THE CAROLINA INDIAN" VOirF
MARY LIVERMOK LIBRARY
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pe lFlXofxATE 2037aVOLUME
26 NUMBER 23 THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1999 ! TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Coaclt Cltavis Guest Speaker at
Pembroke Elementary
Ms. Gertrude Chavis ispictured with her nephew, John Chavis, Assistant
Head Coach at the University of Tennessee.
John Chavis w as guest speaker at Pembroke Elementary School on May 21,
1999. He was welcomed by Kent Chavis, Branch Manager of the IJcd Spri ngs
branch of Lumbcc Guaranty Bank, and Noah Woods. County Commissioner
and principal of Pembroke Elementary School
Chavis gave an inspirational speech to an audience of area student athletes,
friends, relatives and a host of public officials He spoke of the days when he
would go straight from the tobacco fields into football practice at his high
school in Dillon. SC. Chavis became emotional while speaking of his father,
Robert Chavis. Jr, and Aunt Gertrude w ho both encouraged and helped him
through thcirloNcanddisciplinc He discussed alternative careers for young
athletes who arc not able to fulfill their dreams of actually playing professional
sports. Further, he stressed the importance of a good education and how that
contributed to his present success One member of the audience questioned
Chavis rcgardingTcnncsscc's recruiting practiccsand. if they ever recruited
from our area. He informed the group that there was a scout assigned that
included our area schools. Chavis was most enthusiastic when he assured the
group he would definitely accompany the scout on trips to the Robeson county
area to ensure no talent is overlooked and to visit relatives.
Commissioner Noah Woods is. Principal of Pembroke Middle School is
shown with Coach chavis.
Pembroke Middle
School Student
Scores 4.0 on
Writing Test
Dcsmund D. Hunt-Locklcar was
awarded a trophy during the Awards
Day Ceremony held at Pembroke
Middle School for scoring a perfect
score of 4 0 on the writing test administered
to all seventh grade students
in the county. He was one of seven
seventh graders at Pembroke Middle
to score a 4.0, Dcsmundalso received
awards for making the A honor roll,
as well as awards for the highest
average for,his English class and
Science class Earlier at the school 's
Academic Banquet, he received another
trophy for academic achievement
Desmund is the son of Cynthia
L Hunt and Darryl Locklcar and the
grandson of Douglas and Olivia Hunt,
and James and Eula Locklcar
Carolina Indian Voice
is published every Thursday by
First American Publications
1<?4 Normal St - College Plaza
Post Office Box 1075
Pembroke. North Carolina 28172
Lumbee Finishes
at Oak Ridge
Science Institute
Robert Chavis just completed
and passed an advanced Radiation
course at the Oak Ridge Institute
for Science and education, which is
a scientific training center for medi*
cal personnel from around the world
concerning Radiation exposure and
contamination. The class consisted
of medical providers from Germany,
Korea. India. United States
and from other parts of the world.
The main theme of this course was
Radiation Accident Management.
Areas of Radiation safety and Medicine
included management of
Hospital. Industrial and weapons
grade radiation concerns. The members
of this class were screened
according to extremely strict criteria.
Once elected the members were
notified of there standing. Mr.
Chavis and a member of Fort Bragg
were only two individuals selected
from the Southeastern United
States.
NC Workers will be prepared for
21st Century, Sen* Weinstein savs
Raleigh - For North CArolina
workers to thrive in the 21st centur>
economy, they need excellent
job training and state-of-the-art
skills. Sen. David Weinstein said
Wednesday.
"our communtiv college system
has one of the best job training
programs in the country. Aand we
shouild do all we can to support it
as our economy grows and
changes." said Weinstein. D-Robeson.
"We owe it to employers - and
to workers and their families - to
help NOrth Carolin ians get and keep
good jobs "
Under a Senate proposal approved
Tuesday, part of North
Carolina's account in a federal unemployment.
insurance fund would
pay for equipment and technology
at the state's community colleges,
where most job training programs
take place.
THe state's employ ers would see
a 20 percent cut in their payments
to the federal Unemployment Insurance
(Ul) fund, and a
corresponding 20 percent contribution
to a state fund would help
community colleges provide
workforce training. The community
college system would get
SI 13.7 million over the next two
years for equipment and technology
needs.
"This is the right thing to do for
our workers, who need training for
* ~
new jobs or updated skills lor better
jobs." Weinstein said. "And it's
rght for our employers. who will
benefit from better-trained workers."
North Carolina's Ul fund has a
balance of S1.26 billion-one of the
biggest balances inb the country and
another S200 million serves as
the state's backlog of S131 million
in technology and equipment needs,
according to a 1997 survey.
About 98 percent of North
Carolina's employers would see a
reduction or no change in their
Unemployment Insurance bills under
the Senate proposal, a
committee substitute for House Bill
275. Around 2 percent. oc_3.400
businesses, that owe money to the
fund would be excluded from the
reduction because their accounts
are overdrawn. Those employers
could avoid an increase by paying
what they owe. according to the
Employment Seceurities Commission.
The NC Department of Community
Colleges, the Employment
Securities Commission, North
CarolinaCitizens for Buisiness and
Industry, and the stae Treasurer's
office endorse the plan, a committee
substitute for Houase Bill 275.
The proposal now goes to the state
House of Representatives for agreement.
Summer Reading Program
Programs to be conducted at the Robeson County Public Library
Auditorium.
.StoryTime Schedule
June 11- friday , 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Endangered Artimals) North Carolina
Museum of Natural Science, small live alligators, slides, lecture.
June 14 - Monday, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Billions of Bugs) James Cochran,
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Puppet stories.
June 18 - Friday, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Native American Tales & Legends)
Sherryl Jacobs, Interactive stories.
June 21 - Monday, 2:00'- 3:00 p.m. (Let's Play Conservation) Joanna
McPhatter, Robeson Soil & Watfr Conservation District Presentation,
puppets, activities.
June 24 - Thursday, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ( Tales of Old) Iris Killeas.
June 28 - Monday, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Terrific Turtles) North Carolina
Museum of Natural Science Presentation with live turtles.
June 8,15,22,29, and July 6 Tuesdays
Proctorville 10:00 - 10:45
Fairmont 11:30 - 12:15
Rowland 2:00 - 2:45
June 9,16,23,30, and July 7 Wednesdays
St.Pauls 1:00- 1:45
Red Springs 2:30 - 3:45
June 10.17,24, and July 1,8, Thursday
Lumberton 10:00 - 10:45 . . .
Maxton 1:00 - 1:45. "
Pembroke 2:15 - 3:00
Susan Noble with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service;
will present nutrition activities during storytime on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th
week at all 8 of the above locations.
Showtime (Video variety)
June 9,16,23,30, and July 7 Wednesdays
RCPL Auditorium 10:00 - 11:00
July 9 - Friday, 10:00- 12:00
Certificate Day Celebration Dare Band Performs, RCPL garden (
auditorium if rain)
Mrs. Mary Meekins will be putting on the program (bringing live
animals)
Eleven - Year
Class Reunion
Planned
The Class of 1948 of Pembroke
High School is sponsoring a reunion
forthe classes of 1944.1945.
1946, 1947, 1948, 1949. 1950.
1951. 1952, 1953. 1954. and other
classes that graduated in the 1940's
and 1950's. The event is planned
for July 1,2000 and is scheduled to
meet at Pembroke Middle School
from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Several class leaders from those
years recently met and made plans
for this historic gathering of Pembroke
High School Alumni. Helen
Lowry Sampson and Daphne Lowry
Jones are serving as local chairpersons
for this Y2K celebration.
H.L."Lindy" Martin is General
Coordinator.
1940's and 1950's graduates
have encouraged to promote and
attend this multi-class reunion.
Revels Graduates
from Pharmacy
School
A native of Robeson County.
Robert Wayne Revels graduated
May 10, l999asMagnaCumLaudc
from Campbell University Schobl
* of Pharmacy, in Buies Creek, N.C.
During the ceremony, he was administered
the pharmacist's oath by
Mr. David Work, Executive DircctoroftheN.C.
Board of Pharmacy.
Revels is a graduate of Pembroke
Senior High School apd
UNC-Pcmbrokc. He i**the son of
Vester Mac Revels and the late Ray
Revels of Pembroke. N.C.
r
Pembroke
Kiwanis Report
The Rev. Mike Cummings,
President of the North Carolina
Baptist Convention was principal
speaker at the Tuesday evening
Kiwanis meeting. He was introduced
by Program Chairman
Clayton Maynor. Rev. Cummings
is first Native American to be president
of the North Carolina Baptist
Convention, it is one hundred fifty
- years old. and always has been
against slavery. This is the first
timeaLumbee Indian broke through
the age old minority barrier. And
Rev. Cummings has done it. In
18655 the convention was just
HomcMissions, with over a hundred
years of white domination.
We are a part of the force to bring
people into church. We now have
all races includingHispanics. More
interest now is going to individual
churches. The Convention is not
interested in building big groups of
church goers. And we don't leave
out minorities. We share leadershipwith
all groups. There are 3800
churches in the N.C. Baptist Convention.
And 1200 Baptist
Associations in the Country.
Since 1958 Odom Home has
come from being an orphanage to a
Baptist Home for all races. The
convention has all kinds of pro?;rams
including scholarships, help
or the elderly, aid for the poor,
help to all kinds of educational
institutions. Rev.Cummiogsisona
constant go attending many committee
meetings of all kinds. He
sure is happy in the Lord's work.
Presiding and Invocation ?
George Kenworthy; Reporter ?
Ken Jchnscr..
April Whittemore, the former Miss Indian World, is shown with
Representative Ron Sutton. Ms. Whittemore recently addrssed the
North Carolina General Assembly. She was introduced by Rep. Sutton.
She is now employed with the Palmer Drug Abuse Program and Spoketo
the Legislature about the needs of the elderly and the children.
Pembroke Student named
All-American scholar
The United States Achievement
Academy announced today that
Tamara A. Oxendine from Pembroke,
NC has been named an
All-American Scholar.
The USAA has established the
All-American Scholar Award Program
to offer deserved recognition
to superior students who excel in the
acaderhic disciplines. The AllAmerican
Scholars must earn a 3.3,
or higher, grade point average. These
are awards few students can ever
hope to attain.
Tamara A.Oxendine, who attends
Purnell Swett, will appear in the AllAmerican
Scholar Y earbook, which
is published nationally.
"Recognizing and supporting
our youth is more important than
eve before in America's history
Certainly, United States
Achievement Academy winners
should be congratulated and appreciated
for their dedication to
excellence and achievement." said
Dr. George Stevens. ?ycccutive
Director of the United States
Achievement Academy.
Tamara A. Oxendine. is the
daughter of Louie and Hilda Oxendine
from Pembroke. N.C. The
grandparents are James B. Loeklear
from Pembroke, N.C. and Etta
B. Oxendine from Lumberton.
N.C.
National Lumbee Writing
Contest Winners
Pembroke -- As the Lumbee
prepare for their annual homecoming
here, the winners ofthe National
Writing Contest for Lumbee students
were recently announced.
Dr. Robert W. Reising, coordinator
of the Native American
Literary Voices planning committee,
said the contest attracted young
writers from throughout the nation.
The winners are:
* High School Poetry - Nakecja
Locklear, senior, South Robeson
High School.
* Middle School Poetry - Casey
Locklear, 8th grade. Magnolia
School.
* Middle School Fiction-Jamee
Hunt, 7th grade, Rowland Middle
School.
Reising a professor of English
and American Studies at UNC Pembroke,
said the contest was
announced in late January. Committee
members Patsy Baker, Dr.
Joseph Bell, Yvonne B. Dial, Barbara
Braveboy-Locklear and
Marilyn Locklear assisted in organizing
the contests and reading.
The winning authors will each
receive S100, a certificate, and copy
of the Lumbee classic. The Only
Land I Know, co-authored by the
late Dr. Adolph Dial. The three
winners will also read their works
at the Fourth Annual Native Literary
Voices reading in Dial
Humanities building on campus at
2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 3.
The reading will feature and
honor Julia L. Russell, respected
Lumbee teacher and writer.
Also present will be local Lumbee
author Delano Cummings. who
in 1993 published Moon Dance
Warrior, his account of being a
combat Marine in Vietnam.
The prizes and the reception
that follows the reading are made
possible by a grant from the Lumberton
Tourism Development
Authority.
The public is invited to the reading
and reception. Both are free.
Local Students of
Excellence Recognized
Larissa Johnson and Kameron Richardson were recognized as Students
of Excellence at the May 18th meeting of the Board of Education
for the Public Schools of Robeson County. Presenting their awards was
Don Gersh representing the Pembroke Area Chamber of Commerce. The
Student of Excellence Award is a Chamber of Commerce Coalition
initiative to recognize students for their contributions to their schools and
communities. Each area chamber selects a students based on applications
submitted from the high school in their; students who apply must have a
3.0 minimum grade point average. Each chamber honors the student w ith
a plaque and other rewards for meritorious service and achievement.
Honored from Purnell Swett High was Larissa Johnson, an active
participant in many school and community activities. She is a member of
the FHA, the Beta Club and is Manager of the Volleyball Team. She is
an active memberof her church where she is a member ofthe Youth Choir
and the Acteens. She plans to pursue a degree in law. a goal she has set
as a way of "preventing others from suffering injustice or being cheated."
Her best role model was her grandmother who epitomized for her the
"honest life helping others."
From South Robeson High School Kameron Richardson was recognized.
HE is involved in J ROTC where he is a member of Junior Reserves
Officers Training Corps and the drill team. He is also a member of the
Native American Student Association. He contributes to his community
through his involvement in his church as Vice President of the Youth
Group, as a member ofthe Handbell Choir, as a base singer in Adult Choir,
as a Church Usher, and as assistant to the Bible School. The person whom
he most admires is his father who has "modeled dedication to hard work
and determination in overcoming obstacles." He believes that success is
"reaching thehighest potential of one's desires and being satisfied with the
destination and the outcome." His career goal is to become a computer
programmer. All Students of Excellence recipients are recognized at
individual schools, at their area Chamber of Commerce meetings, and,
officially, at the Board of Education presentations.