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/1271660
8 UCW JULY 22-28, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Gov. Roy Cooper has created a statewide task force to address racial issues in North Carolina's criminal justice system. It is cochaired by Supreme Court As- sociate Justice Anita Earls and Attorney General Josh Stein. Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin was selected as a representative of locally elected officials. Colvin was elected in 2017 and previously served on the Fayetteville City Council. Colvin was instrumental in assisting former Mayor Nat Robertson in bringing a minor league baseball team to the city and authoriz- ing the construction of Segra Stadium. Colvin also serves on the governor's Crime Commission. "I am grateful to the people willing to serve on this task force to help our state acknowledge racial inequities in our systems of law enforcement and criminal justice, and then work to eliminate them," said Cooper. "e North Carolinians Gov. Cooper has appointed to this task force are public-spirited and committed to achieving racial equity in our criminal justice system," said Attorney General Josh Stein. Market Square protesting update e mayor has said the protest in area of the down- town Market House has gone on long enough and that it is no longer safe for the demonstrators or the motoring public. "ey're in the middle of a four-way intersection in a traffic circle, which is definitely not safe for them or others," he said. Colvin has offered the demonstra- tors several alternative locations where they could continue to exercise their right to protest. "e police chief and the city attorney's office basically know what the law is and ... it's just like any other matter with the police department." As of this writing in a rapidly developing issue, protestors have agreed with the mayor, that enough is enough for now. Leaders of the movement disbanded the encampment on the Green Street side of the Mar- ket House, and demonstrators have left. ey say they will continue monitoring demands they have made of the city police department but are grateful that city council has taken them seriously. North Carolina Governor issues school protocols On Aug. 17, the Cumberland County School system is giving parents an opportunity to decide how they would like their children to be educated during the 2020-2021 school year based on what's best for their families. Gov. Cooper has issued an executive or- der directing that Plan B be used as guidance for all schools, meaning that school districts may offer a blended system of face-to-face learning or remote learning from home. Parents have the option of select- ing remote learning if that is their preference. Cooper also indicated that complete remote learning could be implemented if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Children will have their temperatures checked as they enter school each day. Each school building must have an isolation room designated for anyone who tests positive. And all children, teachers and staff members must wear face coverings in school build- ings. Physical distancing and one-way school hallways are also encouraged. Local teacher wins statewide honor Maureen M. Stover, a science teacher at Cumberland International Early College High School has been named the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Stover was selected from a field of nine finalists representing the state's eight education dis- tricts and charter schools. A former intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, Stover began her teach- ing career 11 years ago in Florida through the federal Troops to Teachers program. She said her students understand that her commitment to them extends beyond the 90 minutes of classroom instruction each day. "My role as a classroom teacher is to be part giver of knowledge, part cheerleader, part counselor, part mom, part nurse and part what my kids need me to be that day," Stover said. "Maureen says that her training and experience in the military ingrained in her the mantra of service before self," noted State Superintendent Mark John- son. "She proves that every day for her students, who have her as both an excellent teacher and a great role model." With an undergraduate degree in biology from the United States Air Force Academy, Stover has also earned two master's degrees. Addressing racial inequities in the N.C. criminal justice system by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Maureen Stover THURSDAY JULY 30, 2020 FRIDAY JULY 31, 2020 SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2020 CHRISTMAS IN CHRISTMAS IN JULY! JULY! The Heritage Square Historical Society Presents: A Vintage Christmas Bazaar Proceeds to benefit Heritage Square preservation and maintenance. For more information call (910) 483 - 6009. 225 DICK STREET 10:00 am - 6:00 pm For a $10 donation you can be a part of the "sneak peak" sale Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 10 am - 6 pm Join us for our annual fundraiser. New and gently used Christmas and fall decorations at fantastic prices!