The
ews
Journal
If it happened, it’s news to us
75^
No. 32 Vol.113
Raeford & Hoke County n.c.
Wednesday, October 10,2018
Governor tours Hoke damage
There are a lot of people hurting, we’ve got to step up’
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
The governor, left, talks with Rockflsh Fire ChiefToddWood, center, and Commission Chairman James Leach. (Catharin Shepard photo)
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper visited the
Rockfish Fire Department Monday to offer his
thanks to local first responders, before touring
storm damage in south Hoke as part of an effort to
support counties affected by Hurricane Florence.
“I wanted to come here to the Rockfish Fire De
partment for the number one thing, to thank all of
the first responders because these men and women
put their lives on the line to go out and save the life
of another. We have a lot of those first responders
all over our state and here in Hoke County is no
exception,” Cooper said.
Many people across the state had to be evacuat
ed for Florence, and the state’s first responders were
there to help them get out, the governor said.
“We had over 5,000 water rescues, so we know
that is critically important,” he said. “I also appreci
ate the local, state and federal officials - we’ve got
a number of them here today - for working togeth
er. We worked together on response to this horrible
tragedy that the people of North Carolina have
faced. Now we’ve got to work together on the re
covery phase of this. There are a lot of people who
are hurting, there are a lot of people without homes,
a lot of businesses are damaged, farms damaged,
churches underwater. We know that we’ve got to
step up and help.”
(See GOVERNOR, page 7)
Hurricane Michael forecast to bring us wind, rain
Emergency center here to be partially staffed
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Michael, on Tuesday, was forecast to track nearly over Raeford.
Forecasters and emer
gency management officials
are keeping an eye on Hur
ricane Michael, a category
three hurricane in the Gulf
of Mexico that could travel
through North Carolina this
week as a tropical storm or
tropical depression.
Even though Hurricane
Michael is on the wrong
coastline to directly impact
North Carolina, its predict
ed track could still bring
it far in overland to drop
inches more rain in the
storm-weary Carolinas.
Hurricane Michael is
forecast to make landfall
somewhere in the Florida
panhandle Wednesday
and move inland through
Georgia, South Carolina
and North Carolina through
Thursday, according to the
National Hurricane Center.
The storm was moving
at about 12 miles an hour
Tuesday morning, and
should move away from the
United States out over open
water on Friday.
Should the storm follow
the predicted track and pass
over North Carolina, by
the time it arrives it would
likely be classified as a
tropical storm or tropical
depression at that point.
Hoke County could see the
effects from Michael late
Wednesday night through
Thursday.
(See HURRICANE,
page 12)
Voter registration extended to Oct. 15 due to Florence
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Due to Hurricane Florence,
Hoke citizens will have the chance
to register to vote through October
15 for the General Election set for
November 6.
Legislation passed by the North
Carolina General Assembly and
signed by Gov. Roy Cooper last
week extended the usual regis
tration deadline in 28 counties
affected by Hurricane Elorence,
including Hoke.
Before the extension, the
deadline to register to vote in the
upcoming election was Friday,
October 12. Now, citizens have
until 5 p.m. Monday, October 15
to register to vote. The legisla
tion also included many of Hoke’s
neighboring counties, such as
Robeson, Cumberland, Moore and
Scotland.
The original registration dead
line of 5 p.m. October 12 remains
in effect for all other North Caro
lina counties.
(See VOTING, page 7)
Home Food celebrates 100 years
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Hoke County’s oldest locally-
owned grocery store marked a
special milestone this weekend
with a party that could only hap
pen once in a century.
Multiple generations of the
McNeill family joined friends,
customers and supporters for a cel
ebration Saturday as Home Food
Market officially opened its doors
for the 100th year in a row.
The grocery and feed store’s
centennial celebration took place
at the original storefront located at
117 North Main Street in down
town Raeford. The free public
event offered food, a wood carving
demonstration, pet adoptions, axe
throwing, live music and more.
Hoke County itself was just
seven years old in 1918 when
(See HOME EOOD, page 12)
HOME FOO:
Chamber to host political forum
The Raeford-Hoke County
Chamber of Commerce will host
a political forum for local candi
dates, and the event is free and
open to the public.
The forum will be 6 p.m. Tues
day, October 16 at the senior room
in the Old Armory building, lo
cated at 423 East Central Avenue
in Raeford. Invited participants
running for election include can
didates for Hoke County Board
of Commissioners, State House
of Representatives District 48 and
judicial races for the Hoke-Moore
district.
Candidates will have three min
utes to discuss their platform and
then will answer questions from
(See EORUM, page 6)
The McNeill family gathered in front of the store. (Contributed photo)
/7
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