The city of Raeford’s Public Works department and water and sewer operations employees have all been tested for COVID-19, after a city employee apparently tested positive for the virus. Raeford City Manager Dennis Baxley confirmed Wednesday that there were concerns a city employee may have exposed coworkers to the virus. The situation specifically involved the...
Year: 2020
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Recovered from COVID-19? Donating plasma could save others’ lives
Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is in urgent need of volunteers to donate convalescent plasma to help treat area COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is the liquid component of blood collected from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus. These patients develop blood antibodies against the virus, which might help others fight the coronavirus...
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Hoke High graduation goes mobile
[cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_text] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • In the age of COVID-19, Hoke County Class of 2020 still got to walk the stage – though the usual cheering crowds were missing. In a time of social distancing and amid an historic pandemic, Hoke County Schools worked to find ways to make the Class...
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Charters of Freedom opening postponed
The grand opening for a special outdoor display of replicas of historical American documents is postponed until later this summer, due to inclement weather this week. The Charters of Freedom, Foundation Forward Inc. and the Raeford Downtown Beautification Committee broke ground March 5 on “Freedom Park” at the corner of East Central Avenue and North...
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Filing for school board opens next month
Filing to run for one of two seats on the Hoke County Board of Education will open in early July. The filing period for the Board of Education begins July 6 and runs until August 3. Filing for the Hoke County Soil and Water Conservation Board will also open this summer. The filing period for...
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County tops 300 COVID cases
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Health Department is dealing with around 90 known active cases of COVID-19, while more than 200 people who tested positive for the virus have recovered. As of Tuesday the county had identified a total of 300 known positive cases of COVID-19 since the first known...
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Schools offer free meals for children
The Hoke County Schools Summer Nutrition Program is offering free drive-through pick-up meals at no charge to families for any child in Hoke County age two to 18. School buses, child nutrition staff and teachers and staff members worked from March to June to deliver meals to bus stops while school normally would have been...
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Commissioner seeks to raise employees minimum wage to $15
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County Commission Chairman James Leach called Monday for the county to consider paying all of its employees at least $15 an hour. Echoing some calls to raise the federal minimum wage to $15, Leach spoke about the proposal Monday at a regularly scheduled commission meeting. The chairman...
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School briefs
Caption: Madison Akins • Graduates from Hoke High Madison Rose Akins graduated from Hoke High School. Her information was unavailable for the special section in last week’s News-Journal. • Sandhills announces honors Sandhills Community College students from Hoke County who achieved a 4.0-grade point average were placed on the President’s List for the spring...
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Hoke schools recognized for Beta Clubs
National Beta announced this week it has named Hoke County Schools a 2019-2020 National District of Distinction. This award is given to those deserving districts who offer National Beta in all schools in their district, and who induct qualifying students in all eligible grades (4-12). Hoke County Schools is one of only 20 districts to...
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FirstHealth relaxes some visitor restrictions
Following a decision to resume many non-time sensitive procedures last month, FirstHealth of the Carolinas is relaxing some of the visitor restrictions in place at hospitals and clinics. Beginning June 17, the updated visitation policy will allow one support person or companion to accompany patients in all acute-care facilities and clinics. Safety measures to help...
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Browsing the Files: a look back to 75, 47 and 25 years ago
Caption: Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley (center), president of the N.C. Community College System with East Hoke Middle Principal Ron Alexander (right) and interim superintendent Don Steed. Steed was named superintendent. (June 21, 1995) • 75 Years Ago • June 21, 1945 A Gold Star was presented to Lt. Benjamin F. Currie, USNR, for exceptional...
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[Opinnion] Letter: Pastor gets parade of appreciation
To the Editor: Saturday morning prayer was interrupted by a surprise, love appreciation parade for Pastor Willie Mae Graham. As the horns blew with flashing lights, a line of vehicles on Duffie Road, entered the parking lot of Faith Anointed Temple where Elder and Pastor Graham were greeted from trucks, cars and vans by members,...
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Letter: This was a graduation to be proud of
To the Editor: From a parent: I applaud Hoke County High! Many may have only seen a small portion but all the way down Bethel the teachers and staff had cars lined up and decorated! The stage wasn’t as small as it seemed! It was beautifully decorated, and the kids had a personal walkway to...
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Huff: Lots to do, lots to love
By Ron Huff • Spring has brought the usual flurry of activity at Frog Holler but even more than usual. Even though it has been over two years, we are still trying to get over the destruction caused by Hurricanes Florence and Matthew. In addition, the recent acquisition of some additional land has made it...