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Incumbents return to commission, sheriff’s office, newcomers join school board

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke voters returned incumbents to the county commission and sheriff’s office, and chose three new members for school board in the 2022 general election. Incumbent Hoke County Commissioners Tony Hunt, Harry Southerland and Allen Thomas, all Democrats, were voted back in for four-year terms over Republican candidates Johnny...

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Mill Prong opens for Christmas Open House Dec. 4

The Board of Directors of Mill Prong, Inc. is inviting the public to a Christmas Open House at Mill Prong House. The historic home is located at 3062 Edinburg Road, Red Springs (in Hoke County). The Christmas Open House is set for Sunday, December 4 from 2-5 p.m. In the late 1700s John Gilchrist, a...

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N.C. Supreme Court rules in favor of funding Leandro plan

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The North Carolina State Supreme Court ruled Friday that a judge did have the authority to order the state to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to fund a remedial education plan meant to bring public schools into compliance with the Leandro court decision. The justices ruled 4-3...

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ELECTION RESULTS

We’ll post local election results HERE beginning around 7:30 p.m. this evening, Nov. 8.

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Brock book signing is Saturday at library

Rockfish author and family genealogist Claudyne Brock will hold a book signing at the Hoke County Public Library Saturday, November 5 to celebrate the reprinting of her first book. Brock’s children’s book, “Little Johnny Goes to Bible School,” has been updated with new photos, cover art and more as part of its reprinting. She will...

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Early voting closes Saturday, election is Tuesday

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • With a few days still to go in the one-stop early voting, turnout ahead of election day continued to be strong as people go to the polls to choose local, state and federal elections. By close of day Monday over 4,760 Hoke County voters had cast an early...

Have you seen ‘Snuggles’? Pet cockatiel is on the loose in East Hoke
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Have you seen ‘Snuggles’? Pet cockatiel is on the loose in East Hoke

[Photo: Park and Snuggles (Submitted photo)] A Halloween decoration proved to be too scary for an East Hoke resident’s pet cockatiel, and there’s a $1,000 reward offered to anyone who can get the beloved bird safely back home where she belongs. Moon Park’s grey female cockatiel, Snuggles, got the fright of her feathered life around...

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Hometown Christmas returns Dec. 2

It’s almost that time of year again as the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce prepares to present the annual Hometown Christmas in downtown Raeford. This year Hometown Christmas will be held Friday, December 2 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Local businesses will deck the halls with lights and decorations and stay open into the evening for shoppers...

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Early voting opens ahead of Nov. 8 election

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • One-stop early voting is now open at two sites in Hoke County for voters to cast a ballot ahead of the Tuesday, November 8 election day. This year’s election will decide multiple local races including three seats on the Hoke County Board of Education, three seats on the...

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Hunt, Wright win LRCOG awards

Hoke County Attorney Grady Hunt and Raeford-Hoke County Economic Development Director Will Wright received awards this month from the Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) for their efforts serving with the organization. Hunt received the Rural Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee Member of the Year award. Hunt has served as Hoke County local government legal...

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When does Raeford & Hoke County trick-or-treat?

This is a question we get asked a lot, but there’s not an “official” answer! Local governments in Raeford and Hoke County don’t typically set “official” trick-or-treating hours. Unofficially, most people in the area tend to go out with their little ghosts and goblins on Halloween night around the time the sun starts to set...

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Fall Festival kicks off with Turkey Bowl, golf

The North Carolina Fall Festival returns this week with its kickoff events, the Turkey Bowl football game and the Second Annual Marvin Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament. Friday night is Hoke High’s Homecoming when the Bucks will take on the Southern Lee Cavaliers from Sanford, Lee County in a battle for the Turkey Bowl trophy. The...

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Hoke High student arrested for bringing a weapon on campus

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A Hoke County High School student was in law enforcement custody Tuesday after an anonymous tip warned school officials that the student planned to bring a weapon to campus. Hoke High Principal Dr. Thomas Benson informed families of the situation Tuesday afternoon through a pre-recorded call about the...

Power outages appear as Ian moves through Sandhills
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Power outages appear as Ian moves through Sandhills

(3:18 p.m. Friday, September 30) As wind and rain moved through the Sandhills region Friday from Ian, tree limbs and downed trees began causing some power outages for the Hoke County area. Both Duke Energy and Lumbee River EMC showed outages in Hoke as of Friday afternoon. With ongoing wind and rain expected to continue,...

Hurricane Ian approaching today as tropical storm
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Hurricane Ian approaching today as tropical storm

(Friday 6:20 a.m.) The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued its morning briefing on Hurricane Ian, and tweaks to our area forecast have a bit of an increase in expected wind speeds. (See map) Winds gusting to around 60 mph are possible today as the storm approaches. Rainfall on the order of 4-5 inches...

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County considering water expansion options

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County local government is considering or pursuing several options to increase access to water resources to keep up with customer demand. Potentially the biggest addition could be the McCain water system. Now that both the former correctional hospital and the prison are shut down, the North Carolina...

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Interested in beekeeping? Bee school may bee for you

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to keep their own beehives can learn all about it next month at “bee school.” The Hoke County Beekeeper Association plans to host two days full of lessons and hands-on practical experience to teach newbies what all the buzz is about....

Veteran-owned Grits & Gravy serves up homestyle favorites
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Veteran-owned Grits & Gravy serves up homestyle favorites

[Photo: Bobby Gillespie at Grits & Gravy.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Raeford and Hoke County diners are getting a taste of Grits & Gravy, a homegrown restaurant and food service that’s the product of years of experience and hard work by chef and owner Bobby Gillespie. What started off as a catering...

Americana musician Steve Coughlin will play homecoming concert Nov. 5 in Raeford
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Americana musician Steve Coughlin will play homecoming concert Nov. 5 in Raeford

[Photo: Steve Coughlin performs (Submitted Photo)] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Singer-songwriter and musician Steve Coughlin has led an interesting life to say the least: he’s traveled the world while serving in the Navy and worked as a police detective, and now he and his band are headlining music concerts all across the...

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Adoptions on hold at animal shelter over parvo concerns

The Hoke County Animal Shelter announced Monday it has put adoptions on hold until further notice due to a concern about possible parvo infection. “Attention: dog adoptions will be closed until further notice to monitor the animals in care,” the shelter said in the announcement on Facebook. Director Scottie Luckie said the shelter had a...

64 classrooms, new gym, cafeteria planned for Hoke High on-site replacement; will increase campus capacity to 2,700 students
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64 classrooms, new gym, cafeteria planned for Hoke High on-site replacement; will increase campus capacity to 2,700 students

[Photo: SFL+A architect Robbie Ferris shows off the proposed plan for the on-site replacement at Hoke High School. The plan hinges on the city closing part of Bethel Road.] By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Big changes are coming to Hoke County High School if the Hoke County Board of Education moves forward with...

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Candidate meet-and-greet in Rockfish Sept. 29

The Rockfish volunteer community board is hosting a meet and greet this month so voters can get to know the candidates running for local office before the election in November. The event is set for Thursday, September 29 beginning at 7 p.m. It will be held at Brownie’s, which is where the community board meetings...

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Hoke County gets $4 million grant for broadband internet expansion

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • More people in Hoke County will have access to fast internet in the future thanks to grant funds from the state, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced last week. Hoke was one of 69 counties across the state to receive a grant award as part of over...

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Turkey dinner, parade returns for Fall Festival

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Yes, the rumors are true: the Fall Festival will once again serve up a turkey dinner with all the fixings, and the parade returns to Main Street this year. The North Carolina Fall Festival will kick off in October with events including the Marvin Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament,...