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/1131550
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 19-25, 2019 UCW 9 Fayetteville State University Chancellor James Anderson is stepping down but will remain with the university. Anderson has served as chancellor for 11 years. An FSU news release indicated Anderson is step- ping aside for personal reasons. It did not indicate his date of departure. e news release said Ander- son will take a yearlong sabbatical, during which time "he will continue to serve the military, the university and city in different roles." ereafter, he will be eligible to return to a faculty position in the Department of Psychology. University of North Carolina System Interim President Dr. Bill Roper will name an interim chancellor to lead FSU while a national search is conducted to find a successor. Academic stan- dards, student enrollment and fundraising in- creased during Anderson's tenure. Second marine sentenced in Green Beret death An elite Marine Raider has been sentenced to four years in a military prison after admitting to his role in the strangulation death of a Fort Bragg Green Be- ret, a fellow special operations troop he described as a friend. Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell Jr. pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, burglary, obstruction and other charges in a plea bargain to avoid more seri- ous charges, including murder, in the June 4, 2017, death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar. e death occurred in the Malian capital city of Bamako, West Africa, where SEAL Team Six and a unit of Army special operations troops were de- ployed. Maxwell testified Melgar's killing was the accidental result of a devious hazing plan — which he initially thought was merely a joke — launched over late-night drinks at local bars. Maxwell told the military judge, Marine Col. Glen Hines, he would never forgive himself for partici- pating in the "ridiculous and harmful, abusive trick" against a buddy. From the witness stand, Maxwell turned to Melgar's widow, Michelle Mel- gar, in the first row of the courtroom gallery, telling her that her husband was a better man than he. Maxwell described a tense climate among the military special operators serving in Mali, espe- cially between Navy sailors and soldiers with Fort Bragg's 3rd Special Forces Group. ey shared a house in Bamako. Gun violence awareness America observed National Gun Violence Awareness Day earlier this month. Across the country, over 900 events took place to raise aware- ness. Chiefs of police from Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and Apex, the Durham county sheriff, three legislators and Moms Demand Action gath- ered at Durham Police Headquarters to advocate for common-sense gun laws. "Today, leaders of the Triangle are taking a strong, united stand on this issue," said C.J. Davis, Durham's police chief, "not just today but every day." Davis said her department is using a combi- nation of enforcement activities and community outreach to fight violent crime, which is up 17% this year. Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins said her department is involved in a program called EKG, Educating Kids on Guns. Hawkins spoke of the "three elements of policing: suppression, interven- tion and prevention." Every day in America, 100 people lose their lives to gun violence, and many more are injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database. ere are more than 38,000 deaths from gun violence in the U.S. An estimated 60% of those deaths are from suicides or acciden- tal shootings. School board member resigns e Cumberland County Board of Education's newest members has resigned. Peggy Hall cited personal and medical reasons for stepping down. She was elected in November of 2016 to succeed her husband, Macky Hall. He chose not to seek re-election to the seat he held for 24 years. "I am taking this step solely because of personal and medical issues, which have devel- oped beyond my control in recent weeks and necessi- tate that my time be prioritized with my family," she wrote in a letter to chairper- son Donna Vann. A vote to replace Hall on the school board is likely to take place in August. School is out for the summer Many parents are considering ways to keep their children fed during the summer months because they depend on free and reduced-price meals for their children at school. Cumberland County Schools' Child Nutrition Services provides free meals to children during the summer. e meals are served Monday through Friday through Aug. 2. ere are no income requirements or registration. Anyone age 18 or younger can eat free. "e Summer Meals Program is an excel- lent benefit for the children and families in our community," said Beth Maynard, CNS executive director. "e program ensures all children have continued access to nutritious meals." Meals are available throughout the summer at numerous open sites and at participating local camps, church programs and organizations that are a part of the Summer Meals Program. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like the CNS to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. Email summermeals@ccs.k12.nc.us for a list of locations, or call 910-678-2502. Fayetteville State University chief plans to resign from post by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar James Anderson Peggy Hall