? j -n - 3l ^ MAST UVCRMORE LI BR ART
\ 32^ gitv'1 fEMBROKE. STATE. LIBRARY ~~
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i ?? Published each Thursday since January 18,1973 I
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V' I I n 75
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e Carolina Indian Voice
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Pembroke, NC Robeson County I
"Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
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LRDA Awarded federal loan to establish
a model farming enterprise
The LumbeeHl^pona] Development Association has
been notified that it has been awarded a $75,000 interest
free loan to implement a model Turkey Fanning
Operation to assist farmers in the potential development
of similar operations to supplement or expand their
farming operations.
The notice of award was announced by the Rural
Electrification Administration in Washington, DC which
has a special loan fund to assist in developing jobs and
1, industry in rural areas.
\ The 75,000 award to LRDA will be passed through the
Lumee River Electric Membership Cooperative, as part of
f its economic development efforts in its rural service area.
The U.S. Department of Labor has also approved over
$100,000 toward the development of this project to
provide a potential alternative farming model for farmers
as Tobacco programs continue to be attacked by health
concerns.
LRDA will use this project several ways. LRDA will
actually grow turkeys for sale by Pre stage Farms to
ROCCO Industries in St. Pauls, NC to generate
revenues for the tribe. ?
Also, LRDA will provide a model operation and a
technical assistance center for farmers who might
consider Turkey farming on a small scale as a supplement
or alternative to the tobacco crop.
Acceptance will be provided in loan packaging,
development, building and site selection, and manage
ment training. The model that LRDA will propose to
farmers would allow them to continue their current level
of farming operations without any phase back of existing
crops until they so choose.
ROCCO Industries, the new Turkey Processing Plant, is
projected to need additional growers as it expands to a
second and third work shift operation in the future.
LRDA's project will have a training component to train
workers in the operation of such a growing facility so
other farmers can draw on this expertise if they decide to
develop a similar operation.
In receiving the notice of the loan award Adolph Blue,
Chairman of LRDA, stated, "This is part of LRDA's
continuing efforts to create jobs and industry in our
service area and this funding will allow LRDA to provide
assistance to farmers in ways we have been unable to
before. Any revenues the tribe derives from its project
will be used in our communities to develop other
economic development enterprises which wfll create jobs
and revenues for further economic development."
For more information contact Bobby Griffin. Economic
Development Director for LRDA at (919) 521- 0345.
Whatever Happened to ...
nanfrtrH Dial, Sr. r . j i
by Barbara Rmvboy-Locklear
SPECIAL TO WE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
I- More than food hires Danford Dial, Sr. to the dining
table in the eat-in kitchen of his Cummings Heights home
off Union Chapel Road in Pembroke.
From the round table located by a window overlooking a
flower garden the stocky grandfather settles down in a
favorite chair to nourish himself mentally from one of
dozens of books displayed on a shelf in hand's reach.
"1 read, I read, I read everything I can get my hands
on," he exclaims.
An insatiable reading appetite brings Mr. Dial to the
table every day of the week where he sits for hours
y feasting mostly on biblical works and those of United
States history.
The American Indian says he's always had an alert
., mind and that curiosity now eats away at it Retirement
seven years ago affords the educator/administrator time
to feed his ever present curiosity by consuming every
page in every book he places on the table top before him.
Seventy-one years ago on Thanksgiving Day, Danford
Dial became the first of ten children bom to Onnie Dial
and wife, Mary Jane Clark Dial in the Prospect
community of Robeson County. It was in his beloved
community that he received his early education bom
Prospect School. He remembers all his teachers in grades
one through seven and says he has fond memories of how
each influencd his life. He says his first grade teacher,
Ehnma Lowery, was "a rose of a woman." And he idciised
Rose Carter because she always east him in school plays,
lb other teachings including Clement BuDaid, Lacy
Maynor, Mandy Jacobs, ESisabeth Maynor fend Roscoe
Locklear, the appreciative former students gives A's.
After graduating from Indian Normal High School
Dial enrolled in Indian Normal College ia 1988. A long
time classmate and friend, Abner Locklear, had left the
county to attend college out of state and Mr. Dial says he,
too, dreamed of going away to school. His dream was
realized in 1989 when he was accepted at Alford Hal brook
College in Manchester, Ohio.
He says upon his arrival at die town's train depot
college representatives took one look: at his statue and
knew right away they had a football player. And so it was
the college sophomore was awarded an athletic
scholarship. The linebacker was to play 11 games that
season at the school. His stay at the Ohio school afforded
him his first trip to New York City during a road game.
" I thought the city was the most beautiful place Td ever
been," he says of New York. A visit to a performance by
B.B. King and his musical band became the highlight of
the trip for the country-reared man.
Mr. Dial says because of a financial hardship he was
unable to round up enough funds to pay for a bus fare
hyek to Hal brook College and he enrolled in the Indian
Normal School in Pembroke where he completed another
year of study before volunteering for military service in .
the U.a Air Force in June of 1944.
Leaving behind a sweetheart, he reported to duty at
McDUl Field. Florida. Two years later the airman came
home with marriage on hie mind. A planned wedding was
delayed when a close family friend died. An unmarried
Mr. Dial returned to his military base.
Two weeks later hie Indian maiden sweetheart of 18
>V yean traveled by train to Florida. The seat morning at
one o'clock Danford Dial married Reece Graham. The new
bride had left her family and a teaching position behind
V in ftobeaon County-to be with the aian she laved. The
couple settled down in an apartment near the military
beae. and then the order earn# far the young groom to
report to fit, ID8d9PPfifc ^hkfigPd*
T"Ihey leek me sway from my wtfoef two months." he
Maateaa months later Mr.Dial returned heme from war
la ambraee Ma wife and meet their firet bora #Mid. a
SrcSShsxissti
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the summer of 1949. - /I ' fj
\yith a major in social studies, Mr. Dial took his first
teaching position at Fairmont Indian School. Inert, be
says, he was shocked when aaaigaed to teach a class of 60
sixth graders.
'"Ibey were sitting double," he says of the students in
the room.
ft became a daily chore to teach in a sub-standard
wooden-floored, dust-filled room which required daily
sweeping by the new teacher. Mr. Dial saya there were no
chalk or eraser at the blackboard.
"I was so diasappointed over the situation that I left
teaching, the thing I loved doing most, to go to an
automobile factory in Michigan.
He moved his family to Dearborn and stayed until 1952
when, at the encouragement of his father, he returned to
teaching school. In 1953 he accepted a principal/ teaching
position at East Carolina Indian School in Sampson
County. A year later he returned to Fairmont Indian
School where his former sixth grade class had advanced to
twelfth grade.
'' Here I had this wonderful group of people Td taught
and trained ao well," be remembers.
ft was at the rural school, he says, he stretched the
minds of all his students. And ft was there that he
inquired them to engage in oratory and recitation of
literary works.
"I always taught my students how to make a speech
before the class. Ibis gave them confidence and took
away shyness," he comments. "If you want to meet an
independent person, meet one who can talk."
Mr. Dial was able to sen his seniors graduate that year
and many of them, be says, tragi on to college. At the end
of that school year Mr. Dial eras recruited by Elmer T.
Losrty to teach English and Spanish at Pembroke High
School During his eight yearn at the school Mr. Dial saya
he helped produce large crops of college students.
Even greater crops of Indian college students were
produced by and for the educator during his 18-year
tenure as principal at his alma mater. Prospect School
While these be was to sea the school's graduating class
grow from 29 to 100 students.
"Prospect School had mote studants in college than any
other school in any system in Robeson County." he
Coeti'wuad Owfhgs S
Churches urged to cancel evening services May 5
and attend Greater Robeson County Crusade
In one and one half weeks, from Sunday. May 5.
through Thursday, May 9. the Greater Robeson County
Crusade will take place.
Urging all churches to cancel their evening services on
May 5 so everyone can attend the opening night of the
crusade. Rev. Mike Cummings, one of three co-chairmen
of the crusade, provided an update on the event in a
recent talk to the Lumberton Kiwanis Club.
"Robeson County has never had a crusade of this
stature and notoriety. This is a big-time evangelistic
crusade. We are going to have a choir of 250 voices, " said
Cummings. who serves as director of the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association, which includes 56 churches.
She of the crusade will be the Lumberton Senior
High School Football Stadium, which seats over 3,000 on
the home side. The crusade begins nightly at 7 p.m.
Cummings is urging the area churches to also move
their Wednesday night services to the stadium.
'"Ibis crusade is directed at junior high and senior high
students. Rick Gage, the evangelist, is a former Texas
Tech football coach who resides in Atlanta. His father is
FVeddie Gage, a full-time evangelist for many, many
years. Rick has the endorsement of such people as
WOliam Bennett, Tom Landry, Mike Ditka, Terry
Bradshaw, and Bobby Bowden.
"He w?preach at night, but in the daytime he will be
visiting the schools. He won't be able to preach there and
won't even cany a Bible them. But he will be talking to
the youth about their problems, such as substance abuse
and other problems," Cummings told the Kiwanians.
Cummings said the "doors of the school are being
opened wide to Gage, who will speak in the school rooms
or the gyms about Oik problems young people are
Others co-chairmen of the eruaade with Cummings are
Rev. C.Jk Bordeaux, pastor of Antioch Baptist Chnich off
the old Whiteville Read near Lumberton, and Wyatt
Johnson i^ho is employed by die Public Schools of
Robeson Cvmty.
"Bordeaux is white, Johnson is Black and I am
American kidian- three different races," said Cum
mings. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to see persons of one
race leading persons of other races to Christ?" He said
sector.
Cummings said the idea of such a crusade was bora six
months ago when Rev. Bordeaux rode down Second
Street in Lumberton and saw hundreds of teenagers idling
their Uvea away on a Sunday afternoon. Since then, a
committee of community leaders have combined their
talents to make this crusade a reality.
"The budget for the crusade is $16,000--and we've
r&sied $12,000 of it," said Cummings. "We are bringing
in three professional gospel music recording artists. They
are all first class. We are spending $2,500 for the sound
system alone. On Thursday night, we are going to give
away free pizzas. We are buying 350 large pizzas, ft is
part of our budget."
Cummings said the crusade is not limited to Robeson
County. "We are going beyond the county into
Laurinburg, Fayetteville, Clinton and Lake Waccamaw. ft
is going to be a colorful crusade," be enthused.
Of Rick Gage, Cummings commented: "Rick certainly
has a gift in speaking to young people. He has a unique
kind of ministry, and we feel he'll be tremendously
successful. Remember, we are in a desperate situation
with our young people. They have to face up to their
problems morally and ethically. When Rick goes into the
schools, he'll probably be wearing blue jeans and a
T-shirt. But he knows how to reach young people."
Cummings told of Rick Gage crusades in Jacksonville,
Fla., which attracted 30,00 and how 200 made professions
of faith in one of his crusades in Waynesville, NC.
"Everyone is looking forward to what is going to happen
in this county. You can get the word out about his
coming," urged Cummings in conclusion as he gave out
posters and titeratum for the Kiwanians to distribute.
RORFSON CRT mA.DE LEADERS TO ENCIRCLE
COURTHOUSE VJ PRAYING FOR THE EVENT <?
In preparing for the Greater Robeson County
Cnisade May 5-9, leaders of the crusade are planning to
gather at the Robeson County Courthouse Thursday, May
2 for a noontime prayer vigil.
"That day has been designated as a National Day of
Prayer," said Rev. Mike Cummings, speaking recently to
the Lumberton Kiwanis CLub. "And we are going to try
to have a large number of people at the courthouse to
encircle it holding hands and praying?not only for our
*
Saddletree Church of God Band to perform at
Oo^HutC F.M.I
wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Saddletree Chunk of Gob Baud member* an akaum
above. They uatt play the pre-1 how to Pembroke State
(Muenity e etBUtd aumal./ f^epel Mueie. Festival -
April SS at PSW$ Performing Mm Center. Left to right,
BY GENE WARREN
Something special is scheduled to prepare everyone
atmosphere-wise tor fanbrohe State University's second
anneal Gospel Musk Festival" on Thursday. April S.
at PSLTs Performing Arts Center.
Whereas the main program does not begin until 7 p.m..
there will be a special 30-minute pre show of music
beginning at* JO p.m. Providing it will be the Saddletree
Church of God Band, a nine-member group hem
Lnmberton.
this band began performing publicly almost three
years ago when It entered the Church of God Teen Talent
Competition and was first runner up nationally before a
crowd at over ft,000 at the Omni in Ft. Worth. Tea.
It bad washed the nationals after winning regional
com petition in Fayette ville and etata competition in
It the national competition, the band performed a
three-minute smnposition entitled My House la Full"
Ite hand alao plays during regular services at
laddlotres Chureh of Oad under the direction ef Ha
loader, Deaavfta I Bushy l Che via.
"We are embed about playing la IW* 'Gospel
Muaia Fasti vol." aaid Charts "That's hesauee It's local
?ad at the tatasuribf Aria Center. We hapa la get the
tkoy ere; front rvw-SaMma Spaaldmp, Sh? Clwi'i,
SIww Ckavii and Tbnym Carter; back tmo-Damtvita
\Buckp) Ckavii, Shorn LoekUmr, WOkam Ward and
Tommy Cox Not tkovm it David Carter
evening of entertainment off to a food start."
Hie Saddletree Church of God Bend, which has
performed at North Carolina locations like Charlotte and
Wilson but mainly in Robeaoa Oeuutjr, will play five or six
selections, says Chavis. They may include "I Exalt
Thee." "Blow Hie Trumpet," "To God Be The Glory."
"Old Time fewer." "The Worship Melody." and "Then
We'll Be Glad."
Chavis has attended PSU and has twin deters. Shane
and Shawn, both mem be re of the band, who are attending
PSU. Chavis' father. Donald Charter Chavis. also
attended PSU and hie late mother, Wanda Chavis.
graduated from PSU.
The nine members of the band and the instruments
they play are as follows: Dona vita (Bushy) Chavis, first
trumpet: Shane Chavis. second trumpet; Shone Leshlear.
second trumpet; David Carter, trombone; Tonya Carter,
ismphoss; Sabrina Spaulding. clarinet; Shawn Chavis,
bails: Tommy Con. keyboard; and WUltam Ward, drums
Hehsta to the festival are II. Ttshet cattail am:
Uimhorton Christies Bash Store, Dee's Hslhnsrh Stop,
MbMbIII'b 1 1 ? liarriMsi MynL link, a ? ? ^nhM
n trWw^^^wwi wf^vi
Swamp Baptist hsaadtttasi La aria burg Quick Cany,
Papstasvttls The Denser at Omee fern to; and Bed
Springe-McNeill's Jewaiem. Par mam lafarmatien.
tslsphssi ItlSMI OTTI