ews
it happened^ it's news to
50(t
No. 26 Vol. 96
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Isabel likely to brush Hoke with strong wind
East Hoke Middle School designated shelter, citizens urged to prepare, take storm seriously
B'l Vk TORIANN Sl'MMLRS
Staff writer
As Hurricane Isabel barrels across
the Atlantic toward the North Carolina
coast, Hoke County Emergency Man
agement is bracing for a severe brush
with Hurricane Isabel. 1 loke is under a
tropical storm warning—far more dan
gerous than originally predicted as a
watch, according to Major Freddy
Johnson, emergency management co
ordinator for the Hoke Sheriffs Office.
The National Weather Center in Mi
ami issued the most updated weather
forecast as of 8 a.m. toda\ . but so far
Alice Glisson sings the national anthem at a ceremony honoring those who died
on 9/11. See related article and more photos, page 4A.
Hoke is not forecast to be in the direct
path of the storm. A tropical storm warn
ing is extended across the entire North
Carolina coast from Bald Head Island
up into Virginia. The hurricane is listed
as a category 2 with winds up to 120
miles per hour. That classification is
expected to possibly change to a cat
egory 3 with higher winds as the storm
nears landfall.
Gov. Mike Easley has declared a
state of emergency in North Carolina as
the hurricane approaches. The North
Carolina National Guard has a pool of
3.5(10 soldiers and airmen on standby,
and another 1,500 available to respond
if Hurricane Isabel comes ashore.
“It is going to be worse than we
(SeellURRICANli, page (lA)
k
B 8 am Wedneiday . Sept 17,2003
Graphic provided by the Hoke Sheriffs Office shows Isabel’s forecast winds.
Parade postponed,
other events are on
B'l P \l Al LI N Wll SON
Editor
It looks like Isabel is going to rain on
our parade.
't'esterday evening the mth Annual
N.C. Turkey Festival committee agreed
to postpone the parade, which was sched
uled for Thursday evening some time
after Hurricane Isabel is expected to hit
the North Carolina coast.
However, other festival events arc a
go-
Lynch say.s, “We have to think about
the children. Drizzle is one thing; whnd
and heavy rains arc another.”
"Friday and Saturday will be beauti
ful,” says festival director Jackie Lynch.
Most events will take place Saturday.
Bridge tournament players enjoyed an
evening of cards last night as the sun set
on a beautiful day, w'ith scarcely a cloud
in the sky and only a slightly cooling
breeze.
The Fun Walk istobegin thisevening
at McLauchlin Park at 5;.3(). No flics —
and it is hoped no raindrops— on these
folks as they circle the park, Hoke
Schools staff and teachers making up
many of the walkers following in the
steps of Superintendent Allen
(See TURKEY FESTIVAL, page lOA)
Be prepared with
hurricane checklist
B'l VicioRi \\ \ Si \i\ii
Staff writer
As Hurricane Isabel apprr'aches
landfall — likely on North Carolina's
coast — take the time to prepare a list
of “reminders" of things to do, pur
chase. store aw ay. and prepare. L\ en
if the hurricane's path hn passes I loke.
these items can be utili/ed during
winter storms.
Rcmembei. candles are more dan
gerous to use in case of a power
outage. Avoid using them. Frv to
only use flashlights or portable, bat
tery-operated lanterns.
If an electric generator is being
lused. Hoke Fire Marshal. Major
(See CHECKI 1ST, page R \)
Bucks outrun Pirates
jjavv 7A
Sept. 19 POW/MIA
Recognition Day
i -I ‘.gv ,1A
Heroes remembered
on Patriot's Day
j>.t^t‘ 4,A
Be prepared
for Isabel
i
Births 3B
Calendar 3B
Classifieds 5B
Deaths 10A
Editorials 2A
Legals 4B
Religion 5A
Schools 8A
Socials 2B
Sports 6-7A
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web;
send us stories,
subscribe
WWW.
',thenews-journal.com
ABCs results show improvement in Hoke schools
B'l Vic ■|ORI.\NA St'MMI RS
Staff writer
Statewide test results released by the
Departmentof Public Instruction through
its ABC accountability program show an
unprecedented 4U percent of Hoke schools
were recognized as “schools of distinc
tion,” the second highest performance
category.
“This vvas a record-setting event —
history-makinggrowth for Hoke County."
Hoke School Superintendent Allen
Strickland said. " \ll of our schools hav e
done well.
"The state has challenged public
schools to meet expected growth, and we
have risen to the challenge.”
All of Hoke’s schools, except West
Hoke Middle, also achieved high growth,
paralleling improved scores across the
state. The percentage of students per
forming at the proficiency level is the
highe.st in North Carolina’s history. Nearly
every school in the state — 94.3 percent
— met expected growth or surpassed it.
Rockfish I loke Elementary School, the
first and only local school ever named a
School of Distinction in 2()()()-2()() 1, was
also named a School of Distinction in
2()()2-()3. Also, recognized as Schools of
Distinction in 20()3-()4 were East Hoke
Middle; Upchurch Elemen
tary; and Sandy Grove El
ementary.
“The teachers have done a
splendid job to focus on in
struction,” Strickland said.
“This focus on learning has
paid off. They have worked
hard to hold expected growth
soourstudents will respond.”
Strickland akso praised
four of Hoke’s schools that
ranked as Schools of
Progress. Schools meeting
these goals included; J.W.
(See ABCs, page ^A)
Hoke School Superintendent Allen Strickland exam
ines higher End-Of-Grade test scores in math and
reading for 2002-03 revealed in ABC results.
Educators optimistic as they await supreme court mling
By Victorian v Si mmi rs
Staff writer
Seven justices of the N.C. Supreme
Court last week heard an appeal by the
state urgingthat a lower court's ruling on
educational funding be thrown out.
It may be the final chapter of a decade-
long lawsuit filed by Hoke and other
counties seeking to force the state to pro
vide the re.sources necessary so that poorer
counties can provide the same quality of
education as wealthier ones.
Allen Strickland, Hoke Schools super
intendent, says the final decision may be
several months in coming, but he feels
good about Hoke’s chances.
“It was awe-inspiring to watch the
judges,” Strickland said. “We felt things
went extremely well.”
Strickland said the justices, a panel of
some of North Carolina’s most “brilliant”
legal minds, will be reviewing transcripts
from 45 daysofpreviouscourt testimony,
and more than 75 exhibits previously pre
sented to the N.C. Superior Court.
“The justicesdid not tip their hand, but
I am optimistic we will win this lawsuit,”
Strickland said “This debate is not about
adults. It is all about meeting the needs of
children who arc at-risk academically.
“Any amount we spend to help our
children is an investment for our future.
and for the successful careers of families
of tomorrow."
Hoke issuingthe state, demanding it fully
fund an educational formula already ap
proved by the N.C. General -Assembly, ol-
fering extra “relieF’ for more than 6(1 poorer
counties. In 2()()3-()4, the state funded $2.2
million for Hoke, categorized asone of the
fastest growing but one of the poorest
counties in the state. However.
(See COURT RULING, page lOA)
By Kln Ma( Don vi.d
General Manager
I see I have competition for
April Fool’s jokes. But come on
guys, no fair, it’s not April!
Someone brought by a print
out of an email circulating the
net and distributed to county
workers warn ing that huge quan-
titicsofUPS uniforms have been
sold on eBay. That, the email
says, poses a national security
threat because deliverers could
bring you something you didn’t
order “with deadly conse
quences.” Of course, the whole
thing is a hoax -1 checked it out
with a simple web search.
Butitgot metothinkingabout
all those times I got something I
didn't order. There I was think
ing that the sales guy wasn’t
paying attention when in fact he
was engaging in terrorist activi-
(See OTHER STUFF, page 3A)
Providing affordable housing is goal of grant
Bv Victorian v Summers
Staff writer
County commissioners last
night reviewed the results of a
study conducted by Blue
Springs-Hoke County Commu
nity Development Corporation
concerningsubstandard housing
in Hoke.
Recognizi ng the plight of low
to moderate income Hoke fami
lies who have housing needs.
Blue Springs’ staff is supervis-
inga building initiative, accord
ing to Thelma Bishop, housing
project manager.
“They face significant chal
lenges in finding affordable
homes,” Bishop said of Hoke
residents. “According to the
National Low Income Housing
Coalition, rental housing for
America’s working and poor
families is growing farther out
of reach.
“A time to build affordably
has come to Hoke County.”
Bishop told the board of infe
rior living conditions that exist
in Hoke. She said 112 Hoke
homes lack cr>mplelc kitchen
facilities,and 152 homes in Hoke
are without complete plumbing.
Citing the need for more af
fordable home-buildingin Hoke.
Bishop said 35.6 percent of Hoke
citizens pay more than 30 per
cent of their income on rent. The
poverty rate is 17.7 percent in
Hoke — far e.xceeding the state
average of 12.3 percent, she
added.
According to a national sur
vey. 37 percent of American
families ranked alfortlable hous-
ingastheirsecondconcern. I his,
compared to43 percent I)i,it^,od
afford.iblc t’C,)!t*'C ‘f. w ^
number one concern, followed
(See HOUSl.NG, page .l\)