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/1351489
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 17-23, 2021 UCW 9 Cumberland County is apparently on the lead- ing edge of efforts to get more people of color vaccinated. Black Americans have a high level of vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new RAND Corporation survey. ose who expressed vaccine hesitancy also showed high levels of overall mistrust in the vaccine, concerns about potential harm and side effects, and lack of confidence in vaccine effec- tiveness and safety. N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said that in the last month, 20% of vaccinations have gone to Black North Carolinians. In Cumberland County, almost 34 percent of first doses have been administered to Blacks, who make up 39% of the county's population, accord- ing to Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green. "We must encourage everyone to get vaccinated especially those at higher risk for infection, hos- pitalization and death," said county commission chairman Charles Evans. Cohen and Governor Roy Cooper visited the Cumberland County COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic this month at the health department's clinic at the Crown Center. Another cold case cleared Fayetteville Police have been instrumental in clearing cold violent crimes. Detectives with the Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit have charged a sus- pect in a rape case which occurred 12 years ago. Michael Anthony Lee, 34, of Fayetteville, has been accused of 2nd degree rape. Lee was arrested on March 5 and is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $175,000.00 secured bond. e preliminary investigation in October of 2009 revealed that Lee met his victim in the downtown area of Fayetteville. She told po- lice she was taken to his home where he forcibly raped her. e initial investigation went unsolved. However, the medical rape kit from this case was recently tested with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's FY2015 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative with Lee being identified as a person of interest. Anyone with information concerning a sexual assault case is encouraged to contact the Fayetteville Police Department's Spe- cial Victim's Unit at 910-433-1851 or Crimestop- pers at 910-483-8477. Former FORSCOM Deputy CG nominated for fourth star U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, Com- manding General of U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, has been nominated for a fourth star to lead U.S. Southern Command. Rich- ardson previously served as the Deputy Com- maning General of Forces Command on Fort Bragg. Richardson entered the service as an Army aviator and served in a variety of staff and com- mand positions in the U.S. and overseas. She served in Irag as a Battalion Commander in the 101t Aviation Regiment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Her assignments as a general officer include Commanding General of the U.S. Army Opera- tional Test Command; Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Chief of Staff for Communica- tions with Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; Chief, Army Legislative Liaison; and most recently as the Deputy Commanding General, at U.S. Forces Command. Long-time City Councilman remembered Former Fayetteville City Councilman Robert Massey, Jr. is remembered as a straight talker. Massey, 72, died Feb. 5. He served on council for 22 years. Charles Evans, Chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, was a city council colleague of Massey in the early 2000s. He said that when Massey said something people knew they could "take it to the bank." Massey served a center city district on City Council from 1992 to 2014, but he main- tained citywide interests. He was employed at Fayetteville Technical Community College as director of the high school diploma program until he retired in 2002. Massey was a native North Carolinian who attended E.E. Smith High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 at Fayetteville State University. He received a Master of Arts degree in secondary education from Cath- olic University of America in Washington, D.C. Trees planted to enhance Murchinson Road corridor $15,000 worth of trees are being planted along the inner-city section of Murchison Road up to the new Rowan St. bridge. Fayetteville-Cum- berland Parks and Recreation crews are plant- ing cherry and oak trees as part of the Murchi- son Road/Bragg Boulevard Study adopted by Fayetteville City Council. "As we move forward with Murchison Road Corridor improvements, we want to preserve and enhance the natural environment," Mayor Mitch Colvin said. e work area is marked with orange construc- tion cones. e plantings began in January and will likely end in April. One hundred trees will be planted. Lights will eventually be added to the trees creating a lit gateway to downtown. Costs are covered with money from the City of Fayetteville Tree Preservation Fund. COVID-19 vaccinations on the rise by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Michael Anthony Lee