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ff c ke, N.C. "Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting" Robeson County
Sandy Chavis Accepts
Plea Arrangement
Sandy Jordan Chavis pleaded guilty on Monday to
acceasoiy after the fact of murder in Smithfleld. He had
been charged with first degree murder in the 1988 death
of Julian Pierce. Chavis was a given a five year suspended
sentence. Chavis was sentenced by Judge Wiley F.
Bowen of Dunn after his plea of aiding John Anderson
Goins in avoiding arrest and apprehension. Chavis was
placed on unsupervised probation.
Hie prosecution alleged that Goins killed Pierce
because Goins believed Pierce was responsible for
problems with his girlfriend, Shannon Bullard. Bullard is
the daughter of Pierce's girlfriend. Goins was found dead
at his father's home before authorities could charge him
with the Pierce muders. Authorities said Goins commited
suiMe.
Members of Julian Pierce's family filed a motion saying
that they were not satisfied with the court's decision to
accept a plea bargain from Mr. Chavis. Their motion
stated: "A guilty plea will deny the family an
opportunity to scrutinize the evidence and benefit from
the revelations and insights that would be available in a
trial."
The motion further stated that "the case is riddled with
rumor and suspicion and has left a cloud over the memory
of Julian Pierce and the reputation of Johnny Go ins, and
to some extent, the entire community. "
No mention of the motion was made during the hearing.
HARVEY GANTT
TO FACE HELMS
IN NOVEMBER
Harvey Gantt, former Charlotte Mayor won the
nomination on Tuesday and will face Sen. Jesse Helms in
the november election for Senate. Mr. Gantt is the first
Black in 100 yean to win the Senate nomination in North
Carolina. With 99 percent of the precincts counted. Gantt
had 59 percent of the vote while Mike Eaaley had 41
percent Tnditionally minotiiy candidates have led
primaries with several white candidates, but lost runoffs
with a single white candidate. It is the first time in many
years that a Black has won a run off election against a
.Men i able /I <)JJer\
I.initial Ineonii Kmc
Red Spring*. Alert Cable IV announced today its special
Limited Income Rate Program which will be offered to the
company's customers in Fairmont, Pembroke, Raeford,
Red Springs, SL Pauls and surrounding areas of Robeson
and Hoke Counties.
The purpose of the Limited Income Rate frogram is to
provide a low cost method of enjoying basic cable service
to the low income households. The program offers a ten
percent discount on basic service to participants in the
federal Medicaid (blue card) program. Qualifying
households may also subscribe to one additional outlet at
the normal system rate.
Subscription to any service other than basic cable and
one additional outlet will disquality the participant from
the program.
Concerning t&e ma prapanf, Harrison Daniel#, Alert's
General Manager, said, "We have listened carefully to
community concerns that the price of cable sendee may be
difficult for low-income households to afford. In response
to this concern, we are pleased to offer this program and
encourage those who qualify to apply."
Customers may obtain applications for the program at
Alert Cable TV s office at 112 East Third Avenue in Red
Springs. A valid blue Medicaid card or a notarised copy of
the card must be submitted along with the application.
Any unpaid Cable TV account balances for the applying
households must be paid prior to consideration of
acceptance into the program. Accepted applications must
re- apply for the discount program on a yearly basis.
Alert Cable TV is a subsidiary of Cable vision
Industries, serving over one million cable television
customers nstionwide.
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Robeson Voters Approve Bond Referendum
Voters of Robeson County passed a $10.3 million jail
bond referendum on Tuesday. The referendum passed by
unofficial totals of 4,903 to 2,137. It was a light voter
turnout with about five percent of the registered voters
turning out
The referendum was to determine the method of
financing the construction of a 240-bed jail to replace the
old downtown facility. County commisionerB had already
voted to build the jail. Their idea is that general obligation
bonds are the least expensive way to finance the jail. A
state inspector has said that the present conditions in the
jail are deplorable. The county has been pressured into
building a new jail. Commissioners estimate that they can
save about $600,000 by using bonds to finance the jail
instead of a lease purchase arrangement The jail will
include administrative offices for the sheriffs depart
ment
Holme's Named Commander of
Most Decorated Patrol Squadron
Commander Michael L Holmes has been named
commander of one of the U.S. Navy's most decorated
patrol squadrons.
Hie Lumberton native, of Orange Park, Florida, was
named commander of the Navy's Patrol Squadron
twenty-four, an anti-submarine unit, in special cere
monies held May 25 at the Naval Air Station in
Jacksonville, Fla. where the squadron is headquartered.
The primary mission of the squadron is anti submarine
warfare, with secondary missions of aerial mining, anti
surface warfare, or warfare against surface ships and
maritime surveillance. The squadron maintains watch over
ocean shipping lanes, collecting and reporting informa
tion on movements of foreign naval forces and potentially
hostile submarines and intelligence-gathering ships.
Holmes' promotion is a culmination of a 17-year naval
career he began shortly after graduation from Pembroke
State University where he received a bachelor of science
degree in mathematics in 1972.
He then joined the Navy, receiving his officer's
commission in December, 1973. He was designated a
naval aviator in December, 1974. through the Navy's
Ay^Offism^MUataAogsnm.
After completing flight training. Holmes ww migiilH
to Patrol Squadron Twenty four, serving as Airframes and
and Corrosion Control Branch officer. Quality Assurance
officer and Pilot NATO PS (Naval Air Training and
Operating IVocedures Standardization Program) officer.
While with the squadron, he was deployed to Signella,
Sfofly and Keflavik, Iceland.
In May 1978 Holmes was assigned to Patrol Squadron
Thirty as an instructor pilot, also serving as the survival
training officer, Pilot NATO PS officer and alternate
NAT0P8 evaluator.
Selected for the Personnel Exchange Program in which
the United States and its allies routinely exchange
military personnel, Holmes served with the Canadian Air
Force in 415 Squadron, baaed at Greenwood, Nova Scotia,
from October 1981 until November 1963. He was '
assigned to the USS America, based in Norfolk, Vs.,
serving ss the vessel's communications officer. As part of
his asaignemtn, he completed a Mediterranean/ Indian
Ocean cruise.
In April 1986 Holmes was assigned to Patrol Squadron
Ten in Brunswick. Maine where he served as the ]
maintenance officer and operations officer, also complet- <
ing a split site deployment to Rots, Spain and Lajes, ]
Atones. (
In April 1988 Holmes joined Patrol Squadron Thirty for j
a one year tour of duty as the squadron's COMNAVA1R (
LANT (commander. Naval Air Atlantic NATO PS
e valuator. ^
He then reported to Petrol Squadron Twenty-four,
being named executive officer for the squadron on May 5,
1989.
With his promotion. Holmes replaces squadron
commander Commander George J. Murphy, who
assumed command of the unit on May 5, 1989. Murphy
has been assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations Strategy/ Concepts Branch in Washington,
D.C.
Holmes is married to the former Violla Psdilla of Del
Rio, Di|as. The couple have three sons: Michael. Jared,
and Justin.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Normie Holmes of Route
10, Lumberton. He has two sisters: Dartene Holmes
Ran son and Olivia Oxendine of Southern Pines. His
brother is First Class Petty Officer Eddie Holmes of
Jacksonville. Florida Naval Air Station.
Holmes is s graduate of Magnolia High School as well
as Pembroke State University.
Attending the ceremony were his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Normie Holmes, his sister and her family, Olivia and
Servais Oxendine and their sons. Brock and Eric: Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Emanuel, all of Lumberton; Mr. and Ms.
Dartie Bell; Diane Keene; Jeanie Keene; and Ron Sutton;
~anie Emanuel of Charlotte; Mr. and Mrs. Wei ton Chavis
if Detroit, Michigan.
Other out of state guests attended from California, New
fork and Illinois.
Mickasl Holme t
Prepare Yourself For a Life of Change
On Sunday, May 27, 1990, Robeson County Resident
Superior Court Judge Dexter Brooks delivered the
commencement address at Southeastern Community
College. He was introduced by Dr. Charles & Grigs by,
Dsan of Instructional Services for the College. Dr.
Grtgsby told the assembly of the Southeastern roots of the
?peeher. After graduating with high honors with a
Masters in Mathematics from North Carolina State
University, Brooks taught with Dr. Grigsby in the
Mathematics Department of the College for the 1971-72
?endemic year. After teaching the next year at Robeson
Technical Institute Brooks attended law school at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he
graduated in 197?, After being engaged in the private
practice of law in Hem broke, he was appointed to the
superior court bench on January 1, 1989 by Governor
James G. Martin.
Judge Brooks entitled his remarks Prepare Yovnelf far
a lift of Change. He explained the nature of the changing
world to the graduates. We now live ins global village.
The rise of Japan and the decline of Russia will have a
profound effect on our lives. The free enterprise system is
superior to any economic system advocating central
planning over individual incentive and initiative,
totalitarian and authoritarian political systems not only
suppress human rights but also human creativity.
vidua! freedom requies group responsibility. America
is confronting the problems of drugs, crime, racism.
g|ng e interest political groups, negative political
?mpaigna. corruption, a burgeoning budgetary deficit
national debt, pollution and the homeless. In the
re the United States will be more concerned with
fn^T" ^ miliUry: ?i???oUon will become the
women ?????- * l>*W ?cooo,nie policy; minorities and
^"?wlU become more visible; the environmental
-?fllTT transform the country; and aenior citiiens
JuSTEeST" 1T*t*nt M f>e population ages.
n, Marti*. tSSmsT. tzsx
graduate* to reach out to their fellow man.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A LIFE OF CHANGE
We live in exciting time*. The world that your
grandparenta knew la now ancient history. The world that
your parents knew la only a fading memory. Although
many people are finding h difficult to adjust to the rapidly
changing times the impending new century promises no
respite for the weary. I urge you not to become a casualty.
Start tomorrow because your hard work these pest long
months or yean has earned you the right to tabs the rest
of the day off.
Recognise that we now live in a global village. Darkest
Africa. Outer Mongolia and Faraway China no longer
exist Events in any part of the world can have a very
profound effect here in Southeastern North Caoriina. The
rise of Japan as an industrial and technological
juggernaut has altered forever the way nations relate to
each other on the world stage. For a millennium a strong
military was necessary for a nation to play a rale or to
have any effect beyond its national borders. The world
that your parents and grandparents knew was stabiised
and structured for over forty years by two competing
military giants, the United States at America and
communist Russia. In the past several months or years
communism has been discredited as a viable economic
and political system while the Russian empire seems on
the verge of fragmentation. In spite of its military prowess
Russia seems incapable of feeding itself or producing a
consumer product capable of being sold in the world
marketplace. While Japan, a country with no nuclear
armaments and no apparent interest in obtaining any, has
built an economy that is the envy of the rest of the world.
What lessona are to be learned from the rise of the
Japanese and the decline of the Russians? The free
enterprise system is superior to any economic system
advocating central planning over individual Incentive and
initiative. Totalitarian and authoritarian political systems
not only suppress human rights but also human creativity.
Individual freedom requires group responsibility. Japan
is a great country because the national interest is always
of concern to individual Japanese.
With the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and ute rue of
democracy throughout the woHd many will be looking to
the county with the oldeat democratic constitution for
guidance in the use of newly-found freedoms. It is,
therefore, only fitting that we in this country re examine
the status of our own national character. Every American
should have the same opportunity to develop to his or her
fullest potential. The individual has certain rights that
should remain inviolate. The national interest is a matter
of vital individual concern.
America is confronting a legion of problem}. Drugs,
and drug-related crime and corruption, seem to be
overcrowding our courts and prisons and eroding the very
foundation of the republic. Many people are becoming
less tolerant of others. Racism ia on the rise. Special or
single interest constituencies are seeking to impose their
views on their fellow dtisens notwithstanding the
protections of our common Constitution. Candidates for
public office are elected on the basis of slogans or
negative advertisements rather than individual merit
Corruption is undermining public confidence in govern
ment The federal government seems incapable of
meaningful positive action on the deficit or a national debt
threatening to bankrupt future generations. The air and
land are rapidly being poisoned by thousands of
chemicals of whose presence we are finally becoming
painfully aware. The tanks of the poor and the homeless
continue to swell as millions seem to be locked out of the
American Dream.
What does the future hold for the graduating class of
11*90? The Cold War will continue to wind down.
Substantially less national monies will be devoted to the
military, especially nuclear armaments. The country will
become mora concerned with its economic relationship
with the rest of the world rather than its military
relationship. With the rise of a united Europe, in addition
to continuing Japanese competition, the United States
will no longer be able to take for granted ha ability to
compete in the global marketplace. The federal
government will again focus on education aa the
foundation of a new economic policy aa technology
becomes more complex. As country becomes more
racially and culturally diverse members of minority
groups wil become more visible in all facets of our Uvea.
Women will assume more of a leadership role in all our
affairs. The environmental movement will transform this
country in a manner analogous to the civil rights
movement of an earlier era. Senior citizens will become
even more important politically and economically as the
national population begins to age.
If you are to be successful in the coining years you must
be versatile and adaptable. Today's technological marvel
too fast becomes tomorrow's unwanted relic. Ground
yourself solidly in foundamental concepts. Learn reasons
rather than black-letter rules. An education is what you
have left after you forget everything that you learned in
school. Understand the world around you and your place
in it Develop interests beyond your work. Cultivate a
sense of humor, you are going to need it Reject greed and
embrace your fellow man. Remember the advice of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.: "
Every mam must decide uAether kg usU walk m the
light of creative altruism or tht darkness of destructive
sflfishnoss. This is the judgment Life's most persistent
and urgeht question is; What are you doing for others t
And above all else develop a deep and personal
relationship with the Creator.
VFW To Hold
Monthly Meeting
locklear-Iowry VFW Post 2843 will hold their regular
monthly meeting at the !\>it Home. Supper will be served
at 7:30 p.m. All members are urged to attend.
Membership has reached 384 and enrollment la still open
for 1990, Call QM Ardell Jacobs for more information at
621-2313. W.D. Oaendine is Post Commander.
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