Good news for travelers at Fayetteville Regional Airport: Delta Airlines will offer a fourth daily flight to and from Atlanta starting November 11. “We are pleased to announce another step forward for Fayetteville Regional Airport,” Deontae Watsonthe airport’s interim director, says in a press release. “The addition of this flight to and from FAY demonstrates the airport’s growth and by expanding travel options for passengers, Fayetteville will become more accessible for current residents and visitors alike.” Travelers can now book flights on Flyfay.com or Delta.com. Our airport will now have 22 daily flights, according to the press release, including carriers such as Delta Airlines and American Airlines.
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“It is a gigantic task,” says Dr. Hershey BellFounding Dean of Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, which will welcome its first class of health care providers in 2025, “but a year that couldn’t be more fulfilling.” Those of us who know Hershey Bell can be confident that under his leadership, the MUCFVH School of Medicine cannot fail and will transform health care in Cumberland County and the Cape Fear region for generations to come.
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Say hello to Ina Jeane’ Popethe new development officer for the Bladen County Hospital Foundation. “I am excited to start this new project in Elizabethtown and continue to expand philanthropic efforts in Bladen County and ensure that Bladen residents and visitors have quick and local access to quality healthcare in their hometown,” Pope says in the latest edition of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Update. “I am here to highlight the hard work everyone in Bladen does and to help increase donors and donations so we can continue to grow.” Pope is a retired educator and a familiar face in Bladen County, where she leads the annual White Lake Water Festival. Pope follows Kristen Carpenter at the foundation.
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Jan William Mejer from Kolding, Denmark, is trying to find out if anyone remembers the deceased Esther Naomi Rasmussenwas his father’s aunt, and who, Mejer says, worked in and helped establish the first physical therapy departments at Cape Fear Valley and Highsmith hospitals. He also says Mrs. Rasmussen was instrumental in planning the Southeastern Regional Rehabilitation Center. “I realize it’s been a long time since she died, and it’s probably been even longer since she worked at your facility, but I was hoping and wondering if you have any pictures of Naomi or any other information about Naomi that you could give us,” he said. Mejer has reached out to Cape Fear Valley Health, but without much luck, anyone has been able to recall Mrs. Rasmussen’s contributions to the health care system. If so, email me. Esther Naomi Rasmussen died on August 31, 2007, at the age of 95, according to Mejer.
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“Bill, I wanted to thank you for the great article about me and the CAC,” John Webster writes in an email about our August 3 column naming Webster as the new executive director of the Child Advocacy Center. “I enjoyed speaking with you and look forward to working with you again in the future. Over 50 years of experience. Wow! You have no doubt seen a lot of changes in this city over the years.” Indeed, Mr. Webster, I have – most of them for the good, some for the not so good. But one thing that has not changed is the CAC’s commitment and dedication to keeping physically, mentally and sexually abused children out of harm’s way.
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“Please hold Council Member (Lynne) Greene in your thoughts and prayers for the loss of your mother,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin said at the Fayetteville City Council meeting on Monday evening: “Just like our city clerk, Pam Megillwho also lost her mother this week. So please pray for these two members of our team and their families.”
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Michael McCaskill was installed as president of the Massey Hill Lions Club for 2024-25, according to the club founded in 1958. Other officers include Ed SamuelianVice President; Josh ScottSecretary; Jerry ScottTreasurer; and Scott JeffriesTail Twister. You’re probably wondering what the role of the Tail Twister is. The Tail Twister’s job is to create excitement and goodwill in the club.
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Armstrong Stadium will be the new name of Terry Sanford High School’s football arena, long known as JL “Johnnie” Dawkins Stadium since the mid-1950s along the old Fort Bragg Road. “The Armstrong family simply loves Terry Sanford’s sports program,” Catherine Abraham Johnsonthe school principal, wrote to the Cumberland County Board of Education, according to a press release, requesting the application for recognition George Armstronga Bulldog quarterback from 1964, and his family, including his wife Carolyn Riddle Armstrong“Their dedication to the student-athletes on Ft. Bragg Road went above and beyond the call of duty and honoring them was long overdue. The Armstrong family has donated more than a million dollars to projects that benefitted the diverse communities of Terry Sanford. This honor would be a fitting tribute to a family that has welcomed the Bulldog family and provided much-needed support without asking for anything in return.” The renaming is planned for the college football game on September 6, according to the press release.
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When entering a crosswalk on the road, one must always be alert, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation is doing its best to increase safety at crosswalks. “This change makes pedestrians more visible to drivers,” Nick ZinserNCDOT’s signal engineer for the western region, says in a press release about the so-called “pedestrian lead interval,” which gives pedestrians a three- to seven-second head start to enter a crosswalk before motorists traveling in the parallel direction get the green light. “This is a safety improvement and can be implemented at a low cost by reprogramming existing equipment at our traffic signals.” The NCDOT says it is improving the safety initiative at traffic signal-controlled pedestrian crossings across the state.
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Cumberland County employees raising young children and juggling work and child care responsibilities now have less to worry about, as the Cumberland County Employee Childcare Center has opened in the former Dorothy Spainhour School at 223 Hull Road. “Our employees are the backbone of our great county government,” Glen AdamsChairman of the Cumberland Board of County Commissioners, says in a press release. “We value our employees. They are like family. We are constantly looking for ways to ensure they are not only valued for their hard work, dedication and expertise, but are also fairly compensated. We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do for our county employees?’ and developed the vision of the Employee Childcare Center.” The center was funded with $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the press release. The center has space for 150 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, and the county says future plans will include hours to support 24-hour care for departments such as Emergency Serves 911 and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. “This will give parents peace of mind and the assurance that their loved ones are in good hands,” Tony Stewartsays the vice chair of the board, “as they help carry out the important work of Cumberland County.
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Next: The house with the shutters on Roxie Avenue
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at [email protected] or 910-624-1961.
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