0
, 25 ^Tfte ^eu?d
The Hoke County News - Established 1 928
Volume LXXV Number 12 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
? --J . ... .
1
25
S10 PER YEAR Thursday, July 14, 1983
ROTC Program Dead
A second shot
Hoke County School Superinten
dent Robert Nelson, (standing)
and members of the Hoke School
Board appeared Monday night
before the County Commission in
an effort to get a $20, 000 increase
in the school budget approved to
fund ROTC. The bid was unsuc
cessful.
By Sherry Matthews
The hope of having junior
Reserve Officers Training (ROTC)
at Hoke High School for the com
ing year was dashed Monday
night, as a proposal to fund the
program was rejected by members
of the Hoke County Commission.
Members of Hoke County
Board of Education had sought to
obtain a $20,000 increase in
allocated funds to cover the ex
pense of starting the ROTC pro
gram, however that bid was re
jected Monday in a joint meeting
with the commission.
During the meeting, the commis
sioners apparently wanted to
"horse-trade" the ROTC program
for two items listed under the
revenue sharing portion of the
school budget, which was approv
ed prior to July 1. The items total
ed $21,000.
The two items were SI 3,000 for
the paving of West Hoke School
and S8.000 to replace a school
nurse's 12-year old car.
"If you can do without those
things, then I'm ready to make a
compromise," Commissioner
James Albert Hunt said.
"We don't want to damage or
jeopardize any existing programs
to fund a new project," school
Superintendent Robert Nelson
said.
"The board of education could
cut out more if absolutely
necessary, but we would like to
continue operating the existing
programs at the same level or
slightly better than we have in the
past," Nelson said.
"I believe we have reached the
bottom level. Reducing any further
is not wise," Nelson added.
During Monday night's joint
session, school board members re
quested a special meeting among
themselves.
"1 hate to make a trade. I'm not
for swapping revenue sharing
monies to institute a new
program," Nelson said after ad
journing with board members to
another conference room.
"If we start trading now, we will
probably have to come back again
every year," Cameron said.
According to Nelson, trading
away money for a new program
would be a "dangerous" process.
"That is money we may never
recover," Nelson said.
"We have to hold our own and
not make a compromise. We must
be a strong board and not a rubber
stamp board," Cameron said.
"We shouldn't have to wheel
and deal for our request if they
(the commissioners) don't want to
deal with it," Cameron added.
According to Cameron and
Nelson, taking away maintenance
repairs would not be a wise move.
"Those repairs are needed,"
Cameron said.
"1 think we should take care of
what we already have first,"
School Board Vice-Chairman
Mina Townsend said.
Board members agreed that it
was a "shame" that the program
could not be funded, but felt they
had done their share.
"We have done our part to save
the program. It is on the County
Commissioners* backs now,"
Cameron said.
"I don't think we should com
promise. We should stick by our
original request for a 2.3% in
crease and leave it at that,"
Cameron added.
After rejoining the commis
sioners, Nelson informed the coun
ty board that no more cuts could
be made.
"We do not feel we can cut
anymore, so we will stand by our
original request," Nelson said.
Commissioner Hunt immediate
ly requested that the board deny
the increase.
"I ain't trying to tell them where
to cut, but if paving is more impor
tant than the program we should
deny the increase," Hunt said.
(See ROTC, page 2A)
Around Town
by Sam Morris '
THE TRIP WEST:
Last week we left you in El
Paso, Texas after touring Mexico.
On Thursday morning we left
Texas and passed through New
Mexico. Our stop for the night was
in Arizona about 50 miles south of
Phoenix.
This part of the country is just
C like western Texas; nothing but
sagebrush and mesas. The
temperature for the day was 107
degrees, and I thought this would
be the top for the trip.
The next day we were on to Los
Angeles and trying to find our way
to Anaheim, bul we ended up in
Beuna Park on Friday afternoon,
July 1st. With the Fourth of July
being on Monday, we decided to
t remain in this place for three days
before leaving for Las Vegas,
Nevada.
The temperature was cooler in
California and of course many
tours were offered. The ladies went
on a tour of Universal Studios on
Saturday and from all reports, it
was well worth the price of the
tour. Yours truly stayed home and
rested and was going to look at the
: golf malch, but it was rained out.
Sunday, July 3, a trip was made
to Long Beach, and we toured the
"Spruce Goose" and the ocean
liner, "Queen Mary." The Spruce
Goose is the large flying plane that
Howard Hughes manufactured for
use in World War II, but it was
never used. Hughes did fly the
plane, and then put it in storage in
an air conditioned building at the
cost of one million dollars a year.
* It stayed there for approximately
30 or more years, at his expense,
and after his death it was put on
display at Long Beach, it was
made of wood, and it is hard to im
agine the size and the cargo space
on the plane.
The tour of the Queen Mary was
very interesting, and it was good to
see how the wealthy traveled on the
ocean a few years ago. The ship is
now on display and also is
operated as a hotel with rooms
available for the night. Also a
lounge is available for weddings
and many were performed the day
of our visit. Maybe it will make the
honeymoon sweeter to be married
on the Queen Mary.
On Monday, July 4th, our next
stop was Las Vegas. It was good
we waited, because the traffic com
ing from Las Vegas to California
was almost bumper to bumper.
There were plenty of accommoda
tions when we arrived on Monday
afternoon. We stayed two days in
Las Vegas before taking off for the
Grand Canyon.
Of course besides the many
devices available to take your
money, it is also the entertainment
center of the world. All the large
hotels have big name stars to enter
tain you. We attended three shows.
One was at the Riviera, another at
the Hacienda and then at the
Tropicana. The shows were well
produced and played to full
houses. Of course the price is not
for retired newspaper men.
1 did play the "Slots", and hate
to report that my losses came to
$2.00. The temperature in Las
i (See AROUND, page I0A)
Beer bust
Hundreds of cans of beer were rolling all over the Hardees parking lot Tuesday morning after they were spew
ed from the back of the truck they were being hauled . According to the driver of the spilled brew, the truck
doors were left open, and when he rounded the curve at Hardees, the beer " just came tumbling out. " Most of
the beer was recovered, but some left their scent on the parking lot and on those who offered to help dean it
Man Jailed For Officer's Assault
By Sherry Matthews
A Hoke County man, who was
charged with two counts of assault
which left a local law enforcement
officer disabled, was found guilty
in District Court last week.
Jefferey Owen Purcell, 28, of
Rt. 1, Raeford, who plead "not
guilty" to the charges, was ordered
by District Court Judge Joseph
Dupree to be confined to the
Department of Correction for no
less than 18 months and no more
than three years.
Along with the assault charges,
Purcell was also convicted of
speeding (71-55) and driving under
the influence (DU1).
Following the hearing, the
defendant gave notice of appeal.
The speeding charge apparently
preceeded the list of other of
fenses, according to testimony by
Highway Patrolman B.A.
Bowden, who was the arresting of
ficer in the case.
Purcell was driving at a speed
"greater than 55" when the
trooper spotted him, Bowden said.
A chase proceeded, first in the
car and later on foot, Bowden
said.
"I chased Purcell through the
woods with my pistol drawn,"
Bowden testified, adding that he
thought the defendant had "his
hands in his pockets" during the
chase and could have had a
weapon.
According 10 testimony, the two
men scuffled and Bowden finally
subdued the suspect, holding
Purcell at gunpoint on the ground.
"1 told him I didn't want to have
to shoot him over a speeding viola
tion," Bowden said.
Further testimony shows that
the defendant again assaulted
Bowden and Highway Patrol
Sergeant D.L. Minshew at the
Hoke County Sheriff's Depart
ment.
"1 came to the sheriff's depart
ment to administer a breathalizer
at the request of Trooper
Bowden," Minshew said.
According to Minshew, Purcell
(See ASSAULT, page 2A)
Raeford Store Robbed At Gun Point
A Raeford convenience store was
held up at gunpoint early Tuesday
morning, Police Chief Leonard
Wiggins said.
The Pantry, located on East
Central Avenue, was robbed
around 1:55 a.m. Tuesday morn
ing by two black men brandishing
a pistol and wearing toboggans
over their faces, Wiggins said.
According to the chief, the two
men entered the store and forced
the clerk to lie on the floor at gun
point.
The men, who were apparently
carrying a small caliber pistol,
tried to open the cash register, but
were scared off by a customer that
had pulled up outside the store,
Wiggins said.
All that was taken was the
clerk's pocketbook, Wiggins add
ed.
No suspects have been identified
in the robbery, but Wiggins said
(hat the case was under investiga
tion.
In an unrelated incident, a
Raeford man, charged with a July
3 armed robbery, was released
from the Hoke County Jail Friday
under a SI 0,000 secured bond.
According to the sheriff's
reports, Benji Stephens, 26, of 520
East Sixth Avenue was arrested
July 3 by deputies after he had rob
bed James Henegan and threaten
ed violence with a knife.
Statements suggest that
Stephens entered the victim's
bedroom and pulled a knife.
During the robbery, Stephens
apparently took a large amount of
cash and food stamps.
According to the report Raeford
Police officer J R. McNeill at
tempted to take Stephens into
custody and was assaulted by the
suspect .
In an unrelated incident, G.W.
Ray of Rt. 1, Raeford reported
that someone had broken into his
home, moved household articles
(See ARMFD, page IOA)
Commissioner On Probation
Psychiatric Help
Ordered F or Hunt
B> Sherr> Matthews
Ordering "psychiatric" treat
ment as a condition of probation.
District Court Judge Joseph
Dupree retrained from sentencing
Hoke County Commissioner
James Albert Hunt to jail on
worthless check charges.
"Something has happened to
you over the last less months."
Dupree told Hunt.
"You either need to spend some
time in jail or time with a
psychiatrist," Judge Dupree said.
Hunt, who plead guilty to issu
ing a SI, (XX) worthless check, ap
peared subdued during Friday's
sentencing.
"You need someone to help you
get your thinking straight,"
Dupree said.
Dupree, who told Hunt before
the sentencing that lie had
"thought seriously" about letting
another Judge hear the commis
sioner's case, issued a six-month
suspended sentence with two sears
of supervised probation for the
nine-year board member.
Under the conditions of the pro
bation, Hunt is to "secure" a
psychiatric appointment with the
Sandhills Mental Health Center or
a psvchiatrist of his own choosing.
"If they indicate that treatment
is necessary, I want you to
cooperate fully." Dupree said.
Hunt adsiscd Judge Dupree that
he already had a psychiatrist.
The commissioner was arrested
June 24 by Hoke Sheriff's deputies
for failing to appear in court on
the same worthless check charge.
Friday was Hunt's second
chance to appear on the matter.
Judge Dupree had already
ordered a second arresi warrant
allowing "no bond" for the com
missioner when Hunt appeared
late.
Troubles have continued to
mount for Hunt, resulting in three
arrests and two stmts in jail.
Hunt was arrested and jailed in
Scotland County for failing to ap
pear in Scotland District Court on
six counts of worthless check
charges.
Nearly a week later, Hunt was
issued a third arrest warrant for
failing to appear in Robeson
County District Court on further
worthless check charges.
Hunt secured his own bond
through his bonding service and
was not jailed in Robeson County.
In addition lo the three arrest
warrants. Hunt is facing at least
$2,500 in worthless check charges
that were issued in Harnett and
Robeson counties and some $500
in bad checks in Scotland and Lee
counties.
At present Hunt has received
nine suspended sentences for
worthless check charges; eight in
Scotland County and one in Hoke.
Hunt is also awaiting trials in
Robeson and Harnett counties on
further charges.
Slaying Case
Scheduled For
Superior Court
A Fort Bragg women charged
with second degree murder is
scheduled to appear in Hoke
County Superior Court next week.
Victoria S. Burnette. who has
been released under an $8 ,0(X) cash
bond and a $32. (XX) unsecured
bond from the Cumberland C oun
ty Jail, is charged with the
February stabbing death of her
step father, Roger Keith Shannon.
Shannon's body was found b\
hunters February 8 in a wooded
area between Rockfish and
Arabia,
Burnette was arrested and charg
ed in connection with the stabbing
some two weeks later b\ Hoke
Sheriff's deputies.
The defendant is slated to ap
pear before the court Monday.
A second Cumberland County
resident is also scheduled to appear
before a jury during next week's
session of Superior Court on first
degree rape charges.
Fort Bragg soldier Gary Joseph
(See MIJRDFR. page 2 A)
Inside Today
Hoke students are getting
geared up for the Summer
Showcase theatre being pro
duced hy (ieorge Cohen. We
take a look at Cohen, the
students and the long hours of
practice that goes into a full
showcase production in this
week 's R-Section of The
News-Journal.