Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Nov. 29, 1989, edition 1 / Page 1
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The N ews -Journal Volume LXXXI Number 33 RAEFORD. NORTH CAROLINA 25 CENTS Wednesday, November 29, 1989 The Smith House Monday after fire destroyed it over the weekend. Historic Smith house destroyed The fourth suspicous HokeCounty fire in as many months raged Satur day evening, completely destroying one of Hoke’s historic homes. The old James P. Smith house on Turnpike Road burned to the ground, despite the efforts of six fire depart ments. The fire appeared to have started on the ground floorand quickly swept to upper levels. It was burning out of control when the first department arrived four minutes after getting the call. North Raeford Fire Chief Johnny Baker said firefighters concentrated on protecting the surrounding storage buildings and workshops because of the already extensive damage to the house. Tlie home, which dates back 100 years, was built by James P. Smith— inventor of the Smith Plow—and was later acquired by J.C Thomas during the 1930s. One cause for the intensity of the fire. Baker says, was the preva lence of heart pine in the home, an old fashioned wood which was treated with turpentine and bums extremely hot and fast. To extinguish the blaze, firefight ers used a “quick dump system” in which water from a nearby pond is drawn and transported to the scene of the fire. Without that system in place, many of the surrounding buildings would not have been saved. An investigation into the cause of (See FIRES, page 3) The house as it appeared in 1986. Located off Turnpike Rd. near Hwy 211, it had been vacant for several years. More RR tracks to be repaired Repairs to railroad tracks throughout Hoke County won’t begin until January, and may take longer if weather condi tions deteriorate. Charles Monroe, vice president of engineering and construction for the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad, said workers are currently repairing two tracks in Fayetteville which will lake at least a month to complete. The company then plans to return to Hoke to do “touch ups” tJu-oughout the winter. Major repairs won’t begin until spring, at the earliest According to Monroe, the company spent about $20,(XX) repairing the track on Main Street. “We had to foot all the cost ourselves. It really cuts into our budget,” he said. Motorists in Raeford have com plained to City Council that rough cross ings have damaged their cars. The city asked A&R last year to begin repairs. ' .0 ‘ Around Town hy Sam C. Morris i The weather for Thanksgiving and for the weekend was both bad and good. Thanksgiving Day was cold and windy, but then it began to warm up some on Friday and we had nice weather for Saturday and Sunday. Monday was also nice with the temperature in the high 60s. The forecast calls for 70 degree tem peratures for Tuesday with rain and thunderstorms. Then the bottom will drop out of the thermometer. The high for Wednesday and Thursday will be in the 40$ and the lows in the 20s. Friday and Saturday will see it warm up into the 50s during the day, with lows both days being in the 30s. * * * The Thanksgiving annual commu nity worship service held last Wednes day night at the Raeford United Method ist Church was well attended. It started to rain late in tlie afternoon, but stopped raining before the service began. Most of die ministers in the county took part in the service and the music was given by iliccombined choirs of severalchurchcs. * * * The HokeCounty Commilteeof 100s’ members will hold their annual meeting on Monday, December 11. The meeting (See AROUND, page 14) Welfare reform now in effeet Encourages recipients to work by not cutting benefits Recendy'approved welfare reform that went into effect October 1 will allow AFDC recipi ents to earn more outside income without drastic cuts in benefits. “It’s a motivation to work,” said Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Rick Travis. “Now we can legitimately say to clients it pays to work.” With the new budgeting procedures, indi viduals can earn more wages without risking a stiff cut in benefits. In the past, many found it more advantageous to quit work completely— particularly those working for minimum wage— and rely solely on public assistance. A second change recipients will see from the new reform are “transitional benefits”—mainly medicaid and child care supplements—which will continue for one year after an individual’s wages surpass AFDC eligibility guidelines. Although Travis anticipates an initial in crease in the number of individuals benefiting from the reform, he believes that number will drop once the minimum wage is raised. The change will affect about 16 percent—or 94 of the 592—AFDC recipients in Hoke. In other business before the DSS board at its regular meeting, members were told the state has increased monthly foster care payments from $200 per month to $250 per month. Mem bers voted unanimously to ask county commis sioners to approve the increase. Costs to the county vary with the proposed rate change and ranges from $8 per child for (See DSS, page 5) Arts Council is close to folding Low membership, apathy plague a number of Hoke groups Plagued by low membership and an absence of community interest, the Raeford Arts Council is close to fold ing. Former president LauraLamm and her husband Jim, a council member, recently resigned in frustration at the low level of interest “We resigned because the people of this county didn’t want it (Arts Council) that much,” she said. Lamm believes those who want to see the arts will travel to surrounding areas to attend, and those without the means to travel will do without ‘The people in this county who want the arts go to Charloue, Raleigh, Pembroke. They don’t worry about it being here—people who really want it, they’ll get it.” Since Lamm’s departure, her shoes have remained unfilled. “It’s hard to say what the direction will be,” long time member Phil Diehl said. The secretary and treasurer also have resigned. Prior to its most recent manage ment problems, the arts council tried to sponsor a class, but was forced to cancel it when the group was unable to recruit 15 people to attend. “Out of a whole county of people you would have thought you could get 15—the program was free,” Lamm said. Even if the art council folds, the groupplans to retain its tax free number in case a movement to revive the council surfaces later. The council depends on matching grants, which was used for the sum mer theatre productions. In the 70’s the council sponsored several events including Ans in the Park featuring symphony music. Survey shows council needed Local residents bitten by an acting bug might take advantage of this chance to demonstrate their thespian ability. In a survey conducted by The News- Journal recently, 55 people randomly selected and asked to complete a ques tionnaire concerning the arts council overwhelmingly (80 percent) said they would support plays if performed here. The council was recently awarded a grant by Sandhills Community Col lege to hold a community theatre in Raeford. But members are needed on the council to oversee the use of the money. Other survey resuksindicated; •67 percent of respondents had heard of the Raeford Arts Council. (See SURVEY, page 4) Teen Center gets new director; reopens The Raeford Teen Center will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. The center is open to Hoke County teens be tween the ages of 13 and 17 years and will operate Saturday evenings, with adults provid ing supervision. The idea for a center was conceived by members of the Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) and was designed to give teens a place to go after school and during the evenings. Teens must become a member and have a consent form signed by a parent to participate in center activities. Membership dues are $1 per year. Members can enjoy recreational activities such as ping pong, video games, VCR movies, and have an opportunity to socialize, listen to music and finish homework. “1 would like to see teenagers become inter ested in the Teen Center and focus their minds on bettering their lives, career goals, educational background and thinking of their future,” Direc tor Carol Davis Forte said. The center will operate from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Plans are to expand the hours in the future and offer programs for teens after school. Forte, who is a Hoke native and graduate of North Carolina Central University, looks for ward to the challenge. “I’m willing and determined to make the Hoke County Teen (Tenter one of the most enjoyable recreation centers around,” she said. The center is funded by a grant from the state and operates under the auspices of YAC in conjunction with Sandhills Mental Health. It first opened in August, but closed when its director resigned. 4 . • • • * Raeford's new Christmas decorations were lighted Thanksgiving night. The ornaments line Main and several adjoning streets.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Nov. 29, 1989, edition 1
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