The
ews
No. 10 Vol. 94
Visit us
on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Crime of Week
focuses on
shooting
page 6A
March for Jesus
is joyful
celebration
page 1B
Health task force
gets foundation
grant
page 4A
Girl Scout
camp offers
opportunities
page 9A
Index
Births 3A
Business/Farm 6A
Calendar 2B
Classifieds 8-9B
Deaths 10A
Editorials 2A
Legals 7B
Public Record 5A
Religion 2B
School 3,4,1 OA
Sports 7 A
TV Listings 5-6B
Around Town
n,
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
The warm weather has re
turned and finally the rain
came to Raeford and Hoke
County. Last week the rainfall
was from one and a half to t\Vo
inches in the county. We were
lucky in that no tornadoes
came with the rain. We did
have some high winds but the
only damage was downed
limbs and pine cones. Maybe
the seasonal weather will con
tinue for some time.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
high Wednesday to be in the
90s and the low around 70.
Thursday, Friday and Satur
day the highs will be in the 80s
and the lows in the 60s. There
could be showers on Wednes
day and Thursday.
« ♦ * * *
Last week I had an item in
this column about the book
written by Tom Brokaw. A
part of the sentence read “Most
of us were called into the ser
vice in 1946.” The 1946 was
incorrect, it should have been
1940.
I left here with the National
Guard Unit in September,
1940 and returned from over
seas in December 1945. My
discharge papers read Febru
ary 1946.
The reason for this correc
tion is that the date was a topic
of discussion at one of the
morning coffee tables.
Raz Autry was by the house
(See AROUND, page lOA)
'
J oumal
If it happened, it's news to us
50 cents
Wednesday, June 6, 2001
County proposes no tax increase
Officials say schools can’t operate with cuts
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
County Manager Bernice McPhatter
announced during her annual financial
presentation there is no tax increase for
Hoke property owners next year in the
proposed $20.9 million budget. However,
county water rates will go up from a
minimum charge of $11 to $12.50. An
indignant board of education also squared
off with county commissioners to dispute
“alarming” cutbacks proposed for Hoke’s
school system.
McPhatter indicated a “very conserva
tive” budget was unavoidable. It requires
teamwork to overcome challenges that
will be faced next year, she said.
‘Decisions made by Gov. Easley to
hold state share revenue payments indefi
nitely and reduce other revenue sources
have affected my proposed budget for
2001-2002,” McPhatter said. “Loss of
revenue, limited additional revenue
sources and little increase with assessed
property valuations are factors that influ
enced my proposed budget.”
In spite of a state deficit that will affect
Hoke’s revenues, the budget proposal re
flected a 3 percent cost-of-living adjust
ment (COLA) that will be dispensed to
county employees without any lay-offs
required.
Hoke Schools represents one of the
hardest hit departments impacted by bud
get reductions. Hoke School Superinten
dent Mitch Tyler, School Board member
Russell Smith and Hoke finance officer
Carolyn Olivarez protested commission-
(See COUNTY BUDGET, page 9A)
City’s
budget
A
XQi
FOR
JESUS
March For Jesus
>t4RCH
FOR
JESUS
'•t* A
Hoke County’s March for Jesus down Main Street coincided with the national event Saturday. The event included.B;gc{oriT)ances on the
Library Stage (below). See related story and more photos on page IB.
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Almost half a million dollars
has been pared off the general
fund budget for fiscal year 2001 -
02 since City Manager Mike
McNeill first presented it at the
May 7 city council meeting.
McNeill’s current proposal
stands at $3,165,945 for the gen
eral fund after $5,000 was bud
geted in for Sandhills Commu
nity College at Monday night’s
budget workshop. No changes
were made in the water-sewer
(See CITY BUDGET, page 6A)
Holly Park residents seek
to block constmction
of low-income apartments
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Some 30 residents of Holly Park presented a peti
tion to city councilmen Monday night in which they
stated objections to the planned building of multi
family housing at the end of Southern Avenue, which
is adjacent to the subdivision.
Listed as the reasons for the objection are exces
sive traffic caused by nearby industry and medical
complexes; existing low income units with a through
street exiting through the subdivision; and possible
flooding problems.
Covington Avenue resident Betty Webb was the
spokesperson for a small group of Holly Park resi
dents who appeared before the city council.
Speaking of subsidized housing complexes, Webb
said, “We already have Lantern Lane and Yadkin
Trail... Police are called to Lantern Lane because of
(See APARTMENTS, page 6A)
Joy Scouts Troop 440 and Venture Club 441 were thanked by the
Raeford Centennial Committee at Monday night’s city council meeting
for painting a mural on the old Raeford Hotel for Raeford’s 100th
birthday celebration. Here Vail Li of Venture Club 411 accepts his
thank you from Grace McDonald, chairman of the centennial commit
tee.
Prosecutor drops charges against parents of dead child
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
The parents of a child who died last year from heat
stroke while trapped in his family’s car will not be
prosecuted. Citing a lack of substantial evidence. Dis
trict Attorney Kristy McMillan Newton last Friday
withdrew involuntary manslaughter and child neglect
felony charges against Ryan Lee McKinley, 29, a U.S.
Hoke’s storm-readiness
rewarded by weather service
By VicrroRiANA Summers
Suff writer
Hoke County’s Emergency Management is not looking for a repeat of
Hurricane Floyd, but as hurricane season approaches. Director A1
Schwarcbher said Hoke is “StormReady” for any weather-related disas
ter. In an effort Jo prevent property damage and to protect lives, Hoke was
recently recognized as the first of 31 counties in the central disaster
region to become certified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Distinguished by the North Carolina Division of Emer
gency Management in the new “StormReady” program, Hoke is also one
of only seven counties in the state to achieve the status.
“In a weather disaster what usually makes the difference between life
and death is the action of the individual, but every county, home,
business, school and other places need a plan, and that is why Hoke
County’s Emergency Management is exemplary,” said George Lemons
of the National Weather Service in Raleigh, a partner agency in the
(See STORMREADY, page 8A)
Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, and Karen
McKinley, 34. The couple were suspected of being
responsible for the death of their two-year-old son,
Zachary McKinley.
Newton indicated there was not adequate proof to
demonstrate criminal intent by the McKinleys. The
McKinleys declined to comment on their being re
leased from the criminal allegations.
“The state cannot meet its burden of proving that
Zachary’s death resulted from a criminal act by a person
possessing the requisite criminal intent,” Newton said.
“Based on the information acquired during the investi
gation of this case, it has been determined that there is
insufficient evidence to warrant criminal prosecution of
the McKinleys for the death of their son.
“The responsibility of the District Attorney and tl*
Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is to determine if there is
(See CHARGES DROPPED, page 8A)
■
I
h
y
M-
Shown from left, are Hoke Communications Director Ron Fairbanks, Raeford City Manager Mike
McNeill, County Commissioner Charles V. Daniels, Emergency Management Director Al Schwarcbher,
County Manager Bernice McPhatter and George Lemons, director of the National Weather Service
warning program.