THURSDAY
TRUE CRIME: Local scandals, murder mysteries. INSIDE
July 29, 2010 127th year No. 210
HEADS TOGETHER: Local, state officials meet on Alcoa issue. 1B
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
WHAT A RIDE: Bobby Labonte confirms plans for 2011. 1D
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WHO’S NEWS
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Cory Newton is a new partner owner with Senn Dunn Insurance. Newton is one of seven new partner owners, bringing the ownership group to 23. Newton is an employee benefits consultant. DON DAVIS JR. | HPE
The N.C. Department of Transportation has conducted a feasibility study of possible improvements to N.C. 109 through downtown Thomasville.
N.C. 109 under review BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
DON DAVIS JR. | HPE
The study evaluated the area south of I-85 near Lambeth Road, passing through the Thomasville Central Business District and ending at I-85 Business Loop.
THOMASVILLE – Thomasville officials are reviewing a feasibility study that shows six possible alternatives for reconstructing and improving areas of N.C. 109 to mitigate current and future traffic congestion through the city. The study, conducted by the N.C. Department of Transportation, was done at the request of Thomasville officials who are concerned about future traffic patterns
Inside...
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A look at the six alternatives. 3A “through and around the downtown area,” said Pat Ivey, a DOT division engineer based in WinstonSalem. “Obviously, the existing (N.C. 109) as it goes through downtown crossing the railroad on the two-lane section is very congested at times,” Ivey said. “The biggest concern of course is that you
really can’t do any improvements to the existing corridor ... (The city of Thomasville) wanted us to look at the possibility of what the alternatives could be for rerouting N.C. 109 traffic around the downtown area.” Thomasville City Manager Kelly Craver said the city received the study last week. The study evaluated reasonable improvements in the area beginning south of Interstate 85 near Lambeth Road, passing
INSIDE
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STOLEN GOODS: Police recover property, link suspects. 1B
OBITUARIES
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STUDY, 2A
ABC worker fails to regain job BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – A former employee of High Point’s Alcoholic Beverage Control system said his request to be reinstated to his job has been denied. Bill Lyle said he received a letter Monday notifying him that the ABC board was not going to overturn the decision to fire him last month. Lyle has raised questions about the system’s business practices while he worked there as an assistant manager for about two years. He said he believes he was
fired because he spoke out about the methods used to account for breakages of liquor shipments. Lyle said he asked board members to reinstate him and told them about his concerns that the method for handling damage claims might have constituted fraud. The board addressed the matter at a meeting last week. ABC officials said they investigated Lyle’s allegations and have uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. The circumstances of his employment and departure from his job were handled at the meeting in closed session as a personnel mat-
ter that can’t be publicly commented on, according to ABC leaders. Lyle maintains that he was dismissed without justification and said he is looking into possible legal action to try to regain his position. He has alleged that his superiors used a minor incident as a pretext to fire him after he took a few dollars out of his own pocket and placed them in one of the store’s registers to reconcile a cash shortage involving three minibottles of liquor. Lyle said he did this so the store where he worked at the time wouldn’t fall out of contention for
monthly recognition as the most profitable of the six ABC retail outlets in the city. “I’m an assistant manager. I’m trained by a manager. I didn’t think that thing up. Someone had to teach me how to do that because I’d never thought about it,” Lyle said. Board Chairman David Wall said previously that no evidence of fraud or other malfeasance has been uncovered based on available information but if additional information develops, the board will investigate it.
HIGH POINT – Several bidders are seeking to buy the High Point Market showroom holdings of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. in the wake of its parent company’s default on its loan for the properties, sources say. At least three independent sources confirmed Wednesday that potential new owners are making bids for the showroom buildings that include the Market Square complex. The High Point Enterprise has reported since March that the parent company of Merchandise Mart Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, ceased making debt service payments on the loan for its 2.1 million square feet of showrooms. Merchandise Mart, which purchased its first showrooms in High Point in 1998, has become the secondlargest showroom owner and operator behind the International Home Furnishings Center. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Vornado will forfeit its showroom properties to the holders of its $191 million securitized mortgage.
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“Vornado is offering to forfeit the property to the special servicer overseeing the mortgage, J.E. Roberts Cos., in a deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction,” the Wall Street Journal reports. Merchandise Mart Properties President Chris Kennedy told The High Point Enterprise Wednesday that his company remains confident in the High Point Market and “enthusiasm for the properties has increased”
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INDEX
SHOWROOMS Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. owns and manages 2.1 million square feet of permanent showroom and traditional exhibit space in High Point. Its High Point Market showrooms include: Market Square, Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and National Furniture Mart. Merchandise Mart Properties entered the High Point Market in 1998 when it bought the Market Square complex from a group of local businessmen.
WEATHER
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pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
Sources: Bidders seeking Merchandise Mart properties BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Robert Barnes, 76 William Beard Jr., 83 Anthony Blackburn, 50 Jesse Byerly, 41 Leah Gray, 79 Johnnie Hendrick, 79 Peggy Johnson, 62 Chester Raymer, 96 Norman Richardson, 47 Lula Tate, 81 Norman Vestal Jr., 73 Obituaries, 2B
SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Market Square is one of the properties owned by Merchandise Mart. in the past year. In a statement late Wednesday afternoon, Merchandise Mart Properties indicated that “there has been no change in our best-inclass management team, our staff or our operations. There is no residual impact from the financial activities of Vornado on how we manage our business (and) the way we market our events ...” The anonymous sources on the potential sale of Merchandise Mart Properties’ holdings indicate that any new owner would continue to operate the buildings for use at the High Point Market,
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the world’s largest home furnishings trade show. High Point Market Authority President Brian Casey said in the 100 years of the market’s history, landlords of showroom buildings have come and gone with regularity. “It hasn’t impacted the performance of the market,” Casey said. Casey said he’s confident that showrooms of Merchandise Mart Properties won’t close as part of any possible transition with ownership. pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528
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