S3;'ial:> Denart;;;.ent‘ Univ. I'jC-Ghapel Hill i loonljibrary 024-A - CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE See., ■ Virgini, ^ “Building ConMnonicative Bridges In A Tri-IUcial Setting’* POST OFFICE BOX 1075 PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY ULUME 9 NUMBER 8 PEMBROKE, N.C. 28372 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981 SHELIA LOCKLEAR BECK AWARDED $375,000 IN “WRONGFUL DEATH” JUDGMENT AGAINST CP&L Local Attorney Dexter Brooks leads Legal Effort PEOPLE AND PLACES AND THINGS the, PfiLElGH-Friday. February 13. 1981 thouse, Idis remember for Shelia *i]| be i:lclear Beck as a Wake County jury in ■ h 6, :;eigh awarded her a $375,000.00 lyisane.gment against Carolina Power & Jyer. .it Company under the North Carolina ongful Death Statute. The action out of the death of her husband. -yl Ivan Beck by electrocution: Beck also the son of Ms. Beulah Hardin : of the Saddletree Community. leek’s body was found by a search ily near the home of his mother in the pdletree township on July 2. 1978. He 9 been missing since approximately 5 . the previous day when he walked 1 the nearby woods. . e was found lying under a guy wire .ached to a CP&L pole with severe ,^ms on the palm of his right hand and n soles of his feet. As there had been ¥ electrical storm in the same area the Yjy lhat he was found many believed m he had been struck and killed by jhtning. ortunately for the family, however, me did not believe he had been killed lightning, including Ronald Ham- ^nds. formerly a longtime, first class . esman with CP&L. Hammonds, also a Uident of the Saddletree Community, is a farmer and a member of the l^vbeson County Board of Education. s soon as Hammonds saw the scene of lo'ath he described the fatal pole as a ' leath trap.” based upon his previous periences as a linesman with CP&L. Because of suggestions by Hammonds any photographs were taken of the pole id scene before it was later altered by t ee firm of Locklear, Brooks & Jacobs retained Eventually -the family retained the Pembroke law firm of Locklear. Brooks & Jacobs to prosecute a ‘wrongful death’ action against CP&L. The case was of particular interest to Dexter Brooks, a member of the firm, who handled the case. Brooks, inter estingly enough, earned a degree with high honors, in electrical engineering from N.C. State. Brooks grasped the significance of the case immediately, noting with clarity the negligent actions and omissions of CP&L. In another ironic twist Brooks is also a first cousin to Ronald Hammonds and has strong ties to the Saddletree Com munity. His mother is Ms. Lela Ham monds Brooks, a native of the Saddletree Community. The two first cousins spend countless hours re-constructing the case, pain stakingly putting together the case against CP&L, For instance, the exist ence of lightning on the fatal day had to be explained and negated as even the autopsy report suggested death by lightning rather than by electrical power (actually lightning is electricity). The research, over a period of months, included interviews with neighbors of the deceased, meteorologists, airport towers and computer analysis of weather data and satellite photos. The services of an electrical engineer with experience in power transmission and distribution had to be secured; apparently this was not an easy task given CP&L’s influence on the engineering community. In spite o^ the death CP&L never once contacted the family of Daryl Beck with expressions of sympathy or settlement. Although discussions were held between Brooks and attornies for CP&L. no offer to settle the case was ever made by the power monolith. Brooks eventually contacted the Raleigh law firm of Thorp, Anderson & Slikfin for assistance because of the tremendous expense of preparing a case against such a large corporation with seeming unlim ited legal help and also because of the power company’s hard line stance. Anne Slikfin was a classmate of Brooks at the UNC School of Law in Chapel Hill and Bill Thorp is a renowned civil trial practitioner. After suit was filed, the trio engaged in extensive discovery, motions and depo sitions as they meticulously built their case, which included restructuring the entire work and inspection history of the particular fatal power line. Still CP&L refused to settle the case; instead they retained the services of Howard Manning, a prominent Raleigh attorney to defend the case for them. In another ironic twist Manning also represents the St. Pauls, Red Springs and Fairmont Boards of Education in the celebrated Robeson School Discrimina tion suit. Brooks, of course, is the attorney for the Robeson County Board of Education. The trial finally began on Monday, February 2, 1981 in Wake County Superior Court before Judge A. Pilston Godwin and ran for two weeks. CP&L attempted to show that Daryl Beck was negligent in causing his own death and discounted his worth to his family by citing his lack of formal education. CP&L also introduced statis tics involving homicide and vehicular accidents among the Indians. Arguments to the jury started on Thursday. February 12, with Brooks making the first presentation. Brooks in a long, sometimes colorful, presentation used Indian history and philosophy and his electrical engineering background to argue the family’s theory Baptist Student Center Groundbreaking Feb. 27 by Gene Warren PEMBROKE-Ground-breaking cere- lonies for a $210,000 Baptist Student Nentertobebuilt this spring across from 'Pembroke State University will be held wriday. Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. with top Nignitaries of the N.C. Baptist State convention taking part, ■ Among them will be Cecil Ray of Valeigh. executive secretary-treasurer of the Youth and Campus Ministries for the Baptist State Convention; W.R. Wagon er of Thomasville. president of the N.C. Baptist Children’s Homes; J. Dewey Hobbs of Marion, president of the General Board of the Baptist State Convention; and Robert Hickman of Bladenboro. vice president of the N.C. Baptist Men. Alsoon the program will be Dr. English Jones of Rowland, chancellor emer- 1 he N.C. Baptist State Convention; itus of Pembroke State University: Tony llames Y. Greene of Raleigh, director of Brewington of Pembroke, superintend- Studylng the architect drawings for the $210,000 Baptist Student Center to be built across from Pembroke State University beginning in March arc these three ministers: (left to right] Tony Brewington, director of missions for the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association; Win ston Hardman, Baptist campus minister of Pembroke State University; and Lawrence Hardy, pastor of Berea Baptist Church at Pembroke. All three will be among those on the program for ground-breaking ceremonies, scheduled Friday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. ent of missions for the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association; and Lawrence Har dy of Pembroke, pastor of Berea Baptist Church. The 4.000-square foot, one-story build ing will be located adjacent to the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association building on property owned by the Baptist State Convention. The building is expected to be completed this summer with volun teer help being utilized. Chancellor Paul R. Givens of Pembroke State University says, "We are very excited about this new Baptist Student Center as an addition to campus life.’' Winston Hardman, in his third year as the first full-time Baptist campus minis ter of Pembroke State University, is the man who got the project off the ground. He says the new Baptist Student Center "will greatly enrich campus life and help students spiritually, mentally and phy sically." The building will be equipped with a chapel and conference room plus a 54x24 foot carpeted room with large sofas and two fireplaces. There will be a kitchen where large meals can be served. It will have a porch provided with rocking chairs. It will also have a patio area for cookouts and recreation. The energy-efficient building, which is designed by John McCulloch of Char lotte. will also be equipped with an efficiency apartment for a couple who will reside there and be responsible for the building. as to how the death occured and to CP&L’s contention. Anne Slikfin argued the perspective of a mother, noting that Beck was survived by a at the time of death seventeen year old widow and an eleven day old daughter. After an argument by Manning. Bill Thqrp argued that the gross negligence of the power company called for punitive damages in order to force the large corporation to become more conscious of the safety of the public. After deliberating less than three hours, the jury returned a verdict for $200,000 in compensatory damages and $175,000 in punitive damages. It is believed that this is the largest jury award ever to a Robeson County resident and the largest award ever of punitive damages by a Wake- County jury. Dexter Brooks calls trial Two Weeks of “Intense Mental Combat'’ Dexter Brooks, the young Indian 'attorney who spearheaded the defense is well known locally for his work in the landmark federal' case which broke double voting in Robeson County and the case which forced the reapportionment of tlue county commissioner districts, thereby resulting in the election of a third Indian commissioner. Brooks is also considered the founding father of Lumber River Legal Ser vices in Pembroke, a particularly effect ive advocate for poor people in the area. Since becoming an attorney Brooks has earned a reputation for competence in the area of civil law in a series of cases, including the now celebrated case brought by a white, non-resident land owner against the town of Pembroke - Alfred W. Cook. Brooks, along with Arnold Locklear and Arlie Jacobs, his associates, have brought the law firm of Locklear, Brooks and Jacobs to a position of prominence in Robeson legal circles. Brooks, when querried about the case, would only respond that he considered the trial two weeks of "intense mental combat." and referred us to the family for further details. Because of the efforts of Brooks and his associates it appears that Shelia Locklear Beck and her daughter Rekelle will have a relative happy ending to a sad story that began with the death of their husband and father. FAMILY REUNION PLANNED The, family of the late Edmond and Mary Lowery Jacobs is planning a family reunion on April 5. 1981 at the Saddle tree Jaycee Hut in Lumberton. NC. This invitation is being extended to all the decendants of Edmond and Mary, The family is requesting that each one attending bring a covered dish. Lunch will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a program and fellowship. For further information call Betty McGirt at 919-739-5593 or Doris Brooks at 919-521-2061 or Mary C. Brewer at 919-521-2189 or Geraldine Clark at 919- 521-4303. FREE INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE Lumbee River Legal Services is participating in the Internal Revenue services Volunteer Income Tax Assis tance (VITA) Program. The VITA program is designed to help lower income, elderly, handicapped and non- English speaking individuals in filing their income tax on Form 1040A and the basic Form 1040. This service is being provided at the offices of Lumbee River Legal Services at East Main and Second Street in Pembroke on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. NORTH CAROLINA’S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS The high school dropout rate in North Carolina’s public schools declined slight ly over the previous year, according to a recent report from the State Department of Public Instruction. Some 70.862 students graduated from North Carolina’s high schools in 1980. An estimated 7.8 percent (or approxi mately 28.090) dropped out during the 1979-80 school year. There were approximately 72.464 grad uates in the Class of 1979. Eight percent' (about 29,431 students) were estimated to have dropped out during the 1978-79 school term. The drop out rate was 7.9 percent in 1976-77; 7.5 percent in 1975-76; and 8.5 percent in 1974-75. Tickets still available Office space for Hardman and secretary is also provided. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ’ his Tickets are still available for a chance to win a 200-lb. hog. Tickets are $1.00 each and may be purchased from the students of Pembroke Senior High and Pembroke Junior High. The drawing will be held Monday. Feb. 23, 1981 at Pembroke Senior High School. This drawing is only one of many projects undertaken by the concerned parents of Pembroke Senoir High in an effort to raise funds to purchase an activity bus for the school. A previous drawing was held Feb. 9, 1981. The hog was donated by Dial Farms. Paula Brooks was the winner of the hog. The student who sells the most tickets for this drawing will be presented a $25.00 Savings Bond. For more information interested per sons may contact Roy Maynor. Jr., principal of Pembroke Senior 'High or Buddy Bell at Pembroke Junior High. GOSPEL SING PLANNED A gospel sing will be held Thursday. Feb. 26, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. at Scotland Senior High Auditorium in Laurinburg. The sing will feature Teddy Huffman and the Gems, the Cathedral Quartet, and the Lowery Trio. The event is being sponsored by the Northv'iew Pentecostal Holiness Church. STRIKE AT THE WIND BONANZA A drawing will be held at the Carolina Indian Voice February 28, 1981 at 11 a.m. The drawing will be to determine who the lucky winner of $500.00 cash, first place; $150.00 in cash, second prize: and third place $100.00 in cash. The drawing is sponsored by Strike at the Wind and is an effort to raise money for the local outdoor drama. Information on tickets may be gotten by catling 9191-521-2489. SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL CLINIC TO BE HELD The Robeson County Officials Associ ation will hold its first softball and baseball clinic on Sunday, Feb. 22. at 2 p.m. at the Robeson County Recreation and Park Commission Office on Eliza bethtown Road in Lumberton. This is the first of three clinics and in order to qualify to umpire softball and or baseball for the summer of 1981, all umpires must attend these clinics. If you are interested in joining the association and umpiring this summer, make plans to attend this first of three important clinic meetings. Named to EEO Post in Hawaii Barbara Frederick, the Deputy Equal Opportunity Officer in Hawaii (DEEOO), assumed the position at CINCPAC as Management Analyst/ DEEOO on 20 October 1980. As the DEEOO, she is tasked to provide leadership in the administration of the CINCPAC EEO program. Prior to coming to CINCPAC, Barbara worked as a management analyst at NAS Barbers Point. She has a total of 16 vears Federal service which have included various positions at Midway Island. China Lake, California, Guantanomo Bay, Cuba and Corpus Christi, Texas. Barbara is a native of Pembroke. NC and the daughter of Mrs. Sarah Jane Oxendine Locklear. She is married to a Naval service member and they, have two very active teenagers. FIRST AMERICAN SHOWCASE, INC. TO MEET FEBRUARY 20,1981 Pembtoke-Organizers today announced plans to hold the first annual meeting of First American Showcase. Inc. on Februrary 20. 1981. The organizational meeting will be held at Big Mo’s Goal Post Restaurant located on Highway 74 approximately 4 miles from Pembroke. The first venture of the fledgling organization was to raise monies via a successful fund raising dinner to send 'Darnell Locklear to Hollywood. Califor- The venture was successful! Locklear returned from Hollywood after a two week stay and is now acting as general manager of "Strike at the Wind," the popular outdoor drama about Heniy Berry Lowrie and his fellow Robesoni- ans before, during and after the Civil War, Locklear made many valuable contacts in Hollywood and hopes to pursue his career in the entertainment industry. The first annual meeting will be devoted to electing permanent officers, adopting by laws and charting a direction for the organization in the years ahead. Bruce Barton, editor of The Carolina Indian Voice, is presently serving as temporary chairman of the organiza tion. All those who attended the fund raising dinner for Camell Locklear and/ or bought tickets are eligible to participate.'The meeting is also open to anyone who is interested in artistic expression, especially in the Indian communitv.