Roanoke Rapids and its taxpayers were victims of a scam by Randy Parton and his partners to induce the community into building a multi-million theater with little chance of the entertainment venue succeeding, according to a lawsuit filed in behalf of a local resident Thursday.
Sphere: Related ContentWhile admitting his own complicity in the Randy Parton Theater fiasco, Councilman Jon Baker says the proposed 5-cent property tax hike is a necessary evil and he has lost faith in the mayor and all but one of his fellow council members.
Sphere: Related Content“The economy is getting hit by some body blows. The big question is whether the economy can withstand it or will it take a fall,” said Ken Mayland, president of ClearView Economics. Hiring practically stalled in December, driving the nation’s unemployment rate up to a two-year high of 5 percent and fanning fears of a recession.
Sphere: Related ContentA new crisis is emerging, a global food catastrophe that will reach further and be more crippling than anything the world has ever seen.
This is why we promote becoming self-reliant and preparing for difficult times that lay ahead. Visit Deep Creek Survival and stock up on preparedness supplies and emergency food storage supplies now, before it’s too late.
Sphere: Related ContentLink to Article on WRAL-TV.com
The Roanoke Rapids City Council voted to replace Randy Parton as manager for the Randy Parton Theatre. The theatre has been having trouble breaking even ever since it’s beginning. Parton’s salary, paid by the taxpayer, will be slashed to $250,000 a year, down from 1.5 million per year. Poor Randy will have to live on hard times in one of the poorest counties in NC
You see, this is why public-private partnerships are BAD, BAD, BAD news for the taxpayer. Did I say it was bad? Some on the Roanoke Rapids City Council, who made the original contract with Randy Parton, thought that since it was a private venture (though using PUBLIC FUNDS) the theatre didn’t need to disclose the finances to the public. Au Contraire, Mon Fraire! That sounds like an easy way to cover fraud and corruption of select individuals in on the deal in the first place. But the City Council now promises that full transparency will be allowed. We shall see. Hey, where are all those jobs promised? Restaurant and retail jobs don’t pay enough for people to live on, you know.
Now, since Randy Parton’s salary is to be cut, will this also reduce the property tax burden recently endured by the people in Halifax County? I sincerely doubt it, at least not immediately. When it was announced that Carolina Crossroads and the Randy Parton theatre was to be built, property values in Halifax County started reaching astronomical values. Folks, who had worked all their lives and used their earnings to build themselves a place to call home, only to move because a few charlatans saw dollar signs, excuse me, tax revenue, is a sad aftershock of ridiculous deals, such as this.
All this, again, in one of the most poorest counties in North Carolina.
I remember one evening, I was visiting my parents a few years ago, when the phone rang. I answered it and a lady on the other line from somewhere in Raleigh, NC was asking if we had any property to sell. Why would someone, out of the blue no less, call up asking us that question. I told her in no uncertain terms that there was no way in heck we were selling anything to her or anyone else. Click. The real estate sharks looking to pilfer and profit off the local residents had begun. It was sickening to me to see that my hometown was to be carved up by greedy politicians and self-serving individuals, so that they could play bigshot for a day.
I’m going to repeat what Robert and I say on the show on a regular basis. Government cannot GIVE, what it MUST TAKE from you. This is why public-private partnerships are an unhealthy alliance of corrupt politicians and profit-driven corporations.
Let’s just hope Mr. Parton doesn’t sue the City of Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County like he did his sister Dolly Parton, because they wouldn’t give him anymore money to keep wasting away. The people of Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County should not are NOT beholden to Randy Parton.
Sphere: Related ContentA court ruling has given the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education possession of Life United Pentecostal Church’s land, but a price for the property is undetermined.
“We still don’t want to sell the church,” said Nick Ellis, Life United Pentecostal’s attorney. “They’ve taken it without our permission, but the law has said they can do that.”
Sphere: Related ContentThe following was a letter sent to the Rocky Mount Telegram. I suggest that we give Jennifer and Joshua Hammett support in what they’re doing. Here’s the letter.
Sphere: Related ContentThis letter is a call to arms of the citizens of Rocky Mount. We are looking for individuals who are tired of Rocky Mount city utility prices. So many people are tired of being robbed by this city, and it’s time that someone does something about it!
Families and individuals are moving out of Rocky Mount at a record rate. Most are looking to leave the city power behind and go somewhere more reasonable. Our power is higher than Raleigh, and there is no reason for it.
Rocky Mount does not have the income for the prices that are being charged. We live in the county and pay county taxes, yet we are forced to pay Rocky Mount city utilities. That is not right. Rocky Mount receives its utilities from Carolina Power & Light. Why does the city charge such a high premium? It is time to cut out the middleman and restore some integrity in Rocky Mount.
We are looking for individuals who are fed up with the nonsense. It is past time that we take a stand against our city of Rocky Mount and its council members and get something accomplished for the good of our city.
You can call us at 252-557-1146. We will compile a list and present it to the City Council.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
JENNIFER & JOSHUA HAMMETT