Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905 75¢ No. 25 Vol. 107 RAEFORD & HOKE COUNTY N.C. Wednesday, August 29, 2012 9 Hoke schools met ABCs target growth BY CATHARIN SHEPARD tion program. The department also approved Progress program. This is the last year for the Middle, East Hoke Middle, Hoke High and Staff writer the fi rst set of score results under Annual ABC test score reporting as the state is moving SandHoke Early College High School made Measurable Objectives (AMO), the program to a new accountability testing model. The expected growth on the ABCs. Hoke High, In the last year of ABCs test score report- that for the next two years replaces the federal state also has a two-year waiver exempting East Hoke Middle, Upchurch Elementary and ing, nine Hoke County schools made expected No Child Left Behind reporting requirements North Carolina schools from No Child Left SandHoke Early College High School earned growth and four achieved high growth. in North Carolina. Behind reporting requirements and this year the high growth designation. SandHoke Early The North Carolina Department of Public In previous years, school systems received the department used the AMO system instead. College High School had the highest perfor- Instruction this month released the fi nalized ABC test results from the state’s accountability Don Steed Elementary, Scurlock Elemen- mance composite score of 97.4, followed by test score data including the last set of scores testing program and a pass or fail grade from tary, Hawk Eye Elementary, Rockfi sh Hoke El- Rockfi sh Hoke Elementary with 86.7 and East from the phased-out ABCs of Public Educa- the No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly ementary, Upchurch Elementary, West Hoke (See ABCs, page 6A) Worker convicted of animal abuse BY CATHARIN SHEPARD controversial farm animal advocacy Staff writer agency Mercy for Animals gave the district attorney’s offi ce video One of fi ve former Butterball footage that the organization said an workers accused of abusing turkeys undercover worker covertly taped at on a Shannon farm was found guilty the farm. The video showed work- of felony animal cruelty Tuesday ers kicking and stomping on birds, and sentenced to serve 30 days dragging them by their wings and in jail. hitting the animals with metal bars, Brian Douglas of Raeford was and also showed injured turkeys one of six people charged this suffering from open wounds. The February in connection with a Hoke sheriff’s offi ce raided the farm in County Sheriff’s Offi ce and district November and arrested six people attorney’s offi ce investigation into on charges including misdemeanor Butterball Farm 11, a turkey breed- and felony cruelty to animals. ing farm on Shannon Road. The investigation also stretched The investigation began after the (See CONVICTED, page 5A) The 2012 Turkey Festival Committee: Karrie Detwiler, (front row from left) Leslie Hinson, Valerie Livingston, Judy Pittman and Dee Inman; second row—Nicole Jackson, Crystal Gibson, Deborah Carpenter, Teresa Burke, Melissa Pittman, Joyce Bullard, Patty Webb, Wanda McDiarmid, Freddy McPhaul and Lt. Roy Downing; back row—Charles Ashley Heights woman killed Tapp, LaShonda Ely, Tom Squier, Jerry Sherman and Bobby Allen. Not pictured— Theresa Byrd, Lisa Potts-Davis, Jean Hodges, Marvin Lynne Maxwell, Djuna Miller and Greg Schroeder. (Catharin Shepard photo) A Hoke County woman died 7:40 p.m. Sunday. Strother failed to Monday after being injured in a stop at a stop sign, a trooper said. wreck at the intersection of Cal- Driver Bobby George Melton, 56, loway Road and Ashemont Road. of Old Wire Road in Laurinburg Turkey Festival gets its wobble on Sarah Strother, 87, of the 5500 crashed his truck into Strother’s block of Calloway Road died at 2008 Chevrolet pickup. BY CATHARIN val is a dance called the wobble, a president, said the board members UNC Hospital where she was Melton will not face charges, SHEPARD version of which was invented by have been working hard to prepare airlifted for treatment of injuries a Highway Patrol spokesperson Staff writer festival Executive Director Melissa everything for locals and out-of- sustained in the wreck, according said. Reports did not indicate Pittman, and the board of directors town visitors to enjoy during the to a report from the North Carolina whether Melton was injured. It’s almost is hoping it’ll catch on. weeklong festival. State Highway Patrol. A helicopter took Strother to time to “Do “The kids love it and the adults “Come out and enjoy, bring The accident happened around (See WRECK, page 5A) the Wobble” at love it and the senior line dance friends,” she said. the 28th annual group that competes in the senior New and returning events are in North Carolina Olympics each year, who have the lineup this year. Third man arrested in murder Turkey Festi- gone to the championship games in Hoke residents should start keep- A third suspect wanted in con- of Royal Terrance Wyatt Jr., 33, val, with events Raleigh and have actually placed, ing an eye out for wooden turkeys nection with the shooting death of Gatlin Farm Road. Brown sur- starting next Friday and running love to do the wobble,” Pittman said. popping up in local businesses. of a Raeford man last week has rendered to law enforcement after through the weekend of Septem- “We wanted to do something that There are 13 wooden turkeys, each surrendered to authorities. seeing himself in the media and on ber 15. ignited excitement.” painted in the colors of each of Hoke Antonio Jamal Brown, 28, of Facebook, according to the Hoke The theme for this year’s festi- Valerie Livingston, this year’s (See FESTIVAL, page 6A) Raeford was arrested on a charge County Sheriff’s Offi ce. Brown of fi rst-degree murder in the death (See ARREST, page 5A) This Week Convocation cheers teachers into new school year BY CATHARIN SHEPARD part of the cheerleading last week at the Staff writer school convocation that brought hun- dreds of Hoke teachers, administrators Principal Kimberly Gray wasn’t shy and offi ce staff together. about getting up and dancing in front Superintendent Dr. Freddie William- of the entire Hoke County Schools staff son and Assistant Superintendent for Bucks now 22-0 0 at convocation Friday – and, following page 7A Curriculum and Instruction Bob Barnes her lead, neither was the rest of the Don welcomed back the teachers and staff to Steed Elementary faculty. the start of a new year. New: Police blotter “Teach them, teach them, reach them “I congratulate all of you, I’m so page 4A all!” was the background music for the proud of you, and if you don’t feel the ex- purple-shirted impromptu dance team as citement, you don’t feel the readiness in the school staff provided a little enter- this building to go forward to next year, Store opens tainment to get teachers stirred up for page 3A I’ve got two words for you: go home,” Hawk Eye Elementary staff show their spirit at Convocation. the school year. The routine was just one (See CONVOCATION, page 8A) Calendar ............... 2B Classifi eds ............... 5B Deaths ...............3A Other Stuff Two vie for clerk of court Editorials ...............2A The Republican and Democrat can- Legals ...........2-4B BY KEN MACDONALD didates selected by their parties to run Sports ...............7A When you think about it, people have not been fl ying for long. And we for election to the Hoke County Clerk Worship ............... 2B live in a time when some of the fi rst planes are taking their last fl ights of Superior Court offi ce each bring their before the scrap heap or museum. Some of us want to touch history before own unique backgrounds and experi- all we have left are photos. ence to the election. Twenty years ago, for example, I got a chance to ride in a Ford Trimo- Republican candidate Gene Shel- tor. Known as the “Tin Goose,” the aluminum airliner capable of hauling nutt and Democratic candidate Evelyn 10-15 people was produced from 1925 to 1933. There are just 18 left, and McLeod will face off in an election on only eight certifi ed for fl ight. One of them had come to Lumberton, of all the November General Election ballot. Shelnutt McLeod places, and I paid $20 to take a ride. When you’re used to today’s airlin- Voters will decide which candidate Court Russell Smith, who passed away ers, fl ying in one that can hang in the air at 35 miles per hour is startling. will fi ll the offi ce left vacant earlier this after battling cancer. The election is (See OTHER STUFF, page 8A) year by the death of Clerk of Superior (See CLERK, page 5A) 2A THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C. August 29, 2012 Viewpoints Bring in the garbage cans A few weeks ago rumors were making the BY SCOTT MOONEYHAM rounds that the City of Raeford had begun Capital Press Association ticketing owners of garbage cans who left them by the road on days they aren’t sched- uled for pickup. The rumor proved false, as near as we can tell. No notices, reminders, warnings or tickets have been sent, the city says. But when the city council switched to curb- side pickup in 2009, it said that to prevent un- sightly cans from cluttering the town it would fine owners who left them by the road. It’s understandable that on occasion a homeowner will forget or be unable to re- trieve his garbage can, but some folks leave theirs by the roadside every day.