<~Vlew6
kThe Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LX1X NUMBER 33 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLIN A
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR Till RSI) AY. DECEMHEK I.",. 1977
At Hoke High School
New Assistant Principal Named
Around
Town
BY'SAM C. MORRIS
Winter weather has been with us
for the past several days, but the
forecast is for the temperature to
rise for the coming weekend, of
course the weatherman says that
rain will be with us on Wednesday.
* * *
The work on the city parking lot
between Elwood and Edinborough
Avenues has stopped because of the
weather. It has been so cold that
concrete could not be poured to
complete the curbing in the lot.
When completed, this should not
only help downtown parking, but
should help the flow of traffic on
Elwood Avenue.The parking lot, as
I understand it. can be entered
from Elwood but exit must be made
on Edinborough. There will also be
an entrance on Edinborough.
Raeford Savings and Loan is also
adding to their parking lot by
paving and marking off space
between J.H. Austin Insurance
Agency and Shelton Furniture.
So when these are completed you
can shop downtown if employees
will use the off - street parking lots.
Let's give it a try.
? * *
The Christmas season is upon us
and it should make us feel like
giving. This would be in the true
spirit of the day, but in past years
this has not always been the case.
Recently on TV. shoplifting was a
^feature part of a program. The
announcer was saying that most
merchants were on the lookout
more than ever for these people. It
was also stated that the amount of
merchandise that was lifted ran
into huge amounts of money. As
we all know, these losses must be
paid for and in the end it gets back
to the shopper. That is you and me.
The store personnel will be on
the lookout for these people, but it
will save you money in the long run
if you would report any shoplifting
that you see.
Another reminder that appears
in this column every year is to be
sure and lock your car when you
park it to go shopping. If you bring
packages back to it, then put them
in the trunk of the car so they will
be out of sight of someone who
would take it or would break into
your car.
We can do many little things that
will prevent the loss of our articles
if we just try. It may take a few
minutes longer, but it will save in
the long run.
Law enforcement officers will
also have a nicer Christmas.
Some readers have mentioned to
me that they miss the School Menu
in the paper each week. This was
not stopped by the editor, but for
some reason we did not receive a
copy of the menu for December.
This should be corrected and the
menu should start again after
Christmas.
According to Graham and Helen
Monroe the visit of President
Jimmy Carter to Fayetteville this
weekend has put their son. Zan, on
his toes. Zan who works for
Carolina Telephone is in charge of
getting the telephone system in
shape for the visit. I don't know all
the details, but from what little 1
could gather in talking to Graham
and Helen, it is more than just
running a line.
Of course, knowing Zan. every
thing will be in tip top shape and
the President will have 100%
telephone communications.
So you see. Hoke County and
Raeford are in on the visit also.
^ The annual Raeford Kiwanis
Club pancake supper came off last
Thursday night without a hitch in
i ?
I not as plentiful as the Kiwanians
? were expecting. Avery Connell.
? chairman for this event, had
1
any way except the customers were
:iful
(See AROUND TOWN. Page 13)
? mi i' i mm iu, ? imwi i.i
CHORUS TO PERFORM ? The Hoke High School Chorus will present a concert of Christmas music Thursday,
Dec. 15. at fl p.m. in MacDonald Gymnasium. The high school Chorale will also perj'orm. Both groups are under
the direction of Mrs. Neill Adams McNeill. Admission will be one dollar at the door.
Child Support Officer
Active In Hoke County
By Caul* Wuko
Roxanna Lowery, child support
officer for Hoke County, spends a
great deal of her time in the Hoke
County Courthouse. She works
with Charles Hostetler, attorney for
the office, in an attempt to obtain
support for the children of the 283
clients of the child support office.
The purpose.of the program is to
obtain and enforce child support
for homes with absent parents.
This program, operated through
the N.C. Department of Human
Resources, began in Oct. of 1975.
The first court actions were taken
in Jan. of 1976.
The program is open to anyone,
regardless of financial status.
There is a fee based on a sliding
scale for those who are able to pay.
The maximum fee anyone pays is
$100. Non - Aid For Dependent
Children (A.F.D.C.) clients arc
also responsible for their own
attorney fees should an attorney be
needed.
According to Lowery, when a
client comes into her office, the
First step is to try to locate the
absent parent. This may be done
through local contacts such as
employers and relatives. If this
Inmate9 s Art Work
At Hoke Library
Paintings by Don Perkins, an
inmate at McCain Prison, will be
on display at the Hoke County
Library here Dec. 16-31. The work
will be for sale, and anyone
interested in purchasing a painting
should get in touch with Charles
Blackburn at The News-Journal
office on El wood Ave.
The 32 - year ? old artist has had
showings at the Raleigh Civic
Center and at the public library in
Carthage.
Perkins was convicted of being *
an accessory after the fact to arson.
He was a school teacher in Rock
ingham County for 10 years before
that and has taught high school
equivalency courses for his fellow
inmates while in prison.
Perkins took up painting to fill
the tedious hours of confinement.
He works as much as 10 hours a
day and has sold paintings to
people in Southern Pines. Raeford
and elsewhere, as well as to inmates
and prison staff. Whatever money
he makes he puts back into art
supplies. About S15 is the most he
charges for a painting. He has
many for $3 and $5.
Working with acrylics on pressed
rayon, he paints nature scenes,
religious scenes, portraits, what
ever anyone wants nim to paint. He
has been commissioned to do
special works, including illustra
tions for a short story.
He was sent to McCain to recover
from wounds inflicted during an
assault last Nov. by two inmates at
Odom Prison in Northampton
County, where he was teaching.
Two inmates cornered him one day
and demanded money, Perkins
said. When he told them he didn't
have any. they stabbed him. he
said. Although he is not disabled.
Perkins said that the attack left
him without feeling in portions of
his back and abdomen.
His sentence was reduced at a
post conviction hearing. Another
hearing is scheduled to review his
case, and he feels that his time may
be cut even more. While at
McCain, he has made Honor Grade
and will stay there until he is
eligible for the work - release
program. Perkins said that his
home county has extended him an
invitation to do clerical work in the
county manager's office once he's
earned the right for work - release.
effort fails, then state agencies are
contacted. As a last resort, the
location process goes on to the
federal government. Approximate
ly 85 percent of the absent parents
are located.
The local office then contacts the
absent parent in regard to support.
Lowery determines his income and
demands support. She then works
with him to establish a basis for
support. The payments are made to
the Clerk of Superior Court's
office. In A.F.D.C. cases, allot' the
money collected must be returned
to the state for repayment of
A.F.D.C.
When the absent parent is not co
- operative and does not keep up
the payment established by the
Child support Office. Ms. Lowery
may attempt to contact him by
mail. If this does not produce
results, a warrant for the absent
parent's arrest is issued. The child
support officer can issue warrants
for those families receiving
A.F.D.C. If the client is not
A.F.D.C, then the remaining
parent must issue the warrant.
"Very few people keep up the
payments like they should," Ms.
Lowery says. Collection ranges
from 61 percent to 77 percent per
month.
Lowery says her office prefers to
use the civil courts to prosecute
those who do not pay. In the civil
(See CHILD SUPPORT. Page 13)
Christmas
Concert
The Hoke County High School
Chorale and Chorus will present a
concert of Christmas music Thurs.
at 8 p.m. in MacDonald Gym
nasium.
The Chorale and Chorus are
directed by Mrs. Neill Adams
McNeill. Admission will be one
dollar at the door.
The Chorale and Chorus will
enter singing "Joy to the World"
followed by the "Hallelujah"
chorus.
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo" will be
presented by the chorale. This
selection will feature Robbie Shook
on the violin. They will also sing
three Alfred Burt carols and "Carol
of the Drum."
Following the performance by
the Chorale, the chorus will sing
"Silver Bells." "While By My
Sheep" and "He Is Born." "He Is
Born" will be done by a vocal
ensemble made up of members of
the Chorus. It will feature Len
Shook, flutist. "Gesu Bambino"
will be sung by Don Brock, guest
tenor soloist. Brock is a former
graduate of Hoke High.
The Barber Shop Singers, a
group of 1 1 young men specializing
in harmonizing, will present a
medley of spirituals and "A Holly
Jolly Christmas."
Julie and Joan Frazier, sopranos;
Tim McKenzie and Duncan
Buoyer. trumpeters and Dennis
Ellis, percussionist, will present
"Gloria." This will be an exciting,
rhythmic musical experience Mrs.
McNeill, director, savs.
The main feature of the evening
will be "Sing We Now of
Christmas" by Harry Simeone. It
will involve an instrumental en
semble and Chorus and Chorale
members of the Raeford United
Methodist Church Bell Choir.
Instrumentalists will be Robin
Niven. trumpet and guitar; Jimmy
Soles, trombone; Charles Thomp
son. trumpet; and Donald Callo
way. tuba. Polly King. Kim
Hardin. Gay Ivey, Cathy Morgan.
Brian Scarboro and Susanne Wood
are members of the Bell Choir.
The program will end with "A
Jingle Bell Travelogue." The sing
ers will present the old favorite,
"Jingle Bells." as it might be sung
in different countries. This se
lection is to be light and comical.
Accompanists for the Chorus are
Joan Frazier and Mclinda Quick.
Janet Best will accompany the
Chorale.
Mrs. McNeill said the program
goes all the way from Bach to rock.
She promises an enjoyable evening
of entertainment for those. who
attend.
SANTA COMES TO TOWN ?? To the delight of 500 children, Santa Claus made an appearance Dec. 10 at the
Children's Christmas Party sponsored by the Hoke County Parks and Recreation Commission at Raeford
Elementary School. The party was held from 3 till 4 p. m. and included prize drawings, singing, candy canes, and.
of course. Santa.
In Monday night's Board of
Education meeting. Superin
tendent Ra/ Autrv recommended
that Don Steed, assistant principal
at Hoke High School, be hired as co
? ordinator lor the Community
School Act program to begin Jan.
I.
Autry recommended that Milton
L. McDonald take over Steed's
duties at the high school. Mc
Donald is currently teaching
drafting.
The board unanimously ap
proved both of these recommenda
tions.
The Community School Act is a
program under Governor Hunt's
educational plan that would open
the school facilities to the com
muntiy. The purpose of the pro
gram is to totally involve the
community and the schools. An
advisory board would be named to
work with the co-ordinator.
The co-ordinator would be
responsible for establishing the
program. He would determine
courses that would be most
beneficial to the community, and
he would supervise the program
and the use of the school facilities.
Autry explained that courses
could be in cake decorating or
brick laying or any program the
community expressed an interest
in. Mina Townsend, board member
said she teels a real need for this
program exists. She also stated that
she feels Steed is capable of
handling the job.
The Hoke County Schools have
received SI 1.154 in state funding
for the six months involved this
year; S25.000 was appropriated by
the state for next year's program.
Board Chairman R.L. Gibson
and Dr. R.M Jordan, board
member questioned the wisdom of
moving the assistant principal in
the middle of the year.
"We've had one major upheaval
in the administration at the high
school. I hate to tamper with it
anymore." Gibson said.
Autry told board members that
he shared their concern, but that
McDonald was. in his opinion,
capable of handling the job at the
high school.
"He (Steed) does an awful lot
that holds that place together,
popping up at a service station to
get a kid out of trouble, popping up
here and there." Jordan said.
Jordan also expressed concern
about other school system emplov
ees who had been with the system
longer than Steed. Autry told the
board that just because an
employee has been with the system
longer, he is not necessarily
qualified for the job.
The board then went into
executive session. Following the
executive session, a vote was taken,
and the board voted unanimoush
to hire Don Steed as program co ?
ordinator and Milton L. McDonald
as assistant principal of the high
school as of Jan. 1 .
In other business, the board
approved Autry's recommendation
to hire Deborah Childress as a
classroom aid. The board also
approved a motion to move up the
pay date to Dee. 22 so the school
personnel would receive (heir pay
before Christmas.
Florence Cohen and Hoy May
nor. directors of instruction, ap
peared before the board to explain
the programs they are currently
working with Kiev explained the
testing to be used in the schools this
year and Mavnor explained the
Early Prevention of School Failures
program.
Autry brought up the problem of
heating at the Gibson building at
the high school. He told the board
members that studies had been
made and the only solution to the
problem would be to replace the
heating system. The current system
is not capable ot heating the rooms
satisfactorily. Autry said No action
was taken.
The Hoke County School's free
lunch program has received na
tional recognition, according to
Autry. and during the month of
Nov. the program made SI IH4..18.
A new high school policy was
recommended to the board atid was
acccpted after the addition of a
class in composition.
Autry also recommended a
personnel policy conccrning the use
of alcohol. The policy, drawn up by
board attorney Bili Moses, said
(See PRINCIPAL. Page 13)