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HltfSON OUT, HUNT IN
AS LREMC GENERAL MANAGER
Red Sprtage-It was anti- climatic almost.
The Lumbce River Electric Membership
Corporation Board of Directors stayed in
executive session a good part of the
afternoon but finally announced late
Tuesday afternoon that "effective De
cember 14 at 5 p.m. Mr. Deri Hinson will
be released from his duties and
responsibilities as general manager of
(LR) EMC. We find this action unfortu
nate but necessary. We heliev* however
tfcps is ;n the best interest of the EMC
membership and employees." -
< Rev. Elias Rogers, president of the
board of directors, then announced that
Bonnie Hunt, the assistant general
manager, had been named interim
general manager.
Hinson had been general manager
since 1974. Hunt, 32 years old, is now, to
our knowledge, the only minority head
ing an electric cooperative east of the
Mississippi. Hunt will head a cooperative
that serves in excess of 20,000 con
sumers snd a 90 employee work force.
Hunt will head one of the largest
businesses in the ares with an estimated
working budget of S19 million. The
membership's racial breakdown is 45
% white, 35% Indian and 20 % Black*
47% of the 90 employees at LREMC are
now either Indian or Black, a far cry r
from the early 70s when Rev. Elias
Rocers had to sue the cooperative for
violating his civil rights, iince winning
his settlement with LREMC the coopera
tive has been opened np to the
membership in every area, including the
electoral process for membership on the
board of directors. Rogen, who is now
serving as president of the cooperative
board of directors, serves on a 12
member board comprised of 10 Indians,
1 Black and 1 white.
Said an observer, "LREMC is prob
ably now the best integrated work force
and board in America. We should take a
great deal 'of pride in LREMC's civil
rights program since those dark days in
the late 60s and early 70s when Rev.
Rogers opened uie aoor ot opportunity
and equality for all of us- Indian, Black
and white."
Ronnie Hunt, who lives on the line on
Highway 74 (approximately seven miles
from Pembroke) graduated from Pem
broke State University in 1973.
Before coming to LREMC he worked
for Southern National Bank in Lumberton
as Operations Officer. He joined LREMC
in 1977 and was named assistant general
manager in 1981 after a stint as Manager
of Office and Staff Services.
He is married to the former Catherine
Loretta Hunt and they are the proud
parents of two sons, Corey and Chad.
Seven consumers appeared before the
board of directors and questioned
Hinson's imminent dismissal. They were
James L. Bracey, Eric Prevatte, J. McN.
Gil lis, Claude Thomas, John Robertson,
Carev J. Collins and Edwin Mercer.
Eric Prevatte asked for an explanation,
recommended that channels of com
munication be openea up between the
membership and the cooperative. Pre
vatte suggested district meetings by the
directors and an accounting publicly of
the general manager's salary and the per
diem of board members.
McGiliis, one of the original members
of the cooperative board when it was
formed 41 years ago, said succinctly "I
hope you will reconsider this decision."
Claude Thomas, known locally for his
Solas Home, questioned the termination
of the general manager and severed
relationships with the law firm of Crisp,
Davis, Schwentker and Page,'a Raleigh
i>ased law firm now serving the
! cooperative in favor of the Pembroke law
firm of Locklear, Brooks and Jacobs.
Thomas said, "I do not think the local
firm can do as well..."
John Robertson, a member of the Red
Springs Town Council where the c<y
operative is based, praised the relation
ship between the cooperative and the
town. Bracey, Collins and Mercer ail
spoke forthrighly in favor of re-instating
Hinson.
Hubert Prevatte, a former president of
the board of directors, also requested
permission to speak and asked for
Hinson's re- instatement. Following
Prevatte's presentation, Bruce Barton,
editor of the Carolina Indian Voice, alee
spoke and reminded the assemblage that
iiie cooperative Had not always been "a
paragon of virtue, briefly noting that
the cooperative had once been sued by a
consumer (now a member of the board
and its president -Rev. Bias Rogers) for
a violation of his civil rights.
Barton also reminded those clamoring
for "an answer on why Hinson was
fired" that the meetings of the board of
directors of die cooperative are now open
to the membership because "I was
arrestedin October 1980 for attempting
to attend the meetings." The policy,
following that debacle, was changed so
that members can now attend meetings.
Barton's inference was that he had not
seen those disputing the board's
actjon at any meeting of the cooperative
since the policy Whs changed.
Although the board was cautious in
talking about Hinson's dismissal, it is
known to those'who attend meetings that
Hinson did not have the support of the
full board as many votes were taken that
ended on 7-5 count recently. The main
reason for the board's disenchantment
with Hinson seemed to be incompaya
bility and, conversely, a poor working
relationship between the board and the
general manager.
Superintendent Swctt survives Ouster Move
by Conner Brmyboy
New board members Dr. Deltas
Brooks, Bill Oxendine, Ronald Revels
and Charles David Locklear received a
few surprises on Tuesday night as thd^
began their tenure on the Robeson
County Board of Education.
David Green, chairman of the boardf
stated that many people had asked ho#
the chairman voted on several issue*
Until Tuesday night, the chairman knlir
vote din case of a tie. Green announced
"Effective tonight, I will exercise my
right to vote and make motions on every
issue that comes before this board." .
Dr. Gerald Maynor attempted to have
an item (re-districting) added to the
agenda and was informed that to do so
required Vi majority vote. Green offered
that information and cited the March 6,
1975 minutes as the reason. Many
questions were raised by new board
members relative to why the procedure
was not listed in the procedure manual.
Much heated discussion followed, during
which J.R. Musselwhite offered a
substitute motion not to add the re
districting item to the agenda. Rufus
Graham offered the second. Green ruled
his motion out of order because they had
not yet voted on Dr. Maynor's motion to
add the item.
Finally they voted. Voting for the
addition of the item to the agenda was:
Dr. Gerald Maynor, Dr. Dalton Brooks,
Charles D. Locklear, Ronald Revels and
Bill Oxendine.
Opposing the motion were David
Green, J.R. Musselwhite, Pete Clark,
John A. Gibson and Rufus Graham. E.B.
Morton was not present.
Dr. Maynor, Brooks, Oxendine and
Revels questioned the need for the
chairman to vote. Dr. Maynor said, "this
bothers me:..not from a legal stand
point, but from trends of the past. When
was the last time a chairman voted on the
boitrd of education?" And Green replied,
"That really has not concerned me."
Supt. Purnell Swett, in answer to the
question, stated that the procedure had
not existed during his years of service.
"K has not existed in the past IS or 20
It appeared to be an obvious move
onthe part of Chairman Green to insure
that none of his political power as
chairman slipped. And the die was
apparently cast for future voting pat
terns.
Bill Oxendine made a spirited attempt
to have the meeting time changed from
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to accomodate
working parents who might wish to
attend. The motion for the time change
also failed on the same 5-5 vote.
IN OTHER MATTERS
The board unanimously agreed, on
recommendation of Supt. Purnell Swett,
not to renovate the fire damaged
building at Prospect School. They agrieed
to approach Prospect United Methodist
Church Tor the continued use of its
educational building and to offer com
pensation for heating, etc.
Walter Oxendine, director of alumgi
affairs at PSU, was hired as the new
public relations person for the IEA
program.
After a lengthy executive session to
consider student re-assignment and
personnel, the board again voted on a
split decision on the matter of the
superintendent's contract. New member
Charles D. Lock!ear moved that Supt.
Swett be given a four year contract
effective July 1, 1483. John A. Gibson
offered the second. Voting for were
Charles D. Locklear, Pete Clark, David
Green, J.R. Musselwhite, Rufus Graham
and John A. Gibson. Voting against were
Dalton Brooks, Ronald Revels and Bill
Oxendine. Dr. Gerald Maynor abstained
from voting.
There is-much speculation about why
three new board members voted against
the superintendent's contract. Brooks
and Revels stated after the meeting that
they did not voir against the aupertmen- ?
dent, but rather voted against the
procedure.
There were several community per
sons present for the meeting, among
them were C.A. Mavnor, principal of
Oxendine School, James A. Jones,
principal of Prospect School, Herman
Dial, ousted county commissioner, Her
bert Moore, members of the advisory
councils of those two schools and
others.
Also in the audience was Johnny
Huggins of Route 3. Lumberton. Mr.
Huggins was there, he said, to air a
complaint. Had the new board members
been able to have any items added to the
agenda, they reportedly would have
added Mr. Huggins.
Mr. Huggins alleges that board
member Pete Clark actually resides
within the Fairmont City Schools Dis
trict. He further alleged that J.R.
Musselwhite is subject to the Hatch Act
because he is employed by the Lumber
ton Housing Authority. No action was
taken on the matter because he was
unable to be heard. In a statement to the.
press. Mr. Huggins stated: "The law is
the law. It must apply to everyone the
same regardless of position. Mr. Mussel
white and Mr. Gark can'no longer serve
on this board; they should immediately
do the right thing and resign..."
T - - - . . JwW" :mrir? 11. r l
^ dtp'- . 1
PEOPLE I
AND PLACES I
AND THINGS |
LOCAL MAN RETURNS FROM
MISSION IN ENGLAND
Ertle C. Jones of S32A Chavis Park,
Pembroke, returned home Saturday
night after spending 18 months in
England on a mission for the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
(Mormons). Ertle is the son of Maude
Jones.
Another local boy, Jackie Lucas, is
serving a mission for the same church in
Whittier, California. Jackie is the son of
Geneva and James Lucas of Pembroke
and the brother of Jeffery Lucas who
spent two years in Australia on a like
mission.
AN INVITATION
The Future Business Leaders at
America Cub of the Robeson County
Career Center cordially invites yon to
attend their Emblem Ceremony and
Installation of othccis ana lucuiueremp
service on Thursday, Dec. 16, .1982 at
7:30 p.m. at the Robeson County School
Bus Garage. Speaker will be Mr. Donald
A. Bonner, Assistant Superintendent,
Robeson County Board of Education.
Installing officer will be Mrs. Elaine S.
Lowry, First District IV Chairperson.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT PLANNED
The Magnolia High School Chorus
and Sixth Grade Chorus will present a
Christmas concert entitled "Spirit at
Christmas Tune" on Monday, Dec. 20, at
1 p.m. in the school gym. Director of the
program is Mrs. Sarah Bell and director
of the sixth grade chorus in Mrs. Deana
Revels. Melody Allison will provide
piano accompaniment.
The sixth grade will portray scenes
from the manger, the Christmas tree,
the Christmas fairies, Santa Gaus, the
Christmas stocking, and Christmas in
"foreign lands Actors ate Patricia Lockle
ar. Marv: Dewayne Hardin as Joseoh;
Aaron Emanuel, Michael McNeill, ana
Timmy Blackburn as Wisemen; Antonio
McMillian, Gerald Hardin and Timmy
Hammonds.as shepherds; and Shawn
Bartley as Santa.
Guest soloists will be Maurice Low cry
and Lora Chavis. The public is cordially
invited to attend.
CHK1STMAS.IS A MIRACLE
TO BE PRESENTED
Riverside Independent Baptist
Church will present a Christmas play on
Sunday. December 19, 1982 at 5 p.m.
The play is entitled "Christmas is a
Miracle," written by Wilma Burton. The
public is invited to attend. The church is
located on Highway 74. west of Lumber
ton. Rev. rihHsey McNeill is the pastor.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Parents and friends are invited to
attend the annual Christmas program at.
Pembroke Middle School on Friday,
Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
The play entitled "The Christmas
Story" is directed by Vera L. Malcolm,
IEA music instructor.
The band will also present musical
selections directed by Joseph M.
Locklear, IEA band instructor.
Mr. Barry principal, and
staff extend a cordial welcome to attend
this program. .
Pembroke Jaycee's
9th Annual
Christmas Parade
by Gregory Camming*
Christinas just would not be
Christmas without a parade,
without colorful floats, funny
clowns running around,
beautiful Queens, marching
units, bands and of course the
main attraction, Santa Gaus
Friday. Dec. 10, was just
that. The Pembroke Jayeees
held their 9th Annual Christ
mas Parade with over 4,500
spectators in attendance. The
streets were lined with spec
tators on both sides for over a
mile from die PSU Performing
Arts Center to the other sidr
of town to Lumbee Regional
Development Association? Of
course, the small children
were the ones with the
biggest smiles on their faces.
When Santa appeared with
reindeers and sleigh, throw
' ing candy to the need. Oae
ttSTtZ that's
judged in these categories.
Non commerical float win
ners- first place- Fairmont
High- Native American Or
ganization- second place.
LRDA: third place- New Pro
spect Church. Marching
Bands-First place. Maxton
High School; second place.
Prospect School; third place.
South Robeson High. Elemen
tary Bands- First place. Pem
broke Elementary School.
Marching Onits- first place.
Pembroke Senior High ROTC
In behalf of the Pembroke
Jaycees and the Town of
Pembroke, we would like to
thank everyone from Robe
son, Scotland and Bladen
community for theh- support
in making the parade very I
Javcees we would Use to wish I