From the Desk of the
Superintendent...
by Dr. Barry Harding, Public Schools of Robeson County
When the Department of Public
Instruction released figures for the
1998-99 school year which showed
an increase of 1% in the state dropout
rate over the 1997-98 school year, it
indicated that the increase was not
unexpected because of changes made
in the state's definition of dropouts.
Students choosing to complete their
education in community college, for
example, are now counted as dropouts
whereas in past years they were
not. This was a major reason that the
dropout rate in our system increased
by 2.37% since we had 91 students in
that category.
Also, not to be considered a dropout
requires a student to register
luring the first month of the school
y ear. We had 26 students not register
until after Labor Day adding them to
our list. When they finally did register,
whether in our schools or in
another system, it was too late to
remove them from our report to the
state. I might also add the fact that a
number of students had returned to
their native countries and, since we
couldn't verify whether they were
attending school there, they also had
to be listed as dropouts. In addition,
we had a number of expelled students
counted as dropouts who returned to
school and, then, dropped out again
thus having to be counted twice. I'm
certajn that other school systems had
similar problems thus affecting the
North Carolina rate as well as their
own.
"' While I don't intend to use changed
definitions as excuses, they have to
be considered legitimate reasons for
our increase. It's at least as important,
though, that we go beyond the
figures and focus, instead, on efforts
to being that rate down. Studies
indicate some of the Reasons that
students choose to drop out. Some
have to work lo contribute to their
family's upkeep. Some need to work
to accommodate the expense of ow ning
a car and. of course, there are
those who are not doing well academically
and feel that attending
school is a waste of time. All of these
things we attempt to address with
various programs and strategies.
There are teams who try to work
with potential dropouts and Student
Services Management teams which
include parents who also seek these
students out. There are School Social
Service Workers and Indian
Education Staff members who meet
to try to seek out alternative programs
for them. There are Youth
Development Specialists who work
with at-risk students. In-School Suspension
Programs offer an alternative
to out-of-school suspension helping
students with their school work so as
not to get discouraged by getting
behind in their work which would be
the case if they were suspended from
school. Local judges also cooperate
in the retention effort.
In the final analysis, though, the
problem requires a cooperative effort
with parents an integral part since
they are in a position to first see signs
that a student is thinking of leaving
school. If they are unable to convince
their child of the importance of continuing.
then they should inform the
school. The clergy, either directly or
from the pulpit, can also have an
impact. Somehow, though, children
must be convinced that they must
look beyond the immediate gratification
they may feel they'll receive by
not continuing their education. They
must be made to realize that any
reason they imagine justifies dropping
out can be dealt with by our
system if they will only give us an
honest chance. It is, after all, to their
advantage.
Mclntyre Pleased Marriage
Tax Relief Given y
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Representative
Mike Mclntyre was very
pleased with the passage of the Marriage
Penalty Relief Act. Mclntyre
was an original co-sponsor of this
legislation, which passed the House
268 to 158, just in time for Valentine's
Day.
Congressman Mclntyre stated,
"This issue is a question of fairness.
The current tax code punishes over
25 million American couples by penalizing
them with a higher tax
bracket for entering into marriage.
This policy is wrong and discourages
individual from entering into
society's most basic institution. Congress
should advocate policies that
strengthen families and help women
succeed in the work place not tax
thero for supporting their families. 1
am pleased that the House has taken
this positive step, and 1 encourage
r? : i r\ i ? :
the U.S. Senate to do the same. This
is a Valentine's Day gift for married
couples from the U.S. House."
The legislation, HR 6, would
eliminate the average SI,400 tax
penalty on 25 million married couples
across the nation. Statistics show
that approximately 51,000 couples
in southeastern North Carolina would
benefit. HR 6 will wipe out the
marriage tax penalty by doubling the
standard deduction for married
couples starting in 2001 tax year, and
by expanding the 15% income tax
bracket over a period of 5 years.
Current law punishes many married
couples who file jointly by pushing
them into higher brackets. It taxes
the income of the families' second
wage earner?often the women's salary?at
a much higher rate than if that
salary was taxed only as an individual.
opinai uora injury Support Group Meets
TL. P_! t 1 r* . _
i ne spinai uora injury suppon
Group will meet Monday, March 6,
at 7 p.m. in Room A of the auditorium
at Southeastern Regional
Rehabilitation Center, located directly
behind Cape Fear Valley
Medical Center.
: '
I he group meets on the first Monday
of each month at the same time
and location. For more information,
please contact Kim Home, Senior
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist,
at 609-6461.
?^?????
Michael Carter
FA YETTEr'lLLE - Michael
Carter. 32. of 1865 Ashton Drive
died Tuesday (Feb. 8) in his home.
Mr. Carter was an Air Force v eteran.
His funeral was held Fridav (Feb. 11)
in Reedv Branch Baptist Church with
the Revs. Ronald Scott. Kenny Locklear
and Bruce Swett officiating.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Mr. Carter is survived by his wife.
Delia Carter of Fayetteville: a son.
Grant W. Carter of Fayettev ille; his
mother. Evelyn E. Carter of Lumberton;
a sister. Audrey Strong of Lumberton;
his paternal grandparents. Mr.
& Mrs. Elbert Oxendine of Fairmont;
and his maternal grandparents, Mr. &
Mrs. Walter Eddings of Lumberton.
Funeral services were conducted
by Floyd Mortuary & Crematory in
Lumberton.
Cattle Locklear; 100
MAXTON - Ms. Cattie Locklear
of 102 Kever Road died Tuesday
(Feb. 8) in Southeastern Regional
Medical Center in Lumberton. She
was 100.
Ms. Locklear's funeral was held
at Island Grove Baptist Church on
Friday (Feb. 11) with the Revs. Larry
Locklear and Coolidge Cummings
and Brother Jerr Lowery officiating.
Burial followed in the Locklear Family
Cemetery.
Ms. Locklear leaves to mourn her
passing two daughters, Katie Locklear
and Lorrine Locklear, both of
Maxton; 9 grandchildren; 24 greatgrzandchildren;
and 2 great-great
grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted
by Thompson Funeral Home of Pembroke.
Herman Maynor Sr.
PEMBROKE - Herman Maynor
Sr., 85, of 2376 Locklear Road died
Thursday (Feb. 10) in Syn Bridge
Nursing Home. The funeral was held
Sunday (Feb. 13) in Sandy Plains
UMC by the Revs. Duffene Cummings
and Simeon Cummings. Burial
followed in the Dimery Family Cemetery.
Mr. Maynor is survived by two
sons, Frankie Maynor of Pembroke
and Johnny Maynor of Fayetteville;
five daughters, Bessie R. Britt, Mary
L. Godwin and Jeannie Locklear, all
of Fayetteville; Linnie Seymore of
Courtland, Va., and Penny McGee of
Fairmont; two sisters, Zudie Whitehead
of Fayetteville and Edie Oxendine
of Pembroke; 21 grandchildren;
and 27 great-grandchildren.
Locklear & Son Funeral Home
of Pembroke was in charge of the
funeral services.
Callie Jones
PEMBROKE - Ms. Callie Jones, 54,
of 294 Gene's Road died Thursday
(Feb. 10) in her home. The funeral
was conducted Sunday (Feb. 13) in
Mt. Airy Baptist Church by the Revs.
Steve Strickland, Sanford Locklear,
Michael Cummings and John L.
Locklear, Jr. Burial followed in the
church cemetery.
Ms. Jones is survived by a daughter,
Cheryl L. Jones of the home; four
brothers, Roscoe Jones of Rowland,
Paul Jones of Monroe and Willie F.
Jones and Donald G. Jones, both of
Pembroke; and two sisters, Eunice E.
Locklear of Red Springs and Linda
R. Jones of the home.
Funeral services were conducted
by Locklear & Son Funeral Home of
Pembroke.
?i
Orella Hunt
RANDLEMAN Ms. Orella Hunt.
81. of 7265 Cable Farm Frail died
Friday (Feb 11) at her home. Funeral
services were held Sunday (Feb
13) at Burnt Swamp Baptist Church
by the Rev. Keith Long. Burial followed
in the church cemetery.
Ms. Hunt, a native of Robeson
County, is survived by her daughter.
Sybil L. Cable of Randleman; a sister.
Lorraine Nobles of Lumberton:
three grandchildren. Gary Wayne
fFircloth. Travis Lamar Faircloth.
Kelly Sue Mize & 5 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted
by Revels Funeral Home of Pembroke,
Todd L. Brewington
ROWLAND - Todd L. Brewington.
51. of 8271 U.S. 74 died Saturday
(Feb. 12) at Cape Fear Valley Medical
Center in Fayetteville. Funeral
services were held Tuesday (Feb. 15)
at Harper's Ferry Baptist Church with
the Revs. Michael Cummings, GaryThompson
and Don Carter officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery.
Mr. Brewington is survived by a
son. Jason Brewington of the home:
two daughters, Ranessa B.
Davenportof Fairmont and Teresa
Brewington of Pinehurst; his father,
the Rev. Harvey Brewington of
Rowland; two brothers. Rex
Brewington and Mike Brewington,
both of Pembroke; three sisters,
Cheryl Jacobs of Fayetteville. Marcia
Groves of Lumberton. and Dawn
Brooks of Pembroke: & 3 grandchildren.
Services for seniors
& disabled
A program is available in your
area to help Senior Citizens and Disabled
individuals. The Seniors in
Motion Program provides quality
mobility equipment and information
with a caring attitude. The equipment
available includes wheelchairs,
walkers, scooters and power wheelchairs.
Seniors in Motion was formed
understanding the financial hardships
seniors and disabled individuals
face in today's world. This program
has allowed many to stay in their
homes and remain independent and
functional.
Call 1-800-594-1225 for more
information.
The Carolina
Indian voice
Published every Thursday
by First American
Publications.
Connee Brayboy, Editor.
Second class postage
paid at Pembroke, NC
Coach Smith Joins Sen.
Edwards In Call For
College Sports Betting Ban
Chapel Hi 11--Senator John
Edwards and former University of
North Carolina basket ball coach Dean
Smith teamed up Monday to press for
passage of legislation to outlaw casino
betting on college sports.
Coach Smith endorsed legislation
cosponsored by Senator F.dwards
that would make it illegal for Nevada
casinos to accept wagers on amateur
sporting events, including high
school, college and Olympic games.
"This legislation will reduce the
unseemly influence that gambling
has on some of our young athletes."
Senator Edwards said. "This important
legislation, if adopted, will close
a loophole that has allowed legal
betting on college sports to continue
in Nevada." Coach Smith said.
The National Gambling Impact
Study Commission recommended the
legislation in a report to Congress
last year that urged "that the betting
on collegiate and amateur athletic
events that is currently legal be
banned altogether."' In testimony
before the commission, the National
Collegiate Athletic Association said
"more money is spent on gambling
on college campuses than on alcohol."
High-stakes gambling sports gambling
has been blamed for a rash of
point-shaving scandals that have
rocked college campuses. "The
NCAA has experienced more gamefixing
schemes in the 1990s than the
previous five decades combined."
Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander of
the Charlotte-based Big South Conference
said in a letter to Senator
Edwards supporting the legislation.
A notorious scandal at Northwestern
University in Evanston. III.,
involved bets that were placed legally
in l.as Vegas. "Without the
option of betting money in Nevada,
the Northwestern basketball pointshaving
scandal would not have
occurred," said Kevin Pendergast.
who serv ed two months in prison for
fixing the games.
Nevada is the only state where
widespread sports betting is legal,
except on Nevada college teams. The
state's gambling industry raked in
52.3 billion in sports bets in 1999.
and an estimated 30 percent to 40
percent of those bets were on college
sports. Lobbyists for the politicallypotent
casinos have vowed to block
the bill, but Senator Edwards said
there is growing, bipartisan support
for the measure that was introduced
on February I.
Don't bet against this legislation
being passed," he said.
Class on Damage Assessment
The American Red Cross will hold
a class on damage assessment on
February 17th. The location will be at
the Fairmont Fire Department in Fairmont.
NC. Must be over the age of 16
?
and the time is 6pm. All disaster
classes are free. Please call the office
of the American Red Cross at 5213640
for more information.
PEMbRoke FAiviily PractIce Center
coRdiAlly invites you to
To a
GROUNdbREAklNq CEREMONy
IFor tbe new Center
WsdNEsdAy, FtbRUARy TwENTy-ThiRd
AT 1 1 JO A.Ml
410"D SouTh Jones Street, PEMbRokt
Pembroke Family Practice Center
is breaking ground for a new facility
which will offer more space, more
on-site labs, continued on-site prenatal
care, x-ray service, and an indigent
medications program. Please join
the staff of Pembroke Family Practice
Center for this exciting event.
Pembroke Family Practice Center
is an affiliate of
^SCOTLAND
^L,_1hfai.th care system
Check it out!
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ROLLER
WORLD
Skating Rink
Located on South Jones Street, Across From Pembroke Elementary School I
HOURS:
Sunday: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. .^4
Parents Skate Free
Monday Private Parties Available
' *
Tuesday: 0:30*8:30 p.m. St
Gospel Music Night
Wednesday .Private Parties Available
Thursday: 6:30-8:30 p.m. .. ^3
Friday: 7:00-10:00 p.m $3
Saturday: 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m. . . :$3
I? -? !:i
Skate Rental: 1 Birthday Party Packages Available for Only 65
Call (910) 521-0990 For More Information