Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Feb. 7, 2018, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews I ournal Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905 No.49Vol.U2 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, Febmary 7,2018 1 year later, SBI still investigating Raid on county offices was Feb. 20, still no time frame for results offered By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Almost a year after State Bureau of Investigation agents executed search warrants at Hoke County government offices seek ing information regarding alleged timecard fraud, the investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed - and things have changed in how the county handles employee timekeeping. The case is still open, Depart ment of Public Safety spokesper son Patty McQuillan said, but due to the ongoing investigation the SBI has not released much infor mation about where things stand. “The agents are doing inter views and they’re keeping the district attorney updated on their progress, so nothing really to re port at this time,” McQuillan said Friday. SBI agents executed search warrants at the Hoke County government offices in the Pratt Building February 20, 2017 in connection with alleged timecard fraud after Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin and District At torney Kristy Newton called for the state agency’s assistance in the case. Agents seized timecards and a computer, and later served a search warrant at the county’s IT department to pull informa tion from the county’s computer servers. In response to the SBI probe the county launched its own internal investigation, hiring accounting firm Cherry Bekaert, attorney (See SBI, page 11) Finance Officer Scott Edwards tells City Council that an audit gives Raeford high marks. (Ken MacDonald photo) Council told financial shape is ‘excellent’ By Ken MacDonald The City of Raeford is in excel lent financial shape. Finance Officer Scott Edwards told city council Monday night. Hitting the highlights of an outside audit, Edwards said it found no material deficiencies in city finances. There were a few minor issues, Edwards reported, such as several staff members performing multiple duties that ideally would be divided. He attributed the problem to a small staff “We simply don’t need a large staff and therefore we can’t segregate things as much as we probably hope they would be, however we have taken some precautions and mitigated this by the fact that (City Clerk) Betty reviews the many reports I do on a monthly basis; the manager gets a monthly report on finances as well.” There was also a case in which an expenditure exceeded the budgeted amount, but Edwards said it occurred near the end of the fiscal year and there wasn’t time to get council ap proval. Edwards reported the city has as sets of $9.1 million, and $14.6 million in areas of water and sewer. There is $8.2 million in the General Eund. He said the city is maintaining a fund balance of 163 percent, (See AUDIT, page 12) Subdivisions move forward Board approves requests of developers in easf west By Catharin Shepard Staff writer The Hoke County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to approve developer requests for a planned 74-lot subdivision expansion in the River- brooke community off of Highway 401 Business and a 19-lot subdivision planned for the Eive Points area. The 74-lot subdivision expansion, noted as Section 6 of the Riverbrooke Subdivision, is a continuation of Roanoke Drive off of Highway 401 Business. Developer Moorman, Kizer and Reitzel submitted the request. The 19-lot subdivision is planned for a parcel of land approximately half a mile south of the intersection of Montrose Road and Highway 211. Ron Huff submitted (See SUBDIVISIONS, page 12) Hoke Schools hire new Raleigh law firm The Hoke County Board of Education voted unani mously last week at a special called meeting to hire a law firm from Raleigh to provide legal advice to the school board. The hire came a few weeks after longtime attorney Nicl Sojka announced plans to resign to take a similar position with Cumberland County Schools. Sojka served as the Board of Education attorney for 18 years. The Board of Education hired law firm Tharrington Smith LLP effective February 1. The board selected the firm based on its “extensive ex pertise” in education law, and also thanks to their familiar ity with Hoke County as the firm was a “key partner” in the construction of Sandy Grove Middle School, according to school officials. “Representatives from the law firm provided guidance and leadership in the construction contracts, public bidding issues, and in navigating the requirements of the NC Local Government Commission,” a press statement from the school system said. (See SCHOOLS ATTORNEY, page 12) Look for this symbol to find stores that sell The News-Journal Quilters find that young and old, sometimes people just need a hug By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Sometimes it’s the sewing needle that’s mightier than the sword. In just a year’s time the members of the Hoke County Cooperative Ex tension’s Quilt Club sewed up more than 200 items, all stitched up with love and good wishes, to donate for people young and old who could use a “hug.” “Hugs for Hoke” is a small group, the members numbering fewer than a dozen, but between them last year they produced dozens of lap quilts, baby blankets, bibs for infants and the elderly and even sheets for children’s cots at the (See QUILTERS, page 11) Follow us on Focebook www.thenews-journal.com www.raeforclnj.com OTHS^rnff Subscriptions just $33 per year inside Hoke County! By Ken MacDonald 00 If feeding your ego is your goal, don’t buy a scooter. Not that it was, when in 20121 did just that. Mine was to find a less sweaty way to get to work than riding a bicycle, yet breathe in the Hoke County spring air and zip around, unencumbered by full-size parking spaces. Over the weekend, nearly six years later, I pushed it back from the bed of my pickup and left it in Raleigh with a guy who knows his scooters, but I gather is much braver than I at the prospects of riding in city traffic. Anyway, from my six years as “scooter trash,” a moniker from a helmet sticker that Shelly Wilburn gave me condescendingly, here are some scooter lessons, should you ever consider buying one: • They are great on gas—85 miles per gallon in my case. Buying one (See OTHER STUFE, page 12) Vicki Crawford, Beulah Johnson, SandiWall and Mary Whiteside show off some of the group’s different fabric projects created to donate to local children, families and nursing home residents. (Catharin Shepard photo)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Feb. 7, 2018, edition 1
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