Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.c" 1I
OAR ^ UNA iNlife^E
"Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Rucial Setting"
VOLUME 31 NUMBER 37 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 25"
FSC (ASCS) Director Janice Oxendine
seeks election to local EMC board
Janice Oxendine
Janice Oxendine considers herself
to be a friend of the farmer. She
has worked for many years with
the local Farm Service Agency
and has extended invaluable help
to nearly all the farmers in the area
In 1967 She began working as Assistant
Executive Director of the
Robeson County Farmers Service
Agency. She held that position
until 1998 when she became the
Executive Director for the Hoke
County Farm Services Agency, a
position she continues to hold
Oxendine at this time is running
for and elected position for the first
time She is seeking election to the
at-large position on the Board of
Directors of the Lumbee River
-Electric Membership
Corporation's Board of Directors.
A resident of.the Raft Swamp area.
Oxendine stated that she felt she
would be an asset to the rural cooperative
board In making her
announcement, Oxendine released
the following statement
"During the past thirty-seven
years I have had the unique distinction
of working in a field that 1
love I have assisted the farmers,
not only in Robeson and Hoke,
but also in the surrounding counties
1 have worked with the farmers,
one on one, and have made
sure that they received whatever
they were entitled to It has been
my privilege to stay informed on
new programs available for farmers,
1 have tried my best to make
sure that all farmers have the information
they needed to apply for
available services Whenever a
disaster occurs, I am quick to access
the availability of programs,
and encourage farmers to apply for
them I have explained services
and programs one on one, and
many farmers have come into the
ASC office and requested my services
by name 1 am proud of the
rapport I have established with the
farming community I have never
make any differentiation between
small,farmers and large farmers. If
a person was concerned enough
to farm, even if it was only a few
acres, he is just as important as
one who farms acres of land. I believe
that farming is the founda
tion of our country We must have
the farmer in order to eat and feed
our families 1 have the ability to
explain the various programs and
I am very knowledgeable of them
There are not many farmers who
do not know me and I know most
of them
I have carefully considered my
decision to seek election to the
EMC board and view it as an opportunity
to broaden my service
to my community I have not
sought public office before and
hope my friends will come to the
Annual Meeting of LREMC on
Tuesday, October 7, 2003 beginning
at 6 p.m. and allow me to represent
them in the at-large position
If they do so, I will continue
my dedication and service to the
member consumers. I believe that
service to humanity is the best
work of life And a position on the
EMC board will allow me another
outlet to serve my fellow man "
Oxendine is known, not only for
her work with farmers, but also as
a dedicated neighbor and friend
She enjoys preparing and delivering
meals to shut ins, visits to rest
homes and responding to emergency
situations. She is usually
among the first to arrive when a
disaster strikes in the area In
cases of house fires, she brings
needed household items and
clothes She is a people person and
enjoys helping others
Robert Locklear seeks fourth term
on LREMC Board of Directors
Mr. Robert Locklear is seeking
, another term on the board of directors
of LREMC. Locklear has
represented District 1 on the rural
cooperative board for the past nine
years. Locklear is a resident of the
Evans Crossings community
where he is very active in civic and
community affairs. He attends
Faith Baptist Church and is active
with the youth and other outreach
ministries of the church. Since his
retirement as a farmer and an employee
at LOF Glass in Laurinburg,
NC, he spends his leisure hours
visiting the elderly and Dial's Rest
Home residents He volunteers to
' repair heating systems for the elderly
in his community
He has been an active member of
the Evans Crossings Fire Department
for twenty-eight years and
has a reputation in the community
of being dependable. He is a
former Chairman of the Board of
Evans Fire Department, a member
of the Robeson County Firemen's
Association as well as the North
Carolina State Firemen's Association
Locklear released the following
statement:
"Our cooperative continues to
grow and expand our interests We
have exceeded our expected
growth over the last few years.
This has come about with the capable
leadership of our CEO and
staff We have some of the most
dedicated staff persons anywhere.
They are not only dedicated, but
they are extremely knowledgeable
of a rural cooperative and the services
we provide to our members
We have expanded our services
to major industry without adding
an additional burden to the members.
In fact, LREMC has reduced
residential rates by 15.75% to our
consumers At this time our rates
are competitive with or lower than
other electric providers for comparable
services LREMC, "
Locklear stated, "continues to lead
the field in industrial growth In
the past two years, we have added
two Super Wal Marts, added a
thousand-bed North Carolina
Maximum Security prison to our
system, along with other major industry
in our service area.
"Recently LREMC," Locklear continued,
" has joined in partnership
with three other cooperatives and
we are providing maintenance and
construction for Fort Bragg and
Pope Air Force Base in
Fayetteville, NC. This is not a small
undertaking and is an indication
of how we have progressed. These
A
three cooperatives together with
LREMC have formed a company
to manage the electrical systems
on Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force
Base"
Locklear concluded, "LREMC
continues to make system improvements
which are necessary
for the improvement and expansion
of our available services. In
this ever growing and increasing
expansion of industry, LREMC
continues to enhance and improve
the service for our consumers.
While all this industrial improvement
and expansion continues, we
are ever cognizant that we are a
member owned cooperative and
are reaffirming our commitment
and dedication to you the member/owner.
It is our stated mission
to keep our rates for residential
consumers at the lowest rate possible
"
"I humbly ask for your vote and
support on October 7,2003. 1 will
continue, if re-elected, to make informed
and sound fiscal decisions
with the best interests of the consumers
in mind "
Locklear is married to Rose Dial
Locklear who is a graduate of the
University of North Carolina at
Pembroke
Family finds late son had many friends
\ PEMBROKE, MC-Jason
Wayne Hunt's life touche the
lives of many others
Hunt was a rising junior
Computer Science major at UNC
Pembroke when he died in a
May, 2003 accidental drowning
Family, fraternity brothers at Phi
Sigma Nu and friends organized
a golf tournament in August to
raise funds for the Jason Wayne
Hunt Endowed Memorial
Scholarship at UNCP People
came from far and to play in the
golf tournament to honor Jason
and raised over $3,500 for the
endowed scholarship in his
name.
"Jason was loved and is missed
greatly by us all," said his mother.Sandra
Hunt "Not a day goes
by that we don't think of something
funny he said or did, or a
serious conversation we had, or
what a good son, brother and
friend he was. His love and
friendship has carried much far-,
ther than we could ever imagine "
"The fraternity has been wonderful
They worked very hard on
the project," Ms Hunt said
"People came from as far away
as Raleigh and Wilmington to
play:*,
The golf tournament was held
Aug 2,2003 at Flag Tree Golf
Course in Fairmont The event
was a success with 21 teams
competing, and the family plans
to make it an annual event
UNCP Chancellor Allen C
Meadors praised the effort
behind the scholarship.
"Jason was an outstanding young
man, and an endowed scholarship
is a lasting tribute to his
life," Chancellor Meadors said
"1 cannot think of a better way to
honor his legacy "
Jason and his older brother
Kenneth, who is now a candidate
for a Master of Business
Administration (MBA) at UNCP,
were members of Phi Sigma Nu,
UNCP's first Native American
fraternity established in 1996
Both were excellent students at
UNCP and at South Robeson
High School, where Jason graduated
third in his class.
Jason was also survived by a sister,
Marie, who is a nursing student
at Robeson Community
College
"Jason loved life, loved his family,
friends and he loved Jesus,"
said his father, Larry Hunt "The
scholarship will be awarded to a
student who shared Jason's
dream of a college education."
"The scholarship will go to a
sophomore Computer Science'
major from Robeson County with
a demonstrated financial need
"Jason earned two scholarships
that helped him attend the
University, and the family feels
that this scholarship will help
other deserving students realize
the dream of a better life through
education," Ms Hunt said
"The family would like to thank
all who participated in the event,
participants, sponsors, supporters
and helpers," Ms Hunt said.
For additional information on
giving to this or other scholarships
at UNCP, call the Office of
Donor Relations at (910) 521 6213
or email teresa oxendine@uncp
edu
Ambrose trochlear
Robert l.ocklear
Proctor Locklear
Ambrose Locklear to run for .
another term on LREMC Board
Ambrose Locklear has represented
District 5 on the LREMC
Board of Directors for three terms,
nine years He and his wife, Joyce
Smith Locklear, who is retired as a
North Carolina Drivers License Examiner,
reside in the Saddletree
Community. Locklear is seeking a
fourth term on the board Locklear
is retired as an environmentalist
who inspected septic tanks with
the Robeson County Health Department
During his spare time,
he visits shut-ins, and hospitals
He has long been involved, in local
politics and is the brother-inlaw
of former Clerk of Superior
Court. JoAnn Locklear He is an
active member of Mt Olive Baptist
Church where he holds the position
of Sunday School Superintendent
Locklear released the following
statement: "1 have been involved
in local affairs for many years I
saw a need for my services on the
LREMC board of directors nine
years ago, and I put myself out
there as a candidate The members
of EMC honored me by electing
me to the District 5 position I have
tried hard during my tenure on that
board not to disappoint the member/owners
I have based all my
decisions on the board on what is
in the best interest of the consumers
I have witnessed much growth
and improvement during my service
on the board I hope the members
will recognize that and re-elect
me on October 7,2003.1 have been
very conscious of the fact that we
have many elderly, disabled, and
economically disadvantaged consumers
I know how hard it would
be for them to have to pay extravagant
electric bills on fixed incomes
1 have been a part of helping to
not only keep the rates the lowest
possible, but have voted to keep
us from having a rate increase As
a matter of fact, we have not had a
rate increase in the last fourteen
years and have had three rate reductions
in the last eight years I
am proud to have been a part of
that and feel very privileged that
the consumers have recognized
my sincere desire to Ho an asset to
the cooperative They have demonstrated
this by re-electing me
three times 1 humbly ask for the
vote and support of the consumers
as 1 seek re-election for a fourth
term.
"Serving in an elected capacity is
always a sacrifice for any elected
official and requires a great deal
of time 1 have the time and the
willingness to continue to serve
Serving on the EMC Board has
been a commitment 1 have enjoyed.
It gives me an opportunity to be
of assistance to the members, and"**"
especially the elderly and disabled
We have a Help A Needy Friend
Program that is invaluable to those
on fixed income. This program will
assist with electric bills in hard
times It is one of the programs I
am most proud of. There are other
things which have been accomplished
during my nine years on
the board, but I feel really good
about those programs that assist
the elderly and disabled
"Returning me to the EMC board,
will be returning a friend of the
consumer If I am re-elected, I will
continue to voice your concerns
and vote my convictions on all
matters. 1 ask the members to remember
they must vote for four in
order for their vote to be counted.
Please make Ambrose Locklear
one of your four Thank you."
Proctor Locklear of Hoke County
files for re-election to EMC Board
Proctor Locklear has announced
his bid for re-election to the
LREMC Board of Directors From
Hoke County, Locklear has represented
District 6 on the member
owned cooperative board for
twelve years. A retired educator
who taught 31 years, Locklear is
married to Betty Blue Locklear. He
is a Deacon and Adult Sunday
School teacher at Dundarrach Baptist
Church. Locklear stated that
the business of a rural cooperative
is one which requires a great
deal of attention and commitment
He stated he believes his years of
experience on the board is an asset
to the members
In making his announcement,
Locklear released the following
statement:
"I have worked hard for the members
of the cooperative during my
tenure I have always been and
continue to be concerned with
keeping unity and harmony among
the board members I have always
supported the board during our
annual elections, and will continue
to do so. It is very important that
the board members get along well
with each other Only during discussions
with informed board
members and in a spirit of unity
can sound fiscal decisions be
made.
"We have accomplished many
positive things during my years
on the board of LREMC They
have all been in the best interest
of the members I am proud of our
capital credits program It is a small
way to give something back to the
members who own the cooperative.
I am proud to have been a
part of the Help A Needy Friend
Program whereby people who are
economically disadvantaged can
receive help with their electric bill
1 am also excited about the industrial
growth of our cooperative. We
now provide electricity for two Super
Wal Marts, a thousand-bed
maximum custody prison, as well
as providing maintenance and
construction for Fort Bragg and
Pope Air Force Base
"These are only a few of the accomplishments
that I have had the
privilege of being a part of during
my years on the EMC Board of
Directors It is my hope that the
consumers will once again allow
me to serve them as the representative
for District 6 I pledge anew
to continue my record of honesty
and integrity as we expand and
grow as the multi-million business
our rural cooperative has become
We have been fortunate and have
had good leadership as we have
extended our services into the
highly technical age that we are
now a part of It has taken leadership
with vision as well as knowledge
to achieve what we have accomplished.
I have been privileged
to be a part of this vision and hope
the consumers will allow me to
continue to serve them I will continue
to advocate honesty, and
unity among the board members,
fairness for employees, and lower
rates for the members Thank you
for your consideration of me as
your representative for District 6."
The Annual Meeting of Consumers
of LREMC will be held Tuesday
night, October 7. 2003 at the
Givens Performing Arts Center on
the campus of the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke Registration
begins at 6 p.m The Annual
Meeting will begin as soon
as a quorum of members is in attendance
Photo Caption: From left Larry Hunt, father; Marie l-ocklear, sister;
Chancellor Allen C Meadors; Sandra Hunt, mother and
Kenneth Hunt, brother.