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/1338049
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FEBRUARY 10-16, 2021 UCW 9 e future of Fayetteville's historic Market House remains uncertain, but the nearly 200-year-old landmark continues to spark ongoing discussions of what to do with it. City Council decided last month in an 8-2 vote not to tear the building down. But its future use and location are still up in the air. e Market House has occupied its center-city traffic circle since it replaced the old town hall in the 1830s. City fathers and mothers agreed to repurpose the structure. e second-floor office has served as a library, a meeting place and city hall over the years. City Council also decided during a special meeting to bring back the "Black Lives Do Matter" circular mural surround- ing the building. e mural was initially painted following the George Floyd murder in the Midwest. It was removed in January, but following public outcry, private donors paid to have the mural repainted. Additional dog parks proposed e city plans to build a pair of dog parks on the west side of town on city-owned properties. e new dog parks will be lo- cated at Westover Park and Fayetteville Fire Station #17 on Bailey Lake Road. Construc- tion of the parks will begin later this month. Each dog park will include separate areas for large and small dogs. Parking lots will be located outside each play area. Currently, the only city-owned dog park is located at 555 N. Eastern Blvd. City leaders have budgeted about $98,000 for each park. e first step in this process is to clear each site. A vendor will do the fencing and concrete work. City staff members will do the re- mainder of the work in hopes of opening the parks in June. Paratroopers train in Louisiana Four thousand 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team recently took part in a joint deploy- ment readiness exercise at Fort Polk, La. e unit is conducted a simulated combat maneuver testing its ability to assemble and deploy soldiers and their equipment with little or short notice. e unit trained with an airborne unit of the Brazilian Army which sent 200 troops to Fort Polk to take part in the exercise. It marks the largest deployment by any South American country in the western hemi- sphere to train alongside U.S. forces. e 82nd is trained to provide a fighting force which can deploy, fight and win anywhere in the world within 18 hours of notification. "is is about more training, doing the training we can't do back at Bragg, and see- ing how we respond when attacked," said Spc. Hailey Pitt, a cannon crewmember. e U.S. Army considers the Brazilian Army to be one the most professional armies in South America. Work with allies and part- ners during routine exercises and train- ing activities is critical in building partner capacity, an official said. Loose leaf pick up is almost over Operators of vacuum trucks are still busy sucking up leaves and pine straw left at roadside. e city schedules loose-leaf pickups by postal zip codes. Residents in the 28301 area can put their yard debris curbside for collection through Feb. 19. e only time loose yard waste can be put at the curb is during the loose-leaf season, usually from mid-November through mid-Febru- ary. During other times of the year leaves, grass trimmings and small branches must be containerized or bagged. Combat honors long overdue A World War II combat veteran is be- ing honored for his service with the 82nd Airborne Division's 504th Parachute Infan- try Regiment. Retired Sgt. 1st Class Marvin Cornett of Auburn, Calif., will receive the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals that he earned nearly 76 years ago in a ceremo- ny scheduled for Feb. 22. Cornett turns 100 on July 1. Cornett participated in the combat para- chute assault over Salerno, Italy, on Jan. 31, 1944, and stormed ashore at Anzio Beach, according to an 82nd Airborne Division news release. When the Army did not follow up on the award recommendations for his actions, Cornett did not pursue the mat- ter. He was routinely reassigned stateside to Fort Benning, Ga., where he served as an instructor. Cornett went on to serve a full career. Years later, Heritage Arsenal of Colorado Springs, Colo., found missing records of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart awards that never were conferred. An official of the organization who had been an Army Green Beret helped guide the family through the process of requesting the awards. e ceremony is being coordinated by Heritage Arsenal and the Cornett family and will be hosted by the American Legion in Auburn. Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, will be the virtual guest speaker. U.S. Army recruiters will present the awards to Cornett who will be wearing his dress uniform during the event. Discussion on Market House future continues by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Marvin Cornett A Jumpmaster assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division performs a Jumpmaster Personnel Inspec- tion on Col. Eugene "Buddy" Ferris, the 3rd BCT commander, aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III bound for Fort Polk, Louisiana, Feb.1. Photo by Master Sgt. Alexander Bur- nett, courtesy of DVIDS courtesy of DVIDS)