T IS 1 CAROLtifA INDIAN VOICE
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1 lished each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
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|g -vi THVRSDA Y, SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
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Li; minings announces re-election bid for
at-uirgeposition on LREMC Board of Directors
Lacy Cummings. Board Member
ofLumbcc RivcrElcctric Membership
Corporation. announces his
bid for re-election to the At-Large
position. Cummings. a native of
the Mt. Aiiy community , has served
on the EMC board for the past 15
years. In making his announcement,
Cummings released the following
statement:
"During my tenure on the EMC
board there has been much growth
and improvement. 1 feel privileged
to havebeen allowed lobcapartof
this expansion and the innovative
programs that are benefiting our
consumers "FromJ
982 uplil 1997 we have
seen a growth in the operating
revenue of the cooperative. We
have experienced a growth in rev enue
from $17 million to $40 million.
The cost of power has also
grown during this period from S11
million to $25 million. The total
number of consumers served has
also grown from 26,065 to 38.602.
The total utility plant has grown
- from a business of $28 4 million to
$85.4 million.
"These figures indicate considerable
growth and has resulted in
more job opportunities and better
serv ice for our consumers. It has
been a challenge, but the accomplishment
of these goals has also
been rewarding.
"The accomplishment that I am
most proud of is that over the past
18 months we have reduced rates
by approximately 12 percent. Last
December we returned $500,000
to the members as credits on their
electric bills. We re continually
striving to find ways to reduce the
cost of electricity to our members.
"We are proud that we have
stalT and board member with the
innovation to obtain the leadcrshipoverourcompetitors.
LREMC
was the first cooperative in North
Carolina to utilize customer ow ncd
peak sharing to improve customer
rales and financial standing of the
co-op I am proud to have been a
small part of this tremendous
progress
"During my tenure on the board
of directors, we have also implemented
innov ative programs that
ofTcr assistance to the consumers.
We have developed and implemented
a program that we call
'Help a Needy Friend.' This program
is designed to help members
who arc disadvantaged to pay their
heating costs. The program provides
funds for this need without
costing the cooperative or the consumers
any additional money .
"This period of time has also
resulted in the doubling of funds
utilized for Wcatherization conservation
to lower members' electric
bills. We have begun to and
continue to change substations
from 69KV to 115KV, saving line
loss by reducing operating costs.
We have also reduced line loss
during that period of time by approximately
35 percent.
"Another program that I am
proud of is that we are now allowing
members 60 days in order to
pay their electric bills instead of 30
days This is a great help to our
many consumers who are on fixed
incomes.
"As we approach the annual
meeting on Tuesday. October 7. at
the Performing Arts Center at .
UNCP. I humbly ask for your vote.
If rc-clcctcd. 1 will continue to do
what I hav e done over the past 15
years, making decisions with you
ihcconisumcrinmind. As a farmer
and a consumer. I am very familiar
with stressful economic times and
I am dedicated to making our cooperative
the best in the nation
without causing a hardship on us
who are the consumers and owners
of our cooperative."
Housing Units Available at
Local Authority
PEMBROKE-The Pembroke
Housing Authority has experienced
above normal conditions during
the past several months that have
created additional units available
for occupancy. Many or the residents
that moved have gone on to
purchase or rent housing in the
private sector This is good news
for evpryonc.
However, the Authority is experiencing
problems locating
qualified residents to fill the current
vacancies. These vacancies
arc located throughout the Town
of Pembroke. All arc within walking
distance of the local businesses
and banks Utilities arc furnished
andtor subsidised with allowances.
The iocarpofi2ie department prosides
security with additional foot
patrols provided randomly.
Appl ications arc taken Monday
through friday. 9:00-11:00 a.ni.
and 1:00-4:00 p.m. If you or anyone
you know should be in need of
housing assistance, please come
by our office located at 606 Lumber
Street. Locklcar Court We arc
waiting to serve you
Carolina Civic Open Auditions
The Carolina Civic Center announces
open auditions, for the
movie musical version of "The
Wizard of Ox" on September 22
and 25. 1997 from 7-9 p.m at the
Civic Center. 315 Chestnut, in
downtown Lumbcrton All auditioning
should prepare a song
Roles for over fifty males and females
ages 3rd grade to adult arc
available 3rd to 5th grade only
from 7-8 on September 22. We arc
searching for one dog. as well.
Rehearsals will take place four to
six day s per week in September
and October Production dates run
October 30-Novcmbcr 2.
For more information call 910738-4339.
New faculty and staff members at Purnell Swett High are shbwn
above. They are Kim Lawson, Anita Oxendine, Connie Locklear,
Scarlet Duncan, Teresa Hunt, Tommy Tilson, Stacy Hinson, Johnny
Bullard, l.ue Gramham, James Benning, Ann Smith, Kimberly Locklear
and Barbara Bullard. Not shown are Jack Carter, James I.ocklear and
Steve Hagan. -
Pembroke Resident Graduates from
Alcohol Law Enforcement Basic School
Raleigh?Seventeen new agents
recently graduated from the 12th
, Basic School ofthe North Carolina
Alcohol Law Enforcement Division
(A.L.E.) and have reported
for duty throughout the state
Lorn Glen Webb of Pembroke
is a member of the class and has
been assigned to District V, Fayettevillc.
>
"We are proud to welcome
A.L.E.'s newest agents to the ranks
of one of the state's finest and most
diverse law enforcement agencies."
said Richard H. Moore, secretary
of the Department of Crime
Control & Public Safely, of which
A.L.E. is a division.
Cadets completed approximately
400 hours of training ?
both academic and practical ? in
areas such as ABC Laws and regulations.
firearms, CPR. defensive
tactics, controlled substances, of
ficer survival, and defensive driving
techniques.
"This is our most diverse class
to date. It includes one Native
American, five African Americans,
and two women. This increased
diversity will be a tremendous asset
to our organization's operations
and undercover activities,"
said John D. Smith, Hi, director of
A.L.E, "Supervisors and agents in
the field participated in the selection
ofthese trainees. Thisparticipatioifstrcngthens
the process and
will continue in the future."
Fifteen members of the class
have previous law enforcement
experience and seven have served
in the military. Two class members
are female and seven have
college degrees.
These new agents will continue
to learn as On-the-job training and
in-service schools boost their experience
throughout their careers
Open House to be held at Riverside
Open House will be held al Riverside
Christian Academy and Riverside
Christian Day Care Center
on September 20 at 10 a m. until.
Food will be served. There will be
basketball and volleyball Tor children
oF all ages. Guest speakers
will include Senator David
Wcinslicn. Sheriff" Glenn May nor
and Congressman MikeMclntyre.
as well as Dr. Dallon Brooks. Tribal
Chairman and members of the
tribal council
Fembroke to have new Public Library in 1998
with aid of federal library construction srant
PEMBROKE - Fiftccnyears in
the making, the Pembroke community
will have a new public
library in 1998. according to town
and library officials
The new library, located adjacent
to pembroke Elementary
School, received a federal library
construction grant of $142,123 in
July. With funds nearthc $282,000
goal, the Pembroke Town Council
voted this month to prepare to advertise
for construction bids.
"We will have a library by
1998." Pembroke Mayor Milton
Hunt said "It's been a long time
coming, and we think it's something
that is badly needed here."
The new 4.4000 square-fool
town library will replace a 1,700
square foot storefront location on
the Union Chapel Road. The new
library will house 7.500bookscomparcd
to 2.000 in the old library ,
according to Robert Fisher, director
of the Robeson County Public
Library.
"Our goal is to meet or exceed
the state standard for library service
to local communities." Fisher
said.
Designed to resemble historic
Old Main on the UNC Pembroke
campus, the new library will con-l-?
i ?i ?? i - .
sist or tw6 rectangular buildings
connected by a hallway. One wing
will house the adult and children's
library, and the other wing will
house community rooms^
The new site is ideallyTocaterf ^
adjacent to the elementary school
and within walking distance of a
large residential area, just two
blocks south of the'town's main
street (N.C. 711). It will serve the
town and surrounding Communities
of 25,000 people
The county commission led by
the three Pembroke area commissioners.
Noah Woods. Johnnv Hunt
and RaymondCummings. pledged
a total or $65,000 to the project.
Woods, who isalso the principal of
Pembroke Elementary School, said
it is money well spent forthe county.
"It's a bargain, and it is of my
great joys as a public servant to sec
a project like this become a reality."
Woods said. "The location is
excellent because it is accessible to
thccntirc community andcnhanccs
, our mission at this school."
Money pledged forthe library is
about $9j()0 short of the construction
target, and there afe other
r.eeds such as furniture and gardens
that arc not yet funded. Local
supporters arc preparing for the
final push, said local fund raising
coordinator Cherry Bcaslcy
"We, the people of the Pembroke
community, will benefit
greatly from this library." Ms
. Bcaslcy. said "We -are-close to .
having the funds needed for a first
rate public library that will support
needed community programs such
as book club, children's reading
programs and other activities. The
plan reflects thecomniunity'sspirit
and concern for its citizen."
Mayor Hunt is confident the
goals will be reached.
"We're going to raise the rest of
the money with no problem." he
said "We appreciate the interest
that Chancellor Oxendine has
shown in building a first rale library
in Pembroke."
UNCP Chancellor Joseph B
Oxendine said the library is the top
educational priority in the county
"There is no single project in
the county more important than
the Pembroke public library."
Chancellor Oxendine said "It's
impact on the quality of education
from kindergarten through the
university will be immeasurable "
"Moreover, this state-of-the-art
facility will provide great joy and
enrich the lives of our citizens
through their retirement years,"
he said. "This is really exciting!"
Besides the grant provided from
the Federal Library Services and
Construction Act (through the
.North Carolina Department of
Cultural Resources), fund raising
totals include:
* The Town of Pembroke
pledged a total of $32,000 including
the land, which is already been
purchased for $7,000.
* The Robeson County Board of
Commissioners pledged $65,000
* The N.C. General Assembly
contributed $10,000
* The Robeson County Public
Library pledged $4,800 in state
library development funds for architectural
fees
* First Union National Bank
pledged $10,000.
* Lumbcc Guaranty Bank
pledged $6,000
* An anony mous donor pledged
$5,000
The library campaign began in
1982 and has met with tragedy and
triumph. Originally, it was to be
housed in the town's historic railroad
depot, which was donated by
CSX. With high hopes of renovating
and relocating the depot on
land given by Pates Supply Co.. the
depot burned in 1987.
In 1991,'UNCPand Chancellor
Oxendi he became involved in planning
a new library. .A committee
was formed and it recommended a
temporary location.
Pates Supply again came to the
aid of the library project, donating
the current storefront library location
rent free. Within one year, it
became the county's second busiest
library, checking out over 4,000
videos and 13.000 books last year
"It's amazing the volume of
business the storefront library is
doing." said Pembroke Town
ManagerMcDulTicCumnungs "It
is probably in the worst place imaginable
forparkingand walk-in traffic
The new location is ideal because
it is located in a hcavih
populated residential area with
access to major roads."
As plans for a new library rolled
out. a committee to raise funds was
formed with UNCP joining the
town, the Robeson County Public
Library Board of Trustees and the
Friends of the Library.
From 1995 to 1997, the county
promised a total of $65,000 The
latcDr Adolph Dial contributed a
one-half acre lot at half its appraised
value
In 1996. UNCP's Executivcin-Residcncc
Joseph E. Sandlin
l$d the large corporate phase of
"^hocal ftind raising The Town of
Pembroke paid the cost of applying
for the grant, which was directed
by its planning department
and local grant consultant Karen
Van Zandt.
To date, funds raised for the
new Pembroke public library have
come from government and large
institutional sources. Now is the
time for a grass roots campaign to
bring the project full circle. Ms
Bcaslc) said
"At the end of the last century,
our ancestors worked together to
establish public education in this
area ? now known as The University
of North Carolina at Pembroke."
Ms Bcaslcy said "It's
fitting that we join together at the
end of this century to build a public
library "
"We need all people to pitch in
with gifts, regardless of size." she
said. "1 encourage individuals,
school classes, churches and families
to join my family in this fine
project."
Locklear to speak
to District United
Methodist Men
The Rockingham District
United Methodist Men will meet
on Sunday. September 21.19997
at 2:30 p m.,at the Cool Spring
United Methodist Church Gary
Wayne Locklear will be thd
speaker l/ocklcar has participated
in a Mission Work Team to Bolivia
for two years. The Cool Spring
Men's Chorus will sing for the
event All United Methodist Men
arc invited to be present Cool
Spring UMC is located at 16301
Scotch Grove Road off Highway
501. North of Laurinburg
Cong. Mclntyre s
Mobile Office to
be in Rowland
A member of 7th District Rep
Mike Mcln tyre's staff will beat the
Rowland Town Hall on Wednesday,
September 24th, from 10:00
a m to 12:00 noon, to meet with
residents of the 7th District who
have problems dealing with Federal
agencies such as the Social
Security Administration. Department
of Veterans Affairs. Internal
Revenue Service, or a military service
branch Comments or opinions
on pending legislation in The
United States Congress are also
welcome.
No appointment is necessary.