Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / April 13, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews J oumal No.04VoL100 If it happencil, its news to us Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, April 13,2005 School Board leaves two schools year-round Sandy Grove, South Hoke become schools of choice, rest remain traditional By VicTORiANA Summers Staff writer A united Hoke School Board cast aside concerns over operating transportation and maintaining schools year round last evening. It voted unanimously to heed two proposals from Sandy Grove and South Hoke elementary schot)ls to retain year-round calendars for the 2005-06 school year. Hoke School Superintendent Allen Strickland recommended the board approve the two proposals. He thanked both schools for their efforts. “We have been involved in the study of our calendar for some time,” Strickland said. ‘The board has had an opportunity to review the programs, and I think we have satisfied any questions.” School board newcomers Hank Richards and Rosa McAllister McRae led the motion to approve year-round calendars for the two schools. Both had championed the right for the community to express their viewpoints by sending out surveys. This, after a controversy arose last year prior to Richards and McAllister McRae joining the board. The school board, with the exception of former board member Leland Strother, initially voted to convert all Hoke schools from a year- round calendar to a traditional calendar. (See SCHOOL BOARD, page 8A) House of Raeford gets USDA’s okay to reopen Company’s plan to prevent contamination approved By Victoriana Summers Staff writer After being shut down several days by the U. S. Department of Aagriculture, the House of Raeford Farms, one of the world’s largest suppliers of poultry products, has still not resumed operating its process ing plant on East Central Avenue today. House of Raeford officials were reportedly wait ing for federal inspectors to arrive so the poultry plant could reopen, but as of today the plant was still not running. Approximately 700 employees have been temporarily out of work since April 2. The USDA authorized the plant to reopen on Monday after accepting a corrective action plan from House of Raeford on Saturday and dropping a suspension that prevented the plant from oper ating. This was a result of prior major concerns An employee enters the House of Raeford plant yesterday. by USDA officials over the potential of bacteria contamination and unsanitary employee hygiene (See HOUSE OF RAEFORD, page 3A) All about children page IB Housing forum is April 16 page3A Parks and Rec season opens page4A Electrical fire damages house page6A Births 3B Calendar 4B Classifieds 7-8B Deaths 8A Editorials 2A Legals 5-6B Religion 4B Schools 2B Socials 3B Sports 4-5A We’re on the web at www.thenews-journaI.com 1 I High school bomb threat sparks debate over ambulances By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke commissioners are seek ing solutions to ensure adequate FirstHealth EMS ambulances and medics are available for emergency calls on a 24-7 basis without requesting out-of-county assistance. A medic allegedly advised Hoke 911 Communica tions on Friday she could not respond to a medical emergency assistance request because she was at Hoke High on standby lor a bomb threat. Although the bomb threat turned out to be false, the call caused Hoke’s public safety and medical resources to be tied up. A medical call that might have been life-threatening to a citizen had to be diverted, according to Commission Vice Chairman Charles V. Daniels. Hoke 911 Communications DirectorJimmy Stewart saida911 telecommunicator specifically requested the FirstHealth para medic stationed temporarily at Hoke High on a medic truck to respond to a claim of chest pains by a man who recently had open- heart surgery. The medic responded that Cumberland County EMS should be contacted. At least two ambulances are usually available to transport patients for emergency calls. However, they were out of the county on other calls. “We had no choice but to ask the medic truck to respond because there was no one else,” Stewart said. “Then a FirstHealth critical care ambulance based in Pinehurst happened to be retum- ingfromacall in Lumberton pass ing through our county on their way back to Moore County. “They heard our request to the medic truck at Hoke High, and said they would take the call when she could not.” Daniels, who serves as the commissioner’s liaison on the Hoke 911 Communications Board, commended 911 for handling the situation appropri ately. (See AMBULANCE, page 7A) Officials hopeful caller will be found By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A bomb threat at Hoke County High School turned out to be a hoax. Authorities are follow ing some solid leads to find the person responsible for making the threat on Friday, according to Hoke School Superintendent Allen Strickland. This local bomb scare fol lowed another false bomb threat at Cape Fear High School in Cumberland County on Friday. Strickland said the person actually left a message on the taped voice mail of Hoke High Principal Mark Smith. He said the person also used numerous curse words and “expletives” while conveying the threat. “Mr. Smith called me as soon as they got the bomb threat” St rick land said. “What was scary about it was that the person who left the message had no way to know how long it would be before Mr. Smith would hear (See THREAT, page 7A) Letika Leggett gets her T-shirt signed by Jasmine Lomack (front) and Diona Austin. West Hoke Middle cheerleaders letum fiDm Honda national champs By Pat Allen Wilson Editor The West Hoke Middle School Rah Rah Cheer leaders cried after their performance at the Cheer Sport National Beach Blast Cheer and Dance com petition in Jacksonville, Rorida this past weekend; they thought they had come up short. But the 17 young women had turned in a winning performance and returned to Raeford with the first place winners trophy. “They surprised themselves bigtime,” says Coach Devona MePhatter. “Before the competition, they were practicing and weren’t hitting any of their stunts. They were frustrated,” says Coach Michelle Young. “We had a talk and told them how (See CHEERLEADERS, page 7A) Shown from left are Dorine Newton, son James Newton, Jackie Hargrove-Rushing of Child Care Con nections, and Jean Squier of Smart Start at Children’s Day activities on Thursday. N.C. Highway Patrol and Raeford police officers inspected infant carriers and seats for safety.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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April 13, 2005, edition 1
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