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VOLUME 5 NUMBER S3 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2* 1977 151 PER COPY
? ?i? . ?-? , 1 , ,
Or. James B. Chavis
THE PEOPLE'S MAN
by Conner Bray boy
Dr. Jhm B. Cfcrvta
Some citizens of North Carolina
believe that State Government has
undergone such expansive growth that
the complexity ofbeaurocratic red tape
makes it almost impoxWMe for the
average person to get any kind of
response to his legitimate complaints.
Dr. James B. Chavis recently stated
that hS aspiration is to "refute the
theory that state government is insensi
tive to the average person's needs.
Chavis, the Governor's Ombudsman,
directs the Office of Citizen Help. He
has served in that position since June 1,
1977, as a result of Governor James B.
Hunt's appointment.
And what, you might ask, is an
Ombudsman? The American Heritage
Dictionary, 1973, says that an Om
budsman is : "A governmental official,
especially in Scandinavian countries,
who investigates citizens' complaints
against the government or its func
tionaries."
Sweden established the first Office of
the Ombudsman in 1809. The word
itself has come to mean "the people's
man."
Chavis said that his office handles
citizen information and referral ser
vices. "Our office is non-political in that
it deals not in issues and campaign^,
but in helping people who have needk
"We respond to complaints from,
citizen* and requests to the Governor's
Office. Not only do we respond, we
resolve their particular prtftflem, if that
problem Is within the jurisdiction of the
Governor's Office. Many complaints are
not within the Governor's jurisdiction.
In that event, we refer the citizen to the
appropriate person or agency which can
best serve his or her needs," Chavis
continued.
The Ombudsman's Office consists of
five staff members, including Chavis.
Walt Williamson is the Deputy Om
budsman. Pat Brock and Linda Norfolk
serve as assistants and Jayne Felton
aervds as secretary.
Dr. Chavis praised his staff. Said he,
"I can't say enough about my staff.
They are just great. I couldn't ask for
finer people to work with. Their
assistance has been invaluable,"
This reporter can attest that his staff
is genuinely pleasant. When a person
walks into an office and IS greeted by a
genuine smile of interest. It is easy to
believe that someone oaas care. During
my visit 1 witnessed a cttisen entering
thme with a problem. I could almost
hear him thinking, "Finally. I'm in the
right pises."
The Ombudsman's Office handles an
approximate 4000 calls and 700 letters
per month, in addition to the people
who walk into the office with their
various oomplaints. They man 4 watts
lines sod 4 local lines. Said Cfcavta. "h
Is not unusual far am to apsatSW tot
hours a day eu the phone.
?ash sase Is resssisd and a emnputer
print sat jamais euirteMy In ardar that
at any ghm Mam the nmbaiimaa ar
Ns staff sen let bow many eases
ihsy'us bandied' ?hathar ths tdae baa
been doted, whet county the cue U
from, what department it concerns, etc.
Caaet which require a quick telephone
referral or which can be rapidly *oiv$<}
over the telephone are not recorded.
When queried ibout the validity of
the vast amount of complaints, Chavis
responded^ saying, "If a citizen feels
strongly enough about a particular
situation to write or call the Governor's
Office, then that problem is valid. What
I do is try and see that the citizen gets a
fair shake."
He continued, "The majority of cases
1 respond to are from people who are
just like me--an average person.
Therefore, it is relatively euy for me to
respond to citizens with honesty and
understanding. This job is not much
different from my job at PeitdJroke State
University. There I dealt with prcfclema
people problems. The only difference is
that now 1 deal with them on a much
larger scale."
"Actually, what I am is a go-between
between the Governor and people who
are having problems," Chavls conclu
ded.
Dr. Oiavis, a native of Penfbroke, is
on a leave-of-absence from his jeft) at
Pembroke State University where he
served as Dean of Student Affairs.
He worked his way through the chain
of command at Pembroke State. Ha
began his career there as the director of
the Student Store. He then served for
one year as financial aid officer; four
years as administrative assistant to the
President (Chancellor English E. Jones)
one year as director of admissions and
registration. And then he became Dean
of StudMt Affairs.
A Lumbee Indian, Chavis is the first
Indian to ever serve in the Governor's
Office, to our knowledge. He attended
elementary school at Deep Branch
Elememary School in Robeson County
and is a graduate of Hargrave Military
Academy, Chatham, Virginia. After
graduation, he worked for a short period
in the accounting division of Bethlehem
Steel in Maryland prior to his return to
Pembroke. He earned his B.S. Degree
from Pembroke State University in
1963. He taught math at PendJroke
High School for one year under the
principalship of Mr. Elmer Lowry prior
to accepting the position as director of (
the Student Stores at Peirtfroke State (
University.
He earned his Master's Degree from
East Carolina University and his
Doctorate from Duke University while
serving at PSU.
And what dcxfs Chavis feel about his
new position? "It has been a learning
experience for me. I have tltjen able to
learn first hand about state government
and that is something I have always
wanted to do. I am learning state
government from' the inside out -and
I'm still learning. My experiences in
this office will be something I can use
the rest of my life, no matter what I do
in the future."
The Ombudsman's Office is part of
the Office of Citizen Affairs which was
established during Governor Hunt's
administration. The Office of Citizen
Affairs includes: Volunteer Programs;
developing a Resource Library; and the
Office of Citizen Help (Ombudsman).
The Office of the Ombudsman was
established under the Hols ho user
administration. Chavis stated that call
ing his office the Office of Citispu Help
was his idea. "Because, " he said, "we
are the dtizfn's advocate. We handle
people problems. That is, any kind of
problem as H relates to state govern
ment through North Carolina. I am
dedicated to helping chiasm In any way
that I can. I Intend to sea that the
oitiseae get a fair shake. After all, that
is what state government la all Shout,
amuIWA A Ihm ?
slim pwpw
It is evident that Dr. Chavia enjoys hie
work. ' He la amiable, handsome,
humorous, eoneemsd and Inter?lag.
{
If you have a grievance with stale
gave?near, doe7! I?bate to call
U0HA1.TAM; write PrJamos I.
?ilalthalite Buttdtng. IIA W? Janes i
?treat, BeMgb. MCVilli ar waft ,
A , g
into his office. If Dr. Chavix or his staff
cannot resolve your problem, they will
definitely explain why in a cordial
response. And if they can help, they'll
do so smilingly and unhesitatingly.
For those of you who do not know Dr.
James B. Chavis, you are in for a
congenial acquaintance with a man who
is definitely a "people's man." And for
you who already know him, you'll find
the same man in the governor's office
that you knew at home.
Mr. and Mr*. Murphy LocMmt grace
he top of the Christmas Tree. The
imaments below are their great grand
chldren. The OirhtmM Tree waa
especially decorated In their honor.
I Bruce Barton Photo|
A Holiday Visit with
, Mr. & Mrs. Murphy
Locklear & Family
, bv Bruce Harlot*
?? ? re people say things are not like
lev used to be. In the old days back in
the 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s.
families seemed sorr . how to be closer,
to care more about on- another. Fathers
and mothers devot'd life times to
raising children. Nov a days families
congregate around tf' television set as
soon as the sun sets and seldom talk to
one another. Dupe is 'he catharsi/er of
the young. Joy is strained, frustrated,
muted. Things just dor'i seem to be the
same, like in the go. old davs.
A reminder of how it used to be for all
of us when we v ere young and
television was still a figment of the
inventor's imagination was nolstngically
brought home to me when I recently
visited Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Locklear.
stalwart and long-time n embers of the
Mt. Airy community.
I was invited by one of their
daughters, Mrs. Galloway Hunt. I
remember picking cotton on Mr. and
Mrs. Hunt's farm, $3.00 a hundred, if I
remember correctly. But somehow
those seem, in my memory anyway, to
he pleasant days, working days, joy
days. One worked hard all day in the
fields and slept pekcefi lly afterw ards.
Mrs. Hunt said that the great
grandchildren had prepared a special
Christmas Tree for their grand parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Locklear. And
she thought it might make a good little
news item. And I went and took the
picture. And it was a novel way to
decorate a Christmas Tree. The tree, as
shown with this story, was interlaced
with ornaments containing pictures of
the great-grandchildren and graced
with a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Locklear
on top.
Hut the joy for me was talking to Mr.
Locklear. Although infirm and unable to
get up out of bed, he was in a talking
mood. All his children had been home
with him and his wife for Christmas.
And his foster grandson, Johnson
Lowcry, who he raised "just like one of I
my own."
And his children are his joy. They are
Mrs. Addell Locklear, Lee Alford
Locklear, Mrs. Ronte Lee Hunt, Mrs.
Zelma Mae Lowery. Murphy Locklear,
Jr.. Mrs. Fairella Locklear, Miss Lizzie
Belle Locklear and her twin sister, <Mrs.
Lizzie Jane Locklear, and Mrs. Ludalia
Cummings.
The children have blessed Mr. and
Mrs. Locklear with 46 grandchildren.
There are 72 great- grandchildren in the
family, too. Lizzie Belle and Murphy,
Jr. have never married and remain on
the home place with their parents. Miss
Lizzie Belle calls herself "the nurse"
and the rest "are my aides." The
children, all now grown and raising
families of their own, take turns staying
with their parents at night, tending
them with care. As do one of the sisters
in-law. And the grandchildren and the
great- grandchildren and just about all
of the Mt. Airy Community where the
Locklears have lived since they were
born.
CONT.'D ON PAGE 3
Presbyterians Announce Receipt of
Youth Grant at Lumbee Bank
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OPEN HE AIT SUIGE1Y REQUIRED
HELP NEEDED
Mary Jane Ox en dine, 4-year-old
daughter of Mary (Judy) C. Oxendine, I
will require open heart surgery at Duke <
University Hospital on Janaury 9, 1978.
Because of the nature of the illnH a '
long stay is anticipated. This will i
require the parent to either stay at a I
neartty motel or travel back and forth
daily. Either way will require a great i
amount of money. Your help, the
friendly readers of The Carolina Indian
Voice, is solicited for financial aisistan- i
ce. Any donations may be mailed to
Mary C. Oxendine, in care of The
Carolina Indian Voice, P.O. Box 1075,
Pembroke, NC 28372. Thank you.
Submitted by Mends of the family
PUBLIC HEARING SLATED FOR
MAX TON INDIAN EDUCATION
PROGRAM
c
The R.B. Dean School Cafeteria in
Maxton will be the location of a Public
Hearing to be held Tuesday, January 3,
1978 at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will be
for the purpose of discussing plans for
the use of Indian Education Act monies
to be received by the Maxton City
Schools for the school year 1978-79.
Everyone is welcome.
SECURITY DESPOSITS TO BE
REQUIRED BY LREMC
Lumbee River Electric Member
ship Corp. announced today that due to
an increasing number of member
consumers moving away from the
cooperative's service area without pay
ing the final bill, security deposits will
be required upon application for service
as of Jan. 1, 1978.
According to the new policy, adopted
by the cooperative's board of directors,
applicants for electrical service who can
fumish a letter of credit from another
electric utility for 12 consecutive months
of timely payments to that utility will be
required to pay a S10 membership fee
and and a $30 security deposit.
Applicants without good credit ratings
will have to pay a $50 security deposit in
addition to the S10 membership fee.
The security deposits will be refund
ed in full to members-consumers of the
cooperative after 36 consecutive months
of payment for electrical service to the
cooperative or will be credited to the
final bill.
CONGRESSMAN ROSE'S MOBILE
OFFICE SCHEDULE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman
Charlie Rose. D-NC, announced the 7th
Congressional District Mobile Office
schedule fqr January, 1978. Rip Collins,
Congressman Rose's representative in
the District announced the Mobile
Office would be parked as close tb the
Post Office as possible.
Cotambas County
January 4?Wednesday-Hallsboro Post
Office. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
January 10--Tuesday-Chadbourn Post
Office, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
January 20-Priday-Riegelwood Shop
ping Center, 10:00 -3:00
January 27--Friday-Delco Post Office,
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
January 31-Tuesday-Lake Waccamaw
Post Office. 10:00-3:00
January S-Tuesday-Red Springs Post
Office. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
January 7-Saturday-Lumbstton/Biggs
Park Shopping Center. 10 a.m. ? 3 p.m.
January 12-Thursdtv Pembroke Past
Office. 10:00 a.m. ? 3:00 p.m.
January 13-Priday-St. Paula Post Office
10:00 a.m. ? 3:00 p.m.
January 6-Prtday-Bastard Nat Offisa.
10:00 a.m.-ltOO p.m.
January 11--Wednesday-Nana Mffia
Nat Offisu. IOiOO a.m. - Ml pm.
1
TICKETS FOR MOTHERS FINEST
CONCEIT NOW ON SALE ATPStJ
Tickets are now on tale at time area
locations for the "Mother's Finest"
concert Thursday, January 26 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are S4 limited advance sale and
15 the day of the show and are available
st Eutaw Records in Fayettevflle,
Merrimsc Musk in Lumberton and the
Alumni Affairs office in Sampson Hall
on the PSU campus.
"Mother's Finest" is appearing with
special guests "High and Mighty" in
the largest group attraction ever seen at
Pembroke State University, according
to Student Government President David
McDuffie. McDuffie has booked all pop
artists at PSU for two years as
Entertainment Committee chairman
and now serves as head of the first
concert committee at PSU.
Because of the size of the two acts, the
xjncert will be presented in the 4,000
seat Jones Health and Physkal Educa
tion building rather than in the 1,700
seat Performing Arts Center on the
campus. McDuffie emphasized the
concert will be festival seating, that is
no reserved seating-all first come, first
served. He added plenty of parking is
available near the building.
The concert at Pembroke State is part
of the 1978 Homecoming Week for the
record number of students attending
this year. "It is open to the publk,
however," stated McDuffk.
"Mother's Finest" has a major
recording contract with Epic Rcords and
has released two albums, "Mother's
Finest" and "Another Mother Furth
er." From the latter came their regional
hit of a few weeks back. "Baby Love."
Members of the group describe their
music as the best parts of rock and roll,
disco and rhythm and blues, according
to McDuffie. "And lead singer Joyce
Kennedy can belt out a song with the
best of today's rock and rollers."
"We're looking forward to a superb
night of entertainment at PSU." said
McDuffie. "1 hope that many of the area
residents will join us for this, the first of
many big name bands in our area."
IN THE ARMED FORCES
Scatt E. Blanks
Hampton, Va.--Scott E. Blanks, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Barrington Blanks of
Route 1, Pembroke, NC, has received
his first promotion in the U.S. Air
Force.
Blanks, promoted to airman, recently
completed technical training at Shep
pard AFB, Texas, and is now assigned
at Langiey AFB, Va. He serves as a
medical administrative specialist with a
unit of the Tactical Air Command.
Airman Blanks is a 1977 graduate of
Pembroke Senior High School.
FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION OF MR. AND MRS.
LONN1E REVELS
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie
Revels request the honor of your
pretence at the Fiftieth Wedding
Anniversary of their parents Saturday,
the 31st of December. 1977 at 3:oo p.m.
at the Pembroke Senior High School
* 1 - Hamkanh ? UP
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PEMBROKE JAYCKES' ANNUAL
NEW YEAR'S DANCE SAT. NIGHT
The Pembroke Jaycees' annual Naur
Year's Dinner and Daaee la scheduled
for Saturday night. A few nurvartena
are still available. Reearvaiwi.t can he
521-9317 or Henry W. Cla an dins at
321*907. No admiaeien without prior
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