The
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Journal
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50(1:
No. 28 Vol. 96
Wednesday, October 1, 2003
Special Ambassadors
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From left, Nececa Locklear, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Locklear; Havia
Qureshi, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aamir Qureshi and Justin John, son of Sharon
John, served as ambassadors at Hoke County’s county-wide opening meeting for
administrators and staff in the Programs and Services for Exceptional children. The
story is on page 2B.
Local Guard to deploy
440 soldiers headquartered here to head for Iraq
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
The 105th Engineer Battalion is get
ting ready to roll. “We are planning a
mobilization in support of Iraqi Free
dom,” said Lt. Col. Carl Bryant, com
mander.
With Headquarters and Headquar
ters Company, located in Raeford, the
440 soldiers-strong battalion has com
panies in Rockingham, Laurinburgand
St. Pauls.
The Pentagon announced last week
that thousands more National Guard
and Reserve troops may be alerted for
duty in Iraq. The Bush administration
hopes that other countries will contrib
ute troops for security duty in Iraq, but
military planners are counting on the
United States sending more personnel.
Bryant says the battalion he com
mands has been preparing for the past
two years for a major training exercise
in Fort Erwin. California. "We’re a
highly motivated and trained unit. We
come from different walks of life but
when we come together, we are one."
Capt. Derwin Brayboy, commander
(See GUARD, page 4A)
Pates’ latest show
premiers Saturday
Raeford twins produce
‘LA. Dragnet’ for ABC
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
Raeford viewers may re
call the classic Dragnet TV
series of the ‘50s where “the
names have been changed to
protect the innocent.” Update
the police series by almost
six decades and pack it with
contemporary action scripts
penned by Josh and Jonas
“Jay” Pate, identical twins
who grew up in Raeford, and
you have L A. Dragnet.
“We are really excited
about this series,” Josh Pate
said of their continuing shot
at success. “It is a great op
portunity.
“As brothers and as a team,
we get it all on the page. At
the end of each day, we hope
wc have written a good
script.”
Premiering on Saturday
evening on ABC at 10. L.A.
Dragnet is a spin-off of the
original Jack Webb “just the
facts, ma’am” cop show. Ed
O’Neill, former star of Mar
ried With Children, stars as
LAPD veteran sergeant Joe
Friday now promoted to lieu
tenant. The first episode fo
cuses on an actual murder
that occurred in Indiana.
(See DRAGNET, page 8A)
m ■
Josh and Jay Pate
National Guard
soldier hero
to family
Recovered addicts
share stories
at Freedom Chapel
p .ge .>A
Clerk's Court hosts
info session
palpi' 1B
Births 3B
Calendar 4B
Classifieds 6B
Deaths 8A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 2A
Legals 4-5B
Religion 5A
Schools 2B
Socials 3B
Sports 6A
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web;
send us stories,
subscribe
www.thenews-journal.com
State Commerce Department to ‘hold Hoke’s hand
By Pat Allen Wilson
AND
VicTORiANA Summers
The North Carolina Dept, of Com
merce has prom ised to “hold Hoke’s hand”
as it helps lead the county into economic
development accomplishments.
Hoke was one of five North Carolina
counties —chosen from 35 applicants
— to be named a 21st Century Commu
nity. “What this means for Hoke is the
N.C. Dept, of Commerce will provide a
concentrated effort to work with the lead
ership in Hoke County to pinpoint prob
ably three or four economic development
initiatives that need to be implemented,”
Steve Yost of the DOC’s Southeastern
Regional Office said in May when Hoke
was selected as a 21st Century Commu
nity.
Asa 21st Century Community, Hoke is
to work hand in hand with DOC staff, and
the county will receive preferential treat
ment for some grants, including the Golden
Leaf Grant.
DOC personnel were in Hoke Wednes
day to hear an overview of what is avail
able. They heard luncheon briefings from
Raeford Economic Development Com
mission Executive Director Don Porter
and Hoke County Manager Mike Wood
before visiting the Dundarrach area to
look at possible industrial park sites. They
then went to Carolina Horse Park at Five
Points, East Hoke Middle School and
Sandhills Community College.
County civic and business leaders,
called “stakeholders,” were the guests
Wednesday evening at a 21st Century
kickoff dinner at the Raeford Civic Cen
ter, where Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Clev Simpson was the speaker.
The state began the 21st Century pro
gram to restructure the economy after
manufacturing jobs were lost; more than
130,000 North Carolinians have lost jobs
since January of 2001 and the unemploy
ment rate was pushed to more than 10
percent in 19 rural counties.
A pilot program, targeting 10 counties
and begun in September 2001, was de
signed to “help counties to remake them
selves and become competitive economi
cally,” according to Simpson.
Each program was tailored specifically
to a particular county with each county
looking at its own strengths and weak-
nessesand devisinga plan to maximize its
(See COMMERCE, page 7A)
Hoke officials threaten to sue, report Lumbee Tribal Council
By Victor]ana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke County officials have threatened
to sue the Lumbee Tribal Council or con
tact the federal government concerning
serious building code violations found
recently at the home of Hoke resident
Shirley Bullard, a recipient of repairs from
the Indian Housing Program.
An investigation is also being initiated
regardingother Lumbee homeowners who
may be dissatisfied with repairs, accord
ing to County Manager Mike Wood.
“Your immediate response is needed
before our office has no choice but to turn
this matter over to state and federal au
thorities,” Michael W. Sans, Hoke’sehief
code enforcement officer wrote to Milton
R. Hunt, tribal chairman, on September
17. “1 am writing to inform you of some
major complaints.”
Sans, who was fired last week after the
controversy went public, told Hunt issues
that needed to be addressed included
workers failing to obtain all required per
mits, and not calling for inspections by
county inspectors on work that had per
mits pulled; plumbing deficiencies and
raw sewage flowing from the septic tank
into an adjacent pond; an unsafe electrical
system in the house; and the alleged use of
some unlicensed workmen.
Alex Baker, Lumbee Tribal public in
formation officer, said the Tribal Council
has done nothing wrong. Contractors hired
by the Tribe applied for necessary per
mits, he added.
“We always tr\ to abide by the law,”
(See TRIBAL COUNCIL, page 7A)
Health Director Womble may retire
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke Health director Don Womble said
he is planning to retire this year after 32
years of service as a state employee. As an
alternative plan, Womble proposed to the
board of commissioners in a closed session
last month that he remain as the director on
a part-time basis.
Womble’s Raeford home is on the mar
ket in anticipation of his retirement. He
currently earns approximately $73,000 an
nually after nine years of tenure with the
county.
“I asked the commissioners to consider
allowing me to contract half-time hours to
receive half of my pay,” Womble said. “I
would actually be in the office two or three
day s each week, but available for any emer-
genciesorspecial situations that might arise.
“Things are running so well and our staff
is operating the health department smoothly.
I would be putting out the fires.”
According to Womble, Hoke’s board of
health has unofficially endorsed his request.
If accepted by both boards, his request
would permit him to receive full retirement
benefits and still be partially compensated
separately as health Erector. He said Com
mission Chairman Bobby Wright, also a
member of the health board, seemed agree
able to his request, but he received negative
feedback from most commissioners.
“1 think our health director needs to be
permanently employed on a full-time basis
so we are not liable during any crisis,”
Commission Vice Chairman Charles
(See WOMBLE, page 6A)
Children in Ann Shannon’s first grade class at J.W. McLauchlin School dressed
as characters from the book, “Charlotte’s Web” last week. Pictured are Austin
Byrd, Anthony Neal, Tammy Beeler, Nikki Inman, Tyesha Daniels, Brittany
Edwards, Amber Greer, Austin Jacobs and Thamal Chambers.