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No. 18 Vol. 95
Hoke*s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-joumal.com
This week
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Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Leach withdraws from house race
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
After campaigning for the N.C. House
of Representatives seat in the 48th Dis
trict, Hoke Commissioner James A. Leach
announced on Monday he has withdrawn
from the race. Leach previously filed in
February, but decided not to file again for
the scat held by incum
bent Rep. Donald
Bonner of Rowland.
When the U.S. Justice
Department approved
the new N.C. House and
James Leach Senate districts two
weeks ago, candidates were required to
re-file between July HL2b— even if they
had already filed.
“I felt really good about running, but it
was always in the back of my mind that I
might withdraw from the race,” Leach
said. “Some time ago I had a conversa
tion with Mr. Bonner in Raleigh. He
indicated to me he would like to remain in
office for one more term.
“Out of respect for him, 1 decided last
week to not oppose him in this election,”
he said.
“We have always been very friendly
and worked together,” Ixach said. “I sup
ported him in past campaigns, and I will
support him during this election.”
A lifelong Democrat and Hoke native,
Leach would have been the first African
(See WITHDRAWS, page lOA)
Dr. Lowry returns
to practice here
page 6A
National Night Out
planned by
communities
page 6A
Index
j;a El.:
Births....
2B
Calendar....
6B
Classifieds....
5B
Deaths....
....4,12A
Editorials....
2-3A
Legals....
3-4B
Public Record....
4A
Religion....
7A
Socials....
2B
Sports....
8,9 A
Welcome back
Kelli Brayboy, a student, and Bobby Little, assistant principal, help Hoke High School students
with paperwork at open house Monday. Students returned to school Tuesday.
Leach appeals ruling reopening estate
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County Commissioner James
Leach has appealed a superior court
ruling that found he and his wife im
properly managed the estate of a Moore
County woman.
The court on July 18 declared Leach
not to be a “proper person” to adminis
ter the estate of Dorothy Dawkins Allen,
(See LEACH APPEALS, page 11 A)
'm
Strictly for the birds...
Robert Carson, a Hoke County employee, grows acres of sunflowers just for the birds
in front of his West Hoke home.
Trial of two accused of shooting deputy may be moved
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
The selection of a jury to prosecute two men for
the attempted murder of a Scotland County deputy
in Hoke County has been delayed.
Timothy Lee Jordan and William Glenn Bare
foot are charged with trying to kill Maj. Dan
Skamperle, who was shot atVark’s grocery near
Aberdeen on March 30, 2001.
A potential Jury from Moore County was dis
qualified and dismissed last week due to a techni
cality.
Apparently, without realizing Superior Court
Judge Frank Floyd requested he personally hear
any “excuses” from the 65 potential jurors, Moore
County Clerk of Court Catherine Graham released
jurors prematurely. Newton said Graham violated
a court order signed by the judge.
Subsequently, Newton and assistant DA Mike
Hardin and the defense attorneys were unable to
hear the jurors’ explanations.
“The 65 jurors had already been qualified or
released out of 150 people that were contacted,”
District Attorney Kristy Newton said. “We were to
have selected 12 jurors and 2 alternates.”
According to Newton, though jury selection
was to be in Moore, the trial was scheduled in
Scotland County and jurors were to have been
bused. Now the trial may be switched from Scot
land to Cumberland County, she said.
“We have signed a consent order asking the
judge move the case to Cumberland County where
a jury would also be selected there for the trial,”
Newton said. “The defense and District Attorney’s
office are awaiting a decision from Judge Floyd.
“We will still be prosecuting the case because
the shooting incident occurred in Hoke in our
jurisdiction, but the trial would be held in
Cumberland on September 16 — if the judge
approves the motion.”
Newton said a conflict in the Moore court’s
calendar made it impossible to secure a September
date for the approaching trial.
“We basically worked out a compromise; be
cause the defense attorneys had asked for a change
of venue in the case,” Newton said.
“I had wanted to prosecute the case in Scotland
because Maj. Skamperle is still undergoing physi
cal therapy after the shooting and is under a doctor’s
care.
“This would have allowed him time to rest
during the trial process.” Newton said the violation
could have resulted in a court declaring a “revers
ible error” if appealed. She said it also opened up
(See SHOOTING TRIAL, page lOA)
Fire marshal asks board for raise
Schwarcbher says he may take better offer
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke’s emergency management director told
County Manager Mike Wood and county commis
sioners on July 25 he needs a $10,000 raise. A1
Schwarcbher said his current annual salary of
$33,718 needs to be adjusted to $41,818.
“1 can state emphatically that this department
has progressed farther than any other department
in the county in the last five years,” Schwarcbher
said. “I would hope that a part of this was due to my
management abilities and the work ethics that I
always try to instill in my employees.”
In informal inquiries of four out of five commis
sioners, all four said they would consider
Schwarcbher’s request based on his merits.
Some expressed doubts if they could meet
Schwarcbher’s salary goal because of the county’s
financial shortfall. One doubted Schwarcbher
would leave even if he does not receive a raise.
‘It is not the first time AI hinted he might leave,”
said Commissioner Charles V. Daniels. “During
the budget process, 1 recommended that he be
granted a $5,000 raise, but it was not approved.
“I do think he is underpaid for all that he does':”
Comparing his salary to others in the Cape Fear
Region, Schwarcbher is underpaid by approxi
mately 24 percent. In neighboring Scotland County,
the same position pays $43,476, and in Bladen
County the fire marshal/emergency management
coordinator earns $38,559. But Schwarcbher’s job
includes additional duties.
He is Hoke’s emergency management director,
preparing for hurricanes and other potential disas
ters; the communications director of 911 emer
gency responses; and the safety officer. He said
Wood also recently assigned him to supervise the
addressing for the county.
As the only certified fire inspector and inves
tigator in Hoke, Schwarcbher’s evenings and
weekends are filled with answering structure-
fire calls and working on fire investigations. He
is requred to complete tasks he is unable to
accomplish during normal work hours, he said.
During the past two years, the number arson
investigations have almost doubled from 17 to
33, he said. Fire calls and other hazardous inci
dents have also nearly doubled. In 2000-01,
Schwarcbher responded to 138 calls. So far this
year, he has answered 239 calls.
Schwarcbher indicated in his letter that he
needs a response to his request by July 31. How
ever, commissioners are not scheduled to meet in
a regularly scheduled meeting until August 5.
Schwarcbher, a five-year veteran, said he has
received several offers in the federal sector for
his services.
“1 find it worthwhile to work in Hoke and I
would hate to leave, but 1 am on call 24-hours a
day with no back-up person available,”
Schwarcbher said. “1 get paid for 40 hours, but
average working about 64 hours. 1 am not al
lowed overtime like the Sheriff’s Office.
“My workload has continued to increase and
so have my responsibilities.”
Schwarcbher said during the past eight days he
has inspected 11 new foster homes, two churches
and one new store in addition to his other duties.
Daniels said he would hate to see Schwarcbher
leave, and he thinks Schwarcbher deserves a
raise.
Commissioner Cleo Bratcher Jr. said he was
(See SCHWARCBHER, page llA)
Teachers get out of town to prepare for school years
Sandy Grove staff takes
staff development on road
Sandy Grove Elementary faculty and staff partici
pated in a three-day staff development retreat at Myrtle
Beach on July 10-12.
Staff members were involved in a variety of activi
ties to include vertical planning, Marzano’s “Think
ing Skills,” “No Child Left Behind,” grade level
meetings, working with exceptional children, reviewed
test data, and “Write From the Beginning” training.
Patricia Gregory, educational consultant, worked
with staff members on Friday to review writing results
and to provide on-hand staff development in writing
and “Four Block.”
Sandy Grove raised fourth grade writing scores by
23 points while the state scores dropped by at least 10
points. There was much to celebrate amid all the
(See SANDY GROVE, page 5A)
Hoke More at Four
to receive free
IBM computers
4-year-olds to leam computer skills
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
When 90 four-year-old pupils entered
the More at Four pre-kindergarten pro
grams yesterday in Hoke County Schools,
they were among thousands of
preschoolers in classrooms across the
state. These children will benefit from
299 KidSmart Early Learning computer
centers and software, offering them a
“jump-start” to Kindergarten. IBM cor
poration, which donated the computers,
will also provide trainingso that More at
Four teachers can effectively integrate
technology into their pre-kindergarten
lessons, said Gov. Mike Easley of the
firm’s multi-million dollar contribution
to public and non-profit schools.
“Supplementing our pre-kindergarten
curriculum with computer
instruction is vital in making sure that
our at-risk four-year olds
learn the skills necessary to succeed in
school,” Easley said of the pilot program
he founded. “I am proud to see IBM
partnering with our More At Four pre
kindergarten classrooms and making true
investments in our children.
“IBM is setting a commendable ex
ample of the benefits of partnerships
between business and education.”
Easley said students will obtain more
hands-on opportunities to leam with the
(See MORE AT FOUR, page 5A)