KNIGHTS OF PYTHAGORAS-Graduating high school seniors in the Knights of Pythagoras were honored with a plaque in recognition of their continued service at a recent ceremony. Left to righ t, senior leader Marion Hollingsworth, junior knight deacon Larry McPhatter, senior knight deacon Marvin McKinnon, master knight Conrad Hollingsworth, knight treasurer Milton Holmes, program committee chairman Eddie McRae, senior knight warden Freddie Hollingsworth, and senior knight leader Willie Dobbins Bicentennial Notes Train Brings Memories By Louise McDiarmid The sudden slam of box cars took me back to the back door of the library and even farther backward in time as the open fertilizer (guana) cars slowly began their creaking motion, begrudingly following, one by one, the long - time replaced coal engine with its lazy chug-chug and great puffs of black smoke. The cars seem the same and look the same, and I wish 1 felt they were enjoyed the same. Being a country kid, the once a week train was very special, especially if a guana car was left in front of our house, and a greater treat if there were two to be unloaded into the guana house along beside the tracks ? this same guana house which had other adventures all its own. Scampering up the ladders to the top of the box cars, running across and jumping to the other car, hoping not to miss, was a great feat, with Tom Mix and Buck Rogers (the good guys) after you for robbing the train. The old hens or roosters in the yard lost many a choice tail feather for the Indian headbands. After all, you had to have at least one Indian to play "cowboys and Indians and train robbers". Setting up housekeeping inside the cars after they were emptied was also special if you had enou^i kids to be Mama, Papa, and the kids, with Papa dashing off to town on his tobacco stick horse, and Mama baking her sand and polk-berry pies. And naturally all her children were "mean little kids" who needed constant spanking. It was too often moving day, since the choo-choo came back for the empty cars next week. But let it be said our spirits were never dampened for long, for with a kid in the country, adventure never has time to drag. But nothing seemed too important to drop when we heard the train coming ? A big wave from the engineer seemed to make it a very special day. Property Taxes Yield 62% Of Local Revenue (Special to the News Journal) NEW YORK, June 7--Are property taxes higher or lower in Hoke County than in most other sections of the United States? How much of the revenue collected locally comes from property taxes? The subject of taxes and operating costs has become a matter of major importance in cities and counties all over the country. Many of them are in financial difficulties and are going all out in their search for new ways of raising money. In some communities, reconsideration is being given to various new forms of taxation that were proposed in previous years and were rejected at the time. As for the taxes that are currently on the books, they ate being progressively increased. In Hoke County, according to the latest figures from the Department of Commerce, property taxes account for about 62.1 percent of all locally-raised revenue. By way of comparison, in other areas of the country the amount collected through property taxes averages 63.5 percent of the total. In the State of North Carolina it is 59.6 percent. The figures show that the property tax continues to be the mainstay of most local governments, producing a large part of their revenue. The Tax Foundation estimates that $51 billion was so-generated during the past year. That was $3.8 billion more than was collected in the previous year. According to the latest nationwide survey, there is a wide variation throughout the country in property tax revenue. In Hoke County it amounts to $59 per capita per year. Elsewhere in North Carolina it averages $93 per resident. The United States average is $205. Although the property tax has been getting bigger in terms of total yield, it has been declining in importance in recent years as many communities have turned to sales taxes and local income tlxes for CTf^T Chooses New President Jack C. Cluen has been elected as president of Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company. Cluen, formerly president of the United Telephone Company of Indiana, succeeds J.F. Havens who has served as Caroline Telephone president since December, 1973. The Carolina and Indiana companies are both members of the United Telephone System. additional operating funds. The yield from these two has tripled in the last decade, the figures show. The Tax Foundation notes that widespread demands for property tax relief have induced the Federal Government and some of the states to expand revenue sharing with local communities to help ease the pressure on this tax. School Desks Available About 200 school desks are being retired this summer and will be given to groups or organizations, superintendent Raz Autry said. The desks will be stored at the maintenance garage for two weeks. Autry said persons wanting desks should call the board of education office or contact Joe Soles. Hoke Delegates At Florida Meet The annual conference for directors and presidents of the Southeast Production Credit Association and Federal Land Bank Association was held June 8 - 10 in Hollywood, Fla. Officials from Hoke County who attended were John Balfour, director, Reid Childress, vice ? chainnan, and Charlie Pendergrass, director. Softball Action Last Week In Slow Pitch Softball League action last week Kennerty's defeated SPCA, 10-0, in a five inning game Monday night. Lumbee Marval downed Virgil's 84. Tuesday night Carolina Turf beat Gentry's Tire 13-8, and Hoke Concrete lost to McCain, 104. In Wednesday games, Lumbee defeated SPCA 11-1 in a five inning game, and Virgil's trounced Kennerty's 13-1, which also went only five innings. Flaherty Tells Of Projects David Flaherty, secretary of the Department of Human Resources told Lions about changes taking place in programs within his department at an open meeting of the Lions Monday night at the civic center. A comprehensive medical screen program is being planned for all pre-school youngsters, he said, and pilot programs are being set up in Winston - Salem and Burke County. One of the goals will be to screen for learning disabilities before the child reaches school age, Flaherty said. Other programs will be established around the state, he said. Responding to a question, the secretary said that if an application was made, it was possible that a project could be instituted in Hoke County. Flaherty also discussed changes in the child support act to go into effect July 1 in which applicants for aid to families with dependent children will have to sign a waiver allowing support payments from tire absent parent to be paid to the state. A portion would remain with the AFDC applicant to encourage prosecution of parents who dodge child support, according to Ben Niblock, county DSS director. Thursday night McCain went down in defeat to Carolina Turf, 13-6, and Hoke Concrete lost to Gentry's, S-2. In Friday night action SPCA picked up a 3-1 win from Carolina Turf, and Virgil's defeated Hoke Concrete 14-5. In last week's youth games Sandhills defeated Woodmen of the World, 6-5, but lost to Kiwanis in a 9-8 game. Lions scraped past VFW for a 3-2 win, but were downed 12-0 by Sandhills in a makeup game from last month. VFW slipped past Kiwanis for a 8-7 win, and Kiwanis defeated Woodmen of the World 10-9 in another makeup game. Top Ten Batters Nate Singletary 542 Richard Walker 517 Bobby Baker 486 Pete Maynor 476 John Ferguson 465 Terry Grier 464 Bob Manuel 457 Ronnie Cameron 452 Jake Grace 450 Larry Updturch 444 Summer School Summer school at the high school will be held June 16-July 27 from 7 ajn. to noon. Registration will be held June 16 at 8 a.m. at Gibson cafeteria but students may pre-register at the guidance office. Courses offered are English I, II, III, and IV; Algebra 1 and Geometry. Cost is $40 a course. Arrests Total 61 In City Sixty one arrests were made by city police in May. according to a report from police chief Leonard Wiggins. Classifications of arrests were: Assaults, 4, breaking and entering 1: larceny,3; liquor violations, 1; public drunkenness, 10; driving under the influence, 7; motor vehicle violations, 24; and others, 1 1. Seven parking tickets were issued. Rep. Young To Be Speaker Georgia Congressman Andrew Young will be the keynote speaker at the Democratic party fund-raiser Piedmont spring banquet in Greensboro, Friday, June 20, party headquarters announced. Theme for the $25 a plate affair is 'Unity for Victory in '76. Tickets may be obtained from any county chairman or from state headquarters in Raleigh. Shows Begin Tonight Methodist College's summer theatre program Circa '75 will begin tonight with "Oklahoma' at 8:30 P.M. at the outdoor OUanlon Amphitheatre. G/*?> -A v i ' FISHY-Shown here are four wide-mouthed bass which were caught by Marry Jones of Dundarrach and his brother Jerry of Palmetto, Fla. WALK A THON PLAQUE - Police Chief Leonard Wiggins is presented with a plaque from the Hoke Jaycees in appreciaiton of his participation in the cerebral palsy walkathon. Wiggins raised the largest amount, $52!, Jaycee publicity chairman Larry Phillips said in making the presentation. SUPPORT (-R YOUR 0 HOKE COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD, INC. They're Trained and Equipped To Serve You. 'iMIIUiHiH* from Raeford Department Store - downtown Raeford 100% Polyester DOUBLE KNIT SUITS r.9. 79.95 4<^95 SALE 100% Polyester DOUBLE KNIT DRESS PANTS Sizes 29 to 50 1 COO from I J Permanent Press DRESS AND SPORTS SHIRTS 3" 8" MEN'S TIES 300,o500 DRESS SOCKS 1 00 & 1 50 MEN'S BELTS 400 from 1 Hanes UNDERWEAR And Fruit Of The Loom UNDERWEAR Men's PAJAMAS & ROBES 6",. 8" Men's Short Sleeve BANLON SHIRTS Famous Name Brands C88 SPECIAL AT 3 Men's STRAW HATS 2",o5" Famous Name Brand DRESS SHOES Dress Slippers, Ties & Casuals By JARMAN ? CROSBY SQUARE ? HUSH PUPPIES BIG MAN SHIRTS Sizes 17% to 20% 4" to 6" MEN'S WALLETS 500 to 7?? Free Gift RAEFORD Dept. Store A Free WraPp,ng we APPRECIATE your BUSINESS! Alterations

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