April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and detectives with Fayetteville Police Department’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit are working to clear several cases
with arrests. 

A focus for one of the active investigations is the assailant police have dubbed the “doo-rag rapist.” He is accused of assaulting nearly a dozen women over the course of one year, seven years ago. Victims said his face was covered each time and he wore a doo rag. The rapes occurred at night at various apartment complexes between June 2009 and July 2010. Detectives worked with the victims to compose a sketch of the suspect. He was described as in his 20s at the time. He stood 5’9” to 6’ tall, weighing between 160 and 200 pounds. The same suspect’s DNA was recovered at several of the crime scenes. 

“The doo rag rapist is tied to at least eleven attacks,” said Police Lt. John Somerindyke, but detectives have not been able to identify him. Many states, including North Carolina, now take DNA samples of suspects accused of major crimes for identification purposes. 

This subject’s DNA is not in the data base. Authorities said the attacks took place in Fayetteville and the Hope Mills area. None of the victims suffered any other injuries. Somerindyke said the perpetrator apparently stalked the women before forcing his way into their apartments and overpowering them. He knew they were alone at the time. Two of the victims told police he smelled strongly of cigarettes. At least one said she thought he was intoxicated.

Most of the victims no longer live in Fayetteville, police said. “Victims of rape never get over the trauma of being assaulted, and are always looking over their shoulders,” said Somerindyke. 

Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County provides companions to victims of rape. They are on call 24/7 for hospital and courtroom companionship. The organization provides victim advocacy and community networking, and conducts support group meetings throughout the year, according to its website. Detectives were awarded a federal grant to step up their investigations of cold cases that remain unsolved. They’ve identified hundreds of dated cases as far back as the 1980s. Lt. Somerendyke said older sexual assault cases are among the most difficult crimes to solve. 

Technology, additional funding and the addition of private laboratories to augment the State SBI Lab have expedited investigations. Since the cold case unit’s formation less than three years ago, 17 perpetrators have been arrested in 21 rape cases. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the lead investigator, Detective John Benazzi, or phone CrimeStoppers at (910) 483-TIPS. Information can also be submitted to CrimeStoppers online at http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to 274637. In the text box type “4Tip,” followed by the message.

Robertson to Seek Re-election

Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson is seeking a third term. “Since being sworn-in as Mayor in December 2013 as Fayetteville’s 35th Mayor, Fayetteville has become the envy of many Southern cities. In less than three and a half years, our city has accomplished more than any other administration in recent history,” Robertson said in a lengthy news release. Robertson had not indicated prior to this week’s announcement whether he would seek re-election. 

He has said repeatedly he would do so if no one of a caliber he believed up to the task announced. City Councilman Kirk deViere has hinted that he might run. Robertson defeated deViere in 2013. “Your City Council has … been moving Fayetteville forward by working together as a team and setting good policy,” Robertson stated. “It is with great honor and humility that I again ask for your support to continue serving as Fayetteville’s Mayor. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the community Kim and I love so much,” he concluded. 

Cumberland County Jail Health and Medicine

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has apparently decided it can get the jail healthcare system reaccredited if a private company does the work. The board has issued a request for proposals for firms to submit bids to provide health care services at the Cumberland County Detention Center.  The jail lost its accreditation last year when standards were changed and became more expensive to provide. Vendors interested in submitting proposals attended a conference and visited the site to view the facility and get a feel for the scope and nature of work to be performed in the detention center. Proposals must be submitted no later than May 18. Specifications are available online at: https://ccmunis.co.cumberland.nc.us/MSS/Vendors/default.aspx, or at the Finance Department, located in the Courthouse.

Cumberland County School Chief Honored

Dr. Frank Till, Jr., Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, received the 2017 Raymond Sarbaugh Leadership Award at the North Carolina Association of School Administrators’ annual conference in Greensboro. The award is given annually to a member who has shown outstanding leadership in public school service as well as commitment to enhancing and supporting the efforts of the association on behalf of his or her fellow school administrators. 

Dr. Till began his career in education as a middle school math teacher in San Diego, CA. In 1999 he was selected as Superintendent for Broward County Schools in Florida, which was at that time the fifth largest system in the country. He joined Cumberland County Schools as superintendent in 2009. His commitment to public education for all North Carolina students is demonstrated through his ongoing willingness to speak out publicly on important issues and take on leadership roles to engage his peers in advocating for good laws and policies that govern public school operations. 

City Management Vacancies

Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett has a lot of senior management positions to fill. His priority is replacing retired Police Chief Harold Medlock who left at the end of last year. He told Up & Coming Weeklyapplications have been closed, and he hopes to interview four to six finalists by the end of this month. Hewett’s goal is to hire a new chief by the end of June. There’s also a vacancy in an assistant city manager’s office. Replacing Rochelle Small-Toney is not a priority because Hewett said he first wants to reorganize his office. The director of Environmental Services retired recently. Planning and Code Enforcement Director Scott Shuford is retiring soon. And there are two assistant fire chief vacancies.

Did you know if you get caught speeding anywhere in the United States, the State of North Carolina can punish you — on top of whatever punishment you received from the state you were speeding in? 

That’s right. According to North Carolina Statute § 20-16, North Carolina reserves the right to suspend your license for any crime committed in another state if that crime would result in a suspension here in North Carolina. 

You might ask, well, what’s so bad about that? Let’s just say you get caught speeding in another state. You pay the ticket, or even get a lawyer and go to court. You go through the entire process. You think everything is over. 

A few months pass and you receive notice from North Carolina. Your license will be suspended. This is exactly what happened to a North Carolina resident, an active duty soldier traveling in Alabama. When caught speeding, this LT did the responsible thing by not contesting and paying his ticket. Despite this, North Carolina punished him a second time, by suspending his license.

As written, NC § 20-16 serves to unnecessarily punish North Carolina State Citizens — just because we call North Carolina home. We are not waived from punishment for violating the traffic crimes committed in other states. Just like every other United States Citizen, we are required to fulfill all punitive sentences for violations of that state law. This statute serves to add an additional punishment, beyond that of the original state. 

When our citizens have fulfilled their duty for a traffic violation, it is unnecessary and unjust for North Carolina to submit them to additional punishments, simply because they are a North Carolina resident. This LT is a perfect example of how our citizens are burdened by this law. He “thought [I] was doing the right thing” by accepting responsibility and paying the ticket. 

And he DID do the right thing. This LT is an upstanding, successful representation of North Carolina, as are the thousands of residents that travel throughout the country every year. 

You might ask, don’t states have the right to punish how they want? Well, yes and no. Our constitution delineates a separation between federal and state powers. Essentially, states are allowed to govern themselves, but not 100 percent. This law acts as an overextension of North Carolina’s state powers. 

States are given the ability to govern the action of their own citizens within their state; however, governing the actions of their citizens in every other state is an over reach of power. Additionally, this law violates the Double Jeopardy clause guaranteed in our constitution. 

This clause prevents a citizen from being punished twice for the same crime. When a North Carolina Citizen violates a traffic law in another state, they are subject to the punishment. To punish a North Carolina citizen a second time amounts to a violation of the Double Jeopardy clause. 

There is a reason our constitution created a balance between federal and state powers. The combination creates a balance for the American citizen — a balance that helps protect our individual rights. When this balance is thrown off, as in this case, we suffer. It’s time for North Carolina to revise this law, because as is, every resident could suffer, and many already have.

It was a rather scathing question: “How did you feel when you were at your peak fitness?”

I twitched a bit, and then responded, “Great.” The truth is I did feel great. But that was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

In middle school and high school, I was quite the athlete. I wrestled 135-lbs and played football. At that time in my life, it was nothing to run five miles and lift weights four to five days a week. Even in college, I lifted and played basketball four days a week. 

At the peak of my fitness, I felt great. I even looked great … at least for me. Then life happened. I got a full-time job. I went on to graduate school. Got married and had four kids. The list goes on. Quickly, the gym routine fell from its place of priority in my life. 

A few years ago, I started going to the gym again. I started re-shaping this tired, old body into a picture of fitness (or at least that’s the goal). At first it was slow. But now I’m making real strides: I ran the Rock-and-Roll Marathon last week in Raleigh!

Our physical fitness is a great analogy of our spiritual fitness. 

Do you remember back when you were really on fire for Jesus? When you read the Bible regularly? When you were consistent in your quiet times, prayers, church attendance?

Let me ask you a question. How did you feel when you were at your peak fitness … spiritually? 

I know my answer. “Great!” 

But then life gets in the way. We start off with great strides. We’re studying, praying, reading, soaking it all in. Then life gets in the way. We miss a workout, then two, then a week and so on. 

Consider the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. … I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

With all the hype on physical fitness, shouldn’t we give at least equal priority to our spiritual fitness? Some dedicate hours a week to the local gym … yet minutes (if that) to their spiritual wellness. 

Spend some time wrestling over God’s word. Sweat over your prayer list. Endure the process of becoming a follower of Christ. Let’s get back to our spiritual gym. Why not get a workout in today? 

For help, consider taking the tuition-free “How to Study the Bible” class at Carolina College of Biblical Studies. Consider us your spiritual fitness trainer.

Many years ago, I asked my father what he viewed as the best form of government. His response was “a benevolent dictatorship.” I understood he was saying citizens would be best served by a dictator who had absolute authority, but loved the people he or she governed. My thinking was that the American system was working, and I did not need to give further attention to Daddy’s response. As I look at what is happening today in America by way of the actions and attitudes of politicians, especially those in Congress, I have tremendous appreciation for what Daddy said all those years ago. He understood that fair and productive governance only happens when those who govern love the people they govern. 

This reflection on my part leads me to ask, “Members of Congress, do you love us?” That is, do these politicians, who primarily hold the future of this nation in their hands, love the citizens they represent and govern? Four experiences over the period March 19-26, 2017, cause me to ask this question. 

On Sunday, March 19, Carol Day died. For several months, she had visited the Sunday school class that I am a part of at First Baptist Church (Anderson Street in Fayetteville). Anybody reading what I write correctly concludes that I am conservative in my thinking and beliefs.

 Suffice it to say, Carol was not in the same camp. Consequently, we had some serious discussions in class from two different perspectives. In every one of those exchanges, she was calm and measured in her comments, while I exhibited my usual passionate tone. As I have spent a lot of time thinking about those exchanges between Carol and me, I believe if we had needed to come to consensus on some issue to directly help people, we would have done so. We would have done so because of our shared love for people. That love for people would have mandated our reaching consensus.

Then came my four-and-a-half-hour drive to Asheville, North Carolina, on March 23, for two days of facilitation training. All the way up, I listened to reports regarding Republican efforts to pass legislation in the House of Representatives that would repeal and replace Obamacare (mixed in was information on Senate action relative to confirmation of Judge Neal Gorsuch as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court). There was a parade of Republicans and Democrats to microphones. Some Republicans strongly supported the health care legislation, while others of the party vowed their opposition. Democrats did absolutely nothing other than repeatedly oppose the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, which is, without doubt, failing. 

Among Republicans, opposition came from multiple groups and several individual members of Congress. I hold that chief among the opposing groups was the Freedom Caucus. This caucus is made up of over 35 members of the House who are committed to conservative values. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairs this group. Meadows and members of the caucus seemed to be endlessly, before cameras, voicing their opposition and seeming to bask in having the votes to defeat the proposed legislation. Even senators, such as Rand Paul, R-Ky., seemed to live in front of a camera while attacking the proposed legislation. In the end, the legislation was not presented for a vote because President Trump and Republican House leadership realized it would not pass. 

The Democratic Congressional approach to addressing health care is consistent with their response to working with President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress on any matter presented by the president. To this point, that approach is to oppose whatever is put forth and to do so without making a rational argument. In addition to the proposed Obamacare repeal and replace legislation, this lack of rational argument was profoundly demonstrated in Democratic opposition to confirmation of Judge Neal Gorsuch to serve on the Supreme Court. It is clear that much of the Democratic opposition to Judge Gorsuch is rooted in Republican refusal to act on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland for the same seat. 

That nomination was made on March 16, 2016, 10 months before the end
of President Obama’s term. Republican Chuck Grassley represents Iowa in the United States Senate where he serves as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Lack of rational argument by Democrats shows in the following quotes from an opinion piece by Senator Grassley titled “The truth about Schumer, Democrats and Gorsuch:” “To many of us, it appeared to be a simple case of amnesia. They obviously had simply forgotten that both Senator Reid and Senator Schumer had declared that George W. Bush would get no Supreme Court nominees through the Democratic Senate more than 18 months before the end of his term. Or, even in 1992 when then-Senator Biden made clear his intentions in a long, detailed speech on the Senate floor outlining the reasons why the Senate wouldn’t consider a Supreme Court nominee of George H.W. Bush in his final year.”

Anybody watching the nomination hearing for Judge Gorsuch before the Senate Judiciary Committee witnessed a brilliant presentation showcasing his command of the law, record of independence, strong sense of humility and focus on following the Constitution instead of prejudging cases or promising results.

In the end, Judge Gorsuch was approved, but only after Republicans changed the rules in order to overcome Democratic opposition.

The next experience occurred during the two days of facilitation training in Asheville. The course was “ToP Facilitation Methods” (ToP is Technology of Participation). I would call the course tagline, “The people of planet earth need ways to create their future together.” Quotes from the course workbook:

“In Summary: ToP is not a technique for deciding something in a meeting. Nor is ToP a process that leaves people irritated and exhausted by the struggle to reach agreement.”

“Top is both an empowering culture in which decisions get made, and a process that leaves people enlivened and motivated for action.” 

Over the course of 16 hours together, eight strangers learned the ToP process and practiced the techniques. We became a united group and walked away with a valuable tool for leading people to consensus and commitment to action.

The final experience was on Sunday, March 26. Stephanie Bohannon, assistant pastor at First Baptist Church, preached a sermon titled “The Questions Jesus Asks: ‘Do You Love Me?’” She spoke from that passage in John 21:15-17 where Jesus, three times, asked Peter, “…do you love me?” Every time, Peter answered yes, and every time, Jesus commanded him to take some action. Bohannon explained that Peter was answering the wrong question. He thought Jesus was talking about Philia which is a companionable love. She said Jesus, instead, was referring to agape. According to www.mcleanbible.org, “Agape desires only the good of the one loved.  It is a consuming passion for the well-being of others.” Jesus was calling Peter to go “above and beyond,” to take great risks on behalf of people.

All of this brought me to realize Daddy was, in his statement about a benevolent dictatorship, saying that those who govern must have agape love for the governed. Remembering those exchanges with Carol Day reinforces that there is hope for consensus, even among those who disagree, when they share agape love for people who will be helped by the achievement of consensus. The facilitation training showed me how it looks when people seek consensus with a clear aim and because of love for those affected by the outcome. Stephanie Bohannon reminded me that this all-important agape love shows itself through actions, not meaningless words. Against the backdrop of these experiences, seeing how Congress handled the health care legislation and Gorsuch nomination prompted my “Do you love us?” question.  

This thinking-through leads me to conclude there are some members of Congress who love us, but most don’t. Consequently, the American people need to be about determining who loves us and sending the rest home. Yes, it is definitely time to “Drain the Swamp.” 

A million years ago, when I was a very little girl, my mother and grandmother — art lovers both — took me to Raleigh to visit North Carolina’s newly minted Museum of Art. Ours is the first state-funded art museum in the country, and its much grander current incarnation is the envy of states, even nations. That visit instantly turned a preschooler into a person who has sought out art in almost every place I have ever been. My first glance at that state-owned office-building-turned-art-museum took in a huge Gainsborough portrait of a woman wearing a full-skirted white satin dress. My mother saved that fine English painting just in the nick of time by scooping me up before I got my grubby little hands on what I thought was gleaming
white fabric.

I was hooked.

A generation later, a Precious Jewel wept every afternoon when Mr. Rogers put on his cardigan to signal the end of that day’s program. He would toddle to the TV sobbing, “Don’t go, Mr. Rogers,” with such emotion that I eventually learned to get him out of the room just before the goodbye music began.

He, too, was hooked.

Such is the power of art and culture. We cannot quantify or measure them, but they enrich our lives and separate us from non-human beings on God’s green Earth.
Arts and culture are not food, water, clothing or shelter, but few among us want to
do without them. 

It is now 2017 with a new generation of Americans eager to learn, but the president’s proposed budget would decimate funding for arts and humanities and public media. It would cut funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to a big fat zero and eliminate the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities altogether. No other president in our history has ever proposed such a drastic measure. Goodbye Bert and Ernie. Goodbye Downton Abbey and other Masterpiece Theater programming. Goodbye partnerships with state and local arts organizations like Arts Councils. Goodbye financial support for libraries, colleges and universities, and documentaries like Ken Burns’ The Civil War,viewed by 38 million Americans.

Let’s put the money into perspective. 

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting received $445 million in the last federal budget, with the Endowments getting about $148 million each. That entire budget was a whopping $4 trillion, of which our investment in public broadcasting and the arts and humanities comprised a mere fraction. According to CPB President Patricia Harrison, that investment amounts to $1.35 per American per year. That federal funding is used to leverage contributions from other public and private sources, giving federal dollars more bang for each and every buck.

Sounds like a deal to me.

No less a heavyweight than retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, hardly a stranger to the Fayetteville-Fort Bragg community and certainly no effete wuss, thinks so, too. McChrystal shared his thoughts earlier this month in an op-ed column published in the New York Times. He made a strong case for public broadcasting, noting among other points that more American children do not attend preschool than do, and that public television is an important teaching tool for them. McChrystal also addressed a reality that keeps me up at night — our lack of national common experience, in other words, little national “glue.” 

The general wrote, “Trust among Americans and for many of our institutions is at its lowest levels in generations, and stereotyping and prejudices have become substitutes for knowing and understanding one another as individuals. … Why would we degrade or destroy an institution that binds us together?”

The president’s proposed budget includes a massive increase in defense spending, which the general also acknowledged. “We need a strong civil society where the connection between different people and groups is firm and vibrant, not brittle and divided. We need to defend against weaknesses within and enemies without, using the tools of civil society and hard power. We don’t have to pick one over the other.”

No need to panic yet. Congress will parse and dissect the president’s proposal, and you can bet your bottom dollar that public broadcasting and arts advocates will be crawling the halls to lobby against the president’s stunning proposals. But there is plenty of room for concern. The CPB, NEA and NEH have been part of our national fabric for half a century, enriching and challenging Americans rich and poor, urban and rural, of all backgrounds and experiences. 

We undo them at our peril.

OMG! Observing our local city and county elected officials interacting and trying to negotiate with one another is not a pretty sight. Sometimes, and all too often, they appear to be engaged in what resembles cage fighting. Brash, ruthless, violent and bloody with combatants battling for that all or nothing knock out. For us bystanders, another name for taxpaying residents, all we can do is shake our heads in dismay and wonder if Cumberland County has  been developed over an ancient sacred Indian burial ground and we have been forever cursed for this unholy desecration. One must ask themselves, is this tendency for unpleasantness, weak, self-centered, selfish and uncooperative leadership really a curse? Is it in our DNA  or is it actually a learned behavior handed down from generation to generation? 

Well, personally I believe it is a little bit of everything,  but more of the latter. In my quest to find out why our local governments have such difficulty in cooperating, communicating and respecting each other, I have uncovered some words, terms and phrases all too frequently used in conversations when elected government officials are gathered together. So common are some of these that they have actually morphed into taking on their own specialized and customized meaning.  And, that is where I think the real problem lies. You can be the judge of that.  Even the most effective and respected elected officials and community leaders are sensitive to these terms and many know how to use and deal with them when they arise. This precarious glossary of terms and definitions is commonly referred to as the BS Chart and just may be the main source of the communication breakdown in our community. Here  are a few examples. Again, you can be the judge. If you are a community leader or an elected city or county official, take heed of the...

Glossary (BS Chart) of Governmental Words, Phrases and Actions   

Collaboration:We are meeting. We are  talking. We may even spend thousands of dollars on a consultant, but our minds are pretty much made up.

Compliance:We must play by their rules or get our funding yanked.

General Welfare: We know what you need, we tell you what you want, and don’t worry, it will never make fiscal sense.

Cultural: We want government money under the cloak of diversity.

Diverse: Usually, depends on who is using it. This usually means the color, religion, gender and orientation of the person talking. 

Good ol’ Boys: Yeah, we know each other, but, that doesn’t mean we like each other.

Elitist: Them people with influence and money.

My people-Your people: Uh, Oh! Conversation is becoming racial … regardless of your color.

Social Justice: We are going to riot if you don’t give us what we want. 

Poverty: You should start feeling guilty.  

Advisory Board: We really don’t care what you think.  

Donut Hole: Ooops! My bad. 

Partner with: We can get more money if we work together
on this.

At risk: They are going to jail soon.

Common Good: When we can’t justify the expense. This is the way you justify going after government grants and other funds.

Quality of Life: See above.

Reclassification: Giving a job a new name to justify a higher salary.

Innovation: It’s above your head and you just wouldn’t understand.

Monitoring: We have the responsibility to do this …. but, we don’t.

Strategic Plan: The old plan did not work so we need to create a “new” plan to justify our existence.

Staffing and Retention: We want more money.

Transitional: Homeless.

Working Poor: We can’t give them anything because they have a job. We can’t help them because we are too concerned with the slugs out there doing nothing and collecting government checks.

Well, I think you get my point. Surely, those career politicians do. In conclusion, my advice to all city and county elected officials is that when you must come together, assemble together with a friendly, wholesome and productive attitude. Stay open-minded. Be free of bias and judgement. Then, during your negotiations or conversations, if you hear any of the above words or phrases used in any combination more than four or five times, just get up and politely excuse yourself and leave the room. Little will be accomplished. 

On a more serious note, Cumberland County is on the grow. Opportunities abound and every community and township has a vested interest in our future success. Let’s put our energies into moving Fayetteville and Cumberland County forward. This cannot be done with words and phrases … only actions. We support this progress, and we support all those who are trying to make this a great community. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

You can tell spring is in the air because motorcycle and car enthusiasts are talking about the upcoming 12th Annual Hogs & Rags Spring Rally on April 22. Over the years, the Hogs & Rags Rally has become known as one of the best and largest rallies in North Carolina. 

The Hogs & Rags Rally is an annual event and is known as a first-class ride, but it also supports a variety of charities with lots of fun and miles in between. Since the beginning, the Hogs & Rags friends and sponsors have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. This year, proceeds will go to support the Special Forces Charitable Trust, the American Cancer Society and the Kidsville News Literacy &
Education Foundation. 

The excitement starts at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum at 7 a.m., and at exactly at 9 a.m., the engines are on, the kickstands are up, the Cumberland County Sheriffs are chirping their sirens and the convoy starts moving. With Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and his wife, Kim, as the Grand Marshalls (both are avid motorcyclists), the convoy heads out with hundreds of vehicles enjoying a police escort all the way to
Myrtle Beach. 

As the rally rolls through Tar Hill, riders take a little detour to Gardner Altman’s Rock’n-A-Ranch in White Oak. There, the group will be greeted by Julia Riley and volunteers from Bladen County’s Relay for Life Cancer Society, who will prepare a first-class country breakfast. 

From there, the police will lead the group up to Tabor City for water and a bathroom break, where many of the riders remove their helmets as they cross over into South Carolina. Once riders arrive in Myrtle Beach, their final destination is Wild Wings Café at Barefoot Landing, where the
party begins. 

Last year, the event grew so much the Hogs & Rags committee had a hard time finding a place that could feed so many people. They chose Wild Wings Café, which turned out to be an excellent location. Here, the riders enjoy good food and fellowship. Here, the winners of the three-gun raffle, several auctions and an exciting 50/50 reverse raffle for $2,500 cash will be announced.

The ride is $50 per entry per person. To some this seems like a lot of money for a rally, but remember this is a first-class event and supports multiple charities. Oh, and each person receives their own Hogs & Rags T-shirt. 

At the heart of the event, it is the Hogs & Rags committee, volunteers and sponsors that work together to make this a success. Planning an event that travels over a hundred miles through two states and feeds about 425 people at two locations takes months to plan. 

The event is a sanctioned Dogwood Festival event and is supported by many sponsors. This year’s premiere sponsors are Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson and the Fayetteville Automall, which is home to Fayetteville Kia, Acura, Volvo
and Mitsubishi.   

Fort Bragg is home to the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. Over the past 16 years, some of these men and women have known nothing but the hardships that the war has brought. 

The Special Forces Charitable Trust has been helping these warriors and their families adjust and prepare for those realities to help improve their quality of life. The Charitable Trust helps service members mentally and spiritually, and also helps them focus while protecting our country. You can find out more at www.specialforcescharitabletrust.org

Founded in 2011, the Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to support literacy-based initiatives nationwide. The National Assessment of Education Progress determined that nearly a third of American fourth-graders read below their reading level. To combat this issue, KNLEF annually awards grants to qualifying organizations that promote improving literacy, education and character development among America’s youth. 

Oh, and if we are lucky, on the day of the event, Truman the dragon, the Kidsville News! mascot, will be visiting folks at the museum. 

The American Cancer Society is one of the greatest organizations out there. At the American Cancer Society, they are working to free the world from cancer. Until they do, funding is raised for conducting research, sharing expert information, supporting patients and spreading the word about prevention. Everything they do is to help our friends, family and society live a better life. 

The Hogs & Rags Rally is for all types of motorcycles and cars. So come out and experience one great ride! To register online, or for more information, please visit www.ragsandhogs.org.

Morgan Wienand

Cape Fear • Softball • Senior

Wienand is a member of Cape Fear’s nationally-ranked defending 4-A Eastern champion softball team. She currently has a grade point average of 4.57.

Isaiah Bennett

Pine Forest • Soccer/Baseball • Sophomore

Bennett is a key player for both the Pine Forest soccer and baseball teams. He has a grade point average of 4.25 and is committed to play baseball at the University of North Carolina.

Good baseball teams have been a tradition in Terry Sanford High School’s annual Easter break tournament. But this year, Bulldog coach Sam Guy may have outdone himself.

“It’s a really good field,’’ Guy said of the three-day event that begins this Saturday at Terry Sanford’s field and continues on Monday and Tuesday.

Terry Sanford and Jack Britt, both currently leading the chase for conference honors in the Cape Fear Valley 3-A and Mid-South 4-A respectively, head the local entries. The field also includes Southeastern 4-A Conference powers Richmond Senior and Pinecrest. 

Other teams in the field are South View, Midway, Union Pines and Village Christian.

Jack Britt coach Dr. Christopher Dague called the tournament one of the top tier events in the state. “There is a lot of parity,’’ he said. “It will be interesting to see how we match up.’’

Pitching is crucial to success in any baseball event, but with the new pitching regulations the N.C. High School Athletic Association is using this year, the coaches will have to be careful about how they use their hurlers over the three-day run of the tournament.

Terry Sanford has been led by Logan Brown and Damien Puczylowski. Through April 3, Brown is 3-1 and Puczylowski 3-0, Brown’s lone loss coming to
Richmond Senior. Brown has an ERA of 1.00, Puczylowski 1.20.

“They’ve been the guys that have started Tuesday and Friday for us,’’ Guy said. “Christian Jayne has thrown in a couple of big non-conference games. He beat Pinecrest.’’

Dague’s leading pitchers through April 3 are Zach Knapp and Brennen Herbert. Knapp had a brilliant 17-strikeout performance in a big win over Pine Forest. His ERA as of April 3 was zero. He had a streak of over 30 innings with no earned runs.

Herbert’s ERA is only 0.38 and his record is 5-0.

Here is the tournament schedule:

Saturday

10 a.m. Union Pines vs. Midway; 1 p.m. Jack Britt vs. Pinecrest; 4 p.m. Terry Sanford vs. Village Christian; 7 p.m. Richmond Senior vs. South View.

Monday

10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

Tuesday

10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (championship)

Douglas Byrd’s J. Hoyt Warren-Wayne Edwards Invitational, probably Cumberland County’s oldest Easter baseball tournament, continues its annual run this weekend. The Hoyt-Warren tournament annually draws a mix of local and Cape Fear region teams.

This year’s event opens Saturday at 10 a.m. with Gray’s Creek facing Freedom Christian. Scotland and Seventy-First meet at 1 p.m., followed at 4 p.m. by East Bladen and E.E. Smith. The 7 p.m. game has Douglas Byrd facing Cape Fear.

Play continues Monday at the same times, winners advancing against winners and losers against losers. The final round of games will be Tuesday, again at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• Fayetteville Academy senior Natalie Saunders recently scored a season high competing in the uneven bars, vault and all-around in the USA Gymnastics regional competition. Saunders now advances to the Region 8 competition the second weekend in May.

• Village Christian Academy has named former NFL player Emerson Martin as its new head football coach. Martin, a native of Elizabethtown, replaces Russell Stone, who recently left Village to become head coach at Hickory High School. Martin, 46, attended college at Hampton and played briefly for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. He heads an organization called Players2Pro, which helps high school athletes get recruited and signed by colleges. He’s also a former assistant coach at Raleigh Athens Drive, East Bladen and St. Augustine’s. This will be his first high school head coaching job. “He’s a great leader and great Christian man,’’ said Village athletic director Harold Morrison. “We’re excited about him taking over the next chapter of Village football.’’

• Terry Sanford High School will hold the fourth annual Al Munoz Memorial 5K on Saturday, May 13, at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $25. For entry information and other general race questions, contact Donna Johnson at (910) 728-3702 or jjohn86100@aol.com.

• The annual Region Four Coaches and Officials golf tournament is scheduled Sunday, April 23, at Gates Four Golf and Country Club. The tournament benefits the emergency fund sponsored by the coaches and officials which gives money to people facing a variety of personal crises. Check-in is at 11 a.m. with lunch at 11:45 a.m. and play starting at 1 p.m. The fee is $75 per person before April 18 and $85 after. You can also sponsor a hole or tee box for $100. For full information on entry or sponsorship, email Bill Henderson at boatq@aol.com or call (910) 964-0056.

A few weeks ago, I stopped my motorcycle near a creek to take a break. There was a donkey near the creek, and he started walking toward me. When I said, “Hi,” the donkey replied with, “Hay,” which blew me away. At first, I thought I was losing my mind. I was not sure if he was saying “hay” back to me or if he wanted hay. Now, this was not an ordinary donkey and he seemed pretty smart. While I was still in disbelief, the donkey looked at me and said, “Have you ever talked with a donkey before?” Quite extraordinary to say the least. I replied, “Donkeys don’t talk.” The donkey looked at me, amazed, and said he was a descendant from the talking donkey in the Bible. Then he smirked at me and asked me if I had ever seen Shrek. Still bewildered, I told him that I had heard of both, although I did not see the connection. Nonetheless, I asked him his name and he said he was not really sure because his owner never called him by a name. I asked him if I could call him Don and he nodded and said, “Yes, yes, I like that name.” 

He asked me why I had stopped, and I told him that I needed a break and this seemed like a nice spot. He agreed and said it was his favorite spot in the pasture. We talked about what a wonderful day it was and about our travels. I told him I love to ride, and that I wanted to explore more of the country but I was having a hard time coming up with a place to go.

He told me he has the same issue because he wanted to head somewhere new and exciting, but he never really executes his plans because he is concerned about the boundaries that surrounded him. He said he knew how to get out of his fence but was concerned about work and the other donkeys. He also had responsibilities. He had grass to eat and used to help his owner plow the garden, but he had not done that in a while. He looked toward a barn and I saw a John Deer tractor parked there. I looked at him and told him, “You have been replaced.” Don said, “I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore then.” He said he really had it good there. He had a barn, food and occasionally someone like me to talk to, but he still had a yearning to explore. 

I thought for a minute and said, “I often feel like I was surrounded by some imaginary, geographical fence that was keeping me within some boundaries in life. I have a job, responsibilities, a house, family and those pesky bills.” These things are not unique to me because everyone has these boundaries, but only a few of us seem to be able to break past our own fences. 

Unlike Don, most humans have other factors we have to worry about. We have to figure out those things like time, money and distance. We can usually figure out two of the three factors. Any one of these will quickly limit our ability to keep moving. 

I often try to figure out how people do some of these journeys. I’ve met a few people who have been able to take some great trips. I met a young couple that sold everything and bought a couple of Vespa-like scooters and traveled around the world. It took them a year to complete their journey. When they returned home, they had to start life over. I met a couple of guys in Nebraska who had traveled all around the United States. They work for a school system and ride their bikes until they run out of time. They find a rental shed to store their bikes in. Then they fly home. When they get more time off, they fly back out and pick up their bikes and continue on. I’ve also met a couple of people who own their own businesses. As long as they had their laptop, they were able to run their business from anywhere. Nice!

Don explained to me that he really didn’t need to worry about anything like that. He just needed to get out of the gate, but admitted he was afraid of highways and cars. He said he wished he lived out west where he could travel for days without having to worry about traffic.

We soon realized that as nice as it was to talk, neither of us could really help the other with our problems. At that point, I asked myself, “What are you doing talking to a donkey anyway?” I went to my bike and grabbed him an apple and we said our goodbyes. 

Of course, this experience keeps me thinking about Don because we both had the same desires but neither of us could figure out how to get past our own fences. 

If there is a topic you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. 

Beauty and the Beast (129 minutes) is based on my favorite animated Disney film. When I was younger, I watched the original once a month or so, and revisiting the story now was like slipping on a pair of comfy pajamas. I didn’t really need to watch it. I anticipated every line. When the live-action version diverted from the cartoon, I literally twitched. I like Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, but the eight years between the two actors seemed like a much bigger difference than it really is because she was Hermione in Harry Potterand he was Cousin Matthew in Downton Abby.

Belle (Watson) is stuck in a village full of illiterate hicks. Her father (Kevin Kline) is emotionally absent and her suitor Gaston (Luke Evans) is verbally abusive. When her father is waylaid in his travels, she rushes to his rescue (not for the first time, I expect), in a classic parentified child move. She finds him in the enchanted castle of the Beast, who is, like, the fourth verbally and/or emotionally abusive man she has come across within a 30-minute time span. He imprisons her, yells at her and gives her lots of gifts to make up for his cruel treatment. Turns out she’s cool with that because she dresses up and goes dancing with him. Her father gets in trouble yet again, and the Beast sends her back so she can rescue him. For some reason, he thinks she might come back. For some reason, she does. Then her kidnapper kills her creepy stalker, and magic makes everything all better.

I might be skimming over some of the finer details. Admittedly, there are two ways to look at this, and I am familiar with them both. On the one hand, it is an enjoyable family film, leaning on nostalgia and likable (and, more importantly, bankable) leads to tell a sweet and simple love story. On the other hand, it’s not a very healthy love story to tell. The Beast is an abusive kidnapper and, however much Watson tries to sell her Belle as empowered, there is nothing here to empower her with. What message does it send to girls? Love angry, violent, men and they will shower you with gifts? Men are selfish and can do whatever they want, and girls just have to sing pretty songs and deal with it? Girls need to take care of everyone except themselves? Everyone should go watch Legionbecause Dan Stevens is so awesome? OK that last one is actually a very positive message. Legion is 50 shades of fabulous.

But I digress. Probably because everyone on Earth knows the story and the Disney cartoon version of the story, and not much has changed. There are a couple of new (and … terrible. Just … terrible) songs. There is a little extra magic, and the transformation of the castle folk into knick-knacks is given a bit more context. It is a huge issue with the original version that the witch chose to punish the castle servants when their only real sin was working for a selfish narcissist. Here, Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) explains that the servants were complicit in the bad behavior of the prince, and thus shared his fate. Also, in this version, when the witch cast her spell, she also made everybody forget that the prince, castle and servants ever existed, which means approximately half the village lost family they no longer remember ever having. Ends and means aside, that witch is kind of a bad person.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The Disney machine made enough money that they will no doubt speed into production several more animated properties. I can’t say I’m looking forward to The Lion King, but my kids will probably love it.

Now playing at Patriot 14 + IMAX.

A German proverb shares this message: “Our passions are winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers the vessel. Without winds, the vessel would not move, and without a pilot, she would be lost.” This proverb exemplifies my beliefs and thoughts about former FTCC student Sarah Floroshuma, a C-STEP student who graduated from FTCC in 2015 and will graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. 

Floroshuma not only performed well academically at FTCC, she also excelled in the nursing program at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned the James M. Johnston Scholars Scholarship. 

“Initially, the nursing program and the academic rigor were challenges. However, with the emotional support and encouragement I received, I was able to find the needed strength and determination to use my passion for helping others as my strength,” Floroshuma said. She attributes her ability to care for her sickly grandparents as one of the defining moments that helped her confirm her desire for a career in nursing. 

“After graduating high school in Nigeria at age 16, I took on the role of caretaker for my elderly and sickly grandparents. This experience taught me a lot about inner strength and provided the insight I needed to clarify my career aspirations. I feel that nursing is my calling, and I couldn’t imagine pursuing any other career.”

The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP), housed in the office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill, seeks to admit, identify, enroll and graduate high-achieving students with low-to-moderate income seeking to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill from partnering community colleges. The students who participate in this program are inspiring, intelligent, hard-working and dedicated students, and Sarah fits this description perfectly. 

Floroshuma explained the huge impact being a recipient of the James M. Johnston Scholarship has had on her life. “This has allowed me to remain somewhat independent and not burden my father who has deployed over three times in the past two years. Because of the legacy of the scholarship and the Carolina Covenant, I will graduate debt free, and that’s a blessing. I want other students to know how being a part of C-STEP helped me solidify my dreams and career goals and allowed me to spread my wings and grow. And it all began at FTCC,” she said.    

Fayetteville Tech partnered with UNC-Chapel Hill in 2011 to establish this premier program. C-STEP focuses on community college students whose household incomes fall at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and potential candidates are reviewed holistically.    

The next step in Sarah’s journey will continue to offer her challenge filled with real-world experiences, but through FTCC and UNC-Chapel Hill, she is well positioned on her journey to satisfy her passion, her goals and her dreams.

Learn more about C-STEP at FTCC by reaching out to me, Loutricia Nelson, at nelsonl@faytechcc.edu or (910) 678-8205.

When Jordon Rosas was in high school, he used to daydream about a place where teens could gather for good clean fun — a place for dancing and talking and hanging out. It would be a place where everyone felt welcome and people could be themselves while having a good time. Rosas is 24 now, and he believes more strongly than ever that Fayetteville needs a place like the one he dreamed about in high school. So he opened one — Club Surge, located at 2000 Owen Drive.

While Club Surge has been hosting events for several months, it is now, as of April 8, open to the public. Designed for patrons ages 13-18, Club Surge has two VIP levels and offers a variety of effects, including UV lights, glow lights, black lights, glow bands, glow sticks and black light bubbles to create a lively atmosphere.

“Kids always want to do parties,” said Rosas. “I had property and we had a bonfire there one night. We had a big turnout and I thought it would be neat if we could do this regularly.” 

He decided to make his dream from high school a reality. “I worked hard to put a business plan together and decided it was time to make it happen,” he said.

The most important thing to Rosas was making sure the space he created would be a place people would be comfortable and want to socialize. In today’s age of electronics and digital devices, Rosas wanted to give people a place to connect on a more personal level — face to face. “This is a social environment. It is designed for people to come listen to music and meet new people,” he said. “I have a lot of comfortable furniture and the VIP sections have servers that will bring soda and water for people to drink. My DJ does a really good job of playing songs that get people on the dance floor. Kids like to stay on phones, etc., I am trying to get them back to interacting with each other. They are always on social media and that is kind what surge is about — making new friends. I believe this generation has a love of music and dancing.”

To keep things fun, Rosas knows it is important to keep his patrons safe, so he has prioritized that. No drugs, alcohol or weapons are permitted on or near the club’s property. This is also a non-smoking club. The on-site security team is there to ensure everyone can have a good time in a fun and safe environment. No backpacks or large purses are allowed. Patrons are scanned with  a security  wand by the security team and bags are checked upon entry. There is a coat check area for guests to store their coats and bags. Rosas added that all customers must have a state or school-issued ID. Memberships are available, but are not required. Visit https://www.clubsurge.com/ to find out more.

Fayetteville Urban Ministry presents the 7th annual Duck Derby Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m. at Festival Park. 

“Duck Derby is the most fun and it is our biggest local fundraiser in the city,” said Johnny Wilson, executive director of Fayetteville Urban Ministry. “We are the closing act of the Dogwood Festival.” 

The fundraiser generates money for Fayetteville Urban Ministry and other nonprofit organizations and schools. “Anybody that partners with us can rake in proceeds, too, because folks can adopt ducks to support their favorite nonprofit or Cumberland County School,” said Wilson. 

“To adopt a duck is $10, so what happens is, if you want to support the Special Olympics, then the Special Olympics will get half of the $10 which is $5,” Wilson explained. He added that there is a competition. The school or nonprofit organization that gets the most duck adoptions in their name will win the “Best Partner Nonprofit” and will receive extra proceeds, love and recognition. 

The cost of one duck adoption is $10. Adopt six ducks for $50, 12 ducks for $100 and so on. “Our goal is to race 5,000 or more ducks,” said Wilson. “The ducks will race in Cross Creek in Festival Park under the walkover bridge.” The first place duck will win a 2017 25-foot Toy Hauler camper; second place will win free groceries for a year from Food Lion; third place will win free groceries for a year from Super Compare Foods; fourth place will win $500 cash; fifth place will win a new set of tires from Ed Tire’s; sixth place will win a large flat-screen TV from Wal-Mart; seventh place will win a free one-year membership to the Renaissance Spa Fitness and Wellness Center; and the duck that comes in last place will win a camping tent and a jar of molasses. “The theme behind the camping tent and a jar of molasses is to get your camping tent so you can go hang out with the folks who won the camper, so they can show you how to do it, because you are slow as molasses,” said Wilson. “Winners do not have to be present on the day of the race to receive prizes.” 

Fayetteville Urban Ministry is a nonprofit organization that consists of four programs that provide faith, love, hope and security to Cumberland County residents free of charge. These programs are the Find-A-Friend Youth Program, an Adult Literacy Program, the Nehemiah Project and Emergency Assistance. 

If you would like paper duck adoption forms, you may go to any of the nonprofit organizations and they will have the forms on hand so you can mail in your duck adoption. Purchase ducks online by visiting www.fayurbmin.org/ and clicking the icon. For more information, call 483-5944 or visit www.fayettevilleduckderby.com. 

On April 14, Epicenter Church will host an Easter celebration called Hop in the Park for the entire community. It will be held in Festival Park and will feature all sorts of fun activities for the entire family. “This is the fifth annual event, and we could not be more excited,” said Pastor Mark Knight. “Last year we had 25,000 people, and we are expecting even more this year. It includes giant Easter egg hunts, huge inflatables, carnival rides, a big screen movie, free food and a lot more,” Knight added. The food available will be pizza, popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy and water. The food will be entirely free while supplies last. 

The main feature of Hop in the Park is the Easter egg hunt. The last two years there have been 20,000-25,000 people in attendance, so the hunt will be massive. In fact, organizers have tripled the amount of food and events since the inaugural event in 2013. “Thousands of empty eggs are spread out over a wide area for kids to find over a two-minute period and are then traded for bags full of candy. The eggs are then cycled back into future hunts. Since we do approximately 40-50 egg hunts between our two age groups (0-5 and 6-12), we estimate that we will cycle through well over 200,000 eggs,” Knight explained.

Organizing such a large event takes hours of planning and preparation. It is possible thanks to the hard work of church members and volunteers and the generosity of local businesses. “We need hundreds of volunteers to make this event run effectively.
Also, since we offer it completely free, we have to work pretty hard to raise the funds to pay for everything. It costs us over $80,000 and would cost much more without local businesses being willing to offer discounts to help us make things work,” Knight said.

Knight said all of this effort is worth it because of the joy it brings to the community. “We want to be known as a church that gives things away. We have a community service initiative called Ways 2 Love Fayetteville where we try to give away 20,000 hours of community service each year,” Knight explained. “Those two parts of who we are as a church, combined with how much we love to have fun and how important families are to us, made us want to do something BIG to celebrate Easter with the city. After a few other ideas, we landed on this one: A giant Easter festival where families from all over can come and have a great time!”

While the entire community is invited to attend, pre-registration is required because of the expected turnout. Attendees will be given “passports” to access the events and food as some are restricted to one per person. Only one person from each party is required to register. Parties can pre-register online in order to speed up the process on the day of the event. For more information or to pre-register, visit the event website at http://www.hopinthepark.com. 

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, showing at Cape Fear Regional Theatre through April 25, is playwright Ken Ludwig’s take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved 1902 novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. The show, carried by CFRT veteran Ken Griggs as Holmes and New York-based Harron Atkins as Watson, runs on playful, imaginative and smart storytelling.

Griggs and Atkins are supported by James Beaman, Luke LaMontagne and Molly Malone, who between the three of them comprise the rest of the cast — they each play at least three different characters throughout the show. 

Director Sam French said that for Baskerville, he began working with his artistic team even earlier than he normally would. That team includes Scenic Designer Lucy Pope and Costume Designer Lizzie Donelan. French said he loves Ken Ludwig’s approach in the script. “It takes a classic story that’s meant to be read and has been designed to … only use the reader’s imagination, and now invites the audience’s imagination and the creative team’s imagination,” he said. 

The creative team took that invitation wholeheartedly and created a world that urges audience members to follow suit. Under their vision, the actors create trains, horse carriages and even entire buildings out of almost nothing. Delicate paper-cut silhouettes whimsically dance across the background. The fourth wall is never broken because it never really gets erected. Though I initially resisted, I couldn’t help but be pulled into world-building with them — the delight and inventive silliness and of it all was irresistible. 

The moment that really got me was this: Holmes and Watson are onstage, engaged in heated dialog as they try to figure out their next move. Suddenly, from the shadows stage right, a coil of thick rope is thrown to Holmes. As he continues to talk, he passes one end of the rope to Watson. “I know!” he suddenly cries. “We’ll go to the (office)!” He and Watson have created the outline of a door frame with the rope as he says this, and, bursting with resolution and dignity, they step under the rope and into the “office.” 

But not everything in Baskerville is created with only imagination. I was impressed with the primary set piece, a sloping, zig-zagging ramp, and the way it believably transformed with only context and perhaps a prop here or there added or subtracted. Scenic Designer Pope and Scenic Artist David Rawlins did a fantastic job.  

Structure aside, supporting cast members Beaman, LaMontagne and Malone are extremely likeable and often hilarious in all their iterations. Lighting Designer Aaron Porter deserves mention, too, as his artful decisions imbued the whole thing with a sense of beauty and warmth. 

Maybe you have to be there to understand the glory of that scene I described with the rope. And maybe that’s the point. I’m a firm believer that if it doesn’t make you say, “You’ve got to see it in person!” it probably isn’t worth seeing at all. Baskervilleabsolutely passes this test. 

Tickets to see Baskerville at CFRT cost $15-$25 and can be purchased by visiting www.cfrt.org or calling 910-323- 4233. Show times fall at 7:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. depending on the day. Baskerville runs through April 25.

Some Cumberland County Commissioners, who serve on a task force that is developing a combined City/County 911 operations center, are disappointed in the proposed organizational structure. The task force of commissioners, members of Fayetteville City Council and public safety officials met last week. It was their third meeting on the proposed consolidation of 911 service. 

Consultants with Mission Critical Partners of Raleigh hope the task force can agree to terms of joint responsibility to meet a May 31 deadline to apply for available state grants. Commissioners Jimmy Keefe and Jeanette Council balked at the suggestion that City government would operate the 911 center. Asked if she thought the County should be in charge, she responded with a sharp “yes.” Council said she assumed all along that the multimillion-dollar facility would be managed by County government. Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, who has experience on City Council, said he couldn’t support the proposition until he learned more of the details. Keefe objected to differences between City and County officials being “discussed in a public setting.”  

Because 60 percent of emergency calls for service are in the city, Mission Critical Partners proposed that it be in charge of operations. The consultants’ proposal is for the County to be the grant sponsor. Their recommendation was modeled after combined 911 centers already in place in Guilford and Wake Counties, where Greensboro and Raleigh take the lead. Ironically, local public safety officials including the sheriff, rural fire departments and emergency management professionals support the concept as presented and have done most of the planning. 

“This is a good program,” said Freddie Johnson, president of the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs Association. “Each of the user agencies would have input” as to operational protocols, said Assistant County Manager Tracey Jackson. The user group would consider detailed recommendations and present them to a joint advisory committee. County and City managers would provide joint oversight. Consultants are encouraging the task force to focus first on securing available state grants. To qualify, the task force must come to agreement on governance and who will what. Then it will turn its attention to the cost and location. 

The need for a combined 911 facility intensified after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York, Washington and rural Pennsylvania. Actual consideration of a local, merged 911 department has been under consideration for about ten years.  

Fayetteville and Cumberland County operate separate 911 emergency dispatch centers in City hall and the County law enforcement center. They do not meet contemporary survivability standards in the event of an attack. Officials recommend that communications facilities be located outside urban centers. A 40,000-square-foot 911 headquarters is proposed to be located on city-owned property on Fields Road off Cedar Creek Road. It would be a fortress-like, hardened building capable of withstanding a category four hurricane. City and county officials have agreed to a price tag of about $30 million. Keefe has said previously that it’s important for everyone to understand the need for
this facility.  

Fayetteville City Council supports a bill in the state House of Representatives that provides local legislation, which would grant the City extraterritorial jurisdiction of Shaw Heights beginning in July. Rep. Elmer Floyd (D-Cumberland), who represents the impoverished area surrounded by the City, filed the bill on his own accord. He asked Council to endorse the measure, and Monday night the body did just that. 

Councilman Ted Mohn crafted the resolution of support which also advocates the eventual annexation of the doughnut hole by July 1, 2020. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin intially opposed the resolution, but reluctantly agreed to it after receiving assurances that other urban areas like Eureka Springs will be considered for annexation in the future. “I support fixing the problem,” he said. “Let’s do it right or let’s not do it,” Colvin added. 

This would not be a typical annexation. In recent years, the Republican-controlled General Assembly has done away with statutes that formerly gave cities involuntary annexation authority. So, for a veteran member of the House to propose a legislative annexation is rare. Floyd has felt for years that the distressed community of rental mobile homes, massive junk yards, illegal dumps and roadside debris needed to be in the city properly so urban services could be provided. 

Mayor Nat Robertson has accused Cumberland County government of ignoring the needs of Shaw Heights, and as a result forcing the city’s hand. Others contend the city of Fayetteville intentionally ignored the area when it annexed everything around it over the years.

Shaw Heights, off Murchison Road near the future I-295, is the area north of Shaw Road that connects Murchison Road to the east with Bragg Boulevard to the west. A community known as Julie Heights is south of Shaw Road. It’s almost as if the road itself over time became a demarcation line separating a loosely defined poverty-stricken area of rental trailers from a middle class neighborhood of modest single-family homes, many of which are owner-occupied. If granted extraterritorial jurisdiction this summer, the city would provide police protection, solid waste collection and street maintenance. The city already provides fire protection to the area under contract with County government. The only rural fire station that previously served Shaw Heights was closed many years ago. The Public Works Commission would be required to begin providing water and sewer utilities within three and a half years of the annexation.    

“Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

— Matthew 25:40

It was 22 years ago that a group of local church congregations came together to activate a common goal — to do something for those less fortunate than themselves. David Crocker, then-pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, organized the group and Fayetteville’s Operation Inasmuch was born. They partnered with Fayetteville Urban Ministry initially to reach out to the community. The objective was to help families in need make basic repairs to their homes. Volunteers would provide the labor, corporate partners would, in some instances, provide the materials. Others would sell supplies at reduced prices.

Operation Inasmuch worked closely with the Fayetteville Redevelopment Department to qualify for small Community Development Block Grants. “We found we could work on 20 homes for the same money that the government would do two,” said Executive Director Sue Byrd. Volunteers from as many as two dozen churches scoured older neighborhoods looking for single-family owner-occupied homes that needed minor repairs. “It was quite an undertaking,” Byrd said. Over the years, hundreds of homes have been worked on, from minor roof and siding repairs to hand railings and steps. The so-called “blitz days” were held twice a year at first, but have been scaled back to one annual undertaking in the spring.

Since 2009, Operation Inasmuch has expanded its outreach to become a beacon of hope for the homeless. “We are not enablers,” said Byrd. She said the organization provides opportunities to the homeless. “They’ve got every chance in the world if they want it.” Inasmuch is headquartered on donated property on Hillsboro Street at the corner of Chance Street. 

The charity serves breakfast to the needy weekday mornings, and serves as a clearing house for information needed by street people. Byrd is quick to confirm what other officials have said — that area panhandlers are not homeless. They are professional beggars who take advantage of “our community’s abundance of compassionate people.” Operation Inasmuch encourages people not to “street feed” the homeless but to support local agencies which provide meals. “When people share a meal together, their lives are nourished; they’re not just fed,” Byrd said.

The organization’s most recent undertaking was the grand opening of The Lodge, a shelter for men. It’s diagonally across the street from the ministry’s office on Chance Street, and provides overnight stays for up to 40 men. The facility has a kitchen, restrooms and showers plus a day room for various activities. Two dormitories are lined with Spartan-like single beds. It’s much more than a place to sleep, said Byrd. An individual, once screened, can stay free for one week so long as he does his chores and spends his days looking for work. Phase two requires that the tenant pay $5 a night and be registered with NC Works at the state employment office nearby. 

During the third phase of residency, once men have gotten jobs, they are rewarded with semi-private rooms, again for $5 a night. Ultimately, successful residents can move into one of the half dozen homes Operation Inasmuch owns on nearby Frink Street. They are issued keys to their homes and pay $225 a month for rent. Up to five men have separate bedrooms in each house. Fayetteville Operation Inasmuch’s stated purpose is “to go outside the church walls to a world in need, offering the talents and gifts with which we have been blessed.”

Those Dam Repairs

Fayetteville City Council wants to update its policy governing the repair of local dams. Several dams were breached during Hurricane Matthew six months ago. Council’s discussion of the matter last week was eerily similar to what Congress went through while dealing with a new health care proposal. Councilman Jim Arp made three attempts to modify a policy, which every Council member agreed is outmoded.

He first made a motion to repeal the existing ordinance and come up with a new one. Councilman Kirk deViere objected to repealing the measure and Arp agreed to revise the existing policy. Others objected to that, so Arp returned to his original idea of repealing the ordinance altogether and directing staff to come up with a new three-pronged policy. City Manager Doug Hewett isn’t sure it would pass legal muster though. It would acknowledge that some private dams have public roads like the one at Arran Lake. Some public dams have public roads like the one in Van Story Hills. And in some other cases, there are private dams with private roads. The Arran Lakes Homeowners Association wants the city to help pay for repairing their private dam. “We’ll give the road over the dam to the city in return,” said HOA Treasurer Elmer Capps. “The problem I have is finding a public purpose for spending tax dollars on a private dam,”
said Hewett. 

Flood Prevention of Another Sort

Twice in the last 20 years, major flooding has occurred near downtown to the extent that Cross Creek came out of its banks along Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard. It happened most recently during Hurricane Matthew. 

In mid-September of 1989, an eight-inch torrential rainfall inundated Fayetteville, taking two lives. 

In both instances, water from the overflowing Cross Creek stood 5 feet deep where Bragg Boulevard intersects with Rowan Street. The State Department of Transportation is taking steps that will significantly reduce the likelihood of flooding there in the future. A bigger culvert will be constructed where the new Rowan Street Bridge and relocated city streets will pass over Cross Creek, said DOT construction engineer Randy Wise. “The new culvert is much larger than the old,” he said. A temporary channel will carry the water away from the creek bed while the culvert is built. “Once the culvert is complete, the water will be diverted through it,” Wise added.

Barricaded City Streets 

Two years ago, the City of Fayetteville barricaded a pair of downtown city streets to help fight crime. Working with emergency services, Traffic Engineer Lee Jernigan had temporary “Street Closed” barriers erected near the Eastern Boulevard intersections of Link and School Streets. “There was a high level of crime in the area,” said Police Captain James Nolette. 

Those barricades have become permanent. Closing off the streets was one of the strategies designed to reduce crime as suggested by the B Street Coalition of residents. Real-time closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitored at police headquarters were another element of the effort. A Link Street neighborhood watch group has become actively involved in efforts by residents to reduce drug dealing and prostitution. “We’ve seen a drastic reduction in crime since the barricades were put up,” said Nolette. 

Small Business Workshop

The U.S. DOT Small Business Transportation Resource Center and Fayetteville Area System of Transit are hosting a small business workshop Thursday, April 20 from 3 -5 p.m. It will be held in the FAST Headquarters Conference Room located at 455 Grove Street. City spokesman Nathan Walls said the workshop will focus on accessing small business capital, maintaining adequate cash flow, acquiring capital for business expansion and finding nontraditional funding sources. Local lenders will be on hand to discuss the small business funding options. Registration can be completed at: https://fast2017-funding.eventbrite.com. 

Building Business Rally

Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission recently held a business workshop. City agencies have been in the forefront of reaching out to local, small businesses to attract interest. PWC has a department that is responsible for the procurement of materials, supplies, services and equipment to enable the efficient operation of the utility. The department also oversees and administers bids and contracts related to electric, water and sewer construction. PWC hosted its spring Building Business Rally last week at its operations center on Old Wilmington Road. Local vendors met with representatives of PWC’s many departments to learn about their supply, equipment and service needs. PWC is also aggressively seeking contractors involved in the Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. This program works to increase the participation of disadvantaged businesses in its procurement opportunities.

There was big news last week! Carolina again won the national basketball championship, and the North Carolina General Assembly repealed HB2 bathroom bill.

How are those two issues connected? Well, North Carolina basketball — whether you’re talking about UNC or even Duke — has made a bundle of money for the Atlantic Coast Conference over the years. 

However, both the ACC’s and NCAA’s political stance on HB2 has taken a lot of money from North Carolina.

Last September, the ACC’s Council of Presidents secretly voted to move its 2016 and 2017 league championships from North Carolina venues to other states after the General Assembly in March passed HB2. Among those voting were UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt and NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson. The NCAA’s position was in lockstep with the ACC.

The vote by the ACC presidents aimed to punish the Tar Heel state’s General Assembly for passing what it considered a discriminatory law. HB2 negated the City of Charlotte’s ordinance by requiring transgender people using public bathrooms, showers or changing rooms to do so according to their sex on their birth certificates. Charlotte’s ordinance allowed transgender individuals to use those facilities based on the sex they identify with.

There was more attached to the bill, but the bathroom issue rose to the top of the heap and became the lightning rod for social justice advocates.

It’s not the first time a nonprofit, tax-exempt collegiate sports organization has taken a political stance. Until last year, the NCAA boycotted South Carolina because it flew a Confederate battle flag. The flag flies no longer, and this year South Carolina again is in the NCAA’s good graces. It’s where UNC met Arkansas.

But guess what? On April 18, the NCAA decides where it will hold championship events from 2018 through 2022. The ACC Council of Presidents also plans to revisit its position on the matter. So, will the General Assembly’s repeal of HB2 bring back NCAA championship events to North Carolina?

But there’s a problem with HB142, the law that repeals HB2. Both the extreme left and the extreme right don’t like it. The LGBTQ community wants to totally repeal it.

HB142 resets the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act. 

The new law also preempts state agencies and local governments from regulating access to restrooms, showers or changing rooms. The new law also puts a moratorium on local government ordinances that regulate private employment practices and public accommodations. That moratorium expires in December 2020.

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s statement about HB142 asked
two questions:

1. If HB2 was right, then why should it be repealed?

2. However, if it was wrong, then why wait until 2020?

He also referred to the NCAA’s boycotting actions as “corporate extortion” from a nonelected, out-of-state, tax-exempt organization.

On the other side is Mayor Jennifer Roberts. Under her leadership, the Charlotte City Council passed the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. It triggered the General Assembly to pass HB2. The reasoning, according a majority of legislators, was that the Charlotte ordinance overreached its authority under state law.

Roberts reportedly chided fellow Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper for signing HB142 and called it a “false repeal.”

Now, one more crazy thing. The City of Charlotte also released a statement. But its statement differs from that of the mayor. It said the City of Charlotte is pleased with the passage of HB142. The city’s spokeswoman released the statement after checking with the council. 

So, with all the different spins on the repeal of HB2, I wonder how the NCAA and ACC Council of presidents will interpret the new law. And my question remains: how does a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization have so much political clout?

Several North Carolina legislators are asking the same question. In fact, they’ve filed House Bill 328, The Athletic Association Accountability Act. If enacted, the law would require chancellors from publically funded universities or colleges to disclose how they voted. The law also would ask the IRS to investigate whether the ACC and NCAA violated their tax-exempt status by trying to influence laws passed by a legislative authority.