<=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.