By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Fire destroyed part of a local agricultural services business in Hoke County Friday morning. No injuries were reported. Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at FCI, located on St. Pauls Road just outside of Raeford, Andrew Jacobs of county emergency management said. “We received a call...
Four retirees of the Hoke School System received Order of the Long Leaf Pine Awards at the board of education’s recent meeting. State Rep. Garland Pierce presented awards to Queen Ester Hollingsworth-Shaw after her 41 years of service, to Donna Jackson after 31 years service, Patricia Michael, after 43 years of service and Rochelle Arrington...
A woman from Fayetteville was killed Christmas Eve in a two-vehicle accident on Aberdeen Road just outside Raeford. Yvette Marie Allen, 61, of Fayetteville was killed in a head-on crash, according to information from the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The accident happened around 2:14 p.m. Friday, December 24 on N.C. 211 near Sheppard Lane in...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Two years ago county officials sought grant funding to help address standing water issues in some Hoke County neighborhoods. It’s taken a while, but this month residents in the Goose Pond Road area of South Hoke saw dry land. Andrew Jacobs, grant writer, shared information about the almost...
[Photo: Families gathered for the “Angel Tree” and Andy’s Box thanks to Maggie’s Outreach, Full Effect Gospel Ministries and support from many sponsors. (Contributed photo)] More than 150 Hoke County youth and their families got help this Christmas thanks to the support of community donors through “Andy’s Box.” Maggie’s Outreach Community Economic Development Center along...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke leaders will consider the options for creating a firing range so local law enforcement won’t have to travel to a remote part of the county without bathrooms to practice with their weapons. The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is nationally accredited, but it’s hampered by not having its...
A man from Fayetteville died last week and several passengers in the car with him were injured in an early morning accident in Hoke County. James Lamont Bazemore, 47, of Fayetteville was killed in the single-vehicle wreck on Arabia Road, according to a North Carolina Highway Patrol report. The accident happened around 3:30 in the...
[Photo: State Sen. Ben Clark presents Rev. Mary Owens with the award. (Contributed photo)] Rev. Mary Owens, a lifelong member of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church and dedicated educator has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Sen. Ben Clark and Owens’ loved ones surprised her with the presentation at church Sunday. The Hoke...
Hoke County Government offices will be closed for the holiday season beginning Friday, December 24th through Sunday, January 2nd with the following exceptions: Hoke Area Transit Service (HATS) will be OPEN on Wednesday, December 29 Thursday, December 30 Solid Waste will be OPEN on Monday, December 27 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Thursday, December...
[Photos courtesy of Hoke County Schools] During a surprise announcement Friday afternoon, Hoke County School District’s Principal of the Year, Antonio Covington, and Teacher of the Year, Elizabeth Santamour, were named the 2022 NC Sandhills Region Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Covington and...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • More Hoke residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19, and the county saw a slight increase in the number of cases over the past two weeks, according to state officials. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services data showed that as of Tuesday, 91 people from...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Grinch was getting up to trouble behind the backs of Santa and Mrs. Claus beside the newly lit Christmas tree in downtown Raeford, but sharp-eyed children spotted him as he tried to sneak away. It turned out he had a heart after all as the Santa-suited, fuzzy...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke commissioners and school board members joined forces Monday to pursue a $50 million grant from the state with a $10 million local match that could be used to build a new high school facility. School officials aren’t far enough along in the process to have made decisions...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A number of local candidates filed Monday to run for election in Hoke County. Incumbents Hoke County Sheriff Roderick C. Virgil and Hoke County Commissioners Tony Hunt, Harry Southerland and Allen Thomas were among those who filed Monday to run for election. The incumbent candidates for sheriff and...
[Photo: Joshua Miller, Stephanie Bellomy and Michael Bramer created Raeford Coffee Co.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Three entrepreneurs who met at church and became friends are launching their new joint business venture in Hoke County. The Raeford Coffee Co. held a soft opening last week and will debut at Hometown Christmas this...
[Photo: Tuesday was set to be the last day of service at Home Food Grill. (Photo by Ken MacDonald] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A popular spot in downtown Raeford to grab a bite to eat has apparently served its last barbecue sandwich. The Home Food Grill window was taking its last orders...
Maggie’s Outreach Community Economic Development Center is planning a Christmas toy giveaway and needs donations and community support to make the event a success. “Here in Hoke County, we have a problem of under privileged children that generally go without through the year and, especially during the Holiday Season. We are in desperate need for...
Carolinas Dentist is offering a day of no-cost dental care to people who are uninsured and/or facing financial hardship. The dentistry office located at 2040 Club Pond Road in the Walmart shopping center in Hoke County will host a no-cost dental care day Saturday, December 11 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Participants should call to reserve...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Dr. Annette Jones brushed away tears Friday night, as Hoke County Commissioner Tony Hunt surprised her with a special award. Jones received the Mitch Tyler Award, named in honor of Hoke County’s first Native American school superintendent. The committee managed to surprise Jones, who didn’t know she was...
[Photo: Sylviette D. McGill with her book, “90 Days To Your Better Self.” (Photo by Alima Industries)] A Hoke County High School graduate is celebrating the publishing of her book meant to help people live more fulfilling lives. Sylviette D. McGill’s book “90 Days To Your Better Self, An Interactive Guide to Self-discovery and Healing”...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The biennium state budget Gov. Roy Cooper signed last week contains $31 million in funding for Hoke County to build a new courthouse. The two-year budget includes two payments of over $15 million each year to Hoke County for the project, according to State Rep. Garland Pierce. Pierce...
Two Hoke High School teenagers who were found dead in a vehicle last month apparently died of accidental, acute carbon monoxide poisoning, according to official documents. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released Friday autopsy and toxicology results in the investigation into the deaths of Britany Carolina Muñoz-Ramirez, 17, and Ailton Sebastian...
The merriest season is approaching fast, and the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce and local businesses are getting ready to help kick it off with the annual Hometown Christmas. Hometown Christmas is back this year with the night of lights, carols and family fun returning to Main Street in downtown Raeford. The event is set for...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Veterans Day this year had a doubly special meaning as services honored veterans both living and dead, and marked the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At the annual Hoke County Veterans Day service, Freddie McPhaul served as the master of ceremonies and the guest...
There will be a BBQ plate sale Saturday, November 6 At Raeford Flea Market on Laurinburg Road from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The plate sale will benefit In Ya Faith Ministries Radio Network and help get In Ya Faith TV Network back on the air, due to losses suffered during COVID-19. For more information call (704)-441-7595...