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No,24VoI.116
Raeford & Hoke County n.c.
Wednesday, August 11,2021
New numbers: Hoke at 41%
New DOD data for vaccinations brings Hoke closer to state average
But cases still climbing
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
Newly released vac
cination numbers from the
United States Department of
Defense (DOD), when added
to state totals, show that 41
percent of Hoke County
residents are fully vaccinated
against COVID-19. About 46
percent have received at least
one dose of a COVID-19
vaccine.
With concerns over the
Delta variant and the number
of new confirmed cases on
the rise, health officials are
pushing toward the next goal
(See COVID, page 4)
A TV crew sets up near the splash pad at the county sports complex on N.C. 211. Gunfire began nearby Monday night
resulting in the deaths of two people. (Ken MacDonald photo)
Shootout at park leaves 2 dead, 1 injured
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
A “parent’s worst nightmare”
unfolded when children practicing
softball nearby witnessed a shootout
that killed two people and injured
a third Monday night. The appar
ently drug-related shooting started
at the county sports complex on Red
Springs Road.
Nakoya Maynor, 25 and Zyrique
Grace, 22 were shot and killed, ac
cording to the Hoke County Sheriffs
Office. The third victim, whose
name has not been released, was
taken to a hospital. His condition
was not immediately available.
The shooting started near the
splash pad - a water feature play
(See SHOOTING, page 6)
Decision reached,
but not announced
in residency dispute
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
The Hoke County Board of Elections has made a deci
sion, but hasn’t announced the outcome of a residency chal
lenge a City Council member filed against Raeford mayor
candidate Chris Parker.
The board held a hearing last Thursday to give both
Parker and City Council member Wayne Willis, who
contested Parker’s candidacy, a chance to provide evidence,
call witnesses and make statements in the matter.
The board has made a decision and will be mailing the
result to Parker within 15 days of the hearing. Elections
Director Towanna Dixon said Tuesday that since the board
hadn’t sent the notification yet, the office couldn’t release
the board’s decision to media. County Attorney Grady
Hunt assisted the board with legal representation and asked
questions during the hearing, and was reviewing the
(See RESIDENCY, page 2)
Grassroots supply drive
helps kids for school
HOKE
piorage
Airwoman from Raeford dies in Kuwait
The United States Depart
ment of Defense last week
announced the death of an Air
Force chief master sergeant
from Raeford.
Chief Master Sgt. Tresse
Zanette King, 54, died August 3
in a non-combat related inci
dent at Ali A1 Salem Air Base,
Kuwait, the DOD said in a
statement. The incident is under
investigation, which is protocol
for the death of a military ser
vice member. Her remains were
flown back to the United States
last week and arrived at Dover
Air Force Base for dignifled
transfer.
King is survived by family
including her mother, Eunice-
teen Diggs; her children George
King and Jecia Anderson; and
two grandchildren, reports said.
Her daughter is a former candi
date for Hoke County Commis
sioner.
(See KING, page 3)
Search finds woman’s body, suspect arrested
Hoke County Sheriff’s Office inves
tigators found a missing woman dead
inside a home in South Hoke and have
a homicide suspect in custody, and
also located a missing child, according
to authorities.
Lumberton Police Department of
ficers charged Donny Dwayne Sessum,
41, in connection with the case, after he
reportedly attempted to flee from arrest.
A neighbor noticed that 38-year-
old Jessica Nicole Hall hadn’t been
seen in several days and contacted the
sheriff’s office, Hoke County Sheriff
Dr. Hubert Peterkin said. Investiga
tors obtained a search warrant and just
after midnight last Tuesday searched a
house on the 200 block of Applewood
Lane. The emergency response team
found Hall dead inside the home, ap
parently shot to death, the sheriff said.
The sheriff’s office contacted
the North Carolina State Bureau of
Investigation (SBI) for assistance with
the crime scene and help locating a
missing child. Hoke authorities noti
fied Lumberton police, who located
the suspect and pursued him in a car
chase. After the chase police detained
(See HOMICIDE, page 3)
By Catharin Shepard
Staff writer
As summer vaca
tion draws to a close
for Hoke County
students, Jessica
Leach Oxendine’s
house is stuffed with
backpacks, bottles of
hand sanitizer, paper
and pencils.
“Really it looks
like a Walmart threw
up in my living
EdMegillofCopperheadsLEMCSand- room,” she joked,
h i 11 s, Ki rk Leac h of Raefo rd H o ke M i n i Oxendine said her
Storage,and Leach’s grandkidsAaleyah family happened to
Oxendine,Alexis Lester, Ella Lane and ggg opportunity to
Landen Oxendine supported the drive.
they came across a sale on backpacks. Her children wanted
to help other kids start the new school year off right. They
quickly snapped up the backpacks.
“We bought just about every one they had,” she said.
That was just the start. The family business, Raeford
Hoke Mini Storage, hosted a school supply drive to collect
more items. The Copperheads Law Enforcement Motor
cycle Club Sandhills Chapter jumped in to help.
With supporters from across Hoke County and beyond,
the giveaway organizers were able to stuff dozens of back
packs full of school supplies for students. They also worked
on putting together boxes of classroom necessities
(See SUPPLY DRIVE, page 6)
Enrolling
For Next
School Year!
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from Raeford
(910) 483-3905
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