The
ews
J oumal
Hoke County's newspaper since 1907
No. 22 Vol. 92
50 cents
Wednesday, September 1,1999
See us at
www.dicksonpress.com
This week
Extension celebrates
Heritage Day
page IB
7-year-old saves
subdivision from
wildfire
pageBA
Index I
Births
2B
Calendar
2B
Classifieds
8-9B
Deaths
3A
Editorials
2A
Engagements
3B
Legals
7B
Public Record
..4,7,8A
Religion
7,9B
School
10A
Socials
3B
Sports
6A
TV Listings
5-6B
Weddings
3B
Around Town
HHiHlll!
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
The 100 degree tempera
tures have gone and Hurri
cane Dennis didn’t come
ashore. This is the big weather
news for the week. Monday
we did have some windy
weather in the morning, but
the rainfall was east of Hoke
County. There was some wa
ter and wind damage along
the coast and as I write this
column only three deaths have
been reported. The most ex
tensive damage was to the
people who had to leave the
coast and mess up their vaca
tion. Of course many busi
nesses lost money because of
the hurricane. We can be
thankful that it remained at
sea.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
highs Wednesday and Thurs
day to be in the 80s and the
lows in the low 60s. Friday
and Saturday the highs will be
in the 90s and the lows in the
high 60s or low 70s. There
isn’t much chance of rain.
***iK4>
There were two deaths this
past week of people whom I
had come in contact many
times over the years. Mrs;
Mary Ellen “Willie” Andrews
was buried Monday. She lived
on Harris Avenue for many
years and part of that time I
lived in the neighborhood. Her
husband. Bill, died many years
ago and I can remember going
(See AROUND, page 9A)
Sheriff Davis taiget of SBI investigation
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County Sheriff Jim
Davis is being investigated. The
State Bureau of Investigation
confirmed on Tuesday an inquiry
is being conducted about allega-
World-famous
steeplechase
moves to Hoke
The Five Points Horse Park in western Hoke
will host the Stoneybrook Steeplechase, an an
nual and major global event in the equestrian
world. For 49 years, the event was held at South
ern Pines but has been without a home since the
loss of its host. Yellow Frame Farm.
The National Steeplechase Association has
given its stamp of approval to visit the Five
Points Horse Park, and the first Stoneybrook is
planned for April of 2001, the golden anniver
sary of the event. Bids have been sol icited for the
construction of the steeplechase’s grass track at
the intersection of Montrose, Calloway and
Horace Walters roads.
The Five Points Horse Park is a world class
equestrian facility planned for some 230 acres of
“beautiful, undeveloped farm land approximately
12 miles south of Southern Pines, North Caro
lina,” according to realty and public relations
statements beamed round the world on the
Internet and in newspapers and magazines not
even heard of here.
“The site... will be developed to include the
facilities required to accommodate five major
equestrian events: three-day eventing, combined
driving, steeplechase, hunter/jumper and dres
sage.”
(See STONEYBROOK, page 9A)
tions concerning Davis.
“It is true,” said SBI Agent
Janie Pinkston, speaking on be
half of acting special agent Neil
Godfrey of the Fayetteville of
fice. “District Attorney Jean
Powell did make a request to our
office on August 25.
“An agent from the SBI office
in Raleigh should be beginning
the investigation some time this
week.”
A complaint against Sheriff
Davis was reportedly lodged by
a former deputy regarding al
leged misuse of funds. Davis
denies it.
Davis verified he hired the
former employee after he took
office as sheriff. However, Davis
said he was unaware of any in
vestigation by the SBI until last
week.
“This was a former disgruntled
employee who resigned,” Davis
said on August 31. “I can’t re
lease his name. The employee
that filed the complaint was the
one I entrusted to take care of our
supply and equipment needs.
“This was done to attack my
(See SBI, page 5A)
4
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j*’
Help when needed
FirstHealth EMS and Hoke Rescue personnel provide assistance to six-year-old Latrice Harris after the vehicle she was riding
in was involved in a collision Wednesday afternoon. Rescue volunteer Diane Paircloth offers words of comfort Emergency
responding personnel were kept busy with vehicle accidents last week. On Saturday, a man died in a fatal crash. See stories,
page 7A.
$5 million FirstHealth medical mall nears completion
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
in Pinehurst is placing Raeford
on the map with an innovative
idea for the Sandhills.
“FirstHealth is combining
medical arts and a health-fitness
center in Hoke County in a new
venture for the community,” said
Jim Ashworth, development di
rector for FirstHealth Regional
Services. “It’s the first time we’ve
everconstmeted this type of cen
ter and it’s the only one we know
of in Hoke.”
Known as the FirstHealth
Family Care Center-Raeford, the
39,000 square-foot community
health center will be open on
October 4. A grand opening is
also scheduled October 9 open to
the public from 2 to 4 p.m. It
includes preview tours and ac
tivities for children.
Contemporary look
A sweeping promenade bor
ders the entranceway to the red
brick stmeture, accentuated by a
steel-girder overhangand hunter-
green roof. A covered drop-off
station for patients and parking
to accommodate 165 vehicles is
(See MEDICAL, page lOA)
V
Sheriff gamers grants
totaling $220,000
' -J-
■ .t-L -
*• t*'
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County Sheriff Jim
Davis has been harvesting a crop
of grant money to aid in law
enforcement around the county.
Between July and August of
1999, Davis was notified his
agency is recipient of
$220,005.83 in grant monies.
“We’ve been working pretty
hard,” Davis said Tuesday, “I
have been able
to facilitate
more than
$200,000-plus
of equipment
and services to
be afforded this
sheriff’s office
through grant
process and contacts with state
agencies. These agencies have
helped this Sheriff with his equip-
(See GRANTS, page 5A)
Davis
Area Manager jay Martinek views the spacious FirstHealth Family Care Center in Raeford slated to open
on October 4.
Planning Commission considers
controversial zoning changes
Library assistant dies
of Bragg wreck injuries
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
The Hoke County Planning
Commission is looking into rec
ommending a zoning change that
some say will bring more money
into the County’s coffers; others
say the proposed change will put
cash into developers’ pockets.
At a workshop held Thursday
night. Planning Commission
members voted to consider at
their September meeting whether
or not to change from 10 acres to
2.5 acres the amount of land not
subject to subdivision regula
tions.
Commissioner Vice Chair
Harold Brock, who proposed the
change, said he thinks the
County’s tax base would be in
creased “tremendously.”
Former Commission Chair
man Donald Louya is against the
proposed change. He asked Com
mission members, “What is the
purpose?” in the proposed
change, while Brock countered,
“Give me a reason why we
shouldn’t do it.” Commission
Chairman Brown Hendrix Jr. said
he “hates to see 10 acres tied up.”
It was pointed out that
County Commissioners had
chosen about 10 years ago to
accept the 10 acres that was
recommended by the N.C. In
stitute of Government with an
understanding that the number
would be dropped to five.
Planning and Zoning Director
Linda Revels looked into acre
age that surrounding counties
(See ZONING, page 4A)
By Pat Allen Wilson
Staff writer
A second woman involved in
a July 5 crash on Fort Bragg in
Cumberland County has died as
a result of the accident.
Wendy Yvonne Strickland,
39, died Sunday morning in Cape
Fear Valley Medical Center.
Jaime Catherine Butler, 23, died
July 8. Both were wives of Fort
Bragg military personnel.
(See STRICKLAND, page 5A)
Chairman, Trigger head up concert
Get ready to party at the
15th annual North Carolina
Turkey Festival Outdoor
Concert on Saturday, Sep
tember 18th! This year’s
event features General
Johnson and the Chairman of
the Board along with a local
favorite. Trigger.
Turkey,
Talk
Tickets are currently on sale
at the Depot or you may pur
chase yours from any NCTF
(See FESTIVAL, page 4A)