Fayetteville Technical Community College has been ranked first nationally among large community colleges that serve military members and their families. Military Friendly® Schools and Victory Media are in their 16th year of ranking colleges. They provide a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families using data from federal agencies, students and survey information. This year, student survey data was taken into consideration for the designation.

 

“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for veterans,” said Victory Media’s Chief Product Officer Daniel Nichols. Victory Media is the originator of the family of Military Friendly® Schools program. The ranking is available at militaryfriendly.com.

Local firms enthusiastic about baseball stadium

Already, the planned center-city minor league baseball stadium is having a positive economic impact. Barton Malow, general contractor for its construction, has encouraged local contractors to bid on sub-contracting projects. “Just under 40 percent of the projected stadium project has been bid, and over 83 percent of that work will be going to local or Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contractors,” said Kristoff Bauer, deputy city manager, who is serving as project manager. “This means that the project has already achieved at least 32 percent local participation for the entire project.”

Bauer went on to say, “Reaching city council’s 40 percent objective should be very achievable.”

A Single-A Advanced farm team of the Houston Astros will be the primary tenant of the multi-purpose stadium. The Astros signed a 30- year contract and lease with the city of Fayetteville to provide the team. Groundbreaking for the stadium was held in August, and grounds preparation began several weeks ago. The ball park is expected to be completed in time for the team to begin Carolina League play in April of 2019.

Inmate re-entry program

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is awarding contracts to local organizations to establish five new re-entry councils in Cumberland, Onslow, Jones, Guilford, Pamlico, Craven and Forsyth to help people released from prison transition back into their communities. The hope is to help communities prevent repeat offenders. A contract for $150,000 will go to Action Pathways, Inc., in Cumberland County.

Re-entry councils are networks of community-based organizations that work together to assist people returning from prison by providing necessary local services like housing, employment, food, clothing, treatment, transportation and mentoring.

“When people have served their time, we want them to become productive members of society for their own success and for the safety and success of our communities,” Governor Roy Cooper said.

Grinding of the Greens

The 24th Annual Fayetteville Grinding of the Greens Christmas Tree Recycling program is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13. The program encourages Fayetteville residents to recycle their live Christmas trees. Since 1994, the project has kept thousands of pounds of recyclable material out of the landfill. PWC employees, along with workers of the city of Fayetteville and Duke Energy, partner each year to turn the trees into mulch.

City trucks will collect trees left at curbside beginning Monday, Jan. 8. Residents should put their trees out for collection by that morning. All lights, stands and trimmings should be removed. Residents who live outside the city or miss the pickup may drop off trees at the Fayetteville Community Garden at the corner of Van Story and Mann Streets just off Old Wilmington Road.