Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Aug. 22, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews J ournal If it happened, its new’s to us No. 23 VoL 102 Raeford E 754 Wednesday, August 22,2007 Ethanol plant clears final hurdle A $35 million loan for Hoke County’s ethanol plant is official. It’s also apparently the last hurdle that had to be cleared before Clean Bum Fuels couldbeginconstruction in southeastern Hoke County. Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8) announced Tuesday that the county will receive a loan through the Rural Business Enterprise Pro gram from the United States Depart ment of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program. “This new ethanol plant repre sents economic development for Hoke County, a new market for North Carolina farmers, and greater energy independence for our nation,” Hayes said. “This loan guarantee will provide funding to help make v • this facility areality and bring North Carolina into serious alternative fuel production.” Clean Bum Fuels says it will pro duce 60 million gallons of ethanol per year. If construction begins next month as planned, it will be the only ethanol plant between New York and Georgia. The project will provide en vironmental benefits because it reduces green house emissions, Hayes said. The Business and Industry Guar anteed Loan Program is designed to help businesses in rural areas. The 9006 Program is designed to sup port development of alternative fuel, energy production and efficiency. Cape Fear Farm Credit and other participating financial institutions are partnering with Clean Bum Fuel and USDA-Rural Development. USDA-Rural Development will be guaranteeing $35 million of the anticipated total project cost of $ 110 million. “We are excited that USDA Ru ral Development is able to provide (See ETHANOL, page 4A) lit- (‘ 5a.. m * i Donald photos Reading is fun And so are some other things at the library, just ask seven-year-old Rodney Darren (left) who emerges from a watery slide as a friend dives in, and another (right photo) ends his run off balance Tuesday.The slide was part of a fun day at the Hoke Library, held to celebrate the end of the summer reading program, which drew 500 children since June. County declares intent to pick new ambulance service provider Lilmar remembers the clothesline page IB Drought threatens livestock |xige2B Williamson is Eagle Scout page 4 A Bucks win opener ^x»ge 6*"\ Births 4A Calendar 2B Classifieds 5B Class Retmions 4A Court 4A Deaths 5 A Hditorials 2 A Legals 3-4B Sports 6-7A We’re on the web at WWW. thenews-joumal. com Read by 4,000 each week By Jason Beck StaffWriter The Hoke County Com missioners voted 4-1 in favor of a new EMS provider Mon day night, against the wishes of the county’s director of emergency services. American Medical Re sponse, one of the largest providers in the country, will become the area’s new ambu lance service, pending con tract approval. Hoke County has outsourced EMS service since it took control of local rescue squads in 1983. The county’s contract with long-time provider First Health was terminated during last month’s meeting. American Medical bid at just over $615,000 a year. Jimmy Stewart, the coun ty’s EMS director, opposed AMR’s offer, since it provided a scaled down version of the plan he recommended to the board. “I could have asked for the world, but what 1 asked for is what I thought we needed,” Stewart said during the meeting. “If their budget doesn’t include all that, then we are not comparing apples to apples.” Stewart recommended the addition of a training officer, an off-truck shift supervisor and afull-time quick response vehicle — none of which (See CONTRACT, page 3A) Drought now reaching critical stage ■/j I Bv Jason Bick StaffWriter HokeCounty is in the midst of one of the worst droughts in recent memory and area farmers are taking a beating. Accoidi ng to one area farmer, nearly half of every crop is a total loss. The dry weather has also caused fires in neighboring Robeson County and led to water restrictions across the region. ■‘We are probably in a critical drought at this point in time,” said Randy Wood, an agent with the Hoke County Agricultural Extension. “We have been in a drought all summer and it seems to have got worse as the summer went along.” Earl Hendrix has been farming cotton, soybeans and tobacco since 1952. He said this year’s dry spell is among the worst he has ever witnessed. “There aren’t many like (See DROUGHT, page 5A) Beck photo Smith listens to testimony. Smith guilty Faces possible death sentence By Jason Beck StaffWriter As Kelvin Smith walked into the courtroom yesterday dressed in neatly-pressed khaki pants and a tie, he looked like any other 25-year- old. The clanking sound of the shackles around his feet told everyone he was a convicted murderer. Smith was found guilty this week of 1st degree murder, conspiracy and robbery with a dangerous weapon in the shooting death of 23-year-old April Pate. Now, the Lumber- ton man faces a possible death sentence. - Pate was shot at her home two years ago on January 15. Jurors found Smith guilty of pulling the trigger after co-defendant Tony Locklear testified against him. Yesterday, the defense tried to paint a softer picture of (See GUILTY, page 4A) News-Journal has new reporter • ^ i Gary Hendrix in a drought-stricken cotton field. The News- Jotinuil has a new reporter. He is .Iu,-t)n _k, lui . ^ re|X)ner for ^ J 'he Daily Re- jason Beck cord in Dunn, and then editor of the Daily Record's weekly Angler In dependent. Beck is a 2005 graduate of Campbell University where he attended on a Presidential Scholarship, and was Sopho- iiioic c'id.ss icpicseiuaiive. A native ol 'rhomasville he was homeschooled. He can be reached at (910) 875-2121 or by email at ja- sontp'thenews-joumal.com. Triathlon new this year to Festivd By Li si.i Y Coving ION Intern The time approaches for Hoke County to ac knowledge one of its greatest resources, the turkey. The N.C. Turkey Festi val is set for Sep. 8-16. This year’s theme for the 23rdannual festival is Struttin’ in the Park. About 50,000 people attend the festival each year, according to Ex ecutive Di rector Wi 11 lam Daniels. The festival began in 1984. It was originally (See FESTIVAL, page 8A)
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