Vikki Andrews, a Fayetteville Technical Community College trustee, said she was pleasantly humbled after receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (circa 1963) on March 22 from state Rep. Mike Colvin, who presented the honor on behalf of Gov. Josh Stein.
“I think we owe it to others to help if we can,” Andrews, a retired U.S. Army officer, said in a news release. “Everything I’ve done has been because I had the time, a resource, and the ability to do so. I’ve had many opportunities in my life, and with each of those opportunities, I’ve tried to leave a legacy of service and impact. People do what they see modeled, and my hope is that others will see the service, and when they have an opportunity, they will do the same.” Colvin is a Democrat who represents District 42, which includes parts of Cumberland County, including Spring Lake.
“Our state is home to more than 3.5 million rural North Carolinians, the second-largest rural population in the country,” Gov. Josh Stein said on March 27 as part of a Rural Listening Tour. “In North Carolina, where you come from should never limit how far you can go.” Well said, governor. Well said.
Deontae Watson is deputy director at Fayetteville Regional Airport, and he has been appointed as vice president of the North Carolina Airports Association for the 2026-27 term. “Serving on the North Carolina Airports Association board has been an honor,” Watson said in a news release. “Airports connect communities and support economic growth, and I look forward to continuing this work alongside aviation leaders across the state.” Watson was appointed on March 19 at the NCAA 46th Annual Conference in Charlotte. “Deontae’s appointment reflects his leadership and understanding of the aviation industry,” Fayetteville Regional Airport Director Andrew LaGala said. Watson has served on the NCAA board since 2022.
Just a final reminder about a Community Candlelight Vigil, which is scheduled from 7–8 p.m. Friday at Beth Finch Park on Green Street downtown in remembrance of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the 39-year-old civil rights leader who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. A MLK Candlelight Vigil also is scheduled from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday at MLK Park on Blue Street.
If you are noticing those squiggly wormlike “things” with a resemblance to caterpillars, they are called catkins, I’ve learned, which are the male flower parts of oak trees and responsible for the pollen we lament each spring. They’re not harmful. Just aggravating … like the pollen.
Driving Miss Daisy has been so popular, folks at Cape Fear Regional Theatre have extended the play an additional week with six more performances from April 8-12 at the temporary theater at 1707 Owen Drive.And the theatre might consider a sequel called Donald Trump Driving My Investment Retirement Account Crazy, and co-starring Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Thank you so very much for recognizing our Lynne Woods,” Marcia Stryker wrote in an email about my March 27 column on the retired nurse and longtime member of Hay Street United Methodist Church. “She was a feisty but a forever compassionate follower of Christ and a beloved friend to so many at Hay Street UMC.” Lynne Woods died at age 90 on March 20.
Excessive speed on the highway can be a prescription for vehicular fatalities, and we surely have our share of violators in Cumberland County. “Speed limits exist for a reason—they protect everyone on our roads,” Col. Freddy Johnson Jr., a Cumberland County native and commander of the N.C. State Highway Patrol, said in a news release about the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program Speed a Little. Lose a Lot campaign, which is underway through Sunday.
“When drivers stay within those limits, they give themselves more time to react and help prevent crashes before they happen. Speeding takes that margin for error away and puts everyone on the road at risk. Every time a driver gets behind the wheel, they make a choice, and choosing to follow the law can make all the difference,” Johnson continued. In other words, slow down on the roadways for the safety of yourself and others.
Coming Sunday: “I Have Seen The Lord!”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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