The
ews
Journal
-^4
it happened, it's news to us
No. 23 Vol. 94
50 cents
Wednesday, September 2001
On vacation?
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
page 1B
Woman hit
by car twice
page 4A
300-year-old report
tells of vanishing
North Carolina
page 2A
Index
Births
3B
Business/Farm
8A
Calendar
2B
Classifieds
8-9B
Deaths
3A
Editorials
2A
Engagements. ..
3B
Legals
6-7B
Public Record
.... 4-5A
Religion
.... 6-7A
Schools
6B
Social News
3-4B
TV Listings
4-5B
Weddings
4B
Around Town
Contributing Editor
We are still getting rain
about every day. Someone was
by the office Monday morn
ing and she said that there was
a heavy rain in the western
part of the county Sunday af
ternoon. There wasn’t enough
to measure in the rain gauge in
Raeford. This has been hap
pening all this summer. Heavy
rain in places. Anyway, the
temperature has cooled off
somewhat in this part of the
state. Maybe we will have an
early fall.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, cal Is for the
highs on Wednesday and
Thursday to be in the 80s and
the lows in the 60s. Friday and
Saturday the highs will be in
the 70s and the lows in the
50s. There is no rain fore
casted.
*****
The big week for many
people in Hoke County starts
Thursday. This marks the be
ginning of the 17th Annual
North Carolina Turkey Festi
val. Thursday there will be
music at the Library Stage
during the day and this will be
followed by the parade at 5:30
p.m. The Opening Ceremo
nies will be at the Library Stage
beginning at 10 a.m. Friday.
There will be music on the
stage Friday and Saturday. I he
Beach Concert will be Satur
day night from 8:00 p.m. to
12:00 p.m. at Armory Park.
Friday night you can get the
(See AROUND, page 5A)
Hoke reacts with
prayer for victims
People seek comfort, understanding
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
“There are no words adequate enough to
describe the events of the day — the horror,
the tragedy,” said the Rev. Kevin Campbell,
minister at Raeford Presbyterian Church.
The minister spoke for the people of a
community and a nation who were seeking to
understand terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington yesterday morning that have
left untold numbers dead and injured.
The specially called prayer service at
Raeford Presbyterian was one of many held
across the city and county in response to the
disaster.
“The disaster is going to bring us to
gether,” said Susan Patterson, a secretary at
Sandhills Community College, whose church.
Tabernacle Baptist, held a prayer vigil.
“1 felt sick in the pit of my stomach for the
people who died today and the families who
ere pulled apart,” she said on learning of
tne terrorist attacks. “I started praying imme
diately after I saw the first pictures of it.”
Patterson added, “The way I feel is God is
trying to bring this country back. He is tr\ ing
to turn the U.S. around to put Him first
instead of everything else first and Him last.
1 believe that.”
Classes at SCC were canceled because
students could not concentrate on their stud
ies. Around town, many laborers went home
for lunch to watch TV, some returning to
work with portable TVs and radios.
Angel Li,proprietorof Li'sPalace, left the
radio on a news station so diners could keep
up with the news. A hush fell over the restau
rant, she said, when President Bush addressed
the American people.
Li said her famil> — siblings and parents
— called from Hong Kong concerned about
her family and the situation here. “1 told them
we were still trying to digest it," she said.
“1 know America is going to do some
thing,” Li added.
The day’s events were discussed by
shocked residents in businesses around the
city and county. "That’s a shocker," said a
man in a local convenience store who did not
want to be identified. “I don't think it would
(See PRAYER, page 9A)
Reggie Pickier and son Johnathan at a prayer gathering Tuesday night.
West Hoke seeks municipality of its own
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Five years a group of west Hoke taxpayers began
discussing incorporating the area serviced by the West
Hoke Volunteer Fire Department. Now the vision of a
new city is growing under the leadership of the Re v. J.R.
Monroe, and co-organizers Mary Fowler, Johnny
Kershaw and Matthew Ray.
They seek to create a “entity” separate from the
county to include a portion of Blue Springs, all of
Quewhiffle and Raeford No. 4 voting precincts.
It will ultimately be up to the state legislature to
decide if the city becomes a reality, but these citizens
hope to make history in western Hoke County by
forming another municipality, Monroe said.
“Moore county has its Pinehurst Village, so Hoke’s
new town could be named. West Hoke Village,” Mon
roe said. “One of the primary reasons we are planning
a second city in Hoke i.s because it is the only county in
the state with just one acti\e municipalits, the count)
seat of Raeford.
“The vast 01:1)1 nil) nt tfiepenpk u- .I'line nitViis tit;.i
do not know we are planning a new cit) We w ant to get
the word out.”
According to Monroe, western Hoke's population
has almost tripled during the last three years.
He said West Hoke Elementaty School and the
Turnpike Road area would become the central point
where thecity would originate, and the L.F,. Mcl.aughlin
farm would also be included in the new municipality.
“Our population is multi-racial in western Hoke,”
Monroe said.
“If you go door-to-door you meet black, Jewish,
Hispanic and white folks. By incorporating, we could
pull resources from state and federal grants, pumping
money into our city without going through the county
commissioners or Raeford officials.
“This would encourage more growth and prosper-
it).”
Monroe said another plus would be that citizens are
■•ntiiled to elect their own officials.
"We would bypass the commissioners and have our
own mayor and city council in place,” Monroe said. “To
form a new city will be a challenge, but it is not
impossible.
“Hoke’s children are not reaping what they need
from the county. We would like to offer them a city
where recreational facilities are available.”
Monroe envisions a recreation center, and is consid
ering the site of a private park currently owned by
Willie McCaskill, former elections board chairman. No
post office is planned, and he said the new city would
use county water. Plans include establishing a police
force and building a town hall, Monroe added.
In order for the state to consider their proposal,
(See MUNICIPALITY, page lOA)
*
Turkey Festival begins tomorrow
Going ahead on schedule
'1
By Vi('iori\n.\Simmers
Staff writer
It will be something to gab about when thou
sands of guests enjoy the 17th annual North Caro
lina Turkey Festival in Raeford starting tomorrow.
Watch out becaiLse fans will get their feathers
ruffled if anybody tries to mess with the traditional
mascot of the three-day event knowm merely as
“The Turkey.” At least 6-foot-3 inches of lean
bird, beak and feathers, The Turkey will flap his
wings along Main Street during the afternoon
parade at 5:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Prior to the parade, Thursday has been named
"Poult Day,” which festival executive director
Jackie Lynch said is for the “young and young-at-
heart.” Warming up audiences, the popular
Kazoobie will welcome visitors to the Library
Stage to perform in the All Kids Kazoo Band,
followed by other fine entertainment.
With a theme of “Look Me Over,” Lynch said
the participation from volunteers for this year’s
festival has been overwhelming. She said each
year local families hold reunions, making senti
mental journeys back to Raeford during this high
light of the year,
“Without the volunteers, we could never have
this festival,” Lynch said. “They have put months,
days and hours into it. This festival is not just about
(See FESTIVAL, page lOA)
Classroom mobilized forHispanics
ly -
\
r, J
f I
By Vici'ori.vna Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County Schools is entering its first part
nership with Sandhills Community College and
House of Raeford that is designed to bridge the
language barrier between Hispanic parents of
school-age children and Spanish-speaking who
that are looking fitr a job without comprehending
English. With this goal in mind, the school board
voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to sell the
House of Raeford a surplus mobile classroom unit
for one dollar, a historical vote linking a mobile
classroom to the Hispanic and English-speaking
communities.
House of Raeford agreed to pay all costs associated
with moving, relocation and setting up the
(See MOBILIZED, page 9A)
City’s audit favorable
Pretty and dangerous
Lizzie Brewer shows ia rattlesnake found dead in the highway in
western Hoke. This rattler was in the freezer 24 hours before Lizzie
was allowed to touch it; nerve reactions from a snake can cause it to
strike for 24 hours after it has been dead; The dangers of poisonous
snakes are explored oh page 11 A.
Raefordcity councilmen heard
a favorable audit report of the
city’s financial books from CP/'I
J. Frank Baker Monday night.
Baker had no complaints w ith
the c'itv's bnokkei'piiie ;i'iil ii'M
the mayor and council members
the city staff calls him pefiodi-
cally with questions. "I'd rather
answerquestions than write nega
tive comments later,” he said.
Baker said the general fund
balance was at a “very safe fig
ure” of approximately 40 per
cent of current yearexpenditures.
The state recommends at least
■*7 percetit remain in the general
t’lipd h i mci' ind wi'l inter.'cde
it it gets below eight percent.
This fiscal year, councilmen
passed a general fund budget of
almost $3 million leaving the
property tax rate at 47 cents per
(See AUDIT, page 12A)
Kiss sparks brawl
at Hoke High
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A kiss between Hoke
County High School senior
Marcus Holcombe and his
16-y ear-old girlfriend, Maria
Oquendo, eventually resulted
in a brawl and four arrests.
Apparently after the
(See KISS, page 9A)