Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / March 16, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The ews Journal ed,ifsi)ewstous 50(t No.52Vol.99 Wednesday, March 16,2005 Rush trial cut short as plea j^reement reached Former Hoke finance director pleads guilty to misdemeanor, avoids jail time By Victori\na Summers Staff writer Hoke assistant prosecutorChris Rhue and defense attorney Glen n Adams spent two hours selecting a predominantly minority jury in the Robeson County courthouse. However, the trial of fired Hoke financedirector Shirley Rush never got off the ground on Monday. Rush withdrew herpleaof“notguilty” to a felony on Monday after — at her attorney’s request —Rhue agreed to a reduced charge. The trial was transferred from Hoke to Liimberton because Rush’s case was well publicized in The N^ws-Journal and other newspapers. A Hoke Judge determined for Rush to receive a fair trial that the case should be prosecuted elsewhere. Rush was initially charged with as- sessory after the fact in connection with the embezzlement case of former cou nty manager Bernice McPhatter. Convicted of stealing $269,(K)0 of county money, McPhatter is serving a sentence of eight years in state prison. Rush dec ided to plead gu i Ity to a lesser criminal charge of violating auditors’ rules as a county official when she “un lawfully and willfully’’ concealed infor mation leading to a crime. She received a suspended sentence of 45 days in the (See RUSH TRIAL, page 6A) County audit results mixed Shortfalls cited in some areas 1 n Bi Vici'ORiANA Summers Staff writer After reviewing the Hoke audit for 2003-04, the state’s treasury department com mended Hoke commissioners and staff on March 3 for their efforts, but also chasti.sed them for temporary budget shortfalls found in some departments. The .stateofficialssent a mixed message, praising the financial condition ofthecounty’sgeneral fund as it ‘continues to i mprove.’’ Yet state auditors indicated the county was required to keep its budget balanced throughout the year without acquiring any Even Start teaches kids, parents deficits, but failed to do so. “The county has one of the best reserve fund balances they have had in years,’’ said Raeford CPA Frank Baker, annual county auditor. “I will be presenting the annual audit on Monday night to the commissioners.’’ Preliminary audit informa tion previously supplied by the Hoke finance department indicated revenues for Hoke increased from $16.7 million in 2003 to $20.9 million in 2004. The available reserve fund bal ance also increased from $4.3 million in 2002-03 to $5.7 mil lion in 2003-04 — almost a two percent jump. However, the state treasur er’s department expressed con cern that the audit was received seven months late, leaving less time to identify any financial or operational problems so the county could take any effective action. State officials accepted the reason offered for the late ness that the new accounting system implemented two years ago requires more complex in formation from the auditors. Discrepancies More seriously, the state au- (See AUDIT, page 8A) \ .IN 9' III / Clockwise from top left: Prior to her trial resuming, Shirley Rush spends a moment with husband Willie Rush in the Robeson County courtroom; Superior Judge Frank Lanier of Harnett County; After the brief trial, cousin Mary Roper (left) and Shirley Rush share a moment; District Attorney special investigator John Joseph talks with Sabrina Bauld, a former Hoke em ployee who was going to testify against Rush. Sports center nears completion No, construction on US 401 is not finished Olympic equestrians compete . -. Sports center nears completion - ^ Births 3B Calendar 3B Classifieds 7-8B Deaths 8A Editorials 2A Legals 5,-6B Religion 5 A Schools 2,4B Socials 3B Sports 6-7A We're on the web at www.thenews-journal.com By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Even though Hoke County citizens are benefiting from almost $5.3 million worth of road improvements on U.S.40t from the N.C. Department of Transportation, some Hoke citizens wonder when the work will be completed. People have akso complained that some newly installed turn lane^ are miss ing directional arrows on the pavement. Other turn lanes have been eliminated, and pavement is frequently uneven in some lanes, creating potential hazardous driving conditions. Citizens ate worried the conditions are permanent. “Not so,” says DOT assi.slant engineer Marcus Jones at the Aberdeen division office. “The project is not completed. ‘The resurfacing on U.S. 401 repre sents only the first layer of pavement, and the lines on the pavement are only temporary. “ W i nter weather prevented the contrac tor from continuing with the project, but after today the paving season starts again. The contractor will soon continue finishing the improvements on U.S. 401.’’ Jones said pavement will be refined, all arrows drawn in, and appropri- (S^e CONSTRUCTION, page 4A) Hoke deputy killed in Fayetteville motorcycle accident By Victoriana Summers Staff write Hoke County has lost one of its native sons in a two-vehicle accident. Deputy Larry Walker, a Hoke High School graduate and two-year veteran of the Hoke Sheriffs Office, was killed Saturday in Fayetteville. While operating a motorcycle he was test-driving. Walker was the victim of a collision with a Jeep sports utility vehicle on Bragg Boulevard. Although not on duty. Walker was found stifi wearing rrhe News-I Journal News Other stuff other s I'O, By Ken MacDonald Publisher 1 have been helping a 7th grader with math lately. Okay, 1 admit the jury is still out on whether I’m helping. A few times I have felt like Jethro ciphering. Or maybe even Mister Ed. Oh yeah, you laugh. How hard could seventh grade math be? Okay, mister smartypants, what’s a “precision unit?’’ 1 didn’t think so. ri We tripped across that little one on a woiksheet, as in, “What is th^ precision unit of a football field?’’ 1 gues.sed JROTC when they march the flag out. Fortunately, 1 had access to a teacher’s handbook and discovered a precision unit is the smallest unit of measure on a scale - such as a sixteenth of an inch on most rulers, or a second on a clock. Well, yes, now it makes sem^, but 1 had (See OTHER STUFF, pa^e 4A) his Hoke deputy’s badge clipped to his belt after being pinned under the Jeep, according to Sheriff Hubert Peterkin. “Deputy Walkeralways wanted to be a law enforce ment officer his w hole life,” Peterkin said. “He loved .serving his community, and he loved his family. “1 was so shocked at his Larry Walker death. 1 never knew his hobby was riding motorcycles. “We have draped his patrol vehicle in black cloth and also a black drape is arranged over the door of the Hoke Sheriff s Office in Raeford in tribute to him. “Although he was not killed in the line of duty. Deputy Walker was the first (See ACCIDENT, page 4A) Progressive Energy’s plan to move lineman fi"om Raeford opposed by local officials By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke County officials and Raeford city councilmen are concerned th;it Don Needham, the county’s own lineman who resides in Raeford, may be pulled out of Hoke as its area service representative for Progress Energy utility company. Based in Hoke for four years, Needham’s position may be phased out with i n the next 30 to 60 days, according to Andy Honeyc utt, public affairs spokesman for Progress Energy at the Aberdeen office. Raeford City Manager Richard Doug las .said the city council is discussing possibly signing a resolution, urging (See LINEMAN, page 4A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 16, 2005, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75