The sights and sounds of Independence Day are senses embedded in the collective memory of almost every American.

Nearly every lawn and business is draped in red, white and blue, and the last patriotic notes of "Stars and Stripes Forever" follow around every corner.

The Fourth of July isn't just a holiday — it's a feeling. What better way to celebrate that feeling than with good music, good food and good company?

The City of Fayetteville, The Sandhill Jazz Society and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra invite the entire community to join them for their Independence Concert at Festival Park on Monday, July 4.

"Everyone should come!" Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Community Engagement Manager Anna Meyer told Up & Coming Weekly. "It's a nice community event."
The concert gates open at 4 p.m., and attendees can make their way to various food trucks to address those Fourth of July cravings. Beer and wine will also be available, and local vendors will be on-site with crafts and goods to sell.

The Independence Concert is a family-friendly event. There will be a kid's area with free bounce house admission for the day's littlest patriots.

After remarks from Mayor Mitch Colvin, the epic concert will begin at 7 p.m., and the lineup is truly spectacular.

The Fayetteville Symphonic Band will kick the night off with the National Anthem and play a set for about 30 minutes.

Immediately following, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will play a mix of fan favorites, such as a reprise of "Bohemian Rhapsody," music from their upcoming season and traditional American standards.
Another treat for guests this year is the heavy emphasis on different musical styles. Audience members will have a chance to experience Black Seed ft. Von Demetriz and Grammy-award-winning contemporary jazz musician Norman Brown up on the Festival Park stage.
Meyer feels the exposure to various music styles makes this concert so special and exciting.

"I think the variety of music is really interesting," she said. "I'm excited to share all of these artists, and it's a great way for the community to see different acts in one place, and it's free."

The night will conclude with a fireworks display around 10 p.m., which, Myers admits, is her favorite part of the Fourth of July.

"I personally love fireworks," Meyer said. "I think they are so beautiful. I also love how this holiday brings people together. I've always loved participating in the Fourth of July, and I love when people are brought together for a particular reason — the Fourth is a good time for that."

The event is rain or shine, and while historically, outside food and beverage have been allowed, this year begins a break from that practice.

This year, no outside food, drink, canopies or tents will be permitted. Service animals are, of course, welcome.

The event is sponsored by the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, and Cumberland County Parks and Recreation and is free to the public.

Festival Park is located at 335 Ray Avenue in Fayetteville.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/478739547342426/.

With temperatures and prices soaring this summer season — families across Cumberland County are looking for ways to beat the heat without emptying their wallets.

Parents looking for endless hours of entertainment in a safe, air-conditioned environment need look no further than their local library.

A part of the American landscape since the mid-18th century, libraries are as familiar in the scenery of everyday life as grocery stores, schools and churches. It's rare to meet someone who's never set foot in one.

That said, as the needs of the community shift and technologies become ever more advanced, the 21st-Century library offers a whole lot more than books.

Cumberland County Libraries is determined to meet those ever-evolving demands with thoughtful action, varied programming and an eye toward the future.

As the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by population, the library system of Cumberland County has developed a space that offers something for just about everyone.
Though it's far more likely to see a phone in the average passerby's hand than a book, Faith Philips, director of Cumberland County Public Library, feels the value of a thriving library is just as relevant today as it's ever been.

"Our library is a place for everyone to come and discover and explore," Phillips explained. "We want them to develop their interests and renew their passions. Be it knitting or STEM; we want people to come and connect.

We have a wide variety of programs for everyone in the community, and we want to offer them dynamic experiences."

With that in mind, the library offers a vibrant summer programming schedule that serves not only young children but teens, adults and seniors.

Right now, all age groups are encouraged to participate in the summer reading program, "Oceans of Possibility," for an opportunity to play games and win prizes.

Little ones in the community can also look forward to regularly scheduled story times across all eight branches, a visit from the North Carolina Aquarium and a presentation by Didgeridoo Down Under, to name just a few.
As teens become increasingly dependent on their phones, Cumberland County Library aims to address the needs of that demographic with programs that speak to their interests.

"We're really evaluating services for our teens," Phillips said. "After reviewing a community needs assessment in 2020, we found a growth opportunity in expanding our teen programs."

There are several book, gaming, special interest and culture clubs that meet where teens can make connections among like-minded peers.
Adults can also take advantage of all the library has to offer. There are meetings for crafters, readers, writers and even a Job Search Boot Camp, which helps with resume writing and interview skill throughout the year.
The library also keeps the whole family in mind with programs that invite togetherness and quality time well-spent. Movie nights and a family camping skills program are just a few of the events to jot down on the family calendar.

In addition to all of the exciting plans in place, the library has its thoughts firmly on the future as well.

"I'm excited to talk about our grant," Philips told Up & Coming Weekly. "It's a grant to improve our capacity for programming and spaces. Over the next two years, we'll also be transforming many of the campuses, particularly here at headquarters. We'll focus on more interactive spaces such as light walls and bring in 3-D printers, laser cutters and a creation station for content creators. We're just so excited about all the cool and innovative things to come."

Phillips, who's been the library director for a little over a year, is incredibly passionate about serving the community through this role and empowering its citizens to become whoever they want to be and have the ability to do whatever it is they want to do.

"I want to give back to the community through the library. We want to have safe places for people to connect, renew and explore. Serving the community where I live means a lot to me, and we're so lucky to have such a great system in place."

In her role as director, Philips is also very committed to meeting people of the community "where they are." The library has a dedicated community engagement division and mobile outreach services for homebound customers who can't make it to the library. Even those in Godwin, a town furthest from the library and its services in Cumberland County, will have access to a library locker in their town hall which will allow people of the community to check out and return books without having to travel too far.

As the digital landscape changes, making internet resources available and useful to as many citizens as possible is another role and responsibility the library has taken on.

"One thing that COVID has shown us is the digital inequities in our community. A person can check out a laptop or hotspot, but if they don't have the confidence to navigate that ecosystem — those tools are useless. Our Digital Navigator Team helps with digital literacy to promote digital equity."

With branches in Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills, the library is a fabulous resource for entertainment, self-improvement, and networking. It's one of the few spaces left where you can walk in with nothing and leave with the world — just don't forget the library card.

To learn more about programs and events, visit the library website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.

Six new district-level administrators will help lead Cumberland County Schools in new roles for the coming school year.

The Board of Education approved the appointments on the recommendation of Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr., according to a school system news release.
Their appointments follow the retirements of five associate superintendents this summer.

The new leaders are:

• Jane Fields, associate superintendent of school support. Fields joined the district in 1996 as a social studies teacher at Douglas Byrd High School. She received her master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University, then earned an education specialist degree in 2013 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2016 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She most recently was CCS assistant superintendent of K-12 curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent of secondary education.
• Jay Toland, associate superintendent of business operations. Toland most recently was assistant city manager and chief financial officer for the city of Fayetteville. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2007 and has worked in the Sandhills area since 2001. Toland previously was assistant finance officer for the Hoke County Board of Education and chief financial officer for the Scotland County Board of Education.
• Melody Chalmers McClain, associate superintendent of student support services. McClain, who joined CCS in 2004, earned her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. In 2018, she was named assistant superintendent of transformation and strategic initiatives. She was previously and is currently a member of the N.C. Principals Advisory Council; the board of the N.C. Association of Principals and Assistant Principals; and the Governor’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education.
• Kevin Coleman, associate superintendent of auxiliary services. Coleman joined CCS in 1997 as a teacher at Rockfish Elementary School and became assistant principal at Bill Hefner Elementary School. He earned his master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. As CCS executive director of technology when the COVID-19 pandemic led to expanded remote learning, Coleman led implementation of student and teacher support initiatives.
• Kimberly Nash, executive director of data and accountability. Nash joined CCS in 1994 as a mathematics teacher at Terry Sanford High School. She earned her master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2009 before becoming assistant principal at Gray’s Creek High School. Most recently, Nash was the coordinator of CCS’ secondary curriculum and instruction services programs.
• Maria Pierce-Ford, executive director of federal programs. Having joined CCS in 1994, she was a biology teacher at Westover High School and E.E. Smith High School, then assistant principal at John Griffin Middle School. Pierce-Ford earned her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2006. Over 13 years, she was principal at several schools, then was named Title I coordinator of federal programs. She is a member of the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators and National Alliance of Black School Educators.

Discussion of a plan to restructure the way Fayetteville City Council members are elected has been removed from the agenda for Monday’s (June 27) council meeting.

The proposal, which supporters hope will be put to voters in a November referendum, calls for five single-district seats on the council, four members elected at large, and the mayor elected at large.

Currently, the mayor is elected citywide, and all nine council members are elected by district.

Proponents of the new plan say it will give voters more representation on the City Council because each voter would help choose the mayor, four at-large council members, and a district representative.

Mayor Mitch Colvin and others who oppose the plan say it would dilute representation by increasing the size of the districts.

“I have served as both a district representative and mayor, and I believe the district representative model provides focus on the specific issues of the district’s residents,” Colvin told CityView TODAY earlier this month. “It’s impractical to believe we obtain higher-quality education by increasing the size of the classroom.

This is the same concept of the Vote Yes (plan).”

Vote Yes Fayetteville is an organization that supports the new plan. Tony Chavonne, publisher of CityView TODAY, is one of several former council members who started the Vote Yes initiative.

No matter when the issue is discussed by the council, Colvin said it will end up before voters in a referendum.

“So, at the end of the day, the voters are going to decide whether to approve this or not. That’s not a political matter,” Colvin said Thursday. “The statute is pretty clear, and it says the council will do it. We’re in compliance as far as I know.”

Originally, the matter was on the City Council’s agenda for Monday the last regular meeting until August, said City Clerk Pamela Megill.
Megill said City Attorney Karen McDonald emailed her on Wednesday, June 22, and asked her to pull it from Monday’s agenda and switch it to the Aug. 8 meeting.

On Friday afternoon, McDonald said she didn't think it would be accurate to say the issue was on Monday’s agenda. She said the city manager, city clerk and city attorney evaluate what will go on the meeting agenda and determine what should be taken up at a later date.

“There are a number of items on the agenda,” McDonald said. “The decision was made to not put it on the agenda and put it on a later agenda. It’s just a matter (that the agenda) was packed, and there were a couple of things that had to go on this agenda. We’re trying to balance the agenda to priorities — what had to go versus what goes another time."

Freddie Delacruz, Colvin’s challenger for reelection as mayor, said he heard it was the mayor's decision to remove the issue from Monday’s agenda
McDonald said Colvin was not involved in that decision and dismissed the notion that it is related to the upcoming election.
The municipal election and runoff primary are set for July 26.

“I don't necessarily characterize it like that," McDonald said. "As we look at the agenda, it's really what I would call a group decision — the clerk, the manager and I."

Megill said pulling items from the City Council agenda “happens all the time.”

Colvin said he does not think the closeness of the election had anything to do with changing Monday’s agenda.
A petition calling for a referendum on the new voting plan received the necessary 5,000 signatures of registered city voters, meaning the referendum could be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Angie Amaro, interim director of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, notified the city that the petition has enough signatures.
Amaro said Thursday that the last she heard was that the matter would be on Monday’s council agenda.

Should a decision not be made until August, Amaro said, there would still by ample time to put a referendum on the November ballot.

“Because the filing for Board of Education doesn’t end until August,” she noted. “You can’t do ballots until all the filing is completed.”

But the City Council must pass a resolution to put the question on the November ballot if one is to be held.
Vote Yes Fayetteville says on its website that the new structure would give voters six council members who would be directly responsible to them versus the current two.

“Most cities in North Carolina have some number of at-large members of their council structure, including nine of the state’s 12 largest cities,” the Vote Yes website says.

Other elected boards, including the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education and the town boards of Hope Mills and Spring Lake, all have at-large representatives, the website notes. That provides more accountability, it adds.

The mayor’s challenger, Delacruz, said he helped push the Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative, convincing 50 people to sign the petition.

“It all boils down to: Do you want six people representing you on City Council or do you want two? It's a no-brainer,” he said. “People read into it like it's some

kind of conspiracy going on. It's equal on both sides.

"It actually streamlines the districts better," he said. "That's really the bottom line."

The Fayetteville City Council on June 27, is scheduled to discuss projects that would be part of a proposed $97 million bond package to put before voters in November.

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall. It will be its final regular monthly meeting until Aug. 8. A work session is scheduled for earlier that month.

The City Council will consider an order authorizing $60 million in public safety improvement bonds; $25 million in streets, sidewalk and connectivity bonds; and $12 million in housing project bonds, according to agenda materials from the city.

During a council agenda briefing on Wednesday, June 22, City Manager Doug Hewett called the referendum on the bond packages “a significant item.”

Two days later, he said through a city spokeswoman: "The proposed $97 million bond, if approved by voters in November, would allow for significant investments in Fayetteville's infrastructure and operations. The funding could pave the way for the city to pursue key projects in public safety, public infrastructure and housing affordability. Progress made across all three areas has the potential to improve the quality of life for residents by addressing needs directly related to safety and security."

According to information in the agenda packet, the $60 million for public safety improvements would be used to acquire, construct and equip various law enforcement and firefighting facilities.

The $25 million for streets, sidewalk and connectivity improvements would be used for street, road, mobility, sidewalk and streetscape improvements, bridges, bicycle lanes, curbs and drains, traffic controls and greenways, the agenda materials say.

The $12 million in housing bonds would be used for community development programs “to provide and rehabilitate multifamily and single-family housing inside the corporate limits of the city, principally for the benefit of persons of low- and moderate-income’’ the agenda materials say. This would include programs to provide loans or other financial assistance to people and private housing providers.

The City Council on Monday will consider the adoption of the bond orders. A public hearing on the proposed bond orders is expected to be scheduled for Aug. 8, which is also when a resolution calling for a bond referendum would be considered, according to materials in the agenda packet.

Should the bonds be approved by voters, an increase in the property tax rate would be needed to repay the bonds in future budgets. However, the city has said that would not be in the fiscal 2022-23 budget just approved by City Council.

Hewett has said the coming months will prove significant for the city’s progress as several key projects will be completed. That includes moving forward on the proposed $97 million bond referendum.

“I am excited about the direction we are collectively making as a city," he has said, "and the impact that will have for our residents."

The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating a shooting Sunday afternoon that left one man dead.

Officers were dispatched at 12:17 p.m. to the 1600 block of Veanna Drive in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, police said in a release.

Douglas Mangum, 30, had been shot in the upper torso, police said. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries, the release said. His next of kin has been notified.

Members of the Homicide Unit are investigating.

Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact Detective T. Kiger at 910-705-6527 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen is expected to endorse the proposed town budget on Monday night, June 27, ahead of the Local Government Commission’s adoption this week.

The Local Government Commission last year took control of Spring Lake’s finances. The commission had warned town leaders about long-standing financial disarray, concerns about potential budget deficits and investigations into missing money.

The commission staff put together the proposed budget. The commission and the Board of Aldermen held a joint public hearing on the proposed budget earlier this month.

The $13.3 million proposed budget keeps the property tax rate unchanged at 70 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for town employees. Water rates are expected to be raised by 14% and sewer rates by 5%.

Also on Monday, the board is expected to receive a financial statement through May from interim Town Manager Joe Durham.

According to the Local Government Commission comments submitted with the financial summary report for Monday, the town’s general fund is reporting positive revenue over expenditures, and the town was praised for exercising good budget discipline.

Susan McCullen, director of the fiscal management section of the State and Local Government Finance Division, said there was concern that the general fund will show a negative fund balance. That cannot be confirmed, however, until the audit is completed by June 30.

“The audit will document the state of the fund balance. If there is a deficit, N.C. general statutes require any deficit to be eliminated in the budget,” McCullen said.

The board also will consider a special-use permit to allow nonprofit activities, a farmer’s market and historic exhibits as part of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association at 230 Chapel Hill Road.

The Sandhills Family Heritage Association was incorporated in 2001 and the farmer’s market has existed on the site for several years. It is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with local vendors, produce, music and food.

In December, the Sandhills Family Heritage Association received $250,000 to renovate the civic center.

According to the special-use permit to be presented Monday night, the property will be used for nonprofit activities, employ five to seven people and be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The existing building will be renovated and serve as a community resource center with community heritage archives, a warming kitchen, historic exhibits, workshops, office space and room for community events and gatherings.

“Our hope is to renovate the building and the historic site,’’ said Aimee Jenkins, executive director of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association. “The architecture is not significant, but the activities that took place on-site are. We are hoping to get state and national historic recognitions.”

Jenkins said the site is of interest to anyone wanting to know more about rural African-American history and heritage and tours are readily available.

“Our communities worked together and provided farm products to the area. We hope to show those contributions to the state as we have those exhibits at the site,” Jenkins said.

The board also will receive an update from the Audit Committee and hear reports from various board and staff members.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Grady Howard conference room at Town Hall.

Just weeks after a draft option by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked indicating that the high court was prepared to end constitutional protections for abortion, the Supreme Court made the move official and overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Immediately after the ruling North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein took to social media to assure residents in North Carolina that women still have a legal right to abortion in the state:

“I have a message for the women of North Carolina: you still have a legal right to an abortion in our state. North Carolina state law protects women’s reproductive freedoms.

“This is true even after the Supreme Court today stripped women of their right to an abortion under the Constitution by overturning Roe v. Wade. If we want to keep our freedoms under state law, then we have to elect state officials who commit to protecting them.”

Gov. Roy Cooper released a statement saying, “For 50 years, women have relied on their constitutional right to make their own medical decisions, but today that right has been tragically ripped away.

“That means it’s now up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can. I will continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room.”

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis released his own statement saying, “This ruling is historic and monumental and affirms my belief that all life is sacred. Each state government and its duly elected representatives will now make the determination about the types of laws they wish to have in place.

“I, for one, will continue to advocate for commonsense measures that the broad majority of Americans support like protecting life at crucial points of development and prohibiting horrendous procedures like partial-birth and pain-capable abortions. This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for many Americans, and I urge calm and respect for the Court’s decision and hope people who have strong feelings on both sides will voice them peacefully.

Congressman Patrick McHenry, (NC-10) released the following statement:

“I join with millions of Americans applauding the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. It is an important step forward to protect the right to life of the unborn and end the tragedy of abortion.

“Today’s decision also marks a return to our constitutional norm of rights and powers being reserved to the states, and a federal government of limited and enumerated powers.

“Despite today’s win for the most vulnerable among us, more work remains to protect the lives of those who cannot defend themselves.”

Democratic candidate for NC District 11 Jasmine Beach-Ferrara said:

“Even though we knew the decision to overturn Roe was coming, the reality of it is hard to absorb. I feel a mix of anger and sadness. I can’t stop thinking about all of the people whose lives and health are going to be put at serious risk.

“The decision to get an abortion is deeply personal and often difficult, and lawmakers have no right to restrict that choice. The government should not be in the exam room as a person is making a deeply personal choice. Everyone deserves the right to choose, and as a pro-choice pastor, I will be a vote in Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law.

“As I speak with voters across the district, the people of Western North Carolina add their voices to the majority of Americans — there is a fundamental belief that people have a right to privacy and a right to choose

“In America, your rights should not depend on your zip code, and yet that is exactly what today’s ruling means. So many Western North Carolinians, and Americans, have relied on the courts to protect our constitutional rights, and now those rights are under threat. We cannot go backwards. Every race on the ballot matters more than ever now.

“If elected, I will be a vote and a voice in Congress to restore and protect the right to choose, the right to privacy and the right to equal protection.”

Republican candidate for NC District 11 Chuck Edwards said:

“The Supreme Court has now decided that this is a state issue, and I’ll keep working with the North Carolina legislature to ensure that life is protected in our great state.

“I have always been pro-life, I am pro-life today, and I’ll be pro-life tomorrow.”

Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Cheri Beasley said:

“The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and decimate abortion access sets a dangerous legal precedent for our personal freedoms. As the former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court, I know reproductive freedom is a constitutional right.

“Washington has shown they lack the courage to act to protect our freedoms. Everyone deserves the right to make their own health decisions without government interference. As your Senator, I will not hesitate to be the 51st vote to end the filibuster and codify Roe nationwide.”

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Ted Budd said:

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a historic victory for the millions of Americans who believe that every life is precious and deserves protection. And it is a victory for the millions of unborn children who may now realize the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life.

“The Court’s ruling correctly empowers the people’s representatives in each state to decide how best to protect unborn lives. As a conscience-driven pro-life advocate, I will continue to support protections for unborn children everywhere.”

NC House Speaker Tim Moore released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs Ruling:

“Today’s decision from the United States Supreme Court is long overdue and a major win for protecting life! The end of Roe v. Wade rightfully returns authority back to the states to determine abortion law.”

He continued, “While I remain unequivocally pro-life, the short budget adjustment session does not afford us sufficient time to take up the issue. However, North Carolinians can rest assured that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that current restrictions on the books will be enforced. North Carolinians can also expect pro-life protections to be a top priority of the legislature when we return to our normal legislative session in January.”

How we got here
On May 2, the drafted opinion was published in Politico. The opinion was for a case challenging Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” the draft opinion states.

Following the leak of the draft opinion by Justice Alito back in May, gatherings and protests were held across the country including in Western North Carolina.

Hundreds rallied in Asheville and Hendersonville in the days following the draft release.

Detectives with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are asking the public for help in identifying a man who tried to rob a convenience store in Spring Lake earlier this month.

The incident happened just after 12:20 a.m. on June 8 at the Circle K gas station at 2820 Lillington Highway. The Sheriff’s Office said a man entered the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money from the safe and cash register.

“When the suspect discovered that the clerk could not open the safe or cash register, he fled on foot in the direction of McCormick Bridge Rd.,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

The man was wearing a white hooded jacket, black jeans, black and white Van shoes and a black mask, the release said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Lt. J. Woods at 910-677-5511 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be aware of a phone scam.

The scammers are identifying themselves as employees of the Sheriff's Office and telling whoever answers the phone that they have pending charges for missing jury duty, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

The caller tells the person on the phone there is a warrant for his or her arrest. To avoid being arrested, the caller says the person needs to provide personal information and Green Dot prepaid debit cards or gift cards to the caller, the release said.

“Law enforcement will never demand money to avoid an arrest,’’ the release said.

In previous versions of the scam, callers were asking people to purchase gift cards to pay their bonds. The person was asked to send a picture of the gift card with the code on the back to avoid being arrested, the release said.

Now the scammers are asking people to text a picture of their identification card, the release said. Once the scammer receives the picture, the scammer sends a barcode. The barcode allows money to be loaded instantly onto the scammer's prepaid gift card, the release said.

“This new method does not require a picture of a gift card, which previously was an indicator alerting you of the scam,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office warns residents against sending pictures of their identification to people, saying it could lead to identity theft.

Anyone who has information about this scam or who has been a victim should contact Sgt. D. Frankart at 910-677-5565 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

A bill that would require people convicted of domestic violence offenses to provide their DNA to the state passed out of a state Senate committee Wednesday morning.

However, the bill differs from a version of House Bill 674 that passed with near unanimity out of that chamber, which would have required DNA collection upon being charged with assault on a female, a misdemeanor charge often associated with domestic violence.

The change could unnecessarily leave perpetrators of crimes long ago unidentified in communities throughout the state, those in favor of an arrest standard for DNA collection say.

“Research has clearly shown that suspects arrested for domestic violence often cross over and commit other serious offenses, including rape,” said John Somerindyke, a former Fayetteville Police Department lieutenant who led the department’s cold-case special victims unit.

“If this bill passes, cases will slip through the cracks. Violent criminals, including rapists, will continue to prey on victims.”

The revised legislation
Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, said the goal of the revised bill is to capture the DNA of those who commit domestic violence and assault on a child under age 12.

Passing a requirement to collect DNA upon arrest “could put added strain on law enforcement” to collect the DNA and pay for testing without providing the resources to do so, while absent evidence that someone who is charged but not convicted of domestic violence is more likely to commit a sex offense, Britt said.

Britt’s revision of the bill drew applause from the American Civil Liberties Union.

“We have serious privacy concerns with the expansion of mandatory government DNA collection, especially from people who have been arrested and are presumed innocent,” an ACLU spokesperson told Carolina Public Press on Wednesday.

“The amendments to limit the expanded DNA collection to individuals who have been convicted of these charges is a significant improvement; however, we urge further discussion about the privacy issues related to government DNA databases.”

Bill author Rep. Billy Richardson, R-Cumberland, said with the new version of the legislation, law enforcement can seek DNA under what’s called a nontestimonial identification order, and he expects the language of the bill to be amended to reflect this.

However, current state rules on nontestimonial DNA collection say only prosecutors can request the DNA, not law enforcement.

There are more barriers to using a noncustodial identification order, said Jason Arnold, chief assistant district attorney in Western North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District.

“I haven’t needed to do one in about 10 years,” Arnold said. “We do search warrants every day, and because there is a lot of overlap, we typically use those rather than seek noncustodial orders.”

Wouldn’t have helped in dismissed cases
When Somerindyke led the Fayetteville Police Department’s cold-case sexual assault unit, he examined the criminal histories of 28 cold-case suspects of 51 sexual assaults. Of those, 13 DNA-confirmed suspects had prior domestic violence arrests.

Among those cold cases was an assault against a woman named Linda. Nearly 30 years ago, she was taken from her job cleaning offices in Fayetteville by three men who assaulted her and left her for dead in the woods of nearby Harnett County. Her assault was known by the spray-painted phrase on the hood of her white Toyota: “3 Horsemen.”

The state found a match to the DNA in her rape kit after Roy Junior Proctor submitted to DNA collection as a condition of his probation for an unrelated conviction — however, he had been arrested earlier in 2013 for assault on a female.

Proctor wasn’t connected with Linda’s assault then because state law doesn’t require collecting DNA for the 2013 arrest. Ultimately, his charge in that case was dismissed. He currently is awaiting trial in the Cumberland Detention Center for kidnapping, first-degree rape, first-degree attempted murder and other charges related to Linda’s attack.

If the current version of the legislation now before the Senate were in place back in 2013, it’s entirely possible that a DNA match for Linda’s case would not have been detected then, either.

“I can’t believe law enforcement or prosecutors would be on board with this,” Somerindyke said. “There are already dozens of criminal offenses on the books which require DNA collection upon arrest.”

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said the Conference of District Attorneys favored the bill in its original form.

“We still support the bill (of collecting DNA) upon conviction,” West said, although an arrest standard is preferred.

“The victim (of domestic violence) in many cases is reluctant to go forward, and so, an assault on a female charge is going to be dismissed probably more often in other crimes of violence. Therefore, I think it’s important that (DNA should be collected) upon arrest and not just upon conviction, particularly on that charge.”

State law currently does not require DNA collection for arrest for or conviction of assault on a female, assault of a child under 12 or violating a domestic violence order of protection.

“What we’re doing is we’re moving the needle where statistically it has been shown to relate to people who are committing crimes of sexual assault,” Britt said.

Of course, not everyone who commits domestic violence will go on to commit sexual assaults, West said. “There is a correlation, in some cases and in some relationships, of an escalation of violence to include sexual assault.”

North Carolina already collects DNA upon arrest for more than a dozen other crimes, including murder, various maiming offenses, felony assaults and many other felonies. The current state law also says the state must destroy the DNA if the accused is acquitted, if the charges have been dismissed or if there’s no conviction or active prosecution.

Attorney General Josh Stein’s office said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “The Senate’s version of the bill is an improvement to our current DNA collection laws by adding the DNA of thousands of people convicted of certain crimes to our database.

“That said, we’d like to continue working to strengthen protections against sexual assault even further by supporting proposals to collect DNA upon arrest for these crimes. Doing so will make our communities safer.”

Deanne Gerdes, executive director for Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, was far blunter.

“If, in fact, it passes with these changes, legislators totally missed the point on why this is needed and once again have told women in our state they just are not very important,” Gerdes said.

“North Carolina had a chance to change all of this. Instead, they continue to let rapists roam among us.”

Britt said the state Senate could vote on the amended bill as early as Thursday. If it passes, the bill would have to return to the state House for a concurrence vote.

Fayetteville’s city manager and city attorney will get pay raises after job performance evaluations by the City Council.

After evaluations discussed in closed session on Wednesday night, the council retained City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald.
The closed session followed a meeting that included an agenda briefing for Monday’s regular council meeting at City Hall.
Hewett received a 2% pay increase while McDonald got a 3% increase, according to a city official.

“I appreciate council's feedback on our efforts and their continued support in moving Fayetteville forward,” Hewett said in an email.

“The coming months will prove significant for our city’s progress as several key projects will be completed,” he said. “And we will be moving forward the proposed $97 million bond referendum. I am excited about the direction in which we are collectively headed as a city and the impact that will have for our residents.”

During the agenda briefing, the council heard presentations on three zoning requests by Gerald Newton, director of development services, and Craig Harmon, a senior planner for the city.

Presentations on these three requests will be given again Monday evening. Monday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

A public hearing is scheduled on each request.

The first request is for rezoning 16½ acres for a grocery store and outparcels in the Gates Four community.

The second is for 5 acres and infrastructure on property between Kings Grant and Liberty Hills, according to Newton. Currently, that property is designated for stormwater management.

The third annexation request is for about 84 acres that would go from residential to a heavy industrial zoning.

That property is on North Plymouth Street where the old Soffe textile plant was in an area zoned for industry.

“They want to turn the area into an industrial park,” said Newton.

Also Monday, code enforcement supervisor Dereke Planter will discuss four properties that the city wants to demolish because the properties have been neglected. The properties are at 862 W. Orange St., 912 Ramsey St., 837 Varsity Drive and 308 Preston Ave.

Hewett said another significant item on Monday’s agenda is a referendum on bond packages that would authorize $60 million for public safety improvement; $25 million for street, sidewalk and connectivity improvements; and $12 million for housing projects.

Fayetteville’s public utility is considering changes to its rate structure to encourage conservation of electricity as well as economic development.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission met Wednesday to discuss proposed electric rate options that would take effect after 2024.

“We conduct biennial reviews of our electric and our water system,” said Elaina Ball, the utility’s CEO and general manager, who presented staff recommendations on electric rates to the commission.

Over the past several months, Ball said, the utility’s staff has been reviewing electricity costs. On Wednesday, she presented the recommendations of that review to the commission, which include no change in electric rates at this time.

No action was taken by the board after the presentation, but a public hearing on the proposed new electric rates was set for July 13.
Ball said the proposed rate changes will be discussed further at upcoming PWC meetings.

“The changes that we’re recommending – the new additions and updates to our tariffs – are really in support of three of our key areas in our strategic plan,” she said. “No. 1 is conservation. You’ve heard me talk and the team talk – probably exhaustively – about the single-largest tool in our tool bag to help control electric costs. … So we have some changes specifically aligned to conservation and the ability to control demand.”

One proposed initiative would be a rate tied to economic development designed to attract new businesses and help existing ones expand. The rate would be offered beginning this September.

Other updated rates would address periods of higher and periods when PWC pays the highest amount for electricity from Duke Energy.
A solar buyback rate would be applicable to customers who install rooftop solar panels. This structure, which has required two meters in the past, would require only one in the future.

The solar panels could power a customer’s home or business, said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, spokeswoman for PWC.

“The provision in this rate is that customers can do this but the credits they receive can never exceed their basic facility charge,” Justice-Hinson said. “It does allow them to have a model that’s more popular for those who want solar and how they get credit for rooftop solar.”

The staff also is proposing a whole-home rate option intended to help customers who charge electric vehicles at home.

“There’s a concern that electric vehicles can have an impact on the electric grid,” Justice-Hinson explained. “If they charge (vehicles) during off hours, it will help.

The basic facility charge would be about $10 higher than the regular electric customer’s.”
Customers paying the whole-home rate would use electricity mostly during what PWC is calling a super off-peak period – between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

During those hours, Justice-Hinson said, the cost is a little over 4 cents per kilowatt hour. The cost during peak hours is about 13.2 cents and during off-peak hours, 8.4 cents.
The whole-home rate would go into effect in February 2023.

CEO Ball said PWC customers have requested many of the changes.

“We’re really trying to make our tariffs more friendly and listen to our customers and make the changes accordingly,” she said.
Other proposed changes to the PWC rate structure include fee reductions for connections, reconnections and meter testing and provisions on cross connections and water shortages.

As recommended, the initial connection fee would drop from $22 to $20; the initial connection fee after hours would decrease from $65 to $20; the disconnection attempt fee would drop from $22 to $20; the meter testing fee for electricity would go from $50 to $25; and the meter testing fee for water would fall from $85 to $40.

While the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners was being briefed by county staff on the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory for GenX, the company responsible for discharging the chemical pollutant disputes the findings.

The EPA last week dramatically changed the minimum levels of GenX in drinking water from 140 parts per trillion (ppt) to 10 parts per trillion. The new minimum replaces the state’s provisional safe drinking water goal for GenX established in 2018.

Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt presented the latest EPA findings to the board during Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting. Only four of the seven members attended: Chairman Glenn Adams, Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Commissioners Jeannette Council and Charles Evans.
GenX is one of the chemicals used at the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant that has leached into groundwater and the Cape Fear River and contaminated private drinking water wells, especially in the Gray’s Creek community in Cumberland County. The Chemours plant is located on the Cumberland and Bladen County line.

The board has established providing safe drinking water for the community as one of its stated priorities in the recently adopted fiscal 2023 budget.
Shutt told the commissioners the EPA final health advisory for GenX affects a current consent order that requires Chemours to provide whole house filtration or connection to public water for any private drinking well that tests above the new health advisory.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality already directed Chemours to revise its drinking water compliance requirements by taking into account the 10 ppt for GenX. According to the state, the newly released health advisory for GenX levels will make about 1,700 more private wells eligible for whole house filtration systems.

Contacted Monday for a response to the new requirements, Cassie Olszewski, the Chemours media relations and financial communications manager, referred to a Chemours statement released within hours of the EPA announcement.

“At Chemours, we support government regulation based on the best available science. While the EPA claims it followed the best available science in its nationwide health advisory on HFPO-Dimer Acid (“HFPO-DA"), that is not the case,” the release states.

It further states, “Nationally recognized toxicologists and other leading scientific experts across a range of disciplines have evaluated the EPA’s underlying analysis and concluded that it is fundamentally flawed.”

GenX is the trade name for HFPO-DA and is used, along with its ammonium salt, as a polymerization aid in the manufacturing of “high-performance fluoropolymers” used in a variety of products, from cooking pan coatings to electrical wire insulation. DuPont previously marketed the fluoropolymers as Teflon.
According to the release, Chemours currently uses what it calls state-of-the-art technologies at its sites to abate emissions and remediate previous pollutant releases.

“We are evaluating our next steps, including potential legal action, to address the EPA’s scientifically unsound action,” the release states.

The concern of GenX contamination of private water wells in area communities is prevalent among county leaders and staff. Well water contamination ranged 10 miles south and 25 miles north of the plant, according to Shutt.

“It’s deplorable,” said Adams.

“In 2017 it was 140 (ppt), now it's down to 10. We need to look at the entire county,” Adams said.

“We have PFAS in PWC water at higher concentrations,” he said.

The EPA also listed interim health advisory levels for several other PFAS chemicals: PFOA at .004 ppt and PFOS at .02 ppt. A third chemical, PFBS, did not have significant concentrations in samples taken to date in North Carolina.

During two rezoning cases involving small lot properties near Gray's Creek, Evans voted against the rezoning because those properties were not connected to water lines and instead relied on well water. Asked why he voted against the rezoning requests, he replied, “GenX.”
The state DEQ plans to hold community information meetings in July. The date has not been determined. Both the DEQ website and the Cumberland County government website will announce the dates for the information session.

A Fayetteville man faces trafficking charges after drugs were found in a stolen vehicle in his possession, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

On June 16, the Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit responded to the 2600 block of Belhaven Road for a stolen motor vehicle, a release said. Deputies found 29-year-old J’Qwan Devon Robinson inside the vehicle, the release said.

Robinson was processed on outstanding warrants from the Hope Mills Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office, the release said.

Sheriff’s detectives charged Robinson with larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods. He was held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $10,000 secure bond, the release said.

Two plastic bags containing 37.33 grams of a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine and two digital scales were found in the stolen vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said.

On June 17, narcotic agents charged Robinson with trafficking methamphetamine by possession, trafficking in methamphetamine by manufacture and maintaining a vehicle, the release said.

Robinson received a $100,000 secure bond. His first appearance was at the Cumberland County Detention Center on Monday.

The Fayetteville City Council on Wednesday will evaluate City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald during a special meeting.

The meeting will follow the agenda briefing that is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meeting, according to a release from the city, is to discuss personnel matters regarding an evaluation of Hewett and McDonald.

The meeting will be conducted in closed session, the release said.

Hewett has served as city manager since April 2016. Prior to that he was interim permitting and inspections director for Fayetteville. He has nearly 20 years of local government experience in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, the city said.

Hewett could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.

Hewett just delivered a recommended $249.17 million budget for fiscal 2022-23 that the City Council approved unanimously on June 14. The budget keeps the property tax rate at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation, and the residential solid waste fee stays at $225 for a single-family residential unit. Also, there are no changes to the stormwater fee of $6 per month.

"There's a list of things he has done," Mayor Mitch Colvin said Tuesday. "We'll get into that tomorrow."

A former public information officer for Halifax County and the city of Wilmington, Hewett first came to Fayetteville in May 2004 as management services director. That role, the city said on its website, focused on strategic planning and public relations for the city.
Hewett was promoted to assistant city manager in April 2007, a position he held until January 2012. That was when he became a city manager in Florida.

McDonald has served as Fayetteville’s city attorney since August 2002. She grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from Pine Forest High School.

She is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the City Council and city employees regarding matters that arise during the course and scope of their employment, the website states.

"McDonald is a member of several legal and civic organizations and is licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas," the city said.

She was the city’s first assistant city attorney. At that time, her duties included the enforcement of city code violations.

From 1998 to 2000, McDonald worked as a staff attorney for the Cumberland County Attorney’s Office. Following a two-year stay in Little Rock, Arkansas, she returned to Fayetteville, where she was appointed city attorney by the City Council.

Summer made a splash in Fayetteville on Tuesday morning when the city’s newest splash pad opened with a ribbon-cutting.
The splash pad is outside Lake Rim Recreation Center at 1455 Hoke Loop Road. City Council members joined members of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear and Fayetteville- Cumberland Parks & Recreation summer camp participants to cut the ribbon, according to a city
news release.

The Kiwanis Club donated $20,000 to build the splash pad, which is zero-depth entry and uses recycled water, the news release said. This is one of 12 public splash pads throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Access is free. Hours and contact information are posted online. The splash pad is one of several recreation additions in west Fayetteville, the news release said. About four miles from the pad, the Bill Crisp Senior Center is under construction beside
Lake Rim. It is scheduled to open later this summer.

Other recreation projects underway in the city include the expansion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, a new tennis center at Mazarick Park, and Mable C. Smith Park, according to the release.

The landscape of what is now Fort Bragg looked very different just over 100 years ago when the War Department purchased it.

It was once a thriving community of Highland Scot immigrants.

A glimpse of this past remains at Long Street Presbyterian Church, the oldest standing structure on Fort Bragg, constructed as a place of worship for this long-ago community in 1847.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in the adjacent cemetery, the oldest readable marker dates to 1773.

The cemetery comprises 232 known graves.

When the War Department purchased the land, some six acres, the church, the cemetery and the adjacent school in 1923, the community was granted a handshake agreement.
This agreement granted the heritage families the ability to maintain their connection with the landscape and the ancestors laid to rest on the grounds.

The War Department committed to not moving any of the existing burials and assumed the stewardship for these cemeteries.
The last internment, dated 1932, reflects the War Department’s handshake agreement in continuing to allow heritage families access to the church and cemetery.

According to Fort Bragg Cultural Resources Management Program Archaeologist and Curator Linda Carnes-McNaughton, McFadyen family descendants held annual gatherings at the church during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the 1970s to 1980s other heritage families joined in the reunions.

In 1995 the Fort Bragg CRMP office was created. With the addition of the program, Fort Bragg was able to allow families access to the grounds for worship and support the event. Since 1995 the Garrison Chaplain’s office has provided additional support for the family reunions, and CRMP has provided access to the church grounds and helped coordinate the gatherings.

The modern iteration, with a two-year pandemic hiatus, sees attendance of upwards of 120 heritage family members, soldiers and members of the public.
Each summer the families gather and worship in the same pews as their ancestors alongside any who choose to come and join them.

Military members and the public are invited to participate in this year's special worship service and a picnic lunch on the church grounds.
All faiths are welcome, and participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share for the picnic.
Carnes-McNaughton feels there is much to gain for members of the public choosing to attend.

“They gain a greater appreciation of the depth and longevity of this landscape and its cultural heritage, and an understanding of the diversity of early settlers, the importance of religion in their lives in good times and bad times and how churches of this type served entire communities as cultural hearths, uniting families past and present,” Carnes-McNaughton said.
Over the years Carnes-McNaughton has attended and provided support for many reunions. She has observed many special moments.

“One of my favorite moments came when I witnessed (along with the congregants attending) the baptism of a McDiarmid descendant, a 5-month old boy," Carnes-McNaughton recounted.

"Watching that child's face as Reverend Clark Remsburg touched his forehead with cool water, and declared him to us all to accept into the fold, walking him up and down each aisle singing Jesus Loves Me, and everyone standing to welcome this child, was so moving and meaningful, especially as I glanced out the open window into the graveyard and spotted his ancestor Rev. Angus McDiarmid's marker, knowing that he too was witnessing this event and the newest generation of McDiarmid of the Sandhills."

The descendant congregation of the Long Street Presbyterian Church, the Fort Bragg CRMP and Fort Bragg’s Garrison Religious Support Office will host their annual reunion in celebration of the historic Argyle community on Sunday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

The church has no electricity or climate controls, so those in attendance should dress appropriately for warm weather conditions. Parking is available near the church with assistance from the Chaplain’s Office for elderly and physically challenged patrons. Patrons entering Fort Bragg through an access control point should review installation access procedures prior to arrival to avoid delays.

This year’s reunion will feature some historical highlights of early settlement in the region and Carnes-McNaughton will have an 1826 Gaelic Bible, on hand.

The bible was donated to the church by Donald McDonald of Edinburgh. McDonald donated a Gaelic bible to every church who once had Gaelic language services.

The bible is housed at the Fort Bragg CRMP Artifact Curation Facility for permanent care and will be at the event in a protective case to share with the attendees.

For more information, contact the Fort Bragg CRMP at 910-396-6680.

People walk many animals, including cats, dogs, goats, lizards, pigs and even chickens. I often see a home-based video workout and the family pet upstaging the presenter in the background or coming up to be a part of the production. Exercising with dogs is this article’s primary focus, but did you know there is goat yoga? A popular trend across the nation, goat yoga is supposed to have originated on a farm in Oregon, where it is estimated that hundreds of people are on the waitlist to participate. People that live in large cities with little contact with nature seek out retreats to spend time in a leisurely and therapeutic fashion on beautiful farms to get away and relax from daily life. A yoga instructor leads the class with an array of goats that not only add to the ambiance but they may also decide to take playful jumps and be a part of the overall goat yoga experience.

The most accessible companions for exercise are dogs. Dogs like to get out and walk, run and play, and what better way to enjoy an activity than with your best friend. Their tails start wagging the moment you get the leash out or put on your shoes! Our connection to pets continues to grow. Let’s face it; they are always glad to see you and listen when you talk to them.

Pets love us unconditionally and have such a positive influence on our lives, and one of the benefits can be physical fitness. People who walk their dogs spend at least 22% of their time walking and jogging with their pets compared to those who do not walk or have a dog.

The daily demands pets require from us include all the planes of motion and movement patterns such as bending, squatting, lifting and turning. Our fur babies need about 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily, which is the same as their human counterparts. It has been reported that people with pets heal faster from joint replacements due to pet activity. Exercise for the pet and owner depends on the pet’s age, breed and health conditions as well as your own.

Puppies are way more energetic, and as they grow, short bursts of exercise may be more productive than an activity that requires more time. Creative ways to work out with your pet indoors include running up and down the stairs, playing indoor fetch, hiding and seeking and tug of war. Hide and seek with treats is a game that can be fun and beneficial as you squat down or ease into smaller spaces. Fetch is a game that always appeals to dogs giving you a great arm workout. Outdoor exercises include throwing a frisbee, another excellent arm and shoulder workout. Jogging with your dog is ideal, but remember that starting with long distances may not be beneficial until your fur baby is acclimated to the distance. Take your dog swimming, biking, hiking, camping at a dog park, walking or jogging. Always be cognizant of the safety of your pet with outside activities, and be aware of pet etiquette. For safety reasons, carry a water bottle and a doggy bag for cleanups. Read rules about the beach and regulations for pet parks, and keep your pet on a leash. Avoid exercising with your dog in excessive heat, and know that pavement can burn paws. Exercising with your pet is therapeutic!

Live and love life and enjoy exercising with your pet.

Tales of courage and bravery among resistance groups and partisans fighting against the Nazis will be on display across two exhibits at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum beginning next month.
The exhibits tell the stories of the Chetniks in Operation Halyard and the Jewish resistance force, the Bielski partisan group.

“It fits our mission of being an Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Special Operation soldiers work with local and indigenous populations to often help win the hearts and minds of the people,” Museum Director Jim Bartlinski told Up & Coming Weekly.

When entering the museum, you will first see several panels set up in the lobby.

The panels will tell the story of how a three-person Office of Strategic Services team, Serbian partisans known as “Chetniks,” and the 1st Air Crew Rescue Unit of the U.S. 15th Air Force airlifted more than 500 U.S. airmen out of Serbia.

This exhibit, Operation HALYARD: The Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II, is on loan from the Halyard Mission Foundation.

“They did not lose one person or one plane, so they were able to do this under the Nazi’s noses,” Bartlinski said. “It was one of those untold stories that just came to light in the last ten years because it was kept top secret because of what was going on between the former Soviet Union, Serbia and America. But it was finally declassified.”

Weapons, equipment and three videos telling the stories of the three OSS men will also be on display.

As visitors move into ASOM’s temporary gallery, Courage and Compassion: The Legacy of the Bielski Brothers will be displayed. This exhibit tells the story of the three Bielski brothers who ran a partisan group out of the forests in Belorussia. The brothers helped rescue and keep more than 1,200 Jews alive in those forests for more than two years. More than 70% were women, elderly persons and children who otherwise would have perished under Nazi occupation.

While keeping people safe, the group also helped in several operational missions against the Nazis. They disabled German trains, blew up rail beds, destroyed bridges and facilitated escapes from Jewish ghettos.

“The Bielski exhibit will be coming with a number of artifacts from the Florida Holocaust Museum — items used in the camps, items worn by the Bielski brothers and some video components as well,” Bartlinski said.“We will also be supplementing the exhibit with items from our own collection like weapons and other types of materials that partisans would have used.”

Several programming events surrounding the two exhibits are currently being worked out and scheduled at the museum.

“I hope they [visitors] get inspired by both stories and get an appreciation for the difficulties that people, past and present, go through to fight for their freedoms and independence against oppressive governments and militaries,” Bartilinski said.

The two exhibits will be on display from July 4 through November 13. Admission to ASOM is free, but donations are highly suggested.

Fayetteville has a new budget for fiscal year 2023.

The City Council unanimously approved the budget Monday night, June 13, forging ahead with little disagreement over Fayetteville’s financial planning for the next year.

The property tax rate will stay the same at 49.95 cents per $100 of property valuation.

The city’s solid waste fee will remain at an annual rate of $225 per single-family residential unit.

City officials previously considered increasing the trash fee several months ago.

The final value of the approved budget is more than $249 million, a slight increase from the slightly more than $248 million initial proposal introduced to council members last month.
Public comments on city vision

While no one spoke at the public hearing on the budget ahead of the council vote, speakers at Monday’s general public comment period of the council meeting addressed the vision of city government, urging the council to better address systemic racism and inequality in Fayetteville.

Several speakers addressed gun violence and police brutality, particularly an incident in January when Jeffrey Hash, an off-duty Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy, shot and killed Jason Walker, an unarmed Black man.
The N.C. Conference of District Attorneys decided in April not to press charges against Hash, arguing that the incident was a case of self-defense under North Carolina law.

“This council should be championing economic justice, racial justice, equity and health care and independent oversight of the Fayetteville Police Department,” said Shaun McMillan, co-founder of Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Task Force, during the public hearing.

“The majority of you should be forging ahead on policy that boldly and unapologetically dismantles the systemic faults that perpetuate inequality in your city. We need accountability, transparency, justice, policy and change.”

Changes to budget

After the budget was presented in late May, the City Council met three times to discuss and make alterations.

The city added $865,000 to the general fund, appropriated from various other parts of the budget.

The added money will increase funding for at-risk youth programs, workforce initiatives, community beautification programs and resurfacing of the walking trail at Lake Rim Park.

It will also add about $500,000 in increased payment to temporary, seasonal workers, increasing their minimum wage to $15 an hour.
While there were some initial disagreements about this change, the council ultimately approved it unanimously.

Voted Fayetteville and Fort Bragg's "Best Band" six years in a row, Rivermist is headed to Gates Four Country Club on Friday, July 1.

As part of the Gates Four Summer Concert Series and in partnership with Fayetteville Dinner Theater, the show begins at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m.
Music-lovers and those in search of a great time need only look for the easy-to-find pavilion outside the country club to take part in the free, family-friendly event.

The series began last year as a ticketed event with five shows. Now open to the public with six performances scheduled, the concert series takes place every first Friday and features some of the finest entertainment in the Sandhills.

While people might not be used to the words "free and public," in association with a country club, Greg Adair, band member and spokesperson for Rivermist, assured Up & Coming Weekly it is indeed an event for everyone.

"Bring your dancing shoes," Adair joked. "This is open to everybody. People should remember to bring a chair, get some food, drink and get ready for some great music."

While no outside food or drinks are permitted, the event will have plenty of both available for purchase and liquor provided by Healy Wholesale Co. Inc.
Showcasing the talents of the Throwback Collaboration Band in April, the event headliners for May and June, Heart Breakers — a Heart cover band native to North Carolina, and Mostley Crue, a cover band from Raleigh, will rock the Gates Four stage later in the summer due to weather cancellations.
A lifelong musician and Fayetteville native, Adair's journey to the spotlight started in 2014. Originally in another band with a friend who fell ill with cancer, Adair formed a group to help fundraise for treatments and medical care.

After his friend's tragic passing later that year, the group remained but felt a name change was necessary out of respect. From there, Rivermist was born and has been rocking out ever since.
Transitioning to the role of a full-time musician in 2019, Adair expressed no regret and genuinely loves what he does. As the drummer, vocalist and band owner of Rivermist, Adair wears many hats, but they all fit comfortably.

"I love the exhilarating crowds," he explained. "I love seeing kids dance and freely enjoy themselves. There's nothing like seeing a kid enjoy music. They're so honest and precious, as adults should be."

After experiencing a bit of a slow-down as cities across the United States hunkered down to stop the spread of COVID-19, Adair is glad to be back to business as usual.

"We played about 65 shows in 2019," Adair reflected. "That dropped down to around 18 in 2020, and now we're scheduled for at least 70 this year. We still have 42 shows left this year."

Despite the obvious pride in his band and their success over the years, Adair remains grateful, giving all thanks and appreciation to the band's fans.

"We're humble," he said. "We have over 7,000 followers, people love to come to see us, and we genuinely love them too. There's no little man syndrome in this band, no divas or anything like that. Our families love each other, and we get along great. It's the most fun you can have in music."
Known for their high-energy shows often tagged as #rivermistparty on social media, Adair maintained, "Ain't no party like a Rivermist Party cause a Rivermist Party Don't Stop."

"We are a super energetic bunch," Adair shared, laughing. "We do it all. For the last show we had downtown, we had our guys walk through the crowds, wearing their instruments, and you couldn't even see them. Everybody was singing and moving; this band has just an abundance of personality. We get the crowd to participate and don't hold our heads down. We joke with each other and the crowd. It's just a fun time, and that's what it's about."

Being from Fayetteville, Adair feels a particular joy in playing for people who know the band and follow their journey. He sees music and the band's position up on stage as a charge to spread joy and be a light to those in the audience.

"We'll play about five to seven minutes at the beginning of each show and let the crowd know our goal is to take them away from anything bad lingering in their lives — we're there to make them happy. The crowd feeds off that. It's electric. To be on stage and see 5,000 to 6,000 people singing and dancing is definitely why we do it. There's nothing like seeing people have a great time."

Playing a variety of dance and pop music, Adair and his band mates: Allen Pier (keyboard, lead and background vocals), Rick Starling (percussion, keyboard, lead and background vocals), Tony Harrison (bass) and Cliff Bender (lead guitarist), play a little something that everybody can groove to. Rivermist covers songs from the Eagles to Bruno Mars and Alice In Chains to Travis Tritt.

"We try to vary the shows, so there's no crossover with these events," Adair explained. "There's something for everybody; we throw everybody a bone. 'If you leave here tonight and haven't heard anything you like — then you might not like music.'" He often jokes with the crowd.

The concert series is an opportunity for people to be led and gathered under the ruling spirit of summertime. Just a moment in the busy, bustling week, where parents, home from work, can round up their kids and head to a place with no schedules, no worries and no agendas.

Greg Adair, for one, is excited to see them there.

Gates Four is located at 6775 Irongate Dr. in Fayetteville.
The event is free and open to the public. Information about VIP tickets can be found at https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.
For updates and information about upcoming shows and music, visit the Rivermist website at http://www.rivermistband.com/.

When I first began covering state politics and public policy in the late 1980s, North Carolina families dissatisfied with the quality of education provided by their local school district had limited options. Some could afford private schools, or to move to other communities where they hoped the assigned public schools were better. A few were brave enough to try homeschooling their children.

For most parents with concerns about their assigned schools, however, the only recourse was to complain to administrators or try to elect different politicians to their local school boards. Neither option proved particularly effective.

Since then, the situation has dramatically changed for the better.

For one thing, the state legislature created three new options — chartered public schools, opportunity scholarships for private education and educational savings accounts for special-needs students — that provide a wide range of choices for many North Carolina families. During the last school year, for example, some 130,000 students were enrolled in the state’s charter schools. Another 20,000 students received opportunity scholarships to attend private schools. Some 13,000 additional students have applied for scholarships next year.

Partially in response to these policy changes, teachers and entrepreneurs have created new educational enterprises that seek to serve families in new ways. Some are new brick-and-mortar schools and networks.

Others offer “university model” education that blend in-person and at-home instruction. Still others provide textbooks, resources, supplemental services and other assistance to homeschool families.

And with regard to the governance of school districts themselves, many North Carolinians are part of a national movement to push back against slapdash instruction, politicized curricula and operational decisions that fail to put the interests of students first. Initially frustrated by the lengthy COVID shutdowns imposed by state and local officials, parents grew angry when they saw firsthand what their children were being taught — or not being taught, as the case may be.

In the past, school-board elections were relatively low-turnout affairs in which local chapters of the North Carolina Association of Educators — the state affiliate of the nation’s largest teacher union — often played outsized roles. The NCAE’s influence is ebbing, however, thanks partly to changes in the timing and structure of school-board elections and partly to NCAE’s own missteps.

The organization is down to about 17,000 members, a tiny fraction of the total number of teachers and principals who staff North Carolina’s public schools. Even as NCAE was shrinking, it was becoming increasingly shrill and ideologically left-wing.

As a school-choice proponent and practitioner — my own children have attended a mixture of public and private schools — I recognize that many North Carolinians continue to cherish their relationships with their local school districts. They want their district-run schools to succeed, even as they also favor expanded options for families who want something different.

To advocate choice and competition, as I do, is not to advocate the abolition of public schools. In fact, I believe competition makes school districts better. That’s the way most other fields of human endeavor work, including preschool and higher education. As I’ve written about many times, there’s good empirical evidence for the proposition that increasing school-choice options in a community tends to improve student achievement and educational attainment within public-school districts, too.

Progressives disagree. They seek at least to roll back and constrain our school-choice programs, if not to abolish them altogether. They’re not going to succeed, though. The constituency for these programs is too large and growing too rapidly.

Would you believe that North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in the share of children educated outside of district-run public schools? I didn’t either until I examined the latest numbers from EdChoice.org. Only Delaware, Louisiana, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Pennsylvania had higher percentages of kids enrolled in private, charter, or home schools.

According to the most-recent estimates, about a quarter of North Carolina kids were so enrolled last year.
That’s going to continue to rise, no matter how loudly progressives complain about it. Parents’ voices are louder, and more numerous.

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay. Join Ryder, Chase, Marshall and Skye at the Crown Theater on July 5 and 6 for Paw Patrol Live. It’s an “all paws on deck” situation.

The Sandhills’ littlest adventurers can put their hero skills to the test and help the gang rescue Cap’n Turbot and uncover buried treasure on Adventure Bay with the help of a mysterious map. Tracker, a new puppy addition to the usual lineup, will assist as Mayor Humdinger tries to thwart the canine crusaders.

The show, now seen by over 4 million people since its debut six years ago, is an interactive experience that engages kids and parents alike.

“It’s geared for ages 2 to 6, but I like to say 2 to 200,” said Jeff Dietzel, spokesperson for the show. “Kids of any age can come and have a great time with their family.”
Since its debut in 2013, Paw Patrol has been a juggernaut in the kid’s entertainment area. The franchise, spawning several direct-to-video adventures, merchandise and a movie in 2021, shows no sign of slowing down.

“Kids love puppies,” Dietzel explained the continued popularity of the show and its characters. “They’re so unique and individual. Each character has their own personality and fears; they’re unique, like all kids are unique. And sure, they’re small, but they can be heroes too.”

While most kids are more than familiar with Adventure Bay’s four-legged heroes, a knowledge of the show and its characters isn’t necessary to fully enjoy the show.
The broadway-style show certainly aims to deliver in the entertainment department, inviting audience members not only an opportunity to watch their favorite characters up on stage but to be a part of the show themselves.

“There’s lots of singing and dancing,” Dietzel said of the show. “It’s a great introduction to live theater. It’s hard to sit there and be quiet. We encourage the kids to get up and sing and dance with us. Everyone in attendance gets a pIrate flag to wave — it’s a highly interactive experience.”
Children are definitely the target audience, but Dietzel assured Up & Coming Weekly that the show is just as fun for parents as it is for kids.

“It’s a great time for the whole family; parents have a great time seeing their kids have fun. It’s like a mini-rock concert,” he joked.
General admission tickets are $18, with a limited number of VIP (Very Important Pup) packages also available. VIP tickets are $110 and include prime seating, an after-show photo-op with the characters and a souvenir bag to take home.

“I really hope that kids have a great time,” Dietzel said. “My favorite thing is to hear that ‘this was the best day ever,’” It’s awesome to hear; it makes us feel like we’ve done a great job.”
Showtimes are Tuesday, July 5, and Wednesday, July 6, starting at 6 p.m.
The Crown Theater is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. in Fayetteville.
For tickets, visit capefeartix.com, or call 910-438-4100.