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The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journol - Established 1905
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Around
Town
BY SAM C.MORRIS
A letter last week from Laurie
Telfair, former associate editor of
The News-Journal, says that she is
now working for a newspaper in
Canyon, Texas. From the letter she
seems to like the place fine. She did
say that the paper didn't need a
court reporter as crime was at a low
ebb there.
Maybe we could send a few cases
from Hoke County to Texas.
Laurie gives regards to everyone.
The cutting of the trees off the
school campus for the new library
building brought forth a howl from
many in the community. This is up
to par when progress continues. The
need for the library is great in
Raeford but is it great enough to
destroy trees that are over 75 years
old. This can be argued from now
until doomsday and you will always
have people on both sides.
So let's all wait until the new
building is completed and maybe it
will make us forget the trees. Time
will tell!
Don't forget the big football game
Friday night at the High School
Stadium between the Bucks and the
Sanford Yellow Jackets. Game time
is eight o'clock. So go out and be a
Booster.
The following letter is self -
explanatory:
Dear Friends of Hoke County:
Jim, Ruth, Bobby and I want to
thank everyone for their prayers, and
concern for Jimmy. He will be so
happy to know so many people were
standing in the wings while he was
struggling for life.
We believe and trust that he will
be healed bodily and mentally when
he wakes up.
Thank you for the gifts of love in
the form of food, money, flowers
and cards.
Until something like this happens
one doesn't know how to appreciate
rescue workers and ambulance
drivers. Thank vou. Danny Morrison
and your fine crew.
Truly God moves through these
dedicated people and through
ministers, surgeons, medical doctors,
nurses and orderlies.
Thanks to all you beautiful
people.
Sincerely,
Frances H. Bowles
My good friend and weather chart
maker, Robert Gatlin, had tough
luck last Wednesday afternoon.
Someone relieved him of his station
wagon while he was doing a good
turn. (Gatlin and 1 have had a few
words about the station wagon
wouldn't have come up missing if the
keys had been removed when he left
the wagon.)
Of course in Hoke County when
misfortune befalls a fine, upright
citizen like Gatlin the people come
to his aid.
One incident was the offer of help
to him from Buddy Blue, manager of
the local chamber of commerce, and
Crawford Thomas, a member of the
city council.
In talking with Gatlin they came
to the conclusion that he could walk
to work at the high school and the
board of education building, and the
only other problem he would have
concerning transportation would be
getting to his pond in the northern
part of the county near the city
dump.
Now with two heads together, like
Blue's and Thomas', they came up
with a solution. Gatlin could ride the
trash and garbage truck up to his
pond, as they made trips like a bus
schedule. This was Blue's solution.
Thomas added that since Gatlin
was not an employee of the city he
could not ride in the cab but would
sit on the back.
From reports Gatlin left the
meeting at this point but Thomas
said he couldn't let his cousin run
afoul of the law.
Some people don't appreciate
help!
STRUGGLE SITE - Sgt. F.M. Lemmond and Hoke County Deputy Harvey Young point out area where Trooper J.D.
Thigpen struggled with LeRoy McKemie. McKenzie was shot during the struggle.
Man Shot In Struggle With Trooper
A local state trooper had to
struggle for his life in a field near
Bowmore Community about 2:10
P.M. Saturday as his service revolver
was wrestled away from him by an
assailant, who was shot in the
struggle.
Patrolman J.D. Thigpen placed
LeRoy McKenzie, 42, Rt. 1, Box
175, Raeford under arrest for driving
under the influence (DUI) after
McKenzie had turned off of 401
South onto a dirt path that led to his
house, according to F.M. Lemmond,
Command Sgt. for the District.
Lemmond said Thigpen gave him
an account of what happened before
he was taken to the hospital.
Lemmond said that when
McKenzie refused to go with
Thigpen, a struggle developed and
both men had possession of the gun
when it went off.
Lemmond said both men were
transported to Scotland Memorial
Hospital where they were treated.
He said the .357 magnum slug
entered McKenzie below his breast
and angles up into his left side and
exited through the rib.
McKenzie was listed in fair
condition late Monday according to
Mrs. Ava Gentry, hospital
spokesman.
Lemmond said Thigpen suffered
cuts and bruises and was released
Sunday afternoon, but he would be
out of work for a week.
He said McKenzie's nephew, James
T. Ross, 17, Rt. I, Box 162,
Raeford, and his son, Elvis
McKenzie, 14, witnessed the struggle
and substantiated Thigpen's account.
Lemmond said Ross and
McKenzie's son heard the siren and
went to die site on bicycles.
He said McKenzie has been
charged with DU1, (fifth offense),
assaulting an officer and resisting
arrest. He said no breathalyzer had
been administered, but a blood test
had been taken.
Lemmond said the investigation
was conducted by tite State Patrol
and Hoke County Sheriff's
Department, and no further
investigation would be needed.
"If a man decides to kill you, and
he is willing to pay the penalty, then
there is not a lot you can do about
it," said Lemmond.
"If someone is willing to take the
penalty and jump an officer, he's
going to suffer the consequences. I
feel that he was fortunate he wasn't
killed," he said.
Lemmond said the warrants have
been drawn against McKenzie and
will be served when he is released
from the hospital.
He said the case is tentatively set
for Oct. 24.
Jury 8-4 To Acquit
Pruitt Pleads Guiltv
With a jury apparently deadlocked
8-4 in favor of acquittal, Fank Pruitl
II unexpectedly changed his plea to
guilty in a plea bargaining agreement
Friday afternoon and was sentenced
to 30 years in prison for the killings
of a Fayetteville woman and her two
ch ildren.
Pruitt, 23, an ex-Ft. Bragg soldier,
was tried for the second time for the
slayings of Christel Donlin, 30,
Jeremiah Donlin, 7, and Patricia
Donlin, 4, in their Bonnie Donne
home in the early morning hours of
Oct. 9, 1973.
Judge Henry A. McKinnon
accepted a guilty plea to voluntary
manslaughter in the death of Mrs.
Donlin and two counts of second
degree murder in the deaths of the
children.
One count of arson, related to the
fire which destroyed the Donlin
home, was dropped by the state as
part of the plea negotiations.
Pruitt had received four death
sentences in Cumberland County
following trial in January, 1974. In
March of this year the N.C. Supreme
Court overturned the convictions and
granted a new trial on the grounds an
alleged confesson Pruitt made to
detectives was not voluntary.
Pruitt was given credit for the
nearly two years he has spent in
custody in the sentencing and may
become eligible for parole in six
years.
The second trial, which lasted nine
days, went to the jury shortly before
4 P.M. Thursday after 13 prosecution
witnesses testified and four witnesses
for the defense, including Pruitt,
took the stand.
Much of the state's evidence relied
on testimony from several persons
who said Pruitt admitted the killings
to them at different times.
Pruitt denied making any
admissions of guilt and told the
Rose-8 Office Here Today
The mobile office of Rep. Charles
G. Rose will be in Raeford today
(Thursday) from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.
in the parking lot of the post office
building.
Administrative assistant Rip
Collins will be on hand.
jurors he had no part in the killings.
Jury forman Mrs. J.K. (Mabel)
Riley confirmed the vote was 8-4 for
acquittal at the time of Pruitt's
announcement after an earlier ballot
of 7-5 for acquittal.
Mrs. Riley, who did not vote for
acquittal, said the majority of the
jurors "felt they didn't give us
enough evidence".
The jury was apparently headed
for a deadlock, as Mrs. Riley said one
juror vowed to remain for three
months and continue to vote for
acquitjal.
The second trial, which was
ordered moved to Raeford because
of publicity during the first trial,
attracted little interest. Pruitt's
surprise announcement came in a
near-empty courtroom.
ISeiv Library
Board Buys Furniture
County commissioners ended
debate over the choice of new
furniture for the library building and
voted to accept a revised bid of
S41,000 from Institutional Interiors
of High Point during their Friday
meeting.
Sandhills region library director
Bill Bridgman appeared before the
board and gave his approval to the
revised plans which will utilize some
of the present furnishings. The move
is a reduction from the 552,000
original bid received from
Institutional.
In other business, the board
reviewed a proposed ordinance for
heating, plumbing, and electrical
inspections submitted jointly by
county planner Lester Simpson and
inspector Jack Ellis and also
proposed permits for such work.
The proposed ordinance, which
encompasses the N.C. State Building
Code, was ordered sent to county
attorney Charles Hostetler for his
opinion before action by the board.
Proposed fees as outlined by Ellis
are S25 for electrical, S22 for
plumbing, and $12 per unit for heat
pumps. Total fees for a fully
equipped new home would be S59.
An application for a permit would
not be approved unless the work is to
be done by a licensed person under
the proposed plan. Ellis also urged
the board adopt a requirement that a
previous license must be held in
addition to a permit.
The board gave their approval to
the recommendation of county
extension agents Wendell Young and
Ellen Willis and voted to hire Marsha
Mitchell to fill the vacancy for
assistant home agent and 4-H
coordinator.
Miss Mitchell, a Fairmont native,
has been employed by the extension
service in Moore County for the past
two years. She will start her post
Oct. 8.
The board voted to accept a
$2,725 bid from Williams Office
Equipment Co. for draperies for the
new county office building and a
S730 bid from Holland Fence and
Landscaping Co. for lawn seeding of
the building grounds.
Sept. 26 was picked as a target
date for moving into the new
building. The extension agent,
elections board, and veterans service
offices were notified.
The board discussed briefly the
possibility of selling the Rockfish
community house building or moving
it to another site if enough interest is
shown in the idea, but took no
formal action.
The board also approved a motion
to extend tenure for county dog
warden Archie Clark, who reached
mandatory retirement age of 65.
Tenure was extended for one year.
The next reuglar meeting of the
commissioners is Oct. 6.
$21^92061
UF Budget Set,
Kick-Off Oct. 6
Directors of the United Fund ntet
last week and approved a 521,920.61
1975 budget in preparation for the
Oct. 6 kick - off to this year's
campaign.
This year's goal is nearly 52.500
more than the 1974 campaign, a
reflection of the improved economic
outlook for the area. Last year's
United Fund drive coincided with
layoffs at the Burlington plant and
other firms.
Named as co-chairman for the
campaign were Mr. and Mrs. Eugene
Carter. Carter is president of the
Bank of Raeford.
Officers of the United Fund are
Ashwell Harward, president; Dick
Lovette, vice - president; Mrs. O.B.
Isreal, secretary; and Sam C. Morris,
treasurer.
Elected to three year terms as
directors are Larry Phillips. Nlr> O.B.
Isreal, Mrs. John Balfour. Mrs. Alfred
K. Leach, and Milton R. W illiants
Mrs. Richard Neeley. Wyjli
Upchurch. Cleo Bratcher. and JaniCs
Hunt all have two years remaining in
their terms as directors.
Sam C. Morris. Ashwell llarvtard.
Dick Lovette, and Younger Snead.
Jr., have one year remaining to serve.
Campaign officials are optimistic
the goal will be reached this year
The drive is scheduled to run through
Oct. 17.
"I think we can do it". Carter said.
"The economic situation and the
employment situation is a lot better
this year, so I don't think it will be as
hard to raise. Of course, we may have
to spend more to raise more'
Harward echoed Carter's view,
saying "we arc going to reach our
goal".
Eighteen organizations w ill benefit
from this year's United Fund
contributions, including for the first
time The Hoke County Association
for Developmentally Disabled. Its
share is SI,5 00.
Other agencies and the amount of
each's share in the budget are broken
down as:
Girl Scouts. S5.000; Bov Scouts.
S5.50G: Red Cross. S4S3I. White
Cane. $750; 4-H Clubs, SI.075;Hoke
County Rescue Squad. SI.500;
Senior Citizens, SI50.
SI,914.61 of this yeat's total is
earmarked for Carolina United, an
arm for all national agencies
supported by UF.
Carolina United Funds arc
allocated as:
Children's Home Society ol \.l
$546.5 1; Florence Criticnton
Services of N.C., S2.48.70; N.l'.
MentaLHealth Association. S249.69;
N.C. United Community Services.
S35I.64; Research Fund of N.C.
United, S195.60; United Health
Services, of N.C.. SI 21.27; American
Social Health Association. 554.1 o.
Traveler's Aid, SI.1.69; I SO.
SI54.52. and National Association
Of Hearing and Speech. S8.su.
Committee chairmen for the
canvassing divisions are expected to
be ryamed next week.
Thieves Hit
Cato's Shop
Thieves removed approximate^
$2,000 in merchandise from Cain's
Department Store on Main Street in
a- weekend break-in and several
suspects are under investigation In
city police.
Police chief Leonard Wiggins said a
Raet'ord Hotel resident notified
police about I p.m. that the rear
door to the store was open and an
apparent break-in had taken place
Wiggins said coats, partisans
shoes, and other items estimated to
be worth about S2,000 were missing.
Lxact losses could not be determined
before an inventory.
Two juveniles and an adult were
picked up by police loi questioning.
Wiggins said, and S2I1* wot it: ot
stolen merchandise was recovered
"The suspects are believed :<> he
involved in entering the sitae uml
taking merchandise alto? the
break-in. Wiggins disclosed.
Warrants are expected to be
issued.
Indian School Funds Lost
Much of the programs for Indian
school children and the job of Indian
counselor have been eliminated for
the current school year because
officials here were too late in filing
the application for the federal grant,
said to be in excess of S40,000 for
this fiscal year.
The funds, available under the
Indian Education Act., have been
received by Hoke schools for the past
two years. The 1973-74 allocation
was S43.847 and the 1974-75
allocation was $56,140.
Conformation of the late
application and loss of funds was
disclosed by F.d Presson, program
specialist for Indian education with
the U. S. Office of Education, who
was reached in Washington Tuesday.
"I remember this one rather well,
as Hoke County made a vigorous
appeal. Of course, we could not
waive the deadline. There were about
50 to 55 applications out of 11,084
that were rejected for lateness. We
simply cannot make any exceptions,
and none were made", Presson said.
"Once the date is published in the
federal register, it is a matter of law,
it is fnaal".
Prcsson said the deadline for the
application to be received by the
Office of Education for this year's
funds was Feb. 28, however, there is
an additional requirement that the
application must be sent by certified
mail and postmarked no later than
five working davs prior to the Feb.
28 date.
According to Presson, the Hoke
application would have had to be
sent no later than Feb. 24 to be
eligible for consideration. The
application was recieved March 4 and
was immediately sent back with an
explanation of the reason for the
rejection.
I he estimated entitlement tor
Hoke was listed this year as
$36,291.94. Presson said, and when
the final awards went out they were
increased by about 23 percent,
putting the Hoke schools in line to
receive about S44.000 - 45,000.
Presson said an appeal was made
to the office of U. S. Commissioner,
to the then-secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare (HEW)
Chester Weinberger, and even to
Congressman Charles G. Rose.
"The reason given for the delay in
mailing the application was that the
person designated for federal projects
See INDIAN FUNDS, page 11
Served Two Terms
Ex-Councilman Files
Former cily councilman Hestel
Garrison is the second candidate to
file for the city council race in the
Nov. 4 election.
Garrison, an analysis planner at
Burlington, is making another bid to
regain his seat after being defeated in
the 1973 election.,He had served two
terms on the council.
Garrison, a native of Greenville, S.
C., lives with his wife Ellen at 501 E.
Prospect Ave. They have three
children, Andrea, who works for the
city as an administrative assistant,
Gathael, who lives in Greensboro,
and Tommy.
Garrison has been a resident of
Raeford for 24 years.
Hest el t. Garrison