Bill Kirby Jr.: County honors law officer for helping save child in cardiac arrest

Aug. 29--Doug Austin, an agent with N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, was honored Aug. 20 with the Cumberland Cares Recognition Award from the county Board of Commissioners for helping save the life of a child in 2017. "Agent Doug Austin's actions were above and beyond the call of duty and exemplify the highest standards of public service," Tom Price, a county EMS paramedic, says about Austin. Austin, according to a news release, provided airway management and ventilation for the child who was in cardiac arrest. "His demeanor on the scene was impeccable, calm and professional, which unquestionably led to superior care for the patient. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of law enforcement and public service and greatly reflect on the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency." Austin then accompanied EMS and the child to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

----"Because of Sen. McCain's unique place in history and directives from President Trump and Gov. Cooper on lowering federal and state flags to half-staff, I also directed city flags lowered to half-staff during the same time period," Mayor Mitch Colvin says about the municipal flag at City Hall. All flags will remain at half-staff until sunset Sunday, when McCain is interred at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. McCain, a six-term senator from Arizona, died Aug. 25 at age 81 from a rare form of brain cancer.

----"During this journey my focus will be to find a cure for Alzheimer's," says Jay Reinstein, 57, the assistant city manager who recently was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He will be a featured speaker at the 10 a.m. opening ceremonies for the Walk to End Alzheimer's fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 8 at Festival Park. Registration is scheduled for 9 a.m.; the walk is at 10:30. You may contribute to Reinstein's team -- the Jay Walkers -- by sending an email to pbest@alz.org or calling 919-803-8285.

----"The town is providing thoughts and prayers for the family," Kenneth Byrd, a member of the Aberdeen town board, says about the family of Shanann Watts, the Aberdeen native and 34-year-old mother of two daughters, ages 3 and 4, all who died Aug. 13 in their Frederick, Colorado, home. They will be remembered at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Pinehurst. Chris Watts, the 33-year-old husband and father, is charged with the murders. "This is a tragedy," Byrd says, "that no one ever wants to experience."

----"Please explain how in this city and in this county can you have 775 homeless children in the school system," Mike Gianelli writes in an email about an Aug. 25 column on the Book Bags for Homeless Children give-a-way. "Where do they live. Something isn't right. If they are homeless, where are they? I don't get it." The figure, Mr. Gianelli, comes from Marvin Connelly Jr., the new Cumberland County Schools superintendent. Stacy Saunders, the city police officer responsible for assisting homeless residents, says the school children live in hotels and shelters.

----"Thank you so very much for the wonderful Sunday Salute on Henry Holt," Don Cain writes in an email. "Mr. Holt was truly a great person, and he shall be sorely missed." Holt, a longtime Fayetteville business executive, died Aug. 11 at age 78. And yes, Mr. Cain, Henry Walter Holt was an exceptional man with an exceptionally giving heart for others.

----Nothing more cute than a father hoisting a child above his shoulders amid the flashing neon lights of the Cumberland County Fair that opens at 5 p.m. Friday at the Crown Complex. If you're a parent, take your child to the fair ... and the memories will be everlasting.

Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at bkirby@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3571.

___

(c)2018 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)

Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at www.fayobserver.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.