ROBESON COUNTY, N.C.
PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY
Serials Department
Univ. WC-Gha?eI , ;:i I 1
Wi IsonLi brar;/ .^4-
Chapeliii i 1
...A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
(volume 5 NUMBER 37
Publication No. 97S9AO.
Dedicated to the best in all of us
PEMBROKE, NC THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1977
MAYOR REGGLE
STRICKLAND
ANNOUNCES FOR
RE-ELECTION BID
Interior Asks Justice Dept.
To Begin Legal Action
In Catawba land Claims
Mayor Reggie Strickland
Mayor Reggie Strickland announced
his candidacy for re election today.
Mayor Strickland releaaed the following
statement;
‘My fellow cituena, upon seeking the
post of Mayor of the Town of Pfflbroke
two years ago, I promised you good,
honest government, and the ieadmhip
to which you are juktly entitled. Now, 1
ask you to examine the record of
progress which we have compiled as I
seek your support in order to continue
our efforts on your behalf.
After many years of disastrous
inefficiency, I can now proudly say that
the Town of PeiriHroke is being operated
as a business- your busin«a. The City
Manager form of government is work-
weU, and we have a well- qualified,
business-educated local man at the
helm. For the first time in our history,
the Town Clerk is a college- educated
person with a degree in accounting.
This team, with the institution of a new
accounting system featuring strict in
ternal controls, has been responsible for
the stopping of numerous revenue leaks
and the developing of new sources of
revenue.
'It takes a great deal of money to run
a business the size of our Town;'
however, if we ail do our fair share, the
burden on any one individual is not
nearly so unmanageal^. Today we no
longer have a priviled^d class in our
Town; there are no “free rides” for
anyone. Your public officials, including
myself, must be the example rather
than the exception. We now have strict
internal controls over the use of all
Town supplies by employees and
officials. No longer may officials help
themselves at the town gasoline tank.
Our tax collection rate has gone from
approximately seventy percent (70%) to
over ninety percent (%%); while our
collection rate for watefbills is now well
over ninety-five percent (95%).
This “tight-fisted” policy towards the
use of your tax dollars has improved
considerably the economic outlook for
our Town. When I took office in 1975
over-drafts at the bank had Income
standard operating procedure; several
checks had ifeen returned for insuffi-
dent funds; and many area businesses
were even loath to extend credit to our
Town because of its notorious repu
tation for non-payment of its d^s.
Today, however, our Town operates
well into the black, and all bills are paid
as they come due.
“Many improvements havebeen made
so as to make the lives of our dtizeos
more enjoyable. After many years of
promises by previous administrations,
Pine Street has finally been cuibed and
guttered; furthermore, we have just
completed the largest program of street
paving in our history. Our utilities
department has laid over two miles of
new two-inch water lines to improve our
delivery system to the consumers.
Increased emphasis has been placed on
our program of recreation. We are in
the process of acquiring land tobe used
as parking for the Lowry Park on Pine
Street, and much has been done to
make the Town Park more enjoyriile for
our dtizens. Street signs are ^ing
placed throughout the Town, and
houses are to be numbered for the
convenience of our dtizens.
“At long last, the Town Government is
showing a better attitude towards our
Town’s future development, and the
proper respect is being shown to the
state statutes in this regard. After eight
years of thinking that they were within
the Town, the residents of College
Terrace have now been officially, legally
annexed into the Town'of Pen^roke.
For the protection of the property values
of private landowners, a comprehen
sive land development plan has been
adopted, and the Town has enacted a
zoning ordinance encompassing an area
to one-mile beyond the dty limits. The
Town’s leash ordinance now prevents
packs of dogs from running at large. For
the convenience of our townsfolk,
cablevision will soon be a reality.
“Long-standing inequities have been
corrected; Pembroke now boasts a
district courtroom for the convenience
of its citizens. The added traffic brought
into the Town by its presence has also
been a boom to our businessmen. For
the protection of our residents, the
Pembroke Police Department now has a
dispatcher on duty twenty-four hours
per day.
“After long years of neglect and inept
administration, the Town of Penibroke
is finally beginning to make some real
progress. All of us may point with pride
to the emergence of Pen^roke as a
political, economic, social, and intellec
tual center within Robeson County;
however, much remains to be accom
plished. With your help we shall
continue with our efforts to make
Pembroke truly the “Capitol of
Robeson County.”
Solicitor Leo M. Krulitz announced
today that the Interior Department is
recommending to the Department of
Justice that legal action be started on
behalf of the Catawba Indian Tribe to
recover its 140,000 acre reservation in
South Carolina.
The proposed suit would Ijb similar to
actions now pending on behalf of the
Passamaquoddy and Penc^cot Indians
land claims in Maine and the land
claims of three tribes in New York State.
“The action we recommend is that
the United States finally act upon hs
long neglected duty under the Non-
Intercourse Act to nullify the 1840
Treaty with South Carolina and restore
possession of the 1763 Treaty reserva
tion to the Catawba Tribe,” Krulitz
said. The Tribe has sought federal
assistance in the assertionof their claim
since 1904.
Krulitz said that discussions between
the Tribe and State officials have
reflected a mutual intent to resolve the
matter in a way that would satisfy the
parties without endangering the state’s
economy or interfering with orderly real
estate development.
“Wer should inform all concerned
parties,” he said in a letter to the
Justice Department, “that we would
prefer an amicable, orderly settlement
to lengthy, disruptive litigation, and will
lend immediate assistance in negotia
tions for a just and mode! settlement.”
However, the recommendation makes it
dear that if negotiations fail, litigation
should bb commenced on behalf of the
Tribe.
The 15 miles square area claimed lly
the Catawba Tribe surrounds the town
of Rock Hill in the north- central section
of the state.
Prior to 1763, the Tribe occupied a
much larger area by aboriginal title. In
1763, the Tribe relinquished their claim
to the larger area in return for Great
Britain’s assurance that they would
have unmolested possession of the 15
mile square reservation. When the
United States succeeded to Great
Britain’s sovereignty in 1783, our new
government did not abrogate the 1763
Catawba Treaty. “Therefore, ” Krulitz
said, “the Catawba retained a vested
right in their reservation.”
By 1840 the Catawba’s Treaty
reservation was overrun by non Indians
who continually ignored the Tribe’s
protests. “In 1849,” Krulitz said, “the
Tribe finally purported to convey their
remaining title and interest in the
140,000 acres to the State of South
Carolina by treaty. The Federal Govern
ment was in no way involved in the
negotiations and never subsequently
gave its consent. The 1840 conveyance
was therefore void under the Non-
Intercourse Act.”
Kenneth
Maynor heads
slate of officers
For Strike at
the Wind
At the annual meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Robeson Historical
Association, producers of the outdoor
drama, “Strike atthe Wind!”, Kenneth
R. Maynor, Executive Director of the
Lumbee Regional Development Asso
ciation (LRDA), was selected president
of the outdoor drama for the 1977-78
season. His term in office will coincide
with the third year of the drama’s
existence.
people
and places
. and things
Kenneth R. Maynor
C P & L Rate Hike
ruling termed “a major
victory”
AND MAYOR PRO TEM
SAM DIAL
‘ «■ -r
-
Also announcing fdr re-election is
am Dial,, mayor pro-tem. Mr. Dial is
^ployed with the N.C. Transportation
Apartment in the Highway Division.
Dial, who has served three previous
terms, is the first to announce for one of
the four seats up for gw®S on the
Pembroke Town Council.
Becuase of special legislation in the
last general assembly, the mayor's seat
and all four council seats will be up for
election so that the seats can be
staggered.
The two top vote getters in the council
race will receive four year terms. The
next two high vote getters will receive
two year terms.
The mayor’s position is for two years.
Filing officially opens Friday, Sep
tember 16, at noon and the books close
October 7. The municipal elections will
be November 8.
Incumbant councilmen Lee Neville,
Monroe Lowry, and Milton Hunt have
not announced their intentions for
another elective bid.
Raleigh-A ruling by a Federal Power
Commission judge, ordering a $13.5
million rollback in a $33.5 million rate
increase proposed by Carolina Power
and Light Co. for its electric cooperative
and municipal customers, wasdescrib
ed tby co-op officials today as a “major
victory” for those customers.
The decision not only ruled that the
rate increase was too high by ri>out 40
percent, but also threw out a provision
requiring the customers to pay for 95
percent of their summertime peak-
demand ail year long, whether or not
they actually use that much power, said
Alton P. Wall, acting general manager
of North Carolina Electric Mertbership
Corporation.
N.C. EMC, the state association of
electric cooperatives, represented the
18 EMCs which are served Vy CP & L in
the FPC case.
Wall said the 95 percent “ratchet”
provision “has substantially increased
the cost of wholesale power for the
cooperatives and, as a result, has been a
real burden to the EMCs and their
comsumer members.”
Under the ratchet, an EMC is billed
monthly for 95 percent of the peak
power demand recorded during the
period from June through Septen^r,
even if they use less.
Wall said Wednesday’s decision by
FPC Judge George Lewnes dismissing
the “ratchet” provision could have far
reaching consequences ifitisupheidby
the entire commission. The fiill body
will review the ruling on an appeal fiarn
CP & L.
Meanwhile, the power company will
continue to collect the higher rates
penUag a final decision from the
federal agency, which could be many
months away.
The CP & L rate increase proposal,
which went into effect in May, 1976, is
the second of three such propositions to
be filed with the FPC in the past three
years.
An earlier request went Into effect in
January, 1975 raising rates by 97 per
cent or $36 million a year. Negotiations
between CP & L and NC EMC officials
have produced a tentative agreement on
the price tag in this case and the
agreement has been submitted to the
FPC for approval. If approved, the
settlement would give the EMCs alone
refunds totaling $4 million.
The third rate proposal, calling for aij
increase of about 8 percent or $10.5
million a year, is due to become
effective on Dec. 29. That request was
filed with the FPC in July, but its
effective date was postponed for five
months on a petition by the EMC'.
“If Judge Lewnes’ decision is upheld
by the fall commission,” Wall said,
“it’ll mean the power company has
been collecting excdss charges from its
coop and municipal customers for more
than a year. In effect, these customers
have been forced to lend the company
money. Of course, the exctfSs charges
would have to be returned with
interest,” Wall said.
In addition, such a ruling would raise
some serious questions about the new
rate schedule that’s to go into effect in
December.
“Those rates are based on an 8
percent increase over the rates that
have just been declared 40 percent too
high, and they also incorporate the 95
percent ratchet provision.”
The 18 EMCs that buy power ftx>m CP
& L are: Haywood, Waynesville; Pitt
and Green, Farmville; Four County,
Durgaw; Piedmont, Hillsborough; Hali
fax, Enfield; Randolph, Ashcboro;
Harkers Island, Brunswick, Shallotte'
Jones- Onslow, Jacksonville; French
Broad, Marshall; Wake Forest; Tri-
County, Goldsboro; Lumbee River, Red
Springs; South River, Dunn; Carteret-
Craven, Morehead City; Central, San
ford; Pee Dee, WaddWoro; and Tide-
land, Pantego.
The September 8th meeting was the
occasion for selecting other officers of the
board. Adolph Dial, professor of American
Indian History at Pembroke State
University, was re-elected chairman of the
board. Hector MacLean will serve as
executive vice-president with Dr. E.B.
Turner serving as first vice-president. A1
Dunavan of PSU’s drama department was
elected secretary and Mrs. Lucy Lowry was
elected treasurer.
Briefly, Mr. Maynor’s duties will be to
supervise and control the many aspects of
management of the outdoor drama.
Other matters brought before the board
included the annual audit report by the
general manager, Robert Kershaw. The
audit showed a small surplus of funds after
expenses had been paid. This was in spite
of the fact that total receipts for the 1977
season was only about fifty percent of the
previous season. Fundings from other
sources enabled the drama to end the season
in the black.
Mr. Kershaw and the board members are
proceeding with the feelings that the drama
is here to stay as an historical attraction and
will expand its audience attendance ^ the
piay becomes better known to the public in
seasons to come.
The drama depicts a period of social
unrest in the history of Robeson County
during the waning years of the Civil War
and into the Reconstruction years. It
centers around the struggles of the Indian
people seeking justice and equali^.
Warriors win
defensive battle
DAV CHAPTER 47
TO SPONSOR CHORUS
DAV Chapter 47 will sponsor the
Strickland New Prospect Chorus on Sept.
22 at 7:15 p.m. at the VA Hospital. VFW
Post 2843 will sponsor the Ladies & Men’s
Chorus from Pembroke on Sept. 25 at 3:00
p.m. The public is urged to attend both
programs.
FORMER PASTOR TO MAKE GUEST
APPEARANCE AT BEREA BAPTIST
Rev. Lawrence P.. Hardee and
family, Missionaries to Liberia, Africa,
will visit the Pembroke area on
September 16, 17, 18. Rev. Hardee,
fcraer pastor of Berea Baptist Church,
will preach at the worship service
Sunday, Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m.
The- pastor, Rev. Sidney Oxendlne,
invites the public to attend.
ROBESON COUNTY BEEKEEPERS
ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED
The organizational meeting of the
Rc4)eson County BeekeepiM Associa
tion was considered a great Success. At
this meeting the Robeson County
Beekeepers Association was organized’
and those in attendance also joined the
N. C. Beekeepm Association.
In attendance at the meeting was
William Lord of N. C. State University
who is assigned to the Coastal Plains for
beekeeping purposes. Everyone viewed
a film on Basic Beekeeping.
At this meeting temporary officers
were selected. They are: Col. Joe M.
Dietzel, acting president; G.W. McLean
of Lumberton, acting vice-pi^dent;
Mrs. G.W. McLean, acting secretary;
and Douglas Clark, acting treasurer.
Plans are tentatively made to elect
officers in November or Decen^r for
the upcoming year.
The second meeting of the Rdieson
County Beekeepm Association will be
held on Tuesday night. Sept. 20 at the
O. P. Owens Agricultural Building,
Lumberton. The meeting begins at 7:30
p.m.
At this meeting the by-laws and
constitution will be discussed. David
Rately of Red Springs will be in charge
of the program. He will make a
presentation on b^keeping in Rcbeson
County followed by a question and
answer period.
All professional beekeepers and
amatuer beekeep^, as well as all
persons interested in beekeeping ate
cordially invited to attend.
PLATE SALE PLANNED
There will be a chicken and
baibeque plate sale on Friday, Sept. 16,
at Cherokee Community Building,
across from Oxendine School. The
proceed will be used fer the Wakulla
Day Care CEnter. Price per plate will be
$2.00. The public is invited to attend.
BRIEFS FROM
CULTURAL RESOURCES
Non-profit organizations have until
Oct. 1 to apply for grants for upcoming
community arts projects from ffie N.C.
Arts Council. The council will award
grants at its semi-annual meeting Oct.
28 and 29 at Quail Roost Conference
Center.
The state arts council consists of 24
members appointed^ the governor. It
allocates state and federal arts funds to
individual organizations throughout the
state. For information and application
forms, contact the N.C. Arts Council,
Department of Cultural Resources,
Raleigh 27611, 919/733-5897.
The N.C. Museum of Art Building
Commission will hold its quarterly
meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, in
the board room of the N.C. Museum of
Art, sixth floor. Highway Building
Annex, Raleigh.
Professional theatre companies have
until Oct. 17 to apply for grants in aid
ftrom the Theatre Arts section of the
N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
Theatre Arts will award the grants at its
semi-annual board meeting Nov. 12 and
13 at Quail Roost Conference Center.
The 12-member Theatre Arts board
provides funding and management
assistance to non-profit, profttsional
theatre companies in Norfa Carolina.
Information and application forms are
available at N.C. Theatre Arts. Depart
ment of Cultural Resources. Raleigh
27611, 919/733-2111.
WON’T YOU
HELP?
Yancy Hunt, 9 year-old sondRMfr. and
Mrs. Gaston Mavnor suffered from 2nd
and 3rd degree ,l^ms over 65 percent of
his body on March 26th. So far
treatment has cost $40,000.00 and
Yancy will have to continue treatment
for another seven years. He has to be
wraped in guaze bandages every day
plus numerous trips to Chapel Hill and
motel fees for the family.
All the local Indian Jaycee Chapters,
including Fairgrove, Saddletree, Hoke
County, Burnt Swamp, and the Pem
broke Jaycees will be sponsoring a Car
Wash at Jeff’s Cat Wash on September
17th to help the family in the struggle to
rehabilitate young Yancy. We (all the
Jaycees) are asking for your help that
day. Let us wash and vacuum your car
for S3.00 or let us wax your car for
$20.00. Mr. Jeff Oxendine has consent
ed to let us rent his car wash for that
particular day and anyone wishing to
have his car washed there will be
charged $3.00.
We will appreciate your contributions
and so will Yancy.
Qialrmui, Larry T. Roberto
Gene Oxendfaie
It was more like a balftiaU score- 2-0.
The Warriors edged the Omim Raiderk
in a bruising defensive game last Friday
night. The Warriors received their
points when Gene Oxendine smothered
the Orrum quarterback in the end zone
for a safety.
The Pembroke Warriors moved up
and down the field, almost at will, as
junior quarterback, Kelvin Sampson,
led the ^ense but they were unrtlle to
punch the ball over down close to the
goal line.
But Ned Sampson, head foofoall
coach, was estatic, “I’ll take it! I’m just
proud of our boys. They played hard,
and Orruni gave us aU we could
handle.”
The Warriors play Halltlboro Friday
night at HallsbOTo. Coach Sampson
expects a hard fought game.
The win, the first under Coach
Sampson and his staff, evens the
Pembroke Warrior record at 1-1.
ROBESON COUNTY
INDIAN EDUCATION...
A REPORT BY RUTH DIAL WOODS
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS
TRAIN FOR NEW PROGRAM
Four new Title IV-A staff meirtfers
have been engaged fa a semi-orienta
tion and training program at the
Robeson County Compensatory Indian
Education Office this week. During the
next week, the staff will undergo more
intensive in-service trafafag and wUl
make preparations to begin scheduifag
their programs at various schools within
the Robeson County School System-.
The Youth Development Specialists
include Ms. Diane Worriax, Ms. Merd&
Oxendine, Ms. Alice F. Cummings, and
Ms. Paula Kaye Hunt. The Youth
Development Specialists will provide
individual and group counseling ser
vices to Indian students fa gradds 6-12
in the various schools. These services
will utilize a broad range of experiences
aimed toward the development of
positive self-concepts and Self- confi
dence which will increase levels of
motivation and a sense of achievement.
These experiences will alsobe ^gned
to develop group pride and reinforce
Indian identity.
This program will provide Indian
students with an opportunity to acquire
a new awareness of themselvtt, assist
them fa coping successfully in the
integrated schools, prepare them for
social adjustments, and provide an
opportunity for students to explore
avenues which will enhance their own
dignity, uniqueness, and worth.
Counseling services will focus on
careers and alternative careem, jdb
orientation and the introduction to the
world of work as well as referrals for
additional vocational and post- secon
dary educational counseling.