jTHE CAROLIN^A INLiAN VOICE
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VOLUME 11, NUMBER 6 25c J*"R C0PY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1919
. *r. .- -
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SPECIAL MEETING EXPECTED
TO BE DENIED BY
LREMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A sews analysts. This article may
hahfc aplalnaa el the witter.
Lambertsa-The Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corporation Board of Di
rectors meet today at 5 p.m. to decide if
die petition calling for a special meeting
of the cooperative membership can
"show" cause to merit such a course of
action. A Lumbee River EMC spokesman
verified Friday that 2,000 names, "which
exceed the 10 percent requirement of the
cooperative's by laws" for calling for a
special meeting had been met.
The petition calls for a special meeting
of members to be held on March 3 at 7:30
p.m. in the Cumberland County
Memorial Auditorium in Fayetteville for
the purpose of a recall election to replace
all 12 members of the LREMC Board of
Directors.
The dissident group, led by a white
former named Carl Branch, and calling
itself the LREMC Action Group, was
formed following the board's decision
not to extend Deri Hinson's (the
cooperative's former general manager's)
contract.
RECALL EFFORT HAS
RACIAL CONNOTATIONS
Although the LREMC (sic) Action
Group began by spouting racist remarks
the gump bat recently been devoting Its
attentions to exposing the expenses of
the board of directors, calling them
excessive.
Reprinted is one of the first releases
* from the group.
"LREMC Action Group organized
December 29, 1982 in an effort to
persuade the Board of Directors of
LREMC to explain their reason for firing
Deri Hi us on, the General Manager. -
"Some or the organizers had inquired
of the Board, at the Board of Directors'
meeting on December 4, 1982, why Mr.
Hinson was fired.
However, through a total lack of class
and common courtesy the Board ignored
on request. We felt as members we had
the richt to communicate with our
elected representatives, which are one
White, one Black and ten Indians. With
this strong imbalance of races seems to
come strong prejudices, in that the only
true fault to be found in Mr. Hinson is
the fact that he is white.
"The Bylaws of the Corporation allow
the members to petition for recall when
Directors do not proportionally represent
the members. In light of these high
handed actions, as well as their high
expenditures, and racial inbalance, we
have chosen to petition for recall of these
Directors.
"This group feels that the Board
must be challenged before the fiscal
health of the Corporation is endangered.'*
The group has also talked about too
many Indians on the board, and
castigated diem as "high rollers," and
inferred that they were using corporate
monies "to party it up" in Las Vegas at a
recent gathering of electric cooperative
officials.
The board's only official response has
been to speak of an "erosion of
confidence" between Hinson and the
board in an official statement on January
18. 1983.
At a meeting of concerned consumers
at the Mt. Airy Jaycee Clubhouse
recently, an Indian participant noted
"this whole fuss is because Indians (of
the 12 member board 10 are Indians, 1
Black and 1 White) fired a white man
and, worse than that, replaced him with
an Indian (Ronnie Hunt)..."
Another nuance that has surprised
mostly Indian consumers is the fact that
not a single word has been stated about
Deri Hinson's seeming extravagant
spending habits.
For instance, according to information
compiled by this writer, Hinson was
responsible for spending $259,557 over a
three year period of 1980,81, 82. This
includes expenditures, benefits and
salaries. According to LREMC records
Hinson bought three expensive autos for
his use, from June 1980 until August
1982, including a 1982 Buick Diesel.
Interestingly enough the so- called
LREMC Action Group never uncovered
this information while investigating
expenses of the board members, or
decided not to share it with the rest of the
membership.
The petition gives two reasons for
calling for the special meeting.
Branch and his cohorts say die board
was guilty of "The improvident and
uncalled for dismissal" of Hinson and
"imprudent and arbitrary actions..."
Concerned about the continuing
attacks in the press. Rev. Elias Rogers,
seemingly the focal point of much of the
dissent, has hired Barry Nakeil, a UNC
Chapel Hill law professor, to represent
his interests. Some of the other members
are considering using Nakeil too.
Nakeil said, at the Mt. Airy meeting,
that the petition does not give cause for
a special meeting and recommends that
the board deny the recall effort. Nakeil is
well known in the area for serving as
official attorney when Indians broke
double voting in 1974.
This writer, also a LREMC consumer,
has also asked to appear on the agendaof
the meeting today at which time I will ask
the board to deny the request for a
special meeting, for a number of
reasons, including the reason that "Said
recall effort..,violates my voting and civil
rights" in attempting to overturn my
votes cast atmost recent annual meeting
in October (a meeting that Carl Branch
has admitted publicly he did not
attend)." and "that Carl Branch...has
caused a number of racially offensive
statements to be publicly stated." For
instance statements have noted "high
handed actions..." "Party it up."
"Strong imbalance of race...." "high
Rollers.." "...A total lack of Class and
common courtesy." "Only true fault to
me found in Mr. Hinson is the fact that
he is white..." and mote.
According to an informal polling of the
board, it seems that the special meeting
will be denied on a split vote. Branch and
company, more likely than not, will then
take to the courts for relief. The matter is
expected to be settled, probably, in the
federal courts.
Methodist
Lay
Bally
begins '
Sunday
The annual Lay Rally of the
Rockingham District, United Methodist
Chruch, will begin at 7 p.m., Sunday,
Feb. *13 at Chestnut Street United
Methodist Church in Lumberton. A
nursery will be provided. For those who
arrive early a fellowship hour will be held
in the Educational Building of the church
and singing of some favorite hymns will
begin at 6:45.
The program will include Bishop
William R. Cannon as the featured
speaker, with special music by a
combined choir composed of choir
members from churches throughout the
district (Richmond, Scotland and Robe
son Counties). District Lay Speakers will
be consecrated, the church with the
largest attendance will be recognized as
will the Five Outstanding Seniors from
the district. Also a district Lay Person of
the Year will be named.
Dotsy Reynolds, District Lay Leader,
encourages attendance at this rally which
will be the final one during the term of
Dr. Joseph B. Bethea, District Superin
tendent .
Pembroke celebrates
Jaycette week
\
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Dr. Brooks
rebuffed
in attempt
to speak
to County
Board of
Education
by Coonee Brayboy
A lengthy agenda was aired at the
Robeson County Board of Education on
Tuesday evening. The agenda consisted
of routine matters mostly.
Dr. David E. Brooks, Pembroke
veterinarian, Speared at the meeting
and requested to address the board?
Chairman David Green advised the
board that Dr. Brooks had not followed
procedure in requesting to address the
board. The procedure is that you make
your request to speak by the Thursday
prior to the Tuesday board meeting. To
add anything to the agenda requires a
two thirds vote of the board. On motion
by Dr. Dalton Brooks, second by Bill
Oxendine, a vote was taken as to whether
Dr. David Brooks would be allowed to
meak. Voting for were Dalton Brooks,
'Bill Oxendine, and Gerald Maynor. The
motion was lost. "
Dr. Brooks stated that he had some
suggestions for making the school
system better...He also stated that he
had been to as many as sixteen schools
as a volunteer this school year. However,
he was not allowed to continue...
The Grievance Committee reported
that five parents in the McDonald area
had requested clarification as to whether
they were actually residing in the county
school system. A committee was appoin
ted to investigate and clarify the matter
for the parents.
In other matters the board passed a
resolution excusing a day lost at
Mangolia School when a boiler blew up.
They authorized the superintendent to
request that the state boaud of education
deviate class size in complianace witht-eh
the state class size~t*w. They awarded
the contract for West Robeson Sewage
System to Frank Horn Construction of
Fair Bluff and accepted the audit report
for the 1981-81 school year. They again
retained S. Preston Douglas Associates
for accounting services.
The Vocational Education Advisory
Committee was appointed and included
Robeson Davis from Maxton. Aileen
Holmes from Saddletree and Harbert
Moore from the Prospect area. E.M.
Morton voted against the motion to
approve the committee appointments.
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MOMTM LARULIRA ?
RU8ES0W LOUMTI
III THE HATTER Of PROCIAIHIAC)
JATCETTE WEEK ) PKutlTJIAT 10* *0. 1983-1
WHEREAS , t*? United StoteA Jrrcettcs nuvllc Itjdershlp trolntn,
and individual development for yru-'j wween betweet the ayes of 18 and 35; and
WHEREAS, the Jaycett?'S ?*> the fastest yruwinq young womens /
organization in Anerlca; and /
WHEREAS, over S9,OOU Jj>?.ette* are SnMfng the pace ty their
example of volunteer service to thrtf felln* ran, their caamnities and their
countrv; a?rl
WHEREAS, 'ha'H'' l" V ' !'? . luoK tm-oac'we efficient
And prvnlwctW,; And
WHEREAS, Jonettet toTtove tHAt I* 1th t* M 9??ct n|i'liw And
PwrpoM to lift-; ;' '?!&. \ i ?
ROM, THE RE TORE, I Joort A, JACOto. Nlynr c' the Town of RatoroAe do
herebjr coMvnd tto Pctorokt Ja/kUH far their tun, ecceanllitoenti to two
Pw?H-o*A toaaunltjr And to l*a StAto of Mart* Coral In* and Salwte tM Reabroke
JAjrcettos dorlnf tto V. S. Aoycatto Neat ftoroor, n . if, 198).
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AtUSt:
PEOPLE
AND PLACES
AND THINGS
VALENTINE'S DANCE
The Robeson County Parks and
Recreation Department will sponsor a
Valentine's Dance on Monday, Feb. 14
from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Jaycee
Fairgrounds on Highway 41, Lumberton.
Music will be provided oy a J AT.a DJ.
There will be a dance contest and door
prizes awarded. Cost is S2 single or S3
couple. v
PTA MEETING
Union Elementary School will hold a
PTA meeting on Tuesday 'Feb. 15, 1983
at 7:30 p.m. An open house will follow a
brief business session. All parents are
invited to attend and discuss their child's
progress. S
PLATE SALE
The PTA of Union Elementary
School will conduct a chicken and
Barbeque plate sale on Friday Feb. 18,
1983 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost of
each plate is S3 and deliveries will be
made. Please call the school at 521-4272
to place orders.
CLASS OF '80 INVITED TO COOKOUT
Gene Oxendine invites all the
members of the Pembroke Senior High
Class of 1980 to a cookout at his home on
Highway 72 near Jamestown Trailer
Park.
Oxendine, a former football star at
Pembroke, is cooking a hog and cow, and
looking forward to seeing all his former
classmates and frieeds.
The cookout is scMduled for Saturday
night, Feb. 12 beginning at 8 p.m.
PLATE SAJLfc PLANNED
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Church
of God Indian District will be sponsoring
a chicken and barbecue plate sale at the
Saddletree Church of God in Lumberton
on Friday, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. until 7
p.m. Price is $3 per plate. Proceeds will
go for camp ground improvements. The
public is invited to attend. Mrs. Millard
Maynard is the District LA President.
County
Commissioners
approve
"Workfare"
Project
Lamberton-The Robeson County Board
of Commissioners have approved a pilot
project proposed by the county depart
ment of human resources to provide work
for welfare recipients and high school
students who drop out of school.
The project will be supported with
S2S0.00C in federal funds at no cost to the
county. Chris Antwi, the director, told
the commissioners.
According to Antwi, the project will set
up a jobs training program for people on
welfare, especially targeting women
receiving; Aid For Dependent Children
payments.
Antwi said the project will rely on
private industry to provide training and
jobsin exchange for tax credits and direct
payments.
Under the new project, businesses
may receive reimbursement for as much
as one-half .the salary for a year of
qualified low-income people they hire.
In exchange, the industry must agree to
continue the person's job at the and of
the training program.
Antwi said the funds wfll also be aaed
to find employment and provide counsel
ing for high school atndrnli who ass
considering dropping ant of school.
Antwi said all die school systems In
Robeson Count v have Indicated an
? ? '*
ROBESON COUNTY REPUBLICAN
PARTY COUNTY CONVENTION
The Robeson Couaty Republican
Party will hold its bi-annual County
Convention Thursday, February 17th at
7:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the
Robeson County Court House, Court
room #2.
The purpose of the Convention will be
to elect officers for the upcoming two
years and to select delegates to attend
the 7th District Convention. Your
attendance is appreciated.
BLOOD DRIVE
A Blood Drive will be held February
17 at 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Prospect
School Gym. ' It is sponsored by
Prospect School. All are urged to come
and give.
Bobby
Bell
sees
Stars in
Miami
Bobby Bell of North Miami, Florida,
attended a show at the Eden Roc, Miami
Beach, last month. The show starred
Dorothy LaMour, Yvonne DeCarlo, Patty
Andrews, Motey Amsterdam, Gordon
McRae, Forrest Tucker, and Gloria
DeHaven in the Pompeii Room.
Such a lineup would have been
impossible 20 years ago. Any one of
these stars would have cost as much as a
movie producer or night club could
afford. The show was great.
Carnell
Locklear
questions
election
procedure
for Indian
Commission
Peeritaoke-Carnell Locklear, an unsuc
cessful candidate for a seat on the board
of directors of the North Carolina
Commission of Indian Affairs, hat
registered a complaint with the commis
sion concerning, as he sees it, electoral
and procedural shortcomings in conduct
ing the election. Lumbee Regional.
Development Association (LBDA), a
constituent member of the Indian
Commission, conducted the election. The
meeting was held Jan. 27 at Pembroke
Senior High School.
Locklear, general manager of the
popular outdoor drama "Strike at the
Wind," questioned the fact that nomi
nations were reaehred from toe floor after
most of those participating in the election
had already voted, and the lack of voting
procedures being explained to those
participating in the election.
Lockledr was one of those vying tor the
seat vacated by Mrs. Bath Woods, who
chose not to seek re election to the
position which represents the Indian
polulace from the Max ton, Smiths,
m * ?- - fH,l|. .t.lnhaia nan risi rtn
r dDDTOCc i a QllwOdpU BS pivQDClJ ?
Clinton L. Thomas, Jr., executive
director of the Pembroke Hontiag
Auth^ty.^aaUy the elect^B.