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PWC hosts tour of water treatment facility for state officials

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Tuesday, 16 July 2024
Written by Staff Report

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission hosted a tour of the Hoffer Water Treatment Facility on July 8 for Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ staff members, State Senator Val Applewhite, Mayor Mitch Colvin, County Commission Chairman Glenn Adams, and executive staff members for the city and county. PWC hosted the tour at the request of DEQ to brief attendees on the progress PWC has made in meeting the recently announced Environmental Protection Agency regulatory requirements for PFAS as well as provide feedback on how the state can help.
“I applaud the actions Fayetteville PWC is taking to protect the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County from the health impacts of forever chemicals by proactively working to remove PFAS from their drinking water,” said DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “DEQ continues to work on statewide efforts to support utilities and reduce PFAS going into drinking water supplies.” For the past 10 years, PWC has been sampling for unregulated chemicals within our source water supply and has been an advocate for preventing industrial contaminants from entering the Cape Fear River Basin. In 2021, PWC conducted a pilot study and determined Granular Activated Carbon filtration was the most effective option for removing PFAS. This year, construction began on several water treatment upgrades to meet these emerging threats.
The first part of the improvements under construction is an upgrade to PWC’s current Powder Activated Carbon treatment capabilities to allow for higher dosage than what is currently possible. While PAC is not as efficient or economical as GAC, it can effectively remove modest amounts of PFAS and other contaminants. The PAC upgrade is expected to be completed in 2026.
PWC is planning to send the GAC upgrades to bid in 2025 and the target construction completion date is in 2028. The current projected cost for the GAC upgrades is $80 million. While planning for the upgrades, PWC staff have sought funding to reduce the financial burden for the upgrades on our customers. PWC has been notified that more than $30.5 million has been awarded for the GAC upgrades and the pilot study, which includes $11.5 million in grants and $19 million in low interest loans.
“We are grateful for the visit by Secretary Biser and our local elected officials to see what we are doing and to ask about our needs from the state,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC. “We have been working closely with our partners in NCDEQ to request an additional $9.5 million for our PAC upgrades. We are also actively pursuing federal funds to help us with the remaining $49.5 million needed for the GAC upgrade.”
PWC is a municipally owned utility that provides electric and water service to over 121,000 customers in Fayetteville/Cumberland County. PWC is customer-focused, locally owned & operated and takes pride in being a good neighbor who is committed to quality services, reliability, conservation, safety and the environment. A member of the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, PWC has the distinction of being the first NC utility to receive the Director’s Award for outstanding commitment to quality drinking water and have maintained that level of excellence for more than 24 consecutive years.
Why this matters: Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents need to be aware of the proactive actions our Hometown Utility PWC is taking to remove PFAS from their drinking water and other potentially negative health impacts caused by toxins in forever chemicals.

Hope Mills switching gears after abrupt end to shared services with Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

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Tuesday, 16 July 2024
Written by Lexi Solomon, CityView Today

8The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners have made the decision to host its own records management system server for its police officers after the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office abruptly terminated its long-standing agreement with the town.
According to a news release from the town, Hope Mills had contracted with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office since 2011 to share a records management system server and information technology services. The contract had been renewed annually over the past 13 years, until the sheriff’s office notified the town last week that it would not renew the contract, Mayor Jessie Bellflowers told CityView.
The sheriff’s office offered the town a 90-day contract so the Hope Mills Police Department could transfer data from its servers, the release states. That contract began July 2, according to the release.
The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Friday to address the issue. Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray was not present to vote but called in to the meeting. The board unanimously approved spending just under $300,000 on a contract with CentralSquare, a Florida-based software company. Police Chief Stephen Dollinger said the police department already works with CentralSquare for its record management system, but did not clarify further its relationship with the company.
Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin said the town was not required to issue a request for proposals because that requirement can be waived “in emergency situations.” According to the UNC School of Government, local governments can, but are not required to, issue requests for proposals for information technology purchases.
The proposed budget ordinance amendment for the town’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget states the cost will come from the town’s fund balance.
What triggered the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office’s change of heart remains unclear. Questions sent by CityView to the sheriff’s office remained unanswered as of Tuesday evening, and McLaughlin did not respond to a request for comment.
Bellflowers said he viewed the change in server ownership as an important measure the town should have taken long ago.
“We’re being very proactive to do this,” Bellflowers said.
Recent meetings of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners have been marked by tension between Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright and the town’s public officials. Bellflowers and Commissioners Joanne Scarola and Bryan Marley had choice words for Wright at a June meeting about the sheriff’s sudden choice to pull school resource officers and crossing guards from many public schools. CityView previously reported on a heated memorandum Dollinger sent to McLaughlin about the SRO conundrum.
Bellflowers gave a public apology to Wright at the July 1 Board of Commissioners meeting, as CityView previously reported. The next day, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office posted apology letters from Bellflowers and Dollinger on its Facebook page.
Both letters include requests for the Sheriff’s Office to give Hope Mills at least six months to transfer its data.
“Over the next 6 months, we are planning to purchase a server to manage the data and respectfully, just asking for time while we purchase a server and complete the data transfer process,” Bellflowers wrote.
In his letter, Dollinger asked the sheriff to allow the town to stay on the sheriff’s office’s server until the end of the year.
“I am respectfully asking you to reconsider only the timing of our removal from the server, and request that the Town of Hope Mills be allowed to remain on the server until the end of this year to complete the transfer of all our data efficiently,” he wrote.
The town began transferring that data Monday, according to Bellflowers. It is unclear how long that transfer will take.

Summer heat: Signs your dog may be dehydrated

Details
Tuesday, 09 July 2024
Written by Staff Report

19Water is essential for mammals' bodies to operate at peak capacity. The American Kennel Club says water is necessary to lubricate joints, facilitate digestion, regulate body temperature, and cushion internal organs, among many other functions. Similar to humans, pets that fail to consume enough water can face dire consequences.
Dehydration is a medical term for when the body has lost more fluid than it has taken in. Dehydration can occur at any time, but it is even more common during the warm weather months. Dogs quickly can become very sick from dehydration. That is why every pet owner should learn how to recognize the symptoms of dehydration in their dogs.
The Veterinary Emergency Group says symptoms of mild dehydration can include:
• Dry nose, although this also can be a signal of other problems, like fever.
• Excessive drooling occurs as the dog tries to cool down its body.
• A dehydrated dog can exhibit signs of fatigue, including a reluctance to move around much.
• Sticky gums
As the dog becomes more dehydrated, the following symptoms can develop:
• Loss of elasticity of the skin.
• Loss of appetite.
• Thickening of the dog's saliva.
• Gums may go from sticky to dry.
• Excessive panting may begin.
• Vomiting or diarrhea also may occur.
• Dehydration causes the body to redistribute fluid lost, and fluid may be pulled from the eyes, causing the eyes to appear sunken.
If a dog appears to be dehydrated, you can start offering small amounts of water to slowly rehydrate the animal, says Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital. It's important to call the veterinarian and get further advice regarding how to address dehydration. Some vets may suggest offering an electrolyte-enhanced fluid like Pedialyte so electrolyte loss does not affect organs. The vet may want you to come into the office so the dog can receive intravenous fluids, says the American Kennel Club.
The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it in the first place. Provide dogs with a constant supply of clean, clear water at all times. The amount of water needs to increase if the dog is spending time outdoors in hot weather or exercising.
Cats also are prone to dehydration and can exhibit the same symptoms as dogs. So cat owners also must be diligent in checking for dehydration symptoms in their pets.

5 athletes to keep an eye on at this summer's Olympics

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Tuesday, 09 July 2024
Written by Staff Report

18Sports fans across the globe will be glued to their televisions this summer when the historic city of Paris hosts the Olympic Games. Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on July 26, the 2024 Olympic Games is sure to feature awe-inspiring athletic accomplishments that mark the culmination of years of hard work on the part of competitors.
Once the games commence, fans can keep an eye out for these five notable athletes who figure to put their stamp on this summer's competitions.
1. Simone Biles: Few athletes at this summer's Games are as recognizable as American gymnast Simone Biles. Biles's accomplishments are already too numerous to mention, but the 27-year-old can pad her legacy even further by earning just one more medal this summer in Paris.
Should she accomplish that feat, Biles will have earned more Olympic medals than any American gymnast in the history of the Games.
2. Daiki Hashimoto: A two-time gold medal winner at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Hashimoto, who will turn 23 during this summer's Games, will be seen as the athlete to beat in men's gymnastics.
Hashimoto is a four-time world champion, and NBC Sports notes three of those titles were earned in 2023.
3. LeBron James: The National Basketball Association's all-time leading scorer is no stranger to the Olympic Games, but the 39-year-old James has not played on the Olympic stage since 2012.
Over the last several years, James made no secret of his desire to return to Olympic competition, suggesting this summer's Games will be the last time to see arguably the greatest player of all time compete at this level.
4. Leon Marchand: Born in Toulouse, France, in 2002, Marchand figures to be the center of attention this summer. Some suggest Marchand could put on a performance not unlike his fellow swimmer Michael Phelps' efforts in the pool years ago, as the Frenchman is coached by Bob Bowman at Arizona State University.
Bowman famously coached Phelps during his time at the University of Michigan and beyond, and swimming fans will be curious to see how the hometown hero Marchand performs in the pools of Paris this summer.
5. Summer McIntosh: The pride of Canada made a name for herself at the tender age of 14 during the 2020 Games, where she was the youngest athlete named to the Canadian team.
McIntosh finished fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in Tokyo, narrowly missing a medal in that event but still breaking the Canadian national record. Now a seasoned 17-year-old, McIntosh returns to the Olympic stage this summer.
The Summer Olympics return this summer in Paris, and many talented, exciting athletes figure to make this year's competitions as exciting as ever.

Mini Price opens at Cross Creek Mall

Details
Tuesday, 09 July 2024
Written by Lisa Stevens

17Yusef Hamode, the owner of the recently opened Mini Price store at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, is confident that this unique department store will be a game-changer in the local community. Offering a diverse selection of electronics, organic groceries, home decor, beauty products, kids and baby items, and much more, Mini Price caters to all ages and has something for everyone.
"We sell a little bit of everything," Hamode states, ensuring that customers will find what they need. Located next to Belk's in the Cross Creek Mall, this new addition to the Fayetteville community is poised to become a must-visit destination for shoppers in the area.
To celebrate the store's opening, Mini Price will offer discounts throughout. Hamode, who previously owned a different department store in New York City, is committed to providing exceptional customer service and guaranteed lower prices. Recognizing the financial struggles that many families face due to rising food and merchandise prices, Hamode is dedicated to keeping costs down.
"We are trying to make a good addition to the community,"
Hamode says, and with the wide range of products and unbeatable deals, it's clear that Mini Price is set to become a game-changer in Fayetteville. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to save on groceries and other items – head to the store soon to experience the difference.
To thank those who serve or served our country, special discounts are offered to active servicemen and veterans. Students, media employees, and Cross Creek Mall employees can also enjoy special discounts. Come and see what Mini Price has to offer you and your family! (Photo by Lisa Stevens)

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