The
ews
No. 45 Vol. 93
Visit us
on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Scurlock kids learn
new ways to count
page 1B
Bicentennial chair
McEachern dies
page 4A
Reward offered for
break-in suspect
page 5A
City recognizes
Leach, fire dept,
page 6A
Index 1
Births....
3B
Business/Farm....
lOA
Calendar....
2B
Classifieds....
8-9B
Deaths....
4A
Editorials....
2,3A
Legals....
6-7B
Public Record....
5A
Schools....
....6,10B
TV Listings....
4-5 B
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
The sun is shining as 1 write
thiscolumnon Monday morn
ing. Sunday morning when I
arrived at Sunday School, 1
was asked if there had been
sleet at my house. It seems
that it did sleet sometime early
Sunday morning as many
people reported seeing it on
rooftops. It then changed over
to rain and by Monday morn
ing there had been about three-
tenths of an inch. Westillneed
more rain, but I can live with
out sleet.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
highs Wednesday and Thurs
day to be in the 60s and the
lows in the 40s. Friday and
Saturday the highs will be in
the 60s and the lows in the
50s. There is a chance of rain
on Friday. Has spring arrived
early?
^ *
The time has come once
again for the Raeford-Hoke
Chamber of Commerce to
sponsor their Legislative
Breakfast. This event brings
our Congressman and other
State-Legislative members to
meet with local citizens. The
breakfast is held at Burlington
Industries and the date is Sat
urday, February 17 beginning
at 8:30 a.m.
In a newsletter from the
Chamber office an item about
the event stated that only so
many people can be seated at
the plant’s conference room
(See AROUND, page 9A)
Journal
If it happened, it's news to u$
50 cents
Wednesday, February 7, 2001
State audits Hoke, freezes sheriff’s grant
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
The Governor’s Crime Com
mission confirmed this morning
it is starting an audit today in
Raeford to look at Hoke County’s
financial records — specifically
at grant monies that had been
intended for the Sheriff’s Office
that Sheriff Jim Davis never re
ceived. David Jones, director of
the Crime Commission said his
agency has ordered County Man
ager Bernice MePhatter to freeze
$88,000 that was paid to her of
fice more than one year ago.
According to Jones, the order
for this audit came directly from
the U.S. Inspector General’s
Office’s fraud division in Wash-
iwwImaFi
I
Canadian visiting teacher Philip King plays the “name game" to involve West Hoke Elementary School
students in the learning process. (Photo by Victoriana Summers)
Foreign teachers part of solution
to Hoke’s teacher shortage
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
From remote Australia, to
neighboring Canada to faraway
South Africa, seven foreign
teachers arrived in Hoke County
on January 19 to set up house
and teach in the public schools,
said Sharmaine Butler, Hoke
schools personnel director. With
a “successful reciprocity” pro
cess, these teachers hired through
the Visiting International Fac
ulty program in Chapel Hill posi
tively exchange cultural ideas
with students, Butler said.
“Our principals and faculties
have given these teachers a won-
"It was a culture shock for her because she
is learning how to deal with our children."
— Hoke principal referring to South African teacher
derful welcome,” Butler said.
“They have donated furniture and
other items the teachers may need
for their stay here. It is not a
complete solution to our teacher
vacancies, but it does help re
schools from VIF — the most
the county has ever hired in one
year. She said eight international
teachers were employed last
August, and seven more were
(See TEACHERS, page 7A)
Kiwanis presents awards
Jordan named Citizen of the Year
Lucas is Kiwanian of the Year
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
John Jordan and Sherry Lucas, chosen
respectively Citizen of the Year and
Kiwanian of the Year, are history makers
of sorts in the Raeford Kiwanis Club.
Jordan follows in the footsteps of his
father. Dr. Riley Jordan, previously chosen
Kiwanis Citizen of the Year — a first for
the club. Lucas, secretary-treasurer of the
club, and her husband, Mike, were the first
couple to join Kiwanis together.
Both were chosen by a secret commit
tee, Jordan for hiscommunity involvement
and Lucas for her work with Kiwanis.
A Kiwanian for more than 10 years, Jordan, 38,
is branch manager of Fidelity Bank. Among his
most recent endeavors, he is president of the Hoke
County Community Foundation, created about
two years ago. The Hoke Foundation, under the
umbrella of the N.C. Community Foundation, was
begun about two years ago to set up endowments
for non-profit, charitable organizations. The board
also gives out annual grants to such groups.
This past year, Jordan also served as president
of Hoke/Raeford United Way, which exceeded a
goal of $60,000. He has served on the board of
directors of H.E.L.P. (Hoke Emergency Liaison
Program) since it was formed; the Smart Start
program; Partners in Education, currently serving
as treasurer; and the Chamber of Commerce.
A lifelong resident of Raeford, Jordan is serving
his third year on the city council. He is a graduate
of Hoke County High School and has a business
degree from Wake Forest University.
Jordan belongs to Raeford Presbyterian Church,
where he is a deacon. He is married to Polly King
Jordan.
This is Lucas’ second year as secretary/trea-
john Jordan and wife Polly at Thursday’s presentation.
I
surer of the club. Presi
dent Angel Li particu
larly credits her for com-
piling directories for
each member. “She has
done a fantastic job,” Li
said.
Lucas, vice presi
dent/city executive of
the Raeford branch of
the State Employees’
Credit Union, also par
ticipates in the major .
r . • Sherry Lucas IS awarded,
tund-raisers of Kiwanis '
— the annual golf tournament and pancake supper
and reverse raffle. She is on the finance committee
of Hoke/Raeford Habitat for Humanity, serves on
the Hoke County Job Ready Paitnciship and is a
member of the Chamber of Commerce.
A graduate of Pinecrest High School, she has
completed certified credit union executivecourses.
She is a member of Ashley Heights Baptist Church,
where she sings in the choir and prepares the
WMU newsletter.
ington D.C.
Jones said County Manager
Bernice MePhatter has known
about the pcndingallegationsand
upcoming audit for almost a
month.
According to the minutes of
county commissioners meeting
since 2001, no discussion has
occurred about this problem of
alleged misappropriation of funds
in connection with a state audit.
Sheriff Jim Davis complained to
(See AUDIT, page 8A)
duce our teacher shortage and
enrich our students culturally.”
According to Butler, there are
15 teachers placed in Hoke’s
Hunt, Leach
boycott meeting
Mayor announces tmek bypass
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Raeford Mayor Bob Gentry is attending a N.C. Department of
Transportation public hearing today in Raleigh about expanding
Palmer Street across Highway 211. Gentry announced to city
councilmen and guests, Commission Chairman Bobby Wright and
Commissioner Charles V. Daniels, on Monday, that construction
would start on a truck by-pass soon. Gentry said the proposed by
pass, initially scheduled for 2003, may have the time table moved up
by DOT to 2001. It will extend around Raeford’s perimeter from
Palmer Street to Highway 20 at Oakdale Gin Road, he added.
Gentry asked for the county’s blessings during an informal joint
meeting, and he was assured by Wright and Daniels of their interest.
However, no resolution of support was approved by the county due
to the lack of a quorum. Commissioners Tony Hunt and James Leach
were absent — both boycotting because they said they were not
notified properly about the meeting.
“I am not going over to a meeting just to see what he (Gentry)
wants,” Hunt said at the end of the commissioners’ Monday night
meeting. “The mayor sends over something and expects us to jump.”
During his presentation to Wright and Daniels, Gentry was
unaware of any earlier discord reportedly from Hunt and Leach.
“We are in the same county on the same team and in the same
city,” Gentry said. “We hope this by-pass will keep some of the
trucks off Main Street, and it will enhance our industrial park on
Highway 20.”
Gentry told commissioners Raeford officials were still willing to
donate the old Raeford Hotel to the county for its space needs. He
said several developers were considering accepting the hotel in
order to renovate it. One Fayetteville architect has volunteered to
renovate the historic facility with a one-third capacity lease commit
ment, Gentry added
“We do not want to spend money to fix it up, but we do not want
to tear it down,” Gentry said. “The first floor is possible for retail
space, and offices could be put on the other floors.”
A fuming Hunt told a well-attended group in the commissioners’
assembly room he was “upset” at the lack of courtesy extended to his
board by Gentry. Hunt asked why Linda Revels, clerk of commis
sioners, did not place the item on their agenda if Commission
Chairman L.E. McLaughlin Jr had been notified earlier by Gentry of
the proposed joint meeting.
“There is nothing on our agenda,” Hunt said.
Leach and Hunt refused to recess the commissioners’ meeting in
(See BOYCOTT, page 8A)
City plans annexation
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
The Raeford City Council has set a public hearing in March on
petitions for the annexation of four parcels of property that could
expand the city limits by almost 217 acres.
Three of the requests are from owners of properties that are
contiguous to one another but would be satellite annexations for the
city. Included in those requests is a 207-acre parcel of undeveloped
land on U.S. Highway 401 Business. The request is for T.B.
Upchurch Inc.’s “C.W. Seate property” on U.S. Highway 401
Business adjoining the city wastewater plant. John T. Manning is
petitioning for annexation his 2.2 acres, and Frankie Gilbert is
petitioning for his 4.4 acres, both parcels located on 401 Business.
Across town. State Employees’ Credit Union has requested
annexation of a 2.5-acre site where the business’ new building is
planned on U.S. Highway 401 By-Pass and Fulton Street. That
property is contiguous to current city limits.
(See ANNEXA TION, page 6A)
Landowners file suit against
Five Points Horse Park
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A Fayetteville couple is suing Sandhills Equestrian Conservancy,
owner of Five Points Horse Park in western Hoke, over an easement
dispute. A narrow farm road has become the center of controversy
after landowners Henry and Sharon Adkins contended they have the
right of passage on the dirt road. It cuts through 54 acres purchased
by the Conservancy in 1998—home of the new multi-million dollar
250-acre horse park.
According to design plans. Five Points intends to construct
paddocks, barns, and a covered arena in the path of this unpaved
road. The Adkins have requested a permanent court injunction to
(See LAWSUIT, page 6A)