TH CAROLINA LNDIAN?0ICE
1 ed each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 24 NUMB. THURSDAY, MAY N, IVV7 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
A Report to the People From Rep. Ron Sutton. District 85
Legist Action Gives North Carolina Indian Cultural Center
? i.>
Additive** Time for Fund Raisins and Down Sizes Board
The North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center received a little breathing
room this past Thursday when
the N.C. Senate passed HB 517 in
Raleigh
As previously stated in an earlier
article this report is prepared
as an update on the N.C. Indian
Cultural Center. Most of you are
aware that the issue of the Cultural
Center has been around for a long
time. The controversy between the
existence of the Cultural Center
and the golf course was resolved by
my previous legislation in 1993.
As part of that legislation the Center
Board received money to buy
other land and was to raise 4.16
n\illion dollars in cash or pledges
within three years after they received
a 99 year lease from the
state or all the Cultural Center
lands would revert to the state?
Also, construction could not begin
until they raised all the money.
Raising the money hasproven hard
for the Board to do.
Since the three year limit was
ductoexpircinMay. 1997. last fall
I. began discussions with the Cultural
Center Board leadership, the
N.C. Commission of Indian affairs
leadership and Indian leaders
throughout the state We were attempting
to find an acceptable solution
to the pending time limit problem.
In march, I introduced House Bill
517 in an effort to keep the Cultural
Center alive and get the Board some
breathing room. At the same time 1
felt that merely getting an extension
would be only delaying the inevitable.
It was and still is my belief that
until the board is more positive, aggressive
and dedicated, they will
never be able to raise all the monies
required by legislation. It is believed
that some of the provisions ofHB 517
will assist in inspiring the board to
meet their goal
Throughout all these endcav ors. 1
have tried to assist the Board in any
way I could but still not interfere in
any way in their operations of the
Center In fact, given the assets and
tasks before them, I truly believe the
Board and stafThave done a good job
of day today operations at the center
The focus of my concern has been the
problem associated with fund raising.
The main thrust of HB 517 is as
follows. It grants the Cultural Center
Board an additional four year extension
to raise funds required b> legislation.
It reduced the gross amount to
be raised from 4.16 million to three
(3) million The Cultural Center can
begin construction of non-permanent
buildings as soon as they have funds
to do so and when cleared by the
state.
They must have two million in
cash or pledges to begin permanent
construction.
The Cultural Center Board must
be reorganized by December 3. 1997.
Presently the Board selects and approvcsthcir
own members. This practice
will change as new prospective
members are to be nominated, by
priority, to the N.C Commission of
Indian Affairs who will make the
final selection The new 15 member
Board will consist of 6 members
from N.C. tribes. 3 members front
the major Indian Organizations. 1
from the education community. 2
from the business world. 2 from slate
government and 1 from federal government
community . In each ease,
prospective nominees w illbc selected
by the Indian Commission
The Bill also establishes an advisory
board to assist the Cultural Center
Board in fund raising and other
activities This board can consist of
an unlimited number of members
from am location
Another feature of the new law. is
that thcN.C Commission of Indian
Affairs will have oversight over the
activities of the Cultural Center
Board It was not intended nor docs
the law allow the Indian Commission
to interfere in day to day activities
of running the Cultural Center
They will however, have the aulhoritv
to ensure that the fund raising
activities are progressing on schedule.
Also, this oversight relationship
vv ill be rev icw cd and evaluated every
two years by thcN.C. Department of
Administration with the intent to
change or modify the relationship as
deemed appropriate
HB 517 passed the N C House in
March and went to the Senate. It was
passed out of the Senate on Thursday
April 17th w ilhoul opposition and is
before Governor Hunt for signature
Bv the lime this is printed it will be
law.
I have had outstanding cooperation
at all levels in developing HB
517 and getting it through the General
Assembly At first there was
opposition among General Assembly
members to merely granting an
extension. That's why I had to dc-.
vclop other provisions to show them
that it would not be "business as
usual" but a more concerted effort to
raise the required money
The N.C Indian Cultural Center
has the potential to be a major cultural
attraction for the Southeastern
region and all of North Carolina. It is
not nor was it ever intended to be a
Lumbcc Cultural Center or a Robeson
County Cultural Center It is the
N.C. Indian Cultural Center, representing
all N C. Indians.
II is and always hasbccn one of my
aims to see the Cultural Center fully
developed I continue to stand ready
to do what I can to help What the
center needs now is for aggressive
and entcrprisi ngindiv iduals throughout
the state to seek positions on the
Board In addition, all cili/cns of
Robeson County and surrounding
counties should gel behind and support
this project Become active, be
concerned, demand progress but be
willing to be a player - a doer- one
that is involved This, project can
bring money into this region to
benefit all of us.
As the long legislative session is
now at mid point, several bills effecting
our region acc in committees
and being heard In my report
1 will update you on those statewide
and local bill that will have specific
impact on our area
Ronnie Sutton
Representative. 85lh District
Volunteers: An/Important Asset to
Southeastern^egional Medical Center
Hundreds of volunteers serving
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
and its affiliates were honored at
the annual appreciation banquet during
National Volunteer Week in the
Medical Center's dining room.
After a garden reception, SRMC
Vice President Reid Caldwell welcomed
the volunteers and thanked
them for giving 15,100 hours of service
to the Medical Center, plus hundreds
more to Hospice of Robeson
and Woodhavcn Nursing and
Alzheimer's Care Center over the
past year
Keynote speaker for the dinner
was the Reverend Ken Goodrich of
thcRcd Springs PrcsbytcrianChurch
After his humorous remarks. Volunteer
Coordinator Shirley Rogers presented
volunteers w ith certificates of
appreciation. Volunteers at the Medical
Center serve in many areas ofthc
organization's operation including
admissions and registration, patient
relations, oncology, recovery, mail
delivery. coffee carl, shuttle delivery.
dietary , and nursing units
SRMC Volunteers from Lumberton
who were recognized arc. Dorothy
Baker, Ann Brilt, Joann
McDufTic. Patricia McLellan. Joyce
Smith, Phyllis Wcinslein. Maria
Smith, Cynthia Tuthill, Jan Babik.
Elizabeth Krastin. Edgar Torres.
Matthew C'ummings. LonnicBowen.
Frances Averitt. Nell Fields, Kay
Finlcy. Alice Stephens. Dottic
Strawcutter, Lenore Taylor. Janic
Rhodes, Lillie Davis, Elcx Tyler,
Catherine Tyner, Charles Wallace.
Frank Eskridge, Doug Jones.
Weymon Oxendine. Jore Tirol.
Michael Warren, Jean Smith. Betty
Peycr, Ruth Prevatte. Frances
Normcnt, .Charlenc Mchan. Alycc
Minges, Lillian McGrath. Anne
Biggs. Blanche McEachcrn. Marvin
and Dora Lowery, Hortcnsia
Santiago, and Donald Tolh
SRMC volunteers from.Fairmont
arc. Mildred Bricc, Phyllis Carol
Jones. Reva Pfteman. Mildred
Haggins, Eva Shull, Elise Loftis.
Christine Lee. Catherine Tedder.
Jcianncttc Webslcr. Frances Davis,
and Robert Moore
Pembroke voluntccrsarc: Earl and
Mary Dcese, Etha Harris. Etta B
Jones. Helen Jones. Adricnnc Oxcndinc.
Naomi oxendine. Rudy
Locklcar. Eniac Locklcar. Rosa
Woods. Charles l.ocklcar. and James
M. Locklcar.
Red Springs volunteers arc:
Priscilla Snow. Jean Davis. Hazel
Dixon. Ruth Williams, and Xnnic
Brown From Maxton arc Nash
Locklcar. James Locklcar. and
Donald Bullard
Volunteers Margaret Humphrey.
Carmen Walters and David Hodge
are from St. Pauls. Parkton volunteers
are Rose and Evelyn McMillian
Volunteer Michael Streahle is
from Fayeltcvillc; Lola Nye from
Orrum; Adam Lewis from Rowland ,
Doris Allen from Tarheel; and
Beverly Bryant from Bladenboro.
WoodHaven volunteers received
their certificates of appreciation
from VolunteerCoordinatorMarsha
Lewis and Kim Bazcmore. director
of activities. Volunteers recognized
were: Elsbclh Allen. Gloria Autry
(Bladenboro). Louise Bailey. Margaret
Branch. Angclla Britt. Bruce
Bryant. Emma Burkhcad. Catherine
By rd. Dot Carlson. Kathryn Combs.
Sarah Combs. Marjoric Devinc. Jim
Evans, Helen Haggard, Anthony
Hammonds. Gayncll Holder (Fayctlcvillc).
Dora Hunt. Earlinc Hunt.
Joyce Jftckson. Li nda James. Bobbie
Jones (Fairmont). Clcnnic Jones
(Fairmont). Mac Belle Lawson.
Ruth Lee. Karen Locklcar (Fairmont).
Thclma Manning (Fairmont).
Ron Maynor (Pembroke).
Anna McDurfic. Willie
McLaughling Scott Nobles (Pembroke).
Maxinc Parncll.Esther Rev els.
Lynn Riley. Joan Roger. Wilma
Roz.icr. Betty Simon Donna and
Bob Skafuba. James Smith (St
Pauls). Richard Smith. Pauline Taylor.
and Ailccn West All arc from
Lumberton except where noted
Woodhaven is a 115 -bed long term
care facility that offers a specialized
unit for patients with Alzheimer's
disease and related disorders
Revival To Be Held
Revival Services will be held by
the First Baptist Church of Pembroke
during the. week of May 5-9 The
service will begin at 7:30 PM with
special singing nightly Reverend
Manford Locklcar and Reverend
Charles P. Locklcar w ill be the guest
ministers. Reverend Kent Chavis is
the Pastor and inv ites everyone to
attend
Allen (i. Dia l
Harold McNeill and Allen Dial of
The Real Estate Exchange Inc. recently
earned the professional designation
"Graduate. REALTOR Institute"
(GRI). signifying mastery of
an intense training program of classroom
instruction.
The REALTOR Institute is cosponsored
by the North Carol i na Real
Estate Educational Foundation and
the North Carolina Association of
REALTORS and has been offered
several times annually since 1948 It
was the first of its kind in the United
Stales and has served as a model for
numerous other states.
REALTOR William C Bass.
Ashcvillc, President of the Foundation.
noted "The REALTOR Institute
is the first level of forniali/cd
advanced education beyond licensing
and provides REALTORS and
others associated with the real estate
industry an opportunity to study the
latest methods and proven practices
for success in thcirbusincss" Graduation
from the program requires
completion of ninety (90) hours of
course work and twelve (12) examinations
on various aspects of the
courses taken
The GRI is a nationally recognized
professional designation The
GRI curriculum and standards arc
governed by the National Association
of REALTORS, the nation's
largest Trade Association with a
membership of over XOO.OOt) On a
Mrs. Fannie Hammonds Blanks
Celebrates 102 nd Birthday
Mrs. Fannie Hammonds Blanks of l.umberton was born in Robeson
County on May 5, 1895. She was the wife of the late Hecktor Blanks of
l.umberton and the daughter of the late Willie Hammonds of Lumberton
who lived to be 103. Mrs. Blanksisthe mother of four living children: Mrs.
Naomie Wade of Lumberton; Mrs. Mabel Brewer of Lumberton; Mrs.
Tommie Clean Brewer of lvanhoe, NC; Mrs. Evander Durden of Lumberton.
She has 12 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren.
The celebration for her 102nd birthday was hosted by her children and
grandchildren at her daughter, Tommie (lean's home in Ivanhoe, NC.
The honoree teas given a birthday cake and dinner. She also received
many cards and gifts. She is a member of Ten Mile Center Baptist C 'hurch.
(Text and photo by Tech. Sgt. William P. Revels.)
national level only 10% or the REALTORS
hold this prestigious designation:
The Real Estate Exchange
Inc is one or a sclcci group in North
Carolina who currcntK hold this
designation
Wilkins & Lowry Reunion to be held
Thcdesccndantsof Sionand Sarah
Wilkins, H.T. (Sonnic) and Rosclla
(Sis) Lower)' will reunit on May 24.
1997 between 4 and 9 PM at Harpers
Ferry Baptist Church in Pembroke.
Donations: R.F.V.P ASAP $7.00
min per person. Children under 10 -
$4 00. For more information contact
Hazel Strickland at (910) 521 - .1663
or contacr John Lower) at (301)
587-5434. Send Donations to:
Hazel Strickland
Rt 2 Box 401
Pembroke. NC 28372
- I
Volunteer Etta II. Jones of Pembroke received a plaquefor Riving more
than 2,000 hours of service to SRMC.
In the Armed Forces
Army Spec. Myran G. Hunt has
graduated from the U?S. Army Primary
Leadership Development
Course (PLDC) at Fort Richardson,
Anchorage, Alaska
Students received training in supervisory
skills, leadership principles,
and small unit training techniques
essential to a first-line super
visor in a technical or administrative
environment.
Hunt is a generator maintenance
repairer with the 21st Signal Company
at Fort Richardson
He is the son of Gerald and Mary
E Hunt of Pembroke
The specialist is a 1992 graduate
of Piirncll Swell High School. Pembroke
Shown above are: Junior Miss l.umhee Morgan lirittuny Hunt, Junior
Miss l.umhee, Cornell l.ocklear, Entertainer who performed at the celebration
of the Carolina Indian Voice; and l.ittle Miss l.umhee Angelica
Chavis.
Shown left to right at the celebration of the Carolina Indian Voice held
recently: Noah Woods, County Commissioner and Co-Principal of
Pembroke Middle School; Connee Rrayboy, Editor, Carolina Indian
Voice; Junior Miss l.umbee Morgan Hrittdhy Hunt; Madie Rae l.ocklear,
Chairperson of the CIV Celebration and member I.REMC Hoard of
Directors; and Clenn Maynor, High Sheriff of Robeson ('ounty.