Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / April 16, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA Covering Hoke County ews - Journal Happy Easter Smith makes furniture On IB Volume LXXVIII Number 52 Thursday, April 16,1987 2^ CENTS Nature's finery Twin dogwood tree blossoms on Magnolia Street greet the early morning sun. Dogwood trees throughout Raeford and Hoke County are now in full bloom, giving residents the opportunity to experience their rare beauty. Cummings trial begins Court proceedings began Mon day in the first of two trials of Ed ward Lee Cummings, charged with the murders of two Wake County women. Cummings is being tried first for the death of Karen Puryear, miss ing since November of 1985. Both Karen and her sister, Teresa Puryear, were found in shallow graves in Hoke County last January. A motion to have separate trials for each murder case was granted by Judge Robert Farmer because although the two deaths were similar there was not sufficient evidence to warrant trying them together. Jury selection ended last Thurs day after numerous challenges for cause had been filed by both defense and prosecution attorneys. The three-man, nine-woman jury heard opening statements by assis tant district attorneys Jean Powell and John Dickson and defense at torneys Jim Parrish and Mike Boose. Prior to the statements. Farmer denied a motion to exclude any mention of Teresa Puryear during the first trial. Powell, in her statements to the jury gave a brief history of find ings by state authorities in the case and in the relationship between Cummings and Karen Puryear. She said the two had met through Karen’s mother, Faye Puryear, and that the couple had three children, one of whom died in childbirth. According to testimony, Puryear and Cummings were separated at the time of her disap pearance. Defense attorney Jim Parrish, who referred to the defendant as Eddie Cummings, gave a brief ac counting of Cummings’ work history. Parrish described Cumm ings as an “industrious and hard working’’ person who supported Puryear and her children after their separtation. “He was a loving father who cared very much about his children,” Parrish said. However, Powell stated that in October of 1985 Puryear brought charges against Cummings for nonsupport. Neither Cummings or Puryear showed up for the trial date. Powell presented the state’s in terpretation of evidence, including a detailed account on how the bodies were buried. Powell also presented connections between materials used to wrap the bodies and materials found in Cummings’ Hoke County house, located about a mile from where the bodies were found. Several objections were filed by the defense, but were overruled, during Powell’s statements in which she asked the jury if a room (See TRIAL, page 12A) Health awareness given boost this week By Sally Jamir Mews-Journal Staff If'riier The Hoke County Health Department provides many ser vices to a wide range of area residents, and during this week’s Public Health Week, April 12-18, members of the staff will strive to let people know about these ser vices. “We’d like to encourage people to become more involved in ac tivities this year, said Ulva Little, health educator at the department. Little said activities planned for health week are aimed at raising health awareness and encouraging good health activities. On Monday and Thursday there Around Town are teen film nights and Tuesday there was a “Fun for Fitness Walk,” an activity Little says is good exercise and help to improve circulation. “We want to let people know we are here to help,” said Health Educator Mary Edwards. Edwards listed several programs the department has to offer to a wide range of people in the area. She said the department has ser vices and programs in health education and assistance, such as the Women, Infant and Children program. Maternal child health, adult and family planning services are offered as well as a general clinic, a well baby clinic and cancer screening. Services are offered in the areas of sexually transmitted diseases and X-ray work. Edwards encourages mothers to bring their children to the clinic for immunizations and reminds residents that flu shots are also available there. Along with these many services, the department includes an en vironmental health division. This section oversees sanitation as well as animal control and animal cruelty investigation. William Hales is the animal con trol investigator and works with hurt or bothersome animals. “I take calls about any com plaints or concerns on any animals and investigate them,” Hales said. Hales has been the animal con trol officer for the county for the last eight years and recently has taken on the responsibility for duties in the city since Raeford lost its control officer. “If people report a sick animal or suspect the animal may have rabies, we look into it,” Hales said. There has not been a case of rabies in Hoke County for the last 20 years. Hales reports, but it is always necessary to take precau tions to insure public safety. If someone sees a stray animal they think may be rabid. Hales ad vises that people stay away from the animal until he has arrived to secure the animal in a live trap. The animal is kept at the animal shelter off of Highway 401 for 10 days to make sure it does not have rabies. If the animal has bitten someone and those concerned are not sure the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. Hales advises specail precautions. “We recommend that anyone who had been bitten by an animal they are not sure has been vac cinated to go ahead and get the series of rabies vaccinations,” Hales said. (See HEALTH, page 2A) William Hales By Sam Morris The summertime weather has been nice for the past few days. The thermometer has reached 80° or above for the past couple of days and as I write this column on Tuesday morning, it should be in the high 70s for today. The forecast calls for showers on Wednesday, but the temperature will remain in the 70s. The warm weather is forecast for the re mainder of the week with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. The farmers should be able to get their land ready and planting done, if it doesn’t rain too much this week. The warm weather has brought forth the buds and flowers and most yards in the city are a thing of beauty. Most of the dogwood trees are in full bloom and most of the azaleas are either budding or in bloom. Of course the pollen from the trees have most cars and porches covered with yellow dust. I don’t believe it has ever been any heavier than it has this year. Maybe the rain will come and get rid of it for this year. This time of year is bad for most folks who have allergies. Let’s hope the watery eyes and sneezing days will soon be over. « * • Last Saturday, Bob Conoly and (See AROUND, page 2A) -K I Governor's Schools Joshua Pate, left, Robert David McDonald, center and Jonas Pate are heading to Governor's Schools this summer. Three going to Governor’s Schools Joshua and Jonas Pate and Robert David McDonald, juniors at Hoke County High School, have been selected to at tend the Governor’s Schools this summer. The Governor’s Schools of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors. Joshua and Jonas Pate are the sons of Warren Pate of Raeford and Dayna Elliott of Charleston, South Carolina. Joshua will attend Governor’s School West at Salem College in Winston-Salem, Jonas will at tend Governor’s School East at St. Andrews Presbyterian Col lege in Laurinburg. Joshua and Jonas are members of the Na tional Honor Society, Student Government Association, foot ball team and baseball team. David McDonald is the son of William and Grace McDonald of Raeford. David will attend Governor’s School East. He is a member of the National Honor Society, band, tennis team and wrestling team. Lot to be landscaped Downtown Raeford will soon be a little greener due to action taken last Thursday by members of the Downtown Revitalization Com mission. By a unanimous decision, com mission members gave the go- ahead for plans to landscape the lot in front of The McLauchlin Hardware and Lock Company on the corner of Main Street and Elwood Avenue. Plans call for planting grass and landscaping the portion of the lot facing Main Street and keeping the area nearest the hardware store as a parking area. Hoke High School horticulture students taught by Danny McGougan will submit design ideas for landscaping the lot as a community service. The owner of the lot, Jimmy McPhaul, has of fered to provide grass seed for the project and has also agreed to maintain the lot once it is land scaped. The Downtown Revitalization Commission will be responsible for top soil, fertilizer and lime. The committee is working with budget ceiling of $750. The project is unusual in that the land is privately owned. McPhaul gave the city permission to land- (See GREEN, page 2A) Property worth $2,375 is stolen Property worth $2,375 was taken from a Hoke County residence on Sunday, according to Sheriff’s Department records. Melvin Alan Charles, Route 5, (Noble Drive), Raeford, reported that someone had broken into his residence sometime during the weekend between April 10 and 6:15 p.m., April 12. Records say the subject broke the glass in the back door, entered the mobile home off of 401 By- Pass and took property including a water pump and tank, furniture, a range and a refrigerator. Jennie McFadyen, Stable Place, Raeford, reported that someone took silver, totalling $360, from her residence sometime during the last two weeks before 4 p.m., April 7. Kimberly Icenhour, Nevada Street, Raeford, reported that someone took $200 worth of cassette tapes from her residence in Yadkin Trail MHP sometime bet ween 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., April 5. Records say there is a suspect in the case. Lewis Brock, Route 4, Raeford reported that someone removed $192.90 worth of property from his residence on Highway 401 North sometime between 12 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., April 7. Property taken included a kerosene heater and a siphone filler. (See CRIME, page 2A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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April 16, 1987, edition 1
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