SATURDAY NIGHT IS 'MEDIA NIGHT' AT 'STRIKES AT THE WIND!' ^
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-A Front Page Editorial
SATURDAY NIGHT IS 'MEDIA NIGHT' f
AT'STRIKE AT THE WIND!'
' / ? , \tMfm
D^TheC?nba IndUa Voice, along with
a number of other newspapers and media
outlets, in the area is sponsoring a Media
Night on August 14 at 'Strike at the
Wind!' We frankly want to fill up the
audience that night as our token of
appreciation for the fine entertainment
we have been provided over the last
seven years.
'Strike at the Wind!' is a clean,
family-type show but honest enough to
evoke for us "how it must have been
back then" in the Civil War era it is set
in. The show honestly portrays all the
unique and interesting ethnic groups in
Robeson County without making either
all evil or all holy, unlike other portrayers
of recent years.
On August 14 the area newspapers.
*
and radio and television stations, will bat
at 'Strike at the Wind!' with a number af
door prizes to be given away, and speciag
activities.
We look forward to seeing you on the
14th of August. The show begins with a
pre-show at 8 p.m. and 'Strike at the
Wind!' begins at 8:30 p.m. Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights.
This is our way of saying "thank you"
for all the wonderful nights 'Strike at the
Wind!' has given us "under the stars" at
the Lakeside Amphitheatre located on
the grounds of Riverside Country Club in
the Red Banks Community approximate
ly three miles west of Pembroke just off
Highway 72. You can call 521-3112 for
further information on ticket sales.
Hope to see you there!
' ' i??
Clybura Pines-Country Club
area to begin a
Tri-racial Scholarship Fund
The Clyburn Pines-Country Club area
Citizens Committee Board voted at a
recent meeting to begin plans for a
tri-racial scholarship fond. The fund
imid Iftufl! academioBy worthy and?
economical needy atadeats in all thsee
races in Clyburn Pines- Country Club
area.
Spokesman Eric Prevatte stated that
the mechanics of the fund are being
discussed with Walter Oxendine at
Pembroke State University and would be
directed with the assistance of the
financial aid office.
Prevatte said, "We have found in our
community a real need for educational
assistance. Our community is low to
middle income with a 23% minority
4
studen population. The overwhelming
majority of students in our area simply
can not afford higher education. It is our
belief that every effort should be made to
people regardless of race or economic
condition."
Tentative plans call for 1 student of
each racial group to be selected each
year for financial aid to Pembroke State
University. "Our ultimate goal," said
Prevatte, "is to have 12 students (3 in
each class level) earning degrees at
Pembroke State." Funding of the
scholarships will be raised from private
donations and community projects, with
the first scholarships to be awarded in
1983.
- ? ? ' ft
DEXTER BROOKS FIRED BY
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
By Cobbm Brayboy
A seemingly regular board meeting
became quite iiteresting Tuesday night
as the Robeson County Board of
Education fired the law firm of Locklear,
Brooks and Jacobs, in Pembroke.
After a lengthy executive session to
discuss personnel and student reassign
ment, Laymon Locklear moved that "In
the best interests of the Robeson County
Board of Education, we terminate the
services of Locklear, Brooks and Jacobs,
more specifically Dexter Brooks, effec
tive right now." The motion was
seconded by Lillian Faye Locklear.
During the discussion of the motion
Attorney Dexter Brooks asked why.
"Why? Is ,Jhere displeasure of my
services?" he asked. To which Locklear
replied, "...The attorney serves at the
pleasure of the board. We can assume by
the motion that the board is no longer
satisfied..."
Ronald Hammonds spoke to the issue.
Said he, "It is obvious that dirty
politics is bleeding over into the board of
education...There has been no board
thought for discussion to my knowledge.
...But this is not the first time I have
been shot...I plead with this board to do
what's best for kids in Robeson County...
Sometimes it is better to have some
people with you than on the other side of
the fence."
And Attorney Brooks said, "I want tc
address this question to the administra
tion: has any complaint been lodged by
the administration as to the quality of my
legal service?"
And Superintendent Purnell Swett
replied, "I have no complaints...You
have given competent legal service."
And Brooks responded, "We do have
pending matters...Clyburn Pines and
other things....Due process to me entails
notice and a right to be heard....Since
this item is not on the agenda, I'd like to
have an opportunity to find out the
reasons... Because of pending litigation, I
am uncomfortable to discuss this in open
session..."
And Ronald Hammonds said, "We
have three board members who are not
present.^ move that we frble this matter
and give us time to get infofrHttlBm that
some other board members have got
ten... It seems everybody here has been
told how to vote except for me and maybe
one other person." Gerald Maynor
seconded his motion.
Voting for Hammonds' motion to table
were Hammonds and Maynor. Voting
against the motion were Laymon Lock
lear, Lillian Faye Locklear, Pete Clark;
Rufus Graham, J.R. Musselwhite. Those
members not present for the vote
included E.B. Morton and John A.
Gibson who did not attend the meeting at
all, and Jerry Lowry who sat in for
approximately half the meeting. Lowry
returned as the meeting concluded.
Maynor stated that he was concerned
about the legal questions raised by the
attorney. Chairman David Green stated
that he was not responsible for those
board members who had not attended.
And then they voted.
Voting for Locklear's motion to dismiss
Attorney Brooks were Locklear and -
Lillian Faye Locklear, J.R. Musslewhite,
Rufus Graham and Pete Clark. Voting
aghmt the motion were Gerald Maynor
and Ronald Hammonds.
After his dismissal, Attorney Brooks
stated: "1 am gratified by the years of
service to this board. We have had quite
a few problems and I've gained a lot of
experience. I've become a better person
because of it. I am dismayed by the
action, but 1 will accept it....I will not do
to this board in summary fashion as
they've treated myself..."
On motion by Lillian Faye Locklear the
law firm of Ward, Strickland and Kinlaw
and Earl Homer Strickland in particular
were hired to replace Locklear Brooks
and Jacobs at aire comparable to the
outgoing firm.
" ' VtJWtf RlffMUHrfp ***** -
addition. to herself, Laymen Locklear.
Pete Clark, J.R. Mussehvhite, Rufus
Graham. Voting against were Ronald
Hammonds and Dr. Gerald Maynor.
Attorney Brooks informed the board
that he would acquaint Mr. Strickland
with the litigation, etc. in process and
that he would work with him during the
transition period. Chairman David Green
expressed the board's appreciation for
the service of the law firm. And the
meeting adjourned...
Thanks. ?>jf or making
- ; r ? . >-*3Lr ?"
the Lori^DftLocklear
y- ~
Concert a rousing success.
BRUCE BARTON and
STRIKE AT THE WIND!'
Lori Ann
Locklear
fills the
house at
* Strike at
the Wind!'
SKI*3^^"
DENNIS LOWERY: LUMBEE BUSINESSMAN EXTRAORDINARY
, DuPont was one of the first companies
Dennis D. Low cry, a Lumbee Indian,
called on as-he sought to expand his
fledgling chemical business seven years
a&q. That call has since developed into
more than. $500,000 in DuPont pur
chases.
In 1975, explains A1 Duckett, chemical
tuiyer at theCarolinas Regional Office of
E&M. DuPont's needs for phosphoric
acid did not meet the manufacturer's
minimum order requirements. Duckett
asked Lowery if his Continental Indust
rial Chemicals company could stock
sufficient quantity to meet order require
ments and then redistribute as DuPont
required.
Lowery accepted the challenge and
Duqkett persuaded the manufacturer to
establish Continental as a distributor for
phosphoric acid, solving DuPont's sup
ply .problem and providing a minority
/ion with new business. Continental also
supplies DuPont with a variety of
solvents and special chemicals used in
textile finishes. So well did Continental
perfptm, that DuPont's Chemicals and
Pigments Department has set up the firm
as a distributor for many of its products
in-* the sootheastern region.
IMPRESSIVE PHYSICAL PLANT
Continental's plant is a modem
50,000 square foot, brick warehouse on a
10 acre site on the edge of Charlotte. The
company operates its own fleet of
stainless steel tankers, and acts as
distributor for 34 major producers of
kchenticais.
At any one time $800,000 yvorth of
chemicals is stored in Continental's
warehouse or underground storage /
tanks.'Ten bulk tanks already are in the
ground and 13 more are ready for
installation.
Ldat year, Lowery's firm chalked up
sales of $15 million. That was up 107
percent from the previous year, and in
4982 he-confidently expects sales of S22
miilibfo.
IN1N0VATTVE SERVICE A KEY
'"The firm in innovative, service-or
ientated^ and competitive," ooserves
Jinr Loper, DuPont's buyer currently
handling the Continental account. "They
do a beautiful job on service, particularly
in meeting emergency needs and un
usual requirements.''
C. As an example of innovative thinking,
Lpwery suggested to DuFont last year
'tfiat it accept phosphoric acid in plastic
dhims rather than the usual stainless
steel
"The plastic drum is safer, meets
purity "standards, and carries only a $50
deposjt, compared to $200 on stainless
steel," explains Lowery. "So we've cut
DnFopt's cash outlay substantially."
Lowery also-stocks sr anti-foam agent
in large drums and repackages it in
5-galTon containers to fill DuPont's
requirements. "Many chemical suppli
ers don't wjrat to deal in small
ioiitainers," he says. "But, because
many of our customers are phamaceuti
?al and cosmetic manufacturers who
can't lake bulk shipments, we repackage
for them."
TO MEET SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
1 he firth has even installed a special
"holtdom" with storage space for 4,000
drums of temperature-sensitive mater
ials such as amines, caustics, and
autKfdam agehts. "it's the largest facility
of that type m the east," claims Lowery,
"and gives us an edge over com
| petition."
Although it's now doing business in 40
states, Lowery wants to keep the firm
centralized and operating out of its
Charlotte warehouse rathern than setting
up branches.
"Our philosophy is to utilize moving
rtjutpmetlt^uuik; trucks, for example"
rather thfcn set up small storage facilities
every 200 miles or so. By centralizing our
storage we can stock mote than enough
of a chemical to assu^ we won't ran
'short; and guarantee expedient delivery
an inhere in "our tracks."
Dennis D. Lowery grew up in Robeson
County, in Pembroke, North CaroB
na, attending Indian schools there. He
earned two bachelor of science degrees
one in art. ed. at Pembroke State
University, a college established primar
ily to serve the Lumbee tribe.
The Lumbees, he notes, are a
where some 45,000 of them now
constitute about a third ef the county
population. Lowery, in fact, was one of
the first of the tribe to leave the area la
Lowery represents four counties on the
North Carolina Indian Commission and
regularly gathers members of the tribe
together to explore job qualifications,
develop skills, and hear other Lumbees
describe business opportunities in the
"outside world."
Gratefully recalling assistance he
received from DuPont and other mem
bers of the Carolines Minority Supplier
Development Council, Lowery last year
donated office space in his Charlotte
building for use by the Council.
"We appreciate what large companies
and the Council are doing to help "
minority business," he explains. "We
wanted to be on the giving end, so we've
spent several thousand dollars for fixing
up an office for the Council and are
happy to have them use It We did it to
express our thanks and hope it helps
other minority companies to get involved ? ?
in the program."