THE STAGE IS SET: Theater season begins this weekend. 1D
WINNING EDUCATION: NHRA driver learns championship lessons. 4C
50 Cents Daily $1 Sundays
TRINITY – Angry truck drivers expressed displeasure Tuesday night about a new ordinance that prohibits them from parking tractor-trailers on their own property. About a dozen Trinity residents spoke against the ordinance while a few
SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
New ordinance prohibits truckers from parking tractor-trailers on their own property. prohibits the parking of large trucks on any public street unless in the process of loading and unloading. City officials said letters have been sent to those who are in violation, and only one truck driver has been issued a warning. However, truck drivers
tried to persuade the City Council to rescind the ordinance or grandfather those who currently would be in violation of the ordinance. Vickie Duncan, the wife of Trinity truck driver, David Duncan, said her husband has worked in
the trucking profession for many years. “We have spoken to all the residents in our area about his truck parked in front of our home,” Duncan said. “They’ve all told us they are fine with it. No one in my neighborhood parks on the street nor is traffic blocked ... I heard it was suggested that truck drivers should leave their truck at the company they work for. This is an impossible option for David because of the risk he would be taking for theft and vandalism for both his work truck and personal vehicle.” Ed Lohr, a Trinity resident who is a truck driver, told the City Council he thought he had fought in the Vietnam War to pro-
TRUCKERS, 2A
Officials: Tourism sales decline 14 percent in August
Seasonal chores
BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Matt Mahoney rides on the back of this fertilizer spreader on the lawn at High Point University. Properly applied, fertilizers can improve the health and productivity of soil and plants as they provide different essential nutrients to encourage plant growth. Experts say now is the perfect time for such outdoor chores.
HIGH POINT – Tourism sales were down 14 percent in August based on a yearto-year comparison, according to the High Point Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. The bureau secured four events in August, including the Furniture City Classic/ Piedmont Soccer Alliance, totaling 9,090 attendees and 526 hotel room night bookings for the month. “Bidding is pretty competitive as far as trying to pull groups into the city,” said Marva Wells, sales manager for the bureau, at its monthly meeting on Wednesday. “But we’re going along in our daily chores of trying to find businesses to come to High Point.” The Furniture City Classic gained the most tourism attraction in August with 1,000 attendees and 45 hotel room nights booked. “The Furniture City Classic keeps putting us on the map in the sports industry,” said Chris Adams, chairman of the
board for the bureau. An event booking incentive for $12,000 was also passed by the board for Showtime, a fabric trade event held in High Point each June and December. The grant will be divided into two installments for the bureau’s fiscal year, with $6,000 awarded in December and $6,000 awarded next June. In other tourism news, the bureau voted to provide $170,625 out of $394,200 in grants for local tourism projects through its annual Arts and Tourism Grants Program. “We heard some very compelling reports and had to make some tough decisions,” said Adams, who also heads the bureau’s arts and tourism grant committee. “In light of today’s economy, the committee felt it was in the bureau’s best interest to award the grants conservatively.” The 23 organizations that received those grants will be announced in Friday’s edition of the High Point Enterprise. phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
Board opens incentives plan to public Hearing set for today; vote could follow BY DAVID NIVENS ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
GUILFORD COUNTY – Although they are still hammering out some final details, commissioners decided Wednesday to send a proposed small business incentives plan to a public hearing today. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold the hearing during a 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Old Courthouse in Greensboro. Commissioners could adopt the plan tonight following the hearing. To pass a legal review, Commissioner Steve Arnold of High Point added a declaration of public purpose, grant range qualifications and the public hearing require-
ment to the proposed policy. Arnold proposed the policy earlier this year and lobbied commissioners to approve $1.3 million for the program. Arnold “We have tried to address all the legal issues,” Arnold said. “The policy has become less unique and more like other policies in the state.” Business owners would have to invest a minimum of $10,000 for real property improvements to receive grants over three years. Several commissioners wanted to adjust the minimum. “Why not raise it to $50,000?” suggested Democratic Commissioner Kirk Perkins. “That would have more of an impact.” Arnold said he wanted as many small businesses as possible to qualify for grants.
125th year No. 260 www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
BY DARRICK IGNASIAK ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
ing, which drew a standing-room-only crowd. Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits the parking of large trucks, including cab and trailer, spoke for it during the cab only and/or trailer, public forum section of the in residential neighborTrinity City Council meet- hoods. The ordinance also
September 17, 2009
SAFETY FIRST: Hospital puts new flu prevention policy in place. 1B
Ordinance irks truckers City officials said letters have been sent to those who are in violation.
THURSDAY
“We need a way to separate this policy from our other policy for industry with an investment ceiling,” said Democratic Commissioner Bruce Davis of High Point. “We need a clear line.” Arnold has yet to convince Democratic Commissioners Paul Gibson and Carolyn Coleman that the proposed policy would create more jobs. The county’s industrial incentives plan is aimed at job creation. “Why give tax grants for something someone would do anyway? Gibson said. “This policy does not help. It is not an incentive for jobs.” Commissioners also discussed extending the incentives to commercial multi-family developments. Republican Commissioner Mike Winstead, a Greensboro property developer, liked that idea. “It is hard to start a job today,”
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PLANS CHANGE
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Hearing canceled: Ameritox, a biotech company, has withdrawn a request for incentives totaling $277,500 over three years, Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chairman Skip Alston said Wednesday. Ameritox specializes in urine tests for chronic-pain patients receiving medication from physicians.
WHO’S NEWS
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Mary A. Smith, associate professor of biology at North Carolina A&T State University, was named chairwoman for the department of biology at the university. In 2001, she received academic leadership training in the BRIDGES IX Academic Leadership for Women Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
INSIDE
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OFF TO PRISON: Man gets 40 years for robbery spree. 1B OBITUARIES
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Larry Ballard, 57 Wanda Black, 63 Gary Blake, 57 Jerry Hill, 75 Steve Holland, 68 Glenn Johnson, 73 Pamela Kerr, 56 Helen Koontz, 96 Robert McClure, 72 Jack Moore, 75 Harriette Morgan, 69 Sophie Worley, infant Obituaries, 2B
WEATHER
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Rain likely High 71, Low 63
8C
INDEX ABBY 3B BUSINESS 7-8C CLASSIFIED 5-8D COMICS 7B CROSSWORD 2D DONOHUE 7B FUN & GAMES 2D KAZOO 1D, 3-4D LIFE&STYLE 1D LOCAL 3A, 1B LOTTERY 2A MOVIES 8B NATION 5A, 8A, 8B NEIGHBORS 4-5B NOTABLES 8B OBITUARIES 2B OPINION 6-7A SPORTS 1-5C STATE 2-3A, 3B, 6B STOCKS 7C TV 8B WEATHER 8C WORLD 4A
INFO Terms: The company sought support for 228 full-time laboratory jobs and $26 million in new investment. Winstead said. “This policy could help with the bank loan. Contractors would do more if they had a trigger.” dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626
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