Month: August 2021

Hoke County will take part in a special ceremony happening nation-wide this September 11 to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attacks of 20 years ago. The county was chosen as one of 60 communities across the country to participate in the first annual National Flag of Honor Across America Memorials. Organizer Brandy McPherson presented...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • After months without a death due to the pandemic, Hoke County recently saw three more people die after testing positive for COVID-19. So far 59 residents of the county have died after contracting the virus, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. More than...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Local hospital systems report experiencing an increased number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The area is seeing a “COVID surge,” FirstHealth of the Carolinas said in a statement last week. “FirstHealth’s four hospitals are dealing with a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. On Thursday, 100...

The first coach to lead a Hoke High girls team in the sport of wrestling passed away suddenly last week. Hoke High Head Wrestling Coach Vernon Walworth died Friday at the age of 59. Walworth was a nationally recognized pioneer coach in girls wrestling. For many years he pushed for organization of the sport as...

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 apparently drug-related shooting started at the county sports complex on Red Springs Road. Nakoya Maynor, 25 and Zyrique Grace, 22 were shot and killed,...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Newly released vaccination 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...

Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit arrested a man on multiple drug charges after allegedly finding cocaine in his residence. Officers arrested Fabian Wilson, 36, of the 100 block of Joereka Road in Red Springs. He was charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug dwelling...

Hoke County Sheriff’s Office investigators 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 officers charged Donny Dwayne Sessum, 41, in connection with the case, after he reportedly attempted to flee from arrest. A...

Two people were killed and a third person was sent to the hospital after a shooting Monday night in Hoke County, Sheriff Dr. Hubert Peterkin said. Peterkin confirmed that two people were dead and at least one other person was shot and taken to a hospital. The third person’s condition was not known. Based on...

The Department of Defense announced Thursday the death of an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant who lived in Raeford. Chief Master Sergeant Tresse Z. King, 54, of Raeford, North Carolina, died August 3, 2021, in a non-combat related incident at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, the DOD said in a statement. The incident is...

Hoke County Sheriff’s Office investigators 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 officers charged Donny Dwayne Sessum, 41, in connection with the case, after he reportedly attempted to flee from arrest. A...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A “classy” bowling alley and a kids’ entertainment center are coming to Hoke County and will be built next to the James A. Leach Aquatics and Recreation Center on U.S. 401, a project representative said Monday. “What we’re going to put there, and you’re going to be so...

In Ya Faith Ministries will host Faith Fest Saturday, August 14 at Armory Park, located at 423 East Central Avenue in Raeford. Faith Fest will have food trucks, gospel groups and a Christian DJ, DJ Super Sutton from Atlanta. Bouncers, face painting, a petting zoo and Spiderman will make an appearance. There will also be...

The Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce will hold a concert featuring The Sand Band Thursday, August 26 at the 211 Sports Complex. Gates open at 6:15 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m. The Chamber is busy planning the “End of Summer & School Kick Off Concert” to offer a fun evening of entertainment. “This...

Raeford City Council approved what could become a 70-90-home subdivision near Turnpike Road and N.C. 211. “Gates Farm” would be built on 17 acres of land just north of the highway in 58 lots. No one spoke during a public hearing held Monday night at Council’s regular meeting, though the developer answered a few questions....

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A Raeford City Council member filed a challenge last Thursday against a candidate running for the city mayor’s office, questioning whether he meets one of the requirements to seek election. Council member Wayne Willis filed a challenge July 29 against Raeford mayoral candidate Chris Parker, who announced his...