Bill Kirby: Get this Civil War history center done, councilman says

Jan. 11--If you are looking for the smartest elected official in the city and county these days, some might tell you it is Johnny Dawkins, the Fayetteville city councilman who says he wants the city to move with expedience on funding a proposed North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center to be built on Arsenal Avenue and Branson Street in Haymount. "I'd like to see the council approve the Civil War history center after they do their analysis," Dawkins has said about the $65 million center that primarily will be funded and operated by the state. "They ought to be able to do that in three or four months, and then we can vote on it in three or four months. I really don't want to lose that state money nor the state commitment to operate the history center." Dawkins, son of the late J.L. Dawkins, the longest-serving mayor in city history, some will tell you is the smartest elected official in the city and county when it comes to the center.

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Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans is pushing for a referendum on the Nov. 3 election ballot to gauge how county taxpayers feel about the Civil War history center and spending $7.5 million toward its construction. What Evans and those stalling the proposal need to understand is that the center is not so much about the expenditure but more about the long-term investment in this community.

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"Keep it up, Bill," Mary Claire Kosterman writes about our Jan. 8 column that says the longer the city and county take to affirm their in-concept approval of $7.5 million each toward construction of the Civil War center, the more likely chance the proposal will be withdrawn by the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center Foundation. "What is wrong with these elected officials, who are so small-minded that they can't see the forest for the trees and once more are working hard to keep Fayetteville from growing? Just had to have my say."

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Margaret Hedgecoe is one of many VanStory Hills residents wanting to know when restoration of the Mirror Lake dam will be complete, after it was damaged by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Feb. 19, Mrs. Hedgecoe -- so says the city. Just 40 days away.

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Cumberland County Chief District Court Judge Robert Stiehl is scheduled to retire from the bench on Feb 1 after more than a quarter of a century. He was a firm and no-nonsense judge who held not only those who appeared before him accountable but judicial colleagues, too. And abused children had a friend for sure in Judge Robert Stiehl III.

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"It truly was a pleasure to serve on the Board of Education with Peggy," Susan Williams, who represents District 5 of the Cumberland County Schools board, says about the late Peggy Hall, who resigned in June. "She had a heart for children, great respect for the service of our employees, a broad knowledge of our school programs from her teaching and supervisory positions, and, most importantly, had a cooperative spirit. Her example of servant-hood is one for myself and others to follow. Peggy truly will be missed, and I for one am a better person because I knew her." Hall worked in the school system beginning in 1968 as a business teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and vocational director with Central Services until her retirement in 1996. She succeeded her husband, McKinley "Macky" Hall, on the school board in 2016.

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"Such a great loss of an extraordinary educator," says Joseph Sorce, who was elected to Hall's District 6 seat after her resignation from the board. "I truly appreciated her commitment to the students, parents and staff of Cumberland County Schools. As a new Board of Education member, I have been aspiring to be a strong advocate for our public school system with Macky and Peggy Hall as my role models. Their impact on the Cumberland County Schools community is immeasurable. We have been blessed by their passion for a successful school system. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hall family." Margaret "Peggy" Hall was 78 when she died Wednesday. A service is scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church downtown.

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Never a dull moment when it comes to Hope Mills politics, where some residents are beside themselves after May Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray, Bryan Marley and Pat Edwards of the town board voted to demolish the former Christ Episcopal Church parish house that was given to the town by the Episcopal diocese. "What is the urgency to tear this 110-year-old building down when there are a couple of other options we could pursue?" said Jessie Bellflowers, who joined Commissioner Jerry Legge in opposition. McCray, Marley and Edwards apparently believe the structure is beyond repair. "I just think we should have explored all the options before making a decision," Bellflowers said. "But that wasn't the will of the board, although it is the wish of many in the community." Some of us agree with Bellflowers, who just may be the smartest elected official in Hope Mills.

Columnist Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at bkirby@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3571

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