15* <~Vl&w6 - journal Tl(ie Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 VOLUME LXVIl NO. 5 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA SS PER YEAR THURSDAY. JUNE 6. 1974 Around Town BY SAM C MORRIS School days arc about over for the year 1973-74 and it really did fly by. There will be no more Hoke Highlights until next year and I would'like to take this opportunity to thank Terri Tucker for a job well done. Terri will be back with us iiixt year so we can all look I forward to the Hoke Highlights for > 1974-75. Thanks again, Terri. Graduation was Sunday. June 2nd and the day started with a Senior luncheon at one p.m. in the Gibson Gym. The commencement program was at four p.m. in the stadium. Everything went off in fine fashion according to Superintendent Raz Autry. Sunday morning the rains fell and it looked bad for and outside graduation, but of course Raz had an answer for that. It seems that the Man upstairs and Raz were in perfect communications on the weather for the day. I don't know what frequency Raz was on, but it isn't the one he uses when he has a golf tournament. After the exercises last Sunday, Ireni ? and Raz played golf with Jeff McNeill. Now the program of the day must have * been great for Ireni, for she went out to Arabia ?nd after taking a bogey on the first hole, birdicd the second, then chipped in for an eagle on number three and parred the fourth. This is shooting super golf, Ireni so the next time I play with Raz I want you along so that he will keep quiet. (Is this right. Raz?) This is primary day and my health has held up and I cast my vote before seven and I know before you read this column the results will be known, but may the best man or woman win. Mrs. Hank Richards called Monday and asked that I remind all ladies between the ages of 19 to 35 about the meeting at the Raeford Civic Center Friday morning beginning at 9:45 ? o'clock for the purpose of trying to ^orm a Junior Woman's Club in Hoke >unty. A social hour will be held at 9:45 and the meeting wfll start at 10:30. Mrs. Gerald Hayes of Dunn. Junior Director of N.C. Women's Clubs for District 9 will speak to the group about organization and projects as they apply to local clubs. So if interested, attend! t Bill Bailey has his May rain chart in this week and it made BUI work a little. This was a wet May according to the chart. Bill aiso said that an inch fell in Raeford on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2. The college students are home on summer break and most of them would be willing to take a job for the summer. If you need anyone for the summer, the witer of this column will be glad to pass the word along. This is a reminder of the meeting to be held at the Raeford Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall, Thursday. June 13 at 8:00 p.m. to form an organization known as the Hoke County Historical Association. This is an open meeting and any citizen can attend. Full details will be given in an article next week. So mark your calendar and make plans to attend. FHA Approves Stonewall Loan James T. Johnson. Farmers Home Administration state director, announced Farmers Home Administration approved a S24,000 loan under the Rural Development Brogram to Stonewall Rural Fire Apartment, Inc., to buy alarm signal and mobile radio equipment and refinance debts on the department's fire trucks and fire station in Dundarrach. [The loan will be repaid in 20 years at iflve percent intereit. Loans for community facilities, including fire protection forces, fupportive of rural community (See FHA, Page 13) $3 Million Bond Issue Vote Looms County Says Rates Right At their regular monthly meeting county commissioners approved Morrison Ambulance Service rate schedules listing one-way charges from Raeford to Moore Memorial Hospital or any Fayetteville hospital as $25; Southeastern General Hospital, $35; Chapel Hill, S7S; Duke or Durham, $90 plus $1 a mile additional for longer trips and $8 an hour after the first hour of arrival at destination. Commissioners advised representatives from Stonewall Community repairs must be completed and hills presented to the county in order to use $500 repair fund voted by commissioners some time ago. Commissioners approved names listed for North Raeford Fire Department and Rockfish Fire Department to be submitted for certification. It was reported that Stonewall and North Raeford Fire Departments set tax rate at 10 cents. Also approved was purchase of four time clocks at about $800 total for the courthouse, sheriffs department, county office building and health department. Count) lathers approved payment of $223 for air conditioner for clerk of courts office and approved accepting lowest future bid for air conditioner for elections board office. An extension service request concerning annual and sick leave was tabled for fulher discussion. Commissioners agreed to participate in summer youth employment program which finds jobs for youths from disadvantaged families. Also approved was continuing A.K. Lovin to audit financial records at $10 an hour; a civil preparedness ordinance and purchase of nine antennas on request of William Niven. civil preparedness director. Also approved was requirement that return names and addresses and permanent address appear on real property instruments including deeds sent to register of deeds office. Discussed at the meeting were forming safety council and teams in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act and formation of a committee to study building, plumbing and in electrical inspection in county. Reports were received from extension agents and dog warden. Budget Hearing A public hearing on the proposed County budget will begin at 7 pjn. today at the Hoke County Courthouse. County Commissioners will receive public comment on the proposed budget prior to its approval. CHARt.ES l.Ft'GUY JOHN G. HA I.FOUR RAl.t'H H'. BARNHART Incumbents Win Runoff In Tuesday's Democratic runoff primary election, two incumbent county commissioners upset May 7 primary results and a district court race remained unchanged. All figures are unofficial until today's canvass is completed. Incumbent County Commissioner John G. Balfour led the field of four candidates vying for two spaces on .the November ballot. Balfour pulled 1,286 votes with incumbent Ralph W. Barnhart earning second place with 1,007 votes. Dannie Deloris McCollum placed third with 798 votes with Mrs. Kcrmit (Mabel) Riley taking fourth with 702 votes. Winners join Democrat James Albert Hunt in facing Republican Burnice Blanks for three seats in the November general election. In the race for a new Twelfth Judicial District judgeship, Charles Lee Guy. who led a field of four in the first primary, took Tuesday's runoff with 7,888 district votes (1,369 Hoke votes). Challenger Sylvia Allen polled 5,468 district voles (853 Hoke voles). Guy faces no opposition in November. Although voting in Hoke County was light, by comparison with May 7 primary figures, the vote was heavier than expected for a runoff which usually draws considerably fewer voters than a first primary. Approximately 2,222 Democrats Set Meetings Precinct meetings for registered Hoke County democrats will be at 8 p.m. June 18 at each polling place to elect precinct officers. Announcement of the meetings came from James R. Sugg. State Democratic chairman and from Palmer Willcox, Hoke County chairman. In case a quorum is not present, a sccond precinct meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. June 25 at polling places. Also scheduled is the June 29 County Democratic Convention to be held at 2 p.m. in the courthouse. The convention will be open to all democrats registered in the county. County democratic officers and delegates lo the Seventh Congressional District Convention. July 20, and the State Convention in Raleigh August 3, will be elected. voted in Hukc County luesday. as compared with about 2,439 May 7. In 1972, the runoff drew 500 fewer voters than the first primary, and in 1970, the runoff drew about 900 fewer voters than the first primary. Balfour led in six of Hoke's 13 precincts. Barnhart did not lead in any precinct but placed second in Stonewall. Raeford One, Two and Four. McCollum carried Allendale, Blue Springs. Buchan and Raeford l ive. Mrs. Riley carried Puppy Creek and Raeford Three. In the May 7 primary. James Albert Hunt secured a spot on the November ballot when he polled more than 1.400 votes, well above a majority. Mrs. Riley was second and McCollum third in a field of ten candidates vying for three seats. Balfour was fourth and Barnhart fifth. The two incumbents called for Tuesday's runoff. City OKs Right On Red The city council met in regular session Monday and approved a plan enabling drivers to make a right turn after a complete stop at red lights at all city intersections effective July 1. The plan, approved by the 1974 General Assembly, stated vehicles would be permitted to make right turns on red lights after stopping unless prohibited at particular intersections by ordinace and the appropriate sign is erected indicating a right turn is prohibited. City fathers also voted to set up a capital reserve fund for future expansion and renovation of City Hall. Fund input is not to exceed S30.000 per year. City Manager John Caddy said the fund will possibly eliminate the need for a bond issue or borrowing money when the time comes for the expansion. He said the expansion is a long-range project. Money for the fund will come from the unencumbered balance at the end of each fiscal year. Two roads were affected by action taken during' Monday's meeting. The council voted to close the Raeford Cemetery entrance connecting with U.S. 401 business. Caddy explained the action was taken on recommendations from himself and the N.C. highway Department because of the dangerous intersection at U.S. 401. He said heavy traffic from House of Raeford employees, a sharp angle and infrequent use of the cemetery road combined to make it a dangerous spot. Caddy said the Edinborough Avenue entrance to the cemetery is used most and was widened last year and curbing and guttering installed. A second entrance off Elwood Avenue is open. UNOFFICIAL RESULTS HOKE COUNTY COMMISSIONER (two seats) Mrs. Kermit (Mabel) Riley < f O H 702 32 67 18 51 80 48 51 I 11 62 67 a a 2S * o c ft Jj LJ < < OS C? 92 13 Dannie Deloris McCollum John G. Balfour Ralph W. Barnhart DISTRICT COURT 12th DISTRICT (new fifth seat) Sylvia X. Allen 798 41 42 104 22 38 35 14 22 76 24 49 27 302 1286 22 78 55 20 60 67 1007 40 32 16 47 47 45 135 274,269 56 t 37 75 233,263 42 853 38 34 84 17 45 37 16 40 98 86| 13 143 II 45 52 38 307 Charles Lee Guy 1369 17 75 66 29 70 95 62 117 281 26S79 204 4 The council also voted to close Bethel Road, adjacent to Hoke High School between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the school term only. Ra/ Autry, Hoke County school superintendent, and D R. Huff, chairman of the board of education, were present at the meeting to request the road to be closed permanently. The council received a petition signed by 392 Raeford residents requesting the city draw up a dog leash law to regulate and control dogs. The council instructed City Attorney Palmer Willcox to draw up a leash law lor consideration by the council. Further action by the council included approval of resolutions requesting federal assistance to continue a project providing two police officers applied for under LFAA and to add a planner-administrator to be responsible for planning activities of the police department on both day to day and long range basis, and to take care of office administration and related tasks. The council voted to extend a contract with Crowcll Construction Co. of Lumberton for curbing and guttering along Fdinborough Avenue from Fulton Street to Bethel Road at S3.10 per foot, the same rate in the old contract. Richard Moore and Bill Bcz/ell of Moore. Gardner and Associates, contractors on the city planning water expansion program, presented a report and plan for completion of the project including construction of a city reservoir, adding flouridation to the city (See CITY, Page 13) City Tags Available Police Chief Leonard Wiggins said Monday city vehicle tags are available at the city water office. He said regular vehicle checks arc underway and failure to display the city tag will result in a Si penalty for the owner. IUI l?UI M.IIUUI!>. A Penny For Your Penny tsaeiora oanks report pennies are in short supply, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury has circulated a plea for Americans to get the penny hack in circulation. Mrs. Mary Brooks, director of the Mint, has called on banks to welcome returns of pennies during June, and suggested organizations involve memberships in collecting pennies for deposit. Fred Williams, Southern National Bank vice president, said the bank received only $50 worth of pennies last week after ordering $200 worth from the Federal Reserve Bank. Williams said customers were being limited to purchases of to S5 or $10 in pennies, although some request S30 or more. Williams said certificates were available for persons or groups exchanging S25 or more in pennies. Gene Carter, picsident of the Bank of Raeford. said no pennies have been ordered "for years" until last week. No pennies were received on the order. Carter said that although the bank At their regular monthly meeting Monday board of education members voted to ask county commissioners to approve including a $3 million dollar school bond referendum on the November general election ballot. The board also voted to pay William L. Moses, board attorney. SIOO a month providing Moses attend all board meetings. Teachers hired were Hoke High School ?? Jack Edwards Burgess, science: Elizabeth Barnhart Burgess, English; Dorothy S. Riddle, special education, and Earnestine McEachern, Bioloev. Unchurch -? Bernice P. Leazer, guidance; and Jean S. Daniel, special education. Scurlock - Hiawatha L. McKoy, kindergarten; and Rosalyn K. Purcell, second grade. Others were Christine A. Farmer, unit-wide speech; and Dorothy S. Watson, West Hoke, reading. Hoke County High School is accredited by Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges which is the highest accrediting agency in the Southeastern United States, reports G. Raz Autry, schools superintendent. The accreditation is due for review during 1974-75 school year and confirmed future plans will be considered in the review. The high school library is 35 percent short of space criteria for accreditation, said Autry. Tentative plans call for two new shops at the High School, expanding the gymnasium into a gymtorium, and construction of a new media center to house library, administrative offices, health facilities and guidance department at an estimated cost of $800,000. Autry points out, "Hoke Countians must "decide if they are satisfied with what we have and want to risk loosing accreditation or determine to have the best school system within our economic means." He says last major school construction was Gibson School in 1967. If passed the S3 million local bond issue coupled with the $1.25 million state bond issue passed in November 1973 would finance expanding upgrading and construction of school facilities in Hoke County. Autry says, "Construction costs are increasing about two percent monthly and our building needs in Hoke County are critical. We feel now is the time to move because we can not afford to wait any longer. If voters approve this bond issue we will solve Hoke County's educational building problem for many years." Autry says the exact cost to taxpayers will be computed and released to the public. Hy feels cost information should be released so citizens understand how approval of the referendum would affect their tax bills. T.B. Lester, county manager reports during 1973-74. 83 cents of the $1.46 tax rate went to schools and he expects 48.7 cents of a tentative 80 cent rate for 1974-75 to go to schools. Included in bond fund expenditures would be abandonmonent of Raeford Elementary School, construction of a new middle school (6, 7, and 8). and renovation of South Hoke, Scurlock, West Hoke and Upchurch schools. Estimated costs in addition to the SX00.000 for the high school are middle school, $2.75 million; Scurlock, SI68,000; South Hoke, $50,000; West Hoke, $126,000; and Upchurch. $84,375. The program would permit discontinuing use of 37 portable classrooms in elementary schools, through reorganization a more complete and uniform program for kindergarten through third grades and razing old seventh grade building at Upchurch. Autry says. "I welcome any suggestions from Hoke County citizens concerning had previously preferred only rolled pennies, loose pennies would be welcome. The appeal from the Bureau of the Mint said speculators and hoarders of pennies have caused what seems to be a penny shortage, but "there is no shortage of a supply of pennies." According to the appeal, "There will bo no aluminum penny. The 62 billion pennies produced during the past 1S years have no numismatic value and because of the huge mintage will never attain great value." Participants Up Ben 0. Niblock, Department of Social Services director, reports a 1 2.23 percent increase in the number of Hoke Countians using food stamps. According to recent figures 2,142 people were participating in (he food stamp program in October 1973 and by March this year 2,403 people were participating.

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