N The _ RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
ews-Journal
Covering Hoke County Like A Roof Since 1905
■■
School board
meets
on page 12
Volume LXXVIII Number 40 Thursday, January 22,1987 2^ CENTS
Stolen car
recovered
A stolen car was recovered last
week by law enforcement officers,
according to records at the
Sheriff’s Department.
A 1984 Datsun Sentra, worth
$5,000, had been taken from the
residence of Harley Adams Jr.,
Route 5, Raeford sometime be
tween 8:30 p.m., January 8 and
5:45 a.m., January 9.
Records say the car, in which the
keys had been left, was parked in
the yard of Adams’ residence.
A report said that on January 9,
Detective J.R. Riley received infor
mation from Trooper R.L Murray
in Brunswick County that the car
in question had been recovered and
that it was discovered wrecked and
abandoned.
Riley reported that Murray said
that three boys had been seen in
the car when it was wrecked.
Records say that on January 11,
the Brunswick County Police
Department picked up five boys,
who were from Hoke County, and
were brought to the county and
placed in the Juvenile Center in
Fayetteville.
Riley reports that the five
juveniles were arrested in connec
tion with the theft.
In an unrelated incident, Archie
Conley, Route 1, Shannon,
reported a first degree burglary at
his home.
Records say that between 12
a.m., January 17 and 1 a.m.,
January 18, two subjects came into
his house, tied him up and
demanded his money.
When he said he didn’t have
any, they ransacked the house, ac
cording to records.
Missing from the house is a .22
guage shotgun.
David Michael Odom, Route 2,
Raeford, reported a break-in at his
residence.
Records say that someone open
ed the bedroom window and
entered sometime between 7:30
a.m. and 3:35 p.m., January 15.
Firearms worth $770 were taken
from the house. Footprints were
found outside.
Bill Harold reported a larceny of
$538 worth of lumber belonging to
the Rouse Construction Company
in Hope Mills.
Records say the lumber was
taken from a construction site be
tween 4:30 p.m., January 5 and 8
p.m., January 6.
Tracks were found in the vicini
ty-
Randy Bullard, Route 4, Patter
son MHP, Raeford, reported that
someone broke into his residence
by pushing in a window sometime
between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
January 7.
A VCR, worth $500, was taken.
Earlin McLauchlin, 1703
Holmes Court, Raeford, reported
that someone removed a 125
Yamaha three-wheeler from his
back yard.
Records say that the vehicle,
worth $500, was taken between 3
p.m., January 10 and 9 a.m.,
January 11.
Betty Wilson, Davis Estates,
Rockfish, reported that someone
stole $400 worth of wood from her
residence on Hope Mills Road.
Records say the wood was taken
(See AUTHORITIES, page 11)
Around Town
By Sam Morris
The rain came in over the
weekend and stayed around until
Monday afternoon. We have
reports that over two inches of rain
fell in Hoke County during that
time. The ground is wet and most
fields looked like small lakes last
Monday morning. This should
bring the water table up to normal,
if not above.
The temperatures have been
cool, but not cold; mostly in the
50s for the past week. The forecast
is for more wet stuff Thursday,
maybe snow, and for the temper
atures to be in the low 40s during
the day and in the 20s at night.
This isn’t too bad.
(See AROUND, page 3)
Listing Taxes
Jo Ann Tillman helps a taxpayer list real and personal
property for her family, the Me Vickers. Residents in
the county have until February 2 to list their property
with the county. People who live in the Raeford
Township can list at the Tax Office, 227 N. Main.
Those in all other townships file at the Floke County
Library.
Tax listing deadline extended
By Sally Jamir
News-Journal Staff Writer
The deadline for filing pro
perty taxes in the county is ex
tended until February 2, accor
ding to Tax Supervisor Dale
Teal.
Teal said this week that a
spokesman for the Ad Valorem
Tax Division Office in Raleigh
stated that if the last filing day
falls on a weekend day, the
deadline must be extended one
day. ~
Teal said changes have been ■
made in the law affecting filing
for 1987.
This year, household per
sonal property has been exclud
ed from taxation. Previously,
this kind of property, including
household furnishings,
clothing, pets, lawn tools and
lawn equipment, would have to
be filed.
This year this property is not
required to be filed. However,
pet dogs must still be registered
with the city.
Another change this year af
fects senior citizens.
Teal said this year, those 65
years of age and older, if listing
a total income of $11,000, can
claim a $12,000 exclusion on the
value of their residence.
Previously, only a $10,000 ex
clusion could be claimed, based
on a total listed income of
$10,000.
This year, a tax law regarding
the tangible personal property
in the inventories of a retailer or
wholesaler was amended.
The law names these inven
tories as a special class of pro
perty and gives the rate at which
this property is taxed.
General reappraisal of real
property will not affect filing
this year as this is done on an
eight-year schedule, the next
time coming up in 1990.
Property which should be
listed includes buildings, farm
equipment, livestock, farm sup
plies, motor vehicles and
business property.
People may list their property
at two locations. The Raeford
Township lists at the Tax Of
fice, 227 N. Main Street. Allen
dale, Antioch, Blue Springs,
McLauchlin, Quewhiffle, and
Stonewall Townships list at the
Hoke County Library on N.
Main Street.
These offices are open Mon
day through Friday, 8 a.m. until
5 p.m. On Saturday, the hours
are 8 a.m. until 12 noon.
Nursing home construction
may get underway next month
By Sally Jamir
News-Journal Staff Writer
Autumn Care Corporation may
begin building a nursing home in
Raeford as early as next month,
according to a spokesmen from the
Cardinal Health Care Agency.
Craig Smith said he had spoken
to Doug Suddreth, Director of
Corporate Development last week
who reported that plans for the
70-bed nursing home are being ap
proved at the construciton section
of the Division of Facilities Ser
vices in Raleigh.
“There has been a delay because
numerous appeals by corporations
in the courts system were dropped
at approximately the same time
and for this reason there has been a
backlog at the DFS,’’ Smith said.
Autumn care had not been able
to proceed with construction
because another nursing home
company (Britthaven) had appeal
ed a decision made against them by
the state.
Suddreth said that the company
had hoped to get started by the
first of next month. Smith said the
construction would depend on the
weather.
“There are no problems with the
soundness of the plans,’’ Smith
said.
Suddreth said that Autumn Care
has a “working set of drawings
which are in the system now.”
“We’re moving along as fast as
we can,” Suddreth said.
“Hopefully, we will start in the
next 60 days.”
Suddreth said the total cost of
the building will be $1.4 million.
He said they are negotiating at this
time with a construction company
for the job.
The architectural firm working
on the building will be Wilmot and
Bower, Ed Williams and Jim
Turner representing the firm.
“You will probably see Jim
Fundiiig sou^t
for countywide
water system
By Sally Jamir
News-Journal Staff Writer
Members of the Hoke County
Board of Commissioners on Mon
day unanimously approved a
three-item package that would in
itiate the establishment of the
Hoke Regional Water System.
The commissioners accepted the
amendment to the preliminary
engineering report prepared last
February, moved to make applica
tion for federal assistance from the
Farmers Home Administration
(FHA) and moved to make ar
rangements for engineering ser
vices for the project.
If the FHA responds positively
to the commissioners request for a
loan application, a date will be set
for a bond referendum in order for
the public to decide on the issue.
The total water system project
will cost $2,500,000 and it is hoped
it will be funded by a FHA loan of
$1,874,6(X); a Clean Water Bond
grant from the state; $255,400 in
local monies; and other grant
monies possibly from FHA.
Larry Anderson, speaking on
behalf of the engineering firm of
Koonce, Noble and Associates,
said that the water system would
be self-supporting since the system
would be available for payment by
the user.
In this way, Anderson said, the
system would pay for itself and
pay back any loans that were taken
out.
Anderson said that if the FHA
loan comes through, the fee for use
of the water system would be ap
proximately $14 per month. If the
loan is not approved, the monthly
fee would be close to $19.
Commissioner Tom Howell
voiced the opinion that the “coun
ty should not get a water system
that people could not afford.”
Anderson responded to concerns
of the commissioners about com
mitment to the project by saying
that at several points in the
decision-making process, the com
missioners could say “no” to the
project.
The water system project is
Phase I of a 10-year comprehen
sive plan of construction. Phase I
includes 56 miles of pipeline, two
elevator storage tanks, one well
and well treatment facility, and
can serve 1,135 potential custo
mers.
Phase II will serve about 1,450
additional customers and Phase III
will serve about 1,000 more
customers.
In other business, the commis
sioners moved to make available to
county employees the Benefit Plus
Cafeteria compensation plan.
Marshall Waren of the
Employee Benefit Systems Inc.,
who oversees the same benefit plan
in Cumberland County, gave a
presentation to the commissioners
on the plan.
Waren said that through this
plan, employees have the oppor
tunity to have the county pay their
medical benefits for them before
taxes are taken out of their pay.
In this way they have a lower
gross income that is taxed and,
therefore, bring home more spen
dable income each month.
County Manager William (Bub)
Cowan said that 136 employees in
the county were surveyed on the
plan and that 81 responded
(See COMMISSIONERS, page 11)
Turner frequently in the communi
ty,” Suddreth.
Suddreth said the building will
total 22,(XX) square feet, have two
nurses stations, a physical therapy
and a recreational area, a dining
area, a lobby and a portico.”
“The facility exceeds all the
quality speculation required by the
state,” Suddreth said.
He said of the 70 beds, 24 will be
reserved for those who need skilled
care, eight will be for those who
need rest home care and the re
mainder will be for those who need
intermediate care.
Suddreth said he was anxious to
get started in Raeford in order to
provide needed care for elderly
residents who wanted to stay in the
area.
“These services need to be pro
vided so that residents won’t be
displaced from their
communities,” Suddreth said.
* '
K
photo by Pu WUuia
Accident
A driver was injured Tuesday in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 401
Just east of the Green Pines Trailer Park. An eyewitness said a military
convoy stopped, administered first aid and directed traffic until an am
bulance arrived on the scene. The accident occurred at approximately
10:30 a.m. No further information was available at presstime.
Community will honor James on Saturday staff member
By Sally Jamir
News-Journal Staff Writer
Jimmy James
Many are looking forward to the
Jimmy James Appreciation Day
on January 24 when friends,
former students and parents alike
will gather to honor the former
Hoke High School band director.
According to Mary Archie
McNeill, of the Appreciation Day
committee, many have been
diligently planning the event in
order to “create an occasion that
will significantly honor Jimmy
James and one that he will fondly
remember.”
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m.
at the MacDonald Gymnasium of
Hoke High School.
Several will be participating in
the program.
The Hoke High Pep Band will
be playing music during the begin
ning and end of the program.
Piano selections will be perform
ed by Susan Howard Phillips, Bar
bara Plummer Johnson and Mar
vin Lynn Maxwell.
Six speakers will give bri.f
presentations including Jimmy
Plummer, Sam Morris, L.E.
McLauchlin, Delaine Peckam
Mcdonald, Glen Langdon and
W.K. Morgan, former Hoke High
teacher and coach.
There will be a scrapbook on
display portraying the time period
in which James was band director,
1964 to 1986.
Physical arrangements for the
evening are being arranged by
Hoke Schools Finance Officer Don
Steed and the Hoke County
Schools maintenence department,
who are setting up the gym for the
program.
Art and decorations are being
provided by Teresa Marion, Mary
Lee Chalaire, Miriam Barringer
and Betty Gill Jackson.
Members of the appreciation
day committee are Raz Autry,
Terri Frahm, Lawanna Hayes,
Mary Archie McNeill, John Mor
ris, Sam Morris, Jimmy Plummer,
Clara Pope, Nora Scull and Jean
Wade.
During James’ stay at Hoke
High, the band, particularly the
marching band, won numerous
awards.
McNeill said of James that he
“not only made music, but molded
lives.
“The students not only learned
the value of fine music, but he
made it fun for them to do this
(See JAMES, page 13)
to visit Raeford
Congressman Bill Hefner will
send a staff member to Raeford
on Friday, January 23 to be
available to any citizen of Hoke
County who has a problem
which they feel the congressman
can be of help in resolving.
The staff member will be
available to see people from 1
until 3 in the Raeford Town
Hall.
This announcement was
made by Elvin Jackson who
serves as administrator for con
gressman Hefner in the 8th
Congressional District. Jackson
stated that all matters taken in
during this visitation will be
processed in the Rockingham
District Office before being for
warded to Washington, D.C.