The city of Fayetteville has honored the late former mayor, Bill Hurley, and the late former mayor pro tem, Harry Shaw.

City Council proposed to name the plaza at the entrance to the downtown baseball stadium in Hurley’s honor. Hurley led the effort to remove beer halls and strip clubs from what used to be the 500 block of Hay Street. The Council will ask the public to endorse the idea at a future meeting.

City Council also voted to rename Cross Creek Linear Park trail for Shaw. He founded the nonprofit organization and personally directed development of the park and trail that runs along Cross Creek from Festival Park to Eastern Boulevard.

Shaw was a member of the Fayetteville Technical Community College Board of Trustees for many years and served on City Council in the late 1960s and early ’70s.

NCDOT unveils 10-year construction plan

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has disclosed its 10-year transportation plan draft for 2020-2029. The plan includes 17 new highway projects in DOT Division 6, which encompasses Cumberland, Bladen, Columbus, Harnett and Robeson counties. Two local projects are being accelerated, including the widening of the All American Freeway between Owen Drive and Santa Fe Drive, with construction scheduled for 2025.

The widening of I-95 to eight lanes between exit 22 in Robeson County and exit 40 in Cumberland County has been moved up to 2026. “I-95 is a vital corridor on the East Coast and heavily congested,” said board of transportation member Grady Hunt.

New projects also include adding raised medians and other safety improvements along Robeson Street between Blount Street and Raeford Road. Construction is planned for 2029.

New Robeson County urgent care

 Southeastern Urgent Care of Pembroke is changing its name to more accurately reflect growth in services it offers. The organization is now called the Southeastern Multi-Specialty and Urgent Care, Pembroke. The facility is expanding to the neighboring space in the Southeastern Health complex, which housed the former Trinity Urgent Care.

Family nurse practitioner Denene Smith has joined Southeastern Health’s expanded clinic. She has more than 25 years of combined nursing and nurse practitioner experience. Also, Southeastern Health plans to relocate Duke Health-affiliated cardiology services, which are provided by Dr. Matt Cummings and nurse practitioner Allison Scott, from Foxglove Place to Southeastern Multi-Specialty and Urgent Care. The complex is at 923 West Third St. in Pembroke.

School choice seminar

Is your child a budding artist? Maybe engineering is in her future? Would a year-round school fit your family’s needs? Explore the options for elementary, middle and high school students at the Cumberland County Schools’ Choice Fair, which runs from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Feb. 2, at E.E. Smith High School, 1800 Seabrook Rd.

“We are proud to offer a variety of choice programs that include locally developed themes as well as nationally recognized models,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Melody Chalmers. “We hope families will find the perfect program that matches their child’s interests.”

Details about specific programs are available at http://choice.ccs.k12.nc.us.

Flu vaccine still available

The Cumberland County Health Department reminds residents that it’s not too late to get an annual flu vaccine. It’s available at the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic, 1235 Ramsey St., Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours are scheduled every second and fourth Tuesday until 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Health Department accepts Medicaid, Medicare Part B, United, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Tricare insurance. Out-of-pocket charges are based on the type of flu antigen received.

It’s free for uninsured children 6 months to 18 years old. “The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu illness and time out of work or school due to being sick,” said Krystle Vinson, health department director of nursing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that flu activity increases in the winter months, peaking during January and February. For more information, call the Cumberland County Health Department at 910-433-3600.

County Fair wins accolades

The 2018 Cumberland County Fair received the Innovation Award during the annual convention of the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs Jan. 5 and 6 in Raleigh. The fair takes place annually on the grounds of the Crown Complex. Row crop and agricultural displays in the Charlie Rose Agri- Expo Center impressed the awards committee when members visited the fair.

Fair Manager Hubert Bullard accepted the award on behalf of the fair staff. He credited Cooperative Extension Director Lisa Childers and staff and the Junior Fair Board for creating and managing the exhibits. “Lisa ... committed to creating an even more impressive exhibit in 2019,” Bullard said.

Dates for this year’s Cumberland County Fair are Aug. 30-Sept. 8.