Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. Carolina Indian Voice VOLUME 33 NUMBER I THURSDAY, JANUARY 6. 2005 25c Kathleen Revels: Recipient of the Order of the Medicine Wheel Award KATHLEEN REVEL, R.N., IIS., IIA., M.D. Recently the American Indian Mothers, Inc. honored Native American members for their early contributions to the health care profession. Kathleen Revels wa< one of the of those who who received the Medicine Wheel Award from that organization. This is her story. by Dr. Ruth Dial Woods KATHLEEN REVELS, the second child of LEONA BROOKS (the daughter of Ollin Brooks and his wife, Annah Hunt, DONNIE REVELS, (the son of Neal Revels and his wife, Mary Jane Locklear. was born September 15, 1927 Their first child Edwin D. had-been born May 27, 1926 and succumbed to a brain abscess on January 3, 1927 Following "KAT", as her family calls her, were A1LEEN [AILEAN] in 1929, MARY ELIZABETH in 1931. CHESTER O'NEIL in 1933 (deceased 1986], CORA SUE in 1935, JERRY WELLS in 1939, MARGARET ANN in 1942, GAYLORD ALLEN in 1944 and DONNIE. JR in 1946 As the oldest child much of the responsibility for the care of the younger children was delegated to KATHLEEN and shared by the others in time. The family depended on the land around them to supplement the income Mr Revels was able to earn as a carpenter. Milking the cow twice daily was one of "KAT'S" jobs and to this day she comments on the stubbornness of cows There were other chores about the house and the eternal problem of the boys messing up the house just after Ailean, called "Sissie". and she would get things in order GRANDPA OLLIN BROOKS, school and going to Sunday church services were at the heart of her childhood KATHLEEN looked forward to Sunday visits with her grandfather. "Grandpa" would talk to her and show her things at his house and on his farm that she recalls with fondness. She liked being able to visit with her aunt, MAC1E BROOKS CHAVIS, and eagerly looked forward to those invitations Church was an important aspect of "KAT'S" youth She was a member ofBerea Baptist Church From the time "KAT" entered elementary school until she graduated from high school, she had perfect attendance in both church school and public school. Kindergarten was a very positive experience Ms Nora Steffey, a missionary took a special interest in KATHLEEN. She taught her eager student to read, to count and to print. She worked with memory by . teaching Bible verses. Once in a revival when attendees were asked to raise their hands if able to recite the 23rd Psalm, "KAT'S" small hand went up The preacher was surprised to see such a young respondent and called her to the stage to prove her claim Everyone in the audience was surprised when "KAT" perfectly recited the scripture KATHLEEN'S determination to succeed in school was soon recognized She was permitted to "skip" the second grade During the 8* grade when KATHLEEN was 12 years old, her mother was hospitalized at Duke University Hospital Those visits to see her mother convinced KATHLEEN that she was going to become a MEDICAL DOCTOR' At the end of her junior year in high school, "KAT' received recognition for scholarship KATHLEEN was valedictorian of the Pembroke High School Class of 1944 During her senior year, she worked in the do-nut shop at Maxton Air Force Base and cleaned house for Dr and Mrs Ralph D Wellons to save some money for college (Dr Wellons was President of the College ] In September of 1944 Kathleen entered Western Mafyland Collect located in Westminster, Maryland Her scholarship/o wait tables in the dining room and other resources were not sufficient to finance her education Somewhere in the transition from high school to college p vm significant filing pr typographical error mprtfd, The' op her lail dropped- She became KATHLEEN REVEL! KATHLEEN knew she had to have time to study and a skill to work in order to reach her life dream of becoming a physician. During the summer after her freshman year "KAT' decided to apply to CHARLOTTE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL- SCHOOL OF NURSING On August 20,1945 a memorandum from Charlotte Memorial Hospital arrived stating: "You are to report to the Nursing School Office in . the Nurse's Home on Friday. September 7,1945, before 4 o'clock in the afternoon " Number one on tne list of 6 items to bring was "your ration book". So began the journey toward her life dream work KATHLEEN was enrolled in the U S. Cadet Nurse Corps under the ' Bolton Act even though the Japanese had recently surrendered. The ; three years of nursing school were very meaningful Some of the women from the Class of 1948 remain in touch to this day. When she graduated on September 7,1948 "REVEL" (Nurses were addressed by ' their last names ] and "Linker" decidedto go to Johns Hopkins Hos- i pital in Baltimore to work. She recalls workinti for about 95 cents per ! hour Soon the two nurses moved to Washington, DC to work ai Walter Reed Hospital as civil servants for better paying jobs While at Walter Reed they became interested in joining the United States Army Air Force and December, 1949 orders were received to report to Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas for basic training on January 3. 1950 During 1950 the Army and .Air Force separated and the two nurses were sent to the first Flight Nurse School under the I'SAF. KATHLEEN graduated from the AIR University, School of Aviation Medicine, USAF on March 10. 1951 The Korean War was underway and this was the first war in which helicopters were used These aircraft were to be used to evacuate wounded from the front lines Nurses had to be trained its evacuation techniques and KATHLEEN was one of twelve nurses chosen to instruct others in this new aspect of military service la Lt Kathleen Revel was ready to be discharged as soon as her enlistment was up, but it took her 3 years and 29 days to receive her Honorable Discharge on January 31, 1953. KATHLEEN knew she could not gain admittance to medical school with only her R N. degree She moved to Los Angeles. California and enrolled at Los Angeles State College where she graduated on June 19. 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-med and nursing Simultaneously she had enrolled in Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry on August 1,1958 i Admission to Medical School was difficult, to say the least, at this time for women KATHLEEN sent her applications to several schools and bided her time by moving to San Francisco where she was assigned as nurse supervisor on the orthopedic ward at Kaiser I Permanente Hospital ? Finally in 1960 KATHLEEN was enrolled at the University of California-Irvine She graduated on June 4, 1964 after a financial roller i coaster ride the first two years of medical school, she was awarded a I full scholarship for her last two years This was a period in time when ? women felt discriminated against and male students were rather jeal cms of women After graduation DOCTOR. REVEL was assigned to California Hospital in Los Angeles for her internship DR REVEL next went to Long Beach [CA] Veterans Hospital for her residency in internal medicine By 1968 she was in private practice in Glendale. California working hard to establish her practice and to repay the loans owed to the medical school K ATHLEEN was on staff at several hospitals in the area Her primary focus was on Memorial Hospital of Glendale where she was on staff until August I. 1989 when she was forced to retire due to medical disability KATHLEEN'S personal experiences with breast cancer led her to start a cancer support group in her new community of Sun City. CA One of her primary interests in medicine has been the study of diabetes She was asked to start another support group, one for diabetics and she did Today, her major medical problem is avascular necrosis which usually attacks the major joints such as hips and shoulders Both hips and shoulders have been replaced In 1999 her right hip and left shoulder were removed and since that time she has been confined to a wheelchair During 2004 she has been encouraged to walk daily with her walker and to do exercises in her wheelchair KATHLEEN is determined to be as strong as possible In February 2002 she moved to Hendersonville. NC and is very satisfied to be "back home" again Today, KATHLEEN attends classes at the Blue Ridge Community College Center for Lifelong Learning She very much enjoys living in the mountains and taking afternoon drives tliroughout the countryside Kathleen has been retired from the active practice of medicine since 1989 vet she continues to do independent study in medicine She earns three or four times the number of credits annually required for continued iccreditation as a Medical Doctor in the state of California Upon notification of this honoring ceremony, KATHLEEN'S words ivere "Thank you to those who made possible this opportunity for me to Je among those recognized in my birthplace community. 1 shall hold :lose this reconstruction of my life and your kindness " Sheriff Glenn Maynor retries after ten years Robeson County Sheriff Glenn Maynor has retired from that office effective December 30,2004. Maynor retired after ten years of service He stated "health reasons" for his decision to retire One of the most popular men in the county, Maynor is noted for his aggressive fight against drugs as well as his outstanding personality. The 58-year-old Maynor in announcing his retirement expressed his gratitude to the citizens of Robeson County, for the confidence they had placed in him He also stated that he was under the advice of his doctor to remove himself from stressful situations He suffers from a heait: condition, he said Sheriff Maynor was the first Lumbee Indian in history to hold the office of Sheriff' and won each election overwhelmingly The Robeson County Board of Commissioners who are charged with the responsibility of filling the vacancy, unanimously appointed Ken Sealey from within the Sheriff s Department as the new Sheriff Sealey will serve as Sheriff until 2006 when the electorate will decide who the Sheriff will be County Commissioners respond to 2005 Tax Revaluation ... Robeson County Commissioners and Tax Administration staff"appreciates the patience and understanding everyone has shown during the enormous task of the "2005 Revaluation Process" The revaluation affects over 73,000 properties in our county You may ask, WHY do I have to go the tax office and argue about my value'' It is important to remember that we want to "review our information with you to ensure you know what is being assessed and be an informed citizen". We have been hampered with poor and out-dated information. We thank you for your willingness to work with us improve our real property records A personal interview with one of.our appraisers will help ensure that your property records are up-to-date and accurate This includes information like; (1) How mucn of your property is used for farm land? (2) Is part of your property swamp land9 (3) Is part of your property woods? As simple as is it seems, our citizens can make a difference in the accuracy of our files Tax Administration feels that is important to inform our citizens that we have discovered concerns with the "Rural Land Value" formulas used to generate the new estimated market values for our rural and raw farm land We will make any adjustments as necessary, but it is too early to determine how much All owners of property that value is adjusted will receive a new "Notice of Value" We continue to ask our property owners to request an appeal, if you feel your new assessed value exceeds market value An appeal is not a complaint about taxes, but an opportunity to discuss factors and any property characteristics used in determining market value Complete as much of the review form as possible and mail the form in the self-addressed envelope, a personal visit is not required." An appraiser may contact you to visit your property. It is not necessary to have an outside appraisal for your property Set up an interview with a county appraiser, after you receive your new notice of value, then if you still feel your assessment exceeds market value you may decide to have an outside appraisal supporting your appeal to the Board of Equalization Review Remember the best way to request an appeal interview is to complete the appeal form attached to your notice and return it to the office, then you will be notified of an appointment time and date if necessary; "a personal visit is not required " An appraiser may contac you to visit your property. Evening appointments may be made upon request What if you own property in Robeson County and have not receivec i Notice of Value"? Call the Appraisal Office and request a notice be nailed to you PLEASE verify your correct mailing address, because several thousand pieces of undefiverable mail has been returned In Loving Memory ! of Chad Rachels September 12. 1982-December 28, 2000 j From Chud to Family and Friends: 1 give you one thought to keep I am with you still, I do not sleep I am a thousand winds that blow I am the diamond that glints on snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the dew drops on a morning ! rose When you awaken each new daw n. 1 am the morning song 1 am the brightest star that shines in 1he darkest night Look fast you'll sec a twinkle Do not think of me as gone 1 am with you each new dawn ? , If you arc 65 years or older, or totally and permanently disabled, qualify under the income requirements and make application you may receive a reduced valuation of your residence Ask our office for information about Elderly/Disabled Exemption, callus at 910-671-.1050 If you are commercially growing crops or timber and submit a qualifying application, you may receive a reduced valuation of your property Call us at 910-671 -3050 for information about E arm-Use-Value Our "GOAL" is to ensure that 100% of our citizens understand the appeals process and are given fair and courteous>attention to their questions We will continue to strive for better accuracy and fairness for "ALL Robeson County citizens T Liquor by the Drink referendum to be voted on by local residents On Tuesday, January 11. the citizens of the Town of Pembroke will vote on a referendum on Liquor by the Drink The neighboring towns of Maxton and Lumberton already have liquor by the drink. Only residents within the city limits will be allowed to vote on this issue Those supporting the effort state that it will be additional revenue for the Town of Pembroke as well as provide additional jobs , for *91^2^670 f t" ' .i.'i . n rt 'W.frnt-rtV- .mVi-,." '...ft ' fr'

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