Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / May 29, 2002, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews J oumal If it happened, it's news to us Wednesday, May 2002 No. 9 Vol. 95 50 cents Hoke’s top stories ^re on the web ^^fwvf.thenews-journaLcom This week Mayor heads LRCOG again page 3A freedom Tree to be planted page 4A Hussain honor graduate of Duke pageSA Index B rths 3B Calendar 6B Classifieds 5B Deaths 5A Witorials 2A Engagements 3B , , Legals 4B Public Record 5A Religion 7A Schools ....2, 6B Socials 3B Sports 6A Weddings 3B Around Town ■BUEi:! aflsspfi s By Sam C. Morris Contributing Editor The weatherstill can’t make up its mind. We will havecool weather for a few days and then you must turn off the heat and turn ontheairconditioner. One thing that we need and can’t get enough of is rain. Other places are having floods, but We are in a severe drought condition. We can be thankful we haven’t had tornados or hail that would cause destruc tion. The forecast for the remain der of the week Wednesday through Saturday calls for the high^ Wednesday and Thurs day to be in the 70s or low 80s and the lows in the 60s. Friday and Saturday the highs will be in th^ 80s and the lows in the 60s. There could be scattered showers any day during the period. Let’s hope we get the rain. * * « H^re are some events that will take place in Raeford and Hok^ County in the months ahead: The Hospice Golf Tourna ment will be held Friday, June 7 at the Bayonet Golf Course. There will be two starting time^ at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lunoh and dinner will be served. Call the Hospice of fice for more details. The McLauchlin-McFad- yen Museum will hold an open house and reception on Sun day, June 9 from 3 to 5 p.m. The museum is located in the block of S. Highland St. and E. Central Avenue. Everyone (Stie AROUND, page 4A) DA doubts witness in Brittany case SBI says it’s not in on request for investigation from US Justice Dept. Jim Davis’ contention that information him to call for a probe from the U.S. said. “1 have also met with the SBI on By Victoriana SuM\iia(s Staff writer By Pai Allkn Wilson Editor An agent from the State Bureau of Investigation said the bureau is not any closer to finding the killer of young Brit tany Lynn Locklear-thisdespitc Sheriff from a jailed witness is giving the inves tigation new life. Agent Jay Tilley, lead investigator on the State Bureau of Investigation’s case on the slaying of the five-year-old, said his agency has not called for a federal investigation into her death despite Davis’ say inga “significant shift " in information from a witness led Justice Department. “We are not part of it,” Tilley said. District Attorney Kristy McMillan Newton echoed Tilley, saying the U.S. Attorney’s office does not have an active investigation regarding Brittany’s death. “1 have spoken with a representative from the U.S. Attorney’sotficc,” Newton numerous occasions. “As far as I am aware, there is insuffi cient evidence at this time to establish a probable cause for an arrest (of anyone for) murdering Brittany Locklear." Newton did confirm the person Davis is referring to as a kev witnc.ss is Jordachc (5c'e BRiriANY, page Bataan survivor Mims: ‘Never forget’ ■ By Pat Allen Wilson Editor On a beautiful, sunshiny day in down town Raeford, John L. Mims brought the dark, horrifying realities and sacrifices of the battle for the Philippines and tlie Bataan Death March to those gathered at the Hoke County Courthouse for Memo rial Day services. “I think about it every day,” Mims told a gathering of approximately 200 who came to remember those who gave their lives in defense of this country. Standing with some difficulty at the podium, western Hoke resident Mims said of the fighting in the Philippine Islands in World War II, “The Japanese threw everything they had against us. They thought the battle for the Philip pines would be a cup of tea.” Mims said the steadfastness of those troops fighting against overwhelming numbers of Japanese soldiers at Bataan and Corregidor“kept them off the United States until this country was better pre pared to defend itself.” Recallingthe battle odds, Mims said, “It was like a regiment against a whole nation.” Troops were told to “hold at all costs,” Mims said, and fighting was down to “bayonets” when they were ordered to surrender. “We didn’t want to. We saw that as a disgrace,” Mims said. The Japanese had invaded on Decem- {See NEVER FORGET, page 9A) /y A, Bataan survivor John Mims liy Ell Southerland justifies expense of county trips Also says others did not repay county for travel By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Contrary to Hoke Commission Vice Chairman James A. Leach’s assertion that Raeford attorney Harry Southerland was never in Washington D.C., it turns out he was there—according to Southerland — on business unrelated to Hoke County. The county sent Southerland a bill for $586 for attend ing the National Association of County Commis sioners’ Convention on March 2, which county records reflected has never been paid. Southerland, Hoke’s formerly contracted part- time foreclosure attorney, says he does not owe the county any money for his recent trip to Wash ington, DC. even though a bill was sent to him by the county finance office. He also alleged two commissioners never reimbursed the county for their wives to accompany them, but two county officials said that is not true. Southerland resigned his foreclosure position two days prior to the trip in March when he filed as a county commissioner candidate. County offi cials think he should have to pay the county pay for the expenses they paid on his behalf. (See TRAVEL, page lOA) Schools renew pleas for money By Victoriana Summers Staff writer If the Board of Education’s plea to fully fund the $3.5 million school budget continues to go unheeded by Hoke commissioners, the $327,000 in proposed local cuts could cripple the school system next year, said Allen Strickland, officially appointed as school superintendent last week. “We will be seriously hurting without the $327,000,” Strickland said. “The worst scenario is: We will have trouble paying the utilities for heating and air-conditioning of our schools be cause a lot of that cost comes from local dollars. “We might make it to December, but then we would be totally out of funds.” Other critical needs that would be reduced include maintenance of equipment, operation of school buses and payment for parts to repair buses. Strickland was already predicting a crisis on a (See SCHOOL BUDGET, page 9A) Left: firefighters fight the blaze at the Haire homestead that burned on Johnson Mill Road on Wednesday. Above: In happier times, H.R. Haire, son of the original owner Hugh Haire, relaxes with his granddaughter Emily Haire Gray in 1978 on the front porch. Apparent arsonist leaves behin(j only memories By Victoriana Summers Staff writer All but memories were reduced to ashes for the Haire family last Thursday afternoon after an apparent arsonist was seen leaving their farmhouse property as it became engulfed in flames. While firefighters from Puppy Creek and Hillcrest fought the blaze aggressively to partially save the wood-framed residence, the family’s 1915 homestead located on Johnson Mill Road was burned beyond repair. The fire rekindled later that night. Two original outbuildings remained untouched. Also, a 1970s jeep surrounded by the weath ered picket fence did not burn. Larry Haire, owner of Haire Plumbing in Fayetteville, said the farmhouse was unoccupied and without electrical power, and Cumberland County arson investigators indicated the fire had been set inside the residence. His family had kept it in good repair over the years because of the memories it held for his father, 82- year-old H.R. Haire. The family home was originally owned by Hugh Haire, his grandfather who farmed tobacco and other crops. “My father was so upset when he learned about the home burning,” Haire said. “They think somebody threw something in one of the windows to start the fire. I rushed over as soon as I realized the house was on fire.” The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Arson Task Force is actively investigating the cause of the fire and seeking a suspect in the suspicious burning, according to Cumberland detective Wallace Smith. They were serving in the absence of Hoke Fire Marshal AI Schwarcbher, who was out of town last week. The Hoke Sheriff’s Office also examined the crime scene. For Haire, the single-story house was full of memories from his swinging on what was once a wrap-around porch to summer picnics, ice cream socials on the lawn, hide-and-seek and barbe cues. “We had an antique piano still inside and that was burned up,” Haire said, “it was toast. “We always mowed the lawn and tried to keep the house presentable for our neighbors.” (See HOME BURNS, page lOA)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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May 29, 2002, edition 1
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