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The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXIX NUMBER 50 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY, APRIL 13. 1?>T8
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
The weather for the past week
has been all one could ask for if
they like to be outdoors. If the rain
comes, as is forecast, and washes
the pollen and dust away, then
things will be almost perfect. The
forecast for the coming weekend
looks super.
* * *
The parking lot in front of the
^.Tice has been put into use. and
from all indications, it was needed
in Raeford. More and more people
are using it and it leaves parking
places in front of many businesses
that haven't been there before.
So if you work in this part of the
city, use the lot so that customers
can get to the stores.
? * *
There is a letter to the editor on
page 2 that deals with Cub Scouts
and a barbeque supper that is
being put on to aid in that cause.
Mrs. Lewis Upchurch called and
asked that it be mentioned in this
column also.
The supper is Thursday night.
April 20 at the Gibson School
cafeteria, starting at five o'clock
and ending at eight. Tickets are
now on sale and those in charge
would like all tickets to be pur
chased by Thursday. April 13. The
supper is to make money for the
scouts and they don't want to
purchase more food than is
necessary, so bv buying your tickets
in advance they will know how
many to prepare for.
The tickets can be purchased at
the Raeford United Methodist
Church, or you can call and leave
your name and address, and some
one will be by to sell you a ticket.
\lso. tickets are available at the
Avery C'onnell Insurance Agency on
West Klwood Avenue.
So purchase a ticket, and go out
Thursday. April 20 and not only
help the Cub Scouts, but enjoy the
fellowship as well.
? * ?
Mrs. Ji>e Stanley of the Raeford
Junior Woman's Club was by the
office Monday and said that the
containers at the. shopping center
were tilled with scrap paper. So we
are glad to have helped in a small
way for this worthy project.
? ? ?
After the paper came out last
week and the story about cable TV
was being cussed and discussed. I
had a call Thursday from the cable
office to inform me that all
channels were on the air. I didn't
check this out. but Monday morn
ing someone came in the office and
said that all the channels were off.
I can't say one way or the other
because when I looked Monday
night the TV looked all right to me.
Maybe 1 don't look at the right
ii'.ime.
* * *
The public hearing that will be
held at the courthouse on Thursday
night beginning at 7:30 o'clock
concerning the flight of jets over
Racford should be attended by as
many citizens as can be there. This
could be very important to you and
to the value of your property in
years to come.
Having lived in Raeford and
Hoke County for t>0 years I have
seen what the military has done to
the county and how they keep
promises that are made.
I will not go into the details here,
but just request that you be present
Thursday. April 13 at 7:30 p.m. at
the courthouse. Thanks!
? * ?
The political season is now in full
swing and it seems that we have
more candidates this year than ever
before.
Talk to the candidates, ask them
questions, and see what their
positions are on the issues, and
then pick out your favorite and
vote. Unless you vote, the other
part is a waste.
So keep Tuesday, May 2 marked
jfcn your calendar.
* * *
Golf was on TV Sunday, and the
expression on Gary Player's face
was something to see, as his
opponents putted out on the 18th
green. Excellent camera work.
Board Transfers School Principals
STUDENTS ?? Pictured are all of the Wisconsin students and Raeford students that took part in the exchange
program. They made many new friends and had new experiences as a result of the program.
Wisconsin Students Enjoy
Life In Corn Pone Countrv
by Cassie Wasko
When they left, clad in shorts
and summer wear, the temperature
in Raeford was in the 80's. But
upon arriving in Wisconsin, they
found a chilly 42 degrees awaiting
them and the sunshine and warmth
of North Carolina were 23 hours
behind them.
Thirty-four students, all from
Hartford. Wisconsin, came to Rae
ford last week as part of a domestic
exchange program. About 30 Rae
tord kids spent a week in Wisconsin
in Februarv. The students paid S75
bus fare for the trip and housing
was provided by local families.
The visiting' kids enjoyed the
weather here more than any other
part of the trip. Weather in
Wisconsin is cold, still, and their
summers are shorter. One visitor
commented that he didn t see how
anyone could get any work done in
the summertime, as hot as it is
here.
The Wisconsin group chose to sit
outside for an interview saying they
wanted to soak up as much sun as
they could. Raeford student Debo
rah Jameson said her house guest
called upon arriving at home to say
that the temperature there was only
42 degrees.
The climax of the visit was a trip
to Wrightsville Beach last Friday,
which included a tour of the U.S.S.
North Carolina.
"They went out at 5 a.m. to
watch the sun rise over the ocean."
David Holland of Raeford said.
Joanne l.each said she told one ol
the visitors about sharks and other
ocean dwellers.
"But she didn't believe me."
Joanne said. "1 don't know where
she thinks thev come from!"
All in all the beach excursion was
quite an adventure. Upon seeing
the inland waterway as they neared
the beach, one of the visitors
exclaimed. "1 thought you said the
ocean was big!"
"The water was saltier and the
waves were stronger than they had
expected." Michael Boyles. a Rae
ford student said. "They didn t
think it was as cold as we did."
Old Photo
Identified
Sometimes it pays to run an old
picture in the paper.
On March 9 a picture appeared
in The News-Journal along with a
story on the old cotton platform on
Main Street, in Raeford where
farmers used to unload bales of
cotton for weighing.
The picture was taken in 1940 by
tabert Gatlin and shows a man on
flagon drawn by a mule and an
ox. The wagon is beside the
platform.
bast Thursday some people came
into the office and identified the
man on the wagon as the late
William ( Bud) McRae of Rt. I.
Red Springs. They were his chil
dren and grandchildren.
They said McRae farmed in the
area all of his life. Born in 1878 he
was 92 when he died in 1971.
In all he had 12 children: James.
Surressia. Plummer. Bessie. Gabe.
George. Viola. John. Hezekiah.
Susia. Minnie, and Frances. Both
Bessie and Frances live on Rt. 1.
Red Springs.
"The Raetord kids went swim
ming in the pool," Deborah Jame
son said. "The ocean was too cold
for them."
But when the Wisconsin people
got sunburned, they jumped in the
pool, too, one of the local students
reported.
Julie Gibson presented Cindy
Thompson with a grit tree when
w
Cindy arrived in Raeford. Grits had
been one of the major topics of
conversation among the kids while
they visited Wisconsin. One stu
dent asked where grits came from
and was told that they grow on grit
trees. Julie tried to prove that, but
the visitors soon caught on and
realized the grit tree was really a
(See WISCONSIN. Page 9)
Air Zone Hearing
Set For Thursday
The stage is set for a lively public
hearing in Raeford this Thursday
night when local residents will get
the chance to tell Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and military
representatives what they think of a
military air zone that has been
proposed for Hoke County.
The meeting is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.. April 13. in the court
house.
Public sentiment here has been
running strongly in opposition to
the proposed zone, called a Mili
tary Operations Area (MOA). Con
gressman Charlie Rose sent a letter
of protest to the FAA and vowed to
start a law suit against the govern
ment if necessary to stop the zone
from being charted.
Comments on the proposal at
various board meetings here indi
cate that people are afraid excessive
noise created by low flying jets will
hurt the local economy, particular
ly local turkey farms, and may have
other damaging effects.
The MOA would allow armed
military jets to fly at altitudes as
low as 500 feet over Raeford and
surrounding farmlands. FAA re
presentatives have described the
zone as a safety measure, and
military spokesmen have given
assurances that air traffic will not
increase in the area.
Currently, fighter planes flying
ground support missions for infan
try troops at Fort Bragg circle in
holding patterns over Hoke Coun
ty. The MOA would concentrate
these patterns into a defined area
around Raeford. The zone would
appear on aviation charts to let
pilots unfamiliar with the area
know that "something unusual is
going on."
Local officials have complained
that they have been left in the dark
about ceftain aspects of this pro
posal and that the FAA has been
moving toward a decision on the
zone without soliciting public opin
ion.
Thursday's hearing was sched
uled after Raeford Mayor J.K.
McNeill. Jr. called the Atlanta
office of the FAA and requested it.
Political F orum
Kicks Up No Dust
Two political rivals tor the office
of Hoke County Sheriff seemed to
be in perfect agreement Monday
night at a meet-the-candidates
forum held bv the Raeford Lions
Club.
Incumbent Sheriff D.M. Barr
ington and Raeford Police Officer
Harvey Young had nothing but
kind words for each other. They
might have been fraternity broth
ers.
Barrington fended off the only
touchy question from the audience.
Asked by a Favetteville reporter
why Young had been demoted
when he served as one of his
deputies. Sheriff Barrington said.
"I think in an election year that's a
loaded question. Mr. Young knows
the reasons. There is no need to air
it before a group of people and
embarrass him. ...or me."
And that was that. Young
appeared perfectly happy with the
answer.
Both men made it plain they
wanted the office, but neither
criticized his opponent. Young
went so far as to say he thought
Barrington was doing "a pretty
good job."
It was a dinner meeting, and no
one's digestion was disturbed.
District Attorney Ed Grannis
told the gathering he thought his
opponent's idea of a full-time
prosecutor's office in Hoke County
was "impractical." But his oppon
ent wasn't in the room, or anywhere
in the county, as far as anyone
knew, so the remark kicked up no
dust.
Later a Lions Club member said
that through an oversight. Hank
Finch, Grannis' rival, was not
invited to the forum. A third
candidate for sheriff. J. Robert
Saunders, was also absent.
Grannis went on to say that he
couldn't justify bringing a man over
to Hoke County full-time.
"I can work him a lot harder over
in Fayetteville and still handle the
situation over here." he said. "It's
not practical to have someone sit
over here, with court not in session,
drawing SI5.000 to $18,000 a
year."
As soon as approval comes in.
Grannis said a special team of
lawyers will be assembled to go
after career criminals. He said
similiar programs elsewhere have
proved effective in getting the
career criminal off the street.
Barrington said his department
has come a long way under his
guidance and he would like to
expand it further to meet the needs
of the countv. He would like to set
(See FORUM. Page 15)
by Cassie Wasko
The Hoke County Board of Education voted Monday night to hire
Hoke County's first female principal and to switch principals of
West Hoke and South Hoke schools as part of a series of transfers.
The board elected to hire Emma Mims as principal of Raeford
Elementary school to replace James Turlington, retiring principal.
Superintendent of Schools. Raz Autry recommended to the board
that George Wood, principal of South Hoke School, be transferred
to West Hoke School, and Woodrow Westall. West Hoke principal,
be given the South Hoke post.
Board members sat in silence until Robert L. Gibson, board
chairman, asked if further discussion was needed. Bill Howell,
board member, reluctantly made the motion to switch the two
principals. Although the vote was not audible. Gibson announced
the motion had carried.
The board did not disclose the reason for the transfers. Gibson
explained that "it could be detrimental to one or the other of the
men" if the reason were made known.
"It was on Mr. Autry's recommendation. He felt the two men
could function better if they switched places." Gibson said.
"A change of scene would be better for Mr. Wood's image as an
administrator," said Autry.
South Hoke School has suffered numerous break-ins and Autry
explained the situation had worsened in the last year or two.
"Sometimes a change in leadership helps those situations." Autry
said.
Both Gibson and Autry deny that the candidacy of Wood's
brother-in-law. Richard Coker. for a seat on the school board, had
any bearing on the decision to make the transfers now. Gibson said
the transfers were not implemented because the campaign was going
on.
"It just happened that the campaign was going on at this time. It
had no relation (to the campaign) as far as the board was
concerned." Gibson said.
Gibson conceded that the board had discussed the situation at
South Hoke as much as a year ago. although action was not taken
until the Monday night session.
Autry claims he did not "consider political overtones" in making
the recommendations to the board.
Westall, current West Hoke principal, said he told Autry this
morning, after learning of the transfers, that he would go wherever
he could do the most good, but that he was satisfied with the position
he now holds.
"I like it out here." he said. "1 know the people and I am used to
the school."
Wood had no statement to make, but Wayne Mills. South Hoke
assistant principal said. "I've worked with Mr. Wood for two years. 1
think he does the best academic job in the county."
Other transfers included moving Mills to the assistant principal
post at Raeford Elementary. Hank Richards, currently assistant
principal at Raeford Elementary School, was assigned to Scurlock.
and Marilyn Semones. a high school math teacher, was given the
assitant principal post at South Hoke.
In other business, the school board elected to meet on April 24 to
review the budget proposed for the coming year. The new budget is
in excess of $1 million, well over the mark of $925,000 alotted for
school use in last year's budget.
Special projects, including a new heating system for the Gibson
building at Hoke High, new roofing for South Hoke Elementary
school and brick veneer for portable classrooms at the high school,
are the most expensive new items on the budget.
The board also approved the school calendar for next year.
Because of problems encountered last year, school will not start for
the students until September 5. The 1977-78 school term beginning
had to be delayed for one week because of the students working with
the tobacco crops, it was explained.
Raeford Woman
Charged In Slaying
A local woman was arrested
Friday following the shooting death
of a Raeford man. police Chief
V.L. Wiggins said.
Gwendalyn V. Nettles. 2'. of 325
St. Pauls Drive in Raeford was
arrested and charged with murder
in the slaying of Leverne Campbell.
21, or Rt. 2 Box "4. Raeford.
Wiggins said officers G.P.
Brown and Rodnev Collins re
sponded to the 1:25 a.m. call from
the sheriffs department. When
they arrived at the home, they
found that Campbell had been shot
and killed.
Police say they confiscated a
1 2-gauge shotgun believed to be the
murder weapon.
Ms. Nettles was placed under a
S50.000 surety bond in Hoke
County District Court Friday. A
trial date ot April 2 7 was set.
Cemetery Sales Here
No More Than Usual
The City of Raeford hasn't been
selling any more cemetery plots
than usual in spite ot a recommen
dation last week that the city raise
its prices on burial spaces.
The city council was told April
that some people are choosing
Raeford as a last resting place for
their relatives because it's cheaper
to bury them here than anywhere
else.
"Some people are shopping
around." the board was told by
Management Improvement Corpo
ration of America (MICA) repre
sentative Lew Brown. "They've
found that Raeford cemetery plots
are cheapest."
You might say they are going for
a dirge.
The city is selling individual
burial spaces to Raeford resident
for $25 each. The rates are higher
for out-of-towners, but the fees
here are still the lowest of any town
around. Brown said.
He told the board that cemetery
revenues aren't covering costs
MICA, which serves as a consul
tant to the city, recommended that
the town raise the price on individ
ual plots to SI 30 tor customers who
live inside the city limits. That and
other cemetery proposals were
taken under advisement by the
board.
T his week Acting City Manager
Bill Sellars said, if anything,
cemetery sales have dropped since
the price increases were recom
mended. The cemetery is consider
ed a city service, like police and fire
protection and water service, he
said. He said he didn t think the
town needed to make a profit on
the cemetery operation but should
come closer to breaking even.
Last week MICA recommended
that lot sizes in the cemetery be
reduced where possible. If the city
closed a short section of Elwood
Avenue that runs into the cemetery.
90 more plots could be opened.
(See (TMF.TERY. Page IS)