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The ews Journal Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905 75^ No. 7 Vol.114 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, April 17,2019 Nonprofit health center faces shutdown By Catharin Shepard Staff writer A nonprofit healthcare center that opened in Raeford two years ago has apparently shut its doors, at least for now, reportedly due to a situation related to its grant funding. South Central Community Health Center, located at 102 West Southern Avenue in Raeford, has provided medical care for hun dreds of low-income children and adults on a sliding fee scale. The clinic offers healthcare for people regardless of their ability to pay, with fees as low as $20 for those who met income requirements. A now-former employee of the health center told the News-Jour nal Monday that staff members did not receive their paychecks this week and locked the build ing’s doors. The staff members have been concerned about issues with the center’s funding, the former employee said. CEO Delvin McAllister said Monday that the center is waiting on the results of a grant renewal that would provide funding to keep the doors open. “At this point we are scheduled to discontinue seeing patients on the 22nd of this month. How ever we are waiting for renewal ... every health center has to go through a competitive process,” he said. If the grant is renewed the center could continue to operate, McAllister said. “We hope to find out something in the next couple of weeks,” he said. South Central Community Health Center started as an out reach of Community Health Inter ventions and Sickle Cell Agency, (See HEALTH CENTER, page 6) Shots into car send two to hospital Gunfire erupted Mon day morning at West Prospect Avenue and Col lege Drive in Raeford, and police arrested the alleged gunman after two people went to the hospital. Raeford Police arrested 22year-old Steven Mer- rell McBryde, of the 3400 block of Old Maxton Road for allegedly opening fire on a vehicle with two people inside it. Investigators learned that Jeffrey Cornelius Lloyd and Gary Wayne Hobson were taken to a local hospital for treatment, with Hobson McBryde receiving treatment for gunshot wounds. McBryde faces charges including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of as sault with a deadly (See SHOOTING, page 3) Splash Pad Week declared for kids By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Hoke County’s chil dren get to celebrate the approaching end of the school year with some fun in the water at the Hoke County splash pad later this year. The Hoke County Board of Commission ers approved Monday a resolution declaring June 3-7 splash pad week for the thousands of students in the county’s elementary schools. “Play is a crucial fac tor in the well-being of children. Children who play outdoors are healthier and suffer less obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, and Hoke County leaders believe strongly in provid ing safe and enjoyable activities for the children of Hoke County,” the resolution stated. The splash pad, which opened for the first time in 2017, is the first public wa ter park feature in Hoke County. It is free of charge and open to (See SPLASH PAD, page 6) Sprinters give it everything in a dash on the track at Raz Autry Stadium during Special Olympics. (Ken MacDonald photo) Athletes give it their all at Special Olympics By Catharin Shepard Staff writer “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” doz ens of children repeated after Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin. With the flame burning bright to one side of the field at Raz Autry Sta dium and the shining medals ready at the winners’ podium, more than 100 children from Hoke County Schools and the Children’s Developmental Center joined in saying the Special Olympics Athlete’s Oath to kick off the opening of the 2019 games. Hoke County Schools hosted the 2019 Special Olympics Thursday at Hoke High School, bringing together children with special needs to have a day of fun competing in wheelchair races, the long jump, the softball throw and other games. Other sta tions offered activities like face paint ing, a relay race with hula-hoops and traffic cone obstacles and fun with a brightly colored parachute. Volun teers including community members and high school students joined in to (See OLYMPICS, page 10) Hoke ambulance service proposes new payment model By Catharin Shepard Staff writer A new payment model pro posed by Cape Pear Valley’s ambulance service could mean no out-of-pocket expenses for Hoke residents needing a ride to the hospital, but a higher charge for non-residents. Cape Pear Valley’s Hoke am bulance service director Robert Godwin presented the proposal to Hoke County’s Board of Commis sioners Monday night. Currently the county pays the ambulance service a yearly stipend and mileage. That won’t change, and they’re not asking the county tax payers for more money, Godwin said. Hoke residents would have their insurance billed first, and any charges that the insurance compa ny did not cover would be written off. Residents with no insurance wouldn’t have to pay anything for an ambulance ride, Godwin said. “That sounds too good to be true,” Commission Chairman James Leach said. “We were hoping you’d say that,” Godwin said. Cape Pear Valley proposed to raise its ambulance rates for non residents only from $350 for basic transport and $450 for advanced life support transport, to $800 and $850 respectively with a slightly higher mileage cost of $12 per mile. The increase would only be for people who have addresses outside the county, Godwin said. About (See AMBULANCES, page 3) Northwoods still waiting on DOT By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Heavy rains flood Northwoods. (File photo) Residents of Northwoods Estates are still waiting on North Carolina Department of Transportation crews to clean out the storm drains to hopefully help stop the recurring flooding every time the area has a hard rain fall. (See NORTHWOODS, page 6) OfHSmJff By Ken MacDonald Over the years, more than a few hurt children have crossed our path as church youth volunteers. Victims of loss, sometimes neglect, hit hard by life before they should have been, these were wounded, fragile birds. Whatever their circum stances we knew they at least needed Grandma, the name we all called Glenda Lester. She threw her arms around them (and everyone else) the (See OTHER STUEE, page 11) Youth trip: Glenda covered in shaving cream. \ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 910-640-2300 • iviviv.smartstart.org/dpil • 1069 East Central Avenue • Raeford, NC Locally sponsored by the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families smart start Each Child. Every Commur)ity.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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April 17, 2019, edition 1
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