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rhe Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVU NO. 34 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA SS PER YEAR THURSDAY. DECEMBER 25. 1975
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
As I wondered what to write in
this column just before Christmas
Day, 1975 I came across an item in
a column written 15 years ago. 1
think it will be useful this year too.
The item follows:
"Christmas, the birthday of
Jesus, is on Sunday this year and
may each of us celebrate it in the
true spirit. The holiday will extend
more than one day for most of us
and from the looks of the front
page of this paper it seems to have
already started. I am speaking of
tltf automobile accidents that have
occurred in this county during the
past week. There has been more
damage to vehicles and injuries in
kone week than any other month
during the year. The operation of
the highway patrol, whether it be
checking stations, wolf pack
patrols or any other project can't
stop these accidents unless all of us
cooperate with them and with other
drivers on the highway.
"The best Christmas present we
can give to the motoring public
today is the courtesy of the roads,
observing traffic laws and using
common sense while under the
wheels of our automobiles. Stop
and think of the suffering that it
will bring to someone because of a
death in a family during the
holidays. Consider, it might be in
your family. Give a present to all
the people this year so that each of
us will have a Merry Christmas."
After 15 years I still pass this
along to everyone. Drive Safely and
let's all have a Merry Christmas.
This issue of the paper is our
Christmas edition and carries
greetings from the industries and
businesses in Hoke County. Take
time during the holidays to read the
messages in these ads. This is the
way these firms have of expressing
to you. their thanks and good will
for the past years.
The article in last week's paper
about the booming Christmas sales
is good to read after the spirits of
last year when unemployment and
short work hours was on everyone's
minds. This comes on top of what
was written here last week about
the bright outlook of two of the
county's industrial plants.
This, of course, makes us all feel
good at this time of year but let's
not forget the following thing.
The true spirit of Christmas is
not in trees, money, job security or
decorations, but in the Light that
gives us eternal life. So try to get
the true meaning between now and
Christmas Day.
The Class of 1%6 Group Pictures
may be purchased by calling Alice
Glisson 875-4508 or Jane Strother
875-4570 after 5:00. The cost is
$3.00 for a color picture.
To all the readers of this column
another year has passed and
Christmas is with us again. 1 want
$o wish to each and everyone a very
Merry Christmas.
Cards are coming in from former
employees and to each of you I wish
a big Christmas and holiday cheer.
Also to Lucy Gray. Lib. Geri,
Venetia. Carol. Margaret Ann.
Jama. Kay. Elaine. Jane. Cheryl.
Laura. Deborah. Mary and Bill
McFadyen. just to name a few.
and to all employees working now
the best to all of you at Christmas
time.
Mills Close
Dec. 23-28
Both Burlington Industries Rae
ford plants will close down Dec.
23-28 for the Christmas holiday,
company officials announced.
Burlington wage employees will
receive about Sll million in
vacation pay for 1975, with about
half of the amount distributed
during the summer vacation
periods and the remainder during
the Christmas operating schedule,
according to the announcement.
Christmas bags for employees'
children age 12 and under were
distributed last week.
County Board
Met Friday
County commissioners met briefly
Friday morning in a special meeting
with four items on the agenda and a
letter from a protesting taxpayer.
The boach agreed unanimously to
submit a letter of intent to take part
in a state program to study juvenile
delinquency prevention. A local task
force will be named and county
planner Lester Simpson was directed
to head up the project.
Philip Diehl, James A. Hunt, and
Arlie McPhatter were appointed
representatives on the regional
mental health board. Diehl and Hunt
were re-appointments.
The board received notice of the
final distribution of 1975-76
secondary road funds. Hoke
County's remaining allocation is
56.700.
Budget amendments, approved
earlier, were unanimously okayed by
the commissioners: 5500 for
telephone and postage and 5500 for
machine repair and maintenance
(finance dept.), and S4.425 for
purchase of new waste containers
(environmental).
A letter from A.T. McLean, Jr.,
protesting payment of a late listing
penalty for 1974 taxes was read by
chairman Ralph Barnhart. McLean
claimed he paid under protest and
requested detailed information
regarding number of persons who
filed late and what action was taken
against them.
Bus Driver
Acts Swiftly
A quick thinking young school bus
driver who detected smoking coming
from the bus was credited with
getting some 36 children out of the
bus and moved to safety off the
highway Friday afternoon.
Shirley G. Loyd, 35, of Rt. 3,
Raeford was operating bus numbet
38 packed with second and fourth
graders on RPR 1207 when smoke
began pouring out from under the
da sit.
Mrs. Loyd immediately stopped
the bus and activated the warning
flashers and then quickly got the
children off the bus through the rear
emergency exit, highway patrolman
K.W. Weston reported. She led the
youngsters off the roadway and kept
them on the shoulder.
Weston blanted the smoke on
wiring and estimated about $50
damage to the vehicle.
Clerk's Office
Closes 24-26
The Clerk of Court's office and all
other offices within the courthouse
will be closed Wednesday. Dec. 24
through Friday. Dec. 26 for the
Christmas holidays.
Regular schedules will resume
Monday. Dec. 29.
Report To New Office
For Jobless Claims
All workers who are filing a claim
for unemployment benefits for the
first time are required to report to
the job service office located in the
Employment Security Commission
office on W. Elwood Ave.
Under the new regulation, new
claims will not be processed at the
Employment Security Commission
office within the Armory building on
Tuesdays, unless the worker hasttrsr
reported to the Elwood Ave. office,
according to SJ. Benkosky.
Claims books and claims tolders
will be prepared at the Elwood Ave.
office to be taken to the Armory
office on the following Tuesday,
What C.hrixtmax Av\'
s\ / \
in really all about . . . ^ I 11
Sometimes in the rush of holiday
shopping and activities, we lose sight of (
the real meaning of Christmas. Of course. 1 *
wf know it's more than Santa and gifts J mMi
and parties but that's easy to forget amid / A
the festivities and preparations. A ow
more than ever, we need to stop anil ;;
think abintt what Christmas is really all
about.
It's a celebration a celebration of the |I|M
birth of Jesus and the birth of hope for :||fS
mankind. That hope is born anew in our
hearts each Christmas, as we contemplate -pp'Pi
pllll the Christ Child. Tor He is indeed the
Mp-ip Prince of Peace, bringing peace to every
C-My- heart that will admit Him. May the joy of -Mp
pppppp, Christmas the real Christmas be Pl^W
>' OH?*< yours mlUM
| The Mews - J(nmial Staff.
' ^:iv
Kiwanians Aid Needy
Five needy families will benefit
from the generosity of Kiwanians
who arc contributing nearly SI,000
in their annual Christmas project this
year to aid the less fortunate.
Committees averaging about seven
or eight members donated money for
their "families" and the Kiwanis
Club treasury authorized $10 for
each committeeman, making a total
of $975 for the project, publicity
chairman Robert Gatlin said.
"The families were very well
screened to determine need," Gatlin
said. Food, clothing, household
items, whatever was most desperately
needed was chosen for the family at
Christmas, and Kiwaniansare making
the deliveries this week.
Burlington Industries and House
of Raeford Farms donated toys and
turkey for use by the Kiwanians.
Vardell Hedgpeth is coordinator of
this year's drive.
411 Families Are 'Adopted'
The "adopt" a family for
Christmas appeal made by the
Department of Social Services met
with success, with 75 needy families
taken by groups or individuals,
caseworker Dayna Pate reported.
"Frankly, we were overwhelmed.
The response from the community
was just great. We were so pleased
with the generosity of people,
everyone who called mentioned the
families described in the newspaper
and they all have been taken."
Mrs. Pate said the cash
contributions increased 600 per cent
Area Incidents
Shoplifting Try Made
City police are seeking a man
believed to be from Fayetteville in
connection with the reported at
tempted theft of a coat from a
Raeford department store Sat
urday.
Police chief Leonard Wiggins
said the manager of Macks Variety
on Main St.. H. Talley, reported a
black male about 30 years old was
seen leaving the store about 5:45
P.M. with a coat valued at $17.95.
Talley told police the man gave him
the coat outside the store and then
left in a burgundy 1973 Olds
mobile.
The incident is under investi
gation. Wiggins said.
In other city complaints, Thomas
(See AREA INCIDENTS, Page 1)
$59,000 Bid
City Okays
The city council met briefly last
Wednesday in a special meeting to
formally accept the S59.066.80 bid
from Southeastern Asphalt of
Rockingham for the Title X storm
drainage project slated for Harris
Ave. and Bethel Rd.
The project, designed to utilize
unemployed workers, is a grant by
the coastal plains commission of
the Region N Council of Govern
ments and the costs are matched by
local funds.
Date for start of construction was
not learned.
CHRISTMAS GATHFRING-Sanla Clans (Ashwell Harward) treated workers at
Burlington Friday with Cokes and other refreshments.
Driver U nhurt
After Kidnap
Dems To
Nominate
Successor
The county Democratic executive
committee is expected to meet
sometime early next month to
choose nominees for the vacancy on
the board of oounty commissioners
created by the death of J.A. Webb
Sunday.
According to law, the present
oounty commissioners are required
to name a successor within 60 days
after a vacancy occurs. If the board
fails to do so within the allotted
time, the Clerk of Superior Court is
enpowered to name the successor.
The board of commissioners is
required to consult with the
executive committee of the political
party to which the commissioner
belonged, but it is not required to
follow their recommendations.
Sam C. Morris, Democratic
committee chairman, said Monday
the full committee will meet but no
date for a meeting has yet been
scheduled.
Once a successor is chosen by the
county commissioners, the new
member will fill out the remainder of
Webb's term, which expires next
December.
over last year. Cash contributions
were used to purchase the most
needed items for a family, and any
left-over funds will go for fuel
purchases throughout the cold
months.
Groups and organizations who
either adopted families or
contributed toys, clothing, food to
be given to a needy person or family
were listed by Mrs. Pate as the
Raeford Presbyterian Church, Hoke
County Communications Club,
Burlington and Knit-Away plants.
House of Raeford Farms. Raeford
Jaycees, Lions Club. Kiwanis Club.
Methodist Church. Hoke County
Ministerial Association. Raeford
Womans Club Education Dept..
Moose Lodge First Baptist Church,
and HMD 35th Signal Group. Ft.
Bragg.
A Fayetteville City Cab Company
driver was kidnaped in Cumberland
County early Saturday morning and
was later found and released from
the trunk of his cab by local deputies
when they found the cab in a ditch
near the caution light off North Main
Street and 401 By-Pass, according to
a report by Hoke County Sheriffs
deputies.
It was reported that Ronald J.
Hamilton, 221 Davis St.. Fayetteville
had been locked in the trunk by the
kidnaper and Si5.30 had been taken
from him along with a tear-gas pistol.
Hamilton told deputies here he
picked up a fare about 2 A.M. at the
Greyhound terminal in downtown
Fayetteville and after driving away
from Fayetteville, the passenger
seized a tear-gas pistol from him and
took command of the cab.
Sheriff D.M. Barrington said
deputies on routine patrol checked
the taxi about 3:15 A.M. and heard
noises coming from the trunk.
Hamilton was let out of the trunk,
apparently unharmed.
Hamilton told deputies here his
assailant was a white male, about
20-25 years old, with long blonde
hair, wearing a grey stocking cap.
blue denim trousers, and green
jacket. The description was 5*4" in
height and about 165 pounds.
Deputy George McGuire and a SBI
agent picked up Bobby L. Stone, of
P.O. Box 1323. Sanford, near the
abandoned car after the description
of the kidnaper was given by
Hamilton,according to the report.
Deputies here reported that
Hamilton said "he's lite one who
robbed me" after viewing Stone at
the Hoke sheriff s office.
Hoke County Sheriff D.M.
Barrington said Stone was later
turned over to Cumberland County
authorities.
Major C.C. Kiser of the
Cumberland County Sheriffs
Department said Monday that Stone
had been released after Hamilton had
failed to identify him.
Kiser indicated he thought the
person who did it was either from
the Hoke County area, or knew
someone from the area.
He said Hamilton was not injured,
but said the kidnaper had some kind
of weapon.
'The case is still open," said Kiser.
He said the case is still under
investigation by the Cumberland
County Sheriffs Department.
Barrington said the assailant will
probably be charged with armed
robbery and kidnaping when he is
caught.
The tear-gas weapon has not been
found, Barrington said.
liar Association Meets
Cumberland Pair Choice For Judge
Coy E. Brewer, Jr. and William
Geimer were chosen yesterday by the
Hoke and Cumberland Bar
Association for.consideration by Gov.
Holshouser as District Court judge
for the 12th Judicial District. Brewer
is thy son of Resident Superior Court
Judge Coy E. Brewer who died Dec.
12. District Court Judge D.B.
Herring, Jr., was named to the
Superior Court post last week.
Brewer, Jr. is an assistant district
attorney. Geimcr is in private
practice in Cumberland County.
It was reported before the 4 P M
meeting thai others under
consideration were Don Grimes
Sylvia Allen. Elizabeth Fox, and
Neill Fleishman, in addition to
Brewer and Geimer.
A Hoke spokesman said here
before the meeting thai no Hoke
County attorneys were activclv
seeking the post.
Early Deadline
Next week's edition of the
News-Journal will be published
a day early due to the New
Year holiday and the closing of
the post office.
All church, community, and
social news must be received
no later than noon on Monday,
Dec. 29 for publication in next
week's edition.
Webb Rites Wednesday
John Alvis Webb, longtime
member of the Hoke County Board
of Commissioners, died Sunday night
at St. Joseph's Hospital in Southern
Pines following a long illness.
Funeral services arc scheduled for
Wednesday at 2 P.M. at Ashley
Heights Baptist Church with Dr.
Robert Denton officiating.
Burial will be in the church
cemetery.
Webb, 85. was reelected a county
commissioner in 1972 after serving
14 years. He previously served as
county commissioner from
December 1958 to I960.
A retired farmer, he was a deacon
of the Ashley Heights Baptist Church
for 25 years.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Julia P.
Webb, five sons. Franklin Webb of
Wallace, N.C., John Allen Webb of
South port, and Reuben Webb,
Clarence Webb, and Otis Webb, all of
Raeford; three daughters, Mrs. Ida
Lee Vanhoun of Lorain, Ohio, Mrs.
Erma Saunders of Reidsville, N.C.,
and Mrs. Mary Harris of Fayetteville:
a brother. Will Webb of Wintworth,
N.C.; 16 grandchildren; eight
great-grandchildren; and three
great great-grandchildrcn.
Pallbearers are Charlie Pendcrgrass,
Billy Lucas, Ronald Webb. Howard
Webb, Harold Webb, and Martin
Green.
Honorary pallbearers arc the past
and present county commissioners.
J. A. Webb