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The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXXII NUMBER 51 RAF.FORl), HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA
journal
25
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S8FKR YfcAR
THURSDAY. APRIL 16, 1981
Legislature's Joint Budget Group Approves Plan
McCain To Be,
Cut But Will Stay Open
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
I hope that the upcoming week
end is like the one that just past.
The weather would be perfect and
this would bring a big turnout tc
the churches on Easter Sundav.
The temperature reached around
ninety degrees Sunday.
As this is being written Monday
morning, the sky is overcast and it
would be a relief to all of us if the
rain would come. It is about as dry
} as I ever remember for this time of
year. Usually you hear people say.
"that it is too wet to plow!" This is
not the case this year, and it would
take a lot of rain to keep the
tractors out of the fields.
* ? *
Caroline Parker was by the office
last week and brought me an article
about the North Carolina Sym
| phony Chamber Orchestra. She
was wanting to help promote the
ticket sale for their scheduled
appearance on May 14th. Monday
morning she called and said not to
run the article because the Sym
phony would not appear in Raeford
this season.
The news out of Raleigh was that
the funds for this year were
$500,000 below the anticipated
revenue and that thev had can
| celled further engagements for the
season.
Miss Parker did say that the
orchestra would be here next year
or next season .
* * *
I don't think that coffee will be
served, but if you are an early riser,
you can attend the Easter Sunrise
Service at the Hoke High Stadium
on Easter Sunday, April 19 at 5:40
I a.m. The service is sponsored by
the Hoke County Ministerial Asso:_
ciation and the message this year
will be delivered by Dr. John Ropp,
pastor of the Raeford Presbyterian
Church.
Now for you people that will
attend and are not early risers, be
sure to take a coat or a blanket,
because it is cold about the time the
sun comes up.
If you have never attended a
. sunrise service, it will be an
" experience well worth your time in
more ways than one.
* * *
I like to play golf, but to see the
pros putting at the Master's tour
nament in Augusta, Ga. and some
rolling from one side of the green to
the other made me say, "I wouldn't
want to play there."
i
I noticed in a daily paper
Monday that the census for Hoke
County gave the population as
20,383. In 1970 the report showed
that the figure was 16,436. This is
a gain of 24%.
The final figures for the City of
Raeford should be made available
before too long.
^ * * ?
An editorial running in this
week's paper was written because
of a comment made to me by a
parent of this community that has a
child in the school system. The
parent called to say she was glad
the paper would stand up and say
what they did in the editorial that
. started on page one of last week's
f paper. She stated that she would
like to say the same thing, but was
fearful of what would happen to her
child in school.
I told her she didn't have
anything to be afraid of and
doubted her thoughts, but it was
horrifying to me that she would
even think anything like that. She
said she was not the only parent in
the county that felt that way.
This is a sad state for the parents
I to be in and they should know that
they can say what they want about
the schools without fear.
? ? ?
A call from Mrs. Ren a Smith
Monday morning from a Nursing
Home in Moore County was good to
receive. She had something good to
; IU about the paper last week and
| wehave always valued her opinion.
McCain Hospital will stay open,
though smaller in operation, for at
least two more years, unless the
General Assembly does the un
expected this session.
Thursday morning, the Legis
lature's Joint Base Budget Com
mittee on Appropriations by a
heavy majority voted favorably a
proposal drawn up by area legis
lators that would reduce the hos
pital's total number of beds to 1 15
from the present 150, State Sen.
Sam Noble, informed The News
Journal by telephone from Raleigh.
The plan calls also for cutting 54
employees a year for the next two
fiscal years, of the 249 currently
employed. But Noble said the first
layoffs won't become effective till
next October 1, instead of at the
July 1 start of the 1981 - 82 fiscal
year. Thus, he said, it is hoped that
the reductions in the staff will come
about naturally, by retirements and
by resignations.
Noble said that the McCain
proposal, bearing the committee's
approval, was expected to be
approved by the State House and
Senate floor votes. The proposal is
part of a package of legislative
budget proposals for 1981-83.
What the Legislature will do about
McCain in 1983 cannot be foretold
now, he indicated.
Noble said that the proposed
reductions in the number of beds
and of the staff were concessions
Qf Proposed 401 Four-laninsr
Cumberland Board
Hits Cost, Priority
The Cumberland County Joint
Planning Board last week criticized
the high priority State Department
of Transportation officials have
given the proposed four - laning of
the U.S. 40'.? bypass between
Raeford and 71st High School in
the southern edge of Cumberland
County.
The planning board questioned
these points about the projects.
The project would cost $14.5
million, it has been estimated. It
runs 1 1 miles from the junction of
U.S. 401 bypass and 401 business
west of Raeford to the present end
of the four lane 401 east of 71st
High.
It has been given a high priority
by the state highway officials. The
priority level has been criticized
also by Cumberland County of
ficials, including commissioners.
The cost of the project the
planning board expressed concern
about because state highway fund
ing's end has appeared. Two
members of the planning board
also said they consider the pro
posed median's 46 feet as too wide
and, consequently, too costly, for
the road.
Board members agreed in gen
eral with the contents of the letter
sent by Cumberland Planning De
partment Director Cliff Strassen
burg to state officials. The letter
recommends the officials look at
the project again, including route
changes near Lake Rim which
would have the road bypass the
lake to the south.
It also points out that the state is
using a design intended for vehicle
speeds of up to 70 miles per hour
ihough today's top limit is 55.
The planning board is scheduled
to adopt at its April 21 meeting a
resolution containing the criticism.
The 401 project is included in the
DOT's Transportation Improve
ment Program for 1980-86. Ac
quisition of rights of way is
scheduled for the fiscal year 1983.
and if funds are available, con
struction is scheduled to start in
fiscal 1984.
Grand Jury Indicts 3 On Drug Charges
Thl> kill- T-k ?" "
The following true bills of in
dictment were returned last week
by the Hoke County Grand Jury.
Mike Melton, Rt. 3. Raeford,
drug trafficking by conspiracy to
manufacture 2,000 pounds or more
but less than 10,000 pounds of
marijuana with William C. Dur
ham. Donnie Ray Anderson.
Randell S. Smoot.
Daniel Eric Jones, 18. Rt. 1,
Raeford, possession of more than
one ounce of marijuana.
John Bradley Gordon. 19. Rt. 3,
Raeford. possession of marijuana
with intent to sell and possession of
Methaqualone with intent to sell.
Willie Ray Huggins. Rt. 1,
Shannon, second degree burglary,
at the mobile home of Margaret
Small early July 12, 1980.
Robert Wayne Damewood. 31.
Raeford, lewd and lascivious act
with a child.
Jasper Chavis. 21. Rt. 1, Shan
non, assault with a deadly weapon
with intent to kill inflicting serious
injury by stabbing Junior Lee
Jones.
Henry James Morrison. 26, Fay
etteville, breaking and entering and
larceny.
Anson Avery Maynard. 38. Rt.
2. Raeford. possession of stolen
goods (six counts), larceny, and
accessory before the fact of
felonious larceny.
Stephen Patrick Ross. 18. Rae
ford. felonious larceny.
The jury returned no true bills of
indictment on charges of armed
robbery against Robert and Mavis
Sturdivant of Rt. 1. Raeford.
Check Charge
Against Rep. Locklear Dropped
Worthless-check charges against
State Rep. Horace Locklear of
Pembroke were dropped April 3
after Locklear made the S2.000
check good the previous day.
Locklear was charged with
writing the check to Lacy Collins,
operator of Collins and Son Milling
Co. of Maxton. Collins had taken
out the warrant in November.
The case was scheduled for trial
in Scotland County District Court
March 27 but was continued to
April 3 to give Locklear time to
raise the money to make the check
good. Locklear said March 27 the
charge resulted from his having
written a personal check last fall in
connection with his part ownership
of First American tobacco ware
house. He said he wrote the check
because a $40,000 mortgage on the
warehouse was due early this year
City, Hoke,
State Offices
Closed Mon
Except for federal employees,
including those on the Raeford Post
Office staff, Easter Monday will be
a holiday for all Hoke County and
Raeford city government workers,
including state employees.
The Courthouse and other coun
ty government offices and City Hall
will be closed for the annual
holiday.
The schools will be closed from
the regular end of classes Friday till
the regular time of starting classes
the morning of April 27, though the
"official" Easter vacation will run
from Monday through April 24.
Mail services will be offered as
usual, including window service, by
the post office on Easter Monday.
Easter Service
The Easter Sunrise Service spon
sored by the Raeford Ministers
Association will be held in Hoke
County High School Stadium start
ing at 5:40 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. John Ropp, pastor
of Raeford Presbyterian Church of
Raeford, will bring the Easter
Message.
The congregation will be wel
comed by the Rev. George Mc
Keithan, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist
and the warehouse's money was three members of the State House Hoke. Scotland, and Robeson
wanted to meet the mortgage of Representatives who represent counties. He is serving his third two
payment. Locklear is one of the the 21st District, "which consists of . year term.
_ n? ? ? ?
STORES AHEAD This sign on the northwest side of the U.S. 401 south bypass at Cole Avenue Extension tells
of two major stores coming to the planned new Raeford-Hoke Village shopping center. Food Town announced its
plans last year to have a store built at the center. Eckerd s planned store was learned of recently. Up to six locally
owned stores are also planned for the center, which will be built by Edens A McTeer. Inc.. of Columbia. S.C..
after financing arrangements are completed. I he site covers 7.9 acres, and the cost of construction has been
estimated at SI. 4 million. [Staff photo by Pam Frederick |.
Easter Basket Drawings Saturday
The drawings of prizes in this
week's Easter Promotion of the
Raeford Merchant's Association
At 5:40 A.M.
Church, and the opening prayer
will be led by the Rev. Kelly
Wilson, pastor of Raeford United
Methodist Church.
The offering prayer will be given
by the Rev. B.V. Childress of the
Church of God, and the benedic
tion by Father Paul Strassle of St.
Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic
Church.
Bev Tillman of First Baptist
Church will direct the choir.
will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at
Michael's, 109 S. M^in St.
This will be the four Easter
Basket drawings. The winner of
each drawing will receive five prizes
valued at a total of S25 and >30.
People may register for the
drawings in advance at any one of
the businesses which has con
tributed prizes, and these are listed
below with the prizes being offered.
The Easter Basket showing the
prizes is on display in Michael's
show window.
The four groups of prizes and
their donors arc:
First winner -- a pair of jeans,
R<ScR Outfitters; a sport shirt,
Michael's; a wheelbarrow Easter
basket, Pope's; a pair of roller
skates, Jane's Variety.
Second winner -- dress shirt.
Howard Clothers; sun dress. Rae
ford Outlet; baby basket, Medicine
Shoppe; hand bag. Shoe Chest;
and sewing chest, Howell Drug.
Third winner -- Polaroid camera.
Hoke Drug; blouse. Cato's; free
roach extermination, Enviro -
Chem Exterminating Co.; a gift
certificate for spark plugs. Auto
Parts; and a serving tray, Kinlaw's.
Fourth winner ?? dressing gown.
Theresa's; calculator, Western
Auto; pocketbook set. Pauline's
Fashion; Western shirt, Raeford
Outlet; and spoon ? and - fork wall
hangers. Gifts from Holland.
the participating legislators had to
make, in offering the alternative to
the base budget subcommittee's
recommendation made in March
that the hospital be closed entirely
within the next biennium. by
phase-out.
He said the vote favoring the
compromise plan was "over
whelming." Noble also said that
State Sen. Robert Jordan of Mt.
Gilead, the Senate's base budget
committee chairman, gave "a lot of
help" along with members of the
delegations representing the dis
tricts which include Hoke and
Cumberland counties. Noble men
tioned State Rep. David Parnell
and William Gay of the 21st House
District, which includes Hoke. He
also reported that State Sen.
Russell Walker of Asheboro, who
had favored closing McCain, spoke
in favor of the compromise plan to
keep it open. The architects of the
"save McCain" plan, as it was
called, were Noble, Parnell, Gay,
Jordan, and Moore County State
Rep. James Craven. All but
Craven, a Republican, are Demo
crats. The McCain plan was part of
a legislative budget package pro
posal.
Also among those favoring the
lan were Cumberland legislators --
tate Rep. Don Beard quoted as
saying after the 100-member Base
Budget Committee voted, "I don't
think anyone was really against
McCain. He is a member of the
committee.
"No one (on the committee)
wanted to close that in particular.
It was just a dollar - and - cents
thing." he added.
The subcommittee had reported
closing McCain, the last of the
three state specialty lung - disease
hospitals, would save the state SI. 2
million this year and $2.3 million in
the next.
(In March, however, a number of
the staff of the State Department of
Human Resources, admitted at a
Raleigh meeting that he found
information he had given the
subcommittee and on which the
subcommittee had based its
recommendation was erroneous.)
Beard said Thursday "it's not in
the best interests of the patients to
close (the hospital) right now."
Noble said the reduction in the
number of beds to 115 would save
the state $392,874 this fiscal year,
and $545,716 next year.
The compromise is equal to a
12.2 per cent cut in the hospital's
budget this year and 16 per cent
next year. Those cuts are "more
than our share." Noble said,
referring to General Assembly
leaders' requests of legislative com
mittees to provide a six per cent cut
from this year's budget.
Hoke County and Raeford cit\
officials, and the Raeford - Hoke
County Chamber of Commerce and
other private organizations and
individuals had requested state
officials in the weeks before the
Joint Base Budget Committee acted
to make a decision on McCain only
on the basis of accurate infor
mation. Earl Fowler, executive
director of the chamber, attended
I hursday's committee meeting.
Among the requests to keep
McCain open w as a petition signed
by more than 5.000 people
throughout the state.
John Watson, administrator of
McCain, said Thursday after the
committee voted. "We are de
lighted thai they have confidence in
us to keep us open."
Information obtained by Fowler
contradicted the erroneous in
formation given the base budeet
subcommittee and the subcommit
tee's statement that McCain's tu
berculosis and other respiratory
disease patients could be treated at
community hospitals.
Information obtained by Fowler
was that many McCain I B patients
are sent by community hospitals
because the latter are unable to
treat them: that many community
hospitals are not equipped to
provide the isolation a patient with
IB. a highly contagious disease,
requires and McCain now provides
I B drugs to counts health dc
partments. and the hospitals
budget provided $313,039.28 in the
1979-80 fiscal year and will have
paid an estimated $380,000 the
current fiscal >car which ends June
30 for these drugs. Watson had
said in an interview with The
News-Journal that his cost would
continue even if McCain were
closed.