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/1379376
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 2-8, 2021 UCW 9 e City of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg have agreed to build a sports complex on 70 acres of undeveloped property on post near I-295 and McArthur Road. City Manager Doug Hewett and Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence signed the agreement at City Hall May 21. e sports complex was ap- proved by voters in the 2016 $35M recreation bond referendum. "We are excited to bring this project one step closer to fruition, but we are even more excited about this new partnership with Fort Bragg that will provide us with 70 acres of additional park land conveniently located along I-295," said city manager Doug Hewett. "is is a win-win for Fort Bragg and for the City of Fayetteville and we appreciate their partnership," Pence added noting that more than 70% of local service members and their families live in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. e sports complex will include baseball fields, play- grounds, restrooms, walking trails, parking spaces and open areas. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022. County burn ban in effect e N.C. Forest Service, Cumberland County Emergency Services and the Fayetteville Fire Depart- ment have cancelled burning permits because of hazardous woods fire conditions. e N.C. Depart- ment of Agriculture and Consumer Services which oversees the state Forest Service has banned outdoor burning in 26 counties. e Cumberland County Fire Marshal issued a ban countywide on all open burn- ing in accordance with the County Fire Prevention Ordinance. "Emergency Services made this decision based on our rating for fire danger and how hot and dry the weather has been," said Fire Marshal Kevin Lowther. "Cumberland County currently is at a high risk." Read books, win prizes with summer reading programs at local libraries Cumberland County Public Library presents "Tails and Tales" from June 1 to Aug. 15 at the Cumberland County Public Library. "Tails and Tales" is one of many 2021 Summer Reading Programs for children, teens and adults. It is designed for someone to read books, watch programs and win prizes. Participants keep track of their reading and earn virtual badges for the chance to win prizes like headphones, gift cards and color-changing mugs. Grand prizes include an annual family membership to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, a $100 gift card and a Kindle. Individuals can tack their progress by using a reading record which can be picked up at any library branch or downloaded and printed. Find your near- est branch and more information about the Sum- mer Reading Program at https://cumberland.lib. nc.libguides.com/srp "Tails and Tales" is the perfect way to keep chil- dren and teens engaged in learning while school is out. Prizes start at just five hours of reading. e pro- gram helps improve reading skills, promotes creative thinking, imagination and storytelling. Teens can participate in fun activities like games, challenges and missions. Adults can take advantage of BookMatch, a new service that helps adults find their next great read. Customers can fill out a short questionnaire on the library's website to identify books matched to reader interests and librarians create a customized list of book titles. Keep up with Summer Reading by following the library's social media pages at facebook.com/Cum- berlandCountyPublicLibrary or YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UCkKV_zbl08357r3rt- gc0yxA. All library branches re-opened to the public in May. Library hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the library's website at cumberland.lib.nc.us for more information and links to social media. Curbside service is available at all Library branches. SkyREM expands presence in Cumberland County e Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved an economic development agreement with SkyREM, LLC, allowing the company to purchase approximately 515 acres of County-owned industrial property for $6.55 million. As part of the agreement, SkyREM, a commercial developer, will construct new industrial buildings in the Cedar Creek Indus- trial Park and Cumberland Industrial Center. ree parcels, totaling approximately 356 acres, are in the Cedar Creek Industrial Park adjoining Clark West Road. e remaining 159 acres front Sand Hills Road and Production Drive in the Cumberland Industrial Center. "SkyREM is excited for the opportunity to potentially invest further in the Cumberland County market, and we are happy to be considered as the potential purchaser for the Cedar Creek and Sand Hill development sites. We currently own and man- age over 1.1 million square feet in Fayetteville and look forward to rapidly developing multiple state- of-the-art, best-in-class manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities. ese sites will have direct access to the crucial I-95 east coast corridor that reaches 80% of the American population in one day or less," said Alex Dembitzer, SkyREM founder. Once the sale is complete, SkyREM will have 36 months to construct the first building on each individual site or the County may repurchase the property. is is the company's third significant in- vestment in Cumberland County with the purchase of 107 Tom Starling Road (927,000 square feet) in 2018 and 880 Technology Drive (182,000 square feet) earlier this year. Gray's Creek Volunteer Fire Department to host Open House e Gray's Creek Volunteer Fire Department Sta- tion #18 will host an open house for their new fire station at 6975 Fire Department Road, Hope Mills, on June 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. e open house will feature food, music, equipment displays, bounce houses, fire hats and stickers for kids. Firefighters will also give station tours. e new building sits on four acres of land and is 16,000 square feet, more than triple the size of the old building. e department received a $2 million, 40-year loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to finance the building. "is is an exciting moment for our firefighters because our crew and equipment had outgrown the station twice and we needed a solution to better serve the community," said Gray's Creek Fire Station #18 Chief Kevin Herndon. Fayetteville, Fort Bragg officials sign sports complex agreement by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence (left) and City Manager Doug Hewett (right) recently signed an agreement for a new sports complex.