25
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The Hoke County News - Established 1928
VOLUME LXXIV NUMBER IS RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
journal
25
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
$8 PER YEAR
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1982
Around
Town
BY SAM C. MORRIS
The weather is still hot and
summer has another month to go
this year. I have seen September
hot, too.
TTie rains have held off for the
past two days, Sunday and Mon
day, but the forecast is for partly
cloudy skies the remainder of the
week.
Anyway you can read about the
rainfall for the month of July
elsewhere in the paper.
? * ?
We are always glad to receive
renewal notices back with a check
in the envelope. Every once in
awhile a note will be attached to the
check and it makes you feel good
when they write something good
about The News-Journal.
Last week a note was attached to
the renewal check of Mrs. E.C.
Wall, nee Geraldine Wright, of
Knightdale. Mrs. Wall is the
daughter of Mrs. Crawford Wright
and the late Mr. Wright.
The note is as follows:
"I enjoy The News-Journal very
much every week. I want to thank
you for the good work. Although I
have been gone from Raeford for
many years, I am able to keep up
with my friends by reading the
Journal each week and I still feel a
part of the old home town."
Thanks Geraldine for the nice
note and the next time you are in
the county visiting your mother,
stop by the office and say hello.
Last week I ended this column by
stating I was going to the World's
Fair. This I did last Sunday
through Wednesday on a bus with
many othert from Hoke County.
We departed Raeford at 5:10
Sunday morning and stopped in
Statesville for breakfast. Then on
to the resort and tourist center of
Gatlinburg, Tenn. for lunch. After
lunch a time was given for the
ladies to shop and then we ended
the ride for the day at a motel in
Concord, Tenn. about 12 miles
west of Knoxville on Interstate 40.
The bus left for the fair Monday
morning at 9:30 and this gave us
time to arrive for the opening of the
gates at 10 o'clock. The bus
returned at 3 p.m. and then came
back to the fair at 6:00 and
returned everyone home at 11 after
the fireworks. The schedule for
Tuesday was almost the same as
Monday.
All the comments about how you
couldn't have a good time at the
fair could be true. Of course if you
went there with a negative attitude,
this would be the result for you. 1
would ask anyone that is going, to
go with a positive attitude, because
there will be plenty of negative
things. But I would say go.
The theme of the fair is on
"Energy" and of course most of the
countries feature this in their
exhibits. You should expect this in
a World's Fair.
Many countries go beyond the
theme and these are well worth the
expense and time to go to the fair.
The exhibit from China is well
worth the trip and the time you wait
in line to view this wonderful
display of things from China.
The Japanese exhibit is outstand
ing and features the robot theme,
besides the energy theme.
The United States has a three
story building and the things that
are assembled there cai...ut be
expressed by this writer. They are
from the start of our country up
until the present time and your
children would be amazed at the
old plows, steam engines, etc. that
are featured
There are many more exhibits by
countries and by businesses that
can't be mentioned here, but are
well worth your time to see.
The long lines, hot sun, rain and
crowds in the exhibits are all
negative, but what you see is well
worth these negatives.
So go to the fair and enjoy the
fellowship of your friends from this
country and other places.
? ? ?
When I told a lady at the North
Carolina exhibit that she didn't
know where Raeford was located,
she replied, "Do you know Joe
Stanley?"
Of Hoke County Commissioners
Mill Prong Restoration
Aid Is Asked
The Hoke County commissioners
Monday were asked to give finan
cial help to the restoration and
stabilization of the historic Mill
Prong House nine miles southwest
of Raeford on SR 1120.
The Commissioners adopted a
motion to add consideration of the
request to the agenda for their
mid-month meeting of August 16,
and favor of helping was expressed.
John Balfour, chairman of the
board of county commissioners,
told Charles Hostetler, president of
Mill Prong Preservation, Inc., that
it will be "more to the benefit" of
Mill Prong for the commissioners
to wait before taking action. The
mid-month meetings start at 7:30
p.m.
Hostetler, in asking for a com
mitment, didn't mention a specific
sum. Ruth McEachern, secretary
of the Mill Prong organization, and
Edward F. Turberg of Wilmington,
the Mill Prong restoration con
sultant, told the commissioners
work must be done on the house to
preserve it.
Mrs. McEachern told the com
missioners that "we are in danger
of losing it." She also said no one
has lived in it for 40 years.
Turberg said that, among other
things, the chimneys need some
stabilization and re-cornering, the
house needs to be jacked up so the
foundations can be stabilized and
work needs to be done on wood
SUMMER GRADUATES ? These Hoke County High School students
graduated Friday in a commencement held in Principal Lenwood
Simpson s office. Simpson presented them with their high school diplomas.
They look the summer school courses after being unable to complete the
requirements for graduation during the regular school year. The summer
graduates are. seated. LR. Ricky McNeill. Carl Slate. Florine Smith, and
Angela Blackshear; and. standing. L R. Kenneth A. McNeill, Wayne
Simmons. Hilly Slade. and Bernard Bridges.
portions of the exterior. He said
also that over the years tendrils of
vegetation that had grown up has
worked into exterior crevices.
Hostetler said some repair work
has been done on the house with
money provided from other
sources. As one example, he said
the roof has been given tar paper to
keep the rain from entering the
upper rooms.
Hostetler gave the commissioners
a written statement of funds re
ceived and an explanation of the
organization and purpose of Mill
Prong Preservation.
The donations include:
--A total of $6,000 from in
dividuals and corporations of
Hoke, Scotland and Robeson
counties, the counties which are
participating in the restoration and
preservation. Mrs. McEachern said
$1,500 has been given by indivi
duals of Hoke County. This does
not include donations made by
corporations.
-The Z. Smith Reynolds Foun
dation of Winston-Salem $15,000
last May, (voted by the founda
tion's trustees).
-The National Trust for Historic
Preservation, another private or
ganization active throughout the
United States in preserving build
ings and sites of architectural and
historical significance, gave $500
last fall.
Hostetler's written statement
points out that the National
Register of Historical Places has
placed this property on the list of
Historic Sites, and a plaque was
presented several years ago to the
preservation group.
Mill Prong Preservation by John
Gilchrist, who came from his native
Scotland and settled in that area.
Turberg said construction work
ranged periodically from 1790
through 1820. Gilchrist died in
1802.
He told the commissioners the
National Register saw significance
in the fact that the house had been
built by an immigrant from Scot
land rather than by a descendant of
an immigrant. The house also has
architectural significance and is
valuable also for the quality of
workmanship, he added. He said it
is a rare example of the archi
tecture of what was then the
western frontier.
Mrs. McEachern pointed out,
also, that the Scots constituted the
largest single national group from
Europe to settle in this area.
Turberg said that he was in
terested in learning who the
craftsmen who made the details of
the house were, as well as the name
of the principal builder. He said the
craftsmen must have been local
people. He also said during his
report to the commissioners that
one room contains the original
paint applied in 1802.
Turberg said the grant of land on
which the house was built was given
by George II of England in 1730
(not to be confused with George
III, England's ruler in the years of
the American Revolution).
The other officers of Mill Prong
Preservation, a nonprofit corpo
ration, are Mary Virginia Mc
Fadyen, vice president; and Wil
Florence Ree McCray Reported Missing
Florence Ree McCray, 38. of 509
E. Prospect Ave., Raeford, has
been reporting missing, the Rae
t'ord Police Department said Tues
day morning.
The department was notified by
her mother, Mrs. Annie Butler, of
Rt. 1. Raeford.
6.4 Inches Of
Rain In July
July brought b.4 inches of rain to
Raeford. which is about 1.9 inches
more than normal for the month.
Robert Gatlin, local observer for
the National Weather Service, re
ported Monday.
He said the total for the same
month last year was 7.55 inches,
but in July 1980 it was 2.75. and in
July 1979, it amounted to 3.45.
The rainfall for this past June
totaled 4.86 inches.
Mrs. Butler said the last word
she had from her daughter came at
11:30 p.m. Sunday when Mrs.
McCray telephoned her.
Flore/icc Ree McCruy
Detective James Murdock said
Mrs. McCray was in good physical
and mental health when she dis
appeared and that is was unusual
for her to leave home and fail to
report for work.
He said she has been living with
her children, ages 18. 16 and 6. and
working at the House of Raeford.
He said she failed to report to work
at her regular time Monday after
noon. The children are staying now
with their grandmother.
Mrs. McCray has a medium
brown complexion and a dark spot
on her right forehead near the
temple.
She is about 5 feet 2 inches in
height and weighs about 135
pounds. She has brown hair and
brown eyes.
Anyone who has seen her or
heard from her or has any informa
tion of her whereabouts is advised
to telephone the Raeford Police
Department.
liam S. McLean of Lumberton,
treasurer.
? * ?
In other business at Monday's
session, the regular monthly meet
ing of the commissioners, the board
adopted a motion to arrange a
meeting of "all interested parties"
on the hours of operation and other
matters concerning the Raeford
Hoke County landfill. The "in
terested parties" include the Rae
ford City Council. The meeting was
scheduled tentatively for 8 p.m.
August 16 but Balfour indicated
this is subject to change if not
convenient for the city council.
? * *
The commissioners voted to ap
point to the Lumber River Council
of Governments Employment and
Training Advisory Committee as
Hoke County's representatives Ann
Pate, Carolyn McKoy, D.S. Car
thens, and Harold Gillis, recom
mended by Vickie M. Tate. COG
manpower administrator.
The commissioners decided to
table until the August 16 meeting
appointments of four members to
the Hoke County Parks and Rec
reation Commission. Ann Pate,
director of the commission, sub
mitted recommendations but the
postponement was agreed on to
allow time to consider appointment
of a Rockfish representative on the
commission, in view of the fact that
Rockfish is developing a recreation
program.
DRA WING FIRST WINNER ?? Mrs. Bertha Mae Leak of Rt. I. Raeford.
is the first winner of the Great Raeford Giveaway. She will he presented a
5100 gift certificate by Howell Drug Co. of Raeford. Raeford Mayor John
K. McNeill. Jr.. is making the drawing from the box held by Michael
Smith, a downtown Raeford merchant. A.J. Lundy. also a downtown
businessman, is third from left, and Raeford Police Chief Leonard
Wiggins, who officiated at the drawing, is at the right. The drawing was
held at noon Saturday in front of Howell Drug. A new registration began
immediately for the next monthly drawing, which will be held Saturday.
August 2H at Raeford Clothing Outlet. The winner need not be present at
the drawing to receive the prize. Mrs. Leak didn't attend Saturday. The
Giveaway is a monthly promotion sponsored by lb Raeford merchants.
[Staff photos by Pam Frederick],
Nov. 1 Treatment
Installation Asked
Raeford is delaying a penalty for
tour months for Faberge, Inc., and
the House of Raeford provided the
plants have sewage pre-treatment
systems in place by November 1.
If they aren't, then each will be
liable for a proportionate share of
whatever penalty the state imposes
on the city for failing to meet waste
disposal standards.
The Raeford City Council Mon
day night, acting on a suggestion by
City Manager Ron Matthews,
adopted a motion to send the two
companies the notices of the con
ditions.
Matthews informed the council
earlier in the meeting, the monthly
session for August, that Faberge
already has bought the necessary
equipment and will have it in place
in time. Burlington Industries, he
said, is already in compliance with
the pre-treatment standards.
A proposal made earlier in the
meeting by Marvin Johnson, presi
dent of the House of Raeford,
whose sewage disposal was identi
fied as the primary problem for the
city in regard to coming up to state
environmental standards, that the
turkey-processing plant install a
grease-trap system to handle the
big problem, was accepted on
"we'll see how it works" basis.
Johnson told the council the big
problem was in the grease from the
cooking in the processing system.
He said the House of Raeford
cannot afford the $250,000 to
5400,000 he said it would take to
build a modern pre-treatment
system for the plant, to cut the
waste dumped into the city system
to the maximum 300 parts per
million set by the state, and the 30
parts per million that goes into the
creek.
He suggested that the House of
Raeford be given time to install a
grease-pit arrangement which, with
aeration equipment the company
already has, would be applied to
the pre-treatment process.
Johnson also said he feels that
"your sewer system would work
better if you used your drying
beds."
Johnson said the monthly penalty
the city is charging the turkey plant
would pay for installation of the
grease-trap system. He mentioned
$4,000 a month but Matthews later
referred to $5,000.
If the turkey plant meets the
conditions, it would save a total of
$20,000 in penalties, Matthews
said, for the four months involved
-- July, August, September, and
October. Faberge is paying $1,000
a month.
Last November, the state advised
the city that unless the three plants
on the sewer line were brought into
compliance with the disposal
standards by November I, 1982.
the citv would be fined daily tor
every day noncompliance existed.
In reply to a question from the
council. Matthews said the penalty
could range anywhere from SI to
$25,000 a day.
"The trouble is." Matthews said,
"we're on a moratorium. We can't
get new industries till we solve this
problem." He said the coming of
new industry to Raeford would
result in lowering taxes. Johnson
had mentioned the House of Rae
ford tax bill ?? S80.000 to SI00.000
a year in Raeford city and Hoke
County taxes ?? among the major
expenses the company is saddled
with now.
He replied to Matthews that the
city ought to concentrate on keep
ing what industries it has.
He referred to the House of
Raeford having to close down if it
didn't install a $250,000 to $400,
000 pre-treatment system. The
council's other alternative to pass
ing on whatever state penalties are
imposed on the city if the penalties
are imposed would be to close the
pu'nt. it was pointed out during the
discussion after Johnson left.
Johnson told the council that he
would spend the $250,000 to
S400.000 on the system if the
company "can find it, and it's just
not there."
Later he added, that, unlike
Faberge and Burlington, the House
of Raeford is a family owned
company and there are "just so
many places we can go to get
money" for financing such im
provements.
He also described the tight
economic conditions in which the
company is afflicted with now --
increase in power charges
the past two years, in water
charges, and taxes.
He said the past 24 months have
been the worst in the company's
history.
Johnson also pointed to the
company's large payroll: the plant
employs 925 people, he said.
Johnson said that the past 24
months have been "the toughest
we've gone through."
Relating it to the national scene,
he said poultry plants are going
under, all over the country.
The city administration has con
ferred previously with Johnson in
efforts to get the problem cor
rected.
Johnson asked the council at
Monday night's meeting to give
him time to make the installation.
When asked how much time, he
replied. "Novemberor December."
Councilman Benny McLcod
asked Matthews whether the city
sewer plant improvements plus
Johnson's would solve the problem.
Matthews replied that the state says
if grease is not caught before it gets
to the plant, don't spend the SI
million it will cost to make the
improvements to the city plant.
Johnson was informed bv Mayor
John K. McNeill, Jr.. after Johnson
gave his information and answered
all the questions the councilman
wanted to ask that "after we
discuss it. we might call you and
talk about it some more."
In the discussion that followed
after Johnson left, Matthews said
the city for the past two years has
been hauling the grease from the
plant to the county landfill and
digging places to dump it but in 60
to 90 days there will be no room left
at the landfill for it.
* * *
In other sewer-line matters, the
council approved Matthew's re
(See TREATMENT, page