THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
1 </. 19' 1 \
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 26 NUMBER 39 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14. 1999 " TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Ruth Oxendine Enters Her First ElectionVying
for the At-Large Position on the
LREMC Board of Directors ]
Ruth Oxendine is gearing up for her
first election to the Board of Directors
of Lumbee River EMC. But, then
again, it isn't Ms. Oxendine's first election.
Ms. Oxendine has been serving on
LREMC's Board since January 1997
when she was appointed to finish the
unexpired term of her late husband,
Conrad Oxendine. Understanding the
co-op and its operation is not new to
Ms. Oxendine. Ms. Oxendine's late
husband, Conrad Oxendine, served on
theBoard of Directors from October
19s7 until his untimely demise in January
1997. Ms. Oxendine supported her
husband during his 10-year tenure on
the Board. She understands the business
decisions that must be made and
that the responsibilities of a board member
cannot be taken lightly. Ms.
Oxendine campaigned with her husband
during those ten years, so the
campaign trail is all too familiar to her.
Since Ms. Oxendine's appointment
to the Board of Directors she has been
very instrumental in keeping Lumbee
River Electric Membership Corporation
the aggressive and thriving member
owned business it is today that iscom
I mitted to providing electric as well a
! other value added services for the community
it serves. As a board member.
Ms Oxendine is an advocate for the
members and is dedicated to seeing
that the co-op continues to deliver high
quality, competitively priced products
and service. Since Ms. Oxendine's
appointment to the Board, the co-op
offers additional services such as:
Internet. Paging, Service Poles and
Appliance Repair Insurance.
Overthe last three years-1996.1997.
1998-LREMC has returned to its members,
through capital credit distribution
and credit on electric bills in December
of each year, over $7 million. Also
during this same period, electric rates
were reduced approximately 15.75%.
MsOxendine stated, "Lumbee River
EMC being the aggressive cooperative
by nature, the Board of Directors will
continue to work to add new products
and service and continue to reduce the
cost of all services and products over
the next three years. At the same time.
Lumbee River is preparing for restructuring
of the electrical industry as well
as ensuring that the year 2000 computer
problems are resolved."
Ms. Oxendine further has vowed to
continue to work with the present Board
to ensure that the Cooperative is and
will continue to be one of the more
progressive consumer owned companies
providingthe best reliable products
and services of any comparable company.
These factors are important to
the growth of the co-op.
Ms. Oxendine resides in the Wakulla
Community. She was married for fortyfive
years to the late Conrad Oxendine,
who was also a member of the Lumbee
River EMC Board of Directors, She is
the mother of three children and seven
grandchildren. Ms. Oxendine worked
for thirteen years as a teacher assistant
at Oxerrdine SchootrShe-is atso co
owner of Lakeside Seafood on Highway
211 North, as well as manager of
LRDA dav Care.
Ms. Oxendine has served and still
does serve her community in many
ways. She is currently a member and
past treasurer of the Neighborhood
Community Watch. She was a member
of the Cherokee Home Demonstration
Club for a number of years. She was
active in craft classes with her work
receiving awards from the University
ofNorth Carolina at Pembroke, LRDA,
and Sandhills Community Col lege. She
served as a judge for the Miss Lumbee
pageant in its formative years. She has
also served as a substitute teacher and
a judge of science fairs at Oxendine
School. Ms. Oxendine has served her
church, Cherokee Chapel Holiness
Methodist, as a Sunday School teacher
for 25 years, lay leader, choir member,
play director, and on a number of various
committees.
Ms. Oxendine is now a member of
the Lumbee River EMC Volunteer
Women's Committee as well as serving |
on the LREMC Board of Directors as
its secretary. j
Ms. Oxendine has the time and dedication
to the membership to continue to
work forthe betterment ofthe members
and the co-op as a whole. Ms.
Oxendine's goal as a board member is
to serve the membership and increase
the value of life for those that it serves.
The summary above more than indicates
the need to keep experience,
dedication and commitment to the membership
on the LREMC Board of
Directors. Ms. Oxendine concluded:
"Vote Ruth Oxendine October 19. Registration
and voting will take place at
the University of North Carolina at
Pembroke, starting at 6:00 p.m. until
8:00 p.m. Your vote and support is
important."
Child Care Directions
to sponsor a Forum
Parent Forum Child Care Dircclions
will present information about
choosing quality child care and the
new rated license from 7 pm-8.30 put
a Robeson Community College, in
room 14s I Representatives front local
agencies and organizations in
Robeson County such as Parents As
Tcacheis(Co-Sponsors). Department
of Social Services (Child Care Subsidy).
and The Churchand Community
Center (Larly Childhood Literacy in
Family Learning! will be present to
assist parents and prov ide information
about their services For more
minim.tlion and to register please
contact Adii.in Sinclair. Parent Specialist
'<"/ (iTI-XlliMI-O"
Pembroke Housing Authority
given High Performer Status
Pembroke-The United States Department
of Housing & Urban
Development has designated the Pembroke
Housing Authority with High
Performer slat us for the tw el vc-mont h
period ending December 31. 1998.
This designation isawarded annually
to those public housing authorities
throughout the stale that achieve abo\ e
average, operational and financial
management results.
According to staff reports, the
Authority rcceiv ed a score of95 i1 %
TO qualify for this designation, an
authority must ha\c an average score
of at least 90. percent for all of the
measurement indicators These indicators
measure unit lurnov cr. \ acancy
rales, rents collected, financial management
utility conservation. as well
as security and cl inic prevention measures
"We are pleased with the
recognition that this designation pro\
ides us. It allows us to compete more
compelilively .for modernization funding
and exercise flexibility with
regards to what where, and how we
address the heeds of 0111 residents",
slates Lenta rk Harris. th,e Executive
Director of the Authority. "This marks
the fifth consecutive year that the stall
has earned this designation We have
an outstanding staff "
With the c\ cr changing regulatory
environment, the Authority is forced
to deal with differing issues w itli evei
increasingly scarce resources. "The
flexibility, granted will) this designation
allows ihe BoardofCommissioncr
lo address issues w illi less HUD oversight
thus prov idint' for an efficient
delivery of sen i- . V says Harris
Edward Strickland and his Uncle, Alex Strickland, go over the scope oj
work to he done with the help of the N.C. Indian Housing Authority
representative Hilly lirooks.
LREMC Annual Meeting
Planned for October
Lumbcc Ri\cr Elcclric Membership Corporation w ill hold its 59th Annual
Meeting on Tuesday. October 19.1999 at the Givens Performing Arts Center
on the campus ofUNC-Pembroke Registration and s oling will begin at 6:00
p m and last until 8.00 p.m. The official business meeting will begin at 7:30
p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the McNeill Choir
This year the following people arc running for election District 3: Robert
Strickland (incumbent) of 3084 Normcnt Road Lumbcrton and Burnicc
Blanks of 6114 North Chicken Road. Lumbcrton
Director at Large Ruth Oscndinc (incumbent) Of 4840 0\cndinc Road.
Maxlon. Barbara Coins of I4<>7 Wagon Wheel Roitd Shannon, and Pcarlic
B Belhca of 4980 NC Hwy 83. Maslon
(AT large candidates may live anywhere on IhciXy stem)
LREMC is a nieiubei owned Elcclric Co-op serving more titan 40.out)
consumers in Robeson Hoke Cuuibeilaiid and Scotland counties
Robert Strickland Seeks Re-Election to
LumbeeRiver EMC Board, District 3
Robert Strickland, member of
the Lumbee River Electric Membership
Corporation, announces his
bid for re-election. He has served
as a Board Member, representing
District 3, for the past nine years
and pledges that, if re-elected, to
continue to make sound fiscal decisions
and serve diligently as an
advocate for the members. In making
his announcement. Strickland
released the following facts about
the success of the LREMC:
"Lumbee River Electric Membership
Corporation is an
aggressive, member owned business
that is committed to providing
electric and other value-added service
forthe communities we service.
"LREMC is dedicated to delivering
high quality, competitive
priced products and service to our
customers. We has added such serj
vices as Internet. Paging. Service
j Poles and Appliance Repair Insur1
ance.
I
"Over the last three years 1996.
1997. 1998- LREMC has returned
to(our members, through capital
credit distribution and credit on
bills in December of each year,
over S7 million tiollars. Also, during
this same period we reduced
power rates approximately 15.75%
"We will add new service and
products and continue to reduce
the cost of all service and products
over the next three years. At the
same time, we are preparing for
restructuring of the electrical industry
as well as ensuring that the
year 2000 computer problems are
resolved for LREMC.
"LREMC will continue to be
one of the most progressive consumer
owned companies providing
the best reliable products and serv
ices of any comparable company
Mr. Strickland has been on the
Board for nine years and has successfully
completed his Board
Leadership Training Course for Rural
Electric Systems.
Four members of the Board of
Directors will be elected on October
19.1999 at the Annual Meeting
of the LREMC to be held at the
UNCP Givens Performing Arts
Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Strickland asks the members of
LREMC to let nine years experience
keep working for them
Vara Lynn Higgerson, CrmirhcdMiss Virginia American Jr. Teen.
Miss Virginia American
Jr. Teen makes Local
Lumbee Family Proud
Tarn Ly nn. Higgcrson. age 15.
daughter of Kan Larry and Ann
Locklcar Higgcrson was awarded tlic
stale title or Miss Virginia American
Jr Teen IW9 lara Lynn won the
title after competing against o\cr
ninety contestants IN addition to
winning the state and photogenic
titles, she also was 2nd runner-up in
talent, and placed in the top three in
academic achievement in her division
She won her litlcon her birthday.
August 22nd 1999
DuringThanksgh ing week. Tara
Lynn will represent Virginia in the
national pageant at Disney World in
Orlando Florida where more than
$25,000 in cash scholarships and
pri/cs will be presented to Award
Tarn Lynn is currently a sophomore
honor student at Hickory High
School in Chesapeake, Virginia She
is Vice President ofher class. She also
participates on the soccer and tennis
team, is in chamber orchestra, and is
involved in many other activities
She enjoys working with the youth
and missions programs at her church
Centersilie Baptist Church
She is the granddaughter of
Herman Lock I cat or Chesapeake.
Virginia and Mary Helen Maynor
Locklcar of l.uniberton. the great
granddaughter orCarlic and Straudic
Locklcar of Red Springs, and the
great granddnughtcrofthc late Carson
Maynor and Zcttic Mac Jacobs Maynor
and the Niece of James Maynor
owner of Jamestown Hntcrpriscs.
N.C. Indian Housing Authority Renovation of Homes Has Begun
by i'in it a May nor C 'lark
Lumber Housing
Several weeks ago I rode around
with Billy Brooks who is in charge
of the rehabilitation segment of
Lumbee Housing for 1998. I was
aware that the rehabilitation program,
overseen by the North
Carolina Indian Housing Authority,
was underway. I wanted to hear
what some of the people who were
receiving services had to say.
We traveled out in the country
to a house near Evans Crossing,
. ' which was in need of repairs, Living
there was a young man named
Edward who has been in a wheelchair
for the past nine years. He has
a caregiver in the day time.as his
father works in a local plant. Since
being confined to his wheelchair.
he has not been able to go out the
door of his bedroom to the front
yard. Edward essentially lives in
his room on the front of the house
which holds his hospital bed and
several other pieces of furniture.
This was Edward's world until BillyBrooks
with the NC Indian Mousing
Authority, visited them one day.
Bringing several contractors with
him. they sized up what needed to
be done to assist Edward and his
family.
"For the first time in years I can
roll over and look out my window
to see who is coming into the yard.
I don't have to holler "who's there?"
Edward said with a smile on his
face.
"One of the things that I like
about Edward is the fact that he
doe? not let his disability get him
down. Many times you see him
trying to help the contractors and
workers," Brooks stated. Now Edward
feels good about himself,
knowing that he won't have to be
cold this winter and he can go out
into the yard the same way that he
did when he could walk.
" I want to go to Robeson Community
College and finish m\
education. I do not have to worry
about how the van driver is going to
get me off the porch and onto the
van anymore." he said with a wide
smile.
My second visit was to the home
of the Gayles family in the same
area. There are two young at heart
elderly Lumbcc Indians who arc
confined by their disabilities but
not by liicir heart. Mr. Gaylcs can
only sec through his mind's eyes as
he is blind and his wife has crippling
arthritis and spends the
majority of the day in her hospital
bed. At their home there is a 24
hour care giver If it is not their
daughter caring for them it is another
person.
"We are just blessed." Mrs.
Gaylcs said with a smile.
I heir daughter l.mina who is
also a caregiver said. "I was here
when this trailer was bought 14
years ago and I can tell you that my
mother and father have never had
anything this nice. "For the first
time in years I can't feel the air
coming through the wall." Mr.
Gaylcs told me. "Theroofno longer
leaks and we are going to get a new
heating system.''
Mr. Gayles continued, "I was in
a state Of shock the day those 19
contractors came out here to see
what needed to be done. Where are
we going to put all of these people
who want to look at this trailer, I
thought to myself."
But. the contractors lined up in
a line and went through the house.
Mrs. Gayles said that she had prayed
about what contractors should be
used and when she contacted Mr.
Brooks he had already award the
contract to those two people she
had requested to work on her home.
"I am very pleased with what
has been done, even if I cannot see
it for myself," stated Mr. Gayles.
According to the 1998 Housing
Plan being administered by the NC
Indian Housing Authority, these
homes are the beginning of approximately
165 homes to be
renovated with HU D monies, more
commonly called "Lumbee Housing"
funds.
In addition to the renovation
segment of the program, 13 units
for housing for elderly will be constructed
as well as 33 new homes.
New dwellings will be built according
to the down payment
assistance program, 100 people will
eventually be awarded assistance
with a down payment for a new
home. These down payment assistance
awards can be as much as
SI0.000 awarded to new home
owners, depending on meeting the
eligibility guidelines for receiving
this assistance.