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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXV1I NO. 50 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY, APRIL 17. 1975
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
The weather is still unsettled as this
column is written, and it had rained all
night Monday. I hope before too long
that it will settle off and all crops can be
put in the ground. There are many other
reasons for fair and warm weather.
I received back from the post office a
letter marked address unknown that was
mailed to a member of the class of
1935. The letter was addressed to Mrs.
E.W. Walls, nee Mazie Norton,on Rural
Route, Garner. The address didn't
include the route number or box
number, so this must be the reason for
the return.
Someone said that you have to have
the color of the house and number of
children in the family to get a letter
through now. I do believe this as most
of the time you just have to put the age
of the person.
Anyway, if any reader knows the
address of the above please contact the
writer.
While on the subject, the class of
1934 would like to know the addresses
of Mildred Polston and Ruby Dunn,
who were members of that class. If you
can be of assistance, please write to
either Clyde Upchurch or Mrs. Graham
Clark, Raeford, N.C.
The Raeford Jaycee Walkathon was a
great success both from the standpoint
of the number of walkers and the
amount of money raised for crippled
children. The amount of money was
close to SI 1,000 and the number of
walkers was approximately 500.1 would
say this was really a success for a county
the size of Hoke, when the state only
raised a little over $300,000.
Congratulations are offered to all the
Jaycees and especially to the committee
in charge of this event for a job well
done.
Many rumors are going around
concerning a few of the walkers, and I
will try to find out the truth by next
week and bring it to you straight.
This county has had heavy rains, bad
hailstorms and tornadoes to hit, but
these, in the minds of some of oui
citizens, weren't anything compared tc
the disaster of the Family Restauranl
changing opening time from six to eight
a.m. You would have thought that some
of these people had lost everything they
owned as they lamented about the
changes.
I don't drink coffee and guess I can'i
understand how this could be such a
disaster. So, I went out to the restauranl
to put in my two-bits worth for these
patrons of the past ten years. But to no
avail.
I was told that if some husbands in
the county "would get a stick and use
on a sleeping wife, a husband could have
coffee at six a.m." I agreed with this, as
far as the coffee goes, but they might
have a doctor bill for dessert.
Another lady said the group didn't go
out to the restaurant for coffee but to
gossip. After reviewing in my mind the
patrons of this early morning coffee
group, I am of the conclusion they
wouldn't have a word harmful or good
to say about anyone. Maybe they all
assemble to keep anyone from talking
about the other.
I am still looking around for six
o'clock coffee for this group and ask the
help of the readers of this column to try
to solve this problem because the
disaster worsens.
The map in last week's paper showin
the route of the Walkathon was not th
work of Robert Gatlin or Bill Bailej
staff chart makers, but came from Larr
Phillips and Bobby Strother who ca
give the mapmaker's name.
It s Official
Hoke A Bicentennial Community
The county was officially designated
this week as a Bicentennial community.
The announcement was made
Tuesday by the office of Congressman
Charles Rose.
John Warner, head of the American
Revolution Bicentennial
Administration, announced that official
recognition will be given to Hoke
County as a Bicentennial community by
the American Revolution Bicentennial
Administration.
Rose's Office To Visit
Congressman Charles Rose's mobile
office, with administrative assistant Rip
Collins, will be in Raeford April 25
from 10-3.
About SO counties in the state have
been recognized so far.
Mrs. Iris Davis, county co-chairman
of the Bicentennial Committee, said a
ceremony of some sort will be
scheduled to mark the official
recognition.
"I am delighted," she said. "This is
wonderful."
According to Rose's office, a later
announcement by the Bicentennial
Administration is scheduled for
Thursday.
Footsore Walkers Raise$ 11,000
In Jaycee Walkathon Saturday
Club To Sell
New Numbers
The Hoke County Jaycees will
sell house numbers in Raeford
Saturday to raise funds for club
projects.
The charge for new numbers,
including installation, will be S2.
Club president Harold Brewer
and project chairman Willie Jacobs
discussed the plan the last city
council meeting and got the
backing of the council.
For additional information, call
875-5742.
Widow Sues
Other Driver
The widow of a Robeson County
man killed in an auto accident near
Antioch last month is suing the driver of
the other car for $75,000.
In a complaint filed in district court
here April 4, Mrs. Rose Ellen Stultz is
asking for S50,000 compensatory
damages and $25,000 punitative
damages from William Lowery, also of
Robeson County.
Calvin Stultz was killed March 8
when the car he was driving collided
with the Lowery vehicle. Two young
boys riding in the car driven by Stultz
were also killed.
According to the complaint, Mrs.
Stultz contends that Lowery was driving
at a high rate of speed and without due
caution, when his car struck the one her
husband was driving as he pulled from a
churchyard onto a rural paved road near
the Robeson County line.
Lowery was charged following the
accident with three counts of
manslaughter. His case was continued in
district court last week.
Judge Hobgood Calls Grand Jury
Early To Correct Indictment
Superior Court Judge Hamilton H.
Hobgood has ordered the Hoke county
grand jury members summoned for next
Monday, a week early, due to an error
discovered in one of the two murder
indictments returned on Jesse Leonard
Luckie last November.
Hobgood, who will preside over the
first week of a Superior Court session
beginning April 28. said it was brought
to his attention by the district
attorney's office that one of the murder
indictments contained the wrong
month. September, as the date of the
crime.
Luckie. 25. was arrested for the
killings of W.T. McAllister and his wife,
Mary, at their home in Blue Springs last
October 19. Originally scheduled for
trial in January, the case was continued
while Luckie underwent a diagnostic
study, and trial was set April 28.
Hobgood said a new bill of
jury next week, or it will be impossible
to hold Luckie-s trial as scheduled for
April :8.
"A man cannot be tried for a capitol
offense in the same term of court in
which he is indicted. That's the law,"
Hobgood said. "He could plead guilty,
but otherwise, I would have to continue
the case as a matter of law." he said.
Hobgood said he has instructed the
district attorney to submit all matters
calendared for action by the grand jury
next Monday, in addition to the
corrected Luckie indictment. Hobgood
said he has scheduled a special, one-day
session of court for Monday, in the
event any cases may be disposed of
through guilty pleas or other non-jury
action, heightening speculation that
Luckie may plead guilty.
Two weeks ago. Hobgood denied a
indictment, to correct the wrong date,
will have to be returned bv the crand
Phil Ricks Resigns
Assistant farm agent Phil Ricks has
resigned effective May 15, county agent
Wendell Young announced.
Ricks, who has been with the county
extension office since August. 1972.
will join Johnston County extension
office in Smith field as a full time
livestock specialist.
In addition to livestock work here.
Ricks has helped with the 411 and other
programs.
Young said a replacement is not
expected before mid-June.
requested change of venue made in the
l.uckie case by public defender James
Little and ordered a special jury pool of
200 Cumberland County residents be
subpoenaed for the April 28 trial.
District Attorney Ed Grannis
confirmed members of his staff will
present all bills of indictment before the
grand jury on Monday, but declined to
acknowledge a corrected bill of
indictment against Luckie is included.
Grannis declined to make any
comment regarding the Luckie case.
Assistant District Attorney Duncan
McFadyen also refused to discuss any
aspect of the Luckie case, however,
McFadyen on Tuesday directed an
alternate calendar be drawn for the first
week of court. The new calendar, yet to
be released, is expected to reflect added
cases again adding to speculation that
Luckie may enter a plea of guilty.
Should Luckie plead guilty, he will be
sentenced for second degree murder,
which does not carry the death
sentence.
Library Gets
Zoning Okay
The zoning board of adjustments gave
the go-ahead Monday to build the
library without meeting city parking
requirements.
At a meeting called at the request of
the library board, the zoning committee
headed by Jimmy Conoly approved a
variance in the ordinance that requires
?one off-street parking space for every
four seats within the building.
The variance was based on securing
permission from the school board to use
school land between the proposed
library and the Methodist Church for
parking, if needed. Ralph Barnhart,
chairman of the library building
committee, said he must now get a
letter of agreement from the school
board.
The zoning variance clears the way to
consider final building plans.
Fundraising efforts to collect the last
approximately S30.000 are continuing.
CHECKPOINT - Hoke High coach Howard Smith (in hat) pauses a moment with students as they approach the Armory
checkpoint on the second leg of the cerebral palsy Walkathon that raised SI 1,000 Saturday. About 6SO walkers participated.
By C onvict
Sheriff Sued For $300,000
A man serving an armed robbery
sentence in Central Prison has Cried a
civil lawsuit against lloke County
Sheriff Dave Barrington for S300.000
for alleged civil rights violations.
William Franklin White, convicted
last fall of the June b. I')74 robbery of
the Hoke ABC store, filed a handwritten
petition last week in federal district
court in Raleigh.
Also named as defcndams are
Superior Court Judge Donald Smith,
former District Attorney Jack
Thompson and White's defense
attorney. Doran Berry. Although tire
petition is unclear, presumably White is
asking for S300.000 each.
White charges that Barnngton
kidnapped him at gunpoint in
Cumberland County and arrested and
searched him without a warrant. As a
result, items found in his car were later
used against him in his trial. He also
charges that Barrington refused to
advise him of his rights at the time of
airest, although White said he asked to
be advised, and that he was
photographed and fingerprinted without
a lawyer being present, although he
requested one.
White also contends in the suit that
his rights were violated when he was
lodged without a warrant in a regular
cell rather than in a holding cell.
In his petition. White also alleges that
he asked his attorney to excuse a juror
who knew him as a family member from
a previous court case. Berry told him he
was probably wrong. White contends,
and allowed the juror to remain.
White charges that Judge Smith erred
in allowing several articles to he used as
evidence against him.
In addition to the S500.000. White
asked the court to forbid interference
with his mail and to prohibit any
punishment for filing the petition.
Barrington's attorney. Palmer
Willcox. after meeting with the
co-defendants last Thursday, said he
would file an answer denying the
allegations and would probably ask for a
dismissal.
White is suing the defendants in their
official capacity and as individuals.
Dinner Opens
Cancer Drive
A dinner to kick off the I'>75 Cancer
Crusade will he held May 2 at t>:50 p.m.
at the Hoke Cafeteria and Gym.
Tile featured speaker will be Albeit
Long, youth evangelist from Durham.
Long will be familiar to Hoke County
See DRIVL. page 15
With perfect spring weather, the
Raeford Walkathon for cerebral palsy
Saturday brought in approximately
511,000 in pledges publicity chairman
Larry Phillips reported Tuesday.
"We haven't finished counting all the
sponsor sheets yet", Phillips said, "and
we have had some calls from people
who wanted to know if they can still
send a donation".
Sponsors of the Walkathon, the
Raeford Jaycees, termed it "a
tremendous success". About 650
walkers, mostly students, were
sponsored in amounts averaging about a
quarter a mile. Many walkers signed up
i number of sponsors.
Only four persons reportedly
dropped out before the 20 ? mile route
was completed, and a footsore dog who
joined the walkers quit, dog tired,
alongside the road. Trooper J.E. Stanley
gave the dog a ride.
Phillips said the record time for a
walker was made by a Hoke High track
learn member, Carnell Andrews.
Andrews made the walk in two and one
half hours.
Phillips said the only casualties were
blistered feet. "We saw some walking
barefoot, with their shoes over their
shoulders", he said.
He said lite complete results will not
be tabulated until a couple of weeks,
but awards will be given for special
recognition.
"Right now. we're pretty sure (Chief
of Police) Zeke Wiggins had the most",
Phillips said. "5501.00 we got for him".
The Jaycees plan to present
certificates to the walker with the
largest amount pledged, and also to the
walker with the most sponsors.
The school with the greatest
percentage of students taking part will
receive a certificate.
"We had an extremely good turnout
from Upchurch and Hoke High",
Phillips said.
The Walkathom began from the high
school stadium and looped around the
county, with checkpoints at Gentry's
Tire Service, the Armory, Upchurch
School. Turnpike Road, and Bethel
Church. No mishaps with traffic were
reported and Phillips praised the
support given by law enforcement
sgcncies.
Angela Locklear, a second grader at
Raeford f lementary and one of about
ten county residents afflicted with
cerebral paisy. kicked off die march by
addressing lite walkers at the stadium.
Angela, who has had two operations
and walks on crutches with braces on
both legs, thanked the sponsors.
"I hope someday 1 can walk, too",
she said.
The walkers got underway about
5:45, some of the more enthusiastic
participants starting out at a jog, and
the last ones reached the end of the
route by about 3:15 PM., Phillips said.
Water and refreshments were
provided at the checkpoints also the
route, with rescue squad members,
laycees and National Guard volunteers
helping out to assist some foot weary
walkers who developed blisters.
A spaghetti dinner was served back at
tlte stadium at die completion of the
walk and entertainment was provided
by the Raeford Parachute Club with a
lump exhibition.
Phillips indicated the walkers had
developed hearty appetites, as nearly
rveryone "was glad to sit down and
lave a plate of spaghetti and a soft
drink".
The walkers are now in the process of
contacting their sponsors and collecting
pledges, Phillips said, and lie expects to
complete a report in about two weeks.
Sixty Are Employed Now
Under Federal Program
Wages paid under ihc federal
emergency employment program
amounted to S21.5I 1.3') in the county
last month.
Approximately 60 persons are now
employed with the schools or with the
city or county government.
The program which is funded through
August, was passed by Congress to meet
rising unemployment. Jobs are limited
to persons who have been unemployed
at least 30 days.
A total of 28 employees have been
hired by the school system, in jobs
ranging from janitorial to teacher's
aides.
The city employs 22. including street
maintenance, dog warden and clerical
jobs.
The ten county positions are mainly
clerical and maintenance. I ight persons
hired under the program since February
have quit.
Public service employees include
l.inda S. Ray, National Guard unit
clerk; James Knight, city street
maintenance; Thomas E. Allen,
delinquent tax collector; Philas R.
Johnson, teacher's aide; Gloris C.
Murchison. teacher aide; Marilyan W.
Thomas, teacher aide; Roy S. Douglas,
city maintenance; Thomas L. Barnes,
city maintenance; Larry Beasley, city
maintenance and Virginia B. McPhatter,
teacher aide.
Also hired are Joseph S. Stanton,city
maintenance; Joan F. McLaughlin, SCS
clerk; Herbert McLean Jr., school
maintenance; James Lide, city
See PROGRAM, page 13