Proposed voting site may violate law - The News
Transcription
Proposed voting site may violate law - The News
75¢ si forte eam scriptor fama ad nos RAEFORD & HOKE COUNTY N.C. No. 51 Vol. 106 Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Proposed voting site may violate law BY CATHARIN SHEPARD state to allow a second one-stop absentee voting site in the Puppy Creek voting district and to move Some citizens are questioning a the precinct’s voting site from the contested vote of the Hoke County Puppy Creek Fire Department to Board of Elections asking the state’s the Matthew Rouse Jr. Community permission to make changes to the Resource Center. The board voted county’s one-stop absentee voting two to one at a special called meetplan. ing Monday in favor of asking the Earlier this year the board voted state’s permission to hold one-stop two to one in favor of asking the voting Sunday, April 29 from 2-6 Staff writer p.m. at the county Board of Elections office, which is already the county’s designated one-stop early voting site. In both votes, Chairwoman Gloria Barnes Hill and Secretary Brenda Oxendine Jacobs voted in favor of the changes while board member Robert E. Vaughn voted against the motion. The changes are not final. The petitions must be approved by the state before the changes can be made, according to state law. “You cannot do the one-stop voting unless you get permission from the state board,” County Attorney William Fields said. Technically the board is attempting to amend the county’s one-stop voting plan, he said. However, state law places restrictions on which locations can be used as one-stop voting sites. The State Board of Elections won’t approve a plan to hold one-stop voting in a building that doesn’t meet the requirements, and the request to whoever oversees the building must be made at least 90 days before onestop voting begins. “In providing the site or sites for one-stop absentee voting under this (See ONE-STOP, page 6A) State championship in sight Bucks go to regionals BY HAL NUNN Sports writer The Bucks’ Jayvione Parker blocks a shot by Apex’s #10 Austin Debevec in the game that sent the team to the regionals. At right, Hoke County fans were on their feet for most of the game. (Hal Nunn photos) This Week With a standing-room-only crowd and folks being turned away at the door, the #2 seed Hoke County High School Fighting Bucks, along with their fans, are headed to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Regional tournament tomorrow night to take on the Trojans of Pine Forest at 8:30 p.m. in the Crown Arena. The win last week over the Apex Cougars propelled the Bucks into the statewide scene and two wins away from a possible state championship. The Bucks fought a tough Apex team that plays in the Trine 9 conference in Raleigh and the defensive battle produced a lower scoring game than we have seen (See BUCKS, page 7A) Four now challenging commissioners Pace picks up in local election filing, state races get candidates, Congress too BY CATHARIN SHEPARD erans Service officer for Hoke County, and Lonnie Baldwin have filed to run for commissioner. Two Republican candidates and McPhaul announced last year that two Democratic candidates have filed he would seek a seat on the county to challenge incumbent Democrats commission. Baldwin and Harry James Leach and Bobby Wright for announced this week that they will seats on the Hoke County Board of also challenge Leach and Wright for Commissioners. a position on the board. Thacker filed Republicans John Harry and Elda last week and Baldwin and Harry Thacker have filed to run for positions filed Monday. on the board. Now that there are four Democrats Democrats Freddy McPhaul, Vet- running for the two seats, registered Staff writer Couponing will save you money, make The Turkey Festival money page 1B Hoke residents charged with watching dog fight page 5A Calendar ...............2B Classifieds ...............5B Deaths ...............3A Editorials ...........2-3A Legals ...........3-4B Sports ...............7A Worship ...............2B We’re on the web at www.thenews-journal.com Read by 4,500 each week Democrat voters will have a chance this May to select the two candidates from their party that they want to see on the ballot in November. However, unless another Republican candidate files for election, Harry and Thacker will automatically become the Republican nominees for the commission race. Incumbent Kristy Newton has also filed for re-election as Hoke County’s District Attorney. Candidates for the Hoke County Two file for board of commissioners Lonnie Baldwin John Harry Running for: Hoke County Board of Commissioners Status: Candidate Experience: Not previously elected Education: Master’s degree from Kansas State in Adult and Occupational Lonnie Baldwin anLongtime Hoke Education nounced this week that County resident and Position: Paid Raeford native and he will run for election Navy veteran John F. U.S. Army veteran (Profiles continue on page 6A) Running for: Hoke County Board of Commissioners Status: Candidate Experience: Not previously elected Education: Degree from Howard University Position: Paid Board of Education and the soil and water conservation supervisory positions will file for election this summer. The primary election is set for May. N.C. General Assembly House of Representatives incumbents Garland Pierce, a Democrat from Wagram representing state House District 48 and Ken Goodman, a Democrat from Rockingham representing state House District (See FILING, page 5A) Bond is $1 million for sex offender A registered sex offender who once worked as a New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested in Pender County last week on charges alleging that he sexually abused two Hoke County Flood children. Jarmal Akfpon arrested on chargFlood, 40, of N.C. es of one count of Highway 210 in (See FLOOD, Rocky Point was page 5A) 2A THE NEWS-JOURNAL Viewpoints Raeford, N.C. February 29, 2012 Now we know what gets folks worked up Wow. Apparently the nation wants our teachers to steer clear of kids’ lunchboxes. The story of the preschooler at West Hoke Elementary who went through the cafeteria line for chicken nuggets after a teacher thought her lunch from home didn’t meet nutritional guidelines made headlines all over the world. Not that a little common sense isn’t in order in setting and enforcing rules, but of all the issues, problems, and needs in education, this is the one that gets everyone’s blood boiling? We don’t seem to care about all the processed food we’re serving the kids. We don’t seem to care about laying off more than 500 teachers and 1,200 teaching assistants in this state following last year’s legislative session. We don’t seem to care about the $2,100 gap in spending per child between the 10 poorest counties and the 10 richest. We don’t seem to care that teachers are among the lowest paid professionals. We don’t seem to care that, according A.C. Nielsen Co., kids spend an average of 1,680 minutes per week watching TV and 3.5 minutes in meaningful conversation with their parents. Or that they spend 1500 hours per year watching TV, compared to 900 hours in school. In short, we don’t seem to care about solutions that cost us more or require more sacrifice from citizenry. But nobody better tell a child to get a carton of milk to go with his lunch from home. “Food Nazis,” Rush Limbaugh called them. Perhaps there are errors in execution, but at least the welfare of the children is behind the rules that call for subsidizing lunches from home. Cut them some slack, people. Let’s talk about the real problems and what we can do to solve them. The need won’t go away in education Editor’s note: Raz Autry is taking a short health-related sabbatical, and we’ve been running some of his past columns. This one is from 2006, when Hoke County was considering a $20 million bond issue. To be successful in getting a yes vote on the upcoming school bond for 20 million dollars will take some work from all of us who are in favor of it. Most folks, when you say a vote of yes will increase your taxes, will just about go into heart failure. I have always taken the position that someone helped to educate my child; therefore, it is my responsibility to help educate someone else’s child. When I was superintendent, the school board decided we needed some buildings. They requested a bond issue of one and a quarter million dollars for the projects. You would have thought from the outcry of the public that we were going to bankrupt Hoke County. This was during the time when gas was 25 cents a gallon and you could buy a whole hog for two bushels of corn. As superintendent, I took the position that I was going to need some help from A View from the Country Raz Autry concerned people. I turned to the people who I knew would not only help but also saw the needs of the school system. Therefore I asked 100 women to help pass the bond issue. I have always had a lot of faith in women; they know how to get things done. In two months I made 38 speeches on the need for these funds. Naturally I had my enemies. One man, who was so against the increase of taxes he thought was coming, went to every one of those meetings where I spoke and spoke against it. I didn’t try to convince him otherwise. It was his right as a citizen. The ladies came through; we were successful in 11 of the 13 voting places. Right or wrong, the powers that be didn’t let us spend all of the money, which proved to be a mistake. It is foolish for us to sit idly by and expect the state or the government to solve our school building problems; that is not going to happen. I can readily admit that spending 13 million dollars to build an elementary school is something I have a hard time swallowing. Yet it also is unbelievable that someone would pay two million dollars for a lot on the waterfront. Our county is growing, probably faster than a lot of us desire. Nevertheless, along with growth come responsibility, and building schools is one of those responsibilities. My being in favor of it will not pass the bond issue. Those folks who see the need and are willing to step up to the plate will be the ones who pass the issue. Closing your eyes and turning your back will not make the need go away. All of the young parents and old grandparents need to put our children first, and to put them first, they need a place to be educated where they can enjoy the art of learning. They only pass this way once. Ed: The bond referendum passed 1,256 to 336. The money was used to build Don Steed Elementary School and to begin design work on a third middle school, yet to be built. We put sports over education in universities One of the most important aspects of our recovery from this recession is our view of education. One of the reasons we have fallen so far behind other countries of the world, education-wise, is that we as Americans seem to now place more importance on which universities excel in sports rather than in education. There was a time when parents chose universities such as Harvard, Yale and M.I.T. because of their technology programs. Other countries such as China and Japan, as well as countries of the Middle East, have surpassed us in technology because they have placed more importance on education for their youth and less importance on sports. Today, the majority of our universities are judged not by their academic programs but by their athletic programs. Here in North Carolina, when you think of Duke, N.C. State or UNC, you think of their football or basketball programs, not their academic programs. The public has become so engrossed with sports that nothing else seems to matter. Athletes are recruited by colleges to improve their ratings and finances from TV appearances and gate receipts. Many of these athletes are used to make millions for universities and then are often forgotten because of their lack of ability to perform in the world’s workforce after college. This is because they spend most of their time building their athletic skills to improve the university’s financial status. Many of the universities seem to place more importance on the millions that an athlete can gen- Paul Burnley erate for them through a sports program than the education of the individual. Many of these athletes are not required to take tests or someone else takes tests for them. It is more important for that athlete to hone his skills to perform at his best for the school. No one at the university seems to be concerned about the student not being equipped to earn a living after attending a university. In most instances, they do not graduate and are not able to find suitable employment because they have not received a proper education but were used to improve the university’s financial status. While other countries are pressing their youth to gain knowledge that will not only ensure their future but also move their county ahead in the global market, we seem to be more interested in how well our youth perform on the football field and basketball court. The country is more obsessed with sports than the economy. More people in this country watch the Super Bowl than the “State of the Union” address by the president. Students from China, Japan, the Middle East, and many Third World countries that come here are much better educated that our own students. While we are worrying about which school is going to win a football or basketball game, engineering students in China have designed the world’s fastest train. China as well as many other countries of the world are building their country’s economy and becoming less dependent on American products. They are now manufacturing and exporting products to us that were once made here. I am aware that the college years are suppose to be fun years but they are also the years for molding young peoples’ minds. These are to be the future leaders of the country. The major reports that the public receives concerning college students are the tailgate parties at sports events, keg parties at frat houses and the drunken beach parties we read about while students are on spring break. We read very little about academic achievements of students. This is by no means to indicate that sports are not important to young people. It builds character and teaches fair play and respect for others. Also, I do not want to imply that other countries do not participate and compete with the U.S. in sports. However, other countries do not place sports above education. Until we place education above sports, we will fall farther behind other countries of the world. As of now, we are behind such countries as India, China and most of the Middle Eastern countries when it comes to educating our young people. The countries that have the best-educated young people will lead the world. Paul Burnley can be reached by email at [email protected]. Days Since The intent to build a hospital in Hoke County was announced. 1008 State of education: nothing to be proud of By Chris Fitzsimon N.C. Policy Watch Here’s a pretty good indication of the state of the debate about public schools in North Carolina. The Republicans and the rightwing think tanks that craft their talking points are now boasting about their figures that show North Carolina ranks 42nd in the country in per pupil spending and that the Republican budget fired 534 teachers and 1,260 teacher assistants. Those are their education accomplishments, a budget that slashed $460 million from public schools and fired 2,000 people from classrooms across the state. Break out the champagne. It turns out of course that those numbers are misleading and wrong, but even if they were accurate and honest, it’s hard to believe that’s the direction people in North Carolina want public investment in education to go. The claims about the ranking in per pupil spending come from a new report from the National Education Association, a group the Right routinely demonizes. They are apparently happy to cite their data when they believe it supports their position. The NEA report shows that North Carolina education funding was cut $200 per student in the budget passed last summer. But according to the report, the state’s ranking in per pupil spending actually increased from 47 to 42 because a handful of other states near the bottom of the rankings, like Mississippi and Texas, cut spending even more. That might be a catchy slogan for the Republicans in their reelection efforts. “We don’t support public schools, but we don’t not support them as much as Mississippi.” The figures about teachers and teacher assistants losing their jobs are even more misleading. It might be true in actual numbers that 534 teachers and 1,260 teacher assistants were fired, but the number of positions cut is far higher. Edwin McLenaghan with the N.C. Budget and Tax Center reports there are more than 15,000 fewer full-time employees in North Carolina public schools now than three years ago, including 10,872 fewer teachers and teacher assistants combined. Those numbers do not include the more than 4,000 classroom personnel who are being funded by one-time federal money, funds the Republicans criticized the Democrats for using two years ago. And as McLenaghan correctly notes, students and their families don’t really care if a teacher or teacher assistant leaves because they are fired or because they retired and were not replaced. The families and the school lose either way. It is the same for the source of funding. One of the right-wing think tanks published a report a few weeks ago breathlessly claiming that state supported teaching positions actually increased in the Republican budget–a dubious assertion on its face—but neglected to mention the massive budget cuts to local school systems that forced teachers and teachers assistants to be fired. The Republicans and the right-wing propaganda machines closely aligned with them apparently think it helps them with the public to counter complaints about their education budget by literally bragging that they “only” fired 2,000 people from classrooms across the state. And remember these are the folks who stood on the House and Senate floor and guaranteed that their budget did not fire a single teacher or teacher assistant. The bizarre claims come in the wake of House Speaker Thom Tillis admitting that House Majority Leader Paul Stam wants to abolish all public schools and they come amid stories from scores of schools in which classes are larger, teachers don’t have enough supplies, and students are being forced to buy their own textbooks, all thanks to the budget cuts made last summer in Raleigh. If Republicans actually do care about public education, they have an odd and devastating way of showing it. Published every Wednesday by Dickson Press, Inc. Robert A. Dickson, President • Anne Dickson Fogleman, Secretary/Treasurer 119 W. Elwood Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376 • (910) 875-2121 Home Page: www.thenews-journal.com email ads to: [email protected] Ken MacDonald ([email protected]) ......................... Publisher Catharin Shepard ([email protected]) ..................Reporter Hal Nunn ([email protected]) .............................. Sports Writer Hal Nunn ([email protected]) .................. Sales Representative Wendy Tredway ([email protected]) ..... Sales Representative Sheila Black ([email protected]) .................. Office Manager Robin Huffman ([email protected]) ......Composition Design/ Legal Advertising email classifieds to: [email protected] email legals to: [email protected] Periodical Class Postage at Raeford, N.C. (USPS 388-260) Postmaster: Send address changes to: P.O. Box 550 Raeford, N.C. 28376 Cry foul on voting site Commissioner Ellen McNeill is a hard working, nice person and she’s done a lot for Hoke County, but we’re going to have to call foul in her supporting onestop voting at the Rouse Center. Possible conflict of interest? Take your choice. Is she pushing the site because: • It’s at her church and might give her an advantage at election time in 2014? • It arguably gives advantage to African Americans? • It arguably gives advantage to her political party, the Democrats? Even if none of those reasons is her motivation, the possibility exists that they are. And because she’s a Hoke County commissioner, her title—whether she wishes to wear the hat of private citizen for discussions before the Board of Elections—carries considerable weight. If Mrs. McNeill and others in favor of one-stop voting truly are interested in the convenience to all Hoke County voters, they can do better than the Rouse Center, which is privately owned. Besides, for that reason, locating it there is illegal. Let’s find another place and guard against appearances of conflict of interest. We Get Letters Court decision is ‘ACLU voodoo’ Mike Meno’s recent article in the Journal, “Court decision was victory for religious freedom,” is just so much ACLU voodoo subterfuge! It’s an attempt to persuade the people that another religious liberty being taken away from them by judicial activism should be considered a blessing and OK with all. 1) Religious freedom is when everyone in public, whoever they are, wherever they sit, whatever they believe, can pray the prayer that is on their heart. 2) Religious freedom is not restricted to one’s bedroom, living room, or church assembly. It applies everywhere, even to commissioners who sit at meetings. 3) Religious freedom is not about who’s right; it’s about what’s right – the right to say what one believes is right! 4) Religious freedom is about tolerance – not just for those who agree with you, but also for those who don’t. Tolerance applies to everyone! 5) Religious freedom was defined by our forefathers – not the ACLU, the atheists, the agnostics, the nihilists, the anti-religious! Freedom of religion allows the atheist to speak against religion, to refuse to pray, to refuse to believe – freedom of religion was never intended to keep others from speaking for religion, praying, and believing (as several hundred years of jurisprudence prove). 6) Religious freedom is the freedom to be religious in public. State affairs and state assemblies do not limit anyone’s freedom of religion or exclude anyone from their own beliefs or the right to voice them (under the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights)! Furthermore, the voice of religious freedom does not make anyone feel unwelcome at any meeting. Straighten-Up Orthodontics Committment to Excellence Dr. John Mark Griffies Retired Military •Board Certified American Board of Orthodontics •Member of American Cleft Palate Association •Providing High Quality Dentistry & Orthodontics for 24 Years •Children & Adults - Most All Dental Insurance Accepted •Delta Dental & United Concordia Provider new patients welcoMe 301 Birch street • Raeford, nc 878-5796 Go pander your anti-religious propaganda somewhere else, ACLU. Those well-educated in history and law know better! Those true to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights know better too. Barbara Richie Pond Letters policy The News-Journal welcomes letters to the editor and encourages readers to express their opinions. Letters must be signed and include an address and phone number. The street address and phone number will not be published, but are required so we may verify authenticity. The name of the writer and, in some cases, the town the writer is from will be published at the end of the letter. We are not able to publish letters that are essentially thankyou cards. We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar, as well as those that exceed 300 words. We will not publish letters that we consider to be in poor taste or libelous. In some cases we may add an editor’s note as a postscript when we believe a correction, explanation or amplification is warranted. We may also, at our discretion, limit the number of times an individual writer may submit a letter for publication. February 29, 2012 Arabia Food Mart ..........................Arabia Rd. Barbee Pharmacy .........................Harris Ave. Bolton’s .......................................Harris Ave. Bo’s ..............................................S. Main St. Carthens Grocery .........Center Grove Ch. Rd. China Buffet .....................................Main St. CVS Pharmacy ............................401 Bypass Daniels’ Exxon........................ E. Central Ave. Edinborough Restaurant. ..............S. Main St. Fast Shop ...........................W. Prospect. Ave. Five Points Grocery...................Calloway Rd. Five Star #2 ..................................... Hwy 211 Five Star Food Mart................... Hwy. 15-501 Food Lion...............................Laurinburg Rd. Food Lion/MiCasita .............. Fayetteville Rd. Food Mart #4 ............................. Hwy. 211 S. Food Stop ...........................W. Prospect Ave. 401 Lucky Stop ...............E. Central & 401 N. 401 Food Mart&Tobacco........ E. Central Ave. 401 Shop-N-Save #1 .............Harris and 401 401 Shop-N-Save #2 ............. E. Central Ave. Happy Mart ................ Hwy 401 & Palmer St. Hardin’s ......................Rockfish Rd., Rockfish Hardin’s Express Stop ............... Rockfish Rd. Home Food Supermarket..................Main St. Howell Drug ...................................... Teal Dr. Howell Drug .....................................Main St. Jay’s Food Mart ........ Hwy 211. at county line J&L Grocery & Meats ............... Rockfish Rd. M&A Tobacco ............................ Rockfish Rd MP Mart ............................... Hwy. 211 South McNeill’s Grocery ....................... Hwy. 211 S. McPhatter’s Grocery ..... Hwy. 401 & Vass Rd. Miller’s Store ............................. Old Wire Rd. Muncheez Express ................ Fayetteville Rd. The News-Journal ..................119 W. Elwood Quality Foods ....................................McCain Poco Shop #4 ........................ E. Central Ave. Lucky Stop .................Hwy. 401 & Palmer St. Short Stop #23 ..........Rockfish Rd.&401 Bus. Short Stop #54 ....................Davis Bridge Rd. Short Stop #64 .......................Hwy. 211 West Short Stop #68 .......................... N. Fulton St. Tobacco World ...................... Fayetteville Rd. Waffle House ....................... 401 Hwy Bypass WilcoHess ................................ Aberdeen Rd. Yogi Mart ................................... Hwy. 211 S. Zip N Mart ............................. Fayetteville Rd. Subscription Form ❑ New subscription ❑ Renewal ❑ Newcomer (3 free months) ❑ Gift (We’ll notify recipient) Katie R. Odom Katie Ray Odom, 86, of Salisbury passed away Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Genesis Healthcare in Salisbury. She was born March 21, 1925 in Hoke County to the late W.C. and Sally Johnson Odom. She was a 1943 graduate of Hoke High School. She moved to Rockwell and was a caregiver as long as her health permitted. She was a member of Rockwell United Methodist Church and a former resident of White Rock Garden. She leaves behind a sister, Carol Keilman of Houston, Texas; a brother, Charles Odom and wife Thelma of Rockwell; two nieces, Brenda Keilman and Tina Odom; and one nephew, Eddie Odom. Burial will take place at a later date at Raeford Cemetery. Powles Funeral Home of Rockwell is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com. Richard A. Cobbs Richard Allen Cobbs, 97, of Raeford, died Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Survivors include his wife, Lillian; children, Wanda Bratcher, Chalmane Everette, Algunia Purcell, Regina Carthens and Jeffery Carthens; siblings, Elizabeth, Betty, John and Amous III; and 24 grandchildren. The funeral was held Sunday, February 26 at 2 p.m. in Faith Anointed Temple in Red Springs. Burial was in Highland Biblical Gardens. Juaquin Campillo Juaquin Eladio Campillo, 57, of Raeford died Thursday, February 23, 2012. Survivors include his wife, Mayra; daughters, Wanda Bratcher, Zuleika, Luisa and Jennifer; sons, Anthony and Joel; sister, Sylvia; and 12 grandchildren. A memorial service was held Monday, February 27 at 11 a.m. in Buie Funeral Home. Bobby R. Setzer Bobby Ray Setzer, 77, of Mooresville passed away Thursday, February 23, 2012 at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville. He was born September 16, 1934 in Newton, North Carolina, to the late Grady Ray and Ruth Clip, mail with payment to: save online at www.thenews-journal.com Subscriber information: Name Address City State Zip Phone Your name, address (if different from above) Name Address Phone State Gone But Not Forgotten July 23, 1951 - March 4, 2011 Love, Carolyn, Tarsha, Latrice and T.J. * Great Gospel Music * Contest and Prizes * Request Line 875-6225 * Dynamic Ministry * NCNN Network News AM 1400 WMFA - Radio * Hoke County Football “The Gospel Station That Heals The Soul” * At The Console (Piano & Organ with Terry Jordan) * Raeford Presbyterian Church Live 11 am - 12 pm Sundays * Hay Street United Methodist 12 pm - 1 pm Sundays Zip 3A Bobby R. Setzer Marie Hass Setzer. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a 1960 graduate of East Carolina University and a 1969 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill Pharmacy School. He began his pharmacy career with Cornwell Drugs and was employed with BiLo Pharmacy. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon. He was a member of the Lion’s Club in Lincolnton, the Kiwanis in Marion and the Jaycees in Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Matze Setzer; and sisters, Carolyn Inman and husband Richard, and Janice Pickler, both of Raeford. A memorial service was held Sunday, February 26 at 3 p.m. at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Clay Brown and the Rev. Dr. Fred Coates officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210 and/or Barium Springs Children’s Home, PO Box 1, Barium Springs, NC 28010. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook. com. Tressie B. Norris Tressie Boahn Norris of Braddy Road, Fayetteville, passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in her home at the age of 87. She was born April 28, 1924 in Hoke County to the late C.F. and Lydia Ray Boahn. She worked for more than 50 years in the textile industry in Red Springs and Raeford. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Red Springs for many years and after moving to Fayetteville became a member of Galatia Presbyterian Church. She participated in various group activities in both churches and was a recipient of the Presbyterian women’s award and was an honorary life member. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Lattiemore Norris, a sister, Lucy Koonce and brothers, Willie, Marcellous and Claudia Boahn. She was a loving mother, grandmother and a special great grandmother and will be greatly missed. Survivors include her daughter, Linda McMillan and husband Woodrow of Fayetteville; a sister, Lydia Johnson of Fayetteville; two grandsons, James McMillan and wife Shirley and Andy McMillan and wife Joy, all of Fayetteville; great-granddaughter, Mary Allyson McMillan of Fayetteville; great-grandsons, Christopher, Matthew and Adam McMillan, all of Fayetteville; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. The funeral was held Saturday, February 25 at 3:30 p.m. at Galatia Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Shuford White officiating. Burial was in the Alloway Cemetery in Red Springs. Isabella Bundy Isabella Wright Bundy, 92, of 314 King Road, Fayetteville, died Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Carolina Rehab of Cumberland. She was born in Hoke County on December 27, 1919 to the late Arthur and Isabella Campbell Wright. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roscoe Bundy. She was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church where she was choir director for over 30 years. She was also a member of the Hoke County Home Extensions Club. Survivors include sons, Wayne Bundy and wife Ann of Newport, and Gerald (Jerry) Bundy Sr. and wife Susan of Fayetteville; a brother, James Wright of Birmingham, Alabama; a sister, Vivian Yergan of Durham; four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The funeral was held Friday, February 24 at 11 a.m. in Tabernacle Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy Underwood officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Margaret L. Gaddie Margaret Louise Lide Gaddie, 52, of Raeford, died Monday, February 20, 2012. Survivors include her husband, Barney; daughters, Leticia and Crystal; sisters, Fannie, Mattie, Martha, Lillian, Christine and Belinda; brothers, Carnell, Vonnie, Larry and Levern; and two grandchildren. The funeral will be held Wednesday, February 29 at 1 p.m. in Faith Anointed Temple in Red Springs. Burial will be in Community Rest Cemetery in Red Springs. Obituaries are updated daily on The News-Journal website. These updates are sponsored by Monuments by Kel Crumpler, (910) 476-4145. RENT to owN as low as $ 95 67 monthly Free delivery & setup NORRIS storage Buildings and Carports Call dJ pate (910) 875-1560 • Fayetteville rd. • raeford “Serving Raeford & Hoke County since 1971” In Hoke: One year ...... $26 Senior Citizen ...... $20 The News-Journal Outside N.C.: P.O. Box 550 One year............. $38 Raeford, N.C. 28376 (910)875-2121 for more information City Roy Lee Murchison Jr. Rates (including N.C. tax) Outside Hoke: One year............. $38 Raeford, N.C Obituaries In Loving Memory of The News-Journal is sold at these locations: THE NEWS-JOURNAL James F. Baker, CPA We are located halfway between Raeford & Aberdeen on Highway 211. “Spring Open House” Saturday, March 3, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Visit our blog: http://justcountrync.blogspot.com Regular Business Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10-5 Open on Sunday 1-5 Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday “Closed Friday, March 2, 2012 to prepare for Open House” Certified Public Accountant New Clients Welcome! •Payroll •Estate Planning •Business & Individual Income Tax •Financial Planning •Retirement 221 South Main Street • Raeford, NC 28376 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (910) 878-0371 rs 4A THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C. February 29, 2012 Autry cut from top three on Top Chef By Catharin Shepard She has worked at the Omphoy Resort and Michelle Bernstein Restaurant in Florida. Even though she didn’t win the overall competition, Autry won $20,000 during the course of the show. The hardest challenge from the show was an episode with guest judge Pee-Wee Herman, where contestants had to ride a bicycle to find their ingredients and a kitchen to cook their entry, Autry said. The contestants didn’t really get the chance to get to know any of the judges, but it was an honor to cook for chief judge Tom Colicchio and a thrill to cook for guest judge Charlize Theron, Autry said. Although she didn’t really have a solid strategy going into the show, just focusing on her cooking and not worrying about what the other chefs were doing became a strategy that helped carry her far through the competition. Now she’s hoping to use her fame as a Top Chef Staff writer Local contender Lindsay Autry was sent home from Top Chef: Texas last week after making it all the way to the top three on the Bravo network television show. The judges preferred the two other chefs’dishes to Autry’s entry and sent her home in the secondto-last episode of the show, which taped in Texas last summer. “I’m really proud of myself for even having the guts to do Top Chef and, yes, I wanted to win, but I’m really grateful for the experience and I’m really glad I made it to the top three,” Autry said. Autry is the daughter of Pandy and George Autry of Fayetteville and granddaughter of Ireni and Raz Autry of Raeford. She spent a lot of time as a child at her grandfather’s peach orchard before going on to earn culinary degrees and work as a professional chef. contender to conduct some charity work in Florida and has already performed some charitable work in Fayetteville just this weekend, she said. Besides that, her exposure could help shed some light on the culinary offerings in Florida, Autry said. “We cook really good food down here, it doesn’t have to be New York or Chicago to accomplish that,” she said. Because of network privacy agreements, Autry couldn’t say whether she knows who ended up winning the competition but she did say it could be very close. Contestant Paul Qui had a strong run to the end and stayed true to his cooking style while contestant Sarah Grueneberg is a very strong chef who challenged herself to expand her boundaries, Autry said. And although she wanted to win the top prize, Autry said she’s also kind of glad it’s over – “so I don’t have to freak out on Wednesday nights,” she said. SandHoke student gets top speaker award SandHoke student Zakyree Wallace was given the top speaker award out of almost 250 debaters at the rigorous Harvard Debate Competition. Coach Marcia Long took three students to compete in Lincoln Douglas debate. Senior Allyesha Hall and Junior Casey Nelson competed in the Varsity Lincoln Douglas debate pool, which included more than 300 competitors. Neither broke into elimination rounds, finishing formidable preliminary rounds with records of 3-3 and 2-4, respectively. Wallace, a sophomore, placed among the nation’s top 16 Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas debaters. Of the 250, 64 (including Zakyree) broke into the first elimination round with preliminary records of 4-2 or higher. Winning the Triple Octas (top 64 debaters) round, she proceeded to win the Double Octas (top 32 debaters) elimination round on a 2-1 decision. She then dropped in Octas (top 16 debaters). “It is a major feat to get so far at Harvard,” said Long. “She worked hard, coming to practice almost every night until six the week before to work on her speaking and analytical skills, and it showed; she won rounds against some of the best debaters from across the nation. “We are very proud of Zakyree and appreciative of the opportunity afforded by Hoke County Schools via their continued support of a debate Zakyree Wallace, holding her Top Speaker program.” and Octafinalist awards Two more arrested in Butterball case Two more people have been arrested in connection with the animal abuse investigation at a Shannonarea Butterball tom turkey facility. Billy Thomas McBryde, 52, of the 1400 block of Shannon Road in Shannon and Brian Gerrard Douglas, 36, of the 7100 block of Laurinburg Road in Raeford were arrested Feb. 16. McBryde was charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and Douglas was charged with felonious cruelty to animals. They were both confined in the Hoke County jail under $1,000 secure bonds. Earlier this month state veterinarian Dr. Sarah Jean Mason was convicted of obstruction of justice for tipping off a Butterball vet- erinarian shortly before the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office raided Butterball Farm 11 in Shannon during the investigation of alleged animal cruelty. Mason was given a suspended jail sentence and probation and was also suspended from her job for two weeks but has since returned to work, according to reports. Editorial Deadlines Friday 12 Noon Calendar Items - Social Items - News Items Monday 12 Noon whole pork spareribs Letters to $ the 99 Editor 1 7590 PhilliPi ChurCh rd. raeford, nC 28376 in roCkfish FREsH CUT MEATs ALWAYs economy angus beef boneless whole boneless 1 lb. T-Bone steaks NY strip steaks pork Loin boneless $ 79 $ 99 pork Chops $299 lb. 4 fryer (family pack) whole cut up 1 top round roast - beef Drumsticks Chicken $ 19 1 $ 29 lb. (8 pc.) lb. 99 London Broil DelMonte ¢ spaghetti sauce all flavors Newports or Marlboro’s green Cabbage ¢ special Blends 39 3 lb. bag 449 per pack $ 349 per pack $ lb. 2 $ 99 top round Yellow Onions $ 2/ 3 fresh pork shoulder picnic $149 lb. $ 99 7 Recent criminal cases heard in Hoke County District Court, Judge William C. McIlwain presiding: Feb. 21 • Toni Lynn Amerson, 23, 126 Franklin Drive, Raeford, driving while impaired, Level 4, 120 days suspended, 18 months probation, $100 fine and court costs, jail, court appointment and attorney fees, not to consume any alcoholic beverages and undergo tests for alcohol; possession of open container/consumption of alcohol in passenger area, driving left of center, $12 fine and court costs, consolidated • Bobby Dean Baxley, 34, 680 Pearsall Road, Red Springs, driving while license revoked, 120 days suspended, 18 months probation, $100 fine and court costs, 60 days electronic house arrest and pay fee, transfer probation to Robeson County, upon completion of electronic house arrest and complete payment of all costs, fines and fees, defendant may be transferred to unsupervised probation; failure to secure passenger under 16 years old, voluntary dismissal • Joshua Joseph Beck, 21, 4043 S. Main St., Hope Mills, consumption of alcoholic beverage by person 19 or 20 years old, 10 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, $25 fine and court costs, attorney fee • Joshua Leigh Bryant, 26, 1829 Chason Road, Lumber Bridge, communicating threats, 17 days in jail, active, credit for 17 days served • Charles Earl Bullard, 39, 5411 Philippi Church Road, Raeford, driving while license revoked, seven days in jail, active, to be served concurrently with sentence now serving; operating a motor vehicle with no insurance, voluntary dismissal • Christina Ann Carter, 35, 215 Cherokee Circle, Maxton, improper equipment-speedometer, $15 fine and court costs • Timothy Terrell Davis, 43, 603 Gore Drive, Rockingham, driving while license revoked, prayer for judgment, court costs; rear lights violation, voluntary dismissal • Eugenio Reynaldo DeJesus, 131 N. Ingleside Drive, Fayetteville, no operator’s license, 20 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, $50 fine and court costs; driving without two headlights, voluntary dismissal • Stephen Michael Derengowski, 19, 5904 Waterdale Court, Fayetteville, consumption of alcohol by person 19 or 20 years old, possession of up to 1/2 ounce of marijuana, five days in jail, active, credit for five days served, judgments consolidated • Eddie Joe Drye Jr., 23, 1501 O’Bannon Drive, Raeford, driving while license revoked, 45 days suspended, 12 months unsupervised probation, $200 fine and court costs, not to operate a motor vehicle until properly licensed; failure to wear seat belt by driver, voluntary dismissal • Antonia Sharome Everett, 25, 831 Rembrandt Drive, Fayetteville, allowing unlicensed person to operate a motor vehicle, prayer for judgment, court costs; operating a motor vehicle with no insurance, voluntary dismissal • Charles A. Ferguson Jr., 36, 154 Branch Road, Red Springs, assault on a female, 100 days suspended, 18 months probation, $100 fine and court costs, not to use, consume or possess any controlled substances or alcoholic beverages, submit to warrantless searches, random tests for same, undergo mental health assessment, not to threaten, harass or assault prosecuting witness • Kendall Charles Fieszel, 37, 1567 Clan Campbell Drive, Raeford, driving while impaired, Level 5, 60 days suspended, 12 months unsupervised probation, court costs, jail fee • Robert Glenn Freeman, 55, 2776 Pinecrest Drive, Fayetteville, driving while license revoked, 60 days suspended, one year unsupervised probation, $100 fine and court costs, not to operate a motor vehicle until properly licensed • Chrystal Locklear Futrell, 38, 1480 Poole Road, Raeford, improper equipment-speedometer, $79 fine and court costs • Serena Joy Harding, 28, 604 N. Marlboro St., McColl, S.C., improper equipment-speedometer, $25 fine and court costs • Fernin Hernandez, 24, 215 Lamont St., Raeford, resisting public officer, 20 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, $25 fine and court costs, attorney and court-appointment fees • Stephvone Chawmill Hines, 26, 236 Twin Creek Road, Raeford, driving while impaired, Level 1, two years suspended, 18 months probation, $50 fine and court costs, not to operate a motor vehicle, not to consume any alcoholic beverages, undergo tests for alcohol; driving while impaired, Level 4, 120 days suspended, 18 months probation, $50 fine and court costs, community service fee, not to consume any alcoholic beverages, undergo tests for alcohol, sentence to run concurrently with any other now serving; driving while license revoked, possession of open container/consuming alcohol in passenger area, 45 days suspended, 18 months probation, attorney fee, judgments consolidated; no operator’s license, voluntary dismissal • Jamar Kurties Key, 25, 107 Yaupon St., Raeford, possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce, prayer for judgment, court costs; no operator’s license, voluntary dismissal • Michelle Louise Leonard, 36, 6564 Windy Creek Way, Fayetteville, improper equipment-speedometer, $25 fine and court costs • Travis Marcell McNeil, 25, 208A Scarborough St., Spring Lake, improper equipmentspeedometer, $15 fine and court costs • Teofilo Tovilla Morales, 32, 104 Raymond St., Raeford, no operator’s license, $50 fine and court costs • Jason Oxendine, 28, 1058 University Road, Pembroke, no operator’s license, 20 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, $200 fine and court costs • Jeffrey Bernard Rogers, 42, 623 W. Fourth Ave., Red Springs, driving while license revoked, 100 days suspended, 18 months probation, $50 fine and court costs, 60 days electronic house arrest and pay fee, attorney fee, not to use or possess any controlled substances, submit to warrantless searches, random tests for same, transfer probation to Robeson County, upon completion of electronic house arrests and complete payment of all fines, fees and costs, defendant may be transferred to unsupervised probation. Injured woman runs over kidnapper, officials say An injured woman attempting to escape a man who reportedly held her captive against her will ran over him with a car last month, according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office. Matthew Ryan Jones, 21, of Camden Road in Raeford turned himself in to authorities Feb. 23 after an incident that happened Jan. 31 in front of Scottish Court. Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a call at 2:05 p.m. Jan. 31 that a woman had run over Jones in front of 1908 Scottish Court, where Jones and the woman reportedly lived at the time. Detectives investigated and discovered Jones held the victim in the residence against her will, assaulted her and transported her from one place to another. The victim reportedly suffered multiple injuries during the incident and was attempting to flee from Jones when she got into the vehicle. When Jones tried to stop her, she ran him over, officials said. Jones was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for treatment of severe injuries. The victim also received medical care for her injuries. Detectives recovered a stolen handgun during the investigation. After surrendering to the Sheriff’s Office, Jones was charged with felonious firstdegree kidnapping, restraint, assault by strangulation and possession of a stolen firearm and misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury and assault on a female. More charges may be forthcoming. He was held under a $40,000 secure bond. lb. Hardin’s • 875-2201 notary serviCe western union, money orders 49¢ MasterCard • Visa • Debit • EBT • WIC Accepted District Court 3 lb. pork (family pack) Neckbones 99¢ lb. gwaltney 2/ 5 $ Bacon 12 oz. ¢ Hot Dogs 99 12 oz. $ 49 steaks lb. of Liquid Detergent Coke products 50 oz. 2/$5 pall Malls 3 $ 34 2/$7 1 12 pk. cans 2 ltrs. $ 09 powerade per pack 32 oz. 99¢ gas, groceries & more • custom cut - quantity discounts MEAT BUNDLEs You’ve got plans. Let’s make them happen. 2.00 % APR* Home Equity Line of Credit Choose from our best selling meats or MAKE YOUR OWN OVERLOAD BUNDLE - $175.99 (63 lbs. MEAT) 20 lbs. Fresh Ground Beef • 6 lbs. Boneless Chicken Breast 20 lbs. 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Chicken Hot Dogs 1 2 lb. bags Frozen Vegetables (your choice) 10 lb. BOx FOR $18.97 $126.99 MINI BUNDLE 19 lbs. Meats $36.99 3 lbs. Fresh Ground Beef 10 lbs. Fryer Leg Quarters 2 lbs. Boneless Beef Steaks (Chuck) 4 lbs. Loin End or Rib End Pork Chops MAKE YOUR OWN BUNDLE! CALL Us (910) 875-2201 FOR YOUR pRICINg with no closing costs Call today to get started. RAEFORD 720 Harris Avenue 875-2488 *Annual percentage rate. APR is 2.00% for the first 12 months and then converts to Prime plus 1% with a min. APR of 4.75% and is subject to change without notice. (As of January 12, 2012, Prime plus 1% would equal 4.25% APR). Primary personal DDA account required. Lines from $10,000 to $100,000. See lender for complete details. February 29, 2012 Schools release more information about lunch issue By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Although at first Hoke County Schools officials said a state worker was to blame for a school lunch incident at the West Hoke Elementary School pre-k program, it was actually a school employee who acted incorrectly, the school system said this week. Concern over the issue began earlier this month when news outlets across the country picked up on the local story of a four-year-old prekindergarten student eating three school-provided chicken nuggets for lunch when a worker determined the child’s home-packed lunch of a turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips and apple juice didn’t meet United States Department of Agriculture nutritional guidelines that North Carolina policy requires all pre-kindergarten programs to follow. According to state policy, if prek workers observe children with home-packed lunches that don’t comply with the USDA guidelines of providing two servings of fruits or vegetables, one serving of dairy, one serving of meat or meat substitute and one serving of bread or bread substitute, workers have to provide the items that the home-packed meal does not have. The policy is not meant to take away any child’s lunch or to inspect home-brought lunches, officials said. The school system trains its pre-k staff members in the state requirements, but in this case, “a staff member simply made a mistake, and the school system has apologized for it, and conducted additional training in order to avoid such a mistake in the future,” according to a statement from the school system. The school system declined to reveal the name of the person responsible for the incident, citing personnel privacy statues. Schools’ statement School officials contend the issue needs some clarification on some points. “This is a Pre-K issue only,” according to a statement prepared by the school system. “The North Carolina Pre-K Program Requirements require Pre-K centers to ‘provide additional food necessary to meet…[USDA] requirements.’” The requirements do not apply to children in kindergarten through high school. Additionally, school staff members don’t inspect or search prekindergarten students’ lunches, officials said. Instead, they observe what children happen to be eating and make decisions based on that observation. “By necessity, school staff must provide close supervision and monitoring of the very young four year old children in Pre-K classes while they are in the lunch room. In the course of normal lunch room supervision, staff members will, by necessity, observe what Pre-K children are eating.” According to a timeline of events circulated through the school system and provided to The News-Journal, on Nov. 16, 2011 a representative of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill visited West Hoke Elementary to conduct an Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale site visit. The representative noted that some of the observed pre-k children’s lunches from home were missing one or more items needed to make them fit the USDA guidelines and also noted that the staff at that time didn’t supplement the homepacked meals as the policy instructs. In January, pre-kindergarten workers atWest Hoke Elementary were given training to teach them how to comply with the pre-k child nutrition requirements. Two weeks after the training on Jan. 26, a regional childcare consultant for the Division of Child Development and Early Education made a site visit to the West Hoke Elementary pre-k program and noted that one home-packed lunch failed to meet the USDA requirements. “That child went through the lunch line because the child had no fruit, vegetables, or milk in the lunch brought from home. At no time during the January 26 site visit was a child told to throw away food brought from home, never did the consultant or a school staff member throw away any child’s food brought from home, and never did the consultant or school staff go through a child’s lunch bag or box to see what they brought from home,” according to the school system. At that point, the consultant suggested the principal send home a letter advising pre-k parents of the requirements, and the principal did so shortly after that. Then on Jan. 31, a West Hoke Open hOuse Carrie’s Youth Empowerment Childcare Center March 10, 2012 • 12 - 4 p.m. Featuring Children’s Author Carmita Jacobs “My Nana Has A Boyfriend” and Basketball Star Terrell McIntyre 4003 Fayetteville Rd., Raeford • (910) 904-5434 Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson and school board attorney Nick Sojka said it appears the original policy came from state nutrition standards for daycare centers that originally went into effect in 1986 and were amended in 1989, 1991, 1998 and 2010. The general nutrition requirements for daycare centers state that “Meals and snacks served to children in a child care center shall comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which are based on the recommended nutrient intake judged by the National Research Council to be adequate for maintaining good nutrition.” The document later states that “When children bring their own food for meals or snacks to the center, if the food does not meet the nutritional requirements specified in Paragraph (a) of this Rule, the center must provide additional food necessary to meet those requirements.” It’s likely that the day care center nutrition requirements were adopted into the N.C. Pre-K policy for the 2011-12 school year when the state General Assembly changed the More at Four program into the N.C. Pre-K program and placed it under governance of the state Division of Child Development and Early Education, school officials said. That policy was approved in August of 2011. Williamson spoke in support of the policy standards. “It’s still a great deal, because we have to operate on standards and somebody’s got to monitor the standards, and if I were the parents, I would want those standards in place, I would want to know that somebody was monitoring and that the needs of my child were being met,” he said. Pre-kindergarten programs are held to state guidelines. If pre-k programs do not conform to those policies, the programs can ultimately risk losing its state license to operate a pre-kindergarten classroom. Pecans! 9 Happy Birthday! St. Pauls’ Farmers Exchange March 3 (Sw Possible policy source We Buy th Emeeitliy e) Elementary staff member observed three pre-k children with homepacked lunches that didn’t meet the requirements. “But instead of simply bringing the necessary supplemental food items such as milk to the children’s places at the lunch tables, the staff member (sent) the children through the lunch line and they (received) a complete school lunch,” according to the school system. The Division of Child Development and Early Education consultant met Feb. 3 and Feb. 6 with the principal and Elizabeth Mitchell, Executive Director of Early Child Development for Hoke County Schools, to review a parent complaint about the events of Jan. 31. Love, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa Mema & Alex 222 Broad Street St. Pauls, NC 865-4149 or 865-3459 Spend some quality family time together. Worship at the church of your choice. Our community has a number of churches and a variety of denominations for you and your family. Baptist West Fayetteville Baptist Church “Connecting People to the Heart of God and to Each Other” Pittman Grove Baptist Church 4921 Pittman Grove Church Rd. 875-5045 or 263-3268 ChuRCh seRviCes sunday school 9:45 a.m. sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. sunday Night Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Meal & Bible study 6:30 p.m. Raeford, N.C nonDEnoMinationaL Harvest Community Family Worship Center 409 E. Central ave sunday Worship, sunday 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Bible study, 7:00 p.m. (910) 875-5796 Email: [email protected] pastors Darryl & Lisa Barnett 5A Hoke residents among those arrested at alleged dog fight Several Hoke people were among 27 arrested Saturday for alleged dog fighting in Robeson County. Michael W. Georg, 57, of Doc Brown Road, Raeford; Samuel Hunt, 41, of Blue Springs Road, Red Springs; Raymond Junior Locklear, 30, of Haire Road, Raeford; Ronelle Bowden, 34, of Cedar Court, Raeford; and Decota Jacobs, 18, of Blue Springs Road, Red Springs were charged with being spectators at a dog fighting event. Samuel Hunt Jr., 16, of Blue Springs Road, Red Springs was charged with being a spectator at a dog fighting event and carrying a concealed weapon. North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents, along with other state and federal law enforcement officials, executed a search warrant Saturday at the residence of Jimmy Jacobs, 3541 McLeod Drive, Maxton. The charges included dog fighting, animal cruelty, animal neglect, being a spectator at a dog fight, weap- ons charges and possession of controlled substances. The event drew people from North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Ohio. Tens of thousands of dollars were seized, along with multiple handguns, various controlled substances, veterinary drugs and dog fighting paraphernalia. ALE agents said almost every suspect at the dog fight tried to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended. An N.C. Air National Guard helicopter assisted in tracking down and apprehending suspects and providing additional light and air support. “Dog fighting is unquestionably a cruel and vicious event,” said ALE Director John Ledford. “An event can last as long as several grueling hours while the dogs bite and maul each other to death. With the help of state and federal partners, this inhumane bloodshed was stopped.” Agents and officers arrived as the dog fight was in progress. Eighteen dogs were seized. Sev- eral dogs had serious wounds and scars from previous injuries. The dogs were treated on the scene by veterinarians from North Carolina and the Atlanta Humane Society. ALE received information regarding the event and coordinated the operation. They were assisted by members of the Department of Public Safety, the State Highway Patrol, a correctional officer with the Section of Prisons, and pilots from the North Carolina Air National Guard. In addition, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, and Norred & Associates, an Atlanta-based private security company, helped in the arrests. ALE agents have authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of the Alcohol Beverage Control laws, lottery laws and the Controlled Substance Act. Flood (Continued from page 1A) felonious first-degree rape of a child, two counts each of felonious first-degree sex offense with a child and felonious first-degree sex exploitation of a minor, three counts of felonious sex offense parental role and seven counts of felonious indecent liberties with a child. He was held at the Hoke County jail under a $1 million secure bond. The investigation began Oct. 7, 2011 when two child victims, accompanied by their father, reported to the sheriff’s office that they had been sexually abused, authorities said. The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said the offenses occurred between Sept. 1, 2005 and July 30, 2006. Flood was arrested in Pender County Feb. 20 with assistance from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. This is the second time Flood has been charged with sex crimes against a child. In 2009 Flood pled guilty in an unrelated case to two counts of sexual offense in a parental role. Flood was fired from his job with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in 2004. didates for the U.S. House of Representatives had filed with the state Board of Elections seeking to represent citizens in North Carolina’s 2nd and 7th Congressional districts, which now divide Hoke County. Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre of Lumberton and Republicans Randolph Wilson Crow of Kelly, Ilario Gregory Pantano of Wilmington and David Rouzer of Benson have filed to run for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, N.C. District 7. McIntyre seeks to retain the seat he has held since 1997. Republicans including incumbent Renee Ellmers of Dunn, Sonya Holmes of Broadway, Clement F. Munno of Aberdeen and Richard Speer of Fayetteville and Democrats including Antoinette Morris of Fayetteville and Stephen P. Wilkes of Southern Pines have filed to run for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, District 2. Ellmers seeks to retain the Congressional seat she has held since 2010. The filing period closed Wednesday at noon, a day after The News-Journal deadline. Filing (Continued from page 1A) 66, have announced they will run for re-election. State Board of Elections information showed that no one had filed by Tuesday morning to challenge Goodman and Pierce. Democrats Robert B. Clark III of Raeford, Curtis Worthy of Fayetteville and Eronomy Smith of Fayetteville have filed to run for the state Senate seat representing District 21. The district’s incumbent, Eric Mansfield, announced he will run for lieutenant governor this year. Congressional filing By Tuesday morning, 10 can- LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SERVICE DIRECTORY ONLY 1000 PER WEEK! $ HOKE COUNTY SCHOOLS CHURCHES Rising 9th Graders Promote Your Events PRE-REGISTRATION NIGHTS EAST HOKE MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM **NOTE: Final Registration is March 13 Rising 9th Graders WEST HOKE MIDDLE SCHOOL THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM **NOTE: Final Registration is March 15 Call your child’s school counselor for details: East Hoke Middle – 875-5048 West Hoke Middle – 875-3411 Student Support Services Office – 904-1067 $18.95 Five Brothers Concert Southern Heights Baptist Mar. 28, 7 p.m., Free Nationally acclaimed! 1356 N. Oak Drive Call 875-5555 for more information. www.Southernhts.org Larger sizes available! Call Hal or Wendy at 875-2121 o t e m o c l We 2465 Gillis Hill Road (across from the Wal-Mart super Center) sunday school 9:15am sunday Worship 10:30am awana 6:15pm sunday Evening service 6:30pm Wednesday prayer & Bible study 7:00pm Youth Ministry 7:00pm (910) 868-3812 www.westfayettevillebaptistchurch.com THE NEWS-JOURNAL y t n u o C Hoke If you are a newcomer to Hoke County, we offer a three month subscription absolutely FREE! 875-2121 6A THE NEWS-JOURNAL One-stop (Continued from page 1A) section, the county board of elections shall make a request to the state, county, city, local school board, or other entity in control of the building that is supported or maintained, in whole or in part, by or through tax revenues at least 90 days prior to the start of one-stop absentee voting under this section,” according to Section 163-227.2, item (g1). April 29 is less than 90 days from Monday, Feb. 27, the day the two board members voted to make the petition specifying that date for Sunday voting. Additionally, the law appears to require that onestop voting sites be held only in taxpayer-funded public buildings. The Matthew Rouse Jr. Community Resource Center “is a ministry of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church,” according to the center’s website. After asking for input from Fields, who attended the meeting, Hill allowed time for the public to speak on the issue. The public comment period was not announced prior to the meeting. Commissioner Ellen McNeill, a member of the church that oversees the Matthew Rouse Jr. Community Resource Center, sent an email supporting the effort to hold Sunday voting and spoke in favor of the changes during the meeting Monday. She meant to speak only as a citizen and not as a commissioner, she said. “Almost everybody I know supports Sunday voting, and the reason we support it is because we have many people who have jobs out of the county, out of the area, who can’t get to the polls during the regular operating times. We also have people who can’t drive for medical reasons or don’t have a vehicle, who count on family members who work out of town Raeford, N.C. February 29, 2012 to get them back and forth to vote,” she said. “I also know that there are those who would like to vote who would be able to go with a group who they would be very comfortable with if they had voting on Sunday afternoon, but in the meantime they are still intimidated by the voting machines, and therefore I strongly support voting and I would suggest that we do it on the 29th.” Hoke resident Charlotte Kelly also spoke in favor of allowing Sunday voting. “We must allow people to have a chance to vote when other times may be inconvenient,” she said. “I see this as good, a good thing.” Kelly presented the board with a petition of 43 signatures supporting having onestop absentee voting on a Sunday. Others spoke against the possibility of having voting on Sunday. Hoke resident Jim Wadsworth called the extra cost into question. “I disagree with the Sunday voting. My reason is it costs money to run it,” he said. “Money is tight and it’s my money that’s paying for it, and I don’t approve.” One-stop voting runs for 10 days, which should give voters adequate time to vote, Wadsworth said. “If they want to vote, they’ll get there and vote, that’s my feelings,” he said. John Harry, who this week announced his candidacy for the county Board of Commissioners, also questioned holding Sunday voting. Harry questioned the legality of moving the one-stop voting to the Matthew Rouse Jr. Community Resource Center. “I have in my hand the law, the book from how we run our elections, and I had called the Board of Elections today to get some clarity on some of this, but I need to ask this,” he said. “We’re talking about a day, we’re talking about a time, where’s the location? It’s set up in here where the location has to be.” In response, Fields said there is an existing one-stop site at the Board of Elections building and two members of the county Board of Elections previously voted to petition the state to allow another one-stop voting site in the Puppy Creek voting precinct and also to allow the county to move the site from the Puppy Creek Fire Department to the Rouse Center. However, the board has not voted on a day or time for one-stop voting at the Rouse Center. “We’re moving from a fire department to a private, well, nonprofit religious entity,” Harry said. “…the law states that you can’t do that. It has to be a public-funded location.” Although Harry said he wanted to support voting, he had concerns about the feasibility of the potential changes. “If it helps our voting population, yes. If there’s an innuendo behind it, no,” he said. “And I think that’s what we have to clarify, the innuendo that’s going on, the different information that’s floating through Hoke County to get this to happen.” Others at the meeting spoke in support of the Sunday voting. Nancy Shakir, a Cumberland County resident, representative for Democracy North Carolina and former candidate for the state’s 8th District Congressional seat, spoke in favor of Sunday voting. Sunday voting has been shown in other counties to increase voter turnout, and there is federal money from the Help America Vote Act available to pay for voting cots, she said. DorothyAdams and James Polk, both Hoke residents, also spoke in favor of holding Sunday voting. The next scheduled meeting for the county Board of Elections is March 13. Medicare Part B deadline approaching By Brenda Brown Social Security Public Affairs specialist If you did not sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2013 to apply. Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical supplies and services. When you first become eligible for hospital insurance (Part A), you have a seven-month period in which to sign up for medical insurance (Part B). After that, you may have to pay a higher premium unless you have insurance through your current employer’s group health plan or a group health plan based on a spouse’s current employment. You have another opportunity to enroll in Part B during the general enrollment period, from January 1 to March 31 Leadership graduate Christina Davis-McCoy (third from left) of the Blue Springs-Hoke County Community Development Corporation recently graduated from the NeighborWorks America Professional Management and Leadership program during a ceremony at the N.C.Rural Economic Development Center in Raleigh. In the yearlong national certification program, rural leaders received training in business planning, marketing strategies and financial management. of each year. Each 12-month period that you are eligible for Medicare Part B and do not sign up, the amount of your monthly premium increases by 10 percent. There are special situations in which you can apply for Medicare Part B outside the general enrollment period. For example, you should contact Social Security about applying for Medicare if: • You are a disabled widow or widower between age 50 and age 65 but have not applied for disability benefits because you are already getting another kind of Social Security benefit; • You worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program and became disabled before age 65; • You, your spouse, or your dependent child has permanent kidney failure; • You had Medicare medical insurance (Part B) in the past but dropped the coverage; or • You turned down Medicare medical insurance (Part B) when you became entitled to hospital insurance (Part A). You can learn more about Medicare by reading our electronic booklet, Medicare at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs/10043.html or visit the Medicare website at www.medicare. gov. You may also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). kindergarten March Registration & 5-6 Pre-k applications HokE CoUntY SCHooLS For 2012-2013 School Year All children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years of age by August 31, 2012 All children applying for Pre-Kindergarten must be 4 years of age by August 31, 2012 Please bring a certified birth certificate, shot record (updated immunization record) and proof of residency (i.e. current utility bill) when registering your child for Kindergarten. Pre-K needs certified birth certificate and proof of income (i.e. tax records or pay stubs) when applying. Be sure to register your child at the school in your current attendance zone. Baldwin (Continued from page 1A) to the county Board of Commissioners. Baldwin, a Democrat, ran for election to the board in 2008 but has not been previously elected to office. Baldwin said his reasons for running include dissatisfaction with current board representation. Some of the concerns he had in 2008 have still not been addressed, he said. “At this point, I’m running on a platform of fairness, honesty and trust. It does matter, it still matters,” he said. Addressing “long-overdue” issues with the county’s infrastructure, particularly the county’s secondary roads, is one of Baldwin’s top concerns. Economic development and especially small business matters are also some of the issues he said he would seek to address if elected. “It is imperative that we empower our small business. We must do more to help them grow in order to create a solid economic base in our county,” Baldwin said. “We must keep in mind job training, job creation, it’s a must.” Schools, parks and recre- ation and especially parks and recreation areas for people in the western part of the county are some additional issues Baldwin said he would like to focus on if he is elected. The county also needs to be more mindful of how it invests taxpayer money, particularly regarding capital investments, the candidate said. The county should especially consider the distribution of taxes, he added. “We cannot afford to put all our tax dollars in the sheriff’s department. We cannot afford that. Sure, public safety is our number one priority, but we have to be creative in some areas,” he said. Baldwin said he has concerns about some current members of the Board of Commissioners— specifically the two incumbents Baldwin will be facing in the election. “I will go on record to say James Leach and Robert Wright, who are incumbents, they have failed us as commissioners, I will go on record to say that. They have failed us in several areas. Trust is very important. Mr. Wright, I need to know, what are you running for, because you have not lived up to your expectation in terms of the citizens of this county, and it’s important that we elect someone who’s willing to address these concerns.” If elected, Baldwin said he would like to eradicate what he sees as division among the board members. “I think there’s a strong sense of division in our government, and you have to lead that back to the leaders. Basically, we haven’t had but two chairs and vice chairs and that’s Leach and (Tony) Hunt, and you see what we got, so we need to change that. I’m not saying that they’re not qualified individuals, but it’s imperative that there are other people on this board that can serve too, and sometimes when we’re not getting the direction we need, we must change those leaders.” Baldwin, who retired from a state technician job, has degrees from Fayetteville Technical Community College and Howard University. He is a Vietnam veteran and is married. He and his wife have two children and several grandchildren. interest of commissioners verging on the edge of conflict of interest,” Harry said in the statement. “When elected, I will work with state and local political parties to bring progressive business to Hoke for the benefit of Hoke County citizenry, not for personal gain.” Harry is a Vietnam-era combat veteran who served more than 35 years of active service and reserve military service and retired at the rank of Army Master Sergeant, Military Policeman. He was recalled to active duty at the age of 58 and served as the Senior EnlistedAdviser to the Tikrit, Iraq Contracting Command and was responsible for a $35 million budget. The candidate earned an associate’s degree in business from Lansing Community College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with minors in social psychology, political science and history. He earned a master’s degree in adult and occupational education with an emphasis on counseling from Kansas State University and also completed post-master’s studies. Harry is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10, N.C. Honor Guard and Disabled American Veterans. As a former member of the military and a member of veterans’ organizations, the candidate said he understands the issues faced by the country’s veterans. “As one who practices the concept of lifelong learning, I fathom the responsibility of educational occupation development,” Harry said in a statement. “As a businessman, I understand the soundness of economical development and sustainment. As a Christian, I understand the importance of serving the needs of others.” Harry (Continued from page 1A) Harry announced this week he will run for election to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners. Harry, a Michigan native who has lived in Hoke County for 18 years, described himself as a political activist and Republican fiscal conservative. In the past Harry has campaigned for election to the Hoke County Board of Education and the state House of Representatives but has not previously been elected. Harry said he planned to run for state office this year but changed his mind after the redistricting and decided to file for the commissioner’s race instead. If elected, Harry said he would like to address a number of issues in the county including economic development, education and land development. The candidate said he supports a strong education platform to lure business and economic development opportunities to the area but feels the county “can only tax so much on property tax.” Harry pointed to what he called the “scatter gun” effect of housing development in the county, the ongoing issue of medical providers in the county and the idle ethanol plant as other issues that need addressing. Additionally, with land value increasing, “It’s very expensive for a farmer to purchase land to farm,” he said. Harry also spoke critically of the current Board of Commissioners. “They’ve entrenched themselves where I think personal gain has more to do with it than public gain,” he said. The candidate touched further on that criticism in a statement announcing his candidacy. “The key should always be the citizenry and students, not the focus of political bureaucracy oversight as are now prevalent with the current Hoke County Commissioners where county commission meetings are sparsely attended, thus the meetings are managed by political factions and special interest groups, let alone the various self Winter Advertising Promotion The Echo and The News-Journal reach 14,000 homes each week. **This 2x5 Ad is now just $100 per week, minimum of three weeks.** Echo front page and/or color available at additional reduced cost. Deadline: Noon each Monday Contact Wendy Tredway at 875-2121; by email at [email protected] or Hal Nunn at 964-0990; hal@thenews-journal. com Matrícula de kínder y 5-6 de Solicitudes para marzo Pre-kínder ESCUELaS DEL ConDaDo DE HokE 2012-2013 Todos los niños que estén entrando al Kínder deben tener 5 años de edad cumplidos antes del 31 de agosto del 2012. Todos los niños que estén solicitando entrar al Pre-Kínder deben tener 4 años de edad cumplidos antes del 31 de agosto del 2012 Por favor traiga acta de nacimiento, historial de vacunas (al día), prueba de domicilio (por ej., factura reciente del agua/luz) al matricular a su niño para Kínder. Para Pre-Kínder se necesita una copia del acta de nacimiento certificada y prueba de ingreso (por ej., información de los impuestos o talones de cheque) al momento de llenar la solicitud. McLauchlin Elem. 875-8721 March 5th - 12:00pm -6:00pm March 6th - 8:00am -3:00pm Rockfish Hoke Elem. 875-9343 March 5th – 8:30 am- 3:00pm March 6th – 12:00 pm - 6:30pm McLauchlin Elem. 875-8721 5 de marzo - 12:00pm -6:00pm 6 de marzo - 8:00am -3:00pm Rockfish Hoke Elem. 875-9343 5 de marzo – 8:30 am- 3:00pm 6 de marzo – 12:00 pm - 6:30pm Upchurch Elem. 875-1574 March 5th - 12:00pm-7:00pm March 6th - 8:30am-3:00pm Sandy Grove Elem. 875-6008 March 5th - 12:30pm - 7:00pm March 6th - 8:30am - 3:30pm Upchurch Elem. 875-1574 5 de marzo - 12:00pm-7:00pm 6 de marzo - 8:30am-3:00pm Sandy Grove Elem. 875-6008 5 de marzo - 12:30pm - 7:00pm 6 de marzo - 8:30am - 3:30pm Scurlock Elem. 875-4182 March 5th - 12:00pm-7:00pm March 6th - 8:30am-3:30pm Hawk Eye Elem. 875-2470 March 5th - 12:30pm - 7:00pm March 6th - 8:30am - 3:30pm Scurlock Elem. 875-4182 5 de marzo - 12:00pm-7:00pm 6 de marzo - 8:30am-3:30pm Hawk Eye Elem. 875-2470 5 de marzo - 12:30pm - 7:00pm 6 de marzo - 8:30am - 3:30pm West Hoke Elem. 875-2584 March 5th - 10:00am - 6:30 pm March 6th - 8:00am - 4:00pm Don Steed Elem. 875-1125 March 5th – 12:00pm - 7:00pm March 6th – 12:00pm-7:00pm West Hoke Elem. 875-2584 5 de marzo - 10:00am - 6:30 pm 6 de marzo - 8:00am - 4:00pm Don Steed Elem. 875-1125 5 de marzo – 12:00pm - 7:00pm 6 de marzo – 12:00pm-7:00pm Sports February 29, 2012 THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C 7A Tennis courts to open Hoke High School’s new tennis courts will be dedicated Friday. The courts, located beside Bethel Road on the school campus, are to be named for Raeford City Councilman Benny McLeod and his brother Joe. The ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. The rain date is March 8. Basketball players demand rematch The Old School basketball players refuse to go down in defeat as they vow to perform a thrashing of the New School players in a rematch which will be held in the MacDonald Gym at Hoke County High School April 7. A Women’s Annual Exhibition Game will begin at 4 p.m. The men’s game will follow. All former women players, cheerleaders, and former members of the Step Team should call 8752156 to contact Regena McLaughlin, Stephanie McFayden, Kimberly Ray, or Sharon Foy. CDs of the first annual Old School versus New School Basketball Game are also available upon request. Sports Briefs Kimane Freeman looks to make a bounce pass into Tarique Thompson who has position on the Apex defender. The Sheriff’s Shootout basketball game vs. East Hoke that was scheduled for last Friday night was postponed due to bad weather and will be played this Friday night at 6 p.m. at East Hoke Middle School. Tyree Mack, one of the seniors for the Bucks football team, has decided to attend Hargrave Military Academy. Mack played cornerback for the Bucks and hopes to play for N.C. State after attending Hargrave. Ryan Campbell, a junior at Mount Olive College, posted a pair of eighth-place finishes Sunday in the George Mason University Indoor Track Invitational in Fairfax, Virginia. Campbell posted a mark of 12.19 meters in the men’s weight throw and then took eighth in the shot put with a mark of 13.21 meters. Campbell and the Trojans competed primarily against Division I programs. Fighting Bucks Sports Schedule February 29 Girls V Soccer at Douglas Byrd 6 p.m. Boys Tennis Home vs. Jack Britt 4 p.m. March 1 Boys V Basketball vs. Pine Forest at Cumberland County Arena 8:30 p.m. With a shot from behind the action last Friday night, one can see how packed the gym was at Hoke High. On the photographer’s end against the wall, fans were two-deep watching the highly contested game. Bucks the Mid-Southeastern Conference, the conference Hoke used to be in. The Trojans beat Person County 74-68 to advance to the regional semifinal. On the other side of the regional bracket are New Hanover and Millbrook. The winner of each of these games will play Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Crown for a shot at the state championship game. School administrators at Hoke High have asked all fans who can come out to the game Thursday night to wear red in support of the Bucks. With the game being played in Fayetteville this year, there is sure to be plenty of Pine Forest fans in attendance. The Director of Activities for Cumberland County Schools, Leon Mack, sent out a notice yesterday to fans that plan on coming to the game, requesting that they purchase their tickets early at the Crown Coliseum box office during normal operation hours. The tickets for the regional game are $9.00 and you can purchase them online using Ticket Master; however, there will be a surcharge of $5.00 per ticket. This game plans to be a highly sought after ticket as both teams sold out their last games and had to turn people away. Hoke fans are asked to purchase tickets early, use gate two or gate three at the arena and sit in sections 104-106. Hoke will be the visiting team for the East Regional Semifinal. For more information, check out the Bucks website www.ihigh.com/ fightingbucks or call the Crown ticket office at (910) 438-4100. Sports News To Report? Call Hal Nunn, Sports Reporter at (910) 964-0990 9108758696 March 5 Boys Tennis at Cape Fear 4 p.m. March 6 Girls V Softball at Douglas Byrd 7 p.m. Boys JV Baseball at Douglas Byrd 4:30 p.m. Boys V Baseball at Douglas Byrd 7 p.m. Wrestling tournament (Continued from page 1A) over the last few weeks. Hoke led at halftime by only one point 24-23 and both teams came out blazing after the half, hitting their biggest points by period in the third. After the hardnosed third period, the Bucks were still on top 43-38. The Bucks turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth period, holding Apex to only 8 points and ended up winning by nine 57-48. Tarique Thompson led the scoring for the Bucks with 22 points and Kimane Freeman added nine. Jayvione Parker and Brennen Wright added seven each while Tymel Blue added six and Dreshawn Platt, Devonte Melvin and Jawane Harris each added two. The Bucks will play the #1 seed Pine Forest Trojans from Gas Too High? March 2 Girls JV Soccer at Cape Fear 5:30 p.m. Girls V Soccer at Cape Fear 7 p.m. Girls JV Softball at Cape Fear 4:30 p.m. Girls V Softball at Cape Fear 6 p.m. Boys Tennis Home vs. Cape Fear 6 p.m. Boys JV Baseball at Cape Fear 4 p.m. Boys V Baseball at Cape Fear 7 p.m. Call Us For All Your Transportation Needs Richard “Pnut” Tolston (second from left) stands on the podium at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships after receiving his third place award for the NCHSAA State 4A wrestling tournament. Richard went 4-1 at the state championships in the 106-lb. weight class. He is a freshman on the Hoke High wrestling team that finished 26th out of a field of 77 teams in the state. Photo by Vernon Walworth. 8A THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C. February 29, 2012 East Hoke science team goes to state The East Hoke Middle School Science Olympiad Varsity Team won major awards and the region’s 4th overall champion during the Science Olympiad regional level competition. The event was held last Saturday at Fayetteville Technical Community College. EHMS competed against 30 middle schools. The school’s Science Olympiad team has been established for only two years. The team has improved from its rookie year to a regional champion this year. The entire EHMS team will rep- resent the region and compete in the NC Science Olympiad state championship. Science Olympiad students competed in 23 rigorous academic events that consisted of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based events. These events were balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology or Science, Technology and Math. The East Hoke varsity team is composed of 18 students from In the Waiting Room As Hoke County awaits a hospital, our reporter roams the halls for information Certificate of Need may see changes By Catharin Shepard Staff writer A healthcare system has to apply for and receive a Certificate of Need from the state before it can build a new hospital, but the actual process is complicated and can take months. If a CON application is denied and the applicant chooses to appeal the decision—or even if an application is approved and an applicant chooses to appeal the state’s decision, as has happened in Hoke County—the process can potentially go all the way to the state Court of Appeals. Applying for a CON Submitting an application for a CON and following it through to the end can be costly. The state charges a filing fee that varies depending on the total amount of the proposed project. Cape Fear Valley Health and FirstHealth of the Carolinas each paid a $50,000 fee, the most it’s possible for the state to charge for a CON application, when the healthcare systems each filed to build a hospital in Hoke County, officials said. The entire process is nine steps long, as outlined on the state Division of Health Service Regulation’s (DHSR) website. First, at the start of each year, the Medical Facilities Planning branch of DHSR publishes a State Medical Facilities Plan. The plan sets the maximum number of health service facility beds of different types that the CON Section can approve that year. Then the CON Section begins reviewing applications according to a grouped review schedule. This way, applications for similar services in the same geographic area get reviewed at the same time, according to the state. The applicants have to submit a letter of intent, then the application. For 30 days of the following review period, anyone can file written comments or letters supporting the proposals under review. Sometimes a public hearing is required for some applications, but generally most proposals under review don’t have to hold a public hearing. The CON Section has 90-150 days to review each application. Some states rely on a CON board for making decisions about CONs. North Carolina does not have a board that makes Certificate of Need decisions, according to Craig Smith, the state’s CON Section Chief. A Certificate of Need project analyst reviews the applications along with any written comments and public hearing responses. The application review is based on the review criteria in the CON state law and rules in the state Administrative Code for the type of project proposed, Smith explained. “The decision findings are then reviewed by a supervisor (currently the Section Chief or the Assistant Chief) who checks for accuracy, consistency and reasonableness in decision-making,” he said in an email. Tanya Rupp is the project analyst overseeing Hoke County, which is part of an eight-county area including Robeson, Scotland and Moore counties among others, according to the state’s website. Any affected person can file a petition for a contested case hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings within 30 days after the CON Section makes a decision about an application. After a petition is filed, an administrative law judge has 270 days to make a recommendation to the DHSR director. The director makes the final agency decision, but even that decision can be appealed in the state Court of Appeals. Even after a CON is issued, the CON Section can monitor how a project is going through review of progress reports submitted by the agency. If the project is not properly developed and operated the way the agency stated in the application, the CON Section can withdraw the CON, according to the state’s CON Section website. Further reading: •CON topics: http://tinyurl. com/7tqptlp Please Recycle This Newspaper! ( Top left: Steve Williams Jr. and Shalyn Oglesby; bottom left: Dymond Generette and Daisya Rosales-Haywood; top right: Joshua Fernandez www.BakerChevrolet.com Baker CHEVROLET GUARANTEED APPROVAL! Possible CON changes The N.C. House Select Committee on Certificate of Need Process and Related Hospital Issues began a series of meetings to consider making recommendations about the CON process, according to a press release from a consulting agency. Documents show the committee will look at recommending a number of changes to the state’s CON requirements. The committee is examining issues including: •Ways to reduce frivolous appeals. These cause “unnecessary delays.” Possible solutions are to require the prevailing party to get the costs and attorneys’ fees, increase penalties for frivolous appeals and more strictly enforce imposed penalties. •Reducing the number of parties that can file an appeal. Possible solutions include redefining and limiting what “affect person” and “aggrieved party” mean for the purposes of filing an appeal. •Ways to shorten the appeals process. Possible solutions include putting time limits on appeals, eliminating stays, making it so CONs issued by the state take effect immediately or sending the appeal to a contested case hearing and then straight to the Supreme Court. •Changing the threshold for when an agency must apply for a CON. Instead of needing to seek a CON to make a $2 million expenditure, healthcare agencies will be able to spend up to $4 million without needing a CON. Companies will also be able to spend up to $1 million on healthcare equipment without needing a CON, instead of the old $750,000 limit. •Remove CON process for air ambulances and solid organ transplant services from the state law but continue requiring CONs for diagnostic service centers. The committee also plans to ask for suggestions from the Division of Health Service Regulation on several issues, including how applications can be sent electronically and how to post all applications and other requests on the state division’s website. The committee has only discussed one-third of the issues on its agenda and will meet again in March and April for further discussions, according to a press statement. R 6th, 7th and 8th grades. The team is coached by Morina Ricablanca, Jessica Hall, Mathew Mormando, and Aticila Mormando as the head coach. Carl Piraneo mentors the “road scholars,” Charles Davis makes posters and Harry King makes team shirts. 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