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T3THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOH :
"Building Communicative Bridges AV - DnOC^U /vutk S *
I PEMBROKE. N.C In A Tri-rqcial MJUW "<
J" ' VQIVME 16 NUMBER 3 ' ' . " ' ' 26 CENTO ' 15 < V 1URSDAY. JA1 ...... ?i. J?g? |
LEGAL QUESTIONS STILL SURROUND
LREMC ELECTION
by Connee Bmyboy
On Thursday, January 14, 1988 members of the board of
directors of Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation,
representatives of the administration and Conrad Oxendine
appeared before Judge Craig Ellis to answer charges brought
by Rev. Elias Rogers relative to irregularities in the October 6,
1987 election for board of directors of that corporation. The
petitioner, Rogers, and the respondents met in Superior Court
and Judge Ellis gave them thirty days to prepare their briefs
prior to his decision on the matter.
Barry Nakell, attorney for Rogers had filed a petition in his
behalf following his official protest of the election. At the
election Conrad Oxendine who opposed Rogers outpolled him
by 40 votes. Hie petition was entered to determine the validity
of that election.
Prior to entering his petition, Rogers, a 20-year member of
the LREMC board of directors, protested the election. The
protest was brought before the Elections and Credentials
Committee. That Committee held a hearing on Rogers' protest
October 20, 1987. During that hearing the petitioner (Rogers)
presented evidence of the following violations of election
procedures:
(a) Persons acting on behalf of respondent Conrad Oxendine
and with his approval paid or offered to pay substantial sums
of money to influential members of LREMC in exchange for
supporting respondent Conrad Oxendine against petitioner.
[6 ] Persons acting on behalf of respondent Conrad Oxendine
and with his approval paid or offered to pay more than 40
members of LREMC $3 in exchange for voting for respondent
Conrad Oxendine against petitioner.
Other evidence was also presented at this hearing. After
consideration of the evidence, the Committee voted to set
aside the election and to recommend that the Board schedule a
new election.
On October 2?, Conrad Oxendine wrote a letter to the
Committee stating that he did not understand all the purpose
behind the Oct 20 meeting and asked for a chance to prepare
evidence in his defense. Such meeting was held November 3.
At this meeting, Conrad Oxendine presented two witnesses
who denied that they personally observed any wrongdoing in
connection with the October 6 election and Board President
Ward Clark Jr. who simply made a statement denying
wrongdoing. Clark then refused to answer questions on cross
examination. Rev. Rogers presented one additional witness in
support of the $3 vote buying contention.
Nevertheless, the Committee voted to reverse its October 20
decision and to reinstate the results of the October 6 election.
According to the by-laws of LREMC two members of the
committee were not qualified to serve because of their close
relationship with existing directors. Those members were
Janice Bullard and Jimmy Coins. Janice Bullard is a neice by
marriage to Gus Bullard, board member. Go ins is a nephew by
marriage to board member Bradford Oxendine.
On January 14 the respondents presented a stipulation of
facts. They confirmed that Bullard and Coins were related to
the two board members. They also released a list of the
members attending that meeting and their vote on the
question. Voting yes were: Charles Brown; Janice Bullard;
John L Godwin; James Hutchison; Brenda 0. Jacobs;
Madeline Jones; and Bobby Dean Locklear. The alternate,
Lawrence Locklear did not vote. These members voted to set
aside the Oct 6 election. Opposing that move were: Billie
Britt; John G. Elerbee; Jimmy Goins; John Pat Locklear, and
J.T. Wellington.
At the Nov. 3 meeting, Janice Bullard changed her vote, as
did Charles Brown. Frank Boyette, committee chairman,
abstained in the Oct 20 hearing, but voted for a new election
on Nov. 3. Lawrence Locklear, the alternate voted yes on Nov.
3 as James Hutchinson was not present
These facts leave many questions unanswered. How much
pressure was placed on Janice Bullard to change her vote?
Who applied that pressure? And why? In addition, to
unanswered questions, something just does not add up.
Charles Brown, who also changed his vote, was appointed by
the management and staff of LREMC. Why did he change his
vote? There seems to be an underlying pattern in all this that
makes one wonder about a conspiracy between the present
board of directors and management against Rev. Elias Rogers.
If this is so, the question remains. What are they hiding?
More importantly, how much is all this costing the member
consumers of LREMC? If the by-laws were correct in January,
were they not correct in October1?
At press time, several calls had been made to Ronnie Hunt,
general manager, to address the question of the amount of
money spent on attorneys, etc. But he has refused tq return
my calls. And we are reminded of an editorial we wrote in
October that questioned: Is there a conspirarcy between
management and the board of directors? And what are they
trying to hide?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
t
Wilber & Bertha Locklear 5
Wilbur and Bertha Locklear deliver a bag of food to the
senior citizens at ML Olive Baptist Church.
By Barbara Brayboy-Locklear
Special 7b 7>? Carolina Indian Voice
"There's plenty out there in the community for others to do,
and they ought to be up and doing it-especially Christian
people," says Wilbur Lock!ear. The Moss Neck community
resident practices what be preaches.
Locklear and his wfie, Bertha, both retired in 1985. He spent
27 yean with the MC. Department of Correction as a prison
guard in Robeson County. She left the classroom of Robeson
County schools after 80 years of teaching students in
elementary education. A decade was spent in teaching basic
studies, while two more were spent as a speech therapist.
Two yean ago, Mrs. Locklear contracted with the Robeson
County Board of Education to teach speech therapy when the
only remaining therapist retired. T?vo days each week, she
works with 29 speech-handicapped students in the county's
special education program. The 54-yearold Lumbee Indian
chose to work only part-time. "There were so reani other
things I wanted to do outside the classroom that I felt I
couldn't work full-time," she says.
The energetic mother never catches up on her list of things
to do. She says her overloaded schedule is self-imposed
because of a strong incentive to do for others. "Some nights I
can hardly get to bed. 1 stay up until the last possible minute
working on projects," she adds.
During the recent snowstorm which hit the area, she
constructed several pairs of country ruffled curtains on two
industrial-type sewing machines she purchased two years ago.
?Doing necessary maintenance on the machines poses no
problem for the creative hobbist A while back she enrolled in
a sewing machine repair class at Robeson Community College.
Another class taken at the school enables her to upholster
furniture. Still another allows her to work on small engine
machines such as lawn mowers and chain saws.
She usually assigns the task of maintaining and operating
those machines to her husband of 20 years. Mr. Locklear is a
familiar figure in the community in which he resides as well as
in his childhood community of Saddletree.
Every week's day is spent in serving senior citizens in the
communities. He pays special attention to the needs of
widows. "The Bible speaks of the importance in caring for
widows, and it is from the Book that I take my instructions,"
says the 57-year-old grandfather.
During the past months, he has spent hours cutting
firewood to distribute among elderly women without
husbands. A day each week is given to his widow mother,
Mrs. Bertie Dowry Locklear, in rural Lumberton. On the
grounds of his birthplace, hd busies himself in maintaining
. yards and to doing chores ipside the home the mother shares
with a daughter. ^
Locklear says he has a duty to helping others. "1 was raised
during a time when people took time to be neighborly, and my
parents taught roe to have a giving attitude," he remembers.
Since retiring, the Locklear* have given hundreds of hours
to working with the Saddletree Senior Citizens Qib which
meets each Thursday. The day begins early when Mr.
Locklear rises, feeds the livestock on his property, tends to
other outside chores and drives the 12 miles to his lifetime ML
Olive Baptist Church.
Once there, he readies the fellowship building for the arrival
of the senior citisens. Mrs. Locklear leaves their home shortly
thereafter and affords transportation to dub members along
the route to the meeting place.
. Several hours are freely-given during the day to working
with busy citizens, mostly widows, far creating various dub
projects. Two years ago, the IocUears, along with another
retired educator, Bonnie Iowery Tatum took on the duties of
distributing government surplus foods to qualified recipients
in the community. Those unable to travel to the distribution
plsce ate served by the Loddears and Tstum who deliver the
items to the homes. Tatum also assists Mrs. Loddear in
working with the senior dtiaen dub members each week.
The Loddears' busy volunteer schedules leave no time for
annual vacations. Tboy share a love for pier flaking and during
the fall months, they steel away a day each week to enjoy the
sport at a beach.
They attend Mt Olive Baptist Church where he has served
as a deacon for 19 years. Mr. Locklear feels the churches today
are falling short in supplying certain needs to their
communities. He says Christianity extends farther than the 1
sanctuaries, and that most Christians just are measuring up in I
their duties in their duties in helping their neighbors.
Retirement has allowed the Locklears to give back some
time to those who helped them along the way. They both '
express a deep sense of commitment to helping elderly
citizens. "I always s4id if I lived to retire, Td do more for the '
Good Lord and others because He'd blessed me," says Mr. *
Locklear, "because doing good toward others makes one 1
sleep good at night." '
\
REP. DANIEL H. DtVANE
DeVane Files For Re-election
To The
State General Assembly
State Representative Daniel H. DeVane of Hoke County
filed January 4, 1988 for a fourth term in the state General
Assembly, representing the 16th House District comprised of
Hoke, Robeson, and most of Scotland County.
A real estate broker aind auctioneer, DeVane is owner of
DeVane Realty and Auction in Raeford. He has served in the
State House since 1983.
He is presently Chairman of the House Water and Air
Committee; Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary I
Committee; Vice Chairman of the House Health Committee;
and a member of the Appropriation Committee on Justice and
Public Safety, of the Pensions and Retirement Committee, of
the Law Enforcement Committee, of the Employment Security
Committee, and the Wildlife Committee.
There had been speculation that DeVane would not seek
another term as a legislator, but instead would run for Hoke
County Sheriff if Dave Barrington retired in 1988. DeVane
says by filing he is ending speculation. "Iam not interested in
the sheriff s job," he said. "I did have some supporters who
encouraged me to seek the job, but I felt with my seniority and
experience in the General Assembly, I could better serve the
people of Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland Counties as a member
of the House." DeVane added, "One of the most important
things is to build credibility and know who to trust, and
seniority plays an important part."
*Msr to bcir.g -stectod tc the Stct? House in 1982, DeVane
served as a Hoke County Commissioner for 6 years and is a
former chairman of the Region N Council of Government.
DeVane, his wife, Alice, and their 15 year old son, Howie,
live in Raeford. He is a volunteer fireman and a member of
First Baptist Church in Raeford.
?. ************************3|<^
PEMBROKE TRAIN DEPOT DESTROYED BY FIRE *
In the early morning hours of Monday, January 18, 1988 *
around 5 a.m., the old train depot tragically burned down. *
According to Acting Pembroke Chief of Police Jeff*
Locklear, the SBI was notified and is investigating the *
mishap. There is no word yet on the cause of the fire. ^
***************************
ROBERT(FRs\NK\ FLOYD, ,IR.
Floyd Announces Candidacy
For District Court Judge
Robert iFrank) Floyd, Jr., of Fairmont has announced his
candidacy for the District Court Judge of the 16th Judicial
District, which includes Robeson and Scotland Counties. He
has filed as a candidate with the State Board of Elections.
Floyd's experience includes eight years of law practice in
Fairmont, where he shares a practice with his brother, Charles
E. (Charlie) Floyd. They handle all types of cases in courts
from Magistrate level to the State Supreme Court.
Floyd said "1 have dealt with a wide variety of legal cases
and I feel that not only will I bring a new outlook to the bench
but also an understanding of the problems facing the Courts."
The oldest of six Children born to the late Robert FYancis
(Bobby Frank) Floyd and Ellen Barnes Floyd, he came from a
family of lawyers. His heritage includes his lawyer father who
also was the first Chief District Court Judge elected when the
present District Court System was established in the 16th
District in 1966. His grandfather, Francis Wayland Floyd,
practiced \q,w. in Fairmpnt for many years and served as a
member of the State House of Representatives for five terms.
Candidate Floyd is married to the former June Leggett. also
a native of the Fairmont area, who is a teacher at Rosenwald
Elementary School in Fairmont. They have three children,
Catherine Elizabeth, 13, Ieigh Ellen, 9. and Robert (Bobby)
Mclntyre, 2.
Floyd graduated from Campbell College in 1976 with a B.S.
Degree in Geology, cum laude, and from Campbell Law School
in 1979. While at Campbell he was a member of the Epsilon Pi
Eta Honor Society. He played baseball at Campbell and in his
Junior year was named All District Third Baseman and in the
Summer League was selected as an outfielder on the All
District Second Team. Also during his Junior year he was
designated Most Valuable llayer on the Campbell nine.
A past president of the Fairmont Tornado Club, he is a
volunteer coach and umpire in the Little League and a
volunteer referee for the 7th and 8th grade football.
A member of the First Baptist Church, Floyd serves as a
Trustee. Chairman of the Board of Deacons and teacher of the
Adult I Couples Sunday School Class. He also served as a
teacher in the children's and youth classes and as chairman of
the nominating committee. He is a Mason and also pas'
president of the Fairmont CivfCan Club.
Floyd is also a member of the Robeson County Bar
Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and the Slate
Har.
Candidate Floyd is seeking election to the Judge's post now
occupied by Adelaide Behan (Judge's positions are identified
jnly by the name of the incumbent and candidates do not run
it large, but must specify which seat they are seeking). Of the
four present judgeships in the district, this is the only one in
tfhich the incumbent's terms is expiring.
Community Persons Form Group to
ProtestPSUName Change
by Eddie Hatcher <
With the resurfacing of the proposed name change of i
Pembroke State University, the Robeson American Indian 1
Defense was formed by those in the community who not only
strongly oppose the name change, but also feel too much of
Pembroke Slate Univeraity's heritage has been covered up
and shoved to the side by outside influence,
j J
Firstly, most of the present members of the PSl' Board of
Trustees not only possess little knowledge of the struggles and i
hardships our forefathers bore in PSUs beginning and
thereafter, but they seem to have no desire in allowing the
community the right and entitlement to share that history.
Secondly, ihe handful of'membere on the PSU Board of
Trustees who are American Indian have fallen prey to the
influential outside esablishment, seemingly,-and are
assuredly not Representative of the Indian community which
proudly represents the rightful heirs of those who fought for
what is now PSU.
It seems to our organisation that PSU should be more
concerned with issues, such as why so many of its students fail
the National Teachers Exam upon graduation and seek
remedies in which to correct this education, not school
labeling, problem.
i
At a recent meeing, Mr. John Godwin stated, "Well, it
seems that upgrading the phone system and the name change i
are the top priorities for PSU administration."
In 1187, when the North Carolina General Aasembly '
appropriated 1800 for a normal school for Indians with the <
stipulation the Indians erect a building for the sch within
two years or the monies would be retracted, how i iy non
Indians ran to the rescue? Had it not been for $2001 tied by .
Rev.^W.L Moore of the Prospect community and tier local
Indians, there would have been no school at th; me.
The Indian community has strug d to mi> ? "SU an
outstanding university and now th? is just that, there
appears to be a deludgo of outsiders v ? -el we are no inger ?
capable of mninlaing the prestige wl l*Sl holds. S they
ft el they must control things now.
In fact, there has been a gradual taken-rr by ou' lers
notwithstanding a few Indians who have out
"My forefathers worked too hard for t and I am not
going to sit back while some outsider tries to ' e over what is
ours, the Indians of Robeson County," said Ms. T ry Low^
-Sanderson at the recent meeting.
The Robeson merican Indian Defense r h is to
' preserve and d? f- nd the heritage of the Anrei Indiaa"
will hold a meetim on Tuesday, Fsburary 2, 1968 ' ?. wfil ha
discussing sever, upcoming projects dealing vith the
proposed name c rge and also some of th< peoming
elections. It is time we have a voice in Robeson Count/ it/
speak .or American Indiana of Robeson Count/. You can b*
thst"voice. For information about the upcoming r sting and
after 5 p.m.; or Ed..ie Hatcher gt S2128M 1 Mpl' i