Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Oct. 13, 1999, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews J oumal AS If it happtMuul, it's news to us No. 28 Vol. 92 See us at Turkey Festival winners announced IB liulrx Births.... 3B Business/Farm.... 10B Calendar.... 2B Classifieds.... 8-9B Deaths.... 5A Editorials.... 2-3A Engagements.... 3B Legals.... 7B Public Record.... ....5,10A School.... 6,9B Socials.... 3B Sports.... 4A TV Listings.... 4-5 B Around Town By Sam C. Morris Contributing Editor The wcatlicr is still nice, as far as the temperatures. As I write this Monday morning, it has been raining but not as hard or as much as in recent weeks. Maybe it will stop rain ing and get back to seasonable weather. The flooding in the eastern part of the state is still causing problems. Most of the schools have reopened but many people have lost their homes and belongings. Many tempo rary trailer cities are going up in places. It has been stated that these trailers will be in use for over a year. We in Hoke County can count our blessings. The forecast for the remain der of the week, Wednesday through Saturday, calls for the highs to be in the 70s or high 60s and the lows to be in the 5()s. There is a chance of rain on Wednesday and Saturday. * ♦ ♦ ♦ * Thebigday for celebrating the Centennial of the Raeford Baptist Church is Sunday, November21. The service will begin at 1();30 a.m. and it will be followed by a catered lunch. Townspeople are welcome to attend this service, but you should call the church office by October 15 if you want to attend. The phone number is 875-3508. 4c * 4= ♦ The Hoke County United Way was started in Hoke (See AROUND, page 9A) 50 cents Wednesday, October 13,1999 www.dicksonpress.com III A City arrests Hoke High teens for car break-ins page 10A In H fmut0 Preserve draws public comment Woodpecker debate mostly about taxes im. w, ^ 4 By Vktoriana Summers staff writer South America serves as a sanctuary for the Amazon tropical rain forest. North Carolina harbors longicaf pine forests in a similar manner in the Sandhills region, supporting an eco-system that’s also home to endangered species. Meanwhilc,birdsofa feather in Hoke's longicaf pines were causinga controversy in Raeford on Tuesday evening on-a-par with Amazon parrots in the jungle, as a public hearing was held. Sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation, the hearing’s goal was to discuss the proposed purchase of 2,504 acres in Hoke County for the preservation of the rcd-cockadcd woodpecker. This site is one of the few remaining bastions for longleaf pines and the nesting site for the rcd-cockadcd woodpecker, an endan gered species. (See WOODPECKER, page 7A) Connie Chavis gazes at the woodland retreat where her daughter, Brittany Lynn Locklear, reposes in the family’s private cemetery. Brittany was found murdered on January 8, 1998. She would have celebrated her seventh birthday tomorrow, October 14. (Photo by Victoriana Summers) Mother can’t bury agony on Brittany’s birthday Sandy Grove School is dedicated as Hoke’s 11th By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Young Brittany Lynn Locklear was found murdered on January 8, 1998. Her mother, Connie Chavis, still mourns despite her belief that sympathy for her loss has died down. However, she said she plans to spend the day of her daughter’s birthday, Oc tober 14, in solitude, with the memory of Brittany seared in her heart. “I’ll have the day off from work,” Chavis said, who currently is employed as an office assistant at Sandhills Com munity College in Raeford. “I want to be secluded from every body. “My husband, Charles, and I are go ing to clean up Brittany’s grave and use the weed-eater to make it look prettier. The silk flowers cost a lot of money, so wc haven’t been able to replace the ones that are faded.” Chavis still grieves Brittany’s death at five years of age, sexually assaulted and drowned by an unknown killer. Brittany would have celebrated her seventh birthday tomorrow. While Brittany lies in a woodland grave site, her killer still remains at large. Brittany was kidnapped on Gainey Road, reportedly by a while male in a (See BRITTANY, page 11 A) Investigators relentless on leads By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Within the next month, SBI Agents Neil Godfrey and Jay Tilley, who was named lead investigator recently, will be forming a more intensive liaison with Hoke County Sheriff’s Department to catch the killer of Brittany Locklear. A profile exists of the murderer. How ever, law enforcement agencies won’t release the information because it could (See LEADS, page 11 A) By Pat Ali.i-n Wii.son Editor Purple and yellow balloons floated on strings from the dignitary stand, mums of the same color were placed around the base, and the audience was a sea of purple and gold where teachers and s'tudents al ike wore the school colors for the dedication of Sandy Grove Elementary School Fri day. The speaker for the occasion. Con gressman Bob Etheridge, told the stu dents, parents, faculty and dignitaries, “You will remember in years to come that you attended this dedication.” He called the school “a new beginning for a bright tomorrow.” Sandy Grove’s first day of school was July 19. Likeotherclcmcntaryandmiddle schools in Hoke, it is a year-round school— the eleventh to be built in the county. (See SANDY GROVE, page 7A) MePhatter selected to head Sandhill CC Hoke Center Hoke County resident Anna MePhatter has been named to head up the Hoke Center of Sandhills Commu nity College. “We arc excited about the changes that are about to take place at the Hoke Center,” she says. “We know, also, that it will take all those in the community to make these Anna MePhatter changes happen.” MePhatter joined the college in 1988 as an instructor in the Adult Basic Educa tion and GED program. During the past 11 years she was a REACH team leader at Burlington Industries and moved into a position as the Basic Skills coordinator for the college. On October 1, she added the directorship of the SCC Hoke Center to her duties. MePhatter will report to SCC Vice President for Instructional Services George Lewis. (See SANDHILLS, page 7A) Child still missing, family pleads for safe return By Victoriana Summers Staff writer One Hoke family remains heartbroken, awaiting news of their daughter’s well-being. Suffering in suspense, they wonder if their Dana Michelle Pevia daughter is dead, or still alive after a five months absence. Young Dana Michelle Pevia was 11-years-old at the time she vanished on June 4, 1999. No one has heard from Pevia since her mysterious disap pearance at her bus stop on Old Maxton Road and South Hoke Street early that morning around 6:25 a.m. Her 12th birthday was June 19. The international law enforcement agency, “Interpol,” is now involved in tracking down the whereabouts of the young girl and her alleged abductor. According to the latest information, Interpol seems to have reached a dead end. “Not one word... we haven’t heard anything,” cried Dana’s aunt, Nancy Oxendinc, who provided a place for Dana and her mother, Wanda Pevia, to live. Oxendine has worked 21 years as aealeteiia euipl'iyeeaitd bu.s driver fur Hoke County schools. “Wc don't even know if she’s alive or dead.” Dana’s mother was so overcome emotionally after no word from her daughter recently she can barely speak of the event. Her sobs and the unre strained weeping of Dana’s grand mother, Onedia Pevia and Oxendine, show a family overwrought with grief— desperate to know if Dana is overcoming back. Dana is thought to be the victim of an abduction by Hector Noel Mojarro Frausto, a native of Mexico, who lived next door to the Pevia family. Captain Tom Carlton of the Hoke Sheriff’s Department has issued a felony war rant forchild abduction against Mojarro as the primary suspect. According to Carlton, Frausto is thought to be over 20 years old. A native of Mexico, Frausk) was employed by a construction firm, work ing on a FirstHealth medical complex in Raeford. The Hispanic male is de scribed as slim with long, brown hair. Carlton said Frausto also worked pre viously as a translator for the Sheri I f’s Department. “He may also have other aliases he uses,” Carlton said. “The matter is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.” Family members said Frausto be friended Dana and would socialize at the Oxendine home. However, Oxendine insisted he was never left alone with Dana due to the enormous age gap between the pair. “He came to me one time and told me he really liked Dana.” Oxendine recalled, who .serve.'' as Dana's legal guardian. “I told him he would have to wait until she grew up and that she was too young to be involved with him. She was just a young girl. Nancy Oxendine, aunt and legal guardian of Dana Michelle Pevia, is wracked with grief, “They weren’t allowed to date.” However, the family still fears she was kidnapped against her will by Frausto, or someone else. Oxendine said Frausto always waited for his ride to work at the same bus stop as Dana. That same day, Frausto also allegedly disappeared. During a search for clues, Carlton reported he found a love letter Dana had written to Frau.sto prior to her disiippeaiance. However, the letter sounds like a “puppy love” situation and gave no inkling she planned to elope with Frausto. Carlton said it in (See MISSING, page 8A) w A J f Getting the hang of it North Raeford Volunteer Fire Department Junior Firefighters Shawn Baker, left, and Rusty Stewart let Monica Harris have a go at handling the water hose. Firefighters did demonstrations at schools and day care centers across the county in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week which also featured a firefighters' competition on Saturday. Harris at tends Jones Hill Day Care Center. (Photo by Pat Allen Wilson)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Oct. 13, 1999, edition 1
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