Published e.ieh Thursd.tv m Pembroke. X.C.
Carolina iNDiAii vunt
"Ihiikling Communicative Hridges In A Tri-Racial Setting" I .pp ^ ^ ^
Volume 27 Number IS Thursday, April 13, 2000 , 2gc
Shelly Strickland is
named a Park Scholar
Shelly R. Strickland
Shelly R. Strickland has
received a Park Scholarship.
One of 60 students throughout
the United States to be named a
Park Scholar, Shelly was given the
award for academic achievement,
character, leadership and involvement
in the community.
The scholarship, valued at
$47,000 for NC residents and
$83,000 for out-of state students,
pays all expenses for four years of
undergraduate study at NC State,
including a stipend for each student
to purchase a personal computer
and peripherals. It is named in
honor of the late Roy H. Parks, a
1931 graduate of NC Slate.
A senior at Purnell Swett High
School, Shelly completed her high
school requirements in December,
1999 and was also enrolled from
August - December, 1999 at UNCPembroke,
taking Calculus 1. She
is currently a full-time student at
UNC-Pembroke.
Living in a rural, close-knit
community, Shelly says, "1 have
been fortunate to receive encouragement
and support from both
family and friends."
In her junior year, she traveled,
extensively throughout NortlK^
Carolina, as well as visiting
Maryland and New Mexico as an
ambassador for the Native
American Youth of North
Carolina, representing six different
tribes. Shelly says it was "a
thrilling and educational experience,
never to be forgotten."
She keeps busy singing at
churches, funerals, weddings and
public school functions, admitting
that "singing is an enjoyable
hobby." She also plays piano, currently
teaching piano to five students.
In the ninth grade, Shelly was
on the Superintendent's Honor
Roll; won second place at the
Region IV Science Fair; was a
nfember of NASA (Native
American Student Association); the
area Representative for NCNAYO
(NC Native American Youth
Organization); a cheerleader; class
officer on the Student Council: a
member of Who's Who Among
America's High School Students;
was an award winner in English 1
for the highest grade point average;
1997 Leadership Program participant
at the University of NC at
Pembroke: and served as a Pace
'or the NC House of
Representatives.
10th grade, she was attain
on the Superintendent s Honor
KOH; a Sophomore Student of
excellence; placed second at the
Kegion IV Science Fair: a member
?' VASA: a member of the
NCNAYO Executive Council; a
member ol the Living History
Club; a member of Who's Who
Among America's High School
Students; a Hugh O'Bryan Youth
Leadership participant; Class
Secretary of the Student Council;
and a tutor at Maynor Manor of the
Pembroke Housing Authority.
She was a Chief Marshal and on
the Superintendent's Honor Roll in
the eleventh grade; a member of
NASA; a NCNAYO Executive
NYNAYO"meTber kS "Miss
ixi na yu , a member of the
Living History Club; Class
Secretary of the Student Council- a
member of Who's Who Among
America s High School Students; a
Community In Schools tutor at
Prospect Elementary School;
National Honor Society Vice
President; won award for the highest
grade point average in Physics
and English III; a Moorehead
Scholarship nominee; won first
place at the Region IV Science
mur; and was the US Navy
Distinguished Service Award
In the twelfth grade she was the
National Honor Society Presidentclass
secretary of the Student
Council; treasurer of DECA- a
member of SADD (Students
Against Drunk Drivers); on the
Superintendent's Honor Roll- a
member of Who's Who Among
America s High School Students;
NASA Sergeant of Arms;
^Nrwivo"01 photographer
lor NCNAYO; a piano teacherand
a Student of Excellence Award
winner.
Shelly is an active and faithful
New Prospect
Methodist Church where she has
sung along with her mother and
father in a family trio for thirteen
years; is Assistant Sunday School
Ae!lC^,arid a soloist in the Young
Adult Choir. 6
She traveled to the 1998 United
nns!rrv\ Indian Tribal Youth
(VNTY> conference in
Washington, DC, serving as a representative
for the Lumbee Tribe
and providing entertainment at the
banquet. She was a Lumbee Youth
Representative at the Gathering of
Nations in Albuquerque, NM She
has been a Special Olympics
Volunteer for three years. She disTh^tf
gltt bags during
Thanksgiving at Pcmberton
Nursing Home. And was a
Communities In School tutor (CIS)
at Prospect Elementary School.
Shelly is the 18-year-old daugh<?/"
?f . Rpnald and Sandra
nc rpmfcrry roadCongratulations
Shelly!
Shown above, left to right, are: Commissioner Bricy Hammonds, HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo,
Chairman J. Garth Locklear, and Harold Lucas, Assistant Secretary
Pembroke Housing Authority Receives National
Recognition for Excellence in Housing
Pembroke, AC?On January 12,
2000 then Chairman J.. Garth Locklear
and Commissioners Bricy Hammonds
of the Pembroke Housing Authority
attended an awards ceremony through
an invitation from the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). The purpose of the ceremony
was to recognize those housing
authorities throughout the country
that have excelled in providing
decent, safe, and affordable housing
in the communities for which they
serve.
The U.S. Department of HUD has
recognized the Pembroke Housing
Authority for its performance each
year for the last six years. This distinction
has paved the way for the Authority
to exercise greater flexibility in
operating the five scattered sites with
respect to management and modernization
policies.
"This is an historic day for public
housing. We've gathered here to celebrate
your accomplishments. You
represent the best in public housing.
Your provide decent, safe, and sanitary
housing for your residents. You
are a good neighbor to the rest of the
community. You are the nation's finest.
and you should be proud." remarked
Secretary Andrew Cuomo, of
the U.S. Department of HUD. "1 am
proud to report that the success story
of public housing is finally being
heard."
"We are extremely proud to be invited
to this national awards ceremony
by Secretary Cuomo," replied Chairman
Locklear. "Together, we have
made a commitment of being the best
at what we do. Today we see that we
have been recognized for achieving
that goal. We should be proud."
Commissioner Hammonds remarked.
"It is good to know that the
national leaders of our industry now in
charge of HUD once worked in some
way with public housing. I was glad to
leam that."
First Resident Appointed to
Serve as Commissioner
Commissioner Bricy Hammonds is
the first ever resident of the Pembroke
Housing Authority to simultaneously
receive housing assistance from the
agency and serve on its' five member
board of commissioners. Despite earlier
contradictions with state law, his
appointment is a direct result of the
Quality and Housing Work Responsibility
Act of 1998. Through this legislation,
most of all housing authorities
must appoint at least one resident to
serve as a Commissioner, just like any
other appointment.
Commissioner Hammondshas been
a resident of the Authority since October
1979. Since that time he has lived
in both Strickland Heights and Dial
Terrace. Commissioner Hammonds is
marriedtoThelmaHammonds. "Commissioner
Hammonds will bring to the
forefront of every issue the livelihood
of our residents," remarked Lemark
Harris, Executive Director. "We are
excited about his appointment and
look forward to the insight and wisdom
he can bring to our discussions."
Election of New Officers
Each year the Authority elects
members of its Board ofCommissioners
to sere in the positions of Chairperson
and Vice-Chairperson. For the first
fiscal year beginning January 1,2000.
Commissioner Olivia Revels was
elected unanimously by her fellow
commissioners to serve as the
Authority's Chairperson. Chairperson
Revels was recently reappointed by
the Honorable Milton R. Hunt, Mayor,
Town of Pembroke, to another five
year term. Revels is co-owner of Revels'
Funeral Home in Pembroke and
Lumbcrton.
Betters and Enhancements
through Modernization Programs
Beginning in 1993, the Authority
began to receive modernization funds
to improve the condition of its 243
dwelling units. For years these units
had undergone less than the minimum
maintenance required keeping up with
the competitive private market. This in
effect created laree numbers of vacancies
due to the inability to attract suitable
residents.
Today Pembroke Housing Authority
is the only authority in the county
to have central heating and air conditioning
in all of its units. This amenity
has proven to be a great help with the
hot, humid summers experienced recently.
"We have been able to offer
our residents relief from the dreadful
heat that perish many elderly and disabled,"
stated Lemark Harris. Executive
Director. "Although we are not
situated in those areas most sensitive
to hot summers such as Chicago or
New York, we realized that our population
of residents could not find comfort
and safety in their homes from the
heat, despite astronomical monthly
electric bills. We set out to find a
solution to this problem. We think
with the modern HVAC systems our
resident will be safe from the heat and
save money each month when they
pay their electric bills."
The Authority will begin to install
new windows this year. This upgrade
will provide another energy efficient
upgrade with a greater degree of comfort
and security. The U.S. Department
of HUD's Comprehensive Improvement
Assistance Program will
provide these funds. For FFY99, the
Authority received approximately
S495.000; about half ofwhat it will take
to complete the replace and upgrade
all of the windows. Nonetheless, the
Authority has already pledged estimated
funds of $450,00 from the FFY
2000 CIAP to complete this project.
"We are steadily marking off items
that have been ignored for too long.
Continued Page 5
Haliwa Saponi
to Sponsor
35th Annual
Pow Wow
Hollister, C - The Hali wa-Saponi
Indian Tribe ofHollister.NC will sponsor
its SS* annual Pow Wow on April
14-16, 2000 in Bethlehem (Near
Hollister). The tribe, in celebration of
receiving state recognition from the
sate of North Carolina in April 1965,
sponsors the Pow Wow. The Pow
Wow is also sponsored in order to
showcase the tribe's culture and community.
The event is open to the
public. The tribe will honor elderly
Indian Women and Princesses. Drummers
and dancers are expected from
the following tribes: Chickahominy,
Piscataway, Navajo, Sioux, Blackfeet,
Lumbee. Meherrin, Coharie,
Rappahannock, Seminole, Tuscarora,
Oneida, Commanche, Kiowa, Catawba,
Nanticoke, Cheyenne, Mandan,
Pequot, Mohawk, Maliseet, Chippewa,
Crow, and Onondaga to name a few.
These dancers will also compete for
nearly 58,000.00 in prize money in the
categories ofj ingle dress, fancy, traditional,
and grass dance.
Over 25 traders/vendors will sell
some of the finest American Indian
crafts found in America. Items to be
sold include: baskets, pottery, turquoise
jewelry, beadwork, dream
catchers, blankets, and moccasins.
Attendees will be able to purchase
American Indian foods such as tacos,
fty bread, okra and squash. Other
items to be sold as well such as hot
dogs, chicken and hamburgers.
Haliwa-Saponi craft persons will
demonstrate basketry, carving,
beadwork, pottery, and regalia making.
Admission to the Pow Wow is 54.00
(ages 7-61) and 53.00 (ages 62 and
over). Children6yearsoldand younger
are admitted free. Gates will open on
Friday, April 14,at5:00PM; Saturday
at 10:00 AM and Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Little Ms
Robeson
Megan Locklear was crowned
Utile Ms. Robeson County on April
3, 2000. She is the eight year old
daughter of Alex andDufrena Locklear
of Pembroke.
Rockingham District Lay Rally 2000 Presents Awards to Gary Wayne
Locklear, Robby Lowry, Prospect and Pleasant Grove Churches
(... A /<? A/ J' ... .. ...
i// r\%?u /\/.\L'numtf
This year a lot os us missed being at
Prospect UM Church, where he had
bene meeting every year since attendance
at he annual Rockingham District
Lay Rally got too large forall three
counties to meet together. However, a
number of us Robeson County Methodists
made the trip to I lamlct on Sunday
afternoon, March 26.
(Last time I made a mistake on the
date in my column. This time I'm going
by the program sheet to be sure I have
this date right!)
Something happened that I had not
expected. Once gain. Prospect Church
had the most members present, in spite
of the distance they had to travel this
year! And Pleasant Grove hadthe most
present from a small church.
We met in Richmond Community
College's new Cole Auditorium, spacious
enough for the 550 or so participants
who attended from Richmond.
Scotland and Robeson. Although we>
Robesonians were used to Harold
Jacobs leading the hymn sin gas the
group gathered, song leader Ronnie
Wallace ol Kockingham chose some
very meaningful songs. "He Touched
Me" is the one that always touches
ME, down deep, whether I sing it by
mysel for with a group. Pianist was Jack
Swink.
Later in the program the Prospect
Community Men. with Harold Jacobs
at the piano, presented several powerful
songs. TheGalilee Singers, two men
and two women representing one of
the Black United Methodist churches
in Scotland County, also blessed all of
us listeners. There was spontaneous
applause from the tri-racial participants
for both singing groups!
Larry Chandler, pastor of Pleasant
Grove, shared what the scholarship
offering means to new pastors who are
stills students as they serve one or
more churches.
This year Lee Wallace of
Rockingham replaced Richmond Community
College Vice President and
Pembroke native, Jim Chavis. as
Rockingham District Lay Leader. Although
Lee was in charge of this year's
program. Jim was present in what
seemed to me to be a kind of elder
brother/host role. The attractive new
Cole Auditorium will surely prove an
asset to the Richmond Community
College campus. President of the
Rockingham District United Methodist
Men. Allyn McLean, ofGalilee UM
Church, led the assembled group in the
first prayer. At the end of the program
Gary Locklear, Sandy Plains, offered
the benediction.
Earline Waddell. president of the
Rockingham District united Methodist
Women, introduced the rally
speaker, Barbara Tripp. Barbara has
been serving as NC Conference Recovery
Coordinator. With slides and
touching stories, she shared with us
what it's been like for the flood victims
of Hurricane Floyd, and how various
volunteers, along with aid from
churches in other parts of the conference,
have helped to alleviate the heartaches
for those who lost everything
but their lives.
Honorees
Each year United Methodist high
school students selected by their
churches are honored for three accomplishments-church
participation, academic
achievement, and helping others
in their community. Among the
fifteen nominees were: Hall Sigmon
and Christine Bell of Chestnut Street
UMC and Tony Lowry, Elizabeth and
Erickson Jacobs of Sandy Plains. Hall
is the son of Dennis and Beth Sigmon,
who were active at First Methodist
Church when they lived in Pembroke.
Dennis Sigmon still works in Pembroke,
teaching in the English Department at
UNCP. His wife, Beth, teachesat Robeson
Community College. Sharon Bell,
Christine's mother, teaches in the UNCP
Business Department.
Christine Bell and Elizabeth Jacobs
were among six students who received
special recognition from the district.
The Rev. Denny Wise, District Director
of Higher Education, presented the
awards. Elizabeth's parents are Bruce
and Brenda Jacobs.
Gary Wayne Locklear
Once again, a member of one of the
Indian United Methodist Churches in
this arc a (Sandy Plains this time) was
chosen as Rockingham District Lay
Person ofthe Year. Besides being very
active in his own church. Gary has
taken part in work teams in Russia and
Bolivia. Forty-some years ago. when I
was working with Sandy Plains and
five other churches, I got to know
Gary's parents, brothers and sisters.
All of us are proud of the many contributions
he has made!
Robby Lowry
Robby Lowry also received special
recognition at the rally, for his work
with is home church. Pleasant Grove
UMC, as rocking ham District Lay
Leader and then, for the past four years,
as Lay Leader ofthe entire NC Conference.
He will also be one of the NC Conference
representatives at General
Conference in May. (Every four years
persons elected to represent United
Methodist churches from around the
world meet to make decisions affecting
the entire church for the following four
years.)
I will always have fond memories of
visiting at the home of "Mr. Harvey
(Sr.)" and "Miss Myrtle" when their
four boys were young. And I am proud
of the unique contributions each one
of those "boys" has made as an adult.
I could not help shedding some tears
when both Gary's and Robby's names
were announced. I've seen a lot of
good things happen since coming to
Pembroke in 1956!
Other Program Participants
Others on the program were
Chevonne Wallace of East
Rockingham UMC, the Rev. Robert
Flynn, District Mission Coordinator,
and the Rev. J. Edward Morrison,
Rockingham District Superintendent.
Robeson County
During refreshments after the program,
Earline Waddell, frofa
Rockingham, told me that her very first
job as a young woman was with the
Robeson County extension service.
One person she remembers fondly is
Helen Sampson. It was interesting to
me that Earline left Robeson County in
September of 1956, the very SAMfe
month I arrived. 43 and a half years
later, the two of us finally met!