Cumberland County Commissioner Jeannette Council, who fought for civil rights as a young activist 60 years ago, is expected to join today with City Council members D.J. Haire and Shakeyla Ingram to unveil a Civil Rights Trail marker at 11 a.m. at 116 Green St. to commemorate 1963 civil rights protests in downtown Fayetteville, according to a city news release. Marches, protests and a planned sit-in at the JC Penney department store were carried out mostly by students of Fayetteville State Teachers College on Murchison Road, according to Brian William Suttell, author of an N.C. State University report. Mayor Wilbur Clark’s creation of the Mayor’s Bi-Racial Committee on June 19, 1963, represented a step toward integration in the city, according to Suttell’s research. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964, downtown businesses were desegregated, including restaurants, lunch counters, hotels and theaters. The Mayor’s Bi-Racial Committee reached an agreement with the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to end the demonstrations. Also present at today’s unveiling will be Adrienne Nirde, a representative of the sponsoring N.C. African American Heritage Commission. The unveiling is part of the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail near Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, site of the old city hall. Green Street will be closed from Market Square to Maiden Lane starting at 10 a.m. and reopen at about 1 p.m. The Market House roundabout will remain open.
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“We have to know that we are one team, we’re one fight, we’re one family,” freshman Fayetteville City Councilman Derrick Thompson was telling Mayor Mitch Colvin and fellow council members at a June 5 work session, and that’s eye-opening. No, councilman, you are and should be independent thinkers voting your own respective consciences and not cow-towing to one another. You are not family. You are elected city leaders charged with governing for city residents and not one another.
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Another city homicide in the wee hours of Thursday morning, when Fayetteville police officers discovered a deceased man in front of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center after the victim, according to a news release, was involved in a family altercation in the 2300 block of Lake Avenue. It’s the 24th homicide of 2023 in the city.
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Two former Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council members were among those who were on hand on June 10 as part of Fayetteville’s successful bid for the All-America City award presented by the National Civic League in Denver. “Troy Nance was the first president in 2015 and flew in from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to present,” Fayetteville City Councilwoman Kathy Keefe Jensen says. “Dakhari Davis, class of 2017, came in to tell how the youth council changed his life.”
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Assistant City Manager Adam Lindsay and Moisbiell Alvarez, the deputy fire chief with the Fayetteville Fire Department, were among the 27 representatives who were part of Fayetteville’s presentation group before the National Civic League’s jury panel judging candidates for the All-America City award in Denver.
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Beware if you receive a telephone call from anyone saying he is inspecting HVAC systems on behalf of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. “We are not working with anyone on the HVAC inspection,” says Carolyn Justice-Hinson, communications and community relations officer with the utility. “They have called thousands of people whether they are PWC customers or not. We have put out some info on social media and our website because we got so many calls. We encourage customers to have their HVAC serviced annually but recommend calling a local HVAC contractor.” If you receive any calls like this that sound suspicious, Fayetteville PWC says, hang up and call 910-483-1382 to verify it is a PWC employee or representative. I had three such calls this week and finally canceled the appointment.
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Harrison Ghee, a graduate of E.E. Smith High School, takes the 76th annual Tony Award — presented Sunday at the United Palace theater in New York City — as best lead actor in the Broadway musical “Some Like It Hot,” and that’s a big deal for the 33-year-old talent, E.E. Smith High School and this community.
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“Bill, I enjoy your columns but would like to ask that you do a column about NaTasha Yvette Williams, a Tony Award nominee,” Melanie Strickland writes in an email about Williams, who was nominated as best featured actress in “Some Like It Hot.” “She is a graduate of Cape Fear High School. I know she did not win, but I feel she deserves to be covered. The student from E.E. Smith got a column before and after. Thank you for consideration.” CityView did reach out to NaTasha Williams’ agent prior to the Tony Awards, but the agent didn’t reach back. We’ll see what we can do about reaching out again.
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“Hey, Bill, I’d like to add an incident involving Dick Blount that took place 40 years ago,” Jeff Thompson writes in an email about the late Fayetteville Observer photojournalist who died at age 91 on May 21. “He was positioned in the median of U.S. Highway 301 near Gillespie Street to photograph a KKK billboard along the side of the road. I was there, too. He was attacked by a Klan sympathizer who lived nearby. He was knocked to the ground but got up unhurt as the attacker retreated. I’ll bet that somewhere in the Observer’s photo files there’s a picture of the event. I am sorry to learn that Dick passed recently.” Yes, that incident did occur. Can’t believe it has been 40 years ago. And, yes, I’m sure there is a photo of it in the newspaper archives.
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“Bill, I was just re-reading your article from CityView on Friday, June 6, 2023, and noted the section about Elizabeth McRae from the lady in Maxton,” Judy Dawkins writes in an email about Jane McMillan Misenheimer, whose garden club is planning a program called “Notable Women” in October. The retired film and television actress of “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” is among those notable women. “It reminded me that I have these two pictures of her, which were taken at the Cameo Theater on Dec. 1, 2014, when she was honored in Fayetteville. She was and is absolutely stunning, and she was absolutely gracious to everyone that special evening. Great memory.” No question, Mrs. Dawkins, Elizabeth McRae is charming, and she made her hometown quite proud in her acting career and TV roles on “Gunsmoke,” “Route 66,” “The Fugitive,” “Bonanza” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” among other shows.
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City residents will have an opportunity on June 22 to weigh in on improvements and a trail system connection from Mazarick Park to surrounding neighborhoods, Fayetteville State University, the Harry F. Shaw Cross Creek Linear Park and the downtown vicinity. The meeting, according to a city news release, is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Smith Recreation Center, 1520 Slater Ave. Visit cpr.us/facilities/administrative/mazarick-park-neighborhood-connections for more information, send email inquiries to JessicaHowell@FayettevilleNC.gov or call 910-433-1556.
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Members of the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society are scheduled to participate in a field day exercise at 2 p.m. June 24-25 at 3625 Golfview Road in Hope Mills. The exercise, according to a news release, showcases how ham radio communications can create an independent communications network. “This is a public event so people can see ham operators in action doing an emergency type operation using their own power from solar panels and small generators,” Don Talbot writes in an email. Visit mohrd57@gmail.com for more information.
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Daniel Terracciano, who comes from a family of law enforcement, has been elected president of the Fayetteville Police Foundation. “Public safety is in the fabric of who I am along with the values that have been instilled in me,” Terracciano says in a foundation news release. “My father, uncle and brother-in-law were all in law enforcement. My mother and sister both worked as civilians within the fire department of the town where I grew up. Although my career path has taken me in a different direction, it is important that I find a way to honor the work and the sacrifices that each of them and each of our community public safety officers makes. This starts with an appreciation of those who protect and serve our community and a strong desire to support and give back to them.” Others elected to the executive board of directors are Richard Lee, president-elect; Danny Thompson, vice president; and James Sherrill, treasurer. Board members include Wells Alderman, Ben Chambers, Jackie Danker, Lisa Geddie, Shawn Groover, Jason Poole, Lisa Saleeby-Powell, Jonathan Windham, Jeffery Womble, Stephen Wheeler, Kalli Ziegler and new board member Wade Duggins. Ex-officio members are Keith Allison, Murray Duggins, Jay Wyatt and Billy West Jr., who is the district attorney for Cumberland County.
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Sunday is Father’s Day, and remember it was a dad who hoisted you on his shoulders when you were a kid, threw a baseball with you in the backyard, walked you down the wedding aisle and everything else you did along your life’s way.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
