By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The number of COVID-19 cases connected to Hoke County continued rising Thursday, as health officials updated the count to 83 people who tested positive for the illness. Of those 83 known positive cases, 19 are at Canyon Hills child behavioral health facility on Turnpike Road. That includes 14...
Month: April 2020
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One dead, one hurt in hit-and-run, Highway Patrol seeks help in finding leads
One person died and another suffered injuries earlier this month in Hoke County when a minivan hit a motorcycle and didn’t stop, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. NaTasha McMillan, 41, of Shankle Road died in the accident. Miguel Rogers, also of Shankle Road, suffered serious injuries. Rogers was the driver, and McMillan a...
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No school meal deliveries Thursday, Friday this week as buildings close for a deep clean; Hoke up to 78 cases, 5 hospitalized
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • There won’t be any meal deliveries by school bus Thursday and Friday so Hoke County Schools can deep clean the cafeterias and buildings. Meals will resume Monday, May 4, Associate Superintendent Dr. Shannon Register said in an email. “Hoke County Schools will have a deep cleaning closure as...
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School officials scramble to provide good graduation experience
By Catharin Shepard • It’s not the graduation celebration anyone would have wanted, but the Hoke County High School and SandHoke Early College High School Class of 2020 will still get their diplomas. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper ordered last week for the state’s public schools, including Hoke County Schools, to stay closed for the...
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Letter: President and his supporters are delusional
To the Editor: I would like to respond to the attacks on Mr. Huff in today’s paper. Firstly, know ye by the company you keep, and the candidate you support. The fraudulently elected individual in the White House has shown nothing but disdain and contempt for the U.S. and her people. From day one, he’s...
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Letter: Don’t bash President; pray for him
To the Editor: I am upset by an article published in your newspaper by Ron Huff (April 8, 2020). His anti-Trump ‘political philosophy’ is out of line and not a good reflection for this newspaper, nor our community. I would argue that his opinion is speculation, depending on who you listen to or where you...
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Letter: Deputies brought smile to birthday boy
To the Editor: When the deputy’s car with flashing lights pulled into Braylen McNeill’s yard, he was afraid until he heard “Happy Birthday Braylen” from Mee Maw and PaPa. The five-year-old was then at ease and was greeted by two fine friendly officers. Braylen was allowed to see in the car and was presented books...
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Letter: Treat churches as good as you do businesses
To the Editor: COVID-19 is a serious bona fide threat. Governor Roy Cooper, too, is a serious bona fide threat — to the 1st Amendment! People can congregate in North Carolina’s liquor stores, practicing social distancing; but people cannot congregate in churches, practicing social distancing. Hundreds of ReOpen NCers can congregate and protest Cooper’s Stay-at-Home...
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Frog Holler Philosopher—Ron Huff
Thanks to you readers who have written to the News-Journal recently to express your political beliefs. I especially appreciated Jeni Smith’s civil tone in her letter. I did run for mayor of Frog Holler but Romeo, the jackass, created a smear campaign against me and got out the frog vote, a constituency that I could...
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Puppy Creek, Raeford fire departments get high rating
Puppy Creek Fire Department and the City of Raeford Fire Department earned one of the highest ratings possible in their recent state inspections. The fire departments are now two of only 38 fire stations in North Carolina to score as highly on the rating scale, officials said. The better rating means better insurance rates for...
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Young Raeford actress to appear on ‘Council of Dads’
A girl from Raeford is set to appear in a television show on NBC this Thursday. Seven-year-old Kara Mae Khan, daughter of Andrew and Krissy Khan of Raeford, will appear in the NBC show “Council of Dads.” The series airs Thursday, April 30 at 10 p.m. “Council of Dads” is about a father diagnosed with...
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Raeford brothers score with Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • One of the hottest shows on Netflix this month is a brand-new drama created by Raeford natives Josh and Jonas Pate. The Pate brothers and their writing partner, Shannon Burke, are writers and executive producers of “Outer Banks,” an action-adventure series set in North Carolina’s barrier islands. “Outer...
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Browsing The Files
• Alexander McMillian broke one conference record and tied another. (May 3, 1973) • The Lion’s Club annual Invitational Golf Tournament flight winners were Joe Hogan and Bill Campbell. Lion Ashwell Harward is center. (May 3, 1973) 75 Years Ago May 3, 1945 C.P. Kinlaw, Raeford jeweler who has been in the Navy for some...
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Extension says teach children to cooperate
By Cathy Brown • Hoke Extension • During this new normal, it is especially important for children to cooperate as well as adults. We can teach our children how to cooperate. But, why do some children seem willing to cooperate while others do not? In fact, children learn to be cooperative and helpful. They do...
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Wildlife commission warns against scams
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is urging the public to be aware of private online websites claiming to sell North Carolina fishing licenses. Whether it be inland or coastal fishing, licenses can only be purchased online at ncwildlife.org, by calling the Commission’s license department at 888-248-6834 or in-person through local Wildlife Service Agents. The Commission...
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Outbreak at Canyon Hills treatment center in Hoke County as 17 test positive for coronavirus
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A child behavioral health center in Hoke County is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19, according to the Hoke County Health Department. Three employees and 14 residents at the Canyon Hills residential treatment center have tested positive for the illness, Health Department Director Helene Edwards said. Two facility employees...
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Ask questions about COVID-19 during Cape Fear Valley virtual town hall Tuesday
Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski will hold a live Facebook community town hall Tuesday to answer questions about the COVID-19 virus. The question-and-answer session will air during the Making Rounds Live radio show on Tuesday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to noon. Viewers can watch and submit their questions on Cape Fear Valley Health’s...
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Bojangles employee in Raeford tests positive for COVID-19
An employee at the Bojangles restaurant in Raeford has tested positive for COVID-19, the company said Friday in a press release. The employee last worked in the restaurant Wednesday, April 22. The person is self-isolating at home. The company learned Friday of the employee’s COVID-19 diagnosis, a press statement said. The company immediately closed the...
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Hoke County Schools closed for rest of school year, could reopen in fall
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • North Carolina public schools, including Hoke County Schools, will stay closed through the end of the school year. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, N.C. Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson and State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis made the announcement Thursday. “We don’t make this decision lightly, but it’s...
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Suspect arrested in fatal shooting
Deputies with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting at a gas station earlier in the day. Lares Santwan Blue, 31, of Hoke County was shot and killed, Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said. Deputies arrested Willie Davis McArn Jr., 31, on a charge of first-degree murder...
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Driver killed in single-car wreck on Camden Road
A woman from Parkton was killed Thursday afternoon in Hoke County when her car ran off the road and struck a steamroller, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Rachel Melton, 32, of Parkton died in the single-vehicle accident, investigators said. Authorities notified her family before releasing her identity to media. Melton was driving on...
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One person dead after shooting at convenience store in Raeford
One person was dead and a suspect being questioned after a shooting this afternoon on Rockfish Road, according to Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin. What started as an apparent fight at the Lucky Stop gas station on the corner of Rockfish Road and U.S. 401 Business ended in a fatal shooting. Lares Santwan Blue, 31,...
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Stay-at-home order extended to May 8, governor unveils phased plan for reopening N.C.
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper today extended the stay-at-home order until May 8, and outlined a three-phase plan for gradually reopening the state. Hoke County is up to 35 known COVID-19 cases as of today (see story). Additionally, the governor will make an announcement Friday afternoon about the...
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Driver killed when car hits construction machine
The driver of a car was killed this afternoon when her car struck a paving machine beside the road near the intersection of Camden and Rockfish roads. The identification of the driver isn’t being released, pending notification of next of kin. A highway patrol trooper said the car apparently continued straight though the road bended,...
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Hoke up to 35 COVID-19 cases as Smithfield Foods, Mountaire Farms employees test positive
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County’s total known COVID-19 cases rose from 25 on Tuesday to 35 by Thursday. The newest cases include employees at Smithfield Foods and Mountaire Farms, according to Hoke Health Department Director Helene Edwards. A local family is also experiencing an outbreak in their home, with multiple family...