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If it happened, it s news to us
N0.01V0L100
Raei' ord & Hoke County n.c,
50t
Wednesday, March 23,2005
Commissioners delay land use plan ^rproval
Some citizens tell board they want more attention given to affordable housing
By VicTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
An ^proval by the Hoke board of
commissioners on the proposed Hoke
Land Use Plan was postponed until the
next meeting because of questions asked
by citizens about tlie lack of provisions
for “affordable” housing for low-income
residents.
Commissioner Bill Cameron was the
only board member dissenting on delay
ing approval on the plan.
Commission Chairman Bobby Wright
commended Raeford attorney William
Fields, chairman of the Hoke Land Use
Plan Committee, and other volunteers, for
compiling a blueprint for future county
residential and commercial development.
Fields presented a brief summary of
the plan at a standing-room only com
missioners meeting. The land use study
was also completed with the assistance
of The Wooten Company, a Raleigh
engineering firm.
“Most people supported the plan, and
they thought it was time to do something
one way or the other,” Wright said.
“1 appreciate all the hard work of the
committee.
“You have done an excel lent job. We
know it is just a guideline for develop
ment, but it is better to direct growth
rather than having it run over us.”
(See LAND USE, page 6A)
Overspending
found in audit
Board grapples with corrections
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Raeford CPA Frank Baker,
annual auditor for Hoke, told
the board of commissioners
on Monday night that Hoke’s
accounting system appeared in
better shape than in the past sev
eral years. Hoke’s undesignated
fund balance remains at $5.7
million, which is in line with
state requirements, according
to Baker.
In 2004, $50 million more
was added to the county’s tax
base from residential develop
ment, which could positively
impact revenues this year, ac-
rhisWeek
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cording to Baker.
“The county is completely
solvent and has an impressive
general fund balance of over
eight million dollars,” Baker
said. “The county’s overall
budget was balanced at the end
of June 2004. In fact, the county
actually earned a profit of more
than $130,000 from extra rev
enues it collected.
“Although some departments
showed a deficit and moneys
were taken from the general fund
to cover some of those expenses,
the county is not in the hole nor
is it any danger of ever being
bankrupt. At the end, the overall
budget was balanced.”
However, excess expendi
tures in some departments
caused the county to appear
to be over-extended financially
in certain areas by at least $ 1.7
million at the end of 2004,
according to the annual audit
findings. County officials are
currently researching if some
of these financial figures
represent internal accounting
errors, or uncollected revenues
and grant moneys that were
received at the end of the year,
but not recorded.
(See AUDIT, page 7A)
RightMuseum volunteerjim Wright and chairwoman Joyce Monroe
are watched from above by William F. Schultz jr. who is high in an
oak tree to prune it (top).
Local business goes out on limb
for museum to mark Arbor Day
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
One local business went out
on a limb — literally — for
the Raeford Hoke Museum
last Friday.
In observance of National
Arbor Day, staff from S & S
Tfee Service donated their time
on the special day to prune and
sculpt the aging oak trees that
frame the Raeford Hoke Mu-
a volunteer and museum board
member.
With sunny skies and not
a hint of March winds, the
Schultz family, owners of the
tree-pruning company who
reside in Rockfish, meticulously
trimmed and sawed off some
rotting branches on the tall oak
trees located on the grounds.
“We were very grateful
for their contribution to the
museum at no cost,” Wright
seum, according to Jim Wright, (See MUSEUM, page 9A)
Manager hires new Parks & Rec. director
Wood hires Jose Yepez, keeps interim director Launder as employee in reorganization
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke Parks and Recreation Director
Holly Launder was demoted by County
Manager Mike Wcxxl last Thursday with
out the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board or county commissioners apparently
being aware of the personnel decision.
Last Friday, county commissioners were
notified in their weekly update letter from
Wood—without explanation—that Laun
der would now be reporting to newly hired
athletic dirictor Jose Yepez. As of Tuesday
afternoon, Hoke Human Resources Direc
tor Ed Crutchfield had not been advised
by Wood of a change order notice on the
status of the two employees.
Hired on February 23, Yepez, formerly
of Durham County, was promoted in Parks
& Rec to serve dual roles, according to
Wood.
Wood indicated Launder remains in
the Parks & Rec department. Launder
founded the first wrestling team and adult
fall softball league for the county agency,
and also sponsored a 5K run for the N.C.
Turkey Festival. With the commissioners’
blessings. Launder also was authorized to
hire college interns to help out in athletic
programs.
(See PARKS & REC., page 6A)
Fayetteville police charge motorist in death of Hoke deputy
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
was described as one of the “largest funeral
services” seen for a very long time in Hoke,
according to Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, a
Law officers from around the Cape life-long friend of Walker’s.
Fear region paid their last respects to Hoke Walker’s call sign No. 64 was retired
‘meek, compassionate, soft-spoken, and
always smiling.”
Fayetteville resident Janine Isenberg,
driver of the Jeep Cherokee vehicle in
volved in the two-vehicle collision with
deputy Larry Walker last Friday in what in tribute to a man deputies described as Walker, has been charged with misde
meanor death by motor vehicle.
A Hoke High graduate and two-year
veteran of t he Sheri ff s Office, Wal ker was
killed while he was test-driving a motor
cycle on Bragg Boulevard on March 12.
(See MOTORIST, page 3A)
le i>ews
News
-1 Journal
Other stuff
^ n
Anson County authorities charge
Hoke deputy with breaking, entering
By Ken MacDonald
Publisher
PLEASANT GARDEN, NC (RID
DLE-LAND aka RITALIN) — “ken,
i know it does,t seem like it but i have
had my computer a year this monyh yes
it has been a year since i was asktng you
where in the hell the h on the key board
was.well i am happy to report to you that
i have found the h and a lot more in yhe
last year...”
So began an email 1 received from my
father-in-law a couple of weeks ago. The
thank-you note, uncharacteristic in its
sentimentality, followed one particularly
exasperating tech supportcall I’d received,
and, as it turned out, was the last email I
received from him.
At 77 years old, he had decided last
February to learn how to use a computer
it was one (4' two goals he wished to ac
complish before he died. (If 1 ever knew
what the other was I don’t remember.)
(Sec OTHER STUPE, page 9A)
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke deputy Linda Carol Dalton found
herself on the other side of the law over
the weekend when she was arrested after
being charged as a suspect in a break and
entering incident in Wadesboro.
Wadesboro Police Chief Bobby Usrey
confirmed the 35-year-old Dalton was
arrested along with her husband, Mark
Todd Dalton, 38. Both Hoke residents, the
Aberdeen couple was each charged on Sun
day with felonious breaking and entering,
possession of stolen gotxls, and felonious
larceny. Although both were placed on
$5,000 secured bonds, they were released
from the Anson County Jail after paying
their bails. They are scheduled to appear
in district court in Anson on April 5.
Hoke personnel director Ed Crutchfield
said Mrs. Dalton, 35. was terminated as an
employee with the Hoke Sheriff 's Office
on Monday. She had been employed as a
deputy since August 2004. Mr. Dalton is
(See DEPUTY CHARGED, page 6A)