lOA THE NEWS-JOURNAI,
Kaeford, N.C.
January 30, 2(M)2
e-NC initiative
A large crowd of Hoke residents
turned out last night for a forum
on constructing a technological
infrastructure in the county with
high-speed internet access as its
focus. Donna Sullivan (right) used
slides to talk about possible ben
efits of such an effort before the
crowd broke into three groups
for more intensive sessions. In
one, Mary Patterson (below)
learns to surf the net from
Marianne Corins in the West
Hoke Middle computer lab. The
lab is open regularly for public use
as part of the project.
Teea sought in connection with murder
Raeford-Hotce Crimestoppers
and die Raeford Police Dq*. are
seeking the fmblk’s help in locating
l9»year-old Jeremiah Baldwin, a
Wack male who resides in the Doc
Brown Road and Harris Lane areas.
Police and Crimestoppeis are
also seeking any witnesses who
saw the shooting that occurred
W^esday afternoon, January 23,
2002 that left one person dead and
two others injured.
Any informatitm leading to die
arrest of suspects or information
that helps solve this crime could
result in a cash reward, according
to Rdiert OruH, president of the
local Crimestoppers organization.
Cmdact the Raeford PJD at 875-
4251; or Crimestoppers ^ (910)
308-8700.
County Manager
(Coniiiiued from pa^e I A)
manager to “not be more” than
$6(),()(M) with Wright supporting him.
However, Bratcher, Leach and Hunt
del'etited tliat recommendation.
"1 did not think it was lair to ask a
eounly manager to be compensated
less than some of our department
heads," Leach saitl. “We iei|uested
Mr. Hunt to negotiate with him over
the salary, which must not exceed
$S(),4S6eiirned by the previous man
ager."
Leach commended Wood as his
first choice to lead the county in the
luimbei one executive |iosilion.
“Mike W'ood is top-notch for the
job." l.eaeh said. "Mr. Wooil siieeess-
fnlly look Itiiseonnty from heing broke
\siih only a three pereeiil lund bal
ance. and increased our fund bahmee
to ,^() percent when he left.
"He laiuled the job because of his
extensive experienee in eounly gov
ernment."
Leach said he has worked with
Wood before ami he thinks the board
will learn to enjoy working with him.
"He is a family man a eliureh
man — and with those qinilities he
e;m only lio what is right lor the
eounly," Leach said. "We are looking
forward to a bright future."
An affable Wood received a eon-
giatulatory welcome from staff yes
terday, saying he fell right ;il home.
“Htiyonel was ;i tremendous expe-
Preserve
(ConliiiiicJ from po^c /,.\).
United Stales. Hoke's longleaf pine
forest is considered one of North
Carolina’s ;md the ntilion's "natural
treasures," according to Lyndo
Tippett, stale Iranspoilalion seerelaiy.
“I am an environmental cham
pion,” Tippett said in liis ke_\m)le ad
dress. "I can rememhei when you
could step out your back door into a
wooded area. '
“It is our responsibility to protect
tracts such as this. 1 ha\e made it one
of my top goals. "
Bordering Highway 211 in west
ern Hoke and adjoining the Foil Bnigg
reservation, the eonseiwation lands
were acquired by the N.C. Depan-
ment of Transportation during two
yearsof negotiations. The project was
spearheatled by Ti jipel I, B i 11 Ci i 1 mot e.
Roger Sheets and biologist Hal Bain
of the DOT.
According to Tippett, the lands
being protected will help mitigate
impacts of future liighway projects
for Hoke, Scotland and other counties
in the region. He also said the DOT is
in negotiations with Hoke's govern
ment to address economic concerns
in losing tax revenue from the wood
pecker preserve.
“By opening this property up to
limited public use. w'c can help pre
serve ilqs natural habitat sothepuhlit
can enjoy the properly." l ippell said.
"Whiit is good tor the birds and is
good K)|' iiie pines is also good for
North C'arolinians."
I ipiVtl commentledihe letnlership
ol Hokvj aiKl the City of Raeford for
inakingi environmental project
possible. I'fe said the properly will be
aimed over to the Conservancy for
long-lerni nuuiagcinent after a land
survey js completed. The U.S. Fish
and WiiJiiCe Service will also serve
as a eoqsiillanl. he adtied.
"I ‘itn confident we will improve
the hahitai of the existing five colo
nies ol vvruKlpeekeis and increase the
colonies in the fnluie." Tippett said.
"We Wyin our children to see some
thing oHicm' than a picture rrfthe wood
pecker someday.”
f'l’pe'tt praised the efforts of
Katheriiio Skinner, executive diree-
lor ol iiie Conservancy's branch in
North i;'arolina.
"W
are pleased to receive it,
Skinner said of their management of
the laiiri hoownas'rheCallowtiy'fracl.
'This is Mother Nature at her finest.
This is a breakthrough today fonts.
e can match our short term and
long term goals with those of the
DO I, and Foil Bragg's goals to pre
vent enem.iehment ol homestooclose
to the base, and to look at inoie train
ing area."
Ti|ipetl and Skinner said goals for
the land'suse w ill he loeneouragethe
nveeoloniesofvvoodpeekerslo nour
ish. Tliev hope to transfer colonies
from the outer loop area that is cur
rently heing constructed in
I'ayelleville.
According to Tippetl. the red-
cockadedvvootlpeckeristheonly vvrH)d-
|iecker know n to nest in live pine trees.
It prefers preparing a nest, w hich takes
almost two years to build, only in
longleaf pines .40 years old or more.
■'There is one dominant male and
female in the colony who mute,"
'I'ippelt said. "They male for life. The
point of our studying animals is it
lielps ns to have a deeper understand
ing of our own behavior."
Other guest speakers praised the
efforts of the DOT.
"I cannot think of a better place to
he other than here vv ith yon today to
celebrate this great environmental
achievement," said Colonel Tad
Davis, Garrison Commander of Fort
liragg, who attended the ceremony.
Davis said F'ort Bragg's environ
mental headquarters planted 131,000
longleafpine seedlings last year. Mili-
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tary environmentalists also eon-
slrueled 226 artificial cavities in pine
trees in oixler hn 12.4 red-eockaded
woodpecker clusters to proliferate.
"The increase in our population i,s
good news for our economy, but not
foi our wildlife,"said John I’eehmann.
chair of the N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commiss'ion. “That is why we are so
excited about v)ur partnership here
toiiay. This land will be open to the
public for hunting, but to also eitsure
wildlife resources w ill be protected."
"This is a dream in the making,"
said G.R. Kimiley, emcee from the
N.C. Board of rransporttition. "It
gives us an opportunity 'to go b;iek to
the phice we were horn' in the words
of the famous Walt Whitman."
After the dedication ceremony, a
4()-minute walking tour through the
wildlife refuge was conducted by The
Conservancy.
Among state dignitaries present,
were .Senators Aaron Plyler, Bill
Puieell and Tony Rand.
Also. Moke leaders, included Rae
ford Mayor BobGentry, RaefordCity
Manager Mike McNeill, County Man-
tiger Mike Wood, Commissioner
Bobby Wright , Executive Director
Donald Porter of the Raeford Hoke
Economic Development Board, A.K.
"Dooie" Leach, chairman of Hoke's
Democratic party and chaimian of the
RHED, and retired di,strict attorney
Jean Powell.
Also, Lafreda Williams and Roger
Scerist of the Carolina Park Hor.se
Foundation at Five Points.
rienee," Wood said. “1 had worked
with government for22 years. I though
it was important to experience the
business world, and I learned a great
deal.
"I can bring that experience back
here and 1 think it will make me a
better mantiger.’’
Wood said he briefly reviewed the
eoiinly's financial forecast.
■’The county is in a good financial
state," Wood said. "We are fortunate
the county is growing, and our tax
revenues are iiiereasing.
"We must continue as strongly as
possible to control additional spend
ing."
Wood said he does not foresee any
drastic changes in personnel or other
procedures. He said he is confident
with the support of commissioners
and staff the transition will flow
smoothly.
"I think Don Steed has done such a
magnificent job," Wood said. “His
arrival elevated the morale of the or
ganization.
"1 have spoken to several depart
ment heads, and I have been impressed
with the things he has ilone."
l.eaeh said he would also like to
persoiKilly thank Don Steed for his
serv ice and contribul ions to the county
during the past months.
Wright and Daniels supported hir
ing Olivarez, insisting she was the
"best" person for the job. Olivarez is
a ceilified public accountant, han
dling all the finances and computer
innovations for Hoke's school sys
tem. She has served for seven years as
fintmce oflieer, providing financial
guidance for the Board of Education.
"I think she would have been best
for Hoke County." Wright said. "I am
disappointed we did not get enough
votes to hire her. She would have
been a credit to our citizens."
Daniels said he oreferred
Olivarez’s professional background
over Wood. He said Olivarez, could
have represented the public well.
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Wood was picked from an array of
44 applications that were narrowed
down to five candidates. One person
withdrew their application, leaving
only four choices. The commission
ers strongly considered the qualifica
tions of Keisha R. Gill, an employee-
of North Carolina A&T State Univer
sity, and Paul Bjorkman, who has
served as a county manager in Geor
gia and South Carolina. However,
theirfinal votes focusedonly on Wood
and Olivarez.
Wood's tenure with Hoke since
UJ76 included work as an environ
mental health sanitarian and environ
mental health coordinator. He was
promoted to the health director’s slot
in 1989, working in that post until
1994. Wood served as Hoke’s county
manager from May 1994 until August
1998 when he resigned to accept a
position at Bayonet at Puppy Creek.
During his employment at Bayo
net, he was responsible lor personnel
management, budgeting, marketing,
rceeivabics and real estate.
Wood, a 1971 graduate of Hoke
County High School, earned a
bachelor's degree in sociology from
the University of NorthCarolina-Pem-
broke in 1976. He received advanced
training at the UNC-Chapel Hill's
School of Public Health.
Wood resides in Raeford with his
w ife, Carol, and their three daughters.
The county has been advertising
for a permanent county manager to
fill the vacancy for the past three
months. Criteria included experience
in county government and holding at
least a four-year college degree.
MePhatter resigned on October 1J,
and is being investigated by the State
Bureau of Investigation in connec
tion with embezzlement allegations.
Retired Hoke School superinten
dent Don Steed has been serving as-
interim county manager-since’N«-1
vember 5. He volunteered to assist the
county temporarily until a permanent
manager was hired.
J would like to thank every
one for ike visits, cards, prayers
said for me and haviny me on
all the prayer lists while D
was in the hospital and at
home.
Thank you ayain,
[Howard Steadman
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