Column: Cumberland County superintendent on medical respite from schools’ duties

Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. said on Sept. 13 he temporarily will be taking a medical respite to address personal health matters. “I’m working with my doctors and feel optimistic, trusting in God’s plan for my healing,” the 61-year-old educator said in a news release. “I’m confident our leadership team will keep things running smoothly as we remain focused on serving our students.” Connelly has been superintendent since 2018, and in 2019, according to published reports, underwent surgery for stage 4 cancer of a tumor in his jaw. The school system’s leadership team is comprised of Melody Chalmers McClain, associate superintendent of student support services; Jane Fields, associate superintendent of school support; Ruben Reyes, associate superintendent of human resources; Jay Toland, associate superintendent of business operations; Kevin Coleman, associate superintendent of auxiliary services; Mellotta Hill, chief academic officer; Nick Sojka, school board attorney; and Lindsay A. Whitley, associate superintendent of communications and community engagement.

***

Cumberland County Emergency Services is providing fire protection for the Manchester Fire District as of Thursday in response to the Town of Spring Lake’s previous decision to discontinue its fire protection for unincorporated areas outside of Spring Lake’s jurisdiction bordered by Harnett County and Fort Liberty. “The safety and well-being of residents is our number one priority,” Clarence Grier, the county manager, says in a news release. “ … In light of this recent change, county officials have been working diligently with surrounding fire departments to ensure that the district continues to receive uninterrupted fire protection services. Cumberland County is committed to continued top-notch emergency services and ensuring the safety of all our residents.” The Westarea Fire Department, according to the release, will provide fire protection for the Manchester Fire District.

***

Fayetteville police officers responding to a 911 call just after 5 p.m. on Sept. 17 on the 200 block of Tiffany Court in north Fayetteville discovered a 40-year-old man suffering from a stab wound, according to a news release, and where the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 28-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in what city police say is the 18^th homicide this year in the city, including the homicides of Blake and London Deven, the adoptive children of Avantae Deven. Avantae Deven, 63, was charged in June with their murders after Blake Deven had been reported missing for more than a year and London Deven even longer.

***

Tuesday afternoon may have been a day in history for the slowest-moving freight train rolling across Winslow and Hay streets in downtown Fayetteville, and where motorists waited for almost 30 minutes for the rails to clear. 

***

A gentleman always stands when a lady enters the room, because it should be the hallmark of a gentleman, and something I learned from Danny Kinlaw, Marshall Waren, the late Henry Holt and the late Leonard Black. 

***

“Bill, saw the article on Putt-Putt and your history with them,” Mike McCaskill writes in an email about our CityView Magazine story by Zach Horner on the 70^th anniversary of the business founded on June 21, 1954, by the late Don Clayton. “Don Clayton, without doubt, had great vision. I fondly remember visiting and playing the courses at the Bragg Boulevard location. It was a place my parents could safely drop me and my friends off to spend hours playing. It later became a date night activity with my future wife while we were in high school. Now, years later, it’s an activity I can do with my grandsons when they visit us from Kernersville. What I remember well, however, was watching you play and being in awe of you and your putting, and then seeing the Sunday morning TV broadcasts of some great matches with Billy Packer (of ACC fame) broadcasting the matches. Great times and great memories came running through my head while reading Zach Horner’s article. Appreciate the past memories you gave me in simpler times.” Don Clayton was a man with vision, and his game in a time of innocence gave me the best days of my life. Don Clayton died at age 70 on April 17, 1996.

***

Gary Weller is being remembered as the late football coach at Pine Forest High School, where he coached his teams over 15 years to a 98-61 record, including 11-2-0 in 1978 and 12-1-0 in 1980. And for his inspiration to others after being the victim on April 14, 2004, when a motorist in a stolen vehicle intentionally attempted to take his life as Weller jogged home in north Fayetteville. He was a good football coach and taught his athletes to play the sport well. And he was a better man. Gary Weller died at age 75 on Sept. 17. A Celebration of Life is scheduled at 4 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Falls Baptist Church, preceded by a 2 p.m. visitation.

***

The North Carolina Lions District 31-N and the Massey Hill Lions Club are partnering for a Lions Service Day Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Massey Hill Lions Club, according to a news release. There will be blood pressure and A1C checks, and food trucks. The club is located 1613 Camden Road in Massey Hill. No charge to attend, but the club encourages folks to bring their dimes in support of the March of Dimes.

***

“We want to bring music to as many folks as possible,” Master Sgt. Bradley Robinson with the United States Air Band in Washington, D.C. writes in an email about the U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Huff Hall on the Methodist University campus. The musical group, Robinson says, will be participating in a 12-day tour through Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina, beginning Oct. 14 at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, Virginia. No charge to attend the concerts. For a ticket, visit https://bit.ly/TheUSAFBandTickets.

***

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month in Cumberland County, and Dr. Jennifer Green offered a message about the disease at a recent meeting of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners. “We are fortunate to have resources, such as Piedmont Health Services, which provides free genetic testing, counseling and case management for Sickle Cell Disease,” Green says in a news release. “Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by Sickle Cell Disease.” This county, according to the release, is among the top five counties in the state for new cases of sickle cell disease. For more information, visit www.piedmonthealthservices.org or call (910) 229-2393.

Next: A N.C. Press Association honor, but one to be shared with the consummate journalist

Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.

We’re in our third 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.