A woman was injured and a tractor-trailer truck burned in an accident on Shannon Road Tuesday night in Hoke County, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. A woman driving a 2017 Hyundai passenger car on Shannon Road near Albert Currie Road, allegedly drove left of center in front of an oncoming Mountaire tractor-trailer truck...
Month: <span>March 2021</span>
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George Floyd Memorial Center proposes tech job training for adults in ‘Dynamic Raeford’
[Photo: Thomas McLaurin, a cousin of George Floyd and president of the George Floyd Memorial Center in Raleigh, addresses local officials about a proposal for ‘Dynamic Raeford.’] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A new proposal by members of George Floyd’s family, in partnership with tech training company CyPrep, would offer free computer career...
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More than 300 vaccinated at weekend clinic
[Contributed Photo: Healthcare workers vaccinated people Saturday at a local church.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Dr. Karen Smith’s office, in partnership with United Healthcare, vaccinated over 300 people against COVID-19 this weekend during a one-day clinic at Freedom Chapel AME Zion Church. “We succeeded beyond expectations with the concerted effort of our...
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Girl Scouts seeking new Daisies
The local Hoke County Girl Scouts troop is looking for young girls in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to join the organization as a Girl Scout Daisy. “Start thinking about expanding her world outside of school! As a Girl Scout Daisy, your kindergartener will unleash her imagination to try new and exciting things. She’ll make friends, grow...
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Sheriff’s office seeking info in armed robbery
A person was held at gunpoint during a recent armed robbery behind Stonegate shopping center, according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office is now seeking help from the public in identifying the person or persons involved with the crime. Deputies with the sheriff’s office responded around 1 a.m. March 20 to a...
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No fooling: cicadas are coming
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • They’re loud, they’re alien-looking, and they’re coming soon to a tree near you – along with billions of their friends. Singing cicadas are a hallmark of North Carolina’s warmer months. Louder than the croak of a spring peeper frog, more insistent than the buzz of a broken fluorescent...
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‘Slight’ threat of severe storms again today
Forecasters say if we get breaks in clouds today the heat will set up destabilization and could trigger some storms with heavy winds. A cold front will “blast through” the area this afternoon, and the storms may develop ahead of and with its arrival.
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Man killed in shooting
A 54-year-old man was shot and killed Sunday in Hoke County during what authorities described as a “confrontation” with another person. Anthony McLaurin, 54, of the 200 block of Hodgin Road in Red Springs was fatally shot, Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said. Investigators with the sheriff’s office are currently working the case, and have...
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Sheriff’s office investigating shooting
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal shooting that took place Sunday in Red Springs, according to authorities. Officers were called to the 200 block of Hodgin Road in reference to a shooting. One person was dead, officials said. Investigators have not yet released the person’s identity. This story is breaking and will...
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COVID-19 vaccine access opens for all – 16 and older – starting April 7, governor says
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Anyone 16 years old or older in North Carolina who wants to get the COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible to do so starting April 7, state officials said today. Gov. Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced the state...
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Raeford police seeking info on shooting incident
The Raeford Police Department is looking for information after a suspect reportedly fired shots late Tuesday night at a house on the 500 block of Southern Avenue. Officers responded to the Raeford Green Apartments on Southern Avenue in reference to a 911 call about gunfire coming from a vehicle. The suspect vehicle is described as...
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Subdivision behind West Hoke Middle up for Raeford leaders’ consideration
[Image by Ken MacDonald: A map of the proposed subdivision expansion.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A proposal to build up to 191 houses on about 85 acres of land behind West Hoke Middle School will go before Raeford decision-makers this month. This is the second time a plan for the property has...
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Governor further eases restrictions, ends some entirely as COVID-19 numbers continue improving
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County is now in the lowest tier of the state’s County Alert System map, with its number of positive COVID-19 tests continuing to fall off in recent weeks. For months, Hoke had one of the state’s highest rates of positive COVID-19 tests compared to all of its...
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Here’s why Hoke County Schools won’t bring high schools back on Plan A – yet
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • While Hoke County elementary and middle schools will offer four days a week of in-person instruction beginning April 12, most high school students will still only have the option of being on campus two days a week. Hoke County Schools announced the decision last week in the wake...
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Commission reviews project financing options
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Board of Commissioners reviewed possible financing options for county construction projects at the regularly scheduled board meeting last week. Representatives for the Davenport and Company firm presented a debt affordability analysis for projects including a new county courthouse and funding for a SandHoke School of...
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Hoke GOP convention features Bishop
[Photo: Congressman Rep. Dan Bishop speaks with HCC Pharmacist and CEO Dwight Oxendine in Raeford Tuesday as one of many stops at local businesses during a tour through Hoke County. Bishop visited Carolina Horse Park in Five Points, toured a small construction site in Raeford, met with Oxendine at the HCC Pharmacy and had lunch...
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Hoke students PreK-8 to return to classrooms four days a week; Hoke High remains on current schedule
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade will start attending in-person classes Monday-Thursday beginning April 12, as the school district shifts to comply with a new state law. The key information Elementary and middle schools in the county will move to Plan A with in-person classes Monday-Thursday,...
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Storm threat down a tad
Some changes in the dynamics of the approaching storm system have lessened the threat of severe weather for Hoke County, leaving us in the “enhanced,” a 3 out of 5 risk, down from “moderate,” or 4 out of 5. Forecasters say today’s main threat is straight-line winds, which can cause as much damage as tornados....
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Severe weather possible Thursday
Eyes to the sky Thursday afternoon. Forecasters now think the threat of severe weather is greater than they have in past days. An approaching cold front is likely to bring numerous storms, strong to severe, in the afternoon, early-evening hours. From the National Weather Service: “The greatest threat will be south and east of the...
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Hoke High Principal Dr. Baldwin leaving for Scotland County position
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke High Principal Dr. Adell Baldwin plans to leave the job to take a position with Scotland County public schools. The principal announced his departure last Wednesday during a school staff meeting held over Zoom. Superintendent Dr. Debra Dowless confirmed Baldwin notified the district of his resignation. He...
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State unveils comprehensive remedial plan for education to comply with Leandro ruling
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The state submitted Monday a court-ordered comprehensive remedial plan meant to bring North Carolina into compliance with the Leandro court case ruling that children have the right to a sound basic education. Although the court case was decided decades ago, over the years the state defendants, the plaintiffs...
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Schools must offer in-person instruction under law
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina legislators and state education officials reached a bipartisan agreement last Thursday to require public schools to offer some form of in-person classes for students for the rest of the year. Cooper signed Senate Bill 220, described as an act to provide access to...
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Junk mail, spam emails and – fake telegrams?
From Browsing The Files Today email filters catch a lot of junk mail, phishing attempts and scams promising to enlarge your bank account – or other things. It might be easy for people of a certain age to look back and wish to return to a time when there wasn’t so much junk mail in...
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Parks and Recreation hosting Easter egg hunt, Autism Walk
Hoke County Parks and Recreation will be hosting the following events and we encourage all parents and youth to come out and join us! All events will be held at the 211 sports complex. The address is 3195 Red Springs Road. Easter Egg Hunt: April 1 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. There is no rain date...
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Hoke marks one year of COVID-19
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • It was a year ago this week that Hoke County saw its first known confirmed case of COVID-19. On March 18, 2020, Health Department Director Helene Edwards joined the Hoke County Commissioners in announcing the first case at a press conference held in the old Armory building. A...