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-Journal
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...Then the County wants to
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brings more $ to the area.
See page 4.
The 22nd issue of our 82nd year
RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
25 CENTS
Wednesday, September 12,1990
District attorney closes shooting case; no charges Sled
The state will not file any criminal charges in
the shooting of a Jones Hill man by a Hoke
County Sheriff’s detective.
That’s the word from District Attorney Jean
Powell, who says the evidence, compiled by the
State Bureau of Investigation in a SOQ-page
report, does not warrant the arrest of either Louis
“L. C.” Cunningham, a 69-year old black man
shot four times in the incident, or Detective Jim
Curtis, the man who allegedly shot Cunningham.
Hoke County Sheriff’s officials have already
gotten convictions against Darryl McRae and
Grady Cunningham, nephews of Cunningham
who were involved in incidents surrounding the
shooting. Those cases are not affected by
Powell’s decision.
Powell said Curtis was legitimately acting in
self-defense when he shot Cunningham and that
Cunningham probably did not realize Curtis was
a law enforcement officer when he allegedly
discharged a shotgun over his head.
Powell said the whole incident began around 1
a.m. July 7 when Detective Curtis and Deputy
Lowery went to the Unique Lounge in Jones Hill
to serve a warrant on Darryl McRae, who
worked there as a bouncer.
McRae allegedly fired a gun outside the
(See RIOT, page 10)
Artist on the job
Tom Grubb begins work on a bamboo sculpture in the lot in front of piece last week for the N.C. Turkey Festival. It immediately began
McLauchlin Hardware last week. He and school children erected the attracting attention, and will remain in place until the bamboo yellows.
Flock of 45,000 expected
People^ that is^ for the N.C. Turkey Festival
!
' This is it. The week more than 45,000
people are expected to flock to Raeford for the
I Sixth N.C. Turkey Festival. Will Raeford be
^ ready? Is there sand in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, Raeford will be ready if the current
level of activity is any indication.
A stage built at Armory Park for the event
needs only touch-up work; Tom Grubb’s
sculpture is in place (and attracting attention);
the City is cleaning roads and trimming grass;
the weather looks good; and even the financial
contributions are in place.
The scheduled military displays will be held
despite the situation in the Middle East.
Billboards are up in surrounding communi-
ties and the N.C. Poultry Federation and the
National Turkey Federation are spreading the
word to their members.
The five finalists in the NC Turkey Cooking
Contest have been chosen. They are Ruby Ingram
of Kemersville, Blanche Poole of Sparta, Mary
W. Shore of Walnut Cove, Deborah Simmons of
Laurel Hill and Judy Warren of Charlotte. They
will compete Thursday for $1,050.
Complete schedules of the Festival are avail
able at the Chamber of Commerce in the Depot
on Main Street.
While there, Festival goers can purchase T-
shins and other turkey memorabilia.
Added attraction
It's not an antique, but this unusual
108 hp, 69 m.p.g. 2 cylinder en
gine built by a Stedman man will
join hit and miss engines down
town Saturday.
Total surpasses half mark
An iron and aluminum clock
honoring former Mayor John K.
McNeill will be erected in the next
couple of weeks, and so far, citizens
and businesses have contributed more
than half the $17,500 needed.
Raeford City Council had hoped to
have the clock erected in time for the
N.C. Turkey Festival, but that's not
going to happen.
While, Council had hoped to have
the needed money donated by now, it
will continue to accept donations even
after the clock is up (and The News-
Journal will continue to print lists of
conuibutors as needed).
Here are those who donated $25 or
more last week. Those who wi.sh to
donate should contact Raeford City
Hall at 875-8161.
Mrs. Sarah H. McDonald $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous 3)25
Cape Fear Heating and
Air Conditioning Co $25
M. H. McLean Wholesale
Grocery Inc $25
Johnny and Barbara
Meadows $25
Cantoo $25
(Continues on Page 3)
She won’t be allowed
to protest Olympics
As the Turkey Festival approaches,
there are a few voices speaking out
against one event.
But few will hear thcdissentifalocal
animal rights activist can’t get city ap
proval for a protest permit.
Catharin Shepard was denied a per
mit to protest the Turkey Olympics, an
eventtobeheld 10a.m. Saturday behind
the Public Library, which features rac
ing turkeys. But she wasn’t surprised by
the denial.
“It’s come down exactly as I ex
pected it would,’’ she said.
Her request was denied by acting
Raeford Police Chief James Murdock,
who says he doesn’t have enough officers
to cover the festival and a protest at the
same time.
“I just can’t see me putting two op
posing forces together and not having
the manpower to handle it,’’ he said.
Shepard said Tuesday she intended
to appeal Murdock’s decision to Rae
ford City Council members who have
the authority to permit the demonsua-
tion.
Shepard says she at least expects to
attend the races anyway, as an observer
if not a protester.
“Hopefully, I will be there Saturday
taking pictures,” she said. She will use
“Beating turkeys with brooms,
feather dusters ami other things
is cruelty" —Shepard
the photos to substantiate claims of cru
elty to animals, she said.
Shepard claims the races, which in
the past have included contestants using
brooms to motivate their turkeys, are
cruel to the birds.
“Beating turkeys with brooms,
feather dusters and other things is cru
elty," she said.
In a letter to Turkey Festival Pres-
(See PERMIT, page 10)
School Board
adopts budget
Schedules talks on Upchurch
W ith a 4-1 vote last night, the School Board adopted its
1990- 91 budget proposed by Superintendent Bob
Nelson. On the chopping block were 14 wish list items:
five new teaching positions cut—$100,010; computer lab at South
Hoke cut—$32,000; new science equipment cut—$8,000; commu
nity schools director position cut—$10,757; maintenance re
duced—$39,861; library books reduced—$10,000; janitorial
supplies reduced—$9,106; vocational education reduced—$6,050;
contingency fund reduced—$3,000; cultural arts reduced—$3,526;
instructional supplies reduced—$2,000; attorney fees reduced—
$2,000; substitute teachers reduced—$1,500; exceptional children
reduced—$700. That makes a $228,510 cut in what had been
proposed.
What remains in the $1,311,531 budget includes increases in
elementary principals’ supplements.
Elementary principals’ supplements will rise from $600 to
$1,200 annually.
The budget puts $45,252 into energy; that’s the amount Hoke
county commissioners raised local funds to schools over last year.
Finance Officer Don Steed said commissioners requested the
additional money be used to pay energy costs.
Certified employees—teachers and administrators— will get a
six percent raise, while non-certified employees, such as secretar
ies, get a four percent increase.
Upchurch School: Auditorium raises questions
The School Board will rebuild Upchurch Auditorium with
insurance money from the fire which destroyed the building last
year.
“I still have to say it again, that we’re cutting a lot of things for
the kids,” lone dissenter Shirley Gibson said.
“We are increasing some adults’ pay, we are building the
auditorium, we need to keep and eye on those children,” she said.
“We also need to remember that those adults are there for the
benefit of the children,” Nelson replied.
Board Chairman Bobby Wright agreed, refuting Gibson’s claim
that insurance money from the Upchurch Auditorium fire should
be diverted into salaries or instructional materials.
“I think it would be foolish to fund salaries with one-time
money,” he said.
The board has about $285,000 in insurance money from the
auditorium now; if it rebuilds the auditorium, it will receive an
additional $101,000. The $285,000 could be used for other pur
poses if the board is willing to forgo the $101,000.
Gibson’s referral to Upchurch Auditorium, an issue she has
brought up every time the board discusses its budget, sparked
concern in fellow-member Bill Cameron.
He said he thought the future of Upchurch Middle School’s
campus should be discussed before construction begins on the
replacement auditorium.
Upchurch Middle School, along with Turlington Middle School,
will cease functioning as a middle schools when the East and West
Hoke Middle Schools are completed. The board has not deter
mined the future of the old middle schools.
“I heard something last night that I never heard before,”
Cameron said, “that was an alternative school.”
(See SCHOOLS, page 10)
Around Town
by Sam C. Morris
The weather is hot, humid and hazy
again. After a few days of 80-degree
temperatures, it turned hot again last
Friday and the thermometer almost
reached 100. We did have some thunder
and lightning Sunday night, but we had
very little rain. We need rain badly.
The forecast for this week doesn’t
show much hope for cooler weather.
Tlie temperatures will be around 90
during tl»e day for the remainder of the
week with the low around70 each night.
I hate to mention the chance of lain,
because the forecasters arc calling for
rain on Saturday. We need the rain, but
maybe it can hold off until after the
Turkey Festival events on Saturday.
* * *
The Turkey Festival gets underway
Thursday with opening ceremonies at
10 a.m. The stage will again be next to
the Hoke County Library. Let’s all turn
out for the opening and get the event off
to a good start.
Pick up a schedule and make plans to
attend most of the events for the re
mainder of the week.
♦ ♦ *
Rhcnda Cameron was by the oflice
last week and was telling me about a trip
that she and her husband. Bill, made to
Tennessee recently. They went to attend
the 25 th Reunion of the Vols Lc tiermen.
This is a group that participated in sports
at the University of Tennessee and re
ceived letters.
Bill played football at the school and
(Sec AROUND, page 4)