THE CAROLINA INDIAN^fOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
^^^UME_26_NUMBERj8 THURSDAY^OCTOBER__7,_1999 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Burnice Blanks seeks District 3 seat on
EMC Board of Directors on October 19
Burnice Blanks ofthe Magnolia
Community announces his bid for
a position on the Board of Directors
of the Lumbee River Electric
Membership Cooperation (EMC),
representing District 3. Blanks believes
that his past experiences and
accomplishments make him a
strong candidate and more than
qualified for the position at hand.
B lanks is the son ofNorman and
Jennie BlanksoftheMagnoliacommunity.
He is a graduate of
Magnolia High School and attended
three years of school at Robeson
Technical Institute (now Robeson
Community College). His wife is
Bonnie Locklear of Lumberton.
They own and operate Blanks' Produce
on Chicken Road in the rural
area of Lumberton, NC.
Blanks has been a part of the
farming community in P.obeson
County all of his life. For the past
twenty years he has been a major
produce farmer. In addition, Blanks
serves on the Committee Board of
the Farmers' Market, a position he
hasheldforthepasteightyears. He
has been affiliated with A & T
University in Greensboro, NC for
the past five years where he participates
in experimental farming
projects.
In addition to his rural fanning
activities, Blanks has served in the
United States Army for seven years.
While there his ranking/classification
was
Headquarters-Headquarters Battery
and Third Core Artillery,
serving in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Ft.
Hood, Oklahoma, Ft. Jackson, SC.
and Ft. Gordon, GA.
Blanks' varied experience includes
fourteen years as an
employee with Burlington Mills in
St. Pauls, NC.
His civic and community activities
include coaching little league
baseball for ten years. Blanks attends
Ten Mile Baptist Church
where he is actively involved in the
church community.
For the past two yegrs, Blanks
has sold tractors for Danny Pait of
Evergreen, NC and has volunteered
three years of 1,000 hours toward
the local 4-H club and the Blue
Ribbon Sweet Potato Contest in
Tabor City.
Blanks feels very strongly about
serving on the EMC Board of Directors
and has a burning desire to
do the best possible job for the
EMC members. His contributions
will definitely make him an asset to
the EMC Board of Directors as
well as its members and their communities.
Being a native of Robeson
County, Blanks believes he has
demonstrated a life of commitment
and dedication to those around him
and has always tried to extend a
helping hand when a need arose.
Most recently, following Hurricane
Floyd, Blanks was busy helping
members of the EMC and reaching
the needs of the elderly and invalids
in the area. Blanks learned
early in life that a leader must lead
by example. This is one of the
things that he has prided himself in
doing through out his life. The greatest
fulfillment one can have. Blanks
believes, is to see a need and meet
it.
During his life time Blanks has
established an impeccable track
record of being a friend, neighbor
and a community leader. His desire
to serve on the EMC board, he
stated, isan opportunity which will
allow him to now move to another
level of responsibility which he
knows will entail greater decision
making, management skills and
ability. These are attributes that he
has acquired throughout his life
time by his vast experiences, both
professionally and personally.
These are the attributes Blanks says
he will bring to the EMC board of
directors. "My main focus and priority,"
Blanks said, "if elected to
the EMC Board of Directors will
be continued dedication and devotion
to the community and the
members who are served by the
EMC."
Four members of the Board of
Directors will be elected on October
19,1999 at the annual meeting
of the LREMC at the UNCP Givens
Performing Arts Center
beginning at 6 P:M.. Blanks asks
that the members of the EMC make
a special effort to attend. "Please
make Burn ice Blanks one of the
people you vote for," Blanks concluded.
Robeson-Health Care Corporation
Celebrates Community Health
Center Week in October
Robeson Health Care Corporation
(RHCC) operates four (4) Community
Health Cepters in Robeson
County1. Julian T. Pierce Health Center
in Pembroke, Maxton Medical
Centciftin Maxton. South Robeson
Medical Cctitcr in Fairmont and L.umbertonflcalth
Center In Lumberton
Ms Jiinnie Lowcry, Presidcnt/CEO
of RHCC, states that RHCC operates
the on? Community Health Centers
in Robgson County. We are 4 of 981
health-centers serving over 10 million
children and adults in every state,
the District of Columbia. Puerto Rico.
Guam and the U S Virgin Islands
We are.'a private. nonprofit, community
owned and operated organization
governed by a \ oluntcer board of
directors Health Centers serve pa-ticnts
who arc insured Medicaid.
Medicare as well as low-income and
medically uuderscrvcd urban and rural
communities thai experience geographic,
finacials, or other barriers to
accessing health carc and preventive
services. RHCC is proud to be a part
of this network ofComnuinity Health
Centers
RHCC was founded in 12985 as a
consortium of family medical practices
in Robeson County, principally
in response to an effort by the U.S.
Public Health Service to consolidate
several non-profit cli nicsand i mprovc
their functional efficiency This consolidation
involved four sites and resulted
in the merger of twocompcting
sites in the tow n of Pembroke Pern
Woke Health Care and Lumbcc Medical
Center. The staff, equipment and
supplies of Lumbec Medical Center
were simply moved into the larger
Pembroke Health Care facility
Ms! Lowery stated that Mr Julian
T. Pierce was Chairman of the Lumbee
Medical Centcrboard of directors
when the merger negotiations began
and that he w as instrumental in what
is now known as Robeson Health
Care Corporation.
She also stated that Mr. Julian T.
Pierce served on the Robeson Health
Care Board of Directors until the lime
of his death in 1988 And as a mater
of fact, he was Chairman of the Robeson
Health Care Board of Directors
until the time of his death . In June of
1988 the remaining members of the
Board voted to rename Pembroke
Health Center to Julian T. Pierce
Health C enter "in honor of Julian and
the contributions he made to the community
" Ms Lowery added that the
NC Primary Care Association also
voted to name Julian the Outstanding
Volunteer of the Year At that times
thcNC Primary Health Care association
donated monies to the Julian T.
Pierce Memorial Fund The Memorial
consists of RHCC. Legal Services.
Strike at the Wind. NC Indian
Cultural Center and Julian's family.
RHCC has continued to grow and
lias added a new medical facility to
the original three Lumbcrton Health
Center In addition. RHCC operates 2
halfway houses for women in rccov
ery and thi^r babies; a substance abuse
program and numerous other programs.
Another nonprofit Corporation.
First Image, has been founded under
RHCC's umbrella This has resulted
in the building of "Grace Court "This
isa 24apartment-complc.\ for women
who have successfully completed a
recovery program and all their children.
Grace Court is the first of it's
kind in the State of NC and 1 of only
5 in the CI S> This became a reality
after all the hard work of RHCC and
several agencies Ms Lowery stated
that this isariothcrexainpleof RHCC's
commitment to the community and
hard pressed determination to meet
our communities'* needs
RHCC is excited about educating
our communities about Community
Health Centers and celebrating with
other centers across the nation. Proclamations
have been signed by Congressman
Mike Mclnlyre. Senator
David Weinstcin Representative
Ronnie Sutton Representative
Donald Bonner. Representative Douglas
Yonguc. the Robeson County
Board of Commissioners. Pembroke
Mayor Milton Hunt Maxton Mayor
Lillic Mckoy. Fairmont Mayor Jeff
Lewis and Luinbcrton Mayor.
Raymond Pennington, proclaiming
October 4-8. 1999 Community Health
Center Week in Rolx'son County. Ms
Lowery would like to thank them for
their proclamations and for the many
calls and letters of thanks RHCC has
received from other agencies and
groups throughout the county Ms.
Lovvery stated that she appreciates
the partnerships and people who have
worked together with RHCC to meet
the health needs of Robeson and surrounding
counties. j
Ms Lovvery added that RHCC
continues to grow ami will be expanding
serv ices ancKhours at the
local centers as well |is some new
programs for the communities.
RHCC will hasalsqjbccn awarded
$ 1.234,000.00 fora Prescription Drug _
Purchase Assistanco-Progranj for'
.'w
RHCC patients via RHCC provider
prescriptions. The grant vv as awarded
by the National Association of Com1
munitv Health Centers. Ins Ms. low cry
stated that more information on
this program which is scheduled to
begin inOctobcrwillbcdeiailcdinan
upcoming news release
Ms LOvverv thanks the patients
and community forthe support shown
for RHCC during the past 14 years.
RHCC looks forward to serving the
needs of our communities for many
years to come.
A proclamation hasbecn issued by
Congressman Mclntyre and Mayor
of Pembroke Milton Hunt in support
of the improved health care given to
the community by the Robeson Health
Care Corporation and declaring October
4-8 1999 as National Health
Center Week i n Robeson County. N.C
Compassion motivates Robeson
County Chapter Organization
to offerfriendship and assistance
to the community
Compassionate Friends is a mutual assistance self-help organization
offering and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings, stepparents and
grandparents This organization is basc^upon the premise that pain experienced
by bereaved parents is best understood by another parent who has
experienced the death ofa child. Healing conics through sharing and learning
from other bereaved parents who give etjhpalhy and support
There will be a Public Information Meeting held for the purpose of
organizing the Robeson County Chapt|r of The Compassionate Friends.
Monday. October 18. 1999. The meeting w ill be held at the Health Horizons
Home Health Building. 2002 North Ccdnjr Street in Lumbcrton This building
is adjacent to C'apc Fear Credit and across the street from Southern Marble
Works The building is adjacent to Cape Fear Credit and across the street from
Southern Marble Works The meeting time will be 7:00 P.M Any interested
members of the community or press arc welcome to attend
i
Congressman Mike Mclntyre joins several of his congressional colleagues
in reminding the Administration and congress ahout the Importance
of paying down the national debt before any consideration of new spending
programs. Mclntyre stated," When families and businesses have debt, they
do the sensible thing - they pay it offl / say the government should do the
same!"
Burnice Blanks
finnie Lowty, President/CEO RHCC
Mrs. Charlotte Williams has
been selected as Pembroke Middle
Schools Teacher of the Year for
199-2000. She has been leaching
sixteen years. Her current assignment
Is eight grade
communication skills. She was the
honoree at a reception given at
Pembroke Middle School recently.
She is a native of i.umherton and
has one daughter and two grandchildren.
Dr. Charles Clark
Lumbee to be
associated
with Otometric
Eye Care
Center
Pembroke, NC-Dr. John L.
Adams of Optometric Eye Care
Center in Lumberton, NC announces
the association of Dr.
Charles L. Clark with the Center.
Dr. Clark was previously employed
by Dr. Adams before assuming the
position of Chief Optometrist at
Hour Eyes Doctors of Optometry
in Springfield, Virginia.
In returning to Robeson County,
Dr. Clark is fulfilling a life time
dream of coming home. He is a
graduate of the University ofNorth
Carolina at Chapel Hill and the
Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Dr. Clark is the son of Dennis
and Linda Clark of the Union
Chapel community of Robeson
County. He is the grandson of
Raymond "Spotted Turtle" Clark
oi Pembroke and Mrs. Stella O.
Locklearofthe Union Chapel community.
Meet the EMC
Candidate Oct. 16
On Saturday, October 16,
Bumice Blanks, Candidate for District
3, EMC Board of Directors,
will be meeting consumers at the
Union Chapel Community Building
from 11 a.m. until 2 P.M.. A
cookout will be held and lunch will
be served free to those attending.
"100% Secretary
Award presented
by The Lions Club
of Pembroke
The Pembroke Lions Club held
their monthly meeting on September
20, 1999 at the Lumbee Restaurant
Lion Club President John W. (Ned)
Sampson presided. The Reverend
Welton Low eiy gave the invocation,
with' Lion Adolph Blue leading the
United States Flag Pledge of Allegiance..
As the highlight of the program,
Lion President Sampson presented to
Lion Kelly Sanderson the, "100%
Secretary Award." The award was
authorized by Lion Tony G. Williams.
District Governor of District
31 -F The ward was given in recognition
of Lion Kelly Sanderson's
promptness and excellent manner in
w hich he makes reports to the District
Governor in his capacity as Secretary
of the Pembroke Lions Club.
In other club business, plans were
finalized for a raffle sale on a television
to be given to the winner. The
proceeds will be used to purchase
eyeglasses. Also the club approved
the purchase of a hearing aid
Robeson tounty JMluscuin Associates
presents Hook Signing and Reception
for L/oca /A uthor
Pembroke, NX - Delano Cummings, author of Moon Dash Warrior, will
participate in a book signing and discussion on Oct. 7, at 7 pm*?t the
Os'tcrncck Auditorium of the Robeson County Public Library.
Moon Dash Warrior is the personal account of Delano Cummings. ayoung
Lumbcc Indian from Robeson County, who. inspired by simple patriotwm and
devotion to duty, grew to become a United States Marine in Vietnam. X
following the comments on Cumming's book, there will be a reception at
the Robeson County Museum. This is in conjunction with the currereftxhibit
at the museum entitled. "A Military History: Contributions of kpbeson
County." This event is sponsored by the Robeson County Museum Associates.