Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Oct. 3, 2007, edition 1 / Page 1
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ews Journal [US: ned, it’s news to No. 29 Vol.102 Raeford & Hoke Co- v 75t Wednesday, October 3,2007 Officials fear new tax may be hard sell County needs land transfer tax to recoup money lost from sales tax, officials say By Jaso.n Beck StaffWriter In about a month, citizens of Hoke County will vote on a controversial real estate transfer tax that has drawn the ire of Realtors and land developers across the area. The referendum will be on the November 6 ballot. Hoke officials are in favor of the proposed .4 percent tax on the sale of land and homes, which would generate about $800,000 a year in additional revenue for the county. The county commissioners voted Monday to use any money received from the tax to help pay off capital projects such as schools, and parks and recreation facilities. Still, County Manager Mike Wood knows not to count his chickens before they hatch. “It’s not going to be a slam dunk by any means,” Wood said. “It’s going to be a dif ficult election, but I think it’s going to be a great thing for Hoke County.” However, those in the real estate business see the tax as an attack on their profession. Don Randol, founder of Hall mark Realty in Raeford said the tax would hurt business. “Any tax or charges for people to pay just to sell their home is not fair,” Randol said. “There are already lots of other fees.” Proposed legislation to adopt a statewide one per cent tax on all real estate (See NEW TAX, page 4A) r. \ Board suspends Hoke’s auditor State CPA board finds errors, deficiencies in county audit Not so fast, big boy. Dexter jimmerson. Number 60, makes a tackle for the Hoke County High School Bucks. But it was for nought; the Bucks fell to Jack Britt 28-O.This Friday, they’re on the road to Westover. Story, page 6A. (Dan Magid photo) By Jason Beck StaffWriter James Franklin Baker, a Raeford accountant, per formed many audits for the county over the past decade. Now, he has been suspended by the North Carolina State Board of Public Accountant Examiners from participating in governmental audits for the next five years. According to Robert Brooks, executive director of the board overseeing the state’s accountants. Baker is being disciplined for errors, deficiencies and improp erly submitted financial state ments found in his audit report for the county. Baker was contracted to perform Hoke County’s audit as recently as last year and has reviewed the county's finances six out of the last se\en years. Yesterday, Baker talked about the situation, explaining he isstill allowed to do private accountant work, just no work for government agencies. “They found some dis crepancies, weaknesses and cont rols and we are correcting that and having a review,” he said. “All of our work now is being reviewed on govern- mentals. It was, just basically, like a documentation on our work papers.’" Baker had no other comments on the deci sion, in which there is no (See AUDITOR, page 5A) Hoke High takes part in Band Bash piige 3 A Arrest made in ATM theft Sex offender arrested f*'- 8A Kiwanis install new officers pugs'3 A ■ lalvndar 2B Classifieds 5-6B (]ourt 3 A Deaths 3 A Editorials 2A Engagements IB Legals 3B Social News IB Sports 6-7A Weddings IB IVie’re on the web at ivww.thenews-joumal.com Read by4,500 each week Fiery Lumber Bridge wreck kills 3, hurts 3 By Jason Beck StaffWriter Three people are dead after a fiery crash in Lumber Bridge involving a Hoke County woman and her young son. Karen Oliphant, of Ra eford and her 12-year-old son Marcus survived the accident, which unfolded in front of them on N.C. 20 just over the county line on Sunday night. “It was hard,” Oliphant said. “It could have been us.” According to Joel Siles of the North Carolina High way Patrol, a 1990 Mazda and a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria collided head-on at high speed on the two-lane stretch of highway in Robeson County. Two occupants in the Ford, Sheila Gaddy, 44, and MeL- ezon Burden, 42, both of St. Pauls, were killed instantly in the crash. The driver of the Mazda, an unidentified male, also died upon impact. Derrick Regan, 42, of Red Springs, who was in the back seat of the Ford, was criti cally injured in the crash and airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Siles said the man driving the Mazda was traveling east at a speed of about 70 mph when he allegedly caused the violent wreck. “The Mazda crossed the centerline and struck the (See WRECK, page 4A) P—ft* . ; h • Grant writer can stay, but only as contractor A Lumber Bridge fireman hoses down a Mazda that crashed Sunday. (Steve Humbert photo) i'lic lYCWS News TJoumal Other stuff ■liming ^ > By Ki n M yc'Donald Publisher Last week, I shared a piece of vital shop ping information, and it occurred to me that niaybe there is more. So what follows is first a recap, and then some recommendations that are sure to change your life, and a few maybe i iVH At’ lttiiA.Al. Best water balloons in Hoke County -C VS, 25 for $ 1.49. These babies blow up to the size of a watermelon before they burst. Throwing them can be a challenge, but what a glorious deluge when they find their mark. Best coffee - It was French Roast, roasted by Coffeepartners.biz in Asheville until the company apparently closed recently, and did not send me my five-pound bag. Please get back to work' A somewhat (li>;t'ini i' Starbucks Verona Cafe, unfortunately already ground, but available in supermarkets every where. Best local place to buy brewed, piping hot coffee ... still searching. (See OTHER STUEF, page SA) By Jason Beck StaffWriter Popular grant writer Linda Teal may still do some work for Hoke County, but there is a catch — she’s no longer an official employee. The board of commissioners \ oted unanimously last night to of fer Teal a professional serv ice contract to write grants on a ca.se-by-ca.se basis. Teal, whose last official day as a county employee was Monday, drew a crowd of supporters at the meeting for the second straight month, all of whom asked county commissioners to retain the full-time grant w'riter posit ion. In the end, however. County Manager Mike Wood said the new arrangement is wiser financially. “We can control the amount of money we spend and can control the grants we go af ter,” he said. “Hopefully she will accept the contract and continue to write grants.” (See TEAL, page 4A) Two more arrested for drugs By J \s()n Beck StaffWriter The Hoke County Sheriff s ()flicc made more fek)ny drug a trend the sheriff hopes will make drug dealers think be fore ad\ertising their product in the area. Authorities hope more arrests on connected charges are pending. Elvira Guadulupe Lopez, 28, of 413 Martin Drive, Triple J Mobile Home Park, was arrested last Wednestlav aiiu cnaigeu with tialticking cocaine, maintainingadwell- ing for a controlled substance and possession of drug para phernalia. (See DRUGS, page 5A)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Oct. 3, 2007, edition 1
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