Newspapers / The Carolina Indian Voice … / March 17, 1983, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE CAROLINA INDIAN^dlCE IVH m State Normal School I _ .... . .. _ _ ut I I forhdlaos Sim e 1972 I ?mlomg Coiraroimcalttjr Brftgrt Jn ^ Cri-Jlarial getting I ?- ??* 1075 $rabrakc, C. 28372 ?913 521"2826 J VOLUME 11 NUMBER 11 250 PE* COPY THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1883 * LK ATTORNIES FIRED AND HIRED IN AFTERMATH OF LREMC LEGAL DEBACLES replaced with Chapel Hill law firm for corporate affairs, Barry Nakell continues in legal fight in courts Lwbeitoa?Superior Court Judge D.B. Herring claimed "I have never seen such corporate confusion in my years on the bench" as he upheld a restraining order with effectively bars Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors from hiring a general manager. The action was brought by a group calling itself the LREMC Action Group which is seemingly led by a spokesman named Carl Branch. The action by Herring also seemed to approve a settlement reached by the LREMC directors and the action group's attornies which gave the dissidents a special meeting they have asked for April 28 if they are able to secure the required 10% of the membership's signatures on a circulating petition. The settlement specifically said the special meeting could be called anywhere eaqaptPem broke, the spiritual and economic center of the Indian community. Herring made his decision following a two hour hearing in Robeson County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon in which he heard evidence that a number of directors who had signed the interim agreement on Friday now wished to change their minds and withdraw from the settlement which seems favorable on the side of the dissidents, even barring Pembroke as a possible site for the special meeting. Horace Stacy, attorney for the action group and Bill Crisp, a member of a Raleigh law firm that has represented LREMC for a number of years, announced the settlement to Herring but they were in for a surprise. Chapel Hill attorney Barry Nakell, a' special friend of Lumbee Indians because of his involvement in the fight to break double voting in Robeson County in the mid 70's announced that he represented the Cooperative in the legal dispute before the court. Nakell based his opinion on a recent motion passed by the LREMC board of directors which gave Nakell the right to represent the Cooperative if legal action was required concerning the petition and attempt to have a special meeting by the dissidents. Crisp, who was disavowed by a majority erf board members at the court hearing, as indicated by Nakell, was fired later in the afternoon at a meeting of the board of directors following the court hearing. Said a director who wished to remain anonymous, "Crisp does not represent me and has never done so...as you can see by the court action (especially the part about not allowing Pembroke to be a possible site for a special meeting) Crisp did not have the board of directors' best interest at heart." According to administrative sources the dismissal of Crisp was done on a 7-3-2 vote with Rev. Elias Rogers, Timothy Strickland, Gus Bullard, Ronald Hammonds, Lacy Cummings, Harold Dean Brewer and Alton Dudley voting to fire Crisp. Voting to retain his services were, according to information received by this writer. Bill James Brewington, J.W. Hunt and Davis K. Parker, the only white on the board. Reportedly abstain ing were Marciea Lowery and Bradford Oxendioe. The directors voted to retain Barry Nakell to represent them in legal action they are presently embroiled in, and then voted to hire a Chapel Hill law firm with Steve Bernholz as principal attorney, to replace Crisp and his law firm. AND IN OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING LUMBEE RIVER EMC... Ronnie Hunt, the interim general manager also held a press conference Tuesday afternoon essentially begging all parties to let the Cooperative get back to its work of providing electric service to some 20,000 consumers in a four county -area encompassing parts of Robeson, Hoke, Scotland and Cumberland Coun ties. Hunt also, in response to questions from the press, noted that more than S20.000 had been spent in response to the LREMC Action Group's move to replace the 12 directors. NEW COUNSEL EXPECTED TO APPEAL RULING BY HERRING... Barry Nakell informed Judge Her ring in the hearing Tuesday that a number of directors who had signed the interim agreement wished to withdraw from the agreement and inferred that they had signed the agreement because Bill Crisp had intimidated them with implicit threats that Joe Freeman Britt, the D.A. might bring criminal charges against them because some of them had reportedly been late in paying their light bills in the past, in apparent violation of corporate by-laws. Nakell also told the judge thai Crisp had also seemingly threatened him in a meeting of attornies and some of the board members who were present for the hearing during a recess. Crisp reportedly asked some of the board members if he had been unprofessional in his conduct, as they saw it. Some of the board members reportedly were in the process of answering "yes" when they were quieted by Nakell. Crisp then said, according to testimony by Nakell in open court, that "I cannot say the same thing about you (Nakell) and I will respond to the appropriate parties," or words to that effect. Herring took no action when informed of Crisp's implied threat. Judge Herring said he was bound by the interim agreement that was made at a duly called meeting of the directors an<i. would not recess court until the directors met again, even though a majority of them informed him through Nakell that they wished to vote against the agree ment. Nakell is expected to appeal Herring's ruling, especially since the board of directors did officially vote in a meeting following the hearing not to approve the agreement, reportedly on a 7-5 vote with Rogers, Strickland, Brewer, Bullard. Dudley, Cummings and Hammonds voting against the interim agreement. CONSUMERS SUPPORTING LREMC DIRECTORS MEET AND ORGANIZE Rev. Grover Oxendine named to lead LREMC Conanmer Service Group RED SPRINGS-Following the protrac ted legal wrangle Tuesday and a lengthy board meeting, a large group of LREMC members met Tuesday night in the cooperative auditorium and formally organized with tjie avowed intent of "supporting our board of directors," according to Rev. Grover Oxendine who was chosen as president of the group which named itself the LREMC Con sumer Service Group. Rev. Oxendine, and others who addressed the estimated 300 consumers in the audience, asked the group to conduct itself according to Christian principles, but he also challenged them .o get ready for a long fight. Others named to serve as officers of the group are Tracy Britt, vice-president; Betty Rogers, secretary, and Ed Melvin, treasurer. The group promised to resist the efforts of the group attempting to call for a special meeting to throw out the present board of directors. Said Oxen dine, "We don't think it's right for this group (some of whom didn't attend the last annual meeting) to come up here now and say they are going to change things in mid stream...let them come to the annual meeting like the rest of us." The group promised to examine records of Deri Hinson, the past general manager whose firing led to the present furor, and past board members. Oxen dine and other speakers intimated that Hinson's firing was the real reason for the present dispute, especially since Hinson, a white, was fired by a 12 member board of directors made up of 10 Indians, 1 Black and 1 White. The group also decided to schedule a meeting in the near future, inviting the present board to appear before them. rw* INDIAN UNITY CONFERENCE AN "OVERWHELMING SUCCESS" Jki ?. Lewiy, Qmkmm ml mm Ulirtw, Mi teeter, DM te ml Vmibmnt mi Cm tew* Wkk Aw N.C. DmpL ml f| hiTii FMiajr, b*#teg m by Garry Barton The Eighth Annual N.C. Indian Unity Conference, held March 10-12 at the Bordeaux Motor Inn Convention Center in Fayetteville, was an overwhelming _ success, according to a spokesman for United Tribes of N.C., the sponsoring agency. James Hardin, President of United Tribes of N.C. set the tempo for the 3-day Conference by noting: "The Con ference theme, 'Survival In The Spirit Of Our Ancestry*,' must serve as a reminder of our Indian past lest we panic now in the face of hardships and fail in our future goals of helping our people achieve social and economic self-suf ficiency and self-determination..." There was standing room only at the beginning of the Conference Thursday at General Assembly I, as Indians and friends from throughout N.C. and else where gathered to discuss and address common problems and concerns of Indian people, and to develop strategies for improving the plight of N.C. Indians. Catotouad Paged PSU's Johnny Dial hits another home run! ur. lurner, Rep. Locks and Ms. Barrington honored The Robeson County Social Club will sponsor an Appreciation Dinner for Dr. E.B. Turner, Rep. Sidney Locks and Dixie Barrington at the Cameo Restau rant in Lumberton on March 27 at 3 p.m. tickets are available for $6 per person. Any questions may be directed to Sammj Love at 738-2555. / PEOPLE A ND PL A CES AND THINGS GOSPEL SING PLANNED Burnt Swamp Baptist Association will be hosting a gospel sing Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Airy Chruch located on Highway 72. All gospel singing quartets are invited to come participate. BASKETBALL GAME WITH STATE LEGISLATORS Rep. Daniel H. DeVane and other legislators will be on hand Wednesday, March 23, in the English E. Jones Center, Main Gymnasium af8 p.m. to play a basketball game against the faculty of Pembroke State University. Admission is S3 for adults and SI for students. PINEY GROYE SCHOOL PLATE SALE Piney Grove School will be having its Annual Spring Plate Sale of home cooked barbecue and deep-fried chicken Friday, March 18, 1983 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Plates are $2.50 each. Orders of 15 or more plates will be delivered by calling 739-7988. For a delicious, mouth watering meal, eat at Piney Grove on Friday, March 18. PINEY GROVE SCHOOL CANDY.. SALE IS A SUCCESS Piney Grove School has ended its candy sale and commends each for a job well done. The profits from the sale will be used to purchase supplies. Congratulations to Amy Locklear, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Venus Locklear, a sixth grader, who sold 450 A m<r mill Ka rtioan o f ran uois ui vauujt nmj t*hi w gi*v? w mw trip to Florida during the Easter Holidays. Anissa Emanuel, the daughter of Mr. and Ms. Carvy Emanual, an eighth grader, sold 300 bars of candy and will receive a cash prize as well as Stephanie Hunt, the daughter of Mrs. Sarah Hunt, a fourth grader who sold 242 bars of candy. Mr. James Hunt's class of which Amy is a student, will have a pizza party at the Pizza Hut for being the top selling class. REVIVAL PLANNED AT CHEROKEE CHAPEL Cherokee Chapel Methodist Church, Wakulla, will hold revival services March 27-April 1. The speaker will be the Rev. Wade Locklear of the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association and the pastor, Rev. Julian Ransom. The Sunday service is at 7 p.m. and week night services are at 7:30 p.m. Special music will be rendered each night. The public is invited to attend. * STRIKE AT THE WIND SCHEDULES TRY OUTS The musical outdoor drama "Strike at the Wind" will be conducting tryouts for the summer 1983 show on Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 3 at 1 pjn.-S p.m. at the Lakeside . Amphitheatre on the grounds of the Riverside Country Gub, 3 miles west of Pembroke on State Road #1354. Tryouts are open to anyone ages 8 to 80 interested in acting, singing, dancing or working with the show who is free to work May 28 to August 31 this summer. Twenty major rotes ana w smauer rows will be cast from those attending die tryouts. In case of rain, the tryouts will be held at the LRDA Annex in Pembroke. Those attending tryouts are asked to come prepared for picture taking. For more information call 919-521-3112. ? MAGNOLIA TALENT SHOW Magnolia School will present its annual Talent Show on Friday evening, March 2S, at 7:30 p.m. Participants will represent all grade levels, k-12, and winners will be announced in a variety of categories. Admission is $2 for the genera] public and SI.50 for students. Parents, friends, and all interested community members are urged to come out to support the school in a very worthwhile project and a night of entertainment. - Pembroke Kiwanis hosts Division 4 Meeting Over 100 Kiwanis members and their wives attended the Annual Meeting of Division 4 Carolinas District of Kiwanis Internationa] held at Pem broke State University Friday evening, March 11th. Presiding at the Banquet was Ray Lowry, President of Pembroke Kiwanis Club Welcome to the P.S.U. Cam pus was extended by Chan cellor Paul Givens. The invo cation was delivered by the Reverend Ray Sparrow and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ken Johnson. Ira Pate Lowry, pianist, accompanied the singing. Lt. Governor Bernard Lowry hosted the meeting, and introduced Car olinas District Governor Ralph F. Patterson who spoke con cerning the 1983 goals of Kiwanis International. These goals are (1) to motivate children to their fullest po tential, (2) to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate, (3) to enhance Kiwanis family unity, (4) to extend to others the oppor tunity of Kiwanis member ship, (5) and to strengthen the spirit of volunteerism by serving our communities and our fellow man, and (6) to serve underprivileged child ren. The Pine Crest High School Swing Choir entertained at the conclusion of the meeting. The dismissal prsyer was given by Garth Locklear. HOW ARE WE DOING? The Carolina Indian Voice *? ? I Our #1 Goal is 5,000 subscriptions by December 31,1983; and 10,000 by Dec. 31,1984 ?Paid Mail Subscriptions 1,682 as of this date (not counting news stand sales) 1 '? *' i ?"
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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March 17, 1983, edition 1
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