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i The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
journal
The Hoke County News - Islabltshed IV2»
WLUME LVI: NUMBER 31
RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
20 PAGES
10^ PER COPY
I 4 PER YEA R
THURSDAY,DECEMBER 21, IMI
AdtUtuta ..
By Paul Dickton
A fellow whom I think I
could safely refer to as one
of this town’s “leading
citizens” commended me one
day this week for my com
ments here several weeks ago
about the Chamber of Com
merce and other things,
adding that he thought they
may have had a good effect
overalL He then went on to
wonder out loud "if there
isn’t a great deal more you
could do”.
My answer was that there
Is no doubt about that, and
he followed with the question,
“If people don’t know enough
of what their Chamber of
Commerce could do, and ought
to do. to support it financially
and verbally so it can do these
things, whose fault is It ?’’
Without ever implying that
we are not doing a fair job
on the paper, he went further
into this idea of more that we
could do.
1 came back on the Chamber
of Commerce question with a
flat denial, which I repeat
here, that this newspaper has
ever given the Raeford
Chamber of Comnjerce less
than full ^d complete
coverage, anothat we have
quite often given it more than
many readers thought was its
share of our space. For the
first dozen years of its life
1 served the Chamber in
several capacities--secre-
tary, director, president, and
1 pushed it hard, because 1
know it can and should be the
greatest single organized
force for development in all
areas of our community life.
When we got a Chamber pro^
fesslonal several years ago
and I left ^ the board of
directors. The News-Journal
didn’t go anywhere or change
its attitude. The Chamber
just quit using it, and started
operating quietly, so to speak.
The man’s right. The Chamber
ought to be getting publicity,
but 1 refuse to take the blame
on this one.
He then said he knew the
county commissioners were
good men, and that they think
Dr. Davenport does enough
for the county to earn $6,000
a year, but that he personally
wanted to know for himself
what he does for this money,
and that many other people in
the county must feel the same
way. He said, that people in
the county ought to know how
much time the health officer
puts in, what the health oro-
(See ADDENDA. Page 8)
REPLACES LAMONT
Lester Assumes Command
Of National Guard Unit
Raeford’s 2d Medium Tank
Battalion, possessed of a 40-
year National Guard tradition
and wartime service In
several overseas theaters,
has a new commander.
He is Lt. Col. T. B. Lester,
Jr., who took over as acting
Commander in late April when
Lt. Col. William Lamont, Jr.
was forced to the sidelines
with a serious illness.
For reasons of medical dis
ability, Lamont has now been
transferred to the inactive
reserve. Lester’s promotion
to Lt. Col. was effective last
WILLIAM LAMONT, JR.
. . . Inactive Reserve
T. B. LESTER, JR.
. . . Guard Commander
F rlday.
Col. Lamont beganhis mili
tary career with the Guard in
1930. He was commissioned
In 1939, and went on active
duty in 1940 when the local
unit was federalized. He
served in the Pacific Theater
during World War II, and took
over command of the local
Guard In 1949 from Lt. Col.
Younger Snead.
The senior Lt. Col. in the
North Carolina National
Guard, Lamont presided over
the difficult transition from
anti-aircraft to armor which
the 2d Bn has now success
fully accomplished. He is a
graduate of the Army’s pres-
tlgous Command and General
Staff School at Fort Leaven
worth. Kansas.
Reminiscing at his home.
Col. Lamont said: “I guess
I’ll miss the encampments
most of all". Asked about
•the biggest headache of the
command position, he said,
“Getting everybody packed on
the trucks and off to encamp
ment.”
Lt. Col. Lester, the new
commander, joined the Guard
In 1932 and went on active duty
in 1940 shortly after being
commissioned. He was an
Instructor . in Army anti
aircraft schools and served
In the European Thfeater.Llke
Lamont. Col. Lester is agrad-
uate of the Armor School at
Fort Knox.
Prior to taking command of
the 2d Bn., Col. Lester had
been the unit’s executive
officer since its formation In
1947.
"Ve’ll missBill," saldCol.
Lester, “but this is a job
I’ve looked forward to for a
long time,”
In civilian life. Col. Lester
is County Auditor.
Sewage
Systems
Discussed
The vexing problem ofRae*
ford’s sewage system was
taken to the State Stream Sa
nitation Committee last week
in Raleigh. Making the trip
was a delegation led Ma
yor H. R. (Hooch) IvicLean.
Town Commissioners Fred
Culbreth and W. L. Alexan
der, Town Clerk Charles Mo
rrison and town Attorney,
Harry Harrison.
The group was joined in
Raleigh by their consulting
engineer, R, H. Moore, of
Asheboro.
Moore told the State com
mittee that recent studies have
shown an increased output of
wastes, and that a larper svs-
(See SEWAGE, Page 8)
|]oiiis8i9ier$ Dear CD Leaier;
Vote Fir Talking With Peiple
By PETER B. YOUNG
“A bomb dropped on Fort Bragg would not cause fallout in
Hoke County for at least an hour.” . t,
That’s what Col. Wallace Dawson of the State Civil Defense
Headquarters told the County Commissioners and interested
citizens in a special meeting Tuesday night.
Dawson met with the Com
missioners to provide in
formation on federal matching
funds that are available for
full-time salaries CD Per
sonnel at the County level.
Among the area counties that
have moved away from volun
teer direction of the CD pro
gram are Bladen, Brunswick,
Harnett, Robeson and Colum
bus.
' In order to be eligible for
federal matching funds a
county must have one full
time CD employee -- usually
SHOPPING EXPEDITION — James Keith McVlckers was one of several children taken on
a Christmas shopping trip this week by the Jaycees. Don’t let his expression fool you, it’s
just that James Keith was understandably arinbyed when theN-J photographer interrupted
his shopping to take the picture. For pictures of other Hoke youngsters enjoying the spirit
of Christmas, see page 1 of Section III.
? i'
a
t
Last-Minute Christmas
Plans Near Completion
dn tartlf anil
HappitirsB to firn nf 10U1.
iB ttfr Bincrmniat; of
The News ‘ Jourkai
an office secretary — who is
under the Merit System.Daw-i
son said.,Then, the Commis
sioners could appoint either
a full-time or part-time CD
Director ‘ with both salaries
“matched” by federal funds.
“I control the federal Civil
Defense funds coming into this
State,” said Col. Dawson,
pointedly.
In response to a question
from the floor. Col. Dawson
said the “minimum price tag”
for getting into such a pro
gram would be about $5,000
of town and county funds that
would be matched by $5,000
of federal money.
The Commissioners
caught In the usual squeeze
play between a good program
and the voters^ desire for
economy --listened,attentive
ly, asked many questkons, and
then voted “to discuss the
question again at first Monday
in January after we talk to
our people.”
• At that point, CD Director
Alfred Cole, whose resig
nation is pending, comment
ed:
“Oh, the people will be
for a decent program. But,
of course, they won’t want
to pay for it.”
Cole fully Indorsed the point
of view of Col. Dawson and
that of another recent CD
visitor. Col. Victor Harris,
that the program was not much
too big for volunteer direc
tion. "It’s just possible to
handle on a volunteer basis,’
said the man who for eight
years has been the Hoke CD
Director.
The meeting was enlivened
by a dispute between Raeford
CD Director Carson Davis, Jr.
and Col. Dawson. Davis said
that he had requested an en
gineer from State CD Head
quarters to survey public
buildings in Raeford for pos
sible use as fallout shelters
“He never got here,” said
Davis
•’Oh yes he did,” replied
Dawson. “He came down here
but couldn’t find anybody.”
“That’s a mighty poor ex
cuse and we’ve been getting
mighty poor cooperation from
the State.” Davis shot back.
Considerable feeling was
expressed by the Commissio
ners and others than the Civil
Defense program was marked
(See DEFENSE. Page 8)
Library
Board Asks
Same Funds
The Library Board ofTrus-
tees, meeting Friday, re
ceived a detailed report on fu
ture services, following which
the Board voted to request
town and county governments
to continue with financial as
sistance at the same level
as this year.
The Board also recommen
ded to the town and county
commissioners that bookmo
bile service be slightly re
duced so that the various stops
will be covered once every
four weeks instead of once
every three weeks as at pre
sent.
The money thus saved by
this proposal would be used
for needed book purchases.
The detailed report on the
future of the library, made
perilous by the narrow de
feat of a tax authorization
last month, was presented by
a committee consisting of Mrs
J. M. Andrews W. L. Ale
xander. R, A. Smoak, and John
W. McPhaul.
The trustees noted that
money has already been ap
propriated for Fiscal Year
1962, which concludes next
June 30, and there is no need
to operate on a reduced bud'-
get at this time. The propo
sal to slightly curtail book
mobile service would save
an estimated $900 annually,
with this money then used for
additional book purchases.
It had been thought possible
to completely eliminate book
mobile service, but State
Librarian Miss Frances Gish
told the committee that one
of the requirements for state
funds (now running at $4,000
per year) was bookmobile ser
vice. Another requirement
that a properly certified li
brarian supervise the insti
tution, was met a few months
ago with the hiring of Mrs.
Sallie McDowell of Fayette
ville on a part-time basis.
Miss Peggy Kinlaw ofNtre-
dith College and Miss Betty
Kinlaw of Wake Forest are
home for the holidays with
their’ parents, Mr. and Mrs.
C. P. Kinlaw.
Hiinigkt ChristHas Skippers
Receive Coart Jail Senteaces
Don’t do your Christmas
“shopping ” at midnight. Se
ven youths found out in Re
corders Court Tuesday that
the law frowns on entering
business establishments at
that hour, especially by aid
of a crowbar!
Three Pennsylvania Teen
agers, arrested last Thurs
day for a break-in at Teal
Oil Company were ordered
held for further investiga -
tion by Judge Harry Greene
after they pleaded guilty to
a misdemeanor breaking and
entering charge.
Mike Maroff. 16, James W.
Emigh, Jr,, 17, and JoeGob-
rish, 16 will be held in the
Hoke jail pending final dis
position of their cases. Court
house officials explained that
one of the youths may be under
16. and there is the further
possibility that federal autho
rities will take them for trial
on interstate auto theft char
ges.
The second group of mid
night Christmas “shoppers”
was composed of four Fayet
teville young men, three of
whom are troopers in the fa
med 82d Airborne Division.
These young men were
charged in connection with
the break-in early Monday
morning of Huffman’s Service
station.
Found in the station by
Raeford officers. Harvey
Young and Robert Jones was
James F, Biter of the 82d
Airborne. He got a stiff two-
year sentence from Judge
Greene and promptly announ
ced his intention to appeal
to Superior Court.
Picked up later in connec
tion with the Huffman break-
in were Darrel L. Carter.
Oskar H. Schwemmer and
Sherman K. Howard. These
young men drew 18 months
on the roads from Judge
Greene for- aiding, abetting
and assisting in a break-in
and they also announced in
tention of appeal.
Bond for all four was set
by the Judge at $1,000.
The pattern of the arrests
in both cases was the same
and revealed alert work by
the lawmen of both county
and town.
In each instance. Raeford
P. D. Officers Harvey Young
and Robert Jones made the in
itial arrest of one “shopper”
at the scene. Accomplices fled
Young and Jones then called
for help, and while other of
ficers crulsec^the area, a
bloodhound from the State Sa-
nitorium was put on the trail.
Again in each instance, the
remaining culprits werepick-
ed up by Raeford Chief L.W.
Stanton and special deputy
Vance Wiggins when theyouths
were “flushed” out to US 401.
Also engaged in the patrol
to find the fleeing youths
were Sheriff’s deputies Dave
Barrington and Jesse Lee.
One observer commented
that officers-Young and Jones
were the bird dogs, while
Stanton and Wiggins were the
successful hunters.
The Pennsylvania teen
agers were arrested with
a quantity of loot in their
possession from previous
“shopping” expeditions. Since
this loot was apparently ob
tained in another state, an
FBI agent from Fayetteville
placed it in a box and sealed
it
Presumably, this box will
be opened in a Federal Court.
Mrs. Dan Jennings, Sr. of
Boulder . Colorado is visiting
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Dan Jennings
and family.
Lt. Tom Harris will arrive
tomorrow from Laredo AFB,
Texas to spend the holidays
with his parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Jeff Harris. The family wiU
spend Christmas week end
with relatives in Roxboro.
Week end guests of Mr. and
Mrs. M. V. Peele were
Marshall Peele of Newport
News. Va. and Mr. and Mrs.
Curtis Kersey of Laurel HilL
Mrs. Mamie Fultz of Jackson
ville. Florida and Charles
Tomblin of Ayden will arrive
today to spend the holidays
with Mr. and Mrs. Martin.
Webb and sons.
Churches
Programs
Last-minute Christmas
preparations went forward
this week as shoppers con
tinued their purchases of gifts,
schools closed, and churches
prepared special holiday pro
grams.
The youngsters came out of
■ achcoi t*i- Jte 1 iidays Tues
day afternoon; they will be
underfoot around the house
until January 2, according to
School Superintendent W. T.
Gibson.
Among the church notices
received by the N-J at press
time are the following:
--Raeford Presbyterian will
present a Christmas Pa
geant, “Let There Be Light.”
on Sunday. Christmas eve. at
5:30 p.iji. Young people of
the church and various youth
choirs will participate in this
program.
--St. Elizabeth's of Hungary
Catholic Church announces a
midnight Mass for Sunday
night.
--Ephesus Baptist Church
is presenting a play, '“Be-
cause of Christ’s Birthday”,
Sunday night.
--Shady Grove Methodist
Church is having a special
Christmas program and party
F riday night a: 7.
Both town and county
governmental offices will
close Friday evening at 5,
with the town offices reopen
ing Tuesday morning and die
county back in business the
following day, Wednesday
Though offices vrill be closed
emergency services will be
available, officials said.
As for the Main Street mer
chants. groggy by the avalan
che of shoppers, they will stay
open through Saturday evening
to take care of last-minute
needs But the vast majority
will be closed for a well-
deserved rest on Monday and
Tuesday. Only the A&P has
announced plans to be open
on Tuesday.
The wheels of industry will
also grind to a complete stop
for the holidays.
--Burlington’s big Pacific
Mill wiU close at the conclu
sion of the third shift Satur
day and will reopen Tuesday
morning.
--Priebe Poultry will be
closed Monday.
- US Rubber will close at
11 p. m. Friday night and
begin again at 7 a. m. Tum-
day.
--Hoke Oil and Fertilizer
will lock the doors Friday
evening and open again Wed
nesday morning.
--Raeford Lumber will be
closed Saturday through Tues
day
Only one group is lookii^
forward to ChrlstlTias
with
(See PLANS. Page 8)