The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival kicks off Friday, October 15, 2021 in a 3-day weekend event ending Sunday, October 17, 2021. The Fall version of the Fayetteville Dogwood festival includes two highlighted attractions with Historic Hauntings and Downtown Historic Hayrides!
The event will also include a showcase of a wide varie
ty of vendors, Battle of the Bands, Dueling Piano Show presented by Blazin’ Keys Entertainment, and also, the classic Car & Motorc
ycle Show!
2021 Fall Dogwood Festival October 15 – 17, 2021
For more information visit: www.theDogwoodFestival.com www.FayettevilleNC.gov www.facebook.com/cityoffayettevillegovernment www.FayTV.net Twitter @CityOfFayNC
Pope Army Airfield, NC – NASCAR driver, Erik Jones, visits the 352nd Special Warfare Training Squadron to better understand how Special Warfare Airmen are trained and developed at Pope Army Airfield, September 29, 2021. The visit is
part of the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service’s sponsorship of Richard Petty Motorsports with a presence on the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, established early January.
“This is my first time coming around Special Warfare, I met some great men and women, here [352nd SWTS],” said Jones. “It’s cool to see the history of the program, where it started from, and how it was built into what it is today.”
The 352nd SWTS trains, mentors, and develops Special Tactics Officer (STO), Combat Control Team (CCT), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) students in foundational skills to prepare for global employment across the range of Special Warfare.
Jones toured the Chief Master Sgt. “Bull” Benini Heritage center and Museum, training fac
ilities, and donned AFSPECWAR gear used by STOs, CCTs
, and SR Airmen, to include weapons and protective vests used in combat operations.
“We’re proud to showcase the history and capabilities of the 352nd SWTS to Erik Jones,” said Maj. Nate Smith, 352nd SWTS commander. “In the SW training community we train Airmen to project Airpower for the USAF. We project our nation’s capability around the world, anytime, anyplace for global access, personnel recovery, precision strike, and humanitarian missions.”
Jones met with Human Performance Squadron strength coaches and took part in an operational-stress workout that incorporates functional fitness into SW Airmen’s fitness skillsets. You may also take food supplements and protein bars if you also want to take on more vigorous workouts.
Events like this combined workout and stress shoot test SW Airmen’s ability to move, shoot, and perform tactical skills in a simulated high-stress environment. It consisted of a warm-up, a five-exercise circuit followed by firing a M249 light machine gun loaded with paint-simulation rounds, and executing a simulation course of fire with an M4 and 9mm pistol for time.
“The coolest part was taking part in the physical training and shooting. Obviously the PT was tough, but just getting a small glimpse of what these guys go through in physical training, but also just getting to be part of it side-by-side with these guys was really cool,” said Jones.
Lastly, leaders, instructors, students, and Jones gathered at the fallen hero memorial outside of the squadron building to conduct memorial push-ups honoring the 11th anniversary of Senior Airman Mark Forrester’s death and other fallen SW Airmen. SrA Forester was killed in action while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Uruzgon Province, Afghanistan, September 29, 2010 and posthumously awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions.
“We do memorial pushups as a unit together sounding off, loud and proud, to honor our fallen and remember them,” said Smith. “Jones participated in the event where we told Mark Forester’s story by reading his medal citations and telling his story to the team and students so we can always remember his legacy and sacrifice for liberty, and our nation.”
Jones will have a Special Warfare inspired paint scheme at his next race in the Superspeedway held at Talladega, Alabama, Oct. 3, 2021.
“Number one, thank you for your service,” said Jones. “It’s brutal. It’s not something every person can do. I respect anybody that gets in the [SWTW] pipeline and completes the training and comes out the other side. That’s a huge honor and something that I don’t think anyone can take lightly, so thank you.”
Additionally, AFRS will deploy the Activate: Special Warfare, a virtual reality trailer, during the race to give users an opportunity to experience an intense firefight in a deployed location between Special Warfare operators and enemy comb
atants. The trailer features five identical user bays, each equipped with technology for the visitors to use, that assess the user’s composure, observation, reaction and effectiveness while playing the game.
Candidates interested in learning more about U.S. Air F
orce Special Warfare career opportunities, can go to: https://www.airforce.com/careers/in-demand-careers/special-warfare.
Tickets on sale starting Friday, October 1, 2021 starting at 10am at dreamvillefest.com
The second annual Dreamville Festival will once again provide a thoughtfully-curated, multi-stage music event from J. Cole, who himself was raised in nearby Fayetteville, North Carolina. The festival offers an opportunity for J. Cole to give back to his home state that has helped shape the artist he has become with a one-of-a-kind celebration of local culture, food and art that also features a curated selection of music performers blending together some of today’s biggest national acts with exciting up-and-comers.
The festivals itself
aims to provide a unique opportunity for locals and traveling visitors alike to gather and enjoy a music celebration in one of Raleigh’s most beautiful and historic locations, Dorothea Dix Park – Raleigh’s largest city park with over 300 acres of public greenspace. Dreamville Festival’s ultimate goal is to not only have a positive and substantial economic a
nd cultural impa
ct on the city itself and the surrounding region, but also to be one of the most anticipated
annual events in the city – one that is a perfect complement to the existing event landscape and cultural fabric of the City of Raleigh.
The Fayetteville VA Medical Center says 281 patients received an expired dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine between June 23 and Aug 19, 2021.
The vaccines were 21 days expired and administered to veterans, military spouses, and employees attending the filled VA hospital beds during t
he nearly 2 month timeframe.
Press release for VA Fayetteville Coastal health care:
“Fayetteville VA NC Coastal Health Care System clinicians have contacted nearly all of the 281 Veterans, spouses, caregivers, and employees who received a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine that was frozen between 1 to 21 days longer than the manufacturer’s cold temperature storage requirements support. Notification of the remainder of individuals is ongoing. VA vaccine experts have been in contact with Pfizer scientists, who have reviewed this situation thoroughly. Based on these discussions, the vaccine received does not pose any known health risk. Out of an abundance of caution for those affected, we have recommended that those affected receive another Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has rigid cold storage guidelines, and any minor deviation from these may reduce the full effectiveness of the vaccine.”
For the second year in a row, Fayetteville State University’s homecoming parade will not be held due to covid-19 concerns. The school has also decided to cancel the homecoming pep rally.
The recent wave of the delta variant has caused concerns in large gatherings and increasing the spread of the virus. Cumberland County, NC has seen over 41,000 positive covid-19 cases, making it the fifth worse county in the state, only behind the bigger NC metro areas such as Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, and Forsythe counties.
The annual homecoming parade is held in conjunction with the City of Fayetteville NC was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 2021. The homecoming football game against Johnson C. Smith University will still be held at 2pm with covid safety protocols in place. To read more about Fayetteville State University’s 2021 Homecoming week of October 11-17, 2021 please visit their FSU events website.
After much thought and consideration, Fayetteville State University (FSU) has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s homecoming pep rally and parade that was to be held in conjunction with the City of Fayetteville.
While we understand that the parade is a long-standing tradition, the University made this decision in the interest of public health. While FSU students, fac
ulty, and staff have done a tremendous job by getting vaccinated, Cumberland County still has one of the highest COVID-19 rates in the stat
e. FSU is doing its part to decrease those numbers on our campus and within our community. Thank you for your understanding and continue to be safe!
Join Rustic Burger on October 17, 2021 for
FREE lunch from Noon
util 5pm for active and reserve military personnel and their families. The newly opened restaurant will show appreciation by giving back to the local military community, hosting local vendors, as well as bouncy houses and fun activities for th
e children. Guest Speaker Kia Anthony and a representative from “A Flag to Remember” will discuss their visions for the town and military.
Visit Rustic Burger Spring Lake, NC October 17, 2021 from Noon to 5pm @ 237 Sk
yland Plaza Shopping Center #100, Spring Lake, NC 28390
Cape Fear High School threats of a school shooting were circulating on multiple social media platforms on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received word of the online threats near 7:45am as the posts warned students not to attend school that day. Quotes from the social media posts include the following:
Cape Fear High School threats of a school shooting were circulating on multiple social media platforms on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received word of the online threats near 7:45am as the posts warned students not to attend school that day. Quotes from the social media posts include the following:
“ATTENTION EVERYBODY THAT GOES TO CAPE FEAR HIGH SCHOOL,” “DONT NOT GO TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK SB IS GOING TO SHOOT UP
THE SCHOOL.”
Cape Fear High School experienced a school shooting that garnere
d national attention after Catilyn Abercrombie, a 15-year-old student, was shot in the neck on campus by a .22-caliber rifle. A lawsuit was filed against the school which ended in a $2 million settlement seven years later. The money was paid by Cumberland County School System’s insurance company, minus a $10,000 deductible.
“We will continue to assess the situation and evaluate messages on social media, especially ones that involve the safety of our community. The Sheriff’s Office takes all threats seriously, and we will use all resources available to facilitate a safe learning environment for everyone.”
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
Got info? Contact Youth Services Dete
ctive R.Bazzare at (910) 677-5457 or anonymously at (910) 483-8477
The Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was held at Segra Stadium, home of the Fayetteville NC Woodpeckers minor league baseball team. The event honored and remembered all who gave their lives so t
hat others may live on September 11, 2001. This 20th anniversary event included nearly 500 participants who ran a mock stair climb representing over 100 stairs climbed by NY first responders who rushed the World Trade Centers after the terrorist attack on 9/11. Proceeds of the stair climb will help continued efforts to honor and remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives.
Tickets on sale starting Friday, October 1, 2021
