Rodney King’s plaintive words echoing across the decades are more on point than ever in the wake of our most recent national shouting match that leaves everyone sullied.

First, comedian Roseanne Barr referred to two educated, professional African-American women who served key roles in the Obama administration as “apes.” Within hours, another comedian, Samantha Bee, called the daughter of our current president a word that cannot be printed in a community publication, if anywhere.

How on God’s green earth did we get to this low point?

Years ago, when I was an adolescent, I – like most young people just beginning to feel their oats – tried out a few forbidden words, including some with meanings I did not fully comprehend. At  some point in my linguistic rebellion, my mother got wind of it. A grammarian, a lover of the English language and a proper Southern mother, she was appalled and, as we say in the South, “was having none of that.”

She and I had a sit-down on the topic of being kind and respectful to others and using the beautiful flexibility and versatility of the English language both properly and with care. I came away from our conversation understanding something I had not considered before … that unkind, uncivil, and “dirty” language reflects more on the speaker than it does on the intended target.

Name-calling is cheap and easy, revealing a mind that either does not know or is too lazy to search for a precise and insightful word or phrase that actually means something. Referring to others as “apes” or with a four-letter expletive is not creative. It reveals minds too challenged or too lazy or both to come up not with scattershot but with words that have express meaning.

Barr and Bee should be embarrassed not only for what they said about others but also by the sheer mediocrity of their choice of words.

Clearly, our nation is as divided politically, geographically and educationally as we have ever been during my adult lifetime. I would have a difficult time scanning my circle of family, friends and acquaintances without being aware of which side they take. In other words, no one is neutral. There are next to no true “independents.” Virtually all Americans are in one camp or another. We agree with Barr or we agree with Bee, though we might not have used their cheap words, and no end to our current vitriol is in sight.

Whatever else they may be, Barr and Bee symbolize two deeply disturbing aspects of American culture in 2018.

An alarming percentage of us no longer value civility in our everyday lives or in other people. Courtesy matters less and less, as a trip down any roadway in the country quickly demonstrates with fist-shakers and fingerwaggers abounding. We barely notice profanity in person or in various media. Instead of shocking us as it did a generation ago, it has become the wallpaper of daily living. Barr’s and Bee’s language is so common that this column – a week or so after their utterances – may well be the last you hear about either of them.

We also value language less. Finding and using the words that match what we want to express seems too hard for many of us, so we take the easy route – simple and overused words that have no clear meaning and “dirty” words so overused they have little meaning at all.

In my dreams, we would all take Rodney King’s heartfelt admonishment, “Can’t we all just get along?” to heart. We can agree to disagree as we obviously do, but we do not have to speak like Barr and Bee.

We could all learn from Winston Churchill as well. Churchill did not call names, but he was a world champion at the clever and targeted zinger. When Harry Truman remarked that Churchill’s replacement as prime minister “seems like a modest sort of fellow,” Churchill shot back, “He’s got a lot to be modest about.”

That puts all expletives in their proper uncreative and below average place.

The plotlines of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” are almost universally known. Less common, though, is knowledge of how Shakespeare’s theaters actually operated and how his plays were performed in relation to their time. Sweet Tea Shakespeare, currently housed in the 1897 Poe House on Arsenal Avenue in downtown Fayetteville, puts on shows born from an organization that reflects Shakespeare’s ideologies and methods.

That doesn’t mean STS is not contemporary – in fact, quite the opposite. Jeremy Fiebig, STS artistic director and president, founded the company in 2012 after moving to Fayetteville to teach theater at Fayetteville State University. He brought with him experience as an assistant director, stage manager and understudy at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, three years’ experience teaching theater at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, and a love for the spirit of Shakespeare. That spirit, he said, is rooted in accessibility.

He explained that, “One hundred years before Shakespeare became Shakespeare,” the printing press created a fast-growing separation between those who could read and those who could not. “Shakespeare was writing pieces of literature that were read out loud,” Fiebig said. “He was playing with the language in the same way they were doing in print, but it was accessible to a whole group of people who maybe hadn’t been educated in the same way he had. That was the kindling that caused him to catch fire.”

STS performs more than just plays written by Shakespeare, but Fiebig said that, no matter the source material, “We try to be accessible to all audiences, regardless of background. That makes us do what we do in a certain style that’s... like a combination of musical theater and children’s theater.” At the same time, he said, those who know the original texts will still find STS shows true to the essence of the language.

Associate artistic directors Jessica Osnoe and Marie Lowe added that STS aims to inspire wonder and delight, not just in the stories but in demonstrating creative solutions for how to tell those stories with basic materials like Shakespeare would have used – fabric, light, wood, live music.

“Jeremy has one of the best visual senses of anyone I’ve ever worked with,” Lowe said. “So many things in Shakespearean plays... are difficult to produce: ships, castles, harpies, magic, storms. Jeremy finds truly delightful ways of invoking these things without actually building a castle or crafting a ship.

“That visual wonder … That’s one thing I think every audience comes away from our shows (talking about).”

This wonder is homegrown by committed company members performing a variety of roles, both administrative and performative, rather than a cast that rotates with every show. “We organize ourselves in the way medieval and renaissance companies would have,” Fiebig said. “That structure is responsible for turning us into what we are today.”

Osnoe explained that eight STS “masters” operate in a structure like a craftsman’s guild, each overseeing an “area of responsibility and apprenticeship with and for other company members known as ‘fellows’ and ‘wrights.’ The company comprises nearly 40 members, all with varying backgrounds, training and theatrical experience.”

This structure, she explained, allows different members to take turns hosting different responsibilities, contributing his or her strengths and in turn receiving feedback and guidance for growth that will benefit not just them but the entire company. Entrylevel company members – the “wrights” and “fellows” – have the opportunity to move up as they continue to dedicate their time and talents to the larger body.

Fiebig added that actors who do not wish to commit to company membership are still welcome to audition and that STS shows usually feature a mixture of company members and one-time performers.

STS also includes a youth company, Green Tea, which offers young adults ages 12-17 monthly classes and the chance to perform.

The next opportunities to see STS at work are “Pericles” and “The Tempest,” which are running in repertoire every other night June 5-21, except for June 18. These shows will conclude the company’s 2017-18 season.

Fiebig is directing both shows, with the help of codirector Jessica Schiermeister for “Pericles.” “Pericles” follows the adventures of the Prince of Tyre, a character Fiebig described as “a great, regular old hero, like Jesus or, you know, D’Artagnan. A guy to whom things happen. Like Harry Potter.”

Pericles, who will be played by Richard Adlam, charges around various locations in ancient Greece, experiencing shipwrecks, pirates, a murder plot, incest and romance – not necessarily in that order. With a 35-person cast playing a total of over 60 roles, it’s the largest number of people STS has ever involved in a production.

“The Tempest” tells the story of, in Fiebig’s words, “this guy who in part feels like he screwed up his life with his approach to the world. He’s a loner. He feels like the last 12-15 years of his life, he’s been suffering the consequences.”

The guy, Prospero, is a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan. The consequences are that he’s been stranded on a desert island with his daughter, Miranda, for over a decade. The story that unfolds introduces us to, in addition to Prospero and Miranda, a captive spirit, a bitter monster, a scheming brother, a lovesick prince and a wise counselor, among others. “(The story) is ultimately about forgiveness,” Fiebig said. Prospero will be played by Ana Burby.

STS 2018-19 season

The new season kicks off in August and winds down next June. It will feature:

• “The Comedy of Errors,” a story about a set of twins separated and the sweet, confusing, satisfying chaos and reunions that follow.

• “OthelLIT,” a uniquely light-dark and boozy spoof on “Othello,” the tragic tale of love, deception and revenge.

• “Behold,” a folk Christmas cantata that joyfully blends the new and the traditional.

• “Sweeney Todd,” to be performed at Fayetteville Pie Company in the Westwood Shopping Center. The story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is deliciously adapted with rich, saucy danger, despair and … a cat.

• “Maid Marian,” a new adaptation of “Robin Hood” by Osnoe. Get to know a new voice in the narrative. “I think it will mostly be bittersweet,” Osnoe said.

• “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in repertory. The first features one of Shakespeare’s most infamous villains and is a twisted tale of manipulation as a malcontent rises to power. Fiebig said it will feature electric guitars for a bluesy, rock feel. “The Merry Wives” is, in Fiebig’s words, “a great comedy while we’re still in the honeymoon phase of Megan and Harry,” referring to the recent royal wedding. “It has to do with who’s married to whom and who would like to be married whom.”

Fiebig reflected on his future goals for STS, saying, “We want to grow our relationship with Fayetteville and its businesses, organizations, families and individuals. I think for a city to work, actors and directors and designers are as critical as police and firemen and EMS workers. It’s so important to us that we aren’t just making art, but making art for here and making artists who will make a life here.”

For showtimes, tickets and more information, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com.

As home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, Fayetteville is nestled closer to thehearts of our Founding Fathers than most of America for one reason – the fine service members here who protect and defend our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They ensure that we can vote, we can dissent, we can speak our minds – even when maybe we shouldn’t.

Yet we do.

Just this past year, writers in Up & ComingWeekly made their voices heard regarding immigration, kneeling during the national anthem, and more recently, local politics in both Hope Mills and Fayetteville. We received pushback on all of it. And we were happy to read and print those responses, even when we didn’t agree.

Disagreements and pettiness happen daily on a national level with presidential tweets that make headlines and talking heads and celebrities who use their positions as a platform to further their political or personal agendas. Two recent cases that come to mind are Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee. ABC canceled Barr’s TV show for inappropriate remarks she made about President Obama’s former democratic senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett. Meanwhile, on her show “Full Frontal,” Samantha Bee verbally assaulted President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka (a Republican staffer), by referring to her as a “feckless C**t.”

Did TBS’ executives admonish Bee’s behavior? Did they cancel her comedy show? They did not. Imagine the national outrage if Bee said that about Michelle Obama, or worse, her daughters Malia and Sasha.

Bee’s show was videotaped. This meant that TBS had the opportunity to edit out the offensive insult before it aired nationally. Those with the authority to make that decision chose not to.

Even if the performance was a live broadcast, a standard 10-second broadcasting delay allows for bleeping out vulgarities.

By their actions, these two companies made bold statements about where they stand. Undoubtedly, many agree with them. Others do not. But no one went to jail, mysteriously disappeared or lost their job. Because this is still America. That’s part of the glory of our country. We can speak our minds without fear of retribution from our government and with the expectation of being heard.

As part of this military community, we have lost far too many service members through the years because they answered the call to serve and were sent to handle America’s business in faraway places on our behalf. With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, and on the heels of heartfelt ceremonies where we honored our friends for their sacrifice and quietly vowed to look after their widows and orphans, the name-calling and hate couldn’t feel more misguided or counterproductive.

We are lucky to be Americans, and we should definitely use our First Amendment right to voice our opinions, to disagree, to be true to ourselves. When passions run high, it is easy to forget the cost of our freedom. And that comes with consequences – for people and organizations. We both thank you for reading Up &Coming Weekly.

Nyielah Nick

Seventy-First

• Baseball/Track

• Sophomore

Nick has a 3.75 gradepoint average. In addition to basketball and track, she is active in ROTC and Find a Friend.

Zaryen McGilvary

Seventy-First

• Indoor and outdoor track

• Sophomore

McGilvary has a 3.6 grade point average. In addition to track, McGilvary is active in ROTC.

Freedom Christian Academy’s softball team won its second North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A softball championship in three years last week, again on its homefield, winning three straight games in the double elimination round of the state tournament.

Freedom was the No. 2 seed in the tournament and didn’t have to play a game on the road, beating Calvary Day School 10-0 in the opening round before play moved to Freedom for the rest of the tournament. Freedom beat No. 3 seed Rocky Mount Academy 13-2, then downed No. 1 seed Fayetteville Christian 3-1.

Rocky Mount came out of the loser’s bracket after eliminating Fayetteville Christian 3-2, then Freedom clinched the title with a five-inning 11-1win over Rocky Mount in the final game.

Haley Nelson got the win in the championship game, allowing three hits and one run in five innings while recording six strikeouts and yielding three walks.

Rocky Mount led briefly at 1-0 before Molly Montgomery homered to give Freedom a 2-1 lead. Montgomery singled home two more runs later in the game.

Kendall MacCauley also tripled to drive in two more runs for the Patriots.

Nelson, Montgomery and Lexi Little made the NCISAA 2-A All-State team for Freedom. Chosen from Fayetteville Christian were Destiny Smith, Olivia Nieto and Morgan Hatchell.

• NC Spurs will hold a basketball camp featuring Fayetteville Academy basketball coach Bill Boyette. The camp is for boys and girls 8-12 and 13-18 and will be held July 9-13 at Fayetteville Academy from 9 a.m. until noon each day. The cost is $200 per student and includes player evaluation. 

For information, call Jimmy Maher at 910-580-5643 or visit www.ncspurs.com/basketball.

NC Spurs will also hold an elite training camp for soccer July 19-21. Sessions for U10-U13 will be held 9 a.m. until noon and for U14-U18 from 5p.m. to 8 p.m. The camp will be directed by Shaun Maher, 14-year professional player with various teams in England and Ireland.

The camp is for boys and girls, high school players from freshman to senior and travel players ages 10-18. Players will be grouped by age and playing ability. Goalkeeper training will be provided using the new sidekick, which can beviewed at www.seattlesportsciences.com.

The cost is $225 and includes player evaluation. For more information, visit www.ncspurs.com or call Maher at the number given previously.

Summer soccer camps are also scheduled June 25-29 and July 16-20. Camp hours are 9 a.m. until noon daily. Ages are 4-15 with players grouped by ability. Goalkeepers will also train with the sidekick device. Cost is $170 per player.

Fayetteville Academy soccer coaches Jimmy Maher and Andrew McCarthy will work at both soccer camps.

Here’s a look back at how area athletes fared in recent North Carolina High School Athletic Association and North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state track competitions.

NCHSAA

Cumberland County’s entry into the state’s Unified Track and Field program in conjunction with North Carolina Special Olympics and ESPN came to a successful conclusion in last weekend’s state 3-A track meet at North Carolina A&T University.

Cumberland County, under the leadership of county student activities director Vernon Aldridge, has been among the state leaders in giving special needs youngsters the chance to compete in Unified Track. There are currently only three counties in the state taking part in the Unified Track program, Wake County, Cumberland County and Guilford County. With seven schools participating, Cumberland County is second only to Wake County in total schools taking part.

At the state meet in Greensboro, Unified athletes were allowed to participate in two events, the 4x100 relay and the 100-meter dash.

The Gray’s Creek team of Charles Bechtol, Devonte Pierce, Kyler Brewington and Andrew Esterly won the 4x100 with a time of 51.77 seconds.

The Westover team of Jason Sylvester, Damarion Ford, Jada Gardner and Yahaira Leaks took third with a 58.04.

Terry Sanford’s team of Jeremiah Bordeaux, Darious Davis, Clarence Frazier and Alfred Davenport was third with a 1:02.30.

In the 100-meter dash, Andrew Esterly was third with a 12.39. Bordeaux was fourth with a 12.60. Gray’s Creek’s Pierce and Anthony Liszewski were fifth and sixth respectively, Pierce with a 13.08 and Liszewski with a 13.25.

NCISAA

In the NCISAAstate 1-A/2-Ameet, Fayetteville Christian’s Nashaya Pagan and Fayetteville Academy’s Morgan Dorsey had big days.

Pagan was an individual winner in two events and helped lead FayettevilleChristian to a relay win.

Pagan won the 100-meter with a time of 12.76 and the 200 with a time of 26.24. Only a freshman, Pagan was a double winner in the state meet for Fayetteville Christian last year.

She teamed with Aeryon Davis, Shadea McElvin and Monet Oliver tow in the 4x100 in this year’s meet with a time of 51.65.

Dorsey took the 400-meter dash for Fayetteville Academy with a time of 58.80. A year ago, Dorsey won the 800-meter state championship for the Eagles.

The Fayetteville Christian boys foursome of Jaden Jenkins, Declan Cutler, Trevonte Robinson and Latterrion Johnson won the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Their time in the 4x100 was 45.28, and they won the 4x200 in 1:35.09.

Charlie Daniels is a name most people in this part of the country instantly recognize. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a corner of this nation where people are not at least familiar with the titan of country music and his smash 1979 country rock single, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” June 1, The Charlie Daniels Band brings the Southern Uprising Tour to North Carolina for one night to play a show at Fayetteville’s CrownTheater.

Daniels is 81 years old this year, but he shows no signs of slowing down. Since his self-titled, debut album was released in 1971, Daniels has been zig-zagging all over the United States. In all that time, he has fallen in love with America over and over. When asked what his favorite place is to visit while out on the road, Daniels said, “I love it all. I love this nation. I like to play anywhere I can get grits for breakfast.” He laughed and continued, “Give me a stage and a room full of people, and I’m ready to rock.”

For Daniels, North Carolina is home. He was born in 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the state remains a source of inspiration for him. “That’s where my dream started,” he said. While he was a teenager in North Carolina, he learned his first three-chord song on guitar. “I learned to play on an old guitar. Once I could play the G/C/D chords, I could play a whole song, and that was the most exciting thing to happen to me. After I learned those three chords on a guitar, I wanted nothing more than to be a professional musician. All of that started back there in Carolina.”

The Charlie Daniels Band is not alone on the Southern Uprising Tour. The Marshall Tucker Band, longtime friends of Daniels, is also on the bill.

Daniels reminisced about the time he met The Marshall Tucker Band: “I met Marshall Tucker Band in about 1973 or ’74. We were playing a show together in Nashville.”

Daniels said he walked into their dressing room and made a joke about their junior high school in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “Big ole smiles broke out on their faces,” he said. “We just hit it off. ”The two bands have been frequent tour companions ever since.

Daniels promises the people of Fayetteville and the surrounding areas a great show. He has built his career on entertaining his audiences. When asked if he would like to say anything to the people of Fayetteville, he said, “Come let us entertain you. That’s what we’re about. From the time we hit the stage to the time we leave, that’s what we do. Playing music is a pure joy to us, but it wouldn’t be a joy if it weren’t for you.”

The Southern Uprising Tour marks the end of the 82nd season of Community Concerts in Fayetteville. Community Concerts prides itself in bringing notable entertainment to the community. The organization also awards college music scholarship seach year to promising local high school graduates.

Community Concerts also produces the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame.This year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame are Buck Hodge, the minister of music at Northwood Temple Church, and Bill Ayerbe of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for The Charlie Daniels Band with The Marshall Tucker Band at the Crown Theater range in price from $35 to $100 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CapeFearTix.com or by phone at 888-257-6208. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at the Crown Complex Box Office and the Leisure Travel Office located on Fort Bragg. The concert is scheduled for Friday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m.

Mike Moses Jr. brings a rich connection with basketball to his new job as head boys coach at South View High School.

Moses, who comes to South View after coaching the St. Pauls High School girls last year, takes over from Wendell Wise, who stepped down earlier this year.

Moses played high school basketball in Detroit before going to Eastern Michigan and eventually playing basketball at Fayetteville State.

He coached for six years with Alphonza Kee at Fayetteville State, who is now head coach at Cape Fear. He worked briefly with Nike conducting basketball camps and also taught at Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville before getting back into coaching at St. Pauls last year.

He took a team that was 3-25 the previous year and guided them to a 13-11 record.

When the South View job opened, he was immediately interested. “I’m totally familiar with the success of South View,’’ he said of the school whose gymnasium is named for former coach Ron Miller.

The Tiger program has slumped in recent years, and Moses thinks it needs not rebuilding but what he calls rebranding. “You bring in a new coach, you bring in new philosophies,’’ he said. “I have an energy that’s unmatched. I’m super passionate about this game.’’

Moses said his father, Mike Moses Sr., coaches at the collegiate level and was a college player himself for St. John’s in the mid-1980s.

“I’m going to bring it every day,’’ he said. “Your players feed off that. I’m going to set a standard and expectation, and it starts with me.’’

Moses said he planned to hold his first meeting with the players at South View last week. He already has a plan set for off season workouts.

He wants the team to condition on Tuesdays and Thursdays and practice on Mondays and Wednesdays during the summer.

He also wants to get video of last year’s South View team to familiarize himself with the returning players.

“I’m an up and down guy,’’ he said of his basketball philosophy. “I’m trying to get a shot in the first seven seconds of a possession. We want to score in transition. It requires a lot of talent to come down every possession and get a basket in a set play.’’

PHOTO: Mike Moses Jr.

Dr. Christopher Dague has long been on the path to be a college professor. But he’ll take many pleasant memories with him from his 13-year detour as a teacher and coach at Jack Britt High School.

Dague, the baseball coach at Britt, will be leaving the school at the end of this year to become a professor at The Citadel in Charleston, SouthCarolina.

He got his Ph.D from North Carolina State University in 2015 and has continued coaching baseball and teaching at Britt, along with doing some teaching for Campbell University.

“I’ve told a lot of people, it’s bittersweet,’’ he said. “For me it’s more about the fact that this school and the people here will always mean more to me than I will ever mean to it.’’

Dague said he can’t imagine ever teaching high school anywhere other than Britt. “It’s a place that has such incredible expectations of the faculty, students and athletics,’’ he said. “It’s special here. I can’t really describe it.’’

He has a similar feeling for his new job at The Citadel, where he’ll teach educational psychology and curriculum instruction to both cadets and graduate students.

“I’m going to an institution with an incredible and historic tradition,’’ Dague said. “Hopefully the information I’m going to provide to those students will impact students across South Carolina.’’

Dague is the only baseball coach in Britt history tow in a share of a conference title. That happened last year. There is no baseball or coaching in his immediate future at The Citadel, and it’s something he will miss.

“It’s the last connection with my father,’’ said Dague.“I lost him in 2002. I thought a lot about him over the last couple of days. It’s been such a great opportunity for me. I’m going to leave the door open.’’

Jack Britt named Steve Clabaugh as its new baseball coach. Clabaugh is a former coach at Seventy-First and Overhills High School and has been an assistant at Britt for three years.

In a prepared statement, Clabaugh said, “I am honored and am very excited about my new role in the Jack Britt baseball program. I’m inheriting a program with a strong tradition of excellence, thanks to the hard work of some great coaches who have come before me.

“I’m really looking forward to working with this great group of young men, parents, administration and community.’’

PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) Dr. Christopher Dague and Steve Clabaugh

Meetings

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

• Board of Commissioners Monday, June 4. A public hearing on the proposed FY 2018-2019 Budget will be held. Citizens Academy Graduation will take place that evening as well. Students will be presented with a plaque displaying their certificate of completion.

• Historic Preservation Commissioners Wednesday, June 13, 5 p.m.

Activities

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

• Fall sports registration June 1-July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for more information.

• Pet Fest Saturday, June 2, at Hope Mills Municipal Park. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.Call 910-486-4636 for details.

• Food truck Rodeo Thursday, June 7, 5-8 p.m. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

• Daddy/Daughter Dinner & Dance Saturday, June 9, 6 p.m. $50 per couple plus $20 for each additional ticket purchased. Call 910-426-4107 to RSVP by June 1.

• First Annual 4th of July Pageant Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. Pageant registration deadline is June 1. For more information, call 910-426-4107.

Promote yourself: To include your business’s event, emailhopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

Thinking about putting up a sign to advertise something in Hope Mills? Do yourself and the town a favor by checking first with Chancer McLaughlin, development and planning administrator for the town. You could save his department and yourself some headaches.

McLaughlin and his staff oversee the good, the bad and the ugly of the signs that pop up all over Hope Mills. They recently sent out a mailer to all the businesses in town with a refresher on what is and isn’t allowed by the town’s sign ordinance.

That ordinance takes up about 14 typed pages. Why so much reading material? McLaughlin said it’s because there’s a lot of ground to cover.

McLaughlin said the sign ordinance stretches to14 pages not because there are so many different signs, but because the rules covering how different signs are regulated tend to be layered.

Since a person or a business may only be looking at one type of sign to install, McLaughlin said there may be only a couple pages in the sign ordinance that apply specifically to them.

If there’s one sign McLaughlin said the town is most likely to have a problem with, it’s what’s called a flag sign.

Flag signs are portable or moveable signs not meant to be permanently attached to the ground or a building. Sometimes businesses use flag signs, and that’s where problems arise.

“The sign ordinance allows flag signs for the grand opening of a business for a period of a week,’’McLaughlin said. “You can’t have a flag sign that’s a permanent attachment.

“In addition to providing information about the sign ordinance, the mailer the town recently sent out to local businesses about signs alerted the businesses that Hope Mills plans to become more aggressive in its handling of violations.’’

But McLaughlin and his staff haven’t exactly been ignoring the sign issue in Hope Mills. At least every other Friday, and sometimes more often if they notice an increase in illegal signs, McLaughlin and his co-workers do sign sweeps of Hope Mills.

Normally, McLaughlin said, his team divides the town into quadrants,focusing on the commercial areas, and take one quadrant each Friday of a sweep. Their aim is to cover the whole town in the space of one month. On some days, they’ll tackle a larger area.

While on these tours they also try to educate people they encounter on what signs they can and can’t use.

He noted nearly all the signs you see posted on public right of ways advertising various small businesses are against the rules.

On some weekends, McLaughlin said, his team picks up as many as 60 signs. And the sweeps continue.

“As fast as we keep picking them up, they keep putting them down,’’ he said. “We have to be very consistent with continually putting the message out there.’’

If you have questions about what signs are legal and illegal, contact McLaughlin’s office at 910-426-4103.

Fayetteville Technical Community College’s 56th commencement exercises on May 18 at the Crown Coliseum represented the first year in the history of the college where students in the graduating class divided into two groups to participate in separate ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each ceremony recognized specific program areas. The change was made primarily for the convenience of FTCC students and their family members. Fayetteville Tech celebrated with a record number of graduates during the combined ceremonies: 2,498 curriculum/credit graduating students; 5,797 associate degrees/certificates/diplomas; 315 High School Connections students; and 210 adult high school students.

The staff at FTCC are grateful to the honorable Sen. Wesley Meredith, who served as commencement speaker and delivered a unique message to the graduating class – a message of hope, perseverance and success. It’s a message shared by many FTCC students who turn to the school in search of higher education, leading ultimately to a path for success.

Meredith shared his personal story about how he earned an associate’s degree from Fayetteville Tech in horticulture technology and was better equipped to handle the challenges of owning, sustaining and growing his lawn care business. He reminded students that the road of life following graduation would not always be smooth and easy, and dedication and perseverance would always be required – not only for graduates seeking to become entrepreneurs but also those who plan to work for an employer or continue their education.

Meredith represents an excellent role model for our college graduates in that he not only succeeded in developing and growing his business as a community college graduate, he also demonstrated his appreciation for the community he loves by serving the citizens of Cumberland County in his role as District 19 representative and majority Whip in the North Carolina Senate.

At the same time FTCC celebrated with 2018 graduates during the ceremony, we were also informed about the critical condition of another good friend of the school’s – Harry F. Shaw. We later learned that Shaw died the next day following the graduation ceremony.

Shaw once commented that he very much looked forward to shaking the hands of each FTCC graduate and was stirred emotionally when he saw the individuals who had turned to FTCC to complete their high school education. I would like to thank the FTCC students, faculty, staff, board members, family members of our students and other honored guests who took a few moments during the graduation ceremony to pause with me to honor the life and contributions of Harry F. Shaw.

Shaw served on the FTCC Board of Trustees from 1969 to 2007, served on the FTCC Foundation Board of Directors and worked diligently on several committees through his service to the North Carolina Community College System. In honor of his devoted service to FTCC, Fayetteville Tech named the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center (opened in 2005) at the Fayetteville campus in honor of him.

I invite you, also, as members of the Fayetteville community, to take some quiet time to reflect on the positive impact of Shaw’s many contributions not only to FTCC and North Carolina’s community colleges but also to the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area.

It is never easy to say farewell to a friend as good as Shaw was for so many in our community, but we can find some comfort in knowing that his touch will be embedded forever in our community and the place he loved so very much.

PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) Sen. Wesley Meredith & Harry F. Shaw

As a community, Fayetteville offers a variety of artistic outlets for its youth – dance schools, theaters, musical organizations and more. Every year, the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville hosts an event that lets these young performers share their talents with the community. The Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville presents its 67th Kiwanis Talent Night Saturday, June 9, at 7 p.m. at Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

“The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club has used this particular event not only to give children a chance to perform, but also to raise money for the other children/community-related events they support throughout the year,” said Bill Bowman, chairman of the production committee. “The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club has 33 different committees, which is more committees than some clubs have members, and each one of them participates in helping this community and recognizes the potential of children.”

The event will feature special guest appearances. The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Queens will share insightful messages with the students. Jeremy Ruiz, magician, will perform magical acts.

“The money that we are raising actually goes back to the children to help them pursue whatever their endeavor is,” said Bowman. “Right now, the entire show will have about 26 participants in all four categories, which are K-2, 3-5, middle and high school.”

The overall showcase winner will receive a trophy and $200. The first-place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $100; the second place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $50; and the third-place winner in each division will receive a trophy and $25. Four $150 music scholarships will be awarded for voice, strings, piano and band instrument.

“The music scholarships will allow the student to go to the camp of their choice,” said Bowman. “We leave the scholarships open so they can apply the scholarship to whatever camp they choose to attend during the summer.”

Bowman added the music scholarships are sponsored by Rocket Fizz and Wendy’s restaurants. The businesses helped promote the program through all of their stores. The Kiwanis Club worked with Cumberland County Schools to contact art, music and dance teachers to get the word out about the talent showcase.

“What makes this event exciting is that we have had children like Grady Bowman, Brooke McLaurin and Victoria Huggins start with the Kiwanis Talent Night and (go) on to do really great things,” said Bowman. “We look forward to this event and hope the public turns out to see these remarkable children.”

Tickets cost $8 at the door. For more information, call 910-391-3859.

Alpha & Omega Dance Academy is bringing Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys to the Sandhills with its spring recital, “Neverland.” The AODA team welcomes the community to enjoy this unique, dance driven presentation of Peter Pan’s story Saturday, June 9, at Fayetteville State University’s J.W. Seabrook Auditorium.

A scaled-down children’s recital, featuring dancers ages 3-6, begins at 10:30 a.m. “Neverland,” the larger production showcasing students ages 7 and older, begins at 3 p.m.

“Instead of holding a typical dance recital, our artistic staff and dancers work hard to provide a theatrical and thematic production, complete with a cast of main characters, narration, acting, costumes and creative sets and props,” said AODA owner and instructor Rachel Choi.

AODA offers classes ranging from pointe to hip hop, and each of those classes will tell a part of the story – from ballerinas flying to Neverland to tap-dancing crocodiles to musical theatre performing the iconic song “Ugg-A-Wugg.”

“Whether you’re attending our (production) to support your friends or decide (if) our studio is right for you, we’re excited to give you a sneak peek into our world of dance,” said Sarah Pages, artistic and production director and dance instructor.

Choi said, “I hope this will be an entertaining show, but even more so, I hope ‘Neverland’ will serve to inspire everyone, young and old, to never forget the beauty and power of imagination, hope, belief and friendship – and perhaps a little bit of pixie dust.”

AODA is a Christian studio and one of the only local non-competitive dance studios. Its ratings on popular platforms like Facebook boast 5 stars. Past AODA productions include “A Puppet to a Boy” (“Pinocchio,” 2012), “Oz” (“The Wizard of Oz,” 2013), “Narnia” (“The Chronicles of Narnia,” 2014), “Alice” (“Alice In Wonderland,” 2015), “Adventures with Mary and Bert” (“Mary Poppins,” 2016) and “Belle”( “Beauty & The Beast,” 2017).

Tickets to “Neverland” on June 9 cost $10 and include entry to the morning children’s recital. They can be purchased in advance at AODA, 201 S. McPherson Church Rd., or at the door the day of the production at J.W. Seabrook Auditorium. AODA students and children under the age of six enter free. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to each show.

Visit www.alphaomegadanceacademy.com or call 910-860-1405 to learn more.

Playwright Tennessee Williams wrote often about the human condition. Cruelty, suffering and yearning for love in alonely world consumed his writing. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which he wrote in 1955, is no different. The Southern classic fits perfectly as the last show of the Gilbert Theater’s 2017-18 season, punctuating a theatrical journey of wild, caged hearts. Performances of the show run June 1-10.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” tells the tale of a husband and wife, Brick and Maggie, who are at odds both physically and emotionally. They don’t sleep together. Brick, a copious drinker, is still in shambles over the suicide of his best friend. Maggie is concerned with whether or not Brick’s siblings will inherit Big Daddy’s fortune. Meanwhile, everyone except Big Daddy seems to know he is dying of cancer.

Knee-deep in the sludge of greed, familial discord and lies, the whole clan gathers to pretend and to smile and to “celebrate” Big Daddy’s birthday. Yet as often happens with family, past slights explode to the surface.

In Williams’ original play, he critiques the homophobia and sexism rampant particularly in the South. But these critiques don’t quite make it into the 1958 MGM film version, starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. The film was produced in the height of the Hays Code era, when sexual repression on film was the standard.

According to director James Dean, the Gilbert Theater adapted Williams’ 1974 version of the play, which contains more overt portrayals of the original undertones.

“(Williams’) plays are usually about how difficult communication is between people,” said Dean. “This one is really about this one rich family and their lack of communication in that core, the dysfunction of this family.”

One of Williams’ earlier plays is subtitled “A Prayer for the Wild of Heart That are Kept in Cages.” It is also a good working summary of the Gilbert Theater’s season.

The season opener, “Evil Dead: The Musical,” is a playful reflection of the wild being caged in a dead zombie body. A cage is a cage.

The Gilbert’s follow-up was the classic story of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” George Bailey so embodies the idea of a caged free spirit. He wanted to build things. Go places. Be somebody. But he become strapped in his small town, destined to take over his father’s banking business and live a life of quiet desperation. The ending sees George accepting and becoming almost grateful for his cage.

To paraphrase the candid Williams: you either accept it, kill yourself or stop looking in mirrors.

By adapting David Ives’ play “Venus in Fur,” the Gilbert continued the theme of a trapped wildness aching to be free. Thomas wants to put Vanda in a certain kind of box: submissive to the director’s ideas and ego, demure, not headstrong. Still, Vanda is the one to turn the tables and put Thomas in that very box designed for her.

“Antigone,” on the other hand, shows the wild heart of an activist, a revolutionary, trapped in the cage of simply being born in the wrong time.

With “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” one hopes the Gilbert captures the desperation of Williams’ characters to connect beyond the steel cage of our individual selves. If so, it will be the cherry a top a well-crafted season.

“Every single person can relate to the things going on in this play,” said Dean. “We all have problems within our family units. You might love them and at the same time you just can’t believe they’re saying or doing the things that they do.”

To support the Gilbert and its 25th anniversary season next year, the theater is hosting a fundraiser featuring classical chamber music June 10. Tickets are $30 per person. For more information, visit www.gilberttheater.com.

It was just a few months ago that then Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend brought Fort Bragg’s 18th Airborne Corps headquarters element home from Iraq. Soon there after, Townsend got his fourth star and was reassigned. In another five months or so, the nation’s lead airborne headquarters will head back to the Middle East, the Pentagon announced. Fort Bragg’s new commanding general, Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera, will go to Iraq with several hundred soldiers of his headquarters unit.

The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, which is part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell in Kentucky, will be deploying to Afghanistan during the summer. The 101st is an elite, specialized light infantry division. Trained for helicopter operations, it is the most potent and tactically mobile of the U.S. Army’s divisions.

The 101st CAB will replace the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart in Georgia as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, according to the Army release. Operation Freedom’s Sentinel includes two core components: working with allies and partners and continuing “counter terrorism operations against the remnants of Al-Qaeda to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used to stage attacks against our homeland.”

Most of the brigade’s soldiers will deploy and are expected to return in the spring of 2019, said Capt. Kris Sibbaluca, a brigade spokesman. He said the brigade will provide aviation support to troops on the ground using Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache helicopters. “The deployment will be a challenge. However, we do not doubt that our soldiers are ready,” said Col. Craig Alia, the 101st CAB commander.

The 18th Airborne Corps will replace Third Corps Headquarters of Fort Hood, Texas, as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Inherent Resolve. It is the operational name for U.S. military intervention against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Since August of 2016, the 18th Airborne Corps has been responsible for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. It will oversee this combined joint task force fighting the Islamic State and set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability, according to the operation’s website.

Since Inherent Resolve began in late 2014, headquarters units of 18th and 3rd Corps have alternated deployments by their headquarters units. In the past, these rotations have lasted about one year.

The minister who offered the invocation atthe most recent Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting must have had an idea about an entry on the agenda. He included Jesus’ admonition in the book of Matthew that “Every… household divided against itself will not stand.” Moments later, commissioner Jessie Bellflowers had a proposed resolution added to the agenda; that Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell be censured for cause.

Later, Mitchell, reading from a prepared statement, spoke of his concerns that some commissioners had been taking part in private discussions of town business on a private Facebook group known as the Hope Mills Chatter. Mitchell felt such closed discussions represented “social segregation of elected officials” that could be a violation of North Carolina’s Open Meetings law.

He did not mention them by name, but it’s widely known that Bellflowers and town board members Meg Larson and Jerry Legge were involved.

Knowing it would likely be defeated, Mitchell made a motion that commissioners not participate in group emails or closed online discussions because they represent a quorum of the governing body.

That’s when town attorney Dan Hertzog Jr. intervened. He cautioned that he agreed with some others that the virtual Facebook discussions did not necessarily violate the law.

Mitchell with drew his motion after Hertzog agreed to research the matter further.

Bellflowers introduced his motion that Mitchell be censured for behavior. He insisted that online, closed-group discussions are not considered official meetings. He said they did not engage in coordinated, simultaneous discourse. Bellflowers said none of the issues were likely to come before the board of commissioners for official action. “My first amendment rights have been challenged, and I take it personally,” said Bellflowers.

Commissioner Pat Edwards said this had become a “sore spot” for her and was the most recent of several conflicts among board members.

Commissioners Larson and Legge agreed with Bellflowers that Mitchell had raised an issue that had been be labored for months.

Mitchell said he was proud of his position, adding,“If you want to move on with this censure, that’s OK.”

The board did so, and the censure resolution passed on a 3-2 vote with Mitchell and Edwards dissenting.

In what is often the case, attorneys – even those who concentrate on communications law – disagree among themselves in nuances of the state’s open meetings and public records statutes. There is no misunderstanding of the preamble to the law, which states, “Where as the public bodies that administer the legislative, policy-making, quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the people’s business, it is the public policy of North Carolina that the hearings, deliberations, and actions of these bodies be conducted openly.”

PHOTO: Hope Mills Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell

Civil Leader Dies

The legacy of a remarkable Fayettevillecivic leader will likely be anchored by his devotion to nature conservation in his hometown. Harry E. Shaw died on May 19 at the age of 91. He served in numerous capacities, including as president and chairman of the City of Fayetteville Linear Park Corporation.

At Mayor Mitch Colvin’s suggestion, the city’s Cross Creek Linear Park will be named for Shaw. He founded the nonprofit organization and personally directed development of the park and trail that runs along Cross Creek from Festival Park to Eastern Boulevard.

Shaw was a loan officer for Home Federal Savings & Loan for more than 30 years. He was elected to Fayetteville City Council in 1965 and won re-election four times, serving as mayor pro tem much of that time. In 1975, he was appointed by the governor to the board of Fayetteville Technical Community College, where he served for 29 years as its chairman. Shaw was a charter member of the Lafayette Society and a board member of Cape Fear Botanical garden.

New gateway to downtown Fayetteville opens

The new $24.3 million Rowan Street bridge in downtown Fayetteville is set to open June 5. Construction on the project is running six months ahead of schedule, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Once the adjacent, old bridge is torn down, workers will finish construction on the final two lanes. “Favorable weather last year helped get the new bridge open half a year early, as did an internally compressed construction schedule by the contractor, S.T. Wooten Corporation of Wilson,” said DOT spokesman Andrew Barksdale.

The existing four-lane bridge was built in 1956 and had become functionally obsolete. The new bridge is made up of two spans. One crosses the CSX railroad, and the other goes over the Norfolk Southern railroad. The project also includes realigning Rowan Street, Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard into an intersection that will create a new gateway into downtown and a more prominent route to the Fayetteville State University campus.

Cape Fear Valley launches clinical trials program

A new partnership in Cumberland County will enable Cape Fear Valley Health to have access to clinical trials. Carolina Institute for Clinical Research is the newly formed partnership between Cape Fear Valley Health and Wake Research/M3-Wake Research Associates, Inc., based in Raleigh.

“A robust clinical research program is an important part of an academic health system,” said Michael Nagowski, chief executive officer of Cape Fear Valley Health. “Our physician residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, family practice, psychiatry and general surgery will benefit greatly from this partnership. Our patients and community will also benefit from having access to a wide variety of clinical trials.” 

Access to clinical trials will be available for nearly all major therapeutic areas including internal medicine, dermatology, women’s health, metabolic diseases, gastroenterology, men’s health, neuroscience, pulmonology, rheumatology, vaccines and women’s health trials.

City fire station repositioned

Fayetteville’s new Fire Station 12 at 911 Hope Mills Rd. is adjacent to J.W. Coon Elementary School. It’s three blocks east of the 65-year-old station it replaces, which was owned by the Lafayette Village Rural Fire Department until the city annexed the area in 2004. The land for the new station was donated to the city of Fayetteville by Cumberland County Schools.

“The new facility includes updated features needed for today’s fire service operations and resources, including our fire personnel,” said Fire Chief Ben Major.

The 10,000-square-foot building has two apparatus bays, a community/training room, a decontamination room, a kitchen and fitness room. The city paid more than $3.5 million for the station. Chief Major indicated response times will be shorter for the neighborhoods station 12 serves, which include Gallup Acres, Lafayette Village, Oakdale, South Hills, Ashton Forest, Quail Ridge, Queensdale and Evergreen Estates.

Health Department offers free mosquito insecticide

Mosquito season is in full swing in Cumberland County. The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is providing some relief by way of free mosquito insecticide to Cumberland County residents.

There are at least 60 types of mosquitoes in North Carolina. One of the most common and recognizable is the Asian tiger, with its distinct white and black striped legs and body. This pest feeds during dawn to dusk hours. Most of the mosquitoes native to North Carolina will reproduce in ditches, swamps, marshes and other natural bodies of water. But the Asian tiger mosquito tends to breed in pockets of standing water, sometimes in as little as 1 ounce.

To aid in reducing the mosquito population, Cumberland County Department of Public Health is providing Mosquito Dunks all summer long. The Mosquito Dunks product, provided at no cost to Cumberland County residents, is a biological pest control agent that kills mosquito larvae. It is nontoxic to fish, birds, wildlife and pets. Another effective means to reduce the mosquito population is the “tip and toss” method. Tip over any containers that have standing water including tires, flower pots, buckets, jars and barrels.

County residents can pick up a two-month supply of the Mosquito Dunk insecticide, with instructions on use, in the Environmental Health section on the third floor of the Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St., Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Board of Health discusses priorities

The Board of Health held its regular meeting on May 15. During that meeting, the agency discussed priorities previously established at the planning retreat in April. Issues discussed included the governing structure of the Health Department. On May 4, a letter from the Board of Health was sent to the Board of County Commissioners indicating they would like to see the Health Department remain an independent department from the Department of Social Services and that the Board of Health would like to remain a governing board.

Also discussed was a need for more school health nurses. An additional seven nurses have been requested to be added to the fiscal year 2018-19 budget. The Health Board also talked about an increase in transparency between the Health Department staff and the Board of Health and between the Board of Health and the Board of Commissioners and the community. The board also discussed issues including lowering the sexually transmitted infection rate in the county, providing better messaging around opioid misuse and becoming a leader in the effort to combat the opioid crisis in our community.

The 2017 Annual Report for the Department of Public Health is available online at http://co.cumberland.nc.us/health/community-resources/reports. The Board of Health meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the 3rd floor board room of the Public Health Center, 1235 RamseySt. For more information, call 910-433-3705.

PHOTO: Harry E. Shaw

As the father of two young boys, one already in kindergarten, I can’t help but feel helpless seeing American school kids murdered in their classrooms on a monthly basis. “Thoughts and prayers” are running thin.

Columbine happened when I was in high school. I remember discussing it with my English class. Most of us wrote it off by arguing that the kids responsible were “just crazy.” Colorado was too far away, and it never really registered. We went on being high school kids.

Flash forward 20 years: I’m a dad now, and I’m at a PTA event in the auditorium of my old elementary school where I was a turtle in the Christmas play. The speaker interrupts bingo night to solicit donations to construct a solid wooden fence around the playground to “protect the perimeter” of the school.

What happened? No, seriously, what happened?

It used to be that there was a mass shooting and it was in the news for a few days, but it was soon forgotten and we all went about our lives. It could happen here, but it wasn’t a real threat, just a random freak event like a plane crash. We didn’t worry about “protecting our perimeter” like we were in a war movie.

Times have changed. We’re averaging one school shooting per week in 2018. A danger that once seemed random is now making an appearance at bingo night where it follows you home and sets up shop in the back of your mind where you store your catalog of fatherly fears. When you blog about it two months later, you’re still wondering if it could be your kid.

It’s not going anywhere. After all, we’re America.We’re different. We’re exceptional.

It’s a self-evident truth that more guns equal more gun deaths. Take basic math, logic, the nature of human conflict, add a dash of gunpowder, and you get the following:

Assault weapons kill people with amazing speed and efficiency, so it would make sense to try to keep these weapons out of the hands of minors, criminals, crazy people, etc. But we’re North Carolina, and we’re exceptionally exceptional, so there is absolutely nothing our right-wing legislators are going to do to curb access to assault weapons. Nothing. These men bash their peers in primaries if they get a B+ rating from the National Rifle Association.

But have no fear. Our leaders are on an innovative mission this spring to create new ways to save our kids without infringing on your (or their) right to bear assault weapons. Here’s a list from Longleaf Politics of school safety bills pending in the legislature:

• House Bill 933 lets North Carolina give school psychologist licenses to people who hold a national professional credential valid in 32 other states.

• House Bill 932 requires school districts to set up an anonymous tip line to help identify threats.

• House Bill 934 directs school districts to set up threat assessment teams and figure out how they’re going to respond to students who could cause harm to their school.

• House Bill 937 sets training standards for school resource officers.

• House Bill 938 gets charter schools to set up risk management plans, including making sure law enforcement knows the layout of school buildings.

• House Bill 939 will set up a framework for school districts to evaluate how safe their facilities are.

• House Bill 940 directs school districts to report out by Sept. 15 how many school resource officers they have and at what levels.

• House bill 941 allots $1.8 million to place school resource officers in more elementary and middle schools.

Do you feel better now? I don’t, and I’m not trying to be negative or sarcastic. It’s as if we’re conceding that these shootings are a new way of life, and we’re just trying to find a way to beat the shooters to the punch. If only we had more psychologists, more heroes to step in front of the bullets, or more wooden fences, we could stop them.

While all these bills are noble, they ignore the shiny black elephant in the room. The ignorance is intentional, just ask the Speaker of the House. Lawmakers are reviewing ways to increase school safety. But those efforts are expected to stop short of gun restrictions.

“Folks want to try to drag the gun debate into it, ”Republican House Speaker Tim Moore told a TV interviewer last week. “Look, that’s a discussion for another time.”

I guess he’s talking about me.

Do an internet search for “Christian support of Trump” and you will see a multitude of articles that roundly condemn Christians who supported him during the election and those who currently support this president. I did not find a single article that addressed the subject without a tone reflecting denunciation of these supporters. These articles appear driven by the fact that 81 percent of white evangelical voters voted for Donald Trump.

My reading of these articles and hearing comments of agreement from various individuals leads me to a troubling conclusion. That is, these people apparently think that being Christian, being in a faith relationship with God through Jesus Christ, requires one to take on a condition of total stupidity. The English Oxford Living Dictionaries define stupidity as “behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgement.” Given that being Christian does not require believers to be stupid, allow me to share some thoughts regarding why I think many Christians support President Trump.

The argument put forth is that because of Trump’s alleged and actual “moral transgressions,” Christians who support him are guilty of hypocrisy. Elizabeth Bruenig writes the following in an opinion piece titled “Evangelicals’ support for Trump will cost them – spiritually” She says, “On the one hand, church going white evangelicals are among Trump’s most loyal supporters. On the other, there’s simply no way to square the way the president lives with the cultural vision these Christians seem to share.”

The statement above by Bruenig, which reflects the argument made by many, calls for what I see as an unrealistic approach to Christians helping make the world what God would have it be. They would have us not work with, not support, people whose alleged, or even actual, past moral conduct does not align with the standards of Scripture. They want that rule followed even when doing so dramatically adversely impacts the nation and moving the country toward what God would have it become.

This is like saying to a dying person, “This doctor has a treatment that will save your life, but, because of his alleged, or actual, moral failings, you should not allow him to treat you.” This is the situation faced by Christians in America.

In 2016, we were clearly a nation on a self-destructive course. We were presented with choosing between Hillary Clinton and Trump for president. In my estimation, on the one hand was a candidate who was not without her own questionable conduct and would keep America on this self-destructive course, maybe hastening that destruction. On the other hand was a candidate who came with allegations of, and some actual, moral failings but put forth an agenda that could correct our course and, in great part, do so by allowing Christians to again fully and freely, in America, practice our faith.

Without doubt, Christians came to the 2016 presidential election knowing that our faith, our very existence, is under attack in our own country. Consider the following paragraphs from the article “Regular Christians Are No Longer Welcome in American Culture” by Mary Eberstadt. “Traditional American Christians have long been on the losing end of culture-war contests – on school prayer, same-sex marriage and other issues. But recent events, including the Supreme Court decision overruling Texas’ restrictions on abortion clinics and the mandate that employers provide access to contraception, have added to the sense that religious expression is under attack.“

This new vigorous secularism has catapulted mockery of Christianity and other forms of religious traditionalism into the mainstream and set a new low for what counts as civil criticism of people’s most-cherished beliefs. In some precincts, the ‘faith of our fathers’ is controversial as never before.“

Some of the faithful have paid unexpected prices for their beliefs lately: the teacher in New Jersey suspended for giving a student a Bible; the football coach in Washington placed on leave for saying a prayer on the field at the end of a game; the fire chief in Atlanta fired for self-publishing a book defending Christian moral teaching; the Marine court-martialed for pasting a Bible verse above her desk; and other examples of the new intolerance. Anti-Christian activists hurl smears like ‘bigot’ and ‘hater’ at Americans who hold traditional beliefs about marriage and accuse anti-abortion Christians of waging a supposed ‘war on women.’”

Not being lured into a state of stupidity by others’ claims regarding the requirements of our faith, many Christians considered the destructive course being followed by our nation and the growing suppression of Christian views in America. Presented with a candidate whose alleged, and even actual, moral failings were and are emphasized by media and his very vocal opponents, many Christians considered the totality of Trump in light of the state of America overall and the growing suppression of Christianity in our country. In the end, he won substantial support from this group.

I expect the attacks on Christians who support this president will increase and grow even viler if his exemplary record of accomplishments over the first 16 months of his administration continues into the future.

Despite Democratic obstruction at every possible opportunity, media coverage overwhelmingly focused on real and imagined negative occurrences involving him or those in his administration, and the extremely questionable appointment of a special counsel who seems to be searching for a crime instead of investigating one that has been identified, Trump is delivering on his promises.

Among his campaign promises was that he would protect the rights of people of faith. That promise was clearly stated when Trump spoke at the 2017 Liberty University Commencement. In an article titled “Trump promises to protect Christians at Liberty commencement speech, ”Lauren Markoe quoted the president. “‘America is better when people put their faith into action,’ Trump continued. ‘As long as I am your president no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what’s in your heart. We will always stand up for the right of all Americans to pray to God and to follow his teachings.’”

The Markoe article also reported comments made during that ceremony by Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty. “‘Since his election I’ve noticed a new hope and a new optimism sweeping this country,’ Falwell said. He said he appreciated Trump’s support for the state of Israel, appointment of ‘a pro-life justice’ to the Supreme Court, and bombing of militants in the Middle East.”

As I do the kind of assessment detailed above, if the situation were not so dire, I would see these attacks on Christians for supporting Trump as laughable. The glaring hypocrisy is that these critics call on us to, based on their claims regarding the requirements of our faith, condemn and separate from the president; however, when we, based on that same faith, oppose same-sex marriage, abortion and other agenda items dear to that group, we are verbally attacked and our voices suppressed.

In the midst of this overwhelming pressure, rejection and condemnation, we (Christians) must remember that our faith does not require that we be stupid.

That statement is not intended to say that Christians or others who do not support Donald Trump are stupid. My message is that many Christians refused to be, and none of us should allow ourselves to be bullied into political behavior that “shows a lack of good sense or judgement.”

The baby boom generation, those Americans born between 1946 and 1964 to parents in recovery from World War II and anxious to start their “real lives,” changed everything.

The largest generation in American history required new schools at every turn, from elementary through college. When we got to college and out into the workplace, we changed American culture. We wore our hair long and our skirts short. We protested for equal rights for minorities and women. We were having none of the traditional mores about sex and marriage, and – for better or for worse – succeeding generations have followed suit.

For the most part, we presided over strong economies as our nation solidified what we have come to think of as our rightful place in the world.

We boomers did all this, inpart, because there were so many of us, the largest generation in American history – until we weren’t.

Statistics vary, of course, but millennials – sometimes called the Echo Generation as children of the boomers – will outnumber boomers by next year, if not before. So what, you may ask. Isn’t that the way the world works?

Yes, but there is a problem.

Millennials are not yet reproducing themselves in sufficient numbers to keep the American economy humming steadily along, and it appears they never will.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics reported earlier this month that the number of babies born in the United States is at a 30-year low after falling for three years in a row. The birth rate is lowest for women aged 30 and under, historically the ages at which women most frequently become mothers. Women 30 and up are having babies, but starting later often means a woman will have fewer children. Last year, the U.S. birth rate was just over 60 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. Needless to say, boomer women are long out of the baby business.

Industrialized nations in Europe and Asia have long grappled with declining birth rates, resulting in aging populations and slowing economies. Fewer young people mean fewer workers contributing to the economy, with the last boomers reaching 65 in 2029.

Remaining boomers will not be contributing to economy at levels anywhere near what they reached during their primes – if they contribute at all. In addition, they buy fewer homes, cars, clothing and everything else than younger people do.

Compounding the decline in birth rates is a decline in immigration. For many reasons, including political policy decisions, numbers of immigrants coming to the United States is also declining and impacting our economy and our birth rate. While the U.S.economy has grown an average of three percent annually since WWII, it has not met that level since 2005. The Federal Reserve predicts 2.7 percent growth this year and 2.4 percent for 2019.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” aside, we cannot make women have babies. It is one of life’s most private decisions, and its timing depends on parents’ unique circumstances. Economists suspect the Great Recession has delayed parenthood for some and is also keeping families smaller.

In short, it is a complicated issue with diverse causes and ramifications spanning generations. It is fair to say, though, that public policy at all levels and in many different areas is critically important to families, including access to health care and child care. Like millions of American families, both Dickson parents worked full time when the Precious Jewels were growing up, and we simply could not have done that without safe and reliable child care.

Demographics are trends, not events, and the United States’ birth rate is clearly on a downhill slope. Our policy makers must think strategically, not reactively, to keep our economy humming despite fewer workers in the pipeline.

Heaven forbid that we become a nation where Depends outsell Pampers. Japan has already reached that benchmark with an aging population and a slowing economy.

Last week’s edition of Up & Coming Weekly featured former city councilman Tyrone Williams. Some of our readers responded passionately to our position – especially on social media. We are publishing some of their comments, with their permission. Many of the comments related to this issue have not been published because the writer either refused to give us permission or did not respond to our request to publish their comments. If we missed you or if you want your voice to be heard, email editor@upandcomingweekly.com.

Via email

Hi, I just want to say that your magazine cover with Tyrone Williams is of bad taste. He may have done wrong, but what’s the point of kicking a man when he’s already down??? Let he w/o son cast the 1st stone!

– Marie Thomas

Via Up & Coming Weekly’s Facebook page

So much positive stuff going on in town and yallchose this as the cover? smh

– David P Wedlock Jr.

When you are caught on tape soliciting a bribe it is hard to go quietly into the night. Ask any mobster caught on tape in a RICO case. Mr. Lallier’s alleged actions (despecable as they may be) have yet to be litigated and he is not an elected public figure. Mr. Williams got busted. Straight up. 40 years ago I would have jumped to defend Mr. Williams based on our shared race. No more. I am long past defending the bad behavior of people based on their race. With elected public office comes public scrunity, good and bad. This is an example of something that he did being held up for inspection. Remember, the FBI does not just wake up and decide to tape someone. That permission comes from a U.S. District Attorney. We, the public must be able to look into the actions of our elected officials, no matter what color they are. Even if disclosing those actions is painful (and believe me as a Black southerner this is painful to me). I think Mr. Williams knew exactly what he was doing when he walked into that office shortly after being elected. He just got busted.

Long ago, before many of my adversaries were a stain on a mattress someone said you should be judged by the content of your character not the color of your skin. The guy has been judged by his character... he has been proved to be lacking.

The cover is on the money.

– Tony Long

This cover is an epic fail, Bill Bowman!

– Teri Gibson Schultz

Awful. No justification for this kind of behavior from a local media company. I’ve been watching how the Mike Lallier case has received next ”to barely there coverage,” or the level of sacrifice “outrage” similar to this case. The behavior by both men are wrong. Up and Coming - the cover stinks of racism.

– Carroll Arnold

For 23 years we have used our community newspaper to uplift market and promote the quality of life unique only to Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

I understand many of our readers, especially those in the black community, were disappointed and even angered with the choice of our cover for the last edition. I admit, it was over the top, but I wanted to get everyone’s attention.

Anyone who knows me knows I am passionate about this community. I built my media company marketing, promoting, touting and defending the Fayetteville community. The cover design was intended to make a bold and profound statement not about this community but to this community. It certainly was not meant to offend the sensitivities of our residents.

I am truly sorry and hope this heartfelt apology will be accepted by those I hurt and offended. Those who know me or my newspaper know that meanness and hatred are just not my style. I love this community and have spent my entire career working to solve problems, build relationships and celebrate the goodness that makes this such a special place.

Below is my official statement and explanation as to the purpose and intent of last week’s Up & Coming Weekly feature involving Tyrone Williams. There are no other explanations, motives, truths or conspiracies.

Over the past 23 years, our community has grown and finally come of age in the arts, culture, education, economic development and quality of life in comparison to other North Carolina cities. It was a long and hard-fought process, but we did it. I was distraught at the thought of us losing ground by allowing others to exploit and disrespect our community.

The purpose of the cover and the Tyrone Williams story was to get the community’s attention and to make sure everyone knows and understands that this kind of outrageous and unscrupulous behavior by anyone, of any race, color or political affiliation will not and cannot be accepted, condoned, ignored or encouraged with impunity.

Fayetteville elected Williams. He was a known entity in this community, and Fayetteville elected him to represent District 2 anyway. Then he got caught.

Getting Williams to resign from the city council does not eradicate the offense, and it surely is not an exoneration. The message I wanted to convey, and which I have already admitted was in poor taste, is that our city is on the right track both culturally and economically, and we have made too much progress to allow people, agencies or organizations to abuse and plunder our good will, resources and achievements.

Up & Coming Weekly takes full responsibility for our content and opinions. Our writers’ photos and credentials are included with every article, and we have never hid behind aliases or unidentified or anonymous sources. In addition, we have always openly made our newspaper accessible to the city, county and Fort Bragg, as well as individuals, businesses, institutions and community organizations, to promote initiatives and tell their stories. We provide them a strong and relevant voice. That’s what community newspapers do. That is what the Fourth Estate is all about.

In the future, and without minimizing any of the enthusiasm or commitment we have for promoting Fayetteville and our city’s leaders, I promise to be more sensitive and aware about how we convey the ideas, achievements and concerns that affect our city.

We are the only media company that has succeeded solely by aggressively and positively reporting, promoting and writing about one thing: the greater Fayetteville community.

I’ve never hid the fact that I love this community and seek to be a positive influence to bring about growth and change that will benefit it – even during tough times. In this situation, my form was bad, but my intentions were good.

I hope we can put this behind us and move forward. We have so much more to say about the Fayetteville community, its leadership and its citizens.

Respectfully,

Bill Bowman

Founder/Publisher

Up & Coming Weekly