~ 10L1N A INDIAN VOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 26 NUMBER 33 ; THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1999 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Shown left, rear, Bill Brewington, Horace Oxendine, Liza Ferguson,
Hardy Groening, Nikki Housier, Needra Housier, Duel Shepard, Peggy
Locklear, Amiria Thompson, Woodrow Dial, Mary B. Hunt, Debbie K.
Ferguson, Gina Oxendine.
Habitat Ministry Pine Ride
SD Summer of 1999
After many months ofprayer, planning
and preparation, we were packed
and ready to begin our 1,800 miles
vanjourncy west to Pine Ridge, South
Dakota. We chose a team of eight
people representing three churches.
Harpers Ferry . BcarSwanipand Gray
Pond, within the Burnt Swamp Baptist
Association. We had committed
ourselves to the Women's Missionary
Union Habitat for Humanity mission
project Little did wc know how the
commitment was to test us.
As wc arrived in Pine Ridge, we
met the two other, another, a mother
and daughter from Texas and New
Mexico, w ho w ere to be a part of our
team The realization of what was
before us begin abruptly as wc discovered
that six women and four were to
be housed in three bedrooms and
sharing a common bathroom w ith its
one shower.
There were many coping skills
that wc adopted to ensure teamwork
in our relationship They include
lcarninghow to solve problems, know ing
how to deal w ith people, learning
to speak up. learning to let go. learning
to rcframc. and choosing better
ways to relate
As wc arrived at the building site
on Monday morning, wc discovered
that the project was behind schedule
because of extremes in weather conditions.
Wc assessed the situation to
sec how best to proceed Wc broke
ourselves into w ork groups each day,
each group being responsible forcertain
tasks, such as hanging sheet rock.
Completing outside siding, caulking
outside wal Is. covering a ditch, plumbing.
and went to work
The realization was upon us that
God has brought us here for a purpose,
we resolved to let nothing stand
in the way ofthat purpose. We learned
a profound secret or an eternal truth.
When people commit themselves to a
common .task with the right motive
relying oil God's help, great things
can be accomplished.
Throughout the week we labored
diligently in the building process and
at the end of the yjeek.we has accomplished
much. Tt^c circumstances of
our surroundingssnd our living conditions
seemed to be of no
consequences as we adjusted our
schedules to meet everyone's need.
The highlight of our experience
was meeting the Lisa Ferguson family.
Lisa is a single parent with five
children Li/a was excited as she
would come by daijy to see the progress
being made on her house The children
were constantly in and our and
joining us for on site lunch each day
Mr. Hardy, who was the building
coordinator, worked with us and getting
the materials that we needed He
isavcry unique individual He has the
patience of Job with a tremendous ?
love for this work among Natives
We. leant members, all agree that our
lives have been enriched by Brother
Hardy, the Ferguson family and each
other. Indeed, wc were helping to
build God's Kingdom one house at a
time
(left to right) Bill Brewinglon.
Horace Oxcndinc. Liza Ferguson.
Hardy Grocning. Nikki Housier.
Nccdra Housier, Duel Shcppard.
Peggy Locklcar. Amiria Thompson.
Wood row Dial. Mary B. Hunt, Debbie
K Ferguson. Gina Oxendine
A League of their Own
by Wendy Moore-Cummings
Rarely do events happen that
alter attitudes, but recently a group
of American Indian youngsters accomplished
the unthinkable. A
tribal community rivalry, predating
the turn of the century, between
Prospect and Pembroke would appear
to have reached "cease fire"
status during the events surrounding
the Dixie Youth League World
Series. While there are those of us
who relish the heat of competition
between the two rivalries, there
were eleven and twelve year olds
from both Prospect and Pembroke
learning the concept of team, and
the reward of teamwork. These
young men, both on and off the
field, successful ly completed a feat
that has eluded many of their adult
' counterparts-true unity.
The Prospect Dixie Youth
Champs began their quest for the
World Series after clinching the
North Carolina Dixie Youth Championship
in Leland, North Carolina
in early August. Out of over 1300
teams nationwide, this young team
battled their way to be among the
remaining 11 teams vying for the
World Series title. Considering that
this season was only the third for
the Prospect Division of the Dixie
Youth League, it was a great accomplishment
in itself to win the
state title. Who would have thought
they could top that? It just goes to
show you; never underestimate the
determination of a young warrior.
The next battle was to be in Terrell,
Texas, but they had to get there
first.
When all the calculations were
in, it was estimated that it would
take $5,000 for the team to make
the round-trip. An article requesting
donations was to be featured in
the Sunday edition of the
Robesonian Newspaper, but almost
before the ink could dry, donations
from the community and church
had started rolling in. IN'the Sunday
service at Prospect United
Methodist Church, $3,000 was
donated. The donations began to
come from all over the county, and
even crossed state lines. When all
the wampum was counted, it exceeded
$6,000. A great thanks is
due. With sirens, blue lights and a
host of fans accompanying them to
the county line, the team set out for
Texas.
On Monday, August 16, the
team, now called the North Carolina
Dixie Youth Champs, unloaded
with a 10-3 victory over Virginia.
On Tuesday they managed to hold
off a ninth inning rally, to defeat
Alabama, 5-3. T..is afforded them
a bye for the Wednesday round. On
Thursday, August 19, there were
only two undefeated teams remaining,
South Carolina and North
Carolina. This would be the showdown.
When the last out was made
North Carolina had fallen 0-3 to
their southern rival. If their quest
was to continue the North Carolina
team would have to regroup and
face a rematch with Alabama the
following day. As fate would have
it, the dream was not to be. North
Carolina, whose key arsenal had
been an awesome defense, gave up
an uncharacteristic 6 errors. With
the score of 8-5 Alabama advanced
in the series. When the finals were
over, North Carolina had placed
fourth in the nation-a monumental
accomplishment.
At 7:30 a.m. Sunday, August
22, as the bus drove down roads
decorated with red and white balloons
and streamers, the team and
their entourage were greeted home
by welcoming farriily, friends and
fans. This was a heroes' welcome.
Not since brining home the gold for
baseball in the 1996 North American
Indigenous Games, had there
I
been so much hoopla in Prospect
Community. These young men,
"oaches and parents are to hold
their heads high. Their efforts are a
testament to the spirit of unity. If
these native sons can alter attitudes, ,
then surely we must all take a deep
look within and re-evaluate ourselves.
Then, and only then can we
rise to become the people Creator
intended.
My Special Vegetable Garden
Today I am enjoying fresh produce
from my 39th consecutive yearly vegetable
garden Slices from a vineripened
tomato along with some recently
cooked bacon stripes, crisp lettuce,
and some mayonnaise sandwiched
between 2 slices of warm
toasted bread has no equal when talking
about tomatoes My love for vegetable
gardening has its roots in Robeson
County while growing up on a
family farm I thought of a garden as
a place where one grew plants to
produce food for the table Later. I
learn that vv hen the subject about v cgctablcs
or flowers On the farm: our
garden was used to grow produccon a
small scale throughout the year to
provide food for current use The food
we used for our large canning operation
was grown on other parts of the
farm Family gardens were a very
important part of the design employed
by small family farmers in Robeson
County to prov ide food, w ithoul hnv ing
to spend much money during my
grow in-up years amongst them
I brought the Robeson C ouniy style
vegetable gardening with me lo Virginia
and put it into operation in 1961
The production of food was not my
primary goal as was the ease in earlier
times in Robeson 1 found gardening a
great way to gel outdoor activity to
maintain balance and flexibility in
striving for good physical fitness outcome
Sometimes when my dad felt
stress doing a farming job. he would
get his fishing poles and tackle walk
the half mile down the railroad to
Lumber Riv er, and fish the rest of the
day. This procedure served as a natural
tranquilizer to get rid of the tension
. especially if he caught a nice
string offish, fused my garden in a
similar Way over the years as a stress
reliever In addition to providing the
freshest produce, back) ard gardening
is a great acti\ ily good for both pin steal
and mental health
In addition to tomatoes. I grow
sweet corn, squash. Cticumbcrs. green
beans, filed peas, pole lima beans, and
a fall crop of collards The jo> of
eating corn-on-thc-cob within being
si ripped from the cornstalks rales near
that of the baeon-lcttucc-loniaio combinations
We received mam other
benefits from a corn crop don 11 on the
farm After the corn-on-thc-cob stage,
we stripped blades from the cornstalks
to be sun dried fro winter feed
for mules, and the field pea vines
growing up the cornstalks had plenty
of sun to ensure full maturity The
matured cars or corn were harvested
and filled crib barns to be used as ft Kid
for farm animals, and ground into
cornmcalasnrcady supply forluriiing
into corn bread There were limes
being pari of a large family When we
were not satisfied with the amount of
foodwcconsumcddurijigamcn! One
way I solved this dilemma was to take
sonic soft port ions of warm corubrcad
baked in the oven crumbled in a glass
of cold buttermilk, and cal the resulting
mixture with a spoon We always
had plenty of buttermilk and
corubrcad and I he combinat ion w as a
good filler I never did gel motivated
toward flower gardening, but my wife
can work her flowers with a similar
/cal as I do with my vegetables She
even has some flowers which bloom
only at night, called Moon Flowers.
Both ly pes of gardening can prov ide a
natural type therapy, and keep the
retirement years lively .
Ranald //. I.owry,
Virginia Reach, i'A
New coordinator hired
for UNCP's Community
Health Alliance
? ^ Pembroke,/V.C.- LindaGreaver
has been named coordinator of
UNC Pembroke's Community
Health Alliance of Southeastern
North Carolina (formerly
Healthcare 1999).
Joanne Zukowski, director of
UNCP's Regional Center for Economic,
Community and
Professional development, said Ms.
Greaver brings diverse skills to the
alliance at an important time in its
history.
"Linda has an extensive background
in the health care industry
in a variety of settings, including
higher education, non-profits, managed
care and health insurance,"
Ms. Zukowski said. "Her first mission
is to go out to meet with our
partners in the region in order to
refine and redefine the mission of
the Alliance as it moves into the
21 st cenMry."
The six-year-old Community
Health AlIiance was created to promote
collaboration among the
health care providers and consumers
to find solutions to regional
health care problems.
The Alliance was absorbed last
year by the larger Regional Center
and began the transformation process
when it received a $660,000
federal grant to combat Infant mortality
in the region.
Ms. Greaver said thereare many
health care issues facing the region.
"We have many health care
problems in Southeastern North
Carolina, and 1 am very pleased to
join the Alliance and the Regional
Center as we aggressively address
these problems, " Ms. Greaver said.
"I am very excited to be at UNCP
with the resources of a regional
university."
Ms. Greaver's resume includes:
training manager for Harrah's St.
Louis Riverport; managed care
representative for united
HealthCare; staff trainer for Colombia
Medical Plan; director of
medical and program services for
the American Heart Association
and program coordinator for professional
and patient education at
John Hopkins University School of
Medicine.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Mass Communications from .
Webster University. She is a member
of the American Society of
Training and'Developmental and
the National Society of Professional
Health Association Staff.
Ms. Greaver lives in Wagram,
N.C.
A couple of early girl tomatoes begins a season of garden produce.
1 '
Checking out the corn-on-the-cob stage with daughter Cindy and her
friend Susan.
Paralegal Association To Hold
practical Skills Seminar
The North Carolina Paralegal
Association. Inc. will hold it's 15th
Mid-Year Seminar and CLA/CLAS
Review Course on September 17-18.
1999. at the Radisson Hotel High
Point in High Point. North Carolina.
The seminar is structured to develop
and enhance the practical legal skills
ofparalcgals/lcgalnssistantsand other
non-attorneys who work in the legal
profession The Practical Skills Seminar
will be hcldoj}Frida>. September
l7TTOTN_KiK)-a/nv;r4?W-p m. with
attorneys and other leaders from the
business conimunilv giving presentations
on a variety of legal issues,
including Professional Conduct Revisited
( a discussion on how the
Rev iscd Rules of Professional Conduct
will impact the paralegal
profession), a session covering facts
and circumstances that can impact
paralegals working with real estate.,
demonstrations of a computer ease
and a data management system for
legal personnel; perspectives on the
Y2K issue There w ill also be a moderated
panel discussion on the
div ersity of the legal profession from
paralegal's perspective The seminar
will continue all day Friday. September
17 beginning at 8:00 a.m.:
concluding at 4:00 p.m. The CLA
Review Course willbe from9:30 a.m.
until 12:00 noon on Saturday. September
18. 1999 Each person
attending the Mid-Year Seminar or
CLA/CLAS Review Course will receive
abound manuscript of materials
prepared in conjunction with he chosen
program, as well as continuing
lcgalcducalioncrcdit. Exhibitors from
the legal support services industry
will also be available to discuss and
demonstrate their serv ices and materials
Prcrcgistration for the seminar
may bearrangedby contaclingNCPA
Practical Skills Seminar CoLinda
Reddick at .136/519-8426or Lisa Jackson.
CLA at 828/495-3030. You may
also contact CLA/CLAS Rev icw
Course Chair Jackie Howell. CLA at
919/734-6595, or contact First Vice
President Valerie Chaffin. CLA at
919/899-3044 Walk-in registrations
on the day of the seminar will be
accepted, however, a $20 fee will be
charged for late registration
Steve & Magnolia
May nor Family
Reunion planned
The Steve and Magnolia Ma> nor
Famil> Reunion will be held at 3:00
p.m. at the Pembroke Elemental
School Cafeteria on Saturday. September
IX. 1999. A catered meal will
be serv ed Reserv ations must be made
b> September 7th. Please make your
reservations bv calling 521-9638.
521-4271. or 671-1189
VFW Post2843
to host 100th
year dinner
There will be a loom aiuuvcrsar
dinner at the Post Headquarters. Sat
urday. September 25th. 1999,
(Saturday evening) There will be a
brief fellowship, period beginning
around 5:00p.m. bcforcdinncr This
is a catered dinner so please call the
following people to reserve your scat
SO there will enough food to serve
everyone Mr. Ardcll Jacobs at 5212.113.
Ms 1-oisChavisat 521 -2188 or
Mr. Daniel Jones at 521-2940 before
Monday September 13th when our
monthly meeting will be held We
hope there will be a good response to
this notice.
Erwin Jacobs. Post Public Isolations