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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Update on Dog Packs, Rabies Threat Cumberland County Animal Control is increasing its efforts to trap and remove packs of dogs following reports of dogs attacking a fox and two raccoons suspected of having rabies. Animal Control Director John Lauby estimates there are about 10 packs of dogs running wild in various areas of the city, and they have killed other small pets and animals. in bats, raccoons and a fox. With the reports of pack dogs coming in contact with animals suspected of having rabies, Health Director Buck Wilson said an outbreak of rabies among these pack dogs would likely create an imminent public health hazard and he advised Animal Control that it should take “extraordinary measures authorized under Section 3-23 of the Cumberland County Code to apprehend and eradicate the pack dogs.” Wilson is not declaring a quarantine or rabies emergency at this time. “But I am very concerned that we be proactive in our approach to this potentially serious public health risk,” he said. The County has hired Fayetteville-based Mims Wildlife Damage Control to assist with the efforts. Animal Control Director Dr. John Lauby said the company started on July 29 and is working in two 2-man teams from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. for 30 days straight, including weekends. sightings directly to Mims Wildlife during the 12-hour evening shifts. agreed to give any support required to protect the citizens of Cumberland County,” Lauby said. Citizens are also asked to be on alert and report pack dog sightings by calling a direct line Animal Control has established to handle such calls quickly. But Lauby cautions against approaching the dogs. “They should not be dealing with the dogs at all,” he said, adding that pet owners should make sure their dogs and cats are vaccinated for rabies. If you see a pack of dogs, call Animal Control at 321-6861 Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. and on weekends or holidays, call the King Re-elected to National Board Cumberland County Commissioner Billy R. King was re-elected to a two- year term to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Counties (NACo) during the group’s Annual Conference, which was held July 15-19 in Portland, Ore. King was elected to his third two-year term holding one of three seats earned by North Carolina on the NACo Board. NACo is the only national organization representing county government. The NACo Board of Directors supervises, manages and controls the business and property of the association, determines NACo’s Due to his service on the NACo Board, King also becomes a member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). King served as NCACC president in 1996-97. King has been a Cumberland County Commissioner since 1990 and is the longest-serving member of the board. “I look forward to serving another term on the boards for both NACo and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and working on issues at the state and national level affecting county government,” King said. Extension Agent Honored Angela Shaver, Cumberland County 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent, recently received a professional development scholarship and a Search for Excellence Award from N.C. Cooperative Extension. She received the award for her work in raising more than $750,000 for the Bladen County 4-H Program during the past seven years. She will use the $800 professional development award to attend the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference this fall. Shaver was the 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent in Bladen County before moving to the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension in March. She also received the $200 Carolyn Stanley Barnes and George Edward Barnes 4-H Graduate Education Scholarship. Commissioner Billy R. King, left, was recognized by Chairman Kenneth Edge at the Aug. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting. writ-er [rahy-ter] – noun 1. a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., esp. as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist. If you see yourself in that light, Up & Coming Weekly would love you to join our creative, talented, community-oriented line-up of contributing writers. If you are interested in joining our writing team, e-mail sample articles or questions to: editor@upandcomingweekly.com For more informtion, call 910-484-6200. 20 UCW AUGUST 10-16, 2011 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM