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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVIII NO. 3 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA SS PER YEAR THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1975
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
The request for information about
the old Teacherage being torn down on
Main Street is still coming in. Robert
Gatlin said he had received letters and
phone calls about the house.
I had a note from Jewel Klouse, nee
Jewel Snead of Myrtle Beach, S.C.,
concerning the Teacherage. She also
said, "I enjoy your paper so much - and
still call Raeford my home." Thanks
Jewel, and come by to see us the next
time you are in town.
I received a note last week from Mrs.
Julian King about the Cancer Drive. The
note follows:
"On behalf of the Raeford Junior
Women's Club, I would like to express
our deep appreciation to the Raeford
Merchants and to Mr. Allen Edwards,
Hoke County High School principal, for
their help with our card benefit to raise
money for the American Cancer
Society. We are indeed fortunate to
have such cooperation and civic-minded
people in our community."
Maybe reading the words in this note
will cause many newcomers to Raeford
to see why Jewel Klouse still calls
Raeford home.
The paper next week will contain our
Senior Section. This section is run each
year offering congratulations to the
students that have completed the 12
years of school work in Hoke County. It
consists of ads from the local business
firms of the county and also pictures of
each member of the Senior Class of
1975.
The staff of The News-Journal always
tries to reach all firms for ads in this
section. If you have been overlooked
and would like to appear in the section,
juat dial 875-2121, and someone will get
in touch with you. Please call by Friday
noon if you want to be in the section.
While on the subject of graduation,
the class of 1935 will hold a reunion
this year, 40 years from graduation
from Raeford High School. I have
mentioned this before in this column
and the final plans should be completed
this weekend. Forty letters were mailed
to the living members of the class, and
as this is being written, 31 have returned
letters. Of this number 27 will attend
the reunion and four others either,
because of a previous engagement or
sickness, had to decline. I still hope to
hear from the other eight members.
After forty years I wasn't sure this
many would answer the letter, so the
results, from my viewpoint, are very
good.
The 28th annual dinner meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce, held
Monday night at the Gibson Cafeteria,
was well attended. The meal served by
the Hoke County 4-H Clubs was very
good. The affair went very smoothly
and the speaker kept everyone awake
and listening with his timely remarks.
The Chamber now starts a new year
under the leadership of Dick Lovett, Jr.,
of Knit-Away.
1 went out to West Hoke School last
Friday morning for their annual Field
Day. The rain held off and the day was
very successful for both students and
teachers.
J.D. McAllister, assistant school
superintendent, made the comment that
he could remember having field days
when he was in school. It also brought
back memories of field days during my
days at school during the twenties.
1 am glad to see them being revived as
1 think the competitive spirit of these
events is good for the students as much
as the book work in the classroom.
City Picks
Housing Panel
Five members of the recently
reactivated Raeford Housing Authority
have accepted appointments by the city
council.
Neill McFadyen, a farmer and former
state representative with experience in
real estate and building, has been named
chairman.
Others on the authority are Dayna
Pate, a caseworker at the Department of
Social Services; Ken McNeill, a farmer
and member of the previous housing
authority; JJX McAllister, assistant
superintendent of schools and Gerald
Wr*t, a real estate broker.
MEDI-VAC - The driver in a Vass Road smash up was extricated from the wreckage
by the Hoke County Rescue Squad and transported from the scene by a medi-vac
helicopter to Womack Army Hospital. (Photo by Marty Vega)
Guardsman Is Injured
In High Speed Crash
A nineteen - year - old National
Guardsman was pinned within his
wrecked car for 35 minutes following a
high speed crash Tuesday morning
before rescue squad members were able
to free him.
Ronald Lawson Fowler, Rt. 6,
Monroe, lost control of his 1970
Chevrolet SS 454 while traveling south
on Vass Road at about 10:40 ajn.,
Trooper JX). Thigpen said.
Thigpin said Fowler, who was alone
in the car, was driving at an extremely
high rate of speed and lost control of
the car on a curve. The vehicle went off
the right shoulder, hitting several trees
and overturned.
Morrison's Ambulance service arrived
at the scene and Trooper C.A. Bennett
and Thigpin attempted to free Fowler
from the wreck. Thigpin said the impact
threw Fowler to the passenger side of
the vehicle, and the doors could not be
opened.
Rescue squad members extricated the
man from the car using their power tool
and Fowler was evacuated by military
helicopter to Womack Army Hospital at
Ft. Bragg.
A hospital spokesman said the man
was admitted with head injuries, but did
not disclose his condition.
Thigpin termed the car a total loss
and estimated damage at $2,000. Traffic
was disrupted for an hour before the car
could be removed from the scene.
Thigpin said Fowler is attending a two
week summer camp for National Guard
members. He is the son of Union
County Sheriff Frank Fowler.
Bennett said two persons witnessed
the accident and charges are expected to
be filed.
CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS - Dick Lovett (left) incoming Chamber of Commerce
president, Loren Young, guest speaker, and Richard P. Bruce, chairman of the
board of Knit-Away who introduced Young, gather at the annual Chamber dinner.
Officers Are Installed
At Chamber Dinner
George J. (Dick) Lovett, Jr. was
installed as president of the
Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce at
the annual Chamber dinner Monday
night at Gibson building.
Dr. Robert G. Townsend Jr., a former
Chamber president, installed officers,
that included J.B. (Benny) McLeod and
Neill A. McDonald as vice ? presidents
and W.E. (Gene) Carter as
secretary-treasurer.
Richard P. Bruce Jr., chairman of the
board of Knit-Away, Inc., introduced
the guest speaker, Loren Young.
Young, with a varied career as
teacher, coach, historian, counselor,
Yukon forest ranger and Methodist
minister, has also been closely
associated with the world of sports and
served for ten years with the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes.
Harold Gillis, manager of the
Chamber of Commerce, reviewed the
progress of the Chamber over the years.
Outgoing directors introduced were
Ed Brown, Graham Clark, Bobby
Conoly, William Poole and Freddie
Williams.
Directors with one mote year to serve
who were recognized were Bob Gentry,
Theresa McBryde and Neill A.
McDonald.
Directors recognized with two more
years to serve were Gene Carter, Dick
Lovett and Benny McLeod.
Incoming directors included Julian
Butler, Gib Bernhardt, Vardell
Hedgpeth, Ivey McNair and Mike Wood.
Dinner music was provided by Susan
Gillis and the Hoke High chorale
presented a musical program.
Food Stamp Participation
Here Up 165% From 1972
The number of persons receiving food
stamps in Hoke County has jumped
165% over this time in 1972, according
to figures released by the state
Department of Human Resources.
Figures for all counties were released
in a report this month detailing the
results of Project REACH, the
Department of Social Services'
campaign to inform North Carolinians
of the food stamp program and increase
participation among poverty level
persons.
The number of persons receiving food
stamp assistance in the county as of
April was put at 3,860, or 85% of the
persons designated is below poverty
level. In 1972, the number was 1,459,
See FOOD STAMPS, page 13
Hoke High Student Sues
School Officials Over Hair
A Hoke High student has filed suit
against school officials alleging
harrassment over the school's haircut
policy and a Superior Court judge has
issued an order temporarily restraining
officials from enforcing the haircut rule.
A petition was filed last Thursday at
the court house in behalf of Joseph
Thompson Jr., an eleventh grader, and
"and those similarly situated" by
attorney Kenneth Glusntan, of
Fayetteville. The restraining order was
signed by Judge James H. Pou Bailey
after a hearing held in Fayetteville since
there was no session of Superior Court
in Hoke County at that time.
A hearing has been set for 9:30 today
in Fayetteville before Judge Bailey.
In the order, Bailey cited numerous
previous suspensions from school and
declared that "there exists a substantial
likelihood, based on past history, that
the plaintiff will again be suspended
from school because of the length of his
hair; that said suspension would result
in irreparable harm to the plaintiff since
he will be prevented from doing his
schoolwork and will cause him mental
distress, anxiety and humiliation. That
the loss of schoolwork and adverse
effect on grades cannot be remedied by
money damages.
"That there is not sufficient time for
proper notice to all parties if irreparable
harm to the plaintiff is to be
prevented."
The petition names as defendants,
Raz Autry, school superintendent;
school board members Riley M.Jordan,
William L. Howell, Jr., Robert T.
Gibson, D.R. Huff Jr. and Wilton Wood;
Hoke High principal Allen Edwards and
assistant principal Donald Steed.
They are each being sued both
individually and in their official
capacities for $1,000 in actual damages
and $5,000 in puntative damages.
In addition, the petition asks that the
haircut regulations be declared
unconstitutional, null and void and that
the defendents be permanently enjoined
from enforcing them. Also, it is asked
for the deletion of all "zeros" that have
been entered on Thompson's class
records as a result of absences caused by
suspensions on account of his hair
length.
The petition also asks that the action
be considered under North Carolina law
as a class action, affecting "all males
who are now, or ever will be students at
Hoke County High School."
Thompson is described in the petition
as a better - than - average student who
has been respectful, obedient and
well-disciplined in school." His hair is
described as "short by current
standards, and it is well-groomed, but it
does extend slightly over his ears, and
occasionally extends to his collar in the
back. Plaintiffs sideburns extend to
slightly below the earlobe."
The suit alleges that during the past
school year, Thompson has been
suspended from school on several
occasions by Edwards and "has been
subjected to continual petty harassment
by the defendant Steed".
Because of suspensions, Thompson
"has been forced to miss classwork.has
received adverse grades in his classes, has
suffered great mental anguish, has cut
his hair several times against his will, has
been held up to public redicule and has
been subjected to harassment and
embarrassment by the defendants,
Edwards and Steed."
Thompson contends in his petition,
that Steed and Edwards "have been
aided, encouraged and ordered to
continue and persist in the course of
action" by Autry and the school board.
He is being caused irreparable harm
because of the policy, Thompson
contends, in that he has been placed
under great mental stress that makes it
difficult to study and his grades have
been damaged by the "zeros" entered
on his school record. He has never been
given any kind of hearing before a
suspension, the petition alleges.
Three sections of the school dress
code are unconstitutional, the suit
contends. The sections protested
include the haircut regulations, the ban
on beards and mustashes, tank shirts
and midriffs and the rule prohibiting
any kind of pictorial markings on
clothing.
The regulations are unconstitutional,
the suit contends, because they violate
the due process clause of the 14th
Amendment, in by infringing on the
right of the student to regulate his own
appearance. The rules violate, the
students' right to freedom of speech
under the First and 14th Amendment
and they violate the equal protection
clause of the 14th Amendment, because
the hair length regulations apply only to
males and not females. This is an
irrational discrimination, the defendant
contends.
Thompson's father, Joseph
Thompson Sr., was appointed by the
court to bring the suit in his son's
behalf, since the student is a minor.
Deputies served the court order to
school officials over the weekend. A
bond ot $5 each was set to comply with
the laws eovernino rivO 1...
SLA YING SCENE - A wreath of white flowers was left at the door of the South
Hoke home where Barbara Jean Patterson was slain by gunfire last Thursday.
Deputies found the body lying in the front yard.
Hoke Woman Is Slain
In F amily Argument
No charges have been filed yet in the
fatal shooting of a South Hoke mother
of three last Thursday which authorities
say occurred in a family dispute.
Barbara Jean Patterson, 29, was
found slain at the home of her
grandfather, Caesar Patterson, Rt. 1,
Box 666, Red Springs, shortly after
4:30 P.M. Thursday. The body, which
was found in the front yard, had a small
caliber gunshot wound under the right
breast, Sheriff D.M. Barrington said.
Medical examiner Riley M. Jordan
pronounced the woman dead at the
scene and the body was ordered sent to
Chapel Hill for an autopsy.
Barrington said Caesar Patterson, 91,
told him an argument developed over
food burned on the stove, and
Patterson's granddaughter went into
another room and brought out a gun.
Patterson struggled with his
granddaughter over the gun and it
Rain, Rain
Fell This Way
More than four inches of rain fell in
Raeford during die thunder storms last
weekend.
A total of 2.5 inches fell within a 35
minute period Saturday night, according
to weather recorder Robert Catlin.
Another two inches was recorded in two
thunder storms Sunday.
The total for the week was 5.8 inches
of rain, as 1.3 inches was recorded on
May 17.
Hoke Band
In Concert
Tonight
The Hoke High band will present
its spring concert Thursday night at
8 p.m. at the higji school gym.
Featured will be a section called
Fall Memories, recalling the band's
performances during the fall.
There will be no admission
charged and the public is invited to
attend.
discharged, striking the woman,
according to Patterson's account.
Patterson turned over a .22 caliber
rifle to deputies which has been sent to
the state crime lab for ballistics and
fingerprints tests, the sheriff said.
Barrington said he had obtained
statements from two witnesses present
at the time of the shooting, but the
versions differed.
James Earl Patterson, 8, the dead
woman's son, and Phyllis Pleasant, 12,
Patterson's great-granddaughter, gave
conflicting descriptions of what
occurred, Barrington said.
The sheriff said he will request a
coroner's inquest to determine die
circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The dead woman had two other
children, a four year old. and a child age
two or three. She had returned to the
county to live widt her grandfather after
an absence, the sheriff said. She had
been receiving public assistance.
Patterson had originally given his age
as 84, but a spokesman at the
Department of Social Services disclosed
the man is 91, Barrington said.
No date has been set for the inquest.
Tie Down Fees Urged
By Airport Committee
Parking spaces will be assigned to
private aircraft owners and tie down
fees will be assessed by the city if a
recommendation of the airport
committee is adopted.
The committee met last week at city
hall to discuss tie downs, leases and
other airport business.
A $10 a month rental fee was
recommended for space on the paved
apron at the airport. The committee
also recommended that the city
appropriate funds to build T-hangars for
rental at the airport.
Gene Thacker, owner of a sports
parachute business at the airport, has
notified the city that he wants to
exercise his option to renew his original
lease, the city airport committee was
informed.
A new lease similar to the one
recently signed with flight school
operator Paul Rose was being negotiated
that would have moved Thacker to a
new area at the airport and would have
returned control to the dty of the
airport building and paved apron.
The airport committee requested the
city manager to have the legality of
Thacker's present lease investigated by
the city attorney but no
recommendation was made by the
committee, according to the minutes of
the meeting.
According to the minutes, the
committee also recommended that the
city collect rent from the property on
which a hangar owned by Tom Cameron
and William Poole is located. However,
lohn Gaddy, who recently was
appointed airport manager as well as
city manager, said the city is still
seeking to have the hangar moved.
A transformer has been requested to
correct a problem of voltage surge in the
visual approach slope indicator landing
lights, Gaddy told the committee and
the cost will be included in the final
payment of an FAA grant.
The next meeting of the committee is
scheduled for Junes 11 at 7 pjn. at city
hall.