Month: January 2021

A former Hoke High student and his wife are bringing their ministry to television through the ROKU digital media player. The Rev. Carlton Barber and his wife Wanda Barber are the award-winning gospel performers behind the In Ya Faith Gospel Outreach. Now In Ya Faith Gospel Ministries is expanding to TV with the In Ya...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity hopes to help more people in Hoke County build safe, affordable houses through support from a recently opened local ReStore. A ReStore is a secondhand shop that accepts donations of gently used items, which are then sold in the store to raise...

Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office have charged a teenager wanted in connection with a shooting that injured two people last month. Deputies in Robeson County arrested Enrique Angeles-Chavis, 18, on two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Angeles-Chavis was charged in the shooting of Vester Emanuel IV, 30, and Ray McBryde, 48, on December...

The 2021 Point-In-Time Count will take place to count how many individuals and families in Hoke County are considered homeless. “The Point-in-Time Count is a one-day, statistically reliable, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the country,” according to a press release. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Health Department, Cape Fear Valley Health and FirstHealth of the Carolinas are all providing the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to people in Hoke County, as vaccine supplies and scheduling allow. FirstHealth of the Carolinas last week began holding vaccine clinics organized through primary care...

Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a man wanted on charges of harboring a person who reportedly fled from arrest after firing gunshots at law enforcement. Deputies arrested Enrico P. Leggett, 41, of the 1500 block of Pope Street in Raeford on one felony count of harboring an escapee. Authorities took Leggett...

After having to suspend its bus stop meal deliveries due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in the community, Hoke County Schools is now offering drive-thru meal pickup for families through the end of January. Families can drive up to any school between the hours of 3:30-5:30 p.m. January 21, 26 and 28 to...

A driver who apparently lost control, ran off the road and crashed into Rockfish Creek managed to escape the vehicle which became fully submerged in the water. The accident happened on the 7000 block of Fayetteville Road in East Hoke Friday afternoon, while heavy rainfall was passing through the county. Puppy Creek Fire Department firefighters...

From Ed Clemente BASKETBALL UPDATE; Hoke County HS AD Gary Bridgman has confirmed that due to a player within the Hoke boys basketball program testing positive for COVID-19, tonight’s varsity game at Richmond is canceled. Both the boys JV and VARSITY teams will have to quarantine and reschedule all games that were scheduled to be...

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at no cost through local vaccine providers in Hoke County. Check with providers for the latest updates on scheduling and availability. Hoke County Health Department 683 East Palmer Road, (910) 875-3717 Cape Fear Valley Hoke300 Medical Pavilion Drive, Suite 100, www.capefearvalley.com/COVID19 Dr. Karen Smith’s Office in Raeford929 West Prospect Avenue,...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • An outbreak of COVID-19 at Open Arms Retirement Center in Raeford has seen three residents die and a total of at least 26 known cases among residents and staff, according to the Hoke County Health Department. As of last week at least 14 residents and 12 employees had...

Cape Fear Valley, and the Hoke County Health Department are starting to offer appointments for people in prioritized groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Hoke County Health Department is offering appointments for people on the state’s prioritization list in Phase 1a and 1b – Group 1 to get the vaccine. Go online to readyhoke.org...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County Schools is seeking about $18 million in funding from Hoke County taxpayers to help build a $28 million SandHoke School of Engineering, to open new doors for students and reduce overcrowding at Hoke High. Last October the school system received $10 million in grant funding from...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A groundbreaking ceremony next month will kick off the construction of Hoke County’s new indoor swimming pool and recreation center. The county will hold a groundbreaking Thursday, February 18 at 11 a.m. at the planned construction site for the James A. Leach Parks and Recreation Aquatics Center. Work...

As of January, North Carolina is now using an updated system based on federal guidance to determine when people can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Roy Cooper announced the new guidelines last week, based on information from the federal government. “The vaccines offer hope but this hope will take time to be fulfilled. We continue...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Commission Chairman Harry Southerland, Commissioner James Leach, Hoke Sheriff Dr. Hubert Peterkin and some county Health Department staff have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with more county employees also eligible to receive it under the state’s revised vaccine distribution guidelines. Southerland announced Monday night that he,...

Hoke County Commission Chairman Harry Southerland and Commissioner James Leach announced tonight that they and a number of Hoke County health and safety employees have received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. Other county employees who fall in the first priority groups under the state’s revised vaccine distribution plan are on deck to receive it. It’s optional,...