Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / March 9, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews J ournal If it happened, it’s news to us 50t Na51VoL99 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, March 9,2005 Two schools ask board to remain year-round South Hoke, Sandy Grove would be Hoke’s only 2 not switching to traditional By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Principal Tona Jacobs and teacher Tony Hunt from South Hoke Elementary School and Principal Donald Dawson of Sandy Grove Elementary School present ed proposals to the Board of Education last evening on why they should remain on a year-round calendar schedule. Hoke School Superintendent Allen Strickland will make a recommendation to the board on April 13 whether the two schools should be granted special conces sions. If the board approves the requests from South Hoke and Sandy Grove, seven otherelementary and middle schools will still begin a traditional calendar next year. Hoke High School and Turlington Alternative School are already using a traditional calendar. “The board will have 30days to review these requests,” Strickland said. School Board Chairman Russell Smith asked the two principals to provide more information on the costs involved i n operating the two schools on a year-round basis. He also questioned if any school resource personnel could be shared to cut expenses. In September, the school board voted to convert all Hoke schools using the year-round schedule to a traditional cal endar. This conformed to Gov. Easley’s (See YEAR-ROUND, page 5A) The bet’s off at Stoneybrook Bill won’t pass in time to allow wagering this year, but maybe later By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A proposed bill to establish wagering at the Stoneybrook Steeplechase in Hoke County has been reined in temporarily, according to N.C. Senator David Weinstein. Weinstein is co-sponsoring a state bill to legalize betting one day a year for the famous horseracing event in western Hoke. Stoneybrook traditionally attracts at least 16,000 people annually, but Weinstein said that m sWedc Families All Read at library IB Congressman awards fire money page 5 A Prostitution ring broken up page4A Hoke has ‘million dollar baby* page6A Births 3B Calendar 2B Classifieds 7-8B Deaths lOA Editorials 2-3A Engagements 3B Legals 5-6B Public Record 4A Religion 8A Schools 4B Socials 3B Sports 6A We're on the web at WWW. thenews-journal. com number could double if wagering is allowed. However, Weinstein’s bill has stalled in the senate, preventing betting at Stoneybrook for this April. Five Points resident Barbara Pond, the Rev. Rebecca O’Berry, Rosie Stephens, and Annie Cor bett continue to lead an opposi tion movement against gambling at the event. Pond says it is the “wrong kind” of development for Hoke. This, in spite of a written endorsement by the county com missioners who believe limited wagering at Stoneybrook would help economic development here. “Senator Weinstein re moved it (bill) again from the calendar and sent it back to commerce ‘to make a better bill,”’ she said. “Of course, we do not want a better bill; we want a dead bill. “You cannot make gambling better; you cannot make wrong better, and you cannot make wrong to be right — ever.” Weinstein said if anyone objects to wagering, they (See BET’S OFF. page lOA) kIN 'Sl'i From left are Robie Currie, owner of the Wide Open Motorcross Park, and sons Ryan, Austin and Logan. New motocross track opens today By Victoriana Summers Staff writer The new Wide Open Motorcross Park opens today in southern Hoke County, trans forming rural farmland into a daring dirt bike racing track, according to promoter Robie Currie, owner of the venture. Motorcross racing will be held at the cor ner of Old Maxton and Chisholm roads. It is located between US. 401 and Highways 211 south of Raeford. “We are starting out with practice runs,” Currie said. “Eventually, the motorcycle riders will be going bar to bar in racing events. “They get all wound up when those mo torcycles rev up. Everybody loves to ride, (See MOTOCROSS, page 6A) Demolition of old Raeford Hotel: on again By Pat Allen Wilson Editor Raeford will pay $280,()(K) to have the old Raeford Hotel taken down and the material removed to a landfill in Sampson County. City Manager Richard Douglas told city councilmen at Monday night’s meeting a contract had been drawn up with D.H. Griffin of Wilmington for the building’s demolition. The council recessed to meet again today to look over the contract for expected approval. “It wasn’teasy getting them down to that price,” Douglas said of the contract. “Last week I thought it was goi ng to be $350,(X)(). I’m glad to see it come down.” The building’s removal proved more costly than anticipated because of asbestos in its depths. Originally it was thought the asbestos material could be identified and disposed of at a hazardous waste landfill. The remainder of the building would be tom down, and that material taken to a construction and demolition landfill. However, after talking with state en vironmental officials, it was determined all materials will have to be removed to a hazardous waste disposal site. Douglas was particularly con- (See HOTEL, page 4A) County seeks to partner with state for access to land By Victoriana Summers Suff writer tion projects in the county. One could potentially provide public recreational opportunities, according toCommissioner The Hoke board of commissioners Jean Powell, gave their blessings Monday evening to In a separate request to the board, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund Rockfish developer David Averitte did to provide state grants for two conserva- not get a reprieve on a lawsuit filed by the By Ken MacDonald Publisher I was on a road trip this weekend while my wife and daughter were skydiving for the first time. I’m sure theirs is an interest ing story, but because I wasn’t there, and because there are no photos or movies of the incident, I can’t tell it. I can picture it, but I can’t tell that either. No, I was off doing something far more adventurous-amiddleschool retreat. And there we were, sitting around the table in the dining hall, when the subject of peanut butter came up. Just the mention of the words reminds me of the day I was home making lunch and had just tos,sed the peanut butter-slob bered knife into the sink when m\ wife walked through the kitchen and said, “When 1 get home that peanut butter had better be put up.” I was feeling adventurous that day (See OTHER STUFF, page 9A) county concerning TVelve Oaks North subdivision. The board is still suing him to bring an access road up to Department of Transportation standards. Grant requests Hoping to provide more public recre ation, the board is urging Clean Water to Hoke student is Park Scholar Ashley Marie McPhail, a senior at Hoke County High School, has been named a North Carolina State Universi ty’s Park Scholar for fall 2005. She was among 46 students selected for this award. Ashley is the daughter of Linda McPhail of Shannon and the late Richard “Ricky” McPhail. Ashley, who plans to major in biochemistry, is parliamen- (See SCHOLAR, page 6A) provide public access to one of the pre serves closest to Raeford. The board voted unanimously to request they partner on the project .sponsored by the N.C. Wildlife Commission, which would not require any county funding. The project calls for (See LAND ACCESS, page 7A) Ashley McPhail (right) with mom Linda McPhail (left) and Hoke High Principal Mark Smith. :srj-
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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March 9, 2005, edition 1
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