Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews J oumal 50C No. 41 Vol. 96 Wednesday, December 31, 2003 Guard gets sendoff after holiday at home Bv VlcroRl^NA Summers Staff writer Bv Pat Allen Wilson Editor There was no place like home for the holidays as local National Guard en joyed a week’s reunion with their fami lies for Christmas. An informal send-off toend the week was held on Saturday at the National Guard Armory on Teal Drive, which was attended by about 50 people. Troops had returned for the first time after be ing deployed almost three months ago to Fort Stewart, (jeorgia, activating Headquarters &i Headquarters Com pany, l()5th tmgineer Battalion in sup port of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Authorizing funding for a charter bus to depart Raeford. Hoke County com missioners offered free return service to Fort Stewart for all local Guardsmen. Local leaders, families, and friends waved goodbye as National Guardsmen boarded a bus provided by Lancaster Tours. A homemade sign fashioned by Ri chard Fergison, a Vietnam veteran and commander of the Alphonso Pickett VFW Post No. 7930, proclaimed Raeford is part of “America, Home of Heroes.” Many of the Guardsmen needed trans portation because they would be unable to leave their vehicles permanently at Fort Stewart if they would be deployed to Iraq. “Oh Jesus, thank you for answering our prayers,” Mary Harris, wife of acti vated Sgt. First Class Wilson Harris, said. “It was a blessing that the county commissioners did this for our hus bands and the wives serving locally in the National Guard,” she said. “This was our last opportunity to see them before they will probably be shipped off to Iraq.” (See NA TIONAL GUARD, page 8A) Locklear to take oath as Raeford police chief I Richard Fergison, See more photos who was just named the new Hoke County Veterans Service Officer, bids National Guardsmen farewell, on page IB. B> ViC'rORIANA St MM! RS Staff writer Major Kevin Locklear, Raeford’sas sistant chief of police, has been named the successor of retiring Chief Mack High. Locklear is distinguished as the first Native American to take command of the Raeford Police Department. He will be sworn in today, according to Mike McNeill. Raeford’s city man ager. “Kevin Locklear is the best man for the job,” McNeill said of his decision to appoint him. “He has worked his way up through the ranks, and I think he de serves this position.” Locklear has worked as second-in- command to High since 1997 when High was named chief. A swearing-in ceremony attended by Locklear’s wife, Earlina, High, McNeill and other dignitaries will be held at 3 Kevin Locklear is shown in September being congratulated by the late Mayor Bob Gentry after Locklear earned Ad vanced Law Enforcement Certifiction. p.m. at the Raeford City Hall. Vera Hoi I ingsworth, Hoke Clerk of the Supe rior Court, will officiate when Locklear takes the oath of office. (See POLICE CHIEF, page 8A) Riders celebrate at holiday horse show page 3B Collards separate southerners from the rest page 4B Unilever distributes products to the needy page .5A Flood returns as MLK speaker I 3 A Classifieds 7B Deaths 5A Editorials 2A Legals 5-6B Religion bA Socials 3B Sports 7A Hoke’s top stories are on the web; send us stories, subscribe www.thenews-journal.com County back to business following MePhatter conviction Then and now: Commissioners’ views By Vic "lORIANA SUMMI;RS Staff writer County business appears back to normal after former county manager Bernice MePhatter was convicted of an embezzle ment and forgery-uttering scheme. Span ning more than six years, her criminal financial activities have been hard to rec oncile by some Hoke commissioners — past and present. They still find it hard to conceive the enormity of her crimes. Sentenced to six to eight years in state prison without benefit of parole, McPhattcr’s fall from power ended with District Attorney Kristy M. Ne.w'ton con vincing a Cumberland County jury that MePhatter was guilts in November. She was sentenced on four counts of embezzle ment involving almost $27().()()() of county moneysand more thanbOcountsofforgery and uttering of county checks. Other misconduct What many Hoke citizens may not be aware of is that Newton was unable to introduce into evidence at the trial past irregularities levied against MePhatter. 1 his, becau.se MePhatter w as reprimanded by a state and a federal agency, but not e\ cr criminall) charged. County finance personnel revealed in 2002 that MePhatter had allegedly “sold" herself approximately $6,000 in vacation (See MCmiVTUiR, page 4) By Victorian a Summers Staff writer Opinions vary among commission ers on the embezzlement committed by former county manager Bernice MePhatter. Some strongly condemned her actions, but only one board mem ber, Comniissioner James L each, ex pressed sympathy toward MePhatter after her conviction. Commission Vice Chairman Charles V. Daniels, one of those most critical of MePhatter prior to her being investi gated, said he is glad the trial is over. He thinks MePhatter got what she deserved in sentencing, but said some citizens think she should have been sentenced for a longer period of time. Now “I am glad District Attorney Kristy Newton got a conviction on Bernice MePhatter, and the county recovered its money.” Daniels said. ‘‘Of course, we did not recoverall of the money because there were other checks written that (See THEN AND NO W, page 4A) County explores building sewer plant to foster growth B'l Vk'IORIANA SUMMI rs Staff writer Hoke County officials arc exploring the feasibility of buildingacouniy-owned sewer treatment plant that would make possible commercial and industrial growth. It could also prevent droughts that cause devastating losses to crops, according to Commission Chairman Bobby Wright, also a tobacco and cotton (See SEWER PLANT, page 8A) iews News s4 Journal j Trash at H.E.LP. store last straw After-hours bin to close, Johnson says store needs help By Ken MacDonald General Manager Christmas with the Riddle side of the family - in Riddle-land, or Ridlin as I like to call it - could have been a scene from Norman Rockwell’s home. No wait - wrong Norman. I’m thinking of Norm from Cheers. Anyway, get- togethers in Ridlin are always interesting. Forexample.oneofthekidswas running around pointing at people and yelling, “Bang, bang, bang bang, BANG! Who did I shoot?” “Huh?” I replied. Othfj^^Stuff “Bang, BANG, bang, bang, bang, bang, who did I shoot?” I gave him another puzzled look, and he said, “You!” “Bang, bang, BANG, bang, bang, who did 1 shoot?” Silence. “Me!” he said. “Well it didn’t take. You’re still talking.” I said. “Try again.” He played this game off and on the entire afternoon, and 1 was thinking, “Somebody gi\ e this kid d kdzoo or a drum set he’s not being obnoxious enough.” (See OTHER STUPE, page } Bonnie Johnson amid items discarded behind the H.E.L.P. store over the weekend, most of which are not usable. Bv Pat Allen Wilson Editor H.E.L.P. needs help. The last straw for Bonnie Johnson, director of the nonprofit H.E.L.P. store in downtown Raeford, was arriving at work and finding a truck load of junk furniture piled at the back door. “I thought the day a gentlemen brought me three truckloads of junk that I unloaded and then had carted off to the trash dump was it but-” Johnson says, indicating a pile that contains a couch that no self respecting person would risk sitting on, chairs in several pieces, a dirty and rotted bench, table legs with out tops, tops without table legs, a box springs with no mattress and bed frames, (See H.E.L.P., page 4A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1
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