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/1149920
6 UCW JULY 31-AUGUST 6, 2019 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. e recent promotion of Fayetteville Police Major James Nolette to assistant chief gave rise to the question, "What hap- pened to Assistant Chief Michael Petti?" Up & Coming Weekly asked Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who said: "Mi- chael Petti is still with the police department. He is a lieutenant assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division." City officials, including Mayor Mitch Colvin, Man- ager Doug Hewett and Attorney Karen MacDonald declined to comment on the change. Up & Coming Weekly learned Petti recently left the police department but was rehired so he could com- plete the time required to be eligible for retirement. Former Chief Harold Medlock promoted him. Two-and-a-half years ago, Petti graduated from the FBI National Academy program in Quantico, Virginia. e FBI said less than one-half of 1% of law enforcement officers are selected to attend this training course. It is internationally known for its academic excellence. e National Academy pro- vides 11 weeks of advanced communication, leader- ship and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals in their agencies. Garbage trucks broken down e city of Fayetteville's Solid Waste Division is still operating with a shortage of garbage trucks. Some city sanitation employees are temporarily off the job. "ose without available equipment are reas- signed, if possible," said City Public Information Specialist Kevin Arata. "If not, they are sent home with the option of using compensatory time if they have it — most do as they have been working a lot of additional hours lately — or vacation time." Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer said 19 of the city's 44 trucks experienced mechanical problems July 18. Many of them are still out of service as of this writ- ing. e breakdowns initially resulted in next-day yard waste pickup not occurring. Bauer said the mechanical problems included broken seals, gaskets and blades. e city said on its website that "heat has signifi- cantly impacted the readiness of our solid waste and yard waste trucks. As a result, we haven't had enough available trucks to maintain solid waste and yard waste pickup schedules. 60% of the fleet is down." Other communities have not reported similar problems, nor has Waste Management, which is contracted by the city to provide recycling and apartment complex solid waste pickup. Residents were encouraged to leave their roll-out carts at the curb until they are emptied. History comes alive at the Museum of the Cape Fear e Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation announces its an- nual fall/winter program series, "History LIVE!" e local museum was awarded a project sup- port grant for $9,000 from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. e "History LIVE!" series offers a live look at the past through historical re-enactments, artist demonstrations, musical performances and live- action theater with four special events. e Museum Foundation will match the grant. "Grant funds and other donations allow us to offer this programming for free or at minimal cost to the public," said Megan Maxwell, the "History LIVE!" program series coordinator. Colonial life in North Carolina takes center stage at the Festival of Yesteryear: A Celebration of Early America on Sept. 7. Hallowe'en Revels Night Tours of the 1897 Poe House spotlights live theater with a historical Hal- loween twist Oct. 23-25. Celebrate an old-fashioned Halloween with a free kids concert and costume contest at the Poe House Trick or Treat Oct. 26. Christmas traditions are highlighted Dec. 8 with the Holiday Jubilee, featuring carolers, historic décor and Santa. Rare brain disease claims a life in Cumberland County A Greensboro area individual has died as the result of contract- ing a rare disease in Cumberland County July 12. e state Depart- ment of Health and Human Services notified the local health department of the death, saying that an individual from Guilford Coun- ty died after developing primary amebic meningo- encephalitis. It is an illness caused by an ameba that is naturally present in warm freshwater during the summer. e individual became ill after swimming in Fantasy Lake Water Park near Hope Mills. e National Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention confirmed the individual's illness was caused by an amoeba, which apparently was forced up the swimmer's nose. at is the only known cause of the infection. is amoeba is mostly likely to be present when it is hot for prolonged periods of time, resulting in higher water temperatures and lower water levels. County Interim Health Director Duane Holder expressed condolences to the family of the victim, noting that the case was one of only five known in- stances in North Carolina between 1962 and 2018. "We encourage everyone to use precaution when swimming, diving or water-skiing in warm fresh- water lakes," he said. Holder suggested limiting the amount of water going up the nose by holding the nose or using nose clips when swimming in warm freshwater lakes. For more information about pri- mary amebic meningoencephalitis, visit www.cdc. gov/parasites/naegleria/. If you have questions or concerns, contact the Cumberland County Department of Public Health at 910-433-3645 or 910-433-3655. FAST survey underway e Fayetteville Area System of Transit is conduct- ing a customer feedback survey that allows residents to offer input on service improvements and poten- tial new service areas. Bus riders and nonriders can take the survey. FAST staff and interns are surveying passengers and others at various locations around Fayetteville as well as onboard buses. e FAST survey can be found at ridefast.net or facebook.com/ComeRidewithFAST. Economic development group gains new ex- ecutive e Fayetteville Cumberland County Eco- nomic Development Corpo- ration announces Jessica As- piras as its new vice president of marketing and business development. "Together with our public and private partners, FCEDC continues working to promote the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community as a top business destination," said Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of FCEDC. "We're happy to have Jessica on the team and look forward to the tangible results she will help us achieve." Aspiras holds a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and a bach- elor's degree in mass media studies from Florida State University. "I am eager to help continue our community's growth and momentum through stra- tegic marketing and communications initiatives," she said. Van Geons said Aspiras specializes in strategic planning, integrated tactics, servant leadership, col- laborative direction, team building, focused execu- tion and business agility. Fayetteville assistant police chief rehired by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST Michael Petti Jessica Aspiras