Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett got a pay raise when his employment contract was quietly renewed in October. City council had given Hewett a one-year deal in 2016 to see if he would turn out to be the right man for the job. He succeeded Ted Voorhees who was fired. City spokesman Nathan Walls said Hewett received a $10,000 raise from $185,000 annually to $195,000 plus $6,000 in additional “executive compensation.” The new agreement is open-ended, as contracts for city managers normally are. Hewett serves at the pleasure of city council.

Internet knowledge for parents

A local workshop in Spring Lake last week was likely a wake-up call for some parents. Cumberland County Schools held the forum at Manchester Elementary School to help parents learn how to protect their children from online risks. Natalie Wood Riche of the North Carolina Department of Justice discussed with parents how exposure to cyberbullying, cyberstalking and sexting could cause harm to youth. Parents were also alerted to the reality of child predators. Riche shared tips on what to do if a youngster becomes a victim of cyberbullying or cyberstalking.

Dosomething.org, a global movement of 5.5 million young people making positive change online, found that nearly 40 percent of all teenagers have posted or sent sexually suggestive messages, but this practice is more common among boys than girls. Sending semi-nude or nude photos is more common among teens girls. Twenty-two percent of teen girls report sending images of this nature, while only 18 percent of same-age boys have.

Back to the judicial drawing board

A three-member panel of federal judges has again struck down a North Carolina Republican legislature’s proposed congressional election districts. They declared the revised map unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering and gave state lawmakers until Jan. 29 to come up with new maps.

The judges, in a decision authored by Judge James A. Wynn, unanimously held that the Republican congressional map violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal-protection clause because it favored their party.

“The General Assembly intended to discriminate against voters who supported or were likely to support non-Republican candidates,” Wynn wrote, and “the 2016 Plan dilutes the votes of non-Republican voters and entrenches Republican control of the state’s congressional delegation.”

The ruling creates uncertainty in the 2018 election cycle in North Carolina a month before candidates were scheduled to file for office. Until the issue is resolved, the appeals court ordered that new congressional elections are on hold. Legislative leaders say they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sexual abuse in the armed forces

It was a traumatic moment for Nichole Bowen- Crawford. The last thing she wanted to do was fly across the country to stand in the bitter cold outside the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., to tell those who would listen about being assaulted by a fellow soldier and then silenced by her superiors. But she did it because she believed she had to speak up and encourage others like her to break their silence.

“Standing up for the men and women who serve our country who can’t report sexual assault in a safe way is more important than my feelings,” she said. “It’s time... that men and women have the freedom to say ‘Me, too,’ instead of (maintaining) silence.” Bowen-Crawford joined a small cadre of military sexual assault survivors who demanded accountability from Pentagon leadership. “The truth is, I am really scared to be here, really scared to tell my story,” she told a small crowd gathered at the Pentagon gates.

Despite efforts to reduce the occurrence of military sexual assault in recent years, the Pentagon estimates more than 6,100 sexual assaults took place in fiscal year 2016, about the same as in the two previous years. The Pentagon estimates that two-thirds of victims don’t come forward, which means there were more than 18,300 sexual assaults for each of those years.

Lydia Watts, CEO of Service Women’s Action Network, organized the protest. “When do we see military perpetrators of sexual violence held to account?” she asked. Protestors demanded that the Pentagon take increased action to stop sexual assault by changing what several called a misogynistic military culture. They called on leaders to take assault cases out of the hands of commanders – a change that has been championed by Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-NY. Military leadership has blocked the proposal, claiming it would undermine command authority. Inside the Pentagon, Army Col. Rob Manning said there is “zero tolerance” for sexual assault or harassment in the military.

The people speak about community needs

The city of Fayetteville’s Economic & Community Development Department is hosting a series of citizen participation meetings to help identify needs in the community in preparation for the department’s 2018-19 Annual Action Plan. Topics of discussion include housing and economic development. The meetings are designed to allow citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns and identify needs. They will learn how federal community development funds are utilized. Feedback collected from participants will help staff develop a revised action plan to be presented to city council for consideration.

Remaining meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. at Hollywood Heights Community Center on Pritchett Road and Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Old Wilmington Road Neighborhood Resource Center.

Photo: Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett

At 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, the Fayetteville Public Works Commission noticed water levels in some elevated water towers were dropping. It wasn’t until 4 p.m. that PWC discovered a massive flow of water on Langdon Street a couple of blocks from city Fire Station 14. Two hundred yards or so off the road, a crew found the problem: A valve on the end of a 48-inch water main stub-out had burst, and water was gushing horizontally above ground.

It was the worst of several dozen water line breaks that first began occurring Jan. 2. Temperatures had plunged below freezing New Year’s Day and stayed that way until Jan. 8. Nearly the entire PWC water distribution system of 1,400 miles of cast iron, ductile iron and PVC water pipes encountered problems. It was the worst mass water service interruption career crew members have seen.

PWC team leader Tony Lucas and his crew were working on a water leak on S. Main Street in Hope Mills when he was splashed by rushing water. “My pants immediately froze to my legs,” Lucas said. The temperature had fallen to 11 degrees. On another occasion, Lucas said, his boots froze solid. Water valve technician James Pickens was called out Saturday and shut off an estimated 30 valves over the course of two days.

“I’ve got a tremendous group of guys,” said Chris Rainey, operations manager of PWC’s Water Resources Division.

Rainey said it took two hours to shut down the Landon Street water main where a 12-inch line was coupled to the 48-inch main. He said the valve split in half, and they still haven’t found the half that broke off. It took another two hours to drain the line before repairs could begin.

Large water mains also burst on Sunset Avenue, Southern Avenue and Anarine Road. Water levels dropped in five 1 million-gallon water towers, causing the gravity distribution system to falter. Rainey said he had 85 crewmen working over the Jan. 6-7 weekend.

At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, PWC issued a precautionary boil water advisory, according to Communications Officer Carolyn Justice-Hinson. Restaurants began closing because they could no longer use water or ice. She said the system was restored about 10 p.m. as the tanks were refilled. The water still could not be used for human consumption until it was thoroughly tested for contaminants. That took another couple of days.

Rainey said local records indicate there had not been a prolonged spell of a week or more of sub-freezing temperatures since 1968. Even after temperatures rose above freezing Jan. 9, water main breaks occurred. As Rainey explained it, the thawing of the ground relieves pressure on pipes, and they become vulnerable to breaking. They tend to be nuisance type breaks but require maintenance.

“The public was gracious and understanding,” Justice-Hinson said of the events. PWC used Facebook and its website, FayPWC.com, to keep the public informed. Comments were for the most part supportive of the dedicated men and women of the PWC, she added.

We need to clear up once and for all whether a chemical compound produced by Chemours Fayetteville Works is making us sick, killing us or just scaring the heck out everybody.

Some background. Chemours – formerly DuPont – produces GenX, a chemical compound used to make nonstick coatings on pots and frying pans. It’s also been labeled a potential cancer-causing toxin, which naturally has people in the area around the plant worried. The stuff has been showing up in above-recommended levels in the Cape Fear River, a couple of lakes and in nearby private wells.

Late last month, the state reported finding GenX on the east side of the Cape Fear River in five more wells, directly across from the Chemours Plant. Apparently, the stuff travels through the air as well as through groundwater.

Chemours is located between N.C. Highway 87 to the west and Cape Fear River to the east on the Bladen/Cumberland County line.

Word got out this past June that researchers had found GenX in the Cape Fear River a year earlier. In fact, it’s been swimming in the river since 1980.

Research has linked the chemical to tumors in small animals, but there is no definite link to humans yet. In almost every report about GenX, there’s a qualifying statement referring to it as a potential hazard to humans. Currently, state officials claim it’s not dangerous to humans if the discharge is 140 parts per trillion or less. To me, that’s like being just a little pregnant.

I think it’s time to set the record straight. How does GenX affect humans? People whose wells are affected and those living downriver deserve to know exactly how this chemical affects their health. Calling it potentially dangerous without sound scientific proof does nothing but cause undue fear.

Remember, the stuff is made so we can fry our eggs without butter. We use it daily, in muffin pans, pots and other cookware. How much of it do we eat when we scrape our eggs out of a pan that should have been thrown out as soon as its cooking surface started to show signs of wear?

So, where’s the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on this? When Flint, Michigan, had its lead-contaminated drinking water crisis in 2014, the CDC was all over it.

The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act directs the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry to study the health effects on humans from perflorinated chemicals, which includes GenX. The study is due for completion in December 2023. But that timetable doesn’t help the people living near the Chemours site having to drink bottled water.

So far, the people living downriver seem to be OK. Wilmington’s Sweeney Water Plant for the past several months also ran tests for GenX. The resuts consistently registered below the 140 parts per trillion level, with one high reading at 98 ppt.

What about our General Assembly? The Senate hasn’t moved on this issue yet. But the House has been busy. Nov. 30, state Department of Environmental Quality staff briefed members of the House Select Committee on NC River Quality on the latest surface and groundwater monitoring and air emissions from Chemours. They also reported on state enforcement actions for an unreported chemical spill at Chemours.

Based on that information, the legislative committee approved a proposed bill Jan. 4 to deal with the “potentially carcinogenic compound found in the Cape Fear River. “

At this writing, the General Assembly was scheduled to consider the bill during a Wednesday, Jan. 10, special daylong session.

The bill authorizes the state Department of Health and Human Services to work with scientists on coming up with health goals for contaminants. It also directs the DEQ to study the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting process and to coordinate and share water quality data with neighboring states.

In the meantime, we still don’t know if GenX – even at 140 ppt – is harming us, or worse.

President Donald Trump’s claims about voter fraud are preposterous. No credible evidence suggests that millions of people cast illegal ballots or that candidates who outpoll rivals by several percentage points can accomplish that by fraud under modern election administration.

Now that I’ve completed the requisite throat-clearing, I have a question for progressive readers: does the recent contest for control of the Virginia House of Delegates make you even a little bit uncomfortable?

Thanks primarily to the prevailing anti-Trump political winds, Virginia Democrats did very well in November. Their net gain of 15 GOP-held seats put them just one seat away from a tie and a likely power-sharing deal in the Virginia House.

That seat might have been won by Democrat Shelly Simonds in a Newport News-centered district. After the election-night tally showed her just 10 votes behind incumbent Republican David Yancey, Simonds sought a recount. It put her ahead by a single ballot. Republicans then successfully challenged that ballot in court.

The resulting tie was settled by drawing a name out of a bowl. Yancey got the luck of the draw. The GOP retained control of the legislative chamber, however unimpressively.

Tied elections aren’t unknown in North Carolina. As The Charlotte Observer recently reported, tied municipal races in Alleghany County, Sampson County and Mecklenburg County have been resolved by chance in recent memory. If we broaden the category a bit to include races settled by dozens or hundreds of votes, there are many more cases in municipal, county and even legislative races.

For that matter, who can forget the 2000 Florida recounts? A few hundred ballots separated George W. Bush and Al Gore in a state with enough electoral votes to sway the presidential race. Complaints about hanging chads, butterfly ballots and premature media calls depressing turnout in the Florida panhandle weren’t the only relevant controversies. Another was illegal voting, either by felons or by snowbirds and students with residences in multiple states.

Over the years, North Carolina has implemented a number of policies to deter illegal voting. Still, after the 2016 election, the State Board of Elections conducted an audit that found 508 votes cast that shouldn’t have counted. Most involved felons whose right to vote had not yet been restored. But there were also 41 substantiated cases of votes by noncitizens, 24 substantiated cases of double-voting and two substantiated cases of impersonation fraud, one in person and one by absentee ballot.

Some activists claimed this post-election audit proved that additional measures to ensure election integrity were unneeded. Their reasoning was faulty. The audit established a floor, not a ceiling, for illegal votes cast.

Impersonation fraud, for example, is likely done most of the time by people voting on behalf of their relatives, as was the case with the two substantiated cases in 2016. But such an audit can catch that only if the titular voters are deceased. What about voting on behalf of shut-ins or relatives with mental disabilities? Rules for both absentee and in-person voting need to be stricter to deter that.

Residency fraud also merits more attention and could be better policed in part by voter-ID requirements. If people with living quarters in multiple states – be they retirees, professionals or students – want to make North Carolina their residence for the purposes of voting, they should be required to possess a state-issued ID as an indication of their true intention. (Most are already required by state law to have North Carolina driver’s licenses if they want to operate a vehicle in the state for more than a few weeks, although they don’t always realize that.)

If you think election-integrity initiatives are nothing more than a Republican plot to suppress the vote, you should know that downplaying rare but potentially consequential cases of voter fraud only strengthens the resolve of those who favor voter-ID laws and the like, as a new Public Opinion Quarterly study confirms. A more productive response would be to work with Republicans to implement a low-cost insurance policy against fraudulent electoral outcomes.

Well-Strung is a New York City-based singing string quartet that thrives on juxtapositions. Fusing classical music with pop is its claim to fame, and shaking up the stereotypical image of string instrument players adds a layer of fun. The quartet comes to the Givens Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Edmund Bagnell (first violin), Chris Marchant (second violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello) and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) have been performing as a group since their debut at the Ars Nova theater in NYC in February 2012. When they performed again at a pub in Manhattan a few months later, they’d generated so much buzz that the show promptly sold out.

The group was conceived by producer and manager Mark Cortale and Marchant. Cortale saw Marchant busking with his violin in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2010. At the time, Marchant was singing in a show at The Art House and was busking on the side for extra money.

“He was really fantastic,” Cortale said. “The next day, I approached him... to discuss an idea I had for a solo show for him.” Marchant loved Cortales’ idea to do a show that combined pop and classical music but suggested expanding it into a quartet.

The rest is well-documented history. Well-Strung has been reviewed by The New York Times, New York Magazine, Broadway World, The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, “The Today Show,” CBS News and ABC News. They’ve also performed for President Barrack Obama.

Up & Coming Weekly talked with Bagnell about the ins and outs of being a member of Well-Strung.

Up & Coming Weekly: Who does the work of transforming existing songs into music uniquely composed for Well-Strung?

Bagnell: We do about ninety percent of the arranging ourselves, and it’s split pretty evenly among the four of us. In many cases, one of us will get inspired and bring an arrangement to the group.

UCW: Describe your approach to musical performance and entertainment with Well-Strung.

Bagnell: We love music, and we like to have fun with music, and in that we bring a certain sense of humor to some of our pop/classical mashups.

Above all else, we want our audiences to have a wonderful time at our show. We play a whole range of music from the 17th century all the way up to pop songs from this year, and we like to emphasize that good music is good music – no matter when it was written. … So, for instance, we’ll layer Aaron Copland with Taylor Swift, and Radiohead with Bach.

UCW: What is one of the craziest or funniest things that’s happened to you while performing onstage?

Bagnell: Luckily nothing too crazy has happened, but I will say that I seem to be the only one out of the four of us who consistently breaks a string on stage. About every four months I’ll have to run offstage during a show to go replace a string that broke.

UCW: What is your favorite part of performing with this quartet?

Bagnell: I love performing live with these guys. We’re like brothers, and we’ve done so many shows together I think we’ve become really good at reading each other onstage and being spontaneous musically. I also love that there are no rules to the music we play – if we want to play country music, we do it. If we want to play Mozart, we do it. It’s very liberating.

James Bass, GPAC director, said it’s this mentality that makes him so excited to have Well-Strung on the GPAC stage.

“We have to keep our season lineup diverse,” he said. “We have popular music, we have Broadway musicals, we have straight theatre, and we have large music ensembles. But what Well-Strung brings is something different – it’s a show that can satisfy hardcore music fans, pop music fans and people who just want to have a lot of fun with their friends.”

The members of Well-Strung are not just varied in their music, they’re also varied in their talents. Marchant and Wadleigh competed as a team on CBS’ “The Amazing Race,” which was filmed this October and premiered Jan. 4, 2018. Visit www.cbs. com/shows/amazing_race/cast/215804/ to view their #TeamWellStrung profile.

Visit uncp.edu/gpactickets or call 910-521-636 to purchase tickets for Well-Strung’s performance at the GPAC Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

Meet the bandmates

Edmund Bagnell (first violin) comes from South Carolina where he attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and went on to attend New York University as music major. His senior year, he was cast as Tobias in the first national tour of “Sweeney Todd,” directed by John Doyle. He has performed as a violinist, actor, and singer in NYC and around the country. Credits include Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and Tom Sawyer in “Big River” (Summer Theater of New Canaan).

Chris Marchant (violin) grew up in Akron, Ohio, where he began playing violin thanks to his mother’s urging. Throughout high school, Chris was involved in school and regional orchestras and choirs. He received a Bachelor of Arts in music ministry from Malone College, where he discovered a love of musical theatre. Credits include Tobias in “Sweeney Todd” and “Spring Awakening” (both national tours). Follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @chrisjmarchant.

Daniel Shevlin (cello) is originally from South Jersey and has been playing cello since he was ten years old. He moved to New York City at age 18 to pursue a career in musical theater. Since then, he has toured the U.S. and Asia in productions of “Rent” and “Cabaret” and has worked regionally as an actor and cellist in many theaters, including the Arvada Center (Colorado), Maltz Jupiter Theatre (Florida) and Mason Street Warehouse (Michigan). He studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has been a member of Actors Equity since 2006.

Trevor Wadleigh (viola) is a native of Kent, Washington, and began studying viola at age 17 under the tutelage of Joyce Ramée. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound with major concentrations in business and music performance as well as a minor in comparative sociology. While completing undergraduate coursework, he studied concurrently with Burton Kaplan of NYC where he completed an Artist’s Certificate program at the Aaron Copland School of Music. He has served as principal and section violist of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra (Seattle, Washington); Yakima Symphony (Yakima, Washington); Brevard Music Center Orchestra (Transylvania County, North Carolina); and Nova Philharmonic.

The Cumberland County Republican Party presents its Lincoln-Reagan Dinner Saturday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. at The Vine.

“This is an annual dinner for candidates, registered Republican voters and their guests to get together and share ideas about the coming year and how we can best advance conservative ideas locally and in the state,” said James Baker, county Republican Party chairman. “In the case of congressmen who are attending, we also want to share with them our concerns as conservatives on the national level.”

Baker added that many conservative voters are supportive of tax reform, and many of them are hunters or sportsmen and support the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill that one of our congressmen has recently advocated.

The keynote speaker is Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. Special guests include North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Barbara Jackson, Congressman Robert Pittenger, Sen. Wesley Meredith, Rep. John Szoka and other statewide and local officials.

The Lincoln-Reagan Dinner is named in honor of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

Lincoln was the first Republican president and a great president who successfully preserved the Union,” said Baker. “Reagan was a tremendous conservative, and even President Obama has referred to Reagan as a transformational figure who was successful in the opinion of many in bringing transformational change to the country in his generation.”

Baker said the Cumberland County Republican Party exists to support its candidates. “We support our candidates at the local level, statewide and national levels,” said Baker. “Our primary focus is local, then statewide and then nationwide – in that order.

“We are looking forward to a good event. Our guests are very highly regarded by local Republicans, and we are looking forward to a great evening.”

Ticket cost is $50, and there will be door prizes. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Vine is located at 806 Katie St. For more information, call 910-728-2601.

Photo:Lt. Gov. Dan Forest is set to deliver the keynote address at the Lincoln- Reagan Dinner Jan. 27. The dinner is hosted by the Cumberland County Republican Party.

The past decade has been a difficult one for daily and weekly newspapers and print news media in general. Financial stability has been a challenge as the industry gradually leaves the world of printed news on paper and transitions to the new, less dependable and everchanging world of the internet and social media. I’m not worried, though. There is still a valuable and relevant market and community interest for locally printed newspapers – especially for weekly community newspapers like Up & Coming Weekly.

However, today, there is a new breed of newspaper publishers, and, I use the term “publisher” loosely since many of the legitimate, honorable and traditional newspaper publishers are being replaced with corporate bean-counters and caretakers. They have little knowledge of the communities they serve, nor is there any interest in getting involved with the local missions and mandates that factor into having clear communication and a good quality of life within a community. With this being said, you can bet they have little knowledge of the newspaper industry let alone a clear understanding of what the Fourth Estate – the press, which is not officially recognized as part of the political system but wields a significant influence – contributes to society. No wonder there is such apparent public apathy toward any plight the newspaper industry may have. And it does have a plight.

Currently, national leaders in Washington, D.C., have been entertaining a proposal they feel is critically important to protect and shore up the operations of one West Coast domestic paper-producing company rather than being guardians of the national free press, the stalwart foundation of the Fourth Estate.

Daily and weekly newspapers across North Carolina (and the nation) are speaking out in an organized and collective voice, demanding that legislative delegations in Washington reject the idea of imposing tariffs on imported Canadian newsprint (uncoated groundwood). This is the type paper that many U.S. publishing companies use daily.

The movement is being spearheaded by large conglomerate newspaper chains and by state and national newspaper associations that say these proposed tariffs on Canadian paper could vary from 6 to 10 percent. This would increase U.S. newspaper companies’ costs of doing business and decay bottom-line profits. According to newspaper industry leaders, such an action by the Department of Commerce would create overall higher domestic newsprint pricing that would end up being passed on to the consumer while creating a financial burden on all newspaper companies across the state and country.

I agree that on the surface, protecting a national industry may look like the correct thing to do. But as The Fayetteville Observer pointed out in its Friday, Jan. 12, editorial “A newsprint tariff’s unintended consequences,” this kind of protectionism could have devastating consequences to the already-struggling newspaper industry – including Up & Coming Weekly.

Well, as the title of this editorial reflects: Cry me a river!

Honestly, who cares what happens to the daily newspaper industry? After all, we have the internet. What’s laughable is how the newspaper industry is claiming the viability and importance of daily and weekly newspapers as a local community medium while declaring such a tariff would hurt American businesses by increasing operating costs and reducing profitability, which would eventually lead to the loss of thousands of jobs in the newspaper industry.

Well, during the last 18 months here in Fayetteville, we lost plenty of newspaper jobs, and it had nothing to do with the price of newsprint. Even more laughable is the arrogant self-perception that the news industry cares about the communities it serves. Here is a quote from The Fayetteville Observer’s editorial:

“We are at an important juncture right now, and our role of getting real news to you on a daily or weekly basis matters more than ever. A credible news source that has a vested interest in communitybased news and information is one of our bedrock principles as a free nation.” They are talking about themselves. They go on, claiming that “Readers rely on newspapers to provide credible information about what matters most to them – news about local people, local government, local happenings, local businesses and important public notices that can impact a community.” Again, really? Are they talking about our daily newspaper?

I find it ironic that newspapers and newspaper-related associations have found it so convenient to, blatantly and without shame, violate the spirit of the Fourth Estate by publishing products with persistent politically leaning bias. And they do it with a mean-spirited penchant for sensationalizing fake news and half-truths while fostering ongoing and unfounded negative and disrespectful attacks on the office of the president of the United States. This injustice is as blatant as the disrespect many newspapers have for Americans who don’t agree with their opinions and ideology.

How ironic is it that now the mighty, arrogant liberal press is seeing its oncerespected bully pulpit reduced to an insignificant stub? Even as liberal abuses continue to mock freedom of speech and other constitutional freedoms, the newspaper industry is asking North Carolinians and people from across the nation to step up, exert our influence and invest our political capital to save it from an impending tax increase. Now that’s arrogant.

They want those of us who they have continuously attacked and offended to speak out on their behalf by contacting the U.S. Department of Commerce, the offices of Sens. Burr and Tillis and anyone else who will listen to oppose this proposed Canadian newsprint tariff. Honestly, why would we do that? So the newspaper industry can continue to assault our senses, make a mockery of the U.S. Constitution and spew the same disrespectful and biased reporting? I don’t think so. I’m not going to second-guess our congressional leaders; don’t be surprised if this falls on deaf ears. After all, this request is like asking the hangman for a new rope. Good luck.

I do agree with The Fayetteville Observer on this point, though: “A free press is more important than ever, and newspapers have always been at the forefront of serving our communities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue doing so.” Yep. This is what we do.

I’ll accept the price increase and make it work. After all, that’s been a 22-year tradition. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

When Christina Snead first heard she was about to make North Carolina High School Athletic Association history as the first female to officiate a football state championship game, she wasn’t able to celebrate the news the way she wanted.

“I actually wanted to a do a cartwheel,’’ the 41-year-old graduate of Cape Fear High School said. “I couldn’t. I was at school.’’

The school she’s referring to is Fayetteville State University, where she teaches health and wellness, first aid, CPR and swimming. She’s also doing work there on a degree in accounting.

This is her third year working as a high school football official, but her love for the game goes back much further.

“I always enjoyed it growing up,’’ she said. “I volunteered around Fayetteville State, traveled with the team and started doing rec ball and moved up gradually. I wanted to be around it all the time.’’

She played for six years with Cape Fear Thunder, a semi-pro women’s team, seeing action at running back and quarterback.

Friends who recognized her love for the sport urged her to become a high school official, but she quickly realized her perspective toward football had to change.

“When you become an official, you have to see what’s right,’’ she said. “There’s a lot more perspective you have to look at when officiating versus playing the game.’’

Before calling this year’s state 2AA championship game at Kenan Stadium between East Dublin and Hibriten in December, Snead called games in the state playoffs. Tony Haire was the head of the officiating crew during Snead’s run to the finals and the title game.

“I don’t know of any situations where there was a problem with a coach or issues with players that created a problem,’’ Haire said of his game experience with Snead. “Everything was pretty smooth on her side of the field.’’

Snead’s position as an official was what’s now known as down judge. She oversaw operations of the chain crew and was responsible for calls on the line of scrimmage as well as plays run to her side of the field.

With a national shortage of officials a growing problem, Haire said it’s important to get qualified women like Snead involved in the officiating program. “Over 99 percent of officials are men,’’ he said. “If we can get more women involved in officiating as a whole, and definitely in football, it would ease the shortage we’re in.’’

Neil Buie, regional supervisor of football officials for the Cape Fear region, agrees. He added that Snead’s selection to call the state title game wasn’t some gimmick to spotlight female officials. She was picked because she was deserving of the honor.

“She did an excellent job in the state championship and throughout the playoffs,’’ Buie said.

He added that the barrier of women serving as officials for traditionally male sports is no longer there. “It comes down to a mindset of I enjoy sports and being around young people,’’ he said. “I enjoy giving back and want to be part of it.’’

Snead feels the same way. “I want any female to know nothing is impossible,’’ she said. “If there’s something they want to do in their lifetime, go for it.

Photo: Snead

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins said she intended to make some organizational changes in the police department. She has done just that. Hawkins is undoing a major organizational change implemented three years ago by former Chief Harold Medlock. She is reorganizing the department into two patrol districts. That’s the way it was before Medlock created a third district. The two district police substations are on Raeford Road and Sycamore Dairy Road. The FPD’s Executive Command Staff is headquartered at the main police station on Hay Street.

Hawkins has reshaped the FPD’s command staff structure as well. Assistant Chief Christopher Davis is retiring next month, and Hawkins has decided not to replace him. When asked why he was taking early retirement, Davis said, “The Medlock years took a lot out of me.” He’s looking for another job and is also teaching at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

The FPD will be left with two assistant chiefs, Anthony Kelly and Michael Petti. The department’s organization flow chart will have an additional layer of executives. Chief Hawkins is creating four new positions with the rank of major.

“They will be promoted from within,” she said. The selections have not yet been made. One of the majors will be Hawkins’ chief of staff. Another will be in charge of the Specialized Support Bureau. Two majors will be assigned to the Field Support Bureau.

Hawkins said the new executive positions will be funded by reallocating the assistant chief’s payroll and that of a captain’s position following his recent retirement. The reorganization goes into effect Feb. 5. That’s when the dominos will begin to fall with the promotion of four police captains to major, which will reshape the command staff. Four lieutenants will ostensibly be promoted to captain, and four sergeants will be elevated to lieutenant, leaving the opportunity for four patrolmen to become sergeants.

Another captain recently resigned, and that vacancy is being filled with the promotion of Lt. Todd Joyce, Hawkins said. “Filling that position was extremely competitive,” the chief said, “but Joyce earned it.” Joyce has served as the department’s public information officer for several years. Lt. Gary Womble will take that position when Joyce moves up.

Photo: Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins

This season, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra fans have been able to celebrate the Carolinas through music under the direction of new music director Stefan Sanders. From East Coast pirates to Fayetteville’s French connection, every concert has embraced a different facet of the Carolinas. Thursday, Jan. 25, the trend continues with “Music of the New World” at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

The second chamber concert of the season, this performance includes a mix of brass quintet and woodwind quintet music. A brass quintet is a small ensemble that consists of two trumpets, one French horn, one trombone and one tuba player. A woodwind quintet is another small ensemble that consists of one flute, one oboe, one clarinet, one bassoon and one French horn player. For this performance, all 20 performers are principal musicians, meaning they hold the first or second chair seats in their instrument section in the orchestra.

“The one thing I wish everyone knew about the FSO chamber orchestra concerts is that the programs themselves are created through a conversation between me, our staff and the musicians,” said Sanders. “Once we agree on the repertoire, the musicians coordinate their schedules and rehearse completely on their own. Making music and putting together programs in this manner is what we call chamber music, and it is vital toward building healthy and effective communication between our musicians as well as giving them opportunities to hone their artistry and leadership abilities. … These intimate performances at beautiful St. John’s Episcopal provide music lovers with a closeness to the music and our musicians that only chamber music creates.

“The music will predominantly be American themed – either composed by American born composers, or music that depicts the American nationality,” said FSO Director of Operations and Marketing Julia Atkins. “This music was chosen due to our ‘Gone to Carolina’ season. We typically do small chamber concerts halfway through our season at St. John’s Episcopal Church, and we figured an American themed chamber concert would fit our Carolina season.”

At larger performances, the orchestra’s Music Nerd, Joshua Busman, typically speaks and then hosts a question and answer session prior to the concert. While Busman will not speak at this concert, Atkins said that “because this is a smaller venue with fewer musicians, the musicians themselves (will) speak with the audience during the concert to help give background on the music they will hear that evening.”

She added that this is a great concert for firsttimers or people who want to learn more about the symphony or orchestral music. “Because it is a smaller venue, many concert-goers will get to learn a lot about classical music and hear some music they wouldn’t otherwise hear in a large concert hall,” she said. “It’s certainly a more intimate setting.”

Stellar performances are one piece of the organization’s mission. “Our mission is ‘To Educate. To Entertain. To Inspire,’” said Atkins. “Outreach is essential in order to fulfill that mission – as well as to give back to the Fayetteville community. As a symphony, we do provide entertainment, but we also provide education and inspiration, and we want to be able to provide that to the Fayetteville community every day.”

To this end, the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra involves youth 13-21 years old and has more than 70 participants this year. The FSO also hosts a one-week summer music camp for advanced instrumental students. The orchestra also hosts an After School Strings Program to educate young children about basic music concepts.

The Fayetteville Sports Club has increased membership in its Hall of Fame by five with the announcement of the inductees in the class of 2018.

The five inductees will be honored at a banquet to be scheduled some time later this year.

Listed alphabetically below, here is a brief summary of the accomplishments of the members of the new class.

Chip Bishop 

Bishop was a standout athlete at Terry Sanford High School who once returned a pass interception 102 yards for a touchdown. He went on to a successful career as a coach and athletic administrator at Terry Sanford and Fayetteville Academy.

He’s spent 36 years with the Academy, the last 22 as athletic director. As a coach, he won two North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association boys’ basketball titles with the school. He recently received the Chuck Carter Athletic Director of the Year Award from the NCISAA.

Jim Farthing

Farthing was a veteran coach in the Cumberland County Schools system, spending many years working at Pine Forest High School. He coached a variety of sports and was recognized in 2017 with the naming of the gymnasium at Pine Forest Middle School in his honor. He won 245 games while coaching in the same gym before Pine Forest High School moved to its current campus on Andrews Road.

Buck Melton

A graduate of old Massey Hill High School, Melton went on to become one of the best athletic officials in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

One of the best tributes was paid to Melton by former Cumberland County Schools central office staff member Glenn Riddle, who was a fellow official during Melton’s years.

In a column by Bill Kirby Jr. that appeared in The Fayetteville Observer, Riddle made the following comment about Melton.

“Buck was an outstanding official, a great guy and a true friend to many, many people. If there was a crucial game to be played, Buck Melton was almost always selected to be one of the officials. He was a mentor to so many beginning officials. I never officiated football or basketball, at the high school level or college level, with a better official. I will truly miss Buck Melton.’’ 

Lisa Monaco Wheless and Margit Monaco Hicks

This duo from Terry Sanford High School dominated the open classification of North Carolina High School Athletic Association doubles tennis like no other duo in state history.

They remain the only players in the history of NCHSAA tennis, boys or girls, to win four consecutive state championships in doubles from 1977-80 when the sport was unclassified and they competed against every tennis-playing school in the state.

Their final two years at Terry Sanford, under veteran coach Christine Cherry, they helped lead the Bulldogs to the team state title.

READER ALERT!

This column deals with gerrymandering, a topic that has been described as everything you hated about high school civics. Admittedly, it is not as titillating as reading about porn stars and Donald Trump. Gerrymandering refers to the drawing of elective districts for offices from Congress down to county and municipal positions to benefit individual candidates, political parties or both. It has been with us since the earliest days of our nation and has been practiced by both Democrats and Republicans and the parties that preceded them.

Feeling sleepy?

I understand, but make no mistake. Gerrymandering affects all of us, rendering some of our votes meaningless and leading to the election of legislators and members of Congress of one party when members of the opposite party cast more votes. It cheapens the sacred “one person, one vote” premise Americans hold dear. Redistricting, which has meant gerrymandering in recent cycles, occurs after every U.S. census to distribute changing populations relatively equally for the coming decade. Lawsuits almost always follow.

The latest round of lawsuits began in 2011 and is still going strong. In the interest of full disclosure, I am the lead plaintiff in one of the several suits, which has been to the U.S. Supreme Court twice and to the North Carolina Supreme Court not once, not twice but three times – so far! The latest court ruling on gerrymandering in our state came last week from a three-judge federal panel and is by all accounts – and to use the vernacular – a really big deal not only for North Carolina but for our nation.

Since 2011, rulings in the phalanx of redistricting lawsuits in both state and federal courts have addressed gerrymandering based on race, and both state and federal courts have uniformly and repeatedly said racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional. Ruling last week, the federal judges said gerrymandering of congressional districts based on partisan politics is also unconstitutional. “No, no,” said the judges. The party in charge of redistricting – in North Carolina’s case last time around, the Republicans – may not gerrymander for gross partisan advantage.

Rep. David Lewis of Harnett County had justified the partisan gerrymandering to House colleagues by saying, “I propose we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe it is possible to draw maps with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.”

The judges did not buy that position, however, marking the first time partisan gerrymandering has been struck down in North Carolina. In fact, while racial gerrymandering has long been deemed unconstitutional – though legislators still try it from time to time – courts have rarely dealt with partisan gerrymandering. That legal void has left room for the practice and allowed legislators like Rep. Lewis to feel comfortable announcing such plans out loud and in public.

As Bob Dylan famously sang, “The times they are a’ changing.”

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a partisan redistricting case from Wisconsin last fall and has agreed to take up another case from Maryland. Legal observers speculate that last week’s North Carolina ruling will also make its way to Washington. In other words, the highest court in the land is signaling that partisan gerrymandering is an issue of national significance. Advances in computer software now allow slicing and dicing of voting districts in ways not imaginable even a decade ago, much less in pre-computer days. These advances make gerrymandering, including partisan gerrymandering, a mere click away, and the high court is clearly concerned.

You and I can do little to combat gerrymandering of any sort except vote for candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly who support a bipartisan redistricting system. North Carolina, like most states, tasks the legislature with Congressional and legislative redistricting, a practice that allows those who benefit from the system to control the system. Think the fox guarding the henhouse.

North Carolina has held three election cycles – 2012, 2014 and 2016 – with Congressional and legislative districts that have been found unconstitutional, but legal appeals continue even as the next U.S. census and subsequent redistricting loom. This makes no sense to voters, repelling us instead of attracting us to our voting places. Gerrymandering in all its forms damages our democracy, and the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts are turning their attention to its highly partisan incarnation.

Stay tuned.

The Boneyard Bash at Jack Britt High School, always one of Cumberland County’s biggest regular-season wrestling events, is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, in the Britt gymnasium.

This is the 18th annual version of the tournament started by former Buccaneer wrestling coach John DeWeese, who, though retired, is still helping out behind the scenes with setting up this year’s event.

There will be a slight change in the starting time of the tournament to help schools taking part in testing this week.

Although gates are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m., weigh-ins may begin as late as 5:30 p.m., and some opening matches might not start until 6:30 p.m. or later.

Three rounds will be wrestled Friday. Gates will open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with wrestling beginning at 8 a.m.

The finals are tentatively scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets are $8 for Friday and $10 for Saturday. A two-day pass can be purchased for $15.

The tournament will feature some familiar faces from Cumberland County, including host Jack Britt, Gray’s Creek, Pine Forest, Terry Sanford and Seventy-First. Traditional state power Cary is entered along with a traditionally strong program from the western part of the state, Lake Norman.

“It’s great having teams from outside our region coming in,’’ said first-year Jack Britt wrestling head coach Byron Sigmon. “Different parts of the state have different styles and coaching strategies. It’s great to see those kids now rather than wait until the state tournament.’’

Among the top wrestlers competing from county schools are the following. Records are through Jan. 1 as posted on NCPrepSports.net:

106 - Kevin Wanovich, Jack Britt, 11-1.

113 - Pierre Young, Terry Sanford, 11-1;

Kyle Cunningham, Gray’s Creek, 20-3.

120 - Tre Sousa, Gray’s Creek, 20-4.

138 - Andrew Esterly, Gray’s Creek,

22-2; Christian Govan, Pine Forest, 20-8.

145 - Andrew Grierson, Gray’s Creek, 12-1.

152 - Daniel Peede, Pine Forest, 24-0.

160 - Keith Jalen, Gray’s Creek, 16-7.

170 - Ferris Allen, Terry Sanford, 10-1;

Darius Govan, Pine Forest, 21-4.

182 - Daniel Ogunwo, Jack Britt, 9-0;

Finley Allen, Terry Sanford, 11-0; Luke Roberson, Jack Britt, 11-2.

220 - Tony Tyndal, Gray’s Creek, 17-4.

Photos L to R: Byron Sigmon, Jack Britt wrestling head coach; Daniel Peed, a top Cumberland County wrestler

Fayetteville Technical Community College, which serves over 4,200 military and veteran students and their dependents, was ranked No. 3 nationally by Military Times’ Best Colleges 2018 report. Staff at the All American Veterans Center (located inside the General Classroom Building at the Fayetteville campus) are committed to helping active-duty service members, veterans and their dependents achieve their educational goals.

Most service members exiting the military face some anxiety as they prepare for the next chapter in life. Change, the loss of one’s support network and the unknown future can lead to feelings of frustration. Where and how to begin the educational journey are questions often faced by veterans. What kind of career will allow utilization of military training and experience? Where are military-friendly school environments with staff who understand the needs of veterans? Who can answer questions and offer help?

The staff at FTCC’s AAVC will do everything possible to help veterans find the answers to these questions and more. Veterans may even discover they are closer to a degree than they thought. For some veterans, an associate degree may require less than two years to complete. Staff members evaluate prior learning and experience for applying possible academic credit toward a degree.

Many students enter the AAVC with apprehension but leave with a sense of relief in receiving assistance with the first step of the Veterans Affairs educational benefits process. Members of the AAVC work-study staff, who are student veterans, assist new students with the enrollment process. They explain VA educational benefits options and eligibility, assist students in completing the VA application and much more. School certifying officials are ready to certify enrollment to VA for payment.

VA educational benefits assist with the cost of education. A veteran may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) education benefits if active duty service occurred for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001. Individuals eligible for full benefits will receive in-state rate of tuition and fees and a book stipend of $1,000 per academic year. A percentage of the maximum monthly housing allowance of $1,289 is paid based on a student’s enrollment status, such as full-time versus part-time enrollment. FTCC also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program to assist veterans financially with the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.

The AAVC offers a relaxed atmosphere where veterans can engage in conversation with fellow veteran students. The center has computers, refreshments and locations where veterans can complete homework or hold study groups with fellow veterans. While the primary focus of the AAVC is to provide veteran students the tools needed to be successful in accomplishing educational goals, the staff makes every effort to obtain information on any community resource the veteran may need. Volunteers from the Patriot Outreach Center work at the AAVC to offer additional information and support.

If you are at the crossroads of your military service and civilian life, visit FTCC’s All American Veterans Center. You earned your veteran educational benefits, and you deserve them. Now let us serve you at FTCC.

The new year is well underway. If you’re like most people, you made a few resolutions. And if you’re like most people, you may have already broken a few of those.

One reason we often fail at resolutions and forming new habits is because our lives are maxed out – spouse, children, college, work, home repair, yard work, dinner, sports, dance class, Scouts, grocery shopping, family, vacation (who has time for that?), church, the list goes on and on. So how can we balance life and ministry? Here are three principles.

1. Determine to spend time with God daily.

In Mark 1:35, we find Jesus arising early, while it is still dark, to go pray. The night before was filled with activity and ministry. Why didn’t he just sleep in – bypass the early morning prayer time? Because spending time with God is a necessity. For Christians, this activity is vital. Yet, because it is something left unscheduled, we often skip it. Take a moment to set a time, set a location, and set a task – read the Bible, pray, meditate, etc.

2. Decide to do what is necessary daily.

My calendar is overflowing with things that “need” to be done. However, I often spend my time doing things that are unnecessary. Things like watching TV, scrolling through Facebook, playing Candy Crush and much more. Only a few things are necessary: food, sleep, exercise, work, family and devotional time with God.

In Mark 1:36-38, the disciples find Jesus praying, and they try to get him to go back to the village. The people were anxious to see more miracles, healings and exorcisms. But Jesus said, “No!” He knew what was necessary and what was not. In verse 38, he says, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby so that I can preach there also; for that is what I came for.” In short, Jesus determined what was necessary and chose not to do the rest.

You have 24 hours in your day – the same as me. What you accomplish in those 24 hours depends on the choices you make. If you choose to do the unnecessary tasks, then you will not accomplish the more important, necessary tasks. Need to spend more time with the family? Watch less TV. Want to pick up a new hobby? Stop wasting time on Twitter. Do you really want to read the Bible through this year? Then choose to spend time doing it.

3. Do what is necessary.

The Nike adage is still true today: Just do it! There’s a big difference in knowing what’s necessary and doing what’s necessary. After Jesus identifies the thing he came to do as preaching, the next verse shows him going into the synagogues preaching (Mark 1:39). It’s a matter of action. It’s a matter of just doing it.

So, whatever you’re seeking to accomplish in 2018, you can make a significant step toward achieving it with these three simple principles. If one of those goals is to learn to read and study your Bible better, then consider our tuition-free class, “How to Study the Bible.” We’d love to help you be a new you in this new year.

Katy Beasley

Terry Sanford • Sophomore •

Tennis

Beasley has a 4.0 grade point average. She was the No. 4 singles player on the Terry Sanford team. She is active in a number of organizations, including Tri Chi, Key Club, Friends Club, Go Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She’s in the Hay Street United Methodist Church youth group and volunteers at the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society.

Connor Sykes

Pine Forest • Junior •

Soccer Sykes has a 4.0 grade point average. In addition to playing soccer at Pine Forest, he’s active in the Student Government Association and Academy of Emergency Medical Science.

You’d be amazed at what high school sports writers do with their free time over the holidays.

During the down week after the Cumberland County Holiday Classic, I got into a discussion on Twitter with several of my peers and a few coaches about a burning issue in high school basketball, the question of whether a shot clock is needed.

There are some who feel strongly the time has come to pull the high school game into the same arena with colleges and the NBA and add a shot clock to competition.

The arguments are pretty familiar. They think it will improve the pace of play, plus it will be a boon for those athletes who will be leaving the high school ranks to compete at the higher levels where the clock has been in use for years

But let’s just hold on for a second. I’m not sure if I’m in a minority or a majority on this because I haven’t conducted any polls, but I strongly disagree that the time for the shot clock has come in the high school game.

For one thing, I can count on zero fingers the number of times I’ve seen a team engage in a full-fledged stall to try and win a high school game. The reason for that is the majority of teams don’t have a player skilled enough to command possession of the ball and keep flipping it around the court to various teammates to force the clock to wind down.

So my biggest case is we’re trying to fix something that’s not broken, at least it’s not broken in the basketball I’ve seen.

The biggest argument against the change to a shot clock is the cost. Somebody’s got to buy a working clock, and you’ve got to set up satellite clocks at either end of the court that both teams can see.

I just did a quick Google search, and the first one I saw with the operating station and the two clocks came in at $1,375.

Another problem is you’ve got to train and pay someone to operate the clock. That’s an ongoing hit to already skimpy athletic budgets.

Finally, my biggest objection to a shot clock in high school is you’re going to make the game worse, not better, because only a fraction of the athletes at the high school level have the athletic ability and drive to advance to college and NBA basketball.

Far too many youngsters who play the high school game are out there simply for the love of it and don’t have either the aspiration or the chance to be on a team once high school is over.

To force players of limited skill to try and get off a shot every 30 or 45 or however many seconds we set a high school shot clock for would be painful and turn sloppy games into absolute train wrecks.

Let’s don’t rush to judgment on this and do something that will benefit a fraction of the players and a handful of teams who would dominate the opposition because of superior talent alone.

Let’s leave something to coaching and respect the talent level of every player in the game, from the stars to the kids that get in off the bench.

More than a few Americans and people elsewhere in the world expected 2017 to be the Year of the Woman, or more specifically, the Year of One Particular Woman – Hillary Clinton. That did not happen, as we all know, proving that America is not quite ready for a woman president. We are apparently ready, though, for women leaders in other high places. Writing for The Washington Post, Petula Dvorak pointed to three new women U.S. senators, the first woman to head a major Unified Combatant Command, the first woman NFL coach, and the first woman depicted on U.S. currency, all of which came to fruition in 2017.

So there is progress.

What is more, 2018 is shaping up not as the Year of the Woman, but the Year of Women. The Women’s March a year ago in Washington, D.C., and other cities across the nation brought millions of women together to mourn a loss and to celebrate what will surely come in future years. It was a historical moment filled with hope and energy. It was also a moment that cannot be duplicated, though women’s marches around the country are also planned for later this month.

That was then, though, and this is now, and the difference is a year in which women of all partisan stripes declared they were running for public offices from the U.S. Senate and governorships down to local school boards. Some of those women were elected in 2017, and some will be on ballots in 2018.

What we are seeing is women demanding seats at decision-making tables and voters deciding women candidates are often more trustworthy than men who have jealously guarded the status quo for not just decades but centuries. Women make up 51 percent of the American population, and millions of those women have decided we do not like the way we have been treated in oh-so-many ways.

Women are tired of being shut out, yes, but feminine activism is also fueled by the election of a president who bragged openly about groping women, which in turn led to the #MeToo movement. Famous and powerful women, and others who lead more private lives, have stepped forward to report sexual harassment and abuse, some of it criminal, toppling men from high places in politics, media, business, and even restaurant kitchens. At times, it has felt like a tsunami of men tumbling head over heels, a phenomenon political commentator and humorist Celia Rivenbark describes as “raining men.”

It is true that the women energized to run for elective office and even the millions of women marching last year are but a small fraction of the 154 million plus women in the United States. Most women have done neither of those things, but make no mistake. Women are watching the actions and achievements of their sisters, and they are nursing their own stories of gender inequities and worse. They are watching and cheering, sometimes silently, advances they see that will benefit themselves, their daughters and others in general.

It shocks me every time I think about it to realize that my own mother was born into a country, the United States, that did not yet allow women to vote. That baby girl grew into a woman who voted at every opportunity, as do her two daughters. Hillary Clinton did not become president for many reasons – not only her gender – but almost a century after American women got the vote, Clinton did run on a major party ticket and came close to becoming the leader of the free world.

The bottom line here is that some women are more capable than men in almost every field or endeavor, and some are not. What the Year of Women is about is leveling the field so that the most capable person rises to the top and so that power in public and in private is not used selectively based on gender.

If nothing else, 2018 is going to be an interesting, energizing and profoundly hopeful time to be an American woman.

L to R: Ilhan Omar, America’s first Somali-American Muslim woman legislator; Kathy Tran, the first Asian-American woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates; Vi Lyles, the first African-American woman mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. These women are just a few of many who are changing hundreds of years of the male-dominated status quo in America.

Before we start a new year, I always take time to reflect on the year that has passed. 2017 has been a year for the history books. As your congressman, I made a promise that I would work hard to advance policies that strengthen our economy and bring more jobs to the 8th District. I also promised I would be as accessible as possible and strive to represent you and our community’s priorities. On both of those counts, I think we had a successful year.

Right here in North Carolina, we saw close to 100,000 new jobs in 2017. Nationwide, the economy has added millions of jobs, the stock market is at the highest it has ever been, and our unemployment rate is at a historic low of 4.1 percent. That’s the lowest rate in nearly 17 years, due in large part because we have rolled back 22 regulations for every one that has been added.

While this is incredible news for our economy, we are just getting started. We closed out 2017 by passing the most comprehensive tax reform in over 30 years. We will see the full impact of this law manifest in more jobs, higher wages and more money in your pocket in the coming year.

Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we have strengthened our national security and restored confidence in America. We have taken steps to rebuild our military, ISIS has lost nearly all of its territory and its stronghold in Iraq and Syria, and we have bolstered our border security

In the House of Representatives, we passed 477 bills – including four of mine (of which one made it into law), with a total of 97 signed into law. Unfortunately, 378 of those bills got log-jammed in the Senate. While I am disappointed in the slow work of the Senate, we concentrated on issues important to the 8th District and the American people. We passed bills to address Veterans Affairs inefficiency, combat human trafficking and to continue to address the opioids crisis.

By far, one of the most important parts of my job as your representative is taking care of your needs. As our district changed this year to include Moore, Hoke and Cumberland Counties, I opened offices in downtown Fayetteville and at Sandhills Community College to increase my accessibility. This year, we’ve helped hundreds of folks with problems with federal agencies like Social Security and the VA. We’ve helped veterans get service medals that were long overdue and fire stations get grants for more firefighters and equipment. I also introduced legislation to name the Spring Lake post office after Howard B. Pate, a World War II veteran and the town’s longtime post master.

Last but not least, we passed what was described by AWR Hawkins as the “biggest guns rights boost since the ratification of the Second Amendment” this year with the passage of my concealed carry reciprocity legislation in the House. This legislation will ensure that law-abiding citizens can protect their families across state lines.

2017 has been a great year for North Carolina’s 8th District, and I’m looking forward to what this new year has in store. I will continue to work for good-paying jobs, a strengthened economy and commonsense government. My wife Renee and I wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Business-wise, 2017 was a great year, but I’m especially excited about 2018. Fayetteville and Cumberland County are flush with opportunities to stimulate our economy, advance our reputation, solidify our brand and enhance our quality of life. The big question looming out there is whether we have the leadership in place to take advantage of these opportunities. After attending the first planning session of the new Fayetteville City Council, I must admit I was slightly disappointed at the reluctance of several council members to step up and take leadership positions on two major local initiatives.

Both initiatives – Pathways to Prosperity and city support for the proposed NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center – were obviously relevant and potentially beneficial to the residents of Fayetteville. Instead of evaluating these projects on their merits and how they could positively impact the community, council members seemed to be reluctant and overly concerned about how their constituents would perceive and react to their decisions. This concern, rather than a will to provide the leadership and direction for which they were elected, was the focus.

This preoccupation is concerning. They are all intelligent and capable people with good intentions and judgment. Why the reluctance? Doing the right thing for the right reasons never warrants an apology. That’s real leadership, and real leadership inspires vision and aggressive action. The city of Fayetteville is desperately in need of both if it is to succeed in growing the community. This is reality, not negativity.

I was trying to think of a relevant New Year’s resolution I could bestow on our new Fayetteville City Council in the hope it may provide council members inspiration and confidence to be aggressive in their thinking and decision-making. As I was driving through the frozen, snow-covered mountains of West Virginia this weekend, a popular country song by Rodney Atkins came on the radio and provided me the idea for my resolution.

The song is “If You’re Going through Hell.” How appropriate. Atkins sings out an upbeat message of perseverance that could serve to shore up anyone’s confidence and resolve. It goes like this:

If you’re going through hell Keep on going, don’t slow down If you’re scared, don’t show it You might get out Before the devil even knows you’re there Yeah, if you’re going through hell Keep on moving, face that fire Walk right through it You might get out Before the devil even knows you’re there

It’s a fun and catchy tune with a great message. Check it out: www.YouTube/Rodney Atkins. You’ll be humming it all week.

So, there you have it. My musical New Year’s gift and message to the new city council. Lyrics to live and survive by. Work hard, keep on going, don’t slow down, and, if you’re scared – don’t show it! All while continuing to serve and do the right things for the Fayetteville community. You can never go wrong doing the right things for the right reasons.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. Thank you for reading and supporting Up & Coming Weekly and allowing us to serve you. Expect only the best from our publications as we expect only the best for this community.

Another 11 ex-offenders will be getting jobs when Kinlaw’s Supermarket finishes its $500,000 store expansion. Owner Tommy Kinlaw said his store in East Fayetteville needs additional meat processing space plus more cold storage and expanded distribution capacity. “We are very pleased that this expansion will create local jobs for people who have had difficulty finding employment due to their past,” Kinlaw said.

The company regularly demonstrates its commitment to the community by actively participating in the local re-entry program, which finds jobs for former convicts.

“Our city is committed to supporting existing businesses and attracting new jobs and investment,” said Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin.

The 11 full-time jobs will provide the new employees an average annual wage of $31,158, including comprehensive benefits.

“When people have served their time, we want them to become productive members of society for their own success and for the safety and success of our communities,” Governor Roy Cooper said.

Kinlaw noted that he has hired dozens of former offenders over the years. In addition to the Sapona Road store expansion, the company has purchased a second supermarket on Gillespie Street. “More jobs will be created for this store in the coming months, and hiring is expected to start immediately,” he said.

Campbell Soup cooks up a local deal

Campbell Soup Supply Company, in partnership with DHL Supply Chain, has selected the Cedar Creek Business Center in Fayetteville for a new, state-of-the-art distribution center. The deal became public several weeks ago under a code name. The companies plan to invest more than $40 million in the project, which will result in the creation of 140 full-time and 55 part-time jobs.

In October, incentives for the project, which had not been publicly disclosed, were unanimously approved by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Fayetteville City Council. The company will receive grants of not more than 75 percent of new real property taxes for seven years. The county also agreed to sell the company approximately 98 acres in the industrial park for about $1.23 million, which is more than $500,000 less than the fair market value.

DHL is partnering with Campbell to develop a network of four distribution centers across the country. Campbell Soup has a manufacturing plant in nearby Maxton. It employs more than 800 workers in the production of several popular lines of soups. Construction of the local 627,000-square foot plant is scheduled to begin early this year.

“DHL Supply Chain and Campbell chose Cumberland County for its skilled workforce, proximity to major transportation hubs and favorable business climate,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

A supply chain is a system of integrated logistics that functions in harmony. Procurement, production, planning and transportation play vital roles in a supply chain. These processes also drive a company’s support functions such as marketing, finance, human resources, information technology and product development.

Murders down from 2016

Last year was unofficially the second-deadliest year on record for Fayetteville homicides. The alltime- record of 31 violent deaths was set in 2016. The unofficial total for 2017 was 26. September was the most violent month of the year with five murders investigated by Fayetteville police. Twenty-five of the deaths were classified by police as murders. The perpetrator of one of the homicides was charged with manslaughter. There was one double-homicide. And in one instance, a man murdered his wife and then took his own life. Suicide is not by legal definition homicide.

By contrast, the city of Durham counted only 20 homicides last year. At last count, there were 78 [sic] homicides in Raleigh.

Update on paratrooper’s death

An Army investigation into a Fort Bragg paratrooper’s death two years ago concluded that the soldier’s improper exit from the plane caused his death. Spc. Nicholas Roberts, 27, was killed instantly when the static line cut his neck, according to the report. The accident occurred April 28, 2016, during a night jump onto Sicily Drop Zone at Fort Bragg. It was Roberts’ seventh jump, but his first at night with a loaded rucksack and modular airborne weapons case.

His inexperience was cited as a contributing factor to the accident. But, the report also cited poor performance by jumpmasters, who failed to attend a pre-jump training session. The jumpmasters were formally reprimanded.

Roberts was a member of 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. Video and witnesses indicated that his MAWC was rigged too loosely. As he handed off his static line just before jumping from the aircraft, “his MAWC was positioned at an improper angle and appears nearly horizontal, as he turned in to the paratroop door,” according to the report. The MAWC, in which the soldier’s rifle and other gear were enclosed, struck the door of the C-17 as Roberts exited the aircraft, causing him to spin.

Teen pregnancy down in Cumberland County

Teen pregnancy rates locally have dropped more than 13 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics. In Cumberland County, there were 398 pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-old girls, which equates to a rate of 37 pregnancies per 1,000 girls of that age range. That ranks Cumberland County 23rd out of 100 counties in the state.

Statewide, North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate fell 7 percent. Additional highlights from the data indicate that North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate has fallen 73 percent since it peaked in 1990.

Pregnancies of white, black and Hispanic teens dropped 9, 8 and 4 percent, respectively. Pregnancy rates among African-American and Hispanic teens remain twice as high as those among whites.

Nationwide, researchers attribute pregnancy declines to increased use of birth control and birth control methods. The Health Department’s Teen Wellness Clinic assists patients who are 12-19 years old. Teens receive confidential, high-quality, friendly health care. The clinic provides numerous birth control methods including condoms, natural family planning, birth control pills, the patch, the NuvaRing and Depo Provera.

The greater Fayetteville Cumberland County Ministerial Council presents the “25th Year Honoring MLK’s Legacy” Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast Monday, Jan. 15, at 8 a.m. at the Crown Expo Center. The theme this year is “One Nation, One People: One Community, Fayetteville.”

“The theme echoes Dr. King himself as it relates to love of the community, being a nation of diversity, difference of opinion, different approaches to addressing matters of concern and for the sake of the love of community, we don’t allow differences to cause an imbalance,” said Dr. Maxie Dobson, vice president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Ministerial Council. “This year we will have singing, as usual, from choirs and groups and the collective singing of the ‘Black American National Anthem.’” Dobson added that the event will follow the same format as past MLK breakfasts.

The keynote speaker is Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, senior pastor of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan.

“We are particularly excited about our special keynote speaker, Bishop Ellis,” said Dobson. “He is a very personable and approachable person who is very busy. He is indirectly connected to the Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks because his church hosted her homegoing services, and that was a grand affair.” Parks lived in Detroit for many years after she moved from Alabama, and she passed away in 2005.

“We are looking for it to be our best one because this is the milestone 25th year that the Ministerial Council has sponsored this event, and that makes it more special and particularly satisfying,” said Dobson. “We are very grateful for the community at large because this is an event that is almost a common staple and a gathering that has no second thought, and the majority are reoccurring attendees.”

Dobson said the event is the best-attended gathering of its kind in the state of North Carolina and that it says something about the community that we would commit ourselves together and revisit the opportunities before us in the spirit of the legacy of Dr. King.

Ticket cost is $20 in advance or $23 at the door. For more information, visit www.fayettevillemincouncil.org.

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem. A September 2017 International Labor Organization and Walk Free Foundation report stated, “An estimated 24.9 million victims are trapped in modernday slavery. Of these, 16 million – 64 percent – were exploited for labor; 4.8 million – 19 percent – were sexually exploited; and 4.1 million – 17 percent – were exploited in state-imposed forced labor.”

Human trafficking is a statewide problem. Last year, statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline ranked North Carolina among the top 10 states for human trafficking with 181 cases reported in 2016.

Human trafficking is a local problem. In 2017, multiple human trafficking arrests were made in Cumberland County in February, July, September and October.

Human trafficking is a problem we can work together to combat. Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m., learn more about human trafficking and how to be a part of the solution at the Human Trafficking Awareness Forum hosted by The Child Advocacy Center along with Fayetteville Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The forum will include presentations as well as opportunities to ask the panelists questions.

Covering a variety of perspectives on the topic, the forum panelists include Fayetteville Police Department detective Ronnie Hutchins; Senior Sergeant Adam Farnham, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office; Pete Twedell, executive director, 5 Sparrows/ Fayetteville Dream Center; Dr. Dean Duncan, research professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Social Work; Pam Strickland, founder and executive director, Eastern North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking Now and committee member, NC Coalition Against Human Trafficking; and a survivor of human trafficking.

Cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and other agencies is vital when it comes to fighting trafficking. Hutchins and Farnham represent Fayetteville and Cumberland County law enforcement organizations. The Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County Sherriff’s Office partner with the Child Advocacy Center, which provides a safe, child-friendly place where partner agencies interview, investigate crimes against and provide support for abused children. Dedication and teamwork have led to multiple arrests locally.

“Human trafficking impacts families and communities left behind,” Hutchins said. “It also affects the health of women and children trafficked for sexual exploitation. They are at risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections and of spreading the diseases among Cumberland County and across the state of North Carolina. Human trafficking brings an increase in gun violence and drug use across our community. It also brings an additional cost to law enforcement to fight this crime and increases medical costs to the community and state to treat victims.”

Hutchins added that while finding and helping victims is a challenge, the fight doesn’t end there. “The biggest challenge I have seen in my career is to keep track of the victims after the arrest of the trafficker,” he said. “The victim will normally move from one area to another and constantly change their phone number. A (human trafficking) case can take two years or more to go to trial. During that time, it is very hard to keep track of or locate the victim. The victim may go back to prostitution or very hard drug use.”

Additionally, Twedell noted, “Human trafficking deteriorates the enormous value of every human life entrapped in the dark injustice by treating people as an object/commodity. (Human trafficking) exists primarily because of two things:... (First), an enormous demand for sexual services and/or cheap labor and other services and... (second), a desire to create profit at the expense of people’s freedom. At the North Carolina statelevel, trafficking fuels an underground and illicit economy that provides no positive benefits for our state or economy – and exists in stark contrast to our nation’s principals, which emphasize freedom for every citizen.”

Twedell’s organization, 5 Sparrows, partners with law enforcement and victim service/support organizations to work against human trafficking in the community. As the only local human trafficking-dedicated service organization, 5 Sparrows serves victims of human trafficking, providing full-spectrum support to survivors to enable them to walk a new path.

5 Sparrows also assists law enforcement in the pursuit of trafficking perpetrators, continually promotes human trafficking prevention and awareness and works to change the status quo in the community so that trafficking is no longer acceptable. There is an extensive reading list about the topic at www.5sparrowsfdc.com/reading-list.

Duncan is the principal investigator for Project No Rest. PNR collaborates with the UNC School of Social Work to raise awareness about human trafficking with prevention being the end goal.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to educate the public about how trafficking affects youth in North Carolina. PNR works with state and local government organizations and agencies to not only reduce the number of youth who are trafficked but to help those whose lives have been affected by it. Practical things the organization does include raising awareness and prevention initiatives; fostering cooperation between agencies; developing policies and practices to prevent young people from becoming trafficking victims; improving methods used to identify trafficking victims; and finding safe places for victims to live and heal. Learn more about PNR at www.projectnorest.org.

Strickland founded the Eastern North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking Now, a group of citizens committed to addressing human trafficking within the community by engaging the local citizens. By educating the populace, the organization seeks to reduce the demand for slave labor and sexual servitude, prosecute the perpetrators, and protect victims and potential victims.

Often, trafficking happens in plain sight. Knowing the signs can help save lives. In many cases, trafficking victims are obviously fearful and nervous; they become anxious near law enforcement; they avoid eye contact and may be overly attached to one person or have a person who is overly attached to them. They may appear malnourished and show signs of physical abuse. Trafficking victims often have few personal items, wearing the same clothes day in and day out; they have no control over their money or identification. There may always be a third party present, preventing the victims from speaking for themselves.

“Human trafficking frequently looks like prostitution, but it is not,” said Twedell. “Human trafficking is a sophisticated crime against people who are victims. Recovery for victims of human trafficking requires a complex approach for lasting restoration.”

From a preventative standpoint, Hutchins noted that there are things parents can do. “Parents need to monitor their children’s social media accounts, friends and any changes in their behavior or health,” he said.

To report trafficking, call the national human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733.

The Human Trafficking Awareness Forum on Jan. 23 will be held at the Kiwanis Rec. Center, 352 Devers St., at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and is appropriate for any adults who want to learn more about this topic. There is no charge to attend, but registration is requested at Eventbrite.com. Information presented will include how human trafficking is impacting our community, signs for recognizing it and what can be done to help.

For more information, call the Child Advocacy Center at 910-486-9700.