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, The Hoke County News- Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVll NO. 17 RAEFORD. HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY. AUGUST 31 1972
Around T own
By SAM C. MORRIS
The golf scores appear in this issue and
I was surprised to see Raz Autry's name
listed as number three in the
championship flight. Maybe McBryde will
have to find another reason for Raz
failing to send the results of a tournament
to the newspaper.
The tournament at Pinehurst was very
successful it seems to me. I don't know
how it came out financially but the
crowd seemed to enjoy the play.
The number of spectators from
t, Raeford who attended the tournament
was very large. 1 can't remember seeing as
many local people at a golf tournament
before.
The open house idea that has been
started by many businesses seems to add
something to the tournaments. I think
everyone enjoys stopping at a place for a
few minutes and enjoying food, drink and
fellowship. I believe this idea will be
taken up by many more in the years to
come. This is good advertisement for a
business as most of the people won't
forget this type of enjoyment.
The bulldozers leveling the ground on
the property owned by the Laurinburg
and Southern Railroad brings back
memories. In the early twenties all that
was on that block was a blacksmith shop.
It was moved and replaced by the L & S
depot.
Before the depot was built, pine trees
covered the block and horse traders and
others would camp at this site. After the
depot, came the Raeford Gin, and 1 can
still remember the long line of wagons
waiting with cotton to be ginned The
fanners must have gotten up before
daylight because 1 would be on the way
to school and the line would be to the
' Laurinburg road.
I can remember the shed that was built
and the packing of cucumbers and
^maloupe^every sixmrwJ.TtK packers
would come from Florida and one
summer a family stayed at our home.
Rail sidings were added to the main
railroad line and watermelons were
packed for weeks. Some days as many as
10 to 15 cars would leave Raeford.
Buyers would come through each
afternoon and purchase the cars of
melons.
The stems of the melons would be
painted with a solution and we kids made
spending money doing this. As the packer
of the car finished a row of melons the
painter of the stems would then proceed
to paint the stems, (years ago).
Now the block is being leveled and
from the rumors that are flowing around
town, Raeford is in for a big surprise.
It is hard to believe how fast things can
change and the looks of a town can
change. To have progress things must
change, but still the memories of the old
days come to mind every once in awhile.
County Eligible For Federal Aid
Through Economic Development Act
Rogers Files Suit
Against Electric Co-op
A $258,656 racial discrimination suit
was filed in U. S. District Court in
Fayetteville last week by Elias Rogers
against the Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corp.
Rogers, a Lumbee Indian from Hoke
County, was defeated for a seat on the
governing board of the electric co-op
during the November, 1970 election. He
charged the board with racial
discirmination through the misuse of
proxy ballots.
His two year controversy ended in
April. 1972, when he was appointed to
fill an at-large directorate on the
governing board following an extensive
investigation by the U. S. Department of
Agriculture. He accepted the directorate
on the advice of his attorney, Phil Diehl,
and the advice of Jacob Schlitz. a U. S.
Civil Rights Commissioner.
The suit filed last week under the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, contends that the
defendants, the employees of the co op,
conspired to deny him a seat on the
board because of his race. The suit asks
for $8,656 in actual damages and
S250.000 in punitive damages.
Rogers suit contends that he was
defeated for re-election to the board for a
three ? year term in November, 1970,
because president of the co-op Cecil
Dunn printed a number of unofficial
proxy balfois which v ere used to Scfctt
Rogers for le-elcctiun. 4 \
The suit further alleges that the
members of the governing board directed
employees of the corporation to take the
specially printed proxies and obtain
signatures. He contends that the
employees were told they could lose their
jobs if they did not cooperate.
Rogers alleges that the illegal use of the
proxy voles on election day is what
caused his defeat to W. B McDiarmid. He
contends that employees were instructed
to cast their proxies against the plaintiff,
I lias Rogers, and that he was defeated by
W. B. McDiarmid through the use of 515
illegal proxy ballots.
Defendants named in the suit arc the
corporation itself. Dunn. McDiarmid.
Neill A. Watson. D. J. Dalton. Robert W.
Currie. Irvin R. Curric. (iail Boyles and
Gcnevivc I dens.
Rogers was appointed as a director of
the board attcr the Agriculture
Department notified the board that the
1970 election constituted a violation ol
the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The by-lawi
of the corporation were subsequently
amended to increase the membership of
the board from nine to 12 members,
including three at-large directors.
Rogers' term will expire in November,
1974, at which time the seat will be filled
by an election.
In computing his actual damages,
Rogers states that he spent 326 hours of
his time gathering evidence concerning
the election for use in the administrative
and legal actions for a sum worth SI,031.
He also states that he has traveled more
than 18,500 miles since the date of the
election, seeking information and
evidence concerning the use of proxy
ballots, at a cost to him of $2,220.
He also states in the suit he has
expended S9S on telephone calls in
gathering evidence and that he has
incurred attorney fees in the case
amounting to $5,000. In addition he
states that he has been deprived of a total
of $300 in payment from the co-op
because of his defeat in the election.
Man Shot At Club
The Hoke Sheriff's Dept. is
investigating a shooting on Aug. 20 at the
"After Houis" club in McCain.
Henry Louis McNeill, Rt. 3, Raeford,
was shot In the stomach (round 11:50
p.m* and was admitted to Moore
Memorial Hospital for treatment. He told
authorities the shot came from a
darkened section of the establishment.
Investigations are being conducted by
Harvey Young.
3?*v#:. sv,
OPENING BA Y - burnt and student aUke, look a bit apprehensive at the opening of
school last week. Picture was taken at McLauchlin School, which has only first grade
classes.
Red Springs Granted Use
Of Hoke County Landfill
The City of Red Springs was given
permission to use Hoke County's sanitary
? landfill for a three month period
beginning on Jan. I.
Red Springs city manager David
Alexander met with the Hoke Board of
Commissioners and representatives from
the City of Raeford Tuesday morning to
? discuss the agreement.
It was originally thought that Red
Springs and Robeson county could
request immediate access to the facility,
but Alexander said Red Springs was given
an extended burning permit by the state
until the end of the 1972 calendar year.
Red Springs has been burning their trash
because they do not have access to a
landfill near the city. The only landfill in
Robeson is located at the far end of the
county.
Alexander said Red Springs may not
actually have to use Hoke's facilities
because arrangements for an FHA loan to
open their own landfill are now being
made He expressed hopes that a facility
Apartment Entered
A Raeford youth was arrested this
week in connection with a break-in at
H.D. Harrison's garage apartment at 401
? K. Donaldson.
Bennie Hammock was arrested on a
SI,000 bond and charged with breaking,
entering and larceny, Kntry was gained to
the apartment by breaking out a window
with a rock. Among the items reported
^missing was a radio, stereo set and a
quantity of bedding, total value for which
was set at S600.
Investigations were conducted by
Raeford policemen Leonard Wiggins. J.R
Riley and J.C. Barrington. Hammock is
scheduled for appearance in Hoke District
Court this I'riday.Sept. I.
would be available near Red Springs by
the time their extended burning permit
expires.
Representing the City of Raeford at
Tuesday's meeting were city manager
John Gaddy. mayor pro temporare
Franklin Teal and tire chief Crawford
Thomas.
September Meetings
Regularly scheduled monthly meetings
on the Hoke Board of I duration. County
Commissioners and Raclord City Council
have been postponed due to the Labor
Day holiday next Monday
The City Council and the Board of
Iducation have both postponed their
meetings for one week to Monday. Sept
11. The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in
the Town Mall and the school board will
meet at 8 p.m. in the Board of I ducation
building
The County Commissioners will meet
at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Sept. 5. in the Board
of I ducat ion building
No Projects
Bids for 18 road projects in 17
counties were received by the State
Highway Commission this week. No
projects for Hoke were included.
The total of the 18 bids was
S11.224.745 64. which is to cover more
than 84 miles of road improvements.
Gresham Resigns
City policeman I B (iresham has
announced his resignation from the
Raeford force, effective Aug. 23.
(?resham said he and his family arc
planning lo move back to their home in
Alabama He served on the force here for
the past five months and has lived in
Raeford for about a year.
Zoning Laws Regulate Mobile Homes
A number of persons in Raeford have
recently been informed about zoning
ordinances which affect the placement of
mobile homes within and up to one mile
outside of the city limits.
City manager John Caddy said persons
should be familiar with the zoning
ordinances regarding mobile home
placement in the city before purchasing a
unit. Caddy said mobile homes may only
be placed on areas specifically zoned as
R-MH, for mobile home parks.
The ordinance establishing zoning
regulations for the City of Raeford was
formed about two years ago to "guide the
growth of the various land uses of the
City and to encourage the future
development of the City in accordance
with a plan of land use and population/'
Caddy said the ordinance is designed to
let the city realize its best potentials as a
place to live and work.
At the present time there are only two
locations in Raeford specifically zoned
for mobile home parks. They are the
Oakwood Trailer Park, owned by Neill
McFadyen, and the park behind
Upchurch School, owned bv Jack Autrv
According to the guidelines established
by the Planning Board and Zoning Board
of Appeals, before any area is developed
as a mobile home park, a development
plan must be approved by the City
Council upon recommendation of the
Planning Board.
Included in the plan must be area and
dimensions of the site; number, location
and dimensions of all mobile home plots;
locations of and width of roadways,
automobile parking facilities and
walkways; location and size of service
buildings and areas; location and size of
recreation areas; location of lighting and
electrical systems; and location and
specifications of water supply, refuse and
sewage disposal facilities, including the
location of water and sewer lines and riser
pipes at each mobile home plot.
Regulations concerning area and bulk
regulations include specifications as to
the total acreagc of a mobile home park
and indiviudal plots for units.
The ordinance states the site for the
park must not be less than three acres and
in area and shall have at least five spaces
available at first occypancy.
Dedication Ceremony
Held For 50 Containers
"It's amazing what a penny can do if
wc put enough of them together."
chairman of the Hoke Board of
Commissioners TC Jones told those
present Tuesday morning for the
dedication ceremonies of the 50 trash
containers recently placed throughout the
county.
Jones was referring to the one cent
sales tax in the county which has been
greatly responsible for the funds to
purchase the containers. Ceremonies took
place at the location of the container
placed across from the North Raeford
lire Dept. on property belonging to
Burlington Mills.
Jones commended the county officials
for the work done in preparing the
locations and in informing county
residents of the proper use of the
containers "This is one of the best
systems we know of and we believe the
people will cooperate in helping to clean
up the county.'' Jones remarked.
Also present at the dedication
ceremonies were Highway Commissioner
Charlie Dawkms. county manager T.B
Lester, chairman of the Governor's
Beautification Program in Hoke. Mrs.
I velyn Manning, home agent. Mrs. Mien
Willis, county agent Wendell Young.
county sanitary aide Bobby Posey.
Commissioner J.A. Webb and Clyde
Leach from the Sanitation Pick up firm,
who is handling the trash removal
After those present witnessed a
demonstration of the "Dempster
Dumpster." which picks up the container
and empties and compresses the trash,
everyone said a few words about the trash
program and about their hopes for a more
beautiful area
Dawkins discussed the pioblems of
Uttering in the county and surrounding
areas, and said that "Hoke will have a lot
nicer county because of the landfill
recently opened and because of the trash
containers
The Highway Commission worked in
conjunction with the County Health Dept.
in determing the locations for the 50
containers and in clearing the land for
their placement
Speaking on behalf of hei role in the
state's beautification program. Mis.
Manning said that when the report is sent
to Raleigh concerning the tiash
containers, it should help the county get
some awards for their part in the
state wide project.
A short benediction by Young
concluded the ceremonies.
The area for each mobile home plot
according to the ordinance, must be
5,000 square feet in area and have a
width of at least SO feet and a depth of at
least 100 feet.
Minimum setback regulations are also
included in the ordinance for each mobile
home and for homes which border the
site boundaries. In addition, the
regulations specify the width
requirements for internal streets and
requirements for parking space.
The ordinance further states that at
least one recreation area, easily accessible
from all mobile home plots, must be
included in the park. The size of the
recreation area is set at a minimum of
2,500 square feet.
The ordinance also specifies handling
of the utilities for the park, including
specifications about water supply and
sanitary sewer systems.
The general regulations concerning the
five classifications of zoning in Racford ??
R ? Residential. R-MH ? Mobile Home
Parks. C ? Commercial. IL Light
Industry and IH Heavy Industry ?? also
include specifications concerning
nonconforming uses
The ordinance states that after the
effective date of the ordinance,
pre-existing lots or structures which
would be prohibited under the
regulations for the district in which it is
located, shall be considered as
nonconforming. The ordinance further
states that nonconforming lots may be
continued provided they conform to
provisions of the ordinance concerning
minimum single lot requirements and
minimum multi-lot requirements.
Gaddy said any questions concerning
the ordinance regulating mobile homes
may be presented to members of the
Planning or Zoning Board of Appeals.
The ordinance may be examined in
greater detail at the City Hall
Persons serving on the Planning Board
inside town include Chairman W. L.
Howell Jr.. vice chairman Stanley
Koonce. and committee members Ken
McNeill. James Davis and J H Austin.
Those outside o( town are Jim
Williamson. J B McLeod. H L. Ciatlin
Jr.. J D McAllister and Younger Snead.
Jr
Members of the Zoning Board of
Appeals include chiarmah Jimmy Conoly.
vice chairman Hugh l.owe. and
committee members Bobby Cox. Dan
Mclnnis and Ivery McNaii. all inside of
town. Those on the board outside of
town are Alfred Leach. J. H. Blythe.
Thomas Holmes and A S Mclnnis.
Hoke County has been designated as a
Redevelopment Area County by the
Southeastern Iconomic Development
Commission, a measure which will make
organizations and individuals eligible to
apply for Federal assistance to improve
employment and economic conditions in
the area.
F.ligibility is based on unemployment
rates in the county, which were in excess
of six per cent for the previous calendar
year, and on income levels. Hoke County
first applied for the designation as an
redevelopment county in November.
1971.
Federal assistance for high
unemployment areas was made possible
through a Public Works and I conomic
Development Act of 1965. which is
administered through the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The purpose
of the act is to help such areas carry out
problems to improve employment and
economic conditions.
Hoke County was first informed of its
eligibility for Federal help in October.
1971, when an amendment to the
Economic Development Act was passed
allowing areas which have a median
family income of less than 50 per cent of
the national median to apply for
assistance. Previously the qualifying
income level had been 40 per cent of the
national average.
The report informing Hoke County of
their eligibility for application for the
benefits, stated that the median income
in Hoke was between 40 and 50 per cent
of the national median
In 1966 Hoke had been designated by
the hconomic Development
Administration as a "carry over" area
from the Area Redevelopment Act, but
had not been designated for the overall
economic ff~*elopmcnl? .ogrjn'. whirh i-j
the new designation.
Before the county was able to apply
for the new designation a committee had
to be formed to analyze the basic
development problems and the resources
available to help build or strengthen
economic activity. Such a committee,
designated the Overall Iconomic
Development Committee, was formed last
fall in Hoke to analyze the problems and
prepare the necessary reports for the
I conomic Development Administration.
Included in the report submitted by
committee chairman Ralph Barnhart.was
data on industrial and commercial
development in the county, a study of
transportation facilities, information on
needed community public facilities, a
survey of education and training needs of
the area and a report on natural
resources.
County manager T B Lester said now
that the redevelopment designation has
been made in Hoke Counts, the
See I LKilBLI . Pace 11
3 Arrested
For Break-ins
Three 18-year-old Hoke souths were
arrested in connection with lour daytime
break-ins in the area during the past
month.
James Murph). Rt I. Shannon,
Ronnie L Mcl'hattcr, Kt I. Red Springs
and Barthonia Ra\. Rt. I. Raelord. were
all charged with breaking, entering and
larceny in the tour incidents Bond was
set tor each at $2,000.
The break-ins were at the homes of
Stanley Adcox. Jim Madden and I red
Harris Jr.. all of Rt. 2. Racford. and
William Poole. Rt I. Raeford Total value
of the merchandise stolen was valued at
over S2.800.
Hoke Sheriff DM. Barringtun said
some of the merchandise has already been
recovered from pawn shops in
I ayettcvillc and further investigations are
expected to recover more of the goods
The Adcox home was entered on Aug.
10 after a brick was thrown through a
pane of glass on the door and the lock
unlastened Reported missing was a rifle,
pistol, some icwelrv. a camera, a watch
and a clock, total value was set a! $825.
Stolen from the Madden home on Aug.
^ was a stereo, radio and tape player
valued at S350.
A quantity of firearms, a tape player
and two speakers and a radio was stolen
from the Harris home alter a rock was
thrown thiough a window and entry
gained by climbing through the window
The merchandise taken was valued at
S739.
The l\>olc home was entered on June
30 and a quantity of merchandise valued
at S^30 was stolen including a quanity of
firearms, a camera, projector, watches
and S20 cash.
Preliminary hearings are set for the
three youths this I riday, Sept. I in Hoke
District Court. Investigations were
conducted by Deputies Harvy Young,
Alex Norton and Cicorge Brown.