The
ews
Journal
happened^ it's news to
No. 4 Vol. 94
50 cents
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-journal.cofn
This week
Maggie Rucker
a mother to all
page 1B
Kershaw signs
with Maryland
page 6A
Silver City
sewer coming
page 5A
Hoffman named
First Health
EMS director
page 4A
Index
Husiness/Tciint 9A
C.ilenclar 6B
Classifieds 8B
Deaths 8A
Editorials 2-3A
1 t'gals 6-7B
Public Record 8A
Religion 7A
School 2B
Sports 6A
Around Town
By S'\m C. MoRKis
Contributing Editor
li is hard lo figure out the
ucalhcr. A few days will be
hot and then the cold air and
frost will appear. It is no won
der that many people arc go
ing lo the doctor with colds or
till. Maybe the six weeks after
llie groundhog saw his shadow
the weailicr will again become
stable. Let's hope so!
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
highs on Wednesday and
Thursday to be in the 50s and
the lows in the 30s. Friday and
Saturday the highs will be in
the 6()s and the lows in the
high 30s or low 40s. There is
no rain in the forecast.
rf; :|c 4c %
For many years 1 have been
attending the Legislative
Breakfast at Burlington Indus
tries. The Raeford-Hoke
Chamber of Commerce spon
sors this event and it is always
filled to capacity. It will be
lield this coming Saturday,
February 16 at 8:30 a.m. As
the Chamber Newsletter
stated, this is election year.
This will mean that all the
people running foroffce will
be on hand.
So if you haven’tpurchased
a ticket, you should do so at
once. If not then you will have
to wait outside to see the can
didates. The breakfast food is
always the best and you get
plenty of it.
(See AROUND, page 12A)
Hoke: impact of nature land $25 million
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Community leaders say they were
"very well received” by N.C. Dept, of
Transportation (DOT) officials at a meet
ing in Raleigh last month concerning
dot’s purchase of a 2,500 acre tract in
western Hoke.
Hoke leaders met vviili DOT officers to
ask for compensation to offset the nega
tive economic impact of the Calloway
Tract on the county' s coffers. The acreage
of longlcaf forest, dedicated for a nature
conservancy, has been taken off the tax
books and w ill not be available lordexel
opment. I loke' s leaders say the cost to the
communii) could reach more than S25
million.
"It IS our understanding this land was
inirchascd for conservation use, balanc
ing tlic use and destruction of enxiron-
meiitallx sensitix c land that is used during
the ciinstruction of transportation related
projects across the state,” A.K. “Dooie”
Leach, chairman of the Raeford Hoke
Economic Development Commission,
wrote DOT Secretary LyndoTippett after
the meeting. "While we support this con
cept, we are forced to bear the economic
cost for areas of the state that gain eco-
(See lAND IMPACT, page 9A)
Conference Champs
Va'T
n
4
A W,
II n
\
a
m
Winning Eagles
The East Hoke Middle Eagles captured conference championships, the boy, after a season record of 14-
I, and the girls, after a 13-2 record. Boys pictured are (back row, from left) Jeffery Gilliespe, Coach
Monroe, Maurice Jones, D’Angelo Walker, Keith Harris, Willie Ellerbe, Anthony McCamie, javierre
Marshall, Coach Modlin, Anthony Rainey, (front, kneeling) Roderick Daniels, Robert Malloy, Lares Blue,
Thomas McKinely, Freddie McPhaul and Shane Creft. Girls pictured are (front row, from left) LaSwanda
Peterkin, Lea Walker, Keisha Hardaway, Tiffany Blue, Chayla Striven, Raquel Haynes, Shontanette
Shaw, (back row) head coach Shelia Hollingsworth, Jessica McRae, Alleen Thomas, jasmine Hollingsworth,
Whitney McDuffie, Dalesha Dudley, Bianca Shaw, assistant coach Sabrina Padgett.
SBI takes files
from attorney
Related to investigation of MePhatter
By Vktoriana Si'm.meks
Staff writer
Armed with a warrant, the State Bureau of Inve.stigation took
doeuments from the office of Hoke contract attorney Harry
Southerland. An SB I spokesperson said the documents were related
to the investigation of former county manager Bernice MePhatter.
SBI Special Agent Janie Pinkston, a criminal specialist in charge
of the McPhatterembezzlement probe, confirmed agents did exam
ine some materials at Southerland's office the beginning of Febru
ary,
"A search warrant was executed at the law offices of Harry
Southerland to obtain documents," Pinkston said. "We had a search
warrant because that was the proper thing to do.”
Southerland serves as the part-time contract attorney for Hoke,
conducting foreclosure proceedings against peop'e delinquent on
their property taxes. His firm, Southerland & Associates, is located
on Fayetteville Road. He said he’s been told "everything is fine.”
According lo Pinkston, the SBI agents met with no resistance,
and the Southerland staff was “very cooperative."
"The records examined of Mr. Southerland do pertain to the
cuireiu SBI investigation of former county manager 'Bernice
.MePhatter,” Pinkston said.
When asked if there was any suspected link between Southerland
and MePhatter, Pinkston declined to comment.
According to Pinkston, the search was a routine matter. She
declined to say on what grounds the search warrant was obtained in
order for a Judge to grant the order.
"The record of the search warrant is sealed and not considered a
public record even though a search warrant was completed,”
Pinkston said. "It is being kept confidential because of the criminal
investigation w'e are conducting."
According to Pinkston, the search warrant will be held at the
ci)urthou.se until a court docket number is assigned for the trial.
Southerland previously served as the authorized agent for The
Locklear Group, Inc., owners of a building where the N.C. Proba
tion Department leases a suite of offices. Locklear’s building is next
door to the Southerland law firm.
(See DOCUMENTS TAKEN, page IIA)
Study again rates Hoke high in funding schools
By VicTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
f
Even though Hoke’s “real estate
wealth” falls five times below that of
most wealthier counties. The Public
School Forum has recognized Hoke as
one of the leading counties in its effort to
squeeze out more dollars for public school
funding. Because of economic limitaiions,
Hoke ranked at the very bottom in its
actual “spending capacity" in the recent
2001 North Carolina Local School Fi
nance Study.
A further financial crisis may be brew
ing with the county’s school budget this
coming year, said Commissioner Bobby
Wright.
"Ourcounty thinks education is impor
tant. but the state has a shortfall," Wright
said. "The state withheld $396.0(X) in
revenue from us recently that we would
normally receive," Wright said. "They
had to freeze S95 to $96 million state
wide. This is money we probably will
never see that will cause us to tighten our
belt."
In spite of obstacles, Wright praised
Hoke’s recent survey results. Hoke placed
No. 2 in its "relative effort’' to pay for
education, spending greater levels of its
(See SCHOOL FUNDING, page lOA)
Steed memo recommends salary cuts that would save $60,000
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Aware that salaries of some county
employees are way above typical levels.
Commissioner Charles V. Daniels asked
if Don Steed, then interim county man
ager, could analyze the situation and find
a solution to resolve the “mess.” If the
commissioners now consider Steed's sug
gestions, future salary adjustments could
save the county more than $60,()()(),
Daniels .said. “Complaints of hiring kin
and favoritism in giving raises were com
mon," Daniels saidof former county man
ager Bernice McPhaiter’s administration.
“Now, W'e are stuck with people making
more money than they deserve. How can
we reduce their wages?
“Some people got raises and upgrades
that should not have received them, and
others that worked harder were not treated
fairly.”
(See SALARIES, page IIA)
Hayes says extra layoff benefits
approved for Burlington workers
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Burlington Industries employees los
ing their Jobs at the two Raeford textile
plants could soon be benefiting from a
program designed to help displaced work
ers receive 78 weeks of unemployment.
The U.S. Department of Labor has ap-
proi^ed a program for people laid off
from Burlington to apply for retraining
benefits, said Congressman Robin Hayes,
who represents the 8th District.
“I pledged that our office would do all
it could to assist these displaced work
ers,” Hayes said. “I am pleased to report
that they will be able to receive expanded
assistance and Job training to help them to
make a successful change in their career.
(See BURLINGTON, page 11 A)
I*
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A'
pi.
Pedestrian killed when hit by two cars
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A Hispanic man employed by the
House of Raeford died in a double hit-
and-run incident on Monday night. The
pedestrian, 42, was walking down Rock-
fish Road near Scurlock School Road
when he was reportedly instantly killed.
He was struck and knocked down by a
first vehicle as he was walking near the
center line of the road. Wiines.ses said he
was run over by a second vehicle shortly
(See MAN KILLED, pagelOA )
Raeford officers advance
Shown from left, are Raeford Police Chief Mack High; Patrolman Rusty Cockman,
recipient of the advanced law enforcement certificate; Detective John Pierce, graduate
of the Criminal Investigators Academy; and Major Kevin Locklear. (See related article on
page lOA.)