Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / June 11, 2003, edition 1 / Page 1
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The News-Journal No. 12 Vol. 96 I**' • Wednesday, June 11, 2003 Task force wants Hoke to transform itself Fields tells board county needs to be forceful in having voices heard on proposed buffer S'! VkTORIANA Sl'MMERS Staff writer Raeford City Attorney Williams Fields said that the first step has been taken in ‘‘a hundred-mile journey” to ensure Hoke controls its own future. That, after county commissioners recently joined Raeford’s citv council in formation of a Hoke Raeford Land Use Task Force. Named the Hoke Preservation Project, the unity movement is intended to develop a blueprint for growth. The group will speak as “one voice” to prevent the military or The Nature Conservancy from restricting the use of approximately 7,500 acres of Hoke land without compensation. During a one-hour presentation. Fields told commissioners “severe” regulations proposed by state and military officials could establish a one- mile buffer in northwest Hoke between Pope Air Force Base-Fort Bragg, threatening Hoke’s growth. Recommendations from the Joint Land Use Advi sory Committee included allowing only one home per 10 acres, and not installing water or sewer in the zone. “I do not think they (state, military officials) had Raeford and Hoke County in mind when they said this would be a ‘win-win’ situation,” Fields said. “We need to transform this county ourselves. “We need to work on our own plan regardless of what folks are trying to do to us.” He said what was entered into by counties {See TASK FORCE, page 5A) Contracts signed on 800-home ‘ Westgate’ project By VicTORiANA Summers Staff writer Fayetteville developer Ralph Huff, III has entered into a contract to build 800 homes off U.S. 401 east of Raeford in a $132 million planned, residential community - the largest to ever be constructed in Hoke. "We hope to attract active militai_ families, military retirees and Hoke professionals and their families to this community.” said Huff, a Hoke native. "My legacy will be twenty years from now that this development puts Hoke ‘on the map.’” “I envision a tow n being incorporated some day, a town similar to Rockfish." Westgate will be located at the intersection of Lindsay and Adcox roads. It will encompass 368 acres of farmland purchased for $10,000 per acre. Westgate also includes preserved wetlands that will be retained as a natural amenity, according to Huff. “I wanLto develop nice homes for nice families where every one has a place to live,” Huff said. “1 want it to also look nice forever. There will be a berm of ornamental landscaping at the grand entrance and a streetscape theme in the community. “We will also be discussing the possibility with the N.C. Depart- (See WESTGATE, page 4A) rrr \ .11 Ki- V- iv J From left; Ralph Huff, president of H&H Constructors, Inc.; wife Linda, general manager; brother, Ron Huff, vice president-partner. Hoke High security plan criticize(j by fired guards Puppy Creek fire station opens ff.iue 1 a School board picks review plan page jiA Seniors go fishing iwge 2B By PAr Allen Wilson Editor By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Five security guards at Hoke County High School recently lost their jobs after an enhanced School Resource Program was established for next year. Two of the guards, Richard Blue and John Carthens, said they are upset they were not given notice of being fired, or even told w'hy. “1 think it would be better to have a combination of both SROs and security guards,” Blue said. “We may not have been trained except on the job, but we got the job done. ‘I think we did a real, good job." Hoke School Superintendent Allen Strickland announced last month that the Sheriff’s Office would provide certified .school resource officers paid by a federal grant, joining more than 80 percent of the counties in North Carolina who already employ SROs. He said he met with the security guards to explain the situation. “We are beefing up the security, and parents will feel more secure,” Strickland said. "The work we are doing with our crisis revisions and updates of our crisis management plan, and the work we are doing with various agencies in the county that handle emergencies can only enhance w hat we are doing. It will improve safety and security at the high school.” Hoke Assistant School Superintendent George McFarley said the school board’s decision was no reflection on the caliber of service provided by the former security John Carthens guards. He denied the security guards, who were contract employees, were not adequately informed. “1 personally met with ail five of the security guards and briefed them of the situation,” McFarley said. 1 also sent them Richard Blue a follow-up letter, offering them alterna tive employment. “We felt we had a moral obligation to offer them some other job in our school system, which we did. (See SECURITY GUARDS, page 4A) Alleged smuggling smoochers arrested after drugs found Calendar 2B Classifieds 5B Deaths 3A Editorials 2A Engagements 3B Legals 4B Public Record 3A Religion 4A Schools 6A Socials 3B S|)orts 7A Weddings 3B Hoke’s top stories are on the web; send us stories, subscribe www.thenews-journal.com By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A local child care substitute teacher and her friend never got to kiss their boyfriends, both inmates at Hoke Correc tional Institution at McCain, on Sunday as plafined. In a “bizarre scheme,” the two, Hoke women were arrested before they could allegedly smuggle drugs “mouth- to-mouth” by kissing the inmates, .said Chief Deputy Troy McDuffie of the Sheriff's Department. “They were quite surprised when our narcotics detective and a detective from The Raeford Police Department showed up,” McDuffie said. “We seized seven grams of marijuana. Someone tipped us off they might possibly be in possession of drugs. “They admitted they planned to kiss the inmates and each transfer two, deflated balloons containing marijuana. The in mates would swallow the balloons, pass ing the sealed substance through their digestive systems. “They would retrieve it later on to use. We apprehended them before the kisses transpired.” Gertrude Grimsley Batton, 52, of East Fifth Avenue, and Janice Riddle, 51, of Red Springs Road, were each charged with three felony counts of intent to de liver and sell marijuana, possession of a controlled substance in a prison facility, and conspiracy. Batton, who was allegedly in posses sion of the drugs, was placed on a $3,500 secured bond, and Riddle was given a $2,500 secured bond. Both were still in the custody of Hoke County Jail on Mon day. McDuffie said Batton is a substitute (See KISSING, page 4A) Attorney, former legislator Qiarles A. Hostetler dies Former State House Rep resentative and local attor ney Charles Anderson Hostetler, 78, of Raeford diedTuesday at Open Arms Retirement Home after a long illness. He was a two-term legis lator from 1957 to 1961 and was Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner in the early 1950s. He was later a part ner in the law firm Gore and Hostetler, and then senior partner in Hostetler and McNeill of Raeford. He was attorney for the Hoke County Commissioners and Board of Education, and re tired in 1990 During his career he served on the N.C. (See HOSTETLER, page 5 A) E Charles A. Hostetler 25 pounds of marijuana seized in morning raid By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A Raeford man was apprehended during a pre-dawn narcotics raid conducted this morn ing in a joint undercover operation by the Raeford Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office. At least 25 pounds of marijuana were seized in the heart of a Raeford residential neighbor- (See RAID, page 4A) Raeford police deteaive Greg Tho mas displays confiscated items.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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June 11, 2003, edition 1
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