Childcare providers in Hoke County are working hard to stay open and provide crucial care to the children of essential workers, according to the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families. “If those child care providers were not able to do their jobs, then health care providers, grocery store workers, law enforcement officers, and other...
Category: News
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Woman on ATV spoils veterans hunting program
A local effort to help veterans enjoy hunting is facing problems after a woman on an ATV apparently caused damaged to the property, according to Hoke resident Seth Waggoner. Waggoner and his group work with veterans’ organizations across the state to connect with veterans and help them get to participate in hunting trips. They had...
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Slight chance of strong storms this afternoon
The National Weather Service says some isolated strong storms are possible this afternoon as a cold front dips southward: “Coverage should increase as the storms move south and begin to interact with the warmer and increasingly more moist surface airmass. Even still, coverage should only remain isolated to widely scattered. Primarily vertical wind shear and...
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Fighting virus with needles and thread
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • In the last few weeks, Anita Herrada-Johnson has produced from her backyard studio more than 200 fabric face masks for doctors and nurses across the country. The retired United States Air Force MSgt., who has lived in Hoke County with her family since 2006, has for several...
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Parade of teachers cheers on students—from a distance
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • A line of cars decorated with homemade signs and colorful balloons drove through Raeford Friday, as teachers honked and shouted out of their rolled-down windows. “Hi! We love you!” one teacher called to young students standing on the sidewalk with their mom, as the kids waved back. It...
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Man charged with firing into vehicle
Deputies with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man last week for allegedly firing gunshots into an occupied car. Investigators arrested Zachary McMillian, 24, of the 2400 block of Milk Dairy Road in Red Springs on one county of shooting into an occupied vehicle. The charge is a felony. Officers were called to the...
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[Letter] Letter: President Trump has done most for country, Mr. Frog Holler
To the Editor: I am writing this article in response to Mr. Frog Holler’s last week article. First I am neither Democrat nor Republican and it’s always plain he hates Republicans, and always says so. He doesn’t like President Trump. It is, I guess, his place to let everyone know to vote for a...
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Sheriff’s office prepared to enforce orders
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office can enforce North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s mandates, Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said Monday, and deputies charged one person for failing to comply with a shutdown order that went into effect last week. The governor earlier this month issued an executive order that shut...
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Sun Path grows and gives back
By Catharin Shepard Staff writer A locally-owned business in Raeford is growing with a new acquisition, new contracts and new products, all while supporting the community. A well-known name to parachutists the world over, Sun Path Products builds custom harness/container systems for skydiving. The company is international: Sun Path’s products made right here in Raeford...
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Man, daughter killed in wreck
A man from Laurinburg and his teenage daughter died in a car accident last week in Hoke County, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Roy Anthony Ayers, 45, and his daughter Cassie Marae Ayers, 17, were killed in the accident Tuesday, March 24. The wreck happened on U.S. 401 between Wallace McLean Road and...
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Browsing the Files—the flu hits Hoke in 1918-9120
100 Years Ago December 4, 1919 Rev. W.C. Brown has been confined to his room for a week with a case of the grippe [Editor’s note: another name for influenza]. He was unable to fill his appointments Sunday; but we are glad to state he is now improving. February 12, 1920 • Miss Ollie...
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Recount ousts long-time commissioner
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Candidate Lonnie Baldwin won the Democratic primary election in the race for Hoke County commissioner over incumbent Commissioner Bobby Wright by a margin of 33 votes, a recount confirmed last week. The race was initially too close to call on election night with elections officials needing to include...
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‘If you have children, you must tell them how their father was brave’
Son of Hoke mowed down on bridge while cutting line to explosives, saving town and countless people By Ken MacDonald • Maggie Mae McRacken was 32 years old when she read the letter from Madame Drou of Mayenne, France, describing her husband’s death the year before. “I am an unknown woman for you,...
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Browsing the Files
102 Years Ago October 24, 1918 The influenza situation has reached such alarming proportions over the state that the mayor called a mass meeting of the citizens of Raeford to discuss means to combat it. At this meeting it was decided to appoint fifteen representative men of the town to devise means of protecting...
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‘Freedom Park’ to feature document replicas
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Local officials and representatives from the nonprofit organization Foundation Forward broke ground last week on the new “Freedom Park” in downtown Raeford. The park will feature monuments displaying replicas of some of the nation’s most historic documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill...
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Commission race goes to recount
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Incumbent Hoke County Commissioner Bobby Wright has requested the Board of Elections conduct a recount of a close race between himself and candidate Lonnie Baldwin. “Mr. Wright has asked for a recount,” Hoke Elections Director Towanna Jackson said Tuesday. In the preliminary results of the primary race for...
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Other Stuff, not necessarily the news
By Ken MacDonald • Is it “red and yellow, pet the fellow,” or “red and yellow, bite a fellow?” Becky, the alleged Texas tour guide, was no help to us last week as what seemed to be a coral snake suddenly darted across the bike path in front of my sister, sending her backwards in...
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‘Piper’ gives community, family good scare
The Wendell Branch family of Raeford had a scare recently when two-year-old Piper, a retriever mix, escaped from her “Dad” while out on a walk. Her owner uses a wheelchair and wasn’t able to catch Piper, who serves as a support dog for him, according to a missing dog flyer that the Branch family shared...
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Letter: Commissioners never wanted animal ordinance
To the Editor: Hoke County Commissioners never wanted a revised Animal Control Ordinance. After years of ignoring requests from the public for a new ordinance, Commissioners, in 2019, finally requested volunteers to serve on an ACO review committee; 18 people signed up; all 18 were appointed to the Committee. They were given no guidance, except...
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’Angel of Five Points’ daily picks up others’ trash
By Ken MacDonald • Miss Diane, as she’s known in the Five Points area, is equipped with a trash grabber, a bag, and a cheerful attitude as she travels Calloway Road, keeping it clean. She emanates good vibes for all her neighbors and travelers—except one, a person she would like to smack. “Oh I would...
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Sun Path merges with California company
Parachuting products manufacturer Sun Path has merged with Rigging Innovations of Perris, California and plans to start making RI products at its location in Raeford. The companies announced the merger Friday at the First Regular PIA Meeting hosted in Myrtle Beach. The business operations will unify as one company and operate under the Sun Path...
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Last week for early voting before primary election
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County disbands animal control committee, citing lack of participation
By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County last week disbanded a committee of volunteers tasked with examining the animal control ordinance and suggesting improvements. The county cited a lack of participation from the volunteers. Many of the committee members had stopped attending meetings, according to the committee chairwoman. Committee Chairwoman Ellen Bradford announced...
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Hoke shooters defeat Kaiser
Hoke County AJROTC defeated Kaiser High School 886.7 to 826.3 in the National Air Rifle New Shooter League, their fourth win in a row. They currently have a 4 – 0 record. Hoke County AJROTC was led by Joshua Gonzalez who shot a 244.5. The remaining contributing members were Aracelis Torres, Samuel Locklear, and Megan...
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Man arrested in Hoke accused of murder in Florida
Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office assisted law enforcement agents in finding and arresting a man from Florida wanted for allegedly killing his 77-year-old grandfather. Authorities arrested Scottie Ray Manuel, 33, of Branford, Florida on homicide charges in the death of his grandfather, Wayne Curtis Manuel, also of Branford. Investigators responded to a residence...