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The Hoke County News- Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXV11 NO. 45 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA $5 PER YEAR THURSDAY, MARCH 15. 1973
1
Around Town
By SAM C. MORRIS
Several weeks ago I wrote about
making Elwood Avenue a one-way street
from Magnolia to Stewart. The following
letter has been received in support of this
suggestion.
The letter follows:
"Several weeks ago a suggestion was
imade in The News-Journal to make
Elwood Avenue from Magnolia to
Stewart one-way. With this, the staff at
the Raeford Kindergarten and Day
Nursery certainly concur. We have a
traffic and safety problem on our comer
tfhich would be eliminated by one way
traffic on Elwood."
The letter was signed by Eleanor Scull
and Jean Holland.
Another letter was received from W.T.
McLean of Clinton who was a native of
| this area. It follows:
"Sorry 1 missed the expiration date of
The News?Journal, however thanks for
the reminder and the rate to the old
j folks. 1 often think of the baseball games
i played in with your Father, Bruce
Morris and also your uncle Carl Morris.
They were good baseball players.
"In thinking of the fellows who were
members of the teams I used to play on,
only Scott Cunie and Hooch McLean are
still around. Living in Raeford until the
end of 1912, I still recall many men and
boys that were around during the time 1
was growing up, however it seems that
the majority of them are not around
anymore.
? "When a fellow passes eighty-four
years of age the folks in your age group
become fewer and fewer.
"1 enjoy The News- Journal. Best
Wishes"
W.K. Morgan, recreation director
during the summer months asks that the
following announcements be made to
softball players.
An organizing meeting of the Hoke
Open Slow Pitch Softball League will be
held at thfr- Upchurch School gym,
Thursday, Mar;!i 22 at 7:m) p.m All
people interested in participating MUST
be present at the meeting.
Don't forget the annual Raeford
Woman's Club Horse Show on Saturday,
April 14th starting at 9:00 AM. More
about this event will appear in later
issues.
jl 1 have been informed that some civic
clubs are going to collect glass to be
re-cycled. I will also write more about
this in later issues. Just remember to save
your glass until plans are completed by
these civic organizations.
I asked Robert Ciatlin about the
rainfall for 1973 but couldn't get all the
figures as he didn't keep a record of the
rainfall in January. In lebruary.
according to Gatlin, 10 inches of rain was
recorded and through March 12 rain fall
was 4.2 inches.
He also stated that the average yearly
rainfall for this area is 49 inches to 52
inches. So if the rain continues we could
have a record fall this year.
If anyone can give me the record for
January 1 would appreciate it.
? hh.NDW BKNDHR ON MCf^ A.V.UCjCtt) - An eatlnmted S250 damage mm reported In thh accldem m Mm Ehaood Aaa.
J Tundav. Pirlt.r sakl A Urn Ray Wood of SmitMMd was hacking hts truck from the Post Office parking lot and was Mtmck hp the
1972 OuvroUt o/xratrd hv Ronald Thrower Strickland of Retford. Damage to the truck was estimated at UO mm 9200 to the
County Announces Special Meetings
In Compliance With N. C. Statutes
Three County
Session Fills
House Seat
A committee authorized by the state
legislature meets today to nominate a
replacement to select a nominee to fill
the vacancy in the General Assembly
created by the death of Rep. Frank S.
White, D-Robeson. who died Saturday.
The meeting at 2 p.m. in the court
room of the Hoke County Courthouse is
open to the public.
The committee which will select the
nominee consists of two members from
each of the three counties in the 21st
District: Hoke, Robeson and Scotland.
Hoke County's members are Neill
McFadyen and W. T. McAllister.
Voting strength is based on population.
Fach County is authorized one vote for
every 300 people. According to 1970
census tigures tne populations are: Hoke,
16,436; Scotland, 26,929 and Robeson
84,842.
The name of the committee's nominee
will be sent to Governor James
Holshouser who has seven days to make
the appointment. It the governor does
not make the appointment the nominee
will automatically take the seat in the
legislature.
A unanimous vote by Robeson County
committee members would be the
deciding vote at the meeting. Rep. Joy
Johnson, D-Robeson, said Tuesday he
expects his county to send the first
Indian member to the General Assembly.
He indicated the Robeson County
committee members, Mrs. Brenda Brooks
and Mrs. La Rup Jones, would vote for
Henry Ward Oxendine of Pembroke.
Families Get
Soldiers' Aid
Eleven needy families in Hoke County
received four truck loads of furniture and
household goods March 7, delivered by
members of the 35th Signal Group from
Ft. Bragg.
The distribution was part of a
continuing domestic action program the
Signal Group has had in operation since
1970.
The furniture and household goods
were donated by people who bought new
furniture or moved and did not want it.
The furniture was picked up by the group
and stored in a warehouse until its
delivery.
"This is an outstanding and meaningful
program," said Lt. Alan Buonpastore,
domestic action program officer. "It
shows an awareness of community
responsibility. 1 think everyone should
get involved," he added.
Anyone having excess furniture or
household goods they would like to
donate may call 396-8898.
COURTHOUSE BULLETIN BOARD - Notice announcing specbl meetings of the board of county commissioners will be posted
on this bulletin board located between the two entries to the clerk of court's office in the Hoke County Courthouse. By law
notice of special meetings must be posted here at least two days prior to the meetings. County officials began posting such notices
last week.
F.S. White
Dies At 61
Slate Representative from the' 21st
District Frank S. White, 61, of Pembroke
died Saturday in LumbeTton following an
illness of several months.
White was elected representative in
November 1972, succeeding Neill
McFadyen, of Hoke County who served
six terms in the legislature.
White was a Robeson County
Commissioner from 1952 to 1958 and
was a former member of the Robeson
County Board of Education.
He had been a livestock dealer and was
associated with Liberty Tobacco
Warehouse.
A funeral service was held Monday at
the Mount Vernon United Methodist
Church. Masonic Rites were held in the
church cemetery after the service.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Margaret
Boie White; two sons, Thomas M. of
Tuleresa, N. M., Frank S. White II of the
home; a daughter, Miss Margaret Boie
White of the home; a brother, Earl R.
White of High Point; three sisters, Mrs.
Susanna Samuel and Miss Mamie White of
High Point, and Mrs. Wilma Lundsford of
Yaupon Beach; and two grandchildren.
State Takes Nol Pros, Pleas
And Presents No Evidence
In district court Friday Solicitor DSVid
Fox Jr., Nol Prosscd charges against three
youths charged in connection with the
Dec. 20, 1972 breakin at Scurlock School
and the Jan. 16 breakin at the Main
Street home of Mrs. D.C. Cox. Two other
youths received suspended sentences.
Charged in the cases which were NqI
Prossed were Lonnie Bledsoe Jr., 16,
Lewis Street, breaking, entering and
larceny of Scurlock; Dwight W. Hasty Jr.,
16, 908 E. Donaldson Street, breaking
and entering of Cox home, and Daniel
Edward Wilkes, 16, 632 E. Donaldson
Street; breaking and entering and larceny
of Scurlock and breaking and entering of
Cox home.
Fox at first announced the state would
take Nol Pros with leave, which means
the cases could be reopened in the future.
Judge Joseph E. Dupree advised the
solicitor to show in court the state did
not have a case. Fox then said the state
would take Nol Pros, which means the
case may not be reopened in the future.
Fox said his investigation and
conferences with law enforcement
officials and attorneys revealed the state
could not justify trials in these cases.
Fox reported, "The state can find no
legal way to pursue this matter."
In addressing Bledsoe, Hastv and
Wilkes, Dupree said "The decision in this
case was made by the state and not by
the court. The solicitor has indicated his
investigation revealed each of you had
knowledge of but did not participate in
the crimes."
Dupree reminded the youths they had
embarassed their families by their actions.
He told Bledsoe, "Under case law you
violated no law but you did violate a
moral law by not coming forward and
telling what you knew about the
incident."
"There has been great pressure in this
case," continued Dupree, "and the court
will be accused of partiality. This is not
so." The judge then cited the >lorth
Court Funds
Stolen Here
Someone robbed $560 from the clerk
of court's office at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26.
The money was in five, ten and 20 dollar
bills.
Betty Wood, deputy clerk, stepped
into hallway between two of the offices
and while standing there heard the door
to her office click.
She stepped back into her office and
found the cash drawer open. Mrs. Wood
told investigating officers she checked in
main hallway of courthouse but could see
no one, reports investigating officer Alex
Norton.
The amount taken was determined by
an audit. E.E. Smith, clerk of superior
court, said he does not know if the
missing funds are covered by insurance.
He is waiting for a ruling by the State
Administrative Court Office.
Carolina Records establishing precedence
in the cases before the court.
One case indicates a defendant who
had been picked up by codefendants five
minutes before a crime was committed
for sole purpose of giving defendant a
ride should have been granted a nonsuit.
The two youths receiving suspended
sentences were John Richard Harrell, 16,
908 E. Donaldson; and Billie Dean
Holland. 18. 304 Harris Ave.
Harrell charged with felonious
breaking, entering and larceny in the
Scurlock incident and felonious breaking
and entering of the Cox home entered
innocent pleas. The state presented no
evidence and the court found no probable
cause. Harrell then pleaded guilty to
misdemeanor breaking and entering of
the Cox home.
Holland was charged with felonious
breaking and entering of Scurlock and
felonious breaking entering and larceny
of the Cox home. He pleaded innocent,
the stale presented no evidence and the
court found no probable cause. Holland
then pleaded guilty to misdemeanor
larceny of Scurlock School.
Holland and Harrell each were given
two years as youthful offenders
suspended three and a half years if they
violate no penal laws and pay SI05
restitution. These sentences to begin at
the expiration of sentences being served
See NOL PROS. Page 11
Thieves Active
In Hoke County
A rash of thefts were reported to the
Sheriffs Department recently.
Twenty five cartons of cigarettes. 18
cases of beer, and several packages of
chops and steaks were reported stolen by
Brantley Allen, owner of Texaco Grocery
on 401-A.
Chester Price, investigating officer said
someone entered the back door March 9
at 1 a.m. It was reported someone shot at
the prowler.
Crackers and soft drinks valued at SIS
were taken from the Bertha Leslie Store
on Rt. 1 Raeford. March 1 1. at 2:15 p.m.
The thief broke the front windows of the
store to gain entry, reports Deputy
Sheriff J. C. Barrington.
Sheriff's deputies investigated a
break-in at the home of Ora Mae Malloy
of Rt. 4, Red Springs March 12. Officers
reported someone broke in the back door
and took two banks containing S5 and S7
in cash.
Deputy Sheriff Alex Norton on routine
patrol spotted broken glass in the front
door of Cut Rate Grocery March 9 at
4:30 a.m. Investigation showed beer and
wine were taken from the North Main
Street store. Officers said the store had
been checked by deputies thirty minutes
before the break-in.
Harvon Livingston reported to
See THIEVES. Page 11
T. B. Lester, county manager and
auditor, took steps last week to correct a
situation which found the county
commissioners holding special meetings
which may have been in violation of state
law.
North Carolina statutes require written
notices of special meetings be posted on
the courthouse bulletin board at least two
days prior to the meeting. Before last
week Hoke County authorities had not
been posting these public notices.
Friday Lester posted a notice on the
bulletin board announcing a special
meeting of the board of county
commissioners Tuesday at 10 a.m. A
notice was also mailed to The
News-Journal.
Legal Question
Minutes of the commissioners meetings
indicate four special meetings have been
held this year.
When asked if actions of the board at
these unannounced special meetings
would be legal, Lester replied, "1 think
so. I don't see any problem unless
someone files charges against the board of
county commissioners."
New Rates
At a Jan. 4 special meeting the
commissioners appointed James W. Bailey
Hoke County electrical inspector and
authorized him to appoint his own
assistant subject to approval of the board.
At the same meeting the
dbmmissioners approved a hike in
electrical inspection rates. New rates
(with old rates shown in parenthesis) are:
trailer service, $10, ($7.50); construction,
pole only, $5, ($5); residence including
rough-in, $20, ($12.50); change over
from 100 amperes or above, $10, ($7.50);
and each additional trip, $7, ($5).
Joint Venture
At a Jan. 30 special meeting the
commissioners decided by unanimous
vote tcr let the city af kaeford manage
and operate the landfill and pay 25
percent of the operating expenses with
the county paying 75 percent.
John Gaddy, city manager, and
Franklin Teal, city councilman, attended
the meeting to discuss the operation of
the landfill and purchase of new landfill
equipment.
The commissioners voted to extend the
tax listing through Feb. 9. They also
discussed land and building schedules for
revaluation.
Revenue Sharing
At a Feb. 23 special meeting the board
voted to let the School Board use
$90,000 in revenue sharing funds to
purchase land and construct a new
building. This authorization stipulated
the school board keep the county
manager informed of progress and deed
the present Board of Fducation Building
to the county.
At the same meeting the
commissioners agreed to use revenue
sharing funds to pay for the county's
share of new landfill equipment.
Concerning the new Board of
Fducation Building, the commissioners
will later discuss and vote on acquisition
and payment of the property and will
probably call for bids and vote on the
expenditure of money to pay for the
building.
Land Schedules
At a March 1 special meeting the
commissioners discussed the 1974
revaluation schedules but no action was
taken until the regular monthly meeting
March 5. At that time the schedules were
approved.
Open Meetings
State laws do not require the city
council give public notice of special
meetings, according to John Gaddy, city
manager.
The North Carolina open meetings law
states meetings of governing bodies, with
bee luuin 1 y , rage 11
P.D. Make
Grass Arrest
The first arrest for possesion of
marijuana in Raeford was made at 3:30
a.m. Monday by Sgt. J.R. Riley and
Policeman Preston Moore.
Ricky Ward, 17, Rt. 2, Raeford, is
being held in county jail in lieu of $2,000
bond. His preliminary hearing is
scheduled March 30 in district court.
At the time of the arrest Ward was
driving a vehicle which had been reported
stolen in Austin, Tex., police say. Moore
and Riley stopped the car for a routine
check.
The material was turned over to the
State Bureau of Investigation and reports
of preliminary tests show marijuana.
Chief James K. Lamont said
Wednesday he had received word front
the Texas Highway Patrol they do not
plan to extradite Ward on the auto theft
charges pending against him in their state.
The federal Bureau of Investigation la
handling the theft case.