Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Oct. 20, 2021, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ews $1 00 If it happened, its news to us 0 5 5 0 5 No.34VoI.116 Raeford & Hoke County n.c. ’V(^dnesday, October 20,2021 COVID continues decline here Still, 2 died last week, boosters on the way 50 Hoke COVID-19 Cases-7 Day Average over 578 Days 40 30 20 10 .A !V- ■A--" ‘.•.r 1 / - if A/! Ti Apr. 2020 Apr. By Catharin Shepard Staff writer After a late summer surge in the number of cases, local levels of COVID-19 transmis sion appear to be tapering off - but two more people in Hoke have died after contracting the virus. The deaths were reported in the past week, bringing the toll for Hoke County to 79 lives lost during the pandemic. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported the deaths. Hoke has seen 121 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past two weeks, including 47 cases in the last seven days. Only six new cases were recorded on Monday. Hoke County Schools reported just 16 cases among students and staff last week. For the week ending Friday, October 15, 14 students and two staff members reportedly tested (See COVID, page 4) Crowd returns for Fall Festival Downtown was rockin’ Main Street was packed as the Fall Festival returned from a COVID-imposed absence. (Ken MacDonald photo) By Catharin Shepard Staff writer Lemonade poured, guitars twanged and children with plas tic inflatable dinosaurs chased each other up and down Main Street to the background hum of portable generators, as the North Carolina Fall Festival made its long-awaited comeback. Thousands of people turned out Saturday in the biggest com munity event Hoke County has seen since the pandemic forced shutdowns and cancellations in 2020. While the crowd may have been a little less than in some prior years, the street was packed, lines were long at the popular food trucks and vendors did a brisk business in every thing from cheerfully painted wooden signs to jars of honey. Festival director Liz McNeill, also the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce director, said that things went well on the big day. “It seems that everything went really well on our end. (See FESTIVAL, page 6) The Guy Unger Band entertains from the stage near the Chamber of Commerce. (Catharin Shepard photo) A child sees the festival from a wagon. (Ken MacDonald photo) Board moves on HATS building, adds water slide to Leach facihty By Catharin Shepard Staff writer The Hoke County Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to approve sending out a re quest for proposals to build a long- planned new facility for the Hoke Area Transit Service (HATS). The project has been in the works for a number of years, and will move forward once compa nies interested in designing the facility respond to the county’s request for proposals, known as an RFP. The project doesn’t have an exact dollar amount attached to it yet - that will come when poten tial designers send in their pro posals, board members discussed Monday night. The facility is set to go forward as a “design-build” project, mean ing the same company will work with sub-contractors to complete both the architectural plans, and the actual construction of the structure. Currently the HATS main office is housed alongside the county’s Department of Social Services in a building on South Magnolia Street. The board members will have an opportunity to review the proposals and meet with potential developers once the RFPs come back. Water slide in the works A water slide has been added to the plans for the family swim ming pool at the James A. Leach Aquatic and Recreation Center, (See WATER SLIDE, page 6) Goblins head to the streets here Oct. 31, costume contest extended Halloween this year is set for Sunday, October 31, and trick-or- treaters will be out and about in Raeford and Hoke County in the evening hours. The city and county local governments of Raeford and Hoke don’t have any rules governing trick-or-treat times. The Raeford Police Department suggested the hours of 6-8 p.m. on Halloween for trick-or-treating in the city. Law enforcement offered tips for staying safe and keeping chil dren safe while they dress up and go door to door. Houses handing out candy should leave a porch light on and make sure there aren’t any ob stacles trick-or-treaters could trip over, law enforcement safety tips suggested. Also make sure any lit candles in jack-o-lantems can’t brush against children’s costumes on porches or walkways. Drivers should watch for chil dren darting out from between parked cars, or walking on road ways, medians and curbs. Exit 0(See HALLOWEEN, page 4) Enrolling For Next School Year! Bus Service from Raeford (910) 483-3905 Fayetteville Christian School Voted Best Private School 8 Consecutive Years 8i Counting! 1422 Ireland Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28304 • www.fayettevillechristian.conn
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Oct. 20, 2021, edition 1
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