
In Fayetteville, agents assisted local police when a shooting occurred at an illegal residential bar. The situation was identical to a Fayetteville shooting during a local raid several months ago. ALE charged the host with selling alcohol without Alcoholic Beverage Control permits. Across the state, various types of controlled substances were seized along with 11 firearms, one of which was stolen. Of the 399 charges, 31 were felonies, 136 were alcoholic-beverage-related charges, and 109 were drug-related. Agencies involved in the operation included U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina DMV License and Theft Bureau and local police departments. Counties involved in the operation included Cumberland, New Hanover, Columbus, Nash, Edgecombe, Durham, Johnston, Wake, Alamance, Guilford, Randolph, Mecklenburg, Burke, Buncombe and Polk.

T.C. Berrien Elementary School on North Street in Fayetteville will remain closed for the rest of the school years because of significant functional problems. “Maintenance crews are working to address building concerns at T.C. Berrien, including structural issues and malfunctions with air conditioning systems that have caused indoor air quality issues,” said Associate Superintendent Lindsay Whitley.

T.C. Berrien will continue to operate as a separate school utilizing unused classrooms at W.T. Brown. The Spring Lake school is 10 miles from Berrien, which will require altering school bus pickup and return times. School officials have notified families and provided them with opportunities to address questions or concerns. T.C. Berrien is a primary school with 250 kindergarten to fifth-grade youngsters.
Cumberland County, Sustainable Sandhills, the school system and Fayetteville Beautiful will hold an electronic waste drive Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ann Street Landfill in downtown

The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center continues to encourage residents to fill out a survey that will provide feedback for a revised strategic plan. A $21,080 federal grant from the state library provided funding for a consultant to assist in developing the new five-year plan. The current plan ends in 2020. Survey participants have a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card donated by Friends of the Library, Inc. The survey is available online at cumberland.lib.nc.us. “A strategic plan will guide the library staff in areas that have the most impact in Cumberland County. It’s an exciting process to be involved in,” said library director Jody Risacher.
In addition to surveys, the project includes a community needs assessment and interviews with local leaders. Information gathered will contribute to developing a flexible strategic plan to help the library effectively manage resources for services and programs. For more information about the Cumberland County Public Library, visit cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite.
