The
ews- ourn
Hoke County’s newspaper since 1905
No.43Vol.108
Raeford & Hoke County n.c.
Wednesday, January 1,2014
2014 shaping up to be big election year
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
The first of several election fil
ing periods this year—this one for
three seats on the Hoke County
Board of Commissioners—will
open on February 10 and run until
February 28. The seats currently
occupied by commissioners Ellen
McNeill, Tony Hunt and Jean
Powell are up for election this
year. So far, three people - Harry
Southerland, Michael Lindsay and
Allen Thomas - have announced
they plan to seek election to the
commission. All three plan to run
as Democrats.
If enough candidates in each
party file to run, the county will
hold a primary on May 6. Election
Day is scheduled for November 4.
Three seats on the county
board of education are also up for
Number 24 for East Hoke Middle School, K.Thorpe, tries to put a lay-up over the top ofWest Hoke defender
#34 J. Baldwin in the annual hardwood battle between the middle schools recently. East Hoke defeated West
Hoke 61-43. More Sports, page 4A. (Hal Nunn photo)
This Week
Man shot in hand
Page 3A
Calendar 2B
Classifieds 6B
Deaths 3 A
Editorials 2A
Legals 3-5B
Worship 2B
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Two arrested for area break-ins
Deputies with the
Hoke County Sheriff’s
Office last week arrested
two people from Lumber
Bridge on charges they
committed several motor
vehicle break-ins in the
Rockfish community.
Officers arrested Josh-
uaDavidMcQuage, 24, of
the 200block of Culbreth
Ransom McQuage
Road in Lumber Bridge
and Jami Rae Ransom,
30, also of the 200 block
of Culbreth
Road in Lum
ber Bridge.
Authorities
charged Mc
Quage with
seven felony
counts of
breaking and
(See BREAK-INS
page 4A)
Man busts
By Ken MacDonald
Longjohns on, “Termooscud” blanket covering
my legs, and backpack strapped in place, I departed
my driveway Saturday afternoon on the scooter.
Next stop, the beach. Well, technically the next stop
was the gas station. If your full tank is less than
2 gallons, it would be stupid not to top it off and
risk running out somewhere in the Green Swamp.
I’d ridden my bicycle from Raeford to the beach
before, yet somehow doing it on a scooter seemed
(See OTHER STUEE, page 4A)
election this year. Board members
Barbara Buie, Della Maynor and
Irish Pickett currently occupy the
seats. The filing period for the
board of education opens July 7.
The office of the sheriff, cur
rently occupied by Sheriff Hubert
Peterkin, and the position of the
county coroner, currently held by
G. Franklin Grumpier, are also
up for election this year. Peterkin
announced in August that he plans
to run for office again.
There are several state races
slated for 2014 that will affect
(See ELECTION, page 4A)
County hires
finance officer
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Hoke County’s new chief finance
officer starts work Monday, ac
cording to County Manager Tim
Johnson.
After conducting interviews with
candidates, the county board of
commissioners chose to hire Barry
Mayo, the current finance officer for
Warren County. Mayo will earn a
starting salary of $ 89,716. The com
mission is set to officially confirm
Mayo to the position at the first board
meeting of the year on January 6.
Mayo graduated from Orange
High School in Hillsborough in 1981
and went on to earn a bachelor’s de
gree in business from St. Augustine
College in Raleigh in 1985. He went
back to school and earned an MPA
in public administration from N.C.
(See EINANCE, page 3A)
Craigslist thief
A man who spotted a
stolen paint sprayer up for
sale on Craigslist set up a
sting operation of his own
to catch the thief, according
to the Hoke County Sheriffs
Office.
Gary Scott told deputies
December 23 that his em
ployer Christopher Perry had
(See THIEE, page 4A)
Looking Back at 2013
Hoke’s first hospital opened to a big crowd.
With Hoke’s first hospital
opening, the 2013 was a big
year for the county. Here’s a
look back at the year’s news
events:
Fame. Parks and Recreation
employee Kendrick Maynor
later became the new depart
ment director.
February:
Parks and Recreation
Director Elgin Blue dies just
days before he was set to be
inducted into the Hoke County
High School Sports Hall of
David Lrame, 16, was
shot and killed while he and
three other people were al
legedly attempting to rob the
All American Mattress and
Lurniture store on Highway
211. Deputies arrested Ronald
Visitors get a look at technology at Sandy Grove Middle School
when it opened in August.
Ross Jr., 24, of the Park Place
Mobile Home Park in Raeford,
Amie Lynette Ross, 27, of
the 100 block of Park Place
Mobile Home Park in Raeford
and Lewis Vega, 21, of the 300
block of Providence Way in
Aberdeen in connection with
the robbery.
doctors’ offices.
March:
Cape Pear Valley opens
its outpatient facility. Health
Pavilion Hoke. The facility
offers a number of outpatient
services such as imaging and
The House of Raeford
announces it is getting out of
the turkey business and will
shut down the slaughterhouse
in Raeford, laying off nearly
1,000 workers. The cook
plant will continue to operate.
The plant had its final day of
operations in July and officials
expected the plant would be
fully vacated in December.
(See EOOKING
BACK, page 3A)