Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Oct. 9, 1975, edition 1 / Page 1
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eu??> - journal The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 Around Town BY SAM t MORRIS Buddy Blue, manager of the local Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Republican of Hoke County, came by Monday and was telling me the latest on four laning US 401 between Raeford and Fayettcvillc. The Republican highway commission is no different than the one's before as they have moved the project back down the ladder and it should die again as in previous years. I think the only way this road pro^ct will ever get completed is for Hoke County to get a highway commissioner and you can imagine the odds on this. Anyway in a couple of years a new administration will be in office and someone will come by and tell us again that US 401 is up the ladder and hot again. The Hoke High Bucks played the game of die season last Friday night at Rockingham for three quarters before falling to the strong Raiders 14-0. Maybe they will come through the rest of the season and bring forth a winning season. The Bucks travel to Lumberton this coming Friday for a game with the Pirates. So make plans to be in Lumberton Friday night. The next home game is against the Pinecrest team and will be played at the High School Stadium Friday night Octiber 17. Be a Buck Booster that night. ? ? ? John Wilson of Charlston was by the office last Saturday for a visit. He was in town visiting relatives and was commenting on how lie read the local paper every week. John seemed in good health and it is also grand to see and talk to people who arc visiting in Raeford. ? It was good to see H. R. (Hootch) McLean out this week. I observed him going to the post office Monday and was told that he was at church Sunday. He has been confined to his tfomc for several weeks. I went to a Homecoming in franklin County last Sunday at the church where my wile attended before moving to Hoke County. The weather was fine for the noon meal as it was cloudy and the temperature in the low 70s. Everything was as I had always remembered Homecomings since going with my parents to Sandy Grove years ago. Plenty of cake and chicken always makes for the day as Fred Culbreth used to say. Maybe I ate too much or a Presbyterian was not wanted at a Baptist Church Homecoming but the following did happen. I was standing with Mary Alice's mother, Mrs. A. A. Pernell, when a lady walked up and asked her if I was her husband. Now Mrs. Pernell is 87 years of age and I never thought I looked anywhere near to that age. Maybe she looked younger than I realized or maybe I look older than I realize. Anyway if I look thirty years older at a Baptist Homecoming 1 guess I should stick around the Presbyterian Church. The last thing I need is some smart comment from the Coffee Club. Trial Next Week Gaddy Charged On Third Felony Benny Mcl.eod Crawford Thomas David l.ovette Dannv Morrison Nine In Race For City Council The filing period for city council hopefuls ended Friday with the addition of three last ? minute candidates including one who declared "it is time to change". This brings the total to nine who are seeking a seat on the five - member City Council this term. Others who have Tiled include Hestel Garrison, Carlton Niven, and incumbents Graham Clark. Robert Weaver, and Sam Morris. Mayor John K. McNeill is also seeking another term as he is running without opposition Danny Morrison, David Lovette, and Benny McLeod filed before the noon Friday deadline. Crawford Thomas filed for re-election Wednesday. He and McLeod are the only ones of the group that filed late who are already on the City Council. Morrison, 46, owner of Morrison's Ambulance Service and a wrecker and repair business, has been a resident of Raeford for seven years. He and his wife Mabel have three children. William, Dorothy, and Mrs. Sharon Baker of Raeford. Firemen Celebrate Firemen from the eight volunteer fire departments were guests of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night for the annual supper honoring the firefighters during National Fire Prevention Week. Oct. 5-1 I. Three fire departments announced plans lor Open Houses this week. Stonewall chief Marty Jones extended an invitation for Open House all day Saturday, Oct. 11.1 tic firefighting equipment will be displayed and firemen will be on hand to answer questions. Open House at the Puppy Creek Department is scheduled from 1-6 P.M. Saturday. The Raelord Fire Department will open its doors for Open House on Thursday, Oct. from 7-9P.M. Morrison worked at Burlington Industries for 15 years before he went into business for himself. "I think it's lime for a change. There should be some new people on the board for a change," he said. He indicated that there arc a lew changes he would like to sec if lie is elected. "I'd like to see the streets improved, especially the railroad crossings. I also think the airport needs straightening out." he said. He said he didn't know much about the criminal charges pending against the city manager and said that it was in the court's hands. "The way it stands now. it's in the court's hands. A man is not guilty until proven guilty. It will probably be a long battle." he said. Morrison indicated that he filed after being approached by many people. "I've talked to a lot of people in the last month who wanted to know why 1 didn't file and I finally made up my mind in the last few days." he said. "Fifty or seventy - five people wanted inc to file and il definitely in some way means that some are tired ol' the ones in now." "1 still say we need a change," lie repeated. Lovelte. 35, sales representative for New York Life Insurance Company, and his wife Mary Jo and two children Revis Ann and Dewyn have lived in Raeford since 1969. He is a Mason, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Raeford Presbyterian Church, the Raeford's Lion's Club, and past chairman of the Hoke County lleau Fund. "I've always been interested in good government and I feel I would make a contribution toward fair and impartial government. I would like to see a recreational program that would benefit all ages," he said. "I don't have any axes to grind ? I'm not running against anybody at all," he said. Lovetie explained that he fell the District Attorney's invesligation of See CITY COUNCIL, page 13 Budget, Trash Load Occupy Commissioners Budget mailers and trash problems occupied the county commissioners during their regular monthly meeting Monday and approval was given to lite West Hoke Fire District for a four mile extension at the close of a public hearing. The board okayed the creation of four jobs to be paid under a S 16,000 grant from the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (C'ETA) Title II program after hearing a report from county manager T.B. Lester. Lester said the Department of Social Services' director Benjamin Ntblock wants to hire an eligibility specialist and a clerk, and the Department ol Health is in need of a lab technician and a nurse's aide, both part - time positions. The motion to fund these jobs was carried unanimously. The board unanimously approved a request from Sheriff D.M. Harrington to authorize payment of one month's salary to ex-chief deputy Harvey Young. Young, who resigned without notice, had accrued leave, Lester said. The board also approved another request from Barrington for a S171).95 payment for a mattress that was ruined during the State Bureau of Investigation probe into the suspected murder of Barbara Jones last November. The bloodied mattress was torn during tests. Lester said, and the Joneses' landlord wanted re-imbursement. County sanitarian M.R. Mills and assistant sanitarian Lawrence Caviness appeared before the board and presented the results of their survey on use of the trash dumpsters in the county. Mills said use of the containers is increasing and it is his recommendation the county purchase 20 - 25 additional containers. A map pinpointing the areas where new containers are needed was displayed, and some discussion was given to alternative type containers, like a 30 cubic yard model. Mills cited the high costs of the larger container and also noicd other problems wilh changing to a different type. Chairman Ralph Barnhart was critical of the present schedule of service done by Pick-Up Sanitation Sec COMMISSIONERS, page 13 Youth Murdered Last Weekend Police are seeking the killer of a twenty one year old Robbins Heights man who was found gunned down in an East Fifth Street yard Friday night. Freddie Lee Stephens, of 513 E. Fifth Street, was found by police Home Visitor Phone Given The new telephone number to reach the city's home visitor worker is 875-5598. Anyone wishing to enroll a senior citizen or shut-in with the home visits program should contact Mrs. Willard Shell at the new number. about 10 P.M. with a small caliber bullet wound in the upper left chest, police chief Leonard Wiggins said. Officers J.C. Barrington and L.J. Beat ly found Stephens in the front yard of 513 E. Fifth Street and Stephens died within moments, Wiggins said. County coroner G. Frank Crumpler pronounced the man dead and the Slate Bureau of Investigation (SBi) was called to enter the case. Stephens body was ordered sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy. Stephens, who police described as unemployed, had worked for the city until about five weeks ago. Several persons who were in the vicinity at the time of the killing have been questioned, Wiggins disclosed, and an arrest may be made this week. The murder was the first in the city since 1972. UF Leaders Named Canvassing leaders and division chairmen to head up the 1075 United Fund campaign were named this week, UF co-chairmen Mr and Mrs. Gene Carter announced. Chosen to spearhead fund raising for the four sections of Raeford were Younger Snead, Jr. and J.H. Austin (northwest); Jim McPhaul and Warren Pate (northeast): Frank Baker and Kenneth Dew (southwest); and Julian King and Ed Hasty (southeast). Named as division chairmen were Dr. Julius Jordan (Doctors); R. Palmer Willeox (Attorneys); G. Ra/ Autry (teachers anu t'rincipals); Mary Lee Matherlv (County offices); Benjamin O. Niblock (Department of Social Services). Ellen Willis (New county offices); Barbara Jones (Sheriff's office); Betty Smith (city offices); Tony Buie )North Raeford); and Susan McKen/.ie (county health department). Heading up the industrial drive are Ashwell Harward (Burlington). Dick l.ovctt (Knit Awav ): larry Phillips (House of Raeford I-arms); and Horace Stogner (Tex-F.lastic). Hie drive, which officially began Monday , has a $21 .<>20 goal. City manager John Caddy, already under indictment on two felony counts and scheduled for trial next Monday here in Superior Court, was charged Tuesday with a third felony growing out of the State Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged thefts and misappropriations by city employees. Caddy was served with criminal summons and formally charged in Fayetteville, accompanied by his attorney Philip Diehl, in a closed door hearing before District Court Judge Joseph E. Oupree in chambers. Caddy waived a preliminary hearing and was bound over for action by the grand jury, according to the district attorney's office. The latest charge, stemming from the nearly four months - long investigation, accuses Caddy of authorizing payment of $327 in city funds for the purchase of a new motor for a 1957 Chevrolet station wagon, described in the warrant as Caddy's personal vehicle. According to the warrant, Caddy authorized the payment on Sept. 8, 1970 to Shepard Auto Parts of Rockingham for a 327 cubic inch engine delivered to the city on Aug. 25, 1970 and subsequently placed in Caddy's Chevrolet. There was no immediate word on the effect of Tuesday's action on next week's scheduled trial for Caddy, hut it is possible Caddy may now be tried on all three charges. Under the law, he may waive a presentation of a bill of indictment on the latest charge and request trial next week before Judge Henry A. McKinnon. Caddy was indicted by the Hoke County grand jury on Aug. 12 for two counts of misuse and misapplication of city money, both offenses under the statute involving embezzlement by public officials. At the same time Gaddy was indicted, Billy H. Barefoot, employed from 1970 to 1975 as foreman of the municipal garage, was indicted on a separate felony charge of misuse of city funds related to SI37 worth of repair work allegedly done on his personal car. Caddy and Barefoot have both been free under personal bond awaiting trial on the charges. No bond on the latest charge lodged against Gaddy was requested by the district attorney's office, according to Judge Dupree. If convicted, Caddy faces a possible fine and imprisonment of up to ten years on each count. Several persons, including Raeford mayor John K. McNeill, Jr., were subpeoned last week to testify at next week's trial. The indictments returned in August charge Caddy with authorizing a S333 payment out of city funds in 1974 for repair work done on a vehicle allegedly sold to Caddy's son, Chris, and also for an additional S46 worth of work done on the same vehicle later. Barefoot, who is also scheduled for trial here next week, is expected to he a chief witness against Gaddy. The latest charge filed against ' Gaddy parallels the details of an accusation Barefoot made last June. Barefoot claimed at that time maintenance and repair work was being performed on private vehicles and the costs were falsely listed on ciiy records to appear the work was done on city ? owned trucks. City Fills Airport Slot, Mulls Commission Bid The city council gave its unanimous approval to the choice of Gene Carter to fill the vacancy on the airport committee but balked at giving the airport committee commission status with increased powers without studying the issue further at their Monday meeting. Carter had been recommended by vote of the airport panel last month for the slot, and at the same time the committee endorsed a request for commission status with full decision making powers, a shift from their present advisory - only capacity. Both matters were brought before the city council by councilman Benny McLeod, who is also an airport committee member. Mayor John K. McNeill, Jr., questioned the wisdom of the proposal, claiming the present membership of the panel might be challenged for "conflicts" if they were authorized commission status. McNeill reminded the councilmcn the members were originally picked because of Iheir lies with the airport. Councilman Sam C. Morris disagreed, but did not endorse the idea wholly. "I think its better to have people who know something about it. I don't think a man who owns an airplane would have a conflict. I'm not saying put people who have businesses at the airport on it." Morris said. McNeill suggested the council postpone any action on the request and councilman Graham Clark requested airport committee chairman Joe Rackley appear before the full council and detail the proposal. Councilmen also noted a new ordinance defining the duties and powers of such a commission might be necessary. In other business, the council awarded a $33,661.10 contract to Southeastern Asphalt of Rockingham for the Bethel Koad widening, curbing, and guttering project. Bids on the project, which will utilize part of the Powell bill funds allocation, ranged from Southeastern's low bid to a high bid of $44,155 and were opened last Friday. The planned improvements will cover Bethel Road from Donaldson Ave. to Harris Ave. The council gave an okay for a S 10.000 transfer of funds from one department fund to another after some discussion. City manager John Ciaddy told the council the bill for overhaul of an International bulldo/er used at the landfill came to $7.784.02. "We didn't anticipate anything like that." Caddy said. Gaddy requested Si0.000 be shifted from the street maintenance fund to the landfill fund to absorb the cost, and that 757r of tlie mount would be reimbursed by the county government under the terms of" their agreement to share costs of the landfill operation. Gaddy explained the county re imbursement payment would then go into the general fund. Confusion arose over discussion of the county's announced proposal to implement a heating, air-conditioning, and plumbing code with a full-time inspector. McNeill and some council men said they thought a general building inspector, armed with a building code, who would also serve the city's residents was planned After searching the minutes of past meetings, the council adopted a recommendation from city attorney Palmer Willcox and approved a resolution allowing the county See CITY, page 13
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Oct. 9, 1975, edition 1
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