HOPE MILLS — The town Board of Commissioners on Monday will hold a public hearing on an annexation request for 1.98 acres of property at 7163 Rockfish Road. The town received an annexation …

It’s a rematch between Jackie Warner, the six-term mayor of Hope Mills, and challenger Jessie Bellflowers, a former town commissioner.

There’s no rhyme here. There’s no reason for any of us to understand for now. There’s no explanation for the loss of this young life with so much life still to live, and now a grieving mother, brother, aunt, cousins and community gathered Friday at Crystal Springs Chapel for a farewell to the vivacious 19-year-old who was shot to death in the early morning of July 17 at a Valero gas station on Bragg Boulevard adjacent to  Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.

Most Cumberland County high school football players spend time during June and July with informal offseason conditioning workouts to prepare for the official start of fall practice about Aug. 1. But Keith Tillett, a running back candidate at Jack Britt High School, took two weeks out of his summer for a drastic departure from the practice field. 

Homicide detectives with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are investigating separate shooting deaths on Saturday, according to news releases. The first shooting was reported about 12:50 p.m. Saturday when a physical disturbance was reported at 4001 Pembroke Lane in Eastover.

Candidates have until noon today to file for municipal offices in Cumberland County, according to the Board of Elections. As the filing period neared its end Thursday, two more challengers emerged for the District 2 Fayetteville City Council seat; the Hope Mills commissioners race gained two hopefuls; and a challenger filed to become mayor of Spring Lake.

HOPE MILLS — Mayor Jackie Warner said Monday’s meeting of the town Board of Commissioners was the shortest she has ever been a part of. Commissioners Bryan Marley and Jerry Legge …

A 19-year-old Hope Mills woman was found shot to death early Monday in the parking lot of a gas station on Bragg Boulevard, according to the Fayetteville Police Department. The shooting was reported about 1:30 a.m. Monday at a Valero station in the 800 block of Bragg Boulevard, according to a news release.

HOPE MILLS — The Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider an amendment to its policy and fees on park rental space and marquee advertisements. The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Town Hall.

Fayetteville voters will decide a rematch in the mayor’s race, and at least three candidates are targeting the District 5 City Council seat, according to candidate filings Friday, the first day …