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.
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4 UCW December 13-19, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM STAFF Association of Community Publishers BILL BOWMAN, Publisher. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. PUBLISHER'S PEN Hope Mills: Town in transition by BILL BOWMAN For the next two years, all eyes will be on the Town of Hope Mills and the leader- ship performance of their new cadre of elected offi- cials. Many residents will be asking: How do you improve on a town that has, in twelve years, evolved from being a hicksville tongue-in-cheek joke to one of the fastest- growing and most respected municipalities in North Carolina? at question will be an- swered sooner than later, as incoming Hope Mills Mayor Jessie Bellflowers and the newly elected Board of Com- missioners take command of Hope Mills' future. Many people familiar with Hope Mills' history, culture, and politics remain cautiously optimistic and equally curious about what a post-Mayor Jackie Warner Hope Mills will look like. Questions are already start- ing to surface, like: "Will all the petty name-calling, crude, mean-spirited accusations, and vile slanderous anti-Warner sentiments dissipate, or will the shameless social media trolls continue their attacks on Warner by posting and broadcasting misinfor- mation that has only served to deter progress and harmony in this beauti- ful lakeside community?" We hope these dark and malig- nant sites will be dismantled and the senseless personal attacks on Warner cease so the current Mayor and Board of Commissioners can go to work capitalizing on the achievements that have brought Hope Mills to its pin- nacle of prosperity and respectabil- ity. Undoubtedly, we will find out in short order. According to Datausa, since 2020, Hope Mills has increased its popula- tion by 9.07% to become the fastest- growing municipality in North Carolina. During this same period, the median household income of Hope Mills residents rose 4.34% to $49,800. at's measurable progress. at's a quantifiable success. Success and progress were obtained while addressing Hope Mills' ongoing mu- nicipal challenges, such as residential and economic development, nurtur- ing cultural and recreational oppor- tunities, and managing infrastructure needs, including a significant ongo- ing traffic congestion problem. ese successes have set the achievement bar high for the new incoming administration. Now, their work begins. Being the Mayor of a thriving, progressive town like Hope Mills will take aggressive, unbridled leader- ship from the new Mayor and tireless commitment from ALL five members of the Board of Commissioners. Hope Mills has a vast and honorable foot- print in Cumberland County. Over the years, this high-profile and distinguished reputation was earned by keeping Hope Mills relevant, involved, and informed on important county and state issues that impact the Hope Mills community. is takes time and commitment from those who intend to keep the town from losing its relevance and in- fluence. Will Bellflower and the new administration rise to the occasion? Everyone hopes so, and no one dares bet against it. Yet, the fact remains that Jackie Warner was Hope Mills' full-time mayor. • 12 years of perfect attendance at Mayors Coalition (Current Chairmen) • Appointed by County Commis- sioners to Mid Carolina Council on Aging • Delegate to Senior Tar Heal Legis- lature Delegate • 12 years of perfect attendance at Fayetteville Area Municipality Plan- ning Organization and prior FAMPO chairman or vice chairman. • Hope Mills representative of FCCEDC (Fayetteville-Cumberland County Economic Development Committee) • Hope Mills Representative at Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce meetings, luncheons, Business Break- fast, and ribbon cuttings. • Member of HM Finance Commit- tee (Town Budget) • Leader of the Mayor's Youth Lead- ership Council • Member Kiwanis Club — Baldwin Elementary K-Kids advisor • Member of Post 10630 VFW Women's Auxiliary • Hope Mills Ministerial Committee For those who love Hope Mills and have watched it evolve over the past twelve years to its proud and prominent position in Cumberland County and North Carolina, we wish the best to the newly elected Hope Mills Mayor, Jessie Bellflowers, and the Board of Commissioners. And we thank former Mayor Jackie Warner for setting the foundation from which Hope Mills can expand, grow, and prosper, bringing peace, tranquil- ity, and civility back into a deserving community. ank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly newspaper. PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Alyson Hansen editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Sam Olsen assistanteditor@upandcomingweekly. com ART DIRECTOR Courtney Sapp-Scott art@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@upandcomingweekly.com STAFF WRITERS Aubrette Reid Amber Little Hannah Lee Carrie Jackson Lena Simmons Kathleen Ramsey Jamie Bishop Sheila Barker Dr. Shanessa Fenner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Margaret Dickson, D.G. Martin, Christopher Thrasher MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister linda@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ASSISTANT Sheila Barker salesassistant@upandcomingweekly. com COVER Cover design by Courtney Sapp-Scott Photo by Aly Hansen Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan St. P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: 910-484-6200- FAX: 910-484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and information on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Published weekly on Wednesdays, Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. 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