weditorial,h
Wand opinionm
j page
"We cannot know where v
we are going if we do not 1
know where we have been."
I
cec ^
Lby Bruc? Bartoh
i E /
school situation |
improving under supt.
swrit's leadership:
lumberton plan seems
favorable to county
school system
Robeson County is a
strange and provincial place,
infected with racial and socio
logical madness that is direct
ly responsible for five {six
until Maxton Schools wisely
merged into the Robeson
County School System) school
systems.
Until Superintendent
PurneU Swett assumed | the
mantel of leadership in the
Robeson County School Unit,
the former superintendent
and his predecessors, as t see
isnt^
tions to cope wiSTt^
unwieldJy educational ffless
that is prevalent |n Robeson
County even today. Their
legacy now confronts all of us.
But Swett has not been
afraid to tackle difficult prob
lems. He has built new school'
plants (like South Robeson,
East Robeson, Pembroke Ele
mentary and West Robeson
under construction), devisbd a
county-wide vocational plan,
worked toward accreditation
and more.
But he tow feces his tough
est problem, the unsettling
Lambert in situation. The
Justice Department has re
fused to approve the renegade
Lumbertdn annexations of a
few years ago. As our readers
know, these areas were un
lawfully I annexed from the
coupty with the acquiesce pee
of the then county board of
But Swett and his Board
this time around have refessd
to rape the county sdsol
system jthey are charged to
" l ?! ?
Administer. They refuse to be
intimidated, outsikked by le
gislators and the like. They
are holding firm for a sensible
solution that is for the good of
all the children in Robeson
County, especially the child
ren in their charge in the
Cfounjty system. It's interest
ing that the chairman is a
llla^k (David Green), the
superintendent an Indian
I PurneD Swett) and the school
Uoard attorney an Indian
(Dexter Brooks). They have
negotiated in good faith with
Lumberton Schools officials
Searching for a reasonable
solution to an admittedly
thorny probWjg^ When dpe
- area -was illegally annexed in
sthe eariy 70 s fliacka -and
the right, thanks to double
voting to serve on the County
Board of Education.
I think they have come up
with a sensible and fair plan.
The jointly negotiated feta
tion* wflr return fo* dybiBn
Pines-Country Club areas
back info the county system
where they belong and, at the
self-same time, allow Lum
berton to retain Barker Ten
Mile and Lakewood Estates.
It's a Solomon like decision.
Some contend that the county
schools should hold out for all
of foe contested area; and
others want nothing to do with
any of it, hoping to keep the
, status-quo in place. But half a
loaf is better than the less
than crumbs given the county
schools when a strangely
quiet school board sat idly by
and let Lumberton rape them
educationally and take the
contested areas out of the
system in foe late 60s and
eariy 70s.
The county school system
wffl add approximately 360
out of the PPr at
stake. They wWWIWKrse.
also add the areas of Clyburn
Hthes and Country Club. This
seems a reasonable solution
to me. accepted in the mag
nanimous arp1 statesmanlike
spirit that ? must prevail if
Robeson, County is to enter
the 20tK Centiiry with ,the rest
of America; 1 believe the
Justice Department will ap
prove th^s plan.
Our only concern is that the
seemingly selfish motives of
our legislator* wtW upset the
plan now awaiting approval in
the North Carolina General
Assembly. Rep. Horace Lock
lear has presented two bills,
one affecting the contested
areas and another concerned
with a small area around' his
own home in the Barker Ten
Mile section. Seemingly, he
wants his home in the turn
berton City System. i
Our legislators need to
set a good example for the
rest of us. All of us will have
to suffer some sociological
discomfort to make this rea
sonable plan work. We hope
Locklear's concern for his own
billet will not create a
reactionary situation where
everyone scrambles for what
he thinks is best for him
personally at the expense of
the children, all of them-Red,
Black and White.
It's -time for all reasonable
Robesonians to look to the
future and cease their pro
vincial tantrums. It's time to
support the educational lead
ers in Robeson County who
have, for oncejn their Uvea,
come up udS#'**plant
seems devoid of /inhibiting
racism and provincial mad
ness. The proposed plan
smacks of fairness.
In spite of the pain, the
school situation in Robeson
-.County is improving, thanks
to visionary leaders like Pur
nell Swett who Are not afraid
to face the wrath of the
sometimes provincial-think
ing and racially-conscious ci
tizenry of Robeson County.'
"I am wealthy in my
friends." Shakespeare
Mangoes ark an excellent
source of vitai nin? and min
erals, including "A" and
"C". Most people love
mangoes for their sweet,
juicy flavor, nut the fruit
is also a favorite of dieters,
yrho enjoy it peeled for
"anytime" sracks or with
cottage chee e for a "lo
cal" lunch! '
i
I ' ,
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Salutes jMUcUgan
Luinbees^r '
? : i . "j'* rxT-^'%' . / i>r . ?., V
Dear Michigan Friends:
Lymbee Regional Develop
ment Association, lee. god
the Lumbee people send our
.. ->ngr itulations to you for
your wort in helping to realize
a dream for you and your
children. What you have dope
will live for many yean to
come.
We congratulate Ma. Ade
laide LocUcar and her family
for their time and efforts to
see that the tuition waiver
granted to Lumbee students.
Also our heart felt thanks go
to Mr. Fred Boyd and Mr.
Bob ^cFarland.
The tuition waiver granted
by the State of Michigan will
not only benefit the Michigan
Lumbees, but the Rpbeson
County Lumbees as weH.
know that many of you ajjty
return to your Native Robeson
to seek employment or fbr
retirement and at any rate will
serve to upgrade the genets!
population everywhere.
We will also invite each
you to participate in our Tribal
Enrollment Program. This
program will ultimately certi
fy you to participate in the
Tuition Waiver Program of
fered by the State of MicM
gan. You may get applications
from Ms. Adelaide Lockle#.
or you may write to: Lumbee
Enrollment Program, P.tt
Box 68, Pembroke, N.C.
28372, C/O L.R.D.A. LRDA
will be the certifying agendjf
for Lumbees everywhere.
?' jji
We sincerely hope more
end more Lunit*c? pfl) take
advantage of the fruits of yonr
labor.
Congratulations once again
and we hope to see ail of you
at Luaiibee Homecoming
1982.' i
> | I !
Go InPeac^,
Adolph L. Dial
Chairman, L.I.DA.
Kenneth K. Mayner
Executive Director, LftDA "
1 ' . Cans
Legend'
To the Editor
Hermaa Dial has been a
Robeson County Com mis
During that time, he has
become the only Indian Chair
man in Robeson County his
tory, endeared himself to the
hearts of many, and generally
covere# himself with glory
rather than much, h is darn
near impossible to find any
thing wrong with him despite
his long track record. I guess
we're just going to have to
face the truth about Herman:
He's j?t about bersinsT"
living legend. Aad aaybody
who can do that In dog -eat
dog Bobeaaa potties ha* *
have a lot going far him
Now, Herman's not the
only candidate I hie. Bet we
caa only have ewe. Aad the
truth is, Herman's already
proved himself.
He's no rabble-rouser. He
tikes to work quietly. Bet
when the community at large
really needs him, somehow
hq's always there. How caa
y?u kick A guy like that-es
pecially out of office when be
still wants to serve you?
I've seen him overcome
serious illness. And 1 believe
his best medicine was the
knowledge that people need
ed him. People need Herman.
And Herman needs people.
I guess thst's sbout all I
had to sjA. I win have to reply
like Pilate wl>gH Jesus
comparison. I find no fruit in
this ma
He', fry Mead, bat km
knows I'd boiler if I did. la
view at Ike man, mod la view
Of his record, 1 couldn't Uve
wih.mjrsetf V I let him down
now. He's .a real champion of
the people. "He-ceres about
them. And we'd better stick
with a sure thin* whfie wf
have tt. J
I'm voting for Herman Daf
And 1 hope you wdl, too.
? it
P.S. I hate politics, somtime*.
But that just happens to hp
the only means the peopfc
have at helping themselves tp
better government. Andi
sometimes you have to stand
up and be counted, even when
it means a choice between
friend* i
- ?
Race Unity |
Day June 13;
in Pembroke
? ' ? f
Town Park
Pembroke-The Baha'i Com
?i?ilj af Pembroke- Mill
fecTUnlty Day M
Sunday, June 13, with a piciiw
in the Town Park of Pembroke
, at 4 p.m. The people of every
Vrace, culture, religion and
nationality are welcomed to
this event.
The Baha'is of Pembroke
invite you to join them in their
t annual observance of Race
Unity Day.
DANIEL H.
DEVANE
N.C. HOUSE of
REPRESENT A TIVES
; ? I I
help me help you
VOTE
1*^1
William L. (Bill) Oxendine
I Robeson County Board of Education j
I DISTRICT IV
I "Raft Swamp "Pembroke
I "Burnt Swamp *11111011
f A Candidate who believe* that an Elected Official la a
I SERVANT of the PEOPLE, instead of the
PEOPLE being a SERVANT of the Elected Official.
m ~ . .
Larry T. Brooks I
I
i\ ' , . - - ?? X' '?
FOR YOUR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Maxton - Pembroke - Smiths
? Experience in Government
? Extensive Business Experience
? Masters Degree In Administration
? Concerned Parent: The Only Candidate With
Children (4) In The Local Schools
An Incumbent Must Run On His Record...
Let Us Examine The Record.
Let us examine the record of incumbent commissioner Herman Dial through the
following exerpts from the official minutes of the Robeson County Board of Com
missioners. in each case Dial supported the indicated action.
? February 26, 1973. Architect EHiabeth Lee advisee commissioners that the old county courthouse could
be remodeled for *400,0004500,000.
'? April 10,1973: Dial moves to appropriate *6,000 to pay architect to prepare plans for a new courthouse.
? July 2, 1973. Dial seconds motion to demolish old courthouse and to buid a new one on the old site.
Most counties, however, have been able to make do with renovation of existing facilities at much less
sxponto*
? February..*. I874t Dial seconds morion to authorize architect to prepare plane for letting bids on
demolishingA^^oHifisuse and biiWdUgtheasw one. .....
? April 1, 1974. Dial moves to appropriate *25,000 for construction of an arena at the Lumberton Jaycee
Fairground. The property is owned by a private, exclusive corporation. One cannot belong to the cor
poration unteas he la a member in good standing of the Lumberton Jaycees.
? August 1,1974. The commissioners accept bids for the removal of the old courthouse and the construc
tion of the new one. The cost of the new facility including furnishings would be approximately *5,700,000
in 1962 dollars. This amount of money could substantially resolve the school plant deficiencies of the
county schools.
? September 10,1974. Dial moves to contribute *4,000 to a private organization to buy back the dome of
the old courthouse from the demolition company.
? February 17, 1975. The commissioners accept a bid of *43,900 for an extension of the Lumberton water
system to service the Lumberton Jaycee Fairground.
? December 20,1976. The commisaioners appropriate *14,996 to purchase land to be given to this Town of
Parkton as the site of new National Guard Armory.
? February 7, 1977. Dial seconds motion to appropriate *15,000 to the City of Lumberton for its new
National Guard Armory. Vote was 4 in favor and 2 against.
? February 21, 1977. The commissioners appropriate an additional *10,000 to the City of Lumberton for
its Armory.
\
? May 25, 1977. Dial seconds motion to appropriate *69,000 to purchase seven (7) acres of land for
Robeson Technical Institute. The land was bought merely to prevent its development. The vote was 4-3
in favor of the purchase.
? September 6, 1977. The commissioners approve *1,000 contribution to the Flora McDonald Highland
Games.
? June 5, 1978. Dial seconds motion commiting *60,500 to the proposed Parkton Armory-ewried by the
Town of Parkton.
? November 27,1978. The commissioners appropriate *1,500 to Flora McDonald Gardens, * private entity,
for restoration of gardens on the campus of the Robeson Country Day School.
i
? June 2, 1980. The commissioners commit *60,000 for the Luther J. Brttt Memorial Greqnwiy, a park
owned by the City of Lumberton. Dial, who was then chairman, breaks a tie vote in favor of the expendi
ture. Voting no were Loddear, Hum and Jones.
? ? ? I
? June 2,1980. Dial seconda motion to pay one-half the coat of *17,1*4.98 Tor a haiport for the Lumberton
Rescue Squad. A substitute motion to pay the fuM cost was unanimously approved.
? November 3,1980. The commisaioners appropriate *16,000 for tennis courts and *71500 for land purchase
for the UMeMd area. Dial, who was then chairman, breaks a tie vote in favor aim sxpendkere. Voting
no were LocMeer, Hunt <nd Jones.
" carry iwu. int commissKxiers OBCtirR to Cwiuidutb any fnOOHM towards axtonotng Mwer saryica to tna
V (HkjkaklMi uMSW W lailaLI m a ? ? -? 9 , , L?
new west noDoaon ocnooi. Aitnouyn monies ware avatiaoie to serve tna Lumoerton jiyoM rwryrouna,
/ r? n ? * am ?ifsOeki* jmw 1m \ */? a| J. . , O n h ? ? ? ?
no monies are bvbmdr tot our cnsoran m westem nooeson.
f,v ^ '? ?f * . ?' t.' ? ? ; % \
? May 26,19K. DW moves to "use as much from surplus as poaafote" to hold tax rata at (L82. The "tat"
local support par ohld, but ws may now claim the dubious honor of betag at the boMoqiL I
_ ' '''''''' ' '
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