Year: 2021

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Raeford City Council voted Monday to give a one-time donation of $10,000 to the Downtown Raeford Business Association (DRBA) to help the nonprofit regroup in the wake of the pandemic. This time a year ago, the DRBA – a nonprofit venture spearheaded by local business owners –...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Eight more people at Open Arms retirement center have died after testing positive for COVID-19 as the facility continues battling an outbreak of the contagious illness, health officials said this week. Eleven of the facility’s residents have died of coronavirus-related causes since the outbreak was first reported in...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County’s tax department will resume some limited tax collection activity on people who haven’t paid their tax bills, but won’t garnish wages or foreclose on occupied houses for now. The Hoke County Board of Commissioners followed the recommendation of the county tax collector Monday and voted to...

A locally-owned small business that has grown tremendously over the past year has attracted the notice of celebrities and big distributers, and this week will appear on the TV show Good Morning America. Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded and owned by CEO D’Shawn Russell, will be featured on the show Thursday, February 4. The company...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Several South Hoke residents raised concerns this week about crime and other public safety issues in their community, and asked the Hoke Board of Commissioners for help in combating the problems. Four people spoke during the commission meeting public input session Monday night, all regarding issues with the...