ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. PUBLISHED EACH THItrsdAY Ser-ials Department GOOD PLACE TO LIVE DhapeJ .i 11, ,,u d‘r2\ THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE Dedicated to the best in all of us ♦ t VOLUME 5JWMBER 30 i PubItcQfion No. 978360 PEMBROKE, NC THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1977 I 15t PER COPY I s ALLEGED BEATING OF OXENDINE MAN BY TROOPERS BEING INVESTIGATED BY F.B.I. PEMBROKE-The FBI is quietly investigating the possibility that O'Neal Oxendine's civil rights were violated in the celebrated case whereby state troopers T.J, Evelyn and Hubert Covington were accused of brutality in arresting him for a number of traffic violations, including Driving Under the Influence, No Operator’s License, and Resisting Arrest. According to a spokesman of the FBI, the investigative agency is looking into the case because of a complaint lodged with ihem that questions the arrest procedure of Evelyn and Covington. Small Towns The case received wide attention because McDuffie Cummings, the town manager of Pembroke, witnessed the arrest and affirmed that the troopers used undue force to restrain Oxendine. The arrest resulted in 31 stitches being inflicted on Oxendine’s head. Cummings, in a letter to John Jenkins, the head of the N.C. State Patrol, charged the troopers with callous brutality and said further that the troopers precipitated the violence. Charles G. McLean, local district court judge, ruled in favor of the troopers saying that, in his opinion, they did not use undue Set To Take force. A cynic, who observed the trial noted that the highway patrol had the license to inflict up to 31 stitches on anyone’s head for any violation. Oxendine appealed McLean's verdict to ' superior court. A date has not yet been .^et for the trial. District Attorney Joe Freeman Britt would not allow a warrant to be taken out against the two troopers because, as he put it. “no warrants can be taken out against a law enforcement officer until my office has conducted an investigation." Britt has not. to date, released any findings that his office might have found in an investigation. Some citizens question whether Britt has conducted an investigation. The highway, patrol, in response to Cummings’ letter, have conducted an internal investigation and absolved themselves of blame in the incident. Jenkins, in a letter to Cummings, went even further and noted that he had uncovered no evidence of discrimination within the ranks of the highway patrol in North Carolina. The FBI has given no indication when their investigation will be completed. On U.S. Over EDA Funds Believe it or not but eight small towns m southeastern Nonh Carolina, including Pembroke, are poised to take on the United Slates Government in the matter of the allocation of public works monies being dispensed by EDA (the Economic Development Agency). Many of the smaller towns, including Pembroke, were left out in the cold when the monies were allocated recently. Yesterday they filed a suit in federal court asking to be included in the distribution of the monies. They also will ask for a temporary injunction to prevent distribution of the Job funds in Cumberland, Robeson, Columbus and New Hanover counties, until a ruling is made on allocations for the eight communities. The suit charges that communities with I970 populations of less than 2,500 were excluded from consideration for the funds despite a mandate from Congress to consider all communities. Led by Hope Mills in Cumberland County, towns joining in the suit are Chadboum and Tabor City in Columbus County; Stedman in Cumberland County; Si. Pauls. Pembroke and maxion in Robeson County; and Carolina Beach in New Hanover County. A hearing will have to be held within lO days to determine if a federal judge will grant the injunction to prevent distribution of the job funds. Officials of small towns throughout the nation reportedly have been upset over the distribution by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the special job funds since 7th District Rep. Charles Rose of Fayetteville discovered last month they lad not been considered for funding. According to Renny W. Deese, an attorney assistingRose in preparation of the suit, other towns across the nation are preparing similar suits. The towns are claiming the EDA erred in calculation of the grants. It was Rose’s policy group on computers that first uncovered the questionable distribution of the funds. Earlier Rose indicated that hearings may be held by the House Public Works Committee into how the money was distributed. The towns are claiming that the EDA inserted zeros when it could not find employment information on a community, thus knocking it out of consideration for the funds, EDA officials have admitted they made a conscious choice to use U.S, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and not local or state employment agency information. Named as defendants in the case will be Secretary of Commerce Juanita Kreps, Secretary of Treasury W. Michael Blumenthal and several EDA officials including Robert Hall, who heads the agency. “We are claiming that the EDA did not follow the mandate of Congress," Deese said. He said local and state agencies had the population and employment information the EDA needed, and Congress said the EDA had to use all data available, regardless of the size of the community. Deese emphasized that the towns are seeking the funds available in the program, and are not trying to stop the program in the three counties. Rose, who urged the communities to sue in an effort to receive the job funds, said he is disappointed the towns have been forced to take the matter to the courts. “I sincerely regret that this result has been necessary. 1 was very hopeful that we could have solved their problems through negotiating with the EDA but this proved impossible,’’ Rose said. “I believe the communities are taking the ^ right action and I will certainly cooperate \ with them in any way I can,’’ he added. Earlier, Rose said he received charges that unident ifiied congressmen brought pressure on the EDA to release fund authorizations based on the incomplete or inaccurate data in order to impress voters with the distribution of the grants prior to a primary election. PSU’S GENE WARREN WINS I2TH NATIONAL SPORTS BROCHURE AWARD District 29, which includes 11 universities and colleges in North Carolina and Virginia. Pembroke State University’s 1977 spring .sports brochure, written and edited by Gene Warren, the school’s public information director, has won fourth place nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate athletics brochure competition. This is the 12th national sports brochure award that Warren has won in his nine years at PSU. Warren's brochure was the only one in North Carolina so honored. Other brochures honored were from schools inLouisiana, Arkansas, West Virginia, Ohio and Nebraska. A native of Wilmington and a graduate of both UNC-Wilmington and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Warren has served for the last eight years as publicity chairman of NAIA A former sports writer for 13 1/2 years with the Greensboro Dally News, Warren has won two national writing awards and a number of state awards. He is a former president of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Warren has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Biblical Recorder, North Carolina Baptist weekly publication. He also serves as a deacon and Sunday School department director of First Baptist Church in Lumberton. He is married to the former Sharon Newnam of Greensboro. They have two son: Gene, Jr. a student at PSU and Reed, vice president of the student body at East Carolina University. ^ I Gene Warren Harper’s Page Presented To ‘Strike at the Wind!’ 9 ^ Dj^Frir‘^r''Krn‘hM'^h7s‘tTfe*p”m''K^^^ Km Maynor, Executive Director of Lumbee Regional r. Eric C. Krohne, haiHina an original page, given by Dr. Krohne to “Strike at the Wind!’’ ^velopment A^iatiom ey p^gg shows wood engravings of Lumbee folk hero, Henry from an 1872'Har^r s . J, ju. wind!” which shows near Pembroke, is the story of the Lumbee Berry Lowrie and his gang. Strike at me v* mu Indians and Lowrie. Melton Lowry Has Special Ties With Henry Berry Lowrie Melton Lowry has a challenging role in the outdoor drama, “Strike at me V/ind!’’ Not only does the Pembroke native portray the most controversial outlaw in North Carolina’s history, but the outlaw is also Lowry’s ancestor. The 26 year-old Lumbee Indian, a professional journeyman pipefitter, attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a pre-engineering student on scholarship. Each Wednesday through Saturday however, he brings to life the saga of Lumbee folk hero, Henry Berry Lowrie. Called outlaw by some and hero by others, the Lumbee Robin Hood figure roamed this large rural county in Southeastern North Carolina from 1864-1874. Seeking revenge for the murders of his father and brother by the Confederacy. Lowrie and his tri-racial band held Robeson County in a grip of terror. Never brought to trial, the swamp outlaw disappeared with a bounty of $30,000 dollars on his head never to be seen again. His actions however, had a profound effect on state politicians, bringing the vote to all citizens of North Carolina. His story and the story of the Lumbee Indians are told near Pembroke in Randolph Umberger’s outdoor drama, "Strike at the Wind!" Chosen from auditions of local and state talent, the young Indian man even physically resembles his famed ancestor right down to the heavy dark beard. The main difference is that the modem day outlaw does not carry the I(X) pounds of weaponry that his predecessor reputedly carried over a century ago. "I first became fascinated with the tale of Henry Berry Lowrie,” said Melton, "when my grandfather Neil brought a home supposed to have been built by the outlaws. When I was small, I’d find coins under the house and my grandfather said it was money dropped by the outlaws when they were counting it.” Henry Berry Lowrie was married to Rhoda Strong, "the prettiest girl in Pembroke.” Hope St. Pierre is returning for her second season as the wife of the swamp outlaw. Also a Pembroke native, she is 26 years old. According to Melton, the reason for the difference in name spelling between “Lowrie” and "Lowry” is that immediately after the outlaw’s reign of robberies, people were ostracized Continued on Page 4 "Strike at the Wind!” has received an original page from the Mar. 30. 1872 Harper’s Magazine which features the characters Henry Berry Lowrie and his gang. The • well-preserved page was donated by Dr. Eric Krohne of Jacksonville, N.C. Dr. Krohne and his wife Pam are antique -i collectors and enjoy themes which deal .• with North Carolina history. They found the page, which contains wood engravings done by a Harper’s reporter in 1872, with a dealer several years ago. Dr. Krohne said there were probably other pages in circulation from the article but they were most valuable in North Carolina, where the action took place. Dr. Krohne, a doctor in general psychotherapy, hypnosis, marriage, family and sexual counseling, teamed about “Strike at the Wind!” through a television advertisement. When he found out the drama wa.s the story of Lowrie and the Lumbee Indians, he wanted to donate the page to the drama. The Harper's page will be preserved by the North Carolina Dept, of Archives and History in Raleigh. Then "Strike at the Wind!” is going to donate the mounted page to the Native American Resource Center and Museum to be located in the renovated Old Main building on the campus of Pembroke State University. people and places and things REP. ROSE’S MOBILE SCHEDULE Congressman Charlie Rose, D-NC. announced the Seventh Congressional District Mobil Office schedule for August 1977. Rip Collins, Congressman Rose’s administrative assistant and representative in the district, announced that the mobile office will be parked as close as possible to each post office. Robeson County August 13, Saturday: Lumberton, Biggs Park Shopping Center 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. August 17, Wednesday; Pembroke Post Office, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. August 18, Thursday: Rowland Post Office. lOa.m. to 3 p.m. August 26, Friday: Lumberton, Biggs Park Shopping Center 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cumberland County August 19, Friday: Hope Mills Post Office, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hoke County August 12, Friday: Raeford Post Office, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. August 25, Thursday: i.m. to 3 p.m. Raeford Post Office, FmHA STUDIES DROUGHT IMPACT Crop and livestock conditions in drought stricken areas of North Carolina are presently being reviewed by members of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Boards to determine disaster assistance needs of area farmers. The Farmers Home Administration, USDA’s credit agency, will assist in determining counties in the state where serious crop and livestock losses are occurring because of the prolonged dry weather, according to James T. Johnson, FmHA State Director. Johnson stated that FmHA will make its Emergency loan program available immediately in counties that are designated natural disaster areas by the Secretary of Agriculture, or otherwise declared eligible for the program. Designations are considered when , the Secretary of Agriculture receives requests from the Governor of North Carolina. The program will make low interest loans available to help cover eligible farmers’ losses and other parts of the program will allow loans for annual production expenses and to make adjustments that are needed to increase the soundness or efficiency of the operation. Interest rates on loans for actual losses are five per cent. Other parts of the emergency loan program carry a market rate of interest, which is presently set at eight per cent. Loans to cover actual losses are scheduled for repayment consistent with the ability of the farmer to pay and available security, up to seven years. Other parts Y)f the loan are similarly scheduled but can carry terms up to forty years, if needed. Applicants may be either individual farmers. fanning partnerships or corporations primarily engaged in farming. All applicants must show that they cannot obtain the needed credit from private sources. Among other requirements, applicants must operate in a county declared a major or natural disaster and plan to continue farming. Production losses must be significant and not compensated by insurance or otherwise, and physical losses must likewise be uncompensated losses. Johnson said that further information concerning the Emergency loan program and other loans available can be obtained at local Farmers Home Administration county offices which are listed under U.S. Government (Agriculture) in. local telephone directories. SPECIAL BULLETIN A U.S. District Court judge Wednesday agreed to stop, until a hearing next month, distribution of federal public works job funds in four Southeastern North Carlina counties. Judge John Larkins of Trenton issued the temporary restraining order against the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which will prevent the distribution of the funds in Cumberland. Robeson, Columbus and New Hanover counties until a hearing set for Aug. 1, according to lawyer Robert Pope. The logo pictured will be considered for adoption at the quarterly Boardof Directors meeting of the Robeson County Church and Community Center, Inc. The meeting will be held Thursday, July 28. at 5 p.m. at the Chestnut Street United Methodist Church. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Joseph Bethea, formerly professor of Black Studies at Duke Divinity School and now District Superintendent of Rockingham District of the United Methodist Church. TWINS ARRIVE Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Locklear of the Prospect Community announce the birth of a daughter, Mary Beth, and a son, Matthew Brock, on Wednesday, July 6th. at Southeastern General Hosptial. Lumberton. Mrs. Locklear is the former Roxann Oxendine, daughter of the late Leroy Oxendine and Gertrude Oxendine Locklear. Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs, Lewis Locklear of the Prospect Community. LREMC ACCELERATES COLLECTION PROCEDURES RED SPRINGS. N.C.-Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation announced today that the cooperative will accelerate its collection procedures effective immediately. According to general manager Deri J. Hison, "the number of members who do not pay their electric bills within ten days after receipt of the bill is increasing monthly. Delinquent accounts amounted to over $280.0{K3 in June.” Hinson continued by saying that the accelerated program will hopefully reduce the number of delinquent accounts, "and we want to encourage each member to pay their electric service bill within the ten days allowed.” Those who do not, will be subject to be disconnected without further notice. "Members who fail to pay their bill when received." he said, "regardless of the reason almost always find it doubly difficult to pay for the electrical service if the service is extended another month." "In the past,” he continued, ".some members were allowed more than the ten days before disconnection, but this was due in part to a lack of manpower necessary to keep the cooperative's cut-off list up-to-date. Because of this, we are going to use construction and maintenance employees until the list is at a manageable level.” “Members who pay their bills on time will not be effected by the accelerated collection procedure. Members with extreme hardships will be worked with on an individual basis,” he said. LREMC TO RECEIVE REFUND FROM CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO. RED SPRINGS. N.C.-Lumbee River Electric Membership Corp. manager Deri J. Hinson stated today that “supposedly LREMC wilt receive a sizeable refund from Carolina Power and Light Co. on a wholesale rate settlement which dates back to January. 1975, but we have received no official word from the Federal Power Commission concerning a refund on the CP&L overcharge.” When CP&L was allowed to put the wholesale increase into effect in January, 1975, LREMC did not increase its retail rates enough! to compensate for ihe increased costs, he said. Therefore, when a refund is made by CP&L, it will have to be used to offset an operating deficit for the year 1975.

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