The
ews
If it happened, ifs news to uS
J oumal
!, 504
No.l Vol.97
Wednesday, March 24,2004
Democrats set Hoke caucus after mling
Primary to go on as planned July 20, filing period begins April 26
Ih Vk'IOKIANA
Si mmi ks
Staff writer
I'heU.S. Depart
meni of Justice in
dicated last week
that controversial
redistricting lines
Party s belief, pre-dears the way for know the state Democratic voters on whether the state district lines trehalf of some Republicans, hoping
drawn up in North ('arolina do not
violate the U.S. Voting Rights Act. or
discriminate against minorit) voters.
This preliminary opinion, which
contradicts the N.C. Republican
the previously delayed primary elec
tion. It will go on as planned July
2(1 across the state. A filing period
for candidates begins on April 26.
However, the N.C. Democratic Party
must hold a C’ontingcncy Delegate
Selection Plan to decide on a presi
dential nominee. The plan substitutes
for the traditional spring primary that
was postponed, according to A.K.
“Dooie" Leach, chairman of the
Moke County Democratic Party.
■‘This caucus will enable us to
presidential preferences,” Leach
said. “These circumstances have
caused us to implement presiden
tial caucuses across the state.”
A three-member panel of federal
judges will soon offer a final ruling
conform to federal law. Democrats
say they must carry on with election
campaigns in spite of the Republi
can opposition to the redistricling. A
separate lawsuit is pending in the N.C.
Supreme Court, which was tiled on
to reverse the current district lines.
“The major redistricting battle tak
ing place in North Carolina resulted
because of a Democratic-controlled
legislature and opposing Republicans,
(Sec C 'A UC 'US, pu^c 6/\)
Commissioners’ visit
to sheriff’s new home
stirs up controversy
B-i ViCIOKIANA Si MMI RS
Staff writer
Three commissioners have given
conHicting reports on why they and
County Manager M ike Wood toured the
new but not yetoccupiedhomesof Sher
iff Hubert Peterkin and Chief Deputy
Troy McDuffie — without invitation.
“They did not seem to look at any of
the other homes but tho.se two,” said a
person who asked not to be identified.
Commission Chairman Bobby
Wright admitted that he. Commission
ers Jean Powell and Bill Cameron, and
Wood were returning to Raeford from
Camp Rocktish where an official com
missioners retreat was held on March
11. 't he workshop was adjourned in
late afternoon. They decided to stop
and “check out” the West Gate devel
opment being constructed by Fayette
ville developer Ralph Huff, he said.
“We rode by and saw some folks
working at the home of (Sherif'O Hu
bert Peterkin so we took a look at his
home.” Wright said. “We also looked
at Chief Deputy Troy McDuffie s
home being constructed,” he said.
“We were glad to see some
of the fine homes being built in
Hoke County. 'I'hc sheriff came
up and we talked for awhile.”
(See CONTKOVURSY, page 5A)
til
Olympic riders
compete at horse park
pajit ; \
Construction theft
ring broken up
’ti ;e
Tutor motivates
teachers, students
Births 3B
(Calendar 2B
Classifieds 9-1 OB
Deaths 10.\
Editorials 2A
Legals 7-8 B
Public Record lOA
Religion 8 A
Schools 4B
Socials 3B
Sporte 4-5A
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web:
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www.thenews-journal.com
Former school
board member
Locklear dies
ViCIOKIANA
Sl'MMI KS
Staff writer
An advocate of qual
ity education in public
schools for all chil
dren. former Hoke
Board of Lducalion
Teddy Locklear member Teddv Ixick-
lear died at home last Thursday morning
of an apparent heart attack. He was 40.
The death of Locklear has saddened
and shocked the Lumbee Indian com
munity in Hoke and Scotland counties
and others who knew him. A “good going
home ceremonv” was held for Locklear
“Teddy was one of our
fine, upcoming leaders
who had so much to offer,”
- Alien Strickland
on Sunday at South Hoke Baptist Church
followed by burial in the church cemetery.
A multitude of more than l,(M)() people at
tended the visitation and funeral service.
“Teddy l.ocklear was well thought
of by everyone,” George McFarley, as
sistant Hoke school superintendent, said.
“It was a very well-attended service with
a good cro.ss-section of the Hoke com
munity attending to pay their respects.
“The Hoke school board also at
tended, honoring Mr. Locklear.”
A Hoke native, Locklear was commit
ted to the Ix'undro lawsuit filed against
the state by Hoke s Board of Education,
which is still under appeal b\ the state.
He urged the state to provide educational
opportunities for students whether they re
sided in a poor county or a wealthier one.
(See IOCKU'AR, page 3A)
Monica Moore, left, with VIF first grade teacher Carole-Ann Pill at Upchurch Elementary. A map of the world covers the
entrance hall of the school.
Local principals win
international awards
Donna Kennedy, principal of
Hoke County High School, and
Monica’ Moore, principal of Up
church Elementary School, have
been recognized for their contri
butions to international education.
The awards are from Visiting
International Faculty, a cultural-
exchange program since 1687.
Moore has been recognized for
Excellence in Cultural liducation.
The Upchurch Elementary principal
was honored for her active support
of global education. Her efforts have
ensured a successful learning experi
ence for teachers and students alike.
“Ms. Moore has been a wonderful
principal with our international teach-
ers,”said Ned Glascock, a VIFspokes-
man. “Through her efforts, she is
he I p i ng to p repa re st ude n ts for success
in a multicultural nation and a global
marketplace, and we are pleased to
(See AWARDS, page 4A)
Donna Kennedy
State official toured eight Lumbee homes
Shoddy repair work focus of visits to homes in Hoke, Robeson counties
By Vktoriana Summi-rs
Staff writer
A State official loured eight homes
in Hoke and Robeson counties yes-
terdy,examiningalleged faulty wiring
in substandard renovations of some
homes owned by Lumbee Indians.
The Lumbee Tribal government is
the administrator of the Lumbee home
improvement program for low-income
families. Lumbee leaders also met on
Monday to discuss initiating addi
tional quality control over home repair
contractors they hire in the future.
“These are our people; they are our
membership in the tribe,” J immy Goins,
tribalchainnan,said.“Wewantthingsto
be right and not do something halfway.
“The LumbeeTribe has not deliber
ately doneanything wrong. We are work
ing to improve conditions for our tribe.”
The local lour by the state fol
lows a meeting held in R.ilcigh last
Wednesday between Susan Dixon,
complaint administrator for the
N.C. Licensing Board for Gen
eral Contractors, and Hoke residents
Elisha Dial, Shirley Bullard, and
her brother-in-law, Donnie Jones.
Since home improvement projects
supervised by the Lumbee Tribal
Council cost under $30,000 per home,
the state is unable to investigate
“A lawsuit could be filed if the
work is not completed properly, or
we will personally visit with the
state or U.S. Attorney General s
offices to seek further assistance.”
Some Hoke Native American
“These are our people; they are our
membership in the tribe. We want things
to be right and not do something halfway.”
' Jimmy Goins, tribal chairman
specific complaints, according to
the Rev. Elisha Dial, spokesman for
some of the dissatisfied homeowners.
“The visit from the state this week
is still seen by us as a positive,”
Dial said. “The Hoke homeowners
were entitled to receive S15,(KX) of
rehabilitation work on their homes
so those amounts disqualify the
state from officially investigating.
“I do not understand why for more
than six months nothing was done
to resolve these situations by the
county or the Lumbee tribe,” he said.
senior citizens have complained
previously about unsafe condition‘d
in their homes, such as lack of hand)
cap ramps, leaking roofs, cracks in
the walls enabling snakes to crawl
inside, and concerns about fire haz
ards. Some unlicensed contractors
hired by the Lumbee Tribal Council
allegedly completed repair work
unsatisfactorily, according to Dial.
Curtis Max Thompson, special
investigator for the N.C. Electrical
Contracting Board, will personally
(See HOME TOUR, page lOA)