The
ews
Journal
If it hai »i >ened, if s news to us
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Raeford & Hoke County n.c.
Wednesday, February23,2005
State gives unofficial approval to mega site
County hangs hopes for industrial recruitment on 2nd largest site in state
By VicTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
N.C. Department of Commerce of
ficials on Tuesday gave unofficial certi
fication to Hoke County’s new industrial
mega site, the second largest in N.C.
A summit for official certification was
held on the the Hoke County Regional
Industrial Park, located on Highway 20
in southeastern Hoke.
Commission Chairman Bobby
Wright, a strong supporter of the site,
commended state officials in a congratu
latory letter, which was included in the
presentation, for the state’s partnering
in the project.
“This endeavor represents a giant
victory for Hoke County, providing the
quality product that is necessary for
successfully attracting jobs in the ultra-
competitive world of industrial recruit
ment,’’ Wright wrote. “Many thanks for
your department’s role in the successful
completion of this project.”
Don Porter, Hoke’s Economic Devel
oper said he thinks the mega site will at
tract industrial firms, providing hundreds
of new jobs for Hoke citizens.
“This is a great day for Hoke County
- a historic day,” Porter said. “I have
no qualms we have benefited from the
progress made by establishing this mega
site.
(See MEGA SITE, page 4A)
MMG closes
after 2 months
Maker of military equipment
dissolves partnership, lawsuit filed
By Victoriana Summers
AND
Pat Allen Wilson
A new company, created by
the owners of SunPath Products
of Florida and the owners of
Paraclete Armor in St. Pauls, is
no longer in business. Military
Manufacturing Group’s partner
ship ended after less than two
months and the MMG opera
tion on Doc Brown Road was
closed down less than three
weeks agOr
Don Porter, Hoke’s economic
developer, said, “I understand
md-
Ed Duke turns
junk into art
School choice
surveys sent out
page 3 A
Girls lose
at state
page4A
Humane Society
wants help
to save dog
page4B
In^x
Births 3B
Calendar 2B
Classifieds 7-8B
Deaths 6A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 3B
Legals 5-6B
Religion 5A
Schools 4B
Socials 3B
Sports 4A
We’re on the web at
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SunPath has recently requested
a long-term lease to use the
old Unifi building in Raeford
as its headquarters to continue
manufacturing harnesses and
containers for parachutes,”
‘*I do not believe SunPath’s
partners plan to return to their
factory in Florida.”
Tim D’Annunzio, who owns
Paraclete Armor with his wife,
Colleen, has filed a civil lawsuit
in connection with SunPath,
alleging the firm committed
fraud. SunPath’s partners, Pat
and Derek Thomas, could not
be reached for comment.
“We are still waiting for
a conclusion of this. We are
trying to settle out of court,”
D’Annunzio said this morn
ing. “As soon as there is a
conclusion, we will take steps
to reopen the facility. All the
equipment is still there,”
D’Annunzio is the owner of
(See MMG, page 6A)
Peggy Anderson of the N.C. Department of Commerce examines the Hoke mega site map with (from left) Hoke Economic Developer Don
Porter, Commissioner Bill Cameron and John Gray of the Wooten Company.
BiU to permit Stoneybrook betting advances
By Victoriana Summers ■
Staff writer
Fans of the Stoneybrook Steeplechase
may be one step closer to saying “win,
place or show” in time for the 54th run
ning in April.
The state senate’s commerce committee
yesterday endorsed abill that would permit
betting on horse races, but in effect only on
one day - the day of Stoneybrook. After a
review yesterday, it decided to place it on
the agenda for a vote by ail state senators
in the near future, according to Hoke Com
mission ViceChairman Charles V. Daniels,
who was present at the hearing.
The committee action came in spite
of a blitz of anti-gambling signatures
obtained by Hoke residents Barbara Pond
and Rebecca O’Berry. The two women
and Sherry Thomas spoke before the
committee against the bill, numbered S9.
Also, a representative of North Carolina
Family Policy Council questioned the
constitutionality of S9.
Co-sponsored by Senator David Wein
stein, Hoke’s legislator, the plan is for the
bill to be presented to the Senate and the
House in order for the one-day wagering
at Stoneybrook to be considered this year.
Weinstein said in seeking bipartisan sup
port from fellow legislators that he hopes
to improve economic opportunities for
Hoke.
The delegation of supporters at the
senate hearing yesterday from Hoke in
cluded Daniels, Commission Chairman
Bobby Wright, County Manager Mike
Wood, and Roger Secrist, chairman of
the Carolina Horse Park Foundation.
Pond and O’Berry say they have col
lected 50{) signatures on a petition of
folks who are against gambling in Hoke.
(See BETTING, page SB)
State legislators gather here, talk about education, lottery
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
State Representatives Garland Pierce
and Doug Yongue, along with an aide
of U.S. Representative Robin Hayes,
were treated to a Legislative Apprecia
tion Breakfast Saturday, an annual event
presented by the Raeford-Hoke Chamber
of Commerce.
Pierce and Yongue spoke of goings-on
in Raleigh and Gary Mitchell, district
director for Hayes, addressed doings in
Washington. Hoke officials also took the
opportunity to report on local activities.
Yongue, who chairs the Education Ap
news for Hoke. He said the Leandro vs.
the state lawsuit won by Hoke and other
low-wealth counties had “finally got folks’
attention.” He said the Legislative body is
going to try to fund the directives of Judge
Howard Manning, who ruled on Leandro,
under a $9 million budget.
Pierce, who is sitting in on his first
propriations Com- Legislative session since his election last
mittee, had good year, said business-friendly bills are being
filed. “They are really trying to make sure
businesses can operate. I am excited about
that,” he said. “It is frightening and sad
when store after store is lost.”
Pierce said he had learned of the impor
tance of working together and wanted to
see a regional approach to benefit all the
counties he represents.
Mitchel 1 said economic and national se-
(See BREAKFAST, page 4A)
SBI Special Agent Janie Pinkston talks to Representative Garland
Pierce about the law enforcement retirement bill.
West Hoke dmg bust nets
$10,000 in marijuana
Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
It all started with a knock at the door. When the
occupant of the home at 191 Army Road peered
out the door he did not need to ask who was there,
according to a spokesman from the Hoke drug task
force.
A team of Hoke sheriff’s narcotics officers
were waiting outside the home at 5 p.m. yesterday
along with K-9 Aaron and his handler Deputy
J. Laviner. The drug unit asked permission to
(See DRUG BUST, page 6A)
#
*. %
Sgt. T. Grady (left) and Bruce Carpenter, forensics
technician, peer at 28 pounds of seized marijuana
found in western Hoke County yesterday.