Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 29, 1976, edition 1 / Page 1
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15< <o. e - journal The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 Around Town BY SAM C. MORRIS Last week an article appeared in this newspaper about a home being destroyed by fire in the Rockfish section of the county. A notice concerning the fire was received after the paper had gone to press and I think everyone should read it and maybe you could assist this family. The notice is as follows: * "The house owned and across the street from Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Reynolds burned about one o'clock Saturday morning. It was a total loss. It was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parliaman, son, Butch, 16 years old and daughter, Coleen, 13 months old. They lost everything they had and will be living in a mobile home. If you would like to make a donation or have anything they might be able to use please contact Cecil Reynolds, 875-2720 or Mrs. Judy Henley, 875-4354 or 875-2501." If you have anything that will help this family please contact one of the above numbers. The weather was perfect over the weekend for the first time since the New Year arrived. Monday and Tuesday were rainy and reports are that it will stop and that cold air will move in and it will stay cold for a day or so and then start raining again. Let's hope for another fair and warm weekend. The Hoke County United Fund drive is only a hundred dollars short of its goal. I know that some folks have not contributed this year and more than likely have forgotten about it or haven't taken time to write a check. The amount that it takes to reach the goal is so small and any amount you would give * could make the drive a success. So take time today to mail a check to Gene Carter at The Bank of Raeford or to this writer at The I News-Journal. Thanks. Last Thursday night the program at the Raeford Kiwanis Club was given by the Hoke County High School Corale. The theme of the program was our Bicentennial year. As always the group performed in a superior manner. Robert Gatlin was program chairman for the night and before the Chorale arrived told the club about a trip the group was wanting to take this spring. This group has always been "goodwill ambassa dors" for Hoke County and Rae ford, Gatlin stated but it was almost impossible for them to raise money for such trips due to school rules. The club voted a contribu tion to the group after the program. I don't know if other clubs or groups know about the trip but a donation to this group would certainly be appreciated by their singers. I expect they would accept a contribution from a private citizen also. . If you would like to help these ambassadors you could make out a check to the Hoke County High School Chorale and send it to this newspaper and I will see that it gets irwthe right hands. Death Ruled Suicide Sheriff"s deputies responded to a call about 2:55 P.M. Saturday. Jan. 24 involving an apparent suicide that occurred near Rock fish. Leslie Allen Moser, 24, of Rt. 2i Raeford was found lying on his back with a wound in the right side of the head in a wooded area near Rockfish. A .38 pistol was found lying by his side. A deputies' report stated that Samuel E. Turner, of the same address, had been target practicing with the pistol and Moser came up to him and asked him if he could shoot. Turner said Moser fired the gun once and then asked again if he could shoot the gun. Moser then shot himself in the head, according to the report. The body was sent to Chapel Hill for an autopsy about 3:50 P.M. Moser was discharged from the Army Dec. 31, 1975 for mental conditions, according to the report. Turner lived with Moser and his wife, who is a sergeant in the Army. No foul play was suspected by authorities and the death was ruled a suicide. Rose's Office The mobile office of Congress man Charles G. Rose will be in Raeford Friday, Jan. 30 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. The van will be parked as close to the post office building as possible. New Number A new telephone number for non-emergency calls to the police department has been installed and citizens are asked to use the new numbeT unless they are calling to summon immediate help. The new number for non emergencies and routine mat ters is 875-5058. To phone the police in an emergency, the 875-3400 number should be dialed. All calls to the Chief of Police should be dialed through 875-5058. YOUNG FARMER - Eddie Baker (center) gels his scholarship for the annual Short Course in Modern harming and is congratulated by The Bank of Raeford's Gene Carter and Southern National Bank's Freddie Williams. An enrollment of about 100 is expected for this year's two-week course at N.C State University, which is wholly sponsored by hometown banks. Perjury Levied Plea Entered In Killing A surprise plea was entered halfway through a murder trial here Tuesday morning after only two witnesses has been called to testify for the state. Benjie Allen Stephens pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter of Freddie Stephens last October 15. Both men, residents of the Robbins Heights area of Raeford apparently were engaged in an argument before Benjie shot Fred die at the home of Michael Priest. The jury for the case was chosen in a little over an hour's time Monday afternoon and testimony began shortly afterward. A principle witness for the state. Kenneth McDonald, also of the Robbins Heights area, said he was an eye witness of the shooting. McDonald said that he could identify the weapon used, a pistol, and related incidents surrounding the shooting, but had his testimony damaged after he was asked if he had been drinking the night of the occurrance. He said that he had consumed two quarts of wine. After agreement was reached with Stephen's attorney, Phil Diehl, and the district attorney. Superior Court Judge James H. Pou Bailey allowed Stephens to plead guilty to the involuntary man slaughter charge. Stephens was sentenced to five years, suspended, and placed on probation for five years. After hearing the plea. Bailey explained the situation to the jury and dismissed them. Members of the jury selected were: Roland E. Furr, Albert G. McLean. John W. Nixon, Kenneth E. Hendrix, Lewis Oxendine, Har rison Ray Daniels. F. Gilbert Burnhardt. Carrie McBryde. Pearl Davis McRae. J.P. Scarborough. James T. Barefoot. Edna Q. Davis, and Charles Clifton McNeill was the alternate. In another case. Bailey ordered that a warrant be drawn up for a Raeford man for subornation of perjury after testimony indicated that he had paid two young girls to testify against another man in District Court. Fred Lisenby of Raeford was ordered to remain in the court room until the district attorney drew a warrant for his arrest on the charge after the court heard testimony from the state's witnes ses. Yvonne Dimery, 13, who lives at Lisenby Trailer Park, located out side of Raeford, testified that Fred Lisenby had paid her money to testify that Freddie Revels, also of Raeford, had shot his dog. Revels had been found guilty in District Court of the charge and had been sentenced to six months. He appealed the action to Superior Court. Aggie Dimery, 8, sister of the prior witness, gave the same testimony. Bailey asked the young girls how much they had been paid to testify See PLKA, page 12 IW-JStaffers Receive State Writing Award Two News-Journal staffers re ceived the second place award for investigative reporting among the due to the lact I was advised to be al the meeting at 8:30. and the meeiing convened earlier; therefore I was unaware of statements made prior to my arrival". "I had previously prepared a statement on my reasons for firing Mr. Dial and 1 followed the guidelines of my prepared statement. Had I known that Mr. Dial accused James Lamont. my Chief Deputy.of being off with a woman and wrecking a police car, 1 would have given some explanation of this matter at that time". "1 would also have given an explanation of the Claudine Hodgin ticket - fixing case, had 1 known that statement had been made prior to my arrival at the meeting". "I feel the oublic should be made aware of what actually took place on both of these incidents and accusations made by Mr. Dial". "If the newspapers are so kind as to print it in its entirely. 1 will give a full explanation of both instances - of one of which I am ashamed". "I have betrayed the public trust only one time in my law enforcement career, we are. now speaking of tire Claudine Hodgin incident, and 1 will accept the responsibility of it when it becomes necessary". "On Oct. 24, 1974, at 10:30 A.M., a house in the Antioch area was entered by two Indian males. This was an illegal entry. There was a 16 year ? old girl present in the home, suffering from an illness and in her bed. She was the only occupant of the home at that time. I will not divulge her name, because this may be embarrassing to the young girl involved, or her parents." "This young lady enlered her hallway and saw various items and belongings stacked in the hallway. She went back into her room, obtained a pistol, came back in the hallway and saw two Indian males near the stack of property". "She pointed the pistol, pulled the trigger, and it misfired. The Indian males left through the front door, getting into a pick-up truck". "The investigating officers obtained information from the young lady, who advised if sire saw the subjects again, she could identify them". "On the evening of Nov. 14, l')74. Deputy Sheriff James Lamont contacted me at home and advised me Robeson County deputies had located a vehicle that fitted the description of the vehicle used in above described B&E. "Lamont advised me he would take the girl to Robeson County lor identification purposes. He went to the home of the young lady under my authorization. He obtained her mother's permission to take her to Robeson Countv. He drove ihe young lady to Robeson County where identification was made of the vehicle which led to the ariest of Johnny Locklear and Charles Ronald Lock lear". "After the identification was See RtPLY. page 12 state's weekly newspapers during ceremonies at the 51st Newspaper Institute in Chape! Hill last Thurs day night. The award, presented by the North Carolina Press Association, was given to former associate editor Laurie Telfair and reporter Marty Vega for articles written in June. 1975 detailing allegations of cor rupt practices in the operation of the city garage, which subsequently led to a State Bureau of Investiga tion probe. First place was awarded to Roy L. Lucas and staff of The Moore County News (Carthage), and third place was received by Sylvia John son of The Alamance News (Graham). Mrs. Telfair left The News Journal in July, 1975 and is now writing for a Texas newspaper. Mrs. Vega was named chief re porter for The News-Journal. Airport Committee Seeks Tax Money Committeeman Ed Brown recommended that the airport committee ask the city council to look into getting the money paid for county property tax at the airport put back into the airport at a regular airport meeting Tuesday night. Members discussed the proposal, and some felt that since the county had nothing to do with the airport, the county tax money should be put to use at the airport. Committeeman William Poole said the committee had the chance to get thinRs done as a commission, but chairman Joe Rackley was against becoming one. "Being a commission is not going to get you a dime." said Rackley. "Let's go out a.id tax the people, raise a bond issue and we'll fall flat on our faces," he added. He contended that the development of the airport should be taken in steps and that a commission would not have the funds to function. Rackley said changes would be evident if the committee was changed to a commission. "If ihey elect to make us a commission instead of a committee, we would have to disqualify ourselves because of conflict of interest," he said. Poole argued the poinl saying that no one on the committee had a conflict of interest. Rackley said that Poole had definite interest in the airport through the ownership of his hangar. "Arc you insinuating that I take public money and paint my hangar0" asked Poole. Rackley said he did not say that, but he felt most of the members of the committee would have to disqualify themselves because of conflict of interest. Poole concluded the discussion by telling Committeman Gene Carter that he couldn't run for city council because he ran a bank. In other business, the commtttec viewed letters indicating that their request for financial aid had been received and that steps were being taken toward future land acqusition. Hairy Brickhouse. FAA official explained to the committee that the VOR devise would not interfere with present airport operations. Rackley reported that the necessary paperwork to acquire the devise was being taken care of at this Poll Concludes Opinion Shaky On Community Sheriff Replies In response to reports published in The News-Journal last week concerning the firing of deputy sheriff Elisha Dial, Sheriff DM. Barrington contacted a reporter Wednesday with further comment. "At last Monday night's meeting of the county board of commissioners at which Mr. Dial and myself appeared, I was unaware of statements that Mr. Dial had made. Less than half of the people sampled in a random opinion poll here rated Hoke County as becom ing a "more enjoyable place to live", according to findings re leased by North Carolina State University last week. Only forty five per cent of those responding agreed the community was becoming more enjoyable in the poll conducted last spring statewide. The state average was 57 per cent agreeing. Findings of the survey, which was done by mailed questionaire sent to 120 county residents, were published by the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service. 66 responses were received, and of these. 12 were randomly selected for use in the poll based on Hoke's population size. Since the responses were not ? based on representative groupings according to age, sex, income, education, or other typings, county extension agent Wendell Young cautioned against drawing any broad conclusions. "With the number of responses we got back, and since you don't know who they are, you don't know if it's a true picture. Yet it could be the thinking of most people. You have no way of knowing." he said Monday. Bladen, Robeson, and Scotland Counties, which make up Region N along with Hoke, fared better on the "enjoyable" question. 65 per cent in Bladen answered yes. 61 per cent in Robeson, and Scotland topped the list with 76 per cent in agreement. Neighboring Cumberland Coun ty only drew 39 per cent as "yes". Respondents were asked to rate availability of 12 community ser vices, and locally health care, jobs, housing, and recreation received overwhelming "poor" ratings. Fifty-four per cent rated avail ability of medical facilities "poor", and 59 per cent agreed availability of family doctors was "poor". Only 11 per cent rated overall quality of services and facilities as "good", and 73 per cent felt alcohol and drug rehabilitation services were "poor". Fifty seven per cent classed availability of job training as "poor", and 51 per cent agreed quality of job opportunities was "poor". In housing. 44 per cent ranked availability of low income housing "poor". 25 per cent ranked middle income housing as "poor", and 63 per cent agreed availability of rental apartments was "poor". Overall quality of recreational facilities was rated "poor" by 54 per cent, with six per cent rating it "good". Fifty two per cent classed quality of elementary and secondary edu cation "good", while public kinder garten and special education pro grams dropped to 30 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively, in af firmative responses. Quality of city and county law enforcement was rated "good" by 39 per cent, while control of crime and juvenile delinquency received only 25 per cent "good" response. Quality of highway patrol was 'Can't Make It' Family Depends On Food Stamps Kayford Edwards and his wife, Peggy, have a hard time managing their budget and feeding their nine year-old daughter Carol on Social Security disability checks. This month the family's $130 allotment of food coupons ran out early, and last Saturday The Edwardses had no food, except for some black eyed peas. "I just can't make it on what they give us. In South Carolina, they didn't count Carol's SSI (supple mental Social Security income). The highest I ever paid for food stamps was $20. Down here they count it as income." Edwards said. Edwards, 36, and his wife, 28, are both disabled. The family income from Social Security dis ability payments is $407, including amounts of $109 and $51 for their severly birth-damaged daughter. Edwards draws $1% a month as 100 per cent disabled. Monthly expenses for the family, including rent, utilities, car pay ment, insurance, and other bills comes to $378.87, including the S76 spent on the food stamp, according to Edwards. Edwards said the social services office here told him that his wife was ineligible for Medicaid benefits because she is not 100% disabled, so $15 a month is spent on insuling and supplies for his wife, who is a diabetic. Edwards, who explained he was hospitalized with a nervous break down in 1973, is supposed to be on constant medication, but at a monthly cost of $26.60, he said he just can't afford it. Carol, who suffered spinal and brain damage, is able to attend special classes for the handicapped, but she requires special body bags since she has no bladder or bowel control. They (social services) told us they didn't have no funds in Hoke County to pay for something like that. But Miss Betsy Sloan at the board of education called some body in Fayetteville. and we got them." Edwards said. Miss Sloan explained the bags were purchased by the Crippled Children's Society in Fayetteville. Saturday's crisis was averted when his wife's parents came to visit from their home in Bennetts ville, S.C. They bought groceries fo the family, but Edwards said Monday his disagreement with the social services office here may threaten more of the family in come. "1 got a letter today from the Social Securitv office, thev were going to cut off Carol's SSI check if we didn't report within ten days. We've already been over to the Social Security people in Fayette ville," he said. Edwards said he has been back and forth to the social services office here, trying to get his food See FOOD STAMPS, page 12
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Jan. 29, 1976, edition 1
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