TtttfirAitOLINA INDIA'frTOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
Pembroke Voters Return Incumbents,
McNeill, Cummings, to Town Council
Pembroke Town re-elected two
incumbent councilmen in the municipal
election on Tuesday. Larry
McNeill was re-elected to his third
term and was the top vote getter in
the election. Gregory Cummings
was re-elected in a close race with
newcomer Michael Oxendinc.
McNeill received 262 votes and
Cummings received 224 in unofficial
returns. Michael Oxendine
received 191 votes and Michael
Jacobs received 182 votes.
Pembroke's mayor, Milton Hunt,
was re-elected with no opposition.
Larry McNeill
Gregory Cit turnings
Mayor Milton Hunt
Rep. Ron Sutton Lobbies for
Congressional Help for Flood Victims
Rep. Ron Sutton of Pembroke
joined about 60 state legislators on
a bus trip to Washington on
Wednesday to push for quick federal
approval of relief money for
flood victims.
"This trip with Governor Hunt
and his key staff was necessary and
important to demonstrate that we in
North Carolina stand ready to help
put Eastern North Carolina back on
its feet," Rep. Sutton said. "But we
need to know how much help we
are going to get from Washington
f i r s t
It was dark when the buses rolled
out of Rocky Mount on their way to
Washington, D.C. and dark when
they returned 13 hours later.
But the mood was considerably
brighter when the state legislators
returned to Tarrytown Mall in
Rocky Mount. After traveling to
Washington, state leaders were
more optimistic" that Congress
would approve at least a big chunk
of the $1,8 billion that Hunt requested
to help the victims of
Hurricane Floyd.
The trip began in Rocky Mount
before daybreak with Gov. Hunt,
legislators, legislative staff members
and members of Hunt's
administration eating donuts and
gulping coffee in the chilly darkness.
Aftera brief press conference,
the group boarded three buses for
the trip to the U.S. Capital.
* But before hitting Interstate 95,
the lawmakers rode through one of
the hard hit areas of Rocky Mount,
where house after house sat empty
from hurricane flood damage. Many
had piles of rubble by the street
where home-owners had started
cleaning up from the flood.
There were several purposes
behind the trip. One was to make a
bipartisan pitch for help.
"This disaster was a bipartisan
disaster," House Speaker Jim Black
said. "The solution to this disaster
will have to be bipartisan."
To underscore the bipartisan approach,
the minority leader of both
the state House and Senate were
invited to speak at a luncheon. Republican
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
and U.S> Senator John Edwards, a
Democrat, contributed to the theme
by arriving together and standing
side by side at the podium.
Helms said the issue was the
most important he had worked on
while in Washington.
Edwards said the large turn out
more than a third of the General
Assembly made a strong case for
North Carolina to get federal aid.
"For you all to devote this much
time and energy to beinghere sends
a very important signal to Washington,"
Edwards said.
Gov. Hunt, HousfSpeaker Jini
Black and Senate President Pro
Tern also spoke at the luncheon.
Black called for Republicans and
Democrats in Raleigh and Washington
to continue working
together.
After the luncheon, state lawmakers
fanned out across Capitol
Hill to lobby member of Congress
and their staffs. Gov. Hunt and
legislative leaders met privately
with Helms. Reps. Sutton and
Yongue met with Congressman
Mike Mclntyre of Lumberton.
Sending a signal was another
purpose behind the eight-hour bus
ride to Washington and back. Legislative
leaders wanted to make it
clear that they are ready to help
Eastern North Carolina back to its
feet. But first they need to know
about federal government assistance.
They also wanted to dispel any
myth that North Carolina-like other
states- is flush with money. Tax
cuts, the loss of some major court
cases and key initiatives such as
raising teacher pay to the national
average by next year have squeezed
North Carolina's budget.
Stale revenues already have
dropped because of Hurricane
Floyd, and budget analysis cannot
predict the length of or severity of
the decline.
The trip clearly got the attention
ofmenibers of state's congressional
delegation. All 12 members of the
U.S. House and both U.S. Senators
and North C from North Carolina
attended at least part of the luncheon,
and several ofthem appeared
at a news conference outside the
U.S.Capitol.
"The trip ha been long, but it has
been extremely productive," rep,
Sutton said when the group returned
from Washington.
As fora special General Assembly
session, one can be expected
later this month. Gov. Hunt and
other leaders want to move as fast
as they can in restoring the eastern
part of the state to its rightful posture.
Rep. Sutton and other legislative
leaders are planning a more
extensive first hand examination of
the flood damaged areas this week.
Over 4,000 Gather for Annual
Lumbee Fall PowWow
Over 4,000 people gathered at the
North Carolina Indian Cultural Center
near Pembroke for the Annual
Lumbee Fall PowWow and 1999 Indian
Heritage Month celebration. The
Old Style PowWow featured a large
diversity of American Indian dancers,
drummers, arts and crafts.
The event was sponsored by Lumbee
Regional Development
Association with support from North
Carolina Arts Council and the North
Carolina Indian Cultural Center.
According to James Hardin, Tribal
Manager/Executive Director of
LRDA, over $8,000 in awards money
was given to the winners of the dance
and drum contests which featured
contestants from as far away as
Canada and the Southwest. Hardin
said, "We had seven drum groups and
the largest number of dancers that we
have had at nay of our powwows. The
vendors had an outstanding selection
of authentic American Indian arts,
crafts and music."
Mr. Hardin said, "We wish to thank
the dancers and drummers, and all
the participants who helped to make
this a very successful event. To see
extensive photos of the event and
learn more about powwows, please
visit our tribal website at .j
www.lumbee.org. j
A highlight of the event was the
performance of the Aztec Dancers j
from Mexico and ceremonies to honor j
veterans and leaders. A special veter- j
ans poem was presented by.Kat
Littleturtle that told of the soldier's
life on the battlefield. A special presentation
was made to April
Whittemore, former Miss Indian
World, and the Lumbee's PowWow's
head female dancer, for her leadership
in Indian cultural affairs.
Various elected officials made
appearances during the event and
spoke at the 1999 Indian Heritage
Month Kickoff celebration. Limited,
copies of a special poster designed by
Karen Harley, of Haliwa-Saponi tribe,
was presented and given away.
Dancers, drummers, and
craftspeople journeyed from any parts
of the country to take part in the last
Lumbee powwow of the of the millennium.
There were large tribal
delegations from all about North Carolina,.South
Carolina, Oklahoma, and
New Mexico. After three days of fellowship
intertribal festivities, and
competition the winners of the weekend
ev?nt emerged.
Spiritual Heirs Anniversary Singing
Faith Baptist Church
Located Between Pembroke & Rowland on Mwy 710
November 19 & 20. 1999 ? 7:00 pm
Featuring:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Faith Baptist Children & Youth Choir
Spiritual Heirs
Nadine & Steve
Lumber River Quartet
Darrell Luster
SATURDAY NIGHT
Faith Baptist Young Adult Choir
Spiritual Heirs
Oxendine Quartet 1
-1 Crossroads
Biney English Ministries
PLATE SALE: 10 00 am - until
Chicken & BBQ Plates: $5.00
Combinations: S6.00
For More Information Contact: Joanne McMillian 521-8125
No Admission but a love offering will be taken:
Photos hy Mike dark
Evita Saybrianna Sanderson was crowned the 1999 Baby Miss October
Dream Angel. In her age division she also won; photogenic, talent, costume,
my favorite outfit, best wardrobe, prettiest smile, best model, best personality,
& the early bird winner. She was also the first runner up for the
Supreme Title. She received 9 trophies, 2 tiaras, flowers, gift bags, & a I year
subscription to Pageantry Magazine. Evita is the 2 year old daughter of
Sabrina Sanderson <? Michael Floyd. The grand-daughter of Sylvia L.
Sanderson & the late James Edward & Mary Francis Floyd. She is also the
great granddaughter of the late Gus Howard & Eva Mae Locklear & the late
Ira <6 Nancy Sanderson. Donations collected were given to the Clemens
Elementary School. f
Dr. Ruth Dial Woods To Speak
at Annual Women's Meeting
Mrs.. Roberta Scipio, President of
the Rockingham District of the United
Methodist Women announces plans
for the Annual meeting of the
Rockingham District of the North
Carolina Conference of the United
Methodist Women.
The Rockingham District of the
United Methodist Women will have
their annual meeting, Sunday, November
7th, 1999 at 3:00 P.M. The
meeting will be held at Galilee United
Methodist Church. The church is located
at 900 McGirt's Bridge Road in
Laurinburg, N.C. Registration will
begin at 2:30 P.M.
The Rockingham District is made
' of three sub-dlstrlCts. These sub-districts
leaders are; Robeson County
sub-district with Mabel Cummings
as sub-district leader, Scotland County
sub-district Marvin Harvin as sub
district leader and Rockingham subdistrict
with Evelyn Warnock serving
as sub-district leader.
The special guest speaker for the
1999 Annual Meeting will be Dr.
Ruth Dial Woods. Dr. Wood is a
native of Robeson County, NC. She
has received a B.A. Degree from
Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, a
MA.Ed. from Pembroke State University
in Pembroke, NC and an Ed.D
from South Carolina State University.
She has completed all required
coursework to advance to candidacy
for the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. In March,
\ 999, Dr. "Woods was the onty woman
in a field of 10 candidates to again
receive an at-large appointment to
the North Carolina University Board
of Governors.
Wake Forest Researcher
Finds High Diabetes Rate
Among Lumbee Indians
Winston - Salem, /V.C. - About
nine percent of Lumbee Indians over
18 years of age in Robeson County
have been diagnosed with diabetes,
' compared to a statewide diabetes rate
of about five percent, according to
Ronny Bell, Ph.D., M.S., of Wake
Forest University School of Medicine.
"This higher rate of Diabetes
among the Lumbee validates what
many people in this area believe - that
diabetes is a major concern of Lumbees."
Bell said. "We also know that
in the general population, about onethird
of people who actually have
diabetes have not been diagnosed, so
this rate actually have diabetes have
not been diagnosed, so this rate actually
misses quite a few people."
Bell, assistant professor of public
health sciences (epidemiology), presented
findings from the Lumbee
Health Survey today at the Diabetes
in American Indian Communities
Conference in Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
The conference is co-sponsored by
the University of Arizona, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
the National Institutes of Health,
the American Diabetes Association,
and the American Association of Indian
Physicians.
Bell's poster presentation focused
on diabetes rates in the Lumbee tribe.
"To my knowledge, no one has ever
scientifically documented how common
diabetes is among the Lumbee.
There is quite a bit of information
about epidemic of diabetes among
Native Americans, but most of that
work has been in the southwestern
United States, " Bell said.
Bell conducted a telephone survey
of approximately 1,200 Lumbee Indians
in Robeson County to determine
the level of health conditions and
health behaviors in this area. The
study was funded by grants from the
National Institutes of Health and
Wake Forest University School of
Medicine Venture Funds. The surveys
were done by local residents
trained to collect the information by
Bell.
Diabetes is a condition in which
the body cannot effectively use blood
sugar. About 10 percent of all people
with diabetes have "Type 1" diabetes,
in which the body no longer produces
the insulin it needs to use blood sugar.
The other 90 percent have "Type 2"
diabetes, where the body has either
stopped producing insulin, doesn't
produce enough, or no longer properly
uses the insulin it produces.
Diabetes is a major risk factor for
heart disease and stroke, kidney failure.
and adult blindness. According
to data from the State Center for
Health Statistics, Robeson County
ranks second among North Carolina's
100 counties in diabetes death rates at
57.3/100.000 population, and third
in the state in the amount of money
spent on diabetes-related hospitalizations
per county resident.
Bell is Lumbee and a native of
Robeson County. Bell has been on the
faculty at Wake Forest University
since 1996. Bell also serves as the
epidemiologist for the North Carolina
Diabetes Prevention and Control
Unit.
Contact: Ronny A. Bell, Ph.D.,
M.S.. 336-716-9736, Fax: 336-7165425.
"The Hottest and Sexiest Show on Legs!"
Tap Dogs, the international and award-winning tap dance sensations,
will be presented on Tuesday. November 9 at 8:00 pm at the Givens
Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke. Tap Dogs is a ninety-minute rough, tough,
rocking theatrical entertainment that turns tap dancing upside down.
Created by choreographer Dien Perry, Tap Dogs features a cast of some
of the best tap dancers from Australia, North America and Europe.
Winner of 11 international awards including the Olivier and the Obie,
Tap Dogs is the "Hottest and Sexiest show on legs!"