PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY
HjTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"IbBdtagAm?lfllv Bridges
PEMBROKE, N.C ta Alrf*?WS.ttta?" ROBESON COUNTY
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VOLUME II NUMBKK 27 PER COPY THLIRSDAY, JULY ISM
FORMER EMPLOYEE ASKS
$200,000, RETURN OF HER
JOB IN SUIT AGAINST
COUNTY LIBRARY
\ I I
INDIAN STAFFER WHO REFUSED TO WORK ON SUNDAY SEEMINGLY AT HEA1T OF DISPUTE
FAYETTEV1LLE-A former employee
of the Robeson County Public Library,
who dnims she was fired for supporting
the religious convictions of another
library employee, has sued the library,
asking for $200,000 in punitive and
compensatory damages and return of her
job and past wages and salary.
Yvonne Hutchison believes she was
fired by Diana Tope, the former county
librarian, for supporting the religious
convictions of Mat tie Locklear who was
briefly fired herself by Tope for refusing
to work on Sundays,
in February 1980, Diana Tope secured
ii n ?
Trustees to open the library on Sunday
afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. The Sunday
hours have since been curtailed.
At first, according to the lawsuit filed
in Eastern District Federal Court in
Fayetteville this week by Lumbee River
Legal Service in behalf of Ms. Hutchison,
Ms. Tope attempted to accomodate the
religious convictions of Ms. Mattie
Lock!ear, a long time library employee,
who refused to work on Sunday because
of her religious beliefs.
In March, 1980, according to the suit,
Tope directed Hutchison to investigate
the legality of compelling Mattie Lock
lear to work Sundays against her will or
of terminating her in the event she
aaftraed so work Sundays, and specifically
*1 A
1
directing to solicit ideas and views from
other directors of public libraries in the
state, from the Equal Opportunity Em
ployment Commission, and from other
sources.
Hutchison, whose varied duties as
administrative secretary to the librarian,
included employee scheduling, did as
directed. Her finding convinced her that
Locklear's religious convictions should
be respected, and she developed 4
possible options that attempted to
resolve the matter. The options were:
a. Excuse Mattie Locklear from Sunday
work; b. Place the burden on Mattie
Locklear to secure a substitute employee
to work her Sunday rotation; c. Excuse
Mattie Lndklear from S4ada? ?reft but
require her to work one Thursday night
for each Sunday excused; d. Require
Mattie Locklear to reimburse another
employee to work her Sunday rotation.
None of the options satisfied Tope,
according to the lawsuit, and she fired
Mattie Locklear on May 2, 1980, against
the vigorous objections of Ms. Hutchi
son.
Hutchison noted that she advised
Locklear she should seek legal help,
contact the local press and her county
commissioner, at that time Herman Dial.
Immediately after an article appeared
in The Carolina Indian Vole* criticizing
the firing of Mattie Locklear, on Thurs
day, May 15, 1980, Ms. Tope conferred
with Tom Long, the Chairman of the
Library Board of Trustees, and thereafter
Tope ordered Hutchison not to talk with
anyone concerning the firing of Mattie
Locklear, and told her that if she did not
agree with Tope's firing of Mattie
Locklear Plaintiff should look for another
job.
On or about May 18, 1980, Plaintiff
met with Robeson County Commissioner
Herman Dial and discussed the firing of
Mattie Locklear, outlining for him the
same four alternatives she had outlined
to Tope.
un or aooui May LI, 1<NW, Com
missioner Herman Dial met with Library
Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Long
and Board Member Dickson McLean,
and Commissioner Dial explained to
them the four options for retaining
Mattie Locklear and Long and McLean
indicated that what Commissioner Dial
proposed was acceptable.
Shortly thereafter, Mattie Locklear
was rehired where she continues to work
today.
Diana Tope, shortly thereafter, began
to curtail Yvonne Hutchison's duties,
changed the locks on foe library doors,
became uncommunicative and. on or
about July 16, 1980, the Library Boarr* of
Trustees accepted Tope's recommen
dation and eliminated Yvonne Hutchi
son's job. Hutchison was informed of her
termination by Tope on or about July 22,
l4M, effective immediately, and told by
Tope that Plaintiff was being fired for
"budget reasons."
Hutchison alleges too that Tope, at
sometime on or about July 16, I960,
fabricated and back-dated memoranda
concerning Plaintiffs work and placed
them in her personnel file, snch
memorukU contbiiwi^ filtc( b^uxtIIoqi.
intentionally designed to prevent Plain
tiff from obtaining rstiafoctoty fa tare
Ms. Hntchisoo believes to* afcs has
remained unemployed since being fired
because of toe publicity that tnsahad and
rfher job. IM "l"1 **
Diana Tope has since loft the Robeson
Connty Library and now works la
Georgia in a similar capacity.
>> ? .'V * ?? ? .
un uie Business rroni....
News Affecting the
Lumbee Business Community
Editor'* Nate: This Is a m column
which wfll ^pit to the C?*h* hdh*
Vefee 6m da* to touo with am and
mm to be ana ef toe bet unpimd
(iMllen es Car es we as a people are
toe way we feel aad totok aad act aboat
?eaey aad basiaeaa aad eceaeaiic
to and champieu sf toe Minority
h has been said of him, "Parren
Mitchell obeys no paymaster-he is his
own man and owes no allegiance to
anyone except his people, not only those
of his 7th Congressional District of
Maryland but those across the nation."
The May IS, 1982 edition of the
BaMbaote Aire American newspaper
said, "Parren J. Mitchell is more than a
Congressman, he's a humanitarian...
After a period of varied and distin
quished public service, Parren J. Mitch
ell was elected Maryland's first Black
Congressman in 1970.
In 1976, Mitchell attached to then
President Carter's $4 billion Public
Works Bill an amendment that compell
ed state, county annd municipal govern
ments seeking federal grants to set aside
ten percent of each grant to retain
jntoority firms as contractors, subcon
tractors, or suppliers. Mitchell's single
amendment resulted to more than $625
million (15%) going to legitimate minor
ity firms. Following numerous court
challenges, "The Mitchell Amendment"
Was upheld as constitutional by U.S.
Supreme Court to July, 1980.
He has also introduced legisladbn
which, to 1978, became Public Law
95-507, requiring proposals from coo
tractor. to spefl out goal. for awarding
contracts to minority Subcontractors.
This law potentially provides access to
Kfiions of doflars far minority buai
?ibsaas.
During his twetve yean to Congress,
fefacheO has served with distinction as:
Member of the House Budget Committee
Vice Chairman of ton Joint Comaattteeoa
Economic Development of the Congres
sional Blade Caucus; and a member of
the Joint Economic Committee.
He holds a total of seven Honorary
Degrees, i.e., four Doctor of Humane
Letters, two Doctor of Law, and one
Doctor of Social Sciences.
Another amendment introduced by
Congressman Mitchel aimed at assisting
minority business participation in the
multi-billion dollar gas tax/highway
repair bill, was signed into law on
Janurary 6, 1983 by President Reagan.
The Mitchell Amendment will allow
minority business to be eligible for a
minimum of 10 percent of the money
authorized to be appropriated under the
new Public Law. Under the Mitchell
Amendment, there is a potential for 7
billion dollars worth of contract oppor
tunities for minority businesses through
1986.
Congressman Mitchell has received
praise from across the country on his
latest accomplishment. His friend and
colleague, Congressman Joseph Addab
bo of New York said, "Panen is highly
respected in the halls of Congress and
throughout the United States for his
leadership and dedication to the cause of
improving the economic conditions of the
minority business community. 1 am
proud to be a supporter of Parren in a
cause that is good for the nation."
"I am deeply pleased that my collea
gues of both parties in the House and
Senate did not waiver in their support of
my recently enacted amendment. A
special word of appreciation must be
given to Senator Allim Cranston (D-CA)
who was a key Senate supporter of the
Mitchell Amendment and to Chairman
James Howard of the Committee on
Public Works and Transportation of the
U.S. House of Representatives," said
Mitchell.
According to Mitchell, "These are
desperate days for minority businesses.
However, they have seen a glimmer of
hope by the recent minority business
announcements of the Administration
time in the struggle to save minority
businesses from economic starvation."
Congressman Panes Mitchell is a
popular man in Baltimore's sizable
(estimated^ to be mare than 4,000)
them come to Ma office wkh their
problems. And he la quick to help them.
_
i A People
Profile....
Thomas
Earl
Locklear
Thomas Earl Locklear
by Conaec Brayboy
The completion of West Robeson High
School will bring many changes to the
three school area (Pembroke, Prospect
and Maxton). These changes can be
challenging, progressive and rewarding.
It all depends on how one views change.
For Thomas Earl Locklear, the change
for him is an opportunity to expand and
grow as a person. Locklear has begun his
position as principal of Pembroke Middle
School, effective July 1 after serving as
principal of Pembroke Junior High for
eight years.
He is enthusiastic about the coming
school year and is busily preparing the
facility for the seventh grade students
who will attend. - The present middle
school plant, formerly Pembroke Graded
School, will no longer be utilized by the
Robeson County School System. Those
students will attend the Pembroke Junior
High Building which will become
Pembroke Middle School. The present
Pembroke Senior High will become
Pembroke Junior High. The high school
students will become a part of the new
West Robeson High School which
consolidates Pembroke Senior High,
lYospect High and Maxton High.
The changes sound complicated, but
they are educationally solid, according to
Locklear. "Change is good for our
system," he said. "I requested a chang*
of principal ships for my own educational
advancement, among other reasons. I
feel that it is advantageous for me, as a
person, to change every few years. 1 wfll
not only be going into a younger age
bracket, but 1 will also be administering a
small school in terms of students and
faculty," he continued. Pembroke Junior
High was composed of approximately
400 students and 31 faculty members, an
assistant principal and a guidance
counselor. Pembroke Middle School will
house approximately 315 seventh grad
ers. There wfll be 13 faculty members, no
assistant principal and no guUance
Locklear places a great deal of
emphasis oa exposure to new ideas, new
people, etc. "There is much more to the
education of a student," be said, "than
^Mpty acquiring knowledge contained in
books, although that is very important. It
la also important for students to leaiu
iThoi*
?very day afcastious.
Csat* en Page 1
PEOPLE
A ND PL A CES
AND THINGS
. t ,
CRISIS LINE
Contact Crisis Line at 738-8125,
8 PM-12PM. Friday thru Sunday. You
Talk-We Listen.
MISSIONARY SPEAKS TO BURNT
SWAMP BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
Dr. Fran Greenway, a missionary
from Africa (Ghana) will be speaking and
showing slides at Harpers Ferry Baptist
Church July 16, 1983 at 6:30 p.m.
Everyone is enrcouraged to attend,
especially the pastors and mission
workers from each church. This is a great
opportunity for the youth of your church
to hear the missionary and hear about
her work in Africa (Ghana). There will be
refreshments served after the meeting.
ROBESON COUNTY BEEKKEEPERS
TO MEET
The Robeson County Beekkeepers
Associaton will hold their regular
monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 19 at
8 p.m. at O.P. Owens Agricultural
Building in Lumberton. Slides and tapes
a* beekeeping will -be i presented.-. The
public is invited to attend.
PSU BOOSTER CLUB TENNIS
TOURNAMENT
The Pembroke State University
booster club tennis tournament will be
held August 1-7.
There will be men's and women's
singles competition, mixed doubles,
senior men's and women's singles (35,
45, 55, and 65 depending on entries).
There will also be junior events,
singles and doubles in 10-year old and
under, 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and
18-under.
To enter, contact tournament director
Dr. Ken Johnson at 521-4694 or 1
Dogwood Lane, Pembroke. Entry is S5
per event plus a can of balls.
PSU BRAVES CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
NOW ON SALE
Memberships for the Pembroke
State University Braves Club for 1983
?JM are now on sale on the PSU campus.
Many benefits are given to members
with costs being $20 for a booster, S3S for
an individual, $50 for a family, and $100
for a business.
For more information or to be sent a
free brochure call 521-3522 daily or
write: Braves Cub. Pembroke State
University, Pembroke. NC 28372.
The Braves Cub is the athletic booster
club at Pembroke State University which
supports the Athletic Scholarship Fund.
ATTENTION
The Lumberton Recreation and
Parks Department is attempting to
compile a resource file on area talent.
If you are 1. an individual performer 2.
a member of a local entertainment group
3. or know of such people who would like
to be included in this effort.
' Please contact Mable Floyd, at the Bill
Sapp Recreation Center Phone-738-1411
Help make it possible for our Depart
ment to promote Ha own area talent:
Drama, Gymnastics, Magicians, Whist
lers, VocalHsts, VeatrtBoquists, Musi
cians, Majorettes, Comedy Acts, Dances
(types of Dances) Bands-(type of musk).
ANY OTHER PERFORMERS.
CONTACT PERSON:
MnUsFlnyd
P.O. Ban 73ft
1 nnlntsu, WC 3H58
Ptom 73ft-1411
THE APOSTLES QUARTET
TO VISIT MT. AIRY
The Apostles Quartet from
Lumberton will be the featured gospel
group at Mt. Airy Baptist Church on ?
Hwy. 72, West of Lumberton, on
Sunday, July 17 at 7 p.m. Evetyone is
invited to come early for a good seat.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL BEGINS
AT MT. AIRY
Mt. Airy Baptist- Church is having
their Vacation Bible School August 1-5
from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. daily at the
church. Registration will be on Saturday,
July 30 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Ages 3
and up. Everyone is invited to attend.
Refreshments will be served.
PEMBROKE FFA
Six members of the Pembroke FFA
Chapter received the State Farmers
Degree at the 55th State FFA Convention
in Raleigh on Friday, June 17. The State
Farmers Degree is the highest member
ship award presentedon the state level.
Those receiving degrees were-Kent
Lock I ear and Christopher Locklear. The
local chapter was also presented plaques
for chapter safety program and national
chapter awards programs. The Pembro
ke Chapter rated superior in both
categories.
SPECIAL SING
There will be a Special Gospel Sing
Sunday, July 17, 1983, 7:30 p.m. at
Sandy Plains United Methodist Church.
A very special choir (The Native
American Community Choir) which is
composed of United Methodist from die
local Native American Churches will
render several songs. The choir is under
the direction of Mr. Harold D. Jacobs.
Also the Gospel Spiritual Quartet and the
Plainsmen will render special music.
These three groups along with other
Ctl..!. ....... In Ik. CXI
i^iuiiiv. givsupa poi uvipaibM ui uiv kiww
Convocation A lake Junaluska this week.
It was an enlightening experience for
them. The public is cordially invited to
share in this special sing on Sunday at
7:30 p.m.
GOSPEL SING
The Burnt Swamp Association will
hold a Gospel Sing at New Point Baptist
Church on Highway 41 near the
Lumberton Jaycees Fairground, between
Lumberton and Fairmont, beginning at
2:30 p.m. on Sunda^
Everyone is invited to attend and
participate, especially singing groups.
i V
PUBLIC NOTICE
This serves as a legal notice that the
Prospect Jaycees are re-organized as a
not-profit organization to be known as
the Prospect Native American League.
By a vote of die majority of the members
present at A meeting held May 23, 1983,
a motion was passed to' discontinue
affiliation with the N.C. Jaycees and
reorganize die dub..
A meeting of the members will be held
July 23rd, 1983 at 3 p.m. at the new
clubhouse property of the organization to
discuss the reorganization and other
matters. Anyone having claims against ?
the Prospect Jaycees, Inc. are urged to
contact the former officers or appear at
the meeting. AH present and farmer
members of the organization afORged to
Ban Jtoeaha,Seinmtmyi Tmaerner
ASSISTANT nUNCIPALS OF
WEST BOBESON NAMID
Purnell Swett, Supt. of lobMon
High School. The t?ro aaobtosts or
D? tght Pearson and Brake Locklear
Members of die lobe eon County Board
L' L_->J ' ? ' vis .' 1 ^?*tw ? Os> ? ?"'" v ; "|
"Bill" Oxendinc of Pembroke. i
? n School. He repUces Jerry