From Hoke County Manager Letita Edens: As we continue to receive information about COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, we wanted to share with you the steps we are currently taking in Hoke County Government to prevent the spread of this virus. We have been communicating with state and federal officials about COVID-19 and the best...
Author: Staff
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Live From The Field
All public schools in North Carolina will close for two weeks, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a live-streamed press conference this afternoon (3/14/20). The governor’s executive order also banned mass gatherings of more than 100 people. Details are still in the works as this was just announced.
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We want your info
If you know someone who is going out of their way to help others amid all the cancellations and closures, please let us know so we can give them a shout-out for helping! Our phone is (910) 875-2121 during business hours, or email [email protected]
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‘Freedom Park’ to feature document replicas
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Local officials and representatives from the nonprofit organization Foundation Forward broke ground last week on the new “Freedom Park” in downtown Raeford. The park will feature monuments displaying replicas of some of the nation’s most historic documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill...
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Commission race goes to recount
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Incumbent Hoke County Commissioner Bobby Wright has requested the Board of Elections conduct a recount of a close race between himself and candidate Lonnie Baldwin. “Mr. Wright has asked for a recount,” Hoke Elections Director Towanna Jackson said Tuesday. In the preliminary results of the primary race for...
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Other Stuff, not necessarily the news
By Ken MacDonald • Is it “red and yellow, pet the fellow,” or “red and yellow, bite a fellow?” Becky, the alleged Texas tour guide, was no help to us last week as what seemed to be a coral snake suddenly darted across the bike path in front of my sister, sending her backwards in...
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‘Piper’ gives community, family good scare
The Wendell Branch family of Raeford had a scare recently when two-year-old Piper, a retriever mix, escaped from her “Dad” while out on a walk. Her owner uses a wheelchair and wasn’t able to catch Piper, who serves as a support dog for him, according to a missing dog flyer that the Branch family shared...
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Letter: Commissioners never wanted animal ordinance
To the Editor: Hoke County Commissioners never wanted a revised Animal Control Ordinance. After years of ignoring requests from the public for a new ordinance, Commissioners, in 2019, finally requested volunteers to serve on an ACO review committee; 18 people signed up; all 18 were appointed to the Committee. They were given no guidance, except...
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Letter: Supports Hardin, Bibey
To the Editor: The most highly contested race on the Republican ballot is the District 29 DA race between Mike Hardin and Arthur Donadio. The discerning will vote Hardin. Hardin has 23 years of “prosecutorial” experience, not some prosecutorial experience and much courtroom experience. Heavy prosecutorial experience is imperative for a D.A. Hardin has...
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Several things to talk about • (Huff)
I like to keep one or two columns ahead of the News-Journal deadlines, which come every Monday for me. I have found myself in situations where I needed a column and did not have time to really think about a decent topic. As you have seen, I have written columns without a decent topic, but...
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’Angel of Five Points’ daily picks up others’ trash
By Ken MacDonald • Miss Diane, as she’s known in the Five Points area, is equipped with a trash grabber, a bag, and a cheerful attitude as she travels Calloway Road, keeping it clean. She emanates good vibes for all her neighbors and travelers—except one, a person she would like to smack. “Oh I would...
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Sun Path merges with California company
Parachuting products manufacturer Sun Path has merged with Rigging Innovations of Perris, California and plans to start making RI products at its location in Raeford. The companies announced the merger Friday at the First Regular PIA Meeting hosted in Myrtle Beach. The business operations will unify as one company and operate under the Sun Path...
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County disbands animal control committee, citing lack of participation
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County last week disbanded a committee of volunteers tasked with examining the animal control ordinance and suggesting improvements. The county cited a lack of participation from the volunteers. Many of the committee members had stopped attending meetings, according to the committee chairwoman. Committee Chairwoman Ellen Bradford announced...
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Browsing the Files
The Rev. Preston Jones, the first University chaplain for black students at UNC-Chapel Hill. (March 1, 1973) Hollingsworth Barber Shop captured the Raeford City Basketball trophy. Pictured are Marion Hollingsworth, (no first name given) Hough, Allen Black, Bobby McMillan, Oscar Cunningham, Leonard Baldwin and Bobby Cunningham. (March 1, 1973) A “submarine” still was destroyed by...
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Hoke shooters defeat Kaiser
Hoke County AJROTC defeated Kaiser High School 886.7 to 826.3 in the National Air Rifle New Shooter League, their fourth win in a row. They currently have a 4 – 0 record. Hoke County AJROTC was led by Joshua Gonzalez who shot a 244.5. The remaining contributing members were Aracelis Torres, Samuel Locklear, and Megan...
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Man arrested in Hoke accused of murder in Florida
Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office assisted law enforcement agents in finding and arresting a man from Florida wanted for allegedly killing his 77-year-old grandfather. Authorities arrested Scottie Ray Manuel, 33, of Branford, Florida on homicide charges in the death of his grandfather, Wayne Curtis Manuel, also of Branford. Investigators responded to a residence...
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Proprietor
Frank Crumpler’s latest business venture is “Frank’s Place,” a grill located on US401 Business. Here, he kicks back on the front porch. (Catharin Shepard photo)
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License plate agency moves
The Hoke County License Plate Agency at 520 West Donaldson Avenue in Raeford, will close Wednesday, February 26 while it moves to a new location. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. February 27 in its new location at 3140 U.S. Highway 401 Business, next to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. The new...
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Savage wrestles in championship
By Ed Clemente •Sports Writer • Hoke County High School senior Josh Savage wrestled in the 2020 NCHSAA State Wrestling Championships over the weekend in Greensboro. Due to the winter weather on Thursday, the first round and quarterfinals were both held Friday evening. I had a chance to talk with Josh prior to his first...
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All-time scoring leader
2018 HCHS graduate and former Buck basketball player Silas Love who attends Brunswick Community College has become the All-Time Scoring Leader at Brunswick CC with 1108 points. Love is pictured with his family. (Photo Provided)
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Musselwhite play
HCHS varsity soccer player Ava Musselwhite playing in a scrimmage at South View High School on Saturday. (Photo by Ed Clemente)
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South View scrimmage
HCHS girls varsity soccer team playing in a scrimmage at South View High School on Saturday. (Photo by Ed Clemente)
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Scrimmage
HCHS varsity soccer player Chloe Brundige playing in a scrimmage at South View High School on Saturday. The Bucks season begins this Saturday with a home game starting at 9am vs Scotland. (Photo by Ed Clemente)
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Other Stuff
By Ken MacDonald Whatever you think about whether more money will help children in poor counties get an education as good as those in wealthy places, the disparity grows—the gap in North Carolina is getting worse. That’s the conclusion of this year’s report about school funding by the Public School Forum. For 33 years the...