I^^HStfr PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY \ * I ? Tl
lSlTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOI ? 3
"Building Communicative Bridges i
^ROBESOJ^OU 1
VvOLU\H^J^TJMBER it 25c PER COPY THURSpA^MAYtf, 1986 |
A FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL
SCHOOL MERGER POSSIBILITIES SOUNDS
GOOD BUT...
A Lot of People in Robeson County Have
Short Memories
It sounds simple enough,
and even plausible, to hear
Eric Prevatte tell it The
court suit filed last week
notes that inadequate fun
ding is at the heart of the
educational problem in Rob
eson County; and that we
could do better if we had one
school system.
Prevatte. seemingly the
spokesman for the adherents
of the court suit has a way
with words, no doubt about
it In one news conference he
was quoted as saying, "we
are the only county that has
five school systems...Going
from Lumberton High School
to Magnolia (in the county
system) is the equivalent of
going from San Diego to
Tijuana, Mexico. There's
light years of difference."
The group Prevatte so
eloquently speaks for is
made up of 18 students
representing all five school
systems in the county. Their
suit says, in essence, that
five school systems are too
unwieldly. and that a merged
unitary system would elimi
nate duplication of services
and disparities in all aspects
at adoration. The suit also
seeks to change the way the
state department of educati
on allocates monies to the
140 school systems in North
Carolina. Prevatte was qua
ted as saying, "Basically,
they give all systems the
same amount of money per
student" The funding
mechanism does not take
into account economic diff
erences, for instance, in the
five school systems in Robe
son County, and would also
be applicable elsewhere in
the state.
In essence, the five school
systems have copped out of
their responsibilities and
have said that they think the
matter of merger should be
left to the voters rather than
the courts. Essentially, that
stance is educational cowar
dice at its most dispicable.
as we see it itiey, and uie
county commissioners, were
elected to make decisions.
Does the suit have merit?
You bet it does. The Carolina
Indian Voice has called
editorially for one school
system for years. But we do
have some legitimate ques
tions. And we also believe
that many people in Robeson
County, including Eric Pre
vatte, have short memories.
For instance, Eric Pre
vatte, who lives in the
Clybourne Pines area, has
not always been so vocal for
one system. For many years
he upheld the unlawful
stance of the Lumberton
School System and was, in
fact part of the nefarious
activity. We speak specific
ally about the illegal annex
ations undertaken by the
Lumberton School System in
the late 1960s. As a matter of
fact Pre vatte was one of
those who helped draw the
lines that expanded Lum
berton's educational and tax
base. When threatened
court action forced lumber
ton to give back Clybourne
Pines/ Country Club area to
the county school system,
Eric Pt-evatte had an educa
tional conversion. He saw, in
essence, that Clybourne
Pines/ Country Club areas
had been made sacrificial
lambs, and fed to the
voracious political animals
always nipping at the heels
of those attempting to do
what is right and seemly. In
essence, folks in Clybourne
Pines/ Country Club areas
became the New Croatans'
and were lopped of by
the Lumberton School Sys
tem in an attempt to keep
Lakewood Estates, and other
rich areas that were also
being challenged as unlaw
fully annexed by Lumberton.
Eric Pi*vatte, and others
in the area incorporated into
the county school system,
finally saw the light of day.
They found out that mis
treatment is not necessanty
reserved for those with
darkly-hued skins. They
were victims of a great
political power play. In a
way, they were discrimi
nated against
Until then, Eric Prevatte
was not in favor of one
school system. I am glad to
learn that he has had a
change of heart. None of us
are too old & set in our ways
to not change if the political
winds shift and reality slaps
us upside the noggin.
Dexter Brooks, one of the
lawyers representing Eric
Prevatte and his adherents,
was once the school board
attorney for the county
schools, and was one of the
chief architects of the suc
cessful effort to overturn the
nefarious "double vote"
political system. Brooks has
to accept some of the blame
(or credit) for the compro
mise that caused Prevatte's
political conversion, and for
the district scheme of elec
ting school board members
for the county school system.
He was later summarily
booted as school board
attorney. In other words, he
was fired
And, lastly, let us say
again that, ideally, total
merger is the answer to the
educational woes in Robeson
County. No doubt about it.
But here's the heart of the
matter; when all is said and
done: Who would run such a
system? And could Indians,
Blacks and whites be assur
ed of equal representation?
Would not county schools
Superintendent Purnell
Bwett be the most obvious
Ciiuice for superintendent of
a. county system? Or
Mould he? Who would make
those kind of hard decisions?
Could our provincial and
racial potions be set aside
.long enough to do what is
qgiQ u>r the children of the
county? 1 History shouts
'?No!" and "Be wary. Indi
ans!"
i And, as we see it, there is
another answer to this prob
(lfem. If the five city school
systems (especially Inm
beytonl will return to their
'efty boundaries they can
keep their school systems...
at least until they dry up and
die a natural death.
And, as a final note, we
are offended by Lumberton
Schools Superintendent
Carroll who had the gall to
brag that half the Lumberton
school system was non
white. We don't think Carrol
has any bragging rights
about this. That fact came
about because the justice
department closed school
boundary lines in 1970,
trapping the non-whites
within. Until then, they were
bussed out to either Indian
schools or black schools else
where. As a matter of fact.
West Lumberton Elemen
tary School actually belongs
to the county school system
and. used to be an Indian
school within the county
school system, although it is
within the Lumberton city
limits. Unless they have
bought it since we last
checked Lumberton pays
rent to the county schools for
the use of the facilities at
West Lumberton. Unless
they are the recipients of our
usual magn&.iimous Indian
selves and are using the
school rent free. No matter,
the school facilities belong to
the county school system.
So, except for the ponti
fical nonsense amd our
concerns about who might
run such a system, we are in
agreement with Eric Pre
vatte, and those sharing his
sentiments. And we say,
anew, that school merger
possibilities sounds good
but..a lot of people in
Robeson County have short
memories. One cannot know
where he is going if he does
not know where he has been.
Riverside Christian School
Completes Successful Year
Shown an tome of the
itudente and ttaff of River
tide Christian School. Prin- *
cxpal Leverne LockUar it I
*otm far right. [Bruce
larton photoJ
Tbe Riverside Christian
School, located 8 miles west
of 1-96 on Highway 74, has
completed its first year of
operation. Principal Lsverne
Loddear considers the year
to have been a successful
one. and is looking forward
to the coming year. Loddear
noted, "We operate on faith
and hard hroifc, and the
combination has been the
right one for us."
The Christian school is a
mission of Riverside Inde
pendent Baptist Church, and
the school is located in the
facilities of the church. Hie
school was oiganizedin Au
gust IMS and opened Sep
tember 1986 with an enroll
ment of 85 students k-10.
Said Loddear, "The concept
(of the school) is over 800
years old, and the first
schools wwrs founded in
conjunction with a church."
The founder* of the River
side Christian School realise
the importance of education
and religion in helping yeOth
and their parents to deal
with today's increasingly
complex problems. Students
enrolled are to maintain an
average of 80 percent or
above in the following:
Math, English, spelling,
writing, science, history and
L
elective.
The goals of the school are
a high standard of aca
demies, morality, spiritual
and athletic achievement. If
you believe religious educa
tion will help in the training
of your child call 521 4833
for more details.
Hie public is invited to the
First Annual Awards Ban
quet on Friday, June 6 at
7:30 p.m. Riverside Baptist
Church Sanctuary.
*As noted elsewhere, La
veme Locklear is principal.
Hie school has five teachers
and Rev. Jerry McNeill,
pa stow of Riverside Indepen
dent Baptist Church, is the
administrator. The school
boards consists of Mr. Jam
es M. Cummings, Mr. R.L
Graham and Mr. Charles El
McNeill.
Hie public is invited to
visit the schooland find out
more about the services they
offer. Those desiring further
information are encouraged
to call 843-4887 or 521 4838.
To subscribe
Call 521-2826
TH* CAROLINA
INDIAN votes
PwnfcreNt, N.C.2W71
PITCH FOR RAILROAD
LINE SCORNED BY
RESIDENTS IN AFFECTED AREA
tsy Uruce Harton
I'embrvkn-E.S. Wilkes, su
perintendent for Seaboard
System Railroad, might have
been the most unpopular
fellow in Pembroke Monday
night as residents in the
affected area scorned his
pitch for a railroad line that
would knife through their
properties if approved by
Pembroke's planning board
and, eventually, Pembroke's
Town Council.
It was Wilkes' second
appearance before Pembro
ke's planning board, chaired
by Garth Locklear. If it were
a ballgame, Wilkes and the
railroad would have been
shut out. He was not well
received by the tumaway
crowd that packed Pembro
ke's town hall.
The controversy swirls
around the railroad's
attempt to garner approval
for plans to build a railroad
line that would connect the
east west line traversing
through Pembroke with its
north-south line. As pres
ently proposed, the line
would run from the Lumber
River trestle on the north
south line to the east-west
line near Circle S. Stockyard
'formerly Pates Stockyard)
on Highway 711. The latest
proposal from the railroad is
the third modification of
thier original intent to build
the line nearer Pembroke.
The original line would
actually have skirted Pine -
Street extension and would
have come within four hun
dred feet of the junior high
school. The most recent
proposal would now be 1600
feet from the school, and
would cut across River Road.
Essentially, according to
Wilkes, the latest proposed
line Mould run along the
lines of the river before
cutting across River Road
and conung out n"ar Pates.
Put it was evident from
comments presented by res
idents in the affected area
that they would not be
pleased by any plans or
modification or quarantees
presented by the railroad.
Wilkes agreed to, among
other things, not disturb any
existing graveyards, divert
any stream, nor restrict any
water flow crossed by the
railroad. But the restive
crowd was not to be mollified
not even with assurances of
signal lights and bar cross
ings at places where the
proposed lines would cross.
Wilkes also inferred that
an industrial site was in the
works, and that the railroad
would pay county taxes. He
also said, "I hope the town
grows to such an extent that
you would take us in and
realize town taxes."
The prcposed route actu
ally would run from and to
Florence and Charleston
ports, and could mean an
additional six trains a day,
according to Wilkes. The
line would also serve the
Norfolk port, as well as all
Florida and Georgia lines.
The audiences position
was stated succinctly by
Henry Chavis who said,
"We don't want you." Cha
vis also chastised the rail
road for not "having the
decency to contact the pro
perty owners." Chavis said
he better understood the
meaning of the term to be
railroaded." He was warmly
applauded.
Others speaking against
the railroad's plans were:
Rev. Mac Legerton, re pre
senting Robeson County
Clergy and Laity Concerned:
Jane Chavis; Ethel Locklear;
Mary H. Locklear; Chester
Revels; Gary Revels; Betty
Campbell; Roscoe Ijoeklear;
N.H. White; Vanessa Hunt;
Robert I2arl Chavis and
Diane Jacobs. legerton ask
ed the planning board "nol
?sw?tuT ~a "3eal with the
railroad."
Also in the audience was
Wyvis Oxendine, commissi
oner for the Maxton Pern
broke Smiths area. Oxen
dine asked about economic
development specifically.
Wilkes mentioned Campbell
Soup and noted that the
railroad had maintained the
line for a number of years
before Campbell Soup came
to the area. But commissio
ner Oxendine was not satis
fied with the answers he
received from Wilkes either
and noted "I would be
opposed to the addition of
this line for safety's sake...
? ?
In his remarks Legerton
noted that the new spur woult
add further congestion, and
that the area would have
"very little to gain" from
allowing the additional line.
The danger of hazardous
waste was also aired, and
questions were pointedly
asked about GSX, one of the
companies attempting to
gain approval to establish a
hazardous waste facility in
the area. Wilkes pointedly
denied any collusion with
GSX, or any other company
involved in hazardous waste
materials.
Mrs. Mary H. Locklear
again pointed out that a
survey team from the rail
road company had come on
her property without per
mission, cutting a ditch bank
and disturbing shrubbery
and trees on her property.
The incident occurred when
the railroad was pursuing
their first proposal to build
the line nearer Pembroke.
Wilkes again apologized to
Mrs. Locklear and said, "I
am sorry it happened... the
survey team from Jackson
ville embarrassed me and
my company... and I want to
make vou haoDv." Rut Mrs.
A sa w. - ?
Locklear was not appeased.
She noted, "They (the rail
road) put the cart before the
horse and I was the cart I
was shown a great discour
tesy... they should not have
come on my property with
out permission."
The planning board, chair
ed by Garth Locklear, and
consisting of members
Hardy Bell, Monroe Lowry,
Mrs. Furman Brewer, Ms.
Rose Marie Lowiy and Mrs.
Ruth Tidwell listened pati
ently to the concerned citi
zenry and did not indicate
how they might vote on the
matter.
After the lengthy hearing.
Locklear promised that the
planning board would
"make a recommendation to
I the Pembroke Town Council
at its June 3 meeting." The
planning board recommends
and action is not official
until acted upon by the
Pembroke Town Council.
Although not indicating
how they might vote, Lock
lear injected at one point in
the hearing that the plann
ing board was a good and
positive instrument. He said
"if Pembroke did not have a
planning board the railroad
could do whatever they wish.
It is a good thing that
Pembroke had the foresight
to develop a planning board
to regulate those developing
within our one mile jurisdic
tlCD."
More than 700 names
were presented via petition
against the railroad line
proposal and Henry Chavis,
speaking in behalf of the
dissidents, promised
that "we are not going to
stand for it" Chavis sum
med up the feeling of those
in attendance by saying, at
one point, "We don't want
the railroad, and we don't
want you (Wilkes) with your
attitude..."
BBIBSB
MARK LEE LOCKIEAR
DAY
Mark Lee Loeklear is a
sixth grade student at Rex
Rennert School. He is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Lnudell
Loeklear of Route 1, Shan
non. Mark is in a New York
Cancer Hospital for a Bone
marrow Transplant..
Saturday, May 31, the
students and staff at Re:.
Rennert School will sponsor
a car wash, bake sale and
yard sale at the school.
The public is encouraged
to attend. Proceeds will be
used to help defray medical
expenses.
KayLa Leigh Smith
Transplant Fund Baseball
Game
A professional baseball
game will be played on
Sgpday, June 15 at 2 p.m. at
Lumberton Senior High Base
ball Field to benefit Kayia
Leigh Smith Liver Trans
plant Fund. Florence Blue
Jays will take on Macon
Pirates. Admission is $3.
Tickets may be purchased in '
advance from Scarborough
Building Center and
Bob's Jewel S)a>p in Lum
berton.
AUCTION PLANNED
The Pembroke Rescue
Squad Auxiliary will sponsor
an Auction on June 7
beginning at 7:80 p.m. at the
Pembroke Rescue Squad
Base on Union Chapel Road.
For more information call
Mrs. Locldear at 581-0641.
Continued on Page 1
tM And Barbara Melvin
/ Take A Crack At
Building Homes
, ?
Ed and Barbara Melvm
are now tn the home con
struction business. They are
PrOSDect-Fd and Barbara
shown m front of the first
home built by M & M
Construction Company. The
An/4 l/M.n<4 tk.i Ak.
modern and tpaciout home
it located on Wakulla Rood
m the Protpect community.
* w ? ??
Melvin care about people.
And they have decided to
take their considerable tal
. ents into the home building
industry. Barbara, the dau
ghter of Mr. and Mrs.
Herbert L Moore of the
Prospect commmunity, said,
in a recent interview, that
the idea took root while she
was working for the Robeson
County Church and Com
munity Center. One of fcpr
duties was ia the area of
rehabilitation on homes. She
learned a lot about the home *
construction business in the
process.
One of the things she
found out was that financing
is one of the most inhibiting
factors in building a heme.
iuiu ???!? ivuuu vuv uiat uie
moat successful builder is
the one who is most able to
get along with people. She
has honed her skills at
getting along with people all
her life, and feels that ber
parents taught her to care
about others and to share
whatever talents God allows
one to possess. She decided,
while at the church and
community center, that the
construction industry was an
area that she would Hhe to
try one day. v.
Now a successful home
maker, and the wife of Eld
Melvin, she feels that the
time has come to give fast to
her dream. With the help of i
her husband, Ed. who is the
driving force behind the
ouacoa ui jcai 9 JLUT3, Bin) bibb
built her fint home. Hie
home to now on the market,
and ahe hopes they will be
able to hetp someone secure
the title to their own home.
She feels that she and her
husband can offer assistance
to those buying their own
home by sharing what they
have learned about hoar to
finance a home, and tipa
learned in the market pkee
and at 'the church and
""""WBy center. Barbara
says, "Than are positive
ways te ayptunah buying a
home. Knowing bam te go
about It to an totpcrfnt