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The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXX NUMBER 14 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLIN A
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1978
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
There have been no tropical
trade winds in Hoke County for the
past week. It has been hot and it is
almost too hot to play golf. "Hie
forecast is for rain and maybe this
will cool things off.
* * *
The markings in the parking lot
are helpful and if some people
^^ould get glasses so they could see
arrows on the pavement it
would make it safer for all concern
ed.
According to Graham Clark,
chairman of the Battery "F"
reunion, letters have been mailed to
most of the former members. In the
letter it is requested that an answer
be sent in by August 12th. This is
important, so that reservations can
be made by the committee that is
going that weekend to Fort Moul
trie, S.C.
So if you are planning to attend,
please sign your letter and return it
to Graham Clark.
While 1 was away on vacation a
letter arrived at the office from
Anne MacDonald, local student,
who is attending Governor's School
in Winston-Salem. She was thank
ing us for The News Journal which
we usually send to the students
from Hoke County that attend this
school.
She says she enjoys the paper
because she can read about Rae
ford "even if I can't be there."
Glad you are enjoying school and
hope you will always keep the paper
as part of your reading life.
Sam Noble was by the office last
week and invited me to attend his
swearing in ceremony in Lumber
ton last Friday. 1 told him that a
trip still had me too tired to go
anywhere. Some from here did go
and stated that Noble referred to
his appointment as being from
Hoke and Robeson Counties.
Let's just hope that Sam will not
forget the Hoke votes when he gets
to Raleigh.
Most of you readers thought that
I wouldn't mention my trip to
Hawaii in this week's column. Well
this is what I told my wife coming
back on the plane, but something
happened that caused me to change
my mind.
It occurred to me that I could
save time and not have to write
about my trip by taking a trip to the
barber shop and killing two birds
with one stone. After two weeks
away from Raeford my hair needed
cutting and while getting my hair
cut the details of my trip could be
relayed to Stanley Koonce and he
would then tell it to others and it
would be passed along this way.
But lo and behold this method of
saving time didn't work. After
about two sentences about my trip
to Hawaii, Stanley started in and
told me about his trip again. So
maybe 1 should get a few things in
writing about my trip before things
get mixed up with his trip.
All kidding aside, Mary Alice
and I had a wonderful time and
would hope that everyone could at
some time go to the 50th state. The
people are friendly and of course
the tourist is the number one
business there.
As was stated here last week the
trip over was nice and the trip back
was the same and besides being
tired everything worked for the
best.
The island of Oahu where Honu
lulu and Waikiki are located is
becoming more and more like the
other states today. Everywhere you
look, traffic is bumper to bumper
and high-rise hotels and shopping
centers cover most of the land. So
let's hope that the rest of this island
and the other islands are not
destroyed by the money hungry
people.
If you are planning a trip you can
forget about coats and ties, because
they don't use them over there. We
did see one group that was dressed
in long dresses and coats and ties,
but they must have been in a
convention group.
We were with a tour group and it
may have cost a little more, but
they had so many things arranged
ana transportation set up that we
(See AROUND TOWN, Page 1 5)
Prospects Good For Tobacco
Armed Robbery Nets $600
by Caule Wasko
An armed robbery netted slightly
over S600 in cash in a grocery store
heist here Monday, but no one was
injured.
A lone black male held up
Caddell's Grocery and took about
$400 in Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corporation (EMC)
collections and close to S200 in
money from the grocery store cash
register.
Just Another Monday
Proprietors George and Helen
Caddell thought it was just another
Monday morning as they attended
to business and visited with crew
men from the railroad in their
small store on Stewart Street.
Around 11 a.m., as a railroad
employee opened the side door of
the store to leave, a lone black male
entered.
Caddell said the other customers
left the store shortly after the man
came in. Caddell is a representative
for EMC and was taking a payment
at the cash register he uses for REA
collections.
"1 heard a noise, and when I
looked up, a gun was pointing in
my face.' Caddell said.
Wasn't Kidding
It was a short revolver, he later
told police. He was instructed to
hand over the money.
"You're kidding," Caddell told
the robber.
"No, I'm not," the man re
sponded.
Caddell said he flung the money
into the air, scattering it on the
floor. The man then instructed him
and his wife to lie on the floor while
he picked up the cash. He went
behind another counter and took
money from the store cash register.
"He stepped right over us, said
Caddell.
Money taken from the REA
register was insured, although
Caddell's money was not.
The man instructed Caddell and
his wife to remain on the floor. "He
said if we got up, it could be bad."
Caddell said. He then fled.
About 10 Minutes
The whole incident happened
Miller T o
Williams
Gene Miller, assistant vice
president. has been promoted to
city executive officer at the Raeford
Southern National Bank to succeed
Freddie Williams, who has resign
ed.
The change in personnel at the
local bank was announced this
week by A1 Critchett, assistant
vice-president and public relations
officer at the bank's main office in
Lumberton.
Critchett said Williams gave no
reason for his resignation, which
was submitted last week.
"This was a decision he decided
to make." Critchett said.
Miller joined Southern National
Bank in 1972 in the management
training program in Lumberton.
He became Lumberton branch
collections manager in 1972 and
Sam Noble
Sworn In As
State Senator
Sam R. Noble, a 50 - year - old
Lumberton insurance man and
chairman of the Robeson County
Board of Commissioners, was
sworn in last Friday by Gov. Jim
Hunt to fill the unexpired term of
state Sen. Luther Britt, Jr.
Britt died July 23 following a
severe heart attack. He was seeking
his fourth term as a senator
representing Hoke and Robeson
counties.
Noble was also appointed to have
his name placed on the November
ballot for the seat. He has no
Republican opposition. A member
of the county commission for 10
years, he served as its chairman for
six. The ceremonies last Friday
took place in Lumberton.
ROBBERY - A robbery by a lone gunman at Caddell's Grocery Monday
morning resulted tn the loss of about $600. A 'o one was injured, and police
investigations into the robbery are contuuung.
within about 10 or 15 minutes. A
customer leaving the store heard
Caddell raise his voice when the
trouble started, suspected that
something was wrong, and called
for police aid.
Major J.C. Barrington of the
Raeford Police Department said
they received the call at 11:10 a.m.
Police investigation into the inci
dent is continuing.
Succeed
At Bank
was transferred the following year
to Clinton as assistant loan officer
and installment loan manager.
Miller became a loan officer in
1975. and in June of 197b he was
promoted to assistant vice-presi
dent. his most recent promotion.
He has been active in the
Sampson County Civitan Club,
serving as charter president in 1974
and on the board of directors in
1975.
In addition, he has served as an
executive councilman for the Tus
carora Council of the Boy Scouts of
America and as fund raising chair
man of the Heart Fund and
Multiple Sclerosis drives.
A graduate of Appalachian State
University and the National Install?
ment Credit School at the Univer
sity of Oklahoma, he is presently in
his second year at the Credit School
at the University of Virginia at
Charlottesville.
He is marreid to the former
Martha K. Simms of Laurinburg.
and they have two children. The
Millers attend the First United
Methodist Church.
Vacation
Those of us who are addicted to
the cheeseburger at the Southern
Restaurant went into withdrawal
this week.
The Southern, along with several
other businesses in town, closed its
doors to give employees a week's
rest, coinciding with summer vaca
tion at Burlington Industries.
Burlington shut down on mid
night July 28 and will remain closed
*the entire week, according to Harry
Williamson, local personnel man
ager.
Jobless
Rate Drops
Unemployment in Hoke County
dropped one-tenth of one percent
during the month of June, accord
ing to figures recently released by
the Employment Security Commis
sion.
Of the estimated 8.830 workers
in Hoke County, approximately 870
were unemployed, leaving the Hoke
unemployment rate at 9.9 percent,
compared with a rate of 10 percent
in June.
State-wide, unemployment
climbed from 3.8 percent in May to
3.9 percent in June.
School Supervisor
Tobacco, which brings $5 million into Hoke County annually,
could be headed for one of its best seasons on record, as far as prices
are concerned.
A record high of $155 per hundredweigth was reported in
Lumberton last week on the opening day of the Border Belt, and
experts are saying prices should average about S30 to $40 higher
than last year on the Eastern Belt. North Carolina's largest tobacco
marketing area, which opened Tuesday.
"Hoke farmers seem to be generally impressed with the prices,"
said Agriculture Extension Chairman Wendell Young. "The ones
who have sold on the Border Belt seem to be impressed with the
quality and the price. Very little is going to Stabilization. Apparently
many farmers have left the lower leaves in the field."
Despite record prices, farmers point out that the cost of
production is eating up much of the profits from high sales.
"The cost of production is up 10 to 12 percent over last year."
Young said. "Fertilizer is running about the same, but the chemicals
are awfully high. The biggest cost is labor. With the increase in the
minimum wage, the cost of labor is way up."
The extension chairman said some farmers are finding ways to cut
down on the cost of production.
"1 talked to a farmer who has about 100 acres of tobacco. He said
he has been scouting his field, checking a little closer than usual for
worms, and he has oeen able to miss one spraying--at a savings of
$1,200. Other growers are doing the same thing."
Between 2,500 and 2,600 acres of tobacco are growing in Hoke
County, for an income of about $5 million. Young said. He said local
growers are selling their leaf in Aberdeen, Lumberton, Chadbourn,
Whiteville, and a few are even going to South Carolina.
The Eastern Belt, which includes Aberdeen, Carthage, Sanford.
and other area markets, opened Tuesday. Next week the Middle Belt
will open, and the week after that, all the remaining markets in
North Carolina and Virginia will be open. The Fayetteville Tobacco
Market is set to open at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Young said that about one fourth of the Hoke County crop is in
now.
"We're running a week to 10 days behind now. Four or five
farmers in the county have harvested their fields twice, but most
have harvested only once. The yield is running about average for the
county-- 1 .950 pounds per acre. That or a little beter. Tobacco
should bring in more than $5 million this year. The season looks
good so far. But a lot can happen--hail or other damaging weather.
You really have to guess at it at this point.'4
John H. Cyrus, chief of the field crops section of the state
Agriculture Department, said Eastern Belt prices should open
"pretty much in line on a grade basis" with the Border Belt.
He said it appears that about half the farmers marketing on the
Eastern Belt have left the bottom four leaves of the plant in the field,
producing a cleaner crop.
"1 know in the Border Belt most growers left the bottom four
leaves and it made a difference. It looked like the second week of
sales (opening day). It was brighter, cleaner leaf with no sand,"
Cyrus said.
The average price in the first two days on the Border Belt was
$38.79 per hundred pounds over the first two days of last year. South
Carolina markets sold 7.48 million pounds of tobacco last
Wednesday and Thursday at an average price of $124.28 per
hundred.
North Carolina produces 43 percent of all U.S. tobacco, and even
in a poor year like 1977. when drought damaged much of the crop,
tobacco was easily the leading money crop for the 270.000 North
Carolinians engaged in its production. Another 28,000 Tar Heels are
employed in the manufacture of cigarettes and other tobacco
products.
North Carolina tobacco had its best year in history in 1976 when
salos of flue-cured and burley tobacco totaled just under the
bill on-dollar mark. If expectations for this year's crop are met,
tobacco sales could surpass that mark.
Maynor Withdraws Resignation
A supervisor with the Hoke
County Schools whose resignation
prompted a special session of the
Hoke Board of Education last
Thursday has withdrawn his resig
nation.
The board had delayed a deci
sion on replacing Roy Maynor,
supervisor of instruction, in the
Thursday night session. Superin
tendent of Schools Raz G. Autry
announced Monday morning that
Maynor had elected to remain in
the S 18.260 per year-post.
He explained that Maynor decid
ed Friday to alter his plans.
"Roy and 1 sat down and talked
it over Friday afternoon. He's
committed to education in this
county." Autry said.
He explained that he thought
Maynor's decision to stay was
influenced by numerous teachers
and office personnel that had
talked with him since his resigna
tion was announced last week.
"The decision was a last-minute
thing." Maynor said. "We worked
on some things that were bothering
me. and I decided to stay." he
continued.
Autry had recommended that
Gloria Williams. Hoke High guid
ance counselor, replace Maynor in
the supervisory post.
Although the Thursday night
session had been called to deter
mine a replacement for Maynor,
the board delayed its decision
because of concern over the high
school administrative staff if Mrs.
Williams were not present at the
high school next year.
"Everyone there has been there
only a year. 1 am not saying that
they are not competent, only that
we need someone with experience
there, said R.L. Gibson, board
chairman.
Board members were told by
Autry that a decision had not been
made as to who would be
recommended for the high school
guidance post.
"We need to know who would till
that position and make it sort of a
package deal," Gibson said.
Autry told the board members
that he needed a decision because
Mrs. Williams knew the board
would be voting on the matter
Thursday night.
Board member Riley Jordan told
the board he did not beiieve Mrs.
Williams should have been told she
?as being considered for the post.
(See MAYNOR, Page 15)
$16,000 Raised Here
F or Boy Scout Camp
Over Slh.000 has been raised in
Hoke County for the Boy Scout
camp development campaign, ac
cording to Lewis Upchurch. local
special gifts chairman.
Scouting officials said this week
they plan to complete the SI. 07
million drive this month1. A goal of
S20.000 has been set for Hoke
County.
The campaign, being conducted
under the slogan "What Happens
to a Boy ... Is Forever." will
provide funds to purchase and
develop a new 583-acre Scout
Reservation in Bladen County.
The new camp will also be used
for Order of the Arrow and
Explorer programs, as well as
overnight campsite and picnic faci
lities for Cubs and their families.
Harold Wells, council president,
praised campaign leaders through
out the area for their efforts.
"We waited a long time for just
the right property for the new Scout
Camp." he said. "We were a little
apprehensive that the timing might
not be just right, but the busines
ses. parents and friends of scouting
have shown that any time is the
right time when you've done your
best and proven your services to our
young people. We really appreciate
the support we've gotten. Scouting
will be able to do an even better job
when the drive is successful."
To date, the campaign has
commitments for $925,000. That
means the drive is short of its;
minimum goal by $145,000. Those
who would like to contribute are;
urged to contact Lewis Upchurch.