The
ews
Journal
it happened^ Ws news
No. 32 Vol. 93
Visit us
on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Bucks almost
do it
page 10A
50 cents
Wednesday, November 8, 2000
at
Hoke schools
hurting while
awaiting lawsuit
results
page 1B
Jackie Haddon's
commitment helps
Raeford, Hoke
page 4A
Index
Births 4B
Business/Farm 8A
Calendar 2B
Classifieds 8-1 OB
Deaths 8A
Editorials 2-3A
Lt'gals 6-7B
Public Record 5-6A
Religion 3B
Socials 3B
Sports 10A
TV Listings 4-5B
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
Last Saturday night into
Sunday morning we finally
got some rain. It was only two-
tenths of an inch, but it caused
smiles on people’s faces at
church Sunday morning.
The leaves have been fall
ing and there are pi les of leaves
alloverthecity. Last weekmy
yard wascleared of leaves and
the pile was placed beside the
street with pine straw on top
of the leaves. This was to keep
the leaves from blow'ing back
into the yard. While Mary
Alice and 1 were away from
home one day someone
stopped by and took the pine
straw. Now many of the leaves
are back in the yard or on the
street. We appreciated this
work!
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesda>
through Saturday,callsforthe
high Wednesday and Thurs
day to be in the 7()s and the
lows in the 50s. Friday and
Saturday the highs will be in
the 70s or 60s and the lows in
the 40s 0 3()s. We could have
rain on Wednesday and Fri
day.
* ^ 3k *
Recently 1 received a sports
section of a Florida daily pa-
perfromClyde Mclnnis. I read
through it looking lor some
connection to Floke County
but couldn’t find anything.
3'here was an article about Ray
Floyd the golfer and there was
apictureof him in hisyounger
(lays. Thanks. Clvde.
* * ¥ *
1 attended the funeral of
(Sec AROUND, page M)
Wright, Leach elected to commission
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Tuesday’selection created history with
a record turnout of voters, elections direc-
Wright
tor Caroline Shook said. 8,873 of Hoke’s
citizens voted on Tuesday compared to
7,500 in a past record-breaking year.
The 2000 presidential election also
seated Democrats in the two positions
available on Hoke’s
board of commissioners.
Lifelong Hoke resi-
Blue has good showing, comes in third place
dent Robert A. “Bobby” Wright and in
cumbent James A. Leach earned commis
sioners’ seats, winning by substantial
margins over Republican contender Jim
Knott and Unaffiliated candidate the Rev.
Betty L. Hardaway. However, Republi
can Buddy Blue edged closer with more
than 40 percent of the votes.
Ploughing his way to victory, Wright
topped the voting chart. He earned 70
percent of the votes in the commission
(See COMMISSION, page 9A)
Leach
Southerland Strother
Southerland and Strother
take school board seats
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Lcland Strother retained his
position on the Hoke County
Board of Education, and Harry
Southerland moved into the seat
held by longtime member and
current chairman John
McAllister, who did not seek
1C
m
%
MitchTyler (left to right), candidate Jim Knott and Mike Sutton wait
among a crowd last night outside The News-Journal office for election
returns to be posted.
Catching up on the news as they stand in line at the McCain Precinct, where one
voting machine broke down, are Ashley Heights residents David and Linda
Schuchard.
another term.
Both men defeated Gwen Dial
Locklear in the unaffiliated race.
Unofficial results are:
Southerland, 3767; Strother,
2656; and Locklear,
2036.
Southerland, an at
torney, congratulated
Strother then added, “I
would like to com
mend Ms. Locklear
and Mr. Strother on a
professionally run
race. Everyone was
cordial to one another I
and there was no mud
slinging.”
Southerland
thanked the citizens of
Hoke County for al
lowing him the oppor
tunity to serve them.
“1 look forward to
working with the
present board. My con
cern as a board mem
ber is what is in the
(See SCHOOL
BOARD, page lOA)
McCaskill defends letter^ ignores demand to resign
By VicmoRiANA Summers
Staff writer
Despite criticism at Friday’s elections board meeting.
Chairman Willie McCaskill said he had “no intentions”
of resigning. McCaskill recently complained about Elec
tions Director Caroline Shook and her alleged failure to
post extended voting hours for the public. More than 35
citizens, most supporting Shook, offered opinions about
a critical letter written by McCaskill to Shook and
forwarded to the U.S. Justice Department.
Harold Brock, a former elections board chairman.
called for McCaskill’s resignation as chairman due to
the “cloud” he alleged McCaskill has unfairly cast on
Shook.
“I believe it is in the best interest of Hoke County if
you would step down as chairman and allow Mr. (Ro
man) Jacobs to be appointed as chairman,” Brock said.
“We are in this county together. I am confident our
voters will not accept this cloud.”
McCaskill said he will not change his mind. He said
the problem is really “not her,” indicating Shook.
McCaskill alleged problems center around “manage
ment” of the elections board between Republicans and
Democrats, and the fact that “two minority” groups were
now represented on the board.
“I will challenge you,” McCaskill said to Brock. “I
will step down as chairman if Mr. (Delbert) Minshew
will step down and Mrs. Shook.
“The bottom line is we made some changes in 1998.
People here have made this board a very political board.”
Chairman Gene Shelnutt of Hoke’s Republican Party,
who was present at the meeting, sent a letter to the
elections board on November 1. He criticized the “covert
actions” allegedly taken by McCaskill. Shelnutt offi-
(5ee MCCASKIll, page 9A)
Burlington gift to Sandhills Community College’s
new Hoke Center will help build computer lab
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
An endowment of $20,000 was awarded
last Friday by Burlington Industries to the
new $1.1 million Sandhills Community Col
lege Hoke Center in Raeford. In announcing
the donation. Dr. John Dempsey, SCC presi
dent, said it was not the first time Burlington
had successfully partnered with Sandhills.
IL
From left; Margaret McLean, Burlington's assistant human resources manager. Dr. John
Dempsey, SCC president; Anna MePhatter, director of Sandhills Hoke Center; Calvin House,
Burlington's new plant manager and Mary Ann Ward of Sandhills. (Photo by Victoriana
Summers)
“Icommend Burlington for theircommit-
ment to education and training in Hoke
County,” Dempsey said. “The company’s
gift to this college is part of a standing
relationship that recaptures Burlington’s
dedication.”
Dempsey praised Burlington, saying a
special room in the computer laboratory will
be named in honor of the Raeford corporate
firm. Burlington specializes in a menswear
division and dye plant locally, and is one of
the leading employers in Hoke.
“Burlington has always been a strong
supporter ofSandhillsCommunity College,”
Dempsey said. “This is a celebration of fur
ther training that will be offered due to
Burlington’s generosity.”
According to Dempsey, the computer labo
ratory gifted by Burlington is part of the
Advanced Technology Learning Laboratory
wing. It will feature state-of-the-art technol
ogy and high speed access to the internet,
providing “training in the latest computer
applications.” It will connect students with
the many resources available on the World
Wide Web, Dempsey added.
In presenting the check, Burlington’s new
plant manager Calv in House, who was trans
ferred from the Oxford, NC manufacturing
division, said he was a strong supporter of
SCC.
“Sandhills has been very good to us,”
House said. “It is an honor to be a part of this
educational facility.
(See GIFT, page lOA)
County audit
appears sound,
not approved
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
James F. Baker, owner of a
Raeford accounting firm, pre
sented Hoke County with its
annual audit on Monday night,
outlining a favorable/inancial
forecast for the future.
“The county fund balance
is in good shape,” Baker said.
“You have a 32-33 percent
fund balance.
“I understand you did ear
mark some of that money for a
sewer project.”
Baker informed commis
sioners the $7.1 million fund
balance for 1999 through June
30,2000 was the “highest yet.”
Last month, commissioners
approved the Highway 401
sewer interceptor project that
transferred $1.2 million from
the fund balance for construc
tion.
The audit remains a pre
liminary report until Hoke
commissioners approve it.
Vice-Commission Chairman
Tony Hunt, who chaired the
meeting, ledcommissionersto
(See AUDIT, page 9A)