Local News

How to deal with floods

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Staff Report

Flooding can result in extensive and expensive damage. The Pew Charitable Trusts indicate that at least one flood event has occurred on nearly 300 days per year each year since 2000 in the United States.
That's almost a flood a day. Statista reports there were 170 flood disaster events recorded worldwide in 2023. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy indicates there have been 44 floods in the U.S. between 1980 to October 2024, with each resulting in more than a billion dollars in damage.
Considering how catastrophic floods can be, people may wonder what contributes to these events and if there is anything they can do to prevent them. An understanding of flooding can help anyone respond more effectively should a flood occur.
What is a flood?
Flooding occurs when an overflow of water finds its way onto land that is normally dry, says the National Severe Storms Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Damaging floods may occur with only a few inches of water, or flooding may be so severe, it can cover a house to the rooftop.
The NOAA says floods are the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters.
What causes floods?
Many different situations can cause flooding. The main types are:
• Melting snow and ice
• Dams or levees breaking
• Storm surges, resulting in ocean waves coming ashore
• Heavy rainfall
• Geography, such as locations that are near rivers
How does urbanization impact flooding?
As land is increasingly converted from fields and woodlands to developed areas, it loses the ability to absorb rainfall, according to officials with the city of Brownsville, Texas. Urbanization can increase runoff two to six times over what would occur on natural terrain.
Urban areas are at higher risk for floods because rooftops divert rain to the ground below, which is comprised of cement and paved surfaces that prevent the ground from absorbing rain.
What is a flash flood?
Some flooding can be anticipated, but flash floods often happen with little to no warning, says the NOAA. They occur when there is more rain than the soil can absorb. This extra water quickly flows into rivers and creeks and can overwhelm storm drains.
Flash floods can be the most dangerous kind of floods because they feature fast-moving flood waters. Flash flooding can affect an area within minutes. Densely populated areas are often at the highest risk for flash floods because these urban areas cannot absorb the rain and water runoff effectively.
What can I do in the event of a flood?
People can take certain precautions if flood conditions are anticipated.
• Listen to local media for flood watches and warnings.
• Know the evacuation zone and route, and evacuate if prompted.
• Have a 'grab bag' ready with essential items.
• Seek higher ground, which could be the highest floor of the home.
• Do not drive, walk or try to swim through floodwaters. Even shallow moving water can sweep a person away.
• Water can conduct electricity, so stay away from downed electrical wires.
• Use a stick to check the depth first if you must walk in flood water.
• Turn off and disconnect appliances and utilities, if advised.
• Remain away from damaged areas until officials have officially cleared them for return.
• Consider purchasing flood insurance as homeowner's insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage.
Staying alert, prepared and safe during floods is vital.

(Photo: Spectators watch as Cross Creek floods in Fayetteville in 2018. Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Trolley Pub introduces party bike experience

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Anna White

A pedal-powered pub experience is making its way from larger cities like Wilmington, Raleigh and Charlotte, to Fayetteville. Business partners Darnisha James and Kevin Walker are set on “giving the community something unique to do,” and say that a trolley pub is just the kind of "exhilarating" evening downtown that Fayetteville residents need.
James first experienced a trolley pub in her hometown of Detroit, and after returning to Fayetteville, pitched the idea to her nephew, Walker. She and Walker have been business partners for 10 years, operating both RDL Therapeutic Adult Day Center and RDL Therapeutic Outpatient Therapy together. Walker says they share an entrepreneurial spirit, making a third business venture a natural fit. They researched options and landed on the Trolley Pub franchise headquartered in Raleigh.
Their Trolley Pub Fayetteville trial run on June 28 proved that the concept turned heads and even had community members chasing the trolley down the street, recording videos and asking if they could board. Walker says the percentage of people who are already familiar with the concept versus those unfamiliar is approximately 50/50, but the responses are unanimously excited and enthusiastic.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Walker shared, “by the end of the evening, everyone is best friends.”
With 14 cycle stations and a driver, the trolley is powered 100% by its passengers, who start the evening with a complimentary drink and pedal their way through downtown, intermittently stopping at the area's best pubs and then rolling on.
It’s a combination of sensory experiences that Walker says are “totally unfamiliar to your psyche.” Music blaring, the open-air feel, and the physical activity required to propel the trolley forward make the experience unlike any other. For those concerned about the physical exertion, trollypub.com replies that they’ve seen senior groups take on the trolley with no trouble.
While a public tour offers a new way to experience downtown Fayetteville, the Trolley Pub can also be booked for private tours ranging from casual to formal events. From birthdays to graduations and bachelor/bachelorette parties to corporate team building, the pub promises an “unforgettable” way to celebrate or connect with friends old and new.
With the built-in Bluetooth sound system, private groups can set the tone by curating their own playlists, making the experience uniquely customizable. The minimum age for a private tour is 15, and the minimum age for public tours is 21.
Trolley Pub drivers are trained to “read the vibe” of the group, determining which and how many stops to make throughout the evening. Most groups opt for 2 stops, staying 15-20 min at each location, according to trolleypub.com/fayetteville/. They don’t require choices to be locked in before the tour, saying that “flexibility is part of the fun!” Route maps and potential destinations can be explored on their website.
Walker says they’re “looking forward to connecting” with the community as the Trolley Pub moves towards its grand opening. Stay informed by following Trolley Pub Fayetteville’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

(The Trolley Pub in Fayetteville offers a new experience for those looking to bar hop in a different way. Photo by Khalleef Harewood)

Cape Fear Valley Health and United Way set to pack 70,000 meals for local families in need

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Jamie Bishop

On Thursday, Aug. 14, hundreds of volunteers will gather at 1960 Coliseum Drive, Suite 107 for one of Cumberland County’s most impactful community service initiatives: the Annual Meal Packing Event presented by Cape Fear Valley Health, in collaboration with United Way of Cumberland County. Running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., this massive two-hour push is designed to provide 70,000 shelf-stable meals to local food pantries and organizations that support families struggling with food insecurity. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and by the time noon strikes, lives will already be touched by the thousands of meal packets prepared during what’s become a signature community moment.
“This event stays 100% local,” said Toni Wildhaber, director of development at United Way of Cumberland County. “Every meal packed goes to our Cumberland County partners, which include organizations like Alms House, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Catholic Charities, Operation Blessing, and more.”
Last year, 400 volunteers packed 70,000 meals in just over 30 minutes. That momentum is expected to carry forward in 2025 with volunteers from every corner of the city, including business leaders, civic groups, school teams, and individual residents who want to make a difference during their lunch break.
“Our volunteer count is already over 500 this year,” Wildhaber said. “We originally capped registration at 400, but we’ve had such an outpouring of support that we’ve expanded our slots. It’s a testament to how deeply this community cares.”
Planning an event of this scale doesn’t happen overnight. According to Wildhaber, logistical planning begins immediately after United Way wraps its April ‘Over the Edge’ fundraiser. The Crown Complex is reserved a year in advance as the official site of the packing day, offering space, parking, and accessibility for the hundreds expected to attend. An events committee, comprised of representatives from local businesses and organizations, meets monthly starting in May to coordinate sponsorships, logistics, volunteer assignments, and food distribution plans.
On Aug. 13, the day before the event, a crew of over 70 volunteers, including the FTCC softball and baseball teams, American Legion, Dirtbag Ales, and Cumberland County’s Aging for Older Adults Program, will assemble tables and organize supplies for the next day’s effort. The packing process itself is a well-oiled machine. Runners, approximately 68 strong, will transport packed meals to distribution areas where representatives from food pantries will collect them.
“There’s something powerful about watching those trucks roll out full of meals you just helped pack,” Wildhaber said. “It brings the impact full circle.”
The event runs entirely on community support and sponsorships.
“We receive no federal funding,” Wildhaber explained. “Everything we do is made possible by our incredible local donors and businesses who believe in our mission to improve the quality of life in Cumberland County.”
The 2025 event boasts a strong lineup of partners:
• Cape Fear Valley Health – Presenting Sponsor
• Yellow Crayons – In-kind T-shirt Sponsor
• Crown Complex – Venue Sponsor
• Don Chase from KML Radio – Emcee
Additional sponsors include Fleet Feet, Omni Military Loans, Southern Carpet Sales, Home Security, Piedmont Natural Gas, Dogwood Bank, Metronet, and I Know A Guy Contracting, among others.
Volunteers will represent over 40 businesses and organizations, such as Fayetteville Technical Community College, Bank of America, Walmart Distribution Center, Eaton, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, the City of Fayetteville, Delta Sigma Phi, and Greater Life of Fayetteville.
While the event centers on packing food, it’s also about building community.
“It’s an opportunity for volunteers to physically do something that leaves an immediate and tangible impact,” Wildhaber said. “And it’s a lot of fun.”
United Way’s broader mission to improve lives by addressing critical human needs is at the heart of this initiative.
“We want volunteers to walk away knowing they’re helping their neighbors,” she said. “They’re supporting single parents, seniors, veterans, real people living right here in Cumberland County.”
In addition to meal packing, attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable canned goods to contribute to a food drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. Collection bins will be available on site. The Annual Meal Packing Event is a chance to give back in a big way through volunteering, sponsoring, or simply cheering from the sidelines.
“This is what community looks like,” Wildhaber said. “It’s people coming together to lift each other up, and that’s something we can all be proud of.”
For more information, contact Toni Wildhaber at 910-483-1179 ext. 225 or ToniWildhaber@unitedway-cc.org.

(Photo: A team member with PWC participates in a meal packing event with United Way. This year, Cape Fear Valley Health is partnering with United Way of Cumberland County to help pack 70,000 meals for those who may need them in the community. Photo courtesy of United Way of Cumberland County)

Government Watch: Candidates announced for municipal elections

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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Written by Jami McLaughlin

Fayetteville and other municipalities within Cumberland County will have some competition this upcoming election season with numerous candidates for mayor and board seats and we will be watching these races carefully including hosting a Candidates Forum on Oct. 14 for the Fayetteville Mayor and City Council. Keep an eye out too for a Greater Fayetteville Chamber candidates guide coming soon!
The Fayetteville Primary election will be held on Oct. 7 and the full election including all municipalities and the Cumberland-Eastern Sanitation District will be Nov. 4.
Cumberland County Board of Elections Candidates
For City of Fayetteville Mayor, there are ten candidates including:
John Ashford, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, Mario (Be) Benavente, Mitch Colvin, Freddie de la Cruz, Kathy Keefe Jensen, Clifton L. Johnson, Nahlee Iris Smith, Tisha S. Waddell and Paul A. Williams.
Colvin, who is serving his fourth term, announced in June that he was stepping down from public office. However, he signed up to run again for mayor on the last day of candidate filing at the Cumberland County Board of Elections.
Banks-McLaughlin, Benavente and Jensen are all currently serving on the City Council. Waddell and Williams have served on the City Council previously.
The following candidates are running for the individual City of Fayetteville districts:
• District 1 - Jamie Davis, Stephon Ferguson, James L. Thomas III and Theodore Melkoumov
• District 2 - Malik Davis (i), Gail Morfesis and Joseph (Joey) Thames
• District 3 - Antonio Jones, Jeremy Wright
• District 4 - Stuart A. Collick, D.J. Haire (i)
District 5 - Lynne Bissette Greene (i), Rick Murillo
• District 6 - Derrick Thompson (i), Kenneth E. Odegard II
• District 7 - Dwight France, J’Kwan Fulmore, Kathy A. Greggs, Brenda McNair (i) and Khalil Younger
• District 8 - Rodney E. Garvin, Mahmoud A. (Travis) Hamed, Shaun McMillan and Robbie Poole
• District 9 - Deno Hondros (i), Gary A. Hunt, Joe McGee
In Hope Mills, there are two mayoral candidates including Jessie Bellflowers (i) and Todd Henderson and ten candidates running for five commissioner seats: Elyse Craver (i), Cynthia Hamilton, Mark Hess, Bryan A. Marley (i), Grilley J. Mitchell, Hope Page, Karen Smith Saracen, Joanne Scarola (i), Ronald Sterling and Lisa F. Tremmel.
In Spring Lake, there are two mayoral candidates including Kia Anthony and Robyn Chadwick. Anthony is seeking her third term and Chadwick, who has also served as Mayor Pro Tem, is seeking her third term on the board, her first as Mayor. There are also 11 candidates running for five commissioner seats: Ryan C. Anderson, Stachia Arnold, Katrina Bell Bratcher, Tony Burgess, Sona Cooper (i), Jackie Lee Jackson, Mary C. Jackson, Dedra Parker, Tyrone Short, Fredericka Sutherland and Adrian Jones Thompson (i). Jackson and Sutherland have served previously on the board.
Hope Mills voted to implement four-year staggered terms this year and Spring Lake approved four year terms in 2024.
For the Cumberland-Eastover Sanitary District, Liz Reeser, who is currently serving as Chair, and Helen Crumpler, who is currently serving as Vice Chair, are running for another term. This board is separate from the Town of Eastover and provides water and sewer to residents.
In Eastover, Mayor Charles G. McLaurin is running for his 10th term. Bruce Sykes (i), Kimberly F. McPhail (i) and Wayne Beard, Jr. are running for three seats on the town council. Eastover has staggered terms for six seats overall on the town council.
There are two mayoral candidates in Falcon including Clifton L. Turpin, Jr. and James Danny Nelson, Jr. Running for four seats as Town of Falcon Commissioner are Sue Brigman, R. Dwayne Dunning (i), Dylan H. Ivey, Chip Lucas, Chris Stone and Philip J. Walters.
In Godwin, Willie Burnette is running unopposed for his 12th term. Four incumbents are seeking another term as Godwin Commissioners including George Cooper, Jr., Scarlet McIntyre Hall, Joseph Smith and Ronald McNeal. Newcomer Dennis C. Smith Sr. is also running for commissioner. There are four seats.
In Linden, Frances Collier is running for mayor for a fourth term. Jonathan Collier (i), Barbara C. Denning (i), Michael Hough and Ronnie S. Maness (i) are running for five commissioner seats.
In Stedman, Mayor Martin (Mardy) Jones is running for his third term as mayor. He has served as a town commissioner from 1998 to 2017. Louis Wood (i) is running for the Board of Commissioners. There are two seats available.
In Wade, Johnny Lanthorn is running for Mayor and Kevin Herring (i), Beth Ritchie (i), Johnny B. Sawyer (i), George E. Strater and Jennifer Dixon Weaver (i) are running for five commissioner seats.
To help candidates running for Fayetteville City Council prepare for office, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber will be hosting a Candidates Academy on Friday, Aug. 1. This all-day event will bring many local subject matter experts to share their knowledge on the workings of our community and government and outline what elected officials need to know about policy making in our All-America City. Topics will include writing press releases, public body protocols, differences between our government’s jurisdictional boundaries and identifying needs vs. wants as well as overviews on the downtown business district, the City’s economic outlook, crime and safety, the arts and our public utilities.
The Greater Fayetteville Chamber will also host a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 14, which will be held at Fayetteville Technical Community College in Cumberland Hall starting at 5:30 p.m. This event offers a unique opportunity for the public to hear directly from those seeking to represent them and gain a deeper understanding of each candidate's vision and policies. It is open to the community and free of charge. Find out more at www.faybiz.com.
Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has officially opened the application process to fill the Sheriff’s seat following the retirement of Ennis W. Wright, who concluded nearly three decades of distinguished public service on June 30, 2025.
In accordance with North Carolina General Statutes 162-2 and 162-5, the Board of Commissioners will appoint a qualified resident to serve the remainder of the term. Qualifications include:
• The applicant is at least 21 years of age.
• The applicant has not been convicted of a felony in any state.
• The applicant is a qualified voter in Cumberland County.
Residents who meet the legal qualifications to serve as Sheriff under NC General Statute 162-2 are invited to submit seven copies of the required application materials to the Board of Commissioners at the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse by COB August 4, 2025. The list of required materials can be found at www.cumberlandcountync.gov.
City of Fayetteville
The city's Economic and Community Development Department (ECD) has awarded $1,683,509 in competitive grants to local nonprofits as part of its 2025–26 Annual Funding Cycle. Each program year, starting in July and ending in June, focuses on priorities identified by ECD and city council. Recent priorities included homelessness, mental health, gun violence interruption and youth development.
For a full list of recipients addressing needs such as youth mentoring, homelessness prevention and opioid response, visit www.fayettevillenc.gov.
About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.