| Kathy McMillan Is Top Athlete Again
Kathy McMillan
Kathy McMillan has been named the top female athlete in North
Carolina for the second straight year and is the 1976 winner of the
Lewis E. Teague Award.
Miss McMillan, the silver medal winner at the Summer Olympics
for the long jump, was chosen by acclamation bv the award selection
committee composed of the American Athletic Union (AAU)
officers, member clubs and the news media.
The 18 year-old college freshman is the first American women to
jump over 22 feet. She broke the American outdoor record in long
jump (22 feet, three inches) and tied the American indoor record (21
feet. 4V* inches) to be named the 1976 National AAU Senior Women
Champion in long jump.
In her last year as a high school track star, she was state champion
in the 100 yard dash. 220 yard dash, the long jump and ran on the
champion 880 relay team.
Selected as the outstanding high school female track participant
by Track &c Field News, she was the winner of the long jump at the
Mason-Dixon Games in Louisville. Ky. At the Volunteer Track
Classic held in Nashville. Tenn.. she scored enough points
individually to place second in team points and was named the
outstanding track participant and field participant.
She is currently ranked seventh on the All-Time World List in
women's long jump.
Her greatest triumph and the realization of a personal dream was
her Olympic performance in Montreal. She jumped 21 feet. 10%
inches to become the first American woman to capture a medal in
the event since 1956 when Willie White won the silver.
Miss McMillan will be honored at the annual Teague and AAU
Awards banquet Feb. 26 in Raleigh, along with the male winner, yet
to be announced.
The Hoke County News - Established 1928
? VOLUME LXVI1I NUMBER 40 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
i ?
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 3, 1977
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
I he main topic of conversation
this week is the weather The
newspapers, radios and televisions
are all Filled with news of weather
conditions in this country. This is
also the case here in Hoke County.
Instead of getting better it seems to
get worse each day.
The long range forecast is for
many more days of cold weather.
This is leading to many problems
and it is something that no one can
come up with a solution.
Elsewhere in the paper is an
article about the situation in this
county. Be sure to read it and then
take a few minutes to think of how
serious this situation could become.
, We don't have the sleet and snow
that the shortage of gas and fuel oil
could work a hardship on everyone.
The best way to whip this
problem, as far as we are concerned
* here in Hoke County is consene
fuel. This will mean lowering the
thermostats, but this will be better
than no heat at all and from all
reports it could come to this.
It this happens then we will be
concerned with the people that are
without fuel. Other counties in the
state have been faced with the
problem for many days and are
aiding the ones that are less
fortunate than others. So be
thinking about what you could do
to help, if this emergency should
arrive.
This would have to be a
community effort but if one life is
saved it would be well worth what
little it would cost each of us.
Let s hope it will not reach this,
hut if it should, be ready to share
your load.
? * *
The following note was in a
subscription envelope received this
week:
"Please change my address. Also
I rtidn t receive a paper for the week
of the 13th would you mail me one.
My regards to everyone in Raeford.
... we m|ss it terribly. Noticed in the
paper you've had your cold
weather. That's good compared to
here - we've had as low as 9 degrees
below and wind factor of 35 degrees
below. The snow has been on the
ground for over a month. If some
one doesn't like Raeford they
should try one of these midwestern
towns in the winter and thev would
be glad to be back there. Hi' to Ann
Webb. Evelyn Manning."
Evelyn is in Carthage. Mo., so
maybe we don't have it so bad.
* * *
The article in last week's paper
about the new doctor should be
welcomed by all the people of Hoke
County. If you haven't been to the
doctor's office recently, then you
don t know how long you must wait
before seeing the doctor.
We also think that a word of
congratulations should be given to
the committee that has worked so
hard to bring this doctor to Hoke
County. This group works for free
and have taken time away from
their work to make this project a
? success.
This committee is composed of
Frank Baker, chairman, Wyatt
Upchurch. vice chairman. Warren
\ B?kby Gibson and Emma
' Mims. So if you run into any of
these people, tell them that you
appreciate the work they have done
and this I believe will be part
payment for their time.
The writer of the column says
welcome to Dr. Zota and thanks for
(See AROUND TOWN, Page II)
MAN OF THE YEAR ?? Sam C. Morris is congratulated hy Kiwanis
President Julian King after he received his Man of the Year award front
Harold Gillis Thursday night. He is the 28th person to receive the annual
citizenship award.
Sam Morris Named
Man Of The Year
Newspaperman Sam C. Morris
was named Man of the Year for
citizenship by the Raeford Kiwanis
Club during its annual Ladies
Night banquet Thursday night.
Morris, general manager of The
News-Journal and a city council
member since 1973. is the 28th
person to receive the award started
by the Kiwanians in 1949. The
award is to recognize an individual
who has made a significant contri
bution over a period of years.
"1 don't know of anyone who is
more willing and more dedicated to
serve this fine place in which we
live." Harold Gillis said in present
ing the cup.
Gillis praised Morris for his
military service, both his years on
active duty during World War II
and his help in co-founding the
Raeford National Guard unit after
the war; his contribution to getting
the United Fund organization
going in its early days: his
contribution to the business com
munity as a director of the Raeford
Savings and Loan Association for
14 years (now vice-president) and a
director and past president of the
Chamber of Commerce; his service
on the Selective Service Board; his
record as leader of the Hoke
County Democratic Party for many
years; and his many years of service
to his church as a deacon.
"He serves as a member of our
city council which we all know is
not an easy task? He has a difficult
job of being a newspaperman,
being responsible for the news that
appears each week." Gillis said.
Morris was born in Raeford in
1918 and was graduated from old
Raeford High School in 1935. He is
married to the former Mary Alice
Pernell, a schoolteacher, and they
have two children, Sarah and John.
Duncan McFadyen received the
Program of the Year award for
presenting Col. Shrump who spoke
on P.O.W.'s.
1 he awards banquet also honor
ed many Kiwanians with perfect
attendance records.
Those receiving the two year
certificates were Gene Carter, Dale
Teal and Julian King; three year.
Vardell Hedgpeth, Clarence Kin
law and Younger Snead Jr.; four
year, William Niven and William
Poole; five year, Ernest Sutton; six
year. Bill Lancaster; ten year, Jim
Attaway, Joe Jenkins and Neill
McDonald; eleven year, Frank
Crumpler and Bill Moses; thirteen
year, Avery Connell and Benny
McLeod; and fourteen year. Harold
Gillis.
Three Kiwanians received cer
tificates for the longest records of
perfect attendance: Jake Austin. 23
years; Julius Jordan. 24 years; and
Marion Gatlin. 33 years.
Propane Shortage
I Threatening Area
Propane supplies may be coming to a crucial
point in Hoke County, according to Raeford Oil
Co. spokesman Randall Ashburn.
'"The propane allocation for February is going
to be about half of what we'll need," Ashburn
said. "We must urge all our customers to
conserve on their propane or we may just be out
of luck."
Propane is federally controlled and allotments
for this year are based on the period of April 1972
through March 1973. No allowances were made
for the new homes and trailers constructed to
heat with propane gas since that date, nor were
allowances made for the unusually cold weather.
"I believe most people are conserving fuel by
turning down thermostats," Ashburn said, "but
they are still using more fuel since it is colder this
year."
Ashburn noted that his supplies of kerosene
and fuel oil are in good shape, but in all instances
conservation must be observed.
"We have applied through State Energy for
more gas. The state requires that three per cent
of all the suppliers' fuel be set aside for use by
industries or whoever needs it the most. During
January, Exxon's set-aside supplies were
exhausted. We did get 28,000 extra gallons on
the Federal Energy Office Action application for
exceptional hardship assistance. But, we were
refused 9,000 extra gallons requested on the
same type of application from Suburban Propane
of New Jersey," he said.
Ashburn stated that Raeford Oil did meet the
demand for the month of January. "However,"
he said, "we're out of propane. We ended the
month with only a few gallons on a truck."
"We want to help the customers get through
this next month." he added, "But. we need their
help."
The supply of propane will arrive on a weekly
basis and be rationed out. No one will be able to
order a full tank. "For example," Ashburn said,
"last Saturday we delivered 50 gallons to each
customer and today, after a new delivery has
arrived, we are pumping 100 gallons per
customer."
Ashburn estimated the shortage will effect one
third of his fuel customers. Between 600 and 700
of his customers in Hoke County use propane for
cooking, and between 10 and 15 businesses
depend on it for heat. A propane shortage may
also be detrimental to the turkey and chicken
houses which must maintain a steady warmth for
young birds.
Schools Hit Hard
Manufactured from crude oil. propane also
provides fuel for many kitchens in Hoke County
schools. According to School Supt. G. Raz
Autry, Hoke schools will begin serving sandwich
- type lunches three times a week to conserve on
fuel and cut back on bills. Autry noted that the
schools will also cut all thermostats back to 65
degrees, and they plan to rotate classes from a
portable horticulture building heated by propane
into other rooms in the main buildings. Parents
are asked to dress their children more warmly
and will be asked to attend the teacher - parent
conference day appointments in certain confined
areas like the library or lunchroom. The areas
will be announced later for the conferences to be
held Monday from noon to 7 p.m. One dressing
room at the high school heated by propane will
be left without heat.
Autry also said that the school has asked for
help from Raleigh to repair faulty thermostats,
make hot water heaters more efficient, and to
equalize heating in all buildings.
Late Tuesday, Autry also announced that he is
suspending all nighttime activities at all of the
schools, including athletic events, to conserve
heating fuel. The Tuesday night basketball game
was the last until further notice.
Also affected by the action are Sandhills
Community College night courses which meet at
the high school and in other schools.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will
still be allowed to use the gymnasiums but no
heat will be furnished.
Eloise Teal of Teal Oil Co. in Raeford
indicated that they had sufficient fuel oil.
kerosene and gasoline to meet the need of their
customers for the coming month and did not
anticipate any hardships. She did note that the
increased production of heating fuels might
result in a gasoline shortage next summer.
Joe B. Clark. Jr.. general manager of Peoples
Oil Co., in Lumber Bridge, also a supplier of
propane in Hoke County, said. "We don't have
an oversupply of propane. We are able to meet
the needs of our customers. We feel like we'll be
able to keep them supplied. However, we can't
take on any additional customers until the crisis
is over. We highly recommend that everyone try
to conserve the fuel." Clark also noted that all
heating supplies could run out "easily."
Fuel Fund
Because of the weeks of bitter weather many
low - income families here can barely afford the
cost of fuel and some are in danger of going
without any home heat.
Civil Preparedness Coordinator William T.
Niven announced Tuesday that an emergency
fuel fund has been set up and will be coordinated
by the Department of Social Services.
Local fuel supplies in Raeford have agreed to
(See SHORT AGH. Page 10)
Judge Blasts Jurors ,
Calling them "vigilantes". Su
perior Court Judge A. Pilston
Godwin Jr. berated eight men and
four women jurors last week after
they returned a verdict of not guilty
and ordered that their names be
permanently removed from jury
lists.
Judge Godwin, who presided
over the weeklong term of court
here, called the jury together
Thursday morning to voice his
disapproval after they returned the
not guilty verdict on Wednesday.
The jurors. Ester Barton of Rt.
1. Box 414. Red Springs, Irene V.
Butler of Rt. 2, Box 123, Raeford,
Britton Clark of Rt. 1, Box 616-E,
Red Springs. Henry Cooper of P.O.
Box 312. Wagram. David C. Davis
of Rt. 1. Box 141 -A. Lumber
Bridge. Glenn Dixon of Rt. 1, Box
528. Raeford. Shelby Calloway of
Rt. 3. Box 139, Raeford, William
T. Howell of 121 S. Wright St..
T.B. Lester Jr. of P.O. Box 267,
Nancy R. McCall of Box 640, Red
Springs. Rosa B. Purcell of Rt. 3.
Box 313, Raeford and Leroy G.
Murchison of Rt. 3. Box 228-A,
Raeford, decided the case of James
McCrimmon of Rt. 1. Raeford
who had been charged with mis
demeanor breaking and entering
and a second count of malicious
injury to real property.
McCrimmon, 18. was accused of
entering a home owned by Wayne
Byrd on March 5 and causing
S2.400 worth of damage. A state
ment made by McCrimmon to
authorities in which he admitted
the crimes was presented during his
trial.
"After they began deliberations
(on Wednesday) they sent a mes
sage through the sheriff that they
were convinced he was guilty of
both charges but they felt he was
'irresponsible'. They wanted to
Orders Names Off For Good
know if they could return a verdict
on a lesser charge. I instructed
them the only verdict they may
return is guilty or not guilty. They
came back very shortly and an
nounced their verdict was not
guilty," Judge Godwin said.
"The next morning, after the
other jury was out of the court
room, I told them their names were
to be removed from the list and
they were never to serve as jurors
again. They violated their oaths
and disobeyed the court. They
acted as vigilantes." Judge Godwin
said.
"A jury is not permitted sym
?>athy or prejudice, when you don't
ollow the law, injustice can always
be counted on. They had no
authority to consider punishment,
they are sworn to return fair and
impartial verdicts based upon the
evidence." he continued.
"This is very disturbing. A jury
that refuses to comply with its oath
and the law creates a situation that
is alarming. A jury that would do
this is just as likely to convict on
inadequate evidence." Judge God
win declared.
T.B. Lester, the jury foreman,
said Friday that the whole thing
was really a misunderstanding and
that the judge was incorrect in
believing that they had unanimous
ly agreed on McCrimmon's guilt.
"What I told the sheriff was, it
seemed to be the concensus that the
man was probably guilty. But we
hadn't taken a vote so it wasn't
official. I told the sheriff that it
seemed to me the man was proba
bly guilty and 1 was speaking for
myself only. It wasn't what I meant
for him to tell the judge," Lester
said.
"We were just discussing it, just
getting opinions and it got to the
point where we wanted to get an
*
opinion from the judge. What we
wanted to know was, could the
verdict be guilty with clemency?
The whole panel wanted to know, I
was against asking the judge
anything, but they insisted and 1
had no choice," he said.
Lester also denied that the jurors
willfully violated their oaths.
"We were searching to try and
not make an error. 1 think the
judge thought we were trying to
take his perogative away but no
body expressed such a thought.
Nobody had any intention of acting
as a vigilante. That part shocked
me more than the rest. 1 don't
think that crossed anybody's mind
at all." he said.
Lester said there was a question
of reasonable doubt when the
jurors got down to deciding the
case.
"It hinged on one thing as far as
(See JURORS, Page II)