t . ,_.?olina indim voice
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Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 26 NUMBER ^ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1999 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Barbara Collins Gonns Seeks
Election to EMC Board
barbara Collins Goins of Shannon
has announced her bid for an
at-large position on the Board of
Directors of Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corporation.
Goins, a working wife and mother,
feels that she has much experience
in decision making and could make
a difference on the EMC Board.
The daughter of Redell and
Evelyn Collins of Shannon, Goins
is married to Retired SFC Donnie
L. Goins and they have five sons.
Her husband, a licensed heating
and air conditioning contractor is
supportive of his wife's efforts to
be elected to the EMC board.
Goins is employed with the
Department ofDefense, Fort Bragg,
NC and has been employed there
for eleven year. She was appointed
by the Readiness Business Center
to serve on the Equal Employment
Opportunity Committee at Fort
Bragg.
A seasoned traveler, Goins feels
that her exposure to other cultures
and ideas will be an asset on the
board of directors of EMC. "We
live in a world of diversity," Goins
said. "The area served by our local
EMC is rich in diverse cultures and
continues to grow. My exposure to
other lands and cultures can only
help as our EMC continues to grow
and expand our service area."
In making her announcement,
Goins made the following state
ment:
"Since returning to my native
Robeson County, 1 have been very
active in community and civic affairs.
I have thought long and hard
about my decision to seek election
to the EMC board. I believe that I
can be an asset and otfer competent
and efficient representation on that
board. I realize that the operation
of our local EMC is big business
and as such requires sound fiscal
management and decision making.
I can be a very worthwhile contributing
representative and help
establish policy for the continued
smooth operation of our cooperative.
"As a working wife and mother,
I understand the importance ofbudgeting
and the necessity of
practicing good fiscal decision
making. Both these concepts are
necessary to operate a multi-million
dollar corporation such as our
cooperative. Through the years I
have gained expertise in various
areas, such as budgeting and administrative
techniques. I
understand the role of a board of
directors and the policy and decision
making required to operate
successfully. On the other hand, 1
also understand the obligation the
board and management has to the
member-consumers who are the
owners of EMC.
"With these thoughts in mind, I
have decided to otYer my service to
the members of the EMC. If I am
elected October 19, 1 will work
diligently and honestly and will be
fair to the consumers in all decisions
that 1 make."
Goins has traveled extensively
and served in various capacities
and positions. Her travels and assignments
include service a
Registrar, Federal Republic ofGermany,
Department of Defense; the
North American Treaty Organization
(NATO) Forces Europe,
Directorate of Contracting; Kansas
City, KS, Federal Employed
Women's Conference; and the Performance
Base Action ad Litigation
inn New Orleans, LA.
Goins' has earned many awards
and honors, including the 1995
Equal Employment Opportunity
(EEO) Award; served as Chairperson
of the Native American
Heritage Program at Fort Bragg for
the past five years; named to Who's
Who Among Professional Women
1997; Chairperson, Adopting a
Needy Family at Fort Bragg, NC
for the past three years; and received
a letter of appreciation from
the Community Activity Business
Center, Fort Brag, NC 1999,
The election will be held at the
Performing Arts Center at the University
of North Carolina at
Pembroke on October 19, 1999
with registration beginning at 6
p.m.
Hurricane Floyd passes through the
Carolinas leaving devastation in path
By Vinita Maynor-Clark
Early Thursday morning the Carolinas had an unwelcome visit from
Hurricane Floyd. Packing winds over 120 miles an hour, a category four
hurricane when it made land fall.. Hurricane Floyd came in a manner that
no one will soon forget. Over 20 inches of rained soaked the Carolinas
within in a matter of hours, causing people to lose their homes, personal
belongings, pets, livestock and crops which is estimated to amount to
billions of dollars of damage. There are an estimated 147,000 households
with major damage in our area alone. The death total stands at 23 and is
climbing as many people are still missing.
Mr. Addison Strickland, a resident at Sampson's Rest Home in the
Philadelphus Community is one of the persons that is listed as missing.
However, he wandered away from the rest home several days before
Hurricane Floyd camd ashore. To this day there has been no trace of him
and the search has been called off.
One man was found dead in the attic of his home as he tried to get away
from the flooding waters. Another visited his home to get some clothes
by canoe. When he cgme upon his home and looked in through where a
window was one located, the only thing thht he could say was " Oh, my
God!"
Over 1.5 million households were left without power for several days
after Floyd came ashore. Robeson County along with 25 other counties
were declared a State of Emergency by North Carolina Governor James
B.. Hunt. A Presidential declaration of disaster was issued by President
Bill Clinton this week for 66 counties in North Carolina. Across the state
there are currently 48 Red Cross Shelters open with a population of over
10,200 residents who cannot return home or have ho where to go. The
Salvation Army currently has 30 mobile kitchens active in the 17 hardest
hit counties. The Red Cross has 66 mobile feeding vendors deployed
at this time. More than 295 roads in North Carolina alone were shut down.
At this time 133,230 homes and businesses remain without power. The
United States Coast Guard has rescued over 400 people. National animal
rescue organizations are in the area rescuing pets from flooded area.
The city of Lumberton was devastated as there was only one gas
station working on Thursday morning. Highway 211 was closed due to
flooding. The Mayfair, Hestertown and other communities had to be
evacuated, which meant that close to 100 families had to seek shelter
Somewhere else. Even the parking lot at the local Wal-Mart and other
local stores were flooded. Both the building and parking lot of Fuller's
Restaurant were flooded . Water in the building was up to the tops of the
tables where the customers sit. All of Fuller's kitchen appliances were
mostly under water Thursday morning: The management of Fuller's
along with friends and family set forth on the task of cleaning up the mess
left by Hurricane Floyd. Fuller's is planning to reopen later in the week.
Both passengers and drivers had to be extra careful in all of the towns
as there were no working stoplights within their city limits. Many houses
could not be reached for the flooding waters of the Lumber River. You
could see people in their canoes, sitting on their porches or even on the
roof of their home, their cars and trucks ruined, standing up to their
windshield in muddy water. Many homemade plank bridges that were
used to gain access to property collapsed.
The number of homes in our area were too many to count that had
trees smashed through and portions of their roof missing. T rees that were
over 100 years old toppled at the force of Floyd's mighty winds. Many
trees collapsed in groups of three or more. Many residents especially in
the Tarboro area of the state lost everything. Several mobile homes had
their roofs blown off and were located in a nearby field. Some residents .
who live in rental housing do not qualify for Federal Assistance due to
the fact they do not own the residence where they live. Many owners of
these residences do not have insurance on their property. I could not
count the number of trees as there appeared to be one in every other yard.
Downed trees with power lines entangled proved to be dangerous. One
neighbor stood out in the road with his flashlight to keep those driving
from hitting the ditch. While he left to take a shower and change clothes
there were three cars that hit the ditch. Ms. Mary Richardson of Lumberton
at the Flea Market on U.S. HWY 74 Flea Market had a table of free
clothes as she was trying to make a difference to the hurricane victims.
During an interview on national television Governor James B. Hunt
stated that over half of the state of North Carolina roads had to be shut
down and that the eastern part of the state was devastated by the hurricane.
He made a plea on national television for assistance from the American
people "Hurricane Floyd has devastated the state of North Carolina and
we are calling on those that can to help."
The Carolina Indian Voice is sponsoring a Gift Certificate drive
for the victims of Hurricane Floyd. Stores in the area that will accept
the Gift Certificates are: Wal-Mart, K Mart, JC Penny, Belks,
Cato's, Winn-Dixie, Lowe's, Home Depot and Food Lion. These gift
certificates will be given to those who are in need and who are going
to fall through cracks when it comes to Federal Assistance. Some of
them will be used to buy shelter residents who have nothing left but
the clothes on their backs, a change of clothes, formula and diapers.
See Cookie's Corner for details on how you can help.
Ram Singers Participated UNC-Pembroke Day
The "Singing Rams" and "Ram
Singers" gave an outstanding performance
at UNCP - Pembroke Day on
Wednesday, Sept 1.
The students sang six selections
and Ms Nina Chavis, a former Ram
singer has been teaching the chorus
the sign language to several sclcc
tions Ms. Chavis graciously signed
as Jessica Hum accompanied the
Chorus on flutes
The performance was w el I received
and Ms. Jackson is very appreciative
of all the effort the performed put
into their program as well as the
exemplary behavior shown b> all
throughout the day
this mobile home and house suffered major damage from TTurricane
pijrtpvri Both art located on the Pine Log Road.
(Hurricane photographs by Vinita Maynor-Clark)
i
i
Barbara Collins Goins
Purn ell Swett
High News
The Purncll Swell FFA would like
to rccogni/c the new officers for 99/
00 school)car
President Jessica Lowers
Vice President John B Locklcar
Sccrctnrs Valcn Rogers
Treasurer Latasha Jacobs
Reporter ErtcT Locklcar
Sentinel Nakisha Lowers
The FFA has mans fun and exciting
cscnis planned for this school
scar Students will attend the Regional
Leadership school at The N C
FFA Center at White Lake on Thursdays
. September9th Thcs ssill des clop
leadership skills through a series of
classes conducted bs state and Regional
FFA olTiccrs
Members ssill also participate in
the Robeson Counts Fair. October 49
ssith an educational booth, manning
a bicycle give-away ssith the Goodness
Grosss in North Carolina Booth,
assist in judging the Chicken Bog
Cook-off and participate in the T ruck
and Driving Contest
October will be a buss month as
students ssill also travel io the Slate
Fair and compete in the Area VII
Environmental at the Lumber Riser
Slate Park Man> other actis itics arc
planned throughout the scar
The owner along with handful of friends clean up the interior damage
from Hurricane Floyd at Fuller's Restaurant in I.umberton.
- *
Mary Richardson made the difference in the lives oj many people
Saturday as she gives out free clothes to those in need at the local flea
market, located on U.S. 74.
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