Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1108657
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 24-30, 2019 UCW 5 tants they hire, they dismissed the HMI. ey knew better than the dozen community leaders and the subject matter experts who designed the initiative. By August 6, 2018, there was contention. Mitchell was dis- pleased and made a motion to end the contract immediately. At that point, the municipality had already paid the agreement in full and there were already pending articles waiting for publication. Mitchell's motion passed, but it had no effect on the publication. In fact, it continues to have no effect on the publication. Earl Vaughan Jr. began writing about Hope Mills in the early spring of 2018. He writes two to four articles a week, depending on what's happening and what sports are in season. He is a one-man market- ing team for our town, promot- ing anything and everything that needs promoting. Since Sept. 6, 2018, when the gentleman's agreement with Hope Mills ended, Up & Coming Weekly has published more than 60 positive articles about the town of Hope Mills, including advertising for 21 events; 13 mentions of local schools, teachers and students; 26 general information pieces; and no less than 11 profiles or men- tions of local businesses. ese numbers don't include the nonstop coverage of local high school sports. ey don't include the handful of stories that were published on the website but not in the paper. ey don't include any of the articles I've written for Up & Com- ing Weekly, and they don't include the weekly calendar of Hope Mills events. A weekly calendar isn't published for any other non-Fayetteville municipality. In fact, no other municipality enjoys a dedi- cated section of the paper. e truth is, Bowman never stopped the program he began with the previous Board in 2017. While this Board ignored the hard work of dozens of people and squandered the opportu- nity provided to them, Bowman quietly kept working. Bowman and Up & Coming Weekly no longer enjoy the benefit of a financial agreement with Hope Mills, but the town very much enjoys the benefit of Bowman's generosity. In an Aug. 10, 2018, radio interview on WFNC 640 AM, Mitchell said, "We basically said — on the last Board meeting — I just asked all media if they would report some balanced reporting — ask both sides their opinions about things — they would have a bet- ter outlook on Hope Mills and be in a more positive manner — you know — you're not gonna accomplish anything by printing all this negative news — has a lot of misleading facts — that aren't facts at all. "And the fact that we cancelled the contract with this publication about 3-4 weeks ago — it loses — that publication loses credibility when they make such negative comments when they're 'tooted' as a posi- tive magazine. ... ere's a whole blog dedicated to the destruction of Commissioner Larson and myself and there's some politics played in there. "It kinda loses credibility when we've cancelled the contract and then they come back — it's almost retalia- tory in nature." e transcript is available at https:// hopemills.net/2018/08/25/we-are-one-team/. Mitchell also said, "If you wanna give one-sided views that's not reputable — also we did not renew your contract in September for $28,000 a year. In the general pub- lic's eye, everything you're doing is vindictiveness," on March 25, 2019. e audio can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRPj k79T0Cc&feature=youtu.be. And the commissioners still complain. Beginning in August, when Larson and Mitchell were on a local talk radio station, and as recently as the March 25 meeting, Mitchell declared Bow- man was simply being vindictive because he was angry the Board cancelled the contract. It was never simply a contract. It was a partnership conceived of and implemented by some of the most impressive leaders in our community. And it was another golden opportunity missed by this Board because they choose at all times to dwell in innuendo and conspiracy theories. Bowman and I were both at the March 25 meeting. We were prepared to address the Board. But they used their elected seats as a pulpit from which they con- demned us without ever giving us an opportunity to speak. If Bowman was vindictive, Vaughan would have been reas- signed months ago and Hope Mills wouldn't have dozens of articles an- nouncing its events and promoting its businesses. e Board chose not to pay to participate in the Pocket Guide published by Up & Coming Weekly several months ago, but Bowman waived the fee and included a small section for the town anyway. Does that sound like the actions of a vindictive man? I won't speak for Bow- man's articles, but I will tell you the articles I write are designed to mirror the Board's actions. When they've done good things, I've reported that. Unfor- tunately, so little of what they do is good. is situation, like so many others in recent months, has been misrep- resented by members of the Board to defend their wretched behavior. While they hurl accusations our way, they're free to continue misbehaving. We are their red herring. Visit www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.20545 44537974961&type=3 to see more information about the Hope Mills Initiative, Larson's comments about Up & Coming Weekly, screen captures from the meet- ings and more. Free Event Come and hear community leaders talk about the new and exciting Hope Mills Programs, Initiatives and Resources being introduced for 2018 For more Information: Call 910.391.3859 or Email: HopeMills@UpandComingWeekly.com "Hope Mills' Community Newspaper" Bill Bowman Publisher Melissa Adams HM Town Manager Jackie Warner HM Mayor Robert Van Geons Economic Development Director Jan Spell HM Chamber President Representative John Szoka Michael Boose County Commissioner Liz Stiles BBB Customer Service Dr. John D'Ambrosio join us! Help us tell the Hope Mills Story Sammios, 3057 N Main St., Hope Mills Rd. Tuesday December 12th 2017 Sessions at 10AM, 12 NOON, 2PM, 4PM Every Session FREE Special Guests include: *All Placements are Full Color Expand Your Sales & Marketing Opportunites All sizes based on width x length. Ads sent in distilled pdf format are preferred. EPS, TIFF or JPEG les can also be accepted (as long as they are at least 200 dpi quality) Send your Local News, Features, Events and Announcements to: HopeMills@upandcomingweekly.com • Market and promote SHOP LOCAL-SHOP HOPE MILLS • Stay informed of important Hope Mills community issues and initiatives. • Promote your Hope Mills business, events and organization countywide. • Expand your business opportunities outside of Hope Mills. • Promote your business, products, services, and events locally to Hope Mills residents. • Recognize outstanding HM volunteers and residents • Acknowledge local achievements and accomplishments. • Attract and develop new business prospects. ADVERTISING RATES 2017 Full page* 9.75" x 12" $1360 3/4 page 9.75" x 8.87" $1099 1/2 H page 9.75" x 5.87" $ 758 1/2 V page 4.75" x 12" $ 758 3/8 page 4.75" x 8.87" $ 608 1/4 H page 9.75" x 2.87" $ 417 1/4 R page 4.75" x 5.87" $ 417 1/8 V page 2.25" x 5.87" $ 228 1/8 H page 4.75" x 2.87" $ 228 DESIGN SERVICES Layout and Design $75 - $350 Design Changes (over 50% of ad) $50 Hope Mills News shop local- SHOP HOPE MILLS hope mills news partners in commerce: F&B Publications, inc. Marketing, Advertising and Promotion Program ADVERTISING DEADLINE All Content Due 10 Days Prior to Publication Date Revised: 10/02/17 500+ Locations in Hope Mills, Ft. Bragg and Cumberland County Program Expires: October 31st 2017 erica@upandcomingweekly.com 910-633-0246 Erica Walls FREE "Together Building a Prosperous Community" Showcase the Hope Mills Community Promote and Preserve Hope Mills History & Traditions Market & Brand "Shop Local" Hope Mills Showcase Hope Mills Organizations & Achievements Invite Community Involvement & Participation Promote Economic Development Enhance Hope Mills Quality Of Life Attention Hope Mills Business Organizations & Residents: You are invited to the Hope Mills Initiative Where: Date: Time: Cost: Refreshments & Door Prizes: By August 6, 2018, there was contention. Mitchell was displeased and made a motion to end the contract immediately. ELIZABETH BLEVINS, Up & Coming Weekly Correspondent and founder of HopeMills.net. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. cancelled