The Fayetteville Marksmen will be kicking off their season this month, and our local hockey team is ready to face every team in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The Marksmen will be facing their rival team, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, at their home at the Berglund Center on Friday, Oct. 21. The very next day on Saturday, Oct. 22, they will face off again on our home turf at the Crown Coliseum at 6 p.m.

The Marksmen defeated Roanoke 11 times in 17 tries last season, including a pair of overtime/shootout wins. The Marksmen will see Roanoke 13 times this upcoming season, more than any other opponent.

“This is a rivalry we wanted to keep going,” said Marksmen owner Chuck Norris in a press release. “No one likes playing them and they don’t like playing us, but those battles are great for our fans.”

Last season, the Marksmen set the Fayetteville franchise record for most regular season wins and the most standings points in a single season.
In addition, forward Taylor Best was named to the SPHL all-rookie team, while Don Olivieri took home first-team all-star honors.

Behind the bench, Cory Melkert was named league coach of the year honors finalist.

This year, the Marksmen will face every team in the SPHL, hosting seven of them at the Crown Coliseum.

“After the success of last season, it’s a challenge for us to embrace facing everyone but one that we’re excited for, and one we hope the fans are excited for too,” said team president Alex Wall.

Fayetteville will host five games in November and five games in December at the Crown Coliseum. There will be five games at home in January, February and March. The Marksmen will play three games in April at the season's close.

This season's schedule offers opportunities for a variety of days and times. The Marksmen will play three-weekday games this season, nine games on Fridays, 12 games on Saturdays, and four games on Sundays. The Marksmen have also announced that all weekday games will occur at 7:15 p.m. this season. Saturdays will still be played at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. As part of Opening Night, the Marksmen will be giving away free magnet schedules and have a post-game skate.

For the post-game skate, guests are allowed to bring their own skates, or rent skates there while sizes last. The post-game skate will last 45 minutes and the cost to skate, regardless of skate rental, is just $10.

Other home game themes will include Nickelodeon Night, Pirates & Princesses Night, Wizardy Night, College Night, Superhero Night, Dr. Suess Night, Luck O’ The Irish Night, Peanuts Night, Disney Night, Star Wars Night and four Salutes to Service Nights. Each themed game will have special promotional items, a post-game jersey auction, and characters for kids to meet.

To secure tickets for the 2022-23 season, visit www.marksmenhockey.com and click the tickets tab.

Want to keep PWC from being sold? Vote Yes in November.

When somebody tells me I can’t vote, it makes me want to vote even more. It makes me want to vote six times instead of just twice for Fayetteville Council offices. The City Council’s actions tell the citizens of Fayetteville that we should not be allowed to vote on the proposal to change the way the Council is elected.

The road blocks thrown up against voting by the Council are not surprising. People in power seldom want to give up power. The Council is no exception. They like being in power. If more people are allowed to vote, we might vote wrong, thus endangering their power.

The Council has done its best to prevent citizens from voting on this proposal. It twice postponed its vote to put the referendum on the November ballot. It waited until the last day to actually vote against it due to concerns that a non-existent form had not been completed by the proponents of the referendum.

By delaying the vote until the last day, the Council apparently hoped that ballots could not be printed in time for the November election.
Like Dean Wormer in “Animal House,” the Council used the non-existent form excuse to put Fayetteville voters on Double Secret Probation to prevent them from voting.

The Vote Yes folks immediately filed a law suit to put the referendum on the November ballot. Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons ordered Vote Yes to appear on the ballot. The Council then filed an appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals seeking to stop the vote. The Court of Appeals denied the Council’s appeal and ordered the Vote to go on in November.

If something walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck, it is probably a duck. The City Council is a duck. It wants to duck and cover up your right to vote.

The Council’s scrambling to prevent the Vote Yes initiative shows they don’t want the voters to decide how they want to be governed. Any political group, Democrats or Republicans, which wants to prevent people from voting is no fan of Democracy. Currently you can vote for two people on the City Council, the Mayor and your District Representative. Five thousand Fayetteville citizens signed a petition to put to a vote the proposal to change the election to allow a citizen to vote for six members of the Council, the Mayor, 4 at-large Council members and a District Representative. Six votes are more than two votes. The average voter gets much more input into how the city is governed if Vote Yes passes.

Your vote yes is crucial. Local ownership of PWC is on the line. The current Council is quite likely to vote to sell PWC down the river, killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. Like a zombie from “The Walking Dead,” the double secret deal to sell PWC will rise from the grave. The Council will get a big wad of money from the sale to use for pet projects. The windfall will be spent. The current Council will ultimately leave office. Local control of PWC will end.

PWC rates and preventive maintenance of utilities will take a back seat to the interests of out of state shareholders interested in squeezing every dollar from Fayetteville residents. Citizens will be left holding a very expensive empty bag.

If you want to keep local control of your City Council and prevent the sale of PWC, Vote Yes on the referendum.
To quote Woody Guthrie: “Nobody living can ever stop me/ As I go walking the freedom highway/ Nobody living can ever make me turn back/ This Land was made for you and me.”

Get out and vote yes, this local government and PWC were made for you and me.

For a spooky, rock-filled night, don’t miss out on Sweet Valley Ranch’s “Music at the Farm Concert Series” on Oct. 15. The concert’s opening band is called Hell is Here, and headliner Mostley Crue is a Motley Crue tribute band.
Hell is Here is a local death metal band that was formed in 2014. They have one album, “Fall of the Morningstar,” which was released in 2018. Mostley Crue has been together for 15 years and has played hundreds of shows as Motley Crue. The current lineup and their alter egos are Gabriel Pettit as lead vocalist Vince

Neil, Darius Rose as drummer Tommy Lee, Keith Baumbaugh as guitarist Mick Mars and Miller Barefoot as bassist Nikki Sixx.
Pettit is the only original member of the band. He was in another band creating his own music when he was asked to join Mostley Crue as Vince Neil.
Pettit is known for his uncanny ability to sound like Neil by duplicating his range and tone. He credits this to spending years as a karaoke DJ, where he would imitate other musicians. The Motley Crue singer happened to be one of them. And, like most people, he liked to sing on road trips.

“I used to sing in the car all the time, and I would adapt my voice to whatever the singer happened to be on my playlist at the time,” Pettit told Up & Coming Weekly. “I just listened to an absolute ton of Motley Crue for a fairly extended period of time, over a few months.”

Attendees can expect all the Motley Crue hits, but the band does play earlier songs and B-sides or songs that may not have made it onto an album. But they should not expect the band to come out rocking the glam look popular in the 80s.

“Our look is more of a hybrid [of] their later look, post-glam,” Pettit said. “Obviously, none of us look good in spandex anymore.”

“We are humbled by everyone’s appreciation of us, and we love to hear and speak to those people who come to see us. We’ll take pictures with fans,” he said.

“This is about enjoying the music and enjoying the process of playing it. Don’t be scared to come up and talk to us. We’re here to have fun, too.”

At Sweet Valley Ranch, Hell is Here takes the stage at 8 p.m., followed by Mostley Crue at 9:15 p.m. for this special Halloween show.
These two bands will set the stage on fire throughout the night, the perfect background noise while you also check out Sweet Valley Ranch’s “Backwoods Terror Ranch.”

Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase. No outside food or drink is allowed.

For information or tickets for “Music at the Farm” or “Backwoods Terror Ranch,” visit https://www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/ or call 844-622-3276.
Sweet Valley Ranch is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville.

Deadlines are looming to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 election. Voter registration will close for the Nov. 8 election on Friday, Oct. 14, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections website.
All voters have a choice of voting by absentee mail-in ballot or voting early beginning Oct. 20. Angie Amaro, interim director of the Cumberland County Board of

Elections Office, says she expects a smooth election and that her staff and poll volunteers will be ready for the task.

“We are preparing like we always prepare for any election,” Amaro said in a recent email. “Absentee requests are greater than in previous midterms,” she added.
Amaro said she is “very confident” that plans are in place to ensure an accurate vote count. Voting machines and other election computers will be reliable, she said.

“They are tested for logic and accuracy before every election,” Amaro said in the email.

Voters will decide races for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives; N.C. Senate and House; N.C. Supreme Court (two seats) and N.C. Court of Appeals (four seats); and N.C. Superior Court judge and N.C. District Court judge.
In Cumberland County, voters will choose two members of the Board of Commissioners, three members of the Board of Education, a sheriff, the clerk of court, and two Soil and Water District supervisors. In addition, Fayetteville voters will decide whether to approve changing the way City Council members are elected in a referendum on the Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative.

City voters also will decide on three bond packages: $60 million for public safety improvements; $25 million for infrastructure updates; and $12 million for housing initiatives. A voter must be a citizen of the United States, 18 or older, and a legal resident of Cumberland County for 30 days before Election Day.
Registrants must rescind any previous registration in another county or state, and they must provide a North Carolina driver’s license number and the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Register to vote or update your registration at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles website. Or download a registration application at the N.C. Board of Elections website.

In Cumberland County, residents may register to vote in person at the county Board of Elections Office, 227 Fountainhead Lane. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Registration also is available at public libraries. To change your address, fill out the back of your voter registration card and return it to the county Board of Elections Office. It must be postmarked or received at least 25 days before the election.

If you do not provide a valid form of identification, you will be asked to show ID the first time you vote. One-stop early voting for the Nov. 8 elections begins on Oct. 20 and ends at 3 p.m. Nov. 5. Information is available at the county Board of Elections website, Cumberland County elections website.

U.S. citizens who live overseas — including members of the military and their spouses and dependents — have until 5 p.m. the day before Election Day to register to vote or request an absentee ballot.

Requests for absentee mail-in ballots are now being accepted for the Nov. 8 general election.
The deadline to submit a request for an absentee mail-in ballot is Nov. 1 for the Nov. 8 general election, according to the Cumberland County elections website. All registered voters in the county are eligible to vote by mail giving no excuse if they choose not to vote in person. An absentee mail-in ballot can be requested at the N.C. vote-by-mail portal. Members of the military and those serving overseas are included. More information for military members is at military voting assistance guide.

Information also is available by email at absentee@cumberlandcountync.gov.
To apply for a mail-in ballot, the voter or the voter’s near relative or legal guardian must complete a request form that can be returned by mail or in person.

For the Nov. 8 election, the request form must be received by the county elections office by 5 p.m. Nov. 1.
The ballot must be marked in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses. The voter and the witnesses must sign the back of the ballot envelope and provide their full addresses.

Hand-delivered absentee ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections by 5 p.m. Nov. 8, Election Day. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked and received no later than the third day after the election.

Find your polling site here at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/election-group/elections/resources/polling-sites.
Find your sample ballot at https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot.

The Department of Defense announced on Oct. 6 that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo accepting the recommendations of a congressionally authorized commission to rename U.S. military installations honoring Confederate soldiers. This included nine army installations, Fort Bragg among them.

The Naming Commission, which first met in 2021, completed its analysis earlier this year with recommendations to remove all Department of Defense assets with “the names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the ‘Confederacy’) or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America.” The commission found over 1,100 Confederate references across the Defense Department.

Fort Bragg was identified as the Army installation named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg.
The commission recommended changing Fort Bragg’s name to Fort Liberty.

“In the words of Admiral Michelle M. Howard, the Naming Commission's chair, the commission's goal was to inspire Service members and military communities ‘with names or values that have meaning.’ The Department's implementation of the Commission's recommendations will do just that - and will give proud new names that are rooted in their local communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the United States military,” Austin’s memo stated.

Bragg was the only facility to get a proposed name that is not connected to a figure in military history. However, Lawrence Romo, a member of the Naming Commission, said that at the second listening session that included civilians, servicemembers and committee leaders, many were “very, very adamant about the name Fort Liberty.”

The word “Liberty” can be found in the 82nd Airborne Song, and the value of liberty is deeply connected with the military.

“We acknowledge the announcement by the Secretary of Defense and we are in close coordination with the Army, OSD, and the Naming Commission,” said Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. John Wilcox.

Beginning on Dec. 18, the Department of Defense will start its plan to rename assets. On Fort Bragg, this includes a number of streets, buildings, equipment, uniforms, databases, police vehicles, recycling bin decals, plaques, the USASOC Memorial Wall, the Parade Field, the 82nd Airborne Museum, and the Hendrick Stadium Memorial Wall.

However, according to Austin's mandate, some of the commission’s recommended changes, such as altering the Department of Defense’s memorialization and naming processes, will be implemented immediately, according to Austin’s mandate.

“The installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets. They are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live,” Austin wrote.

It will cost the Pentagon an estimated $62.5 million to implement the recommendations. The cost estimation for Fort Bragg – soon-to-be Fort Liberty – is $6,374,230. The most expensive military installation to rename.

The Department of Defense has until Jan. 1, 2024, to complete all renaming and removals at the installations.

To help respond to the opioid epidemic in Cumberland County, county officials are allocating opioid settlement funds to provide services for those addicted to opioids, often prescribed as pain-reducing medications.

Last summer, a majority of states, including North Carolina, made a $26 billion settlement with the nation’s largest opioid distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen. Opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson is also a part of the lawsuit.

In all, 46 states have reached an agreement with the three distributors, while 45 states have settled with Johnson & Johnson. North Carolina has come to an agreement with all four companies and will receive more than $750 million from the national lawsuit. 

Cumberland County alone will get $17 million of that state sum in annual payouts until 2038, Carolina Public Press previously reported. That is the seventh-highest payout among all of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

The opioid epidemic has spread through communities all over the country in the past 20 years, resulting in the deaths of over 564,000 people nationwide from 1999 to 2020, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, doctors started increasing opioid prescriptions for patients in the late 1990s, resulting in widespread addiction. These addictions developed despite reassurances from pharmaceutical companies that the drugs were not addictive.

Opioids have been involved in the deaths of more than 25,000 people statewide since 2000, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

In Cumberland County, nearly 1,230 have died from opioid overdoses, according to data from NCDHHS. Cumberland’s opioid-related deaths in 2021 occurred at a rate of 60.5 per 100,000 people, well above the statewide rate of 35.8 per 100,000 people.

Annual deaths in the county increased sharply in 2020 and 2021, from 163 to 203 deaths, compared with 2019, when 97 died from opioid overdose.

To help prevent overdose deaths, Cumberland County received an initial sum of $1.8 million from the settlement in two payments from this past spring and summer.

What Cumberland is doing with the settlement funds

In August, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the recommended use of over half of the initial $1.8 million from the settlement funds.

The Cumberland County Health Department presented the recommended uses of the funds to the board after holding community meetings with county residents in Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Eastover and Hope Mills throughout the summer. There was also an online survey that residents used to submit recommendations to the county.

“The top three priorities that were selected were addiction treatment for incarcerated persons, early intervention programs and recovery support services and housing,” Jennifer Green, Cumberland’s public health director, said.

As a result, the state issued a list of core strategies for local governments to follow as guidelines for use of settlement funds to fight the opioid epidemic. The strategies are separated into two broad categories: short-term and long-term uses.

Addiction treatment for incarcerated people and intervention programs are short-term strategies under the state guidelines.

In Cumberland County, nearly all of the short-term treatments for opioid addiction are in place, Green said, but they need more funding.

“They need more capacity, they need more staff, they need more time,” Green said.

In response, the Board of Commissioners approved the use of up to $800,000 from the initial settlement payments to fund early intervention treatment, including those who are uninsured or underinsured.

The only short-term strategy Cumberland is not using, Green said, is county-operated medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, a combination of counseling and behavioral therapies used to treat opioid addiction.

To meet that need, specifically for those incarcerated, the board approved $200,000 from the $1.8 million to go toward MAT at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

For County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, longer-term strategies, such as education of the harms of opioids, should take priority.

“This is not a short-term fix. This is a generational educational problem,” Keefe said.

In response, Green said that future payments could be used for more longer-term solutions, such as education initiatives.

Cumberland considers recovery community center

While there is strong interest in the funding of a community recovery center, the board did not approve the plan because it is unclear if the settlement funds could be used to operate it. Green said such a facility would help with coordinating and providing services such as peer support groups, reentry programs, job readiness training, professional education and transitional housing.

Loren Bymer, director of Cumberland County Public Information, said in an email that county officials are in talks with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and the N.C. Department of Justice to determine if the guidelines under the settlement permit the construction and operation of a recovery community center.

County also plans to use Narcan

In addition to funding MAT and early intervention, the board approved the use of up to $70,000 to be used to purchase naloxone, the medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids.

Since opioids can slow or stop breathing and cause death from overdosing even hours after taking the medication, naloxone is important because it can save someone’s life. Naloxone is not addictive and does not reverse overdoses from nonopioid drugs.

Residents can get free naloxone kits from the first floor of the Cumberland County Health Department while supplies last. There are also free kits at a vending machine in the county detention center. Green said some kits are also given to first response teams that treat overdose victims in emergencies.

The funding from the settlement will double the amount of available naloxone in the county, Green said. In total, just over $1 million of the settlement funds was approved for use, leaving about $800,000 from the initial $1.8 million the county received from the opioid settlements.

The money was left over intentionally, Green said, to fund longer-term plans to fight the opioid epidemic.

“We can’t just fund a recovery. We can’t just fund treatment,” Green said. “We can’t just fund prevention, we need to fund programs along the continuum.”

North Carolinians are just a few weeks away from seeing “I voted” stickers on the clothes of strangers at the grocery store.

One-stop voting, also commonly known as “early voting,” begins Oct. 20 and will continue through Nov. 5. All signs point to trends showing that the majority of North Carolina voters will take advantage of the two-week opportunity to cast their ballots. 

“In recent statewide and federal elections, in-person early voting has been the most popular way to vote for North Carolinians,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesperson for the N.C. State Board of Elections.

How early voting became a powerhouse

In the 2008 and 2012 general elections, roughly 56% of the state’s total ballots came from early voting. That number jumped to 62% in 2016 and 65% in the 2020 general election, according to the state Board of Elections.

But it took different pieces of state legislation proposed over the course of more than 20 years for early voting to become the powerhouse it is now.

Early voting in North Carolina dates to 1977, when the N.C. General Assembly amended absentee voting laws to allow residents already eligible for absentee ballots — people with disabilities or those who would be out of state on Election Day — to go to a county board of elections office, apply for an absentee ballot and cast their vote all in one location.

The next step toward the emergence of early voting, according to the University of North Carolina School of Government, came in 1999. Then, two separate pieces of legislation made any voter eligible for an absentee ballot and authorized counties to establish multiple one-stop voting locations, rather than only using the county board of elections’ office. 

The legislature solidified an early voting time frame beginning the third Thursday before and ending the Saturday before Election Day in 2001, and in 2007, lawmakers ruled that a person could both register and vote on the same day at an early voting site. 

Since then, as Gannon said, one-stop voting has become the most popular ballot-casting method, with droves of North Carolinians voting at early voting precincts.

“We anticipate one-stop early voting will be the most popular method of voting in the 2022 general election as well,” he said.

Who uses NC’s early voting option?

It’s not just presidential elections that rope in one-stop voters. In the most recent primary election in May, state data shows about 62% of voters utilized early voting. 

“This popularity no doubt derives from the convenience that early voting provides,” UNC professor Robert Joyce wrote in the School of Government’s blog in 2010. 

“Voters have a choice of many days (including at least one Saturday) to vote and a choice of several locations (not just their one assigned Election Day precinct voting place.)”

A closer look at the state’s recent voter turnout data shows that women took advantage of early voting more than men. During the primary election earlier this year, approximately 54% of one-stop voters were women. About 44% were men, and 2% did not specify a gender. 

White voters made up about 72% of those who used North Carolina one-stop precincts from April 28 to May 14, and approximately 23% of the more than 559,000 early voters were Black. Other races and ethnicities constituted the remaining 5%. 

Political party affiliation also appears to play a part in early voting turnout. During the 2022 primary, about 40% of one-stop voters were Democrats, 33% were Republicans, and 27% were unaffiliated.

These trends are a likely indicator for how the upcoming election Nov. 8 will play out, as similar gender, racial and political affiliation percentages have been evident in several recent elections.

For example, the November 2018 general election — which had similar congressional, state and local contested races — essentially mirrored the demographic percentages of one-stop voting in May 2022. 

The only major difference was with Republican voters. In 2018, they made up only about 30% of all early votes cast. In 2022, that percentage grew to 33%.

Democrats, on the other hand, constituted about 40% of all one-stop ballots in 2022 while in 2018, that percentage was roughly 42%.

How do I vote early?

Any eligible voter in North Carolina can vote early by going to one of the state’s more than 350 one-stop voting sites, which are frequently in libraries, schools and community centers. 

For the Nov. 8 general election, early voting will be from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5. One-stop voting locations are typically open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Some sites are not open on Saturday. 

To find details on locations and hours of operation of early voting sites in your county, visit this N.C. State Board of Elections website.

Eligible individuals are able to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day at a one-stop voting location. Registered voters can modify their current registration at early voting sites — except for changing political affiliation.

Still have questions about voting in North Carolina? Check out Carolina Public Press’ in-depth guides for absentee and new voters, and test your knowledge about voting in the state with our quiz.

Grading work is underway for an expansion of Veterans Park, according to a city of Fayetteville news release.

The city recently acquired surplus property from the N.C. Department of Transportation that will be used for the expansion, according to the release. The 8-acre site is near the intersection of Bragg Boulevard, Rowan Street and Murchison Road and became available after DOT replaced the Rowan Street bridge.

Design for the project, known as Veterans Park II, is nearing completion. Construction is expected to begin after bids are awarded and to be completed within a year, the release said.

The park will include green space and a parade grounds, a “hero’s walk,” parking and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the existing Veterans Park.
Excess soil from the grading process will be used for other parks and recreation projects, including Senior Center East, Mazarick Park Tennis Center and Mabel C. Smith Park, the release said.

Those projects and the Veterans Park expansion are being financed by a $35 million parks and recreation bond package approved by city voters in 2016, according to the release.

Another project financed by that bond package, the Bill Crisp Senior Center, is scheduled to open at the end of October near Lake Rim.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $247 million contract to widen an eight-mile section of Interstate 95 north of Lumberton.

Flatiron Constructors Inc. of Morrisville will widen the interstate from four lanes to eight from just south of Exit 22 to mile marker 29, the state Transportation Department said in a release.

The project will include reconstructing Exit 25 with a longer, wider and taller bridge and new ramps with roundabouts, the release said. Two overpasses — Powersville Road and McDuffie Crossing Road — will also be replaced.

Exit 22, which was recently rebuilt as a diverging-diamond interchange, will not need to be replaced, the release said.

The department said the project is needed to reduce congestion, plan for anticipated growth in traffic volumes and improve safety.

Work can begin by Nov. 1. The contractor will have toward the end of 2026 to complete the project, the release said.

The project will require the installation of concrete barriers for safety; reduced shoulder access; and occasional lane closures overnight with reduced speed limits.

This is one of several state highway contracts for widening I-95. The improvements will help it meet modern interstate design standards, the department has said.

You can expect to hear some “booms’’ starting this weekend as the 10th Marine Regiment returns to Fort Bragg for its semi-annual training.
The Camp Lejeune-based Marines will conduct their semi-annual field artillery section certifications, command-post exercise and live-fire training as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, Fort Bragg officials said in a release. The training began Tuesday and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 28.

“The training conducted at Fort Bragg is necessary to help maintain the 10th Marine Regiment’s readiness,” said Sharilyn Wells, a Fort Bragg spokeswoman. “We ask the communities surrounding Fort Bragg to be understanding while they are here training.”

The field artillery live-fire portion of the exercise is scheduled to start Saturday. The 10th Marines will fire M777 Howitzer 155mm ammunition from 18 M777 Howitzers, which can be associated with loud explosions and reverberations upon detonation, the release said.

Fort Bragg units also will be conducting live-fire training, adding to the loud explosions and reverberations. That training will involve field artillery units from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, the release said.
The units will comply with requirements that prohibit them from massing fires larger than battalion size between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily or from firing during the hours of 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays, the release said.

A homeless man has been charged in connection with a string of fires in vacant buildings in Spring Lake over the past week, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Thomas Reilly, 50, of Spring Lake, is charged with three counts of burning certain buildings, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The charge means the structures were unoccupied, said Sgt. Mickey Locklear.

“If they had been occupied then it would have been arson,’’ Locklear said.

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the Sheriff's Office responded to 107 N. Betty St. in Spring Lake in reference to a vacant structure fire, the release said.

Arson detectives identified Reilly as the suspect and also linked him to two other structure fires, the Sheriff’s Office said in the release. One occurred Sept. 28 at 114 Pine Tree Lane and the other occurred Sunday at 1255 Spring Ave., the release said.

The fires were at two mobile homes and a residential structure, Locklear said. No one was living in the structures at the time, he said.

“With the quick response and hard work of the arson detectives, Reilly was quickly taken off the streets and prevented any further damage to the town of Spring Lake,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in the release.

Reilly is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $250,000 secured bond. His first appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the detention center.

The “Remember My Name’’ domestic violence vigil is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6 at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville.

The vigil, which is meant to raise awareness of domestic violence, begins at 5:30 p.m.

Elenah Kelly, the Air Force violence prevention integrator at the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Pope Army Airfield, will be the keynote speaker, according to a release from Cumberland County court officials.

Retired Chief District Court Judge Beth Keever will read aloud the names of the people who died as a result of domestic violence in North Carolina over the past year.

Others who are scheduled to participate include Chief District Court Judge Toni S. King, Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons, District Attorney Billy West, Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. John Wilcox and the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus, the release said.

The vigil is organized by the Cumberland County District Court, Cumberland County Superior Court, the CARE Center Family Violence Program, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayetteville Police Department, the Hope Mills Police Department, Army Community Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Phoenix Center, the release said.

There are several community resources available to victims of domestic violence, including:

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office: non-emergency 910-323-1500; Victim Assistance 910-677-5454 or ccsonc.org.

Fayetteville Police Department: 910-433-1529; Victim Assistance 910-433-1849 or www.bethebadge.com

Hope Mills Police: 910-425-4103

Spring Lake Police: 910-436-0350

Cumberland County Family Court: 910-475-3015 or
nccourts.gov/locations/cumberland-county/family-court-administration.

Clerk of Superior Court Lisa Scales, Safe-Link Domestic Violence Assistance Program: 910-475-3000, Cumberland County Courthouse, Room 340

Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office: 910-475-3010

The CARE Center Family Violence Program: Crisis Line 910-677-2532 or office 910-677-2528

Army Community Services: 910-396-8262 or www.myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.

Legal Aid of North Carolina Fayetteville Chapter: 910-483-0400 or www.legalaidnc.org

The Phoenix Center hotline: 910-485-7273

U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program: 910-322-3148 or hotline 910-584-4267.

Volunteers are being sought for Fayetteville Beautiful, a citywide litter cleanup scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 8.
Volunteers should meet at the Cumberland County Courthouse, 117 Dick St., according to a city news release. Trash bags, gloves, water, snacks and T-shirts will be distributed.

Registration forms, rules and a photo gallery can be found on the Fayetteville Beautiful webpage.

Fayetteville Beautiful is held once every spring and fall. Volunteers collected 1.3 tons of litter last spring, the news release said.
The city’s “Put Waste in Its Place” campaign to reduce litter and other pollutants on streets and in stormwater systems is a reminder to residents and visitors of their role in keeping the city clean, according to the release.

New anti-litter signs will be posted in communities where litter is a significant problem to remind residents about fines associated with littering, the release said.

“Fayetteville truly is a beautiful place, and your city leaders want to keep it that way,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said in the release. “The new signs should remind us of our common goal to have a clean city and a place where we all come together to do our part. If each of us continues to put waste in its place and makes a commitment to keeping Fayetteville beautiful, we can positively impact our streets and neighborhoods, making our home a place where we all want to live, work and play.”

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation crews regularly collect between 1.5 and 2 tons of litter each week, according to the release. Litter and pollutants blown into stormwater systems can block the flow of rainwater.

The city also encourages residents to participate in its recycling program to reduce waste.

Other cleanup efforts include Five for Friday, through which volunteers pledge to collect at least five pieces of trash and recyclable items each Friday.
Community groups and individuals can sign up for Adopt-a-Street or Adopt-a-Site by committing to clean at least 2 miles of roadway or a green space for a year. Visit www.fcpr.us for an application and guidelines.

A woman who was forced at gunpoint to get into a vehicle was sexually assaulted early Sunday in the 100 block of South Eastern Boulevard, according to Fayetteville police.

Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department’s Special Victims Unit are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect, according to a news release.
The sexual assault was reported about 1 a.m. Sunday, the release said. The woman told investigators that she was in a parking lot in the 700 block of Blue Street about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when a man pulled up in a black car. He flagged down the victim and pointed a silver and black handgun at her, forcing her to get into the vehicle, the release said.

The man drove to the 100 block of South Eastern Boulevard and sexually assaulted the woman, the release said. He forced the woman to get out of the car, and she called police from a nearby motel.

The woman told investigators that she could not identify the man, the release said.
The suspect was described as a white man, possibly in his 30s, with a “chunky” build, the release said. He is bald and has tattoos on his chest and neck area and on one arm. He was wearing a silver chain and a tank top, the release said.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the reported assault is asked to contact Detective D. Bell of the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-929-7504 or Fayetteville/Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477) or http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org.

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday night voted 4-1 to delay a vote on an apartment complex proposed for Elk Road.

Commissioners Bryan Marley, Joanne Scarola, Grilley Mitchell and Jerry Legge voted to delay the vote; Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray voted in opposition.
The issue drew a number of concerned residents from the Pinewood Lakes subdivision, which is next to the proposed apartment complex. The Pinewood Lakes development was built in the 1960s and is home to many retirees.

Board members delayed a vote on the project until their next meeting, saying they want more information about the project from the planning department, specifically information about a proposed secondary exit.

The board was scheduled to consider and review the development of The One at Hope Mills apartment complex submitted by The Charleston Group on behalf of Fayetteville Christian Schools Inc.

The plan, which began in February, calls for 360 units of a three-story garden-style apartment complex with a clubhouse, pool area, 70 garage spaces and 624 parking spaces.
The grounds also would have two retention ponds.
The main entrance would be on Elk Road, but N.C. Department of Transportation regulations require a secondary egress. The emergency, or secondary egress, is scheduled to connect to the Pinewood Lakes subdivisions via Sycamore Drive through an emergency gate.

Pinewood Lakes residents voiced concerns about noise pollution, lower property values, increased traffic and flooding. But the gate was also a big concern.
Pinewood Lakes resident Denise Schmude did not speak at the meeting, but she said she attended because of her concerns about traffic and noise pollution the complex would bring. Schmude, who has lived in Pinewood Lakes since 2015, said she didn’t want that traffic going through her neighborhood.

“One of the reasons we purchased our house there was that it wasn't densely populated. When you get apartments, you get more people,” Schmude said.

Some people also expressed concern about the retention pond. Some residents told the board that their yards already flood whenever it rains due to a nearby Walmart retention pond.

“I’m here to oppose the apartments,’’ resident Jason Hulon said. “I truly hope the council can stop the entrance and flooding from coming into our neighborhood.

Something is gonna have to be done.

“Everyone sits here and says they are going to fix it and we’re gonna make sure that’s not going to happen, but that’s what you told us about Walmart.”

“Right now Walmart floods my house,’’ Hulon told the board. “My house is the one with 2 feet of water in it every time it rains.”

Hulon told a reporter later that he complains but nothing is ever done. “We need to have a solution for the problem before it exists,” he said.

Wendy Soto has lived in Pinewood Lake for 24 years. She told the board that her property also floods due to the Walmart retention pond, which she said everyone promised wouldn’t happen.

“With this apartment complex coming in, are we going to get the same thing?’’ Soto said. “Everyone is kind of feeding us stuff —- it’s going to be OK. We’re going to put a wall up, you’re not going to get traffic, you’re not going to get flooding. How are we to believe any of that? I don’t.”

After residents spoke, Chancer McLaughlin, the town’s Planning and Economic Development director, presented the development review to the board before its scheduled vote.
McLaughlin said his department understood the concerns of the Pinewood Lakes residents and took them into consideration when it laid out the regulations for the developer’s permit requirements.

McLaughlin said nothing would be built or allowed to proceed without the developer first satisfying the regulations required from the town, the state Transportation Department and the Public Works Commission.
McLaughlin also said the plan for the gate that would connect the apartment complex and Pinewood Lakes was only accessed by emergency vehicles.

“No vehicle will ever pass through that gate if it is not an emergency vehicle,” McLaughlin said.

Bret Andres, another concerned resident, gathered signatures from neighborhood residents who are opposed to the apartment complex and presented them at the board’s last meeting. He presented new signatures Monday night.

At the last meeting, Andres told the board that apartment complexes lower the value of the property around them.
Andres told a reporter that he feels like McLaughlin’s department is “pushing for the developer’s plans.”

“That’s how I feel, and I think most of us think and feel,’’ Andres said. “But I’m happy about tonight’s meeting. There’s strength in numbers.”

McLaughlin, Town Manager Scott Meszaros and the town attorney told the board that the comments were not a public hearing. The town board must legally vote yes if the developer has met all of its requirements. McLaughlin told the board it had and his department recommended approval.

Jason Canady covers Hope Mills for CityView. He can be reached at jcanady@cityviewnc.com.

The Cumberland County Public Library is participating in the “31 Days of Love” campaign. Every library location is accepting donations of pet supplies for animals that are sheltered at Cumberland County Animal Services.

Donations can be delivered to any library location and may include pet food, toys, blankets, newspapers and other animal-related supplies.
Cumberland County Animal Services also has a donation wish list on the Cumberland County Animal Services website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/volunteer-foster-donate!/donation.

Pet adoption programs will also take place throughout October at different library locations.

The pet adoption programs will be at:

•Oct. 8 at Hope Mills Branch Library from 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.

•Oct. 15 at Headquarters Library from 1 to 3 p.m.

•Oct. 18 at Cliffdale Regional Library from 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.

•Oct. 28 at North Regional Library from 9 a.m. to
12 p.m.

Responsible individuals can make a difference by adopting animals at the shelter who are looking for a home. Adoptions occur Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

You can also see the adoptable animals through Cumberland County Animal Services website Adoptable Animals https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/pet-adoption/adoptable-animals . If you are interested in adoption, please call Animal Services at 910-321-6852.

Cumberland County Animal Services is located at 4704 Corporation Drive in Fayetteville. They accept donations of pet supplies year-round during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information about the library, please visit the library’s website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library or visit them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/CumberlandCountyAnimalShelter/.

After previously going forward with an AI-powered gunshot detection system, the Fayetteville City Council was split 5-5 at its Sept. 26 meeting after reconsidering the contract with ShotSpotter.

The proposed one-year contract with ShotSpotter, the private company that operates the gunshot detection technology, would cost the city $197,500.

Other cities in North Carolina — including Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Greenville, Wilmington, Durham and Winston-Salem — already have the system in place.

To detect gunshots, the company uses acoustic sensors placed in a specific coverage area. Sounds from those sensors are analyzed by artificial intelligence to determine if the noise is a gunshot.

The data is then reviewed by analysts, and the police respond, if appropriate.

Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins and council members Kathy Jensen, D.J. Haire and Derrick Thompson voted in favor of the contract.
Council members Shakeyla Ingram, Mario Benavente, Brenda McNair, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Deno Hondros were opposed.

Given the tied 5-5 vote, the contract with ShotSpotter is not currently approved. The issue would have to be considered at a future meeting for more concrete action.
It is not clear, however, what will happen next with the proposal. Mayor Colvin’s office did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press asking if the City Council would consider the contract again at another meeting.

ShotSpotter did not comment about Monday night’s council action.

ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system is controversial, as some studies show it can be ineffective while others have found it to reduce incidents of gun violence, Carolina Public Press reported.

In an email to Carolina Public Press, a ShotSpotter spokesperson cited a study from the Brookings Institution that found just 12% of gunfire incidents are reported through a 911 call.

“ShotSpotter is an acoustic gunshot detection system that fills that data gap by alerting police of virtually all gunfire in a city’s coverage area within 60 seconds,” Ron Teachman, director of public safety solutions at ShotSpotter, said. “We’re confident that our technology is effective in helping to save lives and capture critical evidence.”

A 2021 report from the Chicago Office of Inspector General, however, found that the alerts from the ShotSpotter technology “rarely produce evidence of a gun-related crime, rarely give rise to investigatory stops and even less frequently lead to the recovery of gun crime-related evidence during an investigatory stop,” though the report did conclude that the technology may increase police response time.

Council criticism of contract

The council originally voted 8-2 on Aug. 22 to approve the contract with ShotSpotter. Benavente and Ingram opposed the move.

At the council’s Sept. 12 meeting, however, newly elected council member Hondros made a motion to reconsider the contract. The motion passed 6-4 with support from Hondros, Benavente, Banks-McLaughlin, McNair, Ingram and Thompson. This led to the most recent discussion this week on the contract.

Benavente has spearheaded the move to deny the ShotSpotter contract, speaking against the action on Aug. 22 and at the Sept. 26 meeting

“We’re all under a lot of pressure to do something important and worthwhile as [it] relates to improving public safety. And I think that direction should be investing in our communities, not necessarily investing in private corporations,” Benavente said at the meeting.

Benavente said that he had emailed Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins about any potential negatives related to the technology but had not received a reply. He also asked the same question at August’s meeting, but Hawkins said she could not answer at that time.

“If we want to make it work here in Fayetteville, let’s learn from the mistakes that other municipalities have gone through,” Benavente said. “Let’s make sure that we’re not manufacturing consent for the police to overpolice certain neighborhoods. Let’s make sure that we’re not violating people’s Fourth Amendment rights. And let’s also make sure that we’re getting the data back to make sure this is actually a viable company.”

No members of council who voted for the contract spoke Monday during the meeting.

Mayor Colvin also did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press about his support of the ShotSpotter contract.

At the August meeting, Colvin said the technology would give the city “an extra tool in the tool belt” to stop gun violence.

It’s hurricane season, and with it comes the potential for severe weather in North Carolina. It’s also the time of year that gray squirrels, North Carolina’s state mammal, are raising their second brood of the year.

Storms that produce high winds and heavy rain, as well as tree-cutting and trimming activity, can lead to young squirrels and their nests falling out of high perches. When this happens, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission receives an influx of reports from concerned citizens who have found grounded young squirrels and want to know how to help.

“A good practice is not to assume immediate intervention is the best way to help,” explains Falyn Owens, extension biologist for the Wildlife Commission. “Pausing long enough to consult a wildlife professional before moving or caring for the animal can greatly increase its chance of survival.”

A directory of licensed wildlife rehabilitators who specialize in caring for injured or orphaned wildlife can be found on the Wildlife Commission website. These professionals help people take the right action in a wildlife encounter, including when it’s best not to intervene. When it comes to a young squirrel that has fallen out of the nest, they’ll usually recommend allowing some time for the mother to retrieve it.

“Humans simply are not as good at taking care of young wildlife as their mothers and not all young animals found by themselves have been abandoned,” stated Owens.

She described that when a squirrel’s nest is disturbed and the young fall out, the female works as fast as she can to find her young and carry them back to the nest. If the nest is destroyed, she’ll build a new nest first, then bring them to the new nest. If a young squirrel is removed from the area before the female retrieves it, the chances of it surviving are significantly reduced.
Although people mean well, handling wild animals, particularly very young ones, can do more harm than good — and taking one home is illegal.

“The possession of live, native wildlife is illegal in North Carolina, except particular circumstances that usually require a license or permit,” Owens said. “Despite a person’s best intentions, a wild animal is best left where it was found, or in the hands of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.”

For example, while giving a young animal food or water is often a person’s first instinct, it can be quite harmful and even deadly for the animal if done without proper training. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators have this training and are legally able to take in and care for wildlife so they can successfully be released back into the wild.

If a wildlife rehabilitator doesn’t answer the phone right away, Owens advises to leave them a message rather than calling multiple times. They often have their hands full feeding or checking on the wildlife already in their care and may need a few minutes to get to the phone. When in doubt, even a rehabilitator in another county can provide solid advice on what to do in the short term.

People can also contact the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or hwi@ncwildlife.org for advice on how to help injured or orphaned wildlife, handle wildlife conflict issues and more. Helpline hours are Monday — Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on gray squirrels visit www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Gray-Squirrel.

The North Carolina of my childhood had an economy very different from that of the average state. Today our economy remains distinctive, though not by as much.

When I started my first paid job in 1979 — teaching four-year-olds how to tap dance — manufacturing accounted for fully a third of North Carolina’s gross domestic product, 10 points higher than the national average of 23%. On the other hand, our financial sector had not yet vaulted into national significance. Banking, insurance, and real estate accounted for 11% of North Carolina’s GDP in 1979, vs. the national average of 15%.

Forty years later, in 2019, our state’s manufacturing base was still larger than that of the average state: 16% vs. 11%. (That’s the last year for which a clean comparison is possible. The onset of COVID skewed the 2020 figures, and we don’t yet have granular data for 2021.)

If you work out the ratios, you’ll see that the relative contribution of manufacturing to GDP in North Carolina and in the nation as a whole didn’t change much during this period. But the actual shares of GDP are much lower. That’s not because manufacturing cratered. Output went up significantly. In inflation-adjusted terms, the output of manufacturing businesses in North Carolina was about $64 billion in 1979. It was $98 billion in 2019.

What really happened is that service industries exploded. Look at the aforementioned financial sector. Banking, insurance, and real estate now account for 21% of the country’s GDP. North Carolina’s overall proportion is the same, while our banking share is a bit higher than the national average.

To broaden the story a bit, North Carolina is more populous and prosperous than it was back when I was attempting to corral the rambunctious preschoolers sliding across my dance floor. In 1979, some 5.8 million lived in the Tar Heel State. Their average personal income was an inflation-adjusted $26,665. By 2019, our population totaled 10.5 million and personal income averaged $48,261. Over those four decades, then,

North Carolina’s per-capita income rose about 81% in real terms, somewhat outpacing the regional (77%) and national (71%) averages.
I think these statistics are useful for level-setting. They are difficult to square with the extreme claims of partisan activists, professional boosters, or professional worrywarts.

For example, contrary to what you may have heard, North Carolina has not seen its manufacturing base disappear, or the formerly sunny prospects of its “working people” fade into a depressing dusk. These are gross exaggerations. Mainstay industries such as textile, apparel, and furniture did shed lots of employees — primarily because of technology-fueled gains in productivity, not trade deals — but other manufacturing enterprises began or expanded in our state during the same period, as did many other sectors that hire many people to make, sell, or deliver many wonderful goods and services.

On the other hand, it is also true that North Carolina has not always outperformed the rest of the Southeast or United States over the past 40 years. It is true that some communities and groups within our state are clearly struggling to make ends meet. It is true that North Carolina’s progress remains hampered by a long list of problems that can sometimes seem intractable. These problems include educational deficits, infrastructure woes, legal and regulatory impediments, declines in family formation, increases in violent crime, and rampant substance abuse.

Some of these problems are worse than they were back then. Some are better. When I was a teenager of modest means in 1979, however, I was largely unaware of broader social conditions. I thought primarily, and optimistically, about my own future and that of my peers. I figured we’d live more comfortable lives than our parents or grandparents had. I figured I’d find a fulfilling career that paid enough to support my future family (though even then I suspected that career might not be tap dancing). For the most part, I figured correctly.

Are today’s teenagers so optimistic? Should they be?

What would you do with an extra $700 in your pocket each month?

This is the question families across our nation should be asking, as the highest inflation in four decades is costing the average household an estimated extra $717 each month compared to January 2021.

As I travel across our region, I constantly hear how this inflation crisis has impacted every community and every part of our lives. Just last month, grocery prices spiked at their fastest pace since 1979. Household electricity prices are up nearly 16% from one year ago. And the average price of gas remains close to $3.80 a gallon, up from $2.38 on President Joe Biden’s first day in office. I am really concerned too about increased costs to heat your home this winter — especially for folks on a fixed income.

These economic challenges have been primarily driven by out-of-control spending in Washington and the Left’s war on American energy production and jobs. The consequences of these actions are forcing families to make hard decisions around the kitchen table.

Yet, the challenges facing you and our nation unfortunately do not stop there.

At our border, roughly 5 million illegal immigrants, including nearly 80 people on the terrorist watchlist, have crossed since President Biden took office and stopped deportations, the wall, and the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. In August alone, more than 203,000 migrants crossed — almost the entire population of the city of Fayetteville.

This border crisis is a threat to every community, especially through the increased flow of deadly drugs.

Due in part to record amounts of fentanyl crossing our border, overdose deaths hit an all-time high last year, becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.

North Carolina alone had 3,759 deaths from opioid overdoses. This includes 183 in Cumberland County — 100 more than in 2019.

On top of this, our communities continue to be plagued by a rise in violent crime. National homicide and aggravated assault rates have risen roughly 50% and 36% respectively, compared to this time in 2019.

Tragically, these come as intentional killings of law enforcement have reached a 20-year high.

Under one-party rule in Washington, it is clear that America’s economy, safety, freedom and strength are all under threat like never before.

I have opposed Washington Democrats’ agenda which will only worsen these crises, such as their so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ that will raise your taxes and hire 87,000 more IRS agents to come after you.

Washington Democrats are ignoring the crises they have helped create and don’t have a plan to fix them. House Republicans, however, have a plan.

Called our “Commitment to America,” House Republicans have recently released a detailed plan to take our country in a new direction and establish a future of security, freedom and prosperity for you and your family. You can read our plan at CommitmentToAmerica.com.

First, we have a plan to create an economy that’s strong. The economy remains the most pressing issue facing families across this country. We are committed to getting it back on track by curbing reckless spending, making America energy independent again, and creating an economic environment that encourages growth, job creation, and lower costs.

This involves bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and standing up to adversaries like China that feel emboldened after last year’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

We also have a plan for a nation that’s safe. We will work to tackle the crime wave plaguing our communities by rejecting anti-police and soft-on-crime agendas. Our plan hires an additional 200,000 police officers and gives law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.

We will also work to secure our border and stop the flow of fentanyl through proven measures such as ‘Remain in Mexico,’ finishing the wall, and by implementing my HALT Fentanyl Act.

Finally, we are committed to keeping our nation safe by supporting our troops and their families.

We also have a plan to secure a future built on freedom. This means giving you control of what happens in your kids’ school and confronting big tech censorship.

It also means personalizing your health care to provide affordable options and better quality.

In Congress, I have helped move us in the right direction by voting to cap insulin costs at $35 and advancing my bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act, critical legislation to expand access in rural and underserved communities.

Finally, we have a plan to build a government that’s accountable. This starts by standing up for your God-given rights like life, and the First and Second Amendments. It also means making sure the government in Washington fulfills its obligations to you through oversight and transparency.

It is an honor to serve you, Fort Bragg, and our community. In Congress, I have always sought to work across the aisle on commonsense solutions to the problems facing you and your family.

However, it is clear that two years of one-party rule in Washington have put our economy, safety, and prosperity — as well as an extra $700 a month — in peril.
Instead of electing more rubber stamps for President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the choice this November is simple: If you want an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable — then we Republicans are prepared to deliver on our Commitment to America.

Will you join us? 

Editor's note: Rep. Richard Hudson is serving his fifth term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in House leadership as the Republican Conference Secretary.
Rep. Hudson grew up in Charlotte, graduated from Myers Park High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
He and his family live in Moore County.

Walmart is hosting a Driver Open House event across the country and hiring up to 8 CDL-A drivers in the Hope Mills area.

Each year, Walmart’s nearly 13,000 drivers travel over 900 million miles and deliver millions of cases of merchandise to 4,700 Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the nation — all while remaining one of the largest and safest fleets on the road.

Walmart truck driving jobs are considered among the best in the industry, and the company is recruiting the best and safest drivers to join its team as the business continues to grow.
Across the country, Walmart is planning on growing its private fleet, which includes 8 drivers in Hope Mills.

While there are different factors that make up a driver’s pay, new drivers can earn up to $110,000. Drivers also have access to company benefits on day one and can earn as much as 21 days of paid time off in their first year.

To drive for Walmart, a commercial driver must have at least 30 months of full-time experience with no serious traffic violations in the last four years.
Walmart benefits also include medical coverage, a 401(k) match, an associate stock purchase match, paid maternity and parental leave, various associate discounts and no-cost college, with Walmart paying for 100% of the cost of college tuition and books through its Live Better U program.

The Open House will give people a chance to learn about driving jobs with Walmart, information on pay and benefits offerings, meeting local management, touring offices/shop and checking our equipment and asking current drivers about their careers with Walmart.

OPEN HOUSE DETAILS:

Interested CDL-A drivers are invited to attend the open house Oct. 3 – 7: Monday/Wednesday/Friday in person from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. On Tuesday, a virtual event will be held at 8 a.m. On Thursday, the virtual event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at 1057 Sand Hill Road in Hope Mills. The job fair will be on-site. Applicants can register at wmtcareers.com/drivers.
To learn more visit www.drive4walmart.com.

I support Vote Yes Fayetteville because this structure change would give every citizen more voice in our city council with six council members accountable to them versus just the current two.

I served on City Council under both structures as an at-large and district representative, like most of the major cities in North Carolina. During my service when the council had at-large seats as part of the structure, I saw that the major issues of the city were given adequate attention.

While serving as a district representative, I witnessed continued infighting over what benefited the elected person’s district and less attention to the big picture.

For example, it took over eight years to get the Parks & Recreation bond to a vote while we argued over which district received what new facilities.

Even today, commitments made to District 2, like the Fields Road Park and the Cape Fear River Park, remain undone because money gets moved to other districts.

We were never able to fully fund stormwater to protect our most exposed citizens from the next flood because flooding only threatens a few districts but is costly to everyone.

Our major gateway to Fort Bragg continues to include the Shaw Heights blight because of City Council’s unwillingness to spend the funds to address this citywide issue.

Our community has changed over the years. There are 38% more Black voters than white in Fayetteville today. Both Blacks and whites have a similar voter turnout, and Black candidates continue to be elected in many at-large seats, including the fact that two of our last four mayors were Black.

I served alongside Marshall Pitts, who was first elected at-large and then became mayor.

We have tried the current model for over 20 years and can clearly see that Fayetteville is not keeping up with the rest of the state.

Our growth rate is lower than NC’s other major cities while our crime and poverty rates are higher.

We should recognize that the progressive cities in our state use a model that provides more representation for every citizen and more balanced attention to city-wide issues.

Most recently, we have seen our mayor and some council members spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to keep this referendum off the ballot. They were unsuccessful as the courts ordered the referendum be placed on the ballot and citizens be given the right to vote.

I encourage each of you to support this Charter Amendment and to Vote Yes Fayetteville on Nov. 8 to provide for more representation on our City Council.

More representation. Not less.

Editor's note: Bobby Hurst served on Fayetteville City Council from 2007 - 2017.

The Cumberland Choral Arts season is kicking off with a theme of “Connections.” Throughout the 2022-2023 season, the CCA will be making connections with their audiences, community and businesses.

To kick off the season, CCA will be performing “The Sacred Veil,” a 12-movement work and the most recent collaboration between Eric Whitacre and poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri. It tells a story of life, love and loss. The piece was inspired by Silvestri's wife, Julie, who died of ovarian cancer at age 36.

Dr. Michael Martin, the Artistic Director for the CCA, chose the piece because of its ties to cancer and because October is Cancer Awareness Month.

“So Eric Whitacre set in motion the idea of writing music to some of her blog posts, to the poetry that her husband wrote to try and cope with her passing and kind of put it together,” Martin said. “The best way to describe it is like a modern requiem to a person who passed of cancer. And it just seemed like the most appropriate type of music to dig into for cancer awareness.”

The choral piece will be backed by cellist Paul Kirkpatrick who has worked with the CCA before.
Martin did say that this piece may not be fully appropriate for children, but do bring a pack of tissues.

“Be prepared. It's something relatively very new. It's not the kind of thing where you're going to be able to stand up and start dancing to this kind of thing. I mean, some choral music is great and it's uplifting and it's very rhythmic. And then there's some that pay tribute to people and can be quite moving. This is certainly that kind,” Martin said.

In honor of the music and its inspiration, Cumberland Choral Arts decided to partner with local health organizations to host CHOOSE HEALTH, a free community health and wellness event on the same day as the concert.

Kathy Thaman, the event coordinator of the CHOOSE HEALTH event, says that they hope to get a great turnout for the event.

“We really want more connection with our community. We want our choir there to look like our community. Come for the health fair, get all those services for free. Find out more about our organization and consider joining us,” Thaman said.

This event will offer activities and health information for all age groups. Partners include Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center, Better Health, the Care Clinic, Fit 4 Life, Guiding Wellness Institute, Earth Monkey Energies, and more.

There will be opportunities to donate blood through the Cape Fear Blood Mobile, attend free Qigong (a type of Tai Chi), Chair Yoga and Mat Yoga classes, make a ribbon in honor or memory of a cancer patient, win a free Reiki session, and get healthy snacks for the kids.

The health event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 1601 Raeford Road on Saturday, Oct. 15.

“The Sacred Veil” will be performed that night at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and students with ID.

Tickets can be purchased at cumberlandchoralarts.org, through their Facebook page, or at the venue beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

The Sandhills Orchid Society is open to people who love orchids and enjoy growing them. Whether you just bought your first orchid and have no idea how to care for it, or you are a seasoned grower, SOS offers something for everyone. The club strives to facilitate the understanding of orchids and their care and provide opportunities to meet other people with similar interests. Anyone interested is welcome to attend as a guest.

The club was formed by Southern Pines resident Jack Webster, a man who had lived in South America for several years and had developed an encyclopedic knowledge of the many species found in that area. Passionate about teaching others about growing orchids, Jack mentored novices and experienced growers alike and eventually brought a group of enthusiasts together into a vibrant, active organization dedicated to the spread of information about orchids.

Today, the Society meets monthly on the Tuesday following the second Monday of the month. Most meetings feature a guest speaker with expertise with a specific type of orchid. Presentations focus on the “how to” for these specific plants. This year, our speakers will come from New Mexico, California, Montana and South Carolina. Generally, the speakers bring plants related to their specialties which Society members can purchase.

Monthly meetings also feature the Show Table — a space made up of blooming orchids that members bring to the meeting to share their successes. As many orchid growers strive to grow bigger and better plants, their competitive spirits are recognized when our guest speakers or experienced club members pick out the outstanding plants in the exhibit. The membership then votes on their favorites from these selected plants and the grower is awarded points towards an annual tally. Members with the most points at the end of the year are rewarded with a monetary award.

Per club bylaws, one of the primary objectives of SOS is to provide education regarding orchids. As part of that mission, the Society hosts an annual Grower’s Day. This year, the one-day tutorial will be held Oct. 22 at our regular meeting place, Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church on Raeford Road. Steve Arthur, an entertaining and charismatic speaker, accredited American Orchid Society judge and a commercial grower is the keynote. He will present a full day of growing information geared to beginners through experienced growers. This annual event, which includes lunch and a blooming plant to take home, also features the raffle of specimen plants.

The most meaningful function of SOS is the mentoring that experienced growers happily provide to less experienced growers. Members are always anxious to show off their personal growing conditions, demonstrate how to repot orchids or simply answer questions about growing conditions for a specific type of orchid. Orchid enthusiasts of all levels of expertise bond and connect through this ethos of mentoring and sharing.

There is always something new to learn at every meeting. Join us for a meeting or the annual fall Grower’s Day and learn more about the Sandhills Orchid Society. We promise you a blooming good time!
Editor's note: A version of this article first ran in the September issue of Women's View Magazine.