Fayetteville City Councilwoman Brenda McNair is the latest authority on the city and, apparently, city residents. “I realized that the citizens are not informed about the city and the City Council,” McNair, 61, is quoted in a story by Lexi Solomon of The Fayetteville Observer. “They have no clue. They’re not educated on anything that the city does. Even the voters, they don’t know why they vote. They’re just happy to vote.” Some freshman City Council members, including Derrick Thompson and McNair, with just eight months on the job, had better learn to think before they speak because city residents will only tolerate so much arrogance and insulting and condescending ways. McNair is a soft-spoken woman and a self-made businesswoman, and the District 7 representative’s comments are surprising. Her predecessor in the seat, Larry Wright, never would have made such a comment for publication. But you, councilwoman, insulted a number of city residents who do care about this city and who do indeed have a clue. You witnessed firsthand many of them at the April 10 public hearing about a proposal to amend the city charter on election of council members to two-year vs. four-year terms, and they were quite in the know and in tune with the city they call home.
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Freshman City Councilman Deno Hondros says a $30,000 expense for nine council members to attend the recent Congressional Cities Conference in Washington was worth the cost if the city can receive $30 million in federal grants, and perhaps as much as $70 million. “I choose to look at it as an investment rather than an expense,” he writes. “… Or as we often hear down south, ‘that the juice is worth the squeeze.’” Hondros also suggests it might be worth it to see how peer cities fare. Actually, councilman, the council cost was just shy of $22,000. The remaining expenditure was for the Fayetteville Cumberland Youth Council of eight, an adviser and a male chaperone to attend. No argument here, councilman, about investment. As for other cities, what they spend is on those cities. This city and what it does is our focus.
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Cumberland County Schools is reaping financial pains from the COVID-19 health pandemic regarding prospects of constructing a new E.E. Smith High School at the intersection of Honeycutt Road and Parham Boulevard near Fort Bragg. The estimated cost before the health pandemic was $90 million, according to a news release from the county, and now the estimated cost for the 254,479-square-foot facility that would accommodate 1,600 students is $159.5 million.
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An attempted robbery in the 200 block of Alphin Street on Tuesday evening has resulted in a shooting and the 12th city homicide of 2023, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department. Three other victims suffered gunshot injuries, with two transported to a local medical center. The Police Department says both are in stable condition.
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Let me see if I understand this: Individuals are shooting hoops on April 6 in the 700 block of Langdon Street near downtown, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department, when four unknown males in a dark-colored van pull up and begin shooting not hoops but bullets at the basketball court. The victims and the suspects fled the scene before police officers arrived. Honestly, you can’t even play an innocent game of basketball any longer. If you have any information on this incident, call 910-703-6243 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).
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City residents have an opportunity to meet with Fayetteville Police Chief Kem Braden and other officers at an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. April 25 at the Central Station on Sycamore Dairy Road.
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Katherine Dempsey of Army Community Service, Liz Hart of the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Robert Sparks of the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation, Grant Bennett of The Two-Six Project, Elaine Saleeby of the YMCA of the Sandhills, Hadassah Judy Toney of Combined Unified Service, Carol Ballard of Fayetteville Urban Ministry, David Ickes of Cape Fear Community Emergency Response, and Steve and Joy Morris of Living Water Assembly of God have earned the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service awards from the Governor’s Volunteer Service. And those are not the only awards. Cheyanne and Cali Rae Campos, the Fizzy Friendz Bath Bombs sisters, were chosen to receive the Governor’s Medallion Award, which is given to the state’s top 20 volunteers. The Governor’s Medallion, according to a news release from United Way of Cumberland County, was awarded Monday at the state Capitol in Raleigh. All other Cumberland County honorees received their awards at the April 17 meeting of the county commissioners. The board also recognized Melissa Rogers Reid, the outgoing director of resource development for United Way, for organizing the Over the Edge fundraiser in March
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“Jelly’s Last Jam” is coming to Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and those among the cast include Ricardo Morgan, who is no stranger to stage productions at the theater on Haymount Hill. He is a studious actor and a gifted performer. “Jelly’s Last Jam” runs May 4-28.
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This city and county and community are green and glowing in all the springtime bloom, and it is something of nature’s splendor to look upon.
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More than 350 people attended CityView Magazine’s third annual Ladies’ Night Out presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System on Thursday evening at The Carolina Barn in Spring Lake. It was an evening of food, shopping, a silent auction, health exhibitions and fellowship with one another. Ladies’ Night Out was one of the highlights for our late managing editor, Lorry Williams. She would have loved Thursday evening and s night out with all who were there.
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Taft Courie continues his quest to become quite the golfer. The 14-year-old eighth-grader at Village Christian Academy turned in a round Monday of 31-34–65 at Gates Four Golf & Country Club to lead the Knights to victory over Northwood Temple Academy and Freedom Christian Academy. Courie had six birdies and an eagle on the 520-yard, Par 5 ninth hole, and just one bogey. The youngster recorded a 66 on April 4 in competition with Northwood Temple, Freedom Christian and Fayetteville Christian Academy at Gates Four. Courie is ranked No. 6 in the nation for the class of 2027 by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and No. 7 in the world by the organization.
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No need for tears. Elmer Hall would have had family and friends know who attended his funeral Thursday at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. “Nobody has had as good a life as I have,” was Elmer Hall’s mantra to all throughout his life that included working until age 95 at the beloved Auto Machine Shop he founded long ago. He was a good and giving man who was as smart as he was caring for others. Elmer Rowland Hall died at age 102 on April 16.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.