hUtHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOI-il ?
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J VOLUME 18 NUMBER SS . " ?? , 25 CENTS . THURSDAY, SEP?
BISHOP WARD CLARK, JR REMOVED.
AS PRESIDENT OF LREMC BOARD
by Cotmee Brayboy
Ward Clark, Jr. was removed from the presidency erf the
board of directors of Lumbee River Electric Membership
Corporation at the regular meeting on Tuesday, September
15, 1987. The action was taken in executive session, after
which the announcement was made in open session. No reason
for the action was given. And no replacement was named.
However, in the absence of the president, the vice president
assumes the responsibilities of the presidency. Bradford
Oxendine, vice president, made the announcement after
executive session. Mr. Oxendine will serve until the annual
meeting October 6 after which the board will re-elect officers.
Hie annual meeting will be held at the PSU Performing Arts
Center.
Hie By-Laws of LREMC, Section 6.03, page 23 state:
"Removal. Any officer, agent or employee elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the
Board whenever in its judgement the best interests of the
Cooperative will thereby be served..."
This action did not remove Clark from the Board of
Directors. He will continue to serve as a director for District 1.
Hie action merely removed him from the office of president
Ward Clark, Jr. is also presiding Bishop of the Lumber
River Holiness Methodist Conference.
Bishop Ward Clark, Jr. I
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
NEWMAN B. OXENDINE
EDITOR'S NOTE: Beginning this week we are pleased to
announce a new weekly colunyi entitled "Whatever
Happened To..." This feature will be written as a special to
The Carolina Indian Voice by Barbara Brayboy-Locklear. The
column will feature retirees and the many people who have
contributed to the growth of the area in various fields,
including education, social, political and economic growth of
the area. We are pleased to have Mrs. Locklear with us and
encourage those who have suggestions on people they'd like to
read more about to contact us at the Carolina Indian Voice.
Commenting on the long marriage, Oxendine said, "It's been
forty good years, and I look forward to forty more together."
The retirement years have been one of varied interest
to the soft spoken grandfather of eight He recently renovated
a beach cottage and retreats to the beach as often as he can for
some pier-fishing. He enjoys good health-which he attributes
to moderate exercise, no cigarette smoking and no alcohol. All
his adult life, Oxendine has shied away from the wild-game
hunting sport A childhood experience left him with a lasting
fear of firearms. When he was a four-year old growing up on a
Robeson County farm, his father kept a shotgun in the
packhouse to ward off thieves. " One day while playing in the
>ackhouse curiousity got the best of a young brother and me,"
Oxendine remembered. "My brother took the shotgun down
from its storage place and was pretending to shoot it I held
my fingers near the end of the barrel and the shotgun went
off," he said. Neither child was injured in the accident "Til
this day T ve never owned a shotgun," he concluded.
Oxendine said he has seen many changes in education since
he left the profession. "Computers have been added to
schools. Thij is for the better I think." he commented. "I
personally think they (computers) are a handicap to
consumers in some situations. Just the other day, I went
shopping and was delayed because the merchant handled my
transaction on a computer," he recalled. "A conventional cash
register could have gotten me out of the store a lot quicker,"
he said.
Yet, Oxendine will readily admit that retirement does lend
control to his time. He no longer personally tends his 40-acne
farm, but chooses to rent it He can take the hour and half
drive to his beach cottage and cast his fishing rod at will. And
when ever he feels like it he can just sit in the shade of his
sideporch and explain to his grandson why the clouds move in
the sky while the old family dog snoozes under the shade
of the family automobile.
by Barbara Brayboy-Locklear
Special to Hie Carolina Indian Voice *
This summer's sultry months have caused many native
Robesonians to seek shelter under old oak trees and back
porches. On a recent day, retiree, Newman Brantley Oxendine
relaxed, heels up, in a platform reclineron the sideporch of his
home in the Moss Neck Community, outside Pembroke.
He was in deep conversation with four-year old grandson.
Brad, and the family dog slept under a car nearby. Oxendine
seemed enthralled by the endless curiousity of the child as he
asked, "Papa, where is the jet in the sky? I see white smoke
but not jet Why do the clouds move?" The 30 year veteran
educator answered the child's every question completely and
with rare patience.
Teaching children was second nature to the 64-year-old
former school teacher, principal and assistant superintendent.
Oxendine retired in 1984 after a long service to public
education which included 11 years as a high school principal.
All except three years were spent at his alma mater, Pembroke
High School. He graduated from that school in 1942. His was
the last class to finish under the 11-year high school
requirement program.
"I really enjoyed being a principal," Oxendine commented.
"It enabled me to have a broader personal contact with all
students in the school," he said.
Financing his education did not come easily for Oxendine,
one of 14 children, born to Indian sharecroppers. As a high
school senior he drove a school bus in order to help finance his
school year. "I was paid 112 a month to drive the bus," he
laughed. Six dollars were paid to Craig Sampson for room and
board, the other $6 went toward the cost of graduation
expenses, he said.
Upon graduation from high school, the young Lumbee
Indian enrolled at then Pembroke State College. Towards the
end of his second semester, he, along with other local young
men, was drafted into the military service. This was to become
his first experience in long-distance travel from Robeson
County. It was a journey that took him to 28 U.S. states.
During the 42 months he spent in active duty, he received two
assignments for overseas duty, but never once took the trip
because his "Order" papers somehow got lost Oxendine said
this never disappointed him because few boys wanted to go
overseas during wartime.
Oxendine enrolled twice to P.S.C. before he completed
studies for his degree in 1954. Shortly before graduating he
married the former Hielma Cummings. Hie Oxendines were
recently honored by their five children with a fortieth wedding
anniversary celebration at their beloved Bear Swamp Baptist
Church near Pembroke. He has been an active member of that
church for over three decades, and has held various official
positions there.
Newman B. Oxendine
Pembroke Thurmcm LocUear \vat awarded
"Yard of the Month" by tho Housing
Authority of ftwfrwh. He behoves m ?
colorful runousuhug. At the age of ?rumty
eigkt (791 the Lord has bleated him with
good health uhick allowed him to spend
hour* working m kit flowers. He beheves
hard work always pays off.
Mr. Loddtorit thowmin front of kit home
at Dial Tbrmee, Pembroke.
WELCOMES
462
It was one of our smoothest
school openings, says Mr.
Ardeen Hunt, Administrative
principal at South Robeson
High School near Rowland.
He credits pre-planning and
the overcoming of some ser
ious obstacles. South Robeson
had welcomed some 642 stu
dents by FViday, Sept 11.
During the 1986-87 school
year, South Robeson put all
its students on computer.
Everyone expected smooth
sailing for the 1987-88 year,
according to Mr. Hunt But
during the summer just pass
ed, and due to various fund
ing problems, then was no
one working in the school
office who could operate the
computer and get schedules
ready for student* Mr. Hunt
says he could see* problems
ahced if students returned
with no class schedules.
But South Hudson has
somewhat of a unique stem*
iron, ine scnooi nas iwo
principals. 71m instructional
principal, Mr. Dwight Pear
son, stepped in for the
computer operator and did
rinch af the class schedules
by the time the regular
operator returned with the
opening of school. So, South
Robeson was able on August
SI to open smoothly with no
fuss and bother, students,
have taken to their classes
well says Mr. Hunt and
instruction is proceeding as
well as anyone could expect
Mr. Hunt says he expects
enrollment at South Robeson
to climb as a large number of
students are winding up sum
mer jobs before enrolling for
the new year.
MONEY ISSUES
DOMINATE MEETING
by Barbara Brayboy-Lucklear
Special to The Carolina Indian Voice
Money issues dominated last week's meeting of the
Robeson County Commissioners. In the well-attended
meeting. Commissioners listened intently as John L Godwin,
chairman of the Concerned Citizens for Better Government- a
coalition of eight local organizations--read from a prepared
statement, expressing particular alarm at the large raise
given to Sheriff Hubert Stone.
In his statement, Godwin said Stone did not deserve his pay
increase because "he and his department have received local,
state and national attention due to: the large amounts of
drugs which were displaced from the department, the
shooting death of Jimmy Earl Cumming'widespread charges
of excessive force by members of the department,
investigations into the drug traffickir' .. the department and
the county, the high level of unsolved murders related to
drugs and the documentation of a letter sent to Florida in
reference to (a) county resident charged with drug dealing."
Commissioners granted special pay increases to Stone and
14 other county employees when the county's $33.9 million
fiscal 1987-88 budget was adopted. Stone's special raise was
$4,128 annually, making his annual salary $41,500.
Also in his statement, Godwin said the raise given to Stone
"Can only be perceived as "approval by commissioners of the
job Stone is doing and that the raise is unfair to other members
of the department who didn't receive similar compensation.
Godwin concluded his statements saying, "It is the
intention of-the Concerned Citizens for Better Government
that all of these practices cease and desist in Robeson
County."
Godwin invited the commissioners to attend the fall meeting
of that organization on Thursday night at West Robeson High
School. Godwin did not take questions from commissioners
and left the meeting shortly after reading the statement.
The commissioners tentatively approved a schedule of
values on which county property will be assessed. The
schedule is to be used in computing property taxes in the
county.
Automated Valuation Services-a Raleigh-based firm the
county hired to evaluate property, developed the schedule.
James "Pete" Jacobs, Robeson County Tax Administer
said the new schedule will be more fair to county residents
because it will judge property based on property features.
Roy Morris, project director for the company, said residents
will no longer be assessed for something they don't have, such
as a building on a vacant lot.
During past re-evaluations, property owners were assessed
as if they had a structure on prime real estate, even if no such
structure existed. Jacobs said county property owners now
have 30 days to inspect the formula. Once the schedule is
approved, it will be used to generate assessments, which are
expected to be mailed in late October or early November.
Property owners may challenge their assessment once they
receive them. The property adoption will not affect
agricultural land values.
In other matters, the commissioners allocated $13,000 to the
Robeson County Health Department for the funding of flu
vaccinations and pregnancy tests at that department At an
earlier meeting, the health board agreed to ask commissioners
for permission to begin charging for the vaccinations and tests
because of budget shortages, according to Health Director
Robert Holbrook.
Hie department had proposed a $3 charge for the pregnancy
tests and would have charged residents on a graduated scale
beginning at $3 for the flu vaccinations.
"There are a lot oielderly people who just plain need those
flu shots who can't afford them," Commissioner H.T. Taylor
said.
Commissioner Jack Morgan, in supporting Taylor's
comments said, "Three dollars might not sound like much to
me or you, but to some people, that's alot of money.
Some people might not eeek the services because they
know there's going to be a charge for it when otherwise they
might try to get it," he concluded.
Commissioners changed the method of issuing permits at
the county's inspection department Contractors will no longer
be billed for permits purchased during the month. Effective
Oct 1, they will be required to place deposits witK the
department Permits will be issued against the deposits until
they become insufficient to pay for permits. Additional
deposita_wWjhcn be required of the contractors.
si ?~ ? fftt ? - L. a a. _ _ a m ? ? m m ?
Crosses lomtedonHighuiay 301, five mile* South of St. Pauls.
NC. \Photo hy T/Sgt. Wm. P. Revel*]
Text By Bernard L Coffindaffer ; ?;
CROSSES OF MERCY
Mr. Bernard L. Coffindaffer and his family of Craigsvilk. \
Nicholas County, West Virginia embarked in September, 1984 ;
on a challenging project They have installed a cluster of threp
"Crosses of Mercy" (Praying "Oh, God have mercy on me
and my family for the multiple of our daily sins.") at strategic
locations in all 55 counties in West Virginia, where the people
and the sojourner may see them. Other states are just as
important Since April 8, 1985 in locations of 96- Bible-named
towns in West Virginia crosses have been a priority. These
towns of our forefathers, are interesting, historical and Holy.
Also, they did raise at the proper location, one or more, in the
adjoining states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, D.C., Virginia,
Maryland and Kentucky, of these superbly beautiful Crosses.
Florida. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Indiana
are now being completed. Small units have gone into
Mississippi, New Jersey, Michigan and Texas. It is our hope
to work every state east of the Mississippi River. TTie Biblical
inspiration for this gesture comes from Luke 23:1-46.
The work will end when JESUS comes. What we are doing
belongs to JESUS and everyone. Landowners, without fee,
have given 931 sites thus far, in D.C. and 14 other states.
Remember please
(a) These "Crosses of Mercy" are lifted up as a daily reminder
that JESUS was crucified on A Cross at Calvary for our sfriS, "* ~
and He will soon come again. This is the sole reason for our
work. This is the substance of who we are.
(b) That the sight of these Crosses will make your heart
understand that repentance must come now as Eternity with
GOD is what we all strive for.
(c) And, as each installation is completed, be it also
remembered that each is consecrated, by prayer, Bible
reading, singing, use of the Widow's Mite and holy water
from the River Jordan and more prayer to the Throne of God to
accept the work of our hands.
(d) And. may the Lord draw to Himself the thoughts and
attention of many a heart as they look upon these Crosses truly
and now being told, the Lord Cometh, the Lord Cometh.
As Philippians 1:6 the scripture says: "He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ." Psalm 115:1 "Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but
unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's
sake."
Psalm 121 :2 "My help cometh from the Lord, which made
heaven and earth."
I Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgement must
begin at the house of God: and if ji first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
We have in many sites placed the Crosses high in the rim of
hills. (You must look up). Also in the midst of the waters; and
at small churches, cemeteries, holy place, unto GOD.
Double Caution- no sect, no cult, no religious denomination,
absolutely none, backs or supports this effort We take care of
every matter ourselves. I personally supply all funds, pay all
bills. An old gentleman 91-years-of-age, gave us $2 along the
way.
We have been told (it is also our belief) t> at this is the first
time in history such a project has been undertaken. God,
through His Holy Spirit chose a Christian man from West
Virginia to undertake this sacred work- the work is deemeda
special Hal-le-lu-jah to all the citizens of every ' ate, young
and old, rich or poor, Olympia or lame, and espe i ly in all the
outside states where our hands with their ha f , reach for
heaven.
Why should we not consecrate all back to ' < Tl They are
His. We expect to lift tl em up until Jesi >mes again
FUNDS to illuminate the < osses are needec r ;'?se respon<
if you care to. Please pray or us. God bless > nd to all tha
thou hast
Cast It y Bread, Inc.
/ P.O. Box365
Cm-gs idle, WV36305
LREK CELEBRATES INDIAN HERITAGE WEEK
Indian Heritage Week in North Carolina haa been
proclaimed for September 20-26, 1987. Activities have been
planned to call attention to the more than 10.000 year history
of North Carolina Indians who comprise the largest Native
American population of any state east of the Mississippi.- ?
During September 21-24, Lumbeo Regional Development
Association, he. will observe OPEN HOUSE at alt its offices
located within Robeson, Hobs and Scotland Counties. The
general public is encouraged to visit those offieee and observe
LRDA "in action."
Also, on September 24. the agency will observe Indian Dtijm
in the Pembroke Town Park from 9:00 a.m. til 4:00 p.m. Indian
" live'^thaTdepict S'tsjThSJwe Jld MktaTte t
attendance wfll be Wghly appreciated.
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