Lumberton, N.C. Established 1870 www.robesonian.com Heartland Publications, LLC All Rights Reserved Saturday January 14, 2012 Volume 142 No. 249 he obesonian Daily T R Sunday 50¢ $1 SmithBob Shiles defends Animal Controlfour dogs in his yard that dug Staff writer up flowers earlier that day. Too few officers to cover county Franklin said that he called LUMBERTON — The coun- local police and an officer ty Health Department doesn’t the director. “The order could use five or “Some days we will responded. By the time the have enough personnel or fund- of our priorities are six more officers have 40 dogs brought officer arrived at his residence, ing to promptly answer every rabies, dog bites, dan- and keep them here to the shelter,” she however, the dogs were gone. call and complaint received gerous animals, and then busy, but I don’t said. “Some days there Rowland officials told about dogs running loose nuisance complaints.” have money in may only be five.” Franklin that the county is throughout Robeson County, Lori Baxter, who my budget to hire On Tuesday, Rowland required to respond to animal according to its director. supervises the three more.” resident Eddie Franklin complaints. They also said “With only two of three Animal Control officers The number of asked members of that Rowland no longer has Animal Control officers on duty and is manager of the dog complaints Rowland’s town board an employee designated as an at any one time — because of county’s animal shelter Bill Smith and calls that Lori Baxter what can be done about Animal Control officer, and various reasons — we have in St. Pauls, agrees. the officers must dogs running loose in that there is no local animal to prioritize what calls we “Our officers are ridiculously answer varies daily, Baxter the community. He told the respond to,” said Bill Smith, overworked,” Baxter said. “I said. board that there were at least See DEFENDS | 6A Lumbee leader, Brooks, dies at 75 Ali Rockett Staff writer PEMBROKE — Dalton Brooks, who left his mark on the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Robeson County’s education system and the religious community, died Friday. He was 75. Brooks, of Pembroke, passed away at Southeastern Regional Medical Center suffering a heart attack this past week. As of late Friday, arrangements with Revels Funeral Home in Lumberton were Photo by WGHP still incomplete. The Montgomery County Sheriff described the man who killed three people Friday at a lumber company in Star as a disgruntled employee. “He was one of the most hum- ble human beings that I have ever met,” said the Rev. 3 die in workplace shooting Mac Legerton, co-founder and STAR (AP) — A gunman who When a sheriff’s deputy arrived at the McBride Lumber Co. when Davis executive direc- opened fire at a North Carolina lum- Davis’ house in Ether, in the central started firing. tor of the Center ber company targeted four of his co- part of the state, they knocked on the “It appears he went into the build- for Community workers with a shotgun Friday, killing door and no one answered. A deputy ing with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, Action, where three of them and critically injuring peered through the window and saw went up to these four individuals and Brooks served as Dalton Brooks the other person, police said. Davis sitting on the couch “with his shot each one of the four,” Owens chairman of the Ronald Dean Davis went home after head hung down.” said. board of directors for 10 years. the rampage at the warehouse and They entered and found him breath- The sheriff declined to release the “He would not have wanted to shot himself in the head, leaving ing, but with a single gunshot wound names of the victims, saying investi- draw attention to himself or his him critically wounded, Montgomery to his head, Owens said. gators were still in the process of con- accomplishments, but they are so County Sheriff Dempsey Owens said. A handgun and a six-page note were tacting their families. He said other great in number.” Davis, 50, was described as disgrun- found nearby. Police did not release than failing to validate a deer, Davis Brooks completed his under- tled, but the sheriff didn’t say exactly what the note said. didn’t have a criminal history. graduate studies at The University what he was upset over. “It goes into some details about “This is indeed a dark day in of North Carolina at Pembroke, “He knew who he was after. He some things. But really it rambles Montgomery County,” he said. where he later returned to teach knew who he was going to see,” he on,” Owens said. physics for three decades. He said. About 16 other employees were at See SHOOTING | 6A received his master’s degree from Temple University and a doctorate from the University of Miami. While teaching at UNCP, he also served as the pastor of Dundarrach Baptist Church in Hoke County for nearly 40 years. Obama renews ties with Myanmar In 1988, when the five pub- lic schools systems in the coun- ty merged, Brooks was selected United States to restore full diplomatic relations with Asian country once treated as a pariah as the chairman of the Board of Education for the newly-formed WASHINGTON (AP) — dreds of political prisoners, Pyongyang has sold Myanmar ists and even a former prime Public Schools of Robeson County. The United States is restoring but Washington prob- defense hardware, minister who had been blamed He also was elected as the first full diplomatic relations with ably will be looking for including missiles, in himself for incarcerating activ- chairman of the Lumbee Tribal Myanmar, a landmark in the fair conduct in coming defiance of internation- ists. Council when it was formed in Obama administration’s drive elections and an end to al sanctions. President Barack Obama, 2001 — a seat which his brother, to reward democratic reforms ethnic violence before it Myanmar President in a statement, described Paul Brooks, now holds. by a government the U.S. pre- lifts sanctions. Thein Sein pardoned the pardons as “a substantial According to Legerton, Brooks viously treated as a pariah. The U.S. also wants 651 detainees on step forward for democratic was a natural leader in the church The decision announced Myanmar to open up to Friday, among them reform.” and among his people, never Friday to exchange ambassa- U.N. nuclear inspectors leaders of brutally The U.S. decision follows knowing a stranger or seeing the dors with Myanmar for the and sever illicit military repressed democratic a historic visit by Hillary Barack Obama color of one’s skin. first time in two decades ties with North Korea uprisings, heads of eth- followed the release of hun- because of concerns that nic minority groups, journal- See MYANMAR | 6A See BROOKS | 6A WEATHER INDEX OBITUARIES SPORTS Classifieds . 6B Joyce West, 75, Ocean Isle Beach Comics . 5B James Monroe, 81, Fairmont Betty Barnes, 75, Bladenboro Editorial . 4A Fred Simmons , 79, Evergreen Prep hoops Nation . 3A Richard Dawson, 57, Chadbourn Sports . 1B Bessie Leak, 77, Red Springs The Fairmont boys State . 2A Genevea Bostick, Kingstree, S.C. fly by Red Springs. World . 5A Harriet Miller, 79, Council 51/28 Page 6A Page 1B Obituaries Archives News Sports Features www.robesonian.com 2A — The RobesoniAn, sATuRdAy, JAnuARy 14, 2012 LOCAL/STATE www.robesonian.com Terror ring Three men get 15-45 years in prison NEW BERN (AP) — Three terrorist acts. father. something that was incredibly Yaghi was convicted of con- members of a home-grown ter- “I believe I am innocent. There Hassan used his Facebook harmful and destructive.” spiracy to provide material sup- ror ring who conspired to attack was no conspiracy,” said Serifi, account and Internet forums The trio is among eight men port to terrorism and conspira- the Quantico U.S. Marine Corps who called his guilty verdict to post his own comments and who federal investigators say cy to carry out attacks overseas. base and foreign targets were unfair and prosecutors tyrants. videos by others encouraging raised money, stockpiled weap- Sherifi was convicted of both sentenced Friday to between 15 But U.S. District Judge Louise Muslims to fight nonbelievers ons and trained in preparation crimes, two counts of firearms and 45 years in federal prison. Flanagan said the men went and Muslims who did not agree for jihadist attacks. The plot possession, and conspiracy to Hysen Sherifi, 27, will serve beyond talk to planning vio- with their desire to establish “had a specific purpose — to kill federal officers or employees 45 years in prison; Ziyad Yaghi, lence. mandatory religious law, pros- inspire others to adhere to radi- for plotting the Quantico attack. 23, got nearly 32 years; and Yaghi was a “self-starter” in ecutors said. cal Islam and if you did not Hassan was convicted of provid- Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan, pursuing holy war against those Hassan also attempted to you were fair game,” prosecutor ing material support to terror- 24, was sentenced to 15 years. deemed un-Islamic and brought contact Anwar Al-Awlaki, an Jason Kellhofer said. ists, but acquitted of a charge of They faced the possibility of several potential jihadi recruits American-born Muslim preach- Hassan called his actions stu- conspiracy to carry out attacks life in prison. Each said they to ringleader Daniel Patrick er and al-Qaida propagandist, pid, but not a crime. overseas. would appeal their convictions Boyd, whose rural Johnston and emailed a co-conspirator “I did post some highly inflam- Boyd pleaded guilty to terror- and claimed innocence.