e.t. 29:38 – Paul Johnson (hosted) Talkback for Sunday, Feb. 5th  – 36th day of 2023, 329 left this year

2 topics – three guests this week.  As we emerge from the pandemic we see an economy that has reset itself in some important ways. They’re still trying to come up with standards to evaluate it.   In services and retail, brick and mortar locations are less important than they used to be.  Mobile on wheels and on line have expanded their roles.  Even in the workplace, offices have been deemphasized, with more people working flexibly online at home – or even hybrid office and home work schedules. 

As Wages have risen,  Employers have become more selective in competing for quality workers.  Tiffany Lesane, Coordinator of the Career Development Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College, says development of the workplace going forward will require sharper workers getting paid more.  And employees willing to become more qualified can also ask for more.

United Way of Cumberland County is taking fundraising to new heights with Over the Edge – an innovative fundraising event. Five weeks from now – on Saturday, March 11th, a planned 94 thrill-seeking participants will rappel 50 feet down the Medical Arts Building in downtown Fayetteville. Each participant raising a minimum of $1,000 in donations for the United Way of Cumberland County.  Over the Edge is an 8am-5pm day-long event. Family, friends and spectators are invited to come down to support participants = also enjoying a game of corn hole, food trucks, vendor tents and more.

Event registration is now open to all ages at unitedway-cc.org. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, and all participants must be within the 100 to 300 pounds (as per Over the Edge safety standards). People in wheelchairs have done this.  For more info about special requirements, Call Melissa Reid at the United Way at (910) 483-1179.  We’ll repeat the web URL and phone# throughout our conversation!