LAST SCOOP: Popular local ice cream shop won’t reopen. 1B
BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
VOTE
May 4, 2010 126th year No. 124
NO DECISION: Davidson officials delay changes to phone policy. 1B
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REGIONAL SWING: Area golfers excel in prep tourneys. 3D
50 Cents Daily $1.25 Sundays
WHO’S NEWS
Polls open for today’s primary election
TRIAD – Voters from across the region head to the polls today to determine which candidates survive and advance. Winners in today’s Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated primaries will punch their ticket to the Nov. 2 general election. Perhaps the highest-profile contest in the region involves the Republican primary for Davidson County sheriff, where incumbent David Grice is trying to hold off a challenge from former sheriff Gerald Hege and retired State Highway Patrol Trooper Terry Price. Controversy has surrounded the volatile campaign because Hege relinquished the office six years ago after pleading guilty to felony counts of obstruction of justice. The Republican sheriff’s primary winner will take on Democrat Thomas Evans Jr. in the fall. Contested races for sheriff also are taking place in the Democratic and Republican primaries in Guilford County and in the Republican primary in Randolph County. Six of the 16 state legislators in the area face primary challenges, and primaries are taking place in two Guilford County legislative districts where the incumbent is retiring after this year. Another high-profile area race involves the Republican primary in the 6th Congressional District, where 13-term Rep. Howard Coble faces a challenge from four fellow Republicans – Cathy Brewer Hinson of High Point, Dr. James Taylor of Moore County, Jeff Phillips of Greensboro and Guilford County Commissioner Billy Yow. Coble is facing his first primary challenge since initially running for the office in 1984. The Republican nominee takes on Democrat Sam Turner of Salisbury in the general election. DON DAVIS JR. | HPE The higher-than-normal number Political signs are lined up near a polling place in the Triad Monday. of contested primaries today means voters may have more chances than normal for a second go-around in the runoffs next month. Polls for today’s primary election open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 Contests that aren’t decided by p.m. For more information, call your local board of elections office at a certain margin would be deterGuilford County Board of Elections in Greensboro at 641-3836 or High mined June 22 through what’s forPoint at 845-7895; Randolph County at 318-6900 or Davidson County mally called the second primary. 242-2190. A candidate needs in excess of 40 Unaffi liated voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or percent of the vote today to avoid a Republican primary, but not both. Registered Democratic voters can’t second primary, said Gary Bartlett, participate in the Republican primary, and registered Republicans can’t director of the State Board of Eleccast ballots in the Democratic primary. tions in Raleigh. Typically, North Carolina holds at least one statewide second primary and a handful raise the possibility of a wider slate ence at Wake Forest University. of local runoffs, he said. The num- of runoff races June 22, said John pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528 ber of contested primaries does Dinan, professor of political sci-
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Historical edition notes change During the first couple of decades of its existence, The High Point Enterprise basically was a weekly newspaper. It then switched to daily distribution and, on Aug. 26, 1923, the first Sunday editiion appeared with a single-copy price of 5 cents, the same price as the daily edition at that time. Catch up with the history of the Enterprise in the anniversary publication to be distributed later this month.
City utility rates going up BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
many seats on its outdoor patio as it does inside. “It’s going to be a big part of our business,” he said about the warm weather. “The cold weather really is probably why smokers weren’t out that much this winter (after the ban was passed).” His patio already has been full on recent nights, he said. “With smokers, you have some people who want to be able to drink and smoke at the same time,” he said. “If they aren’t able to, they’ll probably stay at home. I think the warmer weather may make things a little bit easier.”
HIGH POINT – City electricity customers could see a 4.8 percent rate increase starting June 1. The change, combined with a state-mandated charge to help finance renewable energy initiatives, would increase the monthly bill of an average residential electric user by $5.20, to $113.37. The City Council on Monday opted to set a public hearing for May 17 on the proposed increase, which is being recommended by city staff to cover an estimated 4.8 percent rise in the price of wholesale power the city purchases through ElectriCities, the electric co-op of which High Point is a member. City officials are recommending approval of the increase by the council for utility statements going out on or after June 1. Officials said they expect additional electric rate bumps of about 5 percent over the next couple of years. “We’ve been on a downhill trend the last few years. Looking at our industrial customers, I don’t expect their loads to go up,” said City Manager Strib Boynton. “I would expect (continued increases) would happen until the economy rebounds and demand picks up.” ElectriCities’ costs are up because the cost of nuclear fuel, property taxes on the South Carolina nuclear plant where the city’s power is generated, and other operating and capital costs have continued to rise, according to Boynton. In addition, ElectriCities’ energy demand was down 3.9 percent in 2009
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UTILITIES, 2A
ELECTION DAY
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Restaurants expect smokers to return as temps heat up BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – Before the cold weather came to an end and signs of spring arrived, Linda Buckner, manager at Bimini’s Oyster Bar and Grill, placed a kerosene heater outside of the restaurant after the state’s smoking ban was passed. The small source of warmth was enough to keep smokers around for the winter while non-smokers gathered inside, Buckner said. “It worked,” she said. “All of our loyal customers who smoke are still here.” Now that warmer weather is here, other restaurant owners have hopes the sunshine may bring back some smokers who left the restaurant and bar scene after the ban was passed. “It goes without saying that it will play a role,” said Luke Martin, assistant manager at Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery on Mall Loop Road. “As it continues to get warm, our patio will be full.” The ban allows smoking on most outdoor patios as long as they have less than three walls and a roof. Martin said the restaurant sees the largest mixture of smokers and non-smokers during the restaurant’s lunch hours. Warm temperatures seemingly could allow the patio to become what once was the smoking section in the restaurant, he said. “It may bring some smokers back out,” he said. “I don’t know how big the effect will be, but it will help.” Allen Andrews, owner of Harrison’s Restaurant on N. Main Street, said his restaurant has about as
TUESDAY
DON DAVIS JR. | HPE
Julie Hiatt dines on the patio of Liberty Brewery.
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
Nido R. Qubein, president of High Point University, recently was selected by Business Leader magazine as Business Legend of the Year. Qubein, who has served as president of HPU since 2005, was honored at a ceremony in Greensboro on Monday.
INSIDE
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NEW ERA: Wallburg breaks ground on City Hall. 1B OBITUARIES
---- Ruby Anderson, 87 John Banks, 84 Jeanette Barnes, 68 Carolyn Brockington, 51 Freida Cruse, 85 Thelma Davis, 72 Mingo Floyd Jr., 77 Roby Fritts, 89 Rose Lanier, 47 Wayne McGuinn, 54 Jacob Nance, 17 Carson Overby, 15 Max Towery, 82 Obituaries, 2B
WEATHER
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Less humid High 84, Low 55 6D
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