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/653613
MARCH 16-22, 2016 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Army Spec. Nicholas D. Roberts, a na- tive of Longwood, Florida, and a resident of Spring Lake, died in a parachute train- ing accident at Fort Bragg's Sicily Drop Zone, April 28, 2015. Roberts joined the 82nd Airborne Division following a stint in the U.S. Army Reserve. The Army Times this month revealed previously unreleased details of an investigation into the accident by the XVIII Airborne Corps. A Freedom of Information Act request forced the disclosure. Roberts wore a loaded rucksack and a modular weapons case during his first night-training jump. He had jumped six times before but never after dark. The weapon case struck the door of the plane as he jumped, causing him to spin dur- ing his exit. He died instantly when the static line struck his neck, according to the report. His inexperience was cited as a contributing factor to his death. His passing came 12 days after the death of another 82nd paratrooper, Pvt. Josh Phil- lips. His death also came during a night jump at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Coinciden- tally, it too was Phillips seventh jump. Sgt. Richard Wheeler was one of Rob- erts' friends. They served together, but lost touch when they went separate ways during deployments. "He enjoyed the Army, he enjoyed what he did" Wheeler told Up & Coming Weekly. "He always found a way to stay motivated," Wheeler added. In Roberts' death, video and eyewitness accounts confirmed that because his weapon case was rigged too loosely, it was nearly horizontal. The Army Times quoted the next in line soldier whose name was redacted as saying "I observed Roberts rotating on the jump platform to his left. He ended up exiting backwards, facing toward me." Roberts' parachute opened normally, as his lifeless body descended to the ground. No one knew he had been killed until a search party found him about 20 minutes after he was determined to be missing. The report said the rigging on the paratroopers' weapon case was im- proper in that it had too much slack. The leg strap had not been tightened before the jump, which is standard procedure, The Army Times reported. (The investigation noted it's common for soldiers to keep their leg straps loose for comfort, but that they're supposed to be tightened when they stand in the door.) The XVIII Airborne Corps investigative report cited the failure of jump- masters to attend a mandatory pre-jump training session. The investigation found that the assigned team of jumpmasters had been told instead to meet with their commander, which is why they missed the required pre-jump briefing. The Deputy Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, Brig. Gen. Brian Winski, "formally admonished" the jumpmaster team. The report did not indicate whether the commander was also admonished. An airfield control officer conducted the meeting in the jumpmasters' absence. After the deaths of Roberts and Phillips, the XVIII Airborne Corps tempo- rarily suspended all airborne operations. It adopted 15 directives including changes to the training progression of new airborne soldiers. The new directive states, "Paratroopers should not move on to subsequent stages of train- ing unless their leaders deem them ready." NEWS Media Scrutiny Yields the Truth by JEFF THOMPSON JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. Following the deaths of two paratroopers, the XVII Airborne Corps suspened all jumps to look into the training deaths. The Fayetteville Public Works Commission has decided to treat Town of Hope Mills utility customers the same way it does City of Fayetteville customers. Hope Mills residents will enjoy so-called 'in city' water and sewer rates thanks to a decision last week by the PWC Board. PWC purchased the Hope Mills water and sewer system 18 years ago. Officials recently determined that language in the purchase agreement was ambiguous. PWC spokesperson Carolyn Justice-Hinson said the dis- crepancy had just recently come to the utility's attention. "A couple of neighbors were comparing their bills and wondered why they were different," said PWC Chairman Darsweil Rogers. Public Works Commissioners decided language regarding rates had been interpreted in different ways resulting in rates for Hope Mills resi- dents that were not being applied consistently. "The PWC Board wanted to resolve the confusion related to this agree- ment and ensure rates are applied in a fair and consistent manner," said Rogers. "We value our customers and are happy that we have been able to work with Mayor ( Jackie) Warner and other Hope Mills officials to work out a resolution for our customers," he concluded. From now on, customers located inside the town limits who have been billed outside-the-city rates will be changed over to the lower in-city rates. Not only that, they'll be refunded the difference they have paid for water and sewer services, presumably retroactively to 1998. "PWC is very responsive to Hope Mills, and I appreciate the coopera- tion and concern they have shown by looking into this matter and mak- ing this decision that benefits our citizens," said Mayor Warner. PWC officials say they will work with Hope Mills town officials to identify customers affected by the change who are eligible for refunds. A joint committee will identify current and past Hope Mills residents who will receive in-city utility rates. Those customers will be individu- ally notified about pending changes and the refunds to which they're entitled. Because the Hope Mills town limits have changed over time the review is expected to take several months to identify the customers who will receive refunds. PWC Gives Hope Mills Break on Water Bill by JEFF THOMPSON