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J ournal
No. 51 Vol. 95
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Developer plans multiinillion plaza here
Food Lion, Mi Casita are planned anchors; construction hinges on water, sewer
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
Hoke Landing, a proposed multimillion Food
Lion shopping plaza adjacent to East Hoke Middle
School, is poised for construction. The plaza will
include a Mi Casita Mexican restaurant and possi
bly a future Golden Corral restaurant. Located at
Club Pond Road and U.S. 401 North, the 14-acre
site’s development hinges on the county extending
water and sewer service to the tract, according to
Joseph P. Riddle III, owner of Riddle Commercial
Properties in Fayetteville.
Riddle said he is ready to bring in bulldozers to
start moving dirt the beginning of April, estimat
ing Hoke consumers could be celebrating a new
Food Lion grand opening by October 2003.
‘My commitment to Hoke County is strong,”
Riddle said. “1 have been working on this project
north of Raeford for three years. This is the third
time 1 have taken out an option on this land. Food
Lion officials are ready to sign the lease, but they
are pushing for water and sewer to be intact.
“I put my money where my mouth was. I think
Hoke is a great place to work and a good place to
live. I am trying to make it better.”
Riddle praised the efforts of Hoke's city and
county leaders, saying they have been very helpful
in paving the way for the commercial shopping
center.
“This new Food Lion will be a better looking
store,” Riddle said. “It w ill include a delicatessen
and bakery with decorati\e ceilings, eontoured
lights and special, glazed colors on the concrete
flooring.
“This represents an upper end store."
The 14-acre parcel was purchased from Hoke
resident William McNeill. Raeford real estate bro
ker Buddy Blue is representing McNeill in the
transaction. Wolfe & Group architects of Raleigh
are designing the project.
With the 29,()(){) square-foot Food Lion grocery
store serving as the anchor. Riddle’s ambitious
plans for the 48.()()() square-foot shopping center
include a 3,200 square-foot Mi Casita restaurant,
an 8,000 square-foot dollar discount store, a 4.200
square-foot Video Hut. a national submarine sand
wich chain, and a Papa John's pizza.
“In phase 2 containing 14,000 square-feet, I am
saving a two-acre lot for a name drug store chain,
but it may be used instead to construct a Golden
Corral restaurant if people prefer that," Riddle
said. “I am planning an AutoZone autoparts store
on one of the out-parcels, and also a Wendy’s
restaurant."
According to Riddle, other business owners
interested in parcels and out-parcels for retail
shops arc welcomed at Hoke Landing by calling
(901)864-3135.
Riddle’s request to receive water and sewer at
the site was received by County Manager Mike
WcK)d on March 6. County officials and Raeford's
city leaders arranged a meeting for this week to
discuss the feasibility of installation. Based on a
1998 Land Use Plan Update, the preliminary infra-
(See PLAZA, page 4Aj
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Woman charged with scamming churches
B'l VicTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
Two Hoke churches are still stunned after dis
covering relief supplies intended for the needy
were apparently diverted by the recipient.
Almost $2,000 of emergency donations plus
large supplies of canned food intended for the
pe«p4e in “dire straits” were personally received
under alleged false pretenses by Mernelle
McLaughlin Baxter, an employee of Four Coun
ties Community Services. Baxter is accused of
misappropriating the churches’ contributions, us
ing them for members of her family, aecording to
spokespersons from the United Methodist Church
of Raeford and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic
Church.
Baxter, 68, of McLaughlin Road, was served
felony warrants on Friday by Detective GregTho-
mas of the Raeford Police Department. She is
charged with 24 counts of obtaining property by
(Sec CHURCIIPS. page.U)
Photo by Chris Shupe
Green thumbs
Students in Hoke high School’s Horticulture II Class work on a crop of gerber daisies in the school’s
greenhouse. See story, page 10A.
J* "i ^
Bataan March
survivor to attend
memorial
page4A
Hoke, Randolph
merge mental health
agencies
page 3A
Kiwanians visit
with international
president
page 4A
Births 3B
Calendar 4B
Classifieds 7B
Deaths 9A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 3B
Legals 5-6B
Public Record 5A
Religion 6A
Schools 2B
Socials 3B
Sports 8A
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web;
send us stories,
subscribe
www.thenews-journal.eom
Crumpler honored in U.S. House for service
Hoke coroner Frank Crumpler is congratulated (from left) by daughter-in-laws Kim Crumpler and Margaret
Crumpler, son Kemp Crumpler, Congressman Robin Hayes, son Kel Crumpler, wife Dayne Capps Crumpler, and
daughter Kalen Crumpler Wilhide.
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A mystified G. Franklin “Frank” Crumpler, Hoke coro
ner and a former Hoke sheriff, wondered why all of his
family was gathered at Raeford’s City Hall. Crumpler knew
he was there to view a presentation to the City of Raeford by
Congressman Robin Hayes on Monday. Suddenly, he real
ized that he was the actual honoree at the event as the longest
serving elected official in North Carolina, said Crumpler.
“It was a complete surprise to me,” Crumpler said. "I was
on the verge of tears because I was so moved.”
Hayes, representative for the U.S. House of Representa
tives in the 8th District, presented Crumpler with a plaque,
congratulating him on many years of service to the state and
his county.
On February 27, Crumpler also made history when
Hayes read the same proclamation in his honor on the floor
of the U.S. House in Washington, D.C.
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the accomplish
ments of G. Franklin Crumpler, coroner for Hoke County.
North Carolina,” Hayes said. “Mr. Crumpler holds the
distinction of being the longest serving elected official in
North Carolina.
“Please join me in expressing the appreciation of the
House to Mr. G. Franklin Crumpler for over four decades of
(See CRUMPLER HONORED, page 7.4)
MePhatter’s tax trial hits snag, assigneci state attorney resigns
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Former Hoke County manager Bernice
MePhatter’s trial on four counts of state
income tax evasion has been postponed
indefinitely after the prosecutor resigned.
Rudy Renter, a state attorney at the N.C.
Attorney General’s office left the office
shorthanded with his resignation, accord
ing to Kim Brooks, media spokeswoman
for the N.C. Department of Revenue.
“Mr. Renfer had special expertise in
tax matters. Some of our tax revenue
cases, but not all of them, will be pros
ecuted by the Wake County District
Attorney’s office instead,” she said.
According to an administrative clerk of the
court, because MePhatter’s case was filed in
the Wake Superior Qrurt, it falls under its
jurisdiction not in Hoke, the origin of the
allegations. It therefore can’t lx transferred.
MePhatter’s trial has been delayed on
(See MCPHA TTER, page 8A)
School board conveys land for county vans
Also will preserve old schoolhouse
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A united Board of Education approved conveying a
strip of property owned by the school board to the
county. The land is located next to the Department of
Social Services and will be used for van parking.
“We appreciate the partnership we have with our
county commissioners and working together.” Super
intendent Allen Strickland said. “I feel anything we can
do to help each other is an opportunity.”
“1 recommend we make the land available to them.”
Strickland and the board heard a presentation by
Commission Chairman Bobby Wright, who was ac
companied by Commission Vice-Chairman Charles V.
Daniels and County Manager Mike Wood. The thin
sliver of land, 80 feet by 420 feet, was requested by the
county for parking of vans that serve the Hoke Area
Transportation Service. The land will also provide
space for a small building to house administrative staff.
The transportation service has been transferred to the
jurisdiction of Social Service, and 90 percent of the cost
for the small building will likely be funded by the
(See SCHOOL BOARD, page 4A)
Pine Forest School, an historic, one-room school house, will
be donated to the Raeford-Hoke Museum by Willa Lindsay.