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3,000 ATTEND GSXMEETING
RC/CALC Release
Preceded by a "Trail of Tears March" sponsored by the West Robeson High School and a
barbecue plate dinner served by area volunteers, a joint Robeson/ Scotland County meeting on
the proposed GSX hazardous waste treatment facility drew over 3,000 people to PSU" s
Perfqrming Arts Center. Though the auditorium held only 2,000, another equally enthusiastic
1,000 people stood and listened outside. Hearing testimonies and technical reports from over
two dozen speakers were officials from the State Department of Human Resources and the
Governor's Waste Management Board. Meeting with the public for the first time on the GSX
proposal, the officials were impressed by the great interest and participation shown by the
citizens of Robeson and Scotland bounties.
Before hearing reports from the public, Phillip Kirk, Secretary of the Department of Human
Resources assured the audience that a sound decision would be made on the GSX license
application. "I can make you one promise tonight, and that is unless all questions concerning
the quality of water are addressed to the 100 percent satisfaction of our health officials, this per
mit will not be approved," Kirk said.
FYom different interests, many presentations followed Kirk's remarks-each one of them
expressing opposition and the inapproprialeness of the GSX facility proposed for Scotland
County. Politicians, health experts and community residents appealed to the state officials for
a denial of the GSX application. State Representative, Sidney Locks, largely concerned about
the quality of life and water, plainly told the officials, "We don't need, we don't want it, and
we refuse to accept it,"
While many of the speakers discussed the company's poor integrity, its financial stability
and corporate background. Dr. Fred Lee, environmental engineer with the New Jersey
Institute of Technology, talked about the technical aspects of the company's application. "It is
my professional assessment that GSX has grossly underestimated the potential water quality
and public health impacts of the treated waste water discharged from its proposed facility,"
Lee told the audience. He went further in saying that the facility would represent, "...a
significant unnecessary increased hazard to aquatic life in the Lumber River and to the public
who consume water in the city of Lumberton."
Cass Miller, environmental consultant, made clear that the contamination of the surface
water supplies or groundwater would seriously jeopardize the safety and quality of health of
area residents. Miller pointed out this critical fact in relation to the company's proposal to site
above one of the state's most active ground water aquifers.
Rod Johnson, community organizer with Robeson County Clergy and laity Concerned,
assessed the North Carolina General Statutes in relation to the licensing decision. Pointing out
that the GS> plant, if licensed, would be the largest hazardous waste treatment facility in the
United States, said, "The proposed facility is directly across the street from the airport and
just a few miles from the nearest school. We find that GSX proposed to operate just 4,000 feet
from the lumber River and in an area with high soil permeability and high groundwater table.
In addition, the proposed plant is a great distance from the major sources of waste generation.
According to the N.C. Statutes, each of these factors-considerations which must be taken into
? . "iy rjji- <? ? GSXv-ut, being for ApMatiwt.htw." jf
Mac Iegerton, executive director of Robeson County Clergy and Laity Concerned, said in a
statement; "While residents, politicians, environmentalists and technical experts continue
opposing GSX, the State Department of Human Resources, Solid and Hazardous Waste
Management Branch still wrestles with the application review. It is important that citizens
remain aware of this process and to work to assure the denial of the permit. The futures of our
families and our children require each of us to be -involved in this ever important decision.
Continue to write letters to Gov. Martin and Mr. Kirk and become more informed and
involved. Today is not too late."
The public meeting also drew Rep. Charlte Rose [checking his notes] who thundered in
opposition: "Ilike to drink Campbell Soup and I don't want no GSX waste in it." To his*right is
Rep. Bill Hefner. r ^ m
GSXPUBLIC HEARING
BARBECUE CONSIDERED
SUCCESSFUL... GRATITUDE
EXPRESSED BY
WYVIS OXENDINE
Commissioner Wyvis Ox
endine, a member of the
Steering Committe for the
GSX Public Hearing held
Monday evening at PSU* ?
Performing Arte Center ex
presses heartfelt appreciation
to all those who worked so
diligently to make the barbe
cue which preceded the hear
ing so successful.
Special thanks are extended
to all the lo^lal agencies,
organizations and individuals
who worked untireingly to
prepare the food, serve the
thousands who were fed, and
clean up afterwards. Oxen-.
? dine expressed his gratitude
to all those connected with the
preparation. Said he, "Hie
barbecue was a culmination of
many people and civic organi
zations working together for a
common cause- the preven
tion of locating a waste
treatment plant in nearby
Scotland County. As always,
it is the people, working
together, who make anything
successful. I am humbled by
the attitude and efforts of the
people."
Most of the food and drinks
were donated for the bar
becues. These contributions
are deeply appreciated. Those
donating the 22 hogs were:
Commissioners Wyvis Oxen
dine (2), Jack Morgan (1),
Henry Douglas (1) and Sam
my Cox (1); also UCEE (4),
Superintendent Purnell Swett
(1) SCAT (8). Sheriff Hubert
Stone (2), Rep. Danny
DeVane and Rep. Sidney
Locks (1). Leroy ? Scott (1),
Phyllis and Kenny Lockiear
il). Harold Deeae (2). Ralph,
Hunt and Greg Bryant (1) and!
Revels Barbecue ft).
maian
Religion
Museum
Open House
Hie Indian Religion Mu
suem, a project of the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association,
will receive visitors during its
Open House ceremony Satur
day, March 29, 1986. The
doors will be opened 1:00
3:00 p.m. immediately follow
ing the Associational Union
Meeting scheduled to be held
on the Odum Home campus
adjacent to the museum. The
museum is located immedi
ately behind the Baptist Buil
ding across from the Perform
ing Arts Center on the PSU
campus.
The Indian Religion Muse
um will have pictorial displays
and other interesting histori
cal and current material relat
ing to the religious life of
churches in the Burnt Swamp
Baptist Association
The public is invited to view
their unique "people orient
ed" museum which is boused
in the renovated one hundred
plus year old Burnt Swamp
Baptist Church.
GSX Meeting Attracts Largest
Crowd Ever To PSU
SptdLb (ujatunT hat/my hiuar
<iau? idura i?
iTntyrtfav'fy the Hate.
by Gene Warren
Having Monday night's
GSX public meeting on the
PSU campus was a master
stroke publicity-wise for PSU.
There has never been an
event on the PSU campus
which attracted so many
people?well over 3,000
speaking conservatively. And
the most people ever -over
2,000?packed into the Giv
ens Performing Arts Center to
hear the speeches. Pfeople
were sitting in the aisles and
standing on the corridors and
at the entrances.
The speeches were an
nounced on the public address
system outside the Performi
ng Arts Center for those who
were unable to squeeze in
side.
Media-wise, it was also a
triumph. A number of TV
stations were represented,
coming from such distant
points as Raleigh and Dur
ham
WRALTV in Raleigh did
live on the spot reports on its
6 p.m. news and carried
another report on its 11 p.m.
news. Films were shown of
the entrance signs to PSU
with the yellow protest rib
bons tied around the huge
blocks of concrete with
the words on the signs,
"Pembroke State University"
standing out very vividly.
Interviews were conducted
of the people marching at the
rally: including those carrying
candles signifying their pro
test.
Chancellor Pauls Givens of
PSU, wKo made the welcome
in the Performing Arts Center
and then commented on the
GSX situation, was also
shown on the WRALTV news
cast at 11 p.m.
Givens received two ova
tions. The first came after he
made his welcome, saying it
was appropriate that such a
public hearing pe held at a
public university setting. It
followed when he said: 'Tve
just spoken to you as the
chancellor of Pembroke State
University. Now (he polled
out a yellow pretest ribbon
and pinned it to his lapel), Fm
tpeeking to you as a citizen of
Pembroke." Hie crowd roar
#d Ms approval ad he did (hat
Then he proceeded to spy:
"Just because this region has
a low income per capita
doesn't mean the quality of
life here is any less than the
quality of life elsewhere.'
People here are concerned
with the cleanliness of the
Lumber River and what this
proposed hazardous waste
treatment, plant would do to
their drinking water and
fishing. People who work all
day love to come home and
put a fishing line in the river.
But if this facility comes to
this area, they are concerned
that there would be no fish to
catch in the Lumber River.
vVe don't want this plant in
our area and advise that they
take it elsewhere."
This is when the chancellor
received his second and grea
test ovation. His remarks set
the stage for the strong anti
plant rhetoric which followed.
Native American and United
Methodist Leadership hold
a Consultation
Fay* HeviUe-The theme and
place, "Developing and
Strengthening Native Amer
ican Minisinea across seven
teen (17) Annual Conferences
and nine (9) states was the
discussion for more than 126
participants coming from
twelve (12) Conferences and
eight (8f states of the South
eastern Jurisdiction, and rep
resentatives from eleven (11)
Native American tribes,
which were involved in the
Consultation held at Metho
dist College, Fayetteville, NC
on March 7-9, 1986. The
participants consisted of lea
dership from major Boards
and Agencies, Conference
Council on Ministries,. Dis
trict Superintendents, pas
tors, laity, and Native Ameri
cans. The majority of the
participants were Native
Americans.
The cafeteria and the cha
pel was the setting for this
large gathering which featur
ed Ben Busyhead, Director of
the Native American Center
Oklahoma City University,
Oklahoma, 'as the keynote
speaker. Busyhead captured
the group's attention with his
humourous anecdotes that
were filled with truth and
meaning. He related the
sufferings, oppressions,
drugs, and alcohol among
Native Americans across the
nation. Many Native Ameri
cans were below the poverty
needs to respond to these
needs and concerns. He quot
ed Fredrick Douglas, during
his struggles said, "When I
look at Jesus, I see unwilling
ness to allow unjust situations
to go unchallenged. Our the
ology today should challenge
these situations." He com
mended the Southeastern
Jurisdiction fororganizing the
Southeastern Jurisdictional
Association, for Native Ameri
can Ministries to address the
needs of Native Americans in
the Southeast.
On Friday evening follow
ing the welcome by James A.
Jones, Chairman of the Pro
gram Committee, greetings
were given by Dr. M. Elton
Hendricks.
President of Methodist Coll
ege. The program began
with a Historical and Purpose
statement'hv Rev. Dr. Israel
L. Rucker, Director, SEJ,
Commission on Ethnic Mi
nority Uiiuins.' Rucker says,
we are here to address
the needs and concerns of
Native Americans. We are to
form strategies to address
these many needs and con
cerns. He applauded the
United Methodist for its di
versity, inclusiveness to all
people.
The Biblical and Theologi
cal Perspectives',. "The Visi
on," by Simeon F. Cum
mings, Coordinator for
SEJANAM and Robert L
Mangum, pastor. Prospect
UMC. The speakers described
ways & means how Christians
can share their faith in love &
deeds.' Ouf ministry is cli
maxed in the teachings of
Jesus in the New Testament.
The evening closed vrith a
Celebration of Togetherness
led by Belton Joyner, Direc
tor,, CCOM NC Conference
and Ms. Delora Cummings,
Art Instructor, Robeson
County Board of Education.
P.D. Midgeft HI, pastor,
Trinity UMC Southport, NC,.
portrayed John Wesley in the
"Early Methodism Coming to
America." Special music ren
dered by ReV. and Mrs. Jerry
Lowry.
Music and dancing from the
traditions of Native American
was featured by the Soaring
falcon Dancers, Cumberland
association for Indian People,
Fayetteville, NC. Then after
wards the group fellowship
,pcd around the dim-er labi
and enjoyed Native American
foods consisting of venison,
smoked turkey, shrimp, vari
ous vegetables, potato bread,
apple cider and grape juices;
prepared by ftoscoe Jacobs
and Ms. Delora Cummings.
Saturday morning, the
group assembled in the cha
pel for. the keynote address.
The liturgist, Ms. Gloria Y.
Davis, social worker, and Rev.
Wilton Holden, pastor. Choc
taw Mission, Philadelphia,
Mississippi. The keynote ad
dress by Ben Busyhead,
Director, Native American
Center.
?following the keynote ad
dress, the large group divided
into State groups for the
purpose of sharing Need/
Dreams and Assessments.
Following Chester E. Brown,
Associate Director, Alabama
West Florida CCOM, gave
formal introductions of all
persons representing Boards
and Agencies, (inferences
and Tribal Councils
In the evening the second
session of the State groups
met in Problem Solving/
Strategies. Each group was to
focus on one state wide issue
and one specific problem.
Following, plenary session
was held to share the findings
and,discussion. Such issues
came from the groups, to be
recognized as Indians, state
recognition, education, un
employment and church, etc.,
etc.
On Sunday it was a time for
sharing existing Native
American Ministries.
The large group divided
into small conference groups
to build upon a follow up
relationship in an annual
conference and to identify
support groups and resources .
for assistance in the annual- -
conference
In a closing session for the
work groups, a role play was
developed, "What it will be
like back home." led bv the
Naismond Tribe in Chesapea
ke, Virginia. This was infor
rning and meaningful cxpen
ence to the whole group. The
group learned that there still
remains frustrations and a job
to do.
Ms. Mable Haught was the
liturgist for the eleven o'clock
worship service. Special mus
kiVM ai -ttrv. wHt -
? Dr. Rene'
tySe, rotary
H Hoard' of
JBK.Vios gave the
? flg r<mh Message. The
scripture lesson came from
Joel 2, topic, "Judgement
and Hope." Bideaux says,
"What can you say to people
who are celebrating, their
presence when they are suff
ering from dehumanization
and oppression? They have
the highest unemployment
level and the lowest proverty
level." He emphasized, "It is
time to turn around and come
back and claim your heritage.'
He concluded, "I have great
hopes for the Southeastern
Jurisdictional Association for
Native American Ministries,
in providing a ministry with
Native Americans.
The Rev. Simeon F. Cum
mings. Coordinator of
SEU AN AM, presided over the
Consultation.
Ruth Dial Woods Receives Award
A WARDS PRESENTED-five Distinguished Women of Efdrth Carolina Awards were presented March
21 m Raleigh by Gov. Jim Martin to [left to n'gAt] Ruth Dial Woods of Pembroke, Maggie Axe
Wachacha of Robbinsville, Dr. Helen G. Edmonds of Durham, Elizabeth Scott Carrington of Burlington
and Gertrude SL Carraway of New Bern.
Five women from across the
state received Distinguished
Women of North Carolina Awards
Friday.
Gov. James G. Martin-present
ed medallions to Gertrude S.
Carraway of New Bern, Elizabeth
Scott Carrtngton of Burlington,
Maggie Axe Wachacha of Rob
binsville, Ruth Dial Woods of
Pembroke and Helen G. Edmonds
of Durham.
Miss Carraway, a Journalist,
author and historian, served as
the first executive director of the
Tryon Palace Restoration Com
plex from 1957 to 1971. In 1939, she
founded what is now known as the
Historic Preservation Foundation
of North Carolina. She also served
a three-year term as national
president general of the Daugh
ters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Carrington was recognized
for more than 45 years of work to
improve the quality of nursing
education in North Carolina. She
helped establish the nursing
school at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the
school bears her name.
Mrs. Edmonds, an educator,
historian and author, served N.C.
Central University for 38 years as
a history professor, chairman of
the history department and dean
of the graduate school of arts and
science. She is recognized as the
first black woman in the United
States to become a dean of a
graduate school of arts and sci
ence. A recipient of the 0. Max
Gardner Award from the UNC
System, she is a visiting scholar
at Harvard University Graduate
School of Education.
Mrs. Wachacha, 08, is a Chero
r " *
kee Indian who has served as
clerk for the Cherokee Tribal
Council for the past 49 years. She
transcribes the minutes of each
meeting into Sequoyian Sylla
bary, the Cherokee language.
Mrs. Woods, a Lam bee Indian
and assistant superintendent of
the Robeson County schools, was
the first woman to receive an
at large appointment to the UNC
Board of Governors. She also
organised the N.C. State Consor
tium on Indian Education and was
co-organixer ef a national network
of Native American educators.
A commKtne appointed by the
N.C. Oaundlj^tho Statonij>f