From The Newsroom: The Fayetteville Observer

Calls to 911 to Bladen County Communications about a shooting that left three people dead and one injured near Clarkton on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2020

Calls to 911 to Bladen County Communications about a shooting that left three people dead and one injured near Clarkton on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2020

Calls to 911 to Bladen County Communications about a shooting that left three people dead and one injured near Clarkton on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2020

The 911 call received by Fayetteville police about a man using a machete to attack a woman on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. The incident happened on the 1700 block of Railroad Street in

One of three 911 calls released by the Fayetteville Police Department made from the scene of a plane crash at Gray's Creek Airport off Butler Nursery Road on Monday, Feb. 17.

One of three 911 calls released by the Fayetteville Police Department made from the scene of a plane crash at Gray's Creek Airport off Butler Nursery Road on Monday, Feb. 17.

One of three 911 calls released by the Fayetteville Police Department made from the scene of a plane crash at Gray's Creek Airport off Butler Nursery Road on Monday, Feb. 17.

Dispatcher traffic during the apprehension of a suspect by Fayetteville police who had a medical emergency and later died in custody on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. Note: Traffic between the dispatcher and officers is not recorded when there's no sound which makes it sound like events are happening faster than they really are.

911 calls made for assistance after a man experienced a medical emergency Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 while being apprehended by Fayetteville police. The man died while in custody.

A repair on a cockpit electronic control issue had not been completed on a private airplane that had crashed into a home near Hope Mills last month. The pilot reported control issues with the aircraft before no further communication was received from the flight. 

47 Year Old Fayetteville Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Fayetteville Police Officer Hospitalized after being shot in the arm during a barricaded stand off. A domestic situation between the alleged shooter and his wife led to the incident. 

Mayor Mitch Colvin Plans to Lobby Council Members to Back off Plan that Subject People to Receive a Ticket for Parking too Long in an On Street Space. Currently, there are hundreds of spaces in the downtown area that allow people to park for 2-3 hours free of charge, but this is about to change, unless the council has a change of position. 

Multiple calls were made to 911 to report a plane crashing into a house near Hope Mills on Thursday night. Here's a call from someone reporting seeing the plane crash and searching for the location of the crash. 

The plane went down shortly before midnight, hitting a home at 4821 Pasadena Ave., according to the N.C. Highway Patrol. The cause of the crash is under investigation.  The first clip is from the Fayetteville Airport control tower, the second from a person on Sanders Street who heard the crash. 

In Episode 38 of Crime Time, the latest in the Unsolved Mysteries series delves into the death of former Fayetteville Police Chief J. Ross Jones, who was found shot dead in a room of the Prince Charles Hotel in 1935. Other stories include the arrest of a man in a rape case from more than 30 years ago, a rape kit backlog bill has been proposed, tips for "How to Stop For A Cop" and a recap of the crime stories in the news. Observer reporter Michael Futch joins Sonny Jones on the podcast.

We take on the 2019 Oscar nominations, from who we think was snubbed and who we're excited to see win.

Gillette has a new commercial that takes on toxic masculinity, and Gladys Knight is performing at the Super Bowl. Want to join us for an episode of #Trending? Email bhutson@fayobserver.com.

That's right, Pitbull did a cover of Toto's "Africa" called "Ocean to Ocean" for DC comic's "Aquaman" blockbuster coming out Christmas day.

Award shows wouldn't be award shows without some controversy. We look at weird films in weird nominations along with who got snubbed and who didn't deserve it.

But first we talk about Margaret Atwood's sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale," Justin Bieber's slow comeback as a married man and Hugh Jackman's career choices.

King Kenny, 94, fought with 30th Infantry Division’s role in World War II and is fighting for it's recongnition. 

Thanksgiving is still weeks away but Christmas decorations have already hit the stores and in-laws are asking for Christmas lists. Is it too early for Christmas?

This 911 call to report Hania Noelia Aguilar’s abduction was made by a neighbor after a relative ran over to get help, authorities said. The call came in to the Robeson County Communications Center at 6:54 a.m. Monday.  The caller was speaking Spanish on the line, and the Robeson County dispatcher requested a Spanish translator to join the call.  Initial reports during the 911 call described the abductor as a black male, but investigators determined during follow-up interviews that the witness had not seen the race of the abductor because he was wearing all black, including long sleeves, and a yellow bandana over his face and it was still dark outside, authorities said.

Colin Kaepernick is back in the news after Nike made him brand spokesman with the tagline "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."

Myron Pitts, UNC class of1993, and Hrisanthi Kroi, class of 2015,  talk about what Silent Sam meant to them during their time at UNC.

Council members Ted Mohn and Jim Arp talk about the two proposed locations for a major athletic field complex, Fields Road or the military business park in a meeting in early May.

Watercooler got a little makeover this week. Plus, we discuss why everyone is praying for Demi Lovato.

The Fayetteville Police Department released this recording of radio traffic after a police officer was involved in a fatal pedestrian crash at Raeford Road and Sandalwood Drive late Tuesday night.

Fayetteville police responded to a 911 call of a woman stabbed at Treetop apartments. When police arrived, they found the suspect standing over a pregnant woman. The suspect refuse to put his weapon down. Police then shot the suspect.

Water Cooler crew Kris Kroi, Myron Pitts and Beth Hutson talk living with your parents at 30 and the recently reported allegations against Morgan Freeman.

We may not be British but Meghan Markle is our princess. Here's everything you need to know about the Markle clan, the royal wedding and all the gossip inbetween.

We talk about Kanye's slavery comments and "black Twitter's" reaction. We also think J.Cole made the right choice in hosting his Dreamville festival in Raleigh, not Fayetteville.

Digital content producer, Kris Kroi goes on a rant about her love for J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and why Harry Potter world at Universal Studio's is for adults, not for kids.

The start of the Iraq War in 2003 divided the country and mobilized a new anti-war movement. Josh Groll was in Middle School at the time.His parents were firmly opposed to the war, but unlike many other anti-war protestors, Josh's dad was on active duty, and his family was stationed at Fort Bragg. "Our family was, for all intents and purposes, an anti-war family," Groll recalled. "I remember my mother sitting down with me and having some really honest conversations saying, 'We live in this place and we can't be totally upfront with what we think.'" "I remember being incredibly afraid, almost just as much [of] my dad going off to war, that I would slip up and say something in school and somehow get my dad in trouble."  Groll's father was deployed to Iraq later that year, but what he saw there only strengthened his stance against the war.  "While he's over there, my mom is actually in anti-war activist groups," said Groll. "My dad essentially gave his blessing while he was in Iraq, fighting."  In the era of the Patriot Act and extraordinary rendition, Groll's parents worried their dissenting political views might make it impossible to continue living at Fort Bragg. Groll's father returned from Iraq unharmed. Despite his opposition to the Iraq war, he remained in the military until retirement. ForGroll, the experience helped shape his political consciousness at an early age. "Being an anti-war family in the middle of a military base definitely made me think in global terms." 

Jordan Jones, project manager with Prince Charles Holdings LLC, secretly recorded a private meeting with Fayetteville City Councilman Tyrone Williams and marketing businessman T.J. Jenkins on Dec. 21, 2017, at Jenkins' office. Jones was suspicious of the reason for the meeting, having been told there was a "cloud on the title" of the Prince Charles building, which his investor group owns and is redeveloping. Jones' lawyer said he went along with the conversation, then gave the audio to law enforcement. The first 35 minutes is conversation between Jordan and Jenkins. Williams arrives late, having been delayed at the courthouse over a child support matter.

Rapid deployments are a fact of life for soldiers at Fort Bragg. Once notice is given, paratroopers have just 18 hours to prepare to go anywhere in the world.  Bill Wadford was working as an operating room nurse with the 5th MASH unit on the evening December 17th, 1989, when he got the call to deploy as part of the Panama Invasion. "We were in the process of doing an emergency C-section," Wadford recalled. "The baby was out, the mom was stable, and we were closing. I answered the phone and it was the executive officer of the 5th MASH. His voice was quite tense, and he said, 'Captain Wadford, you are ordered toimmediately report to the warehouse in case we have to move out.'" "I said, 'Billy, we're right in the middle of the operation right now, I can't leave.' He goes, 'I repeat the order.'" At home, Wadford had just enough time to pack his rucksack and say goodbye to his wife.   "Her eyes got big as saucers," said Wadford. "I said, 'I can't tell you, trust me, I’ll be fine, watch the news. I don't think I'll be able to call you, but I love you, I love the kids, and I'll see you when I can see you.'"  Hours later Wadford was in the air, headed to Panama as part of a forward surgical team.  Wadford landed back at Green Ramp two weeks later, just in time to wish his wife a Happy New Year.  

Joseph Henderson was inspired to use his training as an actor and children's educator to help military children and their families.   He and a team of instructors launched Shakespeare on Base, a free, two-week summer program teaching dancing, art, singing, and, of course, Shakespeare. In 2011, the program served roughly 50 children at Fort Bragg between the ages five to 17. Those with deployed parents gotfirst priority.  At first, Henderson recalled, it was a challenge to get the children to relax and embrace their creativity. "When they were able to let go, and be free with their expression, and to create, it was an enormous moment in those rooms," he said. "It gave the parents a chance to see their children in a whole new light."  Showcasing the performing arts in a military environment turned out to be, as he put it, "a wonderful marriage" of structure and creativity. But after Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, Henderson got a call from the United Way of Cumberland County saying equipment for the program, which was stored in the basement, had been destroyed by flooding. Keyboards, sets and costumes were all ruined. Despite the setback, Henderson hopes to continue the program, and expand it. "There are over 800 military bases across the world," he said. "I think the very least we could do is two weeks of arts enriched summer camps for kids who are on those bases. I would like to do it again. It's the very, very best I can do." 

Environmental Lawyer David Altman shares his experience with C8 in Ohio.

Melinda McDowell shares her experiences with contaminated drinking water in Ohio.

"I was only in the military six months when the disaster happened," recalled Richard Clapp. He was 19 years old on March 23, 1994, fresh out of basic training and jump school. He'd been at Fort Bragg just three weeks. That afternoon he stood on Green Ramp waiting to make his first official jump with the 82nd Airborne.   He never got the chance. Instead, he lived through the Green Ramp disaster, one of the U.S. military's worst peacetime accidents. A transport plane collided in mid-air with a fighter jet above Pope Air Force Base. The jet hit the runway and skidded into another plane, sending a giant fireball rolling over the 500 Fort Bragg paratroopers preparing for training jumps.  Twenty-four soldiers died and more than 100 were injured.   Clapp was burned on 45 percent of his body. He underwent more than a dozen surgeries and months of physical therapy before medically retiring from the Army a few years later.   Last year, fellow veterans offered Clapp the chance to make the jump he missed. He traveled to the National Parachute Test Center in Florida, where, after a brief refresher course, he went up in a World War II era plane to make a series of military-style slack line jumps.  "It was amazing to jump out of an aircraft that had actually dropped paratroopers in WWII," said Clapp. "I felt exhilaration again. I felt like redemption."  And the landing, he said, was perfect.  "Even though I hadn't done that in 20 years, itwas still there."

For 16 years, Lenore Yarger and Steve Woolford have answered the phone at the G.I. Rights hotline, a number military service members can call for free and confidential counseling on benefits, regulations, discharges, grievances, and what it means to be a conscientious objector. The hotline is sponsored in part by Fayetteville's Quaker House, which has been advocating for peace since 1969.   Yarger said she and her husband came to the hotline as peace activists, initially knowing little about military life. "We knew of soldiers on the other side of the fence, during protests or different demonstrations we had been a part of," said Yarger. "So this work just gave us an incredible opportunity to actually get to know soldiers and what they go through, to hear their stories and to have a personal relationship with them. On that level this work has been extremely rewarding."  Along with other hotline workers, the couple fields calls from all over the world. Some come from service members who have had a change of heart and find themselves morally opposed to war. Yarger and Woolford coach them through the lengthy process of gaining an honorable discharge from the military.  "We don't always win," said Woolford. "And that's hard in cases where I think we're completely right, so sometimes it does feel just heartbreaking." The most fulfilling part of their work, he said, is helping soldiers find their voice. "A lot of people think they're stuck in a situation and just don't realize the options they have."

When Tom McCollum transitioned from the 82nd Airborne to Special Forces, he knew the training would be tough. The Special Forces Qualification Course, or Q Course, can take up to two years to complete, depending on a soldier's area of expertise. As a former company commander with ample leadership experience, McCollum was ready for the challenge. Still, he found himself struggling to adapt to a new role. "All of a sudden, I found myself in SERE school, where I was the senior ranking officer, but no matter what I said, no matter what I did, was wrong," said McCollum. SERE school, focusing on survival, evasion, resistance and escape, teaches soldiers what to expect if they become prisoners of war. Students must try to keep their wits during grueling mock interrogations designed to test their resolve. "I had gone from a position where people looked to me for guidance, where I was taking care of them, to people looking at me hoping I wouldn't say anything, said McCollum. "It was a complete shock and reversal from everything I was used to. I remember I had a hard time dealing with that." The experience forced him to see himself in a new light. McCollum said it was the biggest mental challenge he faced in his Army career. "I think that was a good thing. At the time I wouldn't have said that was a good thing, but it's one of those lessons that you learn that dawns on you years later."