A way out
The job isn't finished and success isn't certain, but the people of
, the Raefbrd area in particular, and all of Hoke County, considering
the implications, should feel a sense of belief that the serious effort is
being made to solve the House of Raeford's sewage disposal
program.
Until the turkey processing plant's sewage disposal problem is
solved to the satisfaction of the federal Environmental Protection
Agency, and the State, Raeford can't get any new industry nor an
expansion of a present one that discharges waste into the city sewer
system. This means no hope of providing the jobs the county's
unemployed need.
Bringing the waste disposal up to EPA standards won't guarantee
that new industry will come in or the present plants will expand,
providing those extra needed jobs; but unless that improvement is
made, the city has no chance at all of getting that industrial
expansion.
Aside from that, if the pollution isn't brought down to the EPA's
specified level by November 1, the city will be hit with a penalty of up
to $10,000 a day for every day the system does not comply with the
standards. Then, too, the plant will be cut from the system, and the
city will pass on to the plant the bill of the penalty. Of the
community's other plants Burlington Industries had a complying
pre-treatment plant going, and Faberge, Inc., had one in place and
ready to run in late summer.
Cutting the House of Raeford off would leave about 900 people
unemployed.
However, the indications now are that no such grim possibilities
are certain, in fact there is a strong probability they will be
eliminated. Marvin Johnson, owner of the House of Raeford, told
The News-Journal that efforts are being made to correct the plant's
discharge problem and meet the EPA guidelines by the deadline.
"We're working to make it better," Johnson said. "We don't
know if we will be as low as they want us to go, but it will be a
damsite better."
Johnson has said that the plant couldn't stay in business if it had
to build a pre-treatment facility, which would cost an estimated
$250,000 to 5400,000, that the State Department of Natural
Resources and the Raeford city consulting engineer, Moore-Gardner
& Associates, have suggested.
The City Council in August, however, granted Johnson's request
to give the plant time to install a less costly method ? a grease trap
system. At the same time, Johnson told the Council the city could
help the plant solve the problem by using the city sewage drying
beds.
At long last, there's strong hope based on realities that the way out
of the sewage disposal dilemma is at hand.
--BL
No losers here
So the Hoke High football Bucks were hunting for their second
victory in their first five games of the 1^82 season Friday .night* after
this was written.
Tom Jones, in his second season as head coach, is going to guide
his teams to winning seasons sooner or later. But more important,
winning season or losing season, the athletes will get something of
permanent value from it. We disagree often with County Schools
Supt. Raz Autry, but this time we'll have to agree with what he said
in his column of September 23, From the Superintendent's Desk,
about Jones: "...I have also worked with those (coaches) who had
visions of making responsible, dedicated, caring men out of boys.
"Two of the latter kind I have worked with; namely, John Pecora
(retired Hoke coach and athletics director) and presently Tom
Jones."
Jones, incidentally, isn't the kind to make excuses about losing,
even by a large margin. He gives explanations based on his analyses
of his teams' performances in games; but he doesn't give excuses.
He could have, for one example, point to the fact that Hoke is
playing against schools with many more students, and, conse
quently, with much more talent available. Richmond Senior, for
instance, has an enrollment of about 2,000, -- more than double
Hoke's. And they're not all girls, either.
Jones also followed in his first season as head coach a coach who
had served through a season that ended with one victory and nine
losses, and that had been his (Glenn Draughon's) first.
As every experienced coach, and even experienced Monday
morning quarterback knows, it takes time for teams to readjust to
changes in coaches.
But we'll repeat again: under Jones, the Hoke boys are getting
something far more important and permanent than the glory of a
winning season.
We'll also say, agreeing again with Autry, that they'll also get,
under Jones, besides that, the glory of a winning season and quite a
few others ? maybe not this year, but soon.
So let's praise him and his boys for tremendous efforts to win, and
give them all far more support than criticism, of which we're sure
they give themselves enough of.
Then, too, consider: Jones seems to have his athletes playing by
the principle in this old saying: "It's not whether you win or lose; it's
the way you play the game."
--BL
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Letters To The Editor
Editor's Note: This letter was sent
to Johnny Melton and he shared it
with The News-Journal.
Dear Mr. Melton:
The children of this state are our
greatest resource. Very soon they
will become the workers and
leaders of our society.
Your organization has been
called to my attention as one that
has supported your local school
system. I firmly believe that com
munity volunteers, working with
school administrators and teachers,
are a winning team. By working
together, we can help children
reach their full potential.
Let me personally thank you for
caring enough to be involved. Your
efforts help make a difference in
the lives and destinies of school
children.
I look forward to working as a
partner with you in the future as we
enrich the lives of North Carolina's
public school children through
school volunteerism.
My warmest personal regards.
. . ^ Jarae* B. Hunt
Governor
To the editor:
Our Hoke County fiasco Tues
day, September 21. in our court
house shall go down as a day of
infamy.
As a teacher of 35 years. 1 have
yet to have taught a 6-year-old child
who. in a crowded courtroom,
could graphically describe a sexual
assault.
Our child abuse laws?
What a laugh.
A frightened, shy child with a
speech impediment kept on the
witness stand for 1 and one halt
hours was sadistic.
Has Judge Britt never raised a
child or even been around a six year
old?
Is there no way our judicial
system could have protected this
child somewhat by clearing the
courtroom?
Do victims have no rights?
Finally, where was Social Ser
vices (such avid defenders of chil
dren from child abuse) from the
beginning of this crime perpetuated
against this child through HER day
in court.
No wonder similar cases are not
reported.
What child needs the additional
emotional scars brought on by such
a performance in court!
Eleanor E. Scull
Raeford
Editor, The News-Journal
What can a six-year-old child on
a witness stand before a crowded
courtroom be expected to say about
her own father sexually abusing
her?
What kind of prompting did she
have before she even got on the
stand?
Will this sort of abuse happen to
another child?
The injustice done here was un
believable. This child involved will
have to live with this the rest of her
life. She will always be reminded of
the incident with questions of why?
How?
If it's true that the N.C. law
states that a rape victim has to
testify no matter what age he or she
is then I feel sorry for a person too
young to speak for himself.
A concerned citizen,
D.B. Scarboro
To the Editor:
? Just how much abuse are the
parents of Hoke County expected to
take from our Board of Education?
Insult after insult is constantly
being hurled at each and everyone
In a previous letter to this paper,
I stated my position on the school
fee iscue. It han't changed!
I addressed the issue of priority
funding on a nonspecific basis.
However, the general public
needs to know just how liberal our
L.E.A. is with our tax monies.
As reported in this paper, the
Superintendent cited a $20,000
plus shortfall in needed funding as
the reason for implementation of
school fees. This shortfall, whether
real or imagined was self induced
by our elected board.
Example I: Supt. Raz Autry
receives $32,000 state salary,
$6,000 local supplement and
$5,000 expense account. More than
7 times what the average citizens of
Hoke County makes.
II. On a similar, although declin
ing scale, this extravagance is
practiced down through the admin
istrative ranks including depart
ment heads, principals, coaches
and others.
Of course this largess is not
available to teachers, the ones with
the greatest responsibility for edu
cating our children!
. Ill While our., children and
teachers try to function in hot
classrooms in spring and fall, cold
ones in winter, our Board of
Education office building received
several new ceiling fans this sum
mer.
IV. School system received a
12.49% increase in local funding
when compared to last years bud
get. This was well above the rate of
inflation.
The list could go on and on.
These few examples alone attest to
a lack of fiscal responsibilities.
While the "executive club"
maintained financial security, our
teachers were even denied a cost of
living raise!
Of course I am aware that
salaries are determined by the
state, but supplements and capital
outlays, such as ceiling fans, are
funded locally.
I am also aware that attractive
salaries are necessary to attract the
quality of leaders essential to good
administration. But if that is so,
wouldn't the same principal apply
to attracting good teachers?
Of course the ultimate insult, the
one that is the hardest to take, is
when we evaluate the one and only
product that our schools turn out -
our children.
The average graduating student
in North Carolina when faced with
the Scholastic Aptitude Test finds
his or herself scoring poorly when
compared to students of other
states. Only Georgia and South
Carolina students score lower.
Eleven states have a lower per
capita income than North Carolina
and at least 9 of which managed to
better educate their children.
This data could be interpreted in
many different ways, or course.
I doubt though that any thinking
person would deny that these
competitor states must have at least
had a greater commitment to their
schools, unless we are willing to
admit intellectual inferiority.
I want to make it clear that I do
not advocate reduced funding for
education.
I think that the time has come to
apply available funds where they
can be most beneficial to our
children.
Schools are not a jobs program.
Their only function is to educate
our young people - tomorrows
leaders.
It is also important that fauh is
placed at "faults feet."
Although I have criticized the
Board of Education as a single
entity, in reality my ire is more
properly directed at three of the five
members.
Unfortunately two of three will
November. *? ** ?* ,0'm h
fUtUre of our ch?'dren
depends upon responsible people
making the right decisions at the
proper time.
1 ur8f ^ery good citizen to go to
the polls and vote for candidates
W?,^ 8re dedica,ed to all the
children in our county.
The worst insult of all would be if
the citizens of Hoke County just
didn t care!
Brad Turley
Raeford
Editor, The News-Journal
It appears that the 1982-83
school year is going to be another
year of harrassment for some of
Hoke County's teachers (and an
administrator). I lived through this
type of intimidation last year, and,
after two transfers of teaching
assignments in the same number of
years, I had hoped the "two men of
education" involved would ease ud
a bit. K
It seems, however, that once our
esteemed superintendent has
singled out a victim, he does not
give up until he saps every last
ounce of strength.
On September 21, 1982, Mr
Edwards principal of Upchurch
Junior High School, gave me
permission to go to the high school
during my planning period for the
expressed purpose of going over
some North Carolina Association of
Educators' (NCAE's) business with
a typing instructor. We could not
handle this business on the phone
and. because my transfer to Up
church, it has been difficult to get
together after school.
Mr. Simpson, principal of Hoke
High School, accused me of being
on campus without first checking
by this (his) office" and "disrupting
?"e. (the) classes for the purpose
for N(CAff "l'ng C,aSS assi8nments
If Mr. Simpson had checked
with the secretary, he would have
learned that I did indeed check by
the office. I took care of the NCAE
K^r'nCSS anC* ha(l a few minutes left
before my planning period was
over.
Yes, I suppose I "disrupted" the
said teacher's class for about five
minutes but only to see the ESEA
Title I manual which she had lent
me last year while I was in that
program. I had been in her room
numerous times last year daring
class and she was always helpful
and receptive.
Mr. Autry stated in his letter that
Mr. Simpson's "domain (had) been
invaded without his fellow principal
getting his permission." I ask you,
Mr. Autry, have the various schools
in Hoke County declared war upon
each other? And it is now con
sidered an Invasion for a teacher
from one school to visit the campus
of another? Also since when is
public property anyone's "do
main?"
One hem on next week's school
board agenda is an example of just
such harrassment of another
teacher. The public might find it
enlightning to attend.
What really puzzles me is why
Mr. Autry is so against anyone
wanting to find out what is already
public information like the number
of students the federal government
Permtti a teacher to have under
title I or to see the school budget
Last year Mr. Simpson informed
me at an inquisition-like "Confer
ence ' with him and his two
aasistant principals (I was not
permitted to have a witness) that
we no longer believe in Jeffer
?onian democracy." I believe it.
Sincerely,
Naomi Johnson
It's a Small V^orld
by Bill Llndau
A news story published last week
says a group of parents, teachers
and ministers say the popularity of
designer emblems on clothes may
be hazardous to a child's well
being.
Members of a group in Cincin
nati called "I Am Somebody,
Period" are fighting the prolifera
tion of designer labels on clothes,
which they believe can damage a
child's sense of self worth.
The group may have a point
there, but clothing label worship
among youngsters isn't anything
new. Back in the early 1960s
when our boy was in school in
Winston-Salem, girl students used
to sneak up behind other girls and
turn back their collars to see what
kind of quality they were wearing.
The London Fog rain coat-top coat
was upper crust in those days, for
instance.
Some kids even would get the
"high rank" labels off somebody
else's clothes, rip out the "middle
class" department store or other
labels, and sew the upper crust
labels on.
Ironically, about the same time
all this concern about "status"
labels was going on, I was informed
that Sears, Roebuck was the place
where Charles Watlington bought
his suits ($45 at the time). Watling
ton was chairman of the board of
Wachovia Bank & Trust Co.
For an easy way out, maybe the
Cincinnati group ought to buy a
case of labels from I. Magnin,
Montaldo's, and stores of similar
rank and have them distributed to
all the school kids in town so the
kids can sew them on their clothes,
to eliminate these "hazards to their
well-being."
Then, too, maybe they ought to
get Congress to enact a law
requiring all those designers to
print on their labels, "Warning:
this label may be hazardous to your
well-being."
"O, tempus, O, morons," as
my old math teacher, Archibald
Henderson, Sr., probably would
say, if he were alive today.
Or maybe the Cincinnati group
ought to start a campaign to get
kids to live North Carolina's state
motto: "Esse quam videri."
Sheriff David Barrington told us
this story about a Marine who was
haled into court on an assortment
of traffic charges and found guilty
of all of them -- speeding over 100
miles an hour, careless and reckless
driving, hit-and-run driving (seve
ral counts, from ramming several
cars), and failing to heed a police
blue light and siren, during a
chase. The chase ended when the
Marine's car ran into a chain-link
fence and damaged a house beyond
it.
The judge asked the Marine if he
had anything to say before he was
sentenced, and the Marine said he
didn't.
But then the judge told him he
could get two years for every
offense, and if the judge made
them consecutive, he could get
about 40 years in prison.
Then the judge asked the Marine
if he had anything to say.
The Marine said "yes." Then he
cupped his hands in front of his
mouth and called, "Kirk, Enter
prise! Kirk, Enterprise! Beam me
up. I'm in the soup!"
This sent the courtroom specta
tors into roars of laughter.
Whether the judge was among
those amused the sheriff didn't say.
We didn't hear what kind of
sentence the judge gave the Ma
rine.
Some outer-space stuff occurred
in Watauga County back in the
1950s. Ruby Ellis, the Watauga
County correspondent for The >
Asheville Citizen sent this story in
one day.
A Boone policeman caught a
man on the roof of a store
downtown early one morning and
questioned him, suspecting a plan
ned break-in. The quick-thinking
roof man promptly explained he
was from outer space and just
arrived in a flying saucer, which,
presumably, returned to home base ,
immediately.
Miss Ellis ended her story with:
"He's now orbiting around a cell in
the Watauga County Jail."