H^EDITOR,
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WWe Cannot Know Whoro Wo Am Going
V If Wo Dont Know Whoro Wo'vo Boon...
So fittingly we honor our Pioneer Fathers
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by |
Bruce
Barton
I
1 STAND CORRECTED BY
COMMISSIONER
W YVIS OXENDINE
Pembroke-Maxton
Smiths Commissioner Wyvis
Oxendine visited me this
week and took umbrage with
me concerning my column last
week in which I blithly
asserted that "county com
missioners seem afraid of
poor people."
Commissioner Oxendine
reminded me that, contrary to
what 1 said, he had questions
at the meeting noted in last
week's column, had questions
before then, and still had
questions.
Commissioner Oxendine
also reminded me that 1 was
not present for the meeting,
arrived after Commis-.
sioner Carl Britt had called
the law. and that he per
sonally had nothing to do with
calling the law on anyone,
especially poor people whom
he represents and respects
like all his constituents.
Commissioner Oxendine is
right to correct me. and 1
appreciate him doing so. 1
admire him for his amiable
approach, even when he feels
he has been wronged. 1 like
his ability to articulate his
position with dignity, and his
agreeable disagreeing. 1
stand corrected.
I should not try to recreate a
meeting, unless I am there. I
arrived late at the meeting,
and the sight of the "law"
angered me. It was wrong to
call the law on the poor
people, and I am still angry
about it. But my anger should
be directed toward those
calling the "law" and not
paint all parties the same
color.
And I still believe Social
Services head Russell Ses
soms should resign for not
processing the CIP funds, and
other shortcomings.
AND I NOTE
DISENCHANTMENT WITH
MY COVERAGE OF
. ELECTIONS MEETING
CONCERNING RE-UNITING
OF SMITHS PRECINCT ETC.
Mrs. Shirley Moore, a
former class mate of mine,
also called last week, as did a
number of callers from the
Smiths (Prospect) Precinct,
and disagreed with some of
my assertions concerning my
reportage of a meeting which
was held recently at the Board
of Elections concerning re
uniting Smiths Precinct.
I was reporting, second
hand I must admit, a public
bearing held recently in re
ference to the 2-1 vote to
re-unite North and South
Smiths into one precinct
again.
I relied on local news
reports and canvassing by
phone to say, "Some 100
people attended the hearing,
and the majority seemed to be
ia favor of a single precinct in
the mostly Indian area, an
chored by the Prospect Com
Mrm Moore, and the other
callerl disagreed with the
assertion that most of the
in favor of one precinct, and
one caller said, "You should
have been there and heard
Mr. Johnny Bullard talk about
the inconveniences of travel
ing to the central polling place
before the precinct was
split."
And. of course, I should
have been there. 1 will be a
little more diligent in the
future although it is physically
impossible to get to every
meeting held in 01' Robeson.
The vote to reunite the
South and North Smiths Pre
cincts into one precinct
Smiths--is subject to the bles
sings of the U.S. Justice
Department since Robeson
County is subject to the '65
Voting Rights Act and any
change in the electoral pro
cess, including the changing
of a precinct line, must be
approved by the federal civil
rights arm.
I learned early in my
newspaper career that one
should not be cute when the
error of one's way is pointed
out. I just say quickly, if 1 am
wrong, or there is even a
semblance of unfairness, that
I am sorry and I will try to
correct my discretion.
1 say, again, if I have
offended anyone by reporting
an event incorrectly, I apo
logize profusely and ask you
to forgive me. I honestly try to
be fair in my reporting, but I
do editorialize on the editorial
page, and in my column which
is located correctly enough on
the editorial page. I hope
everything 1 say in my column
is fact, but it is first of all my
opinion.
And anyone who disagrees
with me has a right to respond
in our letters to the editor.
The only rule is that the
letters be signed, and no
cussing. And I brook no
libelous comment, or charac
ter assasination.
I have always made it a rule
of thumb to leave one's
personal life alone. I only
comment on those officials in
their public capacities, like
Russell Sessoms. He is held
strictly accountable in his role
as director of the Social
Services Department. What
he does after hours, in his
capacity as a private citizen, is
his business and his business
j>nly.
PAY RAISE CORRECTS
AN INEQUITY TOWARD
SOME COUNTY
EMPLOYEES
The County Commis
sioneK met Monday and cor
rected an inequity in pay
raises given some county
employees in the last budget
enacted July 1.
The commissioners, with
my buddy. Lumberton Com
missioner H.T. Taylor, dis
senting. agreed to spend an
additional $73,497 so that all
employees will receive at least
a 5% increase under the new
budget. The pay hikes will be
retroactive to July 1 when the
county's $27.2 million budget
took effect.
The inequitable pay scales
resulted from the commis
sioners setting a $650,000
ceiling for pay ntises and a 4
cents hike in property taxes
instead of 10 cents.
Personnel Director T.Y.
Hester acknowledged that af
ter using up the $650,000 limit
all employees did not receive
the full 5% raises that were
recommended. Some 217, ac
cording to Hester, had not
received the 5% before the
action Monday night.
The commissioners should
be commended for correcting
an inequity, not all of their
making.
Keeping employees happy
is good politics, and it im
proves the quality of county
government too.
I would rather see tax
monies go to employees who
earn their salaries than to
grandiose schemes like the
Carolina Civic Center (for
merly the Carolina Theatre)
that benefits an elitist few.
prrr: 1
^Criumphs
OJ Science
Scientists have long
known about some of the
problems that cause trouble
some knocking in automobile
engines. Only recently have
they uncovered new causes
and some cures for this "lit
tle annoyance that could be
come big trouble.
? * ?
r ?' - ~ na
t Combustion chamber de
posits have long been recog
nized as a cause for engine
knocking. Recently, it was
discovered that ii ake port
deposits contributed their
share to the problem. Now.
researchers at Shell have
found an answer. It's a pat
ented new gasoline called SU
2000TV. By reducing those
critical deposits, it lowers en
gine octane requirements
and helps engines run more
efficiently while helping to
eliminate knock. In new en
gines. it inhibits the build-up
of intake port deposits.
? ? ?
Most new cars run on reg
ular unleaded gasoline. After
miles add up. about one third
of these new cars find the
need to switch to premium
unleaded. . . because of
knocking. Now, there's an al
ternative that's helping new
engines and old engines and
bodes well for the engines of
tomorrow.
" 'Tit not a lip, or eye, we
beauty call, but the joint
force and full result of all."
Alexander Pope
Letters |
"Gratitude... |
Carl Britt Styl6... |
In my opinion, it is not by
accident that Russell Sessoms
is director of the Department
of Social Services in Robeson
County. It is not by accident
that Bill Herndon is chairman
of the Board of DSS. It is not
by accident (that Carl L. Britt
is chairman of the Board of
Robeson Coiftity Commis
sioners.
Russell Sessoms was ap
pointed as director of DSS. In
my opinion he could not
handle this job from the
beginning. Russell Sessoms
destroyed his defense and
offense with the statement
that he could not interpret the
guide lines as written per
taining to the dispensation of
Crisis Intervention Program
. CIP funds. When will the
taxpayer of Robeson County
be relieved of this type and or
practice of incompetence?
Bill Herndon is an elected
official of Robeson County
(Commissioner). In my opin
ion this equalizes and syn
chronizes the actions and
deeds of Bill Herndon and
Russell Sessoms. By his own
admission Bill Herndon stated
that he was the only board
director who knew of the CIP
funds for Robeson County.
Carl L. Britt is an elected
official of Robeson County
(Commissioner). In my opin
ion, Carl L. Britt has endorsed
the incompetent practices of
Bill Herndon and Russell
Sessoms. When Carl L. Britt?
last campaigned for office he
would stick his hand out to a
prospective voter and promise
that if you (the voter) need me
let me known. I am at your
service. On July 16, 1984
some of the same people who
voted for Carl L. Britt c?me
seeking answers to questions
pertaining jojfunds they were
entitled to. They were re
warded with a call to ' the
sheriffs department for the
purpose of moving said peo
ple from the building. This is
gratitude-Carl L. Britt style.
In my opinion the voters in
Robeson County should let
ALL of the Robeson County
Commissioners know that
they are being measured by
the same yardstick that is
being used for Carl L. Britt.
It could be that before too
much longer there will be
people in Robeson County
that Sessoms, Herndon, Britt,
and others who think they are
so great, will be glad to talk
to.
In my opinion, until the
poor and needy of Robeson
County are cared for correctly
and consistently, we will be
under threat of the Robeson
County Mafia.
Let us try to turn all the two
faced politicians away and
look for better things.
John L. Godwin
Pembroke, N.C.
Foster Parents
Needed
To The Editor:
Family Alternatives, Inc. is
a nonprofit private agency
licensed by the N.C. Dept. of
Human Resources, Division of
Social Services for the pur
pose of licensing foster homes
for children with special
needs. We serve a five county
area consisting of Robeson,
Bladen, Cumberland, Scot
land, and Columbus counties.
Since your paper reaches
many people and is influential
in promoting public opinion
and response, we want to use
this means to make an appeal
to citizens within your dis
tribution area. Our Agency is
greatly in need of foster
homes and foster parents who
have had experience or train
ing in working with troubled
children or adolescents. Pay
ment is quite sufficient and
nontaxable, but much is ex
pected from people who are
willing to accept this chal
lenging but rewarding task.
If you are a concerned,
caring person who sincerely
wants to be a positive force in
a young person's life and are
willing to open your home to
him - her. we invite you to call
(919) 738-1108 Monday-Fri
-day. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. or
write Family Alternatives,
Inc., P.O. Box 963, Lumber
ton. N C. 28359.
Sincerely,
Milton Teague, Jr., Director
Family Alternatives, Inc.
P.O. Box 963
Lumberton, NC 28359
I ^x ?>- , It i
William Howard Tatt is the only man ever to have been
both Chief Justice and President of the U.S.
Men were making maps as long ago as 2300 B.C. One
example remains with us.. .a small, clay tablet from
Babylonia, said to be land in a mountain-lined valley.
Felicia Styling Salon
FELECIA BUTLER, OWNER...
Recently honied a workshop on Matrix Hair Color, conducted by Ma. Dorothy Pickett,
educational consultant with Matrix Essentials of Durham.
FELECIA'S STYLING SALON
2209 West 5th Street
Lumberton, N.C.
Telephone 738-5147
I
FELECIA INVITES ALL '
HER CUSTOMERS TO
COME BY AND TRY THIS
NEW PRODUCT FOR A
CHANGE IN YOUR HAIR
COLOR.
Showa |imt| Ml to right
are Fetocla Batter, Dorothy
Pickett mi Am Tyler, la
chair la Ttoa LocUear.
ft
R Remember fofct Theee views are mine. They
are not necessarily anyone elaa'e. Hack!
ANTING & J~"
b,AVING with
HEY, BOYS! PLEASE RESIGN!
As far as I'm concerned, Ms. Shirley Locklear, director of LRDA's Food Co-ops, is one of
the best--or quite possibly the best-social worker we have. I really don't know a whole lot
-and don't frankly care-about her educational credentials such as degrees and such other
stuff folk seem to put a lot of stock in. But I do know she possesses two traits that I feel are
essential in social work-she has compassion for poor folk, and she genuinely cares about poor
people. As far as I'm concerned, there's just not enough compassion shown poor folk who are
forced by circumstances beyond their control to go to the Department of Social Services for
the help they are entitled to. Far too many folk at the Dept. of Social Services act as if every
dollar they dish out is coming out of their pockets. Well, I am delighted to inform them that
their salaries and the money they dish out comes from tax dollars. And as we all know, the
poor man pays the largest percentage of taxes that keep this great country of ours going.
As you folk are no doubt aware of, a contingency of poor folk, spearheaded by a social
agency known as the Robeson County Clergy and Laity Concerned, are calling for the
resignation of Russell Sessoms who heads the Department of Social Services in Lumberton.
These poor folk are upset-and rightfully so-because only 6% of the funds allocated to this
area in the Crisis Heating Funds Program were spent when the state average was 80%.
That's alarming to me. And grounds for resignation or suspension or prosecution.
I agree with these poor folk. Sessoms should resign. But, realistically speaking, he
probably won't. And, as was made evident by the behavior of the Robeson County Board of
Commissioners at a recent meeting where poor folk were supposed to have the opportunity to
air their grievances and concerns, the Commissioners probably won't ask for his resignation.
The way it appears to me, just as grave an injustice was inflicted upon these poor people
when Carl Britt, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, called the law to make the
poor people disperse when, evidently, he became tired of hearing things he no longer wanted
to hear-namely the truth. I've always heard that the truth will set you free. Evidently this
doesn't apply to the Robeson County Board of Commissioners. When confronted by the truth,
the Commissioners called the law to lock up folk instead of setting them free.
Well, I wish to go a step further than calling for Session's resignation. I call on Carl Britt,
and every other commissioner who sat idly by and condoned his?to me?highly
unprofessional conduct, to resign. I honestly wish someone had videotaped that meeting.
Then, every time one of the present commissioners came up for re-election, the whole
despicable scenario could be played back for the mostly poor electorate and let them see
exactly what these so-said-to-be representatives think about poor people. To me, their recent
actions suggest that they resent and hold in contempt the very folk they are charged to
represent. It's truly sad. Heck! It's sickening!
I accompanied Shirley Locklear once on her travels out to the homes' of some of her poor
clients. I was working for Lumbee Regional Development Association at the time as public
relations officer and was supposed to take some pictures of some wom-out wood-burning
heaters in these homes. You see, LRDA, in conjunction with the N.C. Commission of Indian
Affairs, gave brand new heaters to about a dozen of the poorest folk in this area, free of
charge.
A visit to one of these old, weather-worn, delapidated houses stands out in vidid and stark
detail in my mind, almost as if it happened yesterday instead of over a year ago. The family of
five lived in a two-room shack wifh the only evidence of running water being the rain that ran
down through holes in the ceiling, splashing into a number of much-worn pots and pans and a
foot tub placed strategically to catch the downfall. The family heated and cooked on an old,
3-legged heater that was propped precariously on an old coffee can. The heater was so old
and much-used that a hole was actually evident in its side. One could actually see the burning
logs crackling and sizzling inside, trying unsuccessfully to ward off the cold which was pretty
intense since this visit occurred during one of the coldest snaps in this area's history.
What broke my heart, though, was a 3-month-old baby girl wrapped in swaddling and
propped at the end of the couch in as close a proximity to the old worn-out heater as possible.
The infant looked like a beautiful baby doll, until one took a closer look and saw her persistent
running nose. And she was sniffling and crying, producing one of the most pitiful,
heart-wrenching sounds imaginable. The mother, standing in her torn and tattered dress
beside Ms. Locklear, said the baby had a cold that she couldn't seem to shake off. And the
mother couldn't afford to take the baby to the doctor. And, even if she could, she didn't have
no way to travel.
I remember distinctly standing among those worn-out pots and pans and the solitary foot
tub, a big, husky hulk of a man, feeling thankful for the rain that occasionally cascaded down
from the ceiling, splattering on my eye glasses and cheek. Yea! 1 was thankful because the
rain camouflaged the tears that flowed so freely from my imperfect eyes.
It is my personal opinion that it would behoove a lot of these snobby-acting, arrogant,
big-headed social services folk if it was mandatory that they visit these poor folk in their poor
homes. Perhaps if Sessoms could have seen that beautiful, sniffling 3-month-old baby girl
struggling so mightily to shrugg off,that persistent cold that binded her, he wouldn't have
been so hasty in his callous, cold-hearted and indifferent conduct concerning the crisis
heating fund program.
Yet, 1 dare say there are some folk who have become so callous and cold-hearted and
conditioned that it seems virtually nothing could affect them. Some of our so-said-to-be
representatives actually act as if nothing could move them except an overdose of Exlax.' 1
honestly can't say for sure whether Sessoms, Herndon, Britt, or the commissioners who
condoned Britt calling the law, fit into this category although their recent behavior suggests
that they do, as far as I'm concerned.
Yes. I don't know whether that beautiful little girl ever did succeed in fighting off that ugly
cold. But 1 do know that I am still haunted by the heart-wrenching sight; I just can't seem to
dislodge the memory of the sight of her from the dark recesses of my poor, finite mind.
Oh, yes! In my mind's eye, I see that pretty little thing now. And, carried away by the
memory of the heart-wrenching sight, 1 imagine I can actually hear her pleading pitifully
between sobs and snifflings. I honestly imagine I can hear her pleas now. I am struggling
mightily to make out what she is saying. As the image of the little infant I have conjured up
becomes clearer and clearer in my mind, I am able to figure out what the beautiful child is
saying in between sobs. She is pleading over and over again: "Russell Sessoms, Herndon, Carl
Britt, and all the other commissioners who condoned Britt's behavior. For God's
and poor folks' everywhere- sake! PLEASE RESIGN!" And I can't help but mimick her pleas.
Boys! PLEASE! PLEASE! RESIGN!!!
I'll talk at 'ya some more next week folk. Meanwhile, keep this little thought in mind: The
world is far too color-conscious. If we're not preoccupied by worrying about the color of folk's
skin, then we're blinded by the color green-the color of the Almighty Dollar.
. Dr. Sherwood Hinson. Jr.
LUMBERTON
-> CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
f "I Suffer From Severe
Chronic Back Pain...
Before you resort to major
back surgery, you should
know that many chronic back
conditions respond favorably
to gentle, painless, chiroprac
tic treatment.
. ? (T~
A chiropractor can determine if your condition is a
chiropractic condition. AND. if yours is Q chiroprac
tic condition . . .
NOTHING ELSE IS LIKELY TO HELP YOU.
Contact Lumberton Chiropractic Center and
eliminate that low back pain.
UJMBERTDN CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
Solern Square (The Newest Professional Pork)
Fayetteville Rd. ? Phone 738 3600 lumberton
?X 1 , ?" ? v
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