Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / July 4, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews Journal ed,ifsiKwstoos No.l5VoL102 Raeford & Hoke Cocm n.c, Wednesday, July 4,2007 County approves ethanol plant inducements By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke commissioners unanimously ap proved an inducement agreement on Monday night that would put the proposed ethanol plant on the county map. Commissioner Bobby Wright, who was instrumental in the initial negotiations with Clean Bum, LLC to bring the ethanol plant to Hoke, issued the recommendation to approve the plant at the county’s mega site. Commissioner Jean Powell and commis sion Chairman James A. Leach were also part of the team that attracted the plant to Hoke. This was followed by recent support from commission Vice Chairman Tony Hunt and Commissioner Ellen McNeill. At the begirming of the meeting. Hunt moved to postpone public input to the end of the meeting. A closed session to discuss economic development was held prior to the public input. A packed room of more than 50 citizens remained, hoping the board might rescind eliminating the positions of five of six em ployees that were terminated on June 22 in a 3-2 vote. The sixth position, that of Parks and Recre ation Director David Jackson, was reinstated Friday (see related story below). But the board did not reverse its decision, nor did it discuss the topic on its agenda Monday night. After a 50-minute closed session, the board reconvened to vote on the issue that has been pending for at least two years to bring an ethanol plant to Hoke. In the audience to hear the approval on inducements were Clean Bum CEO Jack Car lisle; his son Greg Carlisle, project manager; Hoke economic developer Col. (retired) Don Porter; and A.K. “Dooie” Leach, chairman of the Hoke Economic Development Com mission. “This is what this county needs,” Porter said after the meeting. “That is what is great about our country. “We will have an industry in Hoke County that is producing ethanol, an American product that is an alternative to gasoline,” he said. “Our great American flag will also be flying above this building in an industry that will help this county prosper.” The Carlisles estimated Clean Burn’s groundbreaking could occur within weeks. Once Clean Bum also signs the induce ment agreement after its attorneys review it, commissioners and Carlisle would sign a (See ETHANOL, page 5A) Jackson’s job is swiftly restored By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Supporters of David Jack- son, Hoke County Parks and Recreation department direc tor, celebrated on Friday after county commissioners all voted to retain his position - just days after it was suddenly cut by the same board in a split vote. After a controversial dis missal of Jackson when next year’s budget was already set, a united Hoke board of commissioners voted Friday to reinstate the directorship in the Parks and Recreation department during a special meeting. This reversal in the board’s earlier decision came on the very day Jack- son was scheduled to exit his position. A group of supporters was on hand at Friday’s meeting, backing F*aiks and Recreation chairman Uissa Epps. She was selected to request that Jackson’s position be re-established by the board of commissioners. However, Epps never received the op- (See JOB, page 3A) Jury selection continues in murder case By Bill Lindau Freelance Writer Jury selections for the trial of the young man charged in connection the 2005 death of April Pate continued into Monday afternoon in Superior Criminal Court. The selection process began Monday, June (See JURY, page 3A) V > I * % South Hoke school is renamed Hawkeye page 8A Hoke school nutrition worker elected to state post page 1B Wrestling to come to middle schools p^e7A Index (Calendar 6B Classifieds 5B Court 2B Deaths 4A Editorials 2A Legals 4,5B Schools IB Sports 7A Social News 3B Weddings 3B Wie’re on the web at www.thenews-jourruiLcom Read by 4,000 each week / Jordan Virgil winds up for a pitch against West Robeson in the Dixie AAA Regional tourpament held at Burlington Park. See story inside on page 7A. Tape of closed session may not be released A sign indicates temporary closure of the Hoke Raeford Hu mane Society that was reopened on Monday. Hoke plans new animal shelter By Victoriana Summers Staff writer Hoke County’s animal vhelter was shut down tem porarily by its director for two days last week because of health concerns over ro dents. This unscheduled closure occurred just four days before the facility’s management was to be transferred from the Hoke Raeford Humane Society to the county, ac cording to County Manager Mike Wrwtxf Following the unauthor ized closure, Hoke’s board of commi^ioners unanimously approved a new $250,000 shelter on Monday night at their meeting. Wood said the new facility would be located at the landfill on the opposite side of the driveway from the existing animal shelter. Wood estimated it would likely take less than six monflis for the new shelter to be constructed. However, repairs on the current building would be completed to avoid any further health issues, he added. Shelter director Michelle Queja officially became a cuuiiiy employee on Sunday, when the 2007-08 budget took effect. She said while the shelter was not under the county’s (See SHELTER, page 6A) By Victoriana Summers Staff writer A controversial tape-re cording of a closed session conducted during a recessed commissioners’ meeting may not be released by the county board unless County Attorney William Fields reconsiders his legal opinion. The News-Journal has requested the right to hear the tape of the June 22 meeting on woikforce cutbacks. So far the board has not acted on v/hether to heed Fields’s initial recommenda tion not to release the tape recording. In a 3-2 vote during that meeting, commission chair man James A. Leach, com mission vice chairman Tony Hunt and commissioner Ellen McNeill voted in favor of eliminating four county positions. This action was taken af ter the budget ordinance for 2007-08 had already been passed. However, commission ers Jean Powell and Bobby Wright opposed elimination or firing of the four employ ees. They said the budget .was already balanced, with Leach's recommendation creating what they think were “unnecessary” cutbacks. Among those in Hoke's workforce reduction were Risk Management director Ed Crutchfield, the only employee in his dejiartment. Code Enforcement inspector Johnny Scott, Thomson and Jackson. Powell and Wright indi cated they believe the tape in question could potentially determine whether now- (See TAPE, page 6A) NC State Wolfpack gets its Wolff Hoke County’s Earl Wolff commits to NC State Earl Wolff, an upcoming senior at Hoke High,com- mited to N.C. State University at a recent football camp in Raleigh. (Photo courtesy PackPride.com) B"! Hm Ni nn Sports writer It was a chance that had to be taken. It was a chance that paid off. Upcoming Hoke County high sch(X)l senior football and t rack athlete Earl Wolff went to camp at NC State in June and completely wowed the coaches so much lhp\ offeree! him n ccbfU-ir'^F'rp “1 knew 1 was doing real gixKl up there at camp,” said Wolff. “There were even some players out there Ifom NC’ State calling me Randy Moss when 1 was at receiver during seven-on-sevens. (See WOLFE, page 6A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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July 4, 2007, edition 1
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