Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Oct. 6, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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Editorials Sanitorium has closed , but obligations remain An era in this county's and North Carolina's history ended Fri day as the state's last tuberculosis sanitorium closed its doors. The 75-year-old Hoke County sanitorium, which became known as McCain Hospital in 1947, was the first public facility in the 3tate and the third in the nation devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Although its economic viability has been questioned for the last five years, it was a fitting testament to the quality of service provid ed by the staff of the institution that McCain survived to be the last sanitorium in North Carolina. The passing of McCain Sanitorium will be mourned by Hoke Countians, who accepted the hospital with pride. Fond memories of McCain are still fresh in the minds of many county residents. To some, it probably does not seem that long ago that patients were wheeled onto open porches to breathe the fresh pine-scented air, even if it meant their beds would be covered with snow. Tuberculosis was widespread. The disease did not discriminate, and as a result the lives of many of this county's residents and other North Carolinians centered around family members who spent months or years at McCain seeking a cure. The treatment of tuberculosis has changed dramatically since the days of "creosote, raw eggs and fresh air." Today the use of drugs has eliminated in many cases the need for hospital confinement and for others shortened supervised care to a matter of weeks. Sanitorium care has gone the way of health resorts and lengthy ocean voyages. All have become luxuries that few can afford. Although the closing of the sanitorium at McCain should be marked, the facility's conversion to a prison hospital is a positive step for Hoke County. Not only are the well-maintained buildings of the old hospital be ing preserved by the move, but over 200 jobs will be saved as well. The hospital will be revived from a 60-bed unit to an institution serving over 300 patients. All of which adds up to additional commerce and stable revenue for Hoke County. However, there is still a danger that the diagnosis and care of tuberculosis and other lung disorders in this county could suffer by the closing of McCain. The burden of keeping up with the disease has been shifted to local health departments by the state, and Hoke County is not prepared. When other county health units in the state were increasing staff and equipment to absorb the shift away from sanitoriums, Hoke County was still relying heavily on McCain. Now that McCain has closed, local health personnel are faced with a 300% increase in chest X-rays and other diagnostic services. The state has provided $9,500 per year for supplies and additional staff time, but the county is still about $13,000 short on needed equipment. Under an agreement this year with the state Legislature, the North Carolina Department of Human Resources promised that the closing of McCain would not jeopardize TB care. Therefore, we believe that local officials should remind DHR of its commitment and its obligation under the law to provide this county with whatever equipment is needed. Hoke County residents and the state have been working since 1908 to improve the quality of lung health care here. It would be un fortunate to endanger that work because of the need of $13,000 in equipment. Campaign on target Hoke County can take pride in the united effort put forth by the local legal community to secure the nomination of Warren Pate for the opening on the District Court. Pate was the second highest vote-getter in the balloting before the 12th Judicial Bar Association last Thursday, and stands a good chance to receive the Governor's appointment to the seat being vacated by Judge Joseph Dupree. Hoke County has held the District Court seat since its creation 17 years ago, and apparently many Cumberland County attorneys agreed that we should retain it. Although it looks like Pate might have a good shot at being tap ped for the judgeship, pressure needs to be put on Governor Hunt to remind him that Hoke County cares about keeping the seat. In order for small counties like Hoke to be heard in places like Raleigh and Washington, D.C., it is essential that political factions within the county work together to put forth a united voice. It was that sort of effort that paid off Thursday, and the Hoke County Bar Association should be commended for getting the ball rolling. Letters To The Editor Church story worth reading To the Editor: I enjoyed very much Sherry Matthews' fine article on the two old churches in Fort Bragg, Longstreet and Sandy Grove. 1 was born about one mile north of Sandy Grove and was a member of the church until 1925 when it became inactive. My paternal grandparents. Dun can J. and Margaret Leslie Patter son; my maternal grandparents, Malcolm and Margaret Patterson Monroe; and my parents, Martin A. and Martha Monroe Patterson, were buried in the Sandy Grove Cemetery. Other relatives buried there included Campbells, Chap pells, Leslies, Monroes (Munroes) and Pattersons. My grandfather, Duncan Patter son, served as an officer in the church for many years, and my father was a ruiing elder for 25 years. He and the Re\. A.D. Carswell wrote a brief history of the church which was published in 1925. Mr. Carswell was the last minister of the old church. 1 would like to correct the state ment that there were apparently no schools in the Sandy Gro\e com munity. After the Civil War, very brief schools were conducted at various places when, and if, money was available. They seldom exceeded three months in length. I believe the first county-supported school in the area was Cabin Branch School. It opened in 1912 just across Rockfish Creek from Sandy Grove, and it only lasted one year. Cousin Archie Munroe was the teacher. He lived with us that winter, and I rode with him to school in his buggy. In 1913 Sandy Grove School began operation. It was in a new building located about 100 yards from the church and probably on church property. It opened in the fall of 1913 and, if my dates are correct, it closed in the spring of 1917. The teachers, as I recall, includ ed a Miss McLean, who lived south of Raeford; Miss Parker of Moore County; French McLelland, home unknown and Miss Ferol Nunn of Pinnacle. 1 attended the little school until it closed. Ms. Matthews is doing a splen did job and I hope she will keep it up. A.W. Patterson Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) Tourney help was appreciated To the Editor: The Woman's Club of Raeford would like to thank our communi ty for supporting this week-end's Golf Tournament. Our local merchants and businesses helped underwrite the event and local, area, and visiting golfers came out to play and make the tourney a fine success. Joan Baker, our Ways and Means Chairman, and her hus band, Frank Baker, provided fine leadership. Their experience and guidance ensured our financial success and taught us the nice ex tras that made our golfers happy. We certainly appreciate all their hours and concerns. The profits of this tournament will soon be returned to our com munity as the Club continues to aid good causes. The Band Booster Club will be first on our list, since Band members helped our Club with hours of fine work. Thanks to The News-Journal for publicizing this event and for giv ing me the opportunity to thank others. Sincerely, Clara B. Pope, President Woman's Club of Raeford Communism blasted To the Editor: There is much speculation in private inner circles whether the Soviets knew that the chairman of the John Birch Society; Rep. McDonald of Georgia, was on that ill-fated Korean jetliner that the barbaric. Godless communist gun ned down September 1, over dark Pacific waters. Whatever reasons so, it doesn't really matter, because 269 lives were lost that no "reason can justify such outrageous inhuman act. The only good that can come from it is the fact it created bitter attitudes toward communism throughout the free world. Communism is going to "die" in poverty, just as its Godless "father." Karl Marx died in poverty. Though not mentioned in the press, the savage attack occurred on the 44th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, in Europe. "In God We Trust" is our mot to. and by backing the meaning behind our motto, as a God fearing nation, we shall never be defeated by any Godless im poverished force. Thank you sincerely. Daniel Edwards Bladenboro. N.C". LREMC involvement asked from members To the Editor: Let me begin by confessing my guilt. I have been a consumer of LREMC for nearly 12 years, and 1 have never attended an annual meeting. Why? I could probably name several excuses, but to be honest, the main excuse is simply a lack -of -concern, lack -of - (See LETTERS, page 3) The News-Journal Published hrr> fhursdat b> Dickson Press, Inc.. Paul Dickson. Pres. IIV W Avenue. P.O. Box 550 Raeford. VC 2SJ76 Subscription Kales In Advance In C ounl) Per War-SIU.OO 6 Months $5.00 Oui of Counts Per \ ear? $12.00 6 Months- V>.00 I Ol IS II. HM.II MW JR Publisher V% ARRIS V JOHNS I ON hdilor HKNRV I Bl I I Production Supervisor MRS PM I l>l< ksON Sociel* fcdilor S\M < . MORHI** ( onlrihulinit Mi I or \NN V*IBB Advertising Representative 2nd Class Postage at Raeford. VC . Il SPS iM 2A0> Wovi MAwy k\d CAN you s+uff iwto A Sc.Ur\oCK ScV\oo\ c\At>SrooK ? 2.0 ^"^AN/d \HC^ U9 2.c dovow Ahid lo hAN0\N(^ -CroNX 4hfc. Coa4 ta CK . DWI law is altering social patterns By Warren Johnston A party was held Saturday night and few attended. "We really wanted to go, but my husband was afraid to drive with this new DWI law," a friend told my wife later. "But her husband doesn't drink," I pointed out. "I know, but he's still paranoid about the new law," she said. It was easy to understand how he felt. The new law was hazy. Even the magistrates had questions about it. There were also those rumors about hundreds, no thousands, of highway patrolmen surrounding well-known drinking estabbshments, and nabbing everyone who attempted to drive home after midnight. "They're going to have drunks stacked up like cordwood outside the jail. They won't have room for them inside," one fellow said. On the other hand, there was the scuttlebutt among those who "really know" that patrolmen plan to avoid mass arrests, because of the mounds of paperwork called for by tne law. The Puppy Papers "I hear its going to take them two hours just to process one case," another friend said. I was paranoid too. After all, who could you trust. All my sources were confused. Then there was that time we had had an after-dinner drink in Southern Pines two months ago. The general conversation in the bar had turned to the new DWI law. Everyone became frightened and went home. The place closed early. My wife said our friends wanted to get together next weekend for dinner. "They want us to come out to their house. He's afraid of driving," my wife said. "You're not going to catch me out on the road either," I said. "I figured that, so I told them that we would just get together on the telephone." Even after one week of enforcement, it is obvious that'the new DWI law is going to alter drastically the way North Carolinians live. Not only will the population of the state increase because fewer people will be killed as a result of drunk drivers, but social patterns will also change. Urban populations will move back into the city, just to be within walking distance of a neighborhood bar. Hoke County will go wet, because people are tired of being ar rested coming back from Southern Pines and Fayetteville. The automobile will become purely a utilitarian vehicle, and will never be used for social occasions. Microelectronic advances will quadruple, enabling everyone to sit home, drink and talk to friends through their television. Bars in remote areas, will install the new telecommunication equipment and create delivery services, enabling old customers to stay at home, drink and watch all the fun. Of course, actors will have to be hired to make the establishment look full. No one will ever be arrested for drinking and driving again.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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