8 NOVEMBER 4-10, 2015
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Parks Bond Issue
A Fayetteville parks bond referendum is on 'go.' City Council is awaiting confirmation
from the state Local Government Commission so it can move the process forward and
set a public hearing. Meanwhile, council members will hash out exactly what they want
the voters to act on and how much money they believe will be acceptable. They've set
a ceiling of $45 million but some members hope the dollar figure will be considerably
less than that, perhaps in the vicinity of $30 million. They point out that some projects
can be funded separately, while big ticket items will need a vote.
The elite are often first into combat
Can the 82nd Airborne Division remain intact for a while at Fort Bragg? Perhaps not!
Defense Secretary Ash Carter says American troops could be added to the mix in com-
batting ISIS. American special operations teams are already in the fight as advisers …
just as they were in Vietnam 60 years ago. The Army generals who would be in charge
are familiar with the 82nd Airborne Division's capabilities. Central Command Chief
Gen. Lloyd Austin is a former XVIII Airborne Corps Commander. Gen. John Campbell is a
former Forces Command commanding general.
Neighborhood Watch
The thesis behind the neighborhood watch concept is that thieves follow a line of
least resistance. Homes are less likely to beburglarized where neighbors look out for
one another. There are even new crime prevention technologies available to residents.
Invariably, community watch organizations take rise after crime becomes a neighbor-
hood threat, as it has in Van Story Hills. Theupper middle class community was recently
beset with break-ins, anarmed robbery and auto thefts. So, residents are organizing.
Police crime prevention specialists are showing them how to join together to keep an
eye on one another
Fayetteville's V.A.
The $120 million, 250,000 sq. ft. Fayetteville Veteran's Administration Health Care
Center is up and running. A so-called soft opening is underway this week. A formal ribbon
cutting is scheduled for January. The massive outpatient center for numerous clinics off
Raeford Road South will serve an ever-growing veteran population. There are 1,800 park-
ing spaces available, complete with shuttle service. Also, the V.A. Medical Center Emer-
gency Room should re-open before long. Director Elizabeth Goolsby says she has a new
contract for physicians and hopes to get authorization to reopen the E.R. soon.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
by JEFF THOMPSON
JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter.
COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly.
com. 910.484.6200.
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