PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY
^THE CAROLINA INL; ^ ~ CE
PEMBROKE. N.C hAWtoddtootag" y /^k ROBESON COUNTY
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VOLUME 11, NUMBER 45 f iSc re? copy -\ th.?*,, Nov. 17, 1983.
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'ROBCOR' FIZZLES OUT:
HERMAN DIAL NOT GUILTY
by Brace Barton
FAYETTEVILLE--I looked at the clock.
3:44 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. And
the jury trooped back into the jury room
after deliberating some four hours and
announced to a hushed courtroom of
family and friends: "We find the
defendant Herman Dial not guilty on
both counts."
As one of the jurors said, after the
formal proceedings, "they didn't have
anything on Herman Dial-really!"
Dial, formerly the chairman of the
Robeson County Board of Commis
sioners, and a stalwart from the Prospect
Community, and the owner of an
insurance agency in Pembroke, as well
as a farmer, was surrounded by his
family and friends as the 'not guilty'
verdict was announced by U.S. District
Court Judge James Fox. Cheers re
sounded briefly before Fox gaveled the
audience to silence again and intoned
solemnly, "I can understand your
joy...but this is still a court of law..."
Dial was on trial in U.S. District Court
in Fayetteville for allegedly forcing the
hiring of an ineligible applicant in 1980 in
the Comprehensive Employment and
Training Act program.
One of Dial's attorneys, Tony Rand
rested the case for the defense late
Tuesday afternoon after arguing that
Callie Denise Locklear. who was IS years
old when she applied for a job in the
Robeson County Summer Youth Program
was eligible according to CETA guilde
Pembroke attorney Donald Bullard. '
"If this family wasn't economically
disadvantaged. 1 can't imagine a situa
tion where it would be," Rand said.
Workers in the Robeson County De
partment of Human Resources had
earlier testified that Locklear was
ineligible because her father's reported
income on an application was above
CETA limits. However, no worker could
recall recording an income figure on the
application.
In testimony Tuesday, Locklear and
her father, James Locklear, both said
they did not report income when
completing the application in 1980
because the father was unemployed.
If Dial had been found guilty, he could
have received a maximum prison sen
tence of 22 years and a $20,000 fine.
According to Monday's testimony.
Dial, a former chairman of the county
board of commissioners in his 16 years in
office, forced Christ Antwi to hire
Locklear.
Antwi, a government witness and the
former director of the Department of
Human Resources, pleaded guilty last
summer to misapplication of $190,000 in
CETA funds and embezzlement. He
testified Dial warned him that he could
get the necessary votes for dismissal
unless he hired Locklear.
Dial stated Tuesday that he "mettled"
in the hiring of Locklear because he was
sure she was eligible for the program. He
said he lived less than a mile from the
family and knew her father was
unemployed.
But he said he never forced Antwi to
hire the Prospect High School student.
"I did not force or tell anyone to hire
anyone. I suggested that he (Antwi) look
into it to see what he could do."
The government contended that Dial
forced Antwi to hire Locldear and did so
by extortion.
As a prelude, and with only one friend,
his wife and two children, and attorney
Dickson Mclean beside him the once
powerful Antwi was sentenced Wed
nesday while the j-iry deliberated Dial's
fate.
Antwi was placed on 5 years pro
bation, instructed to repay S259.60 he
embezzled by mistating a travel voucher,
and fined $2,400, and allowed by Judge
Fox to repay the fine "by at least $50 a
month..."
One of Dial's supporters said after the
verdict, "Buddy, RobCor has fizzled.
Now maybe people can get back to work.
But who will pay back people like
Herman Dial for dirtying their name?"
Of the original 12 indictments only
three plea bargains for "lesser" char
ges, including Chris Antwi, resulted.
All the other charges were either
dismissed outright by a judge or
overturned by a jury.
1st Woman
chairs PSU Trustees
i V
Mrs. Geneva Paroefl
PEMBROKE-She is the first wo
man ever elected to serve as chairman of
the Pembroke State University Board of
Trustees...and only the third woman
among UNC system schools to hold that
distinction. Mrs. Geneva Parnell of
Parkton, who previously served as vice
chairman, said she is "pleased and
honored to be elected'* to that higp post.
A member of the PSU trustees since
1977, she has missed only one meeting in
that time. And that was unavoidable.
"One of my primary concerns as
chairman is to push hard for money for
our PSU student union," she said.
As for being the first woman so
honored at PSU. Mrs. Parnell said. "I
hope I have the qualities of leadership to
go with the high office. We have a lot of
work to do."
Married to Horace Parnell, she is the
daughter of the late William Everett and
Ethel Everett of Parkton. She graduated
from Parkton High School and then from
Campbell University with a B.S. in
business administration.
The Pea brake VFW Poel
2843 Honor Gaard led the
ennui Veterans Day Parade
In Pembroke en Friday, Nov.
11, 1983. [Bmer W. Bant
mmmm
Veteran's
Day
Scenes
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FMdmbn^ta? W!"HJK
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LREMC's
Hunt
not
Leaving
Ronnie Hunt
After announcing his intentions last
month to resign in December. Lumbee
River EMC General Manager Ronnie
Hunt has decided to stay with the co-op.
The announcement came Tuesday after
the regular monthly board meeting at the
Red Springs headquarters.
Hunt had (accepted a position with a
Florida EMC to begin in January. In
announcing his decision Hunt cited local
and state support for his change of mind.
"The support expressed by the
LREMC Board of Directors, my friends,
the employees, and especially the
membership helped me change my
mind," said Hunt. "They helped me
realize that this area is my home, and
that Lumbee River EMCis where I want
v\be."
Gus Bullard. president of the Board of
Directors, said that Hunt would stay at
the same salary and benefits. Bullard
expressed pleasure at Hunt's decision to
remain with Lumbee River EMC.
"Ronnie received numerous calls from
cooperative officials and friends on the
state and national level encouraging him
to stay on as general manager," said
Bullard. "We're glad he changed his
mind."
Hunt joined Lumbee River EMC in
1977 as office manager. He was assistant
general manager before being appointed
interim manager last December, and
general manager last May.
Little
Josh
Im proving
MINNEAPOLIS--9 month old Josh
Brooks of Laurinburg continues to
recover from his liver transplant last
week.
& "Josh is still in critical condition,"
* said Sandra Ballenberger, a volunteer
I with the Josh Brooks Liver Fund
t Organization. "But he's perking up a
^ little and all signs are stable."
The boy has been on dialysis at the
| University of Minnesota Hospital since
f his eight-hour transplant Saturday. His
parents. Rick and June Brooks, have
*- spent several sleepless nights hoping
Josh will pull through after the operation
was complicated by an irregular heart
rhythm and kidney failure.
Ballenberger said Josh is showing
definite signs of improvement.
"His color is pinker," she said after
consulting with doctors. "His kidneys
are better, but nowhere near the way
doctors would like them to be. His weight
is down, and they have removed some of
the fluid."
The fluid buildup was caused by poorly
functioning kidneys, she sdid.
i The boy suffered from bfliary atresia,
an inability of the liver to eiiminate'bile.
Doctors said he would have died within a
month without tfic new organ donated by
the family of a brain-dead child.
Ballenberger Aa.d Mrs. Brooks got Ave
hours of sleep Monday night--"the most
she's had since Josh was born."
"She's just overall pleased with the
way things are going," Ballenberger
said. "She's still wanting prayers for
Jonh's liver."
Doctors said there have been only
about 60 liver transplant operations in
the United States.
Ballenberger said doctors still don't
know when the boy wHI be able to return
home, but that it "could be a month or
sia weeks. "
* PEOPLE
A ND PL A CES
AND THINGS
KIWANIS ANNUAL PANCAKE
SUPPER AND BREAKFAST
The 21st annual Fund-raising pro
ject will be held Friday, December 2nd,
from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday,
December 3rd, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Tickets are $3. The benefit is for the
Youth Programs and the supper and
breakfast will be held at the new
Pembroke Elementary School. Reggie
Strickland is the chairman for this event.
Tickets may be obtained from any
Kiwanian.
PLATE SALE AT PROSPECT
Prospect School will be conducting a
Fund Raising Plate Sale at the school,
Friday, Nov. 18th, from 11 a.m. until
7:30 p.m. The plates will consist of fried
chicken or home-cooked barbecue. Plates
will sell for $3 each.
BUILDING MATERIALS FOR SALE
The D.H. Griffin Wrecking Com
pany la selling building materials at the
old Pembroke Elementary School on the
PSU campus. Call 855-7030 or 738
6401, ext. 147. After 5 p.m. ask for
Kenny Bates.
VOLUNTEER FIREMAN AT
PINEY GROVE SCHOOL
Mr. Martin Lamb, a volunteer
fireman visited Piney Grove School and
talked with the students about safety. He
also showed a film on safety and made
pictures with Mrs. Delia Lamb's third
graders.
SUPT. BONNER TEACHES CLASS
AT PINEY GROVE SCHOOL
Mr. Donald Bonner, Assistant Sup
erintendent of Robeson County Schools,
enacted this year's theme for American
Education Week, Nov. 13-19; "Local
Leaders In The Gassroom Day." On
Monday, Nov. 14. he taught the chapter
one fifth grade math class at Piney Grove
School while the teacher, Lee Helen
???Thompson, observed him. Parents, local,
state and district leaders will be in and
out of the county schools this week either
teaching or assisting the teachers in
promoting the national theme. "Amer
icans need strong public schools," said
Lee Helen Thompson who is the county's
president of the North Carolina As
sociation of Educators. The state office of
the NCAE endorsed this year's theme
with hopes that the public sector will tell
the good news of the educational system.
GOSPEL SINGING AT PEMBROKE
JR. HIGH SCHOOL
What's happening? Gospel Sing
sponsored by the Pembroke Rescue
Squad for the Josh Brooks Liver Fund.
Who is the attraction? The Sounds of
Harmony and Apostles of Fayetteville,
and Miss Carla Locklear. Where will it
take place? Pembroke Junior High
School (formerly Pembroke Senior High
School), Pembroke, N.C. When and what
time? Saturday, Nov. 19th, 7 p.m. There
is no admission charge, but donations
will be accepted.
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK AT
GREEN GROVE SCHOOL
During Fire Prevention Week at
Green Grove School students were
visited by Smokey the Bear, he talked to
them about fire prevention and left a
picture for each student to color. Mr.
Melton Britt, Mr. Jimmy Kirby, and Mr.
E.H. Branch of the North Carolina
Forestry Service visited and talked with
the beys and girls also about fire
prevention. In the media center Ms.
Britt, the media specialist, read the story
of Smokey the Bear to students.
Afterwards, students discussed rules
Smokey would want them to remember
about safety near a fire at home, in
fields, and in the woods. In the class
rooms. the teachers had learning centers
about Fire Prevention that included
books and pictures.
N.C. SYMPHONY TO RETURN
TO PSU
The North Carolina Symphony will
return to Pembroke State Uehrenky'a
Performing Arts Center, Monday, De
cember 12. 1983 at 8 p.m. as a special
entertainment attraction.
Tickets are on sale now for $6.00 each
or $4.00 each for The Season "83-'84
subscribers. For more information and
ticket reservations contact the Perform
ing Alts Center Box Office by calling
S2I47*.
FIREMAN VISITED GREEN GKOVC.
Mr. J.C. Brooks, volunteer Hi run
of Reft Swamp Fire Department, visited
Green Grove to discuss with the students
the danger of playing with matches and
also demonstrated the nee of the eqn^
ment on the fire truck. The third grade
classes demonstrated dm use of the he
hose.
Mrs. Brooks passed out pamphlets,
candies, and hats to the students.
Everyone really enjoyed him. A bulletin
board was displayed in the hall on Fire
Prevention Week. The activities were
coordinated by Mrs. Belva McDowell,
third grade teacher at Green Grove
School. Mr. Barry Harding is Principal.
PTA AT OXENDINE SCHOOL
Oxendine Elementary School will
hold! its second P.T.A. Meeting Tues
day. Nov. 22, 1983. at 7:30 p.m. A short
business session will be followed by a
musical program. Everyone is cordially
invited to attend.
BLOOD DRIVE AT S. ROBESON
A SUCCESS
A blood drive held at South Robeson
High School on October 24th was
deemed a success. According to Mr.
Daniel McKenzie, one of the two teacher
sponsors, a total of 90 units of blood was
secured. Last year, 75 units were
secured.
The Science Club called the Chal
lengers helped supervise the blood drive.
The club members did most of the work
of contacting students and marshaling
them through the procedure. They also
helped with registration. Mr. McKenzie,
along with Mrs. Wilma Godwin, are the
two teacher sponsors of the Club.
McKenzie says students were most
co-operative and with the additional help
of members from the Pembroke Rescue
Squad, the drive off without any
problems.
McKenzie also noted that it was
interesting that during the actual drive,
the Red Cross blood unit from Wil
mington was contacted and some units of
blood were taken from the school and
moved to another location. He says die
blood was probably enroute to be readied
for actual -use at some hospital or
emergency medical organization.
SEASON FILM SERIES
Sandy Grove Baptist Church Sunday
School announces their annual Christian
Film Series which will be at 7 p.m. each
night. The church is located at 1600
Fairmont Road in Lumberton. Admission
is free and the. public is invited,
Dates and films shown are as foHows:
Friday, Nov. 4--''God Is Love."
Friday, Nov. 11--"A King's Strange
Dream." Friday, Nov. 26-"The Messiah
of Israel." Friday, Dec. 2~"The Christ of
Promise." Friday, Dec. 9--"God So ..
Loved." Friday, Dec. 16-"Unto Us A
Child Is Born."
JAYCETTES ATTEND NC. J AYCETTE
MID YEAR CONVENTION
The Pembroke Jaycettes attended
the N.C. Jaycette Mid-Year Convention
in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Nov. 11-13.
Those attending the state Jaycette
meeting were: President Molly O.
Locklear, Secretary Carolyn Oxendine,
and member Doris Cummings.
Informative workshops were offered ?
on Saturday. The Pembroke Jaycettes
received special certificates during the
recognition hour. The programs the
Pembroke Jaycettes received certificate*
for were: N.C. Zoo, Ronald McDonald
House, Governmental Affairs, Sister
Chapter, Speak-up. and Leadership
Dyanmics. The Pembroke Jaycettes were
also recognised for plsring second in the
Parade of Chapters in their designated
at.-t.t
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okier, to join m taetr efforts id imb* the j
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