f HE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
I'M 7 .
jP"/ ,
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOL I 'ME... Nt> toER 2 THURSDAY JANUARY 11, 1996 '
Rep. Ron Sutton files to re-election to
House of Representtives, District[S5??,?K
Friday, January 5,19% at 2*30
pm, Representative Ron Sutton
officially filed to retain the House
District 85 seat in the North
Carolina House ofRepresentatives.
Presently, Sutton is in his second
term as the Democratic
Representative for House District
85. District 85 includes part ofthe
City ofLumberton, most of western
Robeson County, also Stonewall
and Antioch precincts in Hoke
County.
In announcing his reelection
bid, Sutton wished topublicly state
that he-is extremely honored and
proud to serve in the General
Assembly and to represent all the
citizens of House District 85.
While service in the NC House
is quite different now than it has
been in thepast, Sutton is dedicated
to working with the House
Democratic Caucus in restoring
Democratic leadership in the
House. According to Sutton, things
have been quite hectic under
Republican leadership due to their
lack of experience in handling
leadership roles and activities.
Unfortunately, they often confused
leading with driving thereby
attaining disastrous results.
Sutton's committee
assignments, are varied". They
include the Appropriations SubCommittee
on Education, State
Government Committee (SubCommittee
on Military Veterans
and Indian Affairs), the Judiciary
II Committee and the Ethics
Committee. v
Sutton states, among the things
he did last session of which he is
the most proud of is his extensive
work on a three attorney Judiciary
II Sub-Committee developing the
procedures authorizing North
Carolina judges to revoke/suspend
any and all licenses of absent
parents who are behind in and/or
refuses to pay child support. That
sub-committee worked long and
hard hours to develop an
approximately forty page bill that
passed the House and Sepate.
While it was Representative
Charlotte Gardner's bill, a
Republican, most of the rewrite of
the bill was done by the three
Democratic attorneys to make the
bill acceptable to members.
In addition, Sutton worked
extensively on another Judiciary
sub-committee that produced a Sex
Offender's Registration Bill that
also passed the House and Senate.
This bill requires all those
convicted ofsex offenses to register
with the county sheriff when not in
prison. Prior attempts in other
sessions to pass similarbills failed
Again, this was a Republican
membersbill. According to Sutton,
these examples amplify the need
to have more attorneys-in the
House. Just a few years ago the
House was approximately 60%
lawyers. Presently the House is
onlv 18% attorneys and Sutton
feels that much of the-resulting
legislation shows it. Forexample,
ofthe67 Republicans in the House,
there are only three attorneys.
Sutton is also extremely proud
that through his, bills and
legislative efforts, he was able to
get monies in this year' s budget to
restore the Henry Berry Lowry
House at the North Carolina Indian
Culture Center and to fund the
Native American Incentive
Scholarship for the next two years.
Also, by working*with Senator
Rand of Fayetteville, North
Carolina Public Television was
funded for a TV tower to be located
in north Robeson County to
complete the public television
coverage throughout North
Carolina.
Sutton stated,4 'Itis unfortunate
that none of these projects were
funded by the Republican led
House and I had to coordinate with
the Senate leadership in order to
get them funded. I did have House
Republican leadership's personal
commitment that if I could get
'a
them funded in the Senate budget
the House would let them stay in
during the conferee committee
deliberations. I wish to personally
thank Senator David Parnell,
Democrat of Parkton, for his
support and cooperation in these
efforts."
The Representative pledges to
continue to w ork for all the citizens
of District 85. He stresses that his
style of representation and
leadership is rolling up his sleeves
and getting the job done; not horn
blowing in the local press.
While maintaining an open
door policy both in his law office at
Locklear, Jacobs, Sutton & Hunt
in Pembroke and in his Raleigh
House Office, Sutton always takes
the time to listen to everyone. As
a Pembroke attorney, he
concentrates primarily on personal
injury cases involving auto
accidents. These type cases allow
Sutton to schedule court
appearances far in advance and
helps in allowing him to devote
appropriate time to legislative
duties.
A project that is high on Sutton' s
legislative agenda is to procure the
rest of the funding needed to
complete construction on the
Southeastern Fanners Market and
Agriculture Center located just
south of 1-95 on US-74. This
facility will be tremendous asset to
all of Robeson County and
Southeastern North Carolina.
In response to many requests,
Sutton plans to prepare future
public releases outlining the
activities of the House Etlifts
Committee/ in Juttdting the
RepresentAive^jWrAyWlHIiMtt USjmj
Republican
matter as it rePiPfT"T^ffr*- yOTr c _
old page and other females in
Raleigh. As a member of the
committee, Sutton felt it improper
to comment on the on-going
activities while deliberating the
future of Representative Miller.
Sutton says, "Now that a
recommendation hasbeen made to
the full House, I can and will
provide the public responses sought
by many of my constituents.
According to Sutton, it has not
been an oversight that he has
maintained a publicly low profile
since the last session closed in
July. It is his view that the public
gets tired ofbeing confronted with
politicians and political dribble
every time they watch television or
open the newspaper. Therefore,
Sutton feels he has respected his
constituents' privacy in that he ~~ u
has avoided that type of frivolous
activity.
Sutton says, "I am
looking forward to the upcoming
campaign so that he can candidly
discuss someof the legislation that
came out of the last Republicanled
long session; some good and
some bad. 1 have strong opinions
on certain educational bills and, in
particular, the concealed weapon
law. I look forward to ensuring
that everyone in the 85th House
District knows where I stand on all
issues."
Robert Deese filesJor reelection
to Districts Seat
on Board of Education
/ V '
Robert Deese of Route 3,
Maxton has filed for re-election to
the Board ofEducation ofthe Publ ic
Schools of Robeson County,
District 4 - District 4 includes
Prospect, Oxendine, Philadclphus,
and Burnt Swamp Precincts, as
well as portions of precincts 1 and
2 in Red Springs and a portion of
North Pembroke Precinct.;
Deese is a graduate of Pembroke
State University and is married to
the former Carolyn Bullardofthc
Prospect community. They reside
in the Prospect community with
their fourchildren. They are active
members of Prospect United
Methodist Church.
Deese released the following
statement: "When 1 filed fora seat
on the consolidated board of
education in 1992, I was very
concerned about the quality of
education in the county, the high
drop out rate, high teen pregnancy
ana adult illiteracy in the county.
During the past four years as a
member of the board of education,
I have been involved in some hard
decisions relative to improving the
quality of education in the county.
We have worked hard and
diligently'to lower the drop out
rate as well as improve the illiteracy
in our county. Progress, as always
has been slow but it has come.
Much improvement has been seen
in the past four year. Many of our
schools are now state accredited
and we have succeeded in reaching
our priorities to keep the State of
North Carolina from taking over
our school system. I am proud of
these accomplishments.
"It has not always been easy or
popular to be a part of the tough
decisions made by our board of
education. The end result, of
course, has been an overall
improvement in areas where we
showed weakness. I am privileged
to have been a part of the progress
made thus far.
*'I offer myself for re-election
with the same commitment I made
in the past. If re-elected, I will
continue to make decisions with
the best interests of students at
heart. There is no more important
reason for any'one to serve on the
board of education. My
commitment is to boys and girls
who attend the Public Schools of
Robeson County. I am hot ashamed
of my record as a member of the
board ofeducation and if re-elected, ,
I will continue to be active,
concerned and dedicated to
improving the quality of
education.
Deese is employed as Director
of Industrial Commercial and
Community Development at
Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corporation, Red
Springs. NC.
Shown left to right: Pembroke Town Manager McDuJfte Cammings;
Officer Sebastian Veneziano; Larry Roberts, Pembroke Chief of
Police; and Mitchell "Bosco" L'ocklear, Public Housing Drug
Elimination Coordinator.
Activities at Pembroke
Housing Authority
Effective January 1, 1996, the
Pembroke Hous^tg Authority and
Pembroke Polioe Department'
officially opened a police substation
in Strickland Heights. This
substatibn is part of the Drug
Elimination Grant received from
the United States Department of
Housing & Urban Development
(HUD).
' 'With the substation, we aim to
build safer neighborhoods,
completely absent of drugs and
drug-related crime. The
community policing program will
nurture better relationships between
the Authority, residents, and police.
Those programs identified for
inuncdiatc implementation include
additional police foot patrols and
registration of residents' vehicles
designed to detect possible drug
dealers' vehicles," says Mitchell
"Bosco" Locklcar, the Public
Housing Drug Elimination
Coordinator. I
According to Locklcar?Officcr
Sebastian Vcnc/.iano, of the
Pembroke Police Department, has
been designated as the Community
Resources Officer to be housed
within the substation. Officer
Vcnc/.iano has already received
valuable information while taking
surveys among the residents that
will provide uscfulj>revention tips.
The Drug Elimination Grant
funded programs for after school
activities designed to initiate drug
prevention measures with the
youth. According to Locklcar, these
* V.
programs are housed within the
Maynor Manor community..
building. Locklear asks that all
residents involve their youth in at"
least one program per week.
*****
- December was a busy month for
the Helping Hands 4-H Club,
located within the Pembroke.
Housing Authority. These youth,
along with the 4-H mascot,
participated in the annual
Christmas parade held here in
Pembroke, NC. The youth helped
distribute forty-four Christmas food
baskets through the Lumbcc
Regional Development
Association, Inc. basket drive.
Locklear would like to thank LRD A
for their community support within
the Authority's developments. For
their efforts, the youth participated
in a pizza party held at the Maynor
Manor building
*****
The Cultural Program, funded
through the Youth Sports Grant,
involved the youth by delivering
pics to the elderly, compliments of
Daniel's Bakery. "Traditionally,
Christmas represents a time of.
giving. However, our youth took
that a step farther this year by
visiting and helping the elderly, a
tradition passed down by our
ancestors," says Locklear.
Accordingly, several of the elderly
residents commented that the
children were a blessing sent from
God. Locklear would like to
thankDanicl's Bakery for their
generous contribution.
Oxendine-Mangum receives Presidendial appointment
* *' -? H t
Betty Oxcndirtc-Mangum, long
time educator with the State of
North Carolina, has been
appointedby President Bill Clinton
to serve on the Advisory
Committee of the John F. Kennedy
Performing Arts Center.
Washington, DC.
' \
I .
Oxendinc-Mangum has served
with the Department or Public
Instruction. Snc is the daughter of
the late Dr. Clifton Oxcdine, long
time professor of Pembroke State
University.
Oxendinc-Mangum said that
she was honored to be chosen for
the prestigious appointment, i
have always bccnpolitically active
and have remembered the advise
of my father relative to how we
should treat each other. I feel that
this appointment is a great
opportunity and it pleases me that
I am the only Native American
serving in this capacity."
Billie Br
files for
Register of
Deeds Oiffce
Lumbcrton, NC?Billie Britt.
former Robeson County
Commissioner and Chairman of
the Board, on January 2, 1996,
?filed for Register of Deeds in the
May Democratic Primary. Ms. Britt
cited her proven leadership and
demonstrated ability to work with
all people through out the county
and state.
Britt state: "I am well qualified
to work for the people of Robeson
and maintain the integrity of their
records entrusted to the Register t
ofDeeds' office. As Commissioner
I worked with other
Commissioners and staffto ensure
the safe keeping of peoples'
records by installing new
technology, computers etc. at the
Register of Deeds Office. "My
background and experiences give
me a view from business' and
govcmment'sperspectives, having
worked in private enterprise and
in County Governance."
Ms. Britt said. "The Office of
Register of Deeds is not about
politics, It exists for only one
purpose?service to the people. I
have spent much of my lifetime in
service to people. My work for the
.county, as your commissioner is
well-known, working long hours
to assist people and meet their
needs, and advocating for Robeson.
The people of Robeson have
perhaps had a better
Commissioner, but none ever loved'
this county more or worked harder
for Robeson County."
Ms. Britt resides at 2901
Meadow Road, Lumberton, with ,
her husband, William G. (BUI)
Hardin. She currenUy serves on
Pembroke State University's
Foundation Board as Chairman of
the Membership Development
Committee.
Service members
Honored By
Korean Business
Organization
Seoul (USFK), Republic of
Korea-Brien K. Chavis and .Ty
Hunt of Pembroke, NC was "among
450 US servicemembers who
attended the Korean-American
Friendship Association Year-end
and Thanksgiving Party at the
Shilla Hotel in downtown Seoul
on November 22. The party is an
annual event for servicemembers
stationed in remote areas
throughout the peninsula.
Chavis is a Specialist in the
Army. He works as a personnel
clerk and drover with Headquarters
Company, 2nd Infantry Division;
Hunt is a Senior Airman in the
Air Force. He works as a
communications operator with 363
Intelligence Squadron. "1 have
enjoyed my two-year tour. I'll miss
Korea when I go home in April,"
he said
The Korean-American
Friendship Association was
established in 1976 by the Korean
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry's member companies to
strcngthcnbonds of friendship and
show appreciation to US forces
personnel for their contributions
to peace and freedom in Korea.