Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / May 4, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews Journal If it hat *L»ened, if s news to us Na07VoL100 Raeford & Hoke County nj 50t Wednesday, May4,2005 Proposed industrial site attracts interest Dignitaries, officials tour it by train, large company says it wants more info By Victoriana Summers Staff writer shown a “major interest” in site has generated a lot of excite- Highway 20. “I hope we will bat before we know,” he said. Porter’s announcement comes reserving the new Hoke County ment, and this represents a major ahomerunatthissiteinattracting “Our mega .site is one of the only five days after state, re- Regional Industrial Park in bite out of many nibbles that this substantial firm. hottest products in the state of gional, county and municipal Hoke Economic Developer southeastern Hoke as its head- we have received from national “The decision will be made North Carolina right now.” (See SITE TOUR, page 9A) Don Porter announced on Mon- quarters. manufacturers,” Porter said of the soon by the corporate players in day that a large corporation has “Our new super industrial site located near Dundarrach on this proposal so it won’t be long Ed Lewis, president of the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad, surveys the Hoke County Regional Industrial Park from a deluxe train car. Raeford’s budget put at $3.2 million Going ...going... The old Raeford Hotel falls to a demolition crew Friday as bystanders look on. By the end of the day, the building was just a pile of rubble. I Rockfish man given 144 years for sexually assaulting girls Balch given Kay Thomas award Jailh^t triggers backup call Maynor-Bowen leads Democrats Government Week observed i\'- -m Births 3B Business/Farm 5A Calendar 3B Classifieds 8B Deaths lOA Editorials 2-3A Legals 5-6B Religion 2B N:nooh 4B Socials 3B Sports 6A V/e’re on the web at www.thenews-joumal.com By VicTORiA.SA Summers Staff writer After an emotionally-charged trial, Asheville Supjerior Court Judge Ronald Payne, presiding at the Hoke Courthouse, sentenced a Hoke man to 144 to a maxi mum 179 years in the stale prison yesterday for sexual offenses. ' I think this length of sentence could be historic for a sexual of fender in Hoke,” Mike Hardin, Hoke senior assistant district attorney, said yesterday. A Hoke-selectedjury, during a week-long trial, found Raymond Mueller guilty of 36counts of sex ual offenses committed against two girls, according to Hardin, lead prosecutor in the case. “I was very moved by the verdict and extremely pleased." Hardin said yesterday. He said Mueller rap)ed and sodomized the girls when they were only 11 and 12 years old. "Both of the victims have been extremely traumatized by this expjerience. They testified in court and so did their mothers. This was a very extensive investigation where we obtained a search warrant and found items stored in a warehou.se that were (See CONVICTED, page 8A) By Pat Alle.s Wilso.s Editor Raeford city councilmen re ceived the proposed $3.2 million budget for fiscal year 2005-06 at Monday night’s meeting. Counci Imen also turned down a request to allow a therapeutic daycare facility foryoung.stersof middle and high school ages on West Edinborough Avenue. The 2005-06 budget is a three p)ercent increase over last year’s budget of $3.1 million. It car ries no propx)sed prop)erty tax increase. Tfie propx)sed fund balance of $200,000is a 28 pDercent decrease, according to City Manager Rich ard Douglas, who said the balance is in “excellent shapje” with seven months worth of operation in the fund. “We’ll have some money going into the general fund bal ance,” he said. In the proposed budget are a 2.42 percent cost of living allow ance, longevity pay and up to five pjercent merit increases for all city employees with no new px)sitions planned. The budget propxises a capital reserve contribution of $25,(KX) be put aside toward a new sanita tion vehicle and $5,0(X) toward a fire truck. Highlights of the proposed budget, accordi ng to Douglas, are $16,(XX) for a computer for the customer service supervisor; an increase in legal fees in planning and zoning of S5,0(XJ to address abandoned vehicles and nui.sance properties; funding for a patrol vehicle at $24,000, nine mobile radios at $6,4(X), and $1,950 for a copier for the pel ice depart ment; an increase in volunteer supplements of a maximum of $2,300 for the fire department plus $ 1,5fXJ for a computer, $5(X) for a pressure washer, $3,0(XJ for intake gate valves and $10,0(X) for a five-inch hose; $3,fXX) for a tractor fi n ish i ng deck and $ 17,(XX) for a leaf machine for street mai ntenance; and $ 10,0(X) for the study/application of downtown (See CITY BUDGET, page IGA) Commissioners reign in spending as budget time begins By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke commissioners are tight- ening their grip on spending this year, as they get ready to prepjare a new budget beginning July 1. A budget amendment request from Barbara Breaks, interim di rector of the Depwtment of Social Services, toappropriaie $305,000 in extra Medicaid funds to carry the county until June 30 was not passed on Monday night by the board of commissioners. The board also put the brakes on another request from The Wooten Company, headquar tered in Asheboro and Raleigh, to begin the second phase for the Hoke Land Use Plan. Estimated to cost $74,000. the plan elicited concerns from Commissioner Vice Chairman Charles Daniels and Commissioner James Leach —both protesti ng the price for the land u.se study proposal. County Manager Mike Wood told the board the coNt of the additional study appeared "steep." but with coopieration from county staff he thinks that amount could be reduced. The board decided to px)stp)one decisions on both requests. They plan to Note on the Medicaid increase at their May 16 meeting and discuss implementing the second phase of the Hoke Land Use plan at their budget retreat next week. "The money for the Medicaid would come out of our general fund balance," Wood told the board. "You ha\e to have enough in the budget to show any over expenditure so DS.S will not overNpend this year’s budget. It has to balance.” Brcxrk, who tempxrrarily re placed former DSS director Bob Mercer, .said DSS was left with virtually “no latitude” in .Med icaid spending. She predicted a shortfall would (x;cur if the county did not fund the additional $305,(XX). Br(X)k.s said the local DSS budget of $1.7 million this year was still less than the $2.3 (See COUNTY, page 4A) Teenager recovering after being hit while riding bicycle By Vooriasa Summers Staff writer After being critically injured last week when he was struck by a pickup truck. 14-year-old Rakeem Dillard's condition has been upgraded to serious but stable at the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill, according to his family. "Rakeem's father Roy (Doug las) and his sister Pamela Pitt man Love are constantly by his side because he cannot be left alone." Jennie Bell. Rakeem's stepmother, said yesterday. "He came through the surgery on his shoulder and his broken leg. but they put a rod into his leg. "He is in terrible pain, and he has some kind of memory loss from his head injury. The doctors said there was swelling on his brain." she said. "He cannot talk right, but he knows who he is. Rakeem does not recognize all of his family vet." Love said they will know later this wtek h'*", mu^h h'nger Diliafd iiw. s. u Chapel Hilf. This week, the state Highway Patrol released the findings from the accident, which was investi- gated by Trooper Dav id Hoover. Hoke resident Keith Crowder, driver of the pickup, was not cited for any moving violations after an extensive investigation. According to the repKxl. H(x)ver e'limated Crowder's 'peed was mik''-pcr hf'iir in ,'i ‘'S-milc Z(jne as he reportedly braked to avoid hitting Dillard on his bike on Wallace .McLean Road. (See RECOVERING, page 4A) r Rakeem Dillard
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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May 4, 2005, edition 1
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