Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 24, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The News-Journal The Hoke County News - Established 1928 ^ The Hoke County J< Volume LXXVI Number 40 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA $10 PER YEAR 25 CENTS Thursday, January 24, 1985 County's federal funds in jeopardy By Ed Miller If members of the county com mission do not accept and imple ment a new Affirmative Action Program by February 1, Hoke County could lose funding from the federal government, a spokesperson from the Lumber River Council of Governments (COG) said. Commission members were told Monday night Hoke County has not had an effective Affirmative Action plan since the early 1970's, and that the federal government might begin cracking down. The total amount of federal funds which could be in jeopardy was not able to be confirmed Tues day, but the county budget shows over $400,000 in Revenue Sharing funds are received each year. Vickie Tate, author of a plan presented to commissioners during the regular meeting and Personnel Specialist for the Lumber River COO, said more minorities are needed in some departments run by the county. The Hoke County Health Department is "greatly lacking" in minority nurses, Tate said. Throughout her push to get more minorities hired into county departments, Tate stressed that commissioners should strive to get the best person for a job. "You have to hire the most qualified applicant," Tate said. Action was tabled on a new 38-page Affirmative Action Plan because members of the commis sion had not read it. According to County Manager William Cowan, the plan is about 60 days overdue now. The new plan should have been passed on November 31 of last year, said Cowan. The county has already asked for and received two 30-day exten sions, said the manager. Cowan was contacted about the need for a new plan just after he came into his position in Hoke County, he told commissioners. Although the motion was passed to table action on the plan, com missioners allowed that a special meeting may have to be called to take action by January 31. "Your federal funds are tied to it," said Tate, adding that the COO could possibly work with the commissioners in extending the deadline until the next regular commission meeting. Literacy helped In other action during the meeting, the commissioners passed a motion to allocate $3,000 to the Hoke County Literacy Council. About 20 people turned out at the meeting in support of literacy. "I think you can tell by the crowd that we are all supporting literacy," said former Hoke Coun ty Superintendent Raz Autry. "There ought to be a better solu tion. I'm hoping the state will do something," Autry said. According to the educator, he has worked with illiterates for some time. "I can feel for these folks," Autry said after telling people pre sent at the meeting that his father could not read or write. "If we don't help but one (per son) in a year, it will be well worth the money spent for Hoke County," said Autry. In offering a motion to grant the money to the Literacy Council, Commissioner Cleo Bratcher said: "Hopefully during the next budget time, we can work out another way to get money for this program." According to Literacy Council Director Barbara Buie, the money has been needed since July of last year. Originally, $14,000 was re quested for the Literacy Council during budget time, Buie said, adding that the county commission only granted $5,000. "We have not found anywhere else to get the money," said Buie. The state legislature, North Carolina's lieutenant governor and governor have been asked to make literacy a state funded program, said Buie. They are giving us no guarantees, Buie said. Before voting in favor of the motion to allocate the money, Commissioner Wyatt Upchurch said: "We are in a financial situa tion in the county where we have to start clamping down." (See LITERACY, page 8) Bad afternoon Hoke County Rescue Squad personnel and Emergency Medkal Service workers use the "jaws of life " to get Robert Tatum out of a Subaru Brat pick-up after a wreck on Highway 401 Business last Thursday. Thomas Smith, a Raeford resident, who was driving a Chevrolet truck, apparently collided IPSoto by Ami Frtdt rick) with Robert Tatum of Elizabethtown. latum is believed to have run the stop sign on Business 401 and Prospect Extension. Tatum was taken im mediately to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Smith was taken to Moore County Memorial Hospital after a visit to a local doctor. Hunt receives probation, psychiatric help ordered By Ed Miller In order to avoid jail and to cor rect his personal problems, Hoke County Commissioner James Albert Hunt must undergo regular psychiatric treatment, a Superior Court judge ordered last Thurs day. The 42-year-old Hunt, who was appealing a two-year prison term given him by District Court Judge Warren Pate in November, must report treatment progress to his K BrnhMioH nffiry on *.j?anthly bags, Superior Court Judge E. Lynn Johnson ordered. The commissioner had been given the jail term for probation violations stemming from two con victions for writing worthless checks and a reckless driving con viction. Judge Johnson modified Hunt's 30-month probation to include phrases saying the commissioner would submit himself to any psychiatric therapy recommended by his probation officer and for ward monthly progress reports to his supervisor. Hunt's reports will be reviewed in April, Johnson said. For the last three years, Hunt has been plagued with legal actions taken against him for worthless checks. In court. Hunt's Attorney Phil Diehl said the commissioner's problems started with the recession of 1982 when interest rates rose. A contractor that Hunt's truck ing company was working for fell behind on payments to the com missioner and eventually went bankrupt, Diehl said. The loss of the contract put Hunt in debt for about $70,000 to $80,000, Diehl said. Over the past two years, Hunt has -beat- Able -to? 'work things around" so his business is now back on its feet again, said the Raeford attorney. Diehl added that a trust fund has been set up containing $2,200 of Hunt's money to be paid to the Hoke County Clerk of Superior Court's office for fines and restitu tion. During the trial, letters from 13 local and area businessmen and government officials were presented as evidence of Hunt's good name. Officials sending letters included State Representative Daniel H. DeVane, Hoke County Commis sion Chairman John Balfour and Hoke Commissioner Wyatt Up church. "1 think it is unusual indeed that so many leaders in this community "Vve been accused of being in the bottle and on drugs , but I and the good Lord know better. " ...James Albert Hunt would come out in support...," Diehl said. "I have had some bad breaks, but I'm trying," Hunt said in court. In a letter of recommendation from former Hoke County Manager James Martin, Hunt is said to have "acted in the best in (See HUNT, page 8) Raeford men receive six years for business break-ins By Ed Miller Family members and friends wept in open court last week as two Raeford men were sentenced to six years in prison in Hoke County Superior Court. Jack Lenier Goodwin, 21, and Robin Wayne McVicker, 18, were both given the prison terms for re cent break -ins of area businesses. Goodwin was sentenced for two count* of possessing stolen goods, breaking, entering and larceny at the Little Whale Restaurant and breaking and entering into the Hoke Concrete works. Around Town By San Morris The low of -3? set an all time record for Raeford last Sunday night. Sunday night was the coldest ever recorded in North Carolina. One weather reporter said that it might have been colder during the Ice Age, but he doubted it. ... Even with central heating in homes, many water pipps were frozen all day Monday. Many peo ple couldn't |et their cars started, so they were late for work. The snow fc(as very Ught and the roads in thfe section didn't have ice on them, '?'ft was a different story elsewhere in the state. Maybe it will get above freezing by W*fa?e*day and then we can (See AROUND, page 8) McVicker received his term for a probation violation, breaking and entering into The Little Whale and the Universal Sports Center and breaking and entering into the Hoke Concrete Works. Even McVicker showed some emotion when Superior Court Judge E. Lynn Johnson sentenced him. According to statements read in court by Assistant District At torney Jean Powell, McVicker had been working with John Bradley Gordon, also known as Yogi, in some of the robberies. Gordon and McVickcr had been living with Goodwin. Gordon is now serving a 10-year prison term, court records say. Goods from break-ins commit ted by McVicker and Gordon were twice found in Goodwin's trailer so he was charged with two counts of possessing stolen goods, Powell said. Apparently, there were two break -ins at The Little Whale, said Powell in court. The first was committed by McVicker and Gordon and the se cond by McVicker and Goodwin, statements read in court say. Both the men were out of jail on bond awaiting trial when they broke into the Hoke Concrete Works, said Powell. According to statements read in court, McVicker told Goodwin that money could be gotten from the concrete plant. Only McVicker was arrested at the scene of the break-in, Powell said. Law enforcement officials could not place Goodwin on the scene, she said. Both Goodwin's girl friend and her father told officials that Jack had been with her the night of the break-in. The girl's father told officials that when he went to bed, Good win was asleep on the floor in his house and was also there when he got up the next morning, Powell said. Goodwin could not be linked to the break-in until McVicker asked his jailers why the man had not been arrested, said the Assistant District Attorney. In other court action, a Red Springs man was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of driving while im paired (DWI) while his license was revoked and three probation viola tions, court records say. Joel Dean Carter, 21, was ar rested on March 17, 1984, on the traffic charges and also charged with resisting an officer, records say. According to records, Carter violated his probation from a former sentence by not paying the fines involved in the case. Carter also failed to pay supervi (See RAEFORD, page 8) When a few flakes fall... ft proves to he fun for moat people. Such was the case lost Sunday when the ground was nearly covered with the white stuff. Children like these were out throwing snowbilis if thMt Pmm frtiw kki moved, or didn't move. During Sunday night, the mercury plunged to minus 5? at one house In Reefotxh .I. ii Turkey festival planned On September 21, the gun will sound, feathers will ruffle and tiny toes will hit the ground running, as the first annual North Carolina Turkey races get underway in Hoke County. The races will be part of the First Annual North Carolina Turkey Festival which will be held in downtown Raeford. In addition to the races, there will be other challenging contests, arts and crafts, educational ex hibits, a Parade of Turkeys, food, music and a crowning of the top turkey. The event is sponsored by the North Carolina Turkey Festival Inc., formerly the Hoke Heritage Hobnob Inc., in conjunction with the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce. Although decisions are still be ing made, promoters hope to in volve the national Poultry Federa tion, the North Carolina Depart ment of Agriculture and local in dustries in the festivities. Efforts will also be made to give the festival statewide and national publicity, a spokesman said. Preliminary plans are to hold the festival in the downtown area and to center activities in the area around a refurbished railroad depot. The Turkey Festival is designed to involve all residents of Hoke County, and to promote the coun ty and one of iti most important industries. North Carolina is the largest turkey producing state in the na tion, and with the Hoofe# Raeford, Tarheel Hatcheries tmd (See FESTIVAL, page S)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 24, 1985, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75