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itw post office box 1*75 PUBLISHED BACH THURSDAY Pembroke, n.c. urn ^*"" V|l
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VOLUME 9, NUMBEB M 2Se PER COPT THURSDAY, MAT 14, 1991
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ELECTIONS BOARD
HEARING:
MUCH ADO
ABOUT NOTHING
IjrUwhriM
A large crowd of people turned out last
Thursday night to hear a handful of
disgruntled townspeople, dissatisfied
with the recent outcome of the water
improvement referendum for the Town
of Pembroke, make much ado about
nothing.
The Robeson County Board of Elections
found nothing amiss in connection with
the way the referendum was held.
Newspeople who had been promised a
big story by the complainers, went away
without one of any significance. Most of
the people present were those in support
of the referendum. And even one of the
complainers refused to complain under
oath. "Much ado about nothing," a
Fayetteville reporter commented dryly.
And the general attitude of most people
present, as well as that of the Elections
Board, seemed to be that their time had
been wasted. The apparent publicity
scheme of the rejected town politician
who had evidently hoped to improve his
political lot with the wild charges, just
didn't come off.
The only two people who complained
were Robert Brewington, an ex-member
of the Town Board, and Henry Smith, a
teacher in the public schools. Rev.
Dawley Maycor. alawm member of the
tiny group which calls itself "Pembroke
Citizens for Better Government," re
fused to testify under oath. "1 don't
swear for nobody," Rev. Maynor was
heard to say.
"What's here to write about?" I asked a
nearby reporter, stifling an impulse 10
yawn.
The reporter surveyed the large group
of people present, and admitted there
wasn't much of anything newsworthy to
write about. "Except one thing," the
reporter added. "The people of Pem
broke sure care about what happens to
their town."
They do. Many of those present were
elderly people, residing in nearby
housing facilities. Others were curiosity
seekers who had been promised a good
show by the looks of things. Others were
people who had to be there. And still
others were there for still other reasons.
The opposition of Brewington and a few
others to Pembroke's housing develop
ment is well-known from previous
political attacks, and many of the town's
poor are resentful. "1 appreciate my
home," one very old lady stated firmly,
explaining her presence.
One thing seems to be a foregone
conclusion: Anyone opposing the poor of
Pembroke isn't likely to |je a very
popular town politician, or a very
successful one. There are simply too
many of us, to be pushed around in the
elective process. And we ail know that
the only valuable thing we possess, is our
voting strength. Furthermore, foolish is
any politician who expects us to vote
against ourselves and our own best
interests. After all, that's what the
political process is all about. It is the
power of the people to improve their lot
by the way they vote.
Lumbee River Native American Center foi
The Arts "Spring
Revue" well received
"A Spring Revue" was presented by
Lumbee Regional Development Associ
ation's Lumbee River Native American
Center for the Arts on May 7, 1981 at
Pembroke State University's Performing
Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. in Pembroke,
N.C. An enthusiastic crowd applauded
each and every number.
Lumbee River Native American
Center for the Arts, a component of
LRDA, is a program for gifted and
talented Indian students in grades 7-12
and is funded through an Indian
Education Title IV Part B grant. All
students are admitted to the program by
auditions.
The "Spring Revue" included four
types of dance-Jazz. Tap, Ballet and
modern by the Lumbee River Dancers.
Performances were given by Piano,
Guitar, Band and Creative Writing
students. In addition, the Lumbee River
Singers offered a medley of songs that
brought standing ovations during recent
performances. The Lumbee River Play
ers also presented a one act musiod
entitled "Who Am I?". The play is an
original production by Darryl Locklear,
the Center's Drama Instructor, and
includes eight (8) original songs written
by Willie French Lowery. The "Spring
Revue" also included an art exhibit by
visual art students that took place in the
lobby.
Over one hundred students were
involved in the production of "Spring
Revue." The Lumbee River Native
American Center for the Arts students
attend 14 different Robeson County
schools.
ELECTIONS BOARD AFFIRMS
?f
PEMBROKE WATER,
SEWER BOND VOTE
By Brace Barton
LUMBERTON--Dexter McLean, chair
man of the Robeson County Board of
Elections, put it bluntly, "As a body we
find the evidence to be insufficient...
the board of elections has no evidence
that there is any justification for a
hearing...or another vote..."
The board's findings were announced
after hearing complaints from Bob
Brewington and Henry Smith, two op
ponents of the $725,000 water, sewer
bond referendum which passed resound
ingly on April 27. The water phase
passed bv a margin of 327 for and 221
against; fhe sewer part passed by a vote
of 343 in favor and 224 opposed.
Brewington and Smith alleged non
compliance of the Voting Rights Act of
'65; an improper annexation (Presum
ably the recent West End annexation);
conflict in voting materials; double
standards for voters; a non resident
being allowed to vote in the election;
infringement on voter's rights and
privileges; misuse of tax funds in the
special election; an unauthorized person
handling ballots; a conflict of interest by
the contractor of voting materials, etc.
Joe Ward, county attorney, who chaired
the hearing last Thursday night, shot
down each argument presented saving,
in regard to some of the allegations. 'If
you nave evidence of wrong doing you
can talk to Joe Freeman Britt about it
(Britt is the district attorney)."
Dexter Brooks. Pembroke's attomev,
insisted that Brewington and Smith be
sworn in before presenting their alle
gation saying. "The town's integrity is at
stake..." Rev. Dawley Maynor," who
appeared with Brewington and Smith at
the hearing, refused to be sworn in and
remained silent throughout the hearings
which was heard beiort some 40
Pembroke citizens and interested on
lookers.
In rebuttal to a letter presented by
Brewington and Smith questioning whe
ther or not the measure had been
submitted to the justice department.
Brooks presented a fetter which affirmed
that the West End annexation and
election had been submitted in com
* pliance to the '65 Voting Rights Act.
Upon direct inquiry from Ward and
Brooks aside that "I am dying of
curiosity to know who this non resident
who supposedly voted is" Brewington
and Smith remained silent.
Brewington and Smith also produced
two different sample ballots which was
explained by Elizabeth Morton, super
visor of election. According to Morton,
the first set of ballots were contracted to
Garry Lewis Barton, proprietor of
Barton's Printing Center in Pembroke,
tie printed the official ballots on the
same white paper that was used in the
first election in January. Ms. Morton and
McLean decided to contract for another
printing of the official ballots which were
produced by Robeson Office Supplies on
a blue paper, conforming to the law
which states that different colored paper
should be used when a second election
on the same issue is held.
Ward also noted. "What difference
does it make?" when querried as to two
seeming sets of sample ballots. Ward
noted that there is no restriction on
sample ballots. Ward noted that there is
no restriction on sample ballots except
that they be printed on a yellow colored
paper and be clearly marked "Sample"
across the face of them in red.
Expecting fire works from Brewington
and Smith, most of the on lookers
seemed satisfied that no irregularities
were unearthed at the hearing.
Late breaking news...
As we neared press time it was brought
to our attention that Brewington and
Smith have appealed the decision of the
Robeson County Board of Elections to
the North Carolina Board of Elections.
A letter was received at the state board
asking for a hearing on May 12, 1981.
The letter was written by Warren L.
Pate, an attorney with Moses. Diehl and
Pate of Raeford. N.C. Phil Diehl
a presented Brewington and others in a
. i nits over watei rates in Pembroke
jirevmusiy.
Jn a letter to Alex Brock, executive
director of the North Carolina Board of
Election. County Attorney Joe Ward
termed Brewington and Smith's com
plaints before the county board of
elections as "frivolous."
Jim Bullock, a native of Lumberton. and
a senior assistant attorney general in the
North Carolina attorney general's office
in Raleigh has requesteaa transcript of
the hearing before the county board
which was held last Thursday (May 7.
1981). The attorney general represents
the board of elections in disputes before
that body.
Extension
Supported
For Voting
Rights Act
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Orga
nized labor and major civil rights
group* on Wednesday threw their
weight behind the proposed exten
sion of the 1965 Voting Rights Act,
but the battle looms as difficult
against the conservative tide of the
97th Congress. ?
The heads of the NAACP, the
National Urban League and the
AFL-CIO all urged renewal of the
law before a generally sympathetic
House Judiciary subcommittee.
But heavy resistance is expected
in the full House and In the Senate.
Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., chair
man of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, has indicated he will fight
any bill that would keep aliva one
of the major legal tools used by
civil rights enforcers over the past
IS years.
Failure to extend important
provisions of the law before expi
ration ia August Wl "would em
bolden those who want to return to
the had old days," said NAACP
executive director Benjamin
Hooks.
Hooks recalled pro-Voting Rights
Act days In the South when voting
registrars would aak prospective
black voters, "How many bubbles
are in a bar of soap?" or "Haw far
can a Utile dog run in the woods?"
M? MiO WllllOUl rVwoWnl QM
parts of the law under whfeh lbs
eiectisn laws In all laalbani and
two Wasters stales and parts of II
otiwrsjK^moaJtorod^lfMHfe Ins
2!C "eftife past*'
Slander
Suit in
the Works
As press time neared, we were
informed that a slander suit was in the
works against Bob Brewington, a former
Pembroke Town councilman, and an
opponent of the recently approved water,
sewer bond referendum in Pembroke.
The suit is being brought as a civil
action in Robeson District Court by Millie
Collins, a town resident.
Ms. Collins charges that Brewington
wrongly accused her of coercing resi
dents of public housing to vote in favor of
the recent bond referendum.
Hosts
5th Annual
Awards
Banquet
The Board of Directors and Staff of
Guilford Native American Association.
Inc. request the honor of your preseoce
at the Fifth Annual Awards Banquet
Saturday. May 16. 1961 at 7 o'clock in
the evening at The Blue Room. Coliseum
Complex. 1921 West Lee Street. Greens
boro. North Carolina. Tickets are S10.
1 PUBLIC HEARING
The Town of Pembroke will hold ?
public hearing on May 25, 1961, at 7
p.m., at the Pembroke Town Hall for the
purpose of (litcutiing thr proposed uses
of Oeaeral Revenue Sharing funds
during flacal year 196142.
The Town wit isreht approximately
694400 la Oeaeral Revenue liming
JThteeai are levied to eflbr oral or
tar
PEOPLE
A ND PL A CES
AND THINGS
MISS LUMBEE PLATE SALE
A plate sale will be held Friday, May
29th, 1981 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.,
sponsored by Pembroke Jaycees and
Lumbee Homecoming at the Pembroke
Town Park.
Fried and Barbecued Chicken will be
available for S3 (drink is included).
This is an Annual event held for Miss
Lumbee to assist in her wardrobe for the
Miss North Carolina Pageant held June
24-27 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Tickets may be purchased through any
Jaycees or LRDA staff.
PLATE SALE
There will be a Barbecue and Chicken
Plate Sale Saturday, May 16, 1981 at
Prospect Volunteer Fire Station. The sale
will begin at 11 a.m. and last until. Plates
will be S3.00 each. The Sale is sponsored
by the Prospect Volunteer Fire De
partment and Ladies Auxiliary.
GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR
LRDA'S ABE STUDENTS
Lumbee Regional Development Asso
ciation's Adult Education Project will
have a graduation ceremony for the
General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
graduates and for the Adult Basic
Education (ABE) students. Jt will be held
at the Pembroke Middle School gym
nasium at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 31.
The public is invited to attend. Guest
speaker will be Mr. Grady Locklear,
principal at Piney Grove School. Director
of the Adult Education Project is Marilyn
L. Locklear.
MAY DAY CELEBRATION AT
DEEP BRANCH SCHOOL
Deep Branch Elementary School will
hold May Day Celebration Friday, May
22nd, at 6 p.m., and hold a plate sale
with home-cooked barbecue and chicken
plates. Cost will be S2.50 per plate and
$1 for sandwiches. The Plate Sale will be
held at the school cafeteria from 11 a.m.
until.
MAY DAY ACTIVITIES
Union Elementary School will present
the annual May Day activities on Friday,
May 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m. All
classes, kindergarten through grade six,
will participate in the program. All
parents and school patrons are invited to
be present.
In the event of inclement weather,
Friday, May 29 will be the rain date.
ROBESON COUNTY BEE KEEPERS
ASSOCIATION TO MEET
?
The Robeson County Bee Keepers
Association will have their monthly
meeting Tuesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. in
the O.P. Owens Agriculture Building.
The public is invited.
HONOR OUR CHILDREN POW WOW
The Third Annual Honor Our Children
Pow-Wow is being sponsored by the
Detroit Indian Education and Cultural
Title IV-A Program. The Pow-Wow will
be held at George Elementary, 4110
Russell Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday,
May 30, 1981, from 12-4 p.m.
A souvenir booklet will be passed out at
this event. Approximately Ave hundred
people are expected to attend. Native
American students from across the state
of Michigan and parts of Canada will
participate. There will be no charge for
the booklet. The public is invited to
attend.
Your contribution is needed to help
sponsor this event. For additional infor
mation call the Indian Education Office
at 8JI-6440
2nd Shooting
Victim
In Hoke
County Dies
RAEFORD - A 26 - year - old
Raeford man. shot in the head during a
wild shootout Sunday at a Hoke County
club, died in Cape Fear Valley Hospital
Wednesday about S a.m., according to
a hospital-spokesman.
Hospital officials said earlier Ronnie
Jacobs, of Route 2. Raeford, had been
moved from the intensive care unit of
the hospital to a single room.
Jacobs -was one of six men wounded
during a shootout at the Hour Glass
Club that leaves two men dead.
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