<"7'2eu??> - journal 5 The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 VOLUME LXVII NO. 13 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY. JULY 31. 1975 Around Town BY SAM C MORRIS The Fifth District Softball tournament completed the first week of play last Saturday night and only one night was washed out by rain. Friday night's games were played on Saturday to bring the tournament back on schedule. From all reports the tournament is very successful. Large crowds are on hand each night and everyone seems pleased with the results, of course the losing team isn't, but 1 am talking ?bout the financial end of the tournament. Last week Red Springs lost a citizen that will be missed by both old and young in this area of the state. 1 am writing about Tom Cope, "Mr. Baseball" of eastern North Carolina. I have mentioned in this column many times that you could always tell when Spring was around the corner because a letter would arrive from Tom concerning the baseball activities of Red Springs, both old and young. He was the driving force behind the Carolina League team that was in Red Springs a few years ago and the attendance was good enough to keep the team there, but for some reason. it moved on. This was not Copes fault. He and other citizens at the town had lived up to their bargain. I never talked too much to Tom about it. The town of Red Springs have started a Tom Cope Baseball for Boys Memorial Fund in his memory. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 710 in Red Springs. If you have any questions they may be directed to Billy Curric of that town. So all of you baseball fans that have enjoyed hearing Tom Cope say, "The next game will be right here," send a donation to keep his memory alive. The welcome at the courthouse Sunday for Kathy McMillan is something that doesn't happen here very often. It was a short notice thing but many folks showed up to welcome her home. The remarks of the mayor were short, but to the point and helped keep the crowd in a good mood in the hot afternoon sun. More on this event in another part of the paper. Talking with Robert Gatlin, Jake Austin and Frank Teal Saturday morning at tire Racl'ord Savings and Loan, the subject moved to July rainfall. Gatlin said he didn't know exactly how much had fallen, but he had his figures in his car. He went out and returned with his "Rain Calendar!" He handed the calendar to "Computor" Teal, as he is known on the golf course, to add up the rainfall as it was marked by days on the calendar. This Teal did and came up with the grand total of u.4 inches of rain through July 25. Since that time very little has fallen in the city. But I guess this will be enough for this month. I was invited to tire Award Day at Knit-Away last Thursday and was ' impressed by what I saw and heard. The award that they received is elsewhere in the paper in another story. This was my first tour of the plant since it has been in Raeford. I was fortunate to have Dick Bruce take me through and explain the plant's operation. He also permitted me to ask any question concerning the plant operation, etc. The plant was almost without noise compared with other plants 1 have been in and it was by far the cleanest plant I have seen in many years. Dick Lovette, personnel manager, said that they hoped to have an open house for many officials and others before long. If you are invited, please make every effort to go through this plant, it will be worth your time. Congratulations to the staff and plant on the award. Rose's Office The mobile office of Congressman Charles G. Rose III win be in Raeford Friday from 10 am. to 3 pan. The van will be parked at the post office. Five People Feared Lost, Plane Search Continues Textile Firm Accused Raeford Woman Files $250,000 Libel Suit A Raeford woman filed a quarter of a million dollar libel suit against the J J. Stevens Co. in Wagram charging the firm maliciously damaged her on her personnel files after her employment was terminated. Mrs. Thesa H. English contends in a petition filed in district court she received a separation notice Jan. 22 listing her dismissal "discharged for midconduct." The petition alleges this information was false and defamatory, and it was further transmitted to the Employment Security Commission as an official record. Mrs. English contends the information resulted in a denial of unemployment compensation and that at a later hearing she was awarded full unemployment compensation benefits. The suit requests S50.000 in actual damages for injury to reputation, and S200,000 in punitive damages. J.P. Stevens, a textile manufacturer, is one of the largest producers of textile in the nation. Policemen Promoted Police Chief Leonard Wiggins announced the promotions of four police officers last week in a general reorganization of the Department. Officer J.C. Barrington was promoted to major, and also named assistant chief of police. Officer C.F.. Campbell was appointed juvenile officer and will work solely on offensive involving juveniles. Named as shift sergeants were Officers J.J. McNeill and K.B. Griffin. %tI feci it will be a benefit to the department, as well as the general public". Wiggins said. Wiggins said he hoped the move will provide more incentive for police officers, as they will now become eligible for promotions. The promotions carry no salatv increases. The new position ol juvenile officer is being funded under a Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (L.I AA) grant, Wiggins said. One additional patrolman was hired National Award Goes To Knit-Away Scars Roebuck and Company, die nation's largest retailers, presented Knit-Away of Raeford with the Sears symbol of excellence award for 1074 in ceremonies Thursday. Knit-Away chairman of the board Richard K. Bruce accepted the award presented by Bob Zu/.ick, fabric buyer, declaring die occasion "one of the high points in Knit-Away history." In remarks to the Knit-Away management. Sears national merchandise manager (id Hart congratulated the company on its success and growth in a little more than five years of operation. "This award is to recognize all of you," Hart said, "because people are the most valuable asset. We are partners in progress." Hart cited Knit-Away's record for filling orders on time and keeping returns below one halt ol one per eent. "Tlie award is to recognize'those who contribute to Scars success, arid you here have earned it through hard work and dedication," he said. The symbol of excellence award program was begun ten years ago. With over' 12.000 suppliers serving the Sears organization, Knit-Away is one of only 480 firms to receive the award, ranking the company in the top % percentile. Local dignitaries who toured the Knit-Away complex with tire Scars representatives and attended a luncheon following the ceremony included Mayor John K. McNeill. Ralph Barnhart. chairman of (lie county commissioners, commissioner James A. Hunt, city manager John Gaddy, and councilman Sam C. Morris. WH.COMh: HOMh'-Raeford's star athlete Kathy McMillan receives a plaque with the key tu the city from mayor John K. McNeill, Jr. at a Sunday ccrcnumv welcoming her hack from her overseas tour. City Welcomes Kathv A jubilant Katliy McMillan returned home Sunday to a welcome ceremony staged for her on the courthouse steps. A crowd of 75-100 people assembled for her arrival from Montreal. Canada, where she earned a gold medal for the United Slates learn with a 21-4V4 long jump in the International Competitions 1075 track meet. Miss McMillan's coach. Billy Colston, outlined his star's accomplishments since she left the United States July I as a member of die national women's track team, and recorded die best jump of her career, 21-7, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Miss McMillan, nursing a sore ankle, accepted an engraved plaque witli the key to the city as a tribute from the citizens of Raeford and Hoke county. Miss McMillan, who has only three weeks here before she leaves for California for tryouts for the national team to represent the United States at the Pan-American meet in Mexico City, had no idea the welcoming ceremony was planned. "It really surprised me to see all the people", she aaid. "I wouldn't have been able to go to the meet if it wasn't for the money that was raised, and that's what made me want to do good, do really good". "1 wanted to do good tor myself, too". Miss McMillan said the Montreal meet was the toughest competition she has been in. "They had so many really good girls there, girls from all over. I had confidence in my jump. I knew I could do it if I didn't get tensed up". Traveling has been hectic, and the 17 year-old star admitted to feeling a little homesick at times. "I couldn't eat the food in Russia. It was something", she grimaced. "But 1 like traveling a lot". Miss McMillan enjoyed meeting so many people on her tour and telling others about herself. "Most of the people on the team are from big places like Chicago, and New Orleans, and when they hear I'm from such a small place, they don't believe it". "People have said "where's Raeford"?, and I would tell them how the people raised the money for me. I hope it will help put it on the map". Miss McMillan has no plans to see a doctor about her sore ankle, which she had packed in ice after some swelling developed. "He might tell me to stay off it", she laughed. "I've done this before, when I was playing basketball, and it went away. See KATHY. page 11 The search for the missing plane with two Raefortl families aboard continued as hopes grew dimmer for the fate of the five persons after debris from a plane was found south of Savannah, Georgia. The plane, carrying Hillntan Edens, 45, his wife Geneva, their 8 year-old daughter Cynthia Kaye. and Mr. and Mrs. OdeU Melton, all of Raeford, was last heard from Friday afternoon south of Savannah. Tuesday afternoon a spokesman for the Mcintosh county sheriffs department said three airplane scats were found in coastal waters near Darien, Ga., but they have not been determined to be from the missing Cessna twin-engine craft. Deputy Jimmy Amerson said a wheel was also found, but officials have found no sign of the crash. Earlier reports from the civil air patrol (CAP) team involved in die search efforts said a portion of a body with a seal belt wrapped around it was found in the same vicinity. Amerson said die body has not been identified yet. State rangers. FAA officials, the U.S. Coast Guard are assisting sheriffs officers and local rescue units in the search which began Saturday. The plane, piloted by Edens. left the Raeford Airport about 3 p.m. Friday cnroute to Daytona Beach. Florida. The last radio contact with die plane was made soudi of Svannah. when directions were given to take the plane around the bad weather in the area. Fdens is the owner of Edens Electric Service in Raeford. Melton is the owner of Melton's Electric Appliance and Refrigeration Repair. Lt. Beatty of the CAP at Dobbins Air Force Base said late Tuesday thunderstorms and low clouds in the area have hampered the air search. At least eight planes have been used, in addition to Coast Guard helicopters, Beatty said. Beatty said a report of a downed plane in the Okcefenokce Swamp is also being checked out. "A pilot reported a plane down and we have been out looking for il but it has not been sighted. It would have been off course, if it's this one. but we can't rule it out." he said. Beatty said the search would continue at daybreak Wednesday. The site where the debris was found is the inland side of Sapclo Island in the Mud River, 45 miles south of Savannah, about two miles inland from the Atlantic coast. Bloodmobile Needs Quota The Bloodmobile will be in front of the Methodist Church in Raeford from noon until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday August 6. Mrs. Ralph Barnhart. Bloodmobile chairman, expressed a desperate need for alt of the people in Hoke County to donate as much hlood as they can. "Our regular quota for the county is from 120 to 125 pints, hut we are already way behind for the year," said Mrs. Barnhart. "We are really pleading with citizens of Hoke County to conttibute this time." she said. K-Drawing Friday The final drawing for Kindergarten will be held Friday at 4 a.m. at J.W. McLauchlin and Scurlock Schools. Students not drawn for Kindergarten will be considered for Headstart. Superintendent G. Raz Autry announced. SYMBOL OF EXCELLF.NCE-Knit-Away executives accept the Sears Symbol of Excellence Award in ceremonies at the Raeford plant Thursday. Left to right, are L.F. Lineweaver, Knit-Away president, Scars national merchandise manager F.d Hart, Bob Zuzick, Sears fabric buyer, Ira Allen, Knit-Away salesman, Pete Hunter, national sales manager for Knit-Away, and Cliff Knight, general manager of Raeford Knit-Away.