(3:18 p.m. Friday, September 30) As wind and rain moved through the Sandhills region Friday from Ian, tree limbs and downed trees began causing some power outages for the Hoke County area. Both Duke Energy and Lumbee River EMC showed outages in Hoke as of Friday afternoon. With ongoing wind and rain expected to continue,...
(Friday 6:20 a.m.) The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued its morning briefing on Hurricane Ian, and tweaks to our area forecast have a bit of an increase in expected wind speeds. (See map) Winds gusting to around 60 mph are possible today as the storm approaches. Rainfall on the order of 4-5 inches...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County local government is considering or pursuing several options to increase access to water resources to keep up with customer demand. Potentially the biggest addition could be the McCain water system. Now that both the former correctional hospital and the prison are shut down, the North Carolina...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to keep their own beehives can learn all about it next month at “bee school.” The Hoke County Beekeeper Association plans to host two days full of lessons and hands-on practical experience to teach newbies what all the buzz is about....
[Photo: Bobby Gillespie at Grits & Gravy.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Raeford and Hoke County diners are getting a taste of Grits & Gravy, a homegrown restaurant and food service that’s the product of years of experience and hard work by chef and owner Bobby Gillespie. What started off as a catering...
[Photo: Steve Coughlin performs (Submitted Photo)] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Singer-songwriter and musician Steve Coughlin has led an interesting life to say the least: he’s traveled the world while serving in the Navy and worked as a police detective, and now he and his band are headlining music concerts all across the...
The Hoke County Animal Shelter announced Monday it has put adoptions on hold until further notice due to a concern about possible parvo infection. “Attention: dog adoptions will be closed until further notice to monitor the animals in care,” the shelter said in the announcement on Facebook. Director Scottie Luckie said the shelter had a...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • After hearing an outpouring of concern over plans for a law enforcement shooting range to be located near the county animal shelter, commissioners reversed course Monday and rescinded the vote. Now the sheriff’s office and county will look at other possible locations for a new shooting range, Hoke...
[Photo: SFL+A architect Robbie Ferris shows off the proposed plan for the on-site replacement at Hoke High School. The plan hinges on the city closing part of Bethel Road.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Big changes are coming to Hoke County High School if the Hoke County Board of Education moves forward with...
The Rockfish volunteer community board is hosting a meet and greet this month so voters can get to know the candidates running for local office before the election in November. The event is set for Thursday, September 29 beginning at 7 p.m. It will be held at Brownie’s, which is where the community board meetings...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • More people in Hoke County will have access to fast internet in the future thanks to grant funds from the state, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced last week. Hoke was one of 69 counties across the state to receive a grant award as part of over...
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Yes, the rumors are true: the Fall Festival will once again serve up a turkey dinner with all the fixings, and the parade returns to Main Street this year. The North Carolina Fall Festival will kick off in October with events including the Marvin Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament,...
[Photo: Ray Cooper with the Puppy Creek Firefighters and one of the Cape Fear Valley EMS paramedics who rushed to his rescue.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Ray Cooper doesn’t remember much about the day he nearly died. Just like any other day, he left his home July 14 to go for a...
[Photo: James McBryde with his summertime garden; he’s working on his fall garden now. (Submitted photo)] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • During the summer and fall there’s a pretty patch of earth near Wagram overflowing with vegetables, planted and carefully tended by James McBryde. At 73 years old, even after suffering a heart...