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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVII NO. 19 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA SS PER YEAR THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 11. 1975
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
Last week in this column there
was an item concerning the early
opening of school and that it should
open in September instead of
August. It was also stated that Raz
Autry, superintendant of schools,
had made a comment to me about
the opening date.
The letter that follows explains his
view point on the subject:
Dear Sam:
Since you opened the door for me
* onthe heat problem at the beginning
of school, I will certainly try to set
the record straight on some of the
problems we would encounter if we
opened school later. The board and 1
are fully aware that the weather is
entirely too hot to open schools in
August, so we are all in total
agreement on this. Unfortunately,
other powers and local pressures
govern our action to a certain
extent...i.e
1. Teachers are employed for 10
calendar months. Within these
months, the law requires that
teachers be given 17V4 work days, 9
legal holidays, and 12M days
vacation. The work days must be
during the normal work week.
2. The state and the High School
Athletic Association rules state that a
school must be in session before it
can participate in athletic contests. If
football season is delayed it will run
into basketball, wrestling, etc.
3. Most parents want a week of
vacation at Christmas and Easter.
Many families plan their vacation at
this time.
4. Teachers must be in summer
school by the first week of June for
renewal credits and advanced work.
5. Students who want to attend
summer school must enroll as early
as May 20 in some colleges.
6. Air conditioning the classrooms
would be a tremendous expense to
the taxpayers, especially with the
cost of electricity.
There are several alternatives, in
my personal opinion, and 1 would
hasten to say that if any of our
citizens can add to them to feel free
to do so because the board and I take
the position that the schools belong
to the people and we are here to
serve them. The alternatives 1 have
are:
1. Air condition our classrooms. I
suggested this in the bond issue but it
proved too costly.
2. Have teacher work days at the
beginning and end of the school
term, although this would not serve
the original purpose.
3. Cut the vacation time to
conform with industry. This would
give three legal holidays at Christmas
and one at Easter.
4. Open school at 7:30 a.m. and
dismiss at 1:00 p.m. for the first
several weeks of school, eliminating
everything but classes.
5. Open after Labor Day and close
the middle of June.
Sincerely,
Raz Autry
The Bucks came through in fine
style last Friday night against Pine
Forest and play here again this
?Friday night with Red Springs
offering the opposition. The weather
should be cooler this weekend, so go
out and support the Bucks.
Golfers in this area will have an
opportunity to see the name stars in
Pinhurst this week as the World Golf
Tournament is being played there. So
if you haven't ever been to a big
tournament this is a good chance for
you.
"CHECK" ACCEPTED - With bank stamps all over it, one of the certificates
redeemable only at a South Carolina resort is displayed. The bank teller
mistakenly cashed it for a customer.
6Check' Gimmick Fools
Tellers9 Banks Grumble
Bank officials are grumbling over
authentic looking "checks" mailed
out in a South Carolina resort firm's
advertising campaign after tellers
were fooled and mistakenly cashed
them.
The forms, which look exactly like
any bank check but are marked
redeemable at the resort office,were
issued by Deercreek Corp., a Myrtle
Beach development, in a campaign to
attract potential buyers by re -
imbursing trip expenses. Amounts of
the certificates ranged up to $27,
according to one bank spokesman.
"I've called the N.C. Bankers
Association and they are going to get
in touch with the Attorney General's
office". Bank of Raeford president
Gene Carter said.
Sat. Hours
At Library
The public library will be
open 9 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. on
Saturdays beginning Sept. 13,
Mrs. Lee Cameron announced.
Story hours for
pre-schoolers will resume Sept.
16 at 11 A.M.
Wife Jailed
For Murder
The estranged wife of a West Hoke
man found shot to death late Sunday
night was jailed by Sheriffs deputies
on an open charge of murder.
Archie Thomas McLean, 22, was
found lying in a yard by deputies
about midnight with a gunshot
wound in the right chest. Sheriff
D M. Barrington said.
McLean's estranged wife, Glenda
Ann McLean, 20. was arrested a
short time later at her home at Rt. 3,
Box 226-D, Raeford and a .22 caliber
automatic rifle was seized,
Barrington said.
Barrington said McLean
apparently managed to walk about
50 yards to a neighbor's home before
collapsing. He was pronounced dead
at the scene by medical examiner
R.G. Townsend.
Motive for the killing was
apparently a domestic argument,
Barrington said.
Mrs. McLean is being held without
bond pending a preliminary hearing
Sept. If.
McLean's body was ordered sent
to the state medical examiner in
Chapel Hill for an autopsy.
More Use Urged
Landfill Open Saturday
The county landfill expanded
Saturday hours to all day beginning
last weekend, a plan which officials
hope will encourage more people to
take trash to to the landfill and
relieve heavy use of some of the 91
> container sites.
The city, which Glares costs of
operating the landfill, agreed to the
request of county commissioners
Maria last month. Commfaaioners
were warned the county may be
forced to buy more containers if
overuse cannot he cut.
Pick-up Sanitation Service of
Raeford provides twice ? weekly
service of the containers on a flat
rate contract. The county is charged
for extra trips during holiday periods
or other circumstances when
increased service is needed.
"We've cashed two accidentally.
This is a poor form of advertising,
they could write letters instead".
Carter said.
Johnny Altman, operations
manager at Southern National Bank
reported the bank cashed one for a
customer who couldn't write.
"They put their 'X",and the teller
had it witnessed and all", Mrs.
Altman said.
Both banks have alerted their
personnel to watch out for the
"checks" and explain to customers
why they are not negotiable.
Not all customers are happy with
the explanation. One woman had to
be escorted out by a policeman, a
spokesman said.
Crop-Spray A rgued
Hoke Jury Hears
Triple Slaying Case
Wife, Mother-in-law
Held F or Murder
Two women have been charged by
sheriffs deputies for the murder of
Cleo Bullard, 35, of Rt. 1 Aberdeen
which was reported shortly after 2 A.
M. Tuesday near the Ashley Heights
Community according to Sheriff
Dave Barrington.
Charged are Louvenia Bullard, 33,
identified as the wife of the victim,
and Ether Henderson, 51,
mother-in-law of the victim. The two
were apprehended at the Bullard
home, said Barrington.
Barrington said that Buliard was
dead on arrival at Moore Memorial
hospital. An autopsy report disclosed
that Buliard died of a stab wound in
the heart and massive internal
bleeding.
"A knife has been recovered, but
it is not certain that it is the murder
weapon," said Barrington.
The women are being held without
bond pending a preliminary hearing.
Housing Agent OKayed,
Library Plans Mulled
The county commissioners met
Thursday morning and approved the
offer of a housing agent to assist low
income families under a grant
administered by A & T University.
The plan was rejected by the
board last month when it was
proposed by the county extension
agent under whose direction the
agent would work. The agent would
be placed to advise low income
persons on obtaining home
improvement loans and also offer
guidance on "do it yourself'
projects.
The board's action came after
hearing Raeford Housing Authority
members Dayna Pate and Neill
McFadyen urge the idea be adopted,
claiming the agent is available to the
county at no cost for a period of two
years.
"I've got my doubts he can
accomplish an awful lot, but maybe
we should give him a try",
commissioner John Balfour said.
The motion to approve the plan
was carried with commissioner Tom
McBryde abstaining. J.A. Webb, who
is hospitalized, was absent.
In other business Thursday, the
board took no action on a costly bid
lor furniture for the new library after
briefing library representatives Mrs.
J.M. Andrews, Mrs. J.L. McNeill,
Mrs. Charles Hostetler, and Mrs. Lee
Cameron on revised plans.
Costs, which now range from
$36,000 to the original bid of
SS2.800, were compared with use of
existing furniture and the quality of
grades of new furniture offered.
The board agree to delay any
decision at the request of Mrs.
Andrews, who asked for time to go
over the proposals with Bill
Bridgman, regionaJ director. Another
meeting with the county board was
tentatively set for later in the month.
The board discussed the new Title
IV child support enforcement
program with Benjamin Niblock,
See HOUSING, page 13
Selection ol a jury to tty Frank
Pruitt II, on trial for his life a second
time for the triple slaying of a
Fayetteville woman and her children,
began Tuesday here before Superior
Court Judge Henry A. McKinnon.
District attorney I d Grannis. Jr..
requested die trial be moved to
Raeford because of publicity during
Pruitt's 1974 trial, and a special jury
pool of 100 names was drawn late
last week.
Pruitt, 23. a former Ft. Biagg
soldier, was convicted last year lor
the Oct. 9, 1973 killings of Christel
Donlin, 30, and her children Patricia.
7, and Jeremiah, 4. in their home in
the Bonnie Doone section of
Fayetteville.
Pruitt. a black, was convicted of
three counts of first degree murder
and one count of arson and received
four death sentences.
Under North Carolina law
conviction of first degree murder
carries an automatic death sentences.
The N. C. Supreme Court
overturned the convictions in March
of this year and granted a new trial
on grounds Pruitt's constitutional
rights were violated when he made an
alleged confession to detectives.
Ten jurors were seated before
proceedings adjourned Tuesday with
the remaining jurors to be selected
Wednesday.
Six whites and three blacks
compose die jury seated alto;
numerous persons were excused after
extensive questioning by Grannis and
defense attorney Donald Grimes.
The ten jurors tenativelv set to
remain on the panel are Robert A.
Whiteworth, Herman R. ( uirie.
Willie Ed Pureed. Wesley Robert
Russell, Mandy Ree Lowery.Mrs. J.
K. (Mabel) Riley. Jackie Polston
Melton. McCorkle Emniett Dresslci.
Theodore R. Jackson, and Daniel
Joseph Livingston.
Grimes said diat he didn't know
yet whedicr Pruitt would take die
stand in his own defense. "I just don't
know at this time. We would like to
rely on a weak case by the slate. It
may be necessary, but is will depend
on die state's case." he said.
"It's going to depend on the
admissibility of certain evidence by
the state.If it is admitted, die slate's
case will be strong. If not admitted in
court, dien it will be weak." he said.
Grimes predicted it would be a
lengdiy trial.
'The trial ui January of lO^q
lasted seven days and this one will
probably last into next week." lie
said.
Pruitt, dressed in a denim suit,
composed Tuesday, occasionally
thumbing through a hook entitled
See SLAYING, page 13
City Rejects Ban
Cily council members heard an
appeal from residents in the Bethel
Road area to ban crop dusting within
the city limits but the council
ordered the matter tabled, saying an
agreement could probably be reached
with the owner of the field involved.
About ten persons led by
Woodrow Wilson, Jr., of 205 Dickson
St.. argued crop spraying in a field
owned by J.B. McLeod near the high
school was dangerous and a health
hazard.
"We think the town should zone
it. Everybody here has children, and
it's just plumb dangerous", Wilson
told the council.
Several people reported the spray
released by the crop dusting plane
went over yards of homes when the
plane crossed Bethel Road, but pilot
Larry Upchurch denied it.
"I cut the spray system off way
back in the field because of you
people. I haven't intentionally been
careless", he said.
Roy Wood, owner of the crop
dusting service told the council
spraying was done according to state
and federal laws.
"We're sympathetic, but the
problem is nationwide, agriculture
and residential running together. The
farmer has got a right to plant it, and
Candidate
Filing
Opens
Filing period for candidates
in the municipal election opens
Friday at noon., the board of
elections office announced.
Candidates will file for
mayor and five seats on the
city council in the November
general election. Terms for
mayor and city councilmen are
two years.
Candidates must pay a S5
fee at the time of filing. The
elections office is open
Mondays, Wednesday, and
Fridays from 9 A.M. to noon
and 1-5 P.M.
Deadline for filing is noon
on Oct. 3.
we've got a right to spray it", he said.
Wood told the council it would
make no difference whether the
spraying was done by ground or air.
and blamed the odpr of the
chemicals on the Enviromental
Protection Agency (EPA) for
banning DDT.
Several persons questioned the
safety of the neighborhood with a
plane flying low regularly and
Upchurch discounted the chance of a
crash.
"If the engine quit, I'd be over the
other side of 401", he said.
Some council members expressed
doubts that the city could pass an
ordinance to outlaw it and
speculated opposition would come
from other farmers who have crops
planted within the city limits.
A motion made by councilman
Sam C. Morris to table the matter
until the next meeting was carried
unanimously, with the suggestion
McLeod should be contacted about
the complaints in die meantime.
In other business, the council
heard a report from city manager
John Caddy about problems at the
airport, including garbage pick-up.
"We made it a habit, about twice a
week, but we got complaints the
truck was going by Gene Thackcr's
home, so we stopped it until I could
see the board", Caddy said.
A suggestion from councilman
Crawford Thomas. Jr., that the
county place a dumpster at the
airport for use by everyone
concerned received the approval of
the council.
"Let them spend their money
instead of ours", councilman Graham
Clark said.
Gaddy also reported Tom
Cameron told him the city should
pay to relocate the old Cameron
Poole hangar at the airport which has
been an issue in lease negotiations
with Raeford Aviation.
Gaddy explained Raeford Aviation
is unwilling to sign a new lease which
would turn back to the city an area
needed for the planned airport
development unless the hangar is
moved.
The council agreed to pay the cost
of moving the hangar provided
Raeford Aviation signs a new lease
first, and directed Gaddy to request
the airport committee take charge of
the matter.
The council agreed to advertise for
See BAN, page 13
Ft Bragg Commander
Is Kiwanis Speaker
Lieutenant General Henry E.
Emerson, commander of XVIII
Airborne Cotps and Fort Bragg,
addressed the Racford Kiwanis Club
at the civic center Thursday night
and explained his "Pro-Life"
program of military leadership and
discipline.
General Emerson was introduced
to the club by his old friend, Clyde
Upchurch, with whom he had spent a
hot afternoon of dove shooting, as an
old friend of Hoke County as well.
Upchurch recalled Emerson's interest
in helping with tire county public
health program several years ago as
commander of the JFK Center for
Military Assistance, and other
instances. He cited Emerson's service
in Korea and Vietnam, and that he
wears the Distinguished Service
Cross, Silver Star and other
decorations and awards for valor and
outstanding service. He also recalled
having known the general since he
served at Fort Bragg some years ago
as a colonel in command of the First
Logistical Command.
General Emerson, although
casually dressed after dove shooting,
was accompanied and assisted in his
presentation by his aide - de - camp.
Capt. Drew Dix, who was awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor
for heroism above and beyond the
call of duty in Vietnam.
As explained bv (.eneral Hnctson
the PRO-Life is an all - encompassing
concept which affords the so! diet
multidirectional oppoitunities to
succeed at something No aspect o!
his life is ignored, in the expectation
that he will be reached bv at least
one route. That success is then
See SPhAKfcR, page I d
Gen. Emenon