Viewpoints
Industrial development
now appears untracked
If the action taken by the Hoke County Commissioners last week
is a result of giving the officials a few days of relaxation in Seattle,
taxpayers should consider making such junkets a regular monthly
activity for the board members.
After spending time at the national convention in the state of
Washington, the Hoke officials came back fired up about industrial
development, a topic which had almost been ignored by the body
before.
At their second budget meeting last week, the commissioners
voiced concerns about spiraling county costs and the need to make
Hoke County a competitive force on the industrial recruitment
scene.
Before pumping $24,000 into the program, the board members
talked about hiring a qualified fulltime industry hunter and
developing an industrial park. There will be more money if it is
needed, they said.
The action and the sudden burst of leadership must have come as
Needed,
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The News-Journal
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Published Every Thursday by
Dickson Press, Inc.. Paul Dtcluoa, Pres.
1 19 W. Elnood Avenue. P.O. Box SSO
Raeford. N.C. 2*376
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WARREN N.JOHNSTON Editor
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MRS. PAUL DICKSON Society Editor
SAM C. MORRIS Contributing Editor
ANN WEBB Advertising Representative
Second Class Postage at Raeford, N.C.
(USPS 38#- 260)
a surprise to county taxpayers and unemployed residents, who have
grown used to a commission with a more passive growth posture.
As Commissioner James Albert Hunt put it, Hoke County of
ficials have been "messing around" for 10 or IS years hoping that
an industry would stumble over us and settle here.
The wishing and hoping has not paid off. Industries are not beg
ging to locate in Hoke County, and the demand for services is out
distancing the taxpayers ability to pay.
Despite having an extra $400, 000 from the one-half cent sales tax,
the commissioners had to borrow another $373,800 from the fund
reserve account in order to balance this year's $5.4 million budget
and to hold an ad valorem tax rate increase to five cents.
Next year the financial problems will probably be greater. Addi
tional money will be borrowed from the fund balance, interests on
those dollars will be lost and taxes will be increased again. Tax
payers will be paying for the county's past indolences.
If the trend is going to be reversed, the local tax base must be in
creased by adding industries, businesses and taxpayers. However,
the process is going to be a long one.
For example, this year's draw from the reserve f6nd of $373,800
would take an increase in the tax base of about $50 million dollars
to replace. To put that into perspective, the current evaluation for
Faberge is $30.6 million and Burlington is $29.6 million.
Editorial
Counties just do not add $50 million to the tax base overnight.
With an all out recruitment effort, this county would be lucky to
make that goal in the next 10 years.
The costs of obtaining industry is high, and the process is
gradual, but the rewards are worth the expense.
This year, Burlington Industries will employ about 1,600 workers ;
and will pay approximately $220,000 in local county ad valorem
taxes, along with $166,000 in Raeford taxes. Faberge will employ
around 900 persons and will pay just over $225,000 to the county
and $168,000 to the city.
Together the two industries pay about 19 V# of the county's tax
burden and 52% of the city's. When the contributions from the
other smaller industries in the county are added, the percentage
climbs higher.
In addition, the "ripple effect" of an industry makes a substan
tial dent in the tax base. More persons working creates a need for I
more restaurants, stores, entertainment, housing, etc.
The commissioners are on the right track. This county needs a
full time industrial recruiter, and the position should be filled soon.
Delaying industry hunting further only opens the door for higher
county ad valorem taxes.
Letters To The Editor
Cherokees seek
community support
To The Editor,
This editorial is by the Chief
Gray Eagle, Rev. Edgar Bryant,
the Chief of the Cherokee Indians
of Hoke County tribe to all people.
Whereas Cherokee Indian Day
has been proclaimed by the Hoke
County Board of Commissioners
to be July 28, and each year
hereafter, we, the Cherokee In
dians of Hoke County will hold a
parade on that day.
We will gather at the grounds of
the old Armory, Raeford at one
o'clock and go from there to the
A&P parking lot to begin our
parade which will end back up
back at the grounds of the old Ar
mory.
We will be singing praises to the
Lord as we march and we invite
everyone to come and support us.
Some of you may march with us if
you believe in the Lord as we do.
The parade will be at 2 p.m.
After the march we will have
some more singing praises to the
Lord and the preaching of the
word of God: Daniel Chapter 7,
Zechariah ch. 14, Matthew 24 and
Revelation ch 20.
You need to sit down and read
these chapters in your Bible as they
are the prophecy of Christ our
coming king.
It will do everyone good who
looks at this editorial to read these
chapters. If you have questions
come see us or write us and we will
give you the answers straight from
the word of God. We will tell it like
it is. Amen.
Now concerning our tribe, why
we are marching: we would like to
explain to you and all who will
come our tribal ancestry and
heritage. We are related to the
Eastern band of Cherokee and to
the Western Cherokee in
Oklahoma thru the Chief John
Lowry of Robeson County who
signed as a headman and Chief of
the Cherokee Indian Nation in the
"Treaty with the Cherokee of
1806" and thru various Cherokee
Indians of Robeson County who
have lived with the Eastern band
such as Randall and Elizabeth
Locklear.
We are a branch of the original
Cherokee Indian Nation which at
one time covered seven states. We
are working under this treaty and
under the 1913 Cherokee Indians
Act. And it's 1977 Rectification
which is North Carolina General
Statute 71-1, both of which were -
passed by the General Assembly of
North Carolina.
We have proof and records of all
these acts and treaties and we
know that they are our treaties. We
have nothing to conceal as we are
Christians. As you read this,
prepare to come out and be with us
and to help so that we may keep on
keepin on.
You may make a donation or
you may need counsel from the
word of God. You need to take
time out for Jesus. May the Lord
bless you real good. Support your
Hoke County Cherokees. We are
praying for you.
By my hand, in service of Christ,
Chief Gray Eagle:
Rev. Edgar Bryant
The Cherokee Indians
of Hoke County Tribe
Community watch
doing good job
To the Editor:
Our Hat's are off to the
Rockfish Community Watch
Directors.
We commend them for an ex
cellent organization and their com
munity spirit.
We are proud to be a small part
in the good work.
J.L. & Edith Fitzgerald
Champs appreciate
backing of team
To The Editor:
The Bambino championship was
won by the Braves and sponsored
by United Carolina Bank.
On Thursday July 12, a dinner
was held at Edenborough Shop
ping Center by Bob Conoly and
Bill Jones to .honor the BravesT
'We would like to give a special
thanks to all the parents, coaches,
and United Carolina Bank who
helped make this a success.
The team members are: Chris
Smith, Ricky Baldwin, Dion
Purcell, Derrick Graham,
Rederick Graham, Jeff Baker,
Danny Attello, Edward Young,
Paul Nethery, Jason King, George
Beatty, Simeon Quick and Detrick
Meyer.
THANK YOU
Clayton Singletary,
Coach
David Purcell, Coach
Military spending
needs looking into
Dear Editor:
Everyone has heard the stories
about the military spending $800
apiece for screwdrivers and $150
apiece for claw hammers or
whatever and other hair-raising ex
amples of outrageous waste, but
there's something about all this
that puzzles me.
When a reporter gets hold of one
of these stories and it makes
headlines, the military brass says it
is "instituting measures to curb the
practice," and the story fades
away. Then a few months later
something else comes out, like the
military admitting it disposes of S3
billion worth of surplus parts each
year to junk dealer, then a little |
while later discovers it needs them
back. The junk dealers are happy
to oblige, selling the parts back at
several times what they paid for
them.
What puzzles me about all this is
where are the investigative
reporters? Looks like some of
them would be interested in
locating the clerk or the officers or
whoever who authorized the pay- ]
ing of S800 screwdrivers, along
with the dealer brazen enough to
charge that much. Looks like those
hard-hitting guys on "60 Minutes"
for example would be chomping at
the bit to flash their lights on such
people and cross-examine them on
television. But nothing happens,
the practice goes on, and nobody
gets fired.
Fs look into this myself but I'm K
going to be tied up the next few
weeks watching political conven
tions on television.
Yours faithfully,
J. A.
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor are encouraged
and welcomed. Writers should keep
letters as short as possible. Names,
addresses and telephone numbers
should be included and all letters must
be signed. Names will be printed,
however, other information will be
kept confidential. We reserve the right
to edit letters for good taste and
brevity. Letters should be received by
The News-Journal by noon on the
Monday of the publication week.
Imprecise
horoscope
causes unfortunate problems
Horoscopes have fascinated me since I was about six. That was
the first year my mother would allow me to read the one that ap
peared regularly in the Atlanta newspaper. That was also the year I
learned to read.
At six, I didn't get much out of the daily fortune columns because
I had a hard time understanding "buzz phrases" like: "take the in
itiative," "emotional involvements" and "gird your loins."
Horoscopes are governed by innuendoes, and now that I am older, I
still find them inprecise.
My wife and I read them from time to time, but they always leave
me wondering. For example, I read one last Saturday morning and
got into a good deal of trouble.
I had awakened early and was quietly enjoying the newspaper
when I ran across the fortune telling column.
"Start the day with a phone call and your spirits will remain high
all day. Romance enjoys highly favorable influence. Move swiftly,"
the horoscope said.
I knew right off that if romance was involved, that I had better
make the phone call to my wife. It was the weekend. We were both
home. If I called her from the house, the telephone would ring busy.
I went to the office. There, I knew I could start with a "phone" call
and have my spirits lifted all day.
I called my wife to see how she was doing. She was asleep. It was
6 a.m.
When I told her about the horoscope, she suggested that I had
taken leave of my senses, and that I should make another telephone
call to the local mental health unit. She hung up.
: ..My spirits were crushed, and stood no chance of being "lifted all
$ay."
- I ret . ned home and re-read the horoscope. It came out the same.
I threw the newspaper away. I decided to write a precise horoscope
*ttch would not leave the reader wondering about the memlmg.
Mare is what I came up with for the coming week:
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Fefc. It) The telephone call which awaken
ed you earlier brings romance, not just a deranged caller. Be forgiv
, to Ctpn the house and cook dinner all week for your mate. It will
be appreciated. (My wife is an Aquarius.)
Warren Johnston FJ-~4
The Puppy Papers
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Go on a diet. You have gotten way
too fat. If you are way too skinny, eat more, but whatever you do
stay away from restaurants whch offer special prices on dinners of
bananas and boiled octopus. The combination will make you sick,
particularly after 12 martinis. Try going to work instead. The activi
ty will be rewarding if you are on the payroll. Stay out of hot tubs
during the month of August.
ARIES (March 21- April 19) Don't expect everything you have
always wanted to come true this week. If all you get is an offer from
the guy sitting next to you on the cross-town bus to let you have a
bite of his liverwurst and sliced onion sandwich, you should feel
lucky. But don't accept the offer. Move to another seat and warn
the other passengers.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) A young man with a high-pitched
voice, who claims to be Michael Jackson, will offer you $1 million
"just because you did not try to hit him with a stick and throw him
off your property.'* You will believe the young man to be an im
poster, hit him with a stick and throw him off your property. In the
fracas, he leaves one sequinned glove behind. You will spend the
rest of the week wondering If the young man was really Michael
Jackson.
GEMINI (May 21-Jaae 20) This week you will become twins. The
right half of you will go to work and carry on responsible duties.
The left half will go to the beach and try to have a great time. The
only problem is everyone will give both of you strange looks, and
your boss will accuse you of only putting in a "half-hearted" effort.
Small children will laugh at you as you walk down the beach. You
will bury yourself in the sand. Your left side will become sunburn
ed. By the end of the week, you will wish you had never been born a
Gemini.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Good Fortune will follow you all ;
week. You will try to lose him by running down an alley, but it will :
be to no avail. He will be waiting at every turn. Before long, you will
be considering spending the weekend with a group of wondering *.
gypsies, who claim to be less fortunate.
LEO (July 23-August 22) Stay away from drive-in movie theatres.
The one in your area will be taken over by a group of rabbit growers
who are on convention. There will be rabbits in every car, and Bugs ;
Bunny will star in every movie. The cleanup job will be terrific.
VIRGO (August 23- September 22) The active pursuit of
knowledge is in the stars for you. Go back to school. Be sure that
you are enrolled. Otherwise, you might be arrested for being a :
suspicious character who is hanging around a school yard.
LIBRA (September 23-October 22) Extra precaution against in
vaders from outer space should be taken. Word is out in the galaxy
that . persons born under your heavenly sign are throwing ex
travagant parties during the week. Check your guest list carenityy. ;
Watch the Uranusians. They tend to drink too much and should ndt ;
be allowed to drive.
SCORPIO (October 23- November 21) Be careful about your
money. Two fellows will approach you during the week and ask that
you put $100 into a paper big. They will also claim to have put $100
each in the bag. You will be left holding the empty bag. They spend
the $300 on ice cream and a flight to Salt Lake City. Once there,
they will become Mormons and will promise never to pull the bag
trick again.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) Purlag this week
you will have a mysterious rendezvous. You will not know the iden
tity of the person you are meeting, only that be needs A shave and
that his breath smells of garlic. Once you j?ve his pet monkey a
quarter, the person will go away and will 9mm be ace* Main, except
for a brief moment during the third Quarter of the PMfffer-Long
Beach State football game.
CAPRICORN (December 22 la? wry 19) You will realize this
week that because of tbe untimely date of your birth, you have
always been shortchanged on presents. Yon Anally grow weary of
hearing "but your birthday is to near Christmas/' and decide to
move your pwlMHrt celebration to July. You become a Cancer and
are fo&mredWoood Fortune for the rest of the week.