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Inside Today SATURDAY, November 28, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 279
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Council opens way ‘Bikes for $30...it was worth it’ for auto repair shop, but permit needed Property on North Garnett Street is in the proper zone, but it’s now nonconforming By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
The Henderson City Council earlier this week approved allowing automobile repair facilities to obtain a special use permit with conditions, such as the radius from adjacent properties, if they are located in any business district where they are presently allowed. Real estate agent Karen Stainback told the council that an unnamed potential buyer would like to open a car restoration business at 1343 N. Garnett St., which is in an aging area between North Beckford Drive and the Interstate 85/Bypass U.S. 158 interchange. “I think that that would be an improvement, not only for the area, but for economic development for Henderson,” Stainback said, referring to the vacant building at that
location as an eyesore. The location was once an automobile dealership and was later a tractor business before becoming the site of Coverall, which was in the business of parking roofs for vehicles. The Coverall site has been vacant for 2 1/2 to three years and the building has many broken windows, Stainback said. The council’s vote Monday night for the zoning amendment was 7-0, with Councilman Bernard Alston absent from the meeting. Stainback will now have to seek the special use permit from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The amendment had already been recommended by the Planning Board. Planning Director Erris Dunston said that there is a radius of 500 feet from any house or residential district and that this is Please see COUNCIL, page 3A
Zoning amendment eases limits on sign advertising By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
Henderson City Council approved Monday night a zoning amendment that will allow advertising in a neighborhood business district by a special use permit. This would mean businesses on properties back off of busy thoroughfares in the district could seek Board of Adjustment approval to have signage more closely along the roadway for motorists’ visibility. Councilman Garry Daeke voted no. In other business, the council: • Approved allowing retiring Senior Police Officer Daniel Currin III to receive his badge and sidearm, which is standard procedure when an officer
steps aside from the force. Currin’s retirement takes effect on Dec. 1. • Authorized extension of a lease agreement with Archer Western Contractors of Morrisville so the company can continue to use the former public works building at 120 Ramsey St. off North Beckford Drive and adjacent to Interstate 85. The city is to receive $600 a month from the company, which has been rehabilitating a segment of I-85. • Formally approved the results of the Oct. 6 municipal election. Re-elected Mayor Pete O’Geary, seven of the re-elected council members and Councilwoman-elect Sara Coffey are set to be sworn in at the Dec. 14 council meeting. Coffey defeated Councilman Bernard Alston, who was not present for Monday night’s council meeting.
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Shoppers leave Wal-Mart just after 5 a.m. Friday with a pair of bicycles purchased during the store’s early bird sale. One customer left the store with seven bikes and saying how she had never been shopping that early. A reporter asked her if it was worth it? Her reply, “Bikes for $30, yeah, it was worth it!” Wal-Mart was open all night with the sale beginning at 5 a.m. At right, shoppers stand outside Staples just before 5:30 a.m. Friday waiting for the store to open at 6 a.m.
Sale prices, discounts draw shoppers early By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer
“Green Friday” might be a better description than “Black Friday” for some area merchants at the beginning of the post-Thanksgiving shopping season. They report surges of shoppers in search of sale prices and discounts. Betty Boyd, owner of Betty B’s on S. Garnett St., told The Daily Dispatch that business was “very, very good. We’ve been imprinting bibles and gift-wrapping items.” She added that usually on the day after Thanksgiving they see a pick-up in business later in the day, but this year it started in the morning. Like many other stores, Belk of Henderson Square opened its doors at 4 a.m. on Friday. Asked whether they had customers at
that early hour, Area Sales Manage Sasha Alston said, “They were here when we opened.” Interiors & Gifts Too, in downtown Henderson, served numerous customers on Friday morning. According to Evelyn Hedrick, the activity represented an increase over last year. When J. C. Penney Store Manager John Cho was asked what time they opened, he said, “Four o’clock.” What time did the customers start coming? “About four o’clock,” he replied. And he indicated in late morning that they were still coming. Unlike its neighbors in Henderson Square, the Wal-Mart SuperCenter remained open from Thanksgiving evening into Friday morning. Shoppers who came out early were allowed inside the store to
Henderson police drive helps eight families Index By DAILY DISPATCH STAFF
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Officer B. Bishop, right, and Officer J. West carry a box of food to a house on Water Street as Lt. S. Lawhorne and Sgt. D.A. Diogo wait by the van Wednesday afternoon. The group delivered food to eight families across Henderson that reached 43 people.
Eight Henderson families had a little more on the table this Thanksgiving — thanks to the efforts of the Henderson Police Department, according to Lt. Sandra Lawhorne. For the third consecutive year, officers conducted a November food drive. Several boxes were placed throughout the department for donations of nonperishable items. Assisted by personal donations and donations by Supply Line, Henderson Fruit and Produce, Food Lion and Walmart, the HPD assisted the 43 members of the families. The donations were divided equally among the families, and on Wednesday officers of the Power Shift made the deliveries.
shop, but sale prices did not take effect until the official start of the “doorbuster” sales at 5 a.m. Bicycles were particularly popular. One couple was seen leaving the store with seven bikes, bought for less than half price, but still boxed and requiring assembly at home. Craig Bailey at Vance Furniture said, “We’ve had good traffic. There are people in the store right now.” He added that the flow of customers was about typical for the day. But a good sign was that he had to cut the telephone interview short so he could take care of business. The Brass Shoppe’s Robert Teiser said the Thanksgiving-toChristmas period was important
Our Hometown . . . . . Business & Farm. . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . Light Side . . . . . . . . .
Please see SHOPPERS, page 3A
2A 5A 6A 7A
Deaths
Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4C Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-7C
Weather
Henderson Claude W. Davis Jr., 69 Thomas W. Johnson, 72 Joel S. Mosley, 60 Alfonso Perry, 36 Philadelphia, Pa. Delores W. Moore, 76 Warren County Joey R. Silver, 45 Warrenton Frank Williams, 81 Whitesville Eula Townes, 74
Obituaries, 4A
Today Sunny day
High: 57 Low: 33
Saturday Mostly sunny
High: 66 Low: 41
Details, 3A
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