This is an editorial column by The News-Journal Editor Catharin Shepard. It solely reflects her opinion. By Catharin ShepardEditor Let’s talk about water. In 2025, Hoke County is going to work with the company Benchmark to help the county update its land use plan. That makes now a good time to take a long, hard...
Year: 2025
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Two members removed from Hoke County Planning Board
By Catharin Shepard • Editor • Two members of the Hoke County Planning Board were apparently replaced last month, with one of the two men saying they haven’t gotten an explanation why they were removed. Ricky Locklear and Tim Locklear were both members of the seven-person Hoke County Planning Board until December 2024, when they...
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“It’s sad news that I bring…” | Brittany Locklear’s murder in 1998 remains unsolved in 2025, case still open in Hoke County
In January 1998, Hoke County was rocked by a violent, unspeakable crime that shook its foundations and left countless people mourning five-year-old Brittany Locklear. She would have turned 32 years old in 2025. Instead, those who loved her must mark a terrible anniversary: 27 years without her. Authorities have never closed the case. As recently...