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/1279613
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 19-25, 2020 UCW 9 A bipartisan group of 35 lawmakers have writ- ten to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, citing con- cerns that a "child care dilemma" could affect the Department of Defense's readiness. "In light of COVID-19-related school closures, approxi- mately 1.2 million children under the age of 13 in military families will now require child care," the lawmakers wrote. They based their numbers on the DoD 2018 demographics report. The members of Con- gress noted that while DoD has an extensive network of child development centers, about 18,000 military children remain on waiting lists nationwide. Schools around the country are reopening in a variety of ways, in addition to the traditional in-person learning. Some, like Cumberland County Schools, are operating through remote learning. With the pandemic shutdown of schools and child care this spring, military families and others around the country found themselves suddenly at home with their children, who were now being educated through remote learning. Fort Bragg schools, which are operated by the Department of Defense Educa- tion Activity, are set to open with face-to-face learning this fall. Clear the shelters campaign The Cumberland County Animal Shelter is observing the sixth annual nationwide Clear the Shelters pet adoption event during the month of August. The shelter hopes to find homes for 300 pets by month's end. Pet adoptions will be $28 thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities. Included in the $28 fee is a rabies vaccination, pet privilege license, microchip and spay or neuter operation. In addition, every adopter will go home with a swag bag full of goodies for their new best friend. "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clear the Shelter event will look a little different," said Animal Control Director Elaine Smith. "Instead of a daylong event ... a monthlong adoption campaign will enable us to maintain social dis- tancing protocols and coordinate appointments for all adoptions." Adopters must wear face cov- erings, have photo IDs and be at least 18 years old. All adoptions will be by appointment only. Census update North Carolina is projected to gain a seat in Congress thanks to population growth. The state is the ninth-largest by population in the U.S. Each district in the U.S. House of Representa- tives includes approximately 700,000 residents. North Carolina currently has 13 House mem- bers. 2020 census data should disclose sufficient growth to warrant a 14th member. The Bureau of the Census conducts a constitutionally mandat- ed decennial census whose figures are used to determine the number of congressional districts to which each state is entitled. This process is called apportionment. Census information is also be used for federal, state and local election redistricting. The goal is to have everyone who lives in Cumberland County counted in 2020. An accurate count of all residents is critical for receiving the state's share of the $675 billion in federal funds that are distributed to states and communities each year. The modern history of the Green Berets in a new book "Phoenix Rising: From the Ashes of Des- ert One to the Rebirth of U.S. Special Opera- tions," is a new book by Col. Keith Nightingale. "Phoenix Rising" recounts the birth of Special Operations Forces through the prism of Opera- tion Eagle Claw, the failed attempt to rescue 52 Americans held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. When terrorists captured the American embassy Nov. 4, 1979, the Joint Chiefs of Staff quickly realized that the United States lacked the military capability to deal with the issues they faced. Nightingale graduated from Airborne, Jumpmaster and Ranger schools and retired as a colonel in 1993. He served two tours in Vietnam and he was an original member of Joint Special Operations Command. Expanded military child care needed by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.