Fiesta Latina, a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, is a prelude to this weekend’s 46th Annual International Folks Festival downtown, and where you’ll find dancing, singing, colorful costumes and plenty of international cuisine. “We are expecting 70,000 to 75,000 depending on the weather,” Bob Pinson, president and chief executive officer for the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, says about the International Folk Festival that kicks off from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday with the Parade of Nations, with festival arts and food throughout the day until 7 p.m. “Saturday and Sunday are looking promising right now.” The festival continues from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
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“I need to know who here is more qualified to tell us than a police officer who’s had 29 years of service … one that is protecting our city,” Fayetteville City Council Member Derrick Thompson said Monday night as City Council debated whether to renew a ShotSpotter contract for one year or three. “Why are we not taking his recommendation? Why are we looking outside of what our chief wants? I’m going off the recommendation of what I think our city, our police department, needs to best serve its constituents. Nothing else should matter.” Yes, indeed, Chief Kem Braden says ShotSpotter matters. “At a time when I face so many staffing shortages, ShotSpotter technology provides a service that alerts us of gunfire incidents within our community that would otherwise go unreported with no official police response,” Braden told me on Tuesday. “This allows for a more informed and strategic deployment of resources, improving overall effectiveness in crime prevention. It is my belief that ShotSpotter technology has played a significant role in the violent crime reduction we have seen this year.” Council members Mario Benavente, Lynne Greene, Deno Hondros, Malik Davis, Brenda McNair and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin voted to renew the $210,000 ShotSpotter contract for one year, with Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Keefe Jensen, D.J. Haire and Thompson voting nay in favor of a three-year renewal. Read CityView’s news coverage of the decision here.
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Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign is embroiled in controversy after a CNN investigative report tied the 56-year-old to lewd and graphic posts on a pornographic website, allegations Robinson describes as “salacious tabloid lies.” While Robinson’s senior campaign staff is abandoning his campaign, according to published reports, the Republican candidate says he’s not dropping out of the race against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. Believe what you will, but Mark Robinson is political toast, with no chance for the governor’s mansion along North Blount Street in Raleigh.
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Two homicides in the city within some 20 hours of one another on Sept. 21 as Fayetteville Police respond to an early morning shooting at the Anubis Hookah Lounge at 5391 Ramsey St. that leaves a 25-year-old male deceased, and another victim injured, according to a news release, and at approximately 10:53 p.m., where city police investigated the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old male on the 700 block of Edgehill Road. The victims, according to Fayetteville Police, are the 15th and 16th city homicides of 2024.
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Our share of fatal crimes outside the city limits, too, with the murder of a 30-year-old Hope Mills man at approximately 3:05 p.m. on Sept. 23 at 6300 Chinquapin Court and the homicide of another 25-year-old man around 9:22 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the 1900 block of Smith Road, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, bringing homicides to outside of the city limits to eight this year.
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Residents are encouraged to boil drinking water as a result of a water main break, according to a news release Thursday on behalf of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Customers experiencing low water pressure, outages and discolored water are advised not to consume water because of the break that could introduce “bacteria into the water system,” the release cautions. Customers in Stedman, Spring Lake and Fort Liberty, according to the release, are not affected. Updates will be posted on PWC’s website and on the PWC Facebook page.
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If you are wondering about outstanding school teachers in Cumberland County, look no further than Alianna Sigler, the 31-year-old special education teacher at Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary School, where parents and students will tell you so. Sigler is the 2025 Cumberland County Schools “Teacher of the Year.”
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“We are incredibly grateful for the generous grant provided to the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs Association’s Fire & Life Safety Committee,” Freddy Johnson, the association president, says in a news release about a $9,030 grant from South River Electric Membership Corporation. “This support allows us to provide essential fire safety materials to elementary school students, particularly those in grades K-2, focusing on home fire safety. We thank South River EMC for helping us educate and protect the future of our community.” Kevin Lowther, the Cumberland County fire marshal, also is grateful for the grant from the electric utility. “South River EMC’s generous contribution to the Fire Chiefs Association not only enhances our ability to educate young students about fire safety but also strengthens our commitment to protecting the lives of our community members.” South River EMC is headquartered in Dunn.
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Just five performances left of Footloose The Musical scheduled at Cape Fear Regional Theatre, where you’ll be dazzled by the performances of Josiah Thomas Randolph, Victoria Mesa, Zoe Godfrey-Grinage, Jesse Swimm, and certainly Charlie Turner and the entire cast.” I was taken aback by the sheer talent on the Footloose stage,” said Jenny Beaver deViere, president of the theater board of directors. “The vocal range alone from Victoria Mesa to Zoe Godfrey-Grinage was outstanding. There is not a weak link in this entire cast. Charlie Turner, in particular, takes comedic timing to a whole new level. He won me over in ‘The Play that Goes Wrong,’ but his comedic talent was solidified watching him as Willard Hewitt. I think it’s a testament to the CFRT, too, that these actors keep coming back to our stage, which makes me believe their experience as actors has been as magical as our experience as the audience.” Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Call 910-323-4233.
Next: Celebrating a remarkable philanthropic community journey
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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