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.

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