The Robesonian from Lumberton, North Carolina • Page 1

Temperature 24-Hour high 57, Low 34. Noon today, 49 degrees. THE ROBESONIAN Call 739-4322 Have ynur Robesonian delivered at home VOL. CIV--No. 48 PUBLISHED WEEKDAYS AND SUNDAY IN ROBESON COUNTY LUMBERTON, N.C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1073 ESTABLISHED 1870 COUNTRY GOD AND TRUTH TWENTY-FOUR PAGES-Price 10 cents Snowfall Blankets Midwest, Northeast By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An early spring storm that paralyzed parts of the Midwest churned across the Northeast today bringing heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

Freeze or frost warnings were extended from Missouri and Dlinois into the Ohio Valley and to the Gulf Coast states. Only Florida was expected to be spared. Birmingham, reported a record April 10 low of 31 degrees. Heavy-snow warnings were posted for parts of Maine, where five inches already had hit Rumford. Greenville and Houlton had four inches.

Several more inches were predicted for today. Gale-force winds pounded much of the Great Lakes region and the northern New England coast. In the Midwest, where the' storm struck fiercely Monday and Tuesday, cleanup operations progressed and most snow-clogged highways were opened. Fair skies prevailed over most of the nation outside the East, The death count for storm-related incidents totaled 30 for Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Most of the victims were pushing cars, shoveling snow or seeking shelter from the storm when they died.

Moderate temperatures were expected to help the Iowa situation, but just as relief was coining, a new peril arose-flooding streams. The National Weather Service said the Des Moines River, Cedar Creek a'nd the Skunk River all would be over their banks by the weekend. In Missouri, new concern was expressed about the flooding Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the Corps of Army Engineers was assessing possible effects of the storm and additional snow melt on the St. Louis in Illinois and Missouri withstood a strong attack from the pounding of six-foot waves stirred up by winds up to 60 miles per hour Tuesday. Flooding in Monroe County, south of Detroit, and the Toledo, Ohio, area were said to be the worst in the past half- century.

Damage estimates soared into the millions as residents began returning to homes damaged by the storm-tossed waters of Lake Erie. Investigation Launched Pre-Dawn Fire Destroys Winn-Dixie Supermarket Fire of undetermined origin ravaged the Winn-Dixie store at Biggs Park Shopping Center around 3 a.m. today. Damage estimates are incomplete at this lime, although the particular section of building occupied by Winn-Dixie and all of its contents were burned. Some smoke damage occurred at Sugar's store and Biggs store, bul most of that damage was said to be minor.

Local authorities are not revealing whether or not arson is suspected, but have launched a full investigation in an attempt to reveal the origin of the fire this morning. According to reports, Nathan Nobles and Barry Teague were making their regular morning newspaper delivery route rounds when they observed a fire that appeared to be on top of the Winn-Dixie Store at about 2:45 a.m. Teague pulled I lie fire alarm (See'E 1 oiiPage2) LUMBERTON FIREMAN George Small grimaces as he strains while making an adjustment to some gear on the ladder truck's firefighting equipment. The ladder truck proved to be useful in helping to control the blaze at the Winn-Dixie Store at Biggs Park Shopping Center this morning. (McLaurin Photo) Grace Period Possible- Auto Pollution Deadline Extension Decision Near By STAN BENJAMIN Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON AP) Environmental Protection Administrator William D.

Ruckelshaus today announces whether the auto industry will get extra time to meet antipoliution standards. Ruckelshaus could insist that auto makers meet the 1975 antipollution deadline established by law or he could give them a Action Line ACTION LINE answers questions from readers, with information from local sources. It is concerned with the problems of individuals relating to public agencies and services, and with questions of general interest. Write Action Line, The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., or dial 739-4325 How many single men are there in Robeson County? According to the census taken in 1970, there were 9,274 single males in Robeson County age 14 and over. The Navy Show Band that was here in Lumberton on March 22, did a tremendous job and I would like to send a note of thanks and appreciation.

Where do I write and to whom do 1 address the letter? A.W. Weather Freeze and frost warnings are in effect throughout the area for tonight. Clear skies and cold temperatures are forecast for tonight with lows around freezing and risk of scattered frost. Mostly sunny skies and warmer temperatures will prevail on Thursday. Winds will be west 10 to 15 m.p.h.

and gusty loday and west to southwest 5 m.p.h. or less tonight. Rainfall probability is near zero loday and Thursday. The level of Lumber River was measured at 13.35 feet this morning at (he Moore Bridge checkpoint. Sunrise and sunset: today, 5:50 a.m.

and 6:45 p.m.; Thursday, 5:48 a.m. and 6:46 p.m. It might be well to send two letters. Address letters to the Commanding Officer, U. S.

Recruiting District, P. 0. Box 2506 Raleigh, 27602; and the director of the band, CWO John D. Fluck, School of Music, USNAB-Little Creek, Norfolk, Va. 23521.

How would a person go about getting a dirt road paved that is used by many families? J.N. According to a spokesman for the Slate Highway Commission, "The present Highway Commission is in the process of reviewing existing policies and procedures. A rating sheet will be prepared to be used to evaluate each unpaved section of roadway in Robeson County. This will be done in each county throughout the state. The roads can then be compared and a priority established.

The priority list will be followed from the number one priority down the list as long as funds are available. The Highway Commission wili strictly adhere to this priority system and it is expected that the roads with the higher priorities will be paved unless there is a right-of-way (See'C'onPage2) one-year extension and set interim slandards for the 1975 cars. Under a 1970 law, emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons had to be reduced 90 per cent in 1975-modeI cars. A 90-per-cent reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions was required for 1976 models. Expressed as grams per mile, federal standards permit emissions of 39 grams of carbon monoxide from 1974 cars; 3.4 of hydrocarbons, and 3.1 of nitrogen oxides.

The original 1975 standards required that carbon monoxide emissions be reduced to only 3.4 grains per mile and hydrocarbons to 0.41. American Motors asked to continue the 1974 federal standards through 1975. General Motors requested continuation of the 1974 standards but thought it could cut emissions somewhat below Ihem. Ford and Chrysler proposed interim standards somewhat more strict than the 1974 standards bul still far above the original 1975 limits. The clean-air law permits no extension of the 1076 nitrogen oxide reduction, bul ii allowed the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to postpone the 1975 requirements for one year if he determined a --A suspension would be in the public interest; --The industry had made a good-faith effort to meet the 1975 deadline; --The necessary technology was not available in time, --And, available information did not prove the contrary.

Early last year, auto makers requested a one-year extension bul Ruckelshaus turned them down after Ihree weeks of public hearings. AIM Officer Faces Arson Link Charge Bill Sargent, Eastern Director for the American Indian Movement and treasurer of the Eastern National office was arrested by Slate Bureau of Investigation Agents Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to commit arson in connection with the burning of Joe's Cash Store near Pembroke. Four others have been arrested.and charged with the "burning of the sore; They are: David Leon Locklear, of Rt. 2, Pembroke, Roy Deese of rural a and two American Indian Movement Coordinators, Michale Little Wolf of Kentucky and Larry Blacksmith of Oklahoma. The warrant for Sargent's arrest, was requested by Robeson County authorities following an investigation into the fire bombing of the store.

Joe's Cash Store, located near Pate's Stock Yard west of Pembroke, burned to the ground on the night of March 18, the same day a Old Main (Sce'D 1 on Page WINN-DIXIE STORE at Biggs Park was destroyed by fire early this morning. A portion of the roof hangs down among the rubble and charred merchandise. The store was total loss, but firemen prevented the blaze from spreading to businesses on either side. (Bill Norment Photo) $250,000 Fund-Raising Needed Methodist Retirement Home Approved For Lumberton Lumberton will gel a Methodist Retirement Home as Flood-Disaster Relief For City Denied; 'Public Damage Absent' Lumberton has been denied disaster relief to help repair flood damage because state agencies do not consider the extent of damage sufficient and because no damage was sustained by public properties. Mayor J.

Earl Musselwhile of Lumberton, on March 12, wrote to Gov. Jim Holshouser asking that the Office of Emergency Preparedness determine if Lumberton could be declared a disaster area, a preface to obtaining government assistance. He included the fact that 222 homes were damaged, none of which were loss insured, and 15 small businesses, also uninsured. He noted the repeated rise of the river and the fact that the American Red Cross has dispersed more than $17,000 in flood aid. Answering for the governor, David L.

Brill, director of the State Civil Defense Agency, wrote; "Damage estimates have been compiled by this office utilizing Civil Defense personnel in conjunction with the Department of Transportation and Highway Safety. Based on the prerequisites established hy the federal law upon the estimates and considered judgement of this agency, unfortunately it is our belief that the extent of damage in Lumberton does not justify such a request. "The information contained in your letter to the governor stales that only private homes and business damage was sustained. The absence of public damage further causes our See'A' on Page 2) soon as the community raises $250,000 and obtains about 50 acres of suitable land. The Board of Trustees of the Methodist Retirement Homes mceling at their Durham home on Tuesday, unanimously approved the recommendation of the Long-Range Planning Committee that I he new facility be located in Lumberton.

There was a mild form of opposition from some of Ihose wilh interest in the Edcnlon area which was also considered as a possible site of the home. In the Executive Committee meeting in the morning, at which lime the planning committee's report was accepted prior to the Board of Trustees i Tom a ad- minislralor of Edenlon Hospital, pointed oul a Edenton met Ihe guidelines and wanled to know why it was not chosen. He lalcr said privately a he felt Ihe presence in Robeson County of more a 90 per cenl of the minority races from the North Carolina Conference was Ihe primary reason for the decision, one he did not consider wholly valid. He said there was a fairly large black population in Ihe Edenton district. The entire matter of race was conspicuously absent from Ihe presentations of the planning (Sec Photo, P.

2) Plan No Further Sessions With Robeson Group State's Indian Affairs Commission Will Hear Any Grievances, Says Its Chairman INDEX Classified 15 Comics Editorial 12 Entertainment 5. 1'3 Obituaries Sports 9-10 Television 5 Women's News 0-7 By ED ROWLAND Associated Press Writer The North Carolina Commission for Indian Affairs "will hear (grievances) from any tribe," i chairman says. W. R. Richardson nf Ri.

1, Hollister, chief of Ihe Haliwa Tribe in Halifax and Warren counties, is acting chairman of the Iwo-year-old commission. He told The Associated Press Tuesday that the commission has heard from Tuscarora Indians from Robeson County at one recent meeling bul plans no furiher active session with them. A group from Robeson is in Raleigh, seeking to have (he commission called i special session In hear their grievances, which include recognition as a iribc. The Indian commission was established by ihc 1971 General Assembly. H.

Pat Taylor of Wadesboro, who was lieuienani governor at Ihe time and who was an ex-officio member until leaving office early this year, recalls meeting wilh the organization twice. "The iheory behind it was i a i they (Indians) needed some organization to express i inlcrests, Ihcir concerns. I've thought righi much about it in view nf recent evcnls and I think a not a bad idea," Taylor said. "If we'd created Ihe inaian commission 15 years ago we might not have the problems we have loday. One of Ihe things aboul government is that il never tries to solve a problem i il becomes a crisis.

"I feel like Ihe commission never got starled good," Taylor added. The commission has an executive director, Early Maynor of Pembroke, 12 members who represent four Indian groups, and Raleigh offices. It meets every three months wilh Ihe nexl scheduled session April 20, according In a spokesman for the Tuscaroras. a i a Richardson could nol confirm Ihc date. Richardson, who poinled out he was clcclcd vice a i a of Ihc commission but has held the chairmanship because the f(inner officer sleppcd down before his term expired, indicated he believes Ihe organization can be useful to Indians.

"It's not doing what we hoped it would do; il's new," he said. The a i commission empowered il In pinpoint problems a i Indians and seek solutions. Members are Ihe Haliwas, Lumbecs from Robeson County, Cnharrics from Sampson Coun- ly and Waccamaws from Ihe Lake Waccamaw area. Former slate Sen. Zcb Alley of Wayncsville, one of Ihe legislators instrumental in gelling Ihe enabling acl passed, said oilier slales have similar commissions.

He noted thai even though the eastern North Carolina Indians are not recognized iribcs, "Ihcy have problems associated with Indians--poverty, the need for jobs." The Cherokees of Ihe North Carolina mountains, (lie slale's largesl tribe, are not on the commission. Alley said at the lasl minute in 1971 session committee, but was included in the written report as one of the reasons Lumberton was chosen. The Rev. Harold Lealherman, a i a of the a i i said after Ihe Iruslees meeting at which the Lumberton a i was approved i (Sec'G'on Page2- Tuscaroras, Hunt Hold Brief Talks RALEIGH (AP) LI. Gov.

Jim Hunt met briefly with leaders of Ihc Robeson County Indian coalition Tuesday, bul the chief of the protesting Tuscaroras indicated his group would "stay right on" in Raleigh until Ihe Commission on Indian Affairs convened lo hear its grievances. About 75 Indians and sympa- thelic blacks marched to the Carolina legislative building for Ihe conference with Chief Howard Brooks said he was "very satisfied" i Hunt's remarks during the 12- minute meeting. He told his followers Hunl "has indicated that if he could be of any help he would be glad lo help." Brooks rejected an offer earlier Tuesday lo meet with Gov. Jim Holshouser, claiming Holshouser was trying to divide Hie Indians by' his efforts to call in "responsible Indian leaders." (Sec'F'on Page2).