Fake money Paderick honored Counterfeit bills passed SCC board names Clif Paderick Inside at local eatery, President Emeritus, Today Page A6 Page A9 THE SAMPSON www.clintonnc.com 50 cents F Vol.I LXXXVIII;ND Issue 25 EPE February 3, 2012ND Clinton, NorthE CarolinaNT F 16 pages Friday, Probe under way into elderly abuse report S’Burg senior not being cared for; money stolen from her account, reports show Doug Clark According to reports, the investiga- that one of the woman’s supposed care- and it is still under investigation.” Assistant Editor tion was initiated by DSS officials last givers was allegedly taking money from The elderly woman is believed to be month when they were notified that a her bank account as well. It was not healthy and safe now. Sampson County sheriff’s investiga- Salemburg woman was not being cared clear how much money was taken from When the investigation wraps up, tors have become involved with what for properly. By Jan. 27, the woman was the account. the suspects in the case could be facing they said was a disturbing case of moved to an undisclosed location so she “All we can say right now is that it elderly abuse and the exploitation of an alleged elderly abuse against a 76-year- could receive the proper care. is under investigation,” said Capt. Eric elderly adult. Suspect information was old woman. It was reported to them by Investigators with the Sampson Pope Thursday morning. “We cannot not released Thursday. the Sampson County Department of County Sheriff’s Office were added to say anything about the investigation or To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sis- Social Services. the investigation when it was alleged who is involved. We are assisting DSS [email protected]. Deputies uncover guns during stop Doug Clark possession of drug parapher- Assistant Editor nalia after the stop around 11 p.m. Wednesday. A routine traffic stop According to Wednesday evening reports, Scott was rid- uncovered two con- ing in the back seat of a cealed .38-caliber spe- 2007 Saturn Ion, when cial revolvers, one sto- the car was pulled over len, along with drug because the driver did paraphernalia. not have valid driver’s Cruise Dion Scott, license. 20, of 2305 Vester The vehicle was Ave., Fayetteville, was stopped on Denton charged with posses- Scott Avenue, near Rowan sion of a stolen fire- Road, and the arm; two counts of car- Chris Berendt | Sampson Independent rying a concealed weapon; and See GUNS | A3 The shell of the front left portion of Tar Heel Motel was still standing this week, to be torn down. There are currently no substantive future plans for the property, which served as site to one of the busiest motels in its heyday. Tar Heel closing final chapter Solution still Motel’s story ending, but colorful past sought to keep US will remain in hearts, memories 421 rest area open of those who worked, stayed there By Chris Berendt Staff Writer Chris Berendt in recent weeks. The motel, that made running the motel Staff Writer located at 1801 Southeast less feasible. Three months after the N.C. Department of Transportation Blvd. next to Waffle Kitchen “Back in its earlier day, Tar indefinitely suspended a plan to close the U.S. 421 rest area The razing of Tar Heel and Dairy Queen, was in oper- Heel Motel was the newest in Sampson County in favor of developing a course of action Motel is leaving a void in ation since roughly 1960, hav- and biggest motel in Sampson with local and state leaders, that workable solution is still being the Clinton cityscape, a proud ing once been the main motel County,” said William “Bill” sought. family business that fell vic- for those looking for local Peterson Jr., owner of the The state first expressed its intention to close the U.S. 421 rest tim to economic factors and lodging. property and the motel his area at Six Runs last summer, an announcement met with much chose to go out on its own Back in those days, the family started. “It was some- local opposition. The reaction led state officials to push back the rather than deteriorate. motel was regularly packed thing Sampson County need- closure date multiple times to allow the Sampson County Board A local business for about and enjoyed good business. ed.” of Commissioners to meet, and the community to address, the half a century, Tar Heel Motel That changed in recent years, Now, people favor increased issue. closed its doors toward the with other newer hotels, inns security, and they believe Former Board of Commissioners chairman and current com- end of last summer and has and motels popping up in the that comes with a motel that missioner Jefferson Strickland,along with N.C. Sen. Brent been the site of demolition area and mounting expenses See MOTEL | A2 See US 421 | A3 Local fourth-grader wins $75,000 scholarship Billy Todd Liam Baker, the son of Shannon to be a good employer and Staff Writer and Marla Baker of the Plain also to be a good neighbor View community, won the in the communities where we PLAIN VIEW — Imagine not grand prize in Smithfield’s 75th are located. Products that we having to worry about send- anniversary art contest “Why I have produced for the past 75 ing your son to college. For Love Smithfield.” years are enjoyed in the United Billy Todd | Sampson Independent one young fourth-grader at Leonard Smith, Regional States and shipped around the Presenting the $75,000 scholarship check to Liam Baker is Smithfield’s region- Plain View Elementary, this is Human Resources director for world daily to countries such al human resource director, Leonard Smith, left. Standing beside Liam are his a dream come true for him Smithfield, cited the follow- parents, Shannon and Marla Baker. and his parents. Nine-year-old ing: “At Smithfield, we strive See SCHOLARSHIP | A2 Index Today’s Independent n Local, Page A6, 9 n Deaths, Page A3 n TV, Page A7 printed for Jerry Hatch n National, Page A3, 9 n Faith & Family, Page B1-3, 6 n Comics, Page A8 n Opinion, Page A4 n Sports, Page A5 n Classifieds, Page B4-6 Relief For Aches & Pains Is CLOSER TO HOME ! Urgent Care OPEN 910-594-1064 Monday-Friday 3:30-7:30 PM Saturday/Sunday 8:00 AM-7:30 PM At Newton Grove Family Medicine 301 Main St. | Newton Grove, NC 28366 In connection with Clinton Urgent Care A2 THE SAMPSON INDEPENDENT Friday, February 3, 2012 Motel SIdigest From page A1 has some external access or electronic key entry, Peterson said. Families shied away from Tar Heel in favor of other motels whose rooms were not exposed. “We don’t get that Tomorrow’s Weather many tourists,” he said. “Outside access hotels are pretty much a thing of the past unless you’re on a mountainside. They’re dinosaurs. They’re not in demand.” Instead, most of the main clients in recent years had been contrac- tors, who enjoyed the idea of backing their trucks into spaces near their rooms. For the last few years, the motel Rain expected Saturday with served strictly as extend- highs nearing 60; more show- ed stay rentals. Peterson ers in the evening with lows pointed to Fibrowatt, dipping to near 42. Today’s the poultry litter plant weather picture was drawn by that has been in a hold- Butler Avenue second-grader ing pattern for years, say- Darwin Garto. ing that construction of that facility might have kept the motel afloat for Chris Berendt | Sampson Independent a couple more years — Rubble can be seen where Tar Heel Motel’s front office used to stand. The motel, a locally-owned family business for half a century, Local briefs but it would have been a closed its doors for good last year and is being demolished due to economic conditions that have seen it losing money. time as an employee at “The phone went dead Maryland and asked what past of Tar Heel Motel, Head Start/Early Head temporary solution. Tar Heel Motel that bring on the other end and I brought him to Clinton. whose chapter is coming Start Parent Meetings “Between property laughter and tears, or knew I was in trouble. I “He said, ‘I’m here to to an end. —Roseboro. Feb. 6, 9:30 tax, insurance and utili- make jaws drop and faces told William what hap- find the soldier who saved “There are a lot of peo- a.m.; Clinton, Dogwood, ties, it’s losing money,” blush. She said she loved pened and he said ‘when my life in Vietnam,” Lugo ple that have stayed there EHS, Feb. 7, 12:30 p.m.; said Peterson, who also working at the motel each the man comes in, I’ll recalled. “I have cancer over the years and they Midway, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m.; noted a 3 percent occu- and every day, something explain what happened.’ and only have a few more can’t believe it’s going Hobbton, Feb. 8, 4 p.m.; pancy tax implemented she did for more than a When the man returned months to live. It is very away,” said Peterson. Hargrove, Feb. 9, 11:30 locally several years ago decade. to his room, William important for me to find “There are a lot of people a.m.; Harrell’s, Feb. 10, as another straw on Tar “This business held bit- called him into the office him and thank him before that have worked there, 9:30 a.m.; Garland, Feb.