A well-known minister and entrepreneur in the Hoke County community passed away Monday at the age of 71. Evangelist Betty L. Hardaway was pastor of Jericho Deliverance Temple for more than 40 years, and owner of Hardaway’s Herb Garden, a business she founded herself. Known for her passion for preaching the Gospel, she appeared for...
Month: June 2021
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Raeford municipal elections will happen as scheduled in 2021
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Although state lawmakers ordered some communities in North Carolina to postpone their 2021 elections until next year, Raeford’s municipal races will continue as scheduled, elections officials said. Filing opens this Friday for the 2021 municipal elections. The office of City of Raeford Mayor and two Raeford City Council...
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County contracts with litter pickup service to deal with roadside trash
Hoke County leaders recently approved a contract with a service provider that will pick up litter on some of the county’s busiest highways. Greenway Service LLC will perform roadside litter pickup along Highway 401, Highway 211 and Highway 20 in Hoke County, according to the contract. The one-year contract will run from July 1 of...
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Career-building programs available for eligible youth, job expo set for Aug. 5
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Young people ages 16-24 in Hoke County who are low-income and aren’t currently in school may qualify for free career-building services through the NCWorks Career Center in Raeford. The center is trying to get the word out about the opportunities and services available for qualifying young people who...
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County Board of Elections will take oath of office in July, new member joins incumbents
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Five people will take the oath of office in July as the new Hoke County Board of Elections. Under state law, the board will be made up of two Republicans and three Democrats. Gene Shelnutt and Emily Weidner will be the Republican members, and Walter Blue and Linda...
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Man opened fire on vehicle with two adults, two children inside, police say
[Photo: People speak with a law enforcement officer at a gas station on Main Street. (Photo by Catharin Shepard)] A woman in Raeford was injured Tuesday afternoon when a man fired gunshots into a vehicle she and her two children and another adult were riding in at the time. Authorities have a suspect in custody...
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Tropical Depression Claudette brings rain, storms through Monday
Tropical Depression Claudette is expected to bring potentially strong storms and up to several inches of rain to the Sandhills, including Hoke County, Sunday into Monday according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh. The most recent predictions Sunday morning said Hoke could receive about one and a half to two inches of rain, possibly...
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Lumber River Council of Governments seeking public input on broadband internet study
The Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) in conjunction with its members Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties, and the municipalities there in are conducting a study aimed at improving broadband availability within the five county region. The LRCOG and its member governments have been working with ECC Technologies, to assess existing infrastructure and...
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Schools honor 33 retirees from 2020-2021
[Photo: Hoke Schools retirees gathered for a celebration last week.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County Schools honored more than 30 retirees at a luncheon last week, including several people who retired in 2020 but were unable to celebrate at the time due to the pandemic. School principals and Board of Education...
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Community fun day will honor life of late funeral home director Purcell
Hoke native Kenneth Purcell made a lasting impression on many in the area. The renowned funeral director died suddenly last year, and those who knew him want his legacy to continue Purcell Funeral Home will hold its first annual Community Fun Day event Saturday, June 26 in Laurinburg, and will set up scholarships in his...
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COVID-19 grant funding available for grassroots nonprofits to help battle hunger, support recovery
Grassroots organizations seeking funding to help address food access and other relief efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for up to $25,000 in grant money to help their communities. The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Application is now available at https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheConservationFund1/_2021covidemergencyreliefgrantapplication. The money is available thanks to he Blue Cross and Blue Shield...
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Benson takes reins as new Hoke High principal July 1
[Photo: Dr. Thomas Benson III, new Hoke High principal (Submitted Photo)] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County High School Bucks will welcome a new principal July 1, as Dr. Thomas Benson III steps in as the new chief administrator for the county’s largest public school. The Hoke County Board of Education...
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County approved for $50 million in bonds for swimming pool/recreation center, debt refinancing
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Local Government Commission (LGC) of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer announced this month that Hoke County received the Commission’s approval to obtain up to $50 million in limited obligation bonds. The money will be used for two purposes: building the county’s new public swimming pool...
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Juneteenth youth talent showcase is Saturday
There will be a youth talent show and other activities this Saturday, June 19 from noon-4 p.m. The “Youth Explosion” will be held at the Enrichment Center located at 193 Gillis Hill Road. See the fliers for details and more information on how to participate. The event is sponsored by Affairs of the Family and...
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Benson named Hoke High Principal
[Photo: Dr. Thomas Benson, newly appointed Hoke High Principal (Submitted photo)] Hoke County Schools announced this week Dr. Thomas Benson will be Hoke County High School’s new principal. The News-Journal will have an interview with him in next week’s issue. The school system also announced Dr. Chad Hunt as the new Assistant Superintendent of Operations...
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Upcoming blood drives seek donors to help save lives
The Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is holding three upcoming blood drives in Hoke County. The center provides blood supplies to patients in Hoke and other counties. See the fliers, or go to www.savingliveslocally.com for more information on each blood drive.
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Hoke High Class of 2021 walks the stage at graduation ceremony
[Photo: Lauron Lewis as Regena McLaughlin Fixes her cap (Photo by Meredith Bounds, Hoke County Schools)] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • “It’s time to let your Buck pride shine,” Hoke High Interim Principal Sabrina Finkbeiner told the Class of 2021, as they gathered one last time Saturday to mark the end of their...
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Hoke grad appears on America’s Got Talent
[Photo: Tavis Cunningham performs as part of male vocal trio 1achord (Photo from Facebook)] A Hoke High Class of 2020 graduate recently appeared on the hit TV show, America’s Got Talent. Tavis Cunningham, who graduated with the Bucks last year, appeared on the season premier of America’s Got Talent June 1. “We’ve always known he...
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Subdivisions debated as residents raise infrastructure, safety questions
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Residents of the eastern and western areas of the county raised questions Monday about whether Hoke has the infrastructure to support continued subdivision growth – and whether it should – as commissioners faced a large agenda of plat requests and amendments at their first meeting of the month....
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No tax hike in proposed county budget
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • County Manager Letitia Edens’ proposed 2021-2022 fiscal year budget does not include a tax increase or change in water or sewer fees, but does suggest an increase in solid waste fees, according to county documents. Edens and county finance staff drew up the proposed budget after county department...
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New COVID-19 infections down in Hoke
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A week after the unofficial start of summer, Hoke County’s number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has remained low, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Hoke saw just 60 new cases of the novel coronavirus over the past 14 days, including...
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Raeford joins others in raising police pay
By Ken MacDonald • The City of Raeford reached into contingency money to keep from being left behind and having their police officers poached by higher-paying law enforcement agencies. City Council agreed to add $154,000 to its budget—just before adopting it Monday night at its regular meeting—to fund increases for existing and new officers. “Ya’ll...
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Gunman sought for firing shots at Waffle House
Investigators with the Raeford Police Department are seeking a man wanted for allegedly firing gunshots into the Waffle House restaurant on Highway 401 Bypass. Raeford Police are seeking the whereabouts of Billy Ray Jones, 49, of the 100 block of Childrens Road in Red Springs, who is wanted for arrest on charges of shooting into...
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Parade, service honor veterans for Memorial Day
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke’s State Rep. Garland Pierce knows what it’s like to fight for the United States, and what it’s like to lose a loved one in that fight. Pierce, a veteran himself, marked Memorial Day by reading to a crowd gathered on the Hoke Court House lawn, a letter...
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Sheriff’s deputies get higher starting pay, 15% raise
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Board of Commissioners’ budget for 2021-2022 will include funding to cover a starting salary of $41,127 for newly hired sheriff’s deputies, and a 15 percent pay increase for deputies already working for the department. The amount was actually higher than Hoke Sheriff Dr. Hubert Peterkin...