THURSDAY
NEED IS GREAT: Archdale-Trinity Cheer Fund gets early start. 1B
December 3, 2009 125th year No. 337
SEX CRIMES: Local man faces child pornography charges. 3A
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
BAGS READY: HPU set to begin road trip. 1C
50 Cents Daily $1 Sundays
Time to prepare for Old Man Winter BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – State officials are reminding residents, businesses and schools to prepare now for winter weather. Gov. Bev Perdue declared this week as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina, pointing out that the National Weather Service has said there is an increased chance of a wet winter and below-normal temperatures this year due to El Nino. “While we’ve been fortunate with fairly mild winters in recent years, we shouldn’t become
Perdue warned that most deaths complacent,” Perdue said in a statement. “People should take attributed to winter storms result time now to update their family from factors such as traffic accidents, falling trees, downed power lines, house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from improper use of space heaters, grills and stoves. Officials offered the following winter safety tips: • Keep alternative heating sources prepared. If you have a fireplace, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood. Keep fire extinguishers on hand. • Properly vent kerosene heatemergency plans and stock up on water, blankets, non-perishable ers and keep any electric genfood and other supplies ... before erators outside and away from any open windows or doors to ice and snow arrive.”
Gov. Bev Perdue declared this week as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina.
prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not burn charcoal indoors. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from charcoal fumes indoors. • Keep fresh batteries for flashlights and weather radios. • Always keep at least a threeday supply of non-perishable food in your home. • If driving on snow- or ice-covered roadways, reduce speed. Driving at the regular speed limit will reduce your ability to control the car if it begins to slide. Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles.
WHO’S NEWS
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High Point University alumnus James Price was recently honored as “Teacher of the Year” at Davis Townsend Elementary School in Davidson County. Price, who currently teaches autistic children, received his undergraduate degree in religion from HPU in 2004. He then went on to earn his teaching license in 2005 and a master’s in special education from HPU in 2008.
pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
INSIDE
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Davidson solar farm charges ahead FILLING THE HALLWAYS: GTCC could hit record this year. 1B
BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
DAVIDSON COUNTY – The first phase of construction to one of the nation’s largest photovoltaic solar farms in Davidson County is expected to be completed later this month. Construction Superintendent David Dzeima said phase one of the project should be ready to be turned over to Duke Energy Carolinas by Christmas. In May 2008, Duke Energy announced it would buy the entire electricity output of what was then going to be the nation’s largest photovoltaic solar farm to be built in Davidson County. Davidson County’s solar farm is now “one of the nation’s largest photovoltaic solar farms” because several other projects have been announced since last year, said Dave Scanzoni, a Duke Energy spokesman. Dzeima said construction at the 350-acre solar farm, which is located near New Jersey Church Road and Junior Order Home Road in the Cotton Grove township, started in August. It’s unclear when phase two of the project will begin, Dzeima said. “You want to have as
OBITUARIES
---- Natalie Abrams, 49 Novelle Bean, 92 Arvil Beck, 73 Ruby McLeod, 56 Clara McPherson, 80 Emily Mullins, 88 Mary Pardue, 71 Cotton Powell, 63 Gorrell Proctor, 61 Taylor Ralph, 50 Mildred Robinson, 79 Clayton Sechler, 87 Winston Stephens, 87 Tommy Swinney, 71 Obituaries, 2-3B SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Some of the 12,470 solar panels that make up the first phase of the solar farm project. The panels are fixed so that they move to “follow the sun.” much as you can done by the first of the year, so you can get that stimulus money,” Dzeima said. “Everything you can get up and running by the end of the year, you can get rebates on.” According to Scanzoni, once phase one is up and running at Davidson County’s solar farm, the solar energy will generate nearly 4 megawatts, sup-
plying power to about 650 homes. Scanzoni said the entire project will generate 16 megawatts, which will give power to 2,600 homes. Duke Energy, which will purchase power from the solar farm’s owner, SunEdison LLC, for the next 20 years, expects to use power from the solar farm in the next 60 days, Scanzoni said.
Davidson County’s solar farm “helps us meet our requirements to comply with the law,” Scanzoni said. “We definitely see more solar initiatives in our future in North Carolina.” Steve Googe, executive director of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, said he “absolutely” expects businesses to locate in Da-
vidson County because of the solar farm. “The solar farm really needs to get up and operational before I think we are going to attract a lot of attention,” Googe said. “We’ve had more inquiries about the solar farm and the status of the solar farm than anything we’ve ever done.” dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657
Education officials weigh grants Inside...
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ABCs can tell the story. 2A Triad area schools get average grades. 2A
BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
GUILFORD COUNTY – School officials will take a careful approach in deciding whether to seek a slice of a possible federal grant to enhance teacher merit pay and to advance other school reforms. The district stands to gain an estimated $3.75 million a year for four years if the state wins a federal grant of as much as $300
million through the “Race to the Top” competition, Guilford County Board of Education Chairman Alan Duncan said Tuesday. The Obama administration pushed through a $4.35 billion program for school improvements as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus program. During a staff briefing on the program, Duncan urged school board members not to “chase dollars just to chase dollars,” however. “The history of these programs is that there are unfunded mandates attached,” Duncan said. “We should see what we can apply for that won’t be repetitive funding.” The district’s strategic plan emphasizes school reform to
TEACHER PAY
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Mission Possible: The Guilford district uses performance pay in Mission Possible, which was installed in 2006 in 30 schools, to pay teachers additional money for teaching certain subjects at low-performing schools. The school board will hold a work session Tuesday on the program. increase student achievement. District officials and teachers have discussed teacher bonuspay plans at several public forums. State officials already have endorsed grant proposals aimed at curriculum reform, helping
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struggling schools and data reporting and analysis. “Our goal is not to create anything new, but to align our strategic plan with the state and federal guidelines for our scope of work,” said Nora Carr, school district chief of staff. “There is a lot of synergy in that thinking with our strategic plan.” Carr and her staff are preparing an agreement document for the board to consider Dec. 17. Grant proposals are due in January for an expected April funding decision. “This program is attractive on the surface, but it can’t transform the district,” Duncan said. “It can do good things for us. But we need to proceed with a great deal of caution.” dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626
WEATHER
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Mostly sunny High 59, Low 36 8C
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