Phone vote viewed
as victory for Hoke
The decision by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to re
quire Carolina Telephone to conduct a costs study for extended ser
vice between Fayetteville and Raeford was a good one for Hoke
County residents.
Although the order by the commission was not the exact one that
was sought by a group pushing the improved service for Hoke
County, it was a fair compromise and a step in the right direction.
Because the commission took over three weeks to make up their
minds, it was evident that Carolina Telephone was working to stop
the order and that even the compromise would not have passed
without the ground work being laid by Hoke County Economic
Developer John Howard and others on the telephone committee
and the strong lobbying push from Rep. Danny DeVane and Sen.
David Parnell.
What the order does is requires the telephone company to deter
mine how much it will cost to link the Raeford 873 exchange with
Fayetteville, and will allow the utilities commission to evaluate the
rates being proposed by the Carolina Telephone for the service
based on the actual costs.
According to the order, which was issued last week, rates for
Raeford customers would be based, not on the actual costs of the
service, but on a companywide averaging system called the matrix.
Even if the order stands, phone rates in Hoke County would pro
bably not exceed the service which is being offered. We would be
receiving Fayetteville service and paying Fayetteville rates.
What the local committee has objected to in the past has been
Carolina Telephone's effort to charge Fayetteville customers more
per month for service to Raeford. Only a small percentage of the
90,000 Fayetteville customers would derive any benefit from the ex
panded service and all the users would be penalized by the proposed
rate schedule.
In addition, local supporters of the extended service felt the addi
tional annual revenue of $1.7 million generated by the rates was ex
orbitant.
Now that Carolina Telephone is conducting a costs study,
perhaps the commissioners will be able to view the rates in a clearer
light and will be able to balance Hoke County's desperate economic
need for the extended service against a true profit picture for the
company.
Raeford should look
for county park aid
Work is underway on building the new Burlington Park, and it is
about time.
Hoke County needs the new facility and the construction costs of
$40,000 are justified.
In addition to Burlington Park, Hoke County is also refurbishing
Armory Park and has plans to return the ball field to its original
baseball playing size.
However, the county's progress in recreation only contrasts with
the inadequate job being done by the City of Raeford in maintain
ing its two parks.
As the drive to bring better recreation to this community pro
gresses during the upcoming fiscal year, the time may be-right for
Raeford to turn its park business over to the county.
If Hoke County is going to grow and be appealing to new in
dustries and residents, better recreation is needed.
Unfortunately, the two city parks, which are very visible, do not
speak well for this community's commitment to provide good
facilities.
McLauchlin Park is trash littered and only one basketball hoop
remains on four goals at the facility.
In Robbins Heights, where the city has one of the largest park
facilities in the county, grass needs mowing, trash needs picking up
and the basketball goal straightened.
Both parks are heavily used, and the equipment falls victim to
vandalism. Raeford residents say they have complained in the past
to the city about the maintenance and claim little has been done.
The city says no one is protesting now.
Residents have accepted the poor condition of the parks, and
now budding and retired athletes play basketball with imaginary .
hoops and nets.
During the coming fiscal year, the city parks should be turned
over to the county recreation department, and the facilities should
be restored and maintained.
Until the transfer is made, the city should not only repair the
goals, cut the grass and pick up the trash, but municipal officials
should also work with those using the parks to eliminate the van
dalism that has put them in their present condition.
This community needs the McLauchlin and Robbins Heights
parks, but in their present condition they are a wasting asset.
"OK, the truck's loaded with a 500 pound tax overhaul plan that eliminates everyone's
favorite deduction... now all we need is a suicide politician."
Memorial Day's origins differ,
but holiday's purpose is same
President Reagan's recent visit
to a cemetery in Germany to place
a wreath honoring soldiers killed in
the second world war helps to re
mind us of our own Memorial Day
in this country.
Memorial or Decoration Day, as
it is somtimes called is a patriotic
holiday in the United States, now
the day for decorating the graves
of all American soldiers.
Originally Memorial Day
honored military personnel who
died in the Civil WAr. It was in
augurated in 1868 by commander
in-chief John A. Logan, for the
purpose of decorating the graves
of comrades who died in the
defense of their country.
Logan did this with the hope
that it would be kept up from year
Letters To The Editor
Advice is offered
for elected officials
To the Editor:
We are writing you this letter for
your considering if it could be
helpful to the City of Raeford, and
Hoke County people for more
understanding, and a better
knowledge of all things, and chris
tian love and peace and care for
one another, and good will toward
all people for to go forward for a
happier and healthier life in the
way of respect for the individual
rights of people; according to their
choice in how they live their life,
within their rights, and duty: First
to God, right to be a servant of
God through faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit given
to all baptized believers who are in
Christ, and accept his word.
For others not to cause hurt to
any person because of their choice,
or not agreeing.
Is there coverage in The News
Journal for a Neighborhood News,
that anyone in Hoke County could
ask or give news helpful for the
growing of knowledge and
understanding of city people and
country people.
Having been raised and living on
a farm for the first 32 years of my
life, we could have had a more
abundant life if we could have
known the good laws, and other
good things about city life, also do
all city people know about country
life? Especially them who are not
able to get out and learn for
themselves.
Could life be better if city and
country people cared for, and
helped one another for the good of
all?
We sure do believe people could
have more understanding in work
ing together.
With all the good of Radio and
TV can anyone hear it all the day,
unless that is a work for a given
purpose?
If so be it, then that is
knowledge of things that all of us
do not need, speaking of myself in
my line of duty.
How can people be beneficial to
that they do not know: kings are
served by the field, so who can live
to themselves?
Everyone did which was right in
his own eyes until the law of
Moses.
In our now New Testament age
of the Spirit of Grace according to
my knowledge there are people
who now do not have knowledge
of individual laws, for freedom
through the Spirit of Grace to all
people who accept and keep it.
Should anyone be unreasonable
concerning the natural man, or do
despite to the Spirit of Grace? We
respect your right.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Elma P. Williams
Priorities mixed up
To the Editor:
I believe we've gotten our
priorities mixed up in this country.
It seems to me that we've waged
an all out war of all people... the
poor.
There's some real uglies out
there!
I have actually heard more peo
ple selfishly complain about some
poor pregnant girl receiving food
stamps than some big government
expense that wastes vast amounts
of tax dollars and helps no one.
For example those $400 ham
mers.
Thank you
Rosemary Lister
Fairmont, W. Virginia
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.
Looking Oil
By Josephine Hall
to year.
Most of the southern states have
their own day of honoring the con
federate dead.
North and South Carolina
celebrate it on May 10.
Local United Daughters of the
Confideracy records show that 132
confederate veterans are buried in
Hoke County cemeteries.
The largest number of these
graves, 32, can be found in the
cemetery at Antioch Presbyterian
Church.
Around 30 are buried in the
Raeford Cemetery.
Memorial Day is a legal holiday.
Northern states observe Memorial
Day on the last Monday in May.
This date was made a Federal
Holiday by law, that became effec
tive in 1971.
On Memorial Day people place
flags and flowers on the graves of
military personnel.
Memorials are often dedicated
on this day. Since the end of World
War I Memorial Day has also been
designated as Poppy Day.
Military exercises and special
programs are held at Gettysburg
National Park, at the National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia
and other national grave sites and
memorials.
The News-Journal
Published Every Thursday by
Dkksoa Press, lac., Paal Dicksoa, Pres.
119 W. El wood Avenue, P.O. Box 550
Raeford, N.C. 28376
Subacriptioa Rates la Advance
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LOUIS H. FOGLEMAN, JR Publisher
WARREN N. JOHNSTON Editor
HENRY L. BLUE Production Supervisor
SAM C. MORRIS Contributing Editor
ANN N. WEBB Advertising Representative
Second Class Postage at Raeford, N.C.
(USPS 3SS-260)
Cat puts damper on otherwise pretty good day
The other evening, while ray wife and I were visiting friends, a cat
sprayed the seat of our car.
We did not know it until we got in to go home. By then it was too
late. I sat in it.
We should have suspected something was awry when we saw the
feline hanging around the car. I had never seen a cat with such a
strange mirthful grin on its face before.
"What a nice kitty," my wife had said, scratching the purring
animal behind the ears.
"What is that smell?" I had asked, as we backed out of the
driveway. H was my scat that had been sprayed.
Fortunately the ride home was a short one. We kept the windows
rolled Awn, but my eyes still watered which made it difficult to see.
Prior to the spraying, we had had a full social calendar. We had
lunched at a neighbor's, spent the afternoon at a toad rodeo and
pike to an evening reception.
With the sort of schedule we had had that day, it was little
Warren Johnston
1 The Puppy Papers
wonder that we were beginning to fed slightly big for our britches.
"It just goes to show you that when you are riding too high, even
it cat can bring you down to reality/' my wife said during the eye
smarting drive.
When we arrived home, we became the immediate focus of atten
tion for the three cats which live at our house. They were not im
pressed by i J to be seeking ways to
Balance inc sum oy oveTsprsyiiig.
We were forced to roll up the car windows to keep the curious
felines at bay. After 30 seconds, the vapor became overpowering.
We fled from the car into the house with the three cats and the dog
following close on the heels of the wafting scent.
Our clothes were permeated and my shirt had worked as a blotter
for the sprayed seat.
It took a two-hour shower and three bars of soap before I felt
secure enough to go into public and before the three cats and the ,
dog would stop following me around the house.
"I believe that cat was in league with the devil or at least a
skunk," I told my wife later while I was scrubbing the car seat.
It has been three weeks now. We only drive the car for rare
emergencies, but we scrub it daily.
There is Mill an odor about the seat which is reminiscent of the
evening's spraying. Our cats have taken to sleeping on the hood of
the car, apparently waiting for an opportunity to fat inside.
Sooner or later we know we will have to drive somewhere. If I
have anything to do with it, the trip will be to the auto dealerihip to i
trade for a new model.