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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVII NO 40 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 6. 1975
Around
Town
BY SAM C MORRIS
The groundhog, according to reports,
didn't see his shadow for the first time
in several years Sunday, February 2, and
according to "old sayings", we should
have an early spring.
Tuesday morning it looked like an
"old time" winter with sleet on the
ground, but the sleet changed to rain by
late morning and things were wet and
muddy. >
I haven't heard of as much sickness
this week, but if the weather stays like
this, things could change. So, let's all
hope the sign of the groundhog is right
and an early spring will be with us.
Last Friday night I was invited to a
rabbit supper at Clayton Buoyer's pond.
This was the first time I had eaten
rabbit in a number of years. Some of
the men in attendance said it was the
first time they had ever tasted rabbit. Of
course, most of ushave been eating high
on the hog and have forgotten how
we were raised. From the looks of
things we may all be glad to get rabbit
again.
The meal was prepared by John Haire
and he did an "A"-one job. My friend,
Buoyer, was around, but what help lie
was giving must have been answered by
John, as I couldn't see him doing
anything but "being around."
All kidding aside, it was a fine affair
and everyone had a fine time.
The traffic problem on llwood
Avenue has been discussed in this
column many limes in the past several
ycarsl I have suggested that the avenue
be made a one-way street and see if
things would improve. Now this will be
tried beginning March IS if proper signs
can be erected by then.
This action was taken Monday night
at the monthly meeting of the City
Council. The plan will be in effect for
three months, and if everything works
out it will remain. If not, then
something will be done about it.
Tire way to see if this plan will work
is for everyone to give it a try. Don't
start giving it lip service before it has
become effective.
I am not one that wants to change
things just for changes, but I want to
change things if progress can lie made. I
don't believe the problem will be worse
by giving this plan a try. It will
inconvenience most of us in some way
or another, but it will aid the overall
traffic problem for many on Ulwood.
So, let's all try and see what the end
result will be.
The United States Congress received
the budget from the President Monday,
and it was in four books and can be
purchased for S2b.OO. I don't believe
most of us have time to study this
budget and then it would be hard to
understand what it meant, anyway.
One news man said that to make it
short that it had the government
spending one billion dollars a day and
going in debt one billion dollars a week.
Who but the government could
operate this way?
Parnell
Pays Visit
To Board
Freshman state representative David
Parnell of Parkton paid a surprise visit
to the county commissioners' meeting
Monday morning and came away with a
request to do something to get the
county out of debt to the state penal
system.
The commissioners want the state to
stop billing the county for the upkeep
of persons in prison who are appealing
superior court convictions.
Parnell said he was not aware of the
problem but would certainly investigate
it. He advised the board to pass a
resolution asking for action and send it
to the 21st district delegation.
The commissioners, in a busy
morning, met with the library board, a
planner from the council of
governments, the county civil defense
coordinator, home and farm agents, the
school superintendent and a
representative from the cable television
company.
Libra ry
The board approved a motion to
request membership in the Sandhills
regional library system, a move asked by
the library board. The commissioners
were also shown a model of the
proposed building.
The library got the jump on budget
time, presenting their request for next
year of SI7.000 from the county. The
total budget of S22.000 will include
55,000 from the city. No salary
increases were approved and the total
for next year is only S50 more than lor
this year. However Mrs. J.M. Andrews,
library board chairman, asked that
county librarians be included in any
salary increases granted county
employees.
Planning
Larry Stahm. planner for Region N
COG. discussed questions concerning
the ordinance for a planning board
which he is preparing for the county.
The board decided to include seven
members, based on the number of
townships in the county. Stahm was
asked to draw up a sample ordinance
and bylaws and report back to the
board.
Bond Fund*
Ra/ Autry approached the boatd
with plans for the local school bond
money. Construction costs have lowered
enough since the original estimates were
made, to slice S500,000 from the SI.25
million approved by the voters, lie told
the board.
Autry also said that four most needed
construction projects could be built for
S750,000. He requested S250.000 in
revenue sharing funds for 1076 and
S500.000 from the sale of bonds.
The board took no action, deciding
to consult first with the local
government commission. However, the
bond counselor is due to meet soon
with county officials. T.B. Lester,
county manager, said, and a decision on
the amount and date of sale must be
made promptly.
Autry said contracts would be let
See BOARD, page 11
POUNDING PA VI: Ml'NT ~ A workman breaks away the curbing on Flwood Jor
one of two driveways into the new Bank of Raeford parking lot. The work ivoj
halted by the city Friday until zoning requirements were met.
Zoning Law Delays Lot
City officials enforced the coning
ordinance Friday to halt work on a
downtown parking lot after a day
school operator complained to police
that the lot would take away parking
spaces.
City manager John Gaddy made a
quick inspection of the Bank of
Kaelord's new lot on Stewart and
Flwood and asked the workman to slop
beating out a section of the curb to
install driveways opening from Flwood
Avenue.
Alter reviewing lire zoning ordinance
with zonins administrator Bill Sellars,
Caddy asked bank officials to move one
driveway several feet farther from the
corner and to increase the distance
lietween the drives.
A building permit was also required
for the project. Caddy said.
He reported to the city council
Monday night that the zoning
requirements were being met. Changing
I Iwood an castbound one-way street is
expected to provide a loading zone for
day school students.
Man Dies In Wreck;
Driver Is Charged
A 20 ? year ? old Red Springs man
died Friday night when a car in which
he was riding overturned on a ruial
Hoke County road.
Jimmy Jacobs was thrown nearly 75
feet when the car went out of control
or. a sharp curve on state road 1456, the
last paved road before the Robeson
County line.
The car, a 1674 Ford, turned over
several times before stopping in a field
adjoining N.C. 21 1 South, according to
Highway Patrol Trooper C.A. Bennett.
According to witnesses who stopped on
the highway. Jacobs was thrown onto
21 I. and was struck by a pickup truck '
driven by James Brown King. Jr. of
Asheboro. The body was dragged 127
fee; before the truck driver stopped,
Bennett said.
The driver of the Ford fled the scene
and was arrested Sunday at his home in
the Union School area of Robeson
County.
Carl Oxendine. Rt. I. Pembroke, is
charged with hit and run involving a
death, manslaughter, reckless driving
and racing. Me was taken to Hoke
County jail, where bond was set at
S5.000.
Also arrested in connection with the
accident, and charged with racing, is
Claude Bennett Jones of Raeford. Mis
bond was set at ShUO. Preliminary
hearings and trials for the two men are
set for Feb. 21 in district court.
Jacobs is the second person to die on
Moke County roads this year.
School Board
To Let Bids
Architects lor the construction
projects to he huilt with slate bond
money met with the board of education
Monday evening.
Contracts will he let Feb. 25 for the
library at Hoke High, nine classrooms
and a library at Scurlock and three
classrooms and a library at West Hoke.
The board heard a report from
reading supervisors Florence Cohen and
Roy Maynor and were told that the
class for learning disabled children will
begin Monday.
The board approved the hiring of
See SCHOOL, page 11
Eastbound
Council Okays
One Way Street
RWC Drops
Horse Show
The Raeford Woman's Club will not
hold its annual horse show here this
year.
The show site on U.S. 401 Bypass has
been sold and is not available, RWC
president Mrs. Kay Thomas explained,
and the show committee could not find
suitable grounds.
There is a possibility the Raeford
club will co-sponsor a show outside the
county, Mrs. Thomas said.
Some large fund-raising project td
Irene fit the library will be undertaken
this spring, she said.
Housing Funds
Set For Hoke
Enough money to assist 27 to 40
families to rent decent housing has been
allocated for Hoke County by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development, according to an
announcement Tuesday by state
director Richard B. Barnwell.
Based on a "fair share" formula
devised by Congress, Hoke is entitled to
S67.785 for rent subsidy payments.
The money is to be used to subsidize
rent for either newly-constructed,
substantially rehabilitated or existing
housing. Payments will cover the
difference between the market rent of
the unit and what the family can afford
to pay, which must not be more than 25
per cent of their gross income.
The program will be open to private
others, both profit and non-profit
motivated, and to public housing
agencies.
However, the allotment of money to
Hoke County docs not represent any
commitment to put housing units here,
according to Terry Piper, HUD
economist in C.reensboro.
Further regulations will be
announced soon, he said, but basically
Hoke will be included in a larger area
See HOUSING, page 11
The city council made Elwood
Avenue a one - way street and took a
tentative step toward public housing
Monday night.
A plan presented by councilman Sam
Morris was approved to change Elwood
to a one - way street going east from
Magnolia to Stewart Street starting
March 15.
The original plan called for Elwood
to cany eastbound traffic only and
Edinborough Avenue to carry
westbound traffic one way. However,
the council decided to leave
Edinborough as a two ? way avenue.
According to Morris, making Elwood
one way will relieve traffic congestion at
the corner of Main Street and at the day
school on Elwood and Stewart. Drivers
will be allowed to turn left from
Elwood onto Main Street after the plan
goes into effect, he said. He also advised
that a pick-up zone be marked on the
left side of Elwood in front of the day
school.
In addition, he pointed out, the mail
box at the post office can be used
conveniently when the street becomes a
one - way thoroughfare.
The council made it clear they were
approving the plan on a trial basis,even
though a time limit was not stated in
the motion.
The council also agreed to arrange a
joint public meeting with the county
board of commissioners to hear from
HUD (Housing and Urban
Development) officials on public
housing after being prodded by a
delegation to the council meeting.
Dayna and Warren Pate, Phil Diehl
and Mrs. Nina Morrissey, representing
"20 or 30 other people interested in
getting low cost rental housing",
outlined the need for housing in the
area and urged the council to reactivate
the old Raeford Housing Authority.
Mayor John K. McNeill answered,
saying he did not believe that the
housing authority was needed and
explained several new federal programs
through which housing money may
become available.
'Hie council declined to appoint a
citizens' study group, as Diehl
requested, but they did agree to arrange
the meeting with HUD housing
specialists.
Recommendations by the airport
commiltee were approved by the
council to lease another piece of
property at the airport to Gene Thacker
under the same terms required in the
lease to Paul Rose. In addition, Thacker
was released from the lease he now
holds with the city and the council
agreed to allow him to use a portion of
the city paved apron until his area is
paved. The council also agreed to the
airport committee's recommendations
to move Thacker's gas storage tanks for
him from the area he is returning to the
city to the new area.
A joint agreement to provide disaster
relief was approved between the city
and the American Red Cross. Bill Niven,
county civil preparedness coordinator,
presented the document.
The council also discussed the request
See ONE WAY. page 11
Schools View Tornado Plan
School principals were briefed on
tornadoes in a program Friday
presented by Bill Niven, county
coordinator for civil preparedness.
A series of slides and a film of an
actual tornado were shown to the
educators.
Niven stressed that it is impossible to
predict a tornado and requested that
each school develop a plan of action to
follow.
Most tornadoes in North Carolina
occur in May. he said, and Hoke County
lies in a belt that could receive winds 01
upward of 80 miles an hour. Winds of
55 mplt can topple a mobile home.
Nivcn said.
Niven explained that 95 per cent of
all tornadoes travel in a southwesl to
northeastern direction but once a
tornado touches down, the wind
velocity can go in any direction.
For this reason, it is recommended
tli31 children be moved to the most
structurally sound corner of the
building, Niven told the principals.
_ (Photo By Mac Donald)
SUNNY DA YS latt week lured the fbwers into bloom...
BUT SNOW and icy rains came back to chill the county.