Brian Pearce is the new president of Cape Fear Valley Harnett Healthcare, which includes Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington and Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as president of Cape Fear Valley Harnett Healthcare,” Pearce, 52, said in a news release. “Throughout my career, I have been passionate about strengthening healthcare services, investing in our communities and supporting the teams who make exceptional patient care possible every day. I look forward to working alongside our physicians, employees and community partners to build on Harnett Health’s strong foundation and continue expanding access, innovation and high-quality care for the patients and families we serve.”
Pearce has 25 years with Cape Fear Valley Health (CFVH) and most recently was operations and development vice president. In that role, he helped establish the health system’s community paramedic and air medical programs, expanded cancer treatment services into Harnett County, and led the growth of imaging services throughout the Cape Fear Region. He also played an integral part in the development of the Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Pearce will oversee operations and strategic growth for Cape Fear Valley Harnett Healthcare and continue oversight of CFVH’s corporate engineering and public safety departments. He succeeds Michael Tart, who in April was named CFVH’s chief operating officer.. For those of us who know Brian Pearce well, he was raised in Eastover, and folks in Harnett County have a leader who will serve their healthcare needs well.
A milestone day is heading our way as the Cumberland County Headquarters Library celebrates its 40th anniversary Monday and the nation’s 250th anniversary with a commemorative America 250 NC mural by artist Max Dowdle. “We’re excited,” Gracey Brandt, the library’s deputy director, said this week. The celebration is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the library’s Pate Room. It will include a presentation by Joseph Westendorf, the library’s local and state history manager, who will give an overview of the library’s development and recognize community leaders who led the way for the library at the corner of Ray Avenue and Maiden Lane near Festival Park. The unveiling of the mural is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
Despite some inclement weather, Kaylynn Suarez says the 44th annual Fayetteville Dogwood Festival in April “was a success” as the executive director and her board of directors struggle with financial issues. Suarez said 60,000 people attended the festival. “Damn rain!” Suarez said. The festival received $75,000 from the Fayetteville City Council in April. (Enjoy our photos from the event.)
“It is with deep sadness that the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners learned of the passing of former Commissioner Billy R. King,” Kirk deViere, the commission chair, told CityView. “Mr. King devoted himself to public service and to the people of Cumberland County, and his contributions left a lasting mark on this community. On behalf of the board and the residents we serve, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him.” Commissioner Glenn Adams, who succeeded King, said he “was always talking about service day in and day out. He was state chairman (for the N.C. Association of County Commissioners) and represented this county well at the state level as well as locally.” Billy R. King, who was a commissioner from 1990 until 2014, died at age 78 on Thursday.
“I hope and pray that people who knew Mary and her heroic husband, Warren, step forward with pieces of the puzzle, and this special couple’s stories and legacy are preserved,” Janet Gibson writes about my May 24 column on Elly Watts. She discovered memorabilia in a Winding Creek Townhouse shed belonging to the late Mary Perry Allen, who died at age 97 on December 9, 2016. Watts is hoping to return letters, photographs, and military awards and honors of Warren Allen, a Korean War veteran and Mary’s husband, to the late couple’s family.
“Bill, just a quick thank you for the fantastic article you did on the ‘topping off’ ceremony,” Zach Pritchett writes about the final beam placed on May 14 for the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s expansion project. “Throughout this journey, which for me has been a long one, l always find myself thinking about what Bo (Thorp) would think of all of this. I had the pleasure of seeing her review preliminary sketches and got to hear her personal excitement about this ‘dream’ that we were setting out to accomplish. I wish she could have been here to see the reality coming to life on a corner where she and her family spent tireless hours bringing stories to life.” Bo Thorp is the theater’s late founder and artistic director (circa 1962) along with her late husband, Herb Thorp. Pritchett is board president of the theater. The theater expects to complete the project by the end of the year.
Motorists in West Fayetteville can expect some detours and traffic delays as construction for a roundabout is scheduled for a section of King Road which is south of the intersection of Rockfish Road, Stoney Point Road and Lakewood Drive, according to a news release. The roundabout should be finished in early July.
Pamela Story, who is social work coordinator for Cumberland County Schools, is the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow from the Fayetteville Rotary Club. “Through her dedication, Pamela Story has helped connect us (Fayetteville Rotary Club) with high school SGA (Student Government Association) advisors,” Dave Baggett, the club president, said in a news release. “Because of her efforts, we have been able to support deserving students for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards helping shape future leaders across our community. Pam Story’s impact is woven into the lives of students, counselors, educators and families throughout Cumberland County. Her service reminds us that true leadership is often quiet, humble and profoundly transformative, and her work has changed lives, strengthened our schools and uplifted our entire community.”
No question about Pamela Story’s dedication to students in Cumberland County, and the Fayetteville Rotary Club has honored a woman who makes a difference in the lives of young people.
Coming Sunday: “On my honor, I will do my best” for God, country, and my community.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
