The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXX NUMBER 20 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1978
Around
Town
B\ SAM C. Morris
Several years ago the turn to
cooler weather meant that you had
and thVil* heatin? s>stem checked
and the heat would come on early
" the mo"}}n8 and this meant that
the cost of living would rise. This is
not quite the case now because the
from ,u?? ?g
the air conditioner. Maybe the cost
than th? |W be somewhat higher
humiH H Lnc bil1' but if the h?t.
?aTbr ?T|| ep as they are now
h ?f ??. or two extra at the
d of the month wouldn't be too
bad if it would cool off.
th?pyn 3y the *eather is miserable
these days and with the football
weaXr8?'"8 gear cooler
^7" ? needed. So let's hope
that a break will come before long^
? ? *
Someone wa'ked into the office
Monday and said that the cry was
now. -Stop the Yankees? Of
SeJIh I y r? that this has
been the cry for about all my life
RuTfh si"ce. the days of Babe
Kuth the Yankees have ruled the
roost most of the time.
They haven't taken over the too
M r1, bu!. if they do 't will be
hard to catch them. It must have
been a sad time in "Bean Town"
this week after New York swept the
four - game series.
* ? *
The Bucks came through in their
home opener last Friday night with
a victory over Clinton. According to
reports a large crowd was on hand
fans WaS r??m f?r Some more
Friday night the Bucks will meet
Lake wood High School from
County at the high
clock starting at 8:00
Go out and help the Bucks win
game number two for the year.
* ? *
The parking lot between Edin
borough and Elwood avenues has
something new added. Signs have
been put up and they have
Entrance and "Do Not Enter"
on them. Of course most of the
folks can read now and they go the
right way and enter and leave the
ot by the right road. This is that
f pkItd *?,?n Elwood Avenue is
for ENTRANCE only.
There are a few individuals I see
going the wrong way that can read
because they buy a paper every
week and they can't be getting it
just for the pictures.
So try t0 think and {hc kj
wmWfo II V3fer P'aCe everyone
will follow the arrows.
The City Council met for the
second month in the new City Hall
council room and it is a fine place
to meet. With the addition of the
soft chairs for the council mem
bers. it is almost a pleasure to serve
9n the board. Of course when a
controversy comes up it doesn't
make much difference where you
are meeting or what kind of chair
you are using.
An open house will be held in the
near future but 1 know any of the
employees would be glad to show
you the new building.
* * *
Monday night at the council
meeting the man from the Cable
vision company was asked about
the channels that were not working.
He stated that lightning had struck
something that had knocked them
out but that a part was being flown
in from California and it would be
installed as soon as it arrived.
Tuesday morning before coming
to the office to write the column I
turned on the TV and all channels
were back on the air.
Now to all the folks that com
plained to me about the TV being
out; it is on, but your complaints
were small compared to my wife's
complaint after missing all the old
movies last Sunday afternoon.
You can't win!
? ? *
ft
Have you been on the road by the
Civic Center recently and seen the
new Scout Hut that is on the lot in
front of the center? The lot has
been cleaned and with the instal
lation of water the scouts will move
in. Of course the Kiwanis club
(See AROUND TOWN, Page 15)
At New Cosmetic Company
Oct. 15 Target For Production
-
Playing Numbers Game
Some military jets tlew low over Margaret
Johnson's Rt. 1, Raeford home Tuesday after
noon -- so low that the turbulence of the aircraft
caused the tops of pine trees to sway. She decided
to call Fort Bragg and Hie a complaint.
Two weeks ago Col. E. W. Bush told a group of
Hoke County citizens in the courthouse that tree
- top flying off the military reservation was
against Army policy. He told them to call
396-6100 and file complaints if they saw low -
flying jets.
And what happened when she called the
number?
"They gave me the run - around," Mrs.
Johnson said. "They told me I wasn't supposed
to call that number and gave me another one. 1
called it, and there was no answer."
She dialed the original number again, the one
Col. Bush released. They then gave her another
number, 396-0808, which turned out to be the
office of Col. Bush.
"A very nice man told me that I'd been given
the wrong number," she said. He took her name
and phone number and said someone would get
back in touch with her.
She waited. No call. She waited some more.
Still no call. Then she decided to try the original
number again. This time she was given a
patriotic speech in an uncivil tone about how
"they," meaning the military, were protecting
the country and the flights were absolutely
necessary for national defense.
"Everywhere I called, they passed the buck,"
Mrs. Johnson said. "As far as Col. Bush is
concerned, he apparently hasn't notified his
people to expect any calls from Hoke County."
And the story might have ended there on a
sour note had it not been for Maj. Jim Lester,
who returned Mrs. Johnson's call later in the
day. He told her he had had to wait for a WATS
line (a toll free line) and apologized for the delay.
She also talked to a Maj. Hatcher.
"They were both very nice and courteous," she
said.
They told her that the number Col. Bush
released was a valid number but it wasn't as
effective until after 4:30 in the afternoon. During
the day 396-6100 is the number for the General
Headquarters, they told her.
The majors said they had talked to the pilots
who had flown over Mrs. Johnson's house. Maj.
Lester said the pilots were clearly in the wrong.
They are not supposed to fly so low off the base.
He said they had been using a bridge on the Vass
Road for sightings and apparently had not been
doing it right. In the future, he said a landmark
in the Timberland - Montrose area of the county,
a less populated area, would be used in training.
Mrs. Johnson asked for telephone numbers
that could be called during the day to lodge
complaints, and Maj. Lester gave her three:
396-7702, 396-4402, and 396-561 1 . He said these
numbers should be called between 7:30 a.m. and
4:30 p.m.
Board Transfers Franchise
The Raeford City Council voted
Monday night to transfer the cable
television franchise to Jones Inter
cable, Inc., which will carry three
additional channels without in
creasing the rates.
The proposal had to pass two
readings. The board approved the
transfer at its August meeting, and
this week's vote made it official.
At the August meeting, company
representative Doyle Graves said a
movie channel, a 24 - hour
Christian station, and Channel 17
from Atlanta (a 24 ? hour
independent), will be added to the
system.
The movie channel will be op
tional, he said, at a cost of between
S7.50 and S8 a month.
Councilman Sam Morris said he
had had IS phone calls since last
Friday about cable vision. A spok
esman said lightning struck a
microwave unit, and that's why
service was disrupted over the
weekend.
In other business, the council
approved a request from Chamber
of Commerce Manager Earl Fowler
for S5.000 in city funds. Fowler
said the money will be used "to
improve the economy throughout
the county" by recruiting industry
for the area. The county pledged
$10,000 to the chamber for fiscal
78-79.
'I don't feel like it's a contribu
tion. Think ofit as an investment."
Fowler said.
"1 think the chamber has done a
heck of a job," said Councilman
Bob Gentry. "It played a big part
in getting this new industry (Rae
ford Manufacturing)."
"The chamber is doing as much
as possible for the City of Raeford,
and I think we need to back them,"
said Councilman Vardell Hedg
peth.
Councilman Sam Morris cast the
one dissenting vote, saying that the
request should have been made
before the city budget had been
approved. He pointed out that the
request was SI, 000 higher than
anticipated.
The board approved a re -
organization of city government
proposed by City Manager Ronald
Matthews. As part of the plan, Bill
Sellars was made Director of Public
Voting Deadline
Rose Sturgeon. Hoke County
Supervisor of Elections, reminded
voters this week that the deadline
for registering to vote in the
November 7 general election is
October 6.
She said voter registration has
been rather slow and urged eligible ,
voters to register so they can
participate in the election.
Works. He was also named Acting
City Manager and will handle the
duties of the office if Matthews is
absent.
Mrs. W.K. Morgan was appoint
ed to a 5 - year term on the Raeford
Housing Authority and was sworn
in by Mayor J.K. McNeill. Jr.
Barbara Ross, new executive
secretary to the city manager, was
introduced to the board. A Hoke
High graduate, she will also assist
the mayor and councilmen.
The board approved several
recommendations concerning the
city cemetery proposed by Lew
Brown of MICA, the town's con
sultant. The changes are designed
to increase revenues in the opera
(See CITY COUNCIL. Page 15)
FATALITY James Tucker, a 15 ? year - old Hoke County youth lost his
life Thursday night when the bicycle he h as riding was struck by this car.
Cecil Jacobs. ofRt. 2. RaeJ'ord. was the driver, according to a report by the
highway patrol.
Car, Bike Collide
Cyclist Loses Life
Charges are pending in a bicycle
- car collision that claimed the life
of a 15 ? year - old Hoke County
youth on a rural road Thursday
night, according to State Trooper
R.V. Lee.
James Arthur Tucker of Rt. 1.
Shannon, was pronounced dead at
the scene after the bicycle he was
riding was struck by a car on rural
paved road 1456 three miles east of
Raeford about 9 o'clock Thursday
night.
Lee said the bicycle was traveling
north in the southbound lane
without lights when a car driven by
Cecil Jacobs. 20. of Rt. 2. Raeford.
approached from the south and the
two collided. Investigation into the
accident is continuing, Lee said.
The accident marked the eighth
traffic fatality in Hoke County this
year.
Also killed in a traffic accident
this year was Spec. 4 Timothy A.
Potter, 19, of Ft. Bragg, who died
August 28 when his Volkswagen
slammed into the rear of a logging
truck in front of the Big Star Tnick
?
Stop on Highway 401 about eight
miles north of Raeford.
Lawrence McCollum. 59. died
following a one ? vehicle accident
on RPR 1409 six miles north of
Raeford on July 5. Four young
passengers were thrown from the
rear of the pick - up truck
McCollum was driving, although
they sustained only minor injuries.
June 22. Lennori Harris. 22. and
his two infant daughters. Shanna,
age 2 and 7 . month - old
Christopher, were killed when Har
ris lost control of his car and it
overturned on a rural Hoke County
road about a mile and a half from
the Cumberland County line.
Kevin Chavis. 2 ? year ? old son of
Linda Chavis. was killed instantly
when he was struck by a pick ? up
truck in the driveway of the Chavis
home May 20.
A head - on collision between a
truck and a car on Highway 401
north about eight miles from
Raeford claimed the life of Arian S.
Tesfamarian of Dayton, Ohio,
March 23.
Kaeford Manufacturing Corporation, a new cosmetics firm here,
has set October 15 as the target date for production, it was
announced Tuesday morning at a breakfast meeting of the Raeford ?
Hoke Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Manager Earl Fowler told the board of directors that the
new company is "moving rapidly."
"They're adding 75,000 additional feet to the old Summerfield
plant." he said. "It will give them over 400,000 feet of space."
He told the group that the company will have nationwide
distribution and will export through Wilmington. The company has
openly expressed support for the community and plans to participate
in a civic - minded way in local affairs. Fowler said.
It is projected the firm will hire 300 workers within 12 months of
production. Among its products will be drugs, cologne, antiperspir
ant and body lotion.
Raeford Manufacturing bought the vacant Summerfield textile
plant in June and has been remodeling it to suit its needs.
Summerfield was the second largest employer in Hoke County at the
time of its closing in February, and unemployment here has risen
over 11 percent in its absence.
Although there has been much speculation, there has been no
official word on who is behind Raeford Manufacturing. Announce
ments about the company have been made through the local
chamber of commerce, which company spokesman say was
instrumental in their decision to come to Raeford.
In other business at the meeting. Fowler repeated his pledge, as a
private citizen, to seek an injunction in federal court if a Military
Operations Area (MOA) is charted in Hoke County before local
citizens have seen the environmental study which the military is
required by law to conduct.
He said opposition to the air zone is "a matter of principle."
"I question the right of federal authorities to force the rules of big
government on people without due process," he told the board,
saying, as he did at a recent meeting, that he has no personal feud
with the military.
The zone has been the subject of several public meetings here,
during which local residents have voiced objections to it. A new
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation requires high
speed military jets to fly in designated air space if thev flv below
10.000 feet.
In the past the jets have flown in holding patterns over Hoke
County with little restriction while on support missions for ground
troops on training maneuvers at nearby Fort Bragg.
Military spokesmen have said air support is vital to the training
program, but local residents are afraid that, in spite of assurance to
the contrary, activity will increase in the zone once it is drawn and
the resulting noise from the aircraft will hurt the economy.
The environmental report should be ready in the next few weeks,
military spokesmen have said.
Chamber President Neill McFadyen said the board of directors
has gone on record opposing the zone.
The chamber board adopted a 536,000 budget for the coming
year. The county put up $10,000, and the city contributed S5.000.
Another $9,000 comes from license fees, and projected membership
fees total $12,000.
Beginning this week newcomers to Raeford will receive a "Move to
Raeford" packet from the local chamber of commerce. The packct
contains information about the city and county and gift certificates
from local merchants. Bobby McNeill is chairman of the project.
Fowler said Peter Bachelor will be reporting on a revitalization
study for downtown Raeford soon. The $11,000 study w as financed
by the City of Raeford. Bachelor is an instructor at the N.C. State
University School of Design.
Hoke County Manager James Martin and City Manager Ronald
Matthews were special guests at the chamber meeting. Both are
relatively new to this area. Matthews assumed his duties here in July,
and Martin joined the county in January.
The managers said they are impressed with Raeford and Hoke
County and wholeheartedly support the efforts of the chamber of
commerce. They pledged to work together for the welfare of the
area.
Board Votes To End
Jr. High Football
The Hoke County Board of
Education voted Monday night to
end the interscholastic football
program at Upchurch Junior High
School beginning in the 1979-80
school year.
Raz Autry, superintendent of
schools, told the board that his
recommendation to bring an end to
the program was based on a
scheduling problem. There are not
enough schools participating in
junior high football to warrant
having the program, Autry ex
plained. He told board members
that the school had only scheduled
six games this year, although the
season will not end until November.
There will be several weeks during
the season when the Upchurch
team will not have a game due to a
lack of participating teams, Autry
said.
The possibility of building two all
?purpose buildings, one at West
Hoke School and one at Scurlock,
was also discussed.
Autry told board members that a
teacher survey indicated a need for
these buildings. Each building
could be used as a gymnasium, an
auditorium and provide a place for
physical education when the
weather was too bad for outside
activity.
Board Chairman R.L. Gibson
said he did not want to make a
t
decision on the proposed new
structures because of the upcoming
election.
"Before the next budget session,
the board will have at least two new
members." Gibson said. He ex
plained that it should be their
decision. Autry proposed re
questing $320,000 in Revenue
sharing funds for the construction.
No action was taken on the matter.
A roster of new employees was
approved, including the hiring of
the first blind teacher to teach in
the Hoke system. Leigh Goodrum
of Cary will be teaching children
with learning problems at J.W
McLauchlin school.
William E, Heath, a Hoke
County resident, requested by letter
that his children be allowed to
attend school in Moore County.
Heath told the board in his letter
that he is a widower and after -
school care facilities were more
readily available in Aberdeen. The
request was approved for one year
because of the hardship involved.
In other business, the board
agreed to have the proposed sewer
easement run behind the high
school instead of in front of the
campus as was originally proposed.
An accident policy and a child
abuse policy were also approved in
the Monday night session.