Serials Departr;ent
Univ. .:C-3ha-:eI Mill
PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY ^ ^
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ROBESON COUNTY, N.C.
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
...A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
Dediiated to the best in all ol us
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 31
Publication No. 9763S0
PEMBROKE, NC
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1977
t
154 PER COPY ♦
♦
Discontent With
Low Rent Housing
at Pembroke
Council Meeting
The Pembroke Town Council met in regular session Monday night and heard some
citizens express dissatisfaction with public housing in Pembroke.
Sim Oxendine, a member of the Robeson County Board of Education, and a local
businessman, articulated some ofrthe discontent of the Pembroke Townspeople.
Said Oxendine, ‘ ‘We are here to ask you (the council) to terminate ail further planned
public housing in Pembroke.” Oxendine presented a petition supposedly signed by a
number of Pembroke citizens. The petition said that the town of Pembroke had a
sufficient number of public housing units. Oxendine said that the additional cost of
public housing outweighed the social and economic benefits. He also said that the
town’s water capacity was taxed by providing service to the public housing units and
that the surrounding towns should provide some of the public housing needs in
Pembroke.
A number of citizens appeared with Oxendine and another meeting of citizens
concerned ^ut theproliferationof housing units in Pembroke plan to meet tonight at
7:30 p.m. at Pembroke’s town hall to further develop their plans of opposition.
Pembroke now has 141 units of low rent housing with another 100 units (and a day
care center) planned for the immediate future.
Oxendine articulated many of the grievances of the townspeople, including the one
that the liability of low rent housing offsets any revenues generated.
A number of townspeople have expressed dissatisfaction with low rent housing. One
major complaint is that, according to the dissidents, low rent housing devalues property
and has caused discipline problems in the local schools by the influx of people
occupying public housing, with the increasing number of students in the educational
Clinton Thomas is executive director of the Pembroke Housing Authority and
Redevelopment Authority. Thomas says that there is a real need for low rent housing
and that the question is how much public housing is enough? Thomas noted following
Monday night’s meeting that the planned additional 100 units would probably serve the
immediate needs of Pembroke for a number of years. He also noted that plans for
development of the additional 100 units have been published in area newspapers for two
years.
The petitioners against further low rent housing have secured the services of a local
attorney, Donald Bullard, and plan to present their petition directly to the town council
in hopes that the governing body for Pembroke will declare a moratorium against
further low rent housing. Oxendine claimed that, when canvassing was completed,
more than 90% of the registered voters within the city limits of Pembroke would have
signed the petition against further low rent housing,
Other items on the agenda
The council discussed two appraisals for a two acre land tract adjoining the Marvin
Lowry Recreation Park. The town has been attempting to purchase the properly from
the Lowry family that provided the land for the park and had discussed previously going
to court in an attempt to condemn the land. The town received two appraisals: one
called for $4000 an acre and the other put a price of $7600 on the tract of land.
The council, after considerable debate, decided to write Mr. Ronald Lowry, who
represents the family, and send him copies of both appraisals and ask him to consider
the low bid.
The council also tabled action on securing the services of consulting engineers for the
town and the contract of the town planner.
The council also accepted S. Preston Douglas as the auditor for the town. The auditing
firni had already done more than half % year’s auditing in the investigation of the
missing funds that have shown up so far in the books of the town. Former town clerk,
Maybelle Elk, has been indicted in the matter.
North Carolina Cable T.V. Co., Inc. also presented their proposal to provide cable
service for Pembroke. The council moved to advertise their rates and proposal and
called for a public hearing.
The town manager, McDuffie Cummings, noted that the Pine Street improvement was
complete, including curbing and guttering. Cummings noted that the town had spent
more than $60,000 in the Pine Street improvement and resurfacing a number of other
streets.
Program
Offers Help
in Paying
Fuel Bills
Qualified families may receive
assistance in paying overdue
fuel and utility bills under a
program initiated here this week.
The Special Crisis Intervention
Program recently authorized by
congress will provide payment of
up to $250 on behalf of
low-income families to retire
such obligations, providing the
bills were incurred between
October 1, 1976 and April 30,
1977. Eligible are those
households which have suffered
a cutoff of their fuel or energy
supply, or which are threatened
with cutoff of fuel or energy
supply due to inability to meet
their obligations. One
requirement is that the energy
must have been used for heating
purposes.
An additional category of
eligible households are those
headed by persons 60 or over
who can provide proof of dire
financial need resulting from the
large fuel bills of last winter.
Such persons will receive a credit
not in excess of $100 towards the
purchase of fuel or other forms of
energy to be used for heating
during the coming winter. Direct
payments wilt be made to fueld
dealers and utility companies for
those who are eligible.
the program is being
administered by Four-County
Community Services, Inc., with
$72,077 allocated for Robeson
County, Residents who think
they are eligible should contact
one of the following offices:
Maxton Neighborhood Center,
Fourth 'Street, Maxton, N.C.
(844-3489); Red Springs
Neighborhood Center, Brown
Avenue, Red Springs, N.C.
(843-5092); Rex-Rennert
Neighborhood Center, State
Rural Road 1752, Shannon, N.C.
(843-5715); Lumberton
Neighborhood Center, Parkview
Activity Center, Inman Street.
Lumberton. N.C. (738-2747);
Fairmont Neighborhood Center, ■
816 Cole Street. Fairmont, N.C.
(628-7464).
The program is of short
duration, with applications being
accepted only through August
31. 1977. Applicants will need
proof of income and unpaid
heating bills for the month of
October 1976 through April
1977.
Those 60 and over should have
proof of heating bills paid
between October and April and
evidence of financial hardships.
Strike at the Wind! Season Ends August 13
Ruth Woods
Receives National
Committee
Appointment
people
ces
and things
Ms. Ruth Dial Woods of Pembroke has
recently been appointed to serve as a
member of the Special Committee on
Minority Presence of the Girl Scouts of the
United States of America.
The responsibilities of the Special
Committee on Minority Presence are to
establish goals and develop work plans to
meet those goals; recommend national
objectives and goals to the Board through
the Evaluation and Long-Range Planning
Committee; plan and evaluate the over-all
work and work methods of the committee,
and develop a system of planning and
evaluating progress toward the realization
of committee objectives. The Committee
works collaboratively on issues or
problems and creates channels of
information for better communications.
Other members of the Special Committee
on Minority Presence are: Elizabeth
Duncan Koontz, Chaiq>erson; Barbara A.
Clifford. Bedford, Massachusetts; Ada
Deer Oregon, Wisconsin; Henry Lopez,
Cambridge, Massachusettes; Olga M.
Madar, Detroit, Michigan; Ruby G.
Martin, Columbia, Maryland; Carolyn
Moore, Waco, Texas; Helen L. Peterson,
Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Woods is currently serving as
Southern Area Vice President of the North
Carolina Federation of Business and
Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. and is a
member of the Planning Committee for the
1978 Women’s Assembly of the Board of
Global Ministries of the Unied Methodist
Church. She was a member of the N.C.
State Coordinating Committee for
International Women’s Year and was
recently elected Vice-Chairperson of the
N.C. delegation to the National IWY
Conference in Houston, Texas in
November.
FHA Emergency
Loans Available
to Farmers
The Farmers Home Administration is now
taking emergency loan applications in
Robeson County, FmHA County
Supervisor, William J. Long, said today.
The county has been designated as an
emergency loan area by the Inter-agency
Drought Emergency Coordinating
Committee.
Mr. Long said the recent drought has
caused extensive damage to crop and
livestock operations.
Applications for assistant in the disaster
stricken counties will be accepted by
Farmers Home until September 30. 1977,
for physical and production losses.
Farm, ranch, or aquaculture operators in
the designated counties which have
suffered losses may be eligible for Farmers
Home Administration emergency loans to
cover actual physical or production losses.
Other loans under the emergency program
can be made for annual operating expenses
or to make major adjustments in the
operation.
FmHA county offices are making loans to
restore farm, ranch, or aquaculture
operations, or to replace farm equipment
facilities, and buildings (including homes)
lost through the disaster.
Funds may be used to buy feed, seed,
fertilizer, livestock, or to meet interest and
depreciation payments on current real
estate and chattle debts. ‘‘A farmer can use
the money for most essential operations and
living costs,” Long said.
To be eligible for a loan, an applicant must
have suffered losses from the disaster and
be unable to get credit from other sources.
Loans covering actual losses are repayable
in their entirety at an interest rate of five
percent. The interest rate for short-term
loans for farm operating puiposes is 8
percent.
Persons desiring further information may
visit the Farmers Home Administration
office located at 400 East Second Street,
Lumberton, N.C. or by calling 739-4331.
Benefits of the program are made
available without regard to race, creed,
color, marital status or national origin.
LOCAL MINISTER ATTENDS
PASTOR’S SCHOOL
Rev, C.M. Cummings of Pembroke, NC
attended the first annual Pastor’s School
at Campbell College.’ This one week school
that places an emphasis on the
proclamation of the Christian faith, is an
opportunity for ministers to continue their
professional education. The school met
July 25-29.
CROP CONTESTS TO BE HELD
Officers of the Robeson County Crop
Promotion Association have again
announced the annual awards contests for
high yields and quality. Recognition will be
given to high yields in soybeans, com and
cotton, and tor quality in tobacco as
indicated by entries in the county fair.
Winners in each category will receive a
trophy and yields above a certain level will
be given plaques and/or certificares. Some
special awards will be The Distinguished
Service to Agriculture Award, The C.E.
McLaurin Tobacco Award, and The
Outstanding Service to Horticulture
Award. Other awards will be distributed as
deemed appropriate by the Crop Promotion
Association directors.
Although yields will be low, farmers are
encouraged to enter the various contests as
other farmers will likely pot have any better
yields. Trophies and plaques will go to the
highest yields entered
Now is the time to pick up one pound
samples of various grades of tobacco to
enter in the county fair. Once your tobacco
is sold and gone, it is impossible to enter it.
Tobacco should be placed in a clean, dry,
dark place in order to preserve its quality.
Farmers interested in entering or needing
more information about the contests should
contact the county agents office or
members and directors of the Crop
Promotion Association.
JOB HELP AVAILABLE
TO N.C. INDUSTRIES
“S’Tttnri? AT TMF WIND’” is an outdoor drama about the Lumbee Indians and their outlaw leader, Henry
Berrv I^wrie. after the CivU War. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at the Lakeside
Pembroke on H«y. 74. “S.rike a, .he Wmd!” .h™„gb Augua, .3 and .Icketa are
S3.50 for adults and $1.75 for children for general seating. Call (919)521-2401.
RALEIGH-A new $1 million program to
help industries in North Carolina create
new jobs was announced this week by
D.M. (Lauch) Faircloth, Secretary of
Commerce. The money will help pay costs
for workers on new jobs in new or
expanding industries.
Faircloth said the money will be
administered by the Labor Force
Development Section which was
established by the General Assembly as
part of the Hunt Administration’s new
direction for state and federal manpower
programs.
William W. Calhoun, chief of the Labor
Force Development Section, said that this
was the first time so much money had been
specifically set aside for incentives to
industries for creating new jobs for North
Carolinians.
“We have been working on the program
since the first of the year, but the money
was not actually available until (his
month,” saidCalhoun. “Several industries
have already shown interest. We want to
get the word out to other companies that are
thinking about expanding or starting new
operations.”
On-the-job training has long been
considered a very effective way of training
workers in most jobs. The State assistance
in helping train workers for new jobs in the
private sector is part of an effort to increase
non-public jobs for untrained persons. The
Labor Force Development Council, to be
appointed by Governor James B. Hunt, will
serve to assist in the direction of these
efforts toward the most productive
industrial areas.
Faircloth explained that the program is.a
simple one that involves very littlepaper
work or administrative costs. He also noted
that the Labor Force Section provides
information about other incentives
available to companies creating new jobs in
North Carolina. He directed interested
companies or community development
agencies to contact Calhoun for
information or assistance. The address for
the labor Force Development Section is 430
North Salisbury Street, Post Office Box
25249, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611.
The telephone number is (919) 733-4414.
LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS BILL
NOW AVAILABLE
The $4 billion Local Public Works Bill
(LPW) recently passed is now available lo
qualified local communities. At least ten
percent participation in this program is
assured through contracts and subcontracts
to minority vendors and contractors by the
U.S. Department of Commerce.
The LPW program will be discussed at a
public meeting sponsored by the Economic
Development Administration (EDA), the
U.S. Department of Commerce (OMBE),
the Durham Business and Professional
Chain, Inc., and the North Carolina State
Office of Minority Business Enterprise.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30
p.m. in the Boyer Building Auditorium on
St. Augustine’s College Campus on
Thursday, August 11, 1977.
Construction and professional firms, and
other service related businesses will have
the opportunity to have their questions
answered regarding work availability and
qualification requirements by
representatives from EDA and OMBE.
Additional information is available by
calling the North Carolina Office of
Minority Business Enteiprise at
919/733-2712.
LA DEAN GRIFnN TO APPEAR
IN AREA
For the first time ever on the East Coast,
La Dean Griffin, famed lecturer and
authoress of many best-selling books will
appear at the Old Foundry Restaurant in
Lumberton Wednesday, August 10. 1977
from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. Ms. Griffin has
authored such books as: “Is Any Sick
Among You?”, ‘‘No Side Affects: The
Return to Herbal Medicine,” “Eyes:
Windows of the Body and Soul,” “Herbs
to the Rescue,” “Cancer and the
Parasites,■ ’ “Hyper and Hypo-Glycemia,’’
and “Insulin vs. Herbs and the Diabetic."
Tickets are $5.00 each. For more
information call 521-4678.
SECOND PSU
TESTING DAY’
‘FRESHMAN
SCHEDULED
PEMBROKE-Pembroke Staid
University’s second “Freshman Testing
Day” during which students take CLEP
(College Level Examination Program) tests
will be held Saturday. Aug. 6, beginning at
8 a.m. Tests will be administered in the
Jones Health and Physical Education
Center.
The PSU Testing Center reports that it has
received 114 applications for this second
battery of tests.
On the first testing day June 25, 85
persons took the tests with 31 passing off
credits. The most successful student was
Cynthia Kay Holloman of Bladenboro,
who passed off 24 semester hours to almost
complete all of her freshman requirements
in one day. Thirty semester hours are
required to qualify as a sophomore.
Costs for the tests are $3 for the English
portion and $4 for each of the four other
division, which are Mathematics, Social
Sciences, Natural Sciences and
Humanities.
The final “Freshman Testing Days” at
PSU will be during freshman orientation
Aug. 22-23.
PSU SUMMER SCHOOL
ATTRACTS 2,116
PEMBROKE-Pembroke State
University’s summer school, which
attracted a total of 2,116 counting both
sessions, concludes Friday with students
having a two-week break before returning
Aug. 21-26 for the start of the fall semester.
During summer school 1,181 students
attended in the first five-week session, and
935 attended during the second session.
The fall semester begins Sunday, Aug.
21, when dormitories will be open for
freshmen. On Aug. 22-23 freshman
orientation will be held. On Aug. 24-25,
registration for all students is scheduled,
beginning each day at 8 a.m. in the Jones
Health and Physical Education Center.
Regular classes begin Friday, Aug. 26.
Warren Baker, admissions director of
PSU, says Pembroke State “should hold its
own” as far as numbers are concerned for
the fall. Last fall a record 2,187 attended
PSU, “I see no significant increase nor
decrease,” said Baker.
The PSU Admissions Ofice has processed
and accepted 400 applications, reported
Baker, which is about the same number as
last year. As for housing, Baker sees no
problem for living quarters for students
wishing to attend PSU this fall.
TESSIE HUNT APPOINTED TO
LUMBERTON CITY HOUSING
AUTHORITY
Ms. Tessie Hunt was appointed to the
Lumberton City Housing Authority by the
Lumberton City Council. She was sworn in
at a ceremony at the Municipal Building on
Tuesday. August 2nd, at 9:30 a.m.
Mayor Cliff Bullard praised Ms. Hunt as
an outstanding citizen and one with high
interest and enthusiasm in her community,
adding that he felt that her presence on the
Authority as a woman would add impetus
to their growth and the duties and
responsibilities of the Housing Authority.
In addition to members of the City
Council and members of the Housing
Authority, the swearing in was witnessed
by Ms. Ruth Dial Woods and Ms. Dorothy
Blue of the Pembroke Business and
Professional Women’s Club, of which Ms.
Hunt is a member. Ms. Hunt is the first
woman to be elected to the Lumberton City
Housing Authority.
Directors
Named for 1st
American
Coop., Inc.
The stockholders of First American
Cooperative, Inc. met Monday and elected
a permanent board of directors. The
cooperative warehouse, now busily
engaged in its first tobacco selling season,
had been run by a temporary board since its
inception earlier in the year.
Named to three year terms were: Bradie
Locklear, Lacy Collins and Timothy
Strickland. Named to two year terms were:
H. Dobbs Oxendine, Jr., Rufus Bums, Jr.,
and Bobby Moody. Named to a one year
term were: James F. Locklear, A.F. Home
and James Edward Thomas.
The board of directors is tri-racial.
Named as president for the coming year
was H. Dobbs Oxendine. Jr. Bradie
Locklear was named vice-president; James
Edward Thomas, secretary; and A.F.
Home, treasurer.
The new warehouse is located on
Highway 711 between Lumberton and
Pembroke.