City Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin says the government body is leading Fayetteville in the right direction and deserves credit for its efforts. “A lot of us sit back and don’t want to say it,” Banks-McLaughlin, who represents District 8 in west Fayetteville, was telling the city manager and some fellow council members at a June 12 budget work session for the 2023-24 fiscal year. “I can’t speak for everybody, but as a council member, we’ve done so much this year and years prior to that, and we deserve to pat ourselves on the back. As a council member, I bust my tail. It’s not a part-time job for me. It’s a full-time job. and that’s why I feel we deserve a raise.” And, the councilwoman says, travel allowances should be increased, too. Banks-McLaughlin says repurposing the downtown Market House as an education center and recently bringing home All-America City honors from the National League of Cities are among council accomplishments for consideration. Council members Kathy Keefe Jensen, Shakeyla Ingram, Mario Benavente, D.J. Haire, Brenda McNair, Derrick Thompson, Deno Hondros and Banks-McLaughlin, according to the city, earn $19,044.53 annually. Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins earns $ 20,160.37. Mayor Mitch Colvin earns $34,833.20, including a $5,000 travel and training budget. Council members, including the mayor pro tem, have a $4,000 travel and training budget. All, as elected officials, are eligible for health care benefits such as vision, dental and medical at the same premium rates as regular city employees. With adoption Wednesday of the 2023-24 city budget with 4% raises for city employees, council members will earn $19,806.31; the mayor pro tem will earn $20,966.78; and the mayor will earn $36,226.53. And with the health benefits.
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Alex Rodriguez and Fred La Chance III may have lost their respective bids for the Fayetteville City Council in the past election, but both apparently will give it another shot in the October primary. Rodriguez will be running against five-term Councilwoman Kathy Keefe Jensen in north Fayetteville’s District 1, and La Chance again will be challenging Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins for his District 5 seat. And both will be part of a community town hall meeting scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at The Venue located at 3002 Fort Bragg Road. City residents are invited to hear what Rodriguez and La Chance have to say about the city and any concerns you might have about municipal issues. Filing for municipal offices, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections, is from noon July 7 through noon July 21. The city primary is Oct. 10. The city election is Nov. 7.
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Twenty-seven homicides thus far in the city almost six months into 2023, according to the Fayetteville Police Department.
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“I must admit that I was unaware of Roberta’s sexual abuse she experienced as a child and later years, and I admire her more now than ever for what she has accomplished as director of the Child Advocacy Center,” Sue Perkins was saying Thursday at the retirement sendoff for Roberta Humphries, executive director of the center. “Based on all the communication I had with her as a board member of the Child Advocacy Center, it really came as a shock because she never mentioned this even though the sole purpose of our board was to bring exposure and awareness to this atrocity that our most precious commodity — our children — were being subjected to, and every dollar we raised went to helping them heal through our highly trained personnel at the center. I always admired their commitment and determination, but most of all their strength in dealing with these traumatized children. Roberta is a great director and always has the interest of the children and the best way to assist them in their journey to somehow begin to recover. And knowing now that she personally experienced this traumatic experience, I am sure it couldn’t have been easy for her to somewhat relive this all over again. But she persevered, and knowing her, it probably made her more determined than ever to do anything possible for these children. Her shoes and commitment will be hard to fill, but I am so glad to know that she will continue to be involved with the Child Advocacy Center on a part-time basis.”
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“Hello, Bill: In regard to your column of Sept. 7, 2022, Jeff Thompson wrote to you stating he ‘bet somewhere in the complex there’s a plaque that reads ‘Memorial Arena,’” Phil Barnard writes in an email about the Crown Complex auditorium and arena. “He is correct. I may be a little late, but I’m here. And I’m still waiting to hear from the Crown about where in the name of Graceland is the rest of the Elvis photos.” And Mr. Barnard sends along a photo of the original bronze plaque to what Jeff Thompson always knew. As for the photograph exhibit of the late Elvis Presley’s three-night stop at the arena in August 1976 that once adorned the hallway of the arena, I only know where one of the exhibit photos is at the moment. Paul Beard, when he was the former assistant general manager of the Crown, saved the old exhibit from the trash dumpster many years ago. All I know otherwise is that the photographs, as you say, can’t be located at this time, and that’s a shame. And that Jeff Thompson, the old local radio newsman who knows this city and county like the back of his hand, knows his history. It was the Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium Arena, circa 1967.
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Ever heard the adage, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch?” Beg your pardon. There is Saturday at the Museum of the Cape Fear Backyard BBQ Bash, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bradford and Arsenal avenues. “Come hungry,” a news release says. John Shelton Reed, author of “Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue,” will kick off the day at 10:30 a.m. with a lecture about the history of state barbecue, along with an exhibit. He’ll do a book signing after the lecture. It’s a day of food, fun and music, the release says, with funnel cake and ice cream, and there will be tours of the 1897 Poe House and bluegrass musicians including Slippery Hill performing throughout the day. Smokin’ Deez BBA Food Truck also will be on site. No charge for you to attend, but donations will be accepted. The event is for the community thanks to grants from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County and support from the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation.
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A statewide event to honor, recognize and remember prisoners of war and missing in action military personnel is scheduled for noon Sept. 12 at the Crown Complex, according to organizers with the Purple Hearts Foundation of N.C. and Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of North Carolina. Send email inquiries to johnsonmichael5@frontier.com to learn more.
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“Bill, we write with sadness of Larry, with whom we spent wonderful times here in Fayetteville, and in Chuuk, Federation of Micronesia, way out there in the Western Pacific,” Dr. Al Harkness and his wife, Shirley, write about friend and Fayetteville native Larry Bruton. “He grew up here with his parents, JD and Mae Murray Guy Bruton, and several brothers and sisters. When Shirley and I joined Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in 1976, we were excited to learn that Larry and his family had lived and worked in Truk, the old name for Chuuk, since 1974. I had been a physician in Truk in 1971-73, and so began our friendship over the next 47 years. As a previous member of Snyder, Larry organized and directed a typhoon relief mission in 1987, when the islands were devastated. He invited my son, Jonathan, and me with the help of Wayne Ham and Snyder and Continental Airlines to ship huge amounts of needed medical, food and other supplies to the islands. Larry, again, was always looking for ways to improve life there. In 2003, he developed the first permanent diving chamber for Chuuk, a very special need as Chuuk was a premier scuba diving place in the world, and he was an avid member of Divers Alert Network. We had special times here in Fayetteville, taking a boat with his brother down the Cape Fear all the way from Fayetteville to Ocean Isle Beach. More recently, enjoying and being with him at his 50th high school graduation. We thank the Lord for our times and friendship with Larry and his family, who represent the special kindness and love spread out over 10,000 miles around the world. Blessings for Lawrence Bruton and his life.” And, Dr. and Mrs. Harkness, for the friendship you shared with Larry Bruton, and the friendship Mr. Bruton shared with each of you.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
