The owner of Robertson’s Sandwich Shop in Eutaw Village and his young son miraculously escaped serious injury when a sports car plowed into the restaurant. Frank Fernandez and his 8-year-old son Paxon suffered minor cuts and bruises as the Chevrolet Corvette came to rest completely inside the building.

The driver, John Vaughn, 78, of Fayetteville, told police he apparently stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake while attempting to park his car outside the restaurant. It slammed into and through the plate glass window. The restaurant was closed at the time. Fernandez freed his son, who was momentarily pinned between the car and the sandwich shop’s counter. Police said Vaughn had a minor head injury and was treated at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and released. He was not charged.

Road closure disrupts FAST Transit service to Hollywood Heights

The city closed Louise Street, off Skibo Road, this month, resulting in a significant change of service for FAST Transit. Residents of the subdivision are also making changes in their commuting. The only other street in and out of the neighborhood is Pritchett Road, which connects to Cliffdale Road. FAST Director Randy Hume said all bus stops in the community will be served, but there may be delays.

The Louise Street Bridge over Beaver Creek in Hollywood Heights had been declared structurally deficient, meaning it has components that are in poor condition because of deterioration and is unsafe for vehicular traffic. It’s been moved up on the city’s Capital Improvement Program. A North Carolina Department of Transportation consultant’s inspection found that the bridge timbers, or pilings, had “advance deterioration beyond which previous inspections had found,” said City Public Services Director Rob Stone.

Pedestrians, including school children, can still use the bridge.

“The bridge has been on the city’s replacement list for several years,” said city spokesman Nathan Walls. Despite that, “this is not a quick process,” said City Manager Doug Hewett, apparently because no pre-planning has been done.

Stone estimates replacing the bridge will cost at least $1.5 million.

All bridges over water in North Carolina are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The design process for a replacement bridge will get underway immediately because this is considered an emergency, Stone said.

City Councilman Larry Wright did not respond to Up & Coming Weekly’s inquiry asking for his thoughts on the matter. Hollywood Heights is in his district.

Stone estimates it will take a year or so to replace the bridge once the city funds the project.

TRICARE insurance modifications

Most military TRICARE Prime enrollees are no longer required to have referrals for urgent care visits. And, point-of-service charges no longer apply for urgent care claims. Previously, only the first two urgent care visits were covered. Active duty service members should continue to visit military hospitals and clinics for care.

Soldiers enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote who do not live near a military hospital or clinic do not need a referral when seeking an urgent care visit.

“We wanted our service members, families and others to have easier access to urgent care,” said Ken Canestrini, acting director, TRICARE Health Plan within the Defense Health Agency. “Beneficiaries can go visit an urgent care center right away any time they have a need.”

Urgent care is defined as care needed for nonemergency illnesses or injuries requiring treatment within 24 hours.

It’s true – K&W is moving

Fayetteville’s popular K&W Cafeteria has been located at 3187 Village Dr. for about 30 years. Rumors have been circulating for weeks that it will be moving.

“We got a new, updated facility. Just a better facility,” said Anthony Molten, the general manager of the restaurant.

A date for the move hasn’t been finalized, Molten said, but he expects to be in their new location in Bordeaux Shopping Center about March 1. That location next to Carlie C’s IGA will give K&W an additional 3,200 square feet of space. Molten said the cafeteria will have 20 additional employees. The cafeteria will be incorporating carry-out and to-go operations.

“I think we’ll do better,” he said. “We’ll have a big parking lot there.”

The company, headquartered in Winston-Salem, is a family-owned business with 33 locations in the Carolinas and Virginias.

Hope Mills athletic development

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner’s Youth Leadership Committee has some ideas for what it would like the town to do with the former Golfview Road golf course.

The property is owned by the town, which had granted various golf course operators long-term leases. But it was closed a couple of years ago and has remained dormant.

The YLC has suggested that the town consider building a sports complex, to include an indoor pool and gymnasium.

They noted the area’s three high school sports teams must travel out of town to facilities that can accommodate their needs. The committee also suggested an artificial turf ballfield with a track and a nine-hole golf course.

Town Manager Mellissa Adams noted the next big capital project for the town is a consolidated public safety center, which will house fire and police departments.

CFRT wins major grant

Cape Fear Regional Theatre has announced receipt of a Cumberland Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Challenge grant. It’s a 1:1 matching grant up to $25,000 made possible by the Ashton W. Lilly Fund for Philanthropy. The funds will be added to the Bo and Herbert Thorp Endowment for the theater.

CFRT was also awarded $10,000 from CCF’s Endowment Operating Support Grant for general operating support. The support committee is only $70,000 short of its goal to raise $1 million in endowment contributions. CFRT endowment funds are managed by CCF to ensure sound financial stewardship.