Welcome, Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutDriver arrested after police chase and hitting trooper's car in Hope MillsSunday 2025The incident began when a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation.HOPE MILLS (WTVD) -- A driver was arrested overnight following a police chase near Hope Mills The incident began when a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation where he hit several trees and the trooper's car while attempting to reverse He then drove to his home on Brooklyn Circle in Hope Mills tried to hide the car in the back of the property and ran inside The driver eventually surrendered and was arrested Neither the trooper nor the driver were injured during the incident A Hope Mills woman was killed in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday morning recalled the tragic events that played out as shots were fired "I jumped up and I ran and I got her and my daughter and son and when I went back to her room she said 'Momma I got shot,'" Covington said Police said several shots were fired in the Steeplechase neighborhood Video shared with WRAL News captured the sound of dozens of gunshots Covington said her daughter was an innocent victim who kept to herself she didn't deserve none of it," Covington said Blue's employer, Ms. Jo's Daycare, closed on Wednesday in her honor. The childcare center posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook vowing to carry forward the kindness and care the 19-year-old assistant teacher shared Police haven't released any other information - no arrests "We are starting from blank right here and trying to put things together," Hope Mills Chief Stephen Dollinger said Dollinger said no tip is too small and asks for neighbors to share any additional video or evidence let us decide whether it's relevant or not; our detectives will run down the leads," Dollinger said Investigators said a dark SUV was seen driving away after the shots were fired They're hoping to identify a make and model of the getaway vehicle A GoFundMe has been created to help Blue's family with funeral expenses This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Police have released the name of the city's 19 homicide victim in city thus far into 2025 According to the Fayetteville Police Department was injured and taken to the hospital by personal vehicle was not released More: Father and teen son plead in deadly Fayetteville home invasion that left teen paralyzed In the same time frame last year in the city with 2023 seeing the highest number of homicides — 49 — since 2021 Anyone with information in the latest killing is asked to contact Homicide Detective C. Cross at 472-210-2381 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted to Crimestoppers at http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org or by downloading the free P3 Tips available for mobile devices (This story was updated to correct a typo in the headline.) Up for consideration by town leaders is the construction of the new recreation center renovation of an existing parks and rec building into a senior center and development of a multi-use ball field complex nearby The argument for the project is that it will accommodate the growth of Parks & Recreation department's programs The project's consideration is not without controversy Opponents worry it will take away green space and cost the town too much money facilitated the meeting and began by telling the more than two dozen in attendance to stick to asking questions “The mayor is going to treat everyone in this room with dignity and respect The expectation is that everyone in this room will do the same with him,” she said She said that everyone would have the opportunity to ask one question before anyone could ask a second the mayor said every decision he had during his time in office was made was for the betterment of the town The term is two years and another election is set for this coming November While Bellflowers acknowledged he should have organized a town hall in a Q & A format months ago he reminded the audience everyone is welcome to speak during the public comments at the board's regular meeting Bellflowers laid down the ground rules — he would not answer any questions about town employees One person in attendance asked for clarity on the future of the current recreation center at 5766 Rockfish Road. expressing concern over rumors that it would be torn down to make way for a senior center Bellflowers reassured the audience that the facility remains a youth and community rec center He explained that while there are plans for a new larger center to accommodate the town’s growth that goal hinges on securing adequate funding Another resident and youth sports coach asked how much space the proposed recreation facility would allocate for youth programs and whether it would be built to accommodate the town’s continued growth along with Commissioner Jerry Legge and former commissioner Meg Larson — all present at the meeting — voted in 2019 to approve the master plan for a new recreation center instead of focusing on plans for a future facility the town partnered with the nonprofit TJ Robinson Life Center which has sufficient space to support youth sports said that the town will pay “pennies on the dollar” to use the Life Center for sports tournaments as needed Another resident questioned the town’s financial priorities so much money was being spent on a new community center instead of addressing more immediate needs like sidewalks and road repairs Bellflowers said the $13 million needed for a new recreation center is being pursued through state legislative channels but the senate bill requesting funding did not pass All the money is going to the western counties,” he said adding there is still a house bill in play to acquire the funding for the recreation center He also explained that many road issues stem from decades-old development with little oversight and while the town is now enforcing stricter standards funding for road repairs is still also being pursued through legislative channels who served two years as a commissioner before choosing to not run again ,spoke up and said that while she supported the recreation center master plan in 2019 her support was based on the understanding that nothing would be built on the golf course other than a swimming pool Larson said that even minor additions — like a bathroom or butterfly garden — could require extensive infrastructure upgrades which she said should not be a burden on taxpayers Larson then took the opportunity to ask why the town wasn't prioritizing more immediate community concerns attracting desirable businesses and maintaining streets and storm drains “That’s a Monday night question,” Bellflowers responded referring to the Board of Commissioners regular meeting Bellflowers said that his main takeaways were that people are concerned about the town’s appearance and the plans for a new parks and recreation building He said his view on the parks and recreation building had changed because of the amount of time spent discussing the topic “I'm going to schedule a separate community input forum adding that he wants people to understand the building is for everybody The townhall lasted for 90 minutes Although Bellflowers said he would like to continue having meetings in this format “They're going to build on (the golf course) But at least I said my two cents about it,” he said Carter can be reached at ccarter@gannett.com A fast-casual restaurant chain opening this week in Hope Mills will be the community's first location in town ​Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to open in Hope Mills at 2814 Town Center Drive on March 26 The new restaurant will feature a Chipotlane which is a drive-thru pick-up lane for digital orders is a fast-casual dining chain specializing in Mexican-inspired cuisine tacos and salads with a variety of toppings and protein choices The new Hope Mills location grows Chipotle's presence in Cumberland County to five restaurants, contributing to the 101 locations across North Carolina, according to the company's website More Mexican food: What is a Mexican hot dog, and where can you find one in Fayetteville? The other Chipotle restaurants in Cumberland County are: Reporter Lizmary Evans covers dining, retail, entertainment and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com After weather concerns led to postponing the inaugural One People Reggae & Arts Festival last fall according to festival organizer Terry Grimble He said all proceeds will support the construction of a new skate park in Hope Mills The Friends of the Skateparks foundation is partnering with PortCity Reggae Concerts and the town of Hope Mills to put the event on "This caliber of a festival with these artists is a very rare thing for the Fayetteville area," Grimble said April 14 Previous coverage: A new festival is set to make its debut in Fayetteville. Here's what attendees can expect. Why the change?Grimble said the team behind the One People Reggae & Arts Festival made the difficult decision to postpone last fall after Hurricane Helene impacted volunteers and made conditions unpredictable "There was just so much on the line," he said "We felt too vulnerable to pull it off on the date we originally set." Grimble said the town of Hope Mills stepped in and offered to host the festival which he added was a fitting gesture as the town is also the future home of the skate park the event will help fund "They just really bent over backwards for us to pull the event here," he said mainly because of the support of the town." food and performancesThe rescheduled festival will feature several reggae legends and emerging artists General admission for the lawn is $37, and VIP passes are $50. These passes include a bar, wait staff, table, and chair at the stage left deck, according to the event website The release said a crowd of more than 3,000 attendees is expected Grimble said the event is family-friendly and aims to offer something for everyone "This is something for the whole family," Grimble said Online: onepeoplereggaefestival.com A new food truck spot just rolled into Fayetteville on Hope Mills Road with a dedicated space for multiple food trucks to serve everything from breakfast bites to dinner options Hwy 59 Food Stop opened April 1 at 822 Hope Mills Road Eliot Silver, owner of Ty’s Uptown Grill food truck said he started renting his spot from Todd Williams the same day the food stop opened Silver said that Williams, who operates Hwy 59 Auto Repair at the same address purchased the property four months earlier Silver said that when he noticed the extra lot space going unused he saw an opportunity to turn it into a spot where multiple food trucks could serve the community and offer more variety in one location why not open it up for more food trucks?" Silver said this week "There’s really nothing like this on this side of town where people can just pull in surpassing even larger cities like Raleigh and Los Angeles More: Fayetteville’s food truck scene booms, outpacing major cities in trucks per capita said the food truck community in Fayetteville is one of support He said that spirit of collaboration is what led to the creation of the park itself promote one another — it’s not about beating the other guy," he said and that’s exactly what we want to build at Hwy 59." Silver said the food truck lot is set up to host up to four trucks at a time with three meal shifts each day of the week He said the breakfast shift runs from 7 to 11 a.m. but he said the long-term goal is to fill all four spots daily as the community learns about Hwy 59 come from two entirely different industries they found common ground and are now working together to grow something meaningful through Hwy 59 Food Stop "There’s nothing else like this on this side of town," he said with three service shifts of breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. On the web: Search "Hwy 59 Food Stop" on Facebook Two Hope Mills police officers and a firefighter jumped into frigid waters last week to rescue a man trapped in a sinking car The daring rescue happened in Hope Mills last Tuesday The call for help came in just after 11 a.m A caller reported a Honda Civic in Hope Mills Lake and said the driver was quickly going under water "I wasn't too sure if we had heard that correctly," Hope Mills Officer Marisol Kozain said after getting the dispatch Sky 5 was in the air while two Hope Mills police officers and a firefighter were in the water Firefighter Matthew Ruffin said he was concerned about getting the man out of the car "The car was slowly going further and further in the lake," he said Officer Tony Locklear described those frightening moments "He was out of the rear window," Locklear said "I think anybody jumping into freezing water that's gonna make anybody question in a moment like that," Officer Kozain said "You don't really have time to think about it too much Locklear said he relied on his training in those moments "Anything can happen at any given time," Locklear said we have to fall back on our training and constantly reevaluate the situation and make a sound decision on what we're going to do." The rescue team pulled the man out of the lake and to safety Officer Locklear also had to go to the hospital He was treated for hypothermia and was released Police said the driver was a 37-year-old man from Florida A 19-year-old was killed in a drive-by shooting at her home in Hope Mills early Tuesday According to the Hope Mills Police Department after multiple rounds were fired into the house in the 4300 block of Jockey Whip Lane in the Steeplechase Neighborhood off of Blackbridge Road A dark SUV was seen leaving the scene at a high rate of speed More: Man shot and killed in Spring Lake last week Police Chief Stephen Dollinger said that there were at least three others inside the home at the time of the shooting and Blue was the only individual struck Dollinger said he encourages residents living in the Steeplechase neighborhood to check their surveillance cameras and report any suspicious activity Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Morgan at 910-916-8919. Anonymous tips may also be made by calling Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477), visiting http://www.fay-nccrimestoppers.org/send_a_tip.aspx or downloading the free “P3 Tips” app Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com (This story was updated to add new information.) Hope Mills officials have approved funding for a "documentary" about the town set to air as a commercial on national broadcast networks During the March 6 budget retreat, the mayor and board of commissioners voted to spend $27,000 for the project, which will be produced by the Viewpoint Project with Dennis Quaid. However the decision faced pushback from Commissioner Elyse Craver who questioned whether investing in a commercial was a responsible use of town funds The Viewpoint Project is an educational-style marketing program on public television and runs as a commercial on major networks like CNBC Town manager Chancer McLaughlin told commissioners at the budget retreat that the town had been approached by the senior productions manager from Viewpoint who thought Hope Mills would be a good subject for the project’s segment Discover America He said the cost will cover production and the crew's travel and is already budgeted in planning and community development and will not require a budget amendment “I feel that with the grant funding that we are pursuing and with the request that we have from our state federal delegation this would assist us in bringing awareness of what we’re doing here,” McLaughlin said adding that this is a great branding opportunity To give an idea of what the video for Hope Mills would look like, a video by Viewpoint about Maple Valley, Washington, was played. Randolph County has also participated in the project Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said the production team told him Hope Mills was chosen because of its similar qualities to Maple Valley such as growth and proximity to a large metropolitan area Bellflowers also noted the timing as they develop their strategic plan and the opportunity to attach the video anytime they submit an application for a grant “Because (the state) is going to get a bunch of (applications) and (they’re) going to see a bunch of names (they’re) going to see a bunch of narrative all on paper,” he said adding a video will set Hope Mills apart from the rest Bellflowers said he couldn’t believe it when he was told Viewpoint was considering Hope Mills “When you have something on the national level that looks at us .. but what our vision looks like going forward and actually helping us,” he said “We’re going to have a really solid plan .. I don’t think you can say no to an opportunity like this.”  McLaughlin also noted that the videos on the town’s website are CGI-rendered and this project will not only be real footage but will air nationally He said this could help not only Hope Mills but other places in the region “I see a lot of other initiatives happening in other municipalities that I know began here.”  Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray said she was in favor of the commercial because although the town is already experiencing residential growth “We really don’t have industry here,” she said “I was looking at it hopefully as an opportunity to sell our community to help get some real industry in this area.”   Craver immediately opposed the idea after Bellflowers’ and McLaughlin’s excitement about the opportunity She first questioned why the example video was a town across the country and not another North Carolina municipality McLaughlin reiterated that the video of Maple Valley exemplified similar qualities to Hope Mills and he felt it painted a better picture of what their town video would show She pointed out Viewpoint’s previous videos done for RE/MAX real estate company “We have other places that that money could be used for,” she said at the meeting “That’s why I’m not going to vote for it.”   In a phone call with The Fayetteville Observer on March 12 Craver said the Hope Mills Fire Department needs new washers and dryers and said other needs should take priority over a commercial “Here we are spending $27,000 for something we don’t really need and I don’t know how it’s really going to benefit the town,” she said Craver also said that now is not the time to spend money as people are concerned about the tax rate after the recent revaluation and the general cost of living “Now is a tough time for people everywhere,” she said “I just feel this is unnecessary spending.”   The spending for the commercial was ultimately approved by a 4 to 1 vote Welcome, Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutDriver rescued from submerged car at Hope Mills LakeWednesday 2025A Hope Mills police officer and firefighter jumped into the lake to get the man out of the car.HOPE MILLS (WTVD) -- A driver was rescued after his car crashed into water on Tuesday morning in Cumberland County Investigators said they found a Honda Civic submerged in the water with the driver still inside the car A Hope Mills police officer and firefighter jumped into the lake to help get the man out of the car The driver and a police officer were both taken to a hospital HOPE MILLS — The Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Department is exploring options to expand amid program growth but concerns over funding and taxpayer impact are stirring debate Talks are underway for three projects: the creation of a multi-use ball field; the construction of a new recreation center; and the renovation of the existing building to create a senior center Parks and recreation director Lemarco Morrison said athletics programming and rentals at the recreation center have grown by 30% each year for the past three years who serves as liaison to the Parks & Recreation Department for the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners said the previous board had proposed putting a ball field complex and a senior center on the golf course The new proposed plan will build the new recreation center on the golf course Bellflowers said “The parks and rec committee unanimously approved all three plans,” Bellflowers said Morrison said the ballfield complex will be built on 25 acres of the Hodges family land off of the service road that runs along I-95 Morrison said the Hodges family is eager and willing to sell the land with the agreement that the complex be named after the family More on Hope Mills: The Hope Mills Police Department has outgrown its space. How can it move forward? Funding possibilities and concernsHope Mills Commissioner Elyse Craver said she is concerned with how the projects will be funded and the potential impact on taxpayers and we don’t need to be spending money now,” Craver said 17 the three projects will be presented to a delegation of local and federal lawmakers in hopes of securing funding He said the other option to fund the projects is for the board to vote on a general obligation bond a type of loan issued by a government that is repaid through tax revenue Craver said the projects would require the town to either borrow money or pass a bond referendum Craver said borrowing $20 million would raise taxes by 8 cents per $100 of property value which would cost homeowners more based on their property's worth she campaigned for a seniors-only facility that would include things like a therapeutic pool and pickleball courts here goes up the recreation building,” Craver said nothing is being mentioned about the senior citizens.”   She said with the addition of things like a basketball court “Tell me what seniors are going to go and play basketball She said she wants to go back to her original plan and see a space for seniors on the golf course that is not a part of another facility Renovating the old parks and recreation building for the seniors feels like they are once again being put on the back burner "These seniors lived here all of their lives they brought this town from where it was to what it is today," she said "They are being shoved around from one place to another An 18-year-old faces charges in the death of another man from Hope Mills deputies responded to a well-being check in the 5600 block of Medicus Lane according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Hatchell was being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center with no bond Hope Mills Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin received a contract extension and a raise at the March 3 regular meeting The Hope Mills Mayor and Board of Commissioners approved the two-year contract renewal for McLaughlin and a salary increase to $140,000 The increase marks an 11.68% rise from his salary of $125,154 last year according to information from The Fayetteville Observer in Oct McLaughlin has previously served as interim town manager and development services director in 2023 and planning and economic development director in 2021 With a population of 17,973, according to ZipRecruiter the average individual salary in Hope Mills as of Feb or around $18 an hour or 26.7% of McLaughlin’s salary ZipRecruiter is an online employment marketplace that connects job seekers with employers The average town manager's salary in North Carolina Previous reporting: Here's how much the top earners make in Hope Mills town government The board praised McLaughlin’s leadership and dedication highlighting key accomplishments in a news release March 4 such as securing $6 million in grant funding and advancing community projects like first phase of construction of Heritage Park The release also noted as accomplishments that McLaughlin secured school resource officers “Our town is run by an amazing team of leaders and staff who are working every day to build a better community for residents to live and raise families,” Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said in the release The board expressed confidence in McLaughlin’s vision and it was looking forward to continued progress under his leadership The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners is requesting more than $17.3 million from state legislators for three projects Frances Jackson and Charles Smith; and Democratic Sen Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said at the meeting that he hopes to see strong collaboration between the board and state legislators to support the town's growth Fayetteville funding requests: Fayetteville is seeking $24.5 million from the state. Here's why "We are here to talk about the funding priorities to improve the quality of life in Hope Mills while we continue efforts to enhance our community," Bellflowers said Before presenting project funding requests Bellflowers recognized the Hope Mills first responders who were deployed to western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene “Our hearts go out to the citizens of western North Carolina,” he said Funding requests The commissioners requested $3.43 million for a senior center that will be renovated from the existing recreation center multipurpose classrooms and pickleball courts The commissioners also requested $13.13 million for a 27,000-square-foot community center on the golf course The community center will be designed to serve as a crisis shelter but will include a gymnasium space a commercial kitchen and eight outdoor pickle courts County requests: Cumberland County seeks $128.5M from NC for projects including a new E.E. Smith The final funding request is for $773,883 to complete phase two of Heritage Park.   This project will expand the park with the addition of a boat launch, outdoor classrooms, trails, historical markers and improved parking.   The Board of Commissioners ended the meeting by approving two resolutions. One outlined its priorities for the North Carolina General Assembly's 2025-26 session, and the other requested $26.37 million in federal funding to improve residential roads.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kenjuana McCray thanked the delegation for their support, stating, "You all are a constant presence in our town as you regularly attend the ribbon-cuttings for businesses opening here, and I would like to thank you for your continued support."  Government Watchdog Reporter Claire C. Carter can be reached at ccarter@gannett.com. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. One person is dead following an accident Sunday night in Sampson County. The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Hope Mills Road. Emergency crews and police are on the scene, and an investigation is underway. Hope Mills first responders saved the life of a Florida man who had driven into Hope Mills Lake on Tuesday According to the release from the town of Hope Mills the police and rescue crews responded to reports of a vehicle in the lake shortly after 11 a.m first responders discovered a 2016 Honda Civic partially submerged in the water and the driver was rescued after police officers Tony Locklear and Marisol Kozain and firefighter Matthew Ruffin entered the water and brought him safely to shore were taken to the hospital for observation and are "doing fine," the release said More: Major plans are in store for these high-traffic Cumberland County roads The Fort Bragg dive team was called to the scene to assist the Hope Mills Fire Department in removing the vehicle from the lake 2024Planners envision the park as a venue for special events the town of Hope Mills officially opened its new heritage park on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony The $1.3 million project repurposed relics from the town's history including pieces from the dam and the cotton mill which dates back to its settlement in the 1730s Planners envision the park as a venue for special events "Somebody is going to propose to their wife somebody is going to get married out here," Chancer McLaughlin "Someone is going to actually recognize and encounter this face for the first time...It's going to be a significant amount of memories that we hope are created at this site." The park is located on Lakeview Road and has been in development for 15 years SEE ALSO | Hope Mills parish house to be demolished despite preservation attempt Hope Mills officials provided an update this week on the future of the town’s golf course clarifying green space is a priority as plans develop to build a new parks and recreation center in the area The discussion follows concerns raised by resident Ron Gosciniak at the past two March town meetings about the potential loss of open space due to the new facility Concerns come as plans are underway to construct a new recreation center on the golf course renovate the existing senior center and develop a multi-use ball field complex on nearby land to accommodate the growth of the Hope Mills Parks & Recreation programs Gosciniak said he goes to the golf course every day and has been asking community members if they are in favor of development plans for the area “It’s ‘no’ across the board,” Gosciniak said during public comments “What’s interesting is the younger people are saying ‘no.’ It’s the 30-year-olds and below that don’t understand it when they’re losing their green area.”   town manager Chancer McLaughlin gave an update on the plans for the golf course McLaughlin said the original master plan for the golf course that was adopted by the board included the development of a senior facility he said 72-plus acres would remain green space McLaughlin clarified that the new master plan includes a new parks and recreation center on the golf course that will take up 4 acres of land adding 20 acres of natural area back to the master plan The sports complex has been moved to 25 acres of the Hodges family land off of the service road that runs along I-95 and the senior facility will be renovated from the current parks and recreation building amphitheater and trails are still a part of the master plan “This change increases the total green space for the entire master plan to 90-plus acres of green space,” he said “Staff is also in conversations with the adjacent development to secure an additional green space to add to the master plan.”  The condition of the golf course now was meant to be temporary because the old golf cart tracks “The goal was always to redesign and redevelop an extensive amount of new ADA-compliant trails,” he said McLaughlin said whether a structure is built there or not “I want people to understand we’re enhancing the green space We’re actually adding a possible additional pond A significant portion of it can’t be developed because it’s wetlands.”   McLaughlin noted public discourse is only seeing the building as a way of eliminating open land and ignoring efforts to create enhanced green space “I wanted to make sure people are aware we’re not taking away green space,” he said we’ll probably end up with more green space than we originally had.”   Funding and future costs Gosciniak also raised concerns about the cost of the project and questioned if the board had thought about the costs of staffing and equipment once the new parks and recreation center is built or are we just trying to secure the money and then going to figure it out?”  Although public comments typically don’t receive responses from the board Commissioner Joanne Scarola clarified the funding details of the project She said the board had requested money from state legislators in the form of House Bill 327 “We’re not trying to do tax dollars in this,” Scarola said that’d be a lot better than getting it from our tax base.”   House Bill 327 appropriates $16.5 million from the general fund for capital projects in the town of Hope Mills during the 2025-2026 fiscal year The funds will allocate $13.1 million for constructing a new community center and $3.4 million for designing and renovating the Hope Mills Senior Center to ensure ADA compliance Scarola emphasized the board is still early in the budgeting process and said decisions will be made as information is gathered that really helps us decide we really can’t do it or we really need to do it,” she said At the heart of the new Hope Mills takeout restaurant Oma’s Schnitzel Hausis a connection that spans decades and continents The story has broken and then mended hearts and an ending brought on by science that no one saw coming It all began about 30 years ago when a romance blossomed between Frankfurt native Tamara Sierra — then in her 20s — and Mark Hernandez Air Force airman stationed at Sembach Air Base within an hour of the central German city I was very impressed by that," Hernandez recalled Hernandez received orders to return to the U.S. Sierra got an unexpected set of orders — a positive pregnancy test including enlisting the help of the German government to locate Hernandez Sierra said she eventually found love again and built a family Her husband’s military orders eventually brought them to what was then Fort Bragg in 2004.Sierra said it wasn’t until her son used DNA testing in 2020 that he found and contacted his biological father — and Hernadez learned he had a son As father and son developed a relationship Sierra had another life-altering event taking place I connected with her,” Hernandez said last week Oma's Haus is bornSierra said she has always enjoyed cooking for large gatherings admitting she often struggles with portion sizes because she loves preparing food for as many people as possible She agreed with the saying that the way to a man's heart is sometimes through his stomach "(Mark) was telling me how he loves goulash soup and I had learned my cooking from my grandmother Everything was made from scratch," Sierra said currywurst and traditional sides like German potato salad and red cabbage the new takeout German restaurant at 3920 Black Bridge Road in Hope Mills is the culmination of years spent cooking for friends She said that starting her own restaurant had always been her dream but caring for her late husband — who endured injuries during his 27-year military career — meant she wasn’t able to pursue it until now She said she moved to Fayetteville in 2004 with her late husband and cared for him until he died in 2022 she said she spent more than 10 years cooking in kitchens in several German restaurants “I was raised by my grandparents in Germany learning to cook because my family needed me," Sierra said He gave me the support I needed and pushed me to fulfill my dream." the pair reconnected because of their son and began a friendship She said Hernandez moved from Connecticut to North Carolina to be closer to their son said he and Sierra were inspired to start Oma's Haus because there was a demand locally for authentic German food particularly within the military community He said he often noticed that Sierra’s cooking surpassed the quality of what they found at other German restaurants Frustrated by paying for food that couldn’t compare to what she made at home he said he saw an opportunity to offer something better What's on the menu at Oma's Schnitzel Haus?Sierra said Oma’s Schnitzel Haus offers an affordable menu with grab-and-go options like currywurst — a sausage covered in a curry sauce — starting at $8.50 and schnitzel plates with two sides ranging from $13 to $15.50 She said popular schnitzel options include Jaeger schnitzel topped with a sour cream-based garlic sauce served with different bold toppings to add a boost of flavor Sierra said she makes everything from scratch and packages sauces separately to ensure freshness upon delivery or take-out adding that she wants "people to experience it the way it’s supposed to be." Sierra said the restaurant is currently in its soft-opening phase, which started Saturday, with hours of 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. A grand opening is planned for Jan. 7, after which hours will be noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. She said customers can place orders online at omasschnitzelhaus.com or through DoorDash and Uber Eats — patrons can also visit the physical location and wait about 10 to 15 minutes for their order Hernandez said he hopes the restaurant will grow into a food truck allowing them to bring Sierra's cooking to different parts of Fayetteville and potentially expand into the Raleigh market he said they simply hope the community will embrace Sierra's cooking We just hope people will give us a chance." On the web: omasschnitzelhaus.com Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com (This story was updated to switch out a photo and to add new information.) Cumberland County experienced a number of restaurant openings in 2024 from fresh concepts by new entrepreneurs to expansions of established favorites Here’s a nonexhaustive roundup of Fayetteville and Hope Mills eateries that debuted this year Archives cocktail bar, which opened Jan. 17, brings a speakeasy vibe to Fayetteville’s historic Haymount neighborhood A to Z Deli and Grill opened Jan Mexican restaurant Mister Taco opened Jan The Vegan Spot opened Jan 23 at 3421 Murchison Road in Fayetteville's Murchison Marketplace shopping center Wingstop Wingstop opened its second Cumberland County location in early January at 3065 Hope Mills Road in Hope Mills Shae’s Confections Hardee’s opened a location on Jan Caribbean-inspired chain restaurant Bahama Breeze Island Grille opened Feb. 5 at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville Sheetz opened its third Cumberland County location Feb Panera opened its first Fort Liberty location Feb 21 at the Smoke Bomb Hill Express food court Vegan cinnamon roll bakery Cinnaholic opened Feb Taste of West Africa, a Ghanaian restaurant, reopened in February at 116 Person St Gohan Ramen Bar opened in late February at 7835 Good Middling Drive Jaggers, a sister chain to casual steakhouse Texas Roadhouse Dad Bod Dishes food truckDad Bod Dishes, which counts barbecue and loaded fries among its offerings, opened its food truck in March Barry’s Pizzeria opened March 23 at 8200 Cliffdale Road Virginia restaurant chain Anchor Allie’s opened its first North Carolina location at 1204 Bragg Blvd Kwons Treats, a food truck serving owner Vanessa McKoy's best-selling sweets, opened July 24 Florida chain Stoner’s Pizza Joint opened in mid-July at the former Dairy Queen Grill & Chill at 3035 Legion Road Rancho de LeonMexican restaurant Rancho de Leon opened at 5505 Raeford Road in Fayetteville in July Harmon’s Deutsche Kuche food truck opened in early July and serves weekend lunch from the Lidl parking lot on Skibo Road in Fayetteville The DepotPopular Fayetteville hot dog stand Dogslingers moved from its spot in the parking lot at 2801 Raeford Road into the Depot, the recently renovated building on the property A coffee shop, 2 Bros. Coffee Co., opened July 26 at 4808 Ramsey St. A veteran-owned food truck, Cornbread Kitchen & Smokehouse which specializes in Southern comfort food Hay Street Kitchen & Rooftop reopened the upstairs cocktail bar in the historic Kress building in downtown Fayetteville this summer Down South Family Restaurant & Bar Down South Family Restaurant & Bar opened Aug A health-driven food truck, Anabolic Kitchen La Patrona Bar & Grill relocated from Lumberton to Hope Mills and opened a new location at 3041 N The long-awaited Chick-fil-A at 1105 Murchison Road across from Fayetteville State University opened Sept. 9 Dirty Myrtle Wing CompanyDirty Myrtle Wing Company 10 at its 3,600-square-foot restaurant at 2918 Bragg Blvd Kusinera Filipino CuisineKusinera Filipino Cuisine opened Sept the former site of the Crab du Jour seafood restaurant Cuppa Yo Frozen Yogurt opened Sept. 14 in Freedom Town Center North Carolina coffee chain Clutch Coffee Bar opened its first of two Fayetteville locations on Sept Breakfast With Tiffany Potbelly Sandwich ShopThe second of three planned Fort Liberty Potbelly Sandwich Shops opened Sept. 24 at 3905 Honeycutt Road in Fayetteville.' Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opened Sept. 25 at 2860 Hope Mills Road in Fayetteville From the owners of Afghan Kabob in downtown Fayetteville comes a new dessert shop, Cake Me Away Fort Liberty's first Chipotle opened Sept A locally owned ice cream shop inspired by New York City desserts opened in October at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville Culver'sWisconsin-based fast-food chain Culver's opened Oct. 14 at 3320 Camden Road in the Millstone Shopping Center in Hope Mills Popeyes opened a new location at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville on Oct Pho & Grill Hut which serves a traditional Vietnamese menu Hawaiian-born chain Wow Wow Lemonade opened Oct. 26 at 2957 Town Center Drive in Fayetteville The long-awaited KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot opened at Cross Creek Mall on Oct Maxwell's MochiMaxwell's Mochi opened at 2719 Freedom Parkway Drive in Fayetteville in early November Apple Crate Naturals opened its new 8,500-square-foot location on Nov 10 at 3983 Sycamore Dairy Road in Fayetteville The owners of barbecue food truck Dad Bod Dishes opened Dad Bod's Dive Bar at 444 W in a space previously occupied by Bright Light Brewing Company for eight years Gangnam Korean BBQ + HotpotGangnam Korean BBQ + Hotpot 17 and is Fayetteville’s second Korean hotpot option Pancakes & Waffles, a new breakfast spot Mama Lupe's Mexican Food opened Dec commercial and industrial development projects underway in Hope Mills will create more jobs and housing for the community Bellflowers said the more than 30 ongoing projects in Hope Mills highlight the town's dedication to growth and modernization Chipotle and Dollar Tree building in the town He said he believes the town's outdoor recreational amenities small-town charm and the addition of approximately 2,900 new homes are some of the reasons for this boom in growth "People are looking at Hope Mills as a destination to live raise families and that's a testament to the culture and the community," Bellflowers said and you can see that in the amount of growth that's happening with just these projects." Bellflowers said the high number of truck drivers seeking rest stops along Interstate 95 where options along the interstate are limited contributed to Sheetz and Wawa's decisions to set up shop near Exit 41 in Hope Mills "Exit 41 is in just the center location right off of 95 to attract a lot of big businesses so we're going to see future growth continue on Exit 41," he said "We are hoping to attract a major hotel that would join the businesses that we have on Exit 41." Bellflowers said that Hope Mills "isn't a small town anymore." He said these recent developments prompted the formation of Hope Mills' first Economic Development Committee which is set to hold its inaugural meeting in October to discuss ongoing projects and future growth opportunities said Friday that construction timelines often depend on the developers and builders which are factors that are outside the town's control There are currently 12 housing developments underway in Hope Mills with six projects creating single-family units and six projects focused on multi-family units with a sixth phase currently underway to construct 76 single-family homes Home prices start at $316,000.Pembroke subdivision: 79 single-family residential lots for sale off Blackbridge Road.Providence subdivision: 269 townhouses and 374 single-family homes were approved for this subdivision totaling 643 residential units off Sandhill Road.Multi-family developmentsThe One apartments: 360 multi-family rental units off of Elk Road.Camden Preserve apartments: This development was initially approved for single-family residential development This was amended to add commercial development with townhouses and apartments for purchase only.Eagle Cove apartments: 183 single-family homes and 45 townhouses off Corporation Drive.The Reserve Traemoor: This multi-family housing development was originally approved as part of the master plan for Traemoor Village Shopping Center and currently has 72 units under construction.Golfview Road apartments: 377 units comprising a mixture of apartments and single-family cottages adjacent to the Hope Mills Golf Course off Golfview Road.Elk Park Drive apartments: 144 multi-family residential units off Elk Park Drive.Bellflowers said it is important to consider affordable housing options for residents of all economic backgrounds as new housing developments come to Hope Mills Commercial developmentsThere are nine commercial development projects currently underway in Hope Mills Bellflowers said that by enhancing its industrial infrastructure Hope Mills hopes to position itself as a key player in the regional economy drawing in businesses that will contribute to job creation and economic stability The town of Hope Mills is currently working on five key projects a multi-use path and the creation of an entirely new park Phase 2: Hope Mills opened Phase 1 of the Reid's Journey All Inclusive Playground earlier this summer with playground equipment for children with special needs Phase 2 is currently under construction and includes a wheelchair swing benches and landscaping.Heritage Park: Groundbreaking for the creation of Heritage Park took place last fall with plans to complete the project by this fall with efforts focused on transforming the old dam gates into canopy structures.East Patterson Street embankment: Fleming and Associates Engineering firm is working with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to determine an effective and longer-lasting solution to reshape the inside corner of Little Rockfish Creek to provide a smoother flow The work follows attempts at strengthening the embankment with retaining walls and embankment armoring by FEMA in past years.Woodland Hills: The Woodland Hills project went out for bids Aug 24 for the installation and repair of street and storm drainage infrastructure along Ascent Drive and nearby streets within the Woodland Hills subdivision.Hope Mills Lake multi-use path: The project will remove the existing asphalt path at Hope Mills Lake and replace it with a concrete with sidewalks on the north and south sides of the park."Change happens every day and you have to find that balance," Bellflowers said "You always have to keep sight of what's the true identity of Hope Mills and then find the balance of growth on residential and commercial." Hope Mills could see a financial boost of around $156,000 this year thanks to a newly approved sales tax distribution agreement with Cumberland County which eases restrictions set by a previous policy unanimously approved at the town's April 7 regular Board of Commissioners meeting changes how much sales tax revenue the town must return to the county Hope Mills Finance Director Drew Holland said during a phone interview April 9 that under the 2023 agreement Hope Mills and other municipalities were required to return any sales tax revenue received above their fiscal year 2022 revenue cap Holland said the 2023 policy was part of a temporary extension before the county switches to an ad valorem method of sales tax distribution starting July 1 Ad valorem is a method of distributing sales tax based on the value of property in each area rather than the population “This was like a bridge agreement,” he said “The mayor’s coalition had asked for an extension before the change to ad valorem But they capped our sales tax revenues at the 2022 level.”  that meant that if Hope Mills received more than its FY22 sales tax amount in the following years it had to give the excess back to the county The same was expected for FY25 — until this week’s vote is let us keep half of what we would have had to return,” Holland said instead of giving all $300,000 back to the county That translates to an estimated savings of around $156,000 for Hope Mills Mayor Jessie Bellflowers praised the new sales tax agreement calling it a helpful gesture from the county ahead of next year’s major funding shift "As we're looking forward into next year with the loss of the sales tax revenue it's a great opportunity for the county to extend something to the municipalities to help ease that loss of revenue," he said "I just wanted to go on the record and say that and thank Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for offering this interlocal agreement to the municipalities." Holland said the town isn’t assigning the savings to any specific project “It just stays in the general fund for the town and covers any day-to-day operational expenses,” Holland said “It’s not going to change anything in our budget other than it helps us out that we get to keep that $156,000.”  This change doesn’t impact the county’s long-term plan to switch from a population-based to an ad valorem distribution method The new agreement only amends the repayment requirement for FY25 “Everything else stays the same,” Holland said we pay half of what’s over the cap — instead of all of it.”  A popular Jamaican restaurant in Fayetteville is growing taking its island flavors to a new location — this time with a Jamaican grocery store alongside it SimLo’s Jerk Hut & Island Groceries is set to open at 2945 Hope Mills Road in the former Island Tease space and expand into the adjacent suite which will be used as a Jamaican grocery store according to co-owners and husband-and-wife duo Lopez Atlan Lopez Atlan said SimLo’s Jerk Hut is expected to open by mid-March provisions and spices straight from Jamaica just to another location in a new city," Atlan said last week More food news: 'Not just a mom-and-pop restaurant': New Caribbean eatery opens in Fayetteville said the new location is about expanding access to Caribbean flavors He said they had been searching for the right spot for a while when they learned the Island Tease location was available they are moving quickly to bring their vision to life said she’s especially excited about the Island Groceries side of the business "I’ve always wanted to have a grocery store again," she said Atlan said Hope Mills and the surrounding community has a large Jamaican presence Compare Foods is one of the only stores carrying Jamaican items making Island Groceries a much-needed addition Atlan said he purchases his inventory from wholesalers in Georgia and Florida "We wanted to bring a wider variety of Caribbean products to the community," Atlan said He said the restaurant and grocery store will be under the same name and will feature the same menu as SimLo's Island Cafe at 3057 Boone Trail Extension in Fayetteville A man wanted in a Hope Mills homicide earlier this month was arrested by U.S and a Harnett County man was jailed Friday as an accessory in the killing According to the Hope Mills Police Department and charging documents was being held without bail Monday in a Georgia jail He is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Joshua Ryan Knox Knox was shot multiple times in the 2400 block of John Smith Road about 7 p.m Smith was arrested by federal agents in Claxton More: Police say three people may have info in fatal shooting in Hope Mills on Wednesday. Harnett County deputies assisted Hope Mills investigators in arresting William Earl Hardy Jr. on a charge of accessory after the fact of murder Hardy was arrested at his home in the Highgrove at Anderson Creek neighborhood off Ray Road near Overhills High School The charging document alleges he knew of the homicide and assisted Smith in escaping "detection arrest and punishment" by harboring him at Hardy's Heathrow Drive home and "lying" about the wanted man's whereabouts Hardy remained in the Cumberland County jail on Monday with bail set at $50,000 In addition to the murder charge, Smith has a charge pending against him in Cumberland County Superior Court alleging he failed to register as a sex offender. Records indicate he was convicted in 2005 of kidnapping a 14-year-old Hardy and Smith were among three people the Hope Mills Police Department announced Jan 17 were being sought for questioning in the case is being held in the Harnett County jail on a charge of possession of methamphetamine this is still an ongoing investigation," the Hope Mills Police Department said in a statement Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective A Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobsever.com HOPE MILLS — Cumberland County’s first Culver’s restaurant in Hope Mills and is set to hold its grand opening Monday marking a new dining option for residents and joining the other 17 locations in North Carolina for the Wisconsin-based chain Franchise owner Adrian Madsen said the 4,789-square-foot building at 3320 Camden Road in the Millstone Shopping Center will serve a variety of menu items including butter burgers and frozen custard "If you've never gone inside and sat down in a Culver's dining room then you haven't experienced Culver's," Madsen said recently Madsen said that after retiring from an Army career that began in 1991 he reflected on the many places he'd been stationed noting it was in Colorado where he first ate at a Culver's He said his family often sought out Culver's Previous coverage: Here's a look at the residential, commercial and industrial projects underway in Hope Mills Madsen said that he moved his family from Virginia to North Carolina to realize his dream of opening a Culver's He said he intends to hire local high school students and has several teenage employees currently in training for the grand opening Madsen said he is optimistic about this generation's potential and is eager to support their first steps into the workforce Culver's menu features a range of classic American items like burgers, fries and cheese curds. The restaurant is well-known for its fresh frozen custard sundaes and custard cups, called concrete mixers, which combine custard with various mix-ins, according to the company's website Prices range from a butter burger for $4 to a chicken cashew salad for $9 Hours of operation: Open daily from 10:30 a.m The Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m Monday On the web: culvers.com suspect in custody"}}))},2e3);window.dataLayer.push({event:"GAEvent",eventAction:"contentStart",eventCategory:"video",eventLabel:"Man found dead in Hope Mills suspect in custody"},{name:"updated",value:"2025-01-23T06:48:34-0500"},{name:"published",value:"2025-01-23T06:48:34-0500"}]}])}),e.on("adend",()=>{e.play()})):console.warn("wralvideo returned undefined")}else console.warn("wralvideo has not been loaded yet")},window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",window.initHeroVideo)Local NewsMan found dead in Hope Mills