles within the city, I can potentially assist the Police Department in developing citizen-based action forum to serve as a positive commitment to serve all citizens within the city,” Perkins wrote on his application.

He says that the media has portrayed police officers as insensitive and power-hungry, and citizens need to obey the law to promote healthy relationships with the police department.

Perkins would like the board to ask FPD leadership what the top five most pressing issues are for FPD and how the city can help support them.

Jacqueline Clay

Clay, who will be serving for a two-year term, is a former Fayetteville police officer. She worked as a patrol officer in Zone 1. After six years, she joined the Fayetteville State University Police Department where she later became Acting Chief and then retired.

“As a retired police officer with 21 years experience on the street, and as an administrator I am familiar with steps on how to achieve best practices, and as an experienced officer in the field, I know the importance of community policing and gaining the confidence of the community,” Clay said on her application.

She believes trust is needed from both citizens and the police. Clay says that citizens have to have confidence in those they rely on to serve and protect the community. At the same time, police need to treat the community as they want to be treated and be held to a greater standard of professionalism.

Jim Bove

Bove, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Air Force. He previously worked as a Point Information Officer and Community Outreach Facilitator for the Redmond Police Department in Washington state.

“Any opportunity to create conversations and answer questions. This allows both police and residents to understand one another and it gives officers the opportunity to be seen as humans,” Bove wrote on his application.

He believes citizens need to communicate with the police department and ask questions, while officers need to interact with the community and create relationships.

He would like to see the board address community and media relations and how best to navigate a public reputation.

Juana Magnum

Magnum, who will serve as the alternate, is a victim services coordinator for the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. She has been working in victim services and victim advocacy for over thirteen years. She also served as a corrections officer for the North Carolina Department of Corrections in the late 1990s.

“As a victim of a burglary, I know how it feels to be victimized, but on the flip side of that, as a victim advocate, I know how important it is to empathize with and assist the victim,” Magnum said on her application.

She believes officers need to be sympathetic with people who call 911 and ask for their assistance. She says that even though some calls may seem or sound outlandish, officers need to remember that what that person is experiencing at that moment is real to them. Citizens, she says, need to be cooperative when officers come out to canvas neighborhoods and are willing to be open to them.

She would like the board to address how elderly citizens are more fearful now because of COVID-19 and rising crime rates.

Julie Alul

Alul, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a retired Cumberland County School District employee. She was the Executive Director of Exceptional Children Services and worked with the Mental Health Consortium to start mental health services in the school system.

“The pipeline to prison is a real thing in young adolescents and adults in our community that needs addressing in a more compassionate and knowledgeable way instead of just providing School Resource Officers in the schools,” Alul said on her application.

She believes that police officers need to promote interactions that encourage understanding of citizens’ concerns, needs and promote conversation outside of crises. Citizens also need to have knowledge of current prevention programs and work with police to prevent further incidents and problem-solve.

She would like the board to address the current status of police activities, identify priorities and areas of most significant impact and needs, research and design programs that can be implemented and implement active engagement and relationship-building activities.

Lionel Cartwright

Cartwright, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a retired Army chief warrant officer and reverend. He also served as a chaplain for the Chadbourn Police Department. He currently serves as a volunteer judge on the Teen Court at the Cumberland County Dispute Resolution Center.

“I commend the Mayor and the City Council, on the merits of implementing the Community Police Advisory Board,” Cartwright said on his application. “I believe the board, coupled with the necessary resources and support will prove to be an extremely valuable resource in improving Fayetteville citizen and waw enforcement relationships.”

Cartwright believes that citizens need to be proactive in ascertaining the facts and aware of law enforcement’s roles and responsibilities. Police Officers, on the other hand, need to listen, trust and have social interaction with citizens.

He would like the board to showcase healthy relationships and positive interactions between citizens and police officers.

Pablo Arroyo

Arroyo, who will be serving for a two-year term, is an Army veteran who currently works as a probation and parole officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. He also previously worked at the Harnett Correctional Institution as a corrections officer.

“I care for my community and I have seen the great changes that the City of Fayetteville has accomplished in this last 30 years and I believe that it can accomplish more and that it is going on an excellent direction to accomplish better things for the community,” Arroyo said in his application.

He believes that citizens need to get to know their local police officers, and officers need to be more available to learn about community resources and behavioral issues. He would like the board to address issues like gangs, drugs, community involvement, social resources, social disparities, bias, racial discrimination and community needs.

Sidney King

King, who will be serving for a two-year term, is a retired security manager and is currently the President of the United Methodist Men of Hay Street United Methodist Church. He has previously served on the Fayetteville Police Foundation Board of Directors.

“Having extra eye and experiences to help their effort is a very worthwhile commitment," King said on his application.

He would like police and citizens to encourage two-way dialogue by having civic organizations host talk sessions and for police representatives to participate in these talks. He would also want police officers to learn more about mental health and how best to interact with individuals during mental health crises.

He would like the board to check with Police Chief Gina Hawkins and FPD to ensure educational opportunities are available to officers.

Tony Haire

Haire, serving a one-year term, is a behavioral therapist at Community Re-Entry Program and an Army Veteran. In the early 90s’, Haire was appointed to the Durham County Youth Advisory Criminal Justice Board. In addition, he has been appointed and is currently serving on the Governor’s Commission for the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services Board.

“I would be willing, with the help of the city, promoting and providing space, to offer training to those in the community who are interested in getting to know who we are, understanding why we do what we do and how to capture and redirect the thoughts that we have that aren’t consistent with the goal of being a community that desires to look out for the wellbeing of one another," Haire said on his application.

He believes police officers need to promote healthy relationships with people in the community and for citizens to understand the role of a police officer fully.

Haire would like the board to address community policing, ways the community can help support police and their families and assign a community liaison within each zone.

How often do we encounter people impacted by homelessness? Do you know they are there? Or have you trained yourself not to look at them? You may remember, if you think on it, where someone homeless hangs out, panhandling day after day, maybe with a sign that reads “God Bless You.”

The newest Arts Council of Fayetteville Cumberland County (ACFCC) exhibit, "I AM SOMEBODY ­– Faces of Homelessness Exhibition: Works by Dona Marlowe," is on display until Jan. 22. Individuals interested in seeing the show can do so at The Arts Center located at 301 Hay St. in historic downtown Fayetteville.

“These images must be seen to be felt,” Marlowe explains. “Getting to know the people depicted in my photographs, I invited them to participate in my artistic representation of them — including a welcomed invitation to visit this exhibit.”

The idea for the exhibit came to Marlowe when she realized that when she encountered the homeless, she always averted her eyes, pretending not to notice these individuals. She wondered what it must be like to be unseen.

This realization caused Marlowe to think about how the unhoused community is around us but not acknowledged, and certainly not with us.

“How must it feel to be excluded by most, if not all, of society,” Marlowe asked.

She decided to create photographs and mixed media portraits, but she didn’t do it herself. She had help. Stacey Buckner, the owner of Off-Road Rescue, introduced Marlowe to the homeless community and another helper also helped find an additional two people to participate.

Sam Robbins’ song, “Hard to Hate,” was adapted for the show to play during the exhibit.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from all sales of the photographs will be donated to Off-Road Outreach.

Marlowe’s portrait of an individual named William, featured in this exhibit, was selected for the 2021 Annual Juried Exhibition by the Artist Collective in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She sees “I AM SOMEBODY - Faces of Homelessness” as the first of many projects on her journey as a photo activist.

She uses her art to fight for unseen, unheard, forgotten or powerless people.

She hopes that the masses will open their eyes to those struggling and do what we can to help them.

ACFCC, who are hosting the exhibit, are a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville. They support individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development and lifelong learning through the arts.

Founded in 1973, the ACFCC has served as a link between artists, arts and cultural organizations and the greater community by administering programs in partnership with a variety of local agencies to stimulate economic growth, reinforce child education through the arts and enhance the cultural identity of the arts and entertainment district.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information visit, www.WeAreTheARTS.com/iamsomebody or call, 910-323-1776.

Who is the most famous North Carolinian today?

If you check the latest edition of the World Almanac as I do this time every year, you will find a list of “Famous North Carolinians.”

That list includes the following people but not today’s most famous person from our state.

Read over the names on the World Almanac list and then I will tell you today’s most famous person: David Brinkley, Shirley Caesar, John Coltrane, Stephen Curry, Rick Dees, Elizabeth Hanford Dole, Dale Earnhardt Sr., John Edwards, Ava Gardner, Richard Jordan Gatling, Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, O. Henry, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Michael Jordan, William Rufus King, Charles Kuralt, Meadowlark Lemon, Dolley Madison, Thelonious Monk, Edward R. Murrow, Richard Petty, James K. Polk, Charlie Rose, Carl Sandburg, Enos Slaughter, Dean Smith, James Taylor, Thomas Wolfe.

But that list does not include the North Carolinian most talked about across the world these past few days: a man who grew up in the Tally Ho community of Granville County.

On Christmas Day a $10 billion giant telescope to replace the aging Hubble scope was launched from French Guiana. So far, the launch has been successful. The device is already preparing to begin its observations by unfolding its antenna, mirror, and tennis-court-sized sunshield, as it moves toward a final orbit.

The Hubble, at work for more than 30 years, was named for Edwin Powell Hubble, an American astronomer who died in 1953. He was an important astronomer whose work provided evidence that the universe is expanding.

The new observatory-telescope will be about 100 times more sensitive than the Hubble. As described by Dennis Overbye in the October 20, 2021, edition of The New York Times, “Orbiting the sun a million miles from Earth, it will be capable of bringing into focus the earliest stars and galaxies in the universe and closely inspecting the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets for signs of life or habitability.”

So, what does all this have to do with Granville County and the most talked-about North Carolinian?

The new telescope is named the James Webb Space Telescope. Like the Hubble, the James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, or Webb Telescope, or simply the Webb, will be in almost every news story about space exploration for many years. Every young person studying astronomy or reading about space will see his name. It will be everywhere.

Why is this critical device named for Webb?

Lewis Bowling, who, like Webb grew up working in the tobacco fields and barns of Granville County, explained in his column in the December 30, 2021, edition of the Oxford Public Ledger, Granville County’s twice-weekly newspaper.

“James Webb, who grew up in the sticks like me, surrounded by great big fields of tobacco was the man most responsible for leading us to the moon. Let me clarify something: James Webb was born in Tally Ho near Stem, so he was a country boy like me, but obviously a lot smarter. Webb knew and worked for several presidents and was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration director under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. As North Carolina Congressman L. H. Fountain once said, ‘for the first time since the beginning of the world there are now footprints on the moon, and the major share of credit goes to a distinguished son of Granville County, James E. Webb.’”

I would make a bet that there will be a new entry in the 2023 World Almanac’s list of “Famous North Carolinians.”

James Webb from Tally Ho.

This coming weekend's MLK Dream Jam Basketball Tournament will personify and celebrate "The Dream" of one of America's most honored civil rights advocates and scholars, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Dream Jam Basketball Tournament is a unique two-day sporting event. It will celebrate the legacy of this King by demonstrating his philosophies of peace, harmony and the coming together of all peoples regardless of race, nationality or religion. The event will celebrate those cherished principles. It will also celebrate the teachers and coaches who support and educate Fayetteville's young people, who are our future.

Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper is exceptionally proud to be sponsoring this event.

The tournament will showcase all the outstanding basketball players from public, private and Christian schools in Fayetteville, Ft. Bragg, Cumberland County and the surrounding areas. The MLK Dream Jam is a friendly sporting competition bringing schools, players, teachers, coaches, parents and local college and university scouts all together for the best basketball of the year.

The MLK Dream Jam tournament logo says it all and is very significant to the event's theme. At its conception, Karl Molnar and the MLK Dream Jam organizers reached out to two influential Fayetteville celebrities to ask if they would support and promote the concept of bringing everyone together for a private school vs. public school basketball competition. Dennis Smith Jr., a graduate of Fayetteville's private Trinity Christian High School and current player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and J. Cole, singer and songwriter, from Fayetteville's public Terry Sanford High School, were onboard. Both are featured in the logo.

The MLK Dream Jam Basketball Tournament became a reality. The cherished prize: One full year of bragging rights.

We want to congratulate Coach Karl Molnar for his insight, hard work and perseverance in creating a unique sporting event that brings our community together. In addition, we want to extend our gratitude to Fayetteville Technical Community College, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Public Works Commission for their willingness to support this all-inclusive event and for their countless and ongoing contributions to the quality of life in our community. We encourage everyone to come out and support the best high school athletes in Fayetteville, Ft. Bragg, Cumberland County and the surrounding areas.

Have fun and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Nadia Minniti, the owner of Gusto Napoletano Pizzeria and Restaurant, truly believes in good food. It’s part of why she offers cooking classes once a month at her restaurant.

“I like to share with people what real Italian food is, what the culture is. My mission in life is to show people what real Italian food is,” said Minniti.
Minniti opened Gusto Napoletano in 2019 and has been dishing up authentic Italian food for Fayetteville ever since.

The restaurant, located on Raeford Road across the street from Harris Teeter, serves authentic food from Minniti’s hometown of Naples, Italy.

The restaurant’s signature is a brick wood-burning pizza oven used to create an authentic Neapolitan pizza for patrons.

Minniti, a trained chef, was awarded the pizzaiolo certificate by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana and is very proud of her Neapolitan pizza heritage.

In addition to the pizza oven, the restaurant serves fresh, homemade pasta and other classic Italian fares. Minniti holds classes on cooking authentic Italian food every month in the spirit of sharing Italian cuisine.

On Saturday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m., she is hosting her next pasta class at the restaurant.

This month’s class is centered around a square pasta known as spaghetti alla chitarra, or “guitar spaghetti.”

The name comes from the traditional implement used to make the classic noodle shape; a wooden frame with metal strings. The pasta dough is rolled out, then placed on top of the frame, and is rolled again through the strings, creating a long, square-shaped noodle.

Traditionally, the pasta is served with a hearty, rich sauce and covered in pecorino cheese.

“This is an easy noodle to make; anyone at home can make a good tasting pasta,” said Minniti.

Pasta students will be making their pasta dough during the class, then cutting the dough into long, square noodles.

Minniti will have the sauce prepared beforehand. At the end of the hour-long class, participants will sample their creations. Minniti enjoys sharing the time with her students, who in turn seem to enjoy the classes.

Participants get into the spirit of making Italian food and often pair the experience with a glass of wine or two.

“I love teaching the class. We’ve had some characters,” she said.

The class is currently being offered to adults and costs $37 per person. Minniti limits participation to ten people.

Participants will be given ingredients and tools to use during the course.

To register for the event, visit Gusto Napoletano’s Facebook page or purchase tickets through Eventbrite at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/learn-to-make-pasta-dough-for-spaghetti-alla-chitarra-tickets-235958266527?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or by calling, 910-779-0622.

On Jan. 3, Fayetteville police officers were dispatched to a reported shooting along Skibo Road at Cliffdale Road.

Upon arrival, officers located 32-year-old Stephen Addison who was shot.

He was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation revealed that 51-year-old Roger Dale Nobles, a driver of a truck, and Nobles son, were yelling at Addison who was driving a motorcycle.

While Nobles's son was outside of the truck yelling at Addison, Nobles himself allegedly shot Addison and then he and his son fled.

Nobles was arrested at his home later that day by Cumberland County deputies. Nobles is being charged with First Degree Murder and has not received a bond.

His son has not faced any charges at this time. Nobles is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center. His next pre-trial hearing date will be on Jan. 25.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Addison's wife, Justina Hemphill. She says Addison leaves behind three children. The GoFundMe funds raised will be used towards the expenses of having Addison's body moved to Buffalo, New York as well as the funeral service.

The second homicide of the year happened on Jan. 4 at Southern City Swag Boutique located at 4621 Yadkin Rd.

Officers located 34-year-old Eddie Saez inside of the business.

He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Saez owned Southern City Swag Boutique. Other media outlets report that he was a father to seven kids.

Local surveillance video shows two people may have information about the murder. Detectives are asking the public to help identify and locate the two men and the Infiniti SUV vehicle shown above.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective J. Olsen at (910) 709-1958 or Crimestoppers at p3tips.com.

The 911 calls and the incident report pertaining to the death investigation of Jason Walker have been released by the Fayetteville Police Department.

The case, which has gotten national attention, pertains to an incident at Bingham and Shenandoah Drive in Fayetteville on Saturday, Jan. 8., shortly after 2:15 p.m. where 37-year-old Walker was shot and killed by an off-duty Cumberland County Deputy.

The deputy, Lt. Jeffrey Hash told the 911 operator that Walker jumped on his car and broke the windshield.

"I was driving down the road and he came flying across Bingham Drive running. I stopped so I wouldn't hit him, and he jumped on my car and started screaming, pulled my windshield wipers off to try to beat my windshield and broke my windshield. I had my wife and my daughter in my vehicle," Hash told the 911 operator.

When the 911 operator asks if Walker was breathing, Hash replies that Walker "was gone."

In the call, a woman can be heard in the background trying to aid Walker. Hash tells the 911 operator that she is a trauma nurse. The operator and nurse keep asking Hash to identify where Walker was shot in order to stop the bleeding.

"I don't know. He was on the front of my vehicle. He jumped on my car," Hash can be heard telling the nurse.

"I don't care about that," the woman can be heard telling Hash. "Where is the entry point?"

"I do not know," Hash said.

At that point, the 911 operator tells Hash to not engage with anyone else at the scene and to stay on the line until the officers arrived.

That trauma nurse, later identified as Elizabeth Ricks, said at a protest Sunday evening that she rendered first aid to Walker and no officers offered medical assistance when they arrived at the scene. Ricks says that she didn't see Walker jump onto the vehicle.

"[Walker] was hit. He was trying to go home. He was trying to go across the street to his family," Ricks said at the rally. "You can't tell me anything else. I saw what I saw."

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins and District Attorney Billy West held a press conference on Sunday night to update the public on the investigation. Hawkins explained the truck's black box did not record any impact with "any person or thing." Hawkins also clarified that the shots did not go through the windshield. However, they found one of the truck's windshield wipers was ripped off, and the truck's windshield had sustained damage in multiple places.

Hash was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation as of Monday morning. Hash has been with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office since 2005.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation Saturday night and the FBI is assessing the case to see if any civil rights were violated.

The incident report states that Hash's car is listed as evidence but does not state if investigators seized it. The firearm used in the incident has been taken as evidence, according to the SBI.

Ben Crump, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney, announced Tuesday morning that he will be representing the family of Walker. 

"We stand committed, with the family and the young son that Jason Walker left behind, to finding answers as to what happened to him when he was senselessly shot and killed by off-duty deputy Jeffrey Hash. We have reason to believe that this was a case of ‘shoot first, ask later,’ a philosophy seen all too often within law enforcement. We look to the North Carolina SBI for a swift and transparent investigation so that we can get justice for Jason and his loved ones," Crump said in a press release.

The SBI sent out a press release Tuesday morning stating that no further information is available at this time. They also state that District Attorney Billy West has requested that at the end of the investigation, the SBI should provide the complete case file to the Conference of District Attorneys.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, knows of anyone who witnessed the incident or has video or audio footage before, during or after the incident, should contact the SBI Southeastern District office at 910-778-5724 during business hours or call 1-800-334-3000 after business hours.

The Fayetteville City Council unanimously approved a resolution to draft and send a letter to Eastern District U.S. Attorney Michael Easley during the Monday, Jan. 10, City Council meeting regarding the Jason Walker investigation.

The motion was raised by Councilmember Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and finalized by Mayor Mitch Colvin to discuss the investigation and formally reach out to the Department of Justice to join in the investigation.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins spoke to the Council, saying that the FBI (Department of Justice) is already assessing the case to assess any civil rights violations.

"The FBI, which governs civil rights, which is a part of the Department of Justice, is doing an assessment of all what has occurred thus far, looking at evidence, looking at statements and body-worn camera for that purpose," Hawkins said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is handling the current criminal investigation. The SBI would initiate any criminal charges brought due to the investigation. The SBI released a statement Tuesday morning stating that at the conclusion of the investigation, the SBI will provide its complete case file to the Conference of District Attorneys who has been requested by District Attorney Billy West to review the case.

Hawkins clarified that the FBI and SBI conduct two separate investigations and separate entities.

While the public was not allowed inside the city council meeting due to COVID-19 protocols, a handful of people called in to discuss Walker's case and how the FPD handled it during the public forum.

"We're calling for and demanding the immediate arrest and charge of Jeffrey Hash. Fayetteville City Council, especially Councilmember Davis, it's your responsibility to take up for, to stand for the people that you represent," Shaun McMillan said. "We also ask the council tonight to pass a non-binding resolution that denounces the behavior, the injustice of the Fayetteville Police Department in not arresting Jeffrey Hash on Saturday."

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office announced Monday morning that the off-duty deputy who was involved, Lt. Jeffrey Hash, has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. He has not been arrested or charged with any crimes.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video of the incident should contact the SBI Southeastern District office at 910-778-5724 during business hours or 800-334-3000 after hours.

Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans held a press conference at the Cumberland County Courthouse Monday afternoon to tell families of recent violent crime victims that he hears them and they are not alone.

“I stand with you in prayer and believing that we will see a brighter day,” Evans said.

Evans specifically recognized the recent homicides of Eddie Suez, Stephen Addison and Jason Walker.

Evans made a point that he was doing the press conference on his own and not as a part of the County Commission. Evans also spoke about being at the protest Sunday night where people demanded justice for Walker’s death.

“It's my responsibility and my duty to let them know that I am here for them. And whatever it takes, whatever I can do to help them, during these difficult times, I am here,” Evans said.

When it comes to Walker’s death and the state investigation, Evans says that he believes that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will thoroughly investigate the case and that justice will be served.

“I believe that our law enforcement and legal system, along with the assistance of the community, can bring those who are committing these crimes to justice,” Evans said. “It is my hope that every family is given the opportunity to see fairness and justice prevail. During times like this, we must unite instead of standing alone.”

When asked about the transparency of local law enforcement agencies and if he would bring forward the idea of an accountability board to Cumberland County’s Sheriff’s Office, he says he has no problem with the idea, but right now he is focusing on the families who are hurting.

“The one thing that I am here today is not to question the ability of our law enforcement officers but to let the citizens that have been involved in these unfortunate acts of crime know that this elected office, their county commissioner, is just as concerned about what transpires in this investigation,” Evans said.

Evans was elected to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as an at-large representative in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. His current term expires in 2022 and he is now planning to campaign for the new seat of North Carolina Congressional District 4.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has identified the deputy involved in the shooting death of 37-year-old Jason Walker.

The deputy, Lt. Jeffrey Hash, has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. According to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, Hash has been with CCS since 2005 and is currently assigned as a Lieutenant in the Civil Section. The Civil Office of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the service of civil papers in Cumberland County.

“Our sincere condolences go out to Jason Walker’s family,” the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said in their press release.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins gave a press conference on Jan. 9 where she stated Hash was taken into custody following the shooting on Jan. 8, and his firearm was collected as evidence, but he was not arrested.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations is currently in charge of the investigation. The SBI told Up & Coming Weekly that anyone who witnessed the incident, knows of anyone who witnessed the incident or has video of the incident before, during or after, should contact the SBI Southeastern District office at 910-778-5724 during business hours or call 1-800-334-3000 after business hours.

The third homicide of the year occurred last Saturday, Jan. 8 and involved an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's Deputy.

According to initial reports from the Fayetteville Police Department, 37-year-old Jason Walker allegedly ran into traffic along Bingham Drive and jumped on a moving vehicle. FPD states that the driver, the off-duty deputy, shot Walker and then called 911.

Other accounts of the incident state that the car hit Walker, and Walker was shot at least twice in the back.

Because the individual who shot Walker is a sheriff's deputy, FPD has turned over the investigation to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations.

On Sunday, Jan. 9, protestors walked up Hay Street and around the Market House and stopped in front of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and the Fayetteville Police Department. The protesters demanded justice in Walker's death.

Elizabeth Ricks, who was in the vehicle behind the truck involved in the shooting, says she rendered first aid to Walker and no officers offered medical assistance when they arrived at the scene. Ricks says that she didn't see Walker jump onto the vehicle.

"[Walker] was hit. He was trying to go home. He was trying to go across the street to his family," Ricks said at the rally. "You can't tell me anything else. I saw what I saw."

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins and District Attorney Billy West held a press conference also on Sunday night. Hawkins stated the truck's black box did not record any impact with "any person or thing." Hawkins also clarified that the shots did not go through the windshield. However, they found one of the truck's windshield wipers was ripped off, and the truck's windshield had sustained damage in multiple places.

"We currently have no witnesses who claim that anyone was hit by this truck. We went back and reviewed body-worn camera footage, and individuals at the scene indicated they did not witness the incident," Hawkins said. "The only witness available to us now tells us the exact opposite. Again, today we ask for any additional eyewitnesses to please contact SBI."

The off-duty deputy was taken into custody, their statement was taken, and they have not been arrested at this time. According to FPD, because the off-duty officer is a member of law enforcement, their identity is being withheld following state regulations.

Up & Coming Weekly has reached out to the SBI for comment and received the following statement:

 "What we need from the public at this point - Anyone who witnessed the incident, knows of anyone who witnessed the incident or has video of the incident before, during or after, should contact the SBI Southeastern District office at 910-778-5724 during business hours or call 1-800-334-3000 after business hours."

The SBI did clarify that the firearm used had been seized. They said that other information will be revealed after the medical examiner releases their report/autopsy.

The SBI does not have incident reports and told Up & Coming Weekly that we would have to go through FPD. Up & Coming Weekly has requested that incident report.

The Fayetteville Police Department has arrested a 26-year-old man for the first-degree murder of a 2-year-old boy.

Police state that on New Year's Eve, a two-year-old was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center after police responded to a call saying that the boy was unresponsive. The boy died at the hospital. At the time of the incident, the toddler was in the custody of Keshawn Ayers, the mother's boyfriend.

Foul play was not suspected until the Medical Examiner's autopsy determined that the manner of death was homicide.

Ayers was arrested on Jan. 7 and is being charged with first-degree murder as well as felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury. He is currently at the Cumberland County jail with no bond. His next pre-trial hearing is on Jan. 10.

This was the 48th homicide in Fayetteville in 2021.

A zoning meeting has been scheduled to discuss the future of Rowan Park. Rowan Park is located at 725 West Rowan St. It is a mixed green space spread across a little over 12 acres near downtown Fayetteville. A $1 million skate park was recently completed on-site, with a ribbon-cutting being held on August 28, 2020. The park also houses a playground, a disused tennis court, and a large covered picnic pavilion area used as a stage and for yoga classes, animal sculptures and a building associated with the Lions Club of Fayetteville, Inc., built-in 1956.

Rowan Park is currently zoned Mixed-Residential 5 (MR-5). Defined by the city, MR-5 allows for a wide variety of residential housing at moderate to high densities. Also allowed are places of worship, post offices, police substations, daycare facilities and limited small-scale neighborhood-oriented convenience retail. The proposed rezoning would shift the green space to a Community Commercial (CC) zoning district. The city defines CC as allowing for medium to high-intensity retail, service and office use with higher density residential use on the upper floors of nonresidential establishments or as stand-alone buildings.

The public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Festival Park Plaza Training & Development Center at 225 Ray St, Suite 122. Citizens are invited to submit comments in advance and up to 24-hours after the meeting. The hearing will then be continued until a date after the comment period has ended. Written comments or evidence may be submitted to jenniferbaptiste@fayettevillenc.gov. Those wishing to speak at the hearing should call 910-433-1612 before 5 p.m. on the hearing date to sign up.

Citizens can obtain additional information by calling the Planning Division at 910-433-1612. Individuals can attend the meeting via Zoom. The meeting link is https://fayettevillenc.zoom.us/j/86087712996?pwd=aVk4M1B2T09yZytkdDFxNUJIRTF3dz09. Password: 56103.

The Annual Grinding of the Greens Christmas Tree Recycling program, a Fayetteville holiday tradition for 28 years, encourages Fayetteville residents to recycle their live Christmas trees. Recycling the trees prevents them from ending up in landfills.

The Cumberland-Fayetteville Parks and Recreation will collect the trees from Fayetteville city residents in a special tree pickup beginning Monday, Jan. 10. These pickups are separate from yard waste, trash or recycle pickups. City residents should put their trees out for curbside collection by the morning of Jan. 10. All lights, stands and trimmings should be removed from the tree before placing them on the curb.

Residents who live outside the City or miss the pickup may drop off trees at the Fayetteville Community Garden, located at the corner of Van Story and Mann Street just off Old Wilmington Road, anytime before Jan. 15.

Public Works Commission and Department of Environmental Protection volunteers will grind the trees into mulch at the Community Garden on Jan. 15. This mulch will be used for the Fayetteville Community Garden and other local parks.

The holidays are over, but that doesn’t mean the season of giving ends. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, the Military Luggage Company, the Rick Herrema Foundation and Off-Road Outreach have joined forces to help homeless veterans and low-income military families.

The Woodpeckers Foundation and Community Leaders Program have raised $7,480 and used it to purchase 187 backpacks from the Military Luggage Company, which discounted each bag by 50%. Donations collected to fill the bags include coats, shoes, hats, gloves, cold medicine and first aid kits. Off-Road Outreach will distribute the backpacks to homeless veterans and low-income military families on Jan. 10 at Operation Inasmuch, a local nonprofit. Off-road Outreach, ServiceSource and the Woodpeckers will be serving a free lunch at the event. They will also provide free haircuts and additional resources to people who need them.

Kristen Nett, community and media relations manager for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, hopes this inaugural event will persist, becoming an annual opportunity to give back.

“We have not done this event in the past,” Nett said. “I hope to make this an annual event to support homeless veterans and low-income military families in our community.”

People can still donate hygiene items, coats, blankets, shoes, hats and gloves at Operations Inasmuch at 531 Hillsboro St. To register for the event or volunteer, visit www.rhfnow.org.

Methodist University will be delaying the opening of campus for the Spring Semester after a spike in the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Faculty and staff will return to campus on Jan. 10 while undergraduate students will return on Jan. 18. Graduate programs will begin on Jan. 10 and online programs will begin on their original start date.

"I am certain we will have cases on our campus this spring, but as promised all along, we are working daily to remain as open as possible while also being as safe as possible," President Stanley Wearden said in a university announcement. "Delaying the full opening of campus by a week affords us multiple opportunities to mitigate risk."

Faculty and staff are expected to be tested anytime before Jan. 10, preferably 72 hours before returning to campus. Students who will be on campus must show proof of full vaccination and will need to be tested for COVID-19 before Jan. 18.

Students who live in residence halls will be asked to return to campus in four phases, beginning Jan. 13.

At Fayetteville State University, classes have been delayed and will now begin on Jan. 19 to allow time to conduct re-entry testing for students, faculty, and staff. COVID-19 testing is required for all employees and students. They must complete a COVID-19 test within 72-hours of returning to work on campus in January. This is for vaccinated and unvaccinated employees. Unvaccinated students must participate in mandatory testing twice a week.

Between Jan. 4 through Jan. 18, staff are required to check-in at the re-entry testing site at Seabrook Auditorium prior to reporting to workstations. From Jan. 10 through Jan. 18, all residential students are required to complete a re-entry health screening and COVID testing in the Student Center.

Commuter students and faculty members are required to check in anytime between Jan. 10 through Jan. 19. Faculty will test in Seabrook Auditorium. Commuter students will test in the Student Health Center.

At Fayetteville Technical Community College, all faculty and staff must undergo a COVID-19 test on or after Jan. 5. This policy applies to all faculty and staff, regardless of vaccination status. All fully vaccinated faculty and staff will be required to wear masks until they can produce a negative test.

In our first whole week of the new year, I have to admit how little I remembered about the last one, 2021 is a blur.

To be more accurate, how difficult it was for me to distinguish memories of 2021 from those of 2020. It's been a weird run, to say the least.

It seems forever ago, but 2021 lays claim to the disruption of global trade.

A massive cargo ship got lodged in the Suez Canal, a first-time event, leading to a six-day effort involving a dozen tugboats, under the watchful eye of worldwide media outlets. On the bright side, millions of people around the globe learned the Suez Canal is in Egypt as it became one of the most-searched items on Google last March.

And while the story had a happy ending, it wasn't any easier to explain than the bottled water and toilet paper shortage that took place a year earlier.

A little later in the year, that search was outpaced by a considerable uptick in searches for how to say "I love you" in sign language as BTS and many other K-pop stars began incorporating sign language into their choreography.

According to Google, the world searched "love you in sign language" more than ever in 2021.

Additionally, the world was abuzz with concerns over extreme weather, from widespread fires to floods in the U.S. and abroad.

Throw in a solid dose of the turbulent social and political arenas, that we found ourselves in over the past year, and maybe your memory will get a little fuzzy, too.

One thing I can say for sure, though: none of this has caught the God of this universe by surprise.

We just celebrated Christmas, a recalling of a world-changing event which took place more than 2,000 years ago.

The world was steeped in chaos at the time.

Thousands of people in dozens of nations were living under oppressive regimes.

These people were forced to pay taxes to their oppressors while trying to outrun imprisonment, enslavement, cruelly harsh punishment and even sometimes ordered to surrender their children to be slaughtered by evil and corrupt regional leaders.

So, if you're inclined to look back and think, 'this is the worse it's ever been,' you may want to count your many blessings before saying it aloud.

During 2021, most (at least in America) had enough to eat that we could share some with those who didn't have enough.

Most of us had a place to call home, the opportunity for a job to pay for it and more than enough to wear as the weather threw us its curve balls throughout the year.

Let's enter 2022 consciously aware of all we have to be thankful for. Maybe, just maybe, we'll look up to see it's actually the best it's ever been.

"It has been three years since the last indoor football game," General Manager of the Carolina Predators, Benjamin Pippen, said at the Carolina Predators press conference last week. "We are now bringing in a new arena football team, the Carolina Predators."

One of three Predators team owners, Ralph Byrd, is thankful to have a permanent home for the Carolina Predators to play in and feels the team will help unify the community.

"For three years, we were a travel team up and down East Coast," Byrd said. Fayetteville is a great place, a great city, for football. Wins and losses. We are not just about winning the football game. Some of the coaches have played and coached here when there was an arena team years ago. It is not just about football games; it is about bringing everyone together."

Byrd, an athletic trainer, is not just an owner; he is now a general manager for the Carolina Predators.

"I took care of these guys, and now I am going to take care of them on another level. I appreciate Fayetteville for having us – that's the big thing."

Byrd says he bought the team and brought it to Fayetteville to allow another generation the opportunity to play.

"Playing has done great things for us. We couldn't play anymore. It was something we decided to do. We wanted to give the younger guys the ability to play football. It was reaching out to different arenas in various cities, and Fayetteville had a very warm and inviting arena. The atmosphere brought us here," he said.

The team has big plans for their first game and hopes the events will be accessible and affordable.

"We will have a tailgate, especially for the first game," Byrd said. "A formal meet & greet with coaches, players and staff. Tickets will be $10 to $15. We are not here to make money. We want to provide a family-friendly atmosphere in which kids can meet professional football players."

The Head Coach, Charles Givens, saw this announcement as a great belated Christmas gift, announcing the Predators are coming not just to Fayetteville but specifically back at the Crown Coliseum.

"When I walked in, I felt chills. I've played here. I have coached here. I played for the Cape Fear Wildcats in 2001," he said.

Givens explained that he is bringing "a championship coaching staff and championship football team" to support the Predators.

This championship staff includes Jon Hall, who has been coaching since 2015. Hall won Offensive Coach of the Year in 2016 and has called Fayetteville home since 2012. In the past, he also played for the Wildcats. Offensive Coordinator, Shawn Wood, is also happy to be here at the Crown.

"Thanks for allowing us to be a part of Cumberland County. We bring exciting football here and an electric offense. You are going to see a lot of fireworks from this team," Wood told attendees at the press conference.

Team tryouts will be held at an undecided location on Jan. 15.

These men, who are bringing the Carolina Predators to Fayetteville, are long-time teammates and colleagues. They have played and coached together at different times in their lives. They plan to utilize that long-standing team dynamic to bring quality and skilled sports entertainment to the Fayetteville community.

Spectators and athletes can find up-to-date information about tryouts and the team's upcoming schedule on the team's Facebook page, Carolina Predators Arena Football Team. The first game will be on March 26, in Mississippi. The first home game will be on April 10.

A 32-year-old man was found dead in front of an apartment building on Christmas morning, according to the Fayetteville Police Department.

As the New Year begins, we have much to reflect on and look forward to. Fayetteville and Cumberland County have much potential and many opportunities, but only if our civic and political leaders relent and start communicating and cooperating. Until that happens, Fayetteville's image, reputation and potential growth will suffer under the burden of stubborn, belligerent and failed local leadership. One of the biggest obstacles our community faces is a lack of local media coverage. We are the fifth-largest municipality in North Carolina, yet we are without a viable daily newspaper and void of a local television station. The absence of media coverage puts our community at an insurmountable disadvantage. Truth and knowledge are power; lacking news and information makes our citizens and community vulnerable. The media, free speech and a free press, support American freedoms by keeping our leaders honest and accountable. We appreciate people, businesses and organizations that understand and respect these tenants. Through their and our actions, we have rallied to support our community's free and honest flow of information. Notably, we applaud the efforts of Tony Chavonne of City View Magazine and Marty Cayton of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal for stepping up to fill the media void left by the decline of our daily newspaper. Likewise, here at Up & Coming Weekly, we utilize all our available resources to provide hyper-local news, views and insights. Our goal is to support the residents, businesses and organizations that endorse and embrace these constitutional tenets of democracy. We are committed and will continue to reach out to all nine Cumberland County municipalities to promote their communities, businesses, activities, events and achievements.

Thanks to the encouragement and support of our readers, and the confidence of our local advertisers, we have begun an expansion of newsroom operations to provide much-requested and much-needed transparency into local government. To this end, we have invested in a professional, young, talented and energetic editorial and production staff. They strive to focus on Fayetteville and Cumberland County's future and quality of life. These gifted reporters and writers are committed to accuracy, fairness and transparency and will be engaging in more in-depth investigative reporting on local government officials, issues and policies. They will report on and explain the policies and procedures of significant matters in city and county government and the relationships of those involved. In other words, we want to help our readers "connect the dots." Help them understand the details of the policies that impact their families and businesses. Up & Coming Weekly will ask the hard questions that are now conveniently ignored.

There will be no change in our newspaper's mission or mandates. We will continue nearly three decades of policy that includes supporting Fort Bragg and showcasing the people businesses and organizations of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Those that make our community distinctively unique. Our local charm, southern hospitality and cultural character defined by our music, art, and theater assets are too often overshadowed and minimalized by the unsavory parts of our community. Local newspapers and news media can provide the defining balance. Local is the keyword here.

In 2022, you can expect the best from us. We are committed to Fayetteville, Cumberland County and Fort Bragg. Up & Coming Weekly will continue to offer a free, unbiased and open public forum for local citizens regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. We want these voices heard. Nationally, local community newspapers thrive while the daily papers struggle with relevance. We are Fayetteville's local media resource, and local is what we do best. You can depend on it.

Happy New Year, and thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. During 2021, the Child Advocacy Center received 959 cases of reported child abuse which is a 9.5% increase from the previous year. 514 forensic interviews were conducted at the center which is a 4% increase from the previous year. 568 families received victim family advocate services providing direct aid as well as assisting them in accessing much-needed resources.

“Every year January is known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and every year we do something around the topic,” said Faith Boehmer, prevention and volunteer coordinator of the Child Advocacy Center. “We have designed two community cafes that will take place in January where we will have individuals come in, have some dialogue around the tables to discuss the issue, and talk about what is going on in our community.”

Boehmer added they are also doing a Speaker Series focusing on the impact of human trafficking. One speaker is Dr. Dean Duncan, UNC Chapel Hill Research Professor and his topic is “Demand Reduction.” Courtney Dunkerton from the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault will speak about “What You Need To Know About Human Trafficking In North Carolina.”

This year the Child Advocacy Center had an 11-year-old female come to the center twice. The child was communicating with a male stranger through messaging on a social media app. The stranger paid for a lift to take her to a motel. The girl was reported missing. Law enforcement found her in the motel with the older male stranger. Children do not divulge information so it is hard to prove human trafficking because children will not talk about it for a variety of reasons.

“Most tweens and teenagers who have been seen at the Child Advocacy Center are in the age range of 11-years-old to 16-years-old,” said Boehmer. “They are meeting older men online through social media messaging apps as well as dating apps such as Badoo, Instagram, Tik-Tok, and Snapchat.”

She added, “They connect online, arrange to meet, and the older man provides the transportation for them to meet at the hotel.”

This writer asks, Parents, please talk to your children about the dangers of talking to strangers in person and online using social media apps. I am an elementary principal and my Friday afternoon announcements entail telling my elementary babies to be aware of “Stranger Danger.” I tell them they should not talk to strangers or take any money, food, candy, or help strangers look for their pets. They are taught that if a stranger approaches them online, they are to run and tell their parents immediately. We have got to protect our babies and young teens from the dangers of human trafficking. Sit down tonight and have that conversation with your child.

“We have created a prayer guide that we are going to be sending out to the faith community that will bring more awareness about human trafficking,” said Boehmer.

For more information visit www.CACFayNC.org or call (910) 486-9700.