Monthly Spanish-Language Newspaper Debuts in Cumberland County

As the Director of Family Violence and Hispanic Outreach for the Women's Center of Fayetteville, Elena Askey helps women in need. She wants to reach out and help other Hispanics in the Cape Fear Region too. She thinks a Spanish-language newspaper is the way to spread the word.

"We are going to have health issues, a lot of little things that perhaps they are not aware we have," Askey says of the paper.

Askey has written a bilingual column for six newspapers in the region. She no longer thinks that is enough. The Peru native has teamed up with Dickson Press to publish "Acento Latino."

"We just don't think they're getting what they need if they don't speak English," says Dickson Press Publisher Robert Dickson.

They have plenty of potential customers. The state's hispanic population has increased by 52 percent since the early 90s, and Cumberland County has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the state.

"If somebody comes from Mexico and doesn't speak English, if they see the paper in Spanish, they can see where he can go and get something. That will be perfect," says Monterrey Restaurant owner Robert Llamas.

Askey believes the "Acento Latino" will not just deliver information, but southern hospitality.

"[To] help each other, that's my main point," she says.

The "Acento Latino" will be available free of charge at several businesses in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, and Moore Counties.