TUESDAY
KEEPING IT GREEN: City sets Arbor Day celebration. 1B
April 27, 2010 126th year No. 117
ANOTHER YALE SLAYING: Police say doctor killed by colleague at home. 3A
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
TALLADEGA STORY: Harvick up, Labonte down after race. 1D
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Challenging Hege And the rest is history ENTERPRISE STAFF REPORT
Several people had been involved in establishing what became The High Point Enterprise, and J.J. Farriss certainly gets credit for positioning the newspaper as a major force throughout the community. But two people who bought all of the company’s outstanding stock in 1921 set the Enterprise on a journey that lasted nearly 80 years. Read all about it in the Enterprise’s anniversary edition coming out in May.
WHO’S NEWS
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Group questioning PROTEST candidacy gets hearing –According to state law, BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
LEXINGTON – A group of Davidson County residents challenging former sheriff Gerald Hege’s candidacy in the Republican primary will get a hearing May 7. At the request of board member Jon Myers, the Davidson County Board of Elections scheduled the hearing after the May 4 election, but before the May 11 canvass. The residents and Hege will have until May 5 to file briefs and arrange for legal counsel, the board ruled Monday. “Voting has begun, so we should have a stay,” Myers said. Early primary voting began April 15. Melisia Prout, the president of Salvation’s Way and a Forsyth County resident, organized the challenge. The challengers say Hege, a convicted felon, would be in direct violation of state law if elected because he would have control over firearms in the sheriff’s office.
it’s “unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to purchase, own, possess or have in custody, care or control any firearm or any weapon of mass death and destruction.” The challengers say Gerald Hege would be in direct violation if elected.
Donna A. James will be awarded an honorary degree at North Carolina A&T State University’s annual spring commencement May 8. James, a 1979 A&T graduate who grew up in Greensboro, is managing director of Lardon & Associates and has served as corporate director for many public companies.
SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Melisia Prout (right), president of Salvation’s Way, talks to Ida Paris as she records the proceedings.
“We are very happy that cials said they could not find Constitution,” Hege said. we got a hearing,” Prout Hege’s probation release pa- “It goes back to that.” Hege has contended that said. “We will file a brief for pers with his office filing pathe board with the witness- pers, Hege said he was con- the firearms argument is not es and the documents. Our fident that papers restoring an issue. “There is no state law I know of that requires case is on the qualifications, his citizenship are on file. “Those are the last pa- a sheriff to carry a firearm,” and we are most concerned about the general election pers you get as probation Hege said. “The president ballot, not so much about ends,” Hege said. “It’s just of the United States and the the primary. This gives us a matter of getting a copy governor do not carry one. of it.” more time to prepare.” Each deputy has qualificaLast week, the board de- tions to carry a firearm.” Hege has claimed the complaint does not make sense termined that the group’s Hege resigned as sherand should have been han- petition was a protest and iff in 2004 after pleading not a challenge allowed guilty to two felony counts dled before voting started. “We expected this to hap- within 10 days after a can- of obstruction of justice pen,” Hege said. “This is didate files for an office. for attempting to cover up no surprise. The board is The board decided to hear money missing from the giving them the benefit of constitutional and statu- vice and narcotics unit of the doubt. We don’t want tory arguments against the sheriff’s department. Hege’s candidacy. any doubt either.” “This is all about the Although elections offidnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626
Ragsdale musicians, actors perform
INSIDE
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LOCAL HEROES: Davidson 911 presents awards. 1B OBITUARIES
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Linda Allen, 55 Jessie Cornette, 85 Margaret Everhardt, 68 Wilton Furgurson, 83 Carolyn Hall, 48 John Russell, 79 James Snider, 79 Obituaries, 2B
Before you read...
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Last in a three-part series previewing this week’s “On Stage!” talent showcase.
WEATHER
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BY VICKI KNOPFLER ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
JAMESSONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE TOWN – Two groups of Performing with the Ragsdale orchestra will be Sarah Zamamri (front row, from left), Angelina Song, Leah Kouchel students – in- and Saraina Pierre. Back row (from left) are Chelsea Joyce, Ryan Wall, Andrew Song and Tea Kim. strumentalSome cast members from was musical director for came off an incredibly sucists and singthe March production of the full production and is cessful musical they’re ers – that will Inside... the school edition of the working with students for very proud of, and it gives represent R a g s d a l e Ragsdale arts get chance musical “Rent” will per- the “On Stage!” song. them another way to also ON STAGE! In both instances, teach- reflect the hard work they form a song from the show, High School to shine. 1B “Seasons of Love.” The ers decided to showcase put into that musical.” in the “On Local youth full production of “Rent” Ragsdale by taking advanStage!” talOldham created the talent in the An eight-member string involved 21 students in tage of what already was string group specificalent showcase spotlight ly to be in “On Stage!” T h u r s d a y group is part of the larger the cast and 16 who served in place at the school. ■■■ “We had a cast that was The musicians will perwill provide 27-member school orches- as backstage crew, said teacher Susan doing well, and we decided form the first movement a sampling of tra led by Andrew Oldham, drama what larger director of instrumental Reinecke. She worked with to send an audition video,” teacher Jessica Glime, who Reinecke said. “We just music. groups at the school offer. RAGSDALE, 1B
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Cut in market funding ‘surprises’ leaders BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – Guilford County’s proposed budget cuts could spell bad news for the world’s largest furniture trade show. County Manager Brenda JonesFox’s draft spending plan includes a one-third reduction in funding for most local economic development agencies, including the High Point Market Authority, which would see its allocation cut from $75,000 to $50,000. The move disappointed city leaders, who were optimistic about an increase for the market after a joint meeting between the City Council and Guilford County Board of Commissioners last month. “I was truly surprised by the re-
Inside...
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Officials hash out funding for school construction. 2A
duced amount recommended by the county manager,” said Mayor Becky Smothers. “The commissioners’ comments about the value of the market were so positive when we met with them recently.” Jones-Fox – under direction from the board to deliver a spending plan that does not raise the property tax rate – has proposed $17.2 million in cuts to a variety of county services, staff, arts and community groups and other organizations. The market authority receives
city and state funding to support transportation services and promote what is billed as the single-largest economic event in North Carolina each year. But finding additional local sources has been a struggle. “I am very concerned that any decrease in funding sends a very negative message,” Smothers said. “We have been unable to convince other local governments in the region that the market has a profound impact on their sales tax, hotel occupancy taxes and provides a significant financial boost for many of the businesses throughout the Triad. Guilford should be taking the lead.” Some commissioners on Monday again expressed support for the market. “I know we have cut everything, and we’re going to go
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back now and see if maybe there’s areas we might need to tweak again and help out,” said Republican Commissioner Linda Shaw. “I support that furniture market 100 percent. I think it’s vital to High Point as well as Guilford County. It brings in a lot of revenue.” Council members said they plan to continue lobbying for the market during the budget process, which ends in June. “The county commissioners have the ability to modify (the proposed allocation), and I hope they will,” said Councilman Latimer Alexander. “I feel like we’ll be reaching out to them and showing what their investment in High Point means.” pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
Spotty storms High 68, Low 45 6D
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