With winter weather forecasted, this well may be a weekend for hunkering down with some homemade vegetable soup in preparation for the storm heading our way. “Prepare now for winter weather by starting with a plan for your family and restocking or updating your emergency kit with enough supplies to last at least three days, including food, water, cash, a flashlight, a weather radio, extra batteries, warm clothing, and any essential medications,” Laura Smith, the city’s emergency management coordinator, says in a news release. Stay off the roadways, and if you must be on the highways, motorists are urged to drive with caution. City residents can visit FayettevilleNC.gov/ReadyFay for service updates and preparedness tips.
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Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps, will deliver remarks during today’s grand opening of the General James Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Fort Bragg, according to a news release. The outpost, according to the release, represents advancement in the U.S. Army’s approach to interacting with industry partners, academic institutions, and soldiers to address critical operations challenges under the guidelines of the Secretary of the Army. Gen. James Maurice Gavin, who died at age 82 on February 23, 1990, and was the third commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Division during World War II.
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Excessive speed along the Interstate 295 corridor has become an issue, and the Fayetteville Police Department says it will not be tolerated. City police, according to a news release, joined with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Bragg Military Police, Fayetteville State University Police, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol from 5 to 11 p.m. on January 15 in the “Operation Speed Kills 2026: Know the Limit” crackdown on irresponsible motorists. The initiative, according to the release, resulted in 131 citations, which included 120 speeding violations with those motorists driving 80 mph in the posted 65 mph speed limit zone. Other violations included careless and reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle sans a driver’s license, and no insurance. And there was one driving under the influence violation. We could use this along Skibo, Raeford, and Morganton roads, too.
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An altercation between two men at 12:32 a.m. on January 19 along the 1400 block of Tangora Lane in west Fayetteville has resulted in the death of a 23-year-old in west Fayetteville, according to the Fayetteville Police Department. It is the third city homicide of 2026.
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These frigid and below-freezing nights are drinking my oil drum dry, and President Donald Trump’s talk about the U.S. taking Greenland and threats of European tariffs are taking a toll on my Investment Retirement Account. Call me shivering and praying for better days on the New York Stock Exchange. One prayer has been answered, with the president backing off of his tariff threats, but The Weather Channel is predicting temperatures in the low 20s and teens for next week. I’m calling Joe and Jacqueline at the oil company and telling them to send the oil truck Arlington Avenue way.
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Ken Griffin has been hired as the engineering director for Cumberland County. “Strong engineering leadership is essential to supporting growth and maintaining critical infrastructure,” Clarence Grier, the county manager, said in a news release. “Ken brings a combination of technical expertise, executive management experience, and a proven track record delivering complex infrastructure projects in fast-growing communities.” Griffin will oversee long-term infrastructure resilience, with a focus on safety, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and fiscal stewardship.” Griffin more recently worked as director of public utilities and capital projects for Currituck County, where he led planning, funding, design, and construction for major water, wastewater, stormwater, and transportation-related projects. His career also includes senior leadership roles in county administration, public utilities, and engineering management across North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and New York.
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“Bill, two creeks, Cedar and Grays, separated by one river, the Cape Fear,” Johnny Fermanides writes in an email about my January 14 column, which chronicles the life of 102-year-old Jane Rosser Warfel and her memories of growing up and residing on Cedar Creek Road. “Two women from each of these areas relating stories about these locales in their books, Down a Country Road and Down the Chickenfoot Road. These two instances are similar and fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article about Jane Rosser Warfel. It rang many bells for me. Throughout the 1960s I hunted in Cedar Creek, mostly on the Carl Johnson farm and surrounding area, and could bend your ear about some of those experiences. My wife worked at Belk-Hensdale 65 years ago, and I very well recall Mr. John Hensdale’s greetings and the other regulars working there. Same with Fleishman’s [Big Store] and The Capitol, and other mentioning’s in the article. Decades later, on the west side of the river, where I live in Grays Creek, I was photographing and posting rural scenes of this area on my Facebook page. A lady named Wanda Allen Herring began commenting on some of those photos with her personal reflections of ‘the good old days’ growing up in Grays Creek. She lived here and was a teacher in the Cumberland County Schools System prior to moving to Florida. In her book, Down the Chickenfoot Road, Wanda wonderfully reveals the life happenings of families living here during those earlier times. Her book is superb, beautifully written and each chapter is a story within itself. Once started, it is hard to put down until finished. And again, you are masterful at putting together worthy reading. Thank you for that. While reading your article, I became aware that I have not heard from Wanda in a while and have learned that she died just a few months ago in 2025.”
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“Bill, I enjoyed your well written, properly paced, entertaining, and endearing column on Jane Warfel, who has reached 102,” Ronnie Mitchell writes in an email. “Thank you for it. The article was particularly interesting to me, having known Jane since attending the same Methodist church with her beginning in the early 1970s. She is a remarkable lady, and you wrote a remarkable column.”
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“Bill, I just wanted to thank you for the recent columns you wrote about Sam and Laura,” Martha Goetz writes in an email about my January 18 column on Sam R. Henrickson Jr. and my January 7 column about Laura Kohlstedt Downing. “You captured their personalities and spirit so well in both the words and anecdotes you chose. It was so very special to read some of the things that were said at their memorial services as well as the other information you added. Both Laura and Sam were very special family members who will always be remembered. In this time of deep sadness for our family, it is a comfort to know that their legacies will live on in the lives they touched. All of our family members are grateful for your taking the time to write these lovely tributes.”
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Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital is the recipient of The Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Sepsis Care. “We are incredibly proud of our team for achieving this Joint Commission certification,” said Sheri Dahman, chief nursing officer at the hospital, in a news release. “This recognition reflects our commitment to providing exceptional, safe, high-quality care. Early recognition and prompt treatment of sepsis are critical and can be lifesaving. These efforts are saving lives and ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients in our community. We are grateful to our health system and every member of our team for fostering an environment that prioritizes patient safety.” The Joint Commission, according to the release, is an independent, not-for-profit organization, which accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs in the United States.
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Coming Sunday: “Live, love life, and love the life you live.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
We’re nearing our fourth year of CityView Today, and so many of you have been with us from day one in our efforts to bring the news of the city, county, community, and Cape Fear region each day. We’re here with a purpose—to deliver the news that matters to you.