It is time for the Lumbee people to be ‘idle no more” To the Editor,
If you asked the man on the street, he might say that the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is controlled by roughly 300 of its 57,000 members. These numbers mean that almost zero percent of our enrolled tribal population is doing everything for themselves and nothing for 100 percent of our tribe.
I estimate that 99 percent of all Lumbee people are not interested or concerned with our tribal government. We feel our government ...
Moving fourth graders wrong answer to Tanglewook crowding To the Editor,
I understand that during the next meeting of the Robeson County’s Board of Education, a vote will be taken over a suggestion to transfer Tanglewood’s fourth graders to Gilbert Carroll Middle. The rational behind the suggestion is because Tanglewood is overcrowded. I find this proposal almost corrupt.
It is true that Tanglewood Elementary (K-4) is crowded, and it probably has reached its capacity. The reason for that is beca...
Sand mining operation would pose a cancer risk To the Editor,
A building worth $22 million does not disguise the fact nor will it contain the cancer-causing substance known as crystalline silica. Silica is in sand.
When silica sand grains are broken, tiny particles of crystalline silica “dust” are produced. These particles are so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye, so light they can stay in the air and can travel long distances. These very tiny, sharp silica particles are sma...
Old City Hall should have a place in city’s historic future To the Editor,
I support the petition of Blake Tyner to save one of Lumberton’s most historic buildings. Since 1917, this building has served as the City Hall, the fire station and the town library. It should be the centerpiece of “Historic Downtown Lumberton” — a status the city trumpets in numerous signs along Interstate 95. If we choose to destroy this landmark, how can we in good faith assert that a “Historic Downtown” has meaning?
Th...
New Pope offers a lesson to our public school officials To the Editor,
The new leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics is Pope Francis the First.
Pope Francis prefers to ride the bus or take a taxi rather than be chauffeured in a limo. The Holy Father tells time on an ordinary black wrist watch. He is known for cooking his own meals and living in simplicity and necessity, rather than in luxury. I doubt Pope Francis will wear a ring bearing his image outlined in diamonds.
Pope Francis, in...
Rowland resident explains her objection on animal shelter fee To the Editor,
My name is Kay Turner and it was stated in a story about the Rowland Board of Commissioners meeting in Wednesday’s The Robesonian that I thought the price I had to pay to feed my dog at the town’s shelter was too high. I agree that I didn’t believe the price was appropriate.
However, that was not the reason I was there. I was there because my dog had been caught in a trap and was retained for approximately two days. However...
Hunt as CEO doesn’t deserve bonus as school system fails To the Editor,
As a parent of a student of the Public Schools of Robeson County, I would like to address Superintendent Johnny Hunt’s performance. Last year during the budget crisis, Dr. Hunt and the Board of Education’s solution was to reduce the number of teacher assistants although Raleigh insisted there was enough money to retain all the teacher assistants. Not once did Dr. Hunt offer to cut administrative positions. There are mentoring...
Bills hurt state residents but at least we get a possum drop To the Editor,
On the same day Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that blocked Medicaid expansion and allowed for the possum drop to occur on New Year’s Eve. Previously, he signed a bill that reduced the amounts received and the length of duration for unemployment benefits.
So let us tally up the figures: 70,000 people adversely affected by unemployment reductions; 500,000 adversely affected by having no health insurance; and a couple hundred...
Will the county commissioners keep their backs turned on residents? To the Editor,
The “Wizard of Oz” is an absolutely wonderful story mostly enjoyed as a child. Real life shouldn’t mimic Dorothy’s nightmare. Symbolically, “Pay No Attention To the Man (Men) Behind the Curtain” has become reality for Robeson citizens.
Our county commissioners are at the controls of Robeson County and they fail to realize that “Toto” is removing the curtain slowly. Tragically amazed, Robeson residents — Dorothy and cCrew — ...
Tribal Council only hurting efforts for tribal recognition To the Editor,
Well, it looks like the children on the Tribal Council are at it again. I am referring to the article in The Robesonian on March 6 about the Lumbee Tribal Council turning down Chairman Paul Brooks’ nomination of Steven Hunt for the position of tribal administrator. When Mr. Brooks first announced that he chose Mr. Hunt for the position of tribal administrator, I would have bet $100 that the Tribal Council would not vote him i...
God is absent in this county; a great awakening is needed To the Editor,
Sometime ago I wrote a letter to the editor saying, “Where is God?” Nothing has changed; everything is still the same.
For example, I recently attended a community meeting where some of the board members were conducting themselves in an ignorant manner as if they had no respect for the positions they hold. We have no respect for the house of God because we have no respect for God. God is holy and righteous and we must view ...
Judge Daniels says article misrepresented her comments To the Editor,
I thank The Robesonian for its article covering the county’s King Day celebrations. I was pleased that actual quotations attributed to me were almost completely accurate.
However, I deny other statements attributed to me. I did not refer to blacks or any race when I said that my exposure to life in Robeson County as a whole was limited while growing up in Parkton. I did not say that I witnessed “racial inequality” when runn...
NFL’s Panthers should pay for work, not the taxpayers To the Editor,
Our NFL team, the Carolina Panthers, is asking the citizens of Charlotte for $144 million and the state of North Carolina for $62.5 million to renovate the Panther football stadium located here in Charlotte. In order for this to happen, our state legislature is being asked to approve a 1 percent prepared food and beverage tax for the bedraggled taxpayers of Charlotte and a $62.5 million grant from our state treasury.
Charlo...
Commissioners’ spokesmen fail in putting up a defense To the Editor,
We want to thank all who participated in the commissioners’ meeting, both for and against, the commissioners’ compensation package and the discretionary funds process, which was an awesome show of democracy in action. We apologize to those who could not obtain seating or hear the presentations.
The commissioners’ defense strategy fell short.
They failed to inform their spokesmen that the issue was process, not use of the ...
Fire station gets makeover thanks to generous donors To the Editor,
The Furman K. Biggs Fire Station on Bailey Road has received a facelift thanks to a few generous donors. To the delight of the firefighters who call the station their second home, the makeover began during the summer months and were recently completed. In 1983, the fire station was constructed in honor of Furman K. Biggs and has since been one of the homes of the Lumberton firefighters.
Kenny and Bonnie Biggs along with Mrs...
Humane Society thanks sponsors, volunteers for annual Fur Ball To the Editor,
The Robeson County Humane Society recently held its 10th annual Fur Ball at the Pinecrest Country Club, which raised money to support the society’s shelter, where adoptable cats and dogs are cared for until loving permanent homes can be found.
The proceeds are also being used to support a spay-neuter program for low-income county residents, so fewer animals will be homeless or have to be put down at the pound. Since this pr...
