NEWS BRIEFS
(Continued from page 1)
calling record that would be three
million more than last year.
Residential customers make
more long-distanep calls on
Christmas than any other day of
the year, according to AT&T,
which serves about 70 percent of
the U.S. long-distance market.
BLACKMON PROMOTED
First Union National Bank of
North Carolina has promoted
Reginald V. Blackmon to assis
tant vice president. Blackmon is
manager of First Union's
Queensgate branch in Charlotte.
Blackmon joined First Union in
1985 as manager of the Signal Hill
branch in Statesville. A Raleigh
native, he graduated from the
University of North Carolina at
Charlotte with a bachelor's
degree in business administra
tion.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Gov. James G. Martin has ap
pointed R. Michael Jones of
Raleigh to the N.C. Low Level
Radioactive Waste Management
Authority. He replaces Tenny
Deane and will serve until June
30. 1993.
Jones, 42, a former attorney for
the city of Wilmington, works as
the director of external affairs at
Carolina Power and Light Co. in
Raleigh.
INAUGURAL BALL
The Inaugural Ball honoring
Gov. and Mrs. James G. Martin
will be held Jan. 7. 1989. in the
Civic Center in Raleigh. The
event is sponsored by the Junior
League of Raleigh. Inc.
KWANZAA CELEBRATION
The. Durham Arts Council in
vites everyone to join in
celebrating the third annual
Kwanzaa Cultural Arts Celebra
tion. This free-performing arts
extravaganza will take place on
Sunday. Jan. 1, 1989. at 3:30 p.m.
in the Durham Civic Center. 220
t Foster St.
The celebration will feature the
I’moja Children's Ensemble
from Wilmington; Sansic, the ex
citing South African student
choral group; Alayanfe. the
children's unit of the African
American Dance Ensemble; the
soulful a cappella sounds of the
Golden Tones of Harmony and
other special guests. For more in
formation call the Durham Arts
Council, 1-360-2787.
MAX ROBINSON
(Continued from page l)
Reynolds in Washington. Robin
son’s tenure at ABC was troubled
as he zealously waged a battle
against racism at the network
level. He often complained
publicly about the network and
charged it with racism in a
speech he delivered at Smith Col
lege in February 1B81.
Robinson’s former Washington
co-chair, Gordon Peterson, said,
“There were personal demons he
was wrestling with. I kind of wish
he had stayed here. I don’t think
it [working at the network] work
ed well for him.’’ Robinson was
deliberately excluded from any
decision-making related to the
newscast, said Carl Bernstein.
ABC Chicago bureau chief in 1980
and 1981.
“There are those, I believe, in
the industry, who were either
jealous or had problems with
Max," said Dwight Ellis, head of
the National Association of
Broadcasters. “He was really an
outspoken man.”
“He had a great presence on
the air,” said former co-workers
James Snyder, vice president for
news at the Post-Newsweek Sta
tions. He and others said the
pressures on Robinson as a
pioneer had worked against him.
He had a lot of pressure, pressure
from his friends. But he had the
* opportunity to be the first black
news anchorman at the network
level. He bad to take it.
INTRUDER
(Continued from page 1)
through a sliding glass door.
This case has some similarities to a
rape that took place two weeks ago at
the home of a Martin Street woman.
But, as of yet there has been no of
ficial tie-in between the cases. In the
attack on the woman on Martin
Street, a sharp weapon was used.
In related events: Two men were
being held Wendesday in WakeCoun
inreaiened an employee with a pistol
and the pair took $12,500 in cash.
Jones was also charged with
possession of cocaine with intent to
sell and deliver, according to the ar
rest warrant. During the arrest, of
ficers allegedly found 10 grams of co
caine in his possession.
The two robbers wore stocking
masks and carried handguns. After
taking the money in cash and coins,
the men pulled off their masks, ran
from the building and scaled a fence,
got in a 1982 white Pontiac Grand
Prix and sped away. The car was
discovered later in a parking lot of
the Walnut Terrace apartment com
plex. It had been reported stolen on
Nov. 20.
GODFATHER
(Continued from page 1)
released "Please, Please, Please."
James Brown was on his way.
A string of hits—"I Got You 11 Feel
Good I." "Papa's Got a Brand-New
Bag," "Good Sweat" -defined 1960s
soul music. With frenetic, repeating
guitar rhythms, bullet-sharp horn
blasts and Brown's inimitable yowls
and growls, nothing before—or
since—sounded like it. With his4
sweat, his jet-black pompadour and
his constant shuffling, leg-splitting
dancing, nobody looked like James
Brown, either.
Brown took a step toward the
political with songs such as "Say It
Loud—I'm Black and I'm Proud."
and his influence was large. His TV
appearances following the assassina
tion of Martin Luther King. Jr. were
credited by President Johnson with
helping avoid further violence. He
urged kids not to get messed up on
drugs.
Brown later tried to ride the disco
tide, with only partial success. Finan
cial problems follow ed, f he IRS says
he still owes $6 million.
But the late 80s brought nostalgia
for Brown's music. And unlike many
rock legends, the Godfather of Soul
was still out there working. His “Liv
ing in America." from the film
"Rocky IV." won a Grammy in 1987.
his second.
But 1987 also saw Brown's life
beginning to crack. He was getting
arrested, for driving violations,
assaulting police, drugs. Before, he
had gotten probation and fines. Not
this time in the South Carolina cour
troom.
"I don't want to take too much of
your time, sir," Brown told Aiken
County Judge Hubert Long last week.
"But I'm fighting for my life."
"James Brown, the man, wants to
do right." he continued. I’ve wanted
to do right all my life. I'll do anything
I can not to go to prison, so I can con
tinue my work."
"I've considered that you’ve done a
lot of good.’ the judge said, “but I've
got to consider some of the bad."
Brown will be eligible for parole in
18 months—earlier, if he behaves
himself.
"James Brown is a survivor,"
Dallas said. “We have not even touch
ed the depths of James Brown yet.
This is a setback. It is not the end. I
don't think people want it to be the
end.”
JUDGES' BENCH
(Continued from page 1)
diction team made the arrest around
9:30 a m after he got off a flight from
New York City.
NO FURTHER INDICTMENTS
Federal prosecutors will seek no
further indictments in the 16-month
grand jury probe into Jim Bakker’s
leadership of the PTL Club. Two
weeks ago, Dec. 5, Bakker and three
Army Sgt
former associates were indicted on
charges that they misused millions
of dollars in PTL money. Bakker and
his former top deputy Richard Dortch
were charged with mail fraud, wire
fraud and conspiracy.
Bakker’s former personal
secretary, David Taggart, and James
Taggart, the PTL’s former interior
decorator, were charged with lax
evasion and conspiracy.
FAIR TREATMENT RESOLUTION
In a 7-2 vote, the Greensboro City
Council approved a resolution en
couraging fair treatment of all
citizens. The council declined a
resolution that would acknowledge
and condemn anti-gay discrimination
in the city. The approved resolution
was drafted by the Human Relations
Commission as part of a report
released on anti-gay discrimination
last week.
MURDER CHARGES
A Fayetteville woman and a Fort
Bragg soldier have been charged
with two counts of first-degree
murder in the slayings of two men at
a Rowland motel Nov. I.
The two men murdered, Timmy
Oxendine, 23, and Roger Ray
Strickland, 20. were found in the hotel
along US 301. Oxendine was found
shot in the office of the motel, and
Strickland was found in one of Um
PA1
memorial servict
Jt. 1
trouper*. w H.i have been killed in the
line ni duty will be held Dec. 22 at the
llighwa\ Pairol TrainingCenter. :BI8
Old (lamer Itoad.
The public is invited to attend the 6
p.m. service, said Sgt. J.K Stevens,
assistant commandant of the 83rd
patrol basic school now training
trooper cadets.
Forty-seven troopers have been
killed since the patrol started in 1929.
The first trooper to die in the line of
duty. Ira Thompson, was killed July
2. 1929, one day after the patrol was
started with 29 troopers.
YVOKKKItK KVAd ATKI)
Kmployees of ('apitol Hroudcnsling
Co.. Inc. were evacuated from their
IlillslMirough Street office< when
company officials thought they had
found a live charge of dynamite in the
elevator shaft.
After further investigation, police
and a demolitions expert found (he lip
of an old blasting cap that had ap
parently survived the original blasts
front 20 years ago.
llt'NTING VIOLATIONS
Last month the Hangers at
Cmslcad i,..rr received a report that
gunshots were being fired on the fr
inge of the park. When they arrived at
the scene, the Hangers fmmd it 1987
Dodge Ham parked on Kltenczcr
Hoad near Duraleigh Hood The
Hangers also spotted a man dressed
in camouflage gear leaving the park
According to reports, the Hangers
also found a rifle, a hunting stand and
a dead deer:
William Kenneth I .each. 24. of 3221
Walnut Creek Parkway, was charged
with hunting within state park boun
daries. failing to tag the carcass of a
doe deer at the site of the kill, taking
an antler-less deer and possessing
and transporting a doe deer.
In the court proceeding, l.each
pleaded guilty to the first charge and
not guilty to the other charges. Judge
George K. Greene ordered Leach to
forfeit his rifle for educational and
display purposes, to reimburse the
state $279 for the dead deer and to pay
a $100 fine and $40 in court costs.
Leach's rifle was valued at more than
$600 Hunting in state parks is pro
hibited.
FRATERNITY
(Continued from page 1>
ceremonies for the awards program.
The greetings, welcome and response
were brought by Dr. Dudley E. Flood,
the chapter's president; Dr. WUey M.
Davis, state and regional officer; and
Hubert Gooch, immediate past presi
dent. respectively. Jesse Saunders
brought the invocation.
While only four brothers were
honored durihg the awards
ceremony, each brother present at
the affair received a copy of the
Sigma Directory. The directory, one
of the major objectives of Dr. Flood’s
administration, is an organizational
publication consisting of a picture
and brief biographical sketch of each
brother in the chapter.
On Dr. Flood's request, Dallas
Foster authored the 52 biographies
contained in the directory and Chris
Hinton, co-owner of J.D. Hinton
Photography Studio, was responsible
for the photography.
CHRISTMAS WISH
(Continued from page 1)
everywhere.
Well, some men rebuked Hirb.&nd
finally they crucified Him because He
could do no wrong.
Those of us who still believe in
peace, harmony and goodwill are still
trying to achieve it. We find that |he
forces of evil are much mow*
prevalent in the world today than
ever before. Where have we failed?
We may still have the peace we are
seeking if we are willing to rededicate
ourselves to the task, and strive
together; to put all our faith and trust
in Jesus Christ and believe that peace
is truly possible through Him.
This prayer I would like to include:
“Our Father, Jesus Christ, Son of
God, Lord of Lords, King of Kings,
Thou art my Savior, my Beloved, my
very life; have mercy on us as sin
ners, heal our bodies and souls, and
spirits. Give us Thy faith, Thy love,
and the wisdom to know and do Thy
will. Bless us with the continual con
sciousness of Thy holy presence, for
we love Thee. Amen.”
We must be reminded that the real
desire for peace begins within the in
dividual, in your heart and mine. If
we can handle the spark of love and
peace In the hearts of men
everywhere, we may still hope for
peace on earth and goodwill toward
men throughout the world.
NAAACP
(Continued from page 1)
This i line I asked Kush about that
and lhe racist perception it
projected.' Ilooks said. "And he said
that he was unaware of how this was
tieing used at first. In any campaign
there are folks at lower levels doing
things without ;. ' —
lie.. .
black man s picture, he ordered it
stopped He would rather have used a
fehMS
violent crime and they discovered it
was a i " "
"For black |
more than a
tsitin to look
mu1 hi violent crime. And who sutlers
more from violent crime than
blacks ? Black-on-black crime is ris
ing Many black churches do not hold
night meetings anymore for fear of
crime. ' said Hooks, himself a Baptist
minister and a lawyer. "These chur
ches spend $20,(too to $40,000 a year
lor security' purposes -protecting
(larking lots. etc. Older blacks live in
constant fear. They can't venture
from I heir homes at night. Drugs
weii* ravaging our communities 15-20
yeas ago. but hud not become a na
tional issue Today they are a na
tional issue.
"So lor blacks, there are police
brulalily and the fear of crime, two
issues we arc- having to deal with.
While |K*oplc have an irrational fear
of crime in the street. Blacks are the
real victims of it."
Hooks recalled when this writer ac
companied him and a small NAACP
delegation in I he spring of I9KI to the
Bengali While House to present
NAACP’s alternative budget plan lo
I be Itcaganitcs' absurd and now
discredited "supply-sideeconomics”
"We didn't meet with Bengali,
however," Hooks said, "for Hcagan
had just lieeii shot by would-be
assassin James Hinckley. We were
ushered into the White House and
presented the plan to Vice President
Bush, spending nearly an hour brief
ing him on il us he courteously listen
ed. •
“Years later, Bengali came out
with the negative income plan for the
poor, which was a part of our plan,
and I almost fell on the floor,-" Hooks
recalled.
“As the executive director of the
NAACP, I would like for blacks to get
as much from the Bush administra
tion as we can get. I believe he is
much more amenable to blacks than
Iteagan. Our people have real pro
blems and we have lo deal with them.
Bush was not in position to help us
much before. He is now.”
And finally, one other thing was
troubling Hooks: ‘‘The whole
business of furloughing prisoners.
Prisons will become explosive if we
can’t offer a man some hope of
rehabilitation. Prison furloughs are
just one of the means of giving the in
carcerated hope.”
"Simply building more jail cells
won't be enough unless we change the
socioeconomic conditions that
engender helplessness, despair and
alienation among so many of our peo
ple, especially the young,” he added,
signalling that this is an issue his
huge organization would soon target
for an expanded assault.
College Gets
$200,000 Grant
For Building
Saint Augustine's College has
received a (200,000 federal grant to
aid development efforts in three
predominantly black communities.
Fourth District Congressman David
Price announced earlier this month.
The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development grant will
let St. Augustine's provide technical
assistance to community
development programs in Wake,
Richmond and Edgecombe counties,
Price said. St. Augustine's will use
the money for consultants to help the
Wake County community of Holly
Srings and two other areas apply for
state community development block
grants over the next two years.
The HUD grant was part of (1.4
million in community development
funds awarded to 15 predominantly
black colleges and universities in the
first days of December. Community
development block grants are used to
finance improvements to low- and
moderate-income communities,
including improved neighborhoods,
better housing and new jobs. Price
serves on the House Banking
Committee, which funds the grant
program.
“This grant will be a valuable tool
in bettering the quality of life in these
communities," Price said "Not only
does this money help the citizens of
Holly Springs, it strengthens the
relationship and interaction between
black communities and black
colleges."
Wm • 1WS
HANDING OUT THE HARDWARE-The Ram Athletic Chib held Its Awards
Banquet recently at the Biltmore Hills Center. In the above phete, Ram AtMettt
Club chairperson Pat Douglas and vice chairman and coach Bob Davis prepare to
present awards. The club was recently granted a charter by the state of North
Carolina to function as a non-profit organization.
College Students Play A
Role In Helping Needy |
Throughout the year but especially
during the Christmas season, the
Edgecombe Community College Stu
dent Government Association plays a
vital role in the life of the college.
Each year the SGA sponsors several
Christmas projects that enhance the
spirit of giving and fellowship for
ECC students, faculty, staff and for
those in the community.
One of the association’s Christmas
projects is the Needy Family Drive.
Two Edgecombe County families are
selected to receive food and toys
which are contributed by students,
teachers and anyone willing to give.
This drive is a serious effort, not just
a casual project. Verne Jacobs, SGA
president, heads the drive this year.
She and her committee will make
posters, write memos, and request
that instructors promote the effort in
classes. Receiving stations will be set
up in the student centers on the Tar
boro campus and at the Rocky Mount
center.
Another annual project of the SGA
is the sponsoring of a float for both
Tarboro and Rocky Mount Christmas
parades. The theme of this year’s
float was “Sounds of Christmas.” The
float was decorated with a Christmas
tree, candy canes, and a lamp post.
Everett Smith, purchasing
agent/Oquipment coordinator at
ECC, sang carols down the main
streets of Tarboro and Rocky Mount.
Riding on the float with Smith were
Student Government representatives
and Ms. ECC, Allison Battle of Rocky
Mount, a criminal justice student.
Battle, the first Ms. ECC, was
elected in the newly begun Ms. ECC
contest. Sponsored by the SGA, any
female student, married or single,
can enter. According to the rules,
those who enter have to have a 2.5 or
better grade-point average, and have
to be inVolved in community and
school activities.
Placing and decorating a tree in the
Rocky Mount Center Student Lounge
each year is a third SGA Christmas
project.
This year the organization had a
"Lighting of the Tree Ceremony” on
the Tarboro campus. A cedar tree,
approximately 35 feet tall, outside the
administrative building was
decorated by SGA members and
lighted at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec.
15. Students, faculty, and staff
members gathered around the tree
for its lighting. Smith and Tony
Deaton. ECC visiting artist, led the
group in singing Christmas carols.
Afterward a reception with light
refreshments was held in the student
lounge.
Christmas is not the only time this
*
group is active. They nave ongoing
projects all year long.
Student Appreciation Week is held
yearly during the summer quarter.
The SGA plans events and contests
with prizes throughout the week and
has a hot dog cookout as the
culminating activity.
One activity of particular interest
is Field Day. Among the other events
the SGA rents a dunking booth which
is the highlight of the day. Ad
ministrators and teachers are good
sports and agree to be dunked time
and time again. The money raised
from the booth is given to the ECC
Foundation.
This year a semiformal dance for
students was sponsored by the SGA in
May. It was held at the Sheraton
Hotel in Rocky Mount and was at
tended by more than 300 students and
guests.
The SGA is totally involved with
graduation activities. It sponsored a
sandwich buffet luncheon for every
student who participated in the com
mencement exercise practice this
year. Every year at graduation the
organization also presents several
awards to students, faculty and staff
members.
The group provides scholarships
and makes a contribution to the ECC
Foundation annually.
The SGA has a project for the
Thanksgiving holiday as well. This
project is usually treating a needy
family to a Thanksgiving dinner.
Every quarter but summer
quarter, the North Carolina Com
prehensive Community College Stu
dent Government Association holds a
state meeting. The ECC Student
Government Association always at
tends. The group is also very active in
the Eastern Division of the N4CSGA.
Ginny McLendon, counselor for
ECC and advisor for the SGA, said,
"It is such a pleasure to work with
this group. The new president, Verne
Jacobs, is bright, industrious,
creative and is a good leader, so 1MB
should be another successful year for
the SGA. In fact it may be our beet
year. The new officers have many
new and interesting ideas.”
They plan to begin a scrapbook, a
student newsletter and a college
yearbook. The group also has plans
for a dance, hat day, an Easter egg
hunt, a Valentine party, a field day
and several dinners among other
things.
McLendon, the SGA officers and
representatives join the ECC faculty
and staff in wishing the college’s
friends and supporters a very marry
Christmas and a happy, healthy and
prosperous New Year.
i (Baugh above from Ml an Sydney
lor needy Nicholson, Carlton NicholsoR.
Wendell recently. Pictured Bowen of Jones Barter Shop.
-■r.i'VvViM.l
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IH-|
Baxter and Richard