Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Feb. 18, 2004, edition 1 / Page 1
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The No. 48 Vol. 96 ews happened, it's news to Journal Wednesday, February 18, 2004 S'! VktOKI VNA Sl'MMI RS Staff writer A Hoke sheriff's deputy was fired, another was suspended, and one re signed following an incident in which an inmate was allegedly sprayed with pepper spray unnecessarily. Monica Jcranck, the mother of a teen inmate in custody at the Hoke County Jail, filed a complaint with the Hoke Sheriff’s Office on February 9 and with the Hoke District Attorney’s Office, according to Chief Deputy Troy McDuffie. “My son complained of burning in his eyes and his chest, but I hope he is okay now,” Jcranck said. “I am not considering filing criminal charges myself at this time because I am satis fied with how Sheriff Peterkin handled the situation. $62,000 water grant at stake Hy Pat Wii son Editor City councilmcn were told Monday night that the city will lose $62,000 in grant money if it doesn’t move ahead with the second phase of a water im provement project. A 12-inch water line on Highway 20 to Oakdale Gin Road and on to High way 401 Business is near completion and a new water tank is beginning to go up; all arc Phase I projects. However, the laying of a 12-inch water line along the Palmer Street Extension, a part of (See WATER GRANT, page 9A) “I am satisfied also with the investi gation, and I feel like they did what they should have to discipline the deputies." Accord i ng to Jc ranck, she rccogn ized excessi\e force had been used on her son after he told her what occurred be cause she has family members in enforcement. law “Deputies arc supposed to be trained and not go off half-cocked." Jcranck said. “I did not want this to happen to another inmate in the jail, and that is .'hy I complained." McDuffie said the - similar to mace — (See DEPVm pepper spray used - vvas more deadly '.S, puge .S/\} TVlf 4 Valentine’s Day warm-up Bobby Graham, left, and Tamara Matthews warm up for the inaugural Raeford-Hoke 5K Love Run which was held this past Saturday in downtown Raeford. For complete story, see page 7A. Duke Endowment supports UMC day care page IB Lumber Bridge, UNCP make music together page 4A Teens want tobacco taboo on campuses pxige :tA Births 3B Business/Farm 8A Calendar 2B Classifieds 6-7B Deaths 1OA Editorials 2A Legals 4-5B Public Record 10A Religion 5A Schools 5A Socials 3B Sports 6-7 A Hoke’s top stories • are on the web; send us stories, subscribe www.thenews~journal.com County to hire planner to cope with growth Board also seeks city’s help to reach new Palmer Street health complex with water, sewer By VinoRiANA Summi rs Staff writer A professional planner will be hired by the Hoke board of commissioners be cause of immediate challenges with facil ity needs around the county, and because of increased residential and commercial growth, according to Commissioner Bill Cameron. “We needed one,” Cameron said. “It should have happened (before), but it has not happened.” The board unanimously voted to ap prove advertising the planner's position, directing C’ounty Manager Mike Wood and Jean Wade, human resources direc tor, to begin the process. C’ritcria for hir- ingaplanncr will bediscussed indepthat a one-day retreat that will be held on March 11 at Camp Rockfish. “I think the way the county is growing and has grown that we could put in more zoning fees down the road,” Cameron said. “Schools arc an issue, and wc need to be prepared as far as long range plan ning. “If wc do not. wc are going to be in the doghouse. Wc arc talking schools, a jail and millions of dollars. Who will suffer? The overall county, itself. " lie said. "Someone has to say ’whoa.' If we do not lay the groundwork, wc will be in trouble 15 years from now.” Commission Vice ("hairman C’harics V. Daniels commended Cameron for his candid approach to planning and the other commissioners’teamwork tosolvegrowth problems. “Cdad to see Bill is on board.’’ Daniels said of the junior commissioner most re cently elected along with (’ommissioncr Jean Powell. Until after the retreat is concluded, candidates for the new planning position will not be interviewed, according to the board. “It will take a while to get a profes sional planner,” Wood said. “It iscompli- cated.” Linda Revels, current Hoke planner and clerk to the board of commissioners, expressed confidence in the board’s deci sion to hire a certified planner. Develop ers such as Joe Riddle of Riddle Proper- (See PLANNER, puge 9A) Hoke DSS proposes house arrest for deadbeat parents By Victoriana Summi-.rs ‘staff writer Hoke’s most wanted deadbeat parents may soon be placed on house arrest. An idea to monitor deadbeat parents with electronic surveillance until they pay their delinquent child support bills is gaining popularity, according to Bob Mercer, director of Hoke’s Department of Social Services. If approved by Mcrccr, Hoke could be distinguished as the first county in the Cape fear region to establish a house arrest policy for parents behind or refus ing to pay child support. Mercer said Hoke would follow the lead of Wake and New Hanovercountiesasthe third county to stiffen collection methods to include house arrest. Unlike many counties that enforce nonpayment of child support with criminal penalties, Hoke currently regu lates it on a civil basis, he said. Hoke statistics currently indicate there arc 1,475 cases of parents in arrears on child support who arc in contempt of local court orders. One of the worst offenders owes S8(),()0() in child support. DSS is unahic to locate many of tlic offenders because they have left the county, accord ing to Mercer. “There will probably be less parents skipping out on child support obligations if the system is established in Hoke,” Mercer said. “1 am thinking about doing it during the next budget year beginning in July.” “We arc in the process of talking to judges and local law enforcement about piloting this project to see what it will accomplish. This is a new market for us,” he said. According to Mercer, putting individu- (5cc HOUSE ARREST, page 4A) khe News-I Journal News ■T-J By Kf.n MacDoanlo General Manager Word from the Board of Education is that we need to build two-maybe three- new schools. Not surprising when you’re in one of the fastest growing counties in the state. I doubt that anyone would dispute a new middle school and elementary school are needed. Some of our elementary - the middle schools, it’s too darned big. schools and both of our middle schools Okay, you say, how about Southview are approaching the size of an average (See OTHER STUFF, page 8A) Other stuff high school in N.C - 994 students. The two middle schools - West, at 780 students; and East, at 843- arc certainly blowing past the stale average of 680 students for middle schools. But I think it’s time to consider a new high school as well. Not just bccau.sc itscnrollmcntat 1,450 students exceeds the state average by roughly 50 percent, but because, just like Black Military History World War II veteran Clyde Thomas Sr. holds a photo of himself when he served in the military. Vietnam veter ans John Scott, left, and Richard Fergison, check out the Vietnam war display. The exhibit on black military history was presented by Raeford VFW Post 7930.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Feb. 18, 2004, edition 1
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