SUNDAY
CHARGES PENDING: Randolph man shot during altercation. 2A
HIGH POINT – The City Council gave the go-ahead last week to begin preliminary work associated with the seventh and final phase of storm-water improvement projects identified in a 2005 study to address flooding and other problems. The council approved a $210,000 contract with Arcadis G&M of North Carolina Inc. for engineering design services related to planned storm-water improvements in the N. Hamilton Street/ Montlieu Avenue drainage basin. The city is implementing a long list of projects that were prioritized into seven areas with the
most significant flooding and other issues. There are numerous projects within each area, or basin, some of which have been finished. “This is last of the seven areas to start. That’s not to say we’ve fixed everything in front of it. We have finished some areas,” said Richard McMillan, High Point’s assistant public services director. “We’ll do as much as we can with the money that is set aside for it.” McMillan said the goals of the upcoming project likely will include addressing flooding problems just below Oakwood Municipal Cemetery on Montlieu Avenue, replacing culverts under streets such as E. Farriss Avenue and Forrest Street that have flood-
WOMEN
125th year No. 347
LOOKING BACK: Outgoing Trinity mayor, councilman reflect on service. 1B
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
BUZZER BEATER: HPU women prevail on last-second shot. 1D
50 Cents Daily $1 Sundays
Final phase of storm-water improvements to begin BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
December 13, 2009
AT A GLANCE
–
The city is using $15.4 million in bond money approved in a 2004 referendum to pay for as many of the storm-water improvement projects as possible that were identified in a 2005 study. Bond money likely won’t cover the whole list of upcoming projects. A preliminary study after the bonds were approved estimated the cost for all of the projects would top $28 million. So far, the phases completed include the Sherbrook Drive project, the Kensington Drive basin and the N. Rotary Drive/ W. Farriss Avenue basin. Projects within other basins are in various stages of development.
ed at times, as well as addressing drainage problems behind some of the houses in the area and trying to stabilize some of the banks of Armstrong Creek. The pace of the work and when it begins will depend in part on the time it takes to acquire necessary permits and easements. “We always ask for people to donate easements, because that stretches money and helps it go farther,” McMillan said. An approximately $2 million storm-water improvement proj“The area around the hospital is ect recently got under way near Southside Recreation Center. going to take a lot of work and a lot Another basin where projects are more detail,” said McMillan. “We’ll in the design phase is the area be working in it for awhile.” around High Point Regional Hospital and W. Ray Avenue. pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
g n i p hel
WHO’S NEWS
–
Tara Shollenberger was named manager of the Budd Family Campus at High Point University. Shollenberger, who has been with HPU for three years, previously served as coordinator of registration.
INSIDE
–
WOMEN !
HEADED TO HOLLYWOOD: Local man’s play becomes a movie. 1E
Community Foundation chief sparks initiative
OBITUARIES
–
BY VICKI KNOPFLER ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – Paul Lessard all his life has watched women do amazing things. He expects that soon females in the High Point area will solidify his belief that women can accomplish nearly anything they wish. Lessard, president of High Point Community Foundation, plans to organize a women’s initiative operated by and for women to benefit the community. His life so far has taught him that such a plan can work. Lessard’s mother, Dorothy Alice, is a physically tiny woman whose power is mighty, especially when Lessard was a child and his Marine father was stationed overseas while the family was stateside. Now Lessard also paces his life to the beat set by his wife, Jayne, a psychologist, his 20year-old daughter Taylor, a student at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the two women with whom he works at the Community Foundation: Sherri Scott, director of donor services and administration, and Karol Murks, director of accounting and grants. “I have found over the years that women tend to go about things differently, in a very relational way,” Lessard said. A women’s initiative is not a new idea, and groups already operate at other places in the country. Both High Point and the Community Foundation are ripe for their own version, Lessard said. The Community Foundation is in its 12th year of collecting and distributing money to benefit the area. It oversees approximately $50 million in assets.
Annie Barley, 80 Lorene Benfield, 90 Bernice Carter, 89 Jesse Chapman William Hinson, 71 Helen Johnson, 83 Mary Parks, 86 John Robinson Jr., 79 Herbert Speas Jr., 86 Obituaries, 2B, 4B
WEATHER
–
Rain likely High 44, Low 32 8D
INDEX “I’ve always been a believer that organizations go through a season of life,” Lessard said. “So far we’ve earned the right to ask for money by educating people about what we do. Now, I want to spread out so people of all incomes, races, faiths will come together and be involved in what we do.” High Point long has had strong female leaders, most noticeably current Mayor Becky Smothers and former Mayor Judy Menden-
hall. Females also serve prominently in local nonprofit groups. “In this city, there’s almost always a woman involved in leadership or helping drive it,” Lessard said. “I’ve worked with a lot of these women and see how productive these women are. There’s so much opportunity and so much potential here.” vknopfler@hpe.com | 888-3601
Providing extra path to philanthropy BY VICKI KNOPFLER ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – The idea for a women’s initiative has been discussed at High Point Community Foundation for approximately a year. During that time, Paul Lessard has gathered plenty of ideas but has not put anything specific – not even a kick-off date – into place because he wants to take his time and start the project correctly and because he wants women to determine those specifics.
Leadership would operate under auspices of, but separate from, the Community Foundation. So far, Lessard, Community Foundation president, has begun to organize leadership, and he anticipates approaching people in the community for seed money. Beyond that, he can only antici-
pate how the group might operate based on similar organizations in other cities. While contributions would be accepted from anyone, only women would solicit funds, and a committee composed of women would determine how money would be distributed. Leadership would be under the auspices of, but separate from, the Community Foundation, whose 32-member board includes 10 women. Presumably, distribution of money would supplement and fall along lines of current Commu-
nity Foundation giving, which is led by community projects, education and health. Lessard hopes the female leaders will identify with different insight areas of need and means of effectiveness. He is most excited about the possibility to involve women without a lot of money or young women who are budding philanthropists and community leaders. Women, for instance, might be able to buy into projects and how
PHILANTHROPY, 2A
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
With more than 350 physicians representing over 30 specialties, High Point Regional Health System offers an ever-widening array of quality services. Not just care, Total Care. For more information, call 336.878.6888 www.highpointregional.com 501581
ADVICE 2-3E ARTS | ETC. 3-4F BUSINESS 1-2C CLASSIFIED 3-8C CROSSWORD 2F FOCUS 1-2F HOROSCOPE 2E LIFE&STYLE 1-8E LOCAL 2A, 1B LOTTERY 2A MILESTONES 6-7E MOVIES 4F NATION 6-8A NOTABLES 6A OBITUARIES 2B, 4B OPINION 6-7B REAL ESTATE 1-4R SPORTS 1-8D STATE 2-3A, 4B TV 5F TRAVEL 4-5E WEATHER 8D WORLD 4-5A
INFO Circulation Classified Newsroom Newsroom fax
888-3511 888-3555 888-3527 888-3644