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I PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY ?5
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raTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOIC %
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"Building Communicative Bridges
I VOIXJME 1\NUMBERt9 2&c PER COPY " :J" %. 7TWRSDAY^nrvir. 1986 ?
A i&EyV.
Will Five Go Into One ?
Merger Possibilities In Robeson County
EDITOR'S NOTE
This is the seventh in a
series of articles about
school merger possibilities
in Robeson County. Will five
go into one I History shouts
"No!" We hope history mill
be proven wrong. The series
of articles was written by
Bruce Barton, editor of this
newspaper.
THE (JAKUUNA INDIAN
VOICE heralded the news,
of course, but the matter lay
dormant until 1981 when the
issue was revived by the
North Robeson Concerned
Parents-the organization op
posed the annexations as
they felt that students were
being bussed out of their
area who could be utilized to
support a more comprehen
sive school in the north. The
group contrasted curriculum
poor Magnolia with Lum
berton Senior High.
The organization solicited
and received the assitance of
Lumbee River Legal Services
and the American Civil
liberties Union in bringing
litigation attacking the an
nexations. Although a stran
ge decision was rendered by
the local federal court, con
sisting of a three-judge
panel, including Robeson
native Earl Britt, the plain
tiffs prevailed in their direct
appeal to the United States
Supreme Court Thus, the
residents of the annexed
areas may no longer serve
on the Lumberton School
Board of wr in- any electio.i
for its members. The North
Carolina Attorney General
subsequently ruled that
the county may no longer
levy the supplemental school
tax upon property within the
annexed areas, thus, putting
a severe financial strain on
the city schools.
Lumberton first tried to
resolve the matter politically
with the Federal Attorney
General; utilizing the ser
vices of W. Osborne Lee,Jr.,
a bombastic, local attorney
who ironically represented
the residents of these areas
when they petitioned for
inclusion into the city school
district Although Attorney
Lee struggled mightily and
stalked the corridors of
power in the nation's capitol
with various politicians, such
as Republican Ed Johnson
and Conservative Tom
Gibson, the federal authori
ties declined, the invitation
offered by the local federal
-ourt to rescind their earlier
objection. From what I have
been able to gather, the
plaintiffs and their legal
representatives seemingly
overwhelmed "Obbie" Lee
and his political allies with
masses of data and cogent
argument
Having paid Mr. Lee a
small fortune to save the day
and seeing him seemingly
fail so miserably and ungra
ciously, the Lumberton
school authorities accepted
the suggestion of then Sen
ator Sam Noble and others to
sit down and talk about
resolving what had become a
nightmare. From what I
have been able to gather, a
series of private meetings
were held involving the
plaintiffs and represen
tatives of the Lumberton and
county boards of education.
The county schools were
represented at the time by
Supt Purnell Swett, the
Chairman David Green, and
interestingly enough. Dexter
Brooks, who was responsible
for first exposing the annex
ations and who then served
as attorney for the county
school board. The Lumber
ton Schools were represent
ed by Supt Gilbert Carroll,
then Chairman A1 Kahn and
regularly-retained counsel
John Wishart Campbell.
Noticeably absent from the
discussions was the appar
ently now discredited "Ob
bie" Lee.
At first many suggested
that Liimberton attempt to
1 -*i ? ??.?*?--- T- : . ..
soive ins prooicBi oj annex
ing even more county terri
tory. Even Rep. David Par
nell (now state senator)
pledged his support to such
legislation; however, then
Senator Sam Noble refused
to go along saying that the
matter should be resolved
through negotiation among
all concerned parties.
Tlie county school board
also served notice that it
would strongly oppose any
further annexation of its
territory. Hie threat was
given even greater substan
ce by the presence of Dexter
Brooks whose legal talent
and knowledge of voting law
made him a formidable
adversary. Interestingly
enough. Brooks is also the
founding father and chair
man of the Board of Lumbee
River Legal Services and a
member of the Civil Liber
ties Union.
As I understand it, once
the various personalities un
derstood the positions of
the other parties, an amic
able solution was reached.
The plaintiffs agreed to not
press any further litigation if
the Clybourn Pines-Country
Club area was de-annexed
from the Lumberton City
School District The City
Board of Education agreed
and, with the approval of the
county school board, the
compromise was submitted
to the local legislators for the
introduction of enabling
legislation.
Then Senator Noble had the
courage not to be swayed
initially by the frenzied
crowd and insisted that the
parties try to resolve
the problem through negoti
ations rather than through
biased, one-sided legisla
tion. Indian people were
represented by such as
Purnell Swett and Dexter
Brooks who it seems can
hold their own with the best
of any race. Although Brooks
has his detractors, they
cannot validly criticize his
abilities or the results of his
activities, especially in edu
cational matters. Most pro
gressives were even proud of
the Lumberton school au
thorities who apparently ne
gotiated the issue in good
faith.
It seems that Robeson is a
better place for the experi
ence. It demonstrates that
redskins and palefaces can
sit down and reason toget
her. If they would only apply
this method to other prob
lems, the elimination of
time smaller city school
units will finally be realized
for all Robesonians.
Hie Clybourn Pines-Coun
try Gub citizens residing in
the affected area have been
in the public eye since as the
matter has moved through
the halls of the general
assembly in Raleigh, before
the County Commissioners,
and now the courts again.
Serving as spokesman,
mostly, has been Eric Pre
vatte. Ironically, Prevatte
has a business- Prevatte's
Auto Parts-in Pembroke.
Pembroke is considered by
many as the economic and
spiritual center of the Indian
populace in Robeson Coun
ty, the dominate race in the
county schools.
Hie irony is, as one Indian
political wag put it at the
time, "It's o.k. to sell
Indians spark plus, as long
as one doesn't have to go to
school with them." Prevatte
is now, of course, eloquently
calling for one school sys
tem.
Delegation to the State 4-R
Electric Congress
1986 State | j
I ! CiMM M
| : "?f1" O -I)
Robeson County't delega
tion to the State 4-H Heebie
A Robeson County 4-H
member ?u named second
place territorial winner at
the 39th annual State 4-H
Hectric Congress July 7-9 at
Chowan College, Murfieea
boio.
Doug Bernhardt, 106 W.
16th St, Lumberton, won
the award in Carolina Power
?
Congrats included [firm
left) Cathy M. bowery, Bart
. I
and Light Company's terri
torial district. He received a
portable AM FM stereo with
cassette recorder. *
Others attending the con
gress from Robeson County
included Dong's brother
Bert Bernhardt and Cathy
M. Lowery, assistant exten
sion agent, 4-H.
Bernhardt and Dong Bern
hardt with Aundria Hyer.
They were Accompanied
by Aundria Hyer, customer
service representative for
CPAL ~
CPftL provided the trips
and the award and helped
sponsor the congress. The
event was conducted by the
North Carolina Agricultural
Extension Service.
Features Three-Race Idecfe
Designs For Bicentennial^ '%/'v
Medallion Accepted
'*1<??>? ?>. ? ? ;? *1 , '
These are the detignt
which will be used on the
bicentennial medallions of
Robeson County. The three
races of this predominately
tri-racial county are shown
on the right, depicting [left
to right] the Indian, white,
and black races. A map of
Robeson County, the largest
of North Carolina'a 100
counties, is shoum on the
left The medallions, which
will cost $20, will be avail
able for purchase before
Christmas.
by Gene Warren
Hie designs for a comme
morative medallion for the
Robeson County Bicentenni
al, whose celebration begins
Jan. 6, 1987, were officially
adopted by the county's
Bicentennial Commission,
meeting Tuesday night at
the Ramada Inn in Lumber
ton.
One side of the medallion,
which will be brass with gold
tones, shows the profiles of
the three major races, of
Rob?#ort County: mdian,
white and black. The faces
on the medallions re left to
right in that order.
On the other side of the
medallion is, a map of
Robeson County.
Hie design of the three
faces will be used on not
only the medallions, but also
on T-shirts, sweat shirts,
jackets, etc., agreed the
commission. These will pro
bably be sold first as T-shirts
to test their market appeal in
the clothing area.
The medallions are being
produced by Helen Stone's
Trophies and Awards Co. of
Lumberton. One thousand
are being ordered and will
sell for $20 each. They will
be placed on sale just before
Christinas of this year.
"If necessary, we can order
more in January," said
Hector Mac Lean, chairman
of the Bicentennial Commis
sion.
Designing the three faces
of three different races were
members of the medals
committee, made up of
chairperson FVances Dietzel
of Lumberton, Pete Cunning
ham of Red Springs, and
Carol Oxendine of Pembro
ke. "Mr. Cunningham show
ed the idea to some school
children and they had input
in the design," said Mrs.
Dietzel.
As other fund-raising pro
jects for the Bicentennial,
Mr. Dietzel suggested nee
dlepoint with items sold by
clubs or scouts plus tote
bags with designs on them.
It was announced that a
special Robeson County Bi
centennial Float, built by
Robeson Technical College,
will be ready by mid
September or mid-October
of this year. Riding on it will
be three queens, each rep
resenting the* three main
races of Robeson County.
The 8x20 float will b?
entered in every parade in
the county plus other major
parades like Wilmington's
N.C. Azalea Festival, Ra
leigh, and Charlotte. The
Indian queen of Robeson
County was present at Tues
' day's meeting in the person
of the newly crowned Miss
Lumbee, Leshia Gail Rogers,
a sophomore at PSU.
A historical map of Robe
son County is being prepar
ed by the Heritage Commit
tee, chaired by Henry
McKinnon. "Historical
Robeson, Inc., has met with
a printer from Fayetteville
and discussed having a
19x25 inch map on parch
ment-type paper done in two
colors," said McKinnon.
"Only the main historical
points will be illustrated."
This committee is hoping to
find a business sponsor for
the maps so they can be
given away.
"The Geography Depart
ment of PSU is to help with
the topography," said Mc
Kinnan. "Ellen McLean of
Lumberton is assisting with
the art work."
McKinnon's committee is
also hoping to borrow a
portrait of William Tatham
to exhibit in 1987 from the
North Carolina Museum of
History. "He was one of the
founders of Lumberton,"
said McKinnon.
The Cultural Resources
Committee has produced a
41- page pamphlet entitled
"Cultural Events in Robeson
County," announced its
chairman Bob Fisher.
"These are being distribu
ted through the library, the
welcome wagon, and Evelyn
Williamson," said Fisher.
One thousand copies have
be?fi printed and placed in
branches of the Robeson
County Public Library.
Chairman MacLean sug
gested bringing a Christmas
program entitled "Dickens
Christmas Carol'' from High
Point to Lumberton's Caro
lina Civic Center Dec. 9.
1986. "This would be a good
kickoff to the Bicentennial,"
said MacLean.
It was also suggested
that a Homecoming Com
mittee be formed to invite
back home notable Robeson
County natives who now live
elsewhere.
Mayor Coble Wilson said
he wants to see a Bicenten
nial Park become a reality in
the downtown area of Lum
berton near the old water
plant.
As part of Rowland's
projections for the Bicenten
nial, it was noted that
Rowland native Julia McGirt
who has performed on Broad
way in "Dream Girls,"
might be brought home to an
outdoor jazz and blues con
cert in May at the ball park
in Rowland. In August of
'87, Rowland representa
tives are projecting having
vintage clothing and fashion
presentation in their town.
Gene Warren, chairman of
the Publicity Committee,
said that Betty Pait of the
Lumberton Robeson Count
Chamber of Commerce and
Helen Moserof Maxton have
met and made preliminary
plans for a Robeson County
Bicentennial color publica
tion. "Ms. Pait said they wQl
meet again next week on this
important project," said
Warren.
Burt Dickison, director of
"Industry on Parade" to be
held Oct 12-18. 1986, at
Robeson Technical College,
distributed newly printed
brochures about it They
included words of congratu
lations from William J.
Bennett secretary of U.S.
Department of Education.
Next dinner meeting at
the commission will be Aug.
12 at 7 p.m. at the Ramada
' Inn.
Cooper Elected Secretary
Treasurer of Progressive
Savings an<f Loan
At their July 8 Board
Meeting, the Board of Di
rectors of Progressive Sav
ings & Loan Ltd. elected
Howard M. Cooper Corpo
rate Secretary-Treasurer.
Mr. Cooper is one of the
founders of the Corporation
and serves as a director.
A local farmer and mer
chant, he jv th# ton of the
lata Mr. and Mia. J. P.
Cooper of Lutnberton. He is
s member of Chestnut Street
United Methodist Church,
where he serves ss District
Trustee for the Rockingham
District of United Methodist
Churches. He is s 82nd
Degree Meson and Shiiner.
a former member of the us?
Council, Lumberton Board of
Education, Chairman of
the County Commiesinnere.
He is presently President
of Southern Marble Works,
Inc. of Lumberton. Vice
President of Gardens of
Faith Cemetery A President
of Lumbee Memorial Gar
dens, Lumberton.
He is married to the
former Eva Wise of Letts,
SC and they base one
daughter. Sylvia Harries of
Roeky Mount . NC.
*
' Council Asks Governor to
^ Appoint Task Force
The North Carolina Human
Relations Council, in a re
port released today, has
caned for Gov. James G.
Martin tr appoint a task
force on racial, religious and
ethnic violence and intimi
dation in North Carolina.
The final report from four
regional public hearings
held in March and April 1986
also calls for the establish
ment of full-time public
defender services through
out the state. It also includes
other recommendations per
taining to the issues of equal
employment, criminal jus
tice and extremist activities.
"There are serious inade
quacies in our ability to
respond to bigoted violence
and intimidation in North
Carolina," the report said,
and "these inadequacies ex
ist at all levels of govern
ment." According to the
report, although North Car
olina is lnown for having the
most active whtie suprema
cist organizations in the
country, there is no state
wide system for monitoring
racially motivated incidents.
In addition, law enforce
ment agencies and public
officials have failed to tale
hate/ violence activity seri
ously, the report said, and
many are unaware of the
danger and extent of such
activity. "Radical racists
here are lile obnoxious
relative*: we don't lUe
them, we're/embarrassed
by them, but we'd sooner
turn our heads than tale the
trouble to turn them out,"
the report said.,
The report listed 10 objec
tives of the proposed task
force, including the estab
lishment of a statewide
system to collect and share
information on hate/ violen
ce activities; mandatory uni
form reporting standards for
law enforcement; re- evalu
ation of current legislation
pertaining to hate groups;
training for law enforcement
officers and educators in
dealing with hate activity;
the establishment of a vic
tims' support network state
wide; and ongoing research,
public education and com
m unity assistance euorts.
"By appointing a tasl.
force, the governor would be
demonstrating beyond doubt
?hat the highest officials of
the state are opposed to
bigoted extremism and are
willing to tahe iniatives to
address the problem," the
re prot said.
On the issue of criminal
justice for minorities and the
poor, the council's report
said, "The single greates
handicap that poor people
face in court..is the syste
matic violation of their con
stitutional guarantee to the
'effective assistance of
counsel." Citing studies
which concluded that indi
gent criminal defendants
receive better legal services
from public defenders than
from court appointed coun
sel, the report recommended
that public defender services
be extended loa II 30 judicial
districts of the state. (Pres
ently, only seven districts
have public defenders.)
Court-appointed attorneys
as opposed to public defend
ers, typically do not have the
expertise, the resources or
the incentive to provide the
best legal services to indi
gent criminal defendants,
the report said. While cost
has been the focus of some
objections to a statewide
public defender system, the
report said the current sys
tem has not bMm pwsm as
be more cost-effective. An
other objection is that the
court-appointed system pro
vides young lawyers with
_ i 1 i a r _ i ?
vaiuanie uiai experience, a
practice which shows a pre
judice against poor defen
dants, the report said.
In recommending a slate
wide public defender system
the council said, "Our con
stitutional obligations and
the demonstrable inadequa
cies at the current' system
require that reforms be
urgently pursued."
The report was compiled
from the testimony of the
four hearings, held in Rochy
Mount, Statesville, Fayette
ville and New Bern by the
Human Relations Council, as
well as 140 interviews and *
extensive research.
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