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| "Phe Hoke County News - Established 1928
J VOLUME LXiX NUMBER 31 RAEFORU, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
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The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1977
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
4 The weather over the weekend
| was winter to me. 1 did get out on
ithe golf course Thanksgiving Day,
? but after then it was too cold and
? rainy for me to play. Of course
* some of my friends said it wasn't
bad at all and played Saturday and
^Sunday. Yes, I guess I must be
l"chicken."
Anyway the forecast is for
* temperatures to be in the 60s for
the coming weekend so maybe it
will be possible for some of us to get
outside.
* * *
*
5 4 J.W. Turlington, principal at
Raeford Elementary School, was by
I . the office last Friday, as he was off
from school that day. He said that
Harvey Young of the Raeford
* Police Department had talked to
I several classes at the school recentlv
about fingerprinting. From listen
; ing to Turlington, the kids were
very interested in the subject and
Harvey really did a fine job.
_ This is good in two ways. The
kids will learn something about
crime and how it is dealt with by
law enforcement officers, but it will
also let the kids know that the law
enforcement officers are doing a
fine job and that they should build
up respect for them. I hope
that more of this kind of talking
will be used in the schools of Hoke
County.
* * *
On Thursday night, December
8th starting at 5 o'clock the
v Raeford Kiwanis Club will once
again hold their annual Pancake
Supper. The supper will be held at
the W.T. Gibson cafeteria of the
0 High School.
Avery Connell is in charge of the
affair and he has been cracking the
jphip over the other Kiwanians and
says that everything will be in top -
notch order this year.
If you haven't bought a ticket,
they can be purchased from any
j member of the Kiwanis Club or can
be purchased at the door that
night. All you can eat for SI. 75,
and besides that, just think of all
the fellowship that will go with the
pancakes and sausage.
So mark the date on your
calendar, and let a Kiwanian serve
you so that they can better serve the
community.
? ? *
The picture that appeared in this
column last week brought forth
some comment. Most of the readers
| recognized Bobby Carter but his
^ friend was missed by many. Some
? came by the office and asked who
they were and others came by to tell
me.
Of course Bobby Carter is
correct, and the gentleman with
him is Ed McNeill, owner of Home
Food Super Market. The only thing
I can't find out about the picture is
the where and when of it. Was it
^ before or after World War II?
I believe only Bobby or Ed could
answer this question, unless the
photographer still remembers when
it was taken.
In an envelope in which sub
scription checks are returned to
this office, came also a note along
with a check this past week.
The check was from Leo Fuller of
Mt. Holly. Leo lived here before
World War II and played football
and baseball at Raeford High
School. He was on the baseball
team that won the Eastern
Championship in 1929. This team
lost to Shelby in Chapel Hill by the
score of 4-2. Leo played third base.
The Fullers lived on North Main
Street in the house now occupied by
Bill Seilars and his family. Leo's
father was in the horse and mule
business and his stable was located
where T.B. Upchurch. Inc. now
has its office on South Main street.
Just around the comer where Heilig
Meyers is located, my father and
uncle also had a stable. Times have
changed.
t The note from Leo is as follows:
Sam:
Sorry to admit it. but I'm 66 and
1 believe I will take advantage of
lour offer.
Leo.
Thanks Leo for the note and I
will say that my age is slowly
approaching 60 also. But maybe we
would be thankful we are still
I around and in good health. Stop by
I the office and see me the next time
?you are in Raeford.
McCain Praised At Hearing
H
McCAIN HEARING Hundreds of supporters turned out for a hearing Nov. 22 at McCain Hospital to tell a
legislative task force that the facility is of vital importance to health care in the 30 counties it serves. The 24
member task force is studying the state's three specialty hospitals to see if any can he closed or consolidated. The
group will make its recommendations to the N.C. Dept. of Human Resources in February.
City Council Holds Special
Session On Airport Lease
The Raeford City Council met in
special session at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30
to discuss the Raeford- Municipal
Airport.
The meeting was scheduled
Monday after the Raeford- Hoke
Chamber of Commerce presented
Mayor J.K. McNeill, Jr. with a
petition signed by four council
members calling for the session.
According to the petition, the
special session was for "the sole
purpose of reviewing any and all
proposed leases of the Raeford
Municipal Airport." It was signed
by councilmen James McLeod, Bob
Open House
The Hoke County Mental Health
Center, located at 116 Campus
Ave., will hold an open house Dec.
?4. The public is invited to tour the
facility and enjoy an exhibit put on
by local artists.
Hoke County is one of five
counties served by the Sandhills
Mental Health Center. It houses a
full-time staff of five including
George Barbour. Hoke County
director and psychologist; Cathy
Radecki, school psychologist, Beth
Royal. social worker; Ed
McCarthy, alcohol services counse
lor and Hazel Niven. secretary.
The Mental Health Center offi
cially opened in August. With the
new staff and building, outpatient
coverage has doubled. An alcohol
counselor is now available full time
and there are four full-time clini
cians.
Before the new Mental Health
facility, people were seen at the
Health Department one day a
week. All calls were also taken
through the Health Department.
The new Center now handles all of
its calls and clients.
Fees for the services are based on
a sliding scale. Most clients fall into
the$l-$2 per visit range, according
to Barbour. Minimum charge is SI ,
although no one will be turned
away for financial reasons. Most of
the clients are assigned to one
therapist and all contacts with the
therapist and the Mental Health
Center are confidential. Appoint
ments at the Center are established
by the client and his therapist,
although clients are requested to
notify the Center should they be
unable to keep an appointment.
How long a person remains in
therapy depends upon personal
need and is determined by the
client and therapist.
On the Advisory Board are
Robert Taylor. Emma Mims. Steve
Benkosky. Rev. Charles Litzenber
ger. Harry Williamson, Harriett
McDonald. Melinda Leggett.
Lucille McGregor and Clyde Ja
cobs.
Mr. Jacobs not only serves on the
advisory board, but as an art
instructor at Hoke High School, he
has arranged for his students to
paint a mural to be used in the
Mental Health building.
Gentry, Sam Morris, and C.L.
Thomas, Jr.
The petition also requested that
no lease concerning the airport be
signed before the meeting.
Last week, City Manager Robert
Drumwright said it would be up to
the mayor to decide whether or not
to sign a 12-year lease with Gene
Thacker for airport facilities. The
city manager said the lease was
being drawn up and would be
presented to the mayor for signa
ture once it was completed.
The council authorized the
mayor to sign the lease on Nov. 2,
by a vote of three to two, council
men Morris and McLeod cast the
dissenting votes. Since that time,
the local chamber of commerce has
sought to delay the agreement,
saying that it had additional
information that should be con
sidered before the lease is signed.
The petition was given to the
mayor and city manager Monday
afternoon and was accompanied by
a letter. It was the second letter
regarding the airport sent to city
officials by the chamber. Signed by
chamber manager Earl N. Fowler,
it reads:
"As manager of the Raeford -
Hoke Chamber of Commerce, 1 am
again requesting a temporary delay
in signing any lease involving the
Raeford ? Municipal Airport.
"This request is considered to be
in the best interest of all citizens,
and has the full endorsement of the
Chamber Board of Directors. As
previously stated in my letter to Mr.
Robert Drumwright (Nov. 15) this
request is in no way intended to
criticize any actions that you and
our city council have taken.
"Attached to this letter you will
find a petition signed by four
members of the city council. They
ask for a special session of the
entire council for the purpose of
reviewing any and all proposed
leases of the airport. The petition
further requests that no lease be
signed prior to this meeting.
"Let me assure you that the
chamber of commerce is in no way
attempting to tell you or any other
city official how to operate the
airport facilities. We have been
asked to intervene on behalf of
many concerned citizens, who
apparently fear that future econo
mic growth in Hoke County may be
hampered.
"Let me urge you to take
seriously the requests made by
responsible people, and immedi
ately call a special meeting of the
city council in order to clear up any
misunderstanding that may exist.
"The chamber pledges its sup
port -- in any manner -- to help
resolve this problem, hopefully, to
the satisfaction of all concerned."
United Way Campaign
F alls Short Of Goal
With the completion of the
scheduled United Way drive Nov.
30, contributions stood at 521,081.
20, representing 87 percent of the
goal of $24,374.17, according to
co-chairman Ralph Huff.
When asked for reasons for the
failure of the drive to meet its goal.
Councilmen
To Be Sworn
On Monday
Newly elected members of the
Raeford City Council will be sworn
in during the regular meeting of the
board on Monday, Dec. 5.
Insurance agent Vardell Hedg
peth, who polled more votes than
any other candidate, will be the
only newcomer to take a seat on the
board. He will join incumbents
Graham Clark, James McLeod,
Bobby Gentry, and Sam Morris.
The second hearing on a pro
posed rate increase for the N.C.
Cable TV Co. is on the agenda for
the evening meeting.
The Hoke County Board of
Commissioners will hold a regular
business session on Dec. 5, begin
ning at 9 a.m.
Huff cited short time and layoffs
from two local industries as a
contributing factor. Huff added,
however, that he was delighted with
the response from these two indus
tries. which accounted for 62
percent of the money raised.
The second reason, and the most
disturbing one, was a lack of
commitment from many individ
uals and businesses in the com
munity, Huff said.
"You would be shocked to see a
list of people in the community who
would not participate," he said.
"These included some professional
people, prominent individuals,
local businesses, chain stores, and
public employees. With the excep
tion of school personnel, the contri
butions from public employees
were most disappointing."
He said that neighboring coun
ties offered a real contrast.
"Just across the county line in
Moore County, Carolina Galvaniz
ing agreed to match the contribu
tions of its 161 employees." Huff
said. "With an employee per capita
of S35.35. the company provided
the matching funds, resulting in a
combined pledge of $1 1 .384.
"We made a total commitment
this vear to contact each individual
(See UNITED WAY, Page 15)
A legislative task force heard nothing but praise for McCain
Hospital as hundreds of supporters turned out Nov. 22 for a public
hearing that may decide the future of the state's first sanitarium.
The 24 - member task force, headed by Ben Aiken, director of the
mental health division of the N.C. Dept. of Human Resources, is
reviewing the state's three specialty hospitals to see if any of the
facilities should be eliminated or consolidated.
The hospitals treat victims of respiratory diseases: tuberculosis,
lung cancer, emphysema and brown lung.
Aiken told those assembled in McCain's auditorium that a Senate
budget panel recommended closing the other two hospitals, in
Wilson and Black Mountain. He said a legislative sub - committee
recommended in 1975 that McCain be closed.
Declining admissions was cited as one reason for closing the three
hospitals. However, once these recommendations were publicized,
the outcry became so great that a special task force was appointed to
give the hospitals further study.
The task force is expected to make its recommendations to the
Dept. of Human Resources in February.
A large crowd appeared in support of Western North Carolina
Hospital in Black Mountain at a public hearing held there. A
hearing is set for Dec. 16 at Eastern North Carolina Hospital in
Wiknn
McCain Needed
Former patients, area legislators, health professionals, and county
officials told the task force that McCain Hospital is of vital
importance to the health and economy of North Carolinians in the 30
counties it serves.
Those who spoke at the two - hour hearing were applauded by the
crowd, which spilled out into the hallway and into an adjacent
chapel on the building's second floor.
In all, 36 people registered to speak -- some deferred their allotted
time to others. The speakers presented the task force with facts and
figures concerning the hospital and its services.
Facts And Figures
Founded in 1908, McCain not only treats patients, it serves as a
training center for the detection and treatment of respiratory
diseases.
Dr. Wilbur J. Steininger, past director of McCain, said that the
average patient there is 55 years old, indigent, with between a fourth
and fifth grade education, employed as a laborer. He said most of
these people would have no where else to go if McCain were closed.
Dr. Jesse Williams, of the Cumberland Co. Health Dept., told the
task force that there were 327 new cases of tuberculosis last year
among the 1 .7 million people in the counties served by McCain. It is
projected that 393 new TB victims will need an extended stay at
McCain each year, he said.
Dr. Williams pointed out that North Carolina ranks fifth among
the states for incidents of tuberculosis.
J.C. Balfour, chairman of the Hoke Co. Board of Commissioners,
said that McCain reads Chest x-rays for health departments, M.D.'s
and area hospitals. John Campbell, of the Southern Pines Chamber
of Commerce, noted that 2,5(X) chest x-rays from Moore Co. alone
were read at McCain every year.
Duplication Expensive
"It would be extremely expensive to duplicate the services offered
by McCain in county hospitals," said Rep. Joy Johnson. "The
closing of such a facility would make it a financial burden for the
elderly and poor."
Hoke Co. Director of Social Services Ben Niblock told the task
force about the high rate of unemployment in this area. He said that
many rural counties don't have the means to treat TB patients.
There is no other hospital or clinic in Hoke Co., he pointed out.
Staff Dedicated
"You won't find a more dedicated staff than here at McCain
Hospital," said M.R. Mills, sanitarian with the Hoke Co. Health
Dept. "Many of the staff members here have been at McCain for 10
or 15 years. We need this hospital desperately. It's centrally located.
The absence of this facility would create a hardship on the local
area."
Closing McCain would mean that 294 people on the staff would
have to find jobs elsewhere, said Rep. David Parnell, of the 21st
legislative district. And that would definitely hurt the local economy,
he said.
"McCain plays a vital role in the health care of the people in 30
counties in eastern North Carolina," Parnell said. "It is truly
rendering a service to the people of this state."
He pointed out that the average per patient cost was lower at
McCain than at the other two hospitals.
Former Patient
Edgar Atkinson, an ex-patient at McCain, said he always got the
best treatment from the staff.
"Speaking firsthand about what McCain has meant to me over
seven years, it seems to be the only place I can get relief," he said.
"I've been to other places, but this seems to be the only place I can
get help. If you have any respiratory problems. 1 recommend
McCain."
"We might save a little money if we close McCain, but we will
sacrifice service to the people," said Hoke Co. Superintendent of
Schools Raz Autry.
Other Hoke County speakers included: Earl N. Fowler, of the
Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce; Raeford Mayor J.K.
McNeill, Jr.; and Dr. R.G. Townsend. chairman of the Hoke Co.
Board of Health.
Other counties represented at the meeting included: Cumberland,
Anson, Richmond, Stanley, Union. Onslow, Scotland, Randolph,
and Bladen.
Rose's Office Visits Dec. 14
Congressman Charlie Rose. that the mobile ottice will be
D-N.C., announced the Seventh parked as close as possible to the
Congressional District Mobile post office at each of its stops.
Office schedule for Dec. The Mobile Office will visit Hoke
Rip Collins. Congressman Rose's County Dec. 14. It will be at the
administrative assistant and repre- Raeford Post Office from 10 a.m.
sentative in the district, announced until 3 p.m.