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VOLUME 7, NUMBER 51 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1979 ROBESON COUNTY 20* PER COPY
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We sincerely wish each of you
a very Merry Christmas! God
bless you for being a part of our
lives during the previous year.
Friends are precious. And a few
detractors keep us honest.
Merry Christmas from...
? Bruce Barton Editor
^ Garry Barton Assoc. Editor
'| Connee Brayboy Assoc. Editor
mt Ricky Barton Circulation
And all our correspondents &
social commentators.
visits the White House
Tommy Nwell, director of Sped*!
Programs at Pembroke State Uni
versity, congratulates Judge Shirty M.
Hufstedler, the first Secretvy of
Education in the newly-formed Cabinet
post, at a reception given in her honor
after swearing-in ceremonies receitly at
the White House. Swett is president of
the Southeastern Assn. of Educaional
Opportunity Programs and was in
Washington attending a Leadership
Training Advisory Committee meeting
at the time he was invited to the
reception.
Senior Citizens Honored
The third annual Senior Citizens Fun
Day was held Wednesday at the
Pembroke Jaycees'Clubhouse. Some lb
senior citizen chapters took part in the
festivities.
\ .
The senior citizens groups all were
organized by Lumbee Regional Dfcvelop
ment Association's General Conmunity
Project. Gary Deese is project drector.
Larry Roberts, President of the
Pembroke Jaycees, served as mater of
ceremonies.
It was a fun day, with presentdion of
gifts and plaques highlighting tie day.
Welcomes were extended by Roderick
Locklear, chairman of the board of
directors of LRDA; Kenneth R. Maynor,
executive director of LRDA: andJames
A. "Pete" Jacobs, Mayor of Perrbroke.
The estimated crowd of more tlan 200
feasted on hot dogs and hamhirgers
and enjoyed the festive activities,
including entertainment by Veonica
Bryant, Miss Lumbee, and othvs.
In his remarks to the senior citizens.
L?cklear paid particular honor tothem:
"If you will think back with me..it was
through your efforts and those of your
parents who put up the Fight aid the
struggle. ..who built churches and scho
ols...that has enabled us to survve as a
people."
The LRDA sponsored senior citizen
chapters are: Antioch, Bethel Hill, Deep
Branch, Evans Crossroads. Fair
grove. Hammonds Court, IslandGrove.
Ml. Moriah, New Point, Oxotdine,
Pembroke, Prospect. Saddletree.Smith
town. Smyrna and Union Chapd.
Busses Collide in
Pembroke Area
by David Malcolm
A Robeson County school busdnven
by Kim Bryant collided with mother
county school bus, being drhen by
Wanda Lou Wilkins between 3 o'clock
and 3:30' p.m. yesterday after noon on
High School Road, about a half mile
outaide of Pembroke.
Trooper Lennis Wans of the North
Carolina Highway Patrol Invedigaied
the accident which apparently occurred
when the brakes on Bryant's bus failed
m the wis attempting to stop for
Wilkins' bus which had stopped to let
off tome students.
Six area high school student were
taken to Southeastern General Hiapital
in Lumberton after complaininguf pain
in their arms, legs or sides. Treated and
released were Gail McNeill, hbiinda
Pa reel I, Eric Lower?. Angela Luwry.
Phyllis McNair and Anita Cheek.
Bryant and WUklns are both students
at Pembroke Senior High School. The
final report on the accident was still
nendlnc At oresi timr and it mi not
e^^r eeeees e^^ ees nrs^e^sw seesaw? ^ee^^e ee e^w^^
known whether any charges weald be
filed
SCHOOL BOARD
REAFFIRMS
REX RENNERT AS
SCHOOL SITE
by Cimw Br?yboy
The Robeson County Bcurd of
Education met on, Tuesday in a brief
session where they denied a reqiest for
student re assignment and passed a
resolution asking for a six- Kindred
million dollar state-wide school bond. In
addition they heard a report fromSupt.
Purnell Swett on the <xcupancyof East
Robeson High School The stidents
moved into East Robevin on Fritfcy with
"no major problems."
Once again it seems the board has
decided to continue with the ccnstruc
tion of North Robeson High on the
Rex- Rennert site as initially phnned.
On motion by Major David Gren the
construction of North Kobeson is no
longer "delayed indefinitely." Mr.
Rufus Graham second-d the motion by
Green. Voting for was everyone in
attendance, except Ronald Hamnonds
and Sim Oxendine. f B. Mortal was
not present for the meeting, laymon
Lock tear who had previously made a
motion to delay the construction in
definitely voted to continue as originally
planned Said he. "I have voted both
ways on this issue. It has been sixty
days since my motion and no monies
have been found to build a new school"
The Board also released the following
statements relative to an appearmce by
Essie M. Locklear who said she did
not receive her retirement money but it
was no longer there; and in respaise to
recently news reports that the Ibbeson
County School Systemwas 71 outof 100
units for Civil Rights Violations
"The Robeson County Beard of
Education has reviewed the contents of
the State Bureau of Investi^tion's
report relating to Ms. Essie M.Chavis
Locklear's charge that someone other
than herself and without her aithori
zation made application to the North
Carolina Teachers and State Emjloyees
Retirment System for her accumilated
funds. Implication had been matfc that
an employee of the Board of Edication
was involved in such charges.
"Upon reviewing the contentsof the
SB1 report, the Robeson County Board
of Education can only concur >with their
findings which demonstrated that no
person employed with this ageicy now
or in the past was involved in aiy way
with any wrong doing."
CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION
"On December 12. 1979. theOffice
of Civil Rights. HEW. released areport
which was circulated nation-wkk. On
the report Robeson County was listed
71st out of 100 worst school disficts in
the districts in the nation for Civil
Rights violations from stand poiit of the
Office of Civil Rights.
"This report has never been received
by the Robeson County Board of
Education is very disturbed about
such release being made withoit the
Board having prior knowledge in order
to answer the avalanche of qiestions
that came from the news mediaacross
this State. When a report of thisnature
is released it gives the public the
impression that the Robeson County
Board of Education is willfully involved
in wrong doings- which has a teidency
to question the credibility of the Board.
However, once the facts of the report
were understood by the administration,
they realized they were not in violation
with its approved plan from HEW. in
regard to student assignment.
"Based on information the Superin
tendent and others have been able to
obtain. Robeson County was on that
report because of not matching into
some magic formula the Office if Civil
Rights used to determine the optimum
situation for the integration erf the
school system. Back in the late 60s and
'70 s when a team from the Office of
Civil Rights Personnel spent tone time
visiting Robeson County, they realized
that Robeson County is a tri- racial
county, a county w'fh a larg geo
graphical area and also a cointy in
which the ethnic population is not
evenly distributed among the county,
that it was not feasible nor practical to
ask Robeson County to fit in the'ideal
mode.'
The plan was approved and is the
plan the Robeson County Board of
Education has been operating by.
"The Board indicates that any federal
funds that Robeaoo County currently
receives from various programs la not is
Jeopardy of being termination, and no
punitive action will be taken. TheBoard
is confident that any future imeatiga
lion in regard to student aaaipmeni
that the same facts that prevailed in the
the early days whan the plan was
approved it still available todgr. The
Board feels H was unfortunate the such
report was reieaeed In the meaner in
which It was and hopes In the tears
that they will ie no way be retamad In
this fashion "
Pembroke Jaycees
Christmas Party,
Dine and dance at the Peirtoroke
Jaycees' Christmas Party on Saturday
night, December 22. 1979 at 7:D p.m.
at the Pembroke Jaycee Hut The
admission price is S15 per <Puple.
Tickets are on sale at Rogers' Drug
Store or from any Pembroke Jiycee.
Co-chairmen for the project areOcean
us Lowry and Ted Brewington.
Are Indians
Shortchanged?
BY BRUCE BARTON
It sounds like a song title:
ECAP! It means Energy Crisist A,sist
ance Program. The state, followhg the
lead of President Jimmy Carter who
proposed the legislation national^, has
begun the program to help fanilies
remain warm and healthy this Wnter.
The initial phase of the progam is
Energy Crista Assistance Program That
program began this week, aid is
administered locally by Four (bunty
Community Services, Inc., quartaed in
Laurinbrug.
The program is administered by a
grant from the state economfc op
portunity office.
Four County began certifying eligible
households this week. Families certitieu
as living in poverty and those fanilies
receiving Supplemental Security In
come are eligible to participate in the
program.
The express purpose of the prog-am is
to assist low income families in rreeting
the continuing exorbitant heating bills.
There are three basic types of assist
ance: (I) Back bills, payment of o?rdue
bills incurred for delivery of fuel made
since July of 1979; (2) Advance
payments, payments to utilities tr fuel
dealers to cover the cost of dclvering
fuel or energy to those participafng in
the program and (3) * Crisis Fund.
Assistance for those families with
emergency needs for the purclase of
blankets, fuel or portable space heaters.
The guidelines for the program assert
that program priority will be ghen to
households headed by an elderly jrrson
(age bO or over) or a hand tapped
person. Special arrangements, ccord
ing to the guidelines, will be trade to
provide outreach for those who annot
travel.
Individuals who consider thenaelves
qualified may make application to this
assistance through any of the twelve
neighborhood centers operated by
Four-Cuunly Community Service. In
Bladen County these arc located in the
Council area (Baltimore CenM. Tar
Hell area (New Light Center) md in
Klisabethtown (at the Courthnuc). In
H?*c County centers are located in the
leMH-tNi Mi'iehts arm and in IhrSoulh
Hoke community. In Robeson G>unty
centers are in Fairmont. Lumberton.
Maxton. Red Springs, and Rex-Ibnnert
community. In Scotland County tley are
in Laurinburg (on Stewartsville Road)
and in the Oak Hill comminity.
Locally, the program has rased a
number of questions. Complaints have
filtered into our office, questioniig the
fairness of the program to the nostly
Indian community.
Some of the problems with ICAP.
according to complaints listed wth us.
arc (I) Elderly people having to vwit in
line as much as two days; (2) Indian
people generally not being serva); (3)
workers expressing the attitude (nostly
in their action) that they're doirg the
clients a favor; (4) Transportation
problems); (5) the handicappel not
being given special attention ard con
sideration; and (6) not enough rtaff to
effectively administer the prtgram.
The program takes on special sgnifi
cancc. especially, in Robeson (bunty.
where traditional attitudes hate de
veloped. Some people seem to think
that Four County is mostly for theBlack
populace; while others cxpres the
notion that LRDA (Lumbee Regional
Development Asssociation) is ineorp
ated to take care of the needs of the
Indian community.
Because of needs, it sometimes seems
that way but both programs are set up
to help those who need them. Four
County, especially, is charged toaerve
all the constituertts in their four couniv
area-Indians. Blacks and whites
And LRDA. although establishedas an
Indian agency for Indian people, crosses
racial lines in administering progams.
The agency is now adminiateing a
program fur the F^rmupa Hone Ad
ministration in the are of alleviating the
delinquency problems the ageiry is
lacing in loan collations.
Maybe the Slate Peel Aaaidancc
Director shoqld intervene and make
sure Indian families mho need the
F.CAP program are screed. The need to
slay warm and pay ootMtanl fuel and ?
electric bills is me a faciei one. All nf ua
are faced with an energy crisis aid It is
going to lake all nf us working figcther
to vitvc lIn* insddcm thrralrniiv ua.
? ?
K?j
MAYNOR NAMED BOARD MEMBER
OF FOUR COUNTY COMMUNTY
ACTION AGENCY
L.R.D.A. Board chairman. Rod Lock
fear, announces the selection, by the
Board of Directors of L.R.D.A., of Mr.
Charles A. Maynor. LRDA Board
Member, to serve as a Board Nfember
of Four County Community Action
Agency. Four County Comminity
Action Agency serves Robeson, Scot
land, Richmond and Hoke Cmnties.
PEMBROKE SENIOR HIGH
STUDENTS EMBARK UPON A
CHRISTMAS PROJECT
The students enrolled in the Indistria!
Cooperative Training Program at Pem
broke Senior High School enbarked
upon a Christmas project several
months ago. Rather than go out iito the
community, it was decided ty the
students to select someone withn the
school. Their choice was unanimous
Mr. Waltz Locklear. Mr. Maynor was
selected by the students because they
recognized his many contributions and
hard work for Pembroke Senior High
School.
You are cordially invited to attend a
reception honoring Mr. Waltz in the
school cafeteria from 10:35 a.m thru
11:15 a.m. on December 20. 1979 Your
attendance will he spprecteted
This event will set a precedent at
>SHS. As far as 1 know, this is tie first
time students have honored a school
employee. It is my desire this will be
continued by future I.C.T. stulents.
-Submitted by C.A. McLeod,
I.C.T. Coordinator
ISLAND GROVE BAPTIST CHIRCH
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Island Grove Baptist Church'sChri^t
mas program will be held Sunday.
December 23. 1979, beginning at5 pini.
The Pastor is Rev. Coolidge Curjrrangs.
The public is cordially invited.
Watch Night Service will he leld at
Island Grove Monday, December 31,
1979 with 2 guest speakers The
purpose of the service is to usherin the
New Year.
? e
COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL SPONSORS
TRIP TO N.C. STATE GAAC
The County 4-H Council is spoisoring
a bus trip to the N.C. State vs East
Carolina basketball game in ffeleigh
January 2. 1980. The cost will be$6 for
youth and $7 for adults, which iicludes
bus transportation and tickets to the
game.
Buses will leave the O.P. Owens
Agricultural Center parking lot on
Highway 72 west at 5:15 p.m and
return about 11:30 p.m. The baAetball
game will start at 7:30 p.m. Pleae call
the County Extension Office 4 738
8111 for more information.
1980 YOUNG FARMERS FORJM
SLATED FOR JAN. 4 AND5
An exciting, new program for young
farm families will be held in Ralegh on
Janury 4 and 5. The program is tie I960
Young Farmers Forum, and tSetheme
this year is "Learning Can Be Fun."
The meeting will be held at the Royal
Villa Hotel and Convention Ceiter on
Highway 70.
Young farmers between the agw of 18
and 40. along with their wivs, are
encouraged to attend this inteesting
event. According to Buck (Arter.
assistant agricultural Extension agent,
registration fee has been held toa very
nominal charge of only 810 per person
so that everyone can attend.
There will he several very intubating
hoiiiiitara tatllLth KisWttAKlMl |g| eAwaw
eCmilWlV Wll^fl He illgvVllgViaOTB ^ PBBV
outstanding Extension pereannd and
11a|it mil I i"i^mpanies. Invrrsur
James B. Hunt will be the ttured
speaker Mr lunch on Friday, ant this
mmUmi will ha nrail4?it niiar W 14
wCwwl* " Will I ' |" t *Wvu *fjr DQ
Lewie. Jr.. a native of Roheenn Only.
There will he an eneaBaat ladies'
program for all the wtvea who pan to
attend. Topics will include housq)Unt* 1
and a fashion show.
Anyone wishing to obtain father
information or registration Uanks
should contact the County Exfeneioa
Office at 738-8111.
100% OF 1979 PRACTICAL NUWNG
GRADUATES AT RH RECEVE
PASSING SCORES
One hundred percent of the 1979
Practical Nursing graduates at Rtbeaon
Technical Institute received fussing
scores on the State Board Ted Pool
Examination, according to Fraik Leg*
gett, Vice-President of Studett Ser
vices.
"Twelve of the graduates scored high
enough to meet State Board Exam
requirements in all other states, too." i
said Leggett. "All states use these
exam scores as part of their retire
ments for licensing. We are very proud
that our graduates show up so wdl year
after year on State Board Ewns."
The 1979 PN graduates are Kdlen T.
Byrd. Sandra F. Davis, Pauline M.
McConley. Barbara L. Norris, ftmela
R. Parker, Lumberton; Melba i But
lard. Marlene 0. Heradon, Pa it on;
Betty J. Cain, Sherby J. Hamnonds,
Freeman, Hope Mills; linda L Re
Arthur, Dillon. S.C.; Janice L Wo
mack, Ramona B. Townsend Red
Springs.
HENRY BERRY
BAND PLANS
BENEFIT DANCE
by Harvey Godwin, Jr.
Great pride in the Lumbee ace is
exalted by the young Lumbee Indian
professionals who have presented them
selves recently. The Lumbee pofes
sional spectrum is contrasted by doctors
and lawyers to actors and muacians.
Never before have so many tdented
Lumbees been able to gain aid take
advantage of such opportunities The
talent has always been there, hit the
opportunities have never been pre
sented.
?lt takes great courage and ineitfit for
six professional young ment fom a
small town to travel to New York for the
purpose of playing muaic. The was
accomplished recently by the Henry
Berry Band. Traveling in a rejninted
school bus. they made their way t> New
York only to be greeted by two feet of
snow. These are only a coufle of
obstacles faced by the Henry Perry
Band. As their name implies, stength
and justice will prevail in timet <t crisis
and misfortune. Alter getting faded,
the Henry Berry Band was the Ofening
band for other acts.
The Henry Berry Band is beginring to
make its mark on the eastern coast
line from New York to Macon, Ga Their
confidence ia gradually bdldlng
through the support of admires from
other states other than North CaoUna.
The Henry Berry Band is now apart of
Star Struck Productions of N.Y. mi are
managed by Tom Barone. Their Pem
broke business manager is James
"Bonk" May nor.
All this sounds like the Hemy Berry ^
Baud ia rich and famous, but Jfai*
truly erroneous. The truth rf the matter
is. they are In dire need of new lettakal
equipment in order to return t? New J
York in February. This equipaett la J
necessary for their hopes of becukfaga
steady towing band. Hopefully ?ie
will lead to their first album.
Jhi^Saturd?y ajgt, thfaMjg^^W
takes e lot of money to aehiave arti ?
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