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January 10, 2010 125th year No. 10
BUYING A HOME? Federal tax credit can open many doors. 1D
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Minnie Ray of Thomasville received a 2010 MLK Community Service Award. The honor is bestowed by the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Action Committee.
Homicides lowest in 20 years BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – Despite predictions that crime would rise during a bad economy, High Point reported a sharp decline in homicides last year. After 11 slayings in 2008, only three took place in 2009 – the lowest homicide tally in at least 20 years, according to High Point police. Other cities across the country also saw declines, as violent crime continued to trend downward. “Some of these results may be related to what’s going on elsewhere, but they’re not down this
Chief calls Jim Summey instrumental in helping to focus on those who need attention. much nationally,” said police Chief Jim Fealy. “We’re real happy about it.” Police officials attributed the drop to several factors. The department has refined its approach to targeting violent criminals, ex-offenders, probationers and others who get notified by the Violent Crimes Task Force as part of a deterrence strategy. Fealy said having a detective assigned to the task force full time has had an impact. He also pointed to the work of High Point Community Against Violence Executive Director Jim Summey as instrumental in helping to focus on the people who need to hear the task force message that combines being
confronted by authorities while simultaneously offered assistance from the community at quarterly police department “callins.” “We’ve fine-tuned who needs calling in,” he said. “We’ve gotten pretty good at identifying who is likely to commit the next violent act.” The strategy has become “ingrained in the organization,” said police Maj. Marty Sumner. He pointed to an incident in November as an example. Two students at T. SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE Wingate Andrews High High Point Chief of Police Jim Fealy discusses steps taken to help reduce crime in city. School who were members of opposing gangs got into a confrontation at the school that spilled over into a large fight at the Daniel Brooks Homes public housing project, he said. Patrol officers responded and found a group of 50 to 100 people at the scene and made sevBY PAT KIMBROUGH The three homicides that eral arrests. ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER occurred in 2009 werethe “Usually, that’s where lowest tally in at least 20 years. it stops, but in this case HIGH POINT – High Point’s the patrol commander drop in homicides last year Homicide did a review of who was was part of a reduction in 1990 6 involved and what the overall crime. underlying cause was,” Statistics aren’t official 1991 11 Sumner said. yet, but police said they ex1992 10 Police, with help from pect the numbers to show a 1993 12 probation officials and 6 percent decrease in vioSONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE others, found out who lent crime and a 13 percent Jim Fealy cites programs 1994 14 among those involved dip in property crime com- that help control crime. 1995 11 was on probation or facpared to 2008. 1996 12 ing pending charges and “Huge reductions in bur- since it began keeping reused that information in glary, larceny and auto cords. For the first half of 1997 15 communicating what had theft,” said police Chief 2009, homicides reportedly 1998 13 happened to their parents. Jim Fealy. “Especially with fell 10 percent nationwide 1999 4 They also made school ofthe economy the way it has compared with the same ficials aware and involved been, the property crime period in 2008. 9 2000 them in a review of the inExperts point to several number is incredible.” 2001 12 cident. The city’s 2009 homicide factors that appear to be 5 2002 “That probably averted tally was the lowest since having an impact on the another incident,” Sumat least 1990. Police said data from a national stand2003 8 ner said. “What we’re seestatistics prior to that year point. For one, studies that 2004 10 ing, I think, is that these have estimated that the are unavailable. 2005 8 are some results realized Other cities have report- homicide rate could be as from our long-term strated drastic reductions in ho- much as five times higher 9 2006 egy using focused determicides for 2009. They were in the absence of innova2007 10 rence.” down about 30 percent in tions in trauma care and 11 2008 Charlotte, while New York SOURCE: High Point Police Dept. reported its fewest killings pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531 TREND, 2A
Drop part of overall downward trend
Trinity tackles truck ordinance at retreat BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – The Trinity City Council will revisit a controversial ordinance surrounding the parking of tractor-trailers in residential neighborhoods. Following a hour-long discussion during its annual retreat at the Courtyard Marriott in High Point on Saturday, the City Council directed staff to rework the ordinance that prohibited truck drivers from parking their tractor-trailers on their own property in residential neighborhoods. A moratorium was placed on the ordinance during a October preagenda meeting until the fol-
lowing month’s meeting, where the City Council decided to table the ordinance until its retreat. The ordinance, which was approved in August, prohibited the parking of large trucks – including cab and trailer, cab only and/ or trailers – in residential neighborhoods. The ordinance also prohibited the parking of large trucks on any public street unless in the process of loading and unloading. Despite some opposition from City Council members, the governing body formed a consensus to rework the ordinance based on suggestions from staff. Under the proposal, trucks and trailers will not be allowed to park
in R-20, R-12 and RM zoning districts on local street frontage and corner lots abutting local street frontage. Residents in R-20, R-12 and RM who have major or minor street frontage would be allowed to park one truck only on their property, but it would be required to be screened from view. Those living in residential agricultural districts (more than 2.5 acres) that have local, major or minor street frontage would be allowed to park one truck and trailer per property if the two are screened from view. “I think this is the most balanced proposal brought forth yet as far as taking all things into consideration,” Councilman Ty-
ler Earnst said. “You are defining neighborhoods. For me, that was the important thing.” The issue of parking tractortrailers has been controversial in Trinity, drawing a standing-roomonly crowd at the City Council’s September meeting. Five citizens attended Saturday’s retreat to hear the discussion on the ordinance but were not permitted to speak because the meeting was a work session. Adam Stumb, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, said staff may have a ordinance for the City Council’s consideration in February. dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657
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INSIDE
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LUNCHEON FOR VETS: Event focuses on disability benefits. 1B OBITUARIES
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LeKeisha DeWitt, 32 Mildred Garlington, 62 JoDeane Leonard, 77 Romie McMiller, 61 James Parlier, 67 Charles Pennington, 79 Lassie Robbins, 94 Obituaries, 2B
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Sunshine High 36, Low 17 8C
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