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/1398742
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 4-10, 2021 UCW 9 e man outwardly most admired by his col- leagues on the Fayetteville City Council has been laid to rest. Six-term Councilman Bill Crisp died last week at the age of 81. Crisp was first elected in November 2007, to represent District 6 in west Fayetteville. He served for 12 years and chose to retire in 2019. "He was a true role model and a servant to his country and his community," said Mayor Mitch Col- vin. Crisp was arguably closest in city government to District 1 council member Kathy Jensen who currently serves as mayor pro-tem. "God took away my daddy 20 some years ago but he gave me Bill Crisp," Jensen said at the recent ground-breaking of the west Fayetteville senior center which was named in Crisp's honor. City flags at City Hall, Fayetteville fire stations and recreation centers were lowered to half-staff as a tribute to Crisp's service. Crisp served in the U.S. Army for 27 years and re- tired as a command sergeant major. He was married to his childhood sweetheart, Joan Boyd Crisp, for 61 years. ey met in elementary school and raised four children, William L., Sylvia D., and twins Sonja E. and Winston B. Technology makes planning easier for busi- ness community Cumberland County has launched a new online service designed to assist citizens, builders, con- tractors and businesspeople with the permitting, planning and inspections process. EnerGov Services and Citizens Self Service is a software program that allows internet submission and management of paperwork in the Planning & Inspections and Environmental Health Departments. Fire inspec- tions through the Fire Marshal's office can also be tracked. e new service provides a paperless manage- ment system that includes a dashboard that helps to easily find and manage permitting to increase citizen and contractor access to information online. "is software will maximize process efficiency and provide for a more seamless development review process," said Planning and Inspections Direc- tor Rawls Howard. Residents can use the software through a computer or tablet. EnerGov can be ac- cessed via the Planning & Inspections department section at cumberlandcountync.gov. Vaccination required for VA employees e Veterans Affairs Department is requiring that all frontline healthcare workers get vaccinated. e VA is the first federal agency to issue a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. It applies to health care employ- ees who work in Veterans Health Administration facilities or provide direct care to individuals the VA serves. e order covers about 115,000 employ- ees, according to e New York Times or about 27 percent of the workforce. "We're mandating vac- cines for Title 38 employees because it's the best way to keep veterans safe, especially as the Delta variant spreads across the country," said Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement. "Whenever a veteran or VA employee sets foot in a VA facility, they deserve to know that we have done everything in our power to protect them from COVID-19. "Now Hiring" is now commonplace in busi- ness and government Cumberland County School District officials say the system has literally dozens of job opportuni- ties. Among the numerous vacancies are positions for teachers, teacher assistants, cafeteria workers, media coordinators, prime time assistants, custodi- ans, school bus drivers and many others. "New hires may be eligible for $500 sign-on bonuses," said CCS Communications Director Renarta Moyd. She can be contacted at renartac@ccs.K12.nc.us for addi- tional information. State facing nursing shortage Hospital systems across North Carolina are experiencing nursing shortages. Cape Fear Val- ley Medical Center in Fayetteville reports "short- ages across the board" in its nursing department. e practical nursing program at Robeson County Community College reports numerous graduates have received offers from Cape Fear Valley Medi- cal Center where the hospital system says, "We are aggressively working to hire for full-time, part-time, and per diem nurses." Cathy Madigan, chief nurs- ing executive with UNC Health, says this has been expected. "We have been predicting the nursing shortage," she said. "Our need is going up, but most schools of nursing are not increasing opportunities yet because it costs money." One reason that there are fewer nurses in the workforce right now is pandemic fatigue. Crystal Tillman, CEO of the North Carolina Board of Nurs- ing, has said that working under the strain has led to some newer nurses leaving the profession altogeth- er. UNC Health has more than 800 vacant nursing positions across the state. For those considering entering the nursing career field, local training programs are available through Fayetteville Technical Community College, Method- ist University and Fayetteville State University. Visit their websites for more information. City flags lowered to honor life of former councilman by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Bill Crisp is surrounded by friends and family in this file pho- to from the groundbreaking ceremony of a new senior center named in his honor. (Photo courtesy City of Fayetteville)