The
ews
J ournal
If it hapi +tneti, it’s news to
No. 11 Vol.97
50(t
Wednesday, June 2,2004
DPI drags feet on teacher supplements
Superintendent complains to judge that state has ignored request for recmitment aid
ViCIOKI \NA Sl'MMI KS
Staff writer
riie Slate Department of Pubic liislriic-
tion has ignored a propt)sal that the stale
fund an eiglil percent supplement for
Hoke school teachers next year, Hoke
school superintendent Allen Strickland
said yesterday. The supplements would
cost between $750,OUO to $1 million
annually.
Although teachers will return to
school by mid-July in a new budget
cycle, Strickland said the stale has not
alltx:aledany funds loencoiirage teacher
longevity in Hoke.
County commissioners are currently
funding a 4 percent incenli\e above
teachers’ salaries. Slricklanil said he re
quested the county allocate an additional
2 percent teacher supplement, winch
would bring it to () percent for next year.
I lowever, the current proposed funding
level for 2004-2005 does not appear to
accommodate his request. It would cost
the county $.780,000 mote, he said.
Strickland s;iid ;i response from DPI
in iisquarlerly leporl submitted to Wake
Superior Court Judge I toward Manning
on May 10 "lalls far short" of the court
rulinglwomonihsagow hen Manning or
dered DPI losendimrre low vsealih mon
ey to educate at-risk students in I loke. In
Sirickland'srebutlal lelterdaled Miiv 26.
(Vr SLinri.lMI.NIS, .5A)
Memorial Day Service
Left; Saluting for their fallen comrades are John Mims (left), a former prisoner of war and survivor of the Bauan Death March, and Bud Wilson, a former prisoner of
war during the Korean War. Right: Black and white balloons were released to commemorate veterans who died during the past year in Hoke. Story, page IB.
Fort Bragg
protections
outlined
P'l ViCIOKIANA St MMI KS
Staff writer
The I'ort liragg/'Popc Air I'orcc Base
Regional Land Use Adx istrry Commis
sion has essentially pres.sed for the type of
environment in its Joint Umd Use Study
that would increase the presence of the
military missions in North Carolina at
bases such as Port Bragg, and be com
patible w ith landmark legislation for the
state. Scotland County Ctrmmissioner
Clint Willis, chairman of the land use
commission, indicated toofticials from
surrounding counties such as 1 loke,
Moore, and Cumberland.
According to recent accounts. Fort
Bragg remains relatively invincible
from the potential threat of closing or
downsizing. The 18th Airborne Corps
headquarters, the Joint Special Opera
tions Command, w'hich superv ises the
(See PROTFCTIONS, page 6,4)
Juneteenth
celebration on the 19th
Rockfish’s Graham
Principal of the Year
'>. ■ V'
Ricky Sandy
heads Chamber
..(y;c.LA
Births
2B
Qilendar
2B
Classitieds
5-6B
Deaths
4A
Editorials
2A
IvCgals
4B
Public Record
4A
Religion
7A
Schools
3B
Socials
2B
Sports
6A
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Committee forges ahead to plan land use in Hoke
l)> Vk'iokiana Summers
Staff writer
Land buffers, green belts, zoning,
and infrastructure is.sues were discus,sed
last w'eek by a study committee of 1 loke
volunteers who were appointed by the
county commissioners. They met for the
lirst lime with representatives from The
Wooten Company of Raleigh, discus,sing
a vision for land use. Their goal is to keep
the county's growth attractive, but in an
environmentally sound maimer.
Hired to complete a new land use plan.
Woote n's pla n ner/ a rch itect Pat r icia Cr i,ss-
man told the group it would take at least
six months to compile the plan. Two initial
phases will study land use ideas for rapidly
growing norlhea.stern and western Moke.
I he first consislsofRockfish.McLauchlin,
and Stonewall areas and the U.S. 401 cor
ridor.'I'he second pha.se will concentrateon
planning for Onewliifllc Township, home
of the Carolina I lorse Park at Five Points
and Highway 211, cxrnnccting Raeford
with Aberdeen.
Crissman told tlie committee that the
study, which will cost $20.0(10, would
encompa.ss the entire county after the
two initial pha.ses are compleled. Sta
tistics reliected that McLiuchlin Town
ship comprises 34 percent of the total
population in Hoke followed by Raeford
Township, consi.sting of 31 percent of the
population.
■■'I'here is a huge difference from one
township to the other from the richest to
our poorest," Crissman said of the various
conmumiliesin I loke. "There are ranks of
economic distress and levels of success.
"Other factors we have to consider in
I
Above: Raeford attorney William Fields (left) confers with Com
missioner Bill Cameron during a break. Right: Commissioner
Jean Powell and Harold Brock, a member of the Hoke Planning
Board, review sutistics on Hoke County.
the land u.se plan are home ownership
versus renters.
“The h ighesi (ywiier-tKxupied homesare
found in McLiuchlin and Raeford town
ships. Raeford lias been fairly uniform with
its growth over the past .50 years."
(See LAND iJSI', pa^e 4A)
i
-
Thomas
appointed
assistant chief
By Vktoriana Summers
Staff writer
Former Raeford police detective Greg
Thomas—witha law enforcement career
spanning almost 30 years — has been
promoted as the first African American
as.sistant chief of police to serve in the
city’s h istory, Raeford Pol ice Chief Kevin
Locklear announced last Thursday.
Thomas was selected from among
five candidates applying from within
and outside the local police department,
(See PROMOTED, page 7A)
I . ,
.KSl T
Raeford Police Chief Kevin Locklear (left) welcomes assistant chief of police Greg Thomas.
He was promoted to major after serving as a detective on the local police force.
Foundation
awards grants
The 1 loke County Community Foun
dation awarded four grants totaling
$1,-300 to local non-profits that help the
youngsters of the community.
Agencies received checks for $325
each at a reception at the Raeford-Hoke
Museum yesterday evening.
Hoke’s4-H program will u.se its money
for nutrition for a day camp for H ispanic
children. Children’s Developmental
C’enter will develop an off-site earlv
intervention program with its money.
General operating needs will be met
with the grant received from Our Father’s
Children Daycare and Learning Center
of the Chapel of Jesus Christ Family
(See FOUNDATION, page 8A)