The
ews
No. 39 Vol. 94
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Iveys feted musically
on golden
anniversary
page 1B
A soldier's Christmas
page 6A
Hoke residents get
Campbell degrees
4A
The News-Journal
will be closed
January 1
Index
Births
3B
Calendar....
8B
Classifieds....
7B
Deaths....
5A
Editorials....
2A
Legals....
5-6B
Public Record....
3A
Religion....
6A
Schools....
... 4A,2B
Social News....
3B
TV Listings....
3-4B
Weddings....
3B
ArouniJ Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
Today is December 26,
2001. Christmas is over and I
hope all your Christmas
wishes came true. 1 am sorry
to say that Mr. Morris has been
in the hospital again. I re
ceived a call Saturday night
from Susan Stauffer with the
news that he had been taken
by ambulance to Moore Re
gional Medical Center. 1 then
received a call Sunday morn
ing from Mrs. Morris with the
same news and a request for
me to write this column. 1
spoke with Mr. Morris this
morning. He came home from
the hospital Christmas Eve
after receiving a blood trans
fusion. Please keep the
Morrises in your prayers. —
Becky Jones.
All I can really say about
the weather this morning is
“Baby, it’s cold outside.” It
was not as cold as expected
over the weekend. My ther
mometer read 28° this morn
ing. The weather report I heard
this morning indicated that we
can expect highs in the 40s
and lows in the 20s for ap
proximately 16 days with no
rain in the forcast. 1 hope you
have the firewood cut and the
flannel sheets and blankets on
the bed.
Christmas is my favorite
holiday. I love the decora-
(See AROUND, page 5A)
J ournal
If it happened, it's news to us
50 cents
Wednesday, December 26, 2001
Peterkin cleared in traffic case
Defense says Sheriff Davis falsely accused political rival
By ViCTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
In a high-profile trial in Hoke’s district
court last Wednesday, Hubert A. Peterkin,
a Fayetteville Police investigator, never
had to testify after a verdict of “not gui Ity”
was pronounced by Judge Donald L.
Boone. The judge’s ruling followed im
mediately after the prosecution rested its
case. The traffic violation case against
Peterkin, former major-chief deputy to
Hubert Peterkin is congratulated by well-wishers outside the Hoke County Court
house.
Sheriff Jim Davis, was dismissed amid a
subdued cheer from courtroom specta
tors.
Peterkin had continually said the traf
fic stop by Davis on October 16 was
“unlawful.” Davis accused Peterkin of
allegedly speeding, failure to stop for a
blue light and siren, and careless and
reckless driving after he followed Peterkin
on U.S. 401. Peterkin was on his way
from Cumberland County to Raeford, dis-
playing his badge and a large Peterkin
bumper sticker on the back of his Lexus
automobile at the time of the incident.
“Those charges were filed because I
am a political rival of Sheriff Davis,”
Peterkin said. “He violated my civil rights
and also was harassing me.
“I am innocent.”
Peterkin has been the subject of previ
ous allegations by Davis since he resigned
from the Sheriffs Office in early 2000 to
return to the Fayetteville Police Depart
ment. He and several other key supervi
sors in the Hoke Sheriffs Office had
complained of mistreatment by Davis. On
the witness stand, Davis told defense at
torney David Courie that Peterkin and
other officials had been the subject of an
SBI investigation that was still ongoing,
but the SBI could not confirm this was so.
Former District Attorney Jean Powell had
said previously there was not one “scin
tilla” of evidence to support any of Davis’
claims against his former deputies.
In the traffic citation matter last week,
Boone acquitted Peterkin, saying there
was not evidence to support the allega
tions. Boone deliberated only briefly after
hearing three hours of testimony from
Davis and two other prosecution wit
nesses.
“1 am very relieved the trial is over,
however, 1 am very sorry that this had to
happen,” Peterkin said. “1 hate that Sher
iff Davis felt that he had to resort to these
measures for political purposes.
“I felt the court process was fair and
this shows that the justice system that I
have served for many years does work.”
Peterkin said he was not “by any means”
afraid of Davis, but he did not trust him
because of Davis’ history of false allega
tions toward himself. Peterkin said he will
continue to run a sheriff s campaign with
the “concerns, reputation and goals of the
community” as his highest regards.
“I want to thank the Committee To
Elect Hubert Peterkin for standing by me
{See PETERKIN, page 5A)
ShertfF’s substation opens at Heritage Village
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
In a history-making dedication last Fri
day, the Hoke Sheriffs Office and the
U.S. Army 18th Airborne Corp at Fort
Bragg dedicated a community policing
substation at Heritage Village in Rock-
fish. Interim County Manager Don Steed
recalled some years ago when Heritage
Village was nothing but a field. Mortar
Lt William Russell, supervisor of the sat
ellite office at Heritage Village, takes a call.
and bricks made a loving community — a
safe place to raise our children. Steed
said.
“We thank Sheriff (Jim) Davis for this
vision,” Steed said. “I can see this hap
pening over and over again in this kind of
partnership with the military.”
Heritage’s substation was also praised
as a “shining example” of teamwork in
Hoke by Kevin Monroe, a guest speaker
from Sen. John Edward’s Charlotte of
fice.
Davis said the substation represents the
first of its kind within a military housing
complex across the nation. The partnering
is a vision that was realized to provide the
highest degree of public safety for Hoke
citizens and to improve the quality of life,
Davis added.
According to Davis, the mission of
Heritage Village’s substation housed in
its community building is for military
families to be protected while soldiers are
deployed fighting for their country.
“We are truly blessed to be here today,”
Davis said. “Let the world see one of the
finest law enforcement agencies on the
earth.
“The Sheriffs department has come a
long way in the last three years. These
kinds of projects are very significant to
the concept of community policing.”
Davis said the establishment of the
new substation, the second in the county,
is part of a decentralizing initiative at the
Hoke Sheriffs Office to extend commu
nity policing throughout the county.
“We are trying to provide the best law
enforcement this county deserves,” Davis
said. “We want to provide the same kind
of security for them (military) as they
provide for us.”
Lt. William Russell, commander of the
road deputies, will be supervising the
Heritage Village sheriffs satellite office.
The first substation to be founded in Hoke
is still in operation at the Hawkeye Sands
Native American housing complex, ac
cording to Davis.
“We are working together with the
(See SUBSTATION, page 7A)
Hoke Sheriffs deputies and detectives pray during the dedication of the new Heritage
Village substation.
County awarded grant for pilot presch(3ol program
BY Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Local educators announced last week
Hoke County Schools is one of three
school systems in the Cape Fear to be
awarded a part of $6.5 million in state
funding. Hoke’s portion will be used to
enroll 90 four-year-old children in a pilot
preschool program. Targeting four-year-
olds who are at risk or challenged in
school, Gov. Mike Easley’s new “More
at Four” initiative will be spearheaded by
Kristy Posey, the new Title I preschool
director.
“North Carolina is taking the steps
necessary to close the achievement gap in
education that has been tolerated in this
state for far too long,” Easley said. ‘The
nation’s top leaders in early childhood
education have said that pre-kindergar
ten programs like More at Four and class
size reduction efforts are proven ways to
give students the tools they need to suc
ceed in school.
“Better prepared students are more
likely to stay in school, stay out of trouble,
graduate and go to college.”
is very deserving. As a key defendant in
the current low wealth lawsuit that is
trying to help students in counties with
limited resources receive more state fund
ing, this is a great step to ensure our
students will be successful later on in
"As a key defendant in the current low wealth lawsuit that is
trying to help students in counties with linnited resources receive
more state funding, this is a great step to ensure our students will
be successful later on in life." — Superintendent Mitch Tyler
Hoke School Superintendent Mitch
Tyler, a member of the More at Four
committee, said he and other volunteers
have been working diligently to begin the
curriculum for preschool pupils. Extra
teachers will also be hired with the grant
funding provided.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for our
students,” Tyler said. “We feel like Hoke
life.”
According to Tyler, additional pre
school classrooms will be available next
week. However, he told the Hoke County
Board of Education it will probably not be
until the end of January before all 90
children are enrolled because of tight time
constraints in organizing the classes. The
classroom size will offer a 9 to 1 student
to teacher ration.
Hoke is among 12 statewide communi
ties participating in the first pilot pro
gram, providing a total of 8(X) children
who will enter the preschool programs
available in the state.
Jean Brewer, director of Hoke’s Part
nership for Children, and representatives
from the Department of Social Services,
Health and the federally-funded Head Start
program, will be involved in the pre
school grant process.
Easley’s educational plan coincided
with the recent ruling of Wake Superior
Court Judge Howard Manning, who told
the state in a three-phase ruling that the
state must accommodate a pre-kindergar
ten curriculum for young at-risk children.
In order for students to receive a basic,
sound education. Manning said a plan
must be devised to ensure children in
(See SCHOOLS GRANT, page 8A)
Saturday’s Kwanzaa celebration here rings in the new year
Kwanzaa is a rite enjoyed around the
world as communities celebrate family,
community and culture. The name of this
African-American holiday comes from
Swahili words, matunda ya kwanza, which
means “first fruits.” It is a concept shared
by many cultures around the country and
the world. All residents are invited to
come out and celebrate “first fruits.”
This year’s Hoke County Kwanzaa
celebration will be held in the Hoke County
Public Library on Saturday, December
29, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Around 6 p.m.
the Kwanzaa meal will begin. Food will
be provided this year, but participants are
invited to bring any dish that they enjoy to
share with about half a dozen friends and
neighbors.
The stated purpose of the Kwanzaa
celebration is to “reaffirm ourselves, re
new our purpose and recommit to the
Kwanzaa principles.” The seven Kwanzaa
principles include: Umoja or unity,
Kukumbuka or recalling and remember
ing (the wisdom of our elders),
Kujichaguia or sell-determination, Uj ima
or collective work and responsibility,
Ujamaa or collective economics, Nia or
purpose and Kuumba or creativity.
These are all values parents wish to
instill in ourchildren, no matter what our
culture, and are the kinds of family vir
tues that have received so much atten
tion since the tragedy of September 11.
One of the main goals of Dr. Kaulana
Karenga who founded the American
version of the Kwanzaa in 1966, follow
ing the riots in Watts, California was “to
encourage us to avoid the unfortunate
(See KWANZAA, page 5A)