TUESDAY
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Trinity honors one of its own. 1B
October 19, 2010 127th year No. 292
GET THE LEAD OUT: City reviews project to remove toxic paint. 2A
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
LONG TRIP AHEAD: Weaver gains spot in Morocco tourney. 1D
50 Cents Daily $1.25 Sundays
10TH ANNIVERSARY Showplace celebrates years of success, changes
Ronny Bell, director of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, is a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Task Force on Prevention which was involved in the recent 2010 N.C. Minority Health Report Card issued by the state health department.
BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – A showroom that has become an architectural landmark in the furniture city celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the middle of the High Point Market on Monday. City and industry officials gathered for the cutting of a cake that was a replica of Showplace to talk about the success of the five level, 450,000square-foot building, even during tumultuous times. The eye-popping building with its swooping metal roofs and glass walls took a mere 11 months to build between 1999 and 2000. By the end of construction, 472,500 pounds of steel roofing frame, 85,000 square feet of glass and $40 million had been poured into the project. Lisa Shankle, property manager of Showplace, said the building originally was built to house temporary showroom space. The business was started by managing partners and industry veterans Pat Walters and Joanna Easter. Walters said she saw a great demand for temporary space, and the furniture market was made up of permanent showrooms at that time. Local businessmen Earl Phillips, James Millis and L. Paul Brayton formed the ownership team. While the building was
WHO’S NEWS
----
INSIDE
----
DON DAVIS JR. | HPE
Showplace’s 10th anniversary celebration took place in the Atrium, complete with a cake that was a replica of the building. being constructed, tents were pitched on the property at 211 E. Commerce Ave., and they were filled with small, independent retailers who had been waiting for a chance to show at market. But events from the past decade have left almost nothing untouched, including the furniture market, according to Shankle. After 9/11, some small exhibitors closed shop. Other showrooms had begun offering temporary space, and the demand was no longer as great. To combat the situation, the bottom level was left to be devoted to temporary exhibitors, and the remaining four floors were converted to permanent showrooms. The recession also has negatively impacted ma-
jor showrooms in High Point, including Showplace, which went into receivership through Guilford County Superior Court in August 2009. Walters retired from the business several years ago, and Easter resigned last year. But Shankle, also property manager at the Hamilton-Wrenn Design District and Showplace West, who was appointed to replace Easter, said there’s good news to be heard. The building is 100 percent occupied for the High Point Market. It also is one of few showrooms that operates year-round, holding other trade shows and conventions in its space when the market isn’t in town. And its future, like
SHOWPLACE FACTS
–
Built in 2000, the building represents a $40 million investment and encompasses 450,000 square feet spread across five levels. It is the third-largest showroom entity at the High Point Market, behind the International Home Furnishings Center and showrooms of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. It is 100 percent occupied for the fall High Point Market. It is one of few showrooms open year-round that hosts conventions and trade shows on non-market days.
the market, is looking to be bright for another 10 years, she said. “What I’ve seen with the economy, I think High Point is standing the test of time as it always does,” Shankle said. “We have an entire city that puts the
furniture market together, not just one building or a cluster of buildings. All of us know someone directly impacted by market. I think that’s why we’re standing the test of time.”
HALL OF FAME: Those who left their legacy in the furniture industry. 1B OBITUARIES
----
Joseree Ashworth, 89 George Benton, 75 Mamie Carter, 88 Claudine Causey, 64 Ralph Everhart, 84 Elsie Light, 76 James Little, 78 Carl Manning, 52 Phyllis Roberson, 70 Dorothy Reiff, 86 Ronnie Sewell, 56 William Sherrod, 48 Elsie Smith, 79 Stephanie Springer, 24 Obituaries, 2B
phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
WEATHER
----
Education takes spotlight at candidates’ debate BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
JAMESTOWN – Candidates running for the Guilford County Board of Education acknowledged at an election forum Monday night that they don’t have simple answers to the complex issues confronting the public schools. From dealing with budgetary challenges in difficult financial times to bringing a sense of discipline back to the classroom, the candidates said solutions involve many layers of approaches and cooperation among administrators, teachers, parents and stu-
dents. More than 60 people attended the forum at Jamestown Town Hall. The event, leading up to the Nov. 2 general election, was organized by the Guilford Education Alliance in conjunction with the Guilford County Council of PTAs, the Junior League chapters in High Point and Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad League of Women Voters. At-large challenger Lisa Clapp of Greensboro said she’s seeking office because of concerns about discipline in the schools and transparency in the way the school board handles funding. At-large incumbent Nancy
Routh of Pleasant Garden said she wants to serve a third term to continue progress being made in Guilford County Schools and promote more academic rigor for students. District 2 incumbent Garth Hebert of High Point said that he’s seeking a second term to advocate for academic rigor and safer schools. Hebert said he would like to help modernize the schools, such as using digital technology to phase out the expense of textbooks. Hebert’s opponent, District 2 challenger Ed Price, didn’t participate in the school board candidates’ forum.
Also participating was school board Chairman Alan Duncan, who is unopposed in his re-election bid. The four school board candidates said Guilford County Schools face a daunting challenge coping with less revenue while preserving teacher positions. “We are facing a cliff financially as a school district,” Hebert said. In addition to the school board candidates, the forum included candidates for Guilford County Board of Commissioners, who don’t face opposition on the ballot this fall. pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528
Conservatives rise against proposed tax hike Before you read...
----
Last in a three-part series.
BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
GUILFORD COUNTY – When a group of business and education leaders launched a campaign earlier this month to win Nov. 2 passage of a proposed quarter-cent sales tax hike, conservatives had already spoken strongly against it.
The Guilford County Board of Commiss i o n e r s voted 9-1 in August to put the referendum on ROAD TO the ballot for the third NOVEMBER time. Voters declined County twice, by 2-1 elections and 3-1 mar2010 gins, in 2008 ■■■ to increase the tax by a quarter-cent to 8 percent on general sales purchas-
Inside...
----
Supporters make their case. 1B es to pay off bond debt. Conservatives for Guilford County, a registered political action committee that hosted a second Tea Party rally in downtown Greensboro last week, has lobbied commissioners for weeks to reduce county spending instead of raising the sales tax. The group countered the supporters’ “Quarter-Cent
SERIES BREAKOUTS
–
SUNDAY: Board of Commissioners races
Mostly sunny High 80, Low 54 6D
INDEX ABBY 3B BUSINESS 5D CLASSIFIED 3-6C COMICS 5B CROSSWORD 2C DONOHUE 5B FUN & GAMES 2C LIFE&STYLE 1C LOCAL 2A, 1B, 3B LOTTERY 2A MOVIES 6B NEIGHBORS 4B NATION 3A, 6B NOTABLES 6B OBITUARIES 2B OPINION 4A SPORTS 1-3D STATE 2A, 3B STOCKS 5D TV 6B WEATHER 6D WORLD 5A
MONDAY: Sheriff faces challenge
INFO
TODAY: The sales tax referendum
Makes Sense” slogan with “Taxed Enough Already (TEA).” Supporters claim it makes sense to use the $12 million to $15 million the hike would collect to help pay off county debt. The conservatives claim taxpayers have had enough.
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
Barrett Riddleberger, a motivational speaker and former radio personality, has become an unofficial spokesman for the group. Commissioners put the issue on the ballot, knowing it would not pass as part
TAX, 2A
Circulation Classified Newsroom Newsroom fax
888-3511 888-3555 888-3527 888-3644