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n^jTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOI t| 9
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^ _ ? PEMBROKE. N.C In A Tri-racial Setting." ROBESON OQUj * 3 M
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TOXIC WASTE MEETING SET 1
FOR PEMBROKE '4
Officials from various state agencies, boards, and commissions will be coming to Pembroke
on Monday night? March 24, to listen to public documentation and expression against the
siting at the proposeaGfyX hazardous waste treatment facility in Maxton. The meeting is being
held at the request of the County Commissioners of both Robeson and Scotland Counties. The
Public Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Pembroke State
University.
If licensed, the GSX facility would be the largest hazardous waste treatment facility in the
Southeast The plan is to place the plant just 4,000 feet from the Lumber River in sandy,
pourous soiL In numerous public meetings, critics have shown that this location is one of the
worst possible locations for such a dangerous facility in N.C. Accepting up to 64 truckloads of
toxic waste each day and an unspecified amount of waste by rail, the proposed facility will be
dumping up to '/i million gallons of waste water each day into the Lumber River. GSX has a
very poor track record and has been fined and pleaded guilty on charges of mismanagement of
hazardous wastes in several states. At the present time, a report on the GSX landfill in South
Carolina ia recommending that thousands of dollars be spent to further investigate and
document the changes which are taking place in Lake Marion, S.C. due to contamination from
the GSX facility there. Citizens opposing the proposed GSX facility here have raised serious
questions and provided documentation on the issues of the company's poor track record, Ahe
massive scale of the proposed operation, public safety and health, the serious riskn to
groundwater and county water supplies, and the question of liability.
Recently, there have been meetings with GSX officials and citizens in both Laurinb^rg and
Lumberton. The meeting in Pembroke with State Government officials will be the Largest
meeting which will be held regarding the proposed GSX facility. Similar to the large meeting in
Cumberland County regarding the proposed low-level radioactive waste incinerator, the
meeting is being held at the Performing Arts Center in order to receive a capacity crowd.
Commenting on the March 24 meeting, Mr. Wyvis Oxendine, Robeson County
Commisaioner from the Pembroke-Maxton area, stated: "Of all the public meetings, this will
be the moat important since this one is being sponsored by the State. They are the ones who
will make the decision on the GSX proposal. It is time for the people of Robeson County to let
the officials in Raleigh know exactly how they feel about GSX We can't afford to sit back and
let a few do what everybody should be doing. Our voices must be heard loud and clear on our
united opposition to GSX We can't do that by staying at home and watching television or an
AOC ballgame."
Mr. Adolph Dial, Chairman of the American Indian Studies Program at PSU, stated that:
"The March 24th meeting is a very important meeting and the future of our lives depends on
it For hundreds and thousands of years, the Indian people of this land kept the rivers clear and
the air pure. If we are not careful, we will destroy our good environment for profit and create a
bad situation that can never be undone. Everyone should attend the March 24th meeting. We
should overrun the Performing Arts Center. The more the opposition and the larger the crowd,
the more the State and GSX will realize that this is the wrong place."
Mr. John Godwin, Board Member of Robeson County Clergy and Laity Concerned, stated
that" what we are attempting to do is to stop these people from declaring chemical warfare on
us-that is exactly what they are planning. This is experimental for GSX because they have
never operated a facility like (his. As far as concrete knowledge about what will happen, they
don't know. People need to let our elected officials know that we are not happy with their
nonchalant response to those who have elected them."
The Public Meeting will be a time at which State decision-makers will be presented more
evidence against GSX. The evidence will concentrate on their problem ridden proposal and
their poor track record, including technical and geological data about the site they have
chosen, a history of the fines and charges against them, and other specific concerns related to
the proposal.
Mr. Rod Johnson, Community Organizer with Robeson County Clergy and Laity Concerned,
maintains that "residents from all over the Southeastern portion of the State have a great deal
to lose if this company locates here. Everyone has to use water. Robeson County residents will
be the most severely harmed if the ground and surface water supplies are contaminated. There
are many rail lines and roads upon which these toxic wastes will be transported. Even if you
don't live near the plant or use county water, you' 11 be exposed to the risks of fatal accidents
during the transportation."
Pointing out that a contamination clean-up could cost several million dollars and more,
Johnson maintains that the company probably could not afford it or try to contest paying
damage costs to families and property owners. Also, Johnson stated, "One of the most
ludicrous factors behind the whole proposal is the fact that this company is not trying to locate
near the major sources of this waste production. Scotland and Robeson Counties produce
only a very small fraction of all the State's waste that needs treatment. It is unfair and unsafe
to locate this facility here. We must get involved and stop this before the damage is done."
In planning for the meeting. Rev. Mac Legerton, RC/CALC's Executive Director, stated:
"Churches, Associations, Community and Civic Organizations, and Businesses need to start
planning now to have their membersand employees attend thepublic meeting. Many citizens
remain uninformed about GSX. When they find out, they become involved because they realize
the serious impact that this facility will have on their lives, their children, and their
community. If the Performing Arts Center can be filled for a cultural event or an LREMC
Annual Meeting, then there is no reason why it shouldn't be overflowing on March 24. We
must all work.together to see that it is."
Appointee To 1986 White House
Small Business Conference
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Larry Rodgers of Pembroke State is a Trail Blazer
Among Black in Athletics
bury Rodger*
by Gene Warren
He's an affable type fellow, usually having a smile on his
face. Nothing seems to bother him. He seems to be the kind
who takes life in stride.
But Larry Rodgers, the 35-year-old black head cross country
and track coach at PSU. is a pione'-r. A trail blazer.
This black from Slier City hav oioken the color line a
number of times ifl the last 21 years. He was;
-The first black varsity athlete at Jordan Matthews
High School in Siler City in 1965.
- The first black coach at Pembroke Suite University. He
took over the head coaching duties in both cross country and
track in August, 1981, thus becoming also the first black head
coach of a men's varisty sport at a predominately white school
in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system.
Hubert West was black head coach of women's cross
country and women's track at UNC- Chapel Hill in 1980, hut
didn't become head track coach of the UNC men's team until
January, 1982.
"I don't know of any head black coach of a men's team
before Larry among predominately white schools - public or
private--in North Carolina." said West, speaking by
telephone from Chapel Hill.
When Rodgers enrolled at Jordan Matthews High School in
Siler City, it was before integration of schools. "We had a
freedom of choice situation in those days," Rodgers said.
"Some kids at school--and some of my teammates-- called me
names, but not to my face. It was nothing "new. I had heard
'nigger' before."
As a sophomore in 1965, he made the varsity football team
as a wide receiver, kicked off, and was on the punt return
team. He also made the basketball squad.
In his junior year in high school, Jordan Matthews started
its track program, and he was one of the first blacks on the
track team. He was a kind of Jesse Owens, running the
quarter-mile and half-mile, the mile relay, the 100-yard dash,
and taking part in the long jump and the high jump. He
proved so outstanding in track that as a junior he won the
state meet in the 440 run.
As both a junior and a senior in high school, he started at
center despite the fact he was only six feet tall. "I was one of
the tallest men we had," he said.
In track as a senior, he captured the state meet again in the
440 and also added the 880 crown.
Three colleges contacted him about a track scholarship:
Pembroke State, East Carolina University, and North
Carolina A & T University.
?
"Coach Ed Grain (then cross country and track coach at
PSU) went over to St. Andrews Presbyterian College and
watched me in our Central Tar Heel Conference Meet. He
asked me what were my plans, was I planning to go to
college. I told him I didn't know. He told me he'd like for me
to run at PSU and get an education. He called me three or four
times and convinced me to come to PSU," said Rodgers.
In those days, Pembroke State's track and cross country
programs were in their infancy. In fact, the school had only a
dirt track whereas today it has" some of the finest track
facilities anywhere.
Larry Rodgers helped to build the PSU track tradition. He
won honorable mention All American honors in the mile relay
at Arkadelphia, Ark. He was chosen "Most Valuable" on the
team in track in both his junior and senior years. He was all
district in both the mile relay and quarter- mile.
The track championships flowed into Pembroke State,
including the prestigious state intercollegiate championship
which the Braves won in 1972 at Duke over all schools in the
state, including the Big Four. That was, ironically enough,"
the last year the state meet was held and the huge trophy is
now a proud part of the PSU trophy case.
After graduation from PSU in '73 with a B.S. in physical
education, Rodgers worked in industry for eight months and
then with the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department
for another eight months. Then in 1977, he became assistant
coacl) at South View Junior High School in Fayetteville in
football, basketball and track. In 1978 he joined Douglas Bynd
High of Fayetteville as assistant coach in cross country and
track. From 1979 81, he moved up to head cross country coach
and head women's track coach at Douglas Byni.
Having earned his M.S. degree in physical education at
N.C. Central University in 1979, he was qualified for a college
position. It came at his alma mater PSU in the summer of
1981 when he returned to Pembroke State to teach and
remained as head cross country and track coach, beginning
that August
Rodgers has continued the strong PSU cross country and
track tradition in his efforts to fill the shoes of Dr. Ed Grain,
now chairman of the PSU Health and Physical Education, and
Recreation Department. Rodgers won NALA District 26
"Cross Country Coach of the Year" honors in 1981 and 1985
and Carolina* Conference "Track Coach of the Year'' honors
in '82, '83, '84 and '85.
He knows what racial prejudice is. "In high school, as long
as I was with the team, I could eat the pre game meal by
going in the front door of a restaurant. That was on Friday.
But on Sa'urday by myself, I had to go around to the back of
the restaurant to get my meal on a tray," said Rodgers.
As i college athlete, the transition was smoother. "Obr
PSU teams had a lot of togetherness and a lot of unity.
Everyone was a student-athlete. I can't remember any
particularly bad situation. Of course, people would stare at
you when you entered a restaurant with the team?"?
Even today Rodgers is conscious of the fact that he is a
rarity as a head black coach. "It was like in '81 when we went
to an NCAA meet at Lowell. Mass. We had meetings, and I
was the only black coach there." he said. "You look around
and realize you are the only one."
Rodgers is proud of the cross country and track programs
he represents. "Pembroke State University has a lot of
respect from other schools. The opposition always wants to
know: what has PSU got Ihis year?" They always find a
strong challenge as the string of championships prove.
Rodgers is married to the former Shirley Nicholson of
Hamlet. They are parents to two daughters: Deidre, 17, and
Tina, 4.
Indian Dig Site
Preserved
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Chapel Hill-Archaeologists will be able to continue studying
a 20-a ere historic s.ite on the Eno River when '-mnants of
pre-Colonial Indian villages are buried, thanks to a New York
investment banker.
The Preservation Fund of Hillsborough, Int. announced
FYiday that Richard Jenrette, a banker and a member of the
board of trustees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, had agreed to buy the Hillsborough site for $120,000.
The preservation fund had obtained a six month option on
the property last August that was due to expire February 28.
"He really has saved us," said John Kennedy, Jr.,
chairman of the fund.
The site, in a horseshoe bend of the Eno River 16 miles from
Chapel Hill, contains six Oceaneeehi village sites.
Archaeologists? from UNC think the site may be the
Oceaneeehi Town visited in 1701 by English surveyor and
historian John Lawson, who wrote about the Indian village.
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Receives
Doctorate
Or. Olivia Schwartz
Olivia Lowry Schwartz par
ticipated in the winter convo
cation at the George Wash
ington University, Washing
ton, D.C. on February 18,
1986. At that time she was
formally awarded a doctorate.
She is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Theodore Lowry of
Route 3, Rowland, NC. Olivia
resides with her husband. Dr.
Tommy L Schwartz, in upper
Marlboro, Maryland. They
haw OM daughter- T*mt V.
Schwartz, of Reltsville, Mary
land.
Olivia's dissertation. The
Micro Computer and Read
ing: A Survey k The State of
Maryland, was successfully
defended on April 2, 1985 and
the degree officially awarded
on September 30, 1985. She
received a B.S. from PSU in
1962 and a M.A. from the
George Washington Univer
sity in 1974.
The former first lady. Lady
Bird Johnson, was the speak
er for the approximately 850
graduates. Mrs. Johnson's
son-in-law the former gover
nor of Virginia was among
about 5,000 people attending
the ceremony, where Mrs.
Johnson received an honorary
4pctor of public service de-.
gree.
ATTEND STATE 4-H COUNCIL RETREAT
Atteadad State 4-H Cuadl iUtnat, Wt te right: JB Pljm, uaktut 4-H agaat; FW Baggs;
Deug Bernhardt] Mickeal Salter; Bart Bernhardt. Not ptetend: Dsidre Svttei, DnmMi Hast,
Laaa Gilchrist Kim Lswta, Tammy McCetaa. Rhaadette Jones aad Waady
Eta van Robeaon County 4 IT are attendad tha State 4-H Council Retreat in Raleigh Keb.8
and 9. The 4-H* en had an opportunity to develop their leadership skills in seminars aad
meetings held during the retreat They also attended seven] informative worksioee
concerning this year's state project The theme for the state project is "Back te tike Fetusa in
4-H" and relates to our heritage in several areas including cultural arts, agriculture, farrity
and 4-H.
Four H* ars were encouraged to use their leadership skills and share their sspartsnsse aad
ideas with the county and their respective community 4-H elube. Mem ben el the Babeeoa
County delegation in attendance Included: Deidra Sutton. Demetria HaqL-Phul Bogga, Doug