The
ews
Journal
happened, it's news to
No. 37 Vol. 96
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
Board rezones land, picks
growth despite protests
/
By Vicioriana Si mmi rs
Staff writer
Faced with substantial opposition
from landowners, Hoke Count) com
missioners still unanimously approved
a rezoning proposal on Monday. 'I'hey
agreed to convert a one-acre tract ot
land near the Stonewall subdivision in
eastern Hoke from residential to high
way commercial.
Commissioners briefly weighed the
economic advantages against the con
cerns of numerous property owners.
However, the board agreed the county s
lax base and job opportunities would
increase by allowing more commercial
growth. The majority of the board \ is-
iled the property located at Rockfish
and Myra roads, deciding the tract was
compatible for commercial develop
ment.
"This is a difficult situation we ate
left with, trying to figure out what we
think from our projections,” Commis
sioner Jean Powell. "The population
has grown dramatically, and the tratlic
has grow n dramatically.
"We anticipate that area may dev elop
more commercially."
Powell and Commission Vice Chair
man Charles V. Daniels reminded citi
zens that some businesses already ex
isted in direct view of the acreage that
was rezoned commercial. To approve
an acre for commercial growth did not
appear in conflict w ith current land use.
according to Daniels.
Property owner Clyde Shepley con-
V inced the board to approv e his retjuest
to sw itch zoning on the road frontage
lot. lie said it would encourage more
jobs and tax revenue for the county.
Shepley plans to build a 3,()()() square-
foot commercial structure on the vacant
land. The proposed building will be
used for n current business tenant to
expand.
I ive landowners spoke in favor of
Shepley s building where a doctor’s
urgent care or a home security firm may
eventually lease space. Shepley already
owns several commercial sites in the
Rockfish vicinity.
"I have had several requests from
businesses, but had no space to give
them.” Shepley said. “It would be a
small type ol home business — not for
a restaurant or bar."
Donald Riddle and Gregory Scott
supported Shepley‘s rezoning request.
"1 also own a small business in the
I See RrZO\ED, page 3Al
Murder suspected in infant death
Dancing Doll
Katya Plewniak of Raeford performs as a Dancing Doll in the Waltz of the Flowers
in the N.C. State Ballet Production of the Nutcracker at the Crown Theatre in
Fayetteville. Performance dates are December 7, 13 and 14 at 3 p.m. See page 3B for
more details.
Bi Vic'ioKi vs V Si vivti Ks
Staff writer
Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said homi
cide is suspected in the death of a six-
week-old infant brought to the Htrke
Health Center on Monday afterinum by
his parents. Complaining that the baby.
Nasir Jones, had been cry ing and v om-
iting, the unmarried couple requested
medical assistance for him.
“It was apparently already too late to
save the child," Peterkin said.
Nasir was born on October IS.
Peterkin said members of the infant's
extended family and neighbors have
alreadv been interviewed. Authorities c.illeil for FirstHealth EMS to send an
have inquired il they had any know I
edge legarding Nasir's suspected abuse
allegedly committed. Peterkin added.
Peterkin declined to comment on in-
foimation received from friends and
family ol Nasir. Additional interviews
will be conducted today.
"The baby was barely clinging to life
when they arrived at about 12:45 p.m.."
Peterkin said. "The child appeared to
have been severely beaten.
"1 here were signs ot trauma on iu>
body. Recognizing the urgency of the
child‘scondition. a doctor affiliateel w ith
the Health department immedi.itelv
ambulance."
Cvnthia Oxendine, Hoke's interim
health director, confirmed Nasir was
evaluated at the health department, but
only remainedihere lOminutesbecause
EMS vvascalled inforemergency medi
cal assistance. She said the infant was
previously enrolled in a child health
services program at the local agency,
but was unable to reveal any details.
F’eierkin said the infant was trans-
|M!t\.d to Cape Fear Valley Medical
Center, w here he was pronounced dead.
.\n autopsv was performed yesterday
iSi en'l'A\TDFA IH. page S.11
' Sf ^ ^ - 5I
Men save coworker
from farm accident
Jordan to serve
as mayor pro tern
Local educators use
'world view' ideas
Turkey Festival
cookoff recipes
Btisinoss/Farm 5A
CciliMKlar 2B
Classifieds 6-76
Deaths 4A, bA
Editorials 2A
Legals 4-)B
Religion 8A
Sc hools 8B
Socials JB
Sports 7 ^
Hoke’s top stories
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www.thenews-journal.com
Smart Start sees progress in pre-kindergartners’ schoolwork
Bv Vi( loRi vs \ Sr vivii rs
Staff writer
Pre-kindergarten
classes in Hoke
County Schools funded by Smart Start
received an "outstanding report card” for
2()()2-2()().3. The year-end evaluation in
dicates the programs are making a differ
ence. Kristi Posey, Title 1 director and
fiscal manager of the pre-K curriculum.
told the Hoke Board of Education re
cently.
“Smart Start deserves all of the acco
lades because they are the ones we get the
funding from," Posey said. “We work so
very well together.
“At the end of every year, they give us
the results of their monitoring. We have
certain goals and objectives to meet for
ourchildrcn. We met all of those goals. It
shows our pre-kindergarten children ate
learning at a much taster rate."
Smart Start, under the auspices of the
Hoke County Partnership for Children,
funds fiv e classrooms, prov iding salaries
for teachers and teacher assistants. Smart
Start annually allocates S.31 I.OOd of its
grants specifically for pre-kindergarten
development. A year-end review is pub
lished alter Smart Start Director Jean
.Squier monitors the local program, evalu
ating the progress of children.
Hoke County's schools serve as the
direct service provider for Smart Start's
pie-K classes, comprising almost half of
tlie 12 pre-K classes offered by the local
school sv stem. The school system cov ers
the cost of transportation and food for
pupils.
I Si e S MART START, page .5,4)
LA gang member slain in Rockfish
Bv VlCIORI V\A Sr MMI RS
Staff writer
I ioke law officers are seeking two mur
der suspects after a teenager was appar
ently kidnapped and brutally stabbed to
deathon Saturday morningineastern Hoke
County. Several motorists witne.s.sed the
IS-year-old. who was Hispanic, fleeing
on foot from two men, also Hispanic,
while his hands were tied behind his back.
This frantic pursuit occurred just min
utes prior to his murder, according to
Chief Deputy Troy McDuffie of the Hoke
Sheriff's Office.
A California fugitive wanted for rob
bery. the dead man. Ricardo Rodriquez.
Ricardo Rodriquez
was initially captured
by the HokeSheriff's
Office several weeks
ago at a I Ioke check
point. Rodriquez was
released from the
Hoke County Jail last
Monday after Eos
Angeles authorities
declined to extradite
him on the felony charge. Federal immi
gration authorities, accordi ng to MeDu ffie,
subsequently deported the other man, an
illegal alien.
“The possible execution-style slaying
is thought to be gang-related,” McDuffie.
(SeeSLMN, page 7A)
hic Kews-I journal
News
Bv Ki N M acDonai.d
General Manager
What is it about us that we'll trample
some unfortunate woman because she’s
between us and a $29 DVD player?
I was appalled as I read a piece in the
morning paper Sunday about a 41 -year-old
Orange City, Florida woman who was
stomped and sent to the hospital by early
bird shoppers at a Wal-Mart during a post-
Thanksgiving sale.
But then I thought. “Wait a minute. It’s
almost as appalling that she and bazillions
of others lined up at the stores before dawn.”
Mullet Roast: fish and fishy stories
At the annual Mullet Roast last
night, business people and politi
cians talked about the state of
things. Clockwise from right :
Sheriff Hubert Peterkin with
Senator Tony Rand; Earl and
Willaree McDuffie; Marvin
Johnson. See story, page 6A.
f
f -
I
Othfr stuff
^ [-rw
V imi
That is behavior 1 just don’t understand.
But in an effort to, 1 talked to Katharine
McNeill, a teenager who was in the middle
of it all at 6 a.m. Friday in Fayetteville.
“It’s fun!” she exclaimed as she walked
off.
Fun? I bet she’ll like driving on 1-95! 1
think she’ll like high school reunions and
paying the electricity bill. She’ll prtrbably
enjoy traveling with infants. I bet she likes
Barry Manilow.
To be fairtotheearly-bird-ers, there was
a time 1 did something similar, but il was
different. (That sentence was mv entrv for
(See OTHER STUFF, page 8A)'
f\