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Box 1510 NC 28372-A510 ^^ ^
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fl^tuna Indian Voice
"Building Communicative Bruises In A Tn-Racial Setting"
VOLUME 32 NUMBER 38 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 25c
Madie Rae Locklear announces reelection
bid to EMC Board at-large
"I have a great deal of experience
serving on the Lumbee
River Electric Membership Corporation
Board of Directors,"
said Madic Rae Locklear, in announcing
her bid for re-election
to the at-largc position on that
Board. "I have served as the atlarge
representative on the
EMC Board since 1989. During
my tenure, I am very proud of
my record," she continued.
"The cooperative has accomplished
several goals of which I
am proud," Locklear said "We
have worked hard to replace
utility lines an'd poles. This effort
was to make sure that our
consumers had less power outages
during inclement weather.
I am also proud of my record as
an advocate for the consumers
and our employees. We have
not had a rate increase since
1997. This is very important to
our consumers, and especially
our elderly and physically impaired.
These consumers must
survive on a fixed income each
month and a continuous rate increase
would be a hardship for
them. One of my personal goals
lias been to go the extra mile for
our elderly and physically impaired.
I have a special interest
in cancer patients and those
with heart problems My record
speaks for itself about what I
have done and where 1 have
stood on issues affecting our
consumers and employees. I
served as the first Chairperson
of our Help a Needy Friend Program.
which was designed to
assist consumers who are experiencing
financial hardships and
are having difficulty paying their
electric bill. This program has
been a tremendous asset to our
consumers. 1 am proud of the
success of this program.
"During my years of service, I
have also been an advocate for
the return of Capital Credits to
the consumers. Capital Credits
arc money that is set aside to be
given to consumers upon the
death of a spouse The cooperative
is owned by the membership
and it is only fair that they receive
a return on their investment.
Capital Credits is just one small
way to ensure the consumers are
eligible for something other than
the requirement to pay the electric
bill each month. Our cooperative
i s a consumer owner business,"
Locklcar continued.
"I have encouraged the recruitment
of industry to our lines and
we have made substantial strides
in that area, especially at Fort
Bragg. These are all accomplishments
I have listed as my personal
goals to help with the expansion
and growth of our cooperative
with as little financial
burden to the consumers as
possible, Locklear said
Locklcar is employed by Four
County Community Services, !
Inc. and serves as Supervisor of
that agency's Red Springs ;
Neighborhood Service Center. j
During her more titan a thirty five !
years in that capacity, she ltas |
assisted low income families with
home wealhcrization, applica- j
tions for Social Security Disabil- j
ity, as well as referrals for other
serv ices not provided by Four
County.
"During my years in Social Work,
I have been blessed to have the
opportunity to exercise the I feel
that God has given me. This gift
is to help the elderly and physically
impaired I am fortunate not
only to have i job that allows
me to do this, iut also to serve
on the LREMC Board where 1
have the opportunity to offer
assistance in another way
"The election will be held on
Thursday, October 14, at the
UNCP Performing Arts Center
from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There
will also be two gifts, valued at
$50.00, presented by the cooperative
to every consumer who
votes. In addition, 150 other additional
gifts will be given away
with the grand prize being $1200.
Every consumer who votes will
have the opportunity to win one
of these gifts. In addition, the
oldest male and female voting
will receive a $250.00 gift certificate.
I lode forward to seeing you
on October 14 at the Annual
Meeting. And please, vote
Madie Rac Locklcar and keep an
experienced woman working for
you."
Pembroke Housing Authority Receives
National Award for Full Circle
Pembroke Housing Authority has been named a 2004 recipient of the
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials
(NAHRO) Merit Award for its elderly and disabled residents in the
form of case management services. The award recognizes outstanding
achievement in housing and community development programs
throughout the nation
"We are excited and pleased to be recognized by our national organization
for our Full Circle program Our Department of Resident Services
continues strives to ensure that this program is continues to
enhance the lives of our residents On behalf of the Board of Commissioners
and staff, we are grateful for this recognition", states Lcmark
Hams, Executive Director for the Pembroke Housing Authority
"NAHRO members arc consistently on the forefront of innovation in
our industry, and their work helps millions of Americans nationwide."
said NAHRO President James M Inglis. "Where their success is
truly remarkable, however, is at the local level, where you can see the
concrete results of their efforts in making their communities better
places to live. The winners of the Awards of Merit have created programs
that can truly be admired by their colleagues."
The 2004 NAHRO Awards of Merit recognize outstanding achievement
in housing and community development programs 111 five cat
egories - Administrative Innovation recognizes methods in areas such
as maintenance community relations, and interagency cooperation
Affordable Housing includes special programs for homcownership.
public/private partnerships, and innovative financing: Community Rcvitalization
includes innovative use of programs in areas such as economic
development, neighborhood preservation, and creative financing,
Resident and Client Services includes innovative uses of programs
such as special activities for children, families, and the elderly,
anti-drug programs, social serv ices, and self-sufficiency; Project Design
includes efforts such as new housing design housing modernization,
enduring design and landscape design
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials is
a 71-year-old membership organization of 3,300 housing and community
development agencies and 17.500 professionals throughout the
United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe,
viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans,
especially those of low and moderate income NAHRO ensures that
housing and community development professionals have the leadership
and education to serve communities; advocates for appropriate
laws and policies; and fosters the highest standards of ethical behavior.
service and accountability.
Absentee ballots available
for tribal elections
Applications to vote hv absentee ballot in the upcoming November
2, 2004 tribal election are available at the Lumbcc Enrollment/
Tribal Clerk office located at 518 Union Chapel Road. Pembroke. NC.
You may also obtain a copy of the application from the tribe s website:
www, lumbcctribc com
Absentee voting is permitted for eligible tribal voters inan\ of the
tribal districts subject tb the election provided the eligible voter is
unable to vote at the poll site because of illness, travel, or work.
Tnbal members who live outside the tnbal territory (Robeson. Scotland,
Hoke and Cumbci land Counties. NC) may also vote b\ absentee
ballot, providing the member meets the eligibility requirements to
vote in the tribal election .
The deadline to apph for an absentee ballot is 5 00 on October 15,
2004 Forfurthcr information, call 521-2843.
LRDA preparing for Fall
Powwow, Oct. 29-31
The Lumbcc Regional Development Association Inc is sponsoring
a Fair Pow-Wow (October 29-31. There will be Thousands of dollars in
pri/c money for performers in standard Pow-Wow categories
Location-Pembroke, NC at the LRDA events field located at 636
Prospect Road
Gates open/close Admission:
Oct 29-Opcn 4pm Close K)pm General - $5 00
Oct 30-Open IOam Close I Ipm Seniors - $3 00
Oct3l-Opcn I Oam Close 6pm Youth- 12 and under-S3.00
Handicapped children under 5 - Free
College and Military fD - $ 1 00 off
Door Prizes all three days
Numerous foods arts, and crafts vendors
For niorc information contact:
I.limbec Regional Development Association. Inc
(9 IOf521-8602 or www lumbcc org
Fund raising event held for
Judge Greg Bell
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A fund raising event was heldfor District Court Judge Greg Hell on
Monday, September 27 at Sheff's Seafood in Pembroke. More than
100people attended. Judge Bell is shown above nith Itls wife, Bonita,
daughter, Ashleigh, and his parents, Sarah and Buddy Bell.
(Photo by Franctne CIt avis)
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Carolina Indian Voice
call 910-521-0796
James Hardin announces reelection
bid to LREMC Board
James Hardin has announced
his bid to seek re-election to the
Lumbee River Electric Membership
Board of Directors in its
annual election, which will be
held October 14th, beginning at
1 pm and going to 8 pm at the
UNC-P Performing Arts Center
In announcing his candidacy
Mr. Hardin statcdjhat he is running
on his record of service and
helping people in his nearly
thirty year career in managing
two large non-profit American
Indian organizations in Robeson
and Cumberland Counties
| going back to 1976.
He has helped bring millions
of federal and state dollars into
Robeson and surrounding
counties to provide assistance
to help the elderly and poor pay
\ their heating and cooling utility
| bills and help to pay for families
j to fully replace their worn out
| heating and cooling systems
through the federal Low-Income
i Energy Assistance Program,
I LIHEAP, and through state re|
liefhurricane funds.
J The Lumbee River Electric
Board of Directors set up its
HELP-A-NEEDY-FRIEND, program
in 1993, which has assisted
over 1000 families with their crisis
energy assistance needs. Mr
Hardin was the main driver in the
boardroom to get the board to
establish this program to help
the poor and elderly in the winter
months when it is needed the
most
In another area of leadership
in the Coop board room. Mr
Hardin was instrumental in getting
the Board to establish and
Economic Development Committee.
one of the first Coops in
the state to do so. and this Committee
has since its enactment
been active with the board in
bringing millions of federal dollars
into Robeson and Hoke
Counties for plants to expand
and create new jobs and also
Uiis work going back to the early
90's has now lead to the creation
of the Coop becoming a lender
using federal USDA funds
through its Intermediary Rclending
Program for new business
start-ups and expansion of
existing businesses that can't
meet all the standard banking requirements
in the private sector.
A new federal loan to this IRP
loan program at LREMC was just
announced this week by Congressman
Mike Mclniyre of
$750,000 for lending in the local
economy to create jobs and investment
into rural poor communities.
Mr. Hardin also serves on
the IRP Loan Review Committee
at LREMC and has recommended
fbnding for a number of
new business and expansion enterprises
during his term. Typically
loans range up to 150,000
per project.
Another area of leadership Mr.
Hardin is proud of is that he was
the primary advocate on the
board for pushing LREMC to
join in the national Coop's marketing
branding program now
famously known state and nationwide
as Touchstone Energy.
This marketing partnership of
Coops has gotten the Coop
message to more consumers and
potential customers them ever
before in the history of the industry.
Touchstone is a major
sponsor if NASCAR and reaches
an audience of millions sharing
the Coop story, preparing
LREMC for the day when deregulation
of the electric industry
will come and competition for
customers.
A major area of work in which
leadership has been critical is .
that the Coop has not had a rate
increase to its customers since
1997, even with rising oil prices
and war that effects oil prices in
the Middle East The work of the
Budget and Work Plan Commit
tec of the board lias resulted in
several large Capital Cost
projects being put on hold even
though they are desperately
needed right now due to
LREMC's continuous growth
rate in primarily Cumberland
County.
Mr. Hardin since his first election
on the LREMC board has
served for seven years on the
NC Electric Membership board
of directors in Raleigh, which is
the power supply arm of the 28
Coops in the state and he also
has served on the NC Association
Of Electric Coops board,of
directors, which is the political
advocacy and services arms of
all the Coops. He currently
serves on North Carolina's Rural
Electric Action Program (REAP),
the political action committee,.
(PAC), for al 1 of the electric Coops
in the state This PAC contributes
to candidates in the state
who support the state and national
rural electric programs
goals and needs.
If re-elected Mr Hardin stated
that he will continue to be an
advocate for the consumers who
face hardship each month with
the cost of living, particularly the
elderly and poor. He will continue
to push for economic development
promotion by the Coop in
our four county services area,
with major support for Comtech
due to the jobs creation potential
it holds for this regional of
the state, hard hit by jobs losses
due to industries moving offshore,
He will continue to support
growth of the Coop's IRP
business loans program to spar
new investment and growth of
jobs in our service area.
In making his announcement
Mr Hardin stated that, "Today's
electric Coop is not the "REA"
of old, it is a dynamic partner for
growth in its services area not
just to provide electric power, but
also to promote economic development
and attract new industry.
and to seed the growth of new
and existing businesses. This
helps to keep residential consumers
light bills down by having
larger commercial accounts that
may use power 24-7, such as manufacturing
plants and Walmarts. Innovation
in the board room and
courage to pursue emerging new
opportunities will.be needed into
the 21st century for Coop to survive
when electric deregulation
comes If re-elected I will provide
that leadership to the best of my
ability in the board room with due
di ligence and care at all times for all
the Coop's consumers. I ask for
prayers, support, and vote Oct.
14 th".
^
District Court Judge Greg Bell is shown yvith supporter Sarah Locktear.
(Photo by Francine Chavis)
Community meetings planned
in Districts 3, 10, & 13
Tribal Council members Pcarlcan Revels, David Carter, Kenneth LockIcar
and Alton Locklcar announce a Tribal Community Meeting for
Tribal Districts.!. 10& I! to be held at Faith Assembly Church of God
at7:00p.m. onTuesda\ October 12,2004.
This important meeting is open to all Tribal Members Tribal Chairman
Jimmy Goins along with Tribal Administrator Leon Jacobs and
othcrTribal Staff willdiscuss services availablo to the membership.
For more information, contact Patrick Strickland or Rebekah Revels at
the Lumbcc Tribal Office at (910) 521-6128