Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / May 30, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews j ournal NallVoLl02 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. 75t Wednesday, May 30,2007 County plans to hold line on tax rate Board to reorganize some departments, adjust staffing, review school budget S'! VicTORiANA Summers Staff writer In a effort to stave off a tax increase for the coming year, the Hoke board of commis sioners knocked the budget down to $30.2 million after shaving off another $400,000 last evening. County Manager Mike Wood said things are looking positive. He said the board does not foresee a tax increase for next year, as was the fear of some board members earlier. “The board is now ada mant there will be no tax increase for Hoke citizens,” Wood said. “We only need to reduce about another one- hundred-thousand dollars off the budget to be where we need to be. “We anticipate one more budget session will be re quired before a public hearing is held to approve the final budget.” Commissioners appeared cooperative and in high spir its. At one point, Hoke com mission vice chairman Tony Hunt said in a conservative manner: “We are not putting in; we are taking out.” Wood quipped: ‘This is a take-out session. 1 have made some cuts that would take off the four cent tax.” (See BUDGET, page 4A) □Cn I — .*.•,•** >- Kids ring Memorial m 4 Students, parents and teachers gaze skyward to view the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division All American Freefall Team landing at Rockfish Hoke Elementary; a class spells out “Me morial Day." General Horst makes appearance at school By Victorian\ Summers Staff writer Men and women in mili tary uniform who sacrificed their lives to preserve liberty and the American way of life were honored by millions on Memorial Day from sea to shining sea. In Hoke County, the com memoration began early on Thursday morning as Rockfish Hoke Elementary students hosted the second annual military apprecia tion day. A special visit was enjoyed from U.S. Army Brigadier General Karl R. Horst, deputy-commanding general of the X VIII Ai rbome Corps and Fort Bragg. Putting children at ease, Horst toured the school’s campus, and (See MES fORIAL, page 8A) This Week f- Wagon Train returns to Hoke pjige IB Foundation awards grants pagt6B Arsonist torches house where rape occurred ptigeSA Index Calendar 4B Classifieds 5B Deaths 3A Editorials 2A Engagements 5A Lcgals 3-4B Schools 6A Socials 4A Sports 7A Weddings 4A We’re on the web at www.thenews-joumal.a)m Read by 4,000 each week Teen arrested in murder of Fayetteville man By ViCTORiANA Summers Staff writer Hoke County Schools administrators expressed dis may yesterday that one of their students may be implicated in the murder conspiracy of Fayetteville teen Jourdhan Phillips. The 18-year-old was shot in a drive-by chase on May 6 on Morganton Road in Fayetteville. A student at Hoke County High, 17-year-old Keonte Devon Purcell was arrested off campus last Thursday on homicide allegations. Purcell had continued to attend school at Hoke High for more than two weeLs since Phillips was slain. AJunior, Purcell is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first- degree murder, discharging a weapon into an occupied property and first-degree at tempted murder. “We love our students, and we really hate this happened,” Hoke High principal Steve Ha gen said yesterday. Purcell ^gj.g shocked of the news that a student was arrested. “Of course, innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “We did not have any idea a student was involved in a murder investigation until we read of his arrest.” According to Hagen, Pur cell had no previous issues on campus with any sort of school violence. “Keonte Purcell was in my office last week with our school superintendent. Dr. Freddie Williamson,” Hagen said. “He was trying to validate some of the days he might not have been in school. I guess he was being questioned by the police. “We counseled him on making the right choices with his life and to think before he acts.” Hagen said he did not know of a particular policy that covered whether Purcell would be allowed to return to school if he was released on bond. “I am pretty sure he could not come back to school, but that decision would have to be addressed by Dr. William- (See MURDER, pa^e 6A) Hoke centennial plans set in motion MacDonald By VicTORiANA Summers Staff v^riter An enthused Hoke board of commissioners unanimously appointed retired Hoke educa tor Lauchlin “Lxx:ke” Mac Donald as chairman of the upcoming 2011 Hoke County Centennial celebration. With the blessings of the board, MacDonald will select from four to five additional volunteers to organize the county’s marking of its one- hundredth birthday. Mac Donald foresees hundreds of participants in the final research and festivity phases of the centennial. “I don’t need a minute,” MacDonald said in good humor to the board. “I need four years. “1 want to remind you in a little less than four years will be the centennial of Hoke County.” MacDonald urged the board’s participation, prom ising it would become a significant event without re (See 100 YEARS, page 5A) Bystanders watch firemen extinguish a blaze on South Main Street Saturday afternoon.The vacant house was at the entrance to the old Raeford Lumber Yard.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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May 30, 2007, edition 1
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