<=YlewA - journal The Hoke County News- Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 VOL. LXVI NO. 39 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA $4 PER YEAR 10c PER COPY THURSDAY. FF.RRIIABV .t HONORED ~ John K. McNeill (right) was named "Man of the Year" by the Kiwanis Club at the annual ladies night banquet last Thursday. Harold GiUis made the presentation. Army Medics Are Helping County Meet Health Needs Money Talk Dominates Commissioner's Meetinsr J.K. McNeill Is Man Of The Year John K. McNeill, lifetime resident of Hoke County and mayor of Raeford, was named the Kiwanis "Man of the Year" at the annual ladies night banquet last Thursday at the Southern Pines Sheraton Motor Inn. McNeill was cited for his church and civic activities through the years. He is a ruling elder of Raeford Presbyterian Church and previously served as a Deacon for three years. In addition, he has taught Sunday School for more than 25 years and has held many offices in the church. He served on the city council from 1953 until his election as mayor in 1969 and is a member of the Hoke County Board of Health. The Man of the Year award was presented by Harold Gillis. Attendance awards were presented by William Poole. Honored for three years perfect attendance were Bill Lancaster and Frank Blue. Four year attendance pins were presented to Joe Jenkins and .Jim Attaway. Frank Crumpler received a five year perfect attendance pin. Neill A. McDonald was awarded a six year pin and seven year awards were given to Benny McLeod, Avery Connell and John Campbell. Harold Gillis received a pin for eight years of perfect attendance. J.H. Austin Was honored for 17 years perfect attendance and Dr. Julius Jordan was presented a pin for 18 years attendance. Marion Gatlin was awarded an attendance pin for a 27 year perfect record. The award for the best program was given to Dr. Julius Jordan by Bob Pursley. The speaker of the evening was Sheriff Manley Lancaster from Forsyth County. He was introduced by Bill Lancaster. Frank M. Blue served as master of ceremonies and introduced the guests. The ladies were welcomed by Charles Hosteller and a response was given by Mrs. Jeannette Jordan. The Rev. Jack Mansfield gave the invocation. 1 tie county commissioners Monday, feeling the loss of anticipated sales tux revenue, made a two - pronged attack on financial problems with a get ? tough stand on delinquent taxes and a decision to attend hearings on a sales tax bill in Raleigh to fight for the pooling of sales tax revenues for distrubution. In their monthly meeting, the commissioners directed tax collector Brian Thornberg to get all delinquent taxes collected to within two years and not to allow any accounts to get further behind than that without starting legal proceedings. Charles Hostetler, county attorney, was directed to work with Thornberg on collections. He was authorized to write one letter to persons owing taxes before foreclosing proceedings were started. Thornberg told the commissioners that delinquent property taxes have increased by more than S24.000 in the past two years and that delinquent persotil property taxes have increased by more than 58,000. The county is now owed more than 580,000 in back taxes, he said. Tax collection for this year are running about one per cent behind last year with 50.3 per cent, or 5354,579.01,collected, he said. However, more than 5200,000 has been collected since the January report was made, he said, with Burling!.?, and other industrial accounts paying. The commissioners spent much of the morning discussing what kind of sales tax law to support. Rep. Neill McFadyen was called to meet with the board to provide information on bills now in the legislature. Members of ihe board made plans to attend a public hearing in Raleigh today of a joint Senate and House Finance Committee meeting to discuss a bill introduced by Sen. Herman A. Moore Meckletturg. The commissioners told Rep. McFadyen that they favor a bill that will include the pooling method of distribution provided for in I'ne recently voided local option bill. This returns to small counties more funds than are paid in. The Moore bill does not have this provision, county manager T.B. Lester said. Commissioner Ralph Barnhart said that as about one third of income in the county is spent at trading centers outside the county, a pooling provision that would return a percent of the tax was equitable. The board said they would be in favc of a state wide sales tax that returned on percent on a population basis or tha returned one half on a population basi and one half on an ad valorunt basis They would not favor a sales tax tha returned the revenue to the county ii which it was spent, they said. Rep. McFadyen is a member of th< House Finance committee. After a short discussion, the commissioners unanimously approved adopting a food stamp program for Hoke County in place of the present surplus commodities program. In a special meeting last Thursday night, the commissioners met with John Kerr of the State Department of Social Services and See MONEY, Page 7 Council Approves Housing Authority Hoke County anil the United State Army are partners in a new venture ti give service to the residents here am provide training tor the Army. The project was announced briefly tin weeks ago by Mayor John K. McNeill am T.C. Jones, chairman of the count; commission. An office, staffed by ai Army officei and two non commissioned officers from the JStl Civil Affair Company of Ft. Bragg. ha: been set up at city hall to co-ordinate efforts of the Army and local government. However, the primary focus of the program is on medical services and Army medical personnel have been working at the county health center on a daily basis for the past several weeks. Last Thursday. Dr. H.H. Mclean. Regional Medical Consultant, and LTC Raphael J. DiNapoli, XVIII Airborne Corp Surgeon. Post Preventive Medicine Officer and Civic Action Medical Coordinator, held meetings with community leaders to explain the project. Army doctors and other medical personnel are working on a continuing basis to assist the county in operating the health services at the center, LTC DiNapoli said. CPT George T. Reavell. a doctor assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, has been named project officer for the Hoke County Medical Civic Action. He is at the health center almost daily. Medical and paramedical personnel have worked here sporadically since November. The Army's role here is to help provide the medical services already offered by the county and to assist in developing new programs that arc needed, LTC DiNapoli explained. For example, oim l?< fust activities accomplished under the project was to purge and update the center's records and X ? rays. State and county public health personnel had made a start in November on the mammoth undertaking but a large Sec MLDICS P.?r i A R^etord - Hoke Housing Authority, with jurisdiction to extend ten miles beyond ihe city limits, was approved 'Vooday/ight by the city council The five ? member authority will be appointed by the mayor. The creation of the housing authority clears the way for Raeford to apply for low rent public housing, city manager John Gaddy said. A survey taken some time ago by ihe Department of Local Affairs showed the county to be in need of as many as 3,066 more homes, he said. At the regular meeting, Councilman J.D. McMillian introduced a commendation to be read into the minutes of Mayor John K. McNeill, who was named last week as Kiwanis "Man of the Year." The council also approved the transfer of a taxi permit from Huland Sanders to Marshall Cherry for operation of a cab within the city. Gaddy informed the board that the city was submitting a request for aid under the Governor's Highway Safety Program to study traffic problems. The program is designed to provide traffic safety engineering measures to reduce accidents. Gaddv also said that an application almost completed to request paving i the runway and apron and runwa lighting at the city airport. A environmental study must be finishe before the application can be submitte to the Federal Aviation Authority, h said. Federal and state funding expected on the project. According t Gene Thacker, who leases facilities at th airport. 11 planes are now based there. A 3400 foot runway has bee approved with paving at turnarounds ant on the apron near the administratioi building. Gaddy also announced that he, Mayo McNeill and city attorney Palmer Willcoi met Monday and.Tuesday with Charle Brown of Municipal Code Corporation tc review all city ordinances, which are now being codified. The council approved a request frorr the State Flighway Commission to change the designation of 401 Business to L'.S 401 A and to modify speed limits on some areas within the city. The onlynoticeable change in speed zones Gaddy said, will be the posting of a 35 mph zone on Bethel Road from Harris Avenue to SRI 143 beyond the high Federal Explosive Law Tough On Bomb Scares Around Town By SAM MORRIS John R Davis came by the office lasi week and brought with him a bunch ol keys he found on the road near his home Besides two or three car keys and a ke> to a post office mail box, there must be thirty other keys to fit all size of locks We have been unable to find the owner but feel sure someone is locked out of a room, trunk or storage house. If anyone has lost a key ring full of keys they are here at the office and we will be glad to give them to the rightful owner. The sports news that appears in the paper each week from I pchurch School is written by the students at that school We think they are doing an excellent job and appreciate their help with our news coverage. Charles Daniels was by the office Monday and was singing high praise for the Raeford Fire Department for their work at his home on Sunday. A storage house caught fire and was destroyed, but according to Daniels things could have been worse except for the fast work of the firemen. He also stated that he lost a dog and six puppies in the fire The puppies were only a day old. We all should be thankful for the fine work all our firemen do in the county. They work FREE, so any encouragement or nice word to them is the only pay they receive. As Ken McNeill said about my foot, "You got your foot in your mouth," came to pass a couple of weeks ago In going through the files getting out items for "Browsing in the files" we picked up a writing about the High School girls basketball team. We tried to improve on the article by adding the first names of the girls on the team. The letter that follows will explain about getting my foot in my mouth: Dear "Browsing Editor," On MY behalf. 1 would like to say that you had better re-check your files. Note circled article -- for on January 19. 1956, I was only in the 5th grade!! 1 played with Evans McNeill, and Connie Culbreth, and Mary Sue Canaday. etc, five years later!! I'm counting the "years" Don't count them too fast, for me'!!! Jokingly, Ann Gatlin Beach After receiving the letter and checking with my friend and father of Ann, Robert Gatlin, we should have used Lilmar Sue Gatlin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Gatlin instead of Ann We will in the future not try to put first names on items from the past. We are sorry Ann and hope this will restore the years back to your life. By LAURIE TELFAIR An Explosives Control Act. passed last year to combat the rise of terrorist bombings across the nation, goes into effect Feb. 12 with severe penalties for bomb scares as well as for criminal use ot explosives. Two incidents have occurred in Hoke County during the past year that would have come under the provisions of the law. A bomb threat was reported at Tex Elastic last spring and two weeks ago, seven cases of explosives, presumably stolen from Ft. Bragg, were found buried in the yeard of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hayward of Rocktish. U.S. Internal Revenue Service agents have been training at Ft Bragg for the past month in highly specialized techniques for enforcing the law. The agents, all members of the Alcohol. Tobacco and Firearms Unit (ATF), gave a demonstration last Thursday to newsmen in the types of explosive and incendiary devices that might be used and the methods of investigating bombings. Similar demonstrations were also held that day at Ft. Gordon, Ga., Ft. McClellan, Ala., and Ft. Rucker, Ala. Agents in seven Southern states have been training in schools at these bases for assignments in North Carolina. Alabama. Florida. Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Other agents have been trained at military posts throughout the nation. This was the fourth class to train at Ft. Btagg The law governing the use of explosives is part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. which delegates the authority for investigations of the criminal use of explosives to Treasury Department agents. The ATF agents also are responsible for enforcing the gun control laws. ' Penalties prescribed by the law are severe. For example, conveying false information or threats involving bombings - or bomb scares *? may result in five years imprisonment, a 55,000 fine or both. The death penalty or life imprisonment may be imposed for causing death with explosives. Other penalties include not less than one year or more than ten on the first offense for using explosives to See BOMB, Page 7 Superior Court Closes With 35 Cases Cle a rf^rl superior Court closed last Thursday morning, as Judge James H. Pou Bailey moved swiftly through the docket, disposing of 35 cases and continuing 15. A number of cases were remanded to District Court, as defendants, primarily appealing driving under the influence convictions, decided to take the lower court judgment rather than face Judge Bailey. Bailey has a reputation in the state for meting out stern punishment for driving under the influence. Seven cases were remanded to District Court. A jury which included six persons added when the list of jurors was exhausted, found George Hollingsworth guilty of assault and of obstructing an officer in the performance of his duty. Judge Bailey sentenced him to 30 days for assault and to six months for obstructing an offiece. In special instructions, Bailey dictated on the judgment "The Court takes notice that this defendant had made threats against officers and the sheriff, that he has threatened the lives of deputy sheriffs and has made threats against the lives of Highway Patrolmen and it is urgently recommended that he not be considered for parole at anytime." Hollingsworth gave notice of appeal to the state Court of Appeals and bond was set at $5,000. John Terrell Wilson, Jr. of Raeford pleaded not guilty to careless and reckless driving and improper equipment. A jury found him guilty of careless and reckless and not guilty of careless and reckless driving. He was sentenced to 30 days suspended and ordered to pay court costs. Wilson, Jr. was ordered not to violate any state laws during the next year. Boosters To Meet Monday James Karl Monroe pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to three to five years suspended for live years with five years probation on the condition that he pay court costs, pay S67.40 to Southern National Bank and not to consume or have on his possession any alcholic beverage for the next five years. Julian Evander Parks, Rt. 3. Raeford, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was sentenced to 60 days suspended for one year. His driving privileges were suspended for one year and he was fined S200 and costs Judgment was continued until April for Walter Douglas of Roekfish Road, who was found guilty of assault on a female. A jury found him not guilty of assault with intent to commit rape Johnny Lee Scott pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to 30 days suspended, upon payment of court costs. A second charge of improper passing was remanded to District Court, where he was ordered to comply with the lower court judgment. Willie Lee Devine pleaded guilty to See COURT, Page 7 The Booster Club will meet Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. at the Hoke High gym. Ptans will be made for a special Booster Club Week, Charlie Hottel, president, announced. Home Agent Alert9 Mother To Fire Smoke curling out ol the eves ol a house on Rockfish Road attracted the attention of Mrs. Ellen Willis, county home agent, as she drove to work Friday morning. She drove into the driveway j1 tlie home of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Jacobs and blew the horn. With no immediate response from the house. Mrs. Willis went to the front door and knocked. Her keen observation and persistance alerted a mother and four pre ? school children. Mrs. Jacobs was unaware of the fire. Mrs. Willis said, until she answered her knock at the door. Mrs. Willis took the infant and Mrs. Jacobs gathered up her three toddlers, one who was barefooted. I-lames were coming out of the front d<>nr as they reached the car with the children. Mrs Willis said. At M rs Jacobs request. Charles Willis pushed a car thai wruldn't start away from the house and a passing motorist moved a truck pa-ked beside the house. Mrs. Willis took Mrs. Jacobs and the children to Burlington Inductries. where Jacobs is imployed. The Rockfish Fire Department answered the call, even though the house was located outside of any fire district in the county, but the home was a total loss. McFadyen On Air Committee Representative Neill McFadyen has been appointed to the Air and Water Resources Committee. He is chairman of the House Commissions and Institutions for the Blind and Deaf and is vice-chairman of committees on insurance, state personnel and agriculture Rep. McFadyen is a member of the finance committee and the roads committee. n?K.e r arm Income Up Nearly SI rVcnif* H . ?,? ncavy rains and corn blight, farm infcome in the county increased by alnipM a million dollars. Wendell Young^ county farm agent, reported this week. Farm incomcYor 1970 amounted to SI2.463.b79 ??'compared with SII.H million last yea|. * Income from tobacco, cotton and soyoeans all showed increases Young said There was a million pound carryover on the tobacco allotments from 1969, he said, due to bad crop conditions Government payments, which amounted to SI,106,862 were down about S5,000, he said. Tobacco and soybeans accounted for the major portion of crop income. 4.520.358 pounds of tobacco was 150.000 bushels were sold for S229.5UO. produced for a sale of S3,169.397. Sweet potatoes, okra and watermelons 414,000 bushels of soybeans were were the leading vegetable crops with produced and sold at S2.90 a bushel for a sweet potatoes netting S16.800; okra total of SI,200.600. Cotton and S24.000 and watermelons S63.750. cottonseed amounted to SI .083.238. Peaches accounted for S45.000 with Despite the drought and blight. 18.000 bushels produced. 187.500 bushels of corn were produced Total crop income amounted to in the county this year. A V'al of S6.029.107 compared to S4.5 million last JLJ.JLXVT 11 year. Forestry products sold for S301.000 with lumber amounting to SI 70.000 of that. Total livestock sales were SI,984.960. This compares with S5.8 million last year. Poultry and poultry products were S3.04l.750. However, last year livestock and poultry income was reported together.