Many of our community heroes and heroines will be on hand Tuesday for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber 7th Annual Public Safety Valor Awards, which is scheduled for 7 a.m. at Manna Church, 5117 Cliffdale Road. “Our first responders don’t just serve in moments of crisis, they lead with integrity, compassion and courage every single day,” Nat Robertson, the chamber’s chief executive officer and president, said in a news release. “The Public Safety Valor Awards are our opportunity to pause, reflect and say ‘thank you’ in a meaningful way. When we honor their stories, we remind ourselves of the strength and spirit that hold our community together.” Awards will include the Merit Award, Lifesaving Award, Valor Award, Freddie L. Johnson Sr. Leadership Award, Hall of Fame Award, Unit Citations and the People’s Choice Award.
***
Dedication of Hurley Plaza and unveiling of a monument of late Fayetteville mayor John “Bill” Hurley is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the plaza at Segra Stadium. “We have been waiting for this for many years,” says Mark Hurley, son of Bill Hurley, who led the vision to revitalize downtown from its seedy nightclubs and dilapidated buildings along the 500 block and upper end of Hay Street. Bill Hurley was mayor from 1981-1987 and later served six terms in the N.C. House until his retirement in 2022. John “Bill” William Hurley died at age 85 on Nov. 26, 2018.
***
“It is incredibly inspiring to know that there is someone out there that doesn’t know me but is still investing in me,” said Garek Dixon, who is the recipient of the Ella Smith Downing Charitable Scholarship, according to the Cumberland Community Foundation. “I will continue to work hard toward my engineering goals to make the scholarship count.” Dixon is a 2024 graduate of The Fayetteville Academy and is enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
***
“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to be the first recipient of this meaningful award that not only eases the financial burden of college but also motivates me to carry the legacy of excellence it represents,” said Jayden S. Bailey, who is the recipient of the Susan Townsend Barnes Scholarship from the Cumberland Community Foundation. Bailey is a 2025 graduate of E.E. Smith High School and is attending N.C. Central University.
***
“I attended this school and was taught by Lillian Back in the 50s,” James Pait of DeLand, Fla., writes in an email about the old Lillian Black Elementary School in Spring Lake, which was shuttered in 2022 by the Cumberland County Board of Education. “I had Ms. Black in the 4th grade. Howard Draper was the principal. What finally happened on this site property? Just a note on those years and the old school. It was an education at the top.” Last I heard, Mr. Pait, the Cumberland Board of County Commissioners authorized the county manager to research costs related to maintenance, environmental concerns and demolition, and about a $375,000 proposal to purchase the old school. And there’s consideration for the Town of Spring Lake to buy it. Seems to me Spring Lake could find use for the school.
***
“Mr. Kirby, thank you so much for your interest in my career as a teacher of 52.4 years, and for all that you wrote in the May 16 article for CityView,” Janet Baker writes. “It was so nice to be recognized for dedication and hard work, and believe me it has not all been easy, but I love kids. Thanks again for the lovely article.” Mrs. Baker retired in the spring from Stoney Point Elementary School, where she taught third graders in the Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program for the past nine years. Her teaching career includes stops at William Hefner Elementary, Mary McArthur Elementary, Eastover Central Elementary, Legion Road Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, Lucile Souders Elementary, Pauline Jones Elementary, Lillian Black Elementary, Young Howard Elementary, Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Montclair Elementary and T.C. Berrien Elementary. I know a good schoolteacher, Mrs. Baker, when I see one, because I was blessed with some of the best in the 1950s and 1960s. And you, Mrs. Baker, were one of Cumberland County’s finest.
***
“Mr. Kirby, I read your article about caution at green lights, and of course agree,” Suzanne Avery writes about our Aug. 27 column about motorists running intersection stoplights. “I thought it was ironic that the new sheriff was interviewed. When driving, I commonly see that the Cumberland County Sheriff deputies and police are the worst at committing traffic violations. One morning this past spring, I was driving on All American (Freeway) to base” on Fort Bragg. “I was going around 60 mph, above the speed limit but slower than the traffic around me. I watched a sheriff’s deputy speed about 80-85 mph, weaving in and out of traffic without using a blinker. I consistently watch the Fayetteville PD cruisers change lanes, weave in and out of traffic and make turns without using their blinkers, speed without running code, meaning not using their lights, so they have no reason to speed, because they are not responding to an emergency, and drive generally erratically and irresponsibly. It’s my belief that law enforcement personnel set the tone for the rest of the community. If our law enforcement isn’t following the law, citizens won’t either. If our citizens see our law enforcement speed, run red lights, weave in and out of traffic, the citizens will do the same. This issue doesn’t just stop with the city and county law enforcement; although it’s less common to see state troopers in Fayetteville, whenever I do see them, their blinkers and speedometers also seem to be out of service.”
***
“Bill, your article in CityView brought back memories of the song, ‘I’m In A Hurry (To Get Things Done),’” the Rev. Ben West writes in an email about motorists running intersection stoplights. “I get honked at a lot these days.” Let’em honk, preacher, because it’s better to pause when the light turns green than to be injured or dead because of an irresponsible motorist.
***
“Bill, your article on people running stoplights in Fayetteville reminded me that Fayetteville has had stoplight cameras installed on two occasions and both times removed because of reasons I can’t understand,” Jim Spence writes in an email about motorists running stoplights at intersections and putting green light motorists at risk. “I believe in using technology like red light cameras, because many people just refuse to do what’s right, and they usually aren’t held accountable for irresponsible behavior. Police will never be able to monitor all the intersections, so cameras are the only answer in my opinion. As I recall, it raised a lot of money for the school system as well. I believe the people objecting to camera surveillance are those that have something to hide.”
***
“Great article and tribute,” Bob Cogswell writes in an email about our Aug. 29 column about the sale of 93-year-old D.K. Taylor Oil Co. founded in 1932 by the late D.K. Taylor and carried on from 1973 until 2017 by his son D.K. “Bud” Taylor Jr. “First met him playing church league,” Cogswell writes about David “Bud” Kinnie Taylor Jr., who died at age 72 on May 25, 17, 2017. “A great friend.” And, if I might say, an honest businessman.
***
“Bill, I just saw your comments about J.F.” Will Gills writes in an email about our Aug. 31 column on the late J.F. Dunn, the longtime owner of Dunn’s Nursery and Garden Shop along Skibo Road. “Your good memory and expressions of care are important to us in this changing community.” John Fairley Dunn Jr. died at age 81 on Aug. 23.
***
If you haven’t made it out to the Cumberland County Fair at the Crown Complex, you have three days left. Gates open today at 5 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., and then the carney folks are moving on.
***
Cape Fear Regional Theatre has received a $250,000 Community Organization Resource Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville Cumberland County. “CFRT is in a period of profound transition with construction already underway for our capital expansion project, Act 2: Elevate and Expand,” Ella Wrenn, managing director for the CFRT, said in a news release. “We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the Arts Council and community during this exciting and transformative time in the institution’s story. This incredible financial support from the Arts Council is critical to our mission of providing high-quality productions and education programs that support our community’s creative and emotional needs. We look forward to seeing friends, both old and new, in the audience at Owen Drive this season.” Performances for the 2025-2026 season are 9 to 5 the musical (Sept. 4-28), Little Shop of Horrors (Oct. 23-Nov. 16), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Dec. 6-21), Disney High School Musical (Jan. 29-Feb. 22), Driving Miss Daisy (March 19-April 4) and Crowns: A Gospel Musical (May 7-31). All performances are scheduled at 1707 Owen Dr. Grants, programs and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, according to the release, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the N.C. Arts Council, which is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
***
The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has been awarded a $160,000 Community Organization Resource Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County to provide general operating support for fiscal year 2026. “The Arts Council’s investment is a powerful reminder that public funding for the arts truly benefits everyone,” Jessica Munch-Dittmar, executive director for the FSO, said in a news release. “Whether through concerts, school partnerships or community collaborations, the Fayetteville Symphony is committed to serving the people of Fayetteville and Cumberland County through music.” The grant, which is more than $10,000 more than what was awarded in 2024, will support all functions of the FSO, according to the release, including its main stage concert season, the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and the Third Grade School Visits and Concerts.
***
Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a recipient of a $120,000 Community Organization Resource Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County. “Cape Fear Botanical Garden connects guests with art and nature, making each more enjoyable and accessible,” Chris Hoffman, chief executive officer for the CFBC, said in a news release. “The garden offers community programs including cultural art performances, live music, environmental education, nature walks, camps and therapeutic horticulture classes.” The grant, according to the release, will be used toward the fiscal year themed “Harmony in Nature,” which will include events such as Halloween at the BOO-tanical Garden, Holiday Lights, Dog Day and Pondamania, while launching new initiatives and enhancing cultural tourism.
Coming Sunday: “The Last Singing Cowboy”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
We’re nearing our fourth year of CityView Today, and so many of you have been with us from day one in our efforts to bring the news of the city, county, community and Cape Fear region each day. We’re here with a purpose — to deliver the news that matters to you.
