Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Feb. 19, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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|M> RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA Covering Hoke County I Journal Hoke wrestlers win championship On page 10 Guardian ad Litem program recruiting On page 12 Volume LXXVIII Number 44 Thursday, February 19,1987 2^ CENTS Winter storm Snow and sleet cover Stewart Street in Raeford Tuesday morning, making it difficult for residents to travel. The winter storm that began bringing sleet, ice and snow to Hoke County on Monday morning was responsible Fund transfers provide students with textbooks By Sally Jamir IVews-Journat Staff Writer Members of the Hoke County Board of Education last Tuesday voted unanimously to transfer monies from textbook funds at six county schools to pay for books at the high school for which funds were lacking earlier this school year. Over $21,000 in books are need ed, according to Assistant Prin cipal Linda Steed. It was agreed during Tuesday’s meeting to transfer a total of $25,000 for the high school text books. According to Superintendent Dr. Bob Nelson, two levels of algebra textbooks needed at the school were ordered and are “in the hands of the students.” The lack of books was brought to the attention of the board in January by a student’s parent who was concerned about the situation. The matter was subsequently look ed into by central office staff. It was thought in January that funds were not available for the books. Upon closer study, it was discovered that $51,000 had been allotted to all seven schools in the county but that the portion allot ted to the high school for the pur chase of books had run out. The amount of money given to Around Town the schools is based on the number of students attending the school. Board members decided at their January meeting to purchase the algebra books out of the school budget contingency fund. These funds will be replaced by the text book funds transfered from the schools. The decision to use funds from the other schools to pay for the books came after principals from the six schools met with Nelson to discuss the matter. “They want to solve the pro blem as soon as possible,” Nelson said, stating that the principals were unanimous in their decision on the short-term solution. Finance Officer Don Steed said that the amount which each school will transfer depends on the number of students in the school. Based on these numbers the following schools will give the respective amounts: Upchurch, $5,750; Turlington, $5,500; South Hoke, $3,500; West Hoke, $3,250; Scurlock, $4,500; McLauchlin, $2,500. All the monies together will total the $25,000 needed by the high school. The school board discussed alternate ways of solving the long term problem of textbook fund shortages at the high school. Currently, principals of the schools have been in charge of ac counting for funds given to their respective schools for book pur chases. Nelson said an alternative to this procedure would be to centralize the accountability of the funds by having the centrd office “serve as bookkeeper” “The central office would con trol the funds and schools would place requests with us,” Nelson said. Legislators honored at breakfast By Sam Morris The kind of weather that 1 don’t like came to the county Monday. The sleet that covered the roads by noon closed the schools and many of the businesses in Raeford. The temperature was still below freez ing by the middle of the afternoon and it looked as if things would be closed again on Tuesday. 1 hadn’t heard of any bad wrecks, but it seems a tractor- trailer had left the road on the by pass. Traffic was almost at a stand still, except for the folks heading for home. The forecast is for this type of weather to continue through k Wednesday. If a snow falls on the (See AROUND, page 6) The Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce honored Hoke County’s representatives in the General Assembly at an annual “Legislators Appreciation Breakfast” held Saturday at the Edenborough Restaurant. On hand for the occasion were state Senator David Parnell, and state Representatives Danny DeVane and Pete Hasty. State Representative Sidney Locks was unable to attend the function. Chamber President Terry Houston thanked the law makers for last year’s pork barrel money that was used to fund local pro jects. Houston went over a list of the projects funded by pork barrel monies that included $25,000 to the Children’s Center, $9,000 to the Courthouse renovation, $7,000 for the Turkey Festival, $7,000 for the Literacy Council, $6,500 for community support items and $5,000 for parks and recreation improvements. “We appreciate your efforts,” Houston said. Houston asked the legislators to remember Hoke County’s needs during this session of the General Assembly. Houston asked for help with the widening of Highway 401, countywidc zoning, water and sewer assistance, and downtown and housing revitalization. He also asked for continued support in the areas of literacy, education and the turkey festival. State Senator David Parnell told those gathered that in the 12 years he has served in the General Assembly, he does not remember a time when “all of your delegates have been appointed to important committees.” Cold snap Winter storm hits for the closing of schools, government offices and some businesses. Long time residents said it was the worst storm to hit Raeford in over 20 years. More photos of the storm are on page 13. Agreement reached South Hoke Principal Hank Richards, left, and West Hoke Principal Milton Williams, attend a school board meeting. The two principals agreed to a temporary plan to use a portion of their schools' textbook funds to provide needed books for Hoke High students. He said that in the meeting with school administrators, principals voiced their desire to “get the high school out of a jam now but in the future maintain the same pro cedure.” Two county school principals. Hank Richards, South Hoke, and Milton Williams, West Hoke, were present at the meeting and agreed that this was the purchasing pro cedure they preferred. (See HIGH, page 6) “I think that (the appointment of the delegates to committees) speaks very well for our House delegates,” Parnell said. Praising Hoke County for the passage of its $3.35 million school bond, Parnell said, “I con gratulate you that you are going to improve your schools with your tax money.” State Representative Pete Hasty said that Hoke County was gaining a reputation as a county “where things are happening.” He at tributed that reputation to the strong leadership in the county. “It’s good to say we represent Hoke County,” Hasty said. State Representative Danny DeVane echoed Hasty’s remarks by saying that the community spirit that exists in Hoke County is (See BREAKFAST, page 12) By Sally Jamir News-Journal Staff Writer Frigid temperatures and an ice storm whipped though the area early this week, causing at least one death, numerous accidents and the closing of schools, businesses and government offices. Early Monday, cold began to roll in, bringing dangerous precipitation and, according to one long-time resident, “the worst winter weather in 20 years.” The Raleigh-Durham Weather Service reported at 10:30 a.m. Monday that “driving conditions were extremely dangerous” and the winds were gusting to 18 miles per hour. Precipitation increased rapidly, turning into freezing rain and sleet, then changing into snow later that night. Power outages were reported in Lumberton and Fayetteville and elsewhere, while ice encased power lines and trees and shrubs. Wind chill factors were near zero across the state, and the weather service told farmers on Monday not to expect to work out side. Hoke County schools began sending students home late Mon day morning, and schools remain ed closed on Tuesday. County offices closed Monday and opened late on Tuesday morn ing. Businesses in the downtown area and some outlying area closed for the inclement weather. Trooper Weston of the State Highway Patrol said that “many, many vehicles had minor ac cidents” on the roads during the day. There was one traffic fatality which occurred in the afternoon on highway 401. Commenting on the numerous accidents Weston said “We don’t even know how many yet, or who all the people are.” According to Weston, it was discovered that the majority of ac cidents occurred with drivers and passengers who did not need to be traveling at the time. He said they were also making an extreme effort to keep am bulances going on the road. Bill Niven, director of Emergen cy Medical Services, said at one time during the day five vehicles were being used at one time with four of the vehicles transporting people to hospitals. Temperatures in Hoke County dropped to 27 degrees Monday night, according to Volunteer Weatherman Virgil Murphy. Murphy said the high temperature on Monday was 37 degrees and that up until 5 p.m. the county had .97 inches of moisture. On Tuesday the high and low temperatures were 31 and 29 degrees respectively. Murphy reported moisture on Tuesday was approximatley a tenth of an inch, making one and one tenths inches of moisture overall. Second hearing scheduled for subdivision ordinance The commissioners’ meeting room was full to capacity Tuesday night when Hoke County residents came to a public hearing for the proposed subdivision regulations which lasted nearly one and a half hours. Prior to the hearing. County Manager William (Bub) Cowan read recent changes made to the ordinance by the Planning Board. Several board members and Jim Doughtery of the Natural Re sources and Community Develop ment Department were present at the hearing. Residents spoke both for and against the ordinance which had been studied by board members for over a year. The ordinance hearing followed a brief hearing scheduled to hear comments on whether or not the planning board size should be reduced. This hearing was closed after a few minutes and later the board size was reduced from 12 to 10. During the hearing for the or dinance, both landowners and developers spoke including in their comments concerns such as the size of land for which requirements are to be fulfilled and the cost to developers for paving streets. The hearing is required before a decision on the ordinance can be made. Because of various com ments and questions raised by residents, possible major changes may be made in the ordinance. For this reason a second public hearing on the ordinance was scheduled in March. Possible changes may be made to the ordinance regarding re quirements in the final plat (parcel of land) approval and responsibili ty of the developer for land sur rounding land which he sells. Land surveyors John Furman and Leland Strother of Raeford, raised question relating to these and other areas of concern. “There are a lot of questions somebody needs to answer before it is passed,” Furman said. Both men said they were for an ordinance of some type but raised questions concerning the type of information to be recorded on maps and requirements for paved streets. “The whole essence of the or dinance is that we have paved streets,” Furman said. “But there should be some provision for wilderness-type roads.” Furman referred to roads in which trees line the sides of the road in the right-of-way area. This would not be possible with the cur- (See SUBDIVISION, page 12) Appreciation A joke is shared by (from left) state Senator David Parnell, state Representative Danny DeVane, Mayor John K. McNeill and Terry Houston, president of the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce. The four men attended a Legislators Appreciation Banquet on StUurday.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Feb. 19, 1987, edition 1
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