MONDAY
SUPPORT GROUP: Founders hope for greater awareness. 1C
January 4, 2010 125th year No. 4
AL-QAIDA THREATS: US, UK close embassies in Yemen. 5A
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OVERTIME PAYOFF: Wake works 2 extra periods for victory. 1D
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Judge refuses to end Arnold case Inside...
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Commissioner’s financial woes continue. 1B
BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISES STAFF WRITER
GUILFORD COUNTY – A federal judge refused last week to end Guilford County Commissioner Steve Arnold’s 2007 bankruptcy case and scolded him for attempting to avoid a $1.2 million debt. Arnold, a High Point Republican, signed a line of credit for his construction company, Arcon Inc., with Manuel and Christine Perkins in 2002. A Guilford
County Superior Court judgment later ordered Arnold to repay the Perkinses for the Brightwood Farm subdivision project loan after Arnold stopped payments in 2005 and the parties reached new settlement terms in 2006. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas W. Waldrep Jr. found that Arnold attempted to avoid repaying the land development loan by transferring several properties to family members in May 2007, but he also ruled that the Perkinses, the only creditors to sue Arnold, failed to prove their unfair and deceptive trade practices claim against Arnold in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. “The Perkinses have shown by a preponderance of the evidence
that Mr. Arnold had the fraudulent intent to hinder, delay, or defraud his creditors,” the judge concluded. “Arnold violated the bankruptcy code and is Arnold not entitled to receive a bankruptcy discharge.” Waldrep denied the Perkinses’ claim partly because the state’s unfair practices law requires a showing of damages to consumers or the marketplace. Arnold transferred several land parcels, located near his house and adjacent to his parents’ residence, to his parents and fatherin-law, according to court records, including 12 acres at Avondale
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Street to Joel Carter, his fatherin-law. Arnold testified in a December 2007 bankruptcy hearing that releasing the properties just days before a court hearing was a coincidence, but he acknowledged that the property was transferred “to preclude one of my creditors from coming after it.” “Arnold transferred properties to different family members, just before the close of business on a Friday,” the judge concluded, “knowing that a judgment would be entered against him the following Monday morning. The court refused to believe this was a coincidence.”
Cecil Bishop, a bishop for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, will be keynote speaker at the 50th Sitin Anniversary Breakfast Feb. 1 in the Empire Ballroom in Greensboro. Bishop worked to bridge the generational divide between adults and students of the African-American community to desegregate local businesses.
dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626
Consumer complaints
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Slumping economy led to more scams in ’09 BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
TRIAD – It appears that one group didn’t experience a slow year in 2009 – con artists. The Better Business Bureau of Central North Carolina reported last week on the top 10 scams people reported to the nonprofit consumer protection group during 2009.
Leading types of scams during 2009 in Piedmont:
The scams range from fictitious lottery winnings and mortgage rescue offers to phony debt collection and job hunting schemes. Of the top 10 scams in the central Piedmont covered by the local BBB, all but one involve an economic, business or financial hook to lure in victims. The scams range from fictitious lottery winnings and mortgage rescue offers to phony debt collection and job hunting schemes, the BBB reports. The number of scams or attempted scams monitored by the BBB increased during 2009, a development attributed to the sour economy, said Tom Corrigan, spokesman for the Greensboro-based group. The BBB estimates that it received about 20 percent more scam calls in 2009 than 2008. “Not only are there more scams, but what I am able
Lottery scam – The victims receive a notice indicating they’ve won millions. But they have to wire hundreds of dollars to get their winnings. The check bounces after the scammers have received the wire transfer. Foreclosure “rescue” – Loan scammers ask victims to pay upfront costs of hundreds of dollars. But they never get the help they need. Mystery shopping – The victim is asked to shop a few places and wire money. A seemingly real looking check is supposed to cover the costs, but ends up being fake. Debt restructuring – People are tricked into paying the scammers and only later find out that their credit card debt hasn’t gone away. Robocalls – The robocalls often claim that someone’s auto warranty is about to expire — which isn’t true — or offers help in reducing interest rates on credit cards. Phony debt collectors – Con artists call and say someone owes money to a store from years ago and they purchased the debt. The victim is pressured to pay. Job hunter scams – Scams targeting job hunters vary, including offers to find employment for an upfront fee or attempts to gain access to personal financial information such as bank account numbers. Work from home scam – Many people thought they were getting a job with reputable company when they were being lured into a scheme. Friend/family in distress – Also known as the grandma scam, the victim receives a call or message on Facebook from a friend or family member claiming that they are outside the country and have gotten into trouble. The victim is asked to wire thousands of dollars to pay for lawyer’s fees or to post bail; none of it is true. Transient contractors – They claim they have left over construction supplies that they can sell or use at a steep discount. But they take the money and flee.
Source: Better Business Bureau of Central North Carolina to see is that the economy has made people more vulnerable,” he said. People in dire straits to find a job, secure income or get a loan are more des-
perate and might fall for a pitch that they would ignore if their circumstances were better, Corrigan said. The N.C. Attorney General’s Office in Raleigh re-
Mary Leslie English | HPE ports that consumer complaints for 2009 are on track to roughly equal 2008. As of mid-day Wednesday, the Attorney General’s office had received
18,088 consumer complaints. The state agency received 19,031 complaints for all of 2008. pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528
Candidates get jump on 2010 campaigns ENTERPRISE STAFF REPORT
GUILFORD COUNTY – Local Republicans and Democrats aren’t wasting any time getting started with political activity for 2010. Democratic State Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a party candidate for the U.S. Senate nomination, will visit Greensboro Thursday. Marshall will speak to the
Marshall is seeking the Democratic Senate nomination along with two other announced candidates – attorney and former state legislator Cal Cunningham of Davidson County and attorney Kenneth Lewis of Durham. The Democratic Women of Guilford winner of the May 4 primary will County at 6:30 p.m. at the Congre- take on first-term Republican Sen. gational United Church of Christ, Richard Burr of Winston-Salem 400 W. Radiance Drive. in the Nov. 2 general election.
Filing for the 2010 campaigns will take place in February.
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Filing by candidates for the 2010 campaigns will take place in February. Meanwhile, the High Point Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at party headquarters, 715 W. Main St. in Jamestown. Local Republicans will be discussing plans for 2010, said High Point GOP Chairman Don Webb.
WARM PLACE TO STAY: Two years later, shelter keeps helping those in need. 1B OBITUARIES
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Von Everhart, 76 Frances Glascoe, 81 Donnie Hill, 89 Thomasine Hill Bobby Jones, 64 Michael Lassiter Daphania Parris, 95 Juanita Rosbor, 80 Barry Smith, 55 Hoyle Yarbrough, 77 Obituaries, 2B
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Chilly, sunny High 33, Low 19 6D
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