The Hoke Animal Shelter is again providing Thanksgiving dinner for its dogs and cats, and it’s this Wednesday. Unlike usual years (with no pandemics) this year’s event won’t permit volunteers to serve the food to the animals—staff only—but food contributions are welcome. Drop by whole turkeys, canned vegetables, potatoes etc. Any left over food will...
Year: 2020
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Judge cancels jury trials through 2020 due to Hoke’s “critical” COVID-19 status
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Webb this week canceled all jury trials in Hoke and Moore through the end of the year, citing concerns about the two counties’ high percent of positive COVID-19 tests. The state has labeled Hoke as a “critical” county under the new COVID-19...
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Man from Raeford shot dead in Fayetteville
A man from Raeford was shot and killed in Fayetteville Sunday night, and two people have been arrested in connection with the case, according to the Fayetteville Police Department. Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department were dispatched around 11:13 p.m. Sunday to the area of Morganton Road near South Ingleside Drive in Fayetteville, in reference...
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Hoke deemed ‘critical’ in virus spread
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke is one of 10 North Carolina counties deemed “critical” because of the number of positive COVID-19 tests among people who live here, state health officials said Tuesday. The county has the third-highest 14-day percent of positive COVID-19 tests of any county in North Carolina, at 13.6 percent...
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Barring political action, end of course testing will be in person
Hoke County students and public school students across the United States won’t be exempt from end-of-grade and end-of-course testing for this school year, and that testing will have to be done in person, according to Hoke County Schools. In the spring, the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver that allowed schools to cancel the...
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Richards’ contribution to education celebrated
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hank Richards has been a part of public education in Hoke County for over half a century, but an era is coming to an end as he steps down following a 16-year run on the Board of Education. Richards, 78, left his mark on the students he taught,...
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Canvass doesn’t change election results here
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Board of Elections canvass held Friday confirmed the unofficial local election results from November 3, but the board is preparing for a recount in one statewide race. Nothing essentially changed with the outcome of the local races following the canvass, Hoke Elections Director Towanna Jackson...
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Superintendent of schools leaving for Robeson County
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County Schools Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson will be leaving his position of 15 years to take the helm at Public Schools of Robeson County. The Robeson County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to select Williamson as its new superintendent with a salary of $200,000 a...