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The ews I ournal If it happened, it’s news to us No.16Vol.108 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, June 26,2013 Fields flooded, trees down Farmers hope for drying, but more showers forecast By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Severe summer storms have drenched Hoke County and much of North Carolina multiple times in the last several weeks, sparking thunder storm warnings, tearing down trees and power lines and repeatedly flooding agricultural fields during an important growing period. “It’s slowed the wheat harvest, de layed planting soybeans, some cotton has drowned,” Hoke County Agri cultural Cooperative Extension agent Keith Walters said Tuesday, minutes after another severe storm moved through Raeford. Farmers haven’t been able to gettheir machinery through the fields to apply fertilizer or pest control, and the fields are too wet to harvest or plant, Walters said. There isn’t much the farmers can (See FLOODING, page 6A) Weather unleashed Top: tThe Williamson Farm on Bethel Road looked lakeside after Sunday night’s rainfall. National Weather Ser vice radar estimated 6-8 inches of rain in south eastern Hoke County. FCI measured over 5 inches of rain. Middle: Yards along Scurlock School Road were under water just before dark Sunday. Bottom: This was one of many trees that felI in a stormTuesday afternoon. It fell across Elwood Av enue in town. Below: Cicero Beatty Road washed out. Judge weighs in on proposed district changes By Catharin Shepard Staff writer North Carolina State Senate conferees have not announced whether they will include a bud get amendment filed by a representative from Stanly County that would merge Hoke’s judicial district with another two-county district. The amendment filed by Rep. Justin Burr, a Repub lican representing Stanly and Montgomery counties, would combine judicial district 16A, which includes Hoke and Scotland coun ties, and judicial district 20A, which includes Rich mond and Anson counties. It would also make Stanly County - currently part of district 20A - its own separate district. The amendment was part of the proposed bud get that passed the state House of Representatives earlier this month and is now under discussion by state senators. Burr did not respond to requests for comment about the matter. Rep. Garland Pierce, a Democrat representing Hoke, Scotland, Richmond and Robeson counties, said the issue is still under discussion. “I have not heard any change. I know there’s a lot of arguments from the bar (association),” he said. (See JUDGE, page 4A) Soldier kflled by LE.D. A Fort Bragg soldier who lived in Hoke County was killed last week after his Humvee ran over an im provised explosive device, according to officials. Chief War rant Officer Lee James Williamson, 44, a mem ber of the Blackfeet Na tive Ameri can Tribe of Montana, died lastweekfrom complications related to a traumatic brain injury that occurred when the military vehicle he was riding in hit the explosive device, accord ing to a press statement. The I I Department of —Defense did not 9 release details on where or when the incident hap pened and had not released in formation con firming (See SOLDIER, page 6A) Sex assault of child investigated The Hoke County Sher iff’s Office is investigating a reported sex assault against a nine-month-old child, ac cording to a press release. Investigators responded to a call in the evening hours of Monday, June 24 that an infant had been sexually as saulted. The child was transported to Moore Regional Hospital and then transferred to Chapel Hill for a forensic investiga tion, authorities said. By Tuesday afternoon no arrests had been made in the case and the investigation is ongoing. This Week Virgil’s Drive-in founder dies See page 3A Organization releases draft transportation plan See page 4A Help kids go to camp See page 4A Calendar 2B Classifieds 5B Deaths 3 A Editorials 2A Legals 3-5B Worship 2B Hoke buses to get GPS By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Starting this fall, all Hoke County Schools buses will be equipped with advanced GPS systems that will allow supervisors to pinpoint the exact location of any bus at any given moment. The Board of Education voted unanimously this month to approve buying the roughly $48,000 system for the school district’s 90 active buses. The Synovia Solu tions system could provide a savings of over $72,000 a year in payroll, fuel and wear and tear mileage reductions on the fleet. Transportation Director Robert Creech said. ‘ ‘The main purpose of this is to decrease transportation cost,” he said. “You’ll actu- (See BUSES, page 6A) By Ken MacDonald My idea of a video game is weather radar. When the sky gets dark, I fire up wunderground.com and start tracking. Touch me—I am a paid member and I get a few extra frames in the loops. Sitting there at the kitchen table with the laptop open, I entertain my family with, “I’m guessing the rain will reach us in 14 minutes, maybe 15.”Thirteenminutes later. I’m like, “We should see some heavy rain within about one minute.” And when giant pellets of rain hit the skylight 60 seconds later, I want affirmation— something like, “Wow, he’s a genius!” Instead I usually hear, (See OTHER STUFF page 6A) Sunshine too Though many areas are flooded, the sun has come out too, and Ryan Edwards, 4-year-old son of Scott and Melody Edwards, enjoyed it in his front yard recently along Bethel Road. (Ken Mac Donald photo)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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June 26, 2013, edition 1
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