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The Hoke County News- Established 1928
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LX1V NUMBER 8
RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
St PER YEAR 10 PER COPY
THURSDAY. JULY 4. 1968
Drought To Blame
Hoke Corn Crop
Is Feared Lost
BY JIM TAYLOR
There's an old superstitution
about ruining the rhubarb, but
it hasn't crossed Hoke County
farmers' minds recently.
Their main concern right
now is an extended drought
which threatens to ruin the
corn crop, and to inflict serious
damage on tobacco, soybeans
and cotton.
For more than a week,
temperatures have hovered
near 100 degrees, and there
hasn't been any appreciable
rain here in almost a month.
Before the last rain - which
totaled something more than
an inch of rainfall during i
two-day period - the county
had been suffering from
drought. The welcome rain set
the tobacco crop to growing,
and before the recent heat
wave set in, it had sprung from
ankle to waist high and most of
it is in the blooming stage right
now.
Weather records are not kept
here (there is no official
reporting station closer than
Fayetteville), but many Hoke
residents say the current heat
wave is about as bad as any
they remember.
One would have to go back
many years to find records of a
spring and early summer as dry
as this one has been in this
section.
Weather forecasters were
predicting -at the first of the
week the ' heat wave and
drought will be broken this
State Commission
The Hoke County jail is
getting a coat of inside paint
and isexpected to be ready for
occupancy July IS or toon
thereafter, according to
County Manager T. B. Lester.
Furnishings have been
purchased for delivery on July
IS. Some pieces already have
arrived, such as a kitchen
range, a heavy duty food
mixer, and some pieces for the
offices.
Last week final work was
being done on the plumbing
and finishing touches were
being put on by painters. The
inside is being done throughout
in pastel colors, including pale
green bars.
A team of men, under the
name of the State Jail Study
Commission, a body
established by the last general
assembly and headed by Judge
Frank Sncpps of Charlotte,
JAIL VISITORS A stste Jell study commtssloa visited
Hoke County Friday to make tour of the bw jail.
week, with rain beginning in
the mountains either Tuesday
night or Wednesday. Extended
forecasts often don't pan out,
though, and disgruntled
farmers won't start pulling
down windows until the
raindrops start to fall.
Farm experts declare the
tobacco, cotton and soybean
crops have not been drastically
damaged at this point, but have
reached a stage where they
must have moisture soon, or
their growth and maturity will
be affected.
The corn crop is a different
story.
PARCHED CORN This corn
rorn still hasachance to survive
who was appointed by Gov.
Dan Moore, toured the facility
Friday to get i first-hand view
of a newly constructed North
Carolina jail.
Among the group were
Judge David Taylor of
Tarboro, representative of the
North Carolina League of
Municipalities; Rep. Thomas
Hunter of Rockingham; Sheriff
W. C. Clark of Fayetteville,
representative of North
Carolina Sheriffs Association;
Chief of Police H. W. Alderman
of Tarboro, representative of
the North Carolina Police
Executive Committee; L. P.
Zachary of Raleigh,
representative of the N.C.
Association of County
Commissioners; Allen Ashman
of Chapel Hill, assistant
director of the Institute of
Government and consultant to
Late corn hu been damaged
beyond any hope of recovery,
farm experts declare, and
damage to early corn depends
upon what stage of maturity it
is in.
Where corn is just tasseling,
or has not yet tasseled, fodder
has burned from top to bottom
of the stalk. Because of more
developed root system, early
corn has fared better: however,
a few more days of drought
will claim it, too.
Lawns and gardens were
suffering, too, and where they
were not being irrigated, had
(See CORK, Me 10)
mmnm Ud mm umimi
la "kaput," as they say In Germany when the Jig Is up. Earlier
the current heat wave, but rain and cooler weather have to hurry.
Eyes Hoke Jail
the commission; and Let tour by Commissioners T. C.
Smith, chairman of the state's Jones and J. A. Webb, Sheriff
jail and detention services. Dave Barrington, and T. B.
The men were taken on the Lester, county manager.
Jail Cold-Shoulder s
Too-Big Refrigerator
The refrigerator for the
Hoke County iail should have
been delivered long ago and the
structure built around it.
This was an assumption after
County Manager T. B. Lester
reported to the board of
county commissioners at
Monday morning's meeting
that the large unit was
delivered last week and it had
to be returned because it
would not go through the
door.
"We don't need one that
'large anyway," Lester said. The
one used in the old jail was
almost miniature in size. The
new establishment will not
only have I larger refrigerator,
Sheriff Dave Berrinftoo and other kxl officials chat, abev,
with some of the visitors whUt thy ws.lt tor others to arrive.
i ;r !
s
t 1
- "
HOT This picture of a ther
mometer was taken on Main
Street In Raeford last Wednes
day afternoon while skies were
overcast. That day, the official
reading In Fayettevllle was 100
degrees. An unofficial reading
at a radio station there was 102.
but also a freezer.
The hood for the kitchen
range was also off-size and had
to be tent back, Lester laid.
These situations, plus tome
other tlow-moving projects,
may keep the new jail from
going into use before August 1.
Tne Commissioners
approved payment of three
bills for extra work not
included in the construction
contract; $130 for ban to be
placed tt the medical window;
$90 for enclosing the sallyport;
$ 1 ,260 for concrete paving of
drive through sallyport, curb
and gutter.
Extra money will also be
(See JAIL. Page 10)
Few Citizens Complain
School Board Acts
After Stormy Hearing
Hoke Board of Education
formally adopted a rcsoultion
Monday night to totally
integrate grades six through 1 2
throughout the county this
fall, and to consolidate the
county's three high schools
into one.
The resolution was adopted
following a sometimes stormy
public hearing on the high
school consolidation question
in which discussion sometimes
wandered far pfield.
The two-hour session, held
in the county courthouse, was
attended by 95 adults -71 of
whom were white and 24
Negro. There was at times an
obvious verbal sparring
between the two groups.
The decision to totally
integrate all county public
school facilities actually was
made i month ago when the
board moved to comply with a
federal order to eliminate the
dual school system in Hoke
County.
That order was given to the
school board in January with a
warning that if the board did
not submit a concrete plan for
elimination of the dual system,
administrative action would be
taken against the county.
Several weeks ago, the Civil
Rights district office in
Charlottesville, Va., informed
the local school board that it
wat not satisfactorily
complying with the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (regarding
integration of public school
facilities) and that
administrative action against
the county had been initiated
and the case forwarded to
Washington.
The next logical step in the
case, had the board not
complied with the order to
eliminate the dual system,
would have been a hearing in
the case and subsequently the
denial of federal school funds
to the county.
Total federal assistance to
schools amounts to some
$750,000 per year, school
officials declare.
At Monday night's public
hearing, County Attorney Bill
Moses explained that North
Carolina law requires such
hearings be held before
consolidation of high schools.
Donald D. Abernethy,
superintendent of schools,
explained the necessity of
complying with federal
regulations and outlined the
consolidation and integration
plans of the school board.
In a spirited question and
answer period (in which some
questions did not receive a full
answer and some others
required none), the floodgates
were opened and the tide
rolled in.
Lloyd Jackson, who told the
school board he buys
pulpwood at Timberland, said:
"I work with colored
people. They have said to me
that Upchurch High School is
being taken away from them
and they are being told where
they have to go to school.
What about that?
D R. Huff Jr., chairman of
the school board, answered
(after several other questions
Raeford Worsted Plant
Sets Safety Record
Raeford Wortteu flint has
completed 2,000,000 safe
manhourt without lost time
due to accident, the mill
announced this week.
To recognize employes for
their efforts toward the
prevention of accidents, the
mill will entertain employes
with a mid-shift meal on
Friday.
Tablet will be set up in four
along the same line) that the
board was operating to satisfy
a federal edict and that the
federal government hadn't
made allowances for who the
action would make unhappy
and who it would not.
The Rev. Thomas Walker
said he was not disturbed
about the elimination of
Upchurch as an all-Negro
school-that what he was
interested in was equal
opportunity for his children to
be educated as well as white
children in the county, and
that inferior facilities in
previously all-Negro schools
"A-
Autry, Bledsoe Assigned
Hoke, Upchurch Principals
Hoke County Board of
Education this week assigned
principals to newly integrated
schools and retained the
principals in other elementary
facilities.
Raz Autry will be principal
at Hoke High School, Lonnie
Bledsoe at Upchurch, and J. D.
McAllister will be an assistant
superintendent.
The appointments were
made Monday night after the
Hoke Budget Is Slightly
Higher Than Last Year
Hoke County commissioners
have adopted a $1,083,912
budget for the new fiscal year,
which began July 1. The
budget is only slightly larger
than last year, when the total
was $1,068,231.
Biggest items in the budget
were $553,653.27 for schools,
which does not include federal
assistance; law enforcement,
$55,161; register of deeds,
$13,363.50; jail, $12,158.92;
county accountant,
$28,752.36; farm and home
demonstration, $16,218.56;
welfare administration,
$83,067.90; welfare public
assistance, $35,369,
health,$58,779.97.
The new budget includes a 6
per cent increase in wages and
salaries of all county employes
except those under the state
merit system.
The tax rate will remain the
same as last year - $1.38 per
S100 taxable evaluation,
according to T.B. Lester Jr.,
county manager.
Following is a complete
listing of budget
appropriations, all of which are
on file at the county
accountant's office (last year's
totals are in parentheses):
Administration, $8,490.44
($8,433.16) - Salary of board,
$2,640; clerk to board, $600;
locations in the plant and
barbecue, chicken, potato
salad, slaw and hushpuppies
will be served cafeteria style.
A torcn uuimng in tront ol
the plant symbolizes the no
time due to accident theme. It
will burn as long as the record
continues to increase,
according to Ashwell Harward,
personnel director.
v.wx-:"X.xx-X':wXx-x.X':-xy
did not permit this.
Willie Bratcher, who before
graduation from high school
several years ago was president
of the Upchurch student body,
said his experience while in
school was that facilities
(primarily in foreign languages
and lab) were better at Hoke
High School than at Upchurch.
Dr. Riley M. Jordan, vice
chairman of the school board,
said it is conceded that more
interest in and attention to
all-white schools were given
before 1946. Since that time,
however, the boards of
education here spent school
board resumed its regular
monthly meeting following a
public hearing at the county
courthouse on the matter of
consolidating the county's
three high schools.
Other principals -- all of
whom served in the same
capacity last year - will be
James Turlington at Raeford
Elementary; James Bowles at
McLauchlin Elementary; Earl
Oxendine at South Hoke; M.
county attorney, $300; social
security, $121.44; travel of
board, $200; supplies and
expense, $3,600;
miscellaneous, $100; auditing,
$850; hospital insurance, $60;
workmen's compensation, $19.
Tax Listing, $9,529.81
($8,723.64) - Social security,
$657.81; travel, $150; books
and supplies, $800; list takers,
$2,000; tax receipts, $400;
Raeford tax lister, $3,510;
mapping, $500: postage, $500;
appraisal expense, $1,000;
workmen's compensation, $12.
Tax Collector, $13,592.03
($12,665.24) - Salary
Bike Riders Told
Observe Rules
Town authorities have again
declared war on irresponsible
bike riders, promising to
impound bicycles for 10 days
and take whatever other action
the law permits against
violators.
Mayor H.R. McLean, a
crusader against the "bicycle
takeover" in downtown
Raeford, declared the police
department will begin strict
enforcement of local
ordinances regulating bike
traffic, particularly those
dealing with riding "wheels"
on the sidewalk.
"I've nearly been run over
several times," the mayor said,
"and if we don't stop this
riding on the sidewalk,
someone is going to get
seriously injured, perhaps an
old person."
Mayor McLean revealed that
Raeford policemen will be
instructed to warn a youngster
for the first offense of
improper riding on parking of
bikes. A second offense will
cause the youngster's bike to
be impounded 10 days.
Actually, traffic laws
stipulate that bicycles are
subject to the tame laws
governing operation of motor
vehicles, except the bike rider
money with the intention of
making all county schools as
nearly equal as possible.
"We don't deny that 30
years ago the white schools
were favored, but we can't do
anything about 30 years ago.
We have to deal with the
present. I think we now have
an opportunity to do more for
more people than ever before.
The important thing now is
that we will have the best
possible school system," he
said.
One citizen asked Dr. Jordan
(See STORMY, Page 10)
W. Hayes at West Hoke, and
Floyd Caldwell at Scurlock.
There had been much
speculation as to the
assignment of principals in the
totally integrated and
consolidated sections of the
school system, which next fall
will erase the dual school
system in grades six through
12.
It was assumed that Autry,
(See PRINCIPLES, Page 10)
(collector), $5,625; assistant
collector, $4,505; social
security and retirement,
$1,632.96; travel. $200;
telephone, $150; supplies and
expenses, $1,330; workmen's
compensation, $29.07; hospital
insurance, $120.
Elections, $5,419.20
($12,100) - Officials, $3,400;
travel, $150; supplies and
expenses, $1,250; workmen's
compensation, $19.20;
chairman's salary, $600.
Law Enforcement, $55,161
($45,914) - Salaries:
Barrington, $7,420; Norton,
(See BUDGET, Page 10)
does not have to have
operator's permit and docs not
have to license his bike.
In operating a bike, the rider
must move on the right side of
the street or road, observe stop
signs and other directional
instructions, and keep on the
pavement or shoulder of the
road.
It is particularly dangerous
and unlawful - to ride facing
oncoming traffic, or without
lights at night. Nightridcrs
should wear white clothing or
other apparel easily seen by
auto drivers.
Bike parking stands have
been placed in the downtown
area and youngsters are
requested to use them. It is
unlawful to park a bike on the
sidewalk at sites other than
those designated for that
purpose, the mayor said.
"We surely must have more
problems with bike riders than
other towns," Mayor McLean
said "We do not wish to place
unusually severe restrictions on
bicycle operators, but we insist
they be sensible and safe- for
protection of both the bike
rider and the pedestrian. If we
cannot control the situation
with present ordinances, we
will have to enact adequate
restrictions."