Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / March 22, 2006, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews Journal If it happened, it’s news to us 75t N0.01V0L101 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, March 22,2006 County agrees to build elementary school Funding issues prompt postponement of decision to build middle school BY ViCTORlANA SUMMERS Staff writer With an “acute” need predicted for new elementary and middle schools in Hoke County, the Hoke board of commissioners unani mously gave the “green light” to a Board opts to buy land for megasite Price would go up April 1 By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke’s board of commissioners unanimously agreed Monday evening to accelerate its economic plan, exercising a purchase option on the Z.V. Pate property in Dundarrach. Intended for developing the Hoke County Re gional Industrial Park, 650 acres will be purdrased by the county for $6,000 per acre. Hoke’s mega site is the only park in North Carolina that is certified as suitable by the N.C. Department of Commerce for multiple industrial development. The site also features dud rail capabil ity from the north and to the west by the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad. The $3.9 million immediate land acquisition saves the county more than $1 million dollars. As of April 1, the price of the tract containing almost 1,500 acres would increase to $8,000 per acre if the board did not buy the land now, according to Com mission Chairman Bobby Wright. The remainder of the tract may be purchased at a later date if other industries express an interest, but the acreage would be purchased at the higher price. “This enables ourcountytomove forward with hav ing the Clean Bum Fuels ethanol-pro ducing plant es tablish in Hoke County,” Wright said. “It will help us provide 100 (See BUYS LAND, page 3A) future elementary school. In the interim, Hoke’s Board of Education has imposed enrollment caps for next year at Upchurch Elementary and East Hoke Middle schools to ease overcrowding anticipated from an influx of 600 to 800 new students in the school districts. Acting on the school board’s request to begin architectural assess ments on a design for a “priority” elementary school, Hoke commis sioners will use money in the school capital reserve fund. However, they postponed a decision on building a new middle school. The proposed elementary school would located on Philippi Church Road acreage that was donated by Hoke farmer James Hendrix last month. It would accommodate 600 students with a core design to accommodate up to 700 students. Fayetteville architect Robbie Ferris would design the school project, which would take nine months for the design phase. “We Just do not have the money to do both right now, but the need is there,” commission chairman (See NEW SCHOOLS, page 4A) This Week t Native Americans visit NCSSM page IB Community forum is March 23 page 3 A School dropout rates go down page IB The men who would be sheriff speak page6,7A Index Calendar 4B Classifieds 7,8B Deaths ....5,8A Editorials 2A Engagements 3B Legals ....4-6B Religion 2B Schools IB Socials 3B Sports 4A We're on the web at uww.thenews-joumal.com Read by 3,000 each week * r ' «« -a f i JTi- Top (left to right): RazAutry,retired Hoke school superintendent, commissioners Bill Cameron and CharlesV. Daniels,L.E.’s daughter,GloriaMcLaughlin,commission vice chairwoman Jean Powell, commis sioner James A. Leach and commissioner chairman Bobby Wright. Right: Autry presents Gloria McLaughlin with a plaque. Above: LE. McLaughlin in 2001. Old armory named for L.E. Former commission chairman remembered as By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Five years after the death of one of Hoke County’s greatest statesmen, former Hoke Commission Chairman Lawrence Elwell McLaughlin Jr. was honored by Hoke’s board of commissioners, peers and family in the renaming of the North Carolina National Guard Armory last Thursday. “I have a problem identifying race,” the 78-year-old McLaughlin said prior to his death on February 16, 2001. “I think of people as people. “Do not ever forget: We were elected to serve all people. “We should always remember that.” McLaughlin’s wife of 57 years, Esther McLaughlin, passed away shortly after his death. McLaughlin servant to people Hoke commission chairman Bobby Wright welcomed guests to the “very spe cial” occasion to honor McLaughlin. “He was a fine fellow, and he did a whole lot for Hoke County,” Wright said. “I cannot think of a fellow who was more deserving to have a building named after him. “My only regret is that he passed away be fore hecould train me incounty government.” (See MCLAUGHUN, page 5A) Hollingsworth resigns from school board after indictment By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke Board of Education vice chairman William Hollingsworth II submitted his resignation to the school board on Friday. The board unani mously accepted it during a closed session held Friday night. Hollingsworth resigned after a fed eral grand jury in Greensboro handed down criminal indictments against him on February 1. A Raeford accoun tant, Hollingsworth was indicted on allegations he deliberately filed false Internal Revenue Service income tax returns for nine clients. The school board’s consensus. according to chairman Russell C. Smith, was to tentatively offer the ap pointment to replace Hollingsworth to retired Hoke educator, Irish Pickett. “We did agree to accept the resig nation of Mr. Hollingsworth,” Smith said on Monday. “It is very unfortu nate because we appreciate his years of service. “He was a good board member, and we are sorry this problem transpired. Oursentiments were that we wish him well in the future.” Smith said it appears that the board is in support of appointing Pickett, a former school board candidate in the 2002 race, to follow Hollingsworth. (See HOLUNGSWORTH, page 3A) NewsT Journal News Other stuff Mil/ By Ken MacDonald Publisher When your children get older there are fewer ways to keep them in line. Now that ours are both over 20, we’re down to a single method; the threat of embarrassment. John Candy taught me this trick in Uncle Buck when his teenage niece refused to accept a ride home from school with him: “Stand me up today,” he told her, “and tomorrow. I’ll drive you to school in my pajamas and walk you to your first class.” Neither of my children need such a capital punishment at the moment, but as a parent, it seems like a good idea to remind them periodically that 1 am capable, and yea, even willing to step up to the plate should the need arise. So this weekend when we were in Cullowhee visiting my daughter, I saw an opportunity - and took it. My wife, my poor daughter, and 1 were strolling the campus of Western Carolina, particularly the older area, which is perched on the steep edge of a mountain. It’s quite pretty. Anyway, we suddenly heard through the trees, a stu dent scream with del ight, and turned to see a male, approximately three years Wearing o’ the green from frontal lobe development, riding a Rockfish Hoke fourth grader Jared (See OTHER STUFF, page 3A) Locklear’s wear reflects a wee bit o’ the Irish.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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March 22, 2006, edition 1
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