Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / June 18, 2014, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews I ournal Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905 No.l5VoL109 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, June 18,2014 Budget holds Hoke tax rate Employees would get raise, schools’ request mixed By Catharin Shepard Staff writer The proposed 2014-15 Hoke County budget keeps the property tax rate unchanged at 73 cents, and adds a raise for employees, al though the county lost tax income from several sources in the last year. The Hoke County Board of Commissioners held a public hear ing on the budget ordinance at the regularly scheduled meeting Monday. No one spoke about the budget during the public hearing. The total proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year totals $51,180,046, an increase of about $3.1 million over last year’s $47.6 million budget. As the FirstHealth and Cape Fear Valley healthcare facilities open to serve citizens, the county can no longer collect property tax revenue from the two companies. Nonprofit hospitals are exempt from paying property taxes, depending on certain specific guidelines. The county previously collected taxes on the properties until the medical facilities opened and, in the case of the in-progress Cape Fear Valley hospital, offi cially started construction. Additionally, the county com missioners voted to lower the tax valuation on the Dundarrach ethanol plant for the tax year after hearing a request from the hold ings group that owned the plant. In December of 2013, the board voted unanimously to lower the plant’s personal property tax {See TAXES, page 4A) Hoke High graduating seniors enter Raz Autry Stadium Friday for the com mencement ceremony. At left, an interpreter aids the hearing impaired. Class of nearly 400 seniors graduates from Hoke High By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Cheers and applause greeted the Hoke High School Class of 2014 Friday as the seniors received their diplomas and turned their tassels. The class of nearly 400 students said farewell to high school at the graduation service held at 6 p.m. in Raz Autry Stadium on the Hoke High campus. The large graduating class not only packed the field, but their friends and family members packed the stands on either side of the football field until the event was nearly standing-room only. The class is one of the largest in the school’s history. Principal Roger Edwards com mended the students for making it (See GRADUATION, page 3A) Man shot at party for grads By Catharin Shepard Staff writer A man was shot and seriously injured Saturday night at a graduation party in Raeford in what may have been a gang-related incident, according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Of fice. Authorities are searching for suspects in the shooting of Jawan Shakor Sturdi vant, 20, who suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the stomach, of ficials said. Deputies with the sheriff’s office were called around 10:45 p.m. Saturday night to the 2100 block of O’Brien Drive in Raeford to investigate a report that a shooting that had just oc curred. Officers reportedly arrived to find a crowd of about 30 people crowding around Sturdivant, who had been shot once in the abdo men. Emergency medical services “began life sav ing efforts,” according to a release, and transported Sturdivant to Cape Eear Valley Hospital in Eayette- ville for treatment of what officials described as a life- threatening injury. (See SHOT, page 6A) This Week Calendar 2B Classifieds 6B Deaths 3 A Editorials 2A Legals 3-5B Follow us on Facebook Look for this symbol to find stores that sell The News-Journal www.thenews-journal.com www.raefordnj.com Some question, some support gun ordinance By Catharin Shepard Staff writer One person spoke against a proposed county gunfire ordinance while several others questioned commis sioners about details of the plan during an open public hearing Monday night. John Harry, a candidate running for a seat on the board of commissioners, displayed a map of his prop erty on McPhaul Road and explained his concern about the part of the ordinance banning gunfire within 1,000 feet of a dwelling. “The 1,000 foot rule smacks on the use of a lot of people’s property. I under stand about safety, I under stand about the issue ... I don’t think the ordinance smacks on the Second Amendment. That will be tested in court if the people of Hoke County decide to go that way. What Tm look ing at is common law,” he said. “Common law states my ability to use my per sonal property. Right now, (See GUNS, page 4A) Four arrested after fights at high school By Ken MacDonald By Catharin Shepard Staff writer If you’d like to smell honeysuckle on your way to work and feel the summer air wash over you, and if you’d like to get 86 miles per gallon, I invite you to try a scooter. Don’t do it for the respect or admiration, however, because you won’t get any. On my way to Sunday School, dressed in my Sunday best (which maxes out at a tie), I passed my wife who was out for a morning walk. Later, she said I looked “eccen tric.” “I didn’t look European?” I asked. “I mean, scooters and motorcycles are very popular over there.” “No, you looked like a praying mantis.” Wow. That hurts. I responded that there’s no vehicle, two or four wheels, that fits a 6’5” bald (but extremely good-looking) guy. “I look sooo sophisticated,” I said (See OTHER STUEE, page 3A) Four Hoke High School students were charged last week in two fights that broke out on the high school campus on the last day of classes. Sheriff’s deputies and police officers responding to the scene last Wednesday charged three students as adults and cited one juve nile, according to reports. Police charged Jacob Allen Hunt, 17, with disorderly conduct at school and sim ple affray; Steven Merrell McBryde, 17, with disorder ly conduct, fighting (affray) and resisting an officer; and Daylon James Brewington, 18, with fighting (affray), resisting an officer and disorderly conduct (See EIGHTS, page 4A) Hoke’s Relay For Life begins Friday Hoke County Relay For Life volunteers will light up the night Eriday at Raz Au try Stadium to raise money for the American Cancer Society. This year’s Relay is set for June 20-21 at the sta dium on the Hoke County High School campus. The all-night event features activities, live music, food vendors and more as volun teers walk laps around the track as part of the fund raising efforts. Churches, schools, companies, and friends and family of people battling cancer are just a few of the (See RELAY, page 4A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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June 18, 2014, edition 1
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