Half Commission For Grabs
(Continued from page 1)
the facilities physical condition are
also problems which will eventually
^ have to be resolved by the commis
sion, Manning said.
"Some schools are so over
crowded, that if parents knew the
class situation their child is in, they
would be upset," Manning said.
Because of the present high level
of Hoke County taxes, Manning
said she is unsure how to revolve
the school question.
^ However, either new schools or at
? least additions to the present
structures will have to be built, she
added.
Bratcher noted that he felt a
greater effort could be made to get
industry to the county.
"There are a lot of companies in
larger cities that want to relocate in
smaller towns. We need to go after
them and get them to come to Hoke
County," Bratcher said.
fc If he is elected. Bratcher said he
would like to try to do things to get
more people to move to Hoke
County.
"I'd like to try to improve things
here," he said.
Citizen involvement is the key to
a successful industrial development
program, Balfour said.
Balfour, who has served on the
commission for 18 years, said he
* had been accused in the past as
being anti-industrial development.
"I've been against putting con
crete on good productive farm
land," Balfour said, adding that
present farm surpluses and high
unemployment have changed his
thinking.
"1 think that the county is doing
as much as it can without more
citizen participation," Balfour
said.
W A citizen's committee needs to be
set up with persons not now
involved to help the Chamber of
Commerce and the development
board, the commission chairman
said.
Balfour said he would work to
see that the industry hunting
committee was established.
If re-elected, Balfour said he
r. . would work to get more citizens
" involved with county government.
The Dog Pound
Although Bratcher and Manning
were unsure whether a new dog
pound was needed, Balfour said the
issue would probably be addressed
by the commission in December.
"I think we need a new dog
pound. It's been on the commis
_ sion's minds for some time,"
P Balfour said.
A site near the landfill is a likely
possibility for the new pound, the
commission chairman said.
In the meantime, some efforts
will be made to winterize the
present pound to help protect
animals from freezing, he said.
Balfour encoGraged members of
the Hoke County Health Board to
^ make recommendations about the
' pound to the commission.
"I realize that the dog pound is a
big issue, but I would like to look
into it further before I comment,"
Bratcher said.
Manning said she was unsure
how she would vote on the dog
pound issue, and would also like to
look into the matter further, before
she made a decision.
"I'm an animal lover. I wouldn't
^ want to see anything inhumane
done to the animals," she said.
Dual Taxes
Bratcher noted that he had no
strong feelings "yea or ney" about
the issue of Raeford taxpayers
funding county services they do not
receive.
"That's something else I'd like to
) look into," Bratcher said.
t ?
The practice of taxing Raeford
residents for dual services is "un
fair," Manning said.
A reduction of county taxes
might be in order for city residents,
she said.
Dual taxation is a problem,
Balfour said, noting that the issue
should be studied to determine
what overlapping services city resi
dents pay.
In some cases payment twice for
the same service is offset because
other services which are paid for by
rural residents are heavily used by
Raeford residents, Balfour said.
All county taxpayers pay for
recreation, but the service is used
by more city residents, he added.
$1.5 Million Capital
Maintaining a capital reserve
fund of SI. 5 million is necessary for
Hoke County, Balfour said.
Slow tax collections and the
threat of the loss of federal Revenue
Sharing funds justifies the reserve
fund, he said.
The county earns over $200,000
in interest from the fund each year
which is budgeted for general use,
Balfour said.
That money could enable the
county to build a new dog pound
and could help with the expansion
planned for the courthouse com
plex, he added.
Both Manning and Bratcher said
they were not familiar enough with
the county budget to comment on
the capital reserve fund.
Countymde Zoning
All three candidates said they
believe the county needs some type
of zoning.
"I think it would be good in some
areas," Bratcher said.
"It's something the county
should look at. You don't want hog
pins next door to S30.000 to
S40.000 homes." he added. "It's
not fair."
"I'm for zoning to a degree. I
know that it can have an effect on
the value of property," Manning
said.
Zoning should not be imple
mented which would restrict a
person's ability to buy a small home
or trailer, she said.
"I feel we should look into the
situation," she added.
Zoning is needed in the growth
areas of the county, Balfour said.
"We do need it, but not a real
strict zoning," he said.
Why Running
Because of his contacts with state
and federal officials, Balfour said
he believes he can continue to serve
the county effectively.
Commission members should
stay abreast of what is going on in
state government to make sure the
county gets its share of state funds,
Balfour said.
The 49-year-old Balfour, who is a
Hoke County native and is married
and has one son, has served a
chairman of the commission for six
years. He also serves on the board
of directors for the North Carolina
Association of Counties.
One of his main goals if re
elected would be to see a "first class
school system" in Hoke County.
More of the funds for operating
the schools should come from the
state, and efforts will be made to
get the state to share in the burden
of operating the schools, Balfour
said.
Although Bratcher is a political
newcomer, he says his business
experience and his lifelong resi
dency in Hoke County qualify him
to serve on the commission.
"I grew up here and work here. I
think that gives me more of a
Mi
ELECT
J.H. (Buddy) BLUE
HOKE COUNTY
BOARD of EDUCATION
Nov. 2, 1982
EolNteat Ad)
feeling for what the county needs,"
Bratcher said.
Bratcher, who is 40 years old and
a widower, is the owner and
operator of the Shoe Chest on Main
Street in Raeford.
"I love Hoke County," Manning
said, noting that she wants to serve
the people of Hoke County.
Experience gained while in the
real estate business would be useful
while she served on the commis
sion. Manning said.
Manning is the owner and
operator of Manning and Asso
ciates and Evelyn's Sample Room.
She is 50 years old and is married
with four sons and a grandson.
Her membership in the Republi
can Party will also be helpful with
state and federal officials who can
aid the county, she said, adding
that her election would also be a
step towards Hoke County estab
lishing a two-party system.
UNICEF Fund Drive
Slated For Sunday
Sunday, the youth of the
Presbyterian, Baptist and
Methodist churches joining forces
to collect for UNICEF.
They will leave the Methodist
Church at 2 p.m. and will cover the
town collecting until 5 p.m.
After the youth have completed
their routes, they will return to the
OES Fish Fry,
Auction Slated
Raeford Chapter 226, Order of
the Eastern Star, will hold a fish
fry and auction Saturday at Edin
borough Shopping Center.
The fish fry will start at 11:30
a..m, and the auction at 1:30 p.m.
The price of a ticket is $3.
Methodist Church for
refreshments.
The United Nation's Children's
Fund, directs its work to the essen
tial needs and problems of
children, primarily those in the
developing world.
Your donations will be greatly
appreciated.
On April 12, 1776, North
Carolina became the first
colony to instruct its delegates
to vote for independence in
the Continental Congress.
*?????????? ??????????? ?
J.H. AUSTIN
JNSURANCE
/^"^\ SINCE 1950
( ,o ACJTO ? FIRE ? LIFE
CASUALTY
1 14 W. Edinborough Avenue Phone 875-3667
9t MakeA/ Qfrod
*1 o- Vote, <1ueA<bcuf>, New-. 2.
luanita
Edmund
CLERK of COURT
Ifou^ Vote, Will fie, Appreciated Vj
VOTE FOR AND SUPPORT
WILLIAM W. "BILL"
CAMERON
r
Married Father of two children
'IluA' iA> cm Lmp&itant election' aA* joA- ofr the; [utuie- oua- ichooli- iA> conc&med *~1 lie thoiujlit^ul and iewutA- concern uv
caAtitUf tfO**\ uot+ lA? vital m ielectuuy futn. mentheM' the* eM alee. County fcoa/id Zd-ur/ition C iucmlI decoiumA i&fauluuf
Ut& ^utuA& leadeA/Jup< and diAecUon o[- aufr 'cIukUa uull l*e made* !uf the neui fiaa id
If <u*/ oa& uAyed/ 1& lententltei 'lucAdzuf, hoo- 2 and note' [oa- the- c&ndtdateA ycsu [eel uull p^KMude the- neceAiaiy le&.deAAhtp'
to addAeM' the/ teal needU m oka- ichooU
9 unit conAuLeA/ you/i* note [m me a- uaie &[? c/>nluLence< t*i lepteAenlinfy y<Mi Ijoul uott, U. nettled, and uull ite> afx
p*4CuU*ar.
9 utant to* n&pA&Lerit ycm, Uv tlt&ie, jiiUiSve, dectiioni,.
HOKE COUNTY BOARD of
EDUCATION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1982
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