i Pembroke Housing Recognized Continued from Page 1 , juun >>iu oe aoie to upgrade the kitchens with range hoods and ceiling fans." stated James P Smith. Maintenance Director To date . the Authority has used earlier funds to treat every unit for termites: pros idc-secnritv doors and screen doors for every unit: provide for roofing at Strickland Heights. Locklear Court, and Maynor Manor: provide for electrical upgrades in the form of smoke detectors and ground fault circuit b breakers; provide for federally mandated Section 504 rehabilitation to the community buildings and a fixed number of dwelling units: and provide other energy savings plans such as replacement of w ater closets. All of these work items received prior approval from the HUD office and increased the long-term livability of the Authority's housing stock. Administrative Policy Changes With the passage of the 1098 housing legislation, the Authority was given greater flexibility with the rent structure, in a addition to keeping the old minimum and formula based rents. Congress implemented a flat rent option. Lnder this option, a Tamils can choose to pas a flat rent each month regardless of their monthls income 1 his in effect created a cap (ceiling) for ssorking families. The Authority decided to cap its rents to remain competitise ssith sarious private deselopments located in and around the Tosvn. "This cap provided relief to some families ssith monthly rents as high as $425. We are pleased to be able to help them losver their monthls rental expense." replied Lemark Harris. Executive Director. Presently the Authority's flat rent range begins at S215 per month for a I bedroom unity ssith a maximum monthls rent of S315 for a 5-bedroom unity. Once a family opts for a flat rent, it remains in place for a period of three years, or sshenever they choose to revert back to the formula based rent calculation. Red Springs Cheerleaders Win National Honors The Red Springs High School Cheerleaders on April 1,2000 competed in Williamsburg, Virginia at William and Mary's College in the Colonial Cheer Competition. This is a National competition. They competed against fifteen squads and came in fourth place. They received a fourth place trophy and a plaque of Excellence that was presented at the Royal Palace Theater in Busch Gardens. There were 2,200 cheerleaders attending this competition. After endless hours of practice, they qualifedfor the Cannam Internationals three times in local competitions. TheJV Cheerleaders earned a second place trophy in the Robeson County Competition at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, placedfourth at the Cape Fear Regionals andfourth at the Fayetteville Holiday Cheer Competitions. These young people achieved a first for Red Springs High School. They not only participatedfor the first time in the h istory of the school in a National Competition the Cheerleaders from New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina South Carolina, and Kentucky, they placed fourth and received a plaque of Excellence. Only one of the sixteen squads received a superior rating. Red Springs was only 4.9 points from a superior rating, thus, receiving an Excellence rating. There were only four schools representing North Carolina and three were from Robeson County, two middle schools and Red Springs High School JV Cheerleaders. Under the direction of Elvera S. Locklear, Assistant Principal/Administrative Cheerleading Coach and Wanda Locklear, JV Cheerleading (a teacher at Peterson Elementary) the JV Cheerleading squad and their parents ha have raised approximately $8,000 this year to pay for uniforms, practice uniforms, warm up suits, pay for competitions and their trip to Williamsburg, VA. Accompanying the sixteen cheerleaders were Wanda Locklear, Coach, Elvera Locklear, Assistant Principal; and parents: Carol Walker, Audrey Gales, Micheal Locklear, Helen Morrison. Members of the JV Cheerleading Team are Fonsha Blue, Malissa Braz, Shari Brockington, Michael Chagolia, Jessica Collins, Kelli Gales, Willie Gay, Britny Holmes, Antionette Locklear, Elizabeth Locklear, Leon Locklear, Atoria McAllister, Jacqueline Melton, Lyndsay Morrison, Ciara Patterson, Crystal Walker. Explanations on Housing by LRDA's Housing Director ueartaitor: The March 23 edition of the Carolina Indian Voice carried an anti-LRDA piece in the "Letters to the Editor" section. That article presented a distorted and very misleading picture of LRDA as an insensitive, money hungry agency. That characterization represents a serious misinterpretation of written policy which is available for public inspection. In reality, the LRDA/Lumbee Housing Department (LHD) loses money on every Lease-Purchase home ownership contract. LRDA/LHD incurs all costs associated with the development and construction of each home built under the lease-purchase program. The SI 30.00 per month administrative charge pays for taxes, insurance and major repairs (roof, equipment replacement, etc.)_in addition to LRDA/LHD costs pf program administration (lease payment collection, investment, book-keeping, annual inspections, etc.)..* Yhat payment is * never for a period of 300 payments. Payoff periods are based on a family's ability to pay. A low-income family making a minimum payment on an $86,452.00 mortgage would pay $ 170.00 per month ($ 130.00 administrative plus $40.00 house payment) over a period of 20.7 years or $42,228.00. A family which can afford to pay the maximum payment ($130.00 administrative charge plus $288.00 per month payment) can assume ownership of the home in twelve years...or $60,192.00 investment in an $86,452.00 home with taxes, insurance and upkeep paid by LRDA/LHD over the payoff period. ,ffLRDA/LHD were really interested in making money at the expense of the Lumbee people, it would require at a minimum, that participants pay the actual amount of the home value plus principal, interest, taxes and insurance. Donald Lockiear, Director Lumbee Housing Department LRDA 0 Pageants Planned for November November 24th & 25th 2000 at the Diane Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in Asheville, NC Official preliminaries tothe nationally televised Miss USA, MissTeenUSA and Miss Universe. Contestants must be a single female, between the ages of 14 & 26, never married, a US citizen and at least a six month resident of North Carolina. Competition in: EveningGown-Swimsuit-Interview-Noperformingtalent required. For information send name, address, telephone number, birthday and snapshot to: Miss North Carolina USA Pageants -- 541 Holley Lake Road, Drawer NP-- Aiken, SC 29803: or call (803)648-6220. Visit our web site: missnorthcarolinausa.com Mazda Foundation Awards Scholarships to Native American Students at UNCP Ma/da Foundation Awards Scholarships to Natise American Students at the Unixersity ot" North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke. NC - The L niversity ot North Carolina at Pembroke today announced the names two Robeson Counts high school students as Mazda Foundation scholarship recipients. The scholarship, renewable for four years, includes full tuition, room and board. Spearheaded by the Lumberton dealership. Williamson Mazda, the scholarship enabled UNCP to select two outstanding Native Americans who intend to major in business administration. The Mazda scholars were chosen on the basis of their academic excellence, leadership potential and motivation. "Mazda is pleased to present full scholarships for two talented Native America students. Deanna R. Bullard and Jessica Lynn Caulder, to attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke," said Richard Beattie, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations and Chairman of the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. "UNCP, located in the traditional home of the Lumbee Tribe, fosters an ideal university atmosphere where diverse interests and multicultural heritages are incorporated into every aspect of student life. We at Mazda are proud to support these superior students in their education endeavors there," Mr. Beattie added. At the school of Business of Mass Communications Awards Banquet Thursday, Barbara Nocera, director of the Mazda Foundation, presented students with certificates of achievement as symbols of Mazda's commitment to their education. Dr. Allen C. Meadors, chancellor of UNCP, praised Mazda's commitment to higher education. "We embrace Mazda's commitment to improve the quality of life in the communities in which it does business," Chancellor Meadors said, "By providing scholarships to high _ achieving Native American students, Mazda is helping to shape a better future for this important segment of society." Rick Williamson, president of Williamson Mazda and chair of Mazda's National Dealers Council, said the scholarships are the result of a long and successful relationship with the automaker. "We've worked a longtime to make this day a reality," Mr. Williamson said. "1 am thankful that the Mazda Foundation saw the wisdom to invest in Robeson County. I hope this is the beginning of a long and successful relationship." "The Mazda Scholarship program will allow UNCP the opportunity to continue to enhance the diversity pool of our student body as well as raise the academic bar," Dr. Bumette said. "We are excited about the scholarship opportunity for these students, as well as the opportunity for a growing partnership between Mazda and the university." Jessica Caulder is a senior at South Robeson High School and a Fairmont resident. She carries a 3.998 grade point average (GPA) and is a member of the Native American Student Association, DECCA, the marching band and the National Honor Society The daughter of Leo and Clementine Caulder, she is also employed part time. A resident of the Prospect community. Deanna Bullard is the daughter of Jennings and Connie Bullard She has a 4.2 GPA and is a senior at Purnell Swett High School. She is a member of the Native American Student Association. DECCA. Students Against Drunk Driving. Student Council, the National Honor Society and plays number two on the tennis team. The Ma/da Foundation (USA), Inc. was established in 1990 to demonstrate Mazda's commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities in which they do business. In addition to education, the Mazda Foundation supports charitable organizations that promote literacy, environmental conservation, social welfare and cross-cultural understanding. To Subscribe to the Carolina Indian Voice, Call 910-521-2826 Spiritual Poems Sought A $1000.00 grand prize is being offered in a special religious poetry contest sponsored by New Jersey Rainbow Poets, free to everyone. There are 28 prizes in all totaling over $3,000.00. To enter, send one poem only o'f21 lines or less: Free Poetry Contest, 103 N. Wood Ave., PMB70, Linden, NJ 07036. Or enter, on-line www.freecontest.com. The deadline for entering is April 28,2000. Poems may be written on any subject, using any style, as long as there is a spiritual inference. A typical poem might be a love poem, or nature poem, one that inspires. All entrants will receive a winner's list. The Carolina Indian Voice Con nee Braybos .Editor Bruce Barton Publisher Kicky Barton Prevalent m