WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2021 UCW 9
"One of my personal responsibilities as an
educator is to never stop being a student,"
said Daniel Smith, the Cumberland County
Schools' 2022 Teacher of the Year. When faced
with the limitations of virtual learning, Smith
seized the moment and opened the door to an
entire world of opportunities for himself, his
students and his peers, said a spokesman for
the school district. Smith serves as chairman
of the Social Studies Department at Westover
High School.
"I listen to my students; they often have more
insight than we give them credit for," Smith
wrote in his nomination portfolio. e an-
nouncement of Smith as this year's Teacher of
the Year winner was made during the district's
virtual celebration event, themed: e Great
Comeback: Defying All Odds to Educate Each
Child. Smith started his teaching career with
Cumberland County Schools in 2014 after
graduating from State University of New York
(SUNY) at Old Westbury.
2021 property taxes due January 2022
e deadline to pay 2021 property taxes is
Jan. 5, 2022. After that, unpaid tax bills will
incur a 2% interest charge the first month and
0.75% interest charges each month thereaf-
ter. Taxpayers can pay their tax bills online,
by mail, by phone or in person. Go online to
www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/
tax-group/tax to pay with an electronic check,
debit card or major credit card. A credit or
debit card convenience fee will be charged. To
pay by phone, call 1-866-441-6614. Phone pay-
ments must be made with a major credit card
or debit card. A convenience fee is charged.
Taxpayers may choose to make partial pay-
ments in any amount and at any interval,
provided the taxes are paid in full before Jan. 5.
Formal payment plans can also be established.
County leaders move forward with
plans for homeless shelter
Cumberland County Commissioners have
decided to move forward on plans to imple-
ment recommendations of a study to help the
homeless. e initiative is expected to include
increasing access to assistance, housing and
support services as well as creating partner-
ships. e board also approved $250,000 of
federal stimulus funding for a homeless shel-
ter. A consulting firm hired by the county has
reported the need for housing and improved
services for those in need.
e city of Fayetteville has already undertak-
en an effort to do that by leasing a downtown
facility which is being converted into a day
center for the homeless. Over $113 million in
stimulus funds has been granted to Fayetteville
and Cumberland County through the Ameri-
can Rescue Plan. County Manager Amy Can-
non has said that if commissioners agreed to
the $250,000 allocation, the county would work
quickly to come up with a plan for a shelter.
Fort Bragg officials seek community
input for renaming
Fort Bragg will be renamed and officials are
seeking input from community stakeholders
on recommendations for a new name. Offi-
cials are working to compile a list of possible
new names that will be submitted to DOD for
consideration.
According to a release from the Fort Bragg
Public Affairs Office, Congess is mandating the
renaming and removal of all Department of
Defense items that commemorate the Con-
federate States of America or any person who
served voluntarily within the confederacy. Fort
Bragg is one of ten Army posts identified as
requiring a name change.
e U.S. Army post Fort Bragg was first stood
up as Camp Bragg on Sept. 4, 1918, as an artil-
lery training center. Fort Bragg was named
after Confederate General Braxton Bragg for
his actions in the Mexican-American War.
"We're amplifying the opportunity for the
community to be involved with the name-
changing process," said Col. Scott Pence, Fort
Bragg Garrison Commander.
"We are engaging the community to solicit
their feedback on name recommendations.
We want to ensure our stakeholders, soldiers,
families, civilians and members of the commu-
nity have the unique opportunity to provide a
name recommendation for our installation."
Per the 2021 National Defense Authorization
Act, the other nine military installations set to
be renamed are Camp Beauregard, Louisiana;
Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Gordon, Georgia;
Fort Hood, Texas; Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; Fort
Lee, Virginia; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Fort Polk,
Louisiana; and Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Information about the base renaming is
available on the following podcast episode.
Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/
us/podcast/episode-57-renaming-fort-bragg/
id1547996961?i=1000534546046
For more information about the Naming
Commission or to provide your name recom-
mendation, visit the following links:
Fort Bragg Naming Commission Facts and
name-recommendation survey: https://
home.army.mil/bragg/index.php/fortbragg-
renaming
Naming Commission website:
https://www.thenamingcommission.gov/
Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Facebook
Page: https://www.facebook.com/fbncgarri-
soncmd (Note: Survey is pinned to the top.)
Cumberland County Schools names 2022 Teacher of the Year
by JEFF THOMPSON
NEWS DIGEST
JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom-
ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.
Daniel Smith (center) from Westover High School, was
named the 2022 Teacher of the Year. (Photo courtesy CCS)
An artist concept of the proposed day center for the home-
less. (Image courtesy city of Fayetteville)
