North Carolina Newspapers

The Hoke County News - Established 1928 ?*i ? VOLUME LXVIII NO. 22 RAEFORD. HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA - journal 25 SS PER YEAR THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 30, 1976 Around Town BY SAM C. MORRIS The item in this column last week about the local National Guard units being called into service in 1940 brought forth some comment from readers. Most of the facts must have been correct, as so far, no one has called my attention to anything wrong. One officer that I forgot to ^mention was Major R. A. Matheson who was attached to the Medical unit, this outfit was not from here and not being a line unit skipped my mind. Dr. Matheson left at the ^ame time as the others. If you noticed any mistakes in the writeup please let me know so they can be corrected. * ? * Mike Wood was by the office the other day and we were talking about the Hoke High Booster Club. He said that the club had over 500 members at the present time. This is real gov,J but we expect many more will join that have let it slip their mind. This club does a great deal for the sports program at Hoke High School and they would be glad to have you as a member. So if you haven't, join today! * * * Jim Hunt. Democratic candidate ffor Governor in the Noverember 2 election, was in town Wednesday. He was at the Civic Center between the hours of 2 to 3:30 and was shaking hands and seeking a vote from everyone in attendance. A group of the Ladies For Hunt served refreshments to the people during the afternoon. ? * ? The great debate last Thursday was about like I expected it to be. Hverything that was said had been in the papers many times before and the two debators looked about as usual. Who was the winner? If you were a Democrat Ford was the loser and if a Republican then Carter was the loser. So it doesn't seem that anyone was a winner the first time. The next debate will be on all the TV stations, but 1 doubt as many people will be watching as did the first time. We can all just wait and hope for November 2. * * * John Beasley, chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Executive Committee, sends an invitation to all Hoke County Democrats to attend a rally at the Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium on Friday night, October 8th. The rally will start at 5:00 p.m. and a barbeque supper will be served. Tickets arc $5.00. r Sen. Robert Morgan, Congress man Charlie Rose, and most of the candidates for State office will be in attendance according to Beasley. ,Soifyou can't find anything else to do, be in Fayetteville on that night. * * ? The rain that fell Sunday was needed and was welcomed by all in the county. The fall weather suits me and I hope is to your liking. The Hoke High Bucks return to the local field this Friday to meet the strong Richmond County High. The team moved the ball last week against Sanford but lacked the little extra to get over the goal line. Maybe with another week of prac tice things will be different. So be sure to go out to the stadium Friday night and be a Hoke High Booster. Judge Maurice Braswell of Fay etteville was by the office last ^Thursday. He is the resident judge for Hoke and Cumberland counties and was taking care of some business at the courthouse. Come again Judge. It is always good to talk with you. SPIRITED Whoever said little girls were just sugar and spice? This group of pre teens taking the cheerleading lessons sponsored by the parks and recreation commission demonstrated their spirit loudly. Bond Vote Passes City voters narrowly approved the S200.000 bond issue for a new fire station Tuesday in an election marked by low turnout. The final tally among the three precincts showed 140 'yes' and 114 opposed. One precinct, number four voted against it 17 to 10. In precinct number one, it was 56 'yes'. 42 opposed. In precinct number two, 74 voted 'yes'. 55 'no*. The 254 total votes cast rep resented about 20 per cent of the eligible voters, making Tuesday's' balloting one of the lowest turnouts in recent years. With passage of the referendum, a three-bay. one story brick fire station will be constructed on a city - owned tract on E. Prospect St. Construction should be started within bOdays and be completed by January or February of 1977, city manager Robert Drum* right said. Drumwright estimated that the bonds may be sold for 5.5 to b per cent interest over u 20 year period, making the city's annual bond payments in the SI 4.000 - Sib. 000 range. "I'm pleased it passed, but 1 am rather disappointed to find that 1 14 people were against it". Drum wright said Wednesday. Opposition to the measure largely centered on any tax in creases necessary to pay off the bonds, according to some voters commenting Tuesday. The city's tax rate is now S.55 per $100 of valuation, and Drumwright esti mated earlier an increase of one cent or two cents will be needed to pay the bond debt. Raeford volunteer firemen were jubilant after the vote Tuesday. The 50 year - old firestation on Main St.. overcrowded with equipment for some time, had been termed a "firetrap" by the League of Municipalities earlier this year. Ex-troopers Cleared Of Rape Two former state troopers were cleared of rape, kidnaping and crime against nature charges here Thursday when Judge Joseph E. Dupree ruled no probable cause following a day - long District Court hearing. The two, Jimmy D. Thigpen of Raeford and Wiley W. Snow of Raleigh, were tearfully embraced by family and friends in an emotional scene while leaving the courtroom. Both men had resigned from the patrol following their arrests last month. Dist. Atty. E.W. Grannis Jr., who may still bring indictments before the grand jury on the charges, had no comment. "If it was a crime to use poor judgment, and they were charged with it, I'd give the maximum sentence. But it is not a crime", Dupree said before ruling on the defense motion to dismiss all charges after the close of the state's presentation. The state's principal witness. Mrs. Bobby Roxianne Magee, 19, testified she and her husband. Leo W. Magee, 32, had gone to a party in Fayetteville and had been drinking beer on the evening of Aug. 18, and after quarreling, she Local Men Bound Over Five county men. including an assistant elementary school prin cipal, were ordered bound over to the Robeson County Superior Court for action by the grand jury in connection with the theft of S35.000 worth of tobacco following a three and one half hour - long District Court hearing in Lumber ton Thursday. Wendell Ronnie Branch, who was suspended from his job at Scurlock School Sept. 7, along with Leano Locklear. another public school employee, and Glenn Currie Gibson of Rockfish, James Thomas Jones of Rt. 1. Shannon and James Walter Watson of Raeford were bound over on charges of con spiracy to commit larceny and ordered to stand trial Oct. 11. Two others, Kenneth W. Jacob son of Cumberland and William S. Drakeford of Marshville, will also face action by the grand jury. Drakeford remained in jail last week in lieu of bond. State Bureau of Investigation agents, who conducted the probe which resulted in the first six arrests last month, testified that defendant Locklear gave them a statement in which Locklear said Branch offered him SI 00 to "help unload some tobacco". According to the SBI. the tractor trailer rig loaded with tobacco was stolen from a St. Pauls truck stop Aug. 19. The truck was later recovered near Raeford. struck him in the jaw with her fist and left the party. She said she began walking down Bragg Blvd. and accepted a ride with an unidentified man who told her he would take her to her home at the Old Trail Mobile Home Park. Mrs. Magee. who testified she was barefoot and wearing slacks and a long sleeved blouse, said the driver offered her $25 or $50 for two specific sex acts and that she refused. She testified that the car was stopped at the Big Star Truck Stop on U.S. 401 less than one half mile from her home and that she and the driver were questioned by Snow and Thigpen who were in uniform and riding in a patrol car. After purchasing cigarettes in the truck stop, she said she had nearly reached her trailer when the troopers' car came down the road and they offered to give her a ride the rest of the way. J Mrs. Magee said she got in and told the troopers she had to use the bathroom and she said they told her to come back out when she was through. She testified that when she returned to the car, she was told to "get in". Mrs. Magee said almost im mediately after she got in the back seat of the car, Thigpen drove off. with Snow on the passenger side of the front seat and after about 10 to 15 minutes. Snow climbed into the back seat, undid his pants, and requested oral sex. which she performed, while undressing her. Thigpen later parked the car, got out and joined her and Snow in the back seat and Snow pushed her head down and she performed oral sex with Thigpen. she testified. Thigpen then lifted her by the arms and she had intercourse with Thigpen, she testified. Mrs. Magee said the troopers then drove her back to within a few yards of her home and she attempted to take a billy club in the back seat with her as she got out, but that one of them saw her. She testified that she saw her husband's van parked at the trailer and when she went inside, she told her husband that she had just been raped by two state patrolmen and he telephoned the sheriffs de partment. On cross examination, Mrs. Magee. married three times, testi fied that she didn't resist either of the men, or ask to be let out of the car, because she "didn't know how much authority they have". She also said that she did not want to press charges and told Sheriff D.M. Barrington later in his office while making a statement that she did not wish to press charges. Raeford physician R.G. Town send testified that he examined Mrs. Magee at 8:15 A.M. on Aug. 19 and the results of his exami nation showed sperm present. Barrington read aloud to the court the statement he took from Mrs. Magee at 5:55 A.M. on Aug. 19. some of which contradicted her testimony. Defense lawyers, who did not put on any witnesses, attacked Mrs. Magee's credibility after she ad mitted under cross - examination that she had participated in "swapping" - group sex - with her husband on more than five occasions, and that their van had a bumper sticker which read "Sex Maniac At The Wheel". The last disclosure brought laughter from the audience and Magee, a disabled veteran, shouted at a lawyer until Dupree warned him against any outbursts. After the verdict was given. Mrs. Magee, who had her two small children with her. sobbed quietly on her husband's shoulder until the courtroom cleared. Elections Head Quits Harold Brock has resigned from the county board of elections effective Oct. 1. citing business reasons. Brock, chairman of the three ? member board and one of two Republicans, is expected to be replaced by Clyde F. Knox, retired serviceman and currently registrar for Raeford precinct number two. J.H. (Buddy) Blue Jr.. spokes man for the county Republicans, said state GOP officials would submit Knox'yitame to the State Board of Elections this week for final approval. Brock, who has held the S600 a - year post for the past two years, is associated with House of Raeford Farms Inc. and other interests. Oil Spill Mistake' The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Atlanta late Tuesday sent an investigator to Raeford to help clean up an oil spill into Rockfish Creek which was discovered after 10.000 gallons of fuel oil were dumped down the "wrong hole" by mistake at the new Hoke County Library building. The oil was discovered Monday afternoon at the city sewage treatment plant, although city officials at first did not think it was an unusual amount, city manager Robert Drumwright said. By Tues day, it "was all over", coming out of the floatators, and that is when officials began checking and dis covered the goof at the library. Drumwright said Raeford Oil Co. had delivered 10.000 gallons of fuel oil to the library and he estimated Wednesday morning that about 1 .500 gallons had reached the creek. "We have pumped most of it off. Straw barriers were put up at two points - one on Alfred Leach's property and a second one down Lt. Gov. Jim Hunt, Demo cratic nominee for governor, slated an appearance in Rae ford Wednesday at the civic center. Democratic party headquar ters announced that Hunt would arrive at the civic center about 2 P.M. The visit was planned to last about an hour and one half. below towards Davis Bridge". Drumwright said. Raeford Oil has been very cooperative, very apologetic, about it. They have loaned the city one of their tankers and we worked until 10:30 last night down there', he said. EPA. which, by law. must be routinely notified of any such spills, sent an investigator. Allen Bartlett. who planned to view the creek Wednesday to check on danger to wildlife. Although the EPA can recom mend heavy fines and penalties under federal environmental laws. Drumwright said Bartlett indicated this was purely a mistake and not intentional. The oil which is pumped out of the creek will be incinerated. Drumwright said. Chutist Injured Gene Thacker, owner of Raeford Aviation, was injured Saturday in a parachuting accident at the Rae ford Airport and is hospitalized at Womack Army Hospital at Ft. Bragg. Thacker reportedly experienced a malfunction and his reserve chute became entangled. A spokesman at Raeford Aviation declined any comment on details of the accident. Thacker. who offers parachuting instruction at his school, is associ ated with the United States Para chute Team. UF Calls Chairmen Danny DeVane and Bertha Hen drix were named co-chairmen of the 1976 United Fund campaign last week during the UF board of directors meeting, UF president Ashwell Harward announced. This year's goal is $22,811.55, nearly SI, 000 over last year's goal. The official campaign is scheduled to get underway Oct. 18. Eighteen organizations will benefit from UF contributions and most of the local ones will share in the increased funds this year. Each agency's share in the proposed budget is: Girl Scouts. $5,100; Boy Scouts, $5,500; Red Cross. $4,605; White Cane, $750; 4-H clubs. $1,095; Hoke County Rescue Squad, $1 ,500; Senior Citi zens, $200; and Hoke County Developmentally Disabled Assoc., $2,000. The balance of the budget. $2,061. is earmarked for Carolina United, the arm for all national agencies supported by UF. They are: Children's Home Society of N.C., Florence Crittenton Services of N.C., N.C. Mental Health Assoc.. N.C. United Community Services. Research Fund of N.C. United. United Health Services of N.C.. American Social Health Assoc.. Traveler's Aid. USO, and National Association of Hearing and Spcech. Committee chairmen for the canvassing divisions are expected to be named next week. Cyclist Charged The operator of a motorcycle which collided with a truck here in a Labor Day accident which killed one man has been charged bv the Highway Patrol with death by vehicle, a misdemeanor. Lorenza Stanfield. 25. of D Troop. First Battalion. 17th Cavalry, is scheduled for a District Goal Ten Million Court appcarance Nov. 5. He remains hospitalized with multiple injuries sustained in the accident. John Anthony Howard. 20, was a passenger on the motorcycle and was killed shortly after the collision with a delivery truck south of Raeford Sept. b. Jaycees Launch 'Penny' Campaign On Sept. 29 the Raeford Jaycees. in conjunction with the "North Carolina Jaycees under the Easter Seals Society, kicked off the statewide 10,000.000 Pennv Cam paign. Ten million pennies, or $100, 000. is needed by the Easter Seals Society to build a special swimming facility at their new camp for handicapped children and adults in North Carolina. Camp Sertoma. Monday Last Day To Register To Vote The deadline to register to vote in the presidential election Nov. 2 is Monday. Oct. 4 and the Hoke County Young Democrats Club (YDC) announced a last minute campaign to round up all eligible voters who are not presently regis tered. To be eligible to register, you must be at least 18 years old on or before Nov. 2 and have resided in Hoke County for 30 days or more. For those who are registered but have moved since voting last, it is advisable to check with the board of elections office to be sure registration is in the correct pre cinct. You must vote in the precinct where you live. Prospective voters who have not registered yet are requested to come to the board of elections office in person. If this is not possible, they may be able to register through their precinct registrar if they are certain of their precinct, executive secretary Rose Sturgeon said. The precincts, their registrars and their home addresses are: Allendale (Dorothy Farrow, Rt. 3, Box 1%-A, Red Springs) Antioch (Betty Lou Rogers. Rt. 4. Box 28 3. Red Springs) Blue Springs (Evon Oxendine. Rt. 1, Box 626, Red Springs) Buchan (Elease Strother. Rt. 1. Box 303, Aberdeen) McCain (James R. Nixon. Rt. I, Box 175, Aberdeen) Puppy Creek (Louise Plummer. Rt. 4, Box 277. Raeford) Rockfish (B.B. Bostic. Rt. 2 Raeford) Stonewall (Ethel Hayes! Rt. 1. Box 227- A, Lumber Bridge). In Raeford and the immediate area: Number one iR.A. Norris, 828 E. Prospect Ave.) Two (Clyde F. Knox, 309 W. Edinborough Ave.) Three (Mary F. Conoly, Rt. 4, Box 105. Raeford) Four (Leo nard Frahm. 709 Harris Ave.) Five (Pinkston Simmons. 401 -bypass). The board of elections office is located in the county office build ing (south entrance) on Magnolia St. and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Tele phone number is 875-4526. The camp, opened for the first time in June. 1976, served over 200 handicapped children and adults from all over the state. Camp Sertoma will continue to operate during the fall and winter months, providing recreational opportuni ties and counseling for handi capped individuals as well as their families. The camp is in dire need of a swimming facility, for it is through swimming that many of these handicapped individuals discover a new sense of mobility and freedom. The Raeford Jaycees have set a goal of S500, or 50,000 pennies. Collection points will be in several local businesses and local residents are urged to bring out their pennies and give to this project. Anything goes during the drive - nickels, dimes, quarters - any amount, said Bob Manual, local chairman. The campaign will end Oct. 29.