hpe05012010

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WINNER TAKES ALL: Guilford primary races profiled. SUNDAY

SATURDAY

TEEN DIES: Wreck claims life of High Point Christian student. 1B

No. 121 www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.

SUMMER TRIP: HPU eyes basketball in the Bahamas. 1C

50 Cents Daily $1.25 Sundays

Public discontent TRIAD – Area state legislators who haven’t had to worry during recent primary election seasons might have some sweat on the brow this spring. Of the 16 state representatives and senators serving Davidson, Guil-

ford and Randolph counties, six face challengers within their own party in Tuesday’s primary. In previous election cycles during the past decade, there have been years where no more than two area legislators confronted primary challengers. The outcome of area state legislative prima-

ries may indicate whether the perceived anti-incumbent mood with the electorate reflects more reality or hype, said Matthew DeSantis, assistant professor of political science at High Point University. “It will be a bit of a mandate on the status quo. We will be able to judge

126th year

WHO’S NEWS

AT A GLANCE

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Early voting for the primary concludes today at several locations in the area:

Primaries offer chance to measure anti-incumbency mood BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

May 1, 2010

just how discontented the public is with their elected officials,” DeSantis said. Examples of the contested legislative primaries include the re-election bid of Rep. Jerry Dockham, R-Davidson. Dockham, of Denton, is facing his first

PRIMARIES, 2A

• Guilford County – Roy B. Culler Jr. Senior Center, 600 N. Hamilton St., High Point, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • Davidson County – Thomasville Public Library, 14 Randolph St., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Midway Fire Department, 228 Midway School Road, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • Randolph County – Archdale Public Library, 10433 S. Main St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Ax to grind?

Judy Isaksen, associate professor of media and popular culture studies in the School of Communication at High Point University, recently presented a paper at the College Composition and Communication Conference in Louisville, Ky. The conference, in its 61st year, is attended by professors of writing and communication.

INSIDE

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Hege claims political foe has agenda

DETOUR AHEAD: Portion of Skeet Club Road to shut down. 2A

BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

DAVIDSON COUNTY – Former Sheriff Gerald Hege says a Forsyth County resident leading efforts to try stop his bid for re-election has a personal agenda against him because of an arrest made by his administration in 1998. “The whole bottom line is that I put her brother in prison for 12 years for statutory rape,” Hege said, referring to Melisia Prout, president of Salvation’s Way. Prout, a Winston-Salem resident, led a group of Davidson County residents earlier this month to challenge Hege’s candidacy in the Republican Primary set for Tuesday. Prout’s brother, James Floyd Stanley Jr., was convicted in 1998 of statutory rape. Prout argues that her brother’s conviction has nothing to do with her attempt to stop Hege from becoming sheriff. “It has nothing to do with anything regarding my brother,” she said. “(Hege) was not involved in an investigation, arrest or questioning whatsoever. ... He absolutely had nothing to do with my brother’s case, as much as he would like people to believe that. Again, that is self promotion of his ego.” Salvation’s Way, a nonprofit established in 2000, is a free legal service offered to individuals and fam-

SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE

Melisia Prout (left) talks with Chuck Frye, (center) county attorney, and Jon Myers (right) about legal proceedings for the next board of election hearing, which will be May 7, after the primaries. Standing next to Prout is Lynn Grainger. ilies, according to information filed by Prout with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office. Prout changed the nonprofit’s address from 400 Oakgrove St., Linwood, to 4531 Kreeger Road, Winston-Salem, in January with the secretary of state’s office. Prout, who is the only member of Salvation’s Way, said her nonprofit has a board of directors, but would not release any further information Friday. According to Prout, Salvation’s Way, which had 100 members at its peak, had several dealings with Hege during the former sheriff’s tenure. In one instance, she appeared on Hege’s Court TV program, “Inside Cell Block F,” to confront the sheriff about a teenager who died in the Davidson County Jail. Hege said Friday an autopsy

revealed the teenager committed suicide, but Prout claims there was foul play with the sheriff’s office. Prout said she founded Salvation’s Way because of her experience growing up as a ward of the state. She said she has had “personal dealings with many benefactors of the court system” during her whole life. Prout is registered as an unaffiliated voter in Forsyth County, according to the N.C. Board of Elections Web site. She said she doesn’t support any candidate in the Davidson County’s sheriff race. Prout said she got involved in protesting Hege’s candidacy when several Davidson County residents asked her what could be done to stop the former sheriff from being elected. After studying state laws, she claims

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County promises support for new clinic. 2A BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

GUILFORD COUNTY – Arts supporters have started a campaign to urge county officials to spare the arts from budget cuts, and there probably will be others with similar concerns waiting for the Guilford County Board of Commissioners at a public hearing on the budget next week. The public hearing on County Manager Brenda Jones-Fox’s proposed $568.9 million 2011 budget

will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The budget offers no property tax increase, a reduction of $17.2 million, staff cuts and a reorganization of the public health department. The budget for community groups is $435,000. Most of that, $275,000, would go to the Interactive Resource Center in Greensboro, a day center for the homeless. Commissioners approved the donation last October to help with renovations. Debbie Lumpkins, executive director of the High Point Area Arts Council, alerted supporters by email to attend the Thursday meeting. Arts supporters emphasize how activities drive cultural

tourism and provide critical services. “The arts are part of the solution for stimulating the economy so we need more arts, not less,” Lumpkins said. In her budget message, Jones-Fox said the donation reductions for community groups follow a 2007 policy that reduces support over four years. • Community groups: The N.C. Shakespeare Festival would get $10,000, a 66 percent cut, and United Arts Council at $25,000, also a 66 percent cut. YMCA, Carl Chavis Branch, would drop to $16,667 from $25,000. NIA Community Action Center also would decline to $16,667 from

Salvation’s Way President Melisia Prout is leading a group of Davidson County residents challenging the candidacy of Gerald Hege. For more information on Salvation’s Way, contact Prout at 997-3072. 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. Prout and the Davidson County residents challenging Hege will get a hearing May 7 with the Davidson County Board of Elections.

$25,000. The I Am Now a homeless program would get no donation. • Libraries: The board already has heard from library supporters. The budget maintains funding at $385,000 for the High Point Public Library. • Economic development: The donation for Downtown High Point would drop from $40,000 to $26,000 and the High Point Market Authority donation from $75,000 to $50,000. High Point Economic Development also would get $50,000, down from $75,000. The Piedmont Triad Partnership would get $29,000, down from $44,000. dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626

YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.

Jerald Jasperse, 82 Everette Lambeth, 75 Louise Link, 89 Robert McLeod, 73 James Moore, 64 Jerry Roberts, 68 David Transeau, 51 Obituaries, 2B

AT A GLANCE

Arts groups campaign against budget cuts Inside...

OBITUARIES

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dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657

BUDGET PROFILE

Total: $568.9 million, down $17.2 million Tax rate: Unchanged at 73.74 cents per $100 valuation, or $1,475 for the owner of a $200,000 home. Public safety: $86.6 million, down $1 million, with 10 additional paramedics included. Staff: 65 positions cut, many of which will transfer to vacancies, and no merit raises. Human services: Cut by $4.7 million, including a elimination of the annual $1.58 million payment to Guilford Adult Health. Schedule: Commissioners could hold a second budget hearing. A vote on the final budget is scheduled for June 3.

WEATHER

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Mostly cloudy High 84, Low 65 6C

INDEX ABBY 3B BUSINESS 5-6C CLASSIFIED 3-6D COMICS 5B CROSSWORD 4B DONOHUE 5B FAITH 5-6A FUN & GAMES 4B LOCAL 2A, 1-2B LOTTERY 2A MOVIES 6A NATION 6C, 1-2D OBITUARIES 2B OPINION 4A SPORTS 1-4C STATE 2A, 2B STOCKS 5C TV 6B WEATHER 6C WORLD 3A

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