The
ews
$1 00
If it happened, its news to us
0 5 5 0 S
No,20VoI.116
Raeford & Hoke County n.c.
Wednesday, July 14,2021
Fall Festival returns in October
Back from the pandemic, seeking vendors, supporters
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Preparations are underway to bring back
a longtime favorite event that, like so many
other festivals, had to cancel its schedule in
2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This October the North Carolina Fall
Festival will fill the air downtown with live
music, the smell of funnel cakes and the
energy of a community gathering together
Fall Festival president Dee Inman said
the festival board of volunteers hopes to
make the event a sort of comeback for Hoke
County after months of social distancing
and other safety precautions kept people
for the first time since the pandemic started, apart.
“People are excited to finally be able to
get out and socialize,” she said.
While not all the typical events are on
the schedule this year, familiar favorites are
returning: the golf tournament. Senior Day,
(See FESTIVAL, page 3)
What’s this?
Inquiring minds want to know
Folks in Raeford have a keen sense of
curiosity, enough to stop and ask, “what is
THAT?” when something new or different
appears. Something new and different did ap
pear in downtown Raeford in the Edenborough
shopping center parking lot recently, and it had
at least one citizen calling the News-Journal to
try and find out more.
A big white truck cab hitched up to a piece
of heavy equipment was parked down at the
(See WHAT’S THIS, page 4)
-if"
i:
lli
V
r '
k"
J)'
Clockwise from top: a giant wood chipper awaits transportation from its port at the
Edenborough Shopping Center on Main Street;The A&R Railroad is ferrying cars from
Raeford as part of a new contract; some of the containers which are being shipped
are getting a fresh coat of a very green paint, the company’s brand color. (Catharin
Shepard and Ken MacDonald photos)
Donated fire truck will help train next generation
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Even after carrying firefighters into the
thick of fire and accident scenes for more than
three decades, the engine of the fire truck
parked under a shelter at Stoney Point Eire
Department started right up with a strong,
loud rumble.
Stripped of the Stoney Point name, it still
carried axes, ladders and other equipment as
it rolled out from the station. The truck origi
nally manufactured in 1985 came to its new
home in Hoke County Monday, where train
ers will use it to help teach young people how
to be the next generation of firefighters.
Several years ago. Sandhills Commu
nity College and Hoke County High School
teamed up to offer a firefighter academy for
(See FIRE TRUCK, page 6)
124-house subdivision to be
constructed behind Walmart
Chief Donnie Smith of Raeford Fire Dept., Fire Academy graduate SolVasquez of Aberdeen
Fire Dept., Chief Freddy Johnson of Stoney Point Fire Dept, and Chief David Schroer of
Hillcrest Fire Dept, with the retired fire engine. (Catharin Shepard photo)
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
The Hoke County Board of Commissioners
approved last week a major subdivision plat
request for a new development that will bring
up to 124 new homes to the Club Pond Road
area.
The commissioners approved the plat
request for a subdivision that will be called
Cameron Village, to be located behind the
Walmart shopping center at Club Pond Road
and U.S. 401. Double D Engineering submit
ted the request, which includes a 93.66-acre
parcel of land and a 23.86-acre portion of
another tract of land at the same location.
The property was already zoned as Resi
dential (R-8), allowing a minimum lot size of
8,000 square feet. The plans submitted to
(See SUBDIVISION, page 6)
Enrolling
For Next
School Year!
Bus Service
from Raeford
(910) 483-3905
Fayetteville Christian School
Voted Best Private School
8 Consecutive Years 8i Counting!
1422 Ireland Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28304 • www.fayettevillechristian.conn