* The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXVIll NUMBER 48 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY. MARCH 31. 1977
Around
Town
BY SAM C MORRIS
The weather seems to have
adjusted to the season and it was
warm for the past weekend. If we
can get by the Easter holidays
without a cold snap, maybe we can
look forward to summer.
It is raining as this is being
written early Tuesday morning but
the temperature is going up and it
should be in the 70's during the
day.
? ? *
Well, things car get back to
normal with the basketball tourna
, ment over and the Tar Heel teams
coming in two and four in the
tournament. The games Monday
didn't go down to the last shot like
the others, so it didn't take as long
to wind down as the previous
games.
Now you can get ready for your
routine show or see reruns for the
next few weeks until baseball rolls
around.
I did see one sign on the TV
screen that said, "we will be back."
I wonder when this sign was
printed?
? * *
The "Lundy Fund" has certainly
been a success and it shows that the
Hoke County people have a heart.
It also shows that the folks that
were raised here and moved away
are still like 'Brer Rabbit'. They are
still from Hoke County.
This letter proves the point:
Dear Sam:
Just a small contribution to the
"Lundy Fund" and with lots of love
and appreciation. Yes, they are
> very much a part of the Raeford I
know and remember with much
gratitude. On my last visit to
Raeford, after I spoke with you, I
stopped in and had such a warm
? visit with Mrs. Lundy. What a
great couple, and what a tremen
dous expression of appreciation
from the Town of Raeford. I'm
really proud to be a "Raefordite"
? you can ask anyone in Spring
field, Pa.!
Sincerely,
Mary Shaw
(McDiarmid) Montague
(you don't have to print this ? just
wanted to be a part of a wonderful
tribute.) Give my love to Ann
Webb!!
Thanks Mary Shaw, the check
has been turned over to the proper
authorities. Letters like yours bring
back many memories of high school
days. Stop in to see me the next
time you are in town.
? * ?
The "Get Up and Go" poem
does have more verses than were in
this column last week. The first to
come in was Mrs. Rachael Stevens
with a copy of the poem. She said
that her aunt had it and she
remembered it when she read it in
the paper last week, so she dug
down in her aunt's belongings and
came forth with it.
Next came Betty Smith and she
had found a copy in her grand
mother's things that had been
stored.
Then the following letter was
received:
Dear Sam:
Part of the poem you had in your
column last week sounded familiar
and it sent me browsing thru my
poetry file and sure enough, there it
was! The wording is a little
different but I'll copy it for you as it
is on my clipping.
Incidentally, it is from the News
and Observer. Raleigh. N.C.. Sun
day Morning. July 15. 1962 in a
column titled "Chatter."
Thanks for our paper each week;
it helps keep in touch with friends
and families, happenings, plus the
rogress of a place where many
appy memories were shared. We
are so happy for the Lundy's, which
is typical of Raeford's concern.
In looking thru my poetry clip
pings I also came across this
"goodie."
"The measure of a man is the
size of the thing it takes to get his
goat!" -James Scheneider
As ever.
Barbara Hiser
Thanks Barbara and from the
three copies received, the poem
below seems to bring an end to
"Get Up and Go."
How do I know that my youth is all
spent? ?
Well, my "Get up and Go' has got
up and went.
(See AROUND TOWN. Page 14)
shoe"
HONORED CITIZENS ?? Mayor John K. McNeill Jr. congratulates Allen
Lundy and his wife Wimzy after signing the proclamation declaring next
Sunday to he Lundy Sunday ' in Raeford. | Photo by S.H. A plin |
'Lundy Sunday'
Sunday, April 3 has been proclaimed Lundy Sunday in honor of
Wimzy and Allen Lundy and the big event will be the presentation of
the tickets for their dream vacation at 3 p.m. at the civic center.
The fund drive has now gone over $2,500 and contributions
continue to come in.
Mayor John K. McNeill Jr. signed the official proclamation of
Lundy Sunday, which says "The couple has operated Lundy's Shoe
Repair Shop in the city of Raeford since 1929 and continues to serve
our community. We in the city have continually benefitted from their
loyalty and service."
Leonard Miller, one of the organizers of the fund drive, said he
was delighted the goal had been reached so far ahead of the trip
(April 25) and said the extra money would go toward a car for the
couple.
"We feel it would be appropriate to help the Lundys fulfill another
long-standing dream, to replace their 12 year-old car. So
contributions will still be actively solicited and used as a down
payment on a newer car," he said.
The special open house at the civic center to celebrate the couple's
50th wedding anniversary is open to everyone.
Fire Station Bids
Fall Under $200,000
Bids were opened last Thursday
on the city's planned new fire
station and officials were pleased to
find that the total figures are well
below the $200,000 originally esti
mated.
DWC Contractors, Inc. of Fay
etteville submitted the low bid on
the general construction contract.
$149,439,
Raeford Plumbing and Heating
was low bidder on both the
plumbing and heating and air
conditioning contracts. Its bids for
plumbing was $11,150 and $8,300
for heating and air.
Townsend Electrical Service of
Lumberton turned in the low bid on
the electrical work with 514,700.
The total of the four low bids
amounts to $183,589.
The city council is expected to
award contracts when it meets
Monday night at the regular
monthly meeting.
Raeford voters approved a
$200,000 bond issue last fall to
finance the new construction. The
new facility will be built on E.
Prospect Ave.
HUD Application
Slashed By Half
Officials here were notified
Monday that the Department of
Housing and Urban Develop
ment has cut by half the
county's application for com
munity development funds --
scrapping three of the four
projects -- and will accept a final
application for $235,000 for
housing rehabilitation instead.
Announcement of the deci
sion was made by Rep. Charlie
Rose in Washington. A spokes
man in Rose's office said the
HUD action means the county
has an excellent chance of
receiving a final award for the
$235,000.
HUD has tentatively ap
proved the housing rehabilita
tion project for two low-income
neighborhoods, North Raeford
and Tylertown. The county may
now submit a final application
for $150,000 for North Raeford
and $85,000 for Tylertown.
The county had requested a
full $250,000 for the two neigh
borhoods.
The $85,000 figure for Tyler
town includes $10,000 for the
repair of the community house
in that township.
The other three projects
sought that were rejected in the
HUD review were a neighbor
hood community center for
Rockfish, extension of city sew
er lines to Shawtown and repair
of all seven county-owned com
munity buildings. A total of
$220,000 was asked, for these
projects.
Although officials were dis
appointed that all four pro
grams would not be funded,
they were pleased to learn that
the housing rehabilitation plans
have cleared the first hurdle.
Rehabilitation of sub-standard
dwellings is rated highest in the
point system used by HUD in
the determination of awards.
The county received 5464,000
in community development
funds last year which included
$90,000 for housing rehabilita
tion. Target areas for those
funds are Jones Hill, Cameron
Heights and Cockman Hill, all
predominantly black neighbor
hoods north of the city limits.
Twenty-eight homes have al
ready been selected to receive
the aid and actual work in those
areas is expected to start some
time next month.
City-County Merger Proposal
To Be Eyed InCofC Study
A feasibility study to examine a
merger of the city and county
governments received the unani
mous endorsement of county
commissioners during their meet
ing Monday.
The proposal was made by Gib
Bernhardt, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, who
emphasized that he was not
endorsing the merger idea itself,
only the study. He told com
missioners that the Chamber
leadership had explored the plan
with St. Andrews Presbyterian
College, whose political science
students would prepare the report.
Bernhardt said the students
would do the study at no cost to the
county and the Chamber would pay
for any incidental expenses.
"Some of the residents have
asked that this study be made." the
Chamber president said. "We
would like your endorsement".
"1 think this is good. 1 just hope
the public doesn't misunderstand."
board chairman John Balfour said.
"We are not endorsing the idea of
merging."
Bernhardt requested that one
commissioner be designated to
work with the students, but the
board agreed that county manager
T.B. Lester should do that.
In other Chamber business, the
board unanimously authorized
payment of SI. 922 as the county's
share of the cost of the new tourist's
brochure after Chamber manager
Dayna Pate explained that some
changes were made which made it
more expensive. The full cost of the
5.000 copies was $3,845. The
county and the city governments
agreed to pay half.
Beer Legislation
Commissioners agreed to seek
the support of the state ABC
(Board of Alcohol Control) in the
continued attempt to ban Sunday
sale of beer from restaurants here.
Hostetler told the board that he
had received an opinion from the
Attorney General's office that a
local measure enacted by the
General Assembly would be un
constitutional. He suggested that
the local delegation could introduce
an amendment to the state - wide
act. which would accomplish the
same thing if it is passed.
He also advised that the county
obtain the support of the state ABC
first.
The beer question, which has
been a controversey for nearly a
year, centers on the several
restaurants in the county may
legally sell beer on Sundays under
their brown - bagging permits,
although the county has a general
ordinance against Sunday sales.
The restaurants are selling the beer
tor off - premise consumption since
Hoke County does not allow on -
premise sales.
Commissioners directed Hostet
(Sec COMMISSIONERS, Page 14)
Foster Home Need
Critical In County
Some are just babies, while
others are teenagers. Some have
been raped, beaten, starved,
and neglected by their own
parents. Many are perfectly
healthy, while others are handi
capped. either physically or
mentally. Not all have these
problems. Some need a tempo
rary home because their parents
have become incapacitated for a
while because of health or other
reasons. Others have become
delinquent or unmanageable by
their own parents. A few have
been released for adoption and
are awaiting adoptive parents,
awaiting adoptive parents.
Who are these children? They
are the same 6,000 troubled
youngsters who are dependent
on county Social Services De
partments monthly across the
state to provide them with a
temporary home and a better
way of life.
In turn, the County De
partments of Social Services are
Dog Day Afternoon
Sets Off Growling
By Marty Vega
Sherry the dog is only one foot
tall but the pint - sized pooch has
brought on a king - sized headache
since he disappeared and was
found after his owners advertised a
reward through a radio station and
the newspaper.
The four year - old Mel- Mar
Bichon. which is owned by Mr. and
Mrs. Alexander Peterkin, wan
dered away from her E. Sixth Ave.
home March 20 and was found
near the cemetery later that day by
twelve year - old Mary Beth Wilkes
who brought the dog to her E.
Donaldsson Ave. home.
Peterkin notified the police and
had Radio Station WSHB broad
cast announcements that there was
a reward offered for the dog. Mrs.
Wilkes said a friend told her about
the radio announcement and the
following day she contacted
Peterkin and he came to fetch the
eterkin. who was thrilled to see
his pet. gave Mary Beth Wilkes $7
and thanked her and took Sherry
home.
But there wasn't a happy ending
to this. There hasn't been an
ending since Mrs. Wilkes saw an
advertisement published in The
News-Journaf last week offering a
$200 reward, not S7, for Sherry.
"My daughter wanted to keep
the dog. she begged me to let her
keep it. but I am trying to teach her
right from wrong -- that you can't
keep something that doesn't belong
to you. The dog was hurt, he was
bleeding and I told her we'd keep it
with us until we found the owners.
For a full ? grown man to take
advantage of a little child! When
the man came and got the dog he
said 'how much do 1 owe you' and I
told him just whatever you were
going to give. So he gave her S7. I
didn't know at that time about the
amount of the reward." she said.
The advertisement which ran in
the newspaper on Thursday was
placed the previous Monday by
Peterkin and his nephew. James
Peterkin. a deputy sheriff, who put
his telephone number in the ad
since his uncle would be away at
work all day.
Mrs. Wilkes said she feels her
daughter is entitled to the S200,
even though the dog was returned
before the newspaper ad was
published, but the Peterkins
disagree.
"I don't have to pay her
anything. The radio station didn't
tell what the reward was and I got
the don back Monday, two days
before the paper came out. She Was
satisfied with the $7," Mrs.
Peterkin said.
Mrs. Peterkin said she never
contacted the newspaper to have
the ad cancelled because she was at
work and the office was closed
when she finished working.
"If she had had the dog when the
paper came out I'd have given her
the money with a smile. This is a
very valuable dog. my husband and
1 got her up in New York and you
won't find another one like it in
North Carolina. But I'm not giving
her a dime and I'll go to court if I
have to. My lawyer said I wasn't
liable and if she don't quit
aggravating me. I'll sue her for
aggravating." Mrs. Peterkin said.
Mrs. Wilkes said that she was
willing to settle the matter for SI 00
and that Peterkin agreed, but that
his wife refused.
"If it costs me S200 to take it to
court I'll do it. It's the principle of
the thing." Mrs. Wilkes said.
dependent on people who are
concerned enough about the
plight of these youngsters to
take them into their own homes
temporarily to provide them
with the loving care they so
desperately need. Some will
need this care for just a short
time while others will need it
until they become adults.
The people who provide this
care are called foster parents
and most County Social Services
Departments are having dif
ficulty in finding enough foster
homes to place these children.
Currently, there are approxi
mately 2,800 licensed foster
homes across the state. Ben
Niblock, director of social
services for Hoke County, said
that there are currently 10
licensed foster homes in the
county caring for 17 children.
According to Niblock. "the
situation in Hoke County is
critical. Our homes are full, and
if we must place children in
unlicensed facilities, there is an
increased financial burden
levied upon the county. The tri -
racial make - up of Hoke
County makes it extremely
important that the different
races be represented. We are
desperately lacking in white and
Indian homes at this time", he
stated.
"People become foster par
ents because they have a sincere
desire to help these troubled
children", Niblock continued.
Foster parents are paid J 100
per month to reimburse them
for the cost of each child's care.
In addition, if they are eligible,
each child receives Medicaid
labels each month.
Niblock said persons inter
ested in becoming foster parents
and sharing their family life
with these youngsters are urged
to contact the Services Unit of
the Hoke County Department of
Social Services in person or by
calling 875-3772.