North Carolina Newspapers

" - --- GHAJ LI ITTE P( 1ST- isss File I nice Of Tile Black (.oninumity Price: 35 Cents -^ENGAGING ROTONDA PHRONEBARGER —Witty eighth grader Rotonda Phronebarger Is “Beauty Of The Week” By Teresa Burns Post Managing Editor Spring showers have blossomed our first May beauty, Rotonda Phrone —-^rgwr. Actually aha is ak ready ahead of her time. Her dreams on a scale of one to universe are heaven sent. _Her reality is another’s unthought of wish. 'Xnd when Ms. Phronebarger says change would include a black becoming president of the U.S., she’s not saying it just to hear her self talk. It is certainly a pleasure "Tlial the youth uf today, such as Ms. Phronebarger, have such high aspirations. History has proven that what one conceives to be possible, one creates. Msr Phronebarger is a 14 year-old eighth grader at Kennedy Junior High School. The daughter of Luther and Blondell Phronebarger, our beauty has two brothers, Rico and Monty, and one sister, Tamiria. Born on September 23 Ms. Phronebarger ^Zodiac ~ sign is located on the cusp of Libra and Vir«o. Wittv. charming and quite intelli gent Ms. Phronebarger -aw that tinge of innocence and gentleness common to a princess. To a large degree our beauty has reached into her future and formed a nf gfamnnr and fashion as a highly respect ed model. ‘‘Becoming a famous model is something 1 really want to do,” she explained. Already she has landed a contract with the Carol Francis Smith Agency in “Charlotte. Her modeling is a serious part of her life, but so are other objectives. So far this year in school Ms. Phronebarger has received all “Bs" and one ‘‘C”; -an award from the Red Cross organization; and cheered on the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad for the school. Her subjects in school that excite her the most are language and mathe matics. She enjoys the classes of Ms. Kimbel and Battle Seen Between iteagan And Congress - Special To The Post • "I believe President Rea gan in his television talk has signaled a battle be tween the White House and Congress on the direction of the 1983 budget - and it will pit his administra tion not only against con gressional Democrats but against a substantial num ber of Republicans in the use and Senate.” Worth Carolina Demo cratic Chairman Russell G. Walker, commenting on the Chief Executive's tele vised budget message to —the nation, said that Rea gan appears relatively un yieldingTon TO defense budget atid on his tax pack age, “idhich already has provided a special kind of TUrtUMAMl — * Those fortunate enough to escape drowning during the Awimming season will now *un the risk of skating onthfcice. welfare to the more afflu ent. He seems unaware or unwilling to admit res pons- - ibility for the problems growing out of his 1981 package, the so-called Economic Recovery plan rammed through Congress. But his own people on Capitol Hill are trying to tell him he’s wrong in his belief that if they just hang tough, it will all work out." Senator Walker added that "without being speci fic, President Reagan didn’t say he would balance any budget for which he is ■raannntihle dnriny th» three years left in his term. And his call for a consti tutional amendment to balance the budget would not involve him, but only some future president even if it should be passed by Congress and ratified by two-thirds of the states." The Democratic chair man gave President Rea gan some credit: “He did say he wanted to eliminate tax loopholes that were never intended, such as the one allowing companies losing money to lease their losses to profitable busi nesses so they could escape part of their lawful income tax That, of course, leaves the tax burden on middle and low-income American citixens-the ones who pay the brunt of the taxes." MrsrFisherr Our beauty also spends time at church and attends New Zion Baptist Church where Rev. Jeremiah Rubinum is pa&lui. Of course at 14 there are many answers our beauty seeks. But as far as en tertainment is concerned Ms. Phronebarger has no —difficulty—pvamininy her tastes “I like Diana Ross and Lionel Richie of the Com modores,” she began. “And, you know, ‘Endless Love' happens to be my favorite song.” Her most viewed televi slon prugidin is-1 'Different Strokes.” "They tell a lot of funny jokes. The charac ters are about my age and I can understand their pro blems better.” Demeita Hunter, an older cousin of our beauty, is one of her favor ite people. “Demeita lives in Florida now and I hope to visit her this summer She is modeling and is a fashion designer. She> very nice and she has given me much advice about modeling,” Ms. Phrone barger contended. Even though our beauty has set her goals high, she 4»as not, .and will not, forget that universal rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She may already know that loving others is the beginning and the end to true success. Penalize The Poor! Nursing Scholarship Program Set Special To The Post The Veterans Adminis tration has launched a $4 million scholarship pro gram to help in its efforts to ensure sufficient nursing staff in the nation’s largest health care system The VA operates 172 hos pitals and 226 outpatient clinics around the country, employing some 30,000 nurses. VA Administrator Robert P Nimmo said the scholarships will go to about 300 qualified nursing students, providing educa tional benefits on a pay back-in-semce Basis. In return for each year of the scholarship which pro vides tuition, educational expenses and a monthly '"Stipend, participants—will agree to serve a minimum of two years as a full time nurse in facilities of the VA’s health care system -me—initial scholarship will be for one year, with an option to renew, or for two years depending on the availability of future appropriations for the pro gram. Applications are now being sought for the school term to begin in the -fall of 1908:-_ Approximately 90 per cent will go to undergrad uate students, and the ba lance to master's candi dates who already are re gistered nurses, Nimmo noted. The Health Professional Scholarship Program, au thorized by Congress in 1980, will form a small but vital part of the BA's effort to recruit and retain a quality nursing staff ac cording to VA Chief Medic al Director Dr. Donald L. Custis. Applications for the scho larships and information about the_ program are available from VA Health Professional Scholarship Program, Office of Aca demic Affairs, DMAS (14N), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington. D C. 20420. James Richardson -- ...36th District candidate tor state House “Jim” Richardson Kicks Off Campaign By Mac Thrower Post Staff Writer On May 3. James F. “Jim" Richardson formal ly entered the primary race fnc thg Slate Hnn^p pf Representatives in the 36th District of Mecklenburg County. Richardson, who retired as Postmaster of Mt Holly. N.C. in January, 1981. after having worked for the U.S Postal Service for 33 years, is seeking one of eight seats in the Mecklenburg delegation Richardson stated that he wants “to continue to be helpful to the community., as I have tried to be in various ac tivities in past years “ In his work as chairman of the N.C. Social Service Commission. Richardson feels that he has dealt with many ke> issues facing the community, especially the problems of care for the elderly and child care. Richardson has also served as vice chairman of the Study Commission for V_/ Mecklenburg County Dis trict Representation, chair man of the Mecklenburg Board of Social Services, a member of the Meeklen hurg-youth Services Board, and chairman of the WTVI (Channel 421 Ad visory Board Richardson, who is married and has two sons, is a World War If-Navy veteran and a graduate of Johnson C Smith Univers ity. He is presently a mem ber of Memorial United Presbyterian Church, and is a Past Master at the Myersville Masonic Lodge No. 687 In a recent Post inter view. Richardson stressed that his past community and civic involvement has led him into the political arena. ‘Tve been involved for many years." he stated, "and I would like to con tinue to serve the com munity- especially in spreading the word in Raleigh about what needs See JIM Oil Page M For Governor 98 Race Eddie Knox Breaking Into Stride By Mac Thrower Post Staff Writer Charlotte Mayor Eddie Knox la already breaking into stride in the race for ♦he N.C. governor's of fire in 1984 ‘^orth CaroTlna Citizens Who Want Eddie Knox To Be Governor." a statewide committee supporting Knox has filed with the North Carolina state board of elections. The commit tee papers were filed by Graham McGoogan, a cer tified public accountant In Charlotte who is serving as treasurer for the Knox committee. McGoogan reported that the new com mittee was registering with the board of elections to insure that state election laws were followed even though Knox is not yet a declared candidate. Although Knox has given permission for the group to function in his behalf, he )>as not formally declared Eddie Knox ..Charlotte mayor himself as an official can didate for governor. "I greatly appreciate what my friends from around the state are doing,” Knox commented. "Their effort will help finance my travels around the state to determine what people are thinking and if they are receptive to my philosophy and style.” Knox has expressed much interest in the 1984 gubernatorial campaign, but emphasized “my first priority is to do the job 1 was elected to serve ” Knox's term as mayor expires in December 1983 --Wh* ■Inmnnfl rnmin.llw forming the “North Carol ina Citizens Who Want Eddie Knox To Be Govern or" has enlisted leaders from throughout the state, including: Kelly Alexander Jr. of Charlotte, vice president of the North Carolina NAACP, Charlotte Cham ber of Commerce, vice pre sident Alexander Funeral Home, and instructor of Afro-American studies at UNCC-B. J. Battle of Greensboro, officer with American Federal Savings and Loan, state treasurer of NAACP-Pat Tavjor Jr Wadesboro, former lieuten ant governor of North Carolina and former . Speaker of the North Carolina Ffouse of Repre sentatives HA. "Humpy'’ Wheeler of Charlotte, pre sident of the Charlotte Motor Speedway--Joan Zimmerman of Charlotte, -Vice President of Southern Shows, chairperson of the Past Presidents Club of the Charlotte Women's Politic al Caucus, member of the policy committee of the North Carolina Women's Political Caucus The committee office is headquartered at 407 East Blvd. in Charlotte and is assisted by Joe Eppley, a public relations consultanl who has been involved with past Knox campaigns Top Ten Seniors Can Be Found In Section B Urban League Says AFDC Cuts Must Be Opposed Based or» testimony taken earlier in the year at 16 public hearings in va rious sections of the coun try. the National Urban League said last week that the reductions in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Pro gram. that went into effect in 1981. have seriously penalized the working poor and their children, and in many instances made it more economically feas ible for them to give up working altogether and be come full-time welfare recipients. Thus, any further cuts in AFDC, such as those pro posed by the Reagan Ad miistration. are "unthink able and must be opposed.' and in fact. Congress should give serious atten tion to rolling back the ini tial cuts, the NUL said _ The League's position on the cuts is spelled out in a report on the hearings that takes its titlejrom the plea of an AFDC mother in Peoria, III—"Just Don't Stand There and Kill Ls " While the mother s Ian guage was particularly vivid, the sentiment that she expressed was not un common among the sever al hundred welfare reci pients who testified at the hearings As the report —said-: A universal thread that the NU'L found running throughout the hearings was a sense of people beating their heads against a brick wall. They were trying to get ahead, but it appeared, at least in their eyesight, that the system' was determined to keep them scratching for crumbs Understandably, they were frustrated, con fused and in many in stances, bitter/' Nationwide, the $1 billion cut in the AFDC program last year has affected over 725,000 families who have either had their benefits reduced or eliminated The cuts struck hardest at the working poor - those whose income from minimum wage and part time em ployment was so low that they still qualified for a small AFDC benefit and Medicaid Typical -of—the experi ences suffered by the w orking poor dropped from the AFDC rolls was that of a mother in Jacksonville. Fla., with three children, who lost her AFDC grant lat October She said “Nothing has changed in my house I still have three -children that nowd to aat and have a roof over their heads, I still work. I still work at the same place that I ve worked for the last two years I don’t work any more hours I don't make any more an hour than I did when I first became eligi ble for AFDC My gross pay is still $77 a week “Welfare has never real ly explained to me why I'm not eligible for benefits anymore, the case worker never told me I received a notice but it just said that I made too much money Would somebody please explain why I’m eligible one month and I’m not eligible the next month when nothing has changed for me or my kids'’" ' Commenting on this and similar- testimony, . the report said 'Tf only one word could be used to describe the nature of the testimony it would be depressing ' Time after time witnesses told of how they were struggling to raise their families and get off wel fare by working at low paying jobs, but under the new restrictions they had lost their AFDC grants, pushing them further back into poverty and killing their dreams. rrank McCain To Manage Polkfc C anipaign By Mac Thrower Po$t Staft \\ ritcr Mr Frank McCain of Charlotte has been named to manage the campaign ol Mr .James K Jim" Polk for a North Carolina State Senate seat in the 22nd District < Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties Mclatn is a g.uup lead er for Marketing and Development at the Celan ese Corporation, where he has beer, employed for 17 - years fie is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State t niversity While at A&T during the early 1960's. McCain was involved in tne sit-ins at a Greensboro restaurant that are regard ed as landmarks in the civil rights-movement in North Carolina According to his wife, an employee of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Sys tern. McCain feels 'very honored" to be chosen as manager for Polk's cam paign Mrs McCain indi caled that her husband •believes very strongly in the leadership being of fered by Jim Polk " The surprise announce ment by the North Carol ina Legislature that the primary has tieen lenta lively slated for June 29 has left many campaign man agers. including McCain, scrambling to make use of a limited amount of time before the election Mrs McCain says that her hus band exclaimed after hear mg th* news of tfje pri marv date- 'I must get to work now " Walker Asks Jesse Helms F o Apologi ze North Carolina Demo cratic Chairman Russell Walker last week called on Senator Jesse Helms to apologize to the people of North Carolina for his lone vote against a Senate resolution backing Great Britain in its dispute with Argentina “North Carolinians back fhe British people and their government W> have been traditional allies for gen erations. It’s embarrassing to have an elected North Carolina senator as the only spokesman for Argen tina It should tell Sen ator Helms something when even John East didn’t vote on his side Nor did any other senator, Republi can or Democrat."