After learning that the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is facing staff shortages, apparently due to having lower pay than other agencies in the area, the Hoke County Board of Commissioners will meet in special session to consider the department’s budget. The board scheduled a special called meeting for Tuesday, May 11 at 11 a.m. in...
Year: 2021
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“Our county’s in a crisis,” sheriff says
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • This time a year ago the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office and the county jail were fully staffed, but when Sheriff Dr. Hubert Peterkin approached commissioners Monday, it was to tell them things have changed and the law enforcement agency has lost 14 staff members recently with more expected...
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No tax increase in city’s proposed budget
By Ken MacDonald • There’s no tax increase in the works for Raeford residents, though a five-percent increase in water rates will likely be approved with the adoption of the budget next month. In a budget presented to City Council Monday night by City Manager Dennis Baxley, the 48-cents-per-hundred-dollar-valuation rate would remain unchanged, yet would...
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McLeod honored with award
Hoke County’s clerk of Superior Court, Evelyn L. McLeod, is one of five to receive the Richard Caswell Award for 45 years of service to the Judicial Branch. The award is administered by the Office of State Human Resources, and recognizes employees for providing “valuable and extended services in all areas of State government.” It...
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Kids, teachers can use I.D. number as digital library card
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A new collaboration between Hoke County Schools, the Hoke County Public Library and the N.C. Cardinal library consortium means kids and teachers can use their school I.D. number as a digital library card to access thousands of e-books, research articles, test preparation materials and much more. Last year...
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Reward for information in 2019 murder
The state is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for killing a man in Raeford outside a gas station in 2019. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday the reward of up to $5,000 in the murder of Justin L. Mix, who was severely...
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Hoke worst in state for vaccinations
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • “It is too new,” “I don’t need the shot, I am not high risk to die from COVID-19,” “I don’t believe in immunizations,” “COVID-19 is not real, so why do I need a vaccine?” Those are just some of the reasons people have given Hoke County Health Department...
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Hoke High graduate killed in fiery wreck
[Photo: Tristen Little when he played basketball for the Bucks. (Contributed Photo)] A young Hoke High graduate was killed and one of his classmates was injured in a car accident Monday night, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Tristen Little, 19, a well-known former student athlete of the Hoke High Class of 2020, died...