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191 THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
I Dodicotod to tk? b?st in all ol us I
VOLUME 6 NUMBER 02 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10. 197fi 154 PER COPY
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Mayor Charges Possible Fraud as Petitions
are Questioned At Pembroke Council
Meeting |
Pembroke?Said one fella, "lt'a been
that kind of week." To top it off, The
Carolina Indian Voice did not Itave a
representative at the Pembroke Town
Council meeting Monday night which
played to the biggest crowd of the year,
according to those who were there.
An over flow crowd came to hear Ira
Pate Lowry present a petition to the
Pembroke Town Council on behalf of a
number of concerned citu-;ns. That
seemed to be all right, and Lowry spent
a good portion of the time, according to
those who were there, presenting a
historical over view of to the council and
audience, recalling the days when the
governor appointed the mayor and town
council for Pembroke and when travel
ers on trains through Pembroke were,
according to Lowry, "told to pull down
your window shade-- you're going
through Pembroke..." Lowry is a
retired music teacher and a former
gubernatorial appointee to the council.
The Carolina Indian Voice did not
have a representative at the meeting for
a very mundance reason, "We were not <
notified of the meeting although we
should have known about it? it's our
business to know," said Bruce Barton,
Editor.
i
But seemingly newspaper reporters
get careless sometimes too and rely on
town officials to notify them of a
meeting by sending them an agenda
through the mail. It works reasonably
well until the postal service gets into the
act. "I got my agenda for Monday
night's meeting Tuesday morning,"
lamented Barton.
Town officials said the agenda was
mailed last Saturday. The Robesonian
had a newspaper reporter at the
meeting. "No, I didn't asked the guy
who told him about the meeting," said
Barton, "but whoever called him
evidently didn't call me..."
While Lowry was giving his historical
review, according to observers. Council
man Milton Hunt began to pepper him
with some questions: "Did you sign the
petition?" Hunt asked. Lowry repor
tedly replied "no."
When questioned about a statement
inferring nepotism. Hunt asked Lowry
who he was referring to. Lowry said
that he assumed the mayor had some
one on the pay roll who worked for the
town.
Moddie Strickland, who was hired,
according to town officials, during the
administration of former Mayor Juddie
Revels, is the nephew of Mayor Reggie
Strickland. Moddie Strickland is public
works director for the town.
Although Lowry said he did not sign
the petition is question, the petition he
presented called for the resignation of
the town manager McDuffie Cummings
the public works director and "the
unnecessary employees that were em
ployed because of political and family
connections..."
Lowry seemingly had presented the
petition to town officals earlier in the
week at a special called meeting
because Mayor Strickland had a pre
pared statement ready. The statement
intimated that fraud had taken place
because a number of names on the
earlier petition questioning the right of
the town manager to drive a town
vehicle home after hours and out of the
town's limits mysteriously appeared on
the petition that Lowry presented
Monday night.
A number of people on the one list i
said, when contacted, that they had not I
signed the petition that was presented I
Monday night.Some of those present at i
Monday night's meeting intimated that I
a serox machine had gotten into the act
and that one list of names was
photographer onto another petition. I
Mayor Strickland sp?kt bluntly:
"Mr. Lowry, my response to this
petition will be brief and to the point.
Quite frankly. I am disturbed by what
appears to be fraud on the part of
whoever prepared gnd presented the
petition. Thursday. August 3. 1978.
After reviewing the petition presented
Thursday, we found that the signatures
on the first two pages were the same
signatures and signed in the same
order, as the signaturrs on a petition
presented at an earlier date dealing
entirely with different concerns. After
questioning many of the citizens whose
name appeared on the petition, we
learned that they had not signed such a
petition. Today, the same petition was
presented again, but this time with only
half the number of signatures as the
first. Mr. Lowry, 1 hope you nor any
citizen, especially a citizen elected to
represent all the people, would not risk
the possiblity of damaging one's
crcditability by using such distasteful
tactics to satisfv Mai-sh desires
"I will have nothing lurther to say
about this petition, until the btto.-neys
have assured me that the law has not
heen violated in the areas of fraud,
misrepresentation, misfeasance, mal
feasance and conspfra y. Thank you."
v
The petition Monday night also called
For "placing the water fund that was
I
moved lo building funds back to the
water fund" and "place the responsi
bility of the town back in the hands of
the elected officials that we elected."
The petition presentation followed a
series of ad hoc meetings reportedly
held by a number of town citizens
earlier.
55 people signed the petition in the
possession of the Carolina Indian Voice.
Some of those signing the petition,
according to informal polling, reside
outside the city limits.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
...Included a rejection of a request by
two businesses to set up within town
limits in mobile homes.
The Board also approved a transfer of
ownership from NC Cable TV, Inc. to
Jones Cable TV Company. The transfer
of ownership seemingly is behind the
delay in bringing cable TV to Pembroke.
Peoples Gas and Oil of Maxton
requested an amendment to the town's
zoning ordinance so that a car wash
could be built in an area now zoned
residential. A public hearing has been
set for Sept. 5. 1978 at 7 p.m. for
discussion of the request.
Ozmer Lee Oxendine Receives 2nd Parenr For Invenrion
O/mer Lee Oxendine is an inventive
guy; he is always examining things to
see how they work. Sometimes, as with
his latest invention, he figures out how
to do something and, after he has
figured it out, it makes you wonder how
come no one ever figured it out before.
An inventer seemingly always figures
out the simplest way to do something.
Oxendine has just been presented
with his second patent, a patent for a
pad for vehicles having a flat bed... tike
a truck for instance, or a van. It is a
unique but simple invention, so simple
that it had been over looked through out
the life of America. Even Thomas
Edison, deemed America's greatest
inventor, never thought of it.
Here's a drawing of it.
Here's an abstract of the invention.
ABSTRACT
Disclosed a composite pad con
struction adapted to overlie the bed ef a
flatbed vehicle. In a preferred embodi
ment, the pad is formed from two pieces
which may be fitted together to form a
substantially rectangular construction
that la custom fit to the bed. The pad
comprises a substantially rectangular
base portion that has a recces alpna Its
longitudinal centerline and a central
panel that Ats Into the recessf The
oentral panel, when removed provides a
walkway In the center of the pad. The
base may be provided wtthftateral
cutouts on the sides tor aoogmttattag
wheel weds that may pretrude ?!**> the
bed ares. Alee, ancillary paneitmay be
I h 11 v iilfii frfllcH tb y
or may be used ssptogm.. ? 7
It's sa aim pis thai If la pastthsfy
?majMia Mi ||| itmijitdsMy OidfulifiA
net dtestoss what he'a neitlag an at dm
in the past he probably is preparing
another "discovery" for patent.
His first invention was for an
orthropedic boot for a wearer with a
deformed or ma I fitting leg.
Oxendine is a dedicated school
teacher at Union Chapel Elementary
School and resides in the Harper's
Ferry Community with his wife. Cora
Sue, and their three children.
Oxendine firmly believes that one
should keep his ideas to himself until he
has filed a patent application with the
United States Patent Office, preferably
through a competent patent attorney.
by Bruce Barton
Lockee
Trial
Set To
Start
Today
Terry Lockee. the 22-year -old
Lumberton men whoee erreet eet off ?
diipute between local Indians and the
State Patrol. Is scheduled to sppear In
Robeson County Court today.
Lockee Is chsrged with second
offense driving under the Influence,
resisting arrest and assaulting an
officer.
Lockee was severely Injured on the
night of May 20 as he allegedly tried to
esc age from Trooper Ray Davis. Lockee
spent more than a week In the hospital
'y tffCsi^rWw Wt^Rff vre ^Rsw^w flsffl
the head with a night stick.
A stale laguoet into the sffatr tree
scheduled fhr aeety My, hot R svas
SjarkeeT^heartst court appearance
Ozmer Lee Oxendlne, left, shows hb invention, o pod for o vehide having flat
bed, to hb son, Ozmer, Jr. (Druce Barton, photo)
Milton Hunt Attends Presidential
Gathering in Wilson
An estimated crowd of tome 10,000
people turned out to we President
Jimmy Carter In the hometown of
Oovernor Jim Hunt. President Carter
made the trip to WUson, North Carolina
to help raise Support for N.C. Insurance
Commissioner John Ingram, the Demo
cratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.
? Pembmho Town CouncilmAfMUton
Shy Hunt,> Sotpaoo County flhlrman
far the Ingram Campaign waomnong a
safest group of f tote ? lea in i who
attended s spotlit luncheon with the
President an<i party at lha ffeart of
Caaafetmsa Hunt gaea as ts fetfew
lag sseoent ef that meat and tha
Pm feds it's Hah ass whale "Prnfedant
as a people'# edvaeafe and samafefead fe
helping Ingram get elected. He termed
Ingram'* election a matter of top
priority aa far aa he we* concerned."
Hunt atated.
Councilman Hunt aald the Prealdent
wae accompanied by Secretary of
Agriculture Bob Bergland and Com
merce Secretary Juanita Krepa. He
a pake of hi* aupport for North Caro
lina'* tobacco Induatry and concern for
the elate'* economy aa ? what*.
Councilman Hunt, introduced to
the Prealdent by John Ingram, aald he
t had ad tiflpfly w If H j hr Cf i* ftldp1 rt I bImmii
? eoeeeacful November election for Mr.
awl >
^ a
The luncheon attended by Conned
man Hunt wee reportedly iNiadad by a
enm? group of about IflO people foot
f
included the Governor, LI. Governor,
Coundl of Slate members. President
Carter's Staff, and other VIPs. Hunt
said he aat neat to Jody Powell and had
an opportunity to introduce himaelf and
speak to him about national affair* in
general and the Ingram Campaign.
Hunt aaid the Praaident left the
luncheon to view a tobacco warehouse
and wa* scheduled to leave Wilson
about 4:90 p.m.
The Pembroke Councilman was ac
companied by Lumbermn City Council
man Glenn May nor, Pembroke Town
Manager McDuffW Cuwiffiliiga, and
Thomas. Couneifman Hunt aaid.
"meeting the Pwiidtal was one of the
most essiting mamooii of e?y life, and I
toot his visit is eortainty a mmpttmeol to
the Ingram Campaign."
#
GOSPEL SING TO BE HELD
The Pembroke VFW Post 2843 will
sponsor a gospel singing at the VA
Hospital in Fayetteville on August 13,
1978 at 3 p.m. The public is welcome to
attend.
HOKE COUNTY JAYCEES TO
SPONSOR SOFTBALL TOURNEY
Presidient Steve Chavis of the
Hoke County Jaycees announced today
that a Ladies Invitational Softball
Tournament will be held in Raeford on
August II, 12. 13.
Chairman of the tournament announ
ced that the tournament will be limited
to sixteen teams and will be a double
elimination tourney. Play will begin on
Friday. Aug. II at 6 p.m. and continue
on Saturday with the final games on
Sunday afternoon.
Teams from six county area are
being invited and this is expected to be
one of the largest invitational ladies
softball tournaments in southeastern
North Carolina this year.
Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
teams will be glyen, as wet! as trophies
to an All Star Team and a Most Valuable
Player.
Any team interested in participating
in this tournament should call 919- 875
5742 (day) or 919- 875- 4514 (night) for
more information.
PEMBROKE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
REGISTRATION
All new students who have not
registered for the 1978- 79 school
year at Pembroke Senior High School
should do so on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The
school will be open for registration from
8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. In order to
register students should bring their
parents with them and any transfer
information from their previous school
where they were in attendance.
DR. I.E. READY.TO ADDRESS
RTI COMMENCEMENT
Dr. I.E. Ready, former head of the
North Carolina Community College
System, will deliver the baccalaureate
address at Robeson Technical Insti
tute's Commencement Exercises on
Friday night, August II, at Lumberton
Senior High School. Ceremonies begin
at 8 p.m.
Dr. Ready retired in 1971 after
serving seven years as Director of the
N.C. Community College System. He
is widely known for his leadership in
education, having served in various
capacities from the high school level
through the University level. He has
been an English teacher and coach,
principal, and superintendent in the
public schools of North Carolina and
South Carolina, and has served as the
director of curriculum study for the NC
State Board of Education. He has also
taught at UNC-Chapel Hill. Duke
University and East Carolina Univer
sity.
ROBESON COUNTY FARM BUREAU
NEWS
"A membership of 500 farm
families is the goal of the Robeson
County Farm Bureau," according tq,
Lycurous Lowry, president of the
organisation.
"The county's annual membership
campaign is now underway," Lowry
said, "and wo are hoping in add at least
500 new members in order to reach this
goal."
Lowry, who lives in the Pembroke
community, said Perm Bureau mam*
hiilhtn ffMlltoiiRR ftfi Aammam "laaai
"eTuilip vtwiiiniSVI IB rinn'
era Jota heasaao they knew that eniy
through a united eflbrt sen they gain
itfflMltfll otovAftli !? ft! 9990IIO Ttm to
issiiii
it, ?HIE
business. "A successful membership
enrollment in Robeson County can help
strengthen the fanner's voice and speed
up agricultural progress."
A PORTION OP NC 71
TO BE CLOSED AUG. IS
Raleigh- North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) will close to
through traffic a portion of NC- 71 in
Robeson County, Tuesday, August IS.
The temporary closing will allow
Seaboard Coastline to repair a rail road
crossing in Mart on. one mile from US
74. Work to repair the rail road crossing
is scheduled to be completed Thursday,
Aug. 17.
Traffic will be detoured on Old Red
Springs Road (Secondary Road 1303),
Flora McDonald Road (Secondary Road
1312) and NC- 71.
RECEPTION TO HONOR DR.
D.E. BROOKS PLANNED
The Young Adult Department of
Bear Swamp Baptist Church will host a
reception in honor of pt. David Brooks,
D.V.M. on Sunda/. August 20. "T?7?
from 3 p.m. until S p.m. !h the church
fellowship hall.
The church invites the people and
various businesses of the community to
come and help welcome David as a new
member of the business sector of our
community.
Dr. Brooks is the son of the late Peter
Brooks and Mrs. Annie Bell Brooks of
Pembroke. He is a recent graduate of
Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala.
CURTIS PIERCE GRADUATES FROM
BANKERS SCHOOL
Curtis Pierce, vice president of
LumbewBank. recently graduated from
the North Carolina School of Banking at
the University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill. The schooling took 4
summers to complete (1 week each).
Pierce lives in the Red Banks
community with his wife. Treva, and
their 2 children. His schooling was
sponsored by Lumber Bank. Pembroke.
REP. DAVIS APPOINTED TO STATE
INMATE LABOR-COMMISSION
Speaker of the House Cart J.
Stewart, Jr. of Gfgtonia, announced
recently his appointment of State Rep.
Robert E. Davis of Maxtor to the State
Inmate Labor Commission
The Commission makes recommen
dations to the Secretary of the Depart
ment of Correction of the employment
of state prison inmates on specific state
public work projects, advises the
secretary on the employment of state
prison inmates, and makes reports to
the secretary and General Assembly
concerning inmate employment through
out the state.
Rep. Davis was appointed to replace
Rep. Joy Joh neon of the 21st District
who was appointed by Gov. Hunt to the
Sute Parole Commission.
During the 197S "mini" session of
the General Assembly, he served ee A
membgr of the committees on AlaohoRy
en _ a f^Aaatwsl A aMWSWinint^MM d^^h
Human Resources aetf Correction#t
Corrections, Human Reeourcua, MM>
tary* and Veterans Affaire. Pa bile
Libraries.
a^^ma sa. mmm
^^u^P? ^w? i
he served oa the hfanten 1mm teaMSt
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