PUBLISHED EACH THORSDA^ * ^ S t^THE CAROLINA INDI, 1 VOICE PEMBROKE, N.C mAJM-lMtalS^f" , E f J ROBESON COUNTY VOLUME 12. NUMBER 47 ISc FEE COPY - 1 ? " THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1984 . > ~ Q GOOD NEWS AT PEMBROKE COUNCIL MEETING $672,683 CD Grant Underway PEMBROKE-It was a night of good news at the Monday night meeting of the Pembroke Town Council as Reed White sell (grant administrator) unveiled plans for the town's recently awarded Com munity Development grant of $672,683 which will revitalize the Jones Street Area. A number of residents from the affected area attended the meeting and listened attentively, occasionally asking questions, as Whitesell detailed plans for the massive program which will improve the quality of life for a number of citizens in the area, and revitalize, rehabilitate or completely rebuild at least 31 dwellings in the area. The citizens who live in the area. Mayor Milton Hunt, Councilmen Larry T. Brooks, Vemon Oxendine, Henry Ward Oxendine and J.C. Thomas, Town Manager McDuffie Cummings, and seemingly everyone in the audience were pleased at the good news, realizing that one of Pembroke's most impoverished areas would indeed be receiving some much needed help. Said Bruce Barton, editor of this newspaper, and chairman of the Pembroke Historic Properties Commission (in later remarks to the council), "It is the epitome of good government to see this positive step unfolding. It is what government can and ought to be..." The comprehensive revitalization pro gram will include $216,981 for extensive water and sewer improvements in the general area (as well as other areas of the town), S4.200 for clearance activities, $71,000 for relocation assistance. $325,500 for the rehabilitation of pri vately owned dwellings, and 555.002 for administration. Whitesell estimated that bids would be let before Christmas and building should commence by the first of the year, and possibly earlier. In the meantime, the extensive paperwork that accompanies such a massive program is underway and area residents will be interviewed and information compiled beginning today (Wednesday). The program also includes a local option sewer improvement of $65,580 that will go a long ways toward solving some of the town's sewer and water line problems. Said McDuffie Cummings. "It is a red letter day for the town, one that we have looked toward with much anticipation for some time." HISTORIC PROPERTIES COMMISSION /TOWN OF PEMBROKE HOLD JOINT PUBLIC HEARING The newly formed Historic Pro perties Commission and the Town of Pembroke held a joint public hearing Monday night, beginning the first step of many that is hoped will save the Pembroke Railroad Station, as well as a number of other historic properties in the town. Bruce Barton, chairman of the com mission, presented remarks to the Council and audience, detailing plans for the eventual restoration of the railroad station that was built in 1888 and is the oldest building in Pembroke. Now abandoned by the railroad. Sartou and Jtber members. W the commission (including Mrs. Mary H. Locklear, Mrs. Lucy Locklear. Dr. Bob Hersch. Mayor Milton Hunt, and Clinton Thomas. Jr.) hope to acquire the property, restore it to the use of the community and possibly add a mini-park if land can be acquired from corporate interests now owning the property adjoining the railroad station. Possible uses of the railroad station include offices for the chamber, 'Strike at the Wind!', a municipal library, a min-con cert hall. etc. A lot of work remains to be done but. as Barton noted, "the journey has begun," as he met with commission members earlier in the month. In other Matters...The Town Council approved ordinances designating certain prefixes for certain streets within the town and also approved a measure that establishes a property numbering system for the Town of Pembroke. Mayor Milton Hunt also announced that Pembroke citizens will soon see positive action on "numbers" for residences within the city limits as each residence will receives its own number, making location more easy to pinpoint for addresses. Mayor Hunt said, "We promised citizens numbers and I'm glad to see us get around to doing this." LUMBER RIVER BASIN COMMITTEE TO MEET NOV. 29TH The LRBC will hold its November meeting in the McLean Room of the Robeson County Public Library at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29th. Guest speaker will be Mr. Bo Delaney of the Natural and Scenic Rivers Program of the Depart ment of Natural Resources and Com munity Development, State of North Carolina. The public is invited to learn more of this program in the open meeting. Brantley Blue Award On November 9, 1984, about 90 people joined together at the Johns Hopkins Sheraton Inn to pay tribute to Brantley Blue and to award the Fourth Annual Brantley Blue Award. This year's recipient of the prestigious Brantley Blue Award was Mrs. Elizabeth Berry Locklear. Mrs. Locklear, or "Duncan" as she is affectionately called by her friends and relatives, has been involved in Indian causes since 1966 and was one of the founders of the American Indian Study Center, now known as the Baltimore American Indian Center. Mrs. Locklear has been a strong advocate of the Indian family and a strong advocate of Indian Rights. Mrs. Locklear has served as a board member of Citizens for Washington Hill. Chairperson, South east Community Organization, South eastern Community Relations, Secretary (presently secretary). Jubilee Baltimore, and Title IV Indian Education Program (presently chairperson). Mrs. Locklear is a member of South Broadway Baptist Church also. Mrs. Locklear attended Pembroke State University and is currently employed as a Senior Alco holism Counselor. In addition to the Brantley Blue Award, the Baltimore American Indian Center, sponsor of the event, presented several other awards to community people. Mary H. Lewis was recipient of the Board Member of the Year Award, and Avis Low cry was awarded Volunteer of the Year honors. Clara Hammonds was recognized as Senior Citizen of the Year, and James Lewis was recognized as Youth of the Year. Vera Shank was given the Distinguished Service Award for over 17 years of dedicated service to the Baltimore American Indian Center and the Baltimore Indian community. Vera Shank was also one of the founders of the BAIC. Congratulations to all of these winners! A Holiday Benefit for the Disadvantaged A Holiday Benefit for the Dis advantaged will be held December 15 at the Performing Arts Center at PSU. The variety show will feature top name entertainment of the region and the area with a lively mix of popular music, country, gospel, rock, and comedy., According to Willie Low cry, spokesman for the committee organizing the benefit, the proceeds of the benefit will be used to help persons who are confined to their beds by severe handicaps or disabilities. "There are many peopple who can't get off their beds, who are alone most of the time and need some holiday cheer," said Lowery. "We want to help (hem." The benefit hopes to educate (he public to the problems of persons suffering with profound disabilities. A friend of the spokesperson is repre sentative <*f the plight of the persons the Committee wishes to assist. "He has been paralyzed and confined to a bed for a year," explains Lowery. "There are many people like him who suffer in isolation and despair. During the holi day, we want to give them cheer, friendship, comfort and concern." Featured entertainment for the event will include Willie Lowery. popular Lumbee singer; T.V. personalities, seve ral gospel groups, and many others. Guest speakers will present infor mation on the plight of persons confined by severe disabilities. The Holiday Benefit is co-sponsored by the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce and supported by local civic clubs and community organizations. The Holiday Concert, in PSU's Per forming Arts Center, on December IS. beginning at 7:30 p.m., will be priced so that anyone who wants to attend will be able to. Tickets, now going on sale, are S5 for adults and S2 for children under 12 Small Crowd Attends Klan Rally ST. PAULS-Maybe 300 people ga thered in a dusty field four miles east of St. Pauls Saturday for a Ku Klux Klan rally and twilight cross burning. They heard F. Glenn Miller, Jr., leader of the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, call for white racial purity and urge the crowd to take an aggressive stance against government civil rights programs. The crowd responded with frequent chants of "white power." There were no incidents during the rally, although Miller said the Klanamen had come fully prepared for any encounter with blacks or Lumbee Indians in Robeson County. Almost all par ticipants in the rally were armed with rifles or pistols. An occasional unmarked law enforcement car patrofled the area, but no uniformed officers were evident. Most of the men and some of the about 40 women who attended were dressed in military camouflage uniforms. One eld erly man and one woman wore white Klan robes, and another had on a magenta chaplain's robe. After an hour of speeches, a security guard of two dozen Klansmen put aside the Confederate flags they had held during the ceremony and picked up fuel-soaked torches. Forming a ring around a 25-foot cross in the plowed field, they ignited the cross as strains from "The Old Rugged Cross" floated across the field from a public address system. Miller urged people to join him and Klansmen from four other KKK chapters in a Jan. 26 rally in Raleigh to lay a wreath at the Confederate monument on the state Capitol grounds. He said the march would be a celebration of Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday, designed as a show of opposition to the Jan. 19 national holiday honoring the birthday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The implied threats bf violence never occurred and many people. like a middle: aged Lumbee Indian who participatedlA the 1958 rout of the Klan near Maxton. said. "Good riddance! And may they stay wherever they came from." f Pete .. Jacobs Honored F James A. [Pete) Jacobs, Robeson ( County Tax Supervisor, was one of ten ( Tax Supervisors to receive the profes- p sional designation of "Certified North Carolina Assessor" by the North Caro- ~ Una Association of Assessing Officers at its annual conference held at the t Institute of Government In Chapel HiU last week. ^ candidate for this desig nation must have a minimum of five |5| years experience in a tax office and must successful^ complete five prescribed courses of instruction in property ap praisal and assessment administration. a| Jacobs, a member of the North ()j Carolina Association of Assessing Of- |r fleers and the International Association Q] of Assessing Officers, has served as R county Tax Supervisor slneiVJVjX He s was president of the State organization in 1977 and was the State Representative for IAAO in 1976. He was also named the state's Outstanding Tax Supet visor in ^ i979. c ? IIEOPLE * ? WILLIE J MUM LOCKLIA* IKAWLEICM Tribal CMat/MUUtittitot i ^ >