The
ews
It happened^ it's news to
J oumal
No. 6 Vol. 94
50 cents
Wednesday, May 9, 2001
Visit us
on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Unilever workers
make park benches
page 1B
City founders' kin
will lead parade
page 3A
Schools seek slim
increase next year
page 9A
Index 1
Calendar
2B
Classifieds
8-9B
Deaths....
lOA
Editorials....
2A
Engagements....
3B
Legals....
7B
Public Record....
5A
Religion....
5B
School....
....4,10B
Social News....
3B
TV Listings....
5-6B
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
Some of the people that
came by the office Monday
morning were commenting on
how nice the weather was. This
was more like the spring days
that you would expect in May.
I am hoping that it will not get
cold enough again to turn the
heat back on at the house. This
spring 1 have already changed
from heat to air conditioning
three times. 1 can’t remember
ever doing this before. What
we need for the weather to do
is to bring in some rain.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
highs Wednesday and Thurs
day to be in the 70s and the
lows in the 50s. Friday and
Saturday the highs will be in
the 80s and the lows in the
60s. There is a chance of rain
for Wednesday.
For a few weeks 1 ran let
ters from people who had in
cluded a check for the City of
Raeford Museum. Then last
week 1 received a letter and
check from Mary Virginia
McFadyen of Southern Pines.
The letter fol lows: “Dear Sam,
enclosed in my check for the
museum. Please get it to it s
destination.
“I still look forward to your
column in The News-Journal.
“Best regards to vou and
Mary Alice. Sincerely, Mary
Virginia.”
Thanks Mary Virginia for
your nice letter and check. 1
(See AROUND, page 4A)
City considers leasing to boat maker
B^ Pat Ai.i,E'n Wilson
Editor
pany to occupy the former Unifi building
that was given to the city after the com
pany closed down operations here.
The city of Raeford is negotiating a City councilmen met in executive ses-
lease-to-own agreement with a manufac- sion, and a resolution was adopted when
turer of boats that would allow the com- the city returned to regular session. Con
ditions of the lease with option to pur
chase require that the factory employ no
less than 50 full-time employees and that
they be paid an average of $8.50 per hour.
The city is asking for $52,000 monthly
for five years at which time the factory’s
owners may buy the building for $500,0(M).
The factory would receive credit for rental
payments made during the five years mi
nus insurance costs to the city.
The current market value of the build-
(See LEASE, page lOA)
Relay for Life
\
Relay for Life draws
hundreds of walkers
Above: Hailey Evington, 2,
let her dad, Brian and her
mom, Denise, do the walk
ing during the Relay for Life
held at Raz Autry Stadium
over the weekend. The
Evingtons walked for Gali
lee Baptist Church of Red
Springs.
At right, survivors of can
cer walk - everyone ex
cept a one-year-old survi
vor who is carried by Tom
Squier and Wendy Parvi.
Hundreds of participants
from dozens of teams raised
over $70,000 for the
American Cancer Society.
DA conducts inquiry on death,
disappearance of John Butler
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Even though the N.C. Medical Examiner’s of
fice in Chapel Hill indicated the remains of 52-
year-old missing man Johnny Edward Butler Jr.
showed no signs of trauma last November, his
sister Linda Rose wonders if Butler could have
been stabbed and left to die where he was found in
the woods near Rockfish Road.
Rose said she also blames Sheriff Jim Davis for
her brother’s death because of his alleged lack of
adequately searching for him. Butler’s family re
ported him missing early on the morning of July
28, 1999 when temperatures were soaring above
100 degrees. His remains were discovered 16
months later less than one mile from his Pittman
Grove Church Road home.
District Attorney Kristy McMillan Newton an
nounced recently she is officially conducting an
inquiry about Butler.
“Our inquiry into the death of John Butler was
initiated at the request of Sheriff Jim Davis and the
family of the deceased man,” Newton said. “Our
purposes are first and foremost to found out if there
is any evidence that the deceased may have been
murdered, and if a request should be made for a
coroner’s inquest to determine the facts surround
ing his death.”
Attorney Andy Dempsterof Smith Dickey Smith
Hasty & Dempster law firm in Fayetteville also
announced onTriday his firm has been contacted
by the Butler family. He confirmed the Butlers are
(See BUTLER, page 8A)
Curtain goes up on Centennial play May 18
Bratcher elected
board chairman
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Two weeks after Commissioner Cleo Bratcher Jr. took the oath of
office to replace the late Commissioner L.E. McLaughlin Jr., he was
unanimously voted in as chairman on Monday evening — also a
distinction held by his predecessor. The re-structuring of the board
was-supervised by county attorney Neil Yarborough while a filled
group of citizens observed.
Commissioners briskly approved Bratcher as chairman for the
next six months of McLaughlin’s term without any discussion.
Commissioner Charles V. Daniels recommended Bratcher as chair
man, a motion that remained unopposed by any other nominations.
His request was seconded by Commission Vice Chairman Bobby
Wright by acclamation.
(See CHAIRMAN, page QA)
City budget plan
is $3.57 million
Tax rate remains the same
By P\r Aiu'n Wuson
Editor
Raeford City Council members had their first look at a $3,575,745
budget proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. The planned budget
calls for no tax hike and no increases in water and sewer rales. The
property tax rate will remain at 47 cents per $100 valuation.
However, leaders are concerned that a tax increase is in the city’s
future, and they also expressed worries about taking money from the
general fund balance. “If we keep taking out of the fund balance, it
will be gone in two more years,” said Councilman Eddie McNeill.
“Somewhere along the line we are going to have a tax increase,” said
Mayor Bob Gentry, adding that he does not want Raeford “to get in
the condition the state is in.”
A workshop was held after the regularly scheduled meeting
Monday night. Councilmen went over the proposed budget page by
page and will hold a more intensive workshop on May 21 when a
public hearing is scheduled.
The proposed budget is a $ 103,259 increase over last year’s fiscal
year budget. It projects a 27 percent general fund balance, and
(See CITY BUDGET, page lOA)
19 elementary students
won’t switch districts
By Kristin Guthrie
Staff writer
After hearing from concerned parent Charles Crowder and seeing
that the room was full of other interested parents, the Hoke Board of
Education decided last night to rescind an earlier motion to redistrict
some 19 students from Upchurch Elementary School.
The initial motion made at last month’s meeting was to redistrict
sibling students who began at Upchurch when it opened as a year-
round school. This motion applied only to students who were
younger than rising fifth graders. The initial motion stated that the
(See DISTRICTS, page lOA)
E ’"S”
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A prominent Raeford playwright has written a
musical drama to commemorate Raeford’s up
coming Centennial Celebration, unveiling a rare
glimpse into one hundred years of living history
that leads up to the 21 st century. Delving into the
1 i ves and accompl ishments “way back” of Raeford’s
citizens. Dr. Ray Harris, retired director of music
at Raeford Presbyterian Church, has devised 12
“living pictures.”
Local actors will portray historical events in
Hoke County that contributed to Raeford’s heri
tage in the play that opens at 8 p.m. on May 18. The
play will be performed on the stage at Turlington
School.
Sharing a series of past vignettes, Harris, also a
historian, said he has combined music, dance and
drama into almost a two-hour
play with a narration presented
by six actors who attend Hoke
County High School. They are
among a cast of 30 Raeford
actors — most of whom pan
tomime the historical scenes
recalled by the students. The
plot unfolds as these teens
become fascinated with con
tributions their ancestors made
Dr. Ray Harris
(rr
to create the city of Raeford. Harris is re-creating
actual vintage photographs frozen into life-sized
tableaus with statuary actors. Suddenly, the still
actors come alive to iiiterwine scenes about real
people that will transport the audience into another
era, he added.
“1 am very honored that 1 was asked by the
(See CENTENNIAL, page 8A)
Prayer
Members of the Hoke community gather to support America with
prayer last week during the National Day of Prayer observance held
at the downtown stage.