Established January 18, 1973, Published Each Thursday
tfOas 0^)ff0Gu[DU OLfJfOfeQiJ
Pembroke, N.C. "Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting" Robeson County
VOLUME 17 NUMBER 39 THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 28. 1989 25* PER COPY
Timothy Strickland Announces
Re-election Bid to LREMC Board
mmmmmmammm t tyrrcn .
Timothy Strickland
Timothy Strickland of Pembroke
has announced his intention to seek
re-election to the Lumbee River
Electric Membership Corporation
Board of Directors. Mr. Strickland is
seeking his fifth term. In making his
announcement, he released the
following statement:
"During my tenure as a memberof
the LREMC Board of Directors I have
seen many of my aspirations fulfill
ed. I am proud of the progress that
has been made by our board of
directors.
"As a'member of your board of
directors, I have approved, support
ed and endorsed several new pro
grams that will benefit the member
ship at large. I support a stronger
communications program between
the board and the consumers. This
program consists of energy conserv
ing tips that are available to
members. 1 believe that working
together we can conserve energy and
keep our electric bills within reason.
"The board, as it is comprised
right now, works extremely well
together. There are problems that
are being dealt with in a professional
manner in the board room....We are
spending more and more time on the
issues that affect the cooperative as a
whole. I have dedicated myself to
serving the best interests of the total
membership. I believe that I have
performed my duties well and offer
myself again as your representative.
I will appreciate your support and
vote and pledge anew to continue my
tradition of honest and fair leader
ship."
The LREMC Annual Meeting will
be held on Tuesday, October 17,1989
at the Performing Arts Center on the
campus of Pembroke State Univer
sity. All member consumers are
urged to attend.
Carson Lowry Shares Gift of Music With
Others During His Own Sadness
Canon Lowry of Ersmsville, Indi
ana uiat visiting his native Robeson
County this week The return home
was a sad occasion. Lousy returned
for the funeral of his sister, Mrs.
Naomi "Nubie" Hammonds. She
was funemlized Monday at New
Hope Church.
Although the visit home was under
stressful conditions, lousy still
found time to "make the day
brighter" for someone else. He
visited the residents of Sampson's
Rest Home in the Philadelphus
community where he entertained
them uith his guitar playing and
singing.
Entertaining residents of rest
homes is nothing new to Loury. He
has been playing for senior citizens
around Evansville, Indiana for more
than 20 years. He has many friends
and buddies who accompany him
when in and around Evansville.
A retired railroad worker, Loury
has been playing music most of his
life. He loves the guitar, but also
plays the fiddle, mandolin, banjo and
the harmonica. He admits taht he liks
the ohl country and bluegrass music.
He is not too fond of the modern
country music. He recalls listening to
the Grand Old Opry on Saturday
nights at the home of his grandmoth
er in rural Robeson County. He says
he was inspired by the "hillbilly
music" and began by imitatmg Roy
Acuff. He recalls that when he was
12 years old Charlie and Bill Monroe
came to his school to perform. While
there, Lowry requested one of his
favorite songs "Footprints in the
Snow." They accomodated the young
boy and Lowry still sings that
number along with repertoire of
songs which numbers in the thou
sands.
Having survived two heart attacks,
Lowry feels that he should share his
blessings with others. Therefore, he
enjoys entertaining senior citizens
and meeting new people.
Lowry's performances are not
limited to entertaining senior citi
zens. Recently he performed at the
Buck Trent Theatre with Buck Trent,
Ronnie Murphy and Beech Creek
Revival at the Diamond Lake, 5
'minutes from Evansvilie.
He has performed at Uniontoum,
Kentucky at the concert for the
Indian re burial along with Dennis
Banks, Max Gail, "Wojo" of Barney
Miller, Floyd Westerman and the
Short Notice Band. He has also
performed at numerous concerts and
benefits around the nation.
Lowry entertains at the C.K.
Newsome Community Center in
Evansville every first Sunday.
At these monthly events as many as
200 people attend and participate in
the festivities. The first Sunday of
November uill mark the AOth anni
versary of Lowry's musical career. He
will celebrate the occasion at the
^ r
Charlotte Chavis uho teas a
contestant in the Miss Lumber
World's Largest Manufacturer of Christmas
Ornaments Interested in Expanding Here
Sen. Marshall Ranch [second from
right] of Gaston County discusses
with community leaders at a lunch
eon at PSU the possiblity of
expanding his Christmas ornament
company, reputed to be the "world's
largest, " to Robeson County. Left to
right are Sen. David Parnell, PSU
Chancellor Joseph Oxendine, Robe
son County Commissioner Bobby
Dean Locklear and Pembroke Mayor
Milton Hunt.
by Gene Warren
PSUPublic Relations Director
In a reaehout effort to bring new
industry into this Robeson County
community, PSU and Chancellor
Joseph B. Oxendine acted as hosts
and the Lumbee Regional Develop
ment Association, based in Pem
broke, helped to sponsor here
Monday a luncheon for Rauch
Industries of Gaston County. Seven
teen community leaiders attended.
This company, the largest manu
facturer of Christmas ornaments in
the world, is doing $37 million worth
of business this year. It says it is very
interested in expanding its operation
into this area of Robeson County.
"We will made a decision about
whether to do so by the end of the
first quarter of 1990 and, if we do, we
will set up a pilot operation in the
second quarter," said Sen. Marshall
Rauch (D-Gaston County), who foun
ded and owns the business.
Sen. Rauch says "the hand
dexterity of the people here" is one
of the reasons why he is interested in
this area. If his company decides to
expand here, it would start with
about 50 employees in its pilot
operation. "If we should do that all
goes well, we could expand to plant
of a quarter of a million square feet
by '91," said Rauch.
The plant in this area would have
as its major responsibility the
assembling and packaging of materi
als sent here from the Gaston County
operational headquarters according
to tentative plans, said Rauch.
"I hope we can both make money
together," said Rauch at the lunche
on welcoming his visit
Bringing this company special
greetings on the luncheon program
were: Greg Cummings, master of
ceremonies and job develoner of
LRDA; Mayor Milton Hunt of
Pembroke; Chancellor Joseph B.
Oxen dine; William Locklear, project
director of LRDA; Bobby Dean
Locklear, a member of the Board of
Commissioners of Robeson County
and Board of Directors of LRDA; Dr.
Joseph Sandlin, PSU Economic De
velopment Office; Hunter Poole,
director of Robeson County Econo
mic Development; and Sen. David
PameU ID-Robeson County).
Rauch credited Plarne/J, a/i old
friend of his in the North Carolina
Senate, and Folle with making the
contacts that interested him in
enlarging his business to this area.
"You all have been very kind and
hospitable," said Rauch. "Our ope
ration does require electricity, gas,
utilities, and swere facilities--and I
will talk with you about land."
Rauch said his business began 35
yearsa go with a $3,000 loan from the
bank and now has 1,300 employees.
"We ship 60 truck loads of
Christmas ornaments a day," he
said. "We are a home-grown
business which needs to expand
outside Gaston County for further
growth."
Mayor Hunt expressed his appre
ciation to the efforts of LRDA and
PSU in this effort to bring in new
industry. "The life blood of the
community is to get jobs," Hunt
said, adding that more sites have
been shown in the county for
industry in the last three years
than in the previous 10 years.
Chancellor Oxendike said PSU was
"delighted to host you today" and
"wants to be more aggressive in a
positive way" of helping the area get
jobs. He said PSU wants to be a part
of such an effort
William Locklear said that unem
ployment in the Pembroke area is 10
percent or higher and jobs are
needed. He expressed appreciation
to Dick Evans of Forest City, who
was recently employed as a consul
tant for economic development by
the LRDA. "He is opening doors for
us," noted Locklear.
Bobby Dean Locklear said he is
hoping for a positive response from
Rauch's company, adding that he
would be happy to work with Rauch
concerning water, sewer, \and, etc.
Smndlin, saying that the PSU
Economic Development Office's goal
"is to provide basic information"
with the goal "of improving the
quality of life" in this region, pointed
out that BUI Friday (chairman of the
board of the N.C. Rural Economic
Development Center) supports such
efforts and provides a lot of
assistance. "If there is a talent you
don't have, he will sent it to you,"
said Sandlin.
Poole said he was available
"day or night" to help in bringing in
such industry. "Let us know what
you need, and we will do it, he
added.
Parnell expressed delight in hav
ing Rauch visit Robeson County.
"Sen. Rauch was in the N.C. Senate
when I arrived 15 years ago and has
served many terms as chairman of
the Finance Committee. He is a
successful businessman, and 1 like
his coming to Robeson County," said
Parnell, w ho explained to Sen. Rauch
that he was meeting some of the
county's outstanding leaders. Parnell
also noted that Robeson County has a
"very fine community college."
Cummings, in his concluding
remarks said: "Our economy is only
as strong as its people. We have hard
working people in this area. All we
need is a chance."
To Model Pageant Gowns
Pageant has kept herself very busy
staying in shape. 7b her surprise.
Charlotte was invited by "the only
Barbara Kelly" to attend a pageant
seminar sponsored by Milady's and
Milord's of Myrtle Beach, SC
recently.
Kelly was Miss Virginia in the
1958 Miss America pageant, runner
up to the I960 Orange Bouil Queen
and finalist in the 1986 Mrs. Georgia
Pageant.
The name of the Seminar Charlotte
atteded was "The Winning Look."
She tuu introduced and enjoyed
meeting contestants and beauty
queens from other states. They all
shared ideas from their previous
pageant.
The owners of Milady's and
Milord's were so enthused uith
Charlotte's poise, posture, beauty
and very long legs that she was asked
to do some modeling of their gowns
fortherrnext State Pageant Seminar.
Charlotte will also visit Barbara Kelly
at her home m Atlanta, Georgia in
May to begin toorh'ng for her next
pageant. "Not utnning the Miss
Lumbee Pageant," said Charlotte,"
"was not the end. it uas only the
beginning."
Charlotte is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. James M. Chan's of the Mt.
Airy community.
Tax Petition Reaches
4,000 Mark
by Mac Legerton
Citizens are urged to attend the
County Commissioners meeting next
Monday night, October 2. In less
than six months, planning will begin
on the County Budget for 1991. In
eight months Robeson County Com
missioners will hold Public Meetings
on the Buget and be discussing
whether or not to raise taxes higher.
In light of the massive tax increase in
Robeson County the many
unanswered questions about the
increase, the Center for Community
action began a petition drive to
express public concern.
Over 4.000 signatures have been
collected and petitions will be
delivered to the Robeson County
Commissioners on Monday night.
Oct. 2, at their regularly scheduled 6
p.m. meeting. The Center for
Community Action is also delivering
a set of recommendations and
questions to the Commissioners
regarding the large tax increase.
Citizens concerned about their taxes
are invited to attend Monday's
Commissioner meeting. The meeting
will be held in the Robeson County
Administrative Building, 701 N. Elm
Street. Lumberton (corner of Elm
and 8th Street).
The Center for Community Action
held two public meetings on the tax
increase in September and has been
gathering the concerns of the citizens
to present these to the county
commissioners. The 1WH) lax increa
se in Robeson County was the largest
county tax increase in the history of
the State of North Carolina and gives
Robeson County the highest property
tax rate in the state.
The Center for Community Action
will hold its annual meeting on
Saturday. October 14, and workshops
will include the Tax Increase and the
County Budget Process. The annual
meeting will lie held at West End
Baptist Church. lumberton from i
a.m. to 12. West End Baptist Chun h
is located on West Drive, two blocks
from the intersection of West Drive
and West Fifth Street at the Burger
King in Lumberton. Interested citi
zens are invited to attend.