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& 9Ie^ - ^curnal
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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 - The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVI1 NO. 35 - RAEFORD. HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1975
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
The old year came to an end
Wednesday and I hope that the New
Year will have more in store for us than
1974. I will recall a few of the events
that caused me to make this statement.
The corruption in government
certainly could be one thing that we
hope won't happen again anytime soon.
The people of our country have almost
lost all confidence in the leaders and
this makes things tough for all of us. I
oertainly hope that Watergate and all
other such things will be behind us in
1975.
The energy shortage has caused
hardship on most of the peopte and
could come back again unless we all
strive to conserve fuel in every way that
we can. Let us be such that this doesn't
turn up again in 1975.
Inflation and recession were both
with us in 1974. This of course created
problems for everyone that tried to find
a solution to these problems.
The layoff at many plants has hit
very hard in 1974 and when the
problem of inflation is whipped, maybe
the cure will be found for recession.
Law and order which has been a top
problem for many years seems to have
been before us again in 1974. The crjme
rate for the country has risen and it
doesn't look good for the coming year.
These are just a few of the problems
that caused so many hardships in the
year just past. Watergate, energy,
inflation, recession, layoffs and crime.
All of these problems have solutions but
I believe that no one man or a
committee can make it work. It will
take all of us to see the job done right.
It may cause hardships to some of us
but if the problems are solved all of us
can look forward to years ahead with a
bright hope.
Let's all trv.
As I write this column it seems that
Raelord and Hoke ( ounty was
exceptionally quie. over the holiday
season. I haven't heard of any violence
and there were few incidents of any
kind. I hope this will continue
throughout the New Year.
Russell Davis, former Hoke High
football and basketball star, is making
the headline's every week playing
basketball for V.P.I, in Virginia. I will
not go into the accomplishments of
Russell as they have appeared elsewhere
in the paper, but will offer to him.
Congratulations, as a goodwill
ambassador for Hoke County.
To all of you, Happy New Yeai.
Meetings Set
Regular meetings will be held next
Monday for the county board of
commissioners, the city council and the
board of education.
The county commissioners will meet
at 9 a.m. on Jan 6 at the old board of
education building on Edinborough
Aven ue.
The city council will meet at 7:.JO
p.m. in the conference room at city hall.
The hoard of education will meet at X
p.m. at the new board of education
building on Wooley Street.
All meetings are open to the public.
PROSPERITY
in TRE
COIMDG
9EHR
May all the good things in life be yours
throughout 1975... and along with prosperity,
may you enjoy that which makes life worthwhile...
love, good health, and friends.
Staff Of The News Journal
Donations Brightened Holidavs
The generosity of Hoke' Count talis
and others at Christmas was praised this
week by a spokesman tor the county
Department of Social Services.
A total of 57 individuals and families
were 'adopted' and many other's
received toys and gifts.
Four persons donated a total of S50.
and toys were eontubuted by HHq.
35th Signal C?p.. Fort Bragg.
Builington. Knit-Awa> and House ol
Racford all donated toys and gifts, and
the Open Arms Rest Home, which
received an overabundance of fruit as
gifts, shared the overload with those less
fortunate.
The Racford Ministerial Association
contributed food which members of the
citizens' banc! radio club and health
department workers helped distribute
Families were adopted by Sunday
school classes at First Baptist Church.
Raeford Presbyterian and Raeford
United Methodist Church as well as by
the Kiwanis and Key Clubs. Hoke
County Jayeees. Cadette Giil Scouts
and Third Area Training Squad at Pope
AFB.
In a statement from the county DSS.
the spokesman said "We want to thank
everyone who shared with someone less
fortunate and especially we appreciate
people using the department as a
clearing house to coordinate donations.
"However, need doesn't end at
ml
Christmas and many persons arc facing a
cold winter without adequate Iteat or
food."
The department would like to start ?
an emergency fuel luud and any
donations will he welcome.
Hot Lunches Set
For Sr. Citizens
New Laws
In Effect
A number of new traff ic laws greeted
motorists when the New Year was rung
in. including the end of right turns on
red and stiffer penalties tor speeding.
As of Jan 1. right turns at a red light
are not allowed, although the state
legislature is expected to re - enact the
law in the coining session.
Raet'ord Police Chief Leonard Wiggins
said his department "is in no hurry" to
write tickets, and will gi\e warnings
instead to forgetful drivers.
The city council is expected to
consider enacting a local ordinance
permitting the turn.
A new speeding measure also went
into effect Jan. i and drivers face the
automatic loss of license for one yeai
for driving 15 miles per hour over the
posted speed limit in any zone. Under
the old law. the speed must have been at
least 70 M.P.I I. Thus a conviction of
speeding 50 M.P.H. in a 55 M.P.I I. /one
would result in loss of license.
Anyone attempting to elude a police
off icer in pursuit at a speed of at least
55 M.P.H.. and also 15 M.P.H. over the
limit, could receive a SI.000 fine and
two year; in jail.
Maximum penalties for speeding or
driving the wrong way on a one . wa>
street will be doubled. A SI00 fine and
<>l) day s m jail is the top punishment.
Also doubled undei the new law is
the penalty for motorcyclists traveling
r.k .o il u'oku.?? Viol, tin;>
be subject to a SI00 fine ana oU days in
jail.
Financial responsibility requirements
ha\e been raised. Ihe minimum amount
of liability insurance will go from
S 10.000 to SI5.000 for each injury or
death resulting from an accident.
It will be a misdemeanor to
unintentionally cause a death while
driving if the death is the result ol
violating a tratiic law. Maximum
punishment is a 5500 fine and two years
in piison.
Motorbikes with less than one -
horsepower engines that cannot go
taster than 20 M.P.H. will be exempt
from title an J registration lawv
See M W LAWS, page 11
A program that will provide hot
lunches lor senior citi/ens is expected to
begmnii Raetord in mid-January.
Thirty hoi lunches will he served
daily Monday thiough Fiiday on a first
come basis at the old Masonjc lodge on
North Main Sticci extended.
The meals will be provided at no cost
for all persons ovei oO. however, the
program is aimed piimarily at those
with low incomes.
The progiam is being financed by a
federal grant matched by a portion of
local funds. Helen Jones, from Lumber
Ri\ei Council of Governments, is
project director.
According to Mis. L)ebi Weinstein,
staff member at Lumber River COG, the
project to begin in Raeford is an
extension of a yeai-long program now
being operated in four other towns in
the four-county region. Raeford and a
site in Bladen County are being included
for the first time.
The meals will be prepared in
Lumberton by Technical Services
Lnterprises and will be transported in
hot and cold containers to the old
lodge, now owned by Tri-County
Community Action agency.
Mrs! Weinstein said they were hoping
tor good participation.
"We just wish we could serve more
meals," she said.
According to the project report
prepared for COG members, the
program will be given SI 10,825 from
the North Carolina Governor's
Coordinating Council 011 Aging, which
S5.816.50 in regional funds would be
added. The meals are to cost $1.47
each. The project is being funded for a
year. Mrs. Weinstein said, and is
expected to be approved for a longer
period.
She said that in addition to meals,
other activities at the lodge are being
planned.
"We want people to come about
11 30 and stjy to around 2 p.m. We'll
have programs, like information on
social security and arts and crafts, things
like that."
To encourage participation, Mrs.
Weinstein said "if someone who has a
car will bring two more people, we'll
pay him gas mileage from his house to
the center and back."
Starting date foi (he lunch program is
uncertain, she said. Work on the kitchen
is needed, among other details to be
decided. However, the opening date is
expected to be decided at a meeting in
R a el oid (his week between project
leaders and community action agency
officials.
McMillian Seeks Spot At '76 Olympics
Kathy McMillian. the Hoke High
junior who won the long jump at the
Junior Olympics this summer, spent
part of the Christmas vacation at a
training clinic for prospective 1076
Olympic athletes.
McMillian and Hoke High coach
William Colston were invited to attend
the three-day session at Widenir Colleae
in Chester. Pa. Three other girls
specializing in the long jump, including
Olympic athlete Willye White of
Chicago, were invited.
Approximately nine other women
athletes and their coaches also attended
the camp, which was sponsored In the
U.S. Olympic Committee tor Women's
Athletics.
Coaches for the camp included I4>~o
Olympic coach and athletic director loi
N.C. Central University. Dr Ijerov
Walker, as head coach, and Jim Flynn.
University of Delaware, for the long
jump. Rhodesian Olympic coach Dr.
John Cheffers coached high jump and
Jean Roberts. Australian Olympic
thrower coached the shot put.
Colston said the next step on the
Olympic path for Kathy was tc compete
in an AAl'-sanctioned meet to try to
qualify for the U.S. indoor national
meet to be he 1(1 the end o: February in
New York.
McMillian must at least meet tlie
standard jump o: IS feet to quality to:
the national meet. Colston said. He;
longest tump so tar is I1'-1) feet
"The problem is we don't have ar.\
local meets that are AAl-sanctioned."
Colston said. He said he was writing
directors ot meets in Greensboro and
Richmond to see :! site could compete.
Front competitor at the IS.
national, about five athletes in each
event will be chosen I ?: additional
competition in the Fan American Games
in H' o and then the Olympics.
Tags Ready
For Car. Dog
(ity automobile anJ dog tags will go
on sale Jan. 2 ai the municipal building.
\ll automobiles -egisiered to city
residents must displa\ a DJ75 city tag
no later than Feb 15. !'>"5. The cost is
M .00
Dogs age !oui months or eldei as of
Jan I who aie kept within the cit>
limits must be registcicd. Dog tags are
S-.50. Dogs must he vaccinated against
rabies prior to obtaining the tag.
The Old Order Changes
1974 Was A Year Of Conflict, Of Shortage, Of Change In The County
1974 - A year of conflicts, of
shortages, or change. The county nearly
ran out of gas and long lines to buy
what was available became
commonplace. Squabbles over the
airport, oser revenue sharing funds, over
the leash Jaw erupted periodically. New
faces repaced old as the leadership of
many agancies changed.
I 9 7j was also a year of
accompAhments, as the fund drive for
the new lbrary moved forward and the
Bicentenlial Committeeibegan planning
for th? nation's 200th birthday
celebratijin. The Forum, arranged by
the RaefVd Woman's Club, pricked the
intellect 'and stirred the conscience of
the community.
January, the first month of a new
year and new faces came to the county.
Gene Carter was named president of the
Bank of(Raeford, a post held for so
many years by R.B. Lewis, now retired.
Superintendent of schools Donald
Abemethy resigned and George Rae
Autry w>s named to the position. Ben
X was appointed to head the
Department of Social Services,
| by Miss Mabel McDonald, who
, that we re to appear throughout
the year had their beginnings in
January. In District Court. Judge Joseph
Dupree appointed attorneys to
represent three juveniles charged with
kidnap and assault and then ruled that
the youths are to be tried as adults in
Superior Court. Defense attorney Phil
Diehl appealed and the scene was set lor
a legal battle. The Hoke County
Firemens' Association requests-S5.000
in revenue sharing funds for each
volunteer fire department and got a
"no, not now" from the county board
of commissioners. The issue smoldered,
to flare later.
The political season was ushered in
by Sol Cherry, who announced his
candidacy for district attorney. Many
candidates followed his lead. In January
also, the first Forum, conceived and
executed by the Raeford Woman's Club,
opened with UN'C professor Dr.
Maynard Adams speaking on the quality
of life. Plans for an expansion of
Raeford Turkey Farms were announced
that month and the Kiwanians gave
their annual man - of ? the year award to
Benny McLeod.
In February, the gas shortage, which
had nagged at the county for months,
arrived with a vengeance. Long lines
became commonplace, as motorists
bought what gas was available. 'Out of
gas' signs were seen more often than not
on gas pumps. Service station operators
iried a variety of plans to meet the crisis
and finally, alter a meeting a' the
courthouse with state and local officials,
adopted the even - odd sales da>s plan.
The first round in the 1074 airport
squirmish was fired in February, when
the airport commission met with the
city council and Tom Cameron told
officials the operation at the municipal
airport was "dangerous" The council
adopted the committee's
recommendaiions for additional
operating procedures, but the matter
was far from closed.
Long time chairman of the county
commissioners T.C. Jones announced he
would not seek re ? election By the
closing date, ten men and one woman
had filed for the three available seats on
the board
Coming on the heels of the gas
shortage, in March a fertilizer shortage
developed. But on the brighter side,
increased allocations of gasoline began
to dribble into the county and gradually
the long lines subsided into memory,
marked only by the increased price of
gasoline.
The I inal session of (he Forum ended,
acclaimed as a success in the
community. The county gainej a lihrais
director. Miss Frances Edwards, which
ended the supervision of the library by
the Cumberland County office.
April brought more than showers, as
storms of conflict engulfed city and
county officials. The airport issue
crrupted again with clashes brought on
by attempts of Paul Rose to lease a site
at the airport for a flying school.
I he county commissioners held
budget hearings and found that f iremen
were hot under the collar A request for
revenue sharing funds for each
department again brought a polite
refusal, as commissioners said the lunds
were all obligated. Firemen retaliated
with mass meetings in which they
publically endorsed candidates for the
board in the upcoming elections.
The commissioners had other
problems that month also, with
budgeting and planning the new county
office building. Cost estimates hovered
around S500.000.
In the new faces department. Earl
Chason, only recently appointed to
chair the board of elections, resigned
ami ! tarn Id Brock was named to til! the
position. Allen I awards, a native of
Goidsboro. w.-.\ named 10 till Ra/
Ain:\*s tor me 1 post as puncipal of
Hoke High. With the school year
closing, more than *>0 outstanding
seniors were honored at a banquet at
the high school.
School news dominated the rmnth of
May. \ state commission recommended
the cosing of Raelord l.lemcntaiy and
Hoke High played host to a sectional
girls Hack meet The girls later brought
home the stale crown, with Kathy
McMilhan setting records in tour events.
Hoke voters, in a very light turnout,
set a record by choosing in the
Democratic primary the first Indian, the
first woman and the first black to serve
on the board of commissioners, as
James Albert Hunt, Mable Riley and
Dannie McCollum led the ticket.
However, a runoff election for the
county board and a district judge's post
was scheduled
The firemen finally got their revenue
sharing funds, possibly in response to
the election outcome, as the county
board in a special meeti ig allotted
$200,000 to the library building and
$45,000 to public safety. The latter
included S5.000 to the :cscuc squad and
the rest tor the the departments.
1 lie count> set a tentative budget of
M .4 million and the cits reduced their
tax rate by per cent fhe library
tund gait.ed a WOOO donation from the
Ract??rd Woman'sCiub.
In the second primars. held the first
week of June. Hoke voters reversed
their earlier decision and returned two
incumbents. John Balfour and Ralph
Barnhart. io the ticket lor the board of
county commissioners Charles f^ee
Guy beat hack challenges from Slyvia
Allen to win a judgeship.
The city council okayed an ordinance
allowing motorists to rum right on a red
light alter coming to a complete stop.
Pennies became the latest item in short
supply as banks called upon citizens to
turn in their coppers.
A small plane, operating from
Raeford airport, ciashed into the
backyard of a Raeford home, slightly
injuring the student pilot.
The Hoke County Historical
Association was formed in June
(The roundup of top events in Hoke
County during 1974 will be concluded
next week.)