15< ^Cke c Yl eu??5 - journal The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 Around Town BY SAM C. MORRIS The annual Raeford Kiwanis Club Pancake Supper was held last Thursday night at the Gibson School cafeteria. This affair brings out the old and young for a night of eating and fellowship. The club of course picks up a few dollars for civic projects. Everyone seemed to be having a good time while I was enjoying pancakes and sausage. The financial success of the affair is not known at this time. R. B. Lewis, retired banker, was telling me the other night about a Ainversation he had with his wife the other day. He said that since the mail was being delivered by a woman, he asked his wife if you would say the mail was being delivered by a mail-woman? I didn't get the reply Mrs. Lewis gave him. 1 have noticed that the armed forces are still going to use the word man even if the midshipman is a woman, (women's lib)! 1 received the following letter from the Rev. John M. Glenn, former pastor of the First Baptist Church here, and thought it would be of interest to his many friends in Hoke County. The letter follows: Dear Sam: We do enjoy reading the paper each week, and our subscription expires the end of this month, and we will have to let it run out for the time being. We leave January 3. 1976 for an Interim Pastorate at Tamuning Baptist Church, Box 3008, Agana. Guam, and will return about the first of June. We will renew then. ? We remember the good people of Raeford and their kindness to us for the more than eleven years we were there. 1 am now retired, hence our Foreign Mission Board can fend me to Guam all right. Best regards, John M. Glenn Tlie Christmas season is with us again and most people are doing their shopping early. Remember that if you put packages in your automobile, be sure to lock them in the trunk. If you can't get all of them in the trunk, be doubly sure that your car is locked. At this time of the year people will pick up packages, that would not do it at any other time. Be safe and enjoy Christmas. The story in last week's paper concerning the promoting of gift giving of farm products seem to me to be a fine idea. As Ken McNeill, president of the Farm Bureau, says, "We're not criticizing other gift ideas, however, the giving of farm products is a perfect way to say 'Merry Christmas' to all those you want to remember. In addition to solving the problem of what to give, it represents a timely boost for producers of these essential com modities." McNeill is right but with the price of farm commodities a gift would "Kill two birds with one gift." A gift and food on the table. Think about it! If you haven't given to the United Fund, do so today. The goal can be reached with your help. Jones To Tour SYC Secretary of Corrections David Jones will be at Sandhills Youth Center in McCain Saturday as state officials are taking part in N.C. Corrections Week, Dec. 7-13. Jones is scheduled to arrive at 11 A.M. and following a tour of the facility, he will hold a press conference at 11:30 A.M Jones, who earlier announced he was withdrawing from the 1976 gubernatorial race, is expected to speak on emphasizing the role of women in the corrections system, an aide said. A Sandhills spokesman said the facility will be open to the public as part of Corrections Week and the public is invited to meet Jones during his visit. GREAT OUTDOORS- Farm agent Wendell Young can keep a close check on the outdoors from his office, and passerby can keep a check on him, too. He's waiting for drapes to be put up. Curt With Curtains Furnishings for all of the offices in the new county building arrived, and the draperies have caused some grumbling for those who got them and those that didn't. The drapes, ordered for S2.275 from Williams Office Equipment in Fayetteville, didn't have enough panels to cover all of the windows and the ones that were put up were viewed somewhat critically. "Look at this, its something like what I would sew," a male worker said as he checked the hems. The hems on some of the drapes vary in length, making a lopsided ap pearance as the drapes are drawn. "We went around and looked at them," county manager T.B. Les ter said. "1 talked to Riley Williams and he know we're unhappy with them and he is going to make them right." "He said the woman messed him up," Lester shrugged. Wendell Young, farm agent, is one of two workers who didn't receive drapes for the office. "They came in and put up two panels but they didn't have a third. So they took those two down and left with them. Along about the afternoon it gets kind of bright in here." he said, squinting. New Law Coming Youth Needs Eyed The county is taking a close look at the needs of youths who get into trouble, with special focus on the kind of trouble that leads to juvenile court, in preparation for legislation enacted this year which will make community programs and facilities more critical. New legislation says that effective July 1, 1977, status offenders (juveniles who have not committed a crime) such as truants, runaways, or those judged to be undisciplined, may not be committed to the state training schools. Watson McNeill, juvenile court counselor, is concerned that the new law will create problems unless the county is able to participate in a state program which may make funds available for group homes. "We definitely need a group home here. I'm not a fan of taking kids out of their home, but there are some undisciplined kids who can't hack it at home". McNeill said. "When '77 comes, we're not going to have any place to send them, we'll be putting them on probation, they'll be coming back to court, and they'll be going on probation over and over". Since the county presently has no home, or halfway house, for delin quent children. McNeill works from a list of 34 homes throughout the state and tries to find space. "It's hard as heck to place one. Sometimes you can get them on a waiting list, but I don't know of any emergency place where you can get them in immediately, when you really need to get them out of the home environment right away", he said. "The training school is a last resort, and if we had more of these homes. 1 feel a lot more judges would send them to a home", he added. "I'll tell you a good example. 1 had a girl who was having trouble with her mother, and it was both ways, really the mother was part of the problem. She went off to training school for the minimum six weeks and they sent her back, said she was a good student, didn't really need to be in a training school. So she goes back to the same environment that got her in trouble, and sure enough, she's in trouble again. She'll end up back in training school. If we had had a home to send her to, I think she would make out all right", he said. Counties who will be eligible to take part in the new program which may lead to the establishment of more group homes are required to submit study plans or name com mittees to begin a study by Jan. 1. County planner Lester Simpson is working on gathering the infor mation needed, such as number of juvenile petitions filed, number of those sent to training schools, and the reasons whv. Suit Ends, Maybe A long standing battle between a St. Pauls Drive resident and the City of Raeford apparently ended Tuesday when Judge D. B. Herring Jr., handed down a decision to provide the resident with attorney fees in a case involving rights to city water. Mrs. Agnes M. Campbell was awarded $350, deemed to be reasonable attorney fees, for representation in a case that Herring found the city had failed in their responsibilities to provide Mrs. Campbell with city water. Mrs. Campbell contended that since she had been a resident of Raeford since 1955, and had been paying city taxes and assessment since that time and was not given city water until she had to file suit, even though she had asked for it many times, she should be granted attorney fees for the action. Herring found her contention to be true and pointed out that the city had not acted in good faith by not providing her with city water in a reasonable amount of time. City attorney Palmer Wtllcox gave notice of appeal and was granted 40 days to issue it formally. Willcox later said that the decision to continue the appeal would be up to the city council. Sheriff Says More Deputies A Must Yule Concert Is Dec. 16 The Hoke High Chorus anil Chorale will present its Christmas concert "Sing Christmas Bells" Tuesday. Dec. I(> at H P.M. in the school gymnasium. Mrs. Mary Archie McNeill is director and Mrs. Candace Adams is student director. All of the traditional Yuletide selections will be performed including selections from "Messiah". The ballet "Winter Wonderland" is on the program. Admission to the concert is SI .00 and the public is invited. DINNER - The Burlington plants jointly hosted a dinner get-together for fifteen community leaders Tuesday night. Burlington Host To 15 Burlington Menswcar Raeford and Dyeing Plants here jointly hosted a dinenr Tuesday night for fifteen local public officials. "Purpose of die gel-together was to review Burlington's ld75 fiscal year - end results and to give the community leaders an overall view of the company's Raeford facilities". said Gib Bernhardt, manager ot the Dyeing Plant. 'This is the first ot three sessions we have planned for selected groups of community leaders over the next several months, to share pertinent information about our operation", added Jack Bradford, manager of the Kaeford Plant. Attending the meeting were representatives from the Raeford City Council, and the Hoke County Board of Commissioners. The officials viewed a Burlington year ? end film which has been shown to all employees, received recent Burlington literature and toured the manufacturine facilities. Ex-Soldier Takes Life A thirty eight year - old Vietnam veteran living on St. Pauls Drive who police said was despondent died Saturday morning from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jimmy Edward Davis, 320 St. Pauls Drive, was found lying on the floor of the living room shortly after 5 A.M., Police Chief Leonard Wiggins said. The man sustained a gunshot wound in the right temple and a .25 caliber pistol was found near the victim's hand, Wiggins said. Medical examiner R.G. Townsend pronounced Davis dead at the scene. Davis, the father of two children, was discharged from the service after duty in Vietnam with a 100 per cent disability, Wiggins said. Police said the family reported the victim had been despondent over personal problems. Foul play has been ruled out. Wiggins said. The victim's wife, Louise, told police she was awakened by a noise that sounded like a shot and found her husband's body. No autopsy was ordered, Wiggins said, and arrangements are pending with a Laurinburg funeral home. Deputies Nab Moore Trio In Station Robbery Three men have been charged with armed robbery and are under SIS,000 bond each pending hearings in connection with a hold up of the Union 76 station on 15-501 early Monday night. Sheriff D.M. Barrington gave this account of the incident: "The store was held up by a lone gunman carrying a shotgun. A yellow Ford Torino was reported to be parked behind the store during the robbery." "We were notified of the robbery about 6:55 P.M. Monday and after talking with Steve Reese (store operator), surrounding counties were notified and given a description. 'Two subjects were stopped in Pine Bluff by police officers, and were searched and released. Hoke Deputies Riley and McGuire later went to Addor in Moore County and took three subjects into custody. One suspect had $45 -on him and another had $47. $93 was reported stolen and we recovered $92." Christopher Lee Core. 21, of Rt. 1. Box 444, Aberdeen, formally of Long Island, N.Y., Jimmy D. Williams, 20, of Rt. 1, Box 420, Aberdeen, and Lewis Morton. 19, of Rt. 1, Pine Bluff, have been charged with armed robbery, Barrington said. Barrington credited deputies J.K. Riley, and G.S. McGuire of the Moke County Sheriff's Department, the Pine Bluff Police Department, the Highway Patrol in Moke and Moore Counties, and the Moore County Sheriffs Department with the quick apprehension of the suspects. "All of these were responsible for the early arrest," he said. !Seed\ Families 'Give' A Christmas With a father out of work for months, three small children who lost their mother will probably not have a Christmas this year without help from someone who cares enough to give them a Christmas and make a special day for a family. An elderly w idow , disabled in an accident which killed her son and daughter - in - law. will not be able to provide a real Christmas dinner for the four grandchildren she cares for unless someone could help out with a few canned goods. There will probably be no tree, and no presents to put under it for two tots whose house was destroyed bv tire and most of the family's belongings. including warm clothing, was lost. This year, as every year, scores of families in the countv are facino bleak C hristmas. I he Department of Social Services is again working with organizations and individuals who would like to help out to give others less fortunate a happier Christmas. The Department has a list of needy families ranging in size from single elderly persons living alone to large families with many children. Some organizations have 'adopted" a family for Christmas and individuals and families who are able to do this would be greatly appreciated. Any help, donations of canned goods, clothing, toys, or whatever people would like to give will help insure a successful program this year. If you would like to help, contact the Department of Social Services at 875-3367 or 875-3772. A need for additional deputies was expressed by Hoke County Sheriff D.M. Barrington while issuing a statement Tuesday about the number of current break - ins and possible precautions that should be taken by Hoke County residents. "We are understaffed,overworked, and underpaid." he said. Barrington said that many times his deputies are either taking a prisoner or mental patient to another county or have to be in court in another county, and his work force was cut to just one person on these occasions. "We've got two people in jail right now that were caught during a daylight break-in, and eight charged with armed robbery, and all these incidents happened within the last two months," he said. "We don't expect to get a break either with the Christmas season here," he added. He indicated that there was little chance for a force the size of Hoke County's to be able to cover it. "It's almost impossible for us to cover the county. It's no way we can police and patrol the county," he said. "Recent changes in the law make it imperative that we triple the law enforcement departments in this state," he added. "I really hope people will cooperate with us. I know it's our job and we're getting paid for it, but we need help," he said. "Our man power is poor and with the deputies out of the county, helping out with funerals and ballgames, it leaves us with little manpower to do investigations within the county," he said. "Strangers, strange cars, or people asking questions about residents, are potential house - breakers and if any or all could be reported, they would be investigated as soon as possible," he requested. He also said anyone who was going away for the holidays, should notify the Sheriffs Department and the house would be checked while they were away. "I have heard on the streets that people are worried about the break - ins and today someone asked me if I was going to call more help into the county from outside agencies. "I answered them with a question and asked "Who do I call' because we can't really get them here to stay," he said. Job Listing The Raeford office of the Hmployment Security Commission is seeking a stenographer with three years experience. Salary is $538 per month. The employment office also has an opening for a production quality control inspector . Requirement is one year experience and pay is $2.30 - $2.50 per hour. The Employment Security office is kreated in the old county office building opposite the post office on W. Elwood Ave. Job placement assistance is free of charge. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is 875-5059.