The
ews
Journal
If it happened, it's news to
50(^
No. 23 Vol. 96
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Lead in Brittany case
points to former resident
Bank robbery suspect investigated in murder case
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A former Hoke resident active in youth and
community activities has not only been charged
with the armed robbery of a Moore County bank in
late July, he is also being investigated concerning
the unsolved case of one of Hoke’s most notorious
crimes, according to authorities.
Bank robbery suspect Keith Douglas Londeree,
44, of Fox Run Lane in Carthage, has been ques
tioned by State Bureau of Investigation Agent Jay
Tilley and two Hoke Sheriff’s detectives in connec
tion with the murder of five-year-old Brittany
Locklear, according to Carthage Police Chief Chris
McKenzie.
“I do not know what the outcome of the interview
J
Keith D. Londeree
was." McKenzie said.
Brittany, a resident of
Gainey Road, was found
murdered on January 6.1998
in south Hoke after a mas
sive .^6-hour search. Three
Hoke sheriffs, including
Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, have
grappled with numerous
leads that still have not led to
an arrest.
Londeree is currently in custody at the Moore
County Jail on a secured bond of $15().(X)0. He is
charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and
assault by pointing a gun after allegedly robbing the
BB&T Bank in Carthage. Additional federal charges
(See BRITT\NY CASE, page 5A}
State gives dty more time
to comply with grant restriction
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By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
The Clean Water Management Trust Fund board
has granted an extension until October 31 for Raeford
officials to respond to “contingency” conditions
required to receive a $296,000 storm water grant.
The decision by CWMTF to attach a special
condition for Raeford to qualify — or risk losing
grant funds — may have also been based on flawed
information, according to records obtained by The
News-Journal.
Raeford City Manager Mike McNeill said the
city council protested the unrelated stipulation im
posed by CWTMF. Clean Water’s board initially
issued an ultimatum in July, requiring Raeford
officials adopt the controversial Fort Bragg-Pope
Air Force Base Joint Land Use Study by August 1.
After a request by McNeill, a second letter from
CWTMF postponed the deadline for a response by
Raeford.
“The Clean Water Management Trust Fund un
derstands that the City of Raeford has substantial
concerns about the Fort Bragg-Pope Air Force Base
Joint Land Use Study recommendations and ob
jects to adoption of the JLUS as a condition for
accepting a grant from CWMTF,’ Bill Holman,
CWMTF executive director, wrote in an August 22
response letter. “CWMTF will extend the deadline
(SeeSTORMWATER GRANT, page 7A)
Parade marshal
James “Dan” Daniels, right, a city employee for 17 years, will lead the N.C. Turkey Festival Parade
in downtown Raeford September 18. See related article, page 4A.
Progressive bank robbed for 2nd time in 6 weeks
Progressive State Bank was robbed Thursday
afternoon, the second robbery in a six-week
period. Each time the thief was a lone man, but
says Police Chief Mack High, different men
were responsible for the robberies.
Thursday’s robbery was reported at 2;30p.m.,
when a slim black male, wearing glasses, pre
sented a note to a teller with a request for money.
The man implied he had a weapon, according to
the chief. The man left on foot with an “insig
nificant” amount of cash. High .said.
Progressive, located on Harris Avenue, was
robbed at 9:30 a.m. July 9, also by a lone black
man. The SBl and FBI are investigating both
robberies and no arrests have been made. The
robber was not wearing a mask in either case.
High said. No injuries were reported.
Raeford-Hoke Crimestoppers is offering a
reward in the robberies. Anyone with informa
tion is asked to call Detective Greg Thomas at
the Raeford Police Dept. Anonymous calls are
welcome, according to Thomas.
t*'l
Chuck Anglin
is Kiwanis
It. governor
page 2B
Hoke
unemployment
up
page BA
Bucks begin
football season
page 6 A
Births 3B
Calendar 4B
Classifieds 6-7B
Deaths 3A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 3B
Legals 4-5B
Public Record 3A
Religion 8A
Schools 4B,8A
Socials 3B
Sports 6A
Hoke’s top stories
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www.thenews-journal.com
Land use commission to hear counties’ alternatives
Leaders of effort to legislate buffers around Fort Bragg say they’re open to possible revisions
Examining a land use study update are County Manager Mike Wood, Raeford City
Manager Mike McNeill, and Commissioner jean Powell.
B> Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
The Fort BraggyPope Air Force Base
Regional Land Use Advisory Commis
sion voted last week to give opposing
counties or cities a chance to present
alternatives for compatible land use rather
than "splintering off’ without an agree
ment. according to retired General Clint
Willis, a Scotlandcommissionerandchair-
man of the commission.
“If there has ever been a question that
we need a land u.se plan, the resounding
answer is yes,” Willis told the commis
sion last Thursday. “We are getting a lot
of players in this act.
“1 do think there is a real significant
need to tie these things together. We are a
friendly military .state, and we are going
to stay that way.”
This, before final recommendations on
a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) will be
presented to the N.C. Generally Assem
bly next year. The JLUS commission is
urging passage of compatible land use
around North Carolina’s military bases
such as Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force
Base. The plan will be open for possible
revision after an October meeting is sched
uled.
JLUS vice chairman Don Porter,
Hoke’s executive director of economic
development, was instrumental inarrang-
ing a fall meeting to discuss options to the
plan. He represents Hoke as a voting
member of the commission.
“The City of Raeford’s council and
Hoke commissioners met on Monday
night, and they discussed some talking
points about this study,” Portersaid. “They
have done some great work.”
Willis said he would like to see a reso
lution from Hoke and Raeford on their
ideas, along with Cumberland’s. Even
though 17 recommendations were ap
proved by the commission in May, Willis
said he was aware that the City of Raeford,
Hoke and Cumberland counties have re-
(See BRAGG BUFFER, page 7A)
Judge scheduled, preparations continue for trial of MePhatter
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
District Attorney Kristy M. New'ton is
busily preparing for the upcoming trial of
former county manager Bernice
MePhatter on allegations that she em
bezzled $269,347.90 of county funds.
With less than six weeks left until the
October 6 trial, Newton announced that a
Hoke-based judge will not be presiding
over the trial.
“Supe rior Cou rt Judge Jack Thompson
of Cumberland County has been assigned
to the bench from July until December,”
Newton said. “He will be the judge for the
Bernice MePhatter trial.”
MePhatter, whosimultaneously .served
as Hoke county manager and finance di
rector, is charged with four counts of
embezzlement for allegedly stealing
county moneys between July 1994 and
Nove mbe r 2000, and 64 cou nts of forgery
and uttering.
Between December 1998 and October
2001, close to the time of her resignation,
MePhatter is accused of embezzling, “cor-
ruptly” using and misapplying travel sti
pends of $23,100. This amount is in
cluded in the embezzlement charges.
A difference of opinion on whether
MePhatter’sease should be tried in Hoke,
or relocated to another county seems to
exist between defense attorney Gregory
Thompson and Newton. However, nei-
therone iscommentingon the possibility
of a change of venue.
A marketing survey was conducted by
Focus Group Inc., a Chapel Hill-based
research firm in the beginning of August.
Final .statistics have been completed by
the surveyors after they randomly con
tacted Hoke citizens, asking their reac
tions and opinions about the MePhatter
embezzlement case.
Newton would not reveal the outcome
of the findings, or if she had hired the
company.
“This is an issue critical to the case,”
Newton said. “It would not be proper for
me to comment outside of a courtroom.
“All hearings are open to the public,
and my comments will be restricted to the
courtroom.”
Thompson has declined commenting
on the case or issuing any statement from
MePhatter. Thus far, no plea bargaining
request has reportedly occurred.
In a separate criminal case, Newton
said the N.C. State Attorney’s office will
be handling a N.C. Department of Rev
enue income tax evasion trial regarding
MePhatter. It had been postponed. The
trial was switched from the state's juris
diction to the Wake County District
Attorney’s office earlier this year after
State attorney Rudy Renfer resigned from
the State Attorney’s staff.
“Rudy Renfer has returned,” Newton
said. “I understand he has taken back the
Bernice MePhatter income tax case from
the Wake DA’s office.”
“I anticipate we will probably go to
trial before they prosecute her for the
other allegations.”
Witnesses
Newton’s staff has already subpoe
naed most witnesses for the prosecution.
“We have issued approximately 40
subpoenas — many of them already
served,” Newton said. “Our staff is di
rectly serving them with assistance from
the Hoke Sheriff’s Office.
“All commissioners during the time
Mrs. MePhatter was county manager have
been served.”
They include Commission Chairman
(See MCPHATTER TRIAL, page 7A)