Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Henry Luthy is scheduled as the keynote speaker for the Veterans Day unveiling and dedication of the “Special Forces Soldier” mural by renowned state artist Max Dowdle in a ceremony set for 11 a.m. Friday at the Stitch-in-Time embroidery business at 412 S. Main St. in Spring Lake. Pre-activities are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., according to Dr. Dave Dickerhoff, a member of the Spring Lake Community Appearance and Sustainability Committee that is joining with the Military and Veterans Advisory Committee and the Town of Spring Lake for the unveiling.
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Retired city historian Bruce Daws is scheduled as the keynote speaker for the Blue Star Memorial Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Freedom Memorial Park, adjacent to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum downtown. “Our Blue Star Highway refurbished marker has been shipped from Marietta, Ohio, just in time,” says Sybil West of the Cross Creek-Briarwood Garden Club, which is hosting the annual ceremony along with the local Daughters of the American Revolution.
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VFW Post 10630 Commander Jim Morris is scheduled as keynote speaker, according to Hope Mills Mayor Jessie Bellflowers, for the Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 5766 Rockfish Road, in Hope Mills.
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You may notice county government buildings glowing green as part of Veterans Day celebrations. “As Fort Liberty’s home, Cumberland County wants veterans to know that we acknowledge, honor, see and support them,” Glenn Adams, chair of the Cumberland Board of County Commissioners, says in a news release about Operation Green Light for Veterans, an initiative led by the National Association of Counties. “Operation Green Light helps our community remember to honor and thank those who chose to serve our nation.” Residents, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to participate by changing one light bulb inside or outside their home to a green bulb.
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A Cumberland County boil water advisory issued Monday for Southpoint Water System customers “is still intact as we await resample results,” Diane Rice, communications director for the county, said Wednesday. A sample from the Southpoint Water System in the Gray’s Water and Sewer District tested positive for E. coli, according to the Nov. 4 advisory. Customers were advised to boil water for one minute before use. “We will put out more information,” Rice says, “once it is received.” Southpoint Water System customers may call (910) 678-7682 for more information.
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Chairperson Irene Grimes, Derek Edmonds, James Baker, Linda Devore and Billy King of the Cumberland County Board of Elections are scheduled to canvass and certify the Nov. 5 county election results at 11 a.m. on Nov. 15 at 227 Fountainhead Lane, according to Angie Amaro, director of the elections board.
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George Breece, who knows national, state, city and county politics better than anyone in Fayetteville, predicted that Democratic N.C. Sen. Rachel Hunt of Mecklenburg County would defeat Republican opponent Hal Weatherman in Tuesday’s race for lieutenant governor. “She will serve us admirably,” Breece said, “and in eight years will be our governor.” Hunt earned 2,738,089 or 49.44% of the unofficial votes cast, according to the N.C. Board of Elections Thursday. Weatherman had 2,644,758 or 47.75%. Hunt is the daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt, who was elected lieutenant governor in 1972 and later served four terms as governor (1977-1985 and 1985-2001).
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A 57-year-old man has been identified as a homicide victim after his body was discovered by law enforcement officers responding at 4:28 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the 2900 block of Trace Ave in south Cumberland County, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and then the homicide of a 22-year-old man at 4:01 p.m. on Oct. 31 along the 1300 block of Atomic Drive in Spring Lake. The murders, according to the Sheriff’s Office, are the 12th and 13th in the county of 2024.
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Former Fayetteville Police Department Capt. Lars Paul has been honored with the Dogwood Award from N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein. “The opioid crisis has impacted every North Carolina community,” Stein says in a news release. “Captain Paul has been an important partner in my office’s fight against this crisis, and I am grateful for his hard work to save lives.” Paul is passionate and dedicated to eradicating the opioid crisis. “I’m extremely honored to have received this award,” Paul says in the release. “It has been and will continue to be a privilege for me to serve the people of North Carolina as we work together using new and innovative strategies to combat the ongoing opioid crisis that continues to plague our citizens.” Paul now serves as the law enforcement program manager for the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition.
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“The mural is finished!” Fayetteville Technical Community College art instructor Katey Morrill, FTCC graphic design alumnus Britney Deveault and students Ryan Hauth, Kevin Elmore, Sarah Johnson, Josh Deveault, Dexter Morrill and Katharine Morris want you to know about “The Spirit of FTCC” work on the back of the former Tiny Town business on Fort Bragg Road. The project, according to FTCC, was produced with grant funding from the N.C. Arts Council and the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County.
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“Dear Bill, thanks for an informational piece on our school performance,” Libby Daniel writes in an email about the Nov. 3 Kirby File regarding the Cumberland County Board of Education extending the contract by one year for Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. and his school system cabinet. “I am delighted to see that we have had so many schools removed from low-performing status. I would love to see a follow up that would highlight how they achieved this goal. It would educate and inspire all of us on how to support the schools who remain on the low- performing list. Thank you for the great work you and CityView are doing to keep us informed.” Seventeen low-performing schools in the county were removed from the list, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, while the school system says there currently are 15 low-performing schools. You can be sure, Mrs. Daniel, we will keep an eye out for how Cumberland County schools are progressing.
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“Mr. Kirby, thank you so much for the article you published about our French teachers’ visit,” Karen Canady writes in an email about the Oct. 27 column of the nine teachers and three students who were part of the educational exchange program between the sister cities from Oct. 18-30 hosted by the Fayetteville-Saint-Avold Friendship Alliance. “It will be wonderful for our city to know that our guests felt enriched by the sharing of our culture and our city’s history. In visiting Massey Hill Classical High School and Cape Fear High school, the teachers learned about American high schools, specifically the ones they visited, made numerous connections with our high school teachers and look forward to future collaborations with them.” Canady is a French teacher at Cape Fear High and a member of the Fayetteville-Saint-Avold Friendship Alliance.
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“He took care of the coaches,” former Douglas Byrd High School football coach Mike Paroli would remember Shannon Royce “Bull” Beaman, who was the familiar figure along the sidelines at Douglas Byrd, Seventy-First and Gray’s Creek high school athletic events, “and he took care of the kids.” Paroli was among former Cumberland County coaches and athletes who filled the Jernigan Warren Funeral Home chapel Thursday to remember Shannon Royce Beaman, who died at age 52 on Nov. 3.
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Former Fayetteville City Council Member Anne Dickson Fogleman died at age 78 on Oct. 11 in Raleigh, according to her obituary. A Raeford native, Mrs. Fogleman served two terms on the council in the early 2000s and was a former member of the Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees.
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A memorial flag unveiling is scheduled at 2 p.m. today at Fayetteville Regional Airport in memory of fallen military and first responders, according to a news release. The flag is made from 73 name tapes nominated by family members and friends of their fallen service members and first responders. Sixteen families, the release says, requested a flag to be placed at the airport with other names from across the nation. The airport partnered with “Flags to Remember,” a local nonprofit created by Anthony Peterson, a Fort Liberty soldier who was inspired to cope with the loss of military friends and help grieving families.
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.
Thank you for your never wavering support of our veterans. Your informative columns about the Special Forces mural dedication in Spring Lake were much appreciated. Hopefully, the veterans and their families that attended this ceremony felt the appreciation our community holds for their service. Now, a lasting tribute is on Main Street for them to observe and remember.