On Aug. 17, the Cumberland County School system is giving parents an opportunity to decide how they would like their children to be educated during the 2020-2021 school year based on what’s best for their families. Gov. Cooper has issued an executive order directing that Plan B be used as guidance for all schools, meaning that school districts may offer a blended system of face-to-face learning or remote learning from home. Parents have the option of selecting remote learning if that is their preference. Cooper also indicated that complete remote learning could be implemented if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Children will have their temperatures checked as they enter school each day. Each school building must have an isolation room designated for anyone who tests positive. And all children, teachers and staff members must wear face coverings in school buildings. Physical distancing and one-way school hallways are also encouraged. 

Note: This story was written hours before the announcement of the NCHSAA's delay of the start of fall sports and could not be updated prior to this week's deadline. 

When I was a teenager I used to enjoy going to unusual gift shops with my parents and seeing what off-the-wall gifts I could find.

On one such trip, I saw a unique jigsaw puzzle. It was a picture of a single, solid, red ball.

I couldn’t imagine someone wanting to tackle the challenge of solving it. It would obviously take hours of trying to match the various pieces together since the actual picture was one solid color with no variation in hues or texture.

I think of that puzzle as I stay in touch with high school athletic leaders and people in education as they ponder if there will be a fall sports season for high schools in North Carolina this year.

The picture was made a tiny bit clearer this past week when Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina announced his plan to return North Carolina to school on Aug. 17 using a blended plan of some classroom teaching with specific safety precautions, while also allowing students and teachers to use virtual classrooms with learning from home via electronic means.

But there are countless pieces left to this real, giant, red puzzle, and what’s worse, the puzzle pieces keep changing shape from day to day.

Que Tucker, commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, held a lengthy virtual press conference with statewide media prior to the governor’s announcement, then issued this statement afterward.

“We will continue discussing the numerous options and scenarios that have been developed and recommended, identifying the most appropriate scenarios,’’ she said. “The NCHSAA staff will work with the Board of Directors, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and other stakeholder groups to solidify the details of the best plan for the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the communities the Association represents.’’

Meanwhile, the Cumberland County Schools held a virtual briefing of its own last week after the governor’s announcement to address what it meant for local schools.

Joe Desormeaux, associate superintendent of auxiliary services for Cumberland County Schools, said everything is on hold locally until the NCHSAA provides specific direction on the next step.

“We know they are actively discussing many options at this time, to include everything from no sports to reduced seasons, changing seasons and swapping between spring and fall sports,’’ Desormeaux said.

The one concrete thing Desormeaux shared was that whether county students opt for the blended learning program that the governor said the state will adopt, or chose to enroll in Cumberland County’s all-online virtual learning program, they will be eligible to compete in athletics.

Students who choose to go with 100 percent virtual learning will be assigned to compete with the school in the district where they maintain a physical residence. “It is very important that if you have changed your address recently you get those new addresses into the system,’’ Desormeaux said.

Although there are multiple sports waiting for word on what will happen this fall, the most complex one, and the one that has a bearing on income that supports the total athletic program, is high school football.

Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for the Cumberland County Schools, noted that Aug. 1, the traditional start date for fall sports in North Carolina, is rapidly approaching and decisions must be made soon on when or if the fall season will start.

This is especially true for football, which has a lot of moving parts and needs to allow ample time to prepare before actually playing games.

Aldridge said he had consulted with some of the county’s veteran head football coaches, and the consensus among them was they need a minimum of four weeks to work with their teams on the field before they will be able to safely compete in a game.

Another major issue for football is going to be transporting players to and from road games. While all the county senior high schools have four activity busses that can each hold 72 passengers, social distancing requirements will limit each bus to one person per seat, meaning they can only carry 24 people.

Aldridge said home teams may be able to share their busses with the visitors from fellow county schools and work out a plan to transport everyone, but that would just account for the football teams.
Aldridge indicated until there is further direction from the NCHSAA, no plans have been discussed about transporting marching bands or cheerleaders to games.

“We need some answers pretty quickly so schools and school systems can be making decisions,’’ Aldridge said. “Nothing is off the table right now. Maybe (it's) something we are worrying about we might not have to worry about.’’

There has been talk about moving a sport like football to the spring, but if that happens, Aldridge is concerned about what you do with other sports. Everything can’t be played in one season, so that could mean moving spring sports like baseball and softball to fall.

Aldridge is concerned about that because those athletes have already lost a season to COVID-19.

“We need to make sure those kids don’t lose two years,’’ he said.

And suddenly, that solid red puzzle is looking like an awfully easier option to tackle.

It was during preparations for last year’s Heroes Homecoming observance in Hope Mills that Jim Blevins of the town’s Veterans Affairs Committee made a troubling discovery.

While working with the flags behind the town’s veterans memorial on Rockfish Road, one of the nylon ropes snapped.

Blevins said committee members quickly realized they needed to perform regular maintenance and function checks on various aspects of the veterans memorial. As part of that process, one of the things they put on a to-do list was to spruce up the appearance of the 105mm howitzer that is part of the memorial.

The retired weapon was a staple of American field artillery from the time of World War II all the way through the conflict in Vietnam. According to army.mil, it was the primary field artillery weapon used by the Army during World War II and is still in use in some parts of the world today.
Blevins said another member of the Veterans Affairs Committee who helped paint the howitzer, Grilley Mitchell, estimated it’s been as long as 15 years since the gun had gotten a fresh coat of paint.

Blevins and other members of the committee first used sandpaper to remove the old paint that was badly oxidized and peeling.

They tried to get some traditional OD green Army paint from an official source but were unsuccessful. But another committee member, Bill Greene, was able to secure several spray cans of the official Army shade and it was used to put a new coat on the howitzer.

“As long as we stuck to OD green, that’s the main thing, just the painting for now,’’ Blevins said.

Other members of the Veterans Affairs Committee who helped refurbish the howitzer were Joanne Scarola and Jim Morris.

The next big project for the committee is going to take a little more effort, not to mention more money.

The monument at the veterans memorial has some cracks in it, and some of the seals are worn as well. Blevins estimates the repair project will run in the neighborhood of $13,000.

While there is some money in the town budget to pay for the repairs, Blevins said the Veterans Affairs Committee doesn’t want the town to have to foot the entire bill.

He said the committee hopes to work with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts to come up with a variety of fundraising projects to help cover the cost of repairing the monument and other projects the committee may promote in the future.

Ideas being considered are allowing people to purchase pavers that will be placed somewhere at the veterans memorial, along with building a fence at the memorial and letting people pay to have signs placed along it sponsoring sections of the fence.

Blevins said the most important thing is to keep the park alive and in good shape to properly honor the veterans from the community.

“That’s our military heritage to the people that came before us,’’ said Blevins, who is retired Air Force. “It’s to honor them and hopefully pass it on to the next generation.’’

 Photo credit: Elizabeth Blevins

Barring any late changes due to the status of COVID-19 cases in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, coaches and athletes from Cumberland County Schools are scheduled to begin off-season workouts on Monday, July 20.

Originally the date to resume practice was July 6, but that was pushed because of concern over COVID-19 locally.

The county and the state are waiting for word from both Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association on the status of returning to school this fall and the chance of seeing high school sports resume on either a full or limited basis come August and September.
“Our district is continuing to evaluate when to resume athletic activities,’’ said Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County, in a prepared statement. “Any resumption will be conducted with the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff in mind and in compliance with the NCHSAA’s Reopening of Sports/Activities Summer Guidelines.’’

The county will also be guided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cumberland County Department of Public Health.

When I was a student at Fayetteville High School, it was on Robeson Street in downtown Fayetteville where the Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital now stands. I fondly remember being a member of the FHS band that was directed by George Tracey and later by Harvey Bosell.

When I was in the ninth and 10th grades, the band members wore blue and white uniforms because those were the school colors. Our second band director, Harvey Bosell, composed a marvelous march entitled “The Blue and White Blues.” This song became so popular that we played it at every football game that was held in the large stadium directly behind our spacious school building that occupied an entire city block.
When I was in the 11th and 12th grades, the band changed from conventional band uniforms to Scottish kilts. Some of the male students did not like the new uniforms because a few of the girls seemed to greatly enjoy pulling the boys' skirts up to see what they were wearing under them. The FHS band was so large that we had to charter two busses when we played for out-of-town football games and other events. We also rode on a chartered train when we played for games in Wilmington. Some of us liked to play popular music as we traveled by rail to other cities, but our band director usually stopped us before we had time to finish playing our music.

When I was in the ninthth through the 12th grades, I formed and directed the school orchestra. We played for school dances and also at Fort Bragg services clubs and for many other events. We had the honor of playing at the Main Post Officers Club which, at that time, was managed by Leroy Anderson. He was a world-famous composer of many wonderful songs, to include “Sleigh Ride” — a song that is still very popular during the Christmas season.

Movie about Fayetteville
While I was a student at Fayetteville High School, one morning, an announcement was made over the school’s public address system that a Hollywood movie crew was coming to town to make a movie about Fayetteville. We were told that, at a certain time that afternoon, they would be filming some of the movie at The Carolina Soda Shop next door to the Carolina Theatre on Hay Street. The soda shop was owned and operated by the late Bill Crawley, who made some of the most delicious hot dogs in town. Students from Fayetteville High School loved to visit The Carolina Soda Shop every day after school. Many of us were featured in that historical movie as we sat at the counter eating hot dogs and drinking Cokes or milkshakes. When many of my friends saw me the following day, they commented about seeing me sitting at the bar enjoying a milk shake from The Carolina Soda Shop. If you happen to know who has a copy of that movie, please email me at weekspjr@infionline.net.

The FHS Radio Club
In the center of our school building, there was a lovely coupler where the radio club, of which I was president for three years, had an amateur radio station whose call letters were W4MQW. Our radio club was sponsored by V. R. White, principal of the school. Mr. White often invited club members to visit him in his home at 1414 Old Fort Bragg Road, where he had his own amateur radio station. His call-letters were W4BPQ, and we were thrilled when he allowed us to talk to other stations a far away as Australia through his short-wave radio.

Name change
Several years after I graduated from Fayetteville High School, the name was changed to Terry Sanford High School in honor of Terry Sanford, who was the 65th governor of the state of North Carolina. If you have ever been a student at either Fayetteville High School, or at Terry Sanford High School, I am sure you are proud to have been a member of one of the finest schools in the state.

Fayetteville High School on Robeson Street
This postcard picture of Fayetteville Senior High School was made when it was located on Robeson Street on the present site of the Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital. The high school building was constructed in 1940 and was used as the senior high school until 1954, when a new building was constructed on Fort Bragg Road. In the fall of 1969, Fayetteville Senior High School became known as Terry Sanford
High School.

A new funding bill would prevent military construction funds from being used for projects on installations named after Confederate generals from the Civil War, the latest effort by House lawmakers to address the Confederacy’s legacy in the military. The bill would prevent any funds from being “obligated, expended or used to construct a project located on a military installation bearing the name of a Confederate officer, except in the case that a process to replace such names has been initiated,” according to a provision in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill from a subpanel of the House Appropriations Committee. The issue of military bases named after Confederate generals reemerged amid antiracism and police brutality protests following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis, Minnesota, police May 25. Legislation introduced in the House and Senate has sought to create a process and timeline to remove Confederacy-related names from 10 Army bases, as well as other military assets and property, including two Navy ships. Stars and Stripes first reported this event.

Friends,

As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I understand the strength of our servicemembers depends on not only the training and resources we provide them, but also the support we provide to their families.

Our warfighters shouldn’t have to worry about whether their next duty station can support the medical needs of their family or whether they will be able to afford safe, reliable childcare.

That is why I am proud to have cosponsored the military family readiness legislation recently included in the National Defense Authorization Act that Congress will vote on later this month.

This legislation directly addresses many of the concerns I’ve heard from Fort Bragg families, including reforms to strengthen the Exceptional Family Member Program which provides access to health care and special needs education, in addition to behavioral health, opioid abuse and child care initiatives.

I have also remained in close contact with Fort Bragg leadership on other top priorities, including key infrastructure projects that will have a direct and immediate impact on military readiness. While Congress has consistently recognized the importance of funding the Special Operations forces at Fort Bragg, this has often come at the expense of conventional forces at the base. Most notably, this includes the 82nd Airborne Division also known as our nation’s Immediate Response Force (IRF).

That is why in March, I testified before the Subcommittee on Military Construction to request they fund priorities to support the mission of the 82nd Airborne, as well as Pope Army Airfield.

As a result, last week the subcommittee released their report, which included both of the provisions I asked for. The first provision urges the Army to prioritize facilities that will support the global mission of the IRF. The second provision urges the Army National Guard (ARNG) to support readiness of ARNG aviation units as they prepare to gain new aircraft platforms. This includes emergency support infrastructure around the airfield to deal with possible fires or mishaps during a deployment. The inclusion of these provisions will bring meaningful investments into our forces and infrastructure at Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield.

While I continue to fight for these resources for our community, I am also continuing my commitment to supporting our servicemembers.
Last week, I was proud to have my proposal to increase military hazardous duty pay in this year’s national defense bill pass the House Armed Services Committee unanimously. This proposal would increase the monthly pay awarded to some personnel stationed in certain locations and those who work under hazardous conditions as part of their military duties. This increase is a step in the right direction to show our servicemembers who deploy in harm’s way that we support them as they fight in defense of this nation and our allies while separated from their friends and family.

As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I’m constantly reminded of the sacrifices of so many of our servicemembers, especially those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. July 12 marks the 158th anniversary of the creation of the Medal of Honor. Since it was established by Congress and enacted by President Abraham Lincoln, more than 3,500 brave Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, including the latest recipient, Fort Bragg’s own Master Sgt. Matthew Williams. I’m honored to represent so many servicemembers, military families and veterans who have all sacrificed for our country. Today and every day, let’s honor their courage and service.

Who among us, as a child, was not forced to eat something disgusting because children were starving in China? Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when you could not leave the table until you cleaned your plate. My sainted mother believed that unless I cleaned my plate, a child in China would starve. After a recent Zoom meeting with my extended family, a common food-related thread emerged when we discussed the merits of okra. My childhood agonies at the dinner table were duplicated in the homes of my relatives. The clean-your-plate theory originated with my grandmother, Araminta, who passed it on to her three daughters, who then passed it on to my brother, my cousins and poor old pitiful me.

My mother had many fine qualities, but at supper time, she was the Dictator of the Dinner Table. Remember the opening of the “Lone Ranger” TV show? “A fiery plate of okra placed on my dish with the speed of light, and a hearty ‘You can’t leave the table until you clean your plate!’” I spent untold hours alone at the dinner table until I had cleaned my plate of some offending food item. On many nights, I was the Lone Ranger at the table while the other members of the family moved on. I would sit there and stare at a cold turnip, a pile of misshapen okra or sometimes even a cold piece of beef liver. Life would go on all about me as I sat staring at some misbegotten food item mocking me from my plate. Instead of being outside, I was chained to a plate of some hideous food. As Colonel Kurtz said in “Apocalypse Now”: “The horror. The horror.”

On mercifully rare occasions, she would deliver liver from the kitchen. She didn’t like liver. My father didn’t like liver. My brother didn’t like liver. I didn’t like liver. Even my dog didn’t like liver. When your dog refuses food, it is bigly sad. Mother served liver because “It is good for you.” Her father once told me that when he was a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, class of 1912, he would take one class a semester that he didn’t like because the discipline of taking that class “was good for him.” This character trait, while commendable in the abstract, was soul-crushing in practice when the parsnips hit the plate.

Okra had a special place in my childhood. There is nothing like the slime of boiled okra to bring back precious memories, how they linger. It is a scientific fact that okra is the only vegetable with mucous. You don’t have to chew it. It will just slither down your throat like water running downhill.

In the pantheon of regrettable childhood meals, the most common offender was my nemesis — green peas. We had green peas frequently. I hated them. Tiny little balloons of green glop would stare at me from my plate. I tried all the kid tricks with them: spreading them around my plate so it looked like I had eaten some; feeding them to the dog; and stuffing them into a napkin in my pocket to be given a stealthy burial at sea in the toilet. She was on to all my tricks. I couldn’t fool her. Like the time Thomas Jefferson dined alone, I would be left at the table in lofty miserable splendor — just me and a pile of green peas daring me to eat them or spend the rest of my childhood staring at them. Upon chewing a green pea, the nasty bilious contents of the pea explode, triggering a gag reflex in normal human beings. It’s science. Green peas are the devil’s vegetable.

The only thing worse than hot green peas is cold green peas. I was my own worst enemy as I would sit there watching the peas attain room temperature. I knew the peas would be worse cold, but I could not force myself to eat them while they were hot. I hoped lightning would strike me before I had to consume the peas. In the battle of the dinner table, I was always outmatched by my mother. If she had been at the Alamo, Gen. Santa Anna would have been defeated and made to eat green peas and liver before retreating to Mexico.

One of the most conflicted things I confronted at the dinner was two-thirds wonderful and one-third abysmal. I refer to something called Rosette. Homemade mashed potatoes were carefully arranged in a circle on a Russel Wright serving dish. The potatoes were artistically sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese. Yum. If it stopped right there, it would have been my favorite food. But no. Into the hollow center of the circle of mashed potatoes came little green men. Green peas would invade the potatoes’ doughnut hole, turning a celestial food combination into a concoction from hell. The secretions from the green peas would contaminate the mashed potatoes, turning the event horizon between the peas and potatoes green. When servings were scooped, the spoon would upset the equilibrium of the peas and potatoes, allowing aggressive green peas to hide under mashed potatoes. Biting into mashed potatoes only to discover a green pea unexpectedly detonating is enough to require years of psychiatric therapy.

All mother was saying was give peas a chance. However, peas are not good for children or other living things. As Forrest Gump once said, “And that’s all I have to say about that.”

Dr. Tiffany Watts has been named Associate Vice President of Curriculum Programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Dr. Murtis Worth has been named Dean of Nursing. Watts will assist FTCC’s Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Services and the academic deans in the development, planning, implementation and support of for-credit curricular programs and services.

Watts received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with honors, from North Carolina State University and completed her doctorate in school psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Worth will lead the College’s nursing programs. Previously, Worth was Interim Associate Dean of the School of Nursing at Fayetteville State University. She has also been an assistant professor and clinical coordinator at FSU’s School of Nursing and a nursing and clinical instructor at FTCC. Worth earned an associate’s degree in nursing from FTCC and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University’s School of Nursing. She also earned a master’s degree at East Carolina University’s School of Nursing and completed her doctorate at the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

Demetria Washington Davis will be forever remembered as one of the most decorated track and field athletes in Cumberland County history.
At the 1998 North Carolina High School Athletic Association state indoor track meet, Davis won the 55, 300 and 500 meter dashes, scoring enough points by herself to earn the Terry Sanford team second place in the meet.

Unfortunately, because she was the only Bulldog entry in the event, she wasn’t allowed to take home the prize for second since she didn’t officially constitute a team.

Washington also won the NCHSAA outdoor 400 meter title twice, along with single titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

She continued her brilliance in college at the University of South Carolina, where she made school history by earning NCAA All-American honors 21 times and capturing six NCAA national titles.

She was the 2002 National Indoor Athlete of the Year, and in 2003 won a gold medal running in the 4x400 meter relay in the World Championships.

Now Davis has decided to share some of her motivational tips and advice to people of all levels of fitness who want to improve themselves both physically and emotionally.

Davis recently published her first book, "Parallel Fitness: A Champion’s Mindset." It can be purchased on amazon.com or at Washington’s website, getparallelfit.com. Davis will autograph any book purchased directly from her website.

“I’ve known for a few years I wanted to write a book,’’ Davis said. Ironically, this wasn’t the book she had in mind.

Davis leads a busy life and has many interests, from her involvement with fitness to cooking to being a mother and to being a pastor.
She was looking to the future to put together a work that would deal with some of those areas, but instead she found herself straying from consistent workouts and not staying in the kind of shape she enjoyed when she was in competition.

Although friends told her she was in great shape, it wasn’t where Davis wanted to be. So she went on Facebook and began posting regular motivational themes to inspire her to do better.

Those same friends told her she could put together a book using the assorted themes she had shared on Facebook. After looking back from last November until the present, she realized they had a point.

Davis stressed the book is a good motivational tool for anyone, and it doesn’t deal strictly with physical activity. “It’s motivation for so many different areas of your life,’’ she said.

The book is laid out for a 21-day period, and Davis uses a play on words for each day to get her point across about what the motivational focus for that day is.

She recently held a signing for the book that was largely attended by friends and family. She compared the emotions she felt the day of the event to how she used to feel preparing to run a race.

“The most enjoyable part was seeing my family and friends there,’’ Davis said. “They really came out and were so excited.’’
Davis is hopeful her second book will be coming out in August or September of this year. She said it will deal with specific workout strategies, nutrition and some of her recipes.

There’s something new to cheer about in Hope Mills, both in the literal and figurative sense.

Tammy Melvin-Carlile, Angela Fitzgerald and Jasmine Lyles have united to open Legacy Athletics at 2824 Legion Rd.

The trio took over the facility in May and after making some upgrades to the building, opened for regular hours effective Monday, July 6.

Melvin-Carlile said the goal of Legacy Athletics is to provide an affordable gym experience that will cater to cheerleading, dance, gymnastics and tumbling, along with programs designed for special needs people of all ages who would like to take part in the kind of activities the facility offers.

All three of the new owners have extensive backgrounds in the various disciplines the gym will offer. In addition to providing instruction in cheer and dance, they plan to include yoga as well as allow the gym to be rented out for birthday parties or by the hour for outside cheer groups and dancers who just need a place to practice their craft.

Fitzgerald said there will be no limits on the age groups that can utilize the facility. At the same time, they’ll accept people from all levels of experience — from newcomers to people who have been involved in any of the activities for years.

Fitzgerald said the inside of the building is every little girl’s dream, designed to leave them wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

The primary workout area features a spring floor with carpet-bonded foam. There is also a 30-foot tumble track along with various types of equipment, including training mats and materials for stretching.

The special-needs programs aren’t designed for competition but will allow the participants to take part in routines and exhibitions.
Current hours are Mondays from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For those who want to use the gym just as a workout space or to practice with a team not being trained by one of the gym staffers, the gym can be rented on an hourly basis.

Lyles said the gym can also be used by home schoolers as a place to earn their physical education credit.

For further details on rentals, scheduling special events and finding out more about fees, call the gym at 910-229-2762.

In trying times, one consistent and uplifting occurrence across Cumberland County is that people support each other and fill each other’s needs with fervent compassion. For the 11th year, the community will come together through Aug. 1 to support homeless children in the Cumberland County Schools system and fire victims served by the American Red Cross through The Register of Deeds office’s annual school supply drive.

The deadline to drop off items is July 24. The office hopes to receive enough donations that it can fill 1,000 book bags. Particularly, the office is looking for pencils, pens, notebooks, rules, composition books, folders, notebook paper, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer and toothbrush cases.

The collection would not be a success without the caring hearts of individuals and organizations across the county. The Longleaf Pine Association of Realtors, the Cumberland County Clerk of Court, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department are some of the key players; but other organizations, churches, civic groups, dental offices and citizens have been supportive of the cause this year and in years past.

“We would like to thank everyone for their support in the past and thank them for their consideration again this year,” said Register of Deeds Lee Warren.

When dropping off donations, a face mask or covering will be required to enter into the courthouse. The mandate will be enforced.

At the end of the collection period, Fayetteville Police Department, Cumberland County Schools, and the American Red Cross will be responsible for distributing the donations.

Of course, monetary giving is welcomed and appreciated as well, although checks will not be accepted. Cash donations and gift cards are helpful ways to support the cause.

Donations will be accepted at the Register of Deeds office in Room 114 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, located at 117 Dick St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 910-678-7775 upon your arrival to drop off the items or for more information about
the drive.

Jumbo Arts International provides opportunities for arts, culture and performance as well as educational programming for people of all ages and promotes the well-being of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southeastern North Carolina. What that looks like in real life is things like The Journal of Creative Arts & Minds, which is a juried project that highlights art and artists. Other JAI projects include virtual art exhibits, benefit concerts and other music-related events. JAI’s most recent project involves a collaboration with one of the group’s community liaisons, singer/songwriter Morris Cardenas, to create a heartfelt music video recording of the 1960s hit “Get Together.” Known for its refrain, “Come on people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now,” “Get Together” is a plea for peace, brotherhood and love. It explores the dynamic of love versus fear and having to choose between them. And the message couldn’t be more timely.

The project has been an uplifting endeavor for everyone involved. “It’s been an interesting year,” said Jumbo Arts International President Margie Labadie. “We haven’t been able to do any in-person programming. With this video, we can contribute something that is really important right now. We are very excited about sponsoring the video and thrilled that Morris brought it to us as a fundraising opportunity. The music is fantastic. They did a fabulous job. We are just really excited to sponsor it.”

The video features North Carolina professional musicians who came together because they believe in the song’s message. They believe it is a positive message and one everyone needs to hear. “COVID-19 wasn’t even on our radar when we started the production,” Cardenas said. Considering how much the world has changed in recent months, “I think we could all use some peace and love to get us through,” he added.

Participants in the video included Cardenas, acoustic guitar; Danny Young, guitar and vocals; Cliff Bender, guitar; Darrell Collins, bass guitar, filming and production, mixer and audio; Tony Raimondo, drums; Robert Turner, piano and Bob Lawrence, congas, chimes and percussion. The backup singers included Bill Joyner, Marie Grimsley, Danny Young, Allen Diffee, Monique McCleod, Terie Lawrence and Michelle Weaks.

“Darrell Collins of Sound Images of North Carolina LLC, who did the majority of the audio and camera work, did such a great job,” Cardenas said. “The video represents a statement of peace, love and understanding among us all. It is not to be used as a political statement. And among the musicians in the video, there are several sects of religion and races — we have white, black and brown people in the video, showing we can all come together as one.”

Cardenas said he got the idea for the video when he was involved in some contentious discussions on social media. “There are all kinds of ‘experts’ on Facebook, and there was all kinds of noise and fighting. I found myself getting involved in it, and I realized I needed to take a step back and take a breath. Then COVID happened and George Floyd. I am not religious, but the song speaks about coming together in more than just getting together. It has to do with spiritually coming together, too.”

So far, the video, which used the song with permission from Universal Music Publishing Group, has been well-received. “We had only one person put their thumbs down, so far,” said Cardenas of the YouTube rating system. “We’ve been heard in Vietnam and Hong Kong and Spain and France. We’ve been heard in England and in El Salvador. That’s just what I am aware of, and it’s not counting all the states we’ve been heard in in the U.S. The reaction has been very good, in my opinion.”

While this project is large in scope, this is not the first time Cardenas has worked with JAI. The organization has produced music programs, called Jumbo Jams, for about eight years. Along with Cardenas, JAI has supported multicultural music performances in North Carolina, most recently in the Hispanic community. Working together on this new music video seemed like a natural fit.

Released on YouTube, the video was directed by Cardenas, who has entertained crowds from Los Angeles to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to El Salvador. The video is also on the Jumbo Arts International Facebook page as well as through its website at JumboArtsInternational.org. Donations in any amount are appreciated to the all-volunteer, federally recognized nonprofit. Tax deductible donations are only used for programming and projects.

Cardenas has another project n the works called American Dream SOS, which is based on one of his songs.

While JAI is always looking for opportunities to support art and artists, live events have come to a standstill, at least for now. But the organization found a way to support an entirely new group of artists with its summer 2020 issue of The Journal for Creative Arts & Minds. “We did an all-student publication for the students who didn’t get to have an exhibition because of the virus,” said Labadie. “This is the first time we’ve ever done a student journal. I teach at UNC-Pembroke, and the art students didn’t get to do the capstone project. The journal features 21 students who it is the first time they’ve all published their own works and interviews.” The journal is available online at the JAI website.

Visit https://jumboartsinternational.org/index.html to view the “Get Together,” video, to learn more about JAI or to view The Journal for Creative Arts & Minds.

If you are among the minority of North Carolinians who haven’t supported the expansion of parental choice in education over the past two decades — in the form of charter schools, open enrollment among district schools and aid to private-school students who have special needs or modest household incomes — the challenge of COVID-19 presents you with an excellent opportunity to reconsider your position.

School choice isn’t some scary conspiracy or ideological scheme. It is a basic tool for addressing a practical reality: people are different. One size does not fit all.

Gov. Roy Cooper and his aides are grappling with this reality right now. Faced with the critically important question of how to reopen North Carolina schools for the fall semester, the administration initially sketched out three options.

Plan A would have all students return to school with “minimal social distancing,” which, in reality, would involve extensive daily precautions that will consume lots of time and resources. Plan B would limit schools to 50% capacity, in effect requiring students to stay at home for at least half the semester through some kind of alternating-day or alternating-week schedule. Plan C would keep schools closed for the semester.

Originally, Cooper set July 1 as the date he would announce which option would be the statewide default. School districts were to be allowed to adopt a more-restrictive plan but not a less-restrictive one. When July 1 arrived, however, the governor flinched. No announcement came.

For many students, parents, educators and employers trying to make plans for August and beyond, Cooper’s delay was infuriating. But it was also unsurprising. North Carolinians have varying needs, perspectives and tolerance for risk. We simply don’t agree on school reopening. According to a recent Elon University poll, about a third of North Carolinians agree with Plan A, just over a third with Plan B, and just under a third with Plan C. The views of parents are distributed similarly.

Whatever the statewide policy may be, a significant share of the population will disagree with it — passionately in many cases. That is precisely why there should be no statewide policy, at least not in the way state politicians have been thinking about it up to now.

Based on their comments, it is clear that Cooper and his aides have read the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on school reopening. They know that, according to the best-available evidence, children face an extremely low risk of suffering serious symptoms from a COVID-19 infection and are very unlikely to transmit the virus to teachers, parents or other adults.

They also know that if schools do not reopen on a normal schedule, hundreds of thousands of North Carolina children will suffer. Many will fall further behind academically. Some will suffer harm to their physical and mental health. Moreover, many of their parents will be unable to care for them at home without losing income or even their jobs. The state’s economic recovery will stall. And the costs will be disproportionately borne by disadvantaged North Carolinians.

As you can tell, I remain firmly convinced that the state’s schools would be reopened under a light version of Plan A. But I also know, as do Cooper and his team, that many North Carolinians will disagree. Some parents will refuse to send their children back. They will insist on some other solution. And they have every right to do so.

Many districts are already planning to offer virtual academies with more-robust offerings than the meager fare the schools came up with during the spring shutdown. Private associations and vendors are doing the same, in response to record interest in homeschooling. Some private schools have long offered hybrid schedules and would welcome new enrollees. The state should expand opportunity scholarships, at least temporarily, to ensure greater access to that option.

I may not agree with the preferences of the more risk-averse parents, but I support their right to choose the publicly funded option they think best for their children. I always have.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, a once-proud, up and coming, developing urban community, is beginning to resemble a war-torn country. Dirty, trash-littered streets, boarded up storefronts, graffiti-laden walls, shanty tents and makeshift nomad-occupied encampments surround the Market House, a historic building and monument that means so many things to so many people.

Hopefully, by the time you read this editorial, the mayor and city council will have put their collective intelligence, authority and sensibilities to good use to clean up the blight around the Market House. It is creating a blemish on our community and an ugly public safety hazard on city-owned property.

However, as in life, the direst of situations often bring out the best in humanity. Last Thursday evening, hundreds of Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents rallied together in front of the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center downtown to “Back the Blue” in a show of unity and appreciation for the rank-and-file Fayetteville law enforcement officers serving on the Fayetteville Police Force. The Citizen Cares Project was an impromptu citywide tour de force response to the negative narratives being touted about law enforcement and being amplified in Fayetteville and all across the nation. The CCP event was 100% Americana at its best. Hundreds of participants waving flags, cheering, laughing, praying, singing patriot songs and pledging allegiance to our flag demonstrated how much Fayetteville citizens appreciate and support their local police officers and how much they love their community and their country.

The CCP event was amazing! The outpouring of support was awe-inspiring. In a matter of weeks, a handful of volunteers rallied the Fayetteville community to raise more than $35,000 to provide gift packages to the 420 police officers who have dedicated their lives to the protection and service of Fayetteville citizens. Each gift pack was a token of appreciation that contained a $60 restaurant dine-out card for them and their family, a personal handwritten note of gratitude and encouragement from a local resident, a prayer for safety and protection, and an assortment of items intended to make their jobs and lives more enjoyable.

The CCP led a peaceful march to personally deliver these gifts to the Fayetteville Police Department amid Black Lives Matters protesters.
Police officers and members of the Full Throttle/Full Mag Motorcycle Club, known for their community service and support of law enforcement and first responders, escorted the marchers and the vehicles transporting the gift packets to their final destination at the Fayetteville Police headquarters on Hay Street. Here, the packages were delivered to the Fayetteville Police Foundation for distribution.

CCP participants remained calm, focused and dignified in the face of the protesters’ shouts and chants.

In a recent local survey, crime and public safety were two of the biggest concerns of Fayetteville residents. The events taking place in our city since May 30 lend credence to those fears. Defund police? Really? The whole world saw how that model worked out in the CHOP zone in Seattle, Washington.

Thank you to all the men and women of Fayetteville’s law enforcement community and to all those who organized and participated in the CCP. This action reflects the spirit of boundless determination and renewed enthusiasm that assures us Fayetteville will remain a city known for its hospitality, diversity, tolerance, dignity, history and heroes. The CCP rally participants represented the entire scope of this community: men, women, children and grandparents; Black white, Hispanic and Asian residents; all religions; and active duty and retired military.

A special thank you to our local Fayetteville police officers and all the volunteers and participants that made the CCP a success.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Editor's note: On Feb. 19, 2018, Up & Coming Weekly published an article called “Eulogy for the Fourth Estate.” We quoted former Fayetteville Observer publisher, Charles Broadwell, in that article. He recently reached out to UCW. Here is a link to the piece in its entirety.
https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/4794-eulogy-for-the-fourth-estate

With so much going on in the world and with the professional news media being tested in unprecedented ways these days, I wanted to clarify something that was published in Up & Coming Weekly from February 2018.

Yes, that was a long time and many news cycles ago. But the article, headlined “Eulogy for the Fourth Estate?” has been gnawing at me because of a quote attributed to me as the former publisher of The Fayetteville Observer.

The article focused on changes to The Observer since our family-owned company sold the newspaper in 2016. It included a lengthy excerpt from a piece published by The American Prospect about the decline of community-based newspapers across the country that quoted me as saying, after the sale of The Observer, that “It was like walking around at my own funeral.”

The American Prospect writer did his job and quoted me accurately; in fact, he called me back after the interview to double-check things. What somehow got lost in translation, unfortunately, is that my comment was simply about how I felt after the sale. I had just learned that I would no longer be part of The Observer after a transition period. I knew it was likely that any new owner would want to bring in a new publisher, but the reality had hit me hard that my life at the newspaper was over. So that was the reason for my comment that inspired the headline — no more, no less.

I decided to let it pass instead of stirring up more dust, trusting that my former colleagues would understand, but I regret if this self-focused (if not self-centered) comment may have left the wrong impression.

In my last column for The Observer four years ago this month, I expressed my faith in the newspaper’s enduring strength, and that’s exactly how I felt. Today, facing even more challenges than we did during my 16-year tenure as publisher, the good people of The Observer continue to work hard to serve the community every day. They are personal heroes to me.

Thank you for allowing me to clear the air and clear my conscience.

— Charles Broadwell
Former publisher of The Fayetteville Observer

United Way of Cumberland County’s Board of Directors has named Amy Navejas its new Executive Director. Navejas previously served as CEO/Executive Director of Better Health. She replaces Robert Hines, who retired after 16 years leading UWCC. “We are very fortunate to have found an exceptionally qualified person locally to lead the United Way into a changing future,” said Steve Blanchard, UWCC Board Chair.

Navejas has worked closely with UWCC over the years while at Better Health. “The UWCC is an important pillar in our community,” Navejas stated.

During her tenure at Better Health, the Spring Lake Diabetes Clinic was added, as was the Fayfit childhood obesity program. Navejas graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and psychology. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. She has prior experience in nonprofit management, case management, outreach, community events, human resources and professional development.

We have all seen the distracted drivers — missing a light change, drifting out of their lane, slamming into the back of vehicles slowing or stopped for traffic. They are usually deep in conversation or are looking down texting on their phone.

North Carolina drivers might be more aware of the dangers of texting and driving. Still, studies show that they — and motorists throughout the country — are not only getting distracted in their driving by cellphone calls and texting, but also gaming and social media while they drive.
In one study by Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance, people of high school age were asked to rank distracting activities by how dangerous they were. Only 6% chose posting to or looking at social media as the most dangerous. A quarter said that writing a text message was the most dangerous, and 29% named driving under the influence.

The National Safety Council surveyed 2,400 drivers of all ages and found that nearly three-quarters would use Facebook while driving. Nearly one-third said that they would use Instagram and more than one-third said that they would use YouTube and Twitter while behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that daily, more than 1,000 people are injured, and eight are killed as a result of distracted driving. The National Safety Council says that around a quarter of all crashes happen due to phone-related distractions. However, because the numbers often depend on self-reporting, many experts believe estimates are too low. When someone causes a crash and injuries or death, however, law enforcement will likely check cell phones and vehicle data recorders. Attorneys also regularly subpoena cellphone records in auto injury and death claims and seek downloads from vehicle crash data.

So, what do we do to protect ourselves? Put your phones away when you are driving — even if you are not one of those folks who text and drive or otherwise. Phones are a distraction from safe driving, period. There is nothing that cannot wait until you get to your destination. Next, protect yourself by having adequate insurance coverage. If you are significantly harmed by a distracted driver who carries minimum limits ($30,000 in liability coverage), you need adequate underinsured coverage on your own policy to protect yourself. I recommend at least $100,000 in uninsured/underinsured protection. The reality is that we have no control over the decisions and actions of other drivers. We can control our own decisions and actions to drive safely and protect ourselves with adequate insurance coverage.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is offering a reward of $25,000 for credible information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the homicide of Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez of Fort Bragg. Partial remains of the 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper were found near Cape Lookout National Seashore May 29. Positive identification was made using the soldier’s dental records. Spc. Roman-Martinez, 21, was last seen May 22, at a campsite on South Core Banks, one of the islands that make up Cape Lookout National Seashore. His phone and wallet were found at the campsite. Roman-Martinez entered the Army in September 2016, attended airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg in March 2017. His awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Parachutist Badge. Anyone with information, contact Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agents at 910-396-8777.

Demand for testing increases
As cases rise across the country, there has been an increase in demand for COVID-19 testing locally, which has created a backlog for many laboratories and extended the turnaround time to process tests. Individuals tested by Health Department staff may not receive test results for five to seven business days.

“Testing is a critical part of our strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green. “The demand for testing is unprecedented.”

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is offering drive-thru testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays while supplies last and staffing are available. Visit the department’s Testing and Collection page online to schedule an appointment. On Tuesdays, test collection will be conducted at Manna Church, 5117 Cliffdale Rd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Thursdays, test collection is conducted at the Cumberland County Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Life is uncertain — eat dessert first.”
— Ernestine Ulmer.

Does this quote resonate with anyone? Life has not been normal since COVID-19 reared its ugly head, causing massive quarantines and economic instability. Ernestine Ulmer’s advice is timely, and summertime is the best time to enjoy a universally loved dessert — ice cream. I easily persuaded family members to “go glimmering,” our family’s nickname for a spontaneous adventure, and taste test the unique flavors of homemade ice cream in the Cape Fear region.

There are a plethora of commercial businesses where you can buy ice cream in our region — too many to list in here, so our emphasis was on homemade and hometown entrepreneurs who offer not only delicious ice cream but also a fun destination worth exploring. For this article, I chose three locations, each under an hour’s drive from downtown Fayetteville. Still, I felt guilty leaving out Sweet Frog, Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and the employer of teenage me — Dairy Queen. It was at DQ that I learned how to artistically twist the soft ice cream into a little curlicue on top of the cone and quickly dip it into the chocolate without dumping the whole confectionary treat.
On the road, our first adventure was to Gillis Hill Farm, which is always a fun family excursion. We visited on a “strawberry Saturday” where, in addition to getting delicious ice cream, we could also pick strawberries and purchase fresh produce, jams, jellies and honey. Before we even sampled the ice cream, we bought two baskets of berries and a round watermelon we tucked into our trunk. Children love visiting Gillis Hill Farm as there are animals and play areas sprinkled throughout the grounds. Farmers in this area since the 1700s, the most recent generation of the Gillis family has expanded into agritourism.

The ice cream shop was open during the quarantine but operated responsibly by requiring social distancing and allowing only one person at a time to order at the window. Instead of the usual perch on the porch rocking chairs, Gillis Hill Farm encouraged us, and all visitors, to enjoy treats in our cars. The homemade flavors vary — check their Facebook page to see what to expect during your visit. They offer cups, homemade waffle cones and pints you can take home. I sampled the strawberry, having just left the patch, and it was creamy and flavorful. My daughter tried the banana and found it oh so “a-peel-ing.”

Sunni Sky’s was our next day’s adventure, and it did not disappoint. Described as “ice cream heaven,” there are almost always over 120 flavors to choose from and a larger-than-life hot-pink ice cream cone statue to take a selfie by. In the past, they even had “hot” flavors — one famously named “cold sweat” that would cause partakers to break into one. Cheers to the employees, aka “inspectors” — per the stenciled titles on every worker’s shirt, who managed a two-car line up to keep fans fed and moving efficiently. My choice was a butterscotch bliss, my daughter had blue nerd, and my husband tried a double scoop of coffee. Bits of butterscotch provided extra sweetness, and the coffee choice smelled as good as it tasted. The blue nerd was colorful but excessively filled with nerds and a little too sugary.

We decided to “double-dip” our Sunday adventure and head to the nearby town of Coats to try the ice cream at Smith Farm. Unfortunately, it was closed due to the quarantine. We were excited to try their fresh fruit flavors and creamy ice cream but will have to plan another date to experience their offerings firsthand (and mouth). Their Facebook page promises wood churned ice cream, delicious shakes and root beer floats.

During the “shelter-at-home” days, some families invested in ice cream makers to make recipes from scratch. From low-cost hand-cranked models to speedier high-tech machines, anyone can create homemade cold and creamy treats. The magical transformation of the simple ingredients of fresh fruit, cream and sugar into ice cream enthralls both the young and the young at heart.

Make time to celebrate summer by making a batch of homemade ice cream or setting out on an excursion to one of these locally owned venues. The unique flavors, fresh ingredients and pride in craftsmanship will be your reward.

More homemade ice cream shops in and around Fayetteville

Gillis Hill Farm
2701 Gillis Hill Road
Fayetteville, N.C. 28306
910-867-2350
http://www.gillishillfarm.com/

Sunny Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream Inc.
8617 NC-55
Angier, N.C. 27501
919-427-7118
http://www.sunniskys.com/

Smith Farm
NC-55, Coats, N.C. 27521
910-897-4269

Smallcakes: Cupcakery & Creamery
2132 Skibo Rd #114
Fayetteville, N.C. 28314
910-835-1074

The Sweet Palette
101 Person St.
Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
910-489-7342

The Coffee Scene
3818 Morganton Rd.
910-864-0555

E.J. McArthur and Colin Baumgartner are both students and athletes at Jack Britt High School who have been directly impacted by the statewide shutdown of sports for all athletes at member schools of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

But McArthur, who plays basketball, and Baumgartner, a cross country, track and field and swimming competitor, have a little different perspective on the effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on their peers. McArthur and Baumgartner are the Region IV representatives to the NCHSAA’s Student Advisory Athletic Committee.

The SAAC is made up of 16 athletes representing each of the eight geographical regions of the NCHSAA. In normal times, they travel to the NCHSAA office in Chapel Hill one Sunday each month to discuss topics of importance to the state’s high school athletes.

Though the pandemic has forced McArthur and Baumgartner and their fellow committee members to hold their meetings virtually over the last couple of months, they are still doing the business of the committee while also discussing the challenges of trying to reopen the state to practice and competitive sports by the time the fall season begins.
Barring a late change by the NCHSAA, many of the state’s school systems were scheduled to begin off-season summer workouts on July 6.

As a basketball player, McArthur was among the athletes who was able to complete play for the 2019-20 season, but he empathizes with those who weren’t as fortunate as he was.

“Most people were really devastated when their season ended,’’ he said.

Baumgartner said one of the biggest challenges of not being able to hold structured practices with teammates is developing the discipline to work out alone. “You’ve got to make the best of what you’ve got,’’ he said.

McArthur said many athletes he knows are speaking together daily to encourage each other. Some are holding small group workout sessions, either together or in some cases virtually.

His biggest concern remains that his peers make sure any workouts they are holding are being done with precautions against spreading the virus. “Some kids are just being kids while others are taking precautions,’’ McArthur said.

While no one is happy with not being able to practice or play, Baumgartner thinks most of the people he’s been in contact with are doing the best they can to observe the COVID-19 restrictions in hopes of returning to a more normal order of things as quickly as possible.

"I'm very understanding of what's going on," he said. 

Looking to the fall and hoping for a return to normal competition, McArthur said he agrees with what most people in education have said about a return to athletics. If the students aren’t able to be in the school building on a daily basis, the consensus is that athletic competition shouldn’t be allowed either.

“If we aren’t safe enough to be around each other, what makes sports different?’’ McArthur said. “It’s risk and reward. If we risk it now and things happen, then everything is shut back down. Right now it’s the safety of the kids, coaches and officials.’’

McArthur noted the complicated nature of COVID-19 as a concern, adding
that even people who survive the disease are being diagnosed with various complications. “Kids should take precautions,’’ he said, “if not for themselves,
for their loved ones, the people in their house and everybody else.’’

There has been some discussion of moving some or all fall sports to the spring season, if needed, to allow the COVID-19 curve more time to flatten. Baumgartner sees some benefit in doing that, but added it could also create problems, especially for those athletes who play multiple sports and might have to choose between sports if their favorites were played at the same time.

Baumgartner doesn’t think it would be a good idea to allow some sports where it is easier to practice social distancing to resume while preventing other athletes in sports with greater contact from resuming practice and play.

“I feel that would create a lot of friction between contact and noncontact sports,’’ he said. “We could catch a lot of flak for promoting something like that.’’

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin has created two City Council-led committees to review policies related to the city’s healing and reconciliation movement. “It’s my intent that we take a hard look at what we do from both an internal and external perspective at the city level,” said Colvin.

Councilwoman Tisha Waddell will lead an internal review committee, and Councilman Larry Wright will lead the external review committee as they relate to racial inequality. Colvin and Mayor pro tem Kathy Jensen will serve as co-chairs of both committees, which will propose mission statements during the Aug. 3 City Council work session. With more than 1,600 city employees, Colvin said there are a lot of personal interactions among them and the citizens they serve. “It is important that we ensure that our policies, and most importantly, our actions, reflect equality and fairness for all,” Colvin stated.

Open letter from PWC executive

Public Works Commission CEO David Trego posted a message this month on the utility’s website, encouraging customers to keep their accounts under control. Trego noted that state government issued orders during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic providing utility customers certain protections. The order has allowed residential customers not to pay their utility bills in full without fear of having service turned off. The idea was to provide short-term economic relief for customers. Two weeks before the order was issued, on March 16, PWC had already stopped cutoffs for past due bills. Then in late May, the protections were extended.

“We want to help customers manage overdue balances,” Trego said. “If you are unable to pay your PWC bill in full, we encourage customers, who are able, to make partial payments... so that the total amount due is manageable when the protection period expires. I want to thank our customers for how you’ve helped our community and thank you in advance for staying diligent in the coming weeks as we all work together to get through these trying times,” Trego added.

Fort Bragg’s name will not be changed anytime soon

The Army has announced several measures to reduce racial bias in the military justice system, but renaming posts bearing the names of Confederate military commanders will have to wait for a Pentagon-wide order. “We are advisers,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville during a recent press conference. “We pass military advice to our civilian leaders, and they are working through that trying to come up with a long-term and enduring policy.”

In early June, Army leaders and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said they were open to discussing the renaming of Army installations that bear the names of Confederate generals. But President Trump tweeted that his administration “will not even consider” the move. That apparently does not mean the idea is dead. Congress could ultimately push the issue forward. There are at least 10 Army posts named for prominent Confederates, including Fort Bragg. Gen. Braxton Bragg commanded Southern rebel forces during the Civil War.

Pet adoptions are again available in Cumberland County

The animal control department is making pet adoptions available by appointment during the COVID-19 situation. Animal control staff members wear face masks and observe physical distancing protocols. They ask members of the public to do the same while in the animal control building on Corporation Drive off Tom Starling Road. Pet adoption fees are $28 through the end of July, thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities. Hours of operation for pet adoptions, stray animal intakes and owner claims are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. All services are by appointment only. Call 910-321-6852 to schedule an appointment.

It’s summer vacation time for local government leaders

City and county elected officials take time off in July every year. Fayetteville City Council and the Board of County Commissioners have not scheduled regular meetings this month. The members try to take their vacations during the month. “If a special or emergency meeting is needed, then one is scheduled,” said Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt. “County management and our department directors coordinate leave time within their offices to ensure sufficient staff coverage.”

Shutt added that technology allows senor staff members to work remotely if needed, even while on vacation. The same is true in city government. Senior management team members vary their schedules so that at least one of them is on duty weekly.

Imagine not missing a day of school
Cape Fear High School graduate Hannah Coggins completed her school experience knowing that she had not missed a single day of school in her life. Coggins not only celebrated completing high school, she was proud to have achieved a perfect attendance record, according to CFHS Principal Brian Edkins. “I have completed my entire school experience, from daycare to senior year, with perfect attendance,” Coggins said. “My inspiration for this accomplishment is my father; he pushed me to do my best.”
Coggins’ family is confident she will continue the same study ethic as she makes plans to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College in the fall to become a physical therapist assistant.