WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
DECEMBER 2-8, 2020 UCW 9
e N.C. Department of Health and Human
Services has established a COVID-19 County
Alert System to give individuals, businesses,
community organizations and public officials
a tool to see how their county is faring and
to make decisions about actions to slow the
spread of the virus. e color-coded system
uses metrics provided by the White House
Coronavirus Task Force and North Carolina's
key metrics to categorize counties into three
tiers: Yellow (significant community spread);
Orange (substantial community spread); and
Red (critical community spread). Cumberland
County is currently Orange with a 14-day
average of 259.9 cases per 100,000 and 8.7%
positive cases. For more information on the
COVID-19 County Alert System visit https://
governor.nc.gov/news/north-carolina-intro-
duces-covid-19-county-alert-system.
Cold case arrest
Fayetteville Police have arrested a local
man in connection with a cold case that oc-
curred nine years ago. Victor Lee Cameron,
58, of Fayetteville has been charged with 2nd
degree rape and kidnapping. e victim was
visiting Cameron at his home in 2011 when
the rape allegedly occurred. Cameron is cur-
rently incarcerated at North Carolina's Greene
Correctional Institute in Maury for unrelated
crimes committed in 2018. He was temporarily
transferred to the Cumberland County Deten-
tion Center where he was charged with the sex
crimes. Cameron has been returned to prison
where he will remain pending trial. e ini-
tial investigation in 2011 went unsolved. e
sexual assault kit from this case was recently
tested utilizing funding from the Bureau of Jus-
tice Assistance grant obtained by the FPD, and
Cameron was identified as a suspect.
Grants made available to local artists
e Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland
County, in partnership with several surround-
ing counties, has awarded $23,100 in art-
ist support grants. Twenty-four artists from
Cumberland, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland
Counties received grants to fund their artistic
and professional development. "During these
trying times the Arts Council understands the
impact the pandemic has taken on our cre-
ative community," said Bob Pinson, interim
President/CEO of the Arts Council. "rough
the artist support grant we are able to lessen
economic hardship for artists." e grants are
an important tool for a community that has
been hit hard by the pandemic. e grants are
supported by the North Carolina Arts Council,
a division of the Department of Natural and
Cultural Resources.
Dr. Biden commits to military families
Dr. Jill Biden is vowing to continue her work
in support of military families, including their
children who face unique challenges relating
to frequent moves, deployments and other
aspects of the lifestyle. "Joe and I have al-
ways believed that as a nation, we have many
obligations. But we only have one truly sacred
obligation — to properly prepare and equip
our troops when we send them into harm's
way, and to care for them and their families ...
because their sacrifice deserves nothing less,"
Biden said speaking during a virtual confer-
ence of the nonprofit Military Child Educa-
tion Coalition. Dependent children don't get
a choice when it comes to moving, leaving
friends behind, and spending holidays without
their military parents, Biden noted. According
to the Military Child Education Coalition, a
child in a military family typically moves six to
nine times from when they're in kindergarten
through high school graduation.
Loose leaf pickup
e annual City of Fayetteville curbside
loose-leaf collection is underway and will
continue through Feb. 19. During the collec-
tion period, residents can rake leaves and pine
straw to the curb for pickup. City crews col-
lect loose leaves by zip code. Leaves and pine
straw can also be bagged or containerized for
regular weekly collection. During loose leaf
season, free trash bags are available at recre-
ation centers and fire stations. Large, brown
roll-out carts can be purchased for $53 and can
be delivered for a small fee. When purchased,
the carts become the property of the residents.
e zip code collection schedule is available at
www.fcpr.us/facilities/administrative/leaf-sea-
son-pickup or residents may call 910-433-1329.
Governor introduces COVID-19 County Alert System
by JEFF THOMPSON
NEWS DIGEST
JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom-
ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.
Victor Lee Cameron
