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/1433510
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 1-7, 2021 UCW 9 Cumberland County Commission Chair- man Charles Evans has set his sights on higher public office. He says he will run for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina's revised 4th District. e 4th Congressional District is newly drawn with no incumbent. e district includes all of Cumberland, Sampson, Johnston Counties, most of Harnett County and a small frag- ment of Wayne County. "is district is home to Fort Bragg and the county that's home to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base," Evans noted. "As a veteran, I understand what military families and per- sonnel need and will be their number one ally in Congress." Evans has served on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for the past 11 years and previously served on the Fayetteville City Council from 2005-2009. He is affiliated with the Democratic party. Sen. Ben Clark and Rep. John Szoka have also announced that they will be running for the seat. Szoka will be running against for- mer Fayetteville mayor Nat Robertson and former police officer Chirstine Villaverde for the Republican primary. Clark and Evans will run against each for the Democratic primary. Colorful new FAST buses on the road Four red, white and blue coaches have been placed in service. Four more are on the way, according to Fayetteville Transit director Randy Hume. He said the change was made to bring the transit system in line with the city's new color palette. e City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, plus nine businesses and civic partners, have launched an intensive project to develop a community-wide branding campaign to create an updated and unified approach to make known the area's strengths, assets, diversity, vision and potential. Another eight new buses are expected to be delivered after the first of the year. e cost of FAST buses is provided primarily by the Federal Transit Administration. 18 citywide bus routes are operational. City Council appoints PWC Commissioner Fayetteville City Council members finally voted to select a new commissioner for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Last Monday night, City Council selected Retired Col. Don Porter to serve as the new PWC commissioner. He was supported by Councilmembers Johnny Dawkins, Larry Wright, D.J. Haire, and Christopher Davis. Mayor Mitch Colvin also voted in Porter's favor. Porter is a retired Military Logistics Spe- cialist and served 20 years as an Executive Director of Economic Development in Hoke County and the City of Raeford. In his ap- plication, he says that he believes that city- owned water and sewer is good not just for citizens but also for business recruitment. Porter was initially recommended to the position by the city's Appointment Commit- tee last month. City Council was split on the decision and kept delaying the vote. Porter's term is expected to end on Sept. 30, 2025. Cumberland County homeless school kids have an advocate School students in transition or experienc- ing homelessness have social workers on their side to help with transportation, food, emotional needs and more, according to local school officials. Cumberland County Schools has a nationally recognized home- less liaison leading the Social Work Services Department. Pamela Story, CCS Social Work Coordinator and Homeless Liaison, is North Carolina's Homeless Liaison of the Year. e National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth announced at its annual conference Nov. 14, that Story was chosen as the 2022 National Homeless Liaison of the Year. Story graduated from E.E. Smith High School and is an alumna of North Carolina Central University. She earned her master's degree in social work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "We must ensure that we provide every opportunity for our students in transition to be successful and to soar above their cir- cumstances," Story said. "Homelessness in many situations is tem- porary, and any one of us could be homeless in the blink of an eye." She has worked with the Cumberland County School System for 23 years. Story likes to tell children that "Life throws us many curveballs, and we are here to help you." She encourages parents and students to maintain hope and integrity and seek as- sistance to rise above life's circumstances. City looking to repair downtown building The City of Fayetteville will be request- ing $20,000 to repair the property at 242 Hay St. They would like to use the money to power wash and repaint the exterior of the property. They would also like to rebuild the balcony structure using composite decking, install composite handrails, replace the rotted door and door frame to the balcony, repair rotted wood on the window frame closest to the balcony door and repair cracked tile at the front. Since the location is part of a historical- ly protected area, they will only be fixing what is rotted or broken and repainting the building in the original colors. Members of the public have until Dec. 13 to submit written comments to the Economic and Community Development Department at City Hall about the project. Diane's Vintage Market was previously located at the site, but closed in October of 2019. Another local politico wants to serve in Congress by JEFF THOMPSON and HANNAH LEE NEWS DIGEST