% The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME XXX NUMBER 46 RAEFORD. HOKE COl MY. NORTH CAROLINA
- journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8PKR U;\R THURSDAY. MARCH 15, 1979
k Around
Town
BY SAMC. MORRIS
The other night listening to the
weather report on television it
deemed from the conversation of
the newscasters that "Spring had
Sprung." So Monday morning this
writer was prepared for the singing
of the birds and the budding of the
flowers and trees as he started to
work. This was not the case at all.
toThe thermometer showed that the
leather was below freezing outside
and when I started to drive off all
the windows were iced up on the
car.
This was also the case Tuesday
morning as far as the car was
Nioncerned. It seemed that the
temperature was just about at the
freezing point. The days are warm
and it is hard to expect ice on your
car in the morning.
The long-range forecast seems to
be that Spring is "just around the
^orner."
? ? ?
The basketball games Sunday
left Carolina and Duke fans some
what bewildered. Both teams lost in
^he regionals at Raleigh and this
Tias caused a tremendous commo
tion at Greensboro. Many fans
want to sell their tickets for the
reginal finals and hotel and motel
reservations are being cancelled.
So it is not only the fans that are
^ipset because of the upsets.
? * ?
The annual combined men of the
church supper was held at the First
Baptist Church last week. The men
were entertained by the Hoke High
gfhorale and it was an excellent
program, after being fed a turkey
supper by the ladies of the Baptist
Church.
One thing that occurs at this
meeting is to see wflWh church has
the most present from their church.
fhis year after a count by the
resident of the Baptist men,
Ashwell Harward and the tallying
by the pastor of the church, the
Rev. Billy Beaver, the Baptists
came up with the highest attend
ance.
^ The reason for mentioning about
^he count is that when someone
asked for a recount it seemed to
have been overlooked. The count
came out to about seventy present
but later in the week the Rev. Mr.
Beaver told me that over ninety
plates were served.
? So you men that ate two plates
and were counted twice, fork over
another $3.50.
All joking aside, it was a fine
affair.
? * *
^ Williams (Whistle) Gulledge who
now lives in Kansas City was by the
office last week and it brought forth
much conversation about old times.
He is visiting his brother and sister.
Jesse Gulledge. and Susan Gul
?:dge Long. William left here with
he National Guard in 1940 and
after the war settled in Kansas City.
He was born and raised here and
finished school here in the 1930s.
Berder Niven and Whistle were the
night attendants at Graham's Serv
ice Station when it remained open
Ivor 24 hours a day.
Being retired doesn't seem to fit
his nature as he was talking about
going back to Kansas City and
getting a part-time job. He said
that he still wanted to see a few
-more friends before returning this
peek.
William is like my brother. Spec,
when he comes in from Texas.
There are not as many friends left
in Hoke County as when they left in
1940. Just like themselves, many
have moved away and of course
ijime will take care of others.
~ It was good to see him. as it is all
the old gang, and we hope for him
many happy days during his retire
ment.
* * *
^ Since Vardell Hedgpeth has
moved his office next to the
newspaper office every once and a
while we observe an insurance
adjuster talking with some car
owners who has a bent fender or a
ft-ill crushed in. Then on other
Occasions we hear two car owners
talking about a run together and
both finding fault with the other.
This occurs before the adjuster
arrives.
Last Thursday morning two men
and a woman were in front of the
fr(See AROUND TOWN, page 1 1)
Chamber Board Endorses Community Plan
+ + + + + + *
Fund Drive Continues
Douglas Baker Day Set For Friday
by Cavsie Wasko
A fund-raising effort, begun here
Saturday, is gaining momentum as
local residents learn of the plight of
a Raeford youth.
Mayor John K. McNeill signed a
proclamation Monday designating
Friday Douglas Baker Day in
Raeford. The proclamation cites
Doug's dedication to his work and
community and will be a part of an
intense effort to raise funds Friday.
Douglas (Doug) Baker. 20. son
of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Baker, is
suffering from a long-term illness
that has sapped the family's fi
nances. The illness was discovered
last May, the family said.
Doug remained in his job as a
city employee until he became
unable to work in January. Since
that time, costly treatments at N.C.
Memorial Hospital and stays at
Douglas Baker
Moore Memorial as well as the
need tor a hospital bed and oxygen
tanks in the home have caused
costs to sky-rocket.
Doug was born and raised in
Hoke County, and. over the years,
he has accumulated many friends
here.
"Doug is one of the most
unselfish peoDle I have ever known.
Shortly before press time
Wednesday, The Henv Journal
staff learned that Douglas
Baker died in the early morning
hours. Funeral arrangements
are incomplete at this time.
He has given numerous hours to the
community," Larry Long of radio
station w?hB. said.
A 1976 graduate of Hoke High.
Doug has been active in the North
Raeford Volunteer Fire Depart
ment and the Raeford Jaycees.
"He joined the Jaycees last
year." Robert Pecora. Javcee in
ternal vice-president, said. "He
helped with our Haunted House
project last fall."
. Doug is also an active member of
Pittman Grove Baptist Church.
"Doug is one of my favorite
people. He is a real fine, dedicated
young man." Raz Autry, superin
tendent of schools, said.
City Manager Ron Matthews
said. "I found him to be a
personable young man who seems
to enjoy being with his fellow
workers. He has a good sense of
humor."
Matthews also said that Doug
has given many hours to his
community through the North Rae
ford Fire Department.
In a presentation last Wednesday
O'Neal Leaving
For Jones Post
Freddie O'Neal has resigned as
an agent for the Hoke County
Agricultural Extension Service to
join the staff of the Jones County
Agricultural Extension Service
April 1.
O'Neal sent a letter of resigna
tion dated March 6 to the Hoke
County commissioners with copies
also addressed to County Extension
Chairman Wendell S. Young and
County Manager James Martin.
His letter said he was resigning to
become livestock agent.
O'Neal has been serving as
livestock agent and also working
with 4-H clubs in Hoke since July
14. 1975, after graduating from
North Carolina State University the
the previous month.
He is a native of Hyde County on
the coast and is married to the
former Miss Ginger Wall, a native
of Garner, near Raleigh. Mrs.
O'Neal is working for Carolina
Power & Light Co. at its district
office in Southern Pines.
Young said Monday morning an
agent to till the vacancy being left
by O'Neal hadn't been found yet
but is being sought.
O'Neal's letter says. "I would
like to thank you all for the support
that you have displayed in the past
for the Agricultural Extension
Service."
O'Neal will be working from the
Jones Extension offices in Trenton,
the county seat. Jones County is
near the coast and due east of
Hoke.
Soldier Dies On Sports
Parachute Jump
A Ft. Bragg soldier died March "
in a sports parachute jump over the
Raeford Airport area after neither
of his parachutes opened.
He was identified by a Ft. Bragg
spokesman as SFC Thomas Van
Buren. 31. of Barrington. N.J.,
serving with the John F. Kennedy
Center for Military Asssistance at
the post. His off-dutv residence was
702 Roxie Ave.. Fayetteville. *
Hoke County Sheriff David Bar
rington reported Van Buren jump
ed with three other sports parachu
tists from a single-engine plane
about 2:30 p.m. from an altitude of
about 7.500 feet.
The main "chutes of the others
opened at about 3.500 feet but
neither Van Buren's main nor
reserve 'chute opened and Van
Buren hit the ground in woods on
Lacy McNeill's farm about a mile
east of the airport.
The body w as sent to Chapel Hill
for an autopsy to be made by the
staff of the State chief medical
examiner Dr. Page Hudson, to
learn whether a sudden illness had
prevented Van Buren from opening
either of his 'chutes after he
jumped.
Barrington said Van Buren's
death was the third suffered in
parachuting in Hoke County in the
past eight years. He said Van
Buren was a veteran of more than
100 jumps.
Dr. Robert G. Townsend Jr. of
Raeford. a Hoke County medical
examiner, went to the scene of the
death in response to a call from the
sheriffs department.
State Tax
Collections
Here $73,257
Gross collections of the state's 3
per cent sales and use tax
amounted to $73.257.99 in Jan
urary. the State Department of
Revenue reported recently.
The collections were made on
retail sales totaling $3,192.%!.
The previous month's collections
in the county totaled S55.859.37
from gross retail sales of $2,693.
395.
RONALD L MATTHEWS Ci*r
VAKOIkL HtOOPCTM J*
J?MII ? McLloO
Sam C MoMii
CI iy or R4tf CRD
P O so* SOS
RACFORO NOHTH CAROLINA 2B37S
PROCLAMATION
John Douglas Baker lay
City of Raeford
Marci U.t 1979
?HER*.***.', John louglas Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Llwood Bak*r,
Koute 3? Bex 31- is a lifelong resident of Hat-ford and Hoke County; and
WHEREAS, John Douglas Baker, better known as Doug 3aker, is
employed by the City of Kaeford; and
VHEHEAS, John Douglas Baker has served faithfully the citizens of
Kaeford while enployed by the City of Raeford; and
WHEREAS, John Louglas Baker has given nany hours of his tine ana
effort in service to his coaaunity, especially with his voluntary firesan's
work with the North Kaeford Fire Lepartoent; and
WHEREaJ, The City of Kaeford and surrounding cosuaunities would like
to t-onor hio with his own special day.
Nl.W Thr.REFOKE, I John K. McNeill, Jr. ty virtue of the authority
ve.i1? d in mo as Mayor of Raeford l?rcty proclaim K-jrch , *M79 ao John
lochias (Doug) Baker Lay in Kaeford, North Carolina. I do further call
u.K-n all citizens of kaeford and surrounding communities to give their
support and honor to Loug Baker on ll is day.
. IllNEC this i?th day of Ward *'*"9.
CITY < V RAEFCHi
t John K. McNeill, Jr., Vayor
V /I I.
hVr.uid L. Matthewal City Manager
night. Doug was named honorary services to the fire department.
fire chief by the North Raeford Fire The drive for funds began last
Department. Firemen presented a weekend when two local women
plaque in appreciation of his (Sec BAKtR, page II)
State Figures Drop
Annual Jobless Rate
Increasing Here
Although the unemployment rate in Hoke County has been dropping in the
last lew months. Stephen Benkosky of the local Job Services office reports an
over - all increase of 2.1 perecnt in the rate during the past three yeats.
While the unemployment rate in January stood at 7.7 peicent, a decrease
fiom the Decembei late, unemployment lieie is still higher than in many uicas
of the stale
Since I*>7f->. many surrounding counties have recorded an annual decrease
while Hoke has increased its unemployment rate each year. Benkosky said The
state rale since 1076 has decreased from an annual average of h.2 percent to
4..? percent lot l*'78. The 7,"? percent rate foi January is lower than an\
annual late since ll>7(v
Annual Unemployment Rate
ll>7(, |077 ' |')7S Change
Cumberland 7 0 7,(> hi) 1.0
Hoke 7 >) 0?> |0.0 up : I
Moore 5.4 ,?.x -2.1>
Robeson I0.S 10.0 70 .2 4
Scotland., 0.8 h.2 4.5 OJ
State b.2 5.') 4.3 |0
The Board of Directors of the
Raeford-Hoke County Chamber of
Commerce Tuesday morning en
dorsed the North Carolina Gov
ernor's Community of Excellence
Program.
The purpose of the program is to
help communities become more
attractive for the location of indus
try and related economic develop
ment.
The objectives are to help indi
vidual communities become better
prepared for industrial and eco
nomic development; and to provide
the state's Economic Development
Divisions and their allies a better
inventory of communities to bring
the attention of industrial firms
seeking new plant locations.
The designation of a Community
of Excellence is evidence that a
community has improved its com
petitive position. "However." the
state-prepared brochure on the
program adds, "the designation if
based upon achievement in certain
categories, not competition with
other communities."
The brochure adds, "No promise
is made that the designation as a
Community of Excellence will re
sult in the location of a new
industry or the expansion of an
existing firm.
"The Department of Com
merce's pledge to a Community of
Excellence is that special attention
and promotion efforts will be given
to these towns and that the
Department will work in partner
ship with a Community of Excel
lence to achieve their goals of jobs
and investments."
Earl Fowler, manager of the
chamber, said the chamber will
recommend a joint Raeford city
and county effort, with the cham
ber to implement the program with
its manpower and "expertise."
First, however, he said, the cham
ber will recommend that the city
council and the board of countv
commissioners approve it.
Fowler said the program already
is being implemented by the carry
ing out of the chamber's revitaliza
tion program, started more than a
year ago.
He said the chamber in connec
tion with the program also will
recommend that all through truck
traffic be re-routed so that it would
no longer use Main Street. The
plan would not apply to local
trucking.
Fowler said the chamber also is
supporting a move by Danny
Morrison to go into a salvage
business which would remove junk
autos not only from Hoke County
but from any community in the
state which requests the service.
Federal aid in obtaining equip
ment to compact junk cars could be
obtained.
The compacted cars would be
shredded in Kernersville and their
types of metal separated. Most of
the classified metal would be
recycled for use by auto manu
factures and tor export, he said.
I he chamber is endorsing the
plan from the environmental stand
point. Fowler added. He said the
Raeford-Hoke chamber will en
courage other chambers to act to
clean their communities of junked
vehicles.
He said the hope was to have a
shredder here in two vears. so the
recycling process could tie con
ducted in the countv.
Sheriff \ Jailer, Prisoner Hurt,
But Not Seriously, In Jail Fight
Hoke County Sheriff David Bar
rington said Monday he. a prisoner
and a jailer were injured, but not
seriously enough to be hospitalized
in a scuffle at the county jail
Thursday.
He said they were treated by a
local physician and released.
District Court Judge Joseph Du
pree on Friday continued prayer for
judgment for the prisoner. Frank
Tyson. 42. of Harmony Heights
Trailer Park, Rt. 1. Raeford. on
charges of trespass and assault on
an officer pending a pre-sentencing
diagnostic study, not to exceed 90
days, at the South Central Diag
nostic Study Center at McCain.
The sheriff said he suffered a
fracture and a dislocation in his
right hand when he punched Tyson
on the back of the head during the
struggle in the corridor of the jail.
He said his blow jammed one of his
knuckles and made a fracture
across a finger between the knuckle
and the first joint.
Tyson suffered a cut near the left
eye when Deputy Sheriff Guv
Hardman hit him with a blackjack,
the sheriff said. He said the doctor
closed the cut with two stitches.
Jailer George McGuire needed
several stitches to close a cut near
his left eye. the sheriff said. He said
McGuire suffered the laceration,
and a black eye and other bruises
when Tvson struck him with his
first three or four times about the
head.
The warrant charging assault on
an officer was signed by McGuire
Thursday.
After the judge issued the order
in District Court Friday, Tyson was
returned to the county jail to await
transportation to McCain within
the next two weeks.
The sheriff said the scuffle
started about 3:45 p.m. in the jail
corridor. He said Tyson "jumped"
McGuire as McGuire was returning
him to his cell from the visitors' box
after Tyson had been with a visitor.
He said Tyson grabbed McGuire
around the head and. holding it
under his arm started hitting
McGuire with his free fist.
The sheriff said he, Hardman,
the Chief Deputy Alec Norton
rushed to help McGuire when they
heard McGuire calling for help.
Since McGuire had the keys to the
jail with him, the other officers had
to come through the juvenile
section.
Hardman grabbed one of Ty
son's arms. Tyson kicked one of the
sheriffs legs, and the sheriff hit
Tv on in the backside with a knee
and punched him once on the head.
Barrington reported.
The sheriff said Tyson was not
knocked out. He said the officers
used no more force than necessary
to subdue him.
The sheriff said Tyson is about 5
feet 9 inches tall, is wiry in build,
and weighs 155 to 160 pounds.
He said Tyson originally was
from the West Indies and came to
Hoke County from New York.
The trespass charge was issued
February 28 against Tyson for
allegedly going on the property of
(See SHI RIFF, page 11)