Category: <span>News</span>

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • After hearing an outpouring of concern over plans for a law enforcement shooting range to be located near the county animal shelter, commissioners reversed course Monday and rescinded the vote. Now the sheriff’s office and county will look at other possible locations for a new shooting range, Hoke...

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...

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...

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,...