Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 3, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews J oumal 75t No.42VoLl01 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, January 3,2007 Annexation, election top 2006 stories Others include improving schools, building an ^anol plant and wind tunnel By Pat Allen Wilson The top stories of Hoke-Raefond include ac tions that tore at the fabric of the community. Yet another story involves unified efforts on behalf of educating the children. A forced annexation that brought 151 acres containing approximately 135 residences into the city limits pitted neighbor against neighbor, church member against church member and left most residents in the annexed area angry and upset. Fake ballots that looked too much like the real thing distributed during the May primary may have changed the outcome of the election and left some losing candidates outraged. Meanwhile, Hoke got a new public schools superintendent, and, under his leadership, efforts to make education advancements and boost test scores have begun. Annexation While some say the annexation of the Palmer Street/College Drive area was long overdue, those in the designated area, still reeling from higher taxes imposed by the county and higher water bills from the city, said they could not afford the extra costs and they did not want any services offered by the (See YEAR 2006, page 4A) Judge Pate trades his gavel for golf clubs Retires after 17 years on bench By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Chief District Court Judge Warren L. Pate retired from the bench last week after 17 years to enjoy riding the turf at his Raeford horse farm. And trading in his gavel for golf clubs to play his fa vorite sport, the 62-year-old Pate leaves behind a legacy of five successful terms of office as an elected official. A Democrat, Pate has dispensed justice for more than 300,000 cases for Hoke and Scotland County’s District 16 A. When he relinquished his post on December 28, Pate was sporting a Hemingway- style beard at his retirement party. He also offered humor- This Week ous conversation instead of final verdicts. “Goodness gracious, great balls of fire,” Pate said in a Jerry Lee Lewis imitation on seeing the spread of food and many friend in attendance. With ablush, Pate viewed a special cake with a decorated replica of himself. “Good gracious,” he said of the likeness. Posing for photographs, Pate presided over the event just like on the bench. “Give me six months,” Pate said to someone who inquired about his retirement. “It depends on how my checks turn out. “But, if you have a (See PATE, page 4A) Having a little fun, retiring Chief District Court Judge Warren L. Pate (right) polishes the head of Raeford public works direc tor johnny Melton. ^11 . -Ail f I 1 1 , J;'- 1 T c • Kershaw makes NFL debut pige5A Traffic stop surprises officers page6A Throi^ the Rear View Mirror page2B Index ] Calendar ...IB aassifieds ...5B Deaths ...3A Editorials ...2A Legals ...4B Religion ...4B Schools ...3B Socials ...3B Sports SA Weddings ...3B We’re on the web at www.thenews-joumal.com Read by 3,000 each week Regina Joe takes office as district judge Regina Joe By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Regina “Gigi” McKinney Joe took office on New Year’s Day as new district court judge for Hoke-Scotland counties, realizing a lifelong dream to serve on the bench. Joe is also carrying on the tradition of her predecessor, retired chief district court judge Warren Pate, by residing in Raeford. Making history twice, Joe is distin guished as the first African American woman elected to serve as a district court judge in Hoke and Scotland counties. She was first recognized in 2005 when she was appointed as the first African American woman in the state of North Carolina to serve as a chief public de fender. Newly retired, Hoke-Scotland Supe rior Court Judge B. Craig Elis presided over the festivities and swearing-in cer emony on Monday. “It has been an honor to serve with Gigi,” Ellis said of Joe’s judicial experi ence. “She has done a marvelous job. “I am delighted she has achieved this office because it is something she has worked for so long.” Ellis offered a special invocation at the oath of office ceremony. “We ask your blessing on this proceed ing, not just because a good and honor able woman is being invested, but so that justice and mercy may be enhanced,” Ellis said. “We seek your favor... that all who c6me into the court over which (See JOE, page 5A) Couple copes with loss of home i Jason Ward and Mary Tousignant, with baby son Tyler. By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A young couple is still try ing to come to grips with their home burning down the day after Christmas. “It has really left us in a financial bind, and we are homeless,” Jason Ward, ten ant at the destroyed modular home on John Russell Road, said. “I do not know how we are going to make it.” Ward said he is praying the Hoke community may rally to help them in their crisis situation. He and Mary Tousignant and their one-month-old son, lyier, left their doublewide mobile home to stay at his father’s house on Christmas evening. Approximately five hours later their house burned, with nothing but twisted metal and cinders remaining. Shivering in the twilight last Thursday, the pair re turned without coats to wear to view the gutted shell of their home. The remnants of a rocking chair formerly used for rocking lyier to sleep were left on the cement porch. Only the porch survived the fire somewhat intact. Christmas presents,clothes, furniture and appliances were demolished in spite of the ef forts of West Hoke Volunteer Fue Department and others. One of the families two dogs also perished. A neighbor initially re ported the fire around 1 a.m. on December 26. In one area of the den, the (See FIRE LOSS, page 6A) le news News ^ Journal Major drug suspect arrested By Ken MacDonald Charles, an old college friend, and I try to Publisher do something adventurous together about once We intended to make Sunset Beach by a year. Whether it’s paddling in Chesapeake dark, and allowed a hefty margin for error Bay where we were attacked by mosquito since neither of us has ever ridden a bicycle swarms of biblical prqxrrtions or rafting the that far. We used up most of the margin for Poudre River in Colorado where we sprung error in front of Cheseborouogh Ponds when a huge leak, our outings always reach their Charles suffered a flat tire. intended conclusions but never without mis- That’s right, just 1.3 miles from home we heard a psssssssst pssssssst psssssst and real ized acosmic jokester would again be at work on a Charies-Ken adventure. hap. That Monday’s first happened so soon seemed a sign. We pulled over into the BP parking lot (See OTHER STUFF, page 3A) By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Candelario “Candy” Ro driguez Perez, a major drug suspect in Hoke County, was caught last week, accord ing to Hoke sheriff Hubert Petericin. “He was one of our sus pects we needed to apprehend in our Operation Drug Safe campaign,” Peterkin said. “It took a lot of cooperation be tween law enforcement agen cies to find him.” Perez, 21, of the llOOblock of Blue Springs Road, had Perez eluded the Hoke Sheriff’s drug task unit for six months. He was taken into custody by the Fayetteville Police E)epartment on December 28 (See ARREST, page 6A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Jan. 3, 2007, edition 1
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