The
ews
Journal
if it happened, it's news to us
50(2?
No. 11 Vol. 95
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Calloway tract
houses
woodpeckers
page 4A
Editorial: Learn
from mistakes
|)age 2A
Girl Scout camp
is the answer
pa«e 8A
Index
Births....
3B
Business/Farm....
8A
Calendar....
2B
Classifieds....
6-7B
Deaths....
3A
Editorials....
2A
Engagements....
3B
Legals....
4-5B
Public Record....
9A
Religion....
6A
Schools....
...4,7,8B
Socials....
3B
Sports....
5A
Weddings....
3B
Around Town
-P-lHiilillll
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
Last week 1 wrote about the
record-breaking high tempera
tures. Sunday morning a
record was set for the low tem
perature. I can’t remember the
weather changing as much as
it has this spring. What can we
look forward to in July and
August? We did get some
much-needed rain last week.
My rain gauge registered about
an inch and a quarter. One
man said his gauge registered
two inches. We still need more
rain.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
high Wednesday to be in the
high 90s and the low in the
70s. Thursday the high will be
in the 90s and the low in the
60s. Friday and Saturday the
highs will be in the 80s and the
lows in the 60s. There is a
chance for rain on Thursday
and Friday.
♦ ♦***
Monday I talked with
people who attended the re
ception at the Raeford Hoke
Museum (McLauchlin-
McFadyen House). Accord
ing to these people, there was
a large crowd and many came
from out of town. A member
of the committee said that
around 200 signed the guest
register. She also said that
many did not sign because they
moved on to speak or greet
friends they hadn’t seen in
years or months.
Many old pictures and arti
facts were on display. There
(See AROUND, page 9A)
Public to comment on sheriff’s cars
Board sets hearing
By Victorian a Summers
Staff writer
Acontinued debate over whether depu
ties should drive county-owned vehicles
to and from work outside of Hoke ended
in commissioners compromising, unani
mously voting to allow a public hearing
on the topic. Commissioner Bobby
Wright — seconded by Commissioner
Charles V. Daniels — recommended the
public hearing. Clerk Linda Revels said
the date will be advertised for a July
meeting, and also posted for citizens to
view.
Some citizens attending the meeting
pre.ssed forthe hearing-one shouting out
of order, "we are of the people for the
people; we have a right to be heard.”
Citizen Odell Ashburn, chairman of
the Republican Party, said spontaneously,
“Can we have some public input into
this?”
Charles Patterson said prior to the meet
ing that he knew of 50 people who were
going to withhold their county taxes and
pay late ifthe board allowed Davis to have
deputies drive county cars to their homes
outside Hoke.
“That figure could increase trt 500,”
Patterson said after the meeting. “Sheriff
Davis is wasting taxpayers’ money so
why should people pay their taxes on
time?”
Hunt rapped his gavel at the outbursts
from citizens and some verbal sneering
from Patterson as Davis spoke. He said
the board did not plan to addre.ss the
matter in a public hearing.
“We are not,” Hunt said emphatically
until Wright swayed the board’s decision
(See SHERIFF CARS, page 7A)
Rising Hoke High seniors die
in each other’s arms in wreck
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
An early morning automobile accident on
Friday resulted in the deaths of two popular
teenage girls, both rising seniors and varsity
cheerleaders at Hoke
County High School.
Jasmine Nicole Derry
and Veronique
Colette Odum, close
friends, were on their
way home from work
at McDonald’s in
Raeford when slick,
rainy conditions
caused their car to ap
parently “hydro
plane” on a curve on
Pittman Grove
Church Road around
12:45 a.m., according
to a witness of the one-
car crash.
The witness, whose name was unknown,
called 911. Trooper E.D. Pender, investigating
officer, said the 2000 Saturn driven by Odum
was traveling south on Pittman Grove. Her
vehicle veered off the road on the right shoul
der, colliding with a tree approximately six
miles east of Raeford.
“When they ran off the road they were slid
ing sideways and the driver’s side took most of
the impact,” Pender said in his report. “The
vehicle came to rest against the tree on the left
side.
“Both had seatbelts on, but they were not
ejected. They were trapped in the vehicle.”
Pender did not cite speed as a factor in the
accident, saying road conditions were wet and
it was cloudy.
Veronique “Colette” Odum (left) and jas
mine Nicole Perry
Derry. 16. of 787 T.C. Jones Road is the
foster daughter of her great-aunt Jane Quino
nes. Odum. 17. of Peregrine Place near Rock-
fish, resided with her mother and step-father,
Adrienne Benoit-Graham and Lacy Graham, a
deputy with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s
Department. According to
their parents, the two friends
left work together around
12:15 a.m. driving home on
their usual route. While
Quinones volunteered to
pick them up if it continued
raining, at the end of their
shift the rain had stopped so
they did not think it was
necessary, she said.
“These twogirls were the
best of friends because they
did everything together,”
7.Vyear-old Mrs. Quinones
said. “1 had raised Jasmine
since she was just two years
old because her father who passed away was
my nephew.
“She called me at 10 that evening and said it
was lightning and thundering. The last thing we
ever said was on the phone when she told me, ‘1
love you.' That was always the last thing we
would say.”
Mrs. Quinones said their home has been
filled with students and teachers “paying their
respects.” She said the site of their fatal wreck
apparently has been showered with wreaths
from mourning classmates.
“1 understand that the stranger who reported
their accident was the one to take the first
flowers to the accident location,” Mrs. Quino
nes said. “We would all like to know the person’s
name so we can express our gratitude for get-
(See ACCIDENT, page 11 A)
The big moment
Danella Cruz, 5, prepares for the big moment, graduating from the
Children’s Developmental Center Friday. Nine children graduated and
will begin public school next year. The ceremony was held at Raeford
Presbyterian Church.
■Li ^
New museum opened doors
to visitors, memories Sunday
Museum open house
From left, Augusta White, mother Kathryn MePhatter and MePhatter’s sister Eula
White check out a display of tax receipts from years ago at Sunday’s Raeford Hoke
Museum open house.
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Only two families owned the McLauchlin-
McFadyen House, built circa 1905, but the
6,000 square foot home has sheltered many.
Now it is to house the history of Raeford and
Hoke County.
The Raeford Hoke Museum Committee
bought the home this past April, and on
Sunday well over 200 people visited the
grand home at 111 Highland Avenue for an
open house. For many visitors, it was a first
look at the home’s interior; for others, being
in the home brought back memories.
Standing in the dining room on the first
floor, Raeford resident Gordon Ragsdale
pointed toward the ceiling and said he once
lived in a bedroom apartment just over where
he was standing when he first came to
Raeford; that was in 1975.
Back in the 1940s, the home served as a
bed and breakfast known as The Pines. Those
who commuted on the well-traveled route
from New York to Miama found The Pines
a restful stop halfway between the two cit
ies.
The home, built for Hoke leader John
Williamson McLauchlin, was known as the
home away from home for visiting ministers
and other guests. There was even a room
known as the Prophets Room that was kept
in readiness for visiting ministers. During
World War II, soldiers often found refuge
there.
(See MUSEUM, page lOA)
County embezzlement
investigation widens
By Victoriana Summers uncovered. Criminal Specialist
Staff writer
The State Bureau of Investi
gation has postponed turning
over the remainder of its final
report concerning criminal mis
use and embezzlement of county
funds to District Attorney Kristy
M. Newton. The SBI contends
it need to check some further
information that was reportedly
Janie Pinkston, serving double
duty as lead agent in Hoke and
interim SBI supervisor in
Fayetteville, said an investiga
tor has been called in from the
N.C. Tax Division’s office re
cently to “examine” the county
records.
According to Pinkston, the
state wants to see if taxes are
(See PROBE, 7A)
Sheriff unable to return to work indefinitely
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Sheriff Jim Davis isout of work indefinitely, he
says.
After Davis was injured when a Cheerwine
tractor-trailer struck his sheriff’s vehicle in a
parking lot off U.S. 401 on May 21, he did not
return to work at the Sheriff’s Office for two
weeks. He is still not back at work on a full-time
basis, according to Major Thomas Carlton, sec
ond in command.
Davis officially advised the commissioners in
a letter on June 4 that he will be out of work
indefinitely because of the accident.
Carlton said Davis met with him for a brief time
yesterday and the sheriff is periodically checking
in to take care of any “hot” issues that need to be
resolved.
“1 am constantly in touch with the Sheriff,”
Carlton said. “Everything is running smoothly.”
Davis was treated at Cape Fear Valley Medical
Center’s emergency room on May 21 in the late
afternoon, and released around 7 p.m. A hospital
spokesman said Davis condition was stable when
he left the facility.
“As you know, 1 was the victim of a very
serious automobile accident which totaled a
county-owned vehicle and caused me very trau-
(See DA VIS, page 11 A)