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WRAL-TV Takes WRAListens Tour to Cumberland County

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WRAListens
Retired WRAL-TV Anchor Charlie Gaddy (left) moderated the panel of seven Cumberland County citizens.

WRAL-TV made the latest stop on its WRAListens tour to Cumberland County. A bevy of representatives from the station met with seven citizens at Methodist College in Fayetteville to discuss the issues the panelists felt were of most concern to their part of the state. The taping took place on Wednesday, October 26, 2005, and the resulting half-hour special will air on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7pm on WRAL-TV.

Veteran WRAL Anchor Charlie Gaddy hosted the special and WRAL-TV Director of News Special Projects and Fayetteville native Leesa Moore-Craigie produced.

Leesa Moore-Craigie
WRAL-TV’s Leesa Moore-Craigie (far left), a Fayettville native herself, produced WRAListens Cumberland County.

“Fayetteville and Cumberland County are important to us for many reasons,” Moore-Craigie told the group of Cumberland County participants. “You encompass the fourth largest Metropolitan area in North Carolina, many of our military viewers live there, and you are made up of a diverse and savvy population. It’s important to tap into the pulse of the county and find out what is important to you. Plus, Fayetteville is my hometown and I will always have a special place in my heart for an often misunderstood city.”

Panelists included:

  • Dr. Larry Norris, President of Fayetteville Technical Community College
  • Marshall Isler, Executive Vice President for Downtown Development
  • Linda Lee Allen, local business owner
  • Jason Brady, Public Information Officer for the City of Fayetteville
  • Tim Hager, Managing Editor for Up-n-Coming Magazine
  • Dr. Jeanette Council, a Cumberland County Commissioner
  • Tim Holverson, Executive Vice President for Business Development CCBC

WRAListens
FOX 50’s Joanne Stanley (seated l to r) & NCNN’s Ellen Reinhardt, both employees of WRAL-TV sister divisions, chat with Michelle Petty (r), Director of College Events, Methodist College, before the taping while panelist Jason Brady (standing l) prepares with Methodist College President Dr. Elton Hendricks.

The group discusses a variety of topics including:

  • Combining economic development. Hager said diversity is a strength of Cumberland County, but one that can slow progress.
  • Controversy surrounding Fayetteville’s annexation of 47,000 more people.
  • Huge impact the military has on the county.
  • Turnaround in downtown Fayetteville.

WRAListens to Cumberland County will air on WRAL-TV at 7pm, November 2nd. It will also air at 7am, November 6th on WRAL-FM.

Thanks to Cheryle Rivas of Methodist College for these capcom photos.

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