The
ews
No. 41 Vol. 93
Visit us
on the web
www.thenewf-journal.i
This week
Scouts hold
food drive
2B
H.E.L.P. says
'thank you'
page 4A
2000 happenings
IB
Hoke EMS offers
winter safety tips
page 3B
Index 1
Births
2B
Calendar
8B
Classifieds
6-7B
Deaths
3A
Editorials
2A
Legals
5B
Public Record
3A
Religion
4A
Socials/Family
2B
TV Listings
3-4B
Weddings
2B
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
As 1 write this column Mon
day morning, it is raining. The
rain is supposed to hang
around until Tuesday. 1 usu
ally don’t complain about the
cold weather, but now I am
looking forward to spring. My
heating system stopped last
week and we spent one night
with part of the house shut off
and kept warm with gas logs
and an electric heater. Sunday
morning I taught Sunday
School at the Raeford Presby
terian Church and the heat was
also out at the church. I didn’t
brave the morning worship)
service, but many did stay for
the service. This is why 1 am
looking forward to spring.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
high Wednesday to be in the
50s and the low in the 20s. For
the remainder of the week the
highs will be in the high 50s
and lows in the 40s. There
could be a shower on Thurs
day and Friday.
Last week Harold Gillis
came by the office and he had
a copy of The News & Ob
server. In the obituaries was
the death of Mrs. Mary Faust
Plonk Weaver of Greensboro.
She will be remembered by
many in Raelord.asshe taught
school here in the late 1930s.
She and several other teachers
at that time stayed in the home
of Mrs. W. T. Covington on
West Donaldson Avenue. A
(See AROUND, page 8A)
Journal
If it happened, it's news to
50 cents
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
Survey: demands on schools increasing
By Kristin Guthrie
Staff writer
The Masonboro Group, a Wilmington consulting
firm, presented its strategic planning report for Hoke
County’s schools to the board of education last night
after a survey of parents, educators and others of the
community was conducted. Questionnaires were sent
out in November following two public forums held
earlier in the year.
After studying the survey results, the Masonboro
Group concluded in their report: “Review of selected
population and economic variables indicates a county
definitely in transition during the next two decades.”
The study showed a doubling of the total population
between 1980 and 2025. Gradual growth was projected
in groups from birth to 19 years of age reflecting “...
future increasing demands and expenditures increases
associated with personnel, facilities, utilities, transpor
tation and other facets of school district operation,” the
report stated.
While population growth was about 10,000 from the
years 2000 to 2025, employment increases during this
same period showed a growth rate of less than 3,000, the
report indicated.
The predicted population growth will result in a
correspondinggrowth projection in retail sales, the group
indicated. Their report stated that increases in retail sales
may also indicate an increase in household earnings.
They also predict that households earning less than
$29,999 annually will decrease and those incomes of
$30,000 and higher will increase slowly.
(See SCHOOLS, page 8A)
Hoke citizens
respond to family
Infant to undergo surgery Feb. 6
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Three kings of the Orient did not arrive at the Craig’s home during
Christmas bearing frankincense and myrrh for their seven-month-
old daughter, Brianna. However, Heather Craig said it “seemed that
way” after “total strangers” knocked on their door during the
holidays, bringing gifts and donations for her chronically ill daugh
ter.
Toys overflowed the living room bought by “Hoke guardian
angels” and others for Brianna and her four-year-old brother, Tyler.
Barrels of Hoke sweet potatoes and corn, bags of peas and country
barbecue were donated by farmers. Money contributions exceeded
$4,000 for an upcoming, out-of-state trip for surgery and any follow
up visits, and it took “more than three hours” to open the presents,
Mrs. Craig said.
“After learning about our financial dilemma and Brianna’s ill
ness, farmers, police officers, military retirees, homemakers, busi
ness owners, church and civic groups poured out their hearts to a
child they did not even know, and dipped into their pockets,” said an
emotional Mrs. Craig. “Thanks to them, Brianna was able to have
Santa Claus come. This is a Christmas to remember forever — no
matter what happens.”
Brianna was briefly treated for high fevers just prior to Christmas
Eve. This week, an energetic Brianna is attempting to walk, and
experiencing some pain as she cuts her first two teeth, Mrs. Craig
added.
Brianna suffers from severe renal reflex, a condition that poisons
her kidneys with bacteria. Her mother said Brianna was born with
one withered kidney operating at 33 percent capacity, and the other
functions at about 65 percent. The infant is scheduled for surgery at
Walter Reed Hospital on February 6 where doctors will “re-implant”
(See HOKE’S RESPONSE, page 7A)
Young Tyler Craig, his mother Heather Craig and baby sister, Brianna,
experienced the best Christmas thanks to the generosity of
Hoke citizens, who donated money for Brianna’s upcoming surgery
trip and Christmas gifts. (Photo by Victoriana Summers)
Contributors thanked for response
Heather and Brian Craig are
thanking the many people who
helped their baby, Brianna, who
suffers from a serious kidney ail
ment, and also their young son
Tyler.
Among the many contribu
tors of money or gifts, were:
Billy and Gene Thacker, owners
of Raeford’s P.K. Airport, $500
plus an offer to organize a
(See THANKED, page 7A)
Hoke hires first purchasing agent
Assistant purchasing agent Camille Hurst with
Mike McNeill, Hoke’s first purchasing agent.
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke commissioners, led by Commis
sion Chairman L.E. McLaughlin Jr., envi
sioned saving taxpayers money by hiring
an expert to supervise county purchases
last year. That vision was realized on Janu
ary 2 when County Manager Bernice
MePhatter announced Mike McNeill, a
heavyweight in accounting and purchasing
and a distinguished Native American,
would be the first purchasing agent hired
for Hoke.
McNeill’s team will include Camille
Hurst, a county employee hired two years
ago, who will serve as assistant purchasing
agent.
“We are in the planning stages of our
new department,” MePhatter said. “We are
looking forward to great things from Mr.
McNeill and Mrs. Hurst.”
McNeill served as House of Raeford’s
purchasing director for 18 years until he
resigned to accept the county position.
During his tenure at House of Raeford,
McNeill supervised a $14-15 million an
nual purchasing budget. He was also hon
ored last year when he was appointed as the
elected Hoke official to the Lumbee Tribal
Government that was established.
“The future looks bright for the county,”
McNeill said. “I am looking forward to
putting my experience to work to help the
county and its citizens.
“1 hope to save the county some money,
and I hope my job will make the jobs of
other department heads easier.”
McNeill said he has been welcomed by
county staff and is anticipating a “smooth
transition.” He is meeting with MePhatter
this week to discuss programs that will be
recommended for implementation.
“One of my biggest priorities will be to
keep everybody within their budget,”
(See PURCHASING, page 6A)
FirstHealth Hoke EMS paramedics
save patient in cardiac arrest
By Brenda Bouser
Special to The News-Journal
What they had expected to be a
routine transport between a Raeford
physician’s office and FirstHealth
Moore Regional Hospital became any
thing but routine for two Hoke EMS
paramedics when their patient went
into cardiac arrest. As driver Roxanne
Hammerle hit the lights, siren and ac
celerator, her partner Rick Sousa went
into his own form of overdrive and
revived 72-year-old Lucille Barton with
a defibrillator’s shock to the heart.
It was the second “save” of Sousa’s
career.
“You kind of just do it and then think
about it,” said Sousa. “It was like I was
watching myself.”
Accordingto Sousa, Barton had gone
to the FirstHealth Family Care Center
in Raeford on November 18 complain
ing of chronic heartburn. When an EKG
revealed an abnormal heart rhythm,
(See PARAMEDICS, page 8A)
Rick Sousa and Roxanne Hammerle
home
searched
By Victoriana Summers
/
Staff writer
The State Bureau of Investi
gation obtained a warrant last
Thursday evening and searched
the home and vehiclesofDeborah
Scaggs, wife of James Michael
Scaggs, who was murdered on
Thanksgiving eve, and her son,
Jason Bascomb, who initially
called 911 to report something
wrong at the residence. The
search was conducted for prob
able cause after an anonymous
note about the murder was re-
ceivedby The News-Journal last
Thursday. The note was turned
over to Major Thomas Carlton at
the Sheriff’s Office. The search
request was also approved based
on statements of neighbors inter
viewed by the SB! that alleged
there were signs Mrs. Scaggs may
have been a victim of domestic
violence. Scaggs also allegedly
told one of the neighbors she had
her own shotgun, the affidavit
said.
“One of the detectives told me
they had a suspect and could I
come out to the house,” Scaggs
said about the recent search. “He
said if I didn’t come out, they
might have to let the suspect go.
“They got me there under false
pretenses. I was staying with a
relative and she brought me out
there.”
The mystery note, addressed
to the editor and having a
Fayetteville postmark, was un
signed but the writer indicated
knowledge of the murder. How
ever, the SBI wrote in its affida
vit it believed the document might
allegedly “have been written by
Scaggs in an effort to move sus
picion by law enforcement from
her.” Also, the SBI alleged
Scaggs has made an effort to es
tablish “very publicly” through
(See SEARCH, page 6A)
Widow of victim
fearful killers
returned to house
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Deborah Scaggs, widow of
murder victim James Michael
Scaggs, slain on Thanksgiving
eve, said she experienced a sec
ond incident of terror after two
men attempted to break into her
Arabia Road home on New
Year’s Eve. Scaggs said they
never gained entry and fled. She
was unharmet', she said.
When her husband was fatally
shot in November, Mrs. Scaggs
was also reportedly beaten dur
ing the attack by two unidenti
fied men, and treated at Cape
Fear Valley Medical Center.
“ I am afraid the two men might
be the same as those who killed
(See FEARFUL, page 6A)