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/1182424
10 UCW NOVEMBER 6-12, 2019 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM A statewide series of raids by Alcohol Law En- forcement agents late last month had remarkable local similarities to another event several months ago. ALE special agents, in partnership with local authorities, arrested more than 200 individu- als for alcohol, drug and firearm charges. "ALE special agents routinely partner with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to have a greater impact on public safety as it relates to the sale of alcoholic beverages" said, Bryan House, interim director of ALE. In Fayetteville, agents assisted local police when a shooting occurred at an illegal residential bar. e situation was identical to a Fayetteville shooting during a local raid several months ago. ALE charged the host with selling alcohol with- out Alcoholic Beverage Control permits. Across the state, various types of controlled substances were seized along with 11 firearms, one of which was stolen. Of the 399 charges, 31 were felonies, 136 were alcoholic-beverage-related charges, and 109 were drug-related. Agencies involved in the operation included U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina DMV License and eft Bureau and local police departments. Counties involved in the operation included Cumberland, New Hanover, Columbus, Nash, Edgecombe, Durham, Johnston, Wake, Ala- mance, Guilford, Randolph, Mecklenburg, Burke, Buncombe and Polk. Busy Eastover intersection closed A roundabout under construction in Eastover has resulted in the temporary closure of Baywood Road at Murphy Road. e department of trans- portation said it agreed to close the intersection so the project can be completed more quickly and safely. A marked detour will send drivers around the area. A DOT contractor began build- ing the roundabout in the spring. e roundabout is scheduled to reopen by Nov. 26. A final layer of pavement and permanent lane markings will be added later. Traffic circles improve safety because motorists have to slow down going through them. e design also eliminates the stop-and-go nature of a traditional intersection. According to a report last year by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, intersection improvements reduce fatalities and serious-injury collisions by almost 30%. Elementary school closing for repairs T.C. Berrien Elementary School on North Street in Fayetteville will remain closed for the rest of the school years because of significant functional problems. "Maintenance crews are working to address building concerns at T.C. Berrien, includ- ing structural issues and malfunctions with air conditioning systems that have caused indoor air quality issues," said Associate Superintendent Lindsay Whitley. It will operate as a school within a school on the campus of W.T. Brown Elementary School in Spring Lake. e move will "allow contractors to have full access to complete the necessary repair work at T.C. Berrien," said Whitley. T.C. Berrien will continue to operate as a sepa- rate school utilizing unused classrooms at W.T. Brown. e Spring Lake school is 10 miles from Berrien, which will require altering school bus pickup and return times. School officials have notified families and provided them with oppor- tunities to address questions or concerns. T.C. Berrien is a primary school with 250 kindergarten to fifth-grade youngsters. E-Waste disposal opportunity Cumberland County, Sustainable Sandhills, the school system and Fayetteville Beautiful will hold an electronic waste drive Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ann Street Landfill in downtown Fayetteville. Residents can take old televisions, computers, stereos, DVD players, computer monitors, video game players and other electron- ics to the landfill for disposal. It's part of America Recycles Day and will include giveaways and landfill tours. A shredding service will also be available for the regular charge of 35 cents per pound. Cumberland County Solid Waste accepts electronics at its convenience centers year-round during normal business hours. For more informa- tion, go to co.cumberland.nc.us/solidwaste or call 910-321-6920. Library services plan e Cumberland County Public Library & Infor- mation Center continues to encourage residents to fill out a survey that will provide feedback for a revised strategic plan. A $21,080 federal grant from the state library provided funding for a consultant to assist in developing the new five- year plan. e current plan ends in 2020. Survey participants have a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card donated by Friends of the Library, Inc. e survey is available online at cumberland.lib. nc.us. "A strategic plan will guide the library staff in areas that have the most impact in Cumberland County. It's an exciting process to be involved in," said library director Jody Risacher. In addition to surveys, the project includes a community needs assessment and interviews with local leaders. Information gathered will contribute to developing a flexible strategic plan to help the library effectively manage resources for services and programs. For more information about the Cumberland County Public Library, visit cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite. Two hundred people charged with violating state liquor laws by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.