The N
ews
-Journal
Volume LXXIX Number 44
RAEFORD. NORTH CAROLINA
25 CENTS
Thursday, February 18,1988
Serving line
Congressman Bill Hefner (foreground), Rep. Danny DeVane,
Raeford; Mayor John K. McNeill, and Hoke County Commission
Chairman Wyatt Upchurch line up for breakfast at the Raeford-Hoke
Chamber of Commerce's annual Legislative Appreciation Breakfast
this past Saturday.
Appreciation breakfast
given legislators
A breakfast sponsored by the
Raeford-Hoke Chamber of
Commerce to express apprecia
tion for the work of local
legislators evolved into a ques
tion/answer period for Con
gressman Bill Hefner Saturday
morning.
The Congressman fielded
questions from local leaders and
politicians on a variety of sub
jects from Social Security to the
Space Program.
And he told them he wasn’t
getting enough input from the
state and local levels on issues
that concern them. “We need to
know what the heartburn items
are,” he said. He criticized
Governor Jim Martin for not
giving him a list of priorities,
but for calling at the last minute
to sway Hefner on an important
vote. “We need input from
state representatives, because
the governor’s office doesn’t
help.”
Hefner acknowleged there are
problems in the Social Security
system, but said the answer is
not, as at least one presidential
candidate has suggested, phas
ing the system out. Hefner said,
“if you ever do away with
Social Security, you better man
date people putting into a retire
ment program. Can you im
agine the problem?”
He also defended the space
program saying, “so many
things come out of the space
program, when we ought to be
looking at SDI -their wanting to
rush ahead with deployment- we
ought to look carefully at that.”
He also sympathized with the
plight of counties, which often
have to pick up the costs of
federal programs being dropped
in spendingcuts. “There was no
tax cut in 1981,” he said.
“There was a federal tax cut.”
He suggested Revenue Sharing
was a good way of easing the
burden on counties.
Other Legislators at the
breakfast included State
Representatives Sydney Locks,
Danny DeVane, and Pete Has
ty-
Chamber of Commerce Presi
dent Alice Glisson thanked
them for their support and told
them the chamber’s top priority
is economic growth. She said
that involved work in education
and on the widening of
Highway 401.
Viruses afflict kids, adults
It’s not exactly flu, but the
virus(es) making the rounds in
Hoke County has had enough
punch to send students home from
school in droves.
A check with Hoke County’s
seven public schools shows
absenteeism was three times higher
than normal on Monday, a total of
787 students either absent or sent
home by the end of the day. That
compares with a normal absentee
total of from 210 to 270, according
to estimates provided by staff at
each school.
Perhaps hardest hit was J.W.
Turlington School, which normal
ly has 20 to 25 students out on any
given day. On Monday, 107 failed
to show and another 30 were sent
home after developing the typical
symptoms accompanying the af
fliction: fever, chills, and
vomiting. At Hoke High School,
260 students failed to make it
through the day, about twice the
usual number.
Another hard-hit school was
J.W. McLauchlin, where instead
of the usual eight or nine absent
students, there were 67 who stayed
home and another 12 sent home,
11 from one class. McLauchlin
School also lost seven teachers and
its principal, Mitch Tyler.
But while most young people
seem to be suffering from various
winter viruses, adults have been
dropping with Influenza A, ac
cording to local physician George
“Chip” Barth. Typical symptoms
include fever from 102 to 104
degrees; shoulder, back, and thigh
aches; mild head congestion; and
loss of appetite. “They’ve been
telling me it feels like they’ve been
beat up,” Barth said Tuesday.
He said treatment has been ef
fective with Amantadine, a fairly
new generic drug which is not an
School
usually
absent
teachers
absent
Monday
out
Scurlock
25-35
81
3
J.W. McLauchlin
8-9
79
7
Upchurch Jr. High
3040
100
12
Hoke High
100130
260
8
West Hoke
1012
70
1
South Hoke
20
60
5
J.W. Turlington
2025
137
7
total (avg.) 242
787
43
antibiotic, but does greatly reduce
the growth of the virus allowing
the body to fight it off. Barth says
he’s also been prescribing the drug
for spouses and other family
members exposed to Influenza A.
That, he says, keeps them from
developing symptoms if taken ear
ly enough. He said the number of
people seeking treatment Tuesday
was likely to break an all-time of
fice record.
Commissioners set meeting on yellow pages
A meeting between Zan Monroe, newly appointed district commercial
manager for Carolina Telephone and Telegraph, and Hoke County
citizens concerned about what they feel are shortcomings in the phone ser
vice will be arranged by William Cowan, county manager, when he meets
with Monroe on Friday in connection with the central communications
system.
In bringing up the matter Monday night at the Board of
Commissioner’s meeting, Hoke County Commission Chairman Wyatt
Upchurch said he had talked with Monroe who had agreed to meet with
Hoke citizens.
A number of county residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the
telephone company’s service since the extended area service (HAS) was
established last year. Upchurch said, “It is our duty as county commis
sioners to follow up on this.”
Several of the complaints revolve around the new telephone book
recently issued to subscribers. Residents had thought the book would con
tain combined white page listings for Maxton, Raeford, Red Springs, St.
Pauls and Fayetteville.
They also expected Fayetteville Yellow Pages to be included in the book.
Monroe says Fayetteville Yellow Pages were never intended to be in
cluded in the Raeford version of the Fayetteville directory, which will be
delivered to Raeford customers in June. That version will include Fayet
teville white pages only.
Other concerns have been expressed about the increased basic rate cost
to subscribers since FAS went into effect.
In other business. Commissioners approved a land swap deal between
the Raeford-Hoke Airport Commission and Gene Paul Thacker, owner of
Raeford Aviation, subject to approval by Raeford City Council.
The proposed land swap would exchange 2.29 acres of land at the air
port owned jointly by the city and county for 5.27 acres owned by
Thacker. In addition, the Airport Commission would pay Thacker bet
ween $5,000 and $5,500 to compensate for the difference in acreage.
Frank Baker, chairman of the Airport Commission, told county com
missioners the proposed land swap would make it possiole for more
hangars to be built at the airport. In particular, it would make it possible
for Marvin Johnson, president of the House of Raeford, to build a
T-hangar to house a jet he owns but which is now based in Fayetteville.
City Council had agreed to the land swap deal at their December
meeting pending completion of a land survey. At that time the city was
told the land transfer would involve 6.68 acres of Thacker’s land. It is ex
pected the city will approve the land swap at their February meeting.
Commissioners were told by Baker that any hangars built at the airport
would become taxable property as would any planes housed there.
Chairman Wyatt Upchurch said the land swap deal is a good investment
for the future. He said having the extra space for hangars would en
courage other planes to be based at the airport.
Also, commissioners dealt with several matters in connection with coun
ty roads. They unanimously agreed to submit to the state a petition re
questing that Hill Street in the Cameron Heights section become a state-
maintained road.
(see COUNTY, page 3)
School bonds sold to Charlotte company
The $3.35 million in Hoke
County school bonds were sold
Tuesday morning for Hoke Coun
ty by the Local Government Com
mission to First Charlotte Cor
poration at a 6.7783 percent in
terest rate.
County Manager William
Cowan said the interest rate was
more favorable than the county
had expected. He said, “We an
ticipated anywhere from I'A - 8
percent when we started planning
so we’re very pleased.”
Charles Davis, county finance
director, said interest in the bonds
was high. Davis said he learned
nine companies had bid on the
bonds with the highest bid being
7.1 percent.
He said he had been told by Ike
McRee of the Local Government
Commission that the county’s A
bond rating from Moody’s rating
agency played a large part in the
lower than expected interest rate.
First Charlotte Corporation is
an investment banking firm which
specializes in government and
municipal bonds. Persons in
terested in purchasing the bonds in
$5,000 denominations can contact
Connie Coffee at First Charlotte
Corporation, Suite 2400, First
Union Plaza, Charlotte, NC
28202.
Committee to work on education application
Hales charged with car fire
Wesley Raymond Hales, 17, of Rt. 1, Raeford was arrested on February
10 and charged with burning personal property after he allegedly set fire to
Raeford Mayor John K. McNeill’s car on January 20. Hales had earlier
been charged with setting fire to Raeford United Methodist Church that
same night.
A fire had been set in the back seat of the Mayor’s car. The inside of the
roof was scorched and some papers burned but the fire had gone out by
itself without doing further damage. No estimate of damages to the car
was available.
A 20 year-old Fayetteville man was arrested and charged with posses
sion with intent to sell and distribute marijuana on February 9 after being
stopped by a Hoke County Sheriff’s deputy who noticed the man’s car had
no tail lights.
John Otis Bradley, 5808 Cole Harbour, Fayetteville, was driving his
1968 Chevrolet Nova on 401 Business when he was stopped by Deputy
W.J. Humphrey. Bradley allegedly told Humphrey he had no license or
wallet. Bradley gave permission for his vehicle to be searched and evidence
was uncovered which led to his arrest.
In another case, 35 year-old William Bratcher Jr., of 403 Robeson
Avenue, Raeford, was arrested last Saturday about 7:30 p.m. and charged
with possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana after sheriff’s
deputies had gone to his home with a search warrant.
A wedding/engagement ring set and a 71st High School class ring have
been reported missing by a Rockfish woman. The rings, valued at more
than $1,000, belong to Mamie J. Bundy of Rt. 12, Raeford.
(see CRIME, page 14)
County Commissioners Mabel
Riley and Neill McPhatter have
been appointed by Commission
Chairman Wyatt Upchurch to the
committee which will develop the
Critical School Facility Needs
Fund application for Hoke Coun
ty-
The application is a joint under
taking of the County and the
School System. Riley and McPhat-
Around Town
By Sam Morris
The weather last Friday and
Saturday was wet and cold. The
wind on Saturday made the 20°
weather feel like it was around
zero. It was warmer Sunday and
then the temperature got up to
around 65° on Monday. It started
raining Monday afternoon, but
was supposed to stop during the
night.
The forecast is for mild weather
for the remainder of the week with
the highs in the 50s and the lows in
the 30s. There is a chance of rain
on Thursday.
* « *
When you start talking weather
a peach grower will tell you that
the next few weeks will either make
or break this year’s crop. Most of
the growers are in the orchards at
this time thinning or pruning, get
ting ready for the warm weather to
bring forth the peach blossoms.
Then they hope and pray it doesn’t
get below 28 °.
When you grow crops it is
always a gamble. What will the
weather be like this year?
(see AROUND, page 14)
ter will represent the county along
with County Manager William
Cowan and County Finance Direc
tor Charles Davis.
Hoke County School Board
Chairman Bobby Wright ap
pointed himself and school board
member Eddie McNeill to repre
sent the school system. Also serv
ing on the committee are Dr.
Robert Nelson, superintendent of
Hoke County Schools and Don
Steed, school’s business manager.
The eight will meet and prepare
the application which must be sub
mitted by March 15.
A special meeting of the Hoke
County Board of Education has
been set for Wednesday, February
24 at 7:30 p.m. so that the board
can decide which projects to sub
mit in its application for funding.
It is believed Hoke County
stands a very good chance of
receiving substantial funding
through critical needs. Much
depends on the application pro
cess, however.
Cowan said at the commis
sioner’s meeting monday night
that “It’s real important we put
together a strong application.”
Too close for comfort
Bystanders examine the wreckage of a 1987
Oldsmobile that left South Hoke School Road in a
curve (background), plowed through the guardrail of
a bridge, and plunged into a creek last Thursday. The
car's driver, Connie McBryde Roper, 26, of Red Spr
ings, was only slightly injured though the car's engine
compartment was impaled by a section of the guard
rail. Roper was charged with a seatbelt violation. The
Highway Patrol put damage to the car at $8,000 and
to the state-owned bridge at $3,000.