Hoke County’s longtime coroner and funeral home founder G. Franklin Crumpler, the longest-serving elected official in the United States who outlived his own office, died Friday, May 26, 2023 at the age of 88. With approximately 62 years in the record book as Hoke County Coroner, Crumpler was known as the longest-serving elected official in...
[Editor’s note, update for recent events: During the Hoke County Board of Education workshop meeting Tuesday, May 23, attorney Rod Malone of Tharrington Smith announced the law firm has resigned from working with the school board. That story will be in next week’s issue of The News-Journal.] By Catharin Shepard • Editor • School board...
[Photo: Veterans joined guest speakers and experts in agri-business for the Day of Healing at Briarwood Cattle Farm, hosted by farm owner and veteran Marvin Frink. The day included yoga, meals, a farm tour and support for veterans interested in getting started in agriculture.] By Catharin Shepard • Editor • Military veteran Marvin Frink keeps...
By Catharin Shepard • Editor • A raise for the Hoke County Board of Education and money for a new bus garage, 12 cars and five officers for the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office and 10 new staff at the Hoke County Department of Social Services were among the highlights last week presented to commissioners during...
[Photos: SandHoke students enter the stadium for commencement, held Friday. ] By Catharin Shepard • Editor • “To begin something new, you must sacrifice something old,” Taylor Walker of SandHoke Early College High School told her classmates Friday, as she looked out over the podium at the sea of assembled students, families and guests. “I...
[Photo: Hoke County Health Department staff hosted the suicide prevention symposium at the Robert A. Wright Agriculture Building in Raeford.] By Catharin Shepard • Editor • If you’re worried someone is suicidal, the first step to helping may be just to ask the question. That was a key takeaway from the county’s first suicide prevention...
The state has shut down a treatment center in Raeford after an employee was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old resident and fracturing his skull, according to the Raeford Police Department. The state shut down Grace House Treatment Center, located at 1892 Turnpike Road in Raeford, after inspectors conducted their own investigation, authorities said. The...
By Catharin Shepard Editor Lawyer Carolyn Murchison was told “not to come back” to her duties as school board attorney after tension arose with some of the board members, but the matter was not brought before all five board members for a vote, according to board member Rosa McAllister-McRae. McAllister-McRae said that while she...