The
ews
J ournal
' If it hapt>ened, it’s news to us
50:
No. 02 Vol. 100
rir)Kr
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Governor to request legislature fully fund low wealth formula
Hoke School Board seeks separate $300 million to assist at-risk students in low wealth counties
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Educators in wealthier counties such
as Wake praise high ABC accountabil
ity testing scores attained by its stu
dents, while Raleigh attorney Bob
Spearman, legal counsel for Hoke’s
Board of Education, continues to ex
plain in the Wake County Superior Court
why Hoke at-risk students are more
likely to fail academically.
It is a legal battle forged by Hoke and
four other low wealth counties for ten
years for all children to receive a sound
basic education. Won by Hoke in the
State Supreme Court, the Supreme Court
justices’ decision reverted to the lower
court of Wake Superior Court Judge
Howard Manning. He must determine
resource and funding needs that should
be appropriated by the state.
The state Department of Public in
struction estimates there are more than
3()(),(K)0disadvantaged students in North
Carolina in danger of not receiving a
.sound basic education who may be in
need of special assistance, extra tutor
ing, and counseling.
Manning, presiding in sequel hear
ings two weeks ago, wants to know why
the state is still dragging its feet in
funding programs for these at-risk stu
dents to receive a sound basic education
required by the state constitution. After
recently hearing legal arguments from
Hoke and the State Attorney General’s
office, Manning has still not issued a
ruling.
(See LOW WEALTH, page 5A)
Launder resigns
Steps down after being
ousted as Parks & Rec head
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke Parks and Recreation director Holly Launder
resigned last Thursday, saying that she was “shocked”
County Manager Mike Wood demoted her without any
warning.
This, despite her years volunteering to help the youth of
the county to play sports and serving almost one year as
interim and then full-time Parks & Rec director.
“His action was humiliating and it was degrading to
me,” Launder said on Monday. “There had never been any
reprimand in my file by Mr. Wood, and he had never
complained to me about my job performance.”
Launder, a Raeford resident, tendered her resignation six
days after her demotion. Wood chose new athletic director
Jose Yepez to replace Launder. Relocating from Durham
County, Yepez was employed on the job for less than three
weeks when Wood informed Launder that Yepez would
become the department supervisor instead of her.
(See RESIGNS, page 6A)
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Maddison on a roll
Maddison Branch was a guest at the White House
for Easter. Maddison attended the Easter egg roll
on the White House lawn and she and her grand
mother, Brenda Branch, and aunt. Shelly Branch
Secoy were guests at a breakfast reception in the
White House. Lawn activities were a little wet, but
Maddison said her favorite activity was the magic
show.
SunPath has grand opening
n
Children of the
Depression gather
page 2B
Hoke Indian
receives scholarship
page '3A
Sheriff's cookout
draws 1200
page 3A
page IB
Births 3B
Business/Farm 4B
Calendar 3B
Classifieds 7-8B
Deaths 6A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 3B
Legals 5-6B
Religion 4B
Schools 4A
Socials 3B
WeVe on the web at
www.thenews-journal.com
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Raeford Mayor John McNeill wel
comed SunPath Contracting USA, a mili
tary parachute container and harness
manufacturing firm, to Raeford at the
multi-million dollar company’s grand
opening in the former Spanco bui Iding on
Monday.
“Thank you again for moving into our
city limits,” McNeill said. “You have
done a good job of remodeling.
“We hope to form a long relationship
with Sun Path.”
Operating with a three-year lease at the
local facility, SPC owners Derek and Pat
Thomas have hired 33 people whose jobs
were salvaged from another plant they
were previously operating with a partner
on Doc Brown Road.
“These are all people who helped us in
the first venture and now the second time
around,” Derek Thomas said. “Thanks to
Hoke Economic Developer Don Porter
and Congressman Robin Hayes for their
“A// the people in Hoke County
have been absolutely great to
us.... We want them to see us
grow. ” SunPath co-owner Derek
Thomas
support,” Thomas added. “All the people
in Hoke County have been absolutely
great to us.
“Our employees have helped us a great
deal to make this building operational
and to get the place ready. They painted
the walls and worked really hard even
when it was cold and freezing.”
Thomas said his firm is looking for
ward to “a great relationship” with the
employees and with the city. “We want
them to see us grow,” he added.
Filling numerous military contracts,
the Thomases eventually hope to hire 94
employees to keep up the demand for the
parachute equipment.
(See GRAND OPENING, page 5AJ
jLm
Rep! Garland Pierce, former 82nd Ariborne paratrooper, tries on a parachute harness
with the help of Hoke attorney William Moses, left, and Commissioner Charlie Daniels.
Lawyers group wants schools to again change calendar
Schools may have to change schedule to reflect lav^^yers’, officials worry calendar won’t have 180 days
By Shirley U. Gest
Intern
The Hoke County School Board will be
asked at a special meeting Friday to again
rework the school calendar. This time.
however, the board may have no choice in
the decision.
A group of attorneys known as Lawyers
International Advancing Restructured
Schools plans to force a new schedule
on schools statewide, but because the
famous Leandrocase made Hoke nationally
known, the group plans to start here. It is
prepared to take its clout to court to enforce
the plan.
“We’re tryingtocreateauniform calendar
nationwide,” spokeswoman Ama Lance-
Chason said. “This isn’t just schools, but for
municipalities, organizations - everyone.
There’s too much confusion about when to
take off. But we’re going to start with the
schools.”
(See JACKSON HOUSE, page 2A)
Michael Jackson builds house here
Main Street home to be used to escape publicity
/
A 3,500 square foot house, which will be surrounded by a brick wall, is being built on
North Main Street by pop star Michael Jackson.
By Shirley U. Gest
Intern
Pop star Michael Jackson, currently
embroiled in acontroversial California trial,
is bui Iding a house on MainStreet in Raeford.
It’s being dubbed the “Nevermind
Ranch” by workers who have already
erected the shell of the building on the lot
where the old Cameron house burned.
A Jackson spokesman says the house
will be used only on occasions when the
singer isperformingnearby.“Well,actualIy,
it wi 11 be used also when he wants to escape,”
says Pantson Fiyer. “Wrong choice of
words,” he added.
Fiyer says the Jackson family had hoped
to be in the house by the first of April - in
time for the US Open in Pinehurst. But he
says the house should he completed in about
six weeks. Once the building is completed,
a pool will be installed and a large brick wall
erected around the perimeter of the property.
“We lilted Raeford because it’s in the
(See JACKSON HOUSE, page 2A)