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/1346525
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 3-9, 2021 UCW 9 Protesters-turned-rioters who massed at the Capitol on Jan. 6 carried with them pro-Trump signs, American flags and an array of political banners. Some waved Marine Corps flags; some sported military and tactical material. More than two dozen people who were later charged in crimes stemming from the attack on the Capitol had military ties. One veteran was accused of being the leader of the far-right, anti-government extremist group Oath Keepers. For decades, the U.S. military has sought out extremists such as militia groups, white supremacists, skin heads and others who advocate violence against the government. But the Defense Department has no method of tracking allegations of extremism. e concerns were evident long before the attack on the Capitol. 25 years ago, then-Army Secretary Togo West ordered an army-wide investigation of subversives by a special task force he appointed. A two-month inquiry found only isolated cases of extremism in the ranks. West convened the task force following the 1995 murders by 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers of a black couple in Fayetteville. Police concluded the three white soldiers who were charged in the killings were skin heads with racial motives. e task force said many soldiers reported "an under- current of subtle racism" which focused on racial, ethnic and cultural differences. FAST buses resume full service All Fayetteville Area System of Transit routes have resumed full service following several weeks of reduced bus routes because of COVID-19. Contact tracing continues after several employees tested positive for the coronavirus. e safety of employees and passengers is priority according to Transit Director Randy Hume. Lines on buses now mark a 'no standing zone' to encourage six feet of physical distance between the driver seat and passengers who must enter and exit the rear doors. Additionally, FAST crews have increased the frequency of cleaning of buses and FAST facilities. Bus roof hatches are opened to increase airflow when weather permits. "Each FAST employee plays a vital role in providing transportation throughout Fayetteville. Our employees are truly the heart of our department and kept our com- munity moving," Hume said. All FAST employ- ees, passengers and visitors are required to wear masks on board buses and at FAST facilities. New litter pick-up campaign begins Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville and Sustainable Sandhills have launched an anti-litter campaign called "5 for Friday." e goal is to encourage businesses, schools, community groups and individuals to reduce litter by having people pick up five pieces of trash and recyclable materials every Friday. "If 5,000 people picked up five pieces of litter every week, Cumberland County would reduce its litter footprint by 1.3 million pieces of litter," said Cumberland County Solid Waste Management Director Amanda Bader. Litter pickup along roadways is managed by NCDOT. ere are 2,900 travel lane miles countywide. "e more residents and businesses help, the cleaner our community will be; we are all in this together," said Fayetteville Assistant Public Services Director Daniel Edwards. Group 3 COVID-19 vaccination appointments available at Cape Fear Cape Fear Valley Health's COVID-19 vaccina- tion clinics are now open to "frontline essential workers", which includes all of Group 3. e North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services define "frontline essential workers" as people who must be in-person at their place of work and work in one of the eight essential sectors including: education, critical manufacturing, essential goods, food and agricul- ture, government and community services, health care and public health, public safety and trans- portation. Any frontline essential workers ages 18 and older are now eligible as part of Group 3 to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vac- cine, in addition to individuals in Groups 1 and 2 — healthcare and long-term care workers and anyone aged 65 and older. "is is a very broad category that includes most workers, if they are working in-person with others or the public," said Chris Tart, PharmD, Vice President of Professional Services at Cape Fear Valley Health. "If you're not sure whether your job fits in this category, we encourage you to go online to www.capefearvalley.com/covid19 to schedule your vaccination and find what group you fit in." All first-dose visits for those in Group 3 re- quire an appointment, but appointments are not required for second doses. Patients should return to the site of their first vaccination shot at the appropriate time to receive their second shot. Appointment times open on Fridays each week by 5 p.m. A full list of vaccine clinic hours for March 2–5 are below. Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center Au- ditorium in Fayetteville: (is clinic offers the Pfizer Vaccine.) First doses: Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 1-hour appointment blocks. Second doses: May walk in (no appointment re- quired) Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: 1638 Owen Drive. Individuals should arrive to the building from the corner of Melrose and John Carlisle Lane and look for the "Event Parking" sign for the designated parking lot. Health Pavilion North ExpressCare in North Fayetteville: (is clinic offers the Pfizer Vaccine.) First doses: Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 1-hour appointment blocks. Second doses: May walk in (no appointment re- quired) Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: 6387 Ramsey Street. Individuals will pull in the main entrance, and be directed to check in, where they will receive instructions. In- dividuals will wait in their vehicles until they are called in to the building to receive their vaccine. Some Capitol protesters had ties to military by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.