Entertainment

Student-curated exhibit reveals the hidden heroes of Berlin

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Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Written by Jamie Bishop

A captivating new exhibit called "Hidden in Plain View: United States Army Special Forces Berlin, 1956-1990” sheds light on the covert operations of the Green Berets during the Cold War. It is curated by six students from Jack Britt High School in Cumberland County. The exhibit uncovers the untold stories of U.S. Army Special Forces who worked in the shadows of divided Berlin during the Cold War.
After World War II, Berlin became the epicenter of Cold War tensions, divided into East and West zones. The Soviet Union controlled the East, while the United States, England, and France governed the West.
In this intense environment, a secret unit of Green Berets carried out some of the most classified operations of the era. Disguised in civilian clothes and fluent in German, these soldiers remained on high alert, ready to take action if the Cold War turned hot. Their mission, in the event of war, was to infiltrate East Germany and neutralize key Soviet targets.
The idea for this collaboration began at the end of the 2022 school year when the museum staff at the U.S. Army Airborne Special Operations Museum and the Jack Britt Social Studies Department decided to work together.
The goal was to mentor students in exhibit development, with the plan to display the final product at the school. As the project progressed, it became clear that the students' work deserved a larger audience. Thus, the exhibit found its home at the ASOM, with the first student-curated exhibit opening in April 2023, focusing on Task Force DAGGER, America’s military response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The success of this initial exhibit led to the formalization of the program into an annual partnership, now known as the Curatorial Apprentice Program or “CAP.”
Curating the current exhibit on Special Forces Berlin presented significant challenges. Jim Bartlinski, Director of Fort Liberty Museums, explained that the topic covered the period from 1956 to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Special Forces Berlin unit operated clandestinely to deter communism, wearing civilian clothing to blend in, which made artifacts scarce. The ASOM had no related artifacts in its collection, so the students collaborated with Special Forces Berlin veterans to secure loaned items and the stories behind them. The students also borrowed artifacts from the JFK Special Warfare Museum on Fort Liberty, adding depth to the exhibit.
Bartlinski highlighted the exhibit's profound significance, noting that it provides visitors with a crucial insight into a lesser-known but pivotal aspect of Cold War history.
These highly trained soldiers operated about 100 miles inside communist East Germany, in the Allied-controlled sector of West Berlin. Their primary mission was to conduct unconventional warfare against the Soviet Union and its allies if the Cold War escalated into open conflict.
Now declassified, this exhibit recognizes the critical role played by the United States Army Special Forces during this turbulent period in American history.
"Hidden in Plain View" will be on display through September 1. It offers a great opportunity to uncover the secrets of the Green Berets and their pivotal role in Cold War Berlin.

(Photo:"Hidden in Plain View: United States Army Special Forces Berlin 1956-1990" can be viewed at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville until Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation Facebook page)

Trucks Gone Wild comes to the Wreck Yard in Fayetteville

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Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Written by Kaitlyn Potts

Trucks Gone Wild’s twentieth-anniversary tour is coming to Fayetteville! They are coming back to The Wreck Yard for this special four-day event, which will go from June 20 to June 23.
“Last year's event was epic and now it's time to make it even better!” says the Black Ops Paintball & Airsoft website page about the event, as this would be the 2nd installment with Trucks Gone Wild. The Wreck Yard is located at 2555 Custer Ave. in East Fayetteville. If you have any questions regarding the event, you can email contact@carolinamudpark.com.
The Wreck Yard is a local mud park owned by Black Ops Paintball & Airsoft, a company founded by combat veterans in 2012.
It consists of dry camping, wet camping, a race track, mud pits, and hundreds of acres of trails. This mud park is only open as an event space, open for events like Trucks Gone Wild. Be sure to keep an eye out for future events at The Wreck Yard on their Facebook page. More information about Trucks Gone Wild can also be found at http://www.TrucksGoneWild.Com.
Free camping is available at this event, with limited first-come first-serve water hookups available. There are also going to be various food vendors and merchandise vendors on-site at The Wreck Yard.
Alongside this, there is an option to purchase a Shower Pass, which is priced at $20. The waiver for this event can be signed electronically on the Black Ops Paintball & Airsoft website's page regarding this specific event. Side by Sides, All Trucks, and ATVs are welcome.
“There’s all new trails and roads. All new mud holes, Tug of Wars, The Booty Barn, and the Kings of the Deep Bounty Hole Competition…there’s literally something for everybody at the rec yard,” says Trucks Gone Wild on their official YouTube channel with a short advertisement about the event.
There will be trail riding, mudding, open bogging, truck competitions, camping, and parties after dark. This four-day event is a great opportunity to get outdoors this summer and make wonderful memories.
Tickets are $90. Kids 12 and under have free entry to Trucks Gone Wild 2024. Tickets can be purchased online at https://blackopspaintball.org/trucks-gone-wild/
On Friday, June 21, there will be live performances by various artists. Trucks Gone Wild will present Who TF Is Justin Time vs Lil Wyte, who are both country rap musicians. Who TF Is Justin Time is the founder of Redneck Rave, and Lil Wyte is a member of the rap collective known as Hypnotize Minds. Other performances by Larry Dale Reed, King Cole, Fedora Mike, and Kaio Kane will also take place. This performance also features DJ Cannon Banyon.

Dinosaur World comes back to Sweet Valley Ranch

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Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Written by Max Atkeson

As summertime approaches, so do Sweet Valley Ranch’s dinosaurs! SVR’s Dinosaur World, an exciting attraction with over seventy-five life-size dinosaurs, opened June 1st and will remain open until August 3rd. Dinosaurs aren’t the only amazing sight to see at Sweet Valley Ranch. They offer an Ice Age Cave, which brings you back in time to the icy tundra, a fossil museum, the Land of Enchantment and much more.
Sweet Valley Ranch offers several activities and attractions year-round, such as their Hills and Thrills Adventure Tour of the ranch and its woods, an ATV Express Tour and Go Kart Nature trails. Guests of all ages have plenty of activities inside and outside of the famous Dinosaur World!
Dinosaur World is more than just an attraction; it’s an educational experience created for curious guests of all ages. Nestled in the back corner of their expansive farm, Sweet Valley Ranch has life-sized dinosaur replicas that continue to awe guests each year.
According to their website, “Guests will enjoy a walk down our quarter-mile paved path where they will see over forty dinosaurs in a natural habitat.” Guests can participate in a Fossil Dig, play in giant bouncy houses and playgrounds, go on Dino Rides, and even fish in one of the farm’s ponds. Guests can even meet Sweet Valley Ranch’s Mascot “Tiny,” a massive Brahman Bull.
Dinosaur World offers two time frames to pick from, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or the nighttime experience from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Adult tickets start at $20 and bump up to $30 to have access to both the daytime and nighttime experience. For children under the age of 12, tickets start at $12 and are $20 for both.
With a general admission ticket, you, your friends, and your family can explore the impressive farm and interact with over 350 animals. To have even more fun, buy a bag of animal feed from the farm and bring a little extra joy to the animals you get to visit!
Adults can enjoy some friendly and competitive cornhole, horseshoes, basketball and “water” pong at Tiny’s Outdoor Game Court.
To locate a map of the farm, ticket purchase, and any additional information, visit sweetvalleyranchnc.com.
Want to take this Dinosaur fun up a notch? You can help find Dr. Surgeon and the missing scientist in the Dinosaur World Rescue Mission. After obtaining a copy of the clue worksheet from the ticket booth, use your keen scavenging skills and solve a series of clues to lead you to Dr. Surgeon, his wife, and the other missing scientists. Don’t get too comfortable, the clues and locations change every week!
The guests who participate in the Dinosaur World Rescue Mission are entered in a drawing to win a 2025 all-season pass to all four Sweet Valley Ranch attractions. Learn all about the dinosaurs and lore that Sweet Valley Ranch has to offer.
Sweet Valley Ranch is open year-round, but their Dinosaur World is only here briefly, so don’t miss your chance to see this year’s spectacular Dinosaur World.

(Graphic courtesy of Sweet Valley Ranch)

Get ready for epic concert with Autumn Tyde

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Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of live music at the upcoming Rock'n On The River concert featuring Autumn Tyde! This talented band is known for their ability to captivate audiences with their incredible performances.
Whether you're a fan of beach music, oldies, rhythm and blues, or are simply looking for some fresh original songs, Autumn Tyde has got you covered. With their diverse range of genres, there's something for everyone to enjoy at this sensational summer concert.
Autumn Tyde members are Doyle Wood on guitar and vocals, Dez Humphrey on drums and vocals, Bob James on the keyboard, guitar, and vocals, Russell Garland on bass guitar, vocals, keyboard, and drums, and Ted Ray, aka TR, on tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, aerophone, and percussion. This talented group has been captivating audiences since 2022, and they made their debut performance on May 6th of that year at a sensational barbecue festival in Kinston, NC.
They have also unveiled three original songs that have made it to the top 10 charts. Their two most recent releases even reached the number one spot on the Cash Box/Billboard Chart for Beach Music Top 40.
Since their unforgettable debut, Autumn Tyde has been wowing crowds at numerous festivals, private parties, and special events throughout North Carolina. No matter the occasion, this band knows how to bring the energy and get the crowd grooving to their infectious tunes.
With their diverse musical abilities and impressive range of instruments, Autumn Tyde creates a unique sound that is sure to leave you wanting more.
On Friday, June 21, Autumn Tyde will be at Campbellton Landing for an incredible live music experience. Joyner Young Marie & Friends will be the opening act for this amazing event.
Located at 1122 Person Street, this concert is completely free to attend, with a small fee of $10 per car for parking. Make sure to bring your own chair, although you might not even be sitting still once the music starts! The concert area will open its doors at 5:30 p.m., giving you plenty of time to find the perfect spot.
The talented Joyner Young Marie & Friends will take the stage at 6 p.m., followed by Autumn Tyde at 8 p.m. Prepare your taste buds too, because there will be a variety of delicious food options and ice-cold beer available for purchase right on site.
Don't miss out on this unforgettable summer concert experience. Grab your friends and get ready to rock'n on the river!

(Graphic courtesy of Autumn Tyde Facebook page)