PAGE TWO, THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Letters to the editor
Express Appreciation for
Passage of Water & Sewer
Bond Referendum
The officials of the Town of
Pembroke should like (o thank
the great majority of our
voters who supported tlie
successful water and sewer
bond referendum on Monday.
April 27, 1981. The tre
mendous oul-pouring of sup
port can only be interpreted
as an expression of confidence
by our citizens in the contin
ued growth and progress of
ivsten
'■Ralph Hunt continues to be
a subject of intense interest,
Superintendent Purnell Swett
admitted, a few days follow
ing the meeting, that Ralph
Hunt is back in the employ
ment of the Robeson County
Board of Education. ''Swelt
said that Hunt was hired
“administratively" and was
hired "on an interim basis” to
work with South Robeson
High School which is sup
posed to open in the fall.
Swett said. “He (Hunt) is
doing a good job for us at
South Robeson ...he is quite
versed in preparing a school
for occupancy..." Hunt was
formerly a teacher and princi
pal in the county school
system before retiring to go
into the tobacco business full
time. He was formerly princi
pal at Fairgrove School, one of
the two schools (the other
being Rowland) which will
make up South Robeson High
School,"
During the recent campaign,
we made the following com
mitments to our citizens if the
bund issue was successful: (I)
That the total water and sewer
rate for anv individual resi
dential user would not be
increased; and (2) That there
would be no new taxes levied
in order to retire these new
bonds. The town ofticials now
reaffirm these commitments
in the wake of our citizens'
support of our efforts to
With the federal and state
grant monies we shall obtain
in addition to oiir bond
monies, we pledge our con
tinued best cflorts to preserve
and enhance the reputation of
Pembroke as the most pro
gressive and fastest growing
town ill Robeson County. We
are confident that all ot our
citizens, those who voted for
the bond issue and those who
voted against, will join in
support of our efforts on
behalf of our community: with
such a united effort. Pem
broke will indeed be the
"Capitol of Robeson Coun-
Ihursilaj
EYE OPENERS
(Question: What are the most
common vision problems of
older adults'/
Answer: By tar, the loss ot
locusing ability to see up close
lor reading, sew ing and other
chisc work is the most com
mon vision problem of older
adults.
Called presbyopia, it affects
nearly everyone because it is
part of the normal aging
process.
•'ctx and eye
glaucoma, '
rclalivd, , I
diseases r--'
Others are astigmatism.
nearsighledne.ss and farsight
edness. All can be diagnosed
by your doctor of optometry
during a thorough vision ex
amination and corrected with
prescription glasses or contact
lenses.
Annual optomelric exami
nations also are valuable in
y'"licdopt„„
Pinper specinj, f
EveOpeneoJ
by The Amtrio,jJ
Association Dr i?
""i O'- Har.t'Ji'
Pen,broke
'-■''“'■I a,( k
•he citizens of
Sof
The C.„|:
Voice IS pleasej, 1
column as a
Sincerely.
James A. Jacobs Mayor
Sam Dial Mayor Pro Tcm
Milton Hunt Councilman
Larry Brooks Councilman
Rod Locklear Councilman
LOOKS FOR SISTER...
A Letter fromPrison
Dear editor:
I have been in the Georgia
State Prison for over eight
years. I came here in August
of 1972. I have no family that
is living except my sister. My
last letter was from an old
buddy of mine, and that was
four years ago. My buddy told
me that my sister, Karlene
had gotten married and was
living in Pembroke. I don’t
know her married name.
write me that understands
how 1 feel, it would really
help.
Thank, you for your time,
you may use any or all of this
letter for your paper.
It’s that word "Admitted"
that threw the story out of
kelter. 1 try to watch what
kind of words I use. Maybe a
better word should have been
"confirmed" or "concurred."
I have lost all contact with
the outside world. 1 am very
alone and lonely. I need to
correspond with someone. I
have no money to pay you to
run my letter in your news
paper. but if you can, if would
be reallv kind of vou.
“Preacher Tommy” Swett
accepts a plaque of appre
ciation from the members of
Bear Swamp Baptist Church.
The plaque was presented by
Marvin Lowry, superintend
ent of Sunday School. Looking
on is Mr. Proctor Locklear, a
long time friend and member
of Bear Swamp Baptist Chur-
1 really meant no slight or
evil intent, 1 have admired
Ralph Hunt and Purnell Swett
for years but both are subject
to the intense interest of the
public since both sort of
sauntered out on the public
stage of their own volition.
If mv sister reads this.
PLEASE WRITE ME, be-
cau.se I only have a year left
for parole and 1 need some
help or 1 won’t be able to
make parole. If anyone would ■"
ch.
Rev. Tommy M. Swett
honored at Bear Swamp
Baptis. Church
It was a special day at Bear
Swamp Baptist Church last
Sunday as they honored
"Preacher Tommy" Swett on
the advent of his 83rd birth
day. It was a day to "give
those we love roses while they
are living...”
Church, Beulah Baptist Chur
ch, Deep Branch Baptist
Church, Grey Pond, and Mt.
Moriah Church. He also serv
ed for twenty years in the
Lumbee Methodist Confer
ence.
I liked a passage of scripture
which the church members
used on the program denoting
the special salute to "Prea
cher Tommy." The passage,
taken from 2 Kings reads;
"And she said unto her hus
band, behold now, I perceive
that this is an holy man of
God, who passeth by us
regularly."
"Pastor Swett and his late
wife, the former Ms. Bertha
Strickland had six sons and
two daughters. They are
Bruce and Vardell. ordained
ministers;Purnefl. past Mod
erator of the Burnt Swamp
Baptist Association; Tommy
D., Furman; and Ms. Dorothy
Blakely. Presently, he is
married to the former Clatie
B. Oxendine. Two children
preceded him in death; James
and Virgie.
Being an ex-convict myself 1
’have no fault with hiring
Ralph Hunt to work toward
getting the new school ready.
He’s paid his dues; he
deserves the right to practice
his wares like everyone else.
But the public deserves the
right to know about it. I meant
to infer no more than my
reader’s basic right to know
items of interest.
"Never cut what you can
untie." Joseph Joubert
"We cannot be just if we
are not kindhearted."
Vauvenargues
...Promoted to Major
And that is how "Preacher
Tommy” is perceived by all
those who know him. A man
of God. He probably holds
some kind of world’s record
for preaching the most fune
rals. In fact, if he out lives me.
I want him to preach my
funeral. I revere the man. his
years, his perseverence, his
standing for something of
worth over a long period of
time. He thinks and acts in
mighty spiritual ways, believ
ing that God will supply his
every need.
“In addition to Bear Swamp
Baptist Church honoring Rev.
Swett. he has been honored
on several other occasions. On
November 20, 1976. special
tribute was paid by the Pem
broke Jaycees. The Jaycees
lauded Rev. Swett for his
concern of the spiritual well
being of mankind. During the
Evangelism Conference on
May 9, 1980. the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association
presented a plaque to him for
services rendered since 1922.
Here’s some words which
were also on the program. I
think they are appropriate and
measure the man pretty well.
"As our generation speaks
of Spurgeon. Moody and
Sunday with loving admir
ation. the following genera
tion, if Christ delays His
coming, will lovingly speak of
our pastor. T.M, Swett.”
OAK RIDGE, TENN.-Mr,
Thomas H. Wynn, son of Mrs.
Lummie J- Wynn, and the late
Honorable Chief Wynn, was
recently promoted to Major in
the United States Active Re
serves with an effective date
of January 24. 1979. Major
Wynn, a highly decorated
Vietnam era war veteran, has
just completed a two week
active duty training exercise
in Fort ([Jordon. Georgia,
clear Division, as a Senior
Engineering Technologist. He
is also a part lime manager
with a local Marketing firm.
Mr.
nn moved to Ten
nessee in 1979. after serving
three and one half years with
the North Carolina Depart
ment of Corrections.
"There are giant trees in the
forest of men. trees that tower
above their fellows, sturdy
oaks who challenge others
with their ability to weather
the storm, to dare and to do.
Such a fine is our pastor, the
Reverend T.M. Swett.
A number of visitors from
New Bethel. Beulah Baptist
and Deep Branch also attend-
Mr. Wynn is employed with
the Oak Ridge National Lab-
orotorv. Union Carbide, Nu-
Mr. Wynn, liis lovely wife
Betty, and two wonderful
children. Paula and Tommy
are members of the Bethel
Assembly Church of God. Oak
Ridge. Tennessee.
A CLARIFICATION NOTE
ABOUT RALPH HUNT...
■'Pastor Swett has been, for
us. an exemplification of the
gospel he preaches. He has
continuously reminded us that
the success of mankind is
dependent on spiritual grow
th.
”We have watched him
take the Word of God and go
to work on his audience as a
skilled surgeon goes about his
task. We have listened to him
preach when it seemed that a
heavenly halo had settled
about him.
Purnell Swett, superintend
ent of the Robeson County
Schools, and one of "Preacher
Tommy's" boys said follow
ing the ceremony, while we
were eating some of the
sumptuous food prepared for
the momentous occasion,
"Now Bruce...you sort of
made it look like we were
trying to hide something
when, in fact, that just wasn’t
the case at all.,."
* ^
♦ . Pembroke Eye Clinic ♦
i College Plaza (across from P.S. U. ) 4
{ Tuesdays and Fridays only (8:30 - 5:30){
I T-U„ A ... I
Dr. John Adams. Optometrist
Mrs. Helen Lowry, Recepti .'mst
Tel. 521-9744 Office
Dr. Harold Herring
J^airmoni (©ptometne
CCilinic
"Our pastor came to Bear
Swamp.'in 1942. In addition to
BearSwamp,^he has served as
pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist
Supt. Swett was talking
about a portion of a story in
last week’s issue of the
Carolina Indian Voice.
Tel. 628-8316
for Emergency and Other Days
In the story 1 had noted that
Ralph Hunt, the former chair
man of the Robeson County
■ t Tel'. 521-9931 - Mrs. Helen Lowry
Sincerely.
James C. Quick
P.O. Box D-I0791
Ga. State Prison
Reidsville, Ga. 30499
Robeson County Indian Youth
Festival Underway...
-Continued from page 1-
will present Indian cultural pre
sentations. Arnold Richardson. Indian
traditionalist from Hollister, N.C. will
also participate in the programs and
activities, as will Eddie Benton Benai.
Director of Red School House in St.
Pauls. Minnesota.
Miss Lumbee. Bridgette Bravbcn ^
student pert'ormances by the Ii;. 8®
Youth Chorus and Band andsludet
the Lumbee Center for the Perii.r-.""
Arts. The program will begin at S-'jl'
he
Students pertorniances will include the
chorus and band students Irom the Title
IV Indian Youth Band and Chorus each
dav from 1-3.
A Pow Wow was held on Wednesday
evening and again on Thursday evening.
An Indian Dance Contest will be held
during the Thursday evening Pow Wow,
Friday evening. May Isl. an Indian
Talent Performance will be emceed by
Carncil Locklear, general manager of
"Strike at the Wind!" and will feature
Willie Lowery, performer and musician:
Miriam Oxendine. composer and artist;
In addition to scheduled perfrrrj-,^
and activities, the festival will
open daily from 10 a.m, until ]o”
Arts and Crafts exhibits featuiinjio !
artisans and craftsmen as well a li|Ji
student exhibits in arts and
creative writing and other sic3
handiwork will be displayed,
exhibits will be provided by "Str^:
the Wind!"; the Museum o(!“'
Carolinas: the N.C. Conimissi«J
Indian Affairs; the Old Main IjJ
Museum. Lumbee Regional DoJ
ment Association, and the N.C. De3
ment of Archives and Histori-. r-'
Title IV Indian Education projects’,
also been invited to exhibit.
iilv
with t
Duke [r.VA.
and
IIKJ fi.
! Cliai;. •
.cIikIi
-d M'm
poDpk’ many of wl
vcilli lilt' art’a "
.111 ilu’ Col
- .Adiiula
iiuj Ih'I l.l^
lkiii[K’ts')n
C'.nipeTii!.
Staff Profile:
Cm
n - pa-’
in N.'.,
Arlinda
Locklear
•■ueb ••
"Experifufiny d!5crin]iiiai:i m wliiie yrnw^iiy up iii
North Carolina and set’iny the effect'- of disuiniinalion
on my family' was one of tf.e reasons yicen K Arl.nda
Locklear, a Lumbee Indian from Nfirlli Carolina for
choosing law as a career Now :n her liiit; vear as a
staff atlornec for the Nalwe American Riyliis fdind.
Arlinda Iia'. lieen devoting nmsi of fier time working
on cases .luolving the riyiiE of l.umbee Indians and
other t-a'-ti'ii, Indians l5orn at I'l Btayy, North
C.arolina, sh,, ^rew up m seceral F-Iast Coast cities since
her father was in the Nas y "But like most l.umbees.'
Arlinda said, ‘ i te always considered Robeson County
in Nririh Caroi.na my home i spent three years living
there with my grandparents as a young cfiild while my
parents were overseas I ve always maintained close
'''ini e loining .NARf. Aiiind.i
■ i, ’..itieiv ..f !Md;.m lights
.burns ediKMlion wale; iiglits and
tislimg tiglifs VAoiking out ni NARF's Wash
I) (' office, sjie is |iiesenik w>iku’ifj.on cast’s n.:'
mg tfie- wati’r rights ■■of-ATf.'o:.a^--Moliavi'Apfj
Trihe. Iiind ,i!id laxalion iigliis -if the Semin.':'!
i'lorid.i. r.t.li* ul trespass ri»ijms and reservation;' '■
dary issues for ifie Panuinkev Tribe of '.':rgir'i I
clarms of Oneida Indian Nation m New Yotl- I
rights of the Run f.ake Band of Ottawa !nL:l
Michig.,ii. and several oilier cases j
AvLnd.i's work at NARI in pist (our yearsha-lt^
invaluahle to the efforts of NAR!' in securing
of Native Americans tfuougfioiil the counln,’
howevei long she reamms ut .NARF and theitf
her commilineni tj the cause of tiidian rights«as?
expressed wlien she stated. 'I believe in ihcAr.
system of government atul 111 a piuiali'lic sncick '
am determined to help make that system work'' '
people and liuhans generally "
Tech keeps Sampson
Montana Tech President
Dr. Fred DeMoney an
nounced Friday that Kelvin
Sampson has been named
head men's basketball
coach of the Orediggers.
DeMoney. who accepted
the athletic search com
mittee’s unanimous
recommendation, noted
that the appointment is
subject to approval by the
Board of Regents.
Sampson was picked
from a field of more than
30 applicants from
throughout the country.
Sampson became acting
head coach in December
following the dismissal of
Fred Paulsen.
Sampson was a graduate
assistant in the physical
education department un
der Dr. Gale Mikles.
“I have every confidence
that Sampson will bring
stability and solidarity to
the program and will
produce a competitive
program in the years
ahead,” said DeMoney.
Sampson says, "My
philosophy involves hard
work with dedication and
discipline. At the college
level we should not need a
lot of motivation,”
KELVIN SAMPSON
“HE HAD our players’
respect and we have con
fidence in his ability,” said
Forrest Wilson, Montana
Tech athletic director.
"Kelvin related well with
our players as individuals
and as team members.
"Kelvin saved the
basketball program for
Tech when he stepped in
last December,’’ said
Wilson. “We knew what we
had in ability with
Sampson, and although a
lot of applicants look good
on paper, you don't know
how they are going to
relate with the players un
til they have been around
awhile,”
Sampson earned a
degree in political science
and physical education at
Pembroke (N.C.) State
University, where he was a
four-year standout as point
guard in basketball and as
an outfielder in baseball.
He went on to receive a
master degree in physical
education with a con
centration in physiology of
exercise and athletic ad
ministration at Michigan
State University.
While at Michigan State.
THE NEW Tech coach
feels that with the
academic quality present
at Tech that "we won’t get
the ‘blue-chipper’, but will
Sampson is looking
forward to a good
recruiting year.
“We lost our best player,
get kids that wifi be good Doyle Beneby. but have
for os,’’ Mike Mitchell and Eddie
Expressing pleasure Williams as building
with the progress the blocks.” said Sampson
Orediggers made this year "We will also have Jon
in spite of adversity, Puckett. Ken Phillips
Chris Riffe and Jim j
Hendricks returning ne« I
year. They all got valuable
experience this year when !
they were immediately |
thrown into the fire. !
"We will work as hard as f
we can to be as good a .
basketball team as we ,
can,” said Sampson.
Sampson emphasized
that he hoped to meet more
of the Butte community
and wants everyone to be ;
involved with the Oredig
gers next season.
Sampson credits his
coaching philosophy to bis
father, John Sampson, who •
coached his son through
high school. '
“1 owe most of my per
sonal development to my
father and I will try to pass
what I have learned onto
the team.”
Sampson and his wim ^
Karen came to the MW i
City in Becembef.;
LOCKLEAR LOCKLEAR
& McNEIL INSURANCE AGENC^
OPEN MON - FRI
8:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM
.CALL
4TH ST. PEMBROKE
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