The ews No. 29 Vol. 91 See us at www.dicksonpress.com Approaching the curve of the earth Page 2A B Looking for the heart of Hoke Page 1B Calendar 2B Classifieds 9B Deaths 5A Editorials 2-4A Engagements 3B Legals 7-8B Public Record 5-6A Religion 8A Socials 3B Sports 10-11A TV Listings 5-6B Weddings 3B Around Town By Sam C. Morris Contributing Editor The weather was perfect over the weekend. The sun was shining and it didn’t rain. Even though the temperatures were in the 80s during the day, we did have some cool nights. The temperatures were in the low 5()s and high 40s. This should make the leaves start turning into their fall colors. You don’t have to go to the mountains to see the beautiful colors, they are also in the Sandhills. I like this type of weather. The forecast for the remain der of the week, Wednesday through Saturday,calls forthe highs to be in the low 60s or high 50s and the lows to be in the 40s. One forecaster said that the lows could get into the 30s over the weekend. 'I’his is getting near a time for frost. There isn’t any rain in the fore cast. * * * ** Last Saturday morning when I arrived at the ottice, 1 found sample ballots for the upcoming election on my desk. Since we now have vot ing machines, 1 didn’t realize how many different ballots are (See AROUND, puf’e 7A) Journal ^If it happened, it's news to us' 50 cents Wednesday, October 21,1998 County takes major step to attract industry By Pat Ai.len Wilson Staff writer Both Hoke County Commis- sionersand membersof the Hoke County Economic Development Commission took more steps to create an infrastructure to attract industry to the county. Monday night, Commission ers approved three projects in volving sewer service extension as major capital projects. The Economic Development Com mission met the following morn ing and agreed to contract with a professional consultant, Ernie Pearson & Associates, to refine an economic development plan. Pearson, a Sanford attorney, is the former state deputy secre tary of commerce. He and his firm have worked with the county for the past two years on eco nomic development strategies. The three projects include the East Hoke Middle School Project, Highway 20 Project, and Wayside and Rockfish. The East Hoke and Highway 20 projects would involve the City of Raeford as they would be served by the City sewer system. The other project would involve in stallation of sewer lines in the Rockfish and Wayside areas of McLauchlin Township and would be served by PubI ic Works Commission of Cumberland County. Commissioners were briefed on the final design plans of the projects from the engineering firm of Hobbs, Upchurch and Associates. They were alsogiven an update on the possible devel opment of two industrial parks near Raeford. The estimated cost of the East Hoke Middle School project is $330,(KK), according to the engi neers. The original plan was de veloped to serve an 8()-acre site, but now a larger land tract is under consideration. A 3-inch force main was ex tended to East Hoke Middle from the City when the school was built, and the County would uti lize that line, which carries up to 150,000 gallons daily. “That w'ould carry us into the future,” according to engineer Charles McGougan, who said there is “always the possibility” to re place the 3-inch line with a 4- or 6-inch pipe. Commissioners authorized Interim County Manager Bernice McPhatter to continue negotia tions with PWC for a sewer con nection to serve Rockfish and Wayside. The estimated cost of that project is “just over $1 mil lion,” the engineers said. The third sewer project in volves an industrial park site in the area of Oak Dale Gin Road, Highway 401 Business and High way 20. The cost of that project is estimated to be $282,000. Engineers also briefed Com missioners on a mini-park site which involves 126 acres on the iSee COL NTY, page 9A) S fiart I I Hicks trial set to begin Monday ift Smart Start ribbon cutting First Lady Carolyn Hunt was the guest of honor last Tuesday at the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families/Smart Start ribbon cutting ceremony. Some 100 business, government, civic and educational leaders, teachers and children turned out for the event and helped with the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Helping the children with the scissors are, from left, Raeford Mayor Bob Gentry. James Leach, chairman of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, First Lady Carolyn Hunt, and jean Brewer, president of the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families. (Knight Chamberlain photo) By KNKiin Ciiambhri.ain Editor The trial of Frank Hicks, the Hoke County deputy charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of an Ashley Heights man last year, is scheduled to begin Monday in Lee County. Hicks shot and killled David Michael Sivak w'hile on duty on August 29. 1998. Hicks told in vestigators he began firing when Sivak first ignored warnings not to get into a van, then tried to run him down with the van. The State Bureau of Investi gation and the state Attorney General’s office investigated the shooting before turning their evi dence over to a grand jury which indicted Hicks in December. Hicks' lawyers Randy Gregory and Mike McGuinness asked that the trial be moved, citing pre-trial publicity about the case. Assistant Attorney General Mary Winstead agreed with the change and Supe rior Court Judge Jack Thompson approved it. Hicks’ lawyers argued that the 32-year-old Sivak was not shot in the back as was reported by the media. But a report from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill listed the cause of death as “gunshot wound of back.” The report stated that a bullet entered the right side of Sivak's back and irreparably damaged his heart. The report al.so noted that Sivak had co caine in his .system at the time of his death. I licks. 42, of Robeson County, was initially placed on paid ad ministratis e leave, but has been back at w ork since January at the sheriff s oft ice. He has not re turned to patrol duty since the shcxrting. Justice Department agrees to investigate complaint By Knight Chamberlain Editor The U.S. Justice Depart ment is investigating a com plaint of racial disaimination against the Hoke County Sheriff’s Department by a Native American whose night- clubs were shut down in 1991 and again in 1997 for repeated reports of illegal drug use and violence. Elisha Dial Filed the com plaint despite the fact that he signed consent orders admit ting that he was aware of and permitted the illegal activities, including the illegal posses sion, sale and consumption of alcohol by minors; the pos session sale and use of drugs; and violent conduct. Despite the admission. Dial claims it was inaction by the Sheriff’s Department that caused his businesses — the “Countryside Recreation N ightclub” on John Road, and “Cousins” off N.C. 211 — to be characterized as nuisances by state Alcohol Law Enforce ment officials in the First place. The inaction. Dial said, led to his Filing the complaint But Sheriff Wayne Byrd, in a March 12, 1997 interview, said his department was being criticized for doing its job. “Ourdeputies havecharged people at (the Countryside Reaeation Nightclub) with possession of drugs and con cealed weapons,” he said in the interview. “This place has just been a problem in the com munity.” In fact. Alcohol Law En forcement agents investigated more than 80 service calls re ported on the club between April 1993 and January 1997. Dial defended his actions and said he was being dis criminated against by the Sheriffs Department for try ing to give kids a place to go and have fun. “How could I be consid ered a public nuisance,” Dial said in a June 18,1997 news paper article about his Coun tryside Recreation Nightclub being shut down. “1 was out to give the young people a place to go and get them out of those places, the drug places, the booze places.” A previous nuisance inves tigation led to the closing of Cousins in 1991. Dial is a supporter of Jim Davis, the Democrat nominee for Hoke County Sheriff. Davis ran for sheriff, in part, because he claimed the Sheriffs Department is soft on drugs and allows drug ac tivity to flourish in Hoke County. '•Hi ltd'll ..3-jwm iTn: This picture postcard depicts the Hotel Raeford in its heyday. Hotel Raeford in double trouble By Pal All i n Wiison Staff writer It appears the Hotel Raeford is in double jeopardv. Notices of both foreclosure and condemna tion proceedings are posted on the deteriorated building IcK'ated at the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street. Action on the condemnation process is on hold, however. Mary Robinson, code enforce ment officer for the City of Raeford, said the City is stop ping its prtx'eedings until other matters are worked out. "Ow n- ership could change,” she said. There are al.so tax liens against the property, Robinson .said. Fayetteville residents Earlise and Mary E. Jones bought the property on May 4. 1993 for $ 120,()()(). United National Bank, w hich holds the note, is foreclos ing. Mrs. Jones is now deceased. A picture post card, made in 1940 or shortly thereafter, said the hotel was under new owner ship, new management and com pletely renovated. It offered “50 (fireproof) clean, comfortable rooms with or without a bath." /\ coffee shop featured home cook ing and was managed by "Miss Minnie Worwick, dietitian, for merly with Jeans Dining Ri'om of Laurinburg." W.E. Street Jr. was manager and proprietor. He offered single rooms at $1.25 up and double rooms for $2 up. Prior to that, the Hotel Bluemont served as headquar ters for the Williamsport Base ball Club's spring training and teachers resided there during the schiH)l year. Business activity in downtown Raeford was thriv ing. Today, the condemnation no tice calls the hotel “un.safe, in dangerous condition and a fire hazard by structural defects and general state of decay, deteriora tion and disrepair.” The hotel s lone tenant, a bar ber shop, recently moved to a new location across Central Av enue.

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