Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / April 12, 1979, edition 1 / Page 1
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<:77eu??> ^ The Hoke County News - Established 1928 VOLUME XXX NUMBER 50 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA r - journal The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905 S8 PER YEAR THURSDAY. APRIL 12, 1979 " Around Town BY SAMC. MORRIS ft* The weather was a little wmdy over the weekend but otherwise it was perfect. With Easter coming up Sunday maybe the cold weather will disappear for a few months. According to reports it was kinda rough in other parts of the country. ^Snow and ice in the north and ?tornadoes in Arkansas and Texas. So I guess we can consider our selves lucky here in Hoke County as far as the weather is concerned. ? * * Ken McNeill, chairman of the >loke County Democratic Execu tive Committee, said this week that precinct meetings would be held at the polling places on Thursday night, April 19 at 8 o'clock. Officers of the precincts will be elected and delegates to the County convention. McNeill said that he wanted to advise precinct leaders that they must have 10 voters present before they can hold the meeting. This is a requirement in the plan of organ ization. If 10 are not present, then they will have to hold a meeting the %'ollowing Thursday night at the same time and place. The delegates to the county convention this year will elect officers for the county organ ization. So it is very important for all good Democrats to go out on #J~hursday. April 19 to the polling place and exercise their rights as voters. If you can't attend, then go see your neighbors and urge them to be present. * * * i ^ The Easter Sunrise service spon: "sored by the Hoke County Mini sterial Association will be held at 5:44 Sunday morning at the Hoke High School stadium. The message will be brought by the Rev. Billy Beaver, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Special music will be *|irovided by choirs of local churches. So set your alarm clocks and be at the stadium. * * * The following letter was received last week and is self-explanatory: Dear Mr. Morris: 4 Thank you for the great assis tance you provided us in the publicizing of "Spring for Sure!" You were there each and every time we needed you for articles. I can appreciate how valuable your time and the time of your staff is and ^jfiow often we may seem to take the newspaper for granted. Please know how much 1 do appreciate your help, your newspaper and the time you and your staff gave in assistance. Brenda Edwards I ho old Btry F' National Guard reunion will be held again this year at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston. S.C. It will be held on July 13. 14 and 15. Letters have been mailed to the members whose Addresses are known. The members that went down last year had a fine time and we are already receiving checks from the letters that were sent last week. In one letter that came back was a suggestion that the widows of ^ripembers be invited to attend the reunion this year. There are a number of widows here in Kaeford and I know that all members would be glad to have them at the reunion. If you would like to go. please get in touch with Graham Jvlark. Sam Snead or yours truly for tfll details. If you were a member of the Battery at any time and would like to attend, please contact any of the above for information. The more people we have at the .te union. the more fun it will be. % Hope to see you there! Sale Set By jyiusic Club . The Music Booster Club will hold a yard sale Friday and Saturday at Edenborough Shop ping Center. The proceeds will be given to all ^gusic groups. Donations for the sale may be sent to the Hoke County High School Music Department or Joyce's Beauty Shop. Clothing, household items, toys, including tricycles and bicycles, handmade, filled Easter baskets. '*d homemade baked goods will be offered at the sale. It is the club's final project for the present school year. BOE Votes To Retain Sutton by Cassie Wasko BOE MEETS The Hoke County Board of Education adjourned at 2 a.m. Tuesday after personnel matters stretched the regular monthly meeting into a seven-hour session. From left to right are Bill Cameron and Mina Townsend, board members, Riley Jordan, chairman; Raz Autry, superintendent of schools; Ruth McNair and Walter Coley, board members; and J.D. McAllister, assistant superintendent. Drivers Warned Of Holiday Traffic The N.C. State Motor Club, estimating 20 people may die in traffic accidents on North Carolina highways over the long Easter week-end, urges motorists to "Drive at 55 and Stay Alive." Police Chief Leonard Wiggins said that the Easter holidays are usually quiet here, although he does urge local motorists to drive with caution when traveling during the long weekend. "I would not like for a Hoke Countian to be included in those fatality figures predicted by the state motor club," Wiggins said. Official observance of the holi day will be over a 78-hour period from 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, until midnight Monday. April 16. Last year 23 persons were killed on Tar Heel highways during a similar period. Through March, the North Carolina death toll stands at 325. The same time last year. 337 persons had been need lessly been killed on N.C. high ways. Three people have died in traffic in Hoke County this year. Violations at the top of the list contributing to accidents are speed ing driving under the influence, failing to yield and unsafe move ment. "Traffic will be unusually heavy, as always, during this Easter* holiday," Peter F. Vasko, Director^ of Public Relations of the statewide motor club, said, "and we urge motorists to drive with extra care and redouble their efforts to ob serve traffic safety rules as follows:' Obey the 55 mph speed limit law Guard against drinking alcoholic beverages when driving. Use safety belts. It only takes half a minute to buckle up. Avoid peak periods. Travel dur ing the non-rush hours. Drive defensively at all times. "This will help insure your loved ones and the loved ones of the other drivers a safe and happy Easter," Vasko stated. Greater compliance with the 55 mph speed limit law not only saves lives but also makes a vital contri bution to President Carter's energy conservation program. Prisoner Charged In Fire At Jail An inmate at the Hoke County Jail was charged with malicious damage to county property after he allegedly set a mattress and blanket in his cell afire early Monday morning, David Barrington, Hoke Woman's Assailant Tries To Nab Child A local woman was struck in the head and the assailant attempted to nab her 2l-month-old child when she answered a knock at her door early last Thursday evening. Police Chief Leonard Wiggins said. Patricia Hill. 139 Chilton Drive, Raeford. told police that she and her son. David, had been to Mack's Variety Store where her husband. Ronnie Hill, is the manager. Mrs. Hill and the child returned home alone shortly before 7 p.m. She told police that she entered her home, locked the door, and had gone into a back room when she heard the front door knob turning. Assuming it was the child pluving at the door, she paid no attention . Shortly after returning to the living room, she heard a knock at the door. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a 13 or 14-year-old male who held his right hand behind his head. Wiggins said. "I am taking a survey on families." he said, and at that time'. (See ASSAILANT, page 13) Easter Sunrise Service Planned The Rev. Billy C. Beaver of First Baptist Church will deliver a special Easter message at the Hoke County Easter Sunrise Service in the Hoke High School stadium Sunday. Sunrise is due at 5:44 a.m. If the weather is adverse then, the service will be held in the high school gymtorium. A special Easter Gospel will be read. r Choirs participating in the ser vice will be those of Ephesus Baptist Church of Arabia, whose pastor is the Rev. Richard Dowless; and the Hoke Civic League. Among the special selections will be "The Three Nails." . There also will be singing by the congregation. The Rev. Milton Williams and the Rev. W.K. Mitchell will par ticipate with the Easter speaker. The members of the Easter Sunrise Committee are the Rev. Paul Strassle of St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, chairman; Dow less: the Rev. Thomas Hoogerland of the Parker and Sandy Grove United Methodist churches; and the Rev. William L. Burnett of Phillipi Presbyterian Church. Father Strassle said: "We hope that the Hoke Area community will fill the stadium for the greater honor and glory of the Resurrected Christ, the Son of God. All believers in God are urged to attend and encourage others to attend. If each person reading this article will tell someone else, this stadium will be filled. This is not a denominational service: it is strictly a Christ - centered service." The service is being sponsored by the Raeford Ministerial Associa tion. Beaver is association presi dent. County sheriff said. Jasper Chavis. 19. who had been picked up on a driving-under-the intluence charge, was incarcerated at 11:45 p.m. in an isolation cell. Heavy smoke was noticed in the corridors of the cell block around 12:30 a.m. The Raeford Fire Department quickly extinguished the smoldering bed clothes and, with the use of fans, had cleared the smoke out of the cell block in a matter of minutes, Barrington said. Chavis was charged with damag ing county property in excess of $200, and Barrington said that cleaning and painting will have to be done to repair damage done by the smoke. The fire was started with either matches or a cigarette lighter, and Barrington explained that although bed clothing in the jail is flame retardant. it does smolder and put out heavy, black smoke. The smoke did not seep into any of the other cells. Barrington said. "1 want to thank the fire department for their alert action in extinguishing the blaze." Barring ton said. Easter Holiday Easter Monday is a holiday for Hoke County. Raeford city and state government employees, but federal employees will he at work as usual that day. Faster Monday is an official state holiday in North Carolina but is not an official national holiday. The county commissioners will hold their regular mid - month meeting at ":30 p.m. Tuesday, instead of on Monday, because of the holiday. Churches plan special Faster services Sunday A countywide sunrise service will be held in the Hoke High School stadium. Sun rise will come at 5:44 a m. Sunday. In case of adverse weather, the service will be held in the high school gymtorium. Schools will be closed Faster Monday through Wednesday for Easter holidays and spring vaca tion. The vacation was to have lasted for the full week following Easter, but the loss of school days due to snow will be made up the end of next week on Thursday and Friday. The Hoke County Board of Education voted Monday night to retain Ernest Sutton in the position of assistant superintendent and reject a letter of resignation submitted by him Monday. Sutton has spent 25 years in public education. 12 of those years in the Hoke school system. Superintendent of Schools Raz G. Autry and Assistant Superintendent J.D. McAllister were awarded four-year contracts and Sutton a two-year contract in a seven-hour session, one of the longest meetings in the history of the board of education. Following a three-hour and 40-minute executive session, the board voted 3-0 to renew Autry's contract for four years, with Bill Cameron abstaining from voting. The board granted Ernest Sutton the two-year contract although Sutton's salary and travel expens^ were written out of the budget proposed for the coming year. Sutton had submitted a written resignation Monday, citing the lack of funds in the budget for his decision to leave the local school system. He told the board in his letter that if funds were provided for his position, he would remain. Tuesday morning. Sutton said he had no comment to make about the board's decision not to accept his resignation. Autry claimed that Sutton's funds were written out because Carsie Denning with the state board said Sutton could no longer be paid with state funds as maintenance supervisor for the school system because he was over-qualified. Autry said that Sutton's salary would have to come from local funds if the position were continued, although only $6,669 in state funds is paid for the .maintenance position. Autry told the board that, by law, he was required to make a recommendation to the board as to the length of Sutton's new contract. Autry cited the law, and board attorney Bill Moses agreed with the superintendent's interpretation. Autry claimed that Sutton's position could not be justified since he could no longer serve as maintenance supervisor. He told the board that the state paid for that post, therefore the total salary paid Sutton would have to come from local funds. Sutton's salary ^his year would be $26,736. In the past. Sutton has received $3,000 in travel expenses and retirement. Social Security payments, and hospitalization expense total $4,136.08. The $6,669 in state funds are contributed through the state-paid maintenance position. Autry is considering Joe Soles, attendance counselor, for the maintenance post. Autry told the board he could not justify Sutton's appointment as a purchasing agent because the system is not large enough. He said the job could be justified by sending Sutton to Washington. D.C.. to find federal money. "Did you not say earlier (during the executive session) that Sutton would save the county money." Cameron challenged Autry. Autry agreed that he made that statement. Jordan then asked Autry if he did not tell the board that Sutton's salary would cost the county money, and Autry again answered in the affirmative. He said that he did not know if Sutton could justify his salary in savings to the school system. Cameron, after verbally volleying with both Jordan and Autry, made a motion that the board re-hire Sutton for a period of two years after Autry told the board he could not justify recommending the position. The vote was 3-1 to retain Sutton in the position and grant him a two-year contract with the county making up the $6,669 lost in state funds. One board member, Mina Townsend, voted no. Autry told the board that 80 percent of Sutton's salary could be taken from the existing budget. Sutton was approved for a position with the state board of education in Raleigh in the transportation department beginning July 1. Approval for hiring Sutton in the state post was given last Thursday when the state board met. School Calendar The board voted to use a school calendar drawn up by the superintendent's committee after hearing a written request from the local Farm Bureau to start school after labor day. The board appeared to be leaning toward a calendar drawn up by a teacher committee, although that calendar put the first day of school on the Wednesday before Labor Day. That calendar could be am mended for school to start after Labor Day if necessary. Cameron, a farmer, requested that the board be considerate of the farmers and their need for school-age employees in putting in the tobacco crop. Cameron told the board that, last year, farming was a $20,000,000 industry here and he thought they deserved considera tion. Riley Jordan, board chairman, broke a tie vote, and the calendar that would begin school on September 4 was accepted. Both calendars provided that the last day of school be June 6. 198(). Teacher's Contracts Terminated The board voted to terminate the contracts of two local teachers and approved a roster of teachers to be given tenure. A teacher is put on tenure at the end of three years'of satisfactory work, and at the end of any of the first three years, the teacher may be terminated if performance is not satisfactory. Two first-year teachers. Brenda Holmes and Beatrice Freeman, were recommended for removal from their teaching positions. The action came after the second executive session of the evening that was about 45 minutes in duration. The contracts were terminated by unanimous vote. Tenure was granted the following teachers: Sally Mac Johnson, Janice Worthy. Helen Woodard. Jane Rockwell, Sandra Home. Pamela J. Hudson. Sharmane Butler. Ethelyn Baker. Pete Piestrak, Iris Locklear. Ann Ross, and Audrey Dunkley. Action on teachers from Hoke High was delayed because information from Earl Oxendine. Hoke High principal, was not available due to the recent death of Oxendine's father. Board members agreed to review teachers from the high school in a special meeting next Tuesday night. Other Business In other business, the board voted to hire Thomas Felton Jones at Hoke High. Jones will be an assistant football coach. Janice Brock was approved as an interim trainable mentally handicapped teacher (TMH) for Upchurch Junior High, and a new teacher. Davis, was hired for Turlington Elementary. The board also voted to eliminate the postiion of library co-ordinator. but Phyllis Hall, who currently holds that position, w^yld remain as a school librarian at the same salary she now draws, Autry said. The board approved the implementation of a summer lunch program open to any. child up to age 18 regardless of income. "If we don't take it, some outside agency will," Autry told the (See SUTTON, page 13)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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April 12, 1979, edition 1
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