THURSDAY
SIGN OF FALL: Annual Davidson fair rings in season. 1B
Official out over sewer spill
September 24, 2009 125th year No. 267
SHOCKING FIND: Man’s death at school believed accidental. 2A
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READY FOR CHASE: Montoya sets his sights on championship. 4C
50 Cents Daily $1 Sundays
FORMER HOUSING RESIDENTS RECOGNIZED
James L. Goodman joined High Point University as assistant professor of media production in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. Goodman is responsible for teaching various communication courses in media production.
Inside...
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City studies sewer system upgrades. 2A BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
THOMASVILLE – Dean Lambeth, the city of Thomasville’s maintenance and construction superintendent, resigned this week after he allegedly did not follow his responsibilities in investigating a July wastewater spill, according to City Manager Kelly Craver. The city of Thomasville recently launched its own investigation into a wastewater spill that allowed 15.93 million gallons of raw sewage to enter into Hamby Creek in July and August. The spill initially was reported by the city on Aug. 4 to the N.C. Division of Water Quality as 385,000 gallons, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency made Thomasville employees recalculate the amount earlier this month. Yadkin Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks initiated an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency after receiving a tip from an employee at the Thomasville Wastewater Treatment Plant who claimed plant officials intentionally underreported the spill totals to the media. The untreated wastewater spill, which began July 13 and ended Aug. 4, came from the North Hamby Creek Outfall Line near Baptist Children’s Home Road, and sewage spilled into the North Hamby Creek in the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin, which flows into High Rock Lake. City officials said the wastewater spill happened as a result of a manhole that collapsed, possibly during or after a rainstorm on July 13. Craver said Wednesday
SEWER, 2A
INSIDE
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SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Angela McGill (left), chief operating officer of the High Point Housing Authority, with honorees Glenn Chavis (center) and Bernita Sims.
Pillars of Fame recipients honored BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – The recipients of a High Point Housing Authority honor on Wednesday reflected on how growing up in public housing shaped their lives. Glenn Chavis and Bernita Sims each spent part of their childhood living in Daniel Brooks Homes, and both were recognized with the authority’s Pillars of Fame award in a ceremony at Astor Dowdy Towers. A panel of authority representatives and community volunteers have been choosing two former public housing residents for the honor each year since 2006 to spotlight people who overcame obstacles to become successful community leaders. “There is no telling what may be living in public housing. There could be a president in public housing,” said Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes, a past winner of the award. “What’s for certain is that people that live in public
housing are just as good as anyone else.” Chavis, well known for his research and writing pursuits involving the history of High Point’s African-American community, also was recognized for
‘For many, public housing was just a stop along the way.’ Bernita Sims City Council member his professional career, much of which was spent as a representative and consultant for Abbott Laboratories Inc. According to the authority, his professional accomplishments included being named a top sales representative and recruitment efforts that enhanced the ranks of minorities and women in that company. “Daniel Brooks was a different place then. It was a different time,
and the people that lived there were happy people,” Chavis told the crowd at Wednesday’s ceremony. “If you had the opportunity to live in Daniel Brooks, you were doing better than the people outside of government housing. ... They ran a tight ship. If you did something wrong, you were out.” Sims, a High Point City Council member since 2003, was praised for her involvement in local government, as well as her roles with other civic and community organizations, such as the Black Leadership Roundtable of High Point, the High Point branch of the NAACP, the Guilford County Workforce Development Board and the High Point Children’s Cabinet. “For many, public housing was just a stop along the way,” Sims said. “We were poor but didn’t know it. We were talented and were able to display that talent in many ways. ... Daniel Brooks was a safe haven for most of us.” pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
Experts say dip in home sales is mild Inside...
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Time running out for first-time homebuyer tax credit. 2A
BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – After area home sales began a climb to the rooftops for six consecutive months, figures sustained a drop in August. Sales fell from July with 126 units sold in High Point to 99 units sold last month, causing a 15 percent decline. According to the High Point Regional Association of Realtors, the drop was expected as sales have taken a seasonal dip between July and August for several years. “We feel very good that it hasn’t gone down any further than this,” said Jeannene Poarch, president of HPRAR. “Where it is is a good thing.”
WHO’S NEWS
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SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
House on Briarcliff Drive is one of many for sale in the city. Triad home sales also were down 4 percent for August. Existing single-family home sales in Greensboro dropped last month, and the total volume for units sold fell to $71,130,000 from $84,452,000 in July. “While the August numbers have decreased from the previous
month, this is the first dip we’ve seen this year,” said Betty Smith, president of the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association. “With the first-time homebuyer tax credit in effect for closings that happen prior to Dec. 1, we’re optimistic that more and more potential buyers will be taking the
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first step into homeownership.” Janet Parris-Gray, High Point Multiple Listing Services president, said the slight drop after months of gain was a sign that the industry was bottoming out. “All of the indicators we’re seeing this year say the housing market is pulling out of it,” she said. “When that happens in an industry, sometimes you’ll see a zigzag in figures. Over time, you’ll see that line continue to go up. That’s where we are.” Poarch said sales figures for September and October could increase as the Nov. 30 deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit approaches, though the increase would be minimal. “We might see some increase in September, but if you don’t have something under contract by mid-October, your purchase won’t qualify for the tax credit,” she said. phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
HOPEFUL SIGN: Job fair draws employer interest. 1B OBITUARIES
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Jerry Adkins, 39 Nancy Burke, 65 William Bowers, infant Mary Crotts, 86 Billie Ellison, 80 Lillie Newell, 79 Alma Turner, 92 Mary Williamson, 81 Obituaries, 2B
WEATHER
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Rain possible High 87, Low 68 8C
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