The Cumberland County Tax Administration Office reminds residents that the deadline for the 2017 annual property tax listing period is Tuesday, Jan. 31. Listing forms must be updated, signed, returned and postmarked no later than Jan. 31 to avoid the 10 percent late listing penalty. Listing forms may be obtained online at co.cumberland.nc.us/tax.aspx or in person at the Tax Administration Office on the 5th floor of the Courthouse, 117 Dick St. Listing forms should be mailed or hand delivered to Tax Administration, P.O. Box 449, Fayetteville, NC 28302.

FTCC Wins Again
Fayetteville Technical Community College has been named a Top Ten Gold Military Friendly School for 2017, (https://militaryfriendly.com). For more than a decade, military friendly ratings have set the standard for companies and colleges that demonstrate positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families. This year, 154 employers and 541 schools have been recognized for excellence in different categories, highlighting not only “Are you military friendly?” but “How military friendly are you?” Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from the company’s proprietary survey. “All of our Military Friendly award recipients set the standard for excellence,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Military Friendly development. “They offer exceptional examples of what it means not just to build a program that meets federal requirements, but one that serves the military and veteran community from classrooms to careers.”

PWC Hires New Executive
Jon Rynne has been named Chief Operating Officer of Electric Systems for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Rynne served as director of utilities in New Bern for five years. He replaces Reggie Wallace who retired December 30, after a 22-year career at PWC. In New Bern, Rynne managed the city’s electric, water and sewer utilities, which served 21,500 electric customers and 15,000 water and sewer customers. Rynne is a licensed professional engineer. He earned his electrical engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Radon Test Kits Available
Radon is an odorless, colorless radioactive gas caused by the decay of naturally-occurring radium in the earth. It’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Cumberland County Health Department is giving away free short-term radon test kits while the supply lasts. This is National Radon Action Month. The kits are designed to test homes for radon gas and show residents how to lower radon levels. The kits are available at the Public Health Center at 1235 Ramsey St. during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p. m. weekdays. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is providing the kits to local health departments.