4A THE NEWS-JOURNAL
Racrord, N.C.
March 6, 2002
Viewpoints
We Get Letters
Citizen takes a stand against Robbins Heights ‘war’
Dear Editor:
Due to some situations I am in
volved in around the county I have
hesitated to write this letter for sev
eral weeks. I realize now this letter is
more important than any negative
thought. This letter is to help us see
we are one, and if 1 have a problem
you have one also. If I need help you
need to help me.
I have friends who live in the
Robbin Heights community. They
have worked hard all of their lives to
buy their home. They have put a fence
around their property, but across the
street there are activities in houses
they never imagined when they moved
to their new home. My friends are in
church almost every Sunday. The
daughter is the organist for three
choirs. The father is the lead singer
for the male chorus and the gospel
choir. The mother sings in the gospel
choir. The son plays the drums. I
know they pray.
Several weeks ago within yards of
their home one young man was mur
dered and two others were shot in a
drive-by shooting. This is “one” of
the murders that has happened in their
community from a drive-by shooting,
or some other type of murder.
My kids knew some of the others
that had been shot or killed in Robbin
Heights before and mentioned it to
me. I felt compassion and prayed for
the family. But this time it was differ
ent. I was directly involved. I had to
hurry to the hospital when I heard
about the incident. I saw the mother
that didn't know if she should stay at
the hospital with her son in surgery
who had been shot or go home and
deal with her other son’s death. I saw
my family and my nephew deal with
his being shot. Shot with a rille that is
illegal to use. I could not believe there
was that type ritle in Hoke County.
Also, this rille had been used in shoot
ing concerning drugs in a drive-by
shooting in Hoke County, according
to rumors I heard. The situation be
came a reality to me that night
Yes, I will continue to pray, but
action needs logo along with my and
your prayers. I have heard the people
in Robbin Heights are surrounded by
at least two gangs, drugs flow freely;
people who live in the community
have to be careful in reporting inci
dents to the |x)lice.
I'hey need help. I thought about
the war we are facing now in Afghani
stan. The Army, the Navy, the Ma
rines, whomever the United Stales
needed to protect the USA and end the
war was sent there. They became one
unit with one purpose when they en
tered the war zone, that's the only
way you can win.
I ask the Chief of the City Police,
Chief High and the I loke Countv Sher
iff Davis to become a unit with one
purpose and go into Robbin Heights
and end this war.
The difference in this war is the
“Enemy” is drugs, guns and other
problems I can’t imagine.
Thank You,
Shirley Ferguson
Firefighter’s plea: don’t delay emergency vehicles with red lights
To the l-iditor:
I am a firefighter of 15 years and 1
live here in Hoke County.
I would like to say to all here in
Hoke that when you see an emer
gency vehicle running red lights,
would you all give that vehicle the
right of way.
Here in Hoke County the
firefighters do not stay at the fire
department so they have to go to
emergency scenes from home or from
wherever the V are when the cal I comes
m.
It is so hard to get to an emergency
call when you are blocked by cars that
will not get out of the way. In an
emergency lime may be a matter of
life or death.
I would like to say that all of the
emergency personnel here in Hoke
County are some of the best that 1
have worked with and thank you all
for being there for us.
The firefighters here in Hoke
County are all volunteers who put
their lives on the line every day to
save lives and property. The
firefighters don't get paid for it and
hardly even get a “thank you" for
what they do.
1 can say this: when an emergency
call comes in, the firefighters are al
ways here and on the way to the
call.
M.E. Rich
A Hoke County firefighter
Pharmacy’s professionalism noted by mental health nurse
To the Editor:
Hoke County is going through
rough times; a time w'here there are
job layoffs, high rate of unemploy
ment and a political war going on. In
spite of all the above, there is a place
where you can get your medical, so
cial physical and spixitual needs met.
Tliat place is Barbee Pharmacy.
As a mental health nurse'
Sandhills Mental Health Center in
Hoke County, 1 have developed a
rapport with the staff at the pharmacy.
My clients often tell me of the prompt.
courteous and professional attention
given to them when they visit the
pharmacy. I would like to especially
thank them for taking the time to call
the mental health center when there is
a need to clarify a prescription. Often,
a phone call can prevent a lapse in
medication.
On behalf of Sandhills Mental
Health Center Hoke-Unit, I would
like to personally thank Mr. Barbee
for his assistance with the medication
program. 1 would also like to com
mend the staff for taking the time to
go that extra mile in providing assis
tance in serving our special needs
population.
It is comforting to know that our
clients and the I loke County commu
nity can continue to count on Barbee
Pharmacy for outstanding served and
support.
Respectfully yours,
Mildred Alleync BS, RN
Mental Health Nurse
Sandhills Mental Health Center
Stauffer family says community provided comfort
To the Editor:
A note of thanks! To the City of
Raeford Police Dept., the Hoke
County Sheriff’s Dept., the NC State
Police, the City of Raeford, Hoke
County Rescue Squad, The Raeford
Fire Departments, along with the sur
rounding Pol ice, Fire, and Emergency
Departments, Crumpler’s ITmeral
Home, the Raeford United Methodist
Church, the Rev. Richard Vaughan
for the beautiful ceremony. Also Jane
Britt and the RUMC Preschool chil
dren: Jeffery, Sam, Kallyn, Nikki.
Noah, Kelsey, and Will (for all the
cards and hugs), Jimmy’s Produce
and the countless others who helped
put the food baskets together. The
Jameson Inn (Laurinburg, NC) man
agement and staff, Hoke Cou nty 11 igh
School. VFW #10, the American Le-
gir)n Post #20, The 118th MP Corps
from Fort Bragg, The News-Journal
and The Fayetteville Observer for their
stories of Cliff's life and coverage of
the accident that caused his tragic
death, and all the surrounding com
munities that were so kind and caring
when we lost our precious son on
February IS, 2002.
When Cl iff Stauffer was tragically
killed in an auto accident week before
last, the love and respect you all
showed him truly touched our hearts.
When we arrived in your town, griev
ing and sad, you took us in and treated
us like family!
It was as if we had belonged to you
as much as our son did. Cliff loved
you all and it shows that you returned
that love with vigor. It seems not only
did Cliff make us proud, he made you
proud afso! He truly loved his family,
country and community, and protect
ing all three is what he did and loved
best.
When it was time to leave for Hous
ton, it was comforting to know that
Cliff’s wife and daughters would con
tinue to be watched over and cared for
by his wonderful friends and col
leagues.
We, his family, miss him dearly, as
we know you do; but remember he’s
watching over the streets of Heaven
and waiting to meet with us again!
With love and gratitude.
The Stauffer Families
Hoke lost a ‘cornerstone’ with Tom Jones’ death
To The Editor:
Hoke County lost another pioneer.
Tom Jones was one of the corner-
stonesofour county. He was a farmer,
merchant, and a giver to his fellow
humans. A good husband, father,
grandfather and one of God’s chil
dren; what better legacy could one
leave to his family?
His family was close-knit;
Kathleen was a wife who supported
her husband in his many ventures.
She was a solid rock during his ill
ness. When Hospice asked me to serve
as his volunteer, I jumped at the
chance.
Over the years 1 had been involved
with them in many ways. Kathleen
took me under her wing when 1 first
came to the county. She introduced
me to many people, invited me to her
church on several occasions and I was
delighted to accept the invitation. The
youngest member of the family was a
student of mine for his four years
in high school.
Tom never lost his sense of humor
during his illness. 1 would visit him
once a week, sometimes twice. When
he talked about people, he always had
somelhingkind tosay about them. He
uas a positive individual. On my last
visit w hen he was too weak to talk, he
raised his hand to acknowledge my
presence. A life well led,one in which
he showed kindness to those who had
never known much. I am grateful and
thankful that I had the opportunity to
share some precious moments with
him.
Raz Autry
DSS congratulates first
‘Project Hope’ graduates
To the Editor:
The Hoke County Department of
Social Services in conjunction with
other agencies developed a class
called “Project Hope.”
riie Work First staff in Employ
ment Services and Cash Assistance
work very hard to assist individuals
with employment. The challenge was
met in the first Project Hope class.
The “Project Hope” class had four
people to graduate in December. We
are very proud of the individuals who
worked diligently in meeting dead
lines of the class. Congratulation to
Tina Rios, Jessica Bascomb and
Stacey Betty. A special thanks to
Sandhills Community College and
the Hoke County School System for
working with the Work First Pro
gram in achieving self-sufficiency.
Congratulations to John Henegan,
Darryl Simmons, Shontae Morrisey,
Joanne Melvin, Jhaketa Smith, and
Carrie Jacobs for gaining employ
ment.
The second class has begun. We ex
pect great success in the next session.
LuEvelyn Locklear
Hoke County Department of
Social Services
f
Mourner disappointed Hoke provided no funeral escort
Dear Ms. Wilson:
1 am writing to express how disap
pointed 1 was in our sheriff’s depart
ment. On Sunday, March 3, after the
funeral service for a family member,
which was held in Scotland County,
we had to travel across three counties
to the gravesite. One of the counties
happened to be Hoke.
When we left the church, a Scot
land County deputy escorted us to
Hwy. 15-501. The funeral procession
then entered into Hoke County with
no escort from "our” Sheriff’s De
partment. When we reached Moore
County there were two deputies stop
ping traffic for the procession to pro
ceed down US Hwy. 1, then lastly
there was a deputy from Richmond
County to meet us at the line.
As a citizen of Hoke County, I
found this unacceptable. I was very
impressed with the other three coun
ties, for they represented their depart
ments well. 1 have read and heard
other stories where Hoke County
deputies did not assist in other cross
county processionals as well. Are our
deputies so busy that they couldn’t
spare j ust one car? Th is m ight seem to
be something of no importance to
many people, but it let me know that
our Sheriff’s Department is not “up to
par’ with its surrounding counties
when it comes to something of this
nature.
Thank You,
Angela Chavis-Cummings
Illiteracy takes personal as well as societal toll
To the Editor:
Do you realize how much your
literacy skills enhanced your life? If
you didn’t have these skills would
your lifestyle be greatly diminished?
Would you feel inadequate or be
come hostile? Would you feel iso
lated from the dominant reading/tech
nology society? You might even be
gin to think of yourself as “just plain
dumb.”
We can introduce you to hard
working adults, living in poverty be
cause of il I iteracy, or persons who use
‘ I can’t’ or ‘ I'm sorry’ at the same rate
that readers use ‘the’or’and.’ Weean
show you what your life might be like
without basic literary skills. Yet, we
believe that adult illiteracy is a solv
able problem.
Beyond the personal toll of illit
eracy, there is a cost paid by society.
The trained mind solves problems
differently and often more effectively.
Individual empowerment translates
into community empowerment. Dr.
Frank Laubach coined more than a
cliche when he suggested to the people
of the Philippines that “Each One
Teach One.”
Will you teach just one adult to
read? For more information, contact
Hoke Reading/Literacy Council at
(910)875-2145
or hricta coastal net.com.
Barbara J. Buie
Executive Director
P.S. Thanks Mr. Autry
Local government meetings listed
Listed here are the regularly
scheduled Hoke and Raeford meet
ings. Meeting dates and times may
be changed due to holidays and
other conflicts.
County
The board of commissioners
meets the first and third Mondays
of each month at 7:30 p.m. Public
input sessions are held immedi
ately after business is conducted
during the first-of-the-month meet
ings.
The planning commission meets
the second Thursday at 7 p.m. The
board of adjustment meets the first
Wednesday at 7 p.m.
County meetings are conducted
in the commissioners’ meeting
room of the Pratt Building at 227
North Main Street.
The board of elections meets the
second Tuesday of the month at 5
p.m. in the board of elections office
in the Pratt Building.
The Raeford/Hoke Economic
Development Board meets the sec
ond Tuesday of each month at 8
a.m. in the Depot (Chamber of Com
merce Building).
The Hoke County board of edu
cation meets the second Tuesday of
each month at 7 p.m.
The phone number for county
offices is 875-8751.
City
Listed here are the regularly
scheduled City of Raeford govern
mental meetings.
Meeting dates and times may be
changed due to holidays and other
conflicts. (September’s meeting has
been rescheduled to September 10
due to the Labor Day holiday.)
City of Raeford council meet
ings are held the first Monday of
each month at 7:30 p.m. However,
this month’s meeting will be held
the second Monday, September 12,
at the usual time.
Board of adjustment and plan
ning board meetings are held when
there are matters before the boards
to be addressed.
The planning board meets the
third Tuesday at 6 p.m., and the
board of adjustment meets the sec
ond Monday at 6 p.m.
All meetings are held in the
Council Chamber, City Hall, 315
Main Street. The phone number is
875-8161.
Meet
Hubert A. Peterkin
People’s Choice
candidate for
Hoke County Sheriff
\
Fairness, Experience & Professionalism
Saturday, March 9th, 2002
11 am to 4 pm
HAWK-EYE INDIAN
CULTURAL CENTER
(located in Antioch)
1448 John Road, Raeford, NC
For Information Contact
Rev. Elisha Dial
843-3505 or 843-9484
This advertisement was paid for by the committee to elect Hubert A. Peterkin