I The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXX NUMBER 36 RAF.FORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLIN A
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
SH PER YEAR THl RSI) AY . JANl ARY 4. 1979
t Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
The City of Raeford was about
. closed up for New Year's Day.
? Some of the food stores were open,
but for the most part everyone took
a holiday. When the banks and
post office close down it almost
stops the flow of people into town.
So far. no violent deaths or
accidents have been reported from
Lthe law enforcement officers. This
^s news that you always like to hear
about after a holiday.
The weather was warm both
Sunday and Monday, so most folks
could get out for their favorite
pasttime. Many kids were seen
|p riding their new bicycles up and
down the streets. Traffic was light,
so they almost had the streets to
themselves.
Early Tuesday morning it started
raining and as this is being written,
it is still raining. The forecast is for
^it to stop raining in the afternoon,
^and the thermometer to drop to
around freezing.
We worked most of the day at the
newspaper office, but shut down
when we caught up late on Monday
afternoon. As the old saying goes,
.maybe we will be working and
'catching up all year.
Let's hope everyone had a fine
beginning for 1979.
? * *
In the scriptures it says "it is
^more blessed to give than to
Receive". One time of year that this
comes home to people is at
Christmas time. Santa Claus
visiting the youngsters and Mother
and Daddy standing in the corner
and watching and smiling as the
little faces beam as they look at
j^vhat Santa has left them.
" Of course as the kids grow up,
most of us early on Christmas day
gather with our families around the
tree and exchange gifts. Once again
we noticc the smile as someone gets
something they have always
i wanted, but there is also a smile on
^he face of the giver.
At other times the joy of giving is
helping a family that is down and
out and would not have had a
Christmas if it hadn't been for
some organization or group that
were the givers. You sit back and
%:ear someone tell about taking
food clothing and toys to a family
and hear of the look on their faces
and this gives you a feeling of
warmth within your heart because
you were a part of this Christmas.
Last, but not least, someone will
^.ikc it upon themselves to collect
money to buy a gift for someone
who is retired from public service or
has retired and has been a hard
worker in the community. This
happened this year for a lady who
has done much for many and has
Jiot received the credit due her
Jiecause so many never knew she
did anything for anyone. This was
the way she wanted it when she was
working for the public.
I his lady had a tough job and
she became, as many thought,
tough with it. Yes. she was tough,
% ut only on the outside; she has a
heart of gold. I have received many
a phone call from her and received
her wrath, but underneath she was
just giving me good advice. This,
she has done for many in Hoke and
r umberland counties.
^ l.ast week Rena Smith, who
forked for the Unemployment
office for many years, called with,
not wrath in her voice, but tears in
her eyes, to tell me how much she
appreciated the TV set given to her
by many people in Hoke County,
^ihe wanted me to say "thanks" to
everyone. It would be more
appropriate to have made a tape
recording of her voice as she talked
and most folks would have known
how sincere she was when she said
thanks.
This project was headed by
^I'ounty Commissioner Mabel Riley,
and to you. Mabel, thanks for
letting me be a part of this project.
The call from Kena Smith certainly
made me feel that it is more blessed
to give than receive.
* * *
Hoke High basketball team is to
be congratulated for the fine
showing they made in Raleigh last
week. It is hard to lose a game like
that.
* * * *
To the folks that have inquired
about the new shopping center on
US 401 South as of this writing we
haven't been able to get anyone to
make a firm statement about who.
what or when.
? We will pass the news along to
^t>u just as soon as the facts can be
confirmed.
County Commissioners
COG Proposal Board's Target
OPENING 1979
SHOPPING CENTER - This sign on the southwest side of U.S. 401 near St. Elizabeth 's Catholic Church south of
Raeford speaks for itself. The main office of the devebper. Syntex, is in Greensboro.
Shopping Center For City
A shopping center will be built in
1979 on the west side of U.S. 401
about a mile south of Raeford, a
sign on the property says.
But sources close to the proposed
development had few details they
could reveal this week.
The center is to be built by
Syntex Corp. of Greensboro on
property owned by Julian Wright.
The sign says the center will
contain a food store, a drug store
and local shops.
David Morgan of Syntex, re
plying to a News-Journal question
asked in a telephone call to (lie
company's office, said he could not
give details now.
He said verbal commitments had
been made by prospective tenants
of stores planned for the center but
that they had not been made
formally, in writing.
Morgan said the buildings would
cover a total of about 40.000 square
feet of floor space.
\ rumor circulating locally ii
that the food store will be a unit of
a North Carolina - based chain of
supermarkets, but since the name
of the prospect could not be
confirmed this week, it is not being
published.
He Didn 't Know Men He Knows
Are Brothers Till He R ead Story
Retired Raeford Postmaster
Charles "Charlie" Morrison served
three years in World War II with
Liston Hoffman aboard the battle
ship Alabama and has known his
brother. Joe Huffman of Raeford.
for more than 20 years.
But he didn't know till he read a
story in the December 29 News
Journal that Joe and Liston are
brothers. The story told of the
brothers meeting December 18 for
the first time in 50 years.
"I had no reason to believe there
was any connection." Morrison
said.
The difference in the spelling of
the family name would be one thing
that would prevent curiosity from
arising. Liston's name became
"Hoffman," his brother explained
to a reporter, by a Navy mistake,
which Liston got tired of trying to
get the Navy to correct.
He called Joe Huffman about an
hour after he read the story
Thursday.
"Hoffman and I were as close as
anybody could get in a group like
that." Morrison said of his World
War II shipmate in talking with
The News-Journal reporter.
Joe Huffman gave him Liston's
address in Flushing. Long Island.
N.Y. Morrison said he would write
to Liston.
Morrison and Liston Hoffman
not only were shipmates but they
worked in the same department of
the ship and lived bunk to - bunk.
"He was No. One and I was No.
Two in General Supplies." Mor
rison said. "We were in charge of
27 storekeepers and 2.? store
rooms."
They served on the Alabama
through her 1 1 major Pacific
campaigns, sailing 250,000 miles
on sea duty, from the battle for
Bougainville to the Japanese sur
render in Tokyo Ba\ September
1945.
The Alabama was in the famed
(See BROTHERS, page 15)
The Hoke County commissioners Tuesday decided to send to
planning region directors and boards, both U.S. senators.
Congressman Charlie Rose and the county's legislators letters
expressing their opposition to the proposed application tor a federal
grant for emergency medical services.
The application is being planned by the Pee Dee Council of
Governments for the 15 counties in Health Care Area 5.
Commissioner Danny DeVane made the motion, which the
commissioners adopted, that copies of letters be sent.
The commissioners at their November 20 meeting adopted a
motion to reject the proposed regional system after being told by
DeVane that, in effect, it would be a corporation with an estimated
$117,000 in administrative costs. He also said the county couldn't
afford to pay what would be its matching share of a federal grant. He
said a federal grant of $300,000 or less wouldn't warrant the
expense.
At Tuesday's meeting, board Chairman John Balfour said to put
into the letter to Pee Dee COG the statement that the commissioners
have no funds available for the project.
The letter will express opposition especially "Bltause of
administrative costs, and copies, according to the motiorf adopted,
will be sent to the directors and boards of Regions H. M. N, and O;
the Region N Emergency Medical Services Council; U.S. Sens. Jesse
Helms and Robert Morgan, in addition to Rose, the congressman for
the Seventh District; State Sen. Sam Noble and the three state
representatives of the district in which Hoke County is located; and
Dr. Sarah Morrow, secretary of the State Department of Human
Resources, which would administer the federal funds for the EMS
program.
The discussion started after Balfour read a letter from Pee Dee
COG regarding the EMS 1203 application. The letter said in effect
COG needs a letter stating the Hoke commissioners support of the
project and intend to provide matching funds.
Then DeVane said his position was the same as it was when the
commissioners were asked to adopt the resolution opposing the
project.
"But they're still going ahead" with spending $52. 000 in federal
planning funds. "COG is just using the money to pay the staff," he
said.
He also said the Scotland County commissioners also have
disapproved the project, objecting to the administrative costs.
DeVane said later that COG last year spent $47,000 in similar
funds on a project that was subsequently turned down.
In other action on emergency sen ices, the commissioners later in
the meeting adopted a resolution agreeing that the Hoke County
Rescue Squad would respond to emergencies in the three other
counties in Region N. The squad had adopted the resolution, the
commissioners were informed.
The rescue services of the counties have been providing mutual aid
as the occasions arise but Robeson and Scotland counties put the
agreement in writing in a resolution adopted December 5. Balfour
informed his fellow commissioners. Bladen is the other county in
Region N.
The resolution savs the counties agree to respond by dispatching a
vehicle to the scene "regardless of geopolitical boundaries."
The resolution does not concern non emergency vehicles.
The commissioners in other business adopted a motion advancing
Frances Cox a step in pay when she becomes acting director of the
county Department of Social Services. Ms. Cox. the department's
administrative.secretary. will serve in the position when Director Ben
Niblock goes to his new job of director of the Johnston County Social
Services Department. His resignation becomes effective Monday but
he was quoted as saying he would spend a few days at the Hoke office
before he leaves.
The motion provides that Ms. Cox will return to her
administrative secretary's position at that position's pay when a
permanent director for the Hoke department is appointed. The
county Board of Social Services voted at a meeting Friday to approve
the arrangement concerning the directorship and Ms Cox.
The commissioners also at their Tuesday meeting, their first of the
new year, adopted a motion approving payment of the county's share
of the Nutrition Program for the Elders'. The share is $1. 83b. 78 of
(Sec COMMISSIONERS, n^e 14 >
Significant Economic Changes Came
Hoke's Year Of '78 Reviewed
The year I^B in Hoke County
was a story of economic downs and
ups. with the ups ahead at the end
of the year and their chances
looking good for 1 *57*).
It also was a year of major
changes in local government.
Some bOO people were left with
out jobs when the Raeford plant of
Summerfield Industries closed
February 20.
But the following fall. Faberge.
Inc.. one of the world's major
manufacturers of cosmetics,
deodorants, perfumes and colog
nes. started production in the
former Summerfield building. It is
expected to replace up to half the
jobs lost by Summerfield's closing.
At year's end. Hoke County also
was awaiting word from Russ Knit
about where its new plant would be
built. A site in Hoke County and
one in Sanford was being con
sidered.
A restaurant, a pharmacy, a
sewing center, and a real - estate
firm arrived in Raeford. and a sign
appeared on U.S. 401 south of
Raeford near the end of the year
announcing a shopping center
would be built there in l*T9.
In agriculture. Hoke County's
farm income generally was ex
pected lo have topped in 1978 the
previous year's.
In local government, the county
gained a new manager (James
Martin) in mid ? January, and
Raeford gained a new city manager
(Ronald Matthews) later in the
year. The county was informed in
November it was losing its social
services department chief (Ben
Niblock). He is leaving Monday to
start work in the same position in
Johnston County.
In politics. 1978 was an election
year. Sheriff David M. Barrington
was returned to office for a new
term. Democrat Mabel Riley
became the First woman to be
elected a Hoke County commis
sioner. She also was the only new
member elected to the county
board.
The November elections put two
new members on the county board
of education.
On the tax front, the Raeford
city property tax was set at the
previous year's 57 cents per SI 00.
The county commissioners were
considering a proposal to raise the
county rate to 97 cents, which
would have been five cents higher
than the 1977.78 figure. About C>0()
citizens signed a petition protesting
the proposal, and the commis
sioners set the rate at the previous
year's level and cut the budget to lit
it.
In July. Raeford held Open
House in her new Fire Station.
Jane Sellars is Miss Raeford of
l^"^. She is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. W.C. Sellars and is
majoring in speech and drama at
Greensboro College. Miss Sellars
was crowned the night of December
30 in the Raeford Javcees' first
annual pageant. Seven girls com
peted for the title.
Hoke County got a new county
manager when 1978 was only three
days old. James Earl Martin, a 32 -
year - old native of Bladen County,
was appointed by the board at the
board's regular meeting for Jan
uary. He was named to fill the
vacancy created by the death
November 8. 1977, of T.B. Lester,
the county's first manager.
Mrs. Peggy (John C.) McDiar
mid of Raeford is the winner of the
1977-78 Dr. R.A. Matheson Nurs
ing Scholarship at Sandhills
Community College. The schol
arship is awarded annually to the
Hoke County resident accepted for
the college's nursing program who
is judged most deserving to receive
it. The scholarship was started in
1973 by anonymous Hoke County
donor and named in honor of a
beloved Raeford physician
Clyde David Shepley of Ht. 2.
Raeford. has been elected president
of the Freshman Class at Wingate
College, the college announced in
January. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Raymond Shepley.
Federal funds for development of
the Raeford Municipal Airport
could be denied if the city doesn't
give businessmen the opportunity
to operate the airport The City
Council was told this January 5 by
representatives of the Federal
Aviation Administration.
The night of January 9, the
council granted Gene Vance, owner
of Vance Aircraft Sales. Inc.. a
lease allowing the company to sell
aircraft and give flight training at
the airport. The lease was made
temporary till a permanent agree
ment could be made.
The Raeford Jaycees at their
annual Awards Banquet the night
of January lb announced these
young men the winners of the
organization's highest honors:
Burnett Coleman. Faith in God:
Billy McNeill. Outstanding Young
Farmer. Robert V. Lee. Outstand
ing Young Law Officer; and Steve
McNeill. Outstanding Young
Educator.
The Board ot Hoke County
Commissioners agreed at its
Januar\ lo meeting to inspect a 50 -
acre site west ot Raeford proposed
tor development as a county park.
It the board approves the site, the
counts Recreation Commission will
start negotiating to buv it. A total
of $25,000 in county Revenue
Sharing funds has been allocated
I'or development of the park, and
the commission hoped to get an
equal amount from the U.S.
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to
go with the county money for
development .
The late County Manager T.B
Lester was announced as 1977 Man
ot the Yearot The Raeford Kiwanis
Club at the club's annual Ladies'
Night dinner held January I1). The
cup symbolic of the honor was
presented to Mr. Lester's wife.
Mrs. Lorena Lester.
The State Department of Trans
portion's most recent seven ? year
plan calls for w idening to four lanes
from two U.S. 401 from 7 1st High
School to the Raeford bypass.
James Turlington, principal of
(Sec "78 HI VII W. page 14)