Fatal shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have polarized a nation, and that polarization includes Fayetteville. “Fayetteville college students are answering a call to action from student organizations in Minneapolis,” Isaac Lacap says in a news release about a protest, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at City Hall. “The call is for a nationwide shutdown to protest ICE terror around the country and continue the momentum of the historic shutdown that took place in Minnesota on January 23rd. In Fayetteville, students will walk out of classes and gather to protest.” Lacap, 22, says he is a part of the protest on behalf of The Party for Socialism and Liberation branch in the Triangle. He says students from Methodist University, Fayetteville State University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College will take part in the protest. Good was a 37-year-old mother of three, who died at the hands of an ICE agent on January 7. Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, who was shot 10 times by two ICE agents.
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Cumberland County and Fayetteville officials say they are keeping a close eye on the weekend weather, particularly with forecasts of cold and snow. “Evaluating all emergency protective measures options,” says Garry Crumpler, director of emergency services for the county, “Communicating with partners.” Diane Rice, the county communications director, says the county is working with local, regional, and state officials monitoring weather conditions. “Residents are also encouraged to sign up for Cumberland Alerts to receive timely notifications should weather conditions impact operations or public safety,” Rice said Thursday morning. “Our community is resilient. Neighbors look out for neighbors, and together we will continue to support one another throughout this period of cold weather.” Laura Smith says the city also is monitoring the weather. “We continuously monitor weather forecasts to assess potential impacts,” Smith, with the Fayetteville Office of Emergency Management, said Thursday. “Our streets division will begin sand/salt operations tomorrow night and continue until the storm is over. Those vehicles are also equipped with plows, and the main focus will be on clearing those main thoroughfares within the city as snow begins to accumulate. Our other services are monitoring the storm as well, and we will continue to update as those decisions are made. As always, we encourage everyone to sign up for Cumberland Alerts, make sure your emergency kit is prepared for your vehicle and home, to only heat your home with safe and approved indoor heating devices, to please stay home if the roads are impassable and to ensure that information is received from trusted news sources. If your power goes out, please refer to your power company’s emergency line or outage map. Absolutely call 911 in the event of an emergency, and please log on to our social media and fayettevillenc.gov/readyfay for updates as they happen.”
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“Much like the U.S. Postal Service, our belief is ‘Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail’ shall keep the Massey Hill Lions from hosting their annual event and serving our community,” club member Mike McCaskill says about the 53rd annual Massey Hill Lions Club “All You Can Eat” Oyster Roast, which is scheduled from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday at the club located at 1613 Camden Road. About 700 people are scheduled to attend, according to McCaskill, who says the fundraiser is a sellout. “Tickets were sold out about a week ago,” McCaskill says. “No tickets are sold at the door. Unless someone has a friend or buddy that’s willing to gift them a ticket or a ticket was endowed in a loved one’s will, no tickets are available.” The oyster roast brings out a “Who’s Who” of folks in the community.
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A 50-year-old mother, her 29-year-old son, and 23-year-old daughter are dead, the result of an altercation at 9:35 p.m. on January 25 along the 5200 block of North Sumac Circle in Lafayette Village, according to the Fayetteville Police Department. The mother and son, according to the FPD, died from gunshot wounds at the scene. The daughter was transported to a local medical center, where she died from a gunshot wound. A 25-year-old man, whom police say suffered from multiple stab wounds, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths, which, by my count, brings 2026 city homicides to six.
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“I was disappointed that your recent article didn’t have the recipe for vegetable soup,” Joan Miller writes in an email about my January 23 column regarding hunkering down at home with homemade soup with winter storm Fern heading our way. “If I recall, a friend gave it to you, and it had V8 juice in it. The [Fayetteville] Observer printed it years ago and I used it many times until I misplaced the recipe. Any chance you still have it?” You may be confusing, Mrs. Miller, my late mother’s homemade vegetable soup recipe with a cabbage soup recipe for weight loss. But for the vegetable soup, some beef chuck roast, a couple of cans of peeled tomatoes, onion, and Margaret Holmes canned vegetables, i.e., lima beans, corn, succotash, etc. Put it all in a crock pot and just let it simmer for about six hours. Bon appétit.
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“Bill, I loved your vegetable soup column,” Tom English, my old Fayetteville Times managing editor who now resides in Greensboro, writes in an email. “It brought back memories of my mother’s soup days. And my wife Judy still makes it.” Seemed like a good column for the winter storm and the cold nights.
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“Bill, what a beautiful tribute you wrote about Sam,” John Byrd writes about my January 18 CityView column on the life of Sam Henrickson Jr. “I’ve had many great conversations with him at Chris Vlacos’s former golf shop. He was truly a good man.” Sam Reid Henrickson Jr. died at age 82 on December 30.
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There is a pall on the pediatric floor of Cape Fear Medical Center along Owen Drive, where Dr. Abhik Kumar Biswas is being remembered for his love and dedication to children. “You will not find a more dedicated man to children and pediatrics than him,” says Mike Nagowski, chief executive officer for Cape Fear Valley Health. “He ran the pediatric intensive care unit. He taught medical students and residents. He did a lot with paramedics. He was one of those complete givers.” A retired Navy captain, Dr. Biwas, 61, died suddenly on January 21 at his home. A memorial service, including an EMS signoff and a flyover by Lifelink Air, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at Hay Street United Methodist Church at 320 Hay St. They say every child needs a hero, and Dr. Abhik Kumar Biswas was a hero to countless children with medical needs in this community.
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Coming Sunday: “A methodical approach to the Crown Theatre and Arena renovation.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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