Local News

Help people get needed sleep with career in polysomnography

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Tuesday, 08 April 2025

Written by Dr. Christopher Thrasher, FTCC Social Science Instructor

Sleep is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and poor sleep can be one of life’s greatest hardships. According to Dr. Swapna Bhaskar, writing for the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, up to 30% of Americans suffer from a lack of sleep each year. Dr. Bhaskar explained that people who are unable to get enough sleep often suffer from “depression, impaired work performance, work- related/motor vehicle accidents, and overall poor quality of life.” These are serious problems, but dedicated healthcare professionals can provide numerous treatment options.
If you are suffering from a lack of sleep, you should begin by discussing the problem with your primary care physician. They may suggest treatments through their office. However, if your problem is serious or if your condition does not improve rapidly, they will probably refer you to a specialist.
When you visit a sleep specialist, they may conduct a polysomnographic study, which most people call a sleep study. Specialists can conduct a variety of polysomnographic tests, each customized to the needs of the patient. However, most tests will include using advanced computers and diagnostic sensors to track your breathing, brain activity, and eye movement. Tests are not invasive, and most patients report no discomfort during their tests. After conducting one or more polysomnographic studies, sleep specialists will work with you to develop a detailed treatment plan, which may include physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and medications.
If you think you are suffering from a lack of sleep and may need help from a sleep specialist, please contact your primary healthcare provider today.
If you would like to earn an excellent salary while helping people get the sleep they so desperately need, consider contacting Fayetteville Technical Community College to learn more about their new Polysomnography program.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor, the typical diagnostic medical technician, a field that includes polysomnography specialists, earns $75,380 each year. The federal government estimates that jobs in this field will grow by 10% within the next ten years, which makes it one of the nation’s fastest-growing fields.
Qualified applicants can complete the polysomnography program at Fayetteville Technical Community College in as little as five semesters.
This new program began in January 2024 and has already enrolled two cohorts, one of which will be graduating in summer 2025.
Are you ready to learn more? Please contact an admissions representative at healthproadmissions@faytechcc.edu. We are eager to help you enrich your life and reimagine your future with a career in Polysomnography.
For more Information, please contact Dottie Covey-Elleby, BS, RPSGT, CSE, Department/Program Polysomnography, Health Technologies Center, Room 201-G. Call 910-486-3685 or email
Coveyeld@faytechcc.edu for more information.

Autism Awareness Month: Beyond the Spectrum Institute

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Tuesday, 08 April 2025

Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner

Autism has increased significantly and consistently in the United States over the last 25 years.
There are 5.4 million adults in the United States who are living with autism. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1 in 36 children will be diagnosed with autism in 2025. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Although autism can be diagnosed before a child reaches the age of two, most kids are diagnosed after the age of four.
April is Autism Awareness Month. The month raises awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder, promotes understanding and acceptance and advocates for the needs of individuals with autism.
And this is what Cumberland County Christian’s sister school, Beyond the Spectrum Institute specializes in. Founded by Dr. Jessica Respus, Beyond the Spectrum Institute stands as a beacon of hope for transformation, empowering families who seek a nurturing, tailored education for children on the autism spectrum. This year was the first year of the institute’s opening.
“Last summer, my son got transferred to Fort Bragg and we were looking for a school for my grandson,” said Barbara Porter, grandmother of Robert, a 4th grader who attends Beyond the Spectrum Institute. “My son wanted a Christian school and I wanted a private school that specialized in autistic children.”
She added, “I found Beyond the Spectrum Institute on the Cumberland County Christian Schools website and applied for the opportunity scholarship which is the state scholarship.”
Porter describes her grandson, Robert, as being very shy and very sweet most of the time. He has his meltdowns and tries his best to please everybody.
“My grandson is autistic, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and he had a lot of trouble in the public school systems both in Cumberland County when he was here and in Georgia when his father got transferred,” said Porter. “We would get a call every week for him to be picked up from the school because he was having a meltdown so he was missing a lot of school and they kept passing him on to the next grade even when he hadn’t learned what he needed to learn.”
Porter is elated with the institute’s set up and her grandson’s academic progress. “Since he has been attending this school, the turnaround in both his academics and behavior has been amazing,” said Porter. “This institute is designed for autistic kids, they have 10 students in a classroom with 2 teachers and the top of their student desk is a whiteboard so they can doodle instead of having a piece of scratch paper to do their math, they can do it on their desk.”
She added, “They do a lot of innovative type things, have a computer lab and calm corners where the children can calm themselves down when they have meltdowns instead of calling the parents.”
Beyond the Spectrum Institute has partnered with RoboKind.
“They have a little robot that has facial expressions and that is very important for autistic kids,” said Porter. “They have IEP robotics that they program each child’s Individualized Education Program into and the child can go and ask the robot questions and it answers the questions and helps them based on their IEP.”
She added, “They also do some lessons in virtual reality which is really good for these children.”
Beyond the Spectrum Institute caught the attention of Dennis Quaid on Viewpoint and Meg Ryan on Empowered. The institute was selected as the feature school for the documentary entitled “Breaking Barriers for Autism.” The documentary will explore how Beyond the Spectrum Institute is setting benchmarks in education by creating inclusive spaces and delivering innovative solutions for students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential.
“They did the documentary filming in the school on January 29 and 30 and it will air nationwide in April during Autism Awareness Month,” said Porter. “It will continue to run the entire year on major networks including PBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel and FOX.”
The school encourages parental involvement and has Open Houses, educational field trips, a Black Inventors Parade and other events.
“Anytime I have had any questions, the principal, Mrs. Sansbury, has always been available to sit down with me and discuss it,” said Porter. “If someone has heard about the school and wants to make an appointment, they can get in contact with Mrs. Sansbury.”
The school year has been a huge success and plans for expansion are in the works.
“They have gotten so much interest in the program this year that they are expanding the program next year,” said Porter. “Right now, they are in one section of the building and they will expand across the hallway into another section of the building.”
She added, “The elementary and middle school students will be on one side and the high school students will be on the other side.”
Porter has also witnessed tremendous growth in her grandson’s social interactions with others.
“Since my grandson has been attending the institute, he has become more sociable and outgoing and if I take him to the park he will make friends with other kids,” said Porter. “He is now reading, doing his work at school and will come home from school and do his homework without an issue.”
The institute is located in the Eutaw Shopping Center on Bragg Boulevard. For more information visit https://cumberlandccs.com/beyond-the-spectrum/ or call 910-491-3542.

ASOM Foundation partners with CheQRboard

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Tuesday, 08 April 2025

Written by Staff Report

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with CheQRboard, a dynamic content and engagement platform that will enhance visitor experiences at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum.
“The ASOM Foundation last summer received an ARPA grant from Cumberland County to fund an educational experience in the permanent gallery. As a result, we have made an investment with CheQRboard to transform educational offerings that will create an immersive, interactive, and engaging learning experiences in nine languages for visitors of all ages,” said Renee Lane, executive director, ASOM Foundation.
The ASOM will integrate CheQRboard’s innovative technology to bring history to life in new and interactive ways. Using a cellular device, visitors will have access to enriched storytelling, multimedia content, and interactive displays that deepen their connection to the legacy of Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers.
“Our mission has always been to honor, preserve, and educate. By leveraging CheQRboard’s technology, we can engage our visitors — especially Soldier, students, and younger audiences — in a more compelling and meaningful way,” said Jim Bartlinski, director, ASOM and Fort Bragg Museums.
The grant-funded initiative will enhance the museum’s ability to educate and inspire, using digital content to provide greater accessibility, multilingual resources, and gamified learning experiences.
One of the most exciting developments is the upcoming exhibit curated by students from Fayetteville’s Jack Britt High School, Warrior Bonds: Montagnards and U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam. Using CheQRboard’s platform, their research and storytelling will be amplified, allowing visitors to engage with firsthand accounts, behind-the-scenes insights, and interactive learning tools that make history more tangible.
“We’re thrilled to support ASOM in reimagining their museum education. Our platform is built to enhance storytelling, accessibility, and engagement — helping institutions like ASOM connect with their communities in new ways” said Brandon Kashani, CheQRboard founder & CEO.
“As we move into the Museum’s 25th year, this partnership marks a significant step in expanding the ASOM’s reach beyond its physical walls, fostering deeper connections with the local community, veterans, and educators. By integrating interactive digital experiences, we will ensure that the stories of our nation’s Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers continue to inspire future generations,” said Lane.
About CheQRboard
CheQRboard is a digital engagement platform that empowers cultural attractions and venue owners to educate and connect with their visitors in meaningful ways. Through customizable multimedia templates and robust analytics, CheQRboard helps organizations deliver fresh content, deepen engagement, and unlock new revenue streams.
About TRAKID
Trakid is the parent company behind CheQRboard and the creator of TRAKID Explorer Quest—an interactive, kid-focused experience designed for zoos, amusement parks, and family-friendly venues. Using a wearable wristband and mobile app, Explorer Quest guides families through immersive adventures, delivering exclusive content and enhancing the overall guest experience.
For more information about the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, visit www.asomf.org. To learn more about CheQRboard and its impact on cultural institutions, visit www.cheqrboard.com.

Gray’s Creek schools will get city water by 2026

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Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Written by Paul Woolverton, CityView Today

Children at two schools in Gray’s Creek have not been allowed to drink from the water fountains since it was discovered in 2017 that the schools’ well water is contaminated with cancer-causing PFAS “forever chemicals.”
The schools have instead used bottled water.
Now two things are happening to help the students and staff at Gray’s Creek Elementary and Alderman Road Elementary:
As a temporary measure, Cumberland County this summer is putting filters on the schools’ water systems to extract the PFAS chemicals. The County Board of Commissioners approved this plan in January.
By June 2026, more than 3.3 miles of water lines from the Fayetteville Public Works Commission should reach the schools. The project will cost $11.82 million, including the design, purchase of right-of-way, construction and other expenses. Construction is to begin in September.
The well water contamination of the schools — plus many other properties in the area — is thought to have come from the Chemours chemical plant about 4 miles from the schools. The county is suing Chemours because of its emissions of GenX and PFAS chemicals over the years.
The PWC’s board received an update on the water line plans on Wednesday from PWC Water Resources Engineer A.J. Riddle. The Fayetteville Public Works Commission is the city-owned utility company that provides electricity, water and sewer service to much of Fayetteville and surrounding communities.
This extension of water service to the schools is being paid for with a $12 million grant that the N.C. General Assembly included in the biennial state budget in 2023. The money was released to PWC in April 2024, PWC CEO Tim Bryant said.
Also in April of last year the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and PWC announced their partnership to bring water to Gray’s Creek Elementary and Alderman Road Elementary.
It was difficult to arrange to get the $12 million grant, PWC Commissioner Ronna Rowe Garrett said following Riddle’s presentation.
“This has been going on for years, guys, so we’re at a climax, if you will. So I’m happy to see some movement,” she said. “It took a minute to get the people to the table, to have some agreement and to have some movement.” She praised the staff of PWC who helped make it happen.
Fayetteville City Council Member Derrick Thompson, who attended the PWC meeting Wednesday as the city council’s liaison, asked whether property owners along the route will be allowed to connect to the new water lines.
This is part of an effort to bring water to the community overall, CEO Bryant told him. “We’re working on it,” he said.
Four Cumberland lawmakers voted against the grant
The legislature in September 2023 approved a $29.6 billion state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The $12 million grant to PWC for the Gray’s Creek water main was one line of a 625-page document. The budget was drafted by the Republican leaders of the General Assembly, and all but five Democratic lawmakers voted against it.
Then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, had disagreements with other items in the budget. For example, he felt it did not sufficiently support public schools, it had new laws that weakened the power of North Carolina governors, and it had a new law to hide lawmaker emails from the public. Cooper allowed the budget bill to become law without his signature.
The Democratic lawmakers who voted against the budget — and the $12 million PWC grant — included four Democrats from Cumberland County.
They are Democratic state Sen. Val Applewhite of Fayetteville, Rep. Charles Smith of Fayetteville, Rep. Frances Jackson of Hope Mills, and now-former Rep. Marvin Lucas of Spring Lake.
Republican state Sen. Tom McInnis of Pinehurst and Republican House Rep. Diane Wheatley of Cumberland County voted for the budget and the $12 million grant.

Editor's note: This article has been edited down for space. To see the article in its entirety, visit http://bit.ly/3E1LDZe