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Bill Kirby Jr.: Braden to officially take reins of city’s Police Department in February

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While Police Chief Gina Hawkins’ official retirement is Tuesday, Hawkins still will oversee the Fayetteville Police Department through the end of this month. “Assistant Chief Braden will become the chief of police officially on Feb. 1,” Jodi Phelps, chief of staff for the city, says about Kemberle Braden. “We are working now to plan his formal installation ceremony for early February.” Braden, 48, was selected by City Manager Doug Hewett on Dec. 28 to succeed Hawkins as the 25th chief of the department.

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No question there is excitement about the $33 million Medical Education Center & Neuroscience Institute at Cape Fear Valley Health, and Dr. Brad Broussard is one hailing the facility that will be christened Friday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. “With the development of multiple residency programs at CFVHS, the health care pendulum had already swung in a very positive direction for the population of Cumberland and our surrounding counties,” says Broussard, chairman of the health system’s board of trustees. “The Medical Education Center takes this to an even higher level as we now have a state-of-the-art facility in which these residents can further their skill sets as physicians, didactically and clinically. Residents coming out of these programs will have had access to the latest in training modalities and clinical experience and will have a very strong foundation with which to begin their careers in medicine, hopefully with many remaining in our community. The Neuroscience Institute is going to be a technologically advanced care center, providing cutting-edge care for our neurological patients. Also, with the addition of new providers and more space to see patients, the access to these services will be increased significantly. Very exciting times at CFVHS.”

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If you are interested in the history contents of the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction History Center, you can find out more at public meetings scheduled at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 23 in the multipurpose room at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 1217 Murchison Road, according to a news release. Gerard Eisterhold of Eisterhold and Associates, the firm designing the center, will be joined by a number of historians from the Smithsonian Institution, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Clemson University, Fayetteville State University and the N.C. Department of Archives and History. Exhibits will be on display Jan. 24-28 at the church for the public to review. The center will replace the existing Museum of the Cape Fear on the grounds of the N.C. Arsenal in Haymount.

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With 98 members in the Fayetteville Sports Club hall of fame, the next class to be inducted should be announced in February or early March, and here’s hoping that the late Don Koonce is among the inductees. He was a gifted athlete in football, basketball and baseball in the 1960s at Hope Mills High School; played Triple A baseball with the New York Mets, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves; and worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau. He founded DK Sports and broadcast local high school football games. His time as an FSC hall of fame member is long overdue. Donald Clayton Koonce was 71 when he died July 15, 2019.

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“Loved your article about Joy Cogswell,” Carol Quigg writes in an email about our Jan. 8 column about the longtime pianist and music educator at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. “I was not a close friend of hers, but enough of a friend to recognize all of those wonderful qualities you spoke of in your column. Oh, to be so talented and to use that gift in such a giving and loving manner to her church and so many children. Thanks for once again making us remember a deceased one with tears and a smile.” Joycelyn Walden Cogswell, 75, died Jan. 2.

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“Awesome tribute to Joy Cogswell,” Rod Walters writes in an email.

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“Today’s article is outstanding,” Linda Lockamy writes in an email about our Jan. 6 column on Kemberle Braden, the current assistant police chief who will become the 25th police chief for the Fayetteville Police Department. “Officer Braden is certainly deserving of the position. Your story on Joy Cogswell was wonderful, too. She certainly left her mark on the music community. Before signing off, I must tell you I will reference your Jan. 1 column on ‘no resolution’ in the devotion I will give Jan. 8 at the women’s meeting at church. I will use your column as a guide for my thoughts. See, you have an impact on the community, too.”

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“Mr. Kirby, just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your column about hopeful and prayerful in 2023,” Craig Wheeler writes in an email about our Jan. 1 column on hopes and prayers for this year. “I think you nailed it. I am hopeful for many similar things.”

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The Robert P. Holding Foundation has made a $25,000 donation to the Methodist University nursing program, according to a news release from the university. The nursing program has offered a prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing degree since 2010 and has expanded to offer an online RN-to-BSN degree, an online master of science in nursing, and online graduate certificate in nursing education. Graduates prepare for academic, clinical and leadership skills throughout North Carolina. Robert Powell Holding served as president and chairman of First Citizens Bank in Smithfield from 1935 to 1957 and long was a supporter of health care and higher education in the state. When it comes to nursing, some of us believe it to be the most noble of professions.

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The First Nations Tribal Youth Development Corp. has been awarded a $15,000 Inclusive Outreach Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County with support from the North Carolina Arts Council to host the first Cumberland County Social Powwow at noon May 6 at 102 Indian Drive. “Powwows are a great way to bring people together to learn about and celebrate indigenous culture,” Nakoma Maiden, chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization, says in a news release. Admission is $5 or a donation of two cans of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern N.C. To learn more, send emails to firstnationstyd@gmail.com or call 910-578-7278.

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New cars are expensive these days, but you can have a luxury vehicle from Valley Auto World valued at $50,000 for the mere cost of $125 if you are willing to purchase a raffle ticket for the 16th annual Bread ’n’ Bowls fundraiser on March 3 that is sponsored by Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch. “We need your help in spreading the word because we must sell a minimum of 600 tickets in order to have the raffle,” says John Bantsolas, who is helping organize the raffle. The drawing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. The deadline to purchase a ticket is 11:59 p.m. March 2. For more information, reach out to raffle@faoiam.org or call 910-433-2161.

Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-6241961.

Fayetteville, police chief, Cape Fear Valley Health, Joy Cogswell

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