Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 1, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA ews L overin^ Hoke County Like A Roof Since 1905 : Journal Coloring Contest winners On page 3 Good records good sense On page 6 J Volume LXXVIII Number 37 Thursday, January 1,1987 2^ CENTS Contrasts were the rule in 1986 1986 was a year of contrasts in Hoke Count”. In the course of the year, residents witnessed the loss by fire of the county’s oldest business, The McLauchlin Hardware and Lock Company, and enjoyed the reopening of two of the county’s landmark structures, the renovated Hoke County Courthouse and Aberdeen-Rockfish Railroad Depot. The beginning of the year brought two stories most people w#uld rather forget: The discovery in January of the partially decomposed bodies of two young Raleigh women in the McCain area, and the arrests of over 200 people in a cockfighting raid in the western section of the county in February. For a while it seemed as though the old maxim, no news is *o* *d news, was proving itself to be true in Hoke County. But as the year progressed, the news became more upbeat. In March, we heard that a Pennsylvania company had chosen Hoke County as the location for a new plant. At this moment, Hoke Rubber Products is a welcome and healthy member of our business community. Also during the month of March, Carolina Telephone Company announced that Extended Area Telephone Service (EAS) would be established between Raeford and Fayet teville by July 1, 1987. By the time the warm spring weather arrived in May, Hoke County residents were in the proper mood to celebrate the coun ty’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The 75th Anniversary ^lebration brought a lot of folks home. Farmers in Hoke County did better than most in the South when a summer heat wave brought scorching temperatures and a record drought to Dixie. In September, The Second Annual North Carolina Turkey Festival was a plus for the community as thousands of people jammed the streets of Raeford for the event. Hoke County received valuable publicity in connection with the Turkey Festival. The year ended with reports that production was up at local in dustries and with the knowledge that Hoke County is truly a community on the move. A year that began with lots of bad news ended on a positive note. What folloifci is an summary of the stories that made local headlines during 1986. Jannary Renovations to the Hoke County Courthouse were begun and lorae of the offices housed in the building were moved to tem porary quarters. Eight people '^ere injured in a two-vehicle crash when a car traveling north on Highway 401 south of Raeford, slammed head-on into a pickup truck coming in the opposite direction. Law suits filed against Hoke County by employees (five former and, at the time, current Sheriffs deputies) seeking overtime pay ment were dropped. t^embers of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners rein forced their support of the Extended Area Service (EAS) between the Raeford and Fayetteville telephone exchanges. A Pennsylvania firm expressed a strong interest in the Rock fish School property, Economic Developer John Howard announced to members of both the Raeford City Council and the Hoke County Board of Commissioners. The bodies of two slain women were found in a wooded area near McCain and Hoke County Sheriff Dave Barrington con firmed that a suspect in the murder was being sought. Errors occurred in the ballots mailed out to determine the iesire for EAS between the Raeford and Fayetteville exchanges, but Carolina Telephone moved swiftly to correct mistakes so ail votes would be counted. The county’s oldest business was destroyed in an early morning fire which took Raeford firefighters 24 hours to put out. The McLauchlin Hardware and Lock Company, Inc. building on Main Street was destroyed January 21q An investigation into the murder of the two Raleigh women, Marie and Teresa Annette Puryear, whose skeletal remains were found near McCain, moved to Wake County. Edward Lee Cum mings, 44, Willow Springs, was arrested in Wake County by the Wake County Sheriff’s Department and charged with two counts of murder. Hoke County Commission Chairman John G. Balfour an nounced that he would not seek re-election in the Democratic primary. Law enforcement officers collected physical evidence as part of an on-going investigation into the murder of the two Raleigh women whose bodies were found near McCain. John W. McPhaul, the owner of the McLauchlin Company building that was destroyed by fire expressed uncertainty about whether or not he would replace the structure. February Results of a poll conducted by Carolina Telephone in January show that 74.4 percent of the Hoke County customers who responded are in favor of establishing EAS between Raeford and Fayetteville exchanges. The tragic death of seven astronauts in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger was felt by many Americans, especially Sarah and Bill Howell, Ljends of shuttle pilot Michael J. Smith who witnessed the disaster at Cape Canaveral, Florida, Close to 25 law enforcement officers took part February 8 in the arrests of over 200 participants at a game cockfighting raid carried out off 1>S. 15-501 near the Scotland County line. The investigation continued into the shooting deaths of the two Raleigh sisters, the Puryears, whose skeletal remains were found near McCain. Edward Lee Cumming.'-. suspect in the case, was denied bond. A warrant was written charging a Raeford man, Donald Mar tin Calloway, with in early morning fire which destroyed much of the Food Lion S»« on February 15. (See 1986, page 12) Peace ip The News-Journal Staff wishes you a happy and prosperous new year. Good year predicted By Sally Jamir News-Journal Staff Writer Industry and business had a good year in 1986 for production and employment and 1987 looks even better, according to business leaders in the county. Chamber of Commerce Presi dent Terry Houston said recently that people in the community “feel real positive about how their business is going.” Efforts of the Economic Development Commission office in the county are geared toward preserving the existing businesses and industries and encouraging new ones to establish themselves in the area. Burnice Graham, Employment Security Commission (ESC) Manager for Hoke and Cumber land Counties, said that generally the average unemployment rate for the months January through September was significantly lower in 1986 than it was in 1985. Area industries report that they are doing well. Wyatt Upchurch of Tarheel Turkey Hatchery reports that they expect to have a 12 percent in crease in production going into the new year. Unchurch said if the trends keep going the way they have been, this projected increase in production and employment may be even higher than expected. “We’ve been building more facilities in the last year and a half,” Upchurch said. “More farms, more buildings.” “We’d like to continue contrac ting with growers in the countv.” (See GOOD, page 10) Numerous accidents darken holidays Numerous accidents occurred over the Christmas week, accord ing to records of the state Highway Patrol. On December 28 at 1:30 p.m., Norman Smith, 46, Raeford was driving a ’78 Ford, traveling east on SR 1302 and slowed to make a right hand turn into a private drive when Deborah Kershaw, 21, Pat terson MHP, Raeford, struck Smith from behind. Smith and his two passengers were injured; Mary Smith, 47, and Pearlie Smith, 23, both of Route 1, Raeford. They were taken to Moore Regional Hospital. A passenger in Kershaw’s car, Angela Blackshear, 23, Patterson MHP, was injured and taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital. Records say Kershaw was charg ed with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. On December 23 at 11:30 p.m., Clifton Eugene Locklear, 18, Highway 71, Shannon, was travel ing southwest on SR 1436 when he ran off the left shoulder of the road and struck a tree. The passenger in his car, Mark Hammonds, 20, Route 1, Shan non, was injured and was taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital. Records say Locklear was charg ed with careless and reckless driv ing and possession of alcoholic beverages while being less than 21 years of age. According to records, Ham monds was also charged with possession of alcoholic beverages while being less than 21. Locklear’s vehicle, a ‘71 Pon tiac, was totalled. On December 23 at 8:30 p.m. Charles Nanuel Jones, 46, was traveling south on NC 20 when he ran off the road to the right and struck a tree. The car, a ‘69 Ford Station Wagon, caught on fire and was totally destroyed. Jones and his two passengers were injured; Jennie Vereen, 54, Fayetteville, and Layton Leavy, 38, Fayetteville. Records sav thev refused treatment. Records say Jones was charged with driving while impaired and driving while his license was per manently revoked. On December 24 at 2:20 p.m. Candy Cooney, 21, Providence Road, Charlotte, was driving on NC 211 west of Raeford and stop ped in order to turn left onto SR 1219. JoAnne Plummer, 41, Edin- borough Avenue, Raeford, failed to reduce speed and struck Cooley from behind. Shirley McNeill, 47, Route 1, Red Springs, failed to reduce speed and struck Plummer from behind. Records say Plummer and McNeill were both charged with failure to reduce speed in order to avoid an accident. Total damage to the three vehicles involved in the accident was worth $3,100. On December 28 at about 12:30 p.m. Clyde McEachin, 78, Route 1, Raeford. was driving on US 401 McNeill recognized for community service Mary Archie McNeill of Raeford, was one of 400 nominees honored from across the state at a recent banquet held in Raleigh. The occasion, on November 15, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and marked the first annual presentation of the Nancy Susan Reynolds Awards for community service. The Nancy Susan Reynolds Award seeks to recognize and honor North Carolinians “whose courageous advocacy, innovative leadership or compassionate per sonal service has made a difference and may be a model for others.” The awards, three of which will be given annually, will go to people who deserve recognition for their “special kind of leadership.” This year’s winners were from Winston-Salem, Thomas Landing and Mount Olive. McNeill’s nomination, by private sources, sought to recognize her work both in the school system and in numerous contributions to the betterment of Hoke County. Her nomination included a com prehensive portrayal of the assistance she has given the area, at all age levels and from all groups, in attaining a higher appreciation of music, the arts, the theatre than otherwise might have occurred. Her efforts at character develop ment and training of ethical values in young people were cited. Officiating at the awards ceremony was Smith Bagley, presi dent of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Also participating were the Honorable Terry Sanford and Governor James Martin. Nancy Smith Reynolds, for whom the award is named, be lieved that “the best societies are those that are built from the bot: tom up rather than from the top down.” She observed that a good community is not improved on grand gestures alone, but on many people working together for com mon goals. Mary Archie McNeill had previously received a Volunteer of south of Raeford, when he slowed down in order to make a left hand turn into a private drive. Salvador Bardosa, 24, North Gales Circle, Fayetteville, was at tempting to pass, a third vehicle and hit McEachin. Records say Bardosa was charg ed with a safe movement violation. Damage to McEachin’s vehicle, a ‘78 Buick, was worth $800. On December 25 at about 5:30, Dennis Oxendine, 18, Route 1, Shannon, driving a ‘74 Mercury, was traveling east on SR 1446 at a high rate of speed when he ran off the road, went into the shoulder, and then struck a mail box and a direction sign. Records say the vehicle then skidded across to the other side and struck a ditch bank. Records say Oxendine was charged with careless and reckless driving and misdemeanor hit and run. Damage to his vehicle was worth $400. Around Town By Sam Morris Mary Archie McNeill the Year award in 1983 from Governor Jim Hunt. She and her husband, Neill, have one son, Neill Jr. McNeill serves as the Com munity Schools Director for the Hoke County Board of Education. She currently is a member of the board of directors of the Raeford- Hoke Chamber of Commerce, a director with the N.C. Turkey Festival, Inc., serves as president of the Hoke County Chapter of the N.C. Symphony and holds several other civic memberships. The weather over the Christmas holidays was just a little on the cold side, but it could have been worse. There was no ice or snow to keep relatives from coming and go ing during the holidays. The forecast is for the temperature to be in the 40s during the day and in the low 30s at night for the remainder of the week. There is little chance of rain or snow. * * * On the day after Christmas, after being in the house all Christmas day, I went to the golf course with Frank McFadyen and we thought a couple of hours would get us in 18 holes of golf. Now on most Friday afternoons this would have been the case, but not the day after Christmas. 1 don’t know how full the courses were in other places, but the Arabia Golf Course had more folks playing than I had ever seen before. The main course was full from tees to greens and someone (See AROUND, page 3)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 1987, edition 1
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