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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1120003
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 22-28, 2019 UCW 9 Mecklenburg County State Sen. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., won the makeover 9th Congressional District Republican primary election. e May 14 special primary came three months after state election officials threw out the Novem- ber 2018 election, which was marred by fraud allegations in Bladen and Robeson counties. Half of Cumberland County is in the 9th Dis- trict. Bishop will face Democrat Dan McCready and two third-party candidates Sept. 10 in what's expected to be the nation's most closely watched special election. e district has been without a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since the first of the year. A Republican has held the seat, which has changed over time, since the 1960s. Bishop defeated nine other Republican Party candidates. "Dan McCready went through two elections without telling anyone where he stood on any- thing — that ends now," Bishop told supporters. In a statement, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fired back, noting Bishop was the architect of House Bill 2, the so-called "bathroom bill," and heir to what it called Repub- lican election fraud. Bragg Boulevard intersection change Construction of the new Rowan Street railroad bridges is resulting in a new traffic pattern west of the overpass- es. Bragg Boulevard is being rerouted to intersect with Murchison Road and Rowan Street. e change was made this month while con- struction of the roadway continues. Another new section of the roadway will redirect Murchison Road to make for a smoother transformation. e change cuts off a historic service station now be- ing used as a used car lot. It was the only building in the vicinity preserved because of its historic significance. City Manager Doug Hewett said the city hopes to acquire and restore the property. e old sec- tion of the boulevard between Rowan Street and the North Carolina Veterans Park will be convert- ed into a cul-de-sac, Hewett said. e $36 million project is an initiative of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Plan- ning Organization, which replaces the struc- turally obsolete bridge along NC 24-210 that passed over Hillsboro Street, the CSX Railroad and the Norfolk Southern Railroad in down- town Fayetteville. Construction is scheduled for completion in November. New PWC electricity rates now in effect Fayetteville Public Works Commission has implemented time-of-use rates for residential and small commercial electric customers. PWC says on its website that the new rates are in keeping with the way the utility purchases power from Duke Energy — at higher rates during peak hours, when consumers typically use more power. Rates for electricity used during off-peak hours will be 30% lower than during peak times. Peak hours vary depending on the time of year. From April-October, they are from 3-7 p.m., weekdays. Winter peak hours between Novem- ber and March are from 6-10 a.m., Monday through Friday. PWC said its average residential customer uses 1,017 kilowatt hours of electricity each month; 21% during peak hours and 79% during off-peak hours. Customers can save money by adjusting their daily weekday routine and shifting more of their electrical use to the off-peak times of day. PWC suggests customers use toaster ovens, crockpots and microwaves when cooking. ey use less energy than the stove or oven. Always take care when cooking. It is the No. 1 cause of house fires in the United States. Official I.D. cards are now available to everyone North Carolina citizens whose driver's licenses or permits are suspended or revoked can now receive state-issued identification cards from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. D.M.V. began the process this month of issuing identification cards to residents with revoked, suspended, canceled or disqualified driver's licenses. e General Assembly passed the law during the 2018 session. State-issued identification cards can be used as a form of photo identification. ey do not authorize holders to drive. DMV will mail identification cards to individuals after the it receives the seized or sur- rendered licenses. ere is no charge. e ID card issuance is not retroactive and applies to driver's licenses that were surrendered starting May 1. Fox bites mom and son A rabid fix bit a local woman and her son last week. e State Public Health Lab in Raleigh confirmed the fox that bit two people May 13 has rabies. e incident occurred at a home on Chris- tina Street off Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville. e victims were not identified by authorities. Animal Control responded to the scene to in- vestigate. Officers said a growling fox approached three adults sitting on the front porch of their home and bit a mother and son before another son removed the fox from the porch without be- ing bitten. Animal Control officers who responded were able to locate and secure the fox. Officials said the animal died while being transported to the Ani- mal Control facility. e two victims sought treat- ment at the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center's emergency room and are receiving post-rabies exposure treatment. is is the first case of rabies in Cumberland County in 2019. Bishop wins 9th District Republican Party primary by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Dan Bishop Turn to our calendar every Wednesday and see what is happening! 910.484.6200 | www.upandcomingweekly.com "Cumberland County's Community Newspaper"