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The
ews
Journal
If it happened, it's news to
504;
No. 18 Vol. 96
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-joumal.com
This week
Brothers honored
at 4-H Congress
page 12A
Kent Jacobs search
expands
page 7 A
Index
Raeford & Hok Coh.
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
County no longer recycles newspapers, cardboard
Solid Waste still accepts items
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County’s solid waste department
is no longer recycling newspapers and
cardboard as a courtesy to citizens. The
practice was discontinued about four
months ago, according to Don Russell,
solid waste director at the Hoke Landfill.
No ones needs to worry because news
papers and cardboard are still accepted at
the container sites, Russell said.
“People can just throw their papers
and cardboard into the open tops of con
tainers,” Russell said. “We wju pot refuse
the items unless the containers just hap
pen to be filled on a particular day.
“We got out of the recycling business
because we were losing money. It was
actually costing the county to recycle the
items.”
Russell said there is no problem in
disposing of newspapers and cardboard at
the site in Montgomery County where all
of Hoke’s garbage is transported. On a
daily basis, he said Hoke’s solid waste
department is moving an average of 100
tons of garbage.
“That is pretty high end for a small
(See RECYCLING, page 11 A)
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Births
2B
Calendar
3B
Classifieds
SB
Deaths
6A
Editorials
.... 2-3A
Engagements
2B
Legals
3-4B
Public Record
6A
Religion
9A
Schools
5A
Socials
2B
Sports
8A
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City council hears park proposals
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Raeford city council members heard once
again from a representative of Robbins Heights
asking for help as residents there attempt to
improve conditions in the community that is
predominantly African American.
Robbins Heights resident Martha Beatty ad
dressed the council at their Monday night meet
ing asking specifically for a temporary shade
shelter until a permanent one can be built at
Raeford City Park.
The Robbins Heights Community Watch is
anxious to begin activities at the park to include
fund-raising events. A momentum was begun
after a daylight murder occurred on the street in
front of the entrance to the park on January 23 of
this year.
Last night, the third annual National Night
Out was held with the goal of heightening aware
ness of crime and illegal drug activities and to
partner with law enforcement against crime.
City council members were invited to that event.
National Night Out has been observed across
the nation for 19 years and this is the third
observation by Robbins Heights. The Hoke com
munities of Allendale and West Hoke also cel
ebrated with their own events.
“Each community is encouraged to consider
making plans to observe this event next year in
their community or hopefully come together
locally somewhere in the county as one large
group,” states a Robbins Heights Community
Watch release. “Anyone interested in partici
pating and planning such an event is asked to
contact Evelyn Price at 848-3012, Mary Fowler
at 875-0379 or Martha Beatty at 875-8743.”
The city has budgeted $30,000 for improve
ments to the park and $1,000 for maintenance.
At budget time, no decision was made on how
(See PARK, page IIA)
Board grants
raise to
fire marshal
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A1 Schwarcbher is supposed to let the county know
today whether he will remain in his multiple capacity as
fire marshal, emergency management director, com
munications director, safety officer and addressing
supervisor. After an hour-long executive session closed
to the public, Hoke commissioners voted 4-1 to grant
Schwarcbher a $5,000 increase in his current salary of
$33,350 per year.
Prior to the recess into closed session, citizen Jeff
Sumner told the board he was looking at “five strong
men — good men.” Sumner was in favor of offering
Schwarcbher more money so he would not resign.
“1 read that four out of five county commissioners
support A1 Schwarcbher for a raise,” Sumner said. “It
makes me nervous for you to go into a private meeting.
“We (you) do not have to do this. Help our county by
doing away with these closed personnel meetings.”
Schwarchber is still considering another offer for
better compensation and a guaranteed 40-hour work
week in the federal sector. He has served in his present
supervisory positions for five years
“I have really enjoyed working with the county, and
I appreciate the commissioners’ concession,”
Schwarcbher said. “In a way, I would hate to leave
because there is still so much to accomplish. I am proud
of what we have achieved so far.
“I am discussing the situation and will give the board
my decision by today.”
He had previously requested a $10,000 merit raise In
a letter sent to the board on July 25. Most commission
ers said they would have considered meeting
Schwarcbher’s request, but the state shortfall is impact
ing the county’s budget.
Commission Chairman Tony Hunt was the only
(See RAISE, page 9A)
Well water dwindles for widow, others
Drought still severe
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
With the prolonged drought in Hoke continu
ing, Rockfish resident Polly Barnard pleaded for
her home to be hooked onto the county water line.
During the public input session at the Hoke com
missioners’ meeting on Monday evening, Barnard
told the board her well is nearly running dry and
she had a “unique” problem.
“1 am on a private well, but the pump is running
out, water is so low,” 81-yearrold Barnard said. “I
am in a desperate situation.
“I am afraid any day I will go without water.”
Barnard was not alone in her complaints about
the water shortage. Nine other families, who reside
off Highway 211, petitioned the board to be added
to the county water system in order to eliminate
problems with dwindling water supplies.
Other complaints of water woes included Com
missioner Cleo Bratcher Jr. informing the board
that residents on Noble Drive off U.S. 401 are also
experiencing problems with drying wells. Com
missioner Charles V. Daniels said folks on Harris
Lane are suffering from low water in their wells.
Gwen McGougan, administrative assistant in^
the Hoke Utilities division, said the situation was
worsening in terms of the water supply. Hoke
residents using county water are currently on a
mandatory restriction that allows limited use of
water on odd and even days, coinciding with the
numbers on addresses.
“In spite of the conservation effort, there has
been no significant decrease in the amount of
water used,” McGougan said yesterday. “The
county either produced or purchased 61 million
gallons of water in June. That figure only dropped
to 57 million gallons in July.
“A decrease of 4 million gallons is not a 20
percent decrease as the governor has requested of
counties in the Cape Fear region.”
A widow, Barnard said her water was so
depleted due to the drought that she was only able
to bathe in about two inches of water. She said it
was impossible to run her washing machine and
dishwasher at the same time. While she is con
serving water, Barnard said water in the well was
not being replenished fast enough.
“Several years ago I did not realize that 1 had
the option to sign up for water,” Barnard said
after the meeting. “My husband was suffering
from Alzheimer’s disease and was confined to a
nursing home.
“My entire world revolved around him.”
Commissioners were sympathetic to Barnard’s
plight. Commission Chairman Tony Hunt prom
ised Barnard and others they would try to speed
up their requests to receive county water.
“I say get it to her as quickly as possible,”
Leach echoed.
Commissioners estimated it could take at least
six months to bring relief to these taxpayers
because a plan must be submitted to the state for
approval. The least time it could take might be 60
days for Barnard to receive county water, accord
ing to County Manager Mike Wood.
Wood told the board there was some money
left “potentially” from phase three of the regional
water project that could be used to add Barnard’s
home to the water line. He said the funds re
mained after some people did not sign right-of-
way easements over to the county for water lines
to be installed in their area.
(See WATER, page 11 A)
National publication recogjiizes
Dr. Smith for work with minority men
ST
By Shelley Martin Hammond
Special to The News-journal
African-American, Hispanic and Native
American men living in the United States
experience higher rates of illness and death
than Caucasian men, according to “What
About Men? Exploring the Inequities in
Minority Men’s Health,” a recently released
national report funded by the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation.
Karen Smith, M.D., of the FirstHealth
Family Care Center-Raeford, contributed to
the report, which outlines how minority men
(See DR. SMITH, page 8A)
Dr. Smith with a patient
Something in common...
Kidney transplant renews bond of sister, brother
A
By Victoriana
SUMMEI^S
Suff writer
Big brother
and little sister
Willie and, An
gela Jacobs in
herited a love
for musit as
members, of
The Jacobs Family, a popular Hoke gospel-^jng-
ing group. They also shared an undying, spiritual
love for each other. It seemed only natural vvhen
Angela became afflicted with Lupus diseas,e -
her life threatened by the deterioration of her
kidneys — that Willie donated one of his ovyn to
Dr. Willie Jacobs Angela Jacobs
her.
A1984 graduate of Hoke County High School,
Angela was first diagnosed with the illness shortly
after graduation. She detected a “butterfly rash”
on her nose initially and went to the doctor. Over
a period of 17 years, her condition deteriorated.
She was unable to work because of the chronic
pain. Her parents, Elsie and Willie Jacobs Sr.,
offered her unlimited support, encouraging her to
remain at home with them.
“I knew I had the Lord there with me, and I was
not worried about dying,” Angela said of her
surgery completed at the University of North Caro
lina Hospital at Chapel Hill on June 8, 2001. “1
think the surgery took about five hours, but there
(See TRANSPLANT, page IIA)