The ews I ournal Hoke County^s newspaper since 1905 No.44Vol.l08 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. Wednesday, January 8,2014 Protested convenience store gets nod By Catharin Shepard Staff writer At the first scheduled meeting of the new year, the Hoke County Board of Commissioners unani mously approved the appointment of Barry Mayo as the county’s new finance officer. The board also approved a controversial convenience store on Wayside Road. Mayo, who most recently served as the finance officer for Warren County, started in the new position Monday. Mayo will earn a starting salary of $89,716, according to County Manager Tim Johnson. Mayo is originally from Hillsborough and has degrees in business and public administration from St. Augustine College in Raleigh and N.C. Cen tral University. The county commissioners vot ed in July to hire a new officer but also chose to keep former chief finance officer Garvin Ferguson as an assistant. Residents protest store After hearing from several county residents opposed to the plan, the commissioners voted four to one in favor of approving a conditional use permit allowing a convenience store with gasoline sales on a two-acre lot at 1970 Wayside Road. Commissioner Tony Hunt voted against approv ing the permit. The county plan ning board recommended denying the permit. During a public hearing, five (See STORE, page 6A) Another arrest made in Rockfish break-ins Authorities arrested last week a third suspect in connection with multiple breaking and entering cases in the Rockfish community. Deputies with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office ar rested Cody Morris-Stew- art, 18, of the 100 block of Kirkland Place in Raeford on charges of seven counts of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, one count of felony larceny, one count of felony pos session of stolen property, five counts of misdemeanor Morris-Stewart larceny and five counts of misde meanor posses sion of stolen property. The Sheriff’s Office previously charged two other people in connection with the same set of break- ins that mostly occurred between December 18-24, 2013. Investigators arrested (See ARREST, page 4A) Sex assault charges filed Incognito Mr. and Mrs. James Bradley, and dog Alley... um... brought in the new year at a fiesta held by Family Chiropractic New Year’s Eve. Only the dog was brave enough to reveal her face. A man from Raeford was charged last week with al legedly sexually assaulting a sleeping juvenile, according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrested Rakeen Dillard, 23, of the 200 block of Quail Drive in Raeford on a charge of first degree statu tory sexual offense. Dillard was arrested in connection with an alleged incident on November 19 of last year. The victim, whose name was not released due to state privacy laws protecting juveniles, reported to their mother that they had been assaulted while asleep. The victim’s mother confronted the suspect, who fled the victim’s house on the 400 block of Rockfish Road. Deputies were able to locate Dillard after the ju venile’s mother called on December 31 with informa tion about his whereabouts. Dillard was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Office where detectives interviewed him, then brought him before a magistrate. He was held under a $50,000 secured bond. Team sports take students beyond Special Olympics By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Now Exceptional Students can enjoy sports year-round. For many years, the only time exceptional children in Hoke County had the chance to participate in sports was through the yearly Special Olympics - but that’s changing now through Project Unify. “Project Unify is trying to bridge the gap with excep tional children and sports,” Hoke County Schools ath letic director Gary Brigman said. The program, which is now catching on in many North Carolina schools, of fers exceptional students the chance to play sports year- round. That’s something many children with special needs have never gotten the chance to experience. Brig- man said. Brigman, working in con cert with Richmond County Schools’ athletic director Kevin Mabe and with both counties’ exceptional chil- (See UNITY, page 4A) This Week Calendar 2B Classifieds 4B Deaths 3 A Editorials 2A Legals 2-3B Sports 5 A Worship 2B Subscribe online and save! wvvw.thenews-journal.com FirstHealth restricts visitors due to flu FirstHealth of the Caro- linas is trying to protect patients, visitors and staff by trying to limit the spread of the flu at its hospitals this flu season. From December 15-Janu- ary 4, 57 patients visited the FirstHealth hospital in Hoke emergency department with the flu. In that same time period, 124 patients with the flu visited the Moore Regional emergency depart ment with the flu, spokes woman Emily Sloan said. So far this flu season, 13 people have died of the flu in North Carolina, accord ing to the state Depart ment of Health and Human Services. The FirstHealth hospital system is asking visitors who are visiting people in the hospital to take some precautions. People who have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore (See EEU, page 6A) Monday’s temperature drop from the 60s to I 1.5 degrees. By Ken MacDonald Hope for Hoke gives away blankets I’m legendary in my house for sitting at the kitchen table, eyes glued to the laptop screen for every radar frame update. “It’s going to startraining... wait for it... wait for it... now!” My daughter once walked through the kitchen and said, “Why doesn’t Dad just look out the window?” Hmpf If you’re a weather nut, you understand. And if you’re a weather nut and live in Hoke County, (See OTHER STUFE, page 6A) Hope for Hoke conducted its fifth annual blanket give away on December 21 out side of Bo’s grocery store. “The people were very patient and grateful. There were some immediate needs addressed on the survey forms that hopefully with community help through donations of resources, time and labor can be addressed with assistance,” Hope for Hoke founder Lynn Baum said in a report about the blanket giveaway. “There were acts of kindness al ready shown from the Hoke County community. Bo’s grocery store allowed us for the fifth year to utilize their parking lot to give out the blankets. Harbour Laun dry Systems donated free washing and drying of the used blankets both on Main Street. Volunteers such as Mr. Earl Dockery, Mr. John Anderson, Mr. Blurt and Mr. Wall (or relative of) helped Hope for Hoke give out blankets.” “A young man from Ra eford donated a roll of plastic bags and an elderly woman (See BLANKETS, page 4A)