> I
^The
ews
No. 52 Vol. 93
Visit us
on the web
^'^'^^■thenews-journal.com
This week
Five Points
sets standard
at horse trials
page 1B
Chamber plans
installation banquet
page 5A
Wells to head
Healthy Hoke
program
page 9A
Pair arrested
in golf shop
break-in
page 9A
Index
Births 3B
Business/Farm 5A
Calendar 2B
Classifieds 8-9B
Deaths 6A
Editorials 2-3A
Legals 6-7B
Public Record 4A
Religion 2A
Social News 3B
School 10B
TV Listings 5-6B
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
From the looks of the plants
and trees in my yard, you
would think it was spring. The
azaleas are blooming and the
dogwood trees are budding
and they should be in bloom
before long. The only thing
wrong is that the thermometer
seems to want to register freez
ing temperatures. The wind
out of the North doesn’t help.
Just when 1 think my bones
will stop aching another cold
spell comes through. Maybe it
is just bad to grow old, but I
enjoy every day even with the
pain of age.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
high Wednesday to be in the
60s and the lows in the 30s.
Thursday the high will be in
the 60s and the low in the 50s.
Friday and Saturday the highs
will be in the 70s and the lows
in the 50s. There is a chance of
rain on Thursday and Friday.
**** *
Last week I had an item in
this column asking for money
for a city museum. Saturday
morning there were two
checks in my mail box for this
project.
One was from Mary Helen
Senter and the other was from
Senator David Weinstein of
Lumberton. There was also
the following letter from the
senator.
“Dear Sam; As always 1
enjoy reading your column.
Of special interest to me was
(See AROUND, page 6A)
J oumal
it happened, it's news to i
50 cents
Wednesday, March 28, 2001
Manning ruling ‘victoiy ’ for Hoke
Raleigh judge orders reallocation of money to aid students in poor counties
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
An educational transforma
tion will be undertaken after a
court ruling by a Wake County
judge in a Hoke County land
mark suit against the state over
public education in poor coun
ties. Hoke’s students were found
to be from more economically
deprived backgrounds than the
average, lower income student in
North Carolina. In his Monday
verdict. Superior Court Judge
Howard Manning gave the state
and school systems one year to
devise a plan. He ordered them
to accommodate the needs of at-
risk students in the existing $6
billion educational budget. Oth
erwise, more money would have
to be allocated, he added.
“This is certainly a victory for
us,” said Hoke school’s finance
officer Carolyn Olivarez, which
was echoed by lead attorney Bob
Spearman of Parker Poe Adams
and Bernstein L.L.P of Raleigh,
legal counsel for Hoke’s schools.
Cumberland, Vance, Robeson
and Halifax counties were also
united with Hoke in the lawsuit.
Olivarez and Spearman agreed
(See VICTORY, page lOA)
Boycott targets Daniels
Group wants to hurt commissioner’s business for vote
tiff
mgljUi
*/•
-iC-l
By Vicioriana Summers
Staff writer
Being a commissioner may not always be a
popular job, but Commission Vice Chairman
Bobby Wright and Commissioner Charles V.
Daniels, both Democrats, said they voted their
“convictions” last week toendorsc John McAllister,
retired school board chairman, as their choice to
replace the late Commissioner LE. McLaughlin
Jr. During a heated debate. Commissioners James
A. Ixach and Tony Hunt voted to accept former
Raeford city councilman Clyde Thomas as the
Democratic Party’s recommendation, and an im
passe subsequently resulted. .
Now, some unknown citizens have been circu
lating an unsigned and undated boycott notice in
Hoke. The letter urges people not to conduct
business with Daniels, proprietor of two service
stations in Raeford. A number of people have
expressed disgust that anyone would “resort” to
that type of practice.
Charlotte Kelly, chairman of the Hoke County
(See BOYCOTT, page lOA)
Census: Hoke County’s rate
of growth third highest in state
JROTC Cadet 1st Sgt. Alton Scott of the Hoke County High School
Bucks Battalion practices prior to drill competition held at the school
Saturday. A junior, Scott is the son of Olia Mae Scott and the late
Raymond Scott Jr.
Hoke Republicans look
positively at 2002 races
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Hoke Republicans say they can get enough
votes in the year 2002 to fill a county office.
Approximately 30 Republicans met at
their annual convention this past Saturday
and chose Odell Ashburn, a military and
civil service retiree, to lead the party. Out
going chairman Gene Shelnutt told those
gathered at the courthouse, “We are a party
of the people. Although we may not always
agree, you won’t find us bickering and arguing.”
Republican numbers have tripled since the Hoke party was
reorganized in 1995, Shelnutt said. “We have to be doing something
right. We have enough to fill a political seat in Hoke County —
especially with the help of unaffiliated voters.”
Shelnutt’^ significant showing in his bid for a commissioner’s
seat in 1996 told him “there are some people who agree with
(See REPUBLICANS, page lOA)
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Folks in Hoke knew the county had grown but
had no idea how much until Census 2000 results
were released last week.
U.S. Census Bureau statistics revealed Hoke
County was the third fastest growing county in
North Carolina during the last decade, having
grown a whopping 47.2 percent. Raeford, how
ever. lost a little bit of its population.
Census results “surpassed expectations,” said
Hoke County planning assistant Ed Bradley. “In
the middle of the count we had passed what was
expected of Hoke.”
According to the latest census figures, Hoke
County has a total population of 33,646; 1990
statistics indicated 22,856people. Raeford’spopu-
lation of 3,386 reflects a 2.3 percent decrease.
The census report also shows that the county’s
Hispanic population grew by more than 1000
percent resulting in 2,415 people. Hispanics num
bered 218. Other racial breakdown indicates 13,988
whites, 12,536 African Americans, and 3,797
Native Americans.
The racial breakdown indicates the white popu
lation is gaining over the blacks; 1990 figures
indicated African Americans outnumbered whites.
Whites accounted for 9,635 people in 1990 with
9,878 African Americans. There were 3,176 Na
tive Americans listed in 1990.
(See CENSUS, page 7A)
UNC Hall of Fame to induct Hodges
if.
Odell Ashburn
It’s a jungle at home where jean
Hodges enjoys exotic gardening.
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Jean Hodges, an established Raeford civic leader and owner of
a Fayetteville advertising firm, said she has immersed her “heart
and soul” into the realm of business for 40 years. Noted as one of
two woman to ever serve as a Hoke commissioner, Hodges is now
the first known Hoke resident to be selected as an honoree for the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Hall of Fame.
She will be inducted as an advertising recipient on Saturday
during a ceremony at UNC’s School of Journalism and Mass
Communication. Other prominent members of the broadcast
community, editors and writers across the state will be lauded
with Hodges.
A Texas native, Hodges has resided in North Carolina for more
than 25 years. Far from ordinary, Hodges grew up in a family
acquainted with the late President Lyndon B. Johnson. Her first
V.I.P. advertising assignment was to promote the rock n’ roll
(See HODGES, page 7A)
, 1
....
Centennial paint job
To highlight Raeford’s centennial celebration, the Hoke Courthouse is being
painted "centennial blue” this week. Hoke official l.M. Lyon says this will be the
most noticeable, "if not attractive” courthouse in N.C. This photo was taken after
one day of painting, which will resume April I.
Hoke ‘takes back’ Wal-Mart store
“If Hoke County wants a Wal-Mart, Officials have commissioned a team of
then by golly we’ll give them one,” said a artists to put a new Wal-Mart in the old
local official overseeing the latest volley hotel building on Main Street in Raeford.
in a battle for economic development here. (Sec WAL-MART, page lOA)
fit
Artists commissioned to paint the old "hotel at work Tuesday.