Ihe Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXIX NUMBER 23 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1977
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
i
For the people that read this
1 column and live outside of North
f Carolina I will say to you that the
' weather is perfect in the old North
; State. Fall is here and with the cool
i nights and warm days everyone
seems to feel better and is going
around with a different look on
J their faces.
As one writer said this week,
October is a month all to itself.
* * *
From the reports out of the
Board of Election office Monday, it
appears that a race for City Council
knight develop after all. Four
people filed Monday for the five
seats but there are still three more
filing days left. The deadline for
filing is Monday, October 10th at
i.?noon.
So if you want for an exciting two
years of your life, go by the election
office and file. It could be an
experience you will never forget.
? ? *
Have you joined the Hoke
County Chapter of the North
Carolina Symphony? Don't forget
that the Little Symphony will be in
concert here on Tuesday, Novem
ber 1. From a partial listing on the
program it will not be what we call
"long - haired music" but will be
something that we will be able to
understand and enjoy.
Tickets or memberships can be
obtained from any of the chapter's
directors or to make it very simple
for anyone, just drop by The
News-Journal office and I will be
glad to fix you up.
The deadline has been set for the
^membership drive to end on
October 18th, so make plans now
to aid this worthy cause.
* * *
You know some weeks just don't
start off right and it seems that it
would be a joy to end the week on
Monday and start it all over again.
Last week was one of them. It was a
week of everything going wrong or
if anything happened it seemed as
if the cart was in front of the horse.
Anyway I was bemoaning and
griping at the beginning of the
week, but anyway I made it
through and after a couple of
things that happened to other
people that 1 was informed about,
maybe my week wasn't so bad.
One good friend of mine. 1 was
told by another friend, on a trip to
the western part of the United
States happened to get in the wrong
lane of traffic somewhere in Texas
and when he realized what had
happened he was in Mexico.
Now this wouldn't seem to cause
any problem, and my friend didn't
think so either, until he started
trying to get back to the United
States line. It seems that the people
in Mexico don't speak the same
language that the people do in the
United States or that is what my
* friend found out w hen he started
inquiring for directions back to
Interstate No. 10.
The Spanish course this man had
taken, either at PJC or Pembroke
'State didn't come back to him. like
the professors told him it would, a
number of years ago. Of course, he
had been told many times not to
I- panic in a situation like this. Did
he? 1 don't know, but anyway to
, make a long story short, a taxi
driver came along and my friend
finally crossed the border to safety.
Could someone please let me
know the Spanish words for
"wash" and "watch". My friend
would like to know if he ever
returns "South of the Border."
Now the problem of the other
friend was partly solved by this
writer when he wouldn't let Marty
Vega take a picture. This
gentleman now lives in Fayetteville
and made a special trip over to
Raeford last Friday to show me a
sign that was on his wife's car.
(Why he wouldn't put it on his car 1
9 couldn't find out.) The sign read as
follows: "The only Carolina is East
Carolina."
My friend wanted a picture made
?of the car and the sien. so it could
be run in this week s paper after
last Saturday's game in Columbia.
1 S.C. Now 1 helped him by not
I letting the picture be taken.
I because the caption under the
I picture this week would certainly be
I embarrassing to him after what he
I (See AROUND TOWN, Page 1 5)
\ 2 mmmamm
Lonnie Baldwin Vardell Hedgpeth
Four File To Run
For Council Seats
After a slow start, the city
election race got going this week
with the filing of two incumbents
and two newcomers on the political
scene.
Veteran Councilman Graham
Clark, 61, filed for re-election
Monday with the Board of Elec
tions, along with Councilman Bob
Gentry, 46, who is running for
election in his own right.
Clark is seeking a fifth term.
Gentry, appointed last year to
replace David Lovette, is running
for office for the first time.
Incumbents Sam C. Morris and
Crawford Thomas Jr. both an
nounced earlier they will not run
again.
Still to be heard from is Benny
McLeod. finishing out his fourth
term on the council.
Lonnie Baldwin, a taxi operator,
filed as a candidate also Monday,
becoming {he first black to run for
the council.
Baldwin, 25. is operator of
Public Service Taxi and a student
at Fayetteville Technical Institute,
where he is in his third year of
industrial management studies. A
native of Raeford, he is a graduate
of Hoke High and spent three years
in the Army. A bachelor, he lives
with his mother at 409 S. Magnolia
St.
Baldwin said he is a candidate
because he has an interest in
Raeford and its problems.
"I'm assuming I'll be here
hopefully for the rest of my life. I
have an interest in what's going
on," he said.
"1 read the paper quite often and
in essence. 1 feel there's a lack of
understanding. People don't un
derstand what the council is and
what it does. With my business
management schooling. I think I
can be a help. I do have the interest
and I like to help people." he said.
"My motto is to "make the best
better", he said.
Baldwin said he realized that he
was the first minority race member
to make a try for election but that
he felt he could attract support
from all segments of the com
munity.
"I'll be an active candidate and
run an active campaign. 1 plan to
speak to groups and make myself
known." he said.
Baldwin previously worked for
the school bus garage. He is a
member of the Society for Ad
vancement of Managers (SAM) and
Freedom Chapel A.M.E. Zion
Church.
Baldwin received his taxi permit
from the city council last month.
Insurance agent Vardell Hedg
peth. 34. also filed Monday.
"This is not a hasty decision. I've
been thinking about running for
some time, and several people have
asked me to run," he said.
Born in Robeson County, Hedg
peth moved to Raeford when he
was nine. He graduated from Hoke
High School in 1%1. served six
months active duty with the Army
and six years with the National
Guard.
He received his license to sell
insurance in 1964 and has been in
Raeford with Nationwide Insurance
since that time. His agency is
located on E. Elwood Ave.
He is married and has three
children.
Hedgpeth has served as one of
the directors of the Kiwanis Club
(See COUNCIL. Page 15)
County Board Hears
Water Management
Study Proposals
County commissioners were
briefed on options prepared in the
North Carolina Water Resources
Framwork Study Monday morning
during their regular meeting.
Presenting the preliminary find
ings of the study to the board was
Donald Sherry of the Department
of Natural Resources and Com
munity Development. Sherry is an
economist witn the Division of
Environmental Management.
Specific options developed in the
study include a regional water and
sewer system and an urban flood
way system for the Raeford area.
The plan also suggests a scenic
preservation area for Rockfish
Creek and designation of a water
trail and public fishing stream on
the Lumber River.
Hoke County encompasses both
the Cape Fear River Basin and the
Lumber River Basin.
The second part of the study,
which will cover two years, will be
involved with possible solutions to
agricultural drainage problems,
flooding and groundwater manage
ment.
All five commissioners were pres
ent and each received a priority
evaluation form to rate the pro
posals and make comments.
In other business, the board
agreed to a change in the procedure
far signing county checks. A stamp
t^put Chairman John Balfour s
signature on all checks was ap
proved. County Manager T.B.
LesteV will continue to initial the
checks^
Balfour estimated that it was
taking him an hour or more to
individually sign each check.
Triangle Co. of Fayetteville sub
mitted a low bid of $1,982 for
timberline shingles to replace the
roof on the courthouse annex. The
board unanimously accepted the
bid.
Kenneth Davis of A.K. Lovin
and Co., certified public account
ants, presented the annual audit
report and termed the county's
financial condition as "excellent."
Davis noted that the tax collec
tion rate for ihe prior year was 94.2
per cent.
A written report from the De
partment of Human Resources
Emergency Medical Services Divi
sion on the inspection of the Hoke
County Rescue Squad was received.
The report praised the Squad and
said everything was found to be
operating in a highly professional
manner.
Commissioner Danny De Vane's
motion to send a formal letter of
appreciation to the Squad was
approved unanimously.
Commissioners will meet again
tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. in
a special meeting to review the
45-page proposed county zoning
ordinance and draft of mobile
home park regulations.
The board is expected to form
ally approve the drafts. Public
hearings will be held later. The
ordinances cannot be adopted until
after the hearings.
Cable TV Firm
Asks Rate Hike
Board
Changes
Memorial
By common consent, the Hoke
County Board of Education
Monday night reversed a Sept. 5
action to dedicate the Glen Echo
School as a memorial to K.A.
MacDonald.
According to Supt. G. Raz
Autry the committee which had
earlier suggested naming the
restored one - room school house
for the long - time Hoke school
superintendent had reconsidered
and decided that naming a larger
building for MacDoanld would be
more suitable. Mrs. Mina Town
send made a motion that the older
portion of the high school be
designated as the K.A. MacDonald
Building and the motion was
carried.
According to the minutes of the
meeting Dr. Riley Jordan moved
for the acceptance of the following
people as employees of the school
system: Linda B. Fisher, interim
teacher for the first semester;
Sandra L. Sayer as interim teacher
for the first semester; Sera
Gilmore. teacher; Reginald Blue as
TMR aide at Upchurch. Mrs.
Townsend moved that Mary M.
Smith be employed as a interim
teacher at Scurlock. Both motions
carried.
Board members R.L. Gibson,
R.M. Jordan. Ruth S. McNair and
(See MEMORIAL. Page 15)
Medical
Complex
Finalized
Bids are expected to be let in
about 60 days on the planned
medical arts building for Raeford,
funded under a federal grant.
Announcement of the $285,000
grant award was made last week by
Rep. Charlie Rose in Washington.
The grant, approved by the
Economic Development Adminis
tration to upgrade rural health
care, will fund 80 per cent of the
estimated $357,000 facility. The
balance of the costs will be financed
through a Farmers Home Adminis
tration loan.
The award was made to the Hoke
County Medical Complex Inc., a
non-profit body headed by local
citizens. The president. Younger
Snead Jr., said an option has been
obtained on part of a four-acre
parcel on S. Main St., and negoti
ations are in progress to acquire the
full tract.
Architects for the building are
Cogswell/Hausler Associates of
Chapel Hill. Current plans for the
7,040 square-foot facility call for
offices for three physicians, 15
examination rooms and space for
an optometrist's practice.
Snead said construction bids
may be let within the next 60 days.
Completion of the facility is
planned for sometime next sum
mer.
Practitioners in the new complex
will pay rent comparable to costs in
surrounding areas, Snead said.
Bloodmobile
To Make
Extra Visit
The first Bloodmobile visit of the
1977-78 fiscal year will be Friday
from noon until 5:30 p.m. at the
Raeford United Methodist Church.
Donors who gave blood Aug. 29
will not be eligible to give this time
as a six weeks waiting period is
required.
This visit is an extra one in the
schedule as Hoke County was short
supplying the requirements for
blood collection last year, Clyde
Upchurch, Red Cross chairman,
said.
Citing a $136,000 loss in the three cities served by N.C. Cable TV
Co., the president of the cable firm formally requested the city
council to approve rate increase for Raeford subscribers.
James F. Collins, along with N.C. Cable TV Co. vice-president
Jim Payton, appeared before the council Monday night and asked
for an increase from $6 monthly for one outlet to $7. effective next
January. For subscribers with more than one outlet, the monthly
charge would go to $1.50 for each additional outlet.
"We anticipated we would be a 2,100 subscribers in the three
communities by this time," Collins told the council. "We appear to
have reached the saturation point in Raeford and we can't continue
with these losses."
Collins said there are currently just over 600 cable TV customers
in Raeford. The system can offer service to every house in Raeford
except six homes, he said. The last major campaign to attract more
customers was not as successful in Raeford as in St. Pauls, he said,
and a rate increase was needed in order to make the system more
self-supporting.
Councilman Sam C. Morris expressed doubts that a rate increase
would improve anything as some customers would drop the service if
the price went up, he said. Morris also said some customers were
dissatisfied because of the absence of the time and weather station.
Collins said it was not possible to get the time and weather station
operational as promised earlier because of equipment interference
with the emergency radios at the jail. The cablevision receiver is atop
the radio tower at the jail.
Mayor J. K. McNeill Jr. and Councilman Benny McLeod were the
only ones present Monday who are not cable subscribers. Morris,
Councilman Graham Clark and Councilman Crawford Thomas are
subscribers. Councilman Bob Gentry was absent for the meeting.
Under the franchise agreement with the city, city council approval
is required before the adoption of any rate increases. Two public
hearings are also required.
The council did not formally raise an objection on the matter of
moving the cablevision collection box for customers to pay bills. Last
month, the council voiced misgivings about moving the box from the
municipal building to Wood's Furniture Store.
Collins said that under the written contract, the company had the
right to move the box with 30 days notice.
Raeford has had cable television since 1975. If approved, this will
be the second rate increase here.
In other matters Monday, City Manager Robert Drumwright
recommended enforcement of the city fire code concerning the
operation of self-service gasoline pumps.
Drumwright said one station, Graham's Gulf, had installed a
self-service pump since the adoption of the code. The code requires
the presence of an attendant where gasoline is dispensed.
After hearing a recommendation from Drumwright, the council
authorized an agreement with Management Improvement Consul
tants of America to provide recommendations on saving money in
city government.
A MICA representative presented a proposal to the city last
month. Under the contract, the city would pay a minimum of
$16,000 if the firm finds ways to save money, Drumwright said. If no
savings are realized, no fee is owed.
The council approved a request from the Board of Education to
ban parking on a portion of E. Donaldson Ave. during certain
hours. The request was to alleviate traffic problems for school buses
loading and unloading.
The council ordered the no-parking area on a 60-day trial basis. It
is to be in effect between 8-9 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
Harold Stone was appointed to the Raeford Housing Authority to
fill an unexpired term.
The board authorized advertising of bids for new accounting
equipment. Drumwright estimated the cost of the needed machinery
at about $20,000.
Two recommendations from the Planning Board were approved, a
mobile home park in the Queenmore section and a residential-to
commercial change for 401-bypass property. The latter request was
made by Younger Snead Jr.
Customer Slain At Club
A Robeson County man was
charged with murder Sunday fol
lowing a Saturday night slaying of a
Hoke County man at a nightspot
about eight miles south of Raeford.
Eugene Locklear. 22. of Rt. 1.
Shannon, was killed by gunfire
about 10:45 p.m. Saturday outside
an establishment run by Lena Mae
McMillan. Sheriff D.M. Barring
ton said.
Being held in jail on an open
charge of murder is Carl Oxendine.
22. of Rt. I, Box 2.18. Pembroke.
According to the sheriff, Lock
lear got into an argument with a
woman. A club bouncer. Bobbv
Oxendine. attempted to break up
the quarrel and got into an
altercation with Locklear. Barring
ton said the employee's brother.
Carl Oxendine. went into a nearbv
trailer and returned with a .22
automatic rifle.
Locklear was hit by two bullet
wounds and was dead at the scene.
(See CUSTOM l:. R SLAIN, Page 15)
Medical Betterment
Group Gets Grant
The Department of Health, Edu
cation and Welfare has awarded a
515,000 planning grant for a study
of emergency room needs in Rae
ford.
Announcement of the award was
made by the Hoke County Medical
Betterment Association, a non
rofit citizens group which has
een working to strengthen medical
care.
Wyatt Upchurch, president of
the Association, said a meeting will
be held next week with an Atlantic
representative to discuss how the
grant will be implemented.
The Association, which success
fully attracted another physician to
Raeford earlier this year, has been
working jointly with the Cardinal
Health Agency, the area health
planning body, on the HEW appli
cation.
Upchurch said the funds will be
used to finance a study on the
practicality of establishing some
type of emergency facility offering
care 24 hours a day. Hoke County
residents must now go to either
Cumberland County or Moore
County for the nearest hospital
emergency room.
Members of the Association are
Frank Baker, Bobby Gibson,
Emma Mims, Bill Howell and
Warren Pate, in addition to Up
church.