Quote :

"Show time for Parton Theatre Wisdom of Local Government Commission to be tested soon By Don Carrington, Carolina Journal Roanoke Rapids officials agreed to an annual $1.5 million “artist fee,” plus a car, and home to entice Randy Parton to leave his Sevierville, TN, home. RALEIGH — Entertainer Randy Parton, brother of country superstar Dolly Parton, says he will give his first performance at the new Randy Parton Theatre at Roanoke Rapids on July 26. City and state officials have a lot on the line: They provided 100 percent financing for the startup business venture and signed off on an annual $1.5 million “artist fee” for Parton, 53. Carolina Journal has found no evidence that Parton invested any money in the project. Officials are betting on Parton’s ability to competently manage the theater, located just off Interstate 95 south of Roanoke Rapids, and attract enough customers to pay expenses. CJ can find no evidence that Parton has any experience managing a theater. Attempts to discuss the project with Parton or a representative were unsuccessful. Parton Theatre General Manager Mike Scott did not respond to phone messages. On Feb. 6, State Treasurer Richard Moore and other members of the Local Government Commission gave final approval to Roanoke Rapids to borrow $21.5 million to finance the Randy Parton Theatre even though a feasibility study found that other attractions must first be in place for the theater to be viable. While one hotel is under construction, the 200,000 square feet of retail space referenced in the study has not been started. CJ has been unable to determine whether Moore was aware of the conditions of the feasibility study or of Parton’s annual $1.5 million fee. Moore’s communication director Sara Lang ignored repeated requests from CJ to comment about the commission’s approval process. According to a press release issued by the theater, Parton’s two-hour music variety show is scheduled to run every week Wednesday through Saturday. In addition to his own show, Parton will occasionally schedule other performers. Parton needs customers from outside Halifax County if the theater is going to succeed. With a total population of 55,000, it would take only nine weeks for every county resident to see the show. Parton took possession of the completed 35,000-square-foot, 1,500-seat theater in March. In May, theater officials said they were scheduling auditions for local musicians and singers. Since the theater was announced in 2005, supporters have promised it would offer “world-class” entertainment and become “the premier entertainment destination on the East Coast.” The theater is planned to be the anchor of the 1,000-acre Carolina Crossroads entertainment and retail development. Carolina Crossroads has staged outdoor concerts at a nearby field being developed into an amphitheater. More outdoor concerts and events are scheduled for this year but those events are separate from the Parton Theatre. A copy of an economic development agreement first obtained by CJ showed that Parton is to receive an annual $1.5 million artist fee, plus a free home and vehicle for three years. The home and car were provided by private entities. According to the terms of the agreement, at least $750,000 of Parton’s fee will come initially from money borrowed by the city. The agreement was signed in June 2005 and involved four parties: Parton’s new company, Moonlight Bandit Productions; Roanoke Rapids; B & C Roanoke, a company affiliated with Georgia-based Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial; and Roanoke Rapids Entertainment One, a company controlled by Roanoke Rapids developer Michael Dunlow. More than $5 million in other public funds have been appropriated for the project, including $500,000 by the General Assembly for marketing; $399,000 by the Golden LEAF Foundation for water and sewer; a $1 million Community Development Block Grant for water and sewer; a $500,000 Rural Economic Development Center grant for water and sewer; and $2.5 million in road improvements by the Department of Transportation. Former Northeast Partnership CEO Rick Watson developed the concept for the theater and recruited Randy Parton to participate. The Partnership is a state-funded economic development agency that seeks to recruit businesses to a 16-county region that stretches from Halifax County to Dare County. Watson’s board of directors terminated him last year for working for Parton while still performing his state-funded economic development job. According to Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewery Beale, “Parton severed all ties with Watson several months ago.” Randy Parton background Parton is from Sevierville, in Sevier County, Tenn. Pigeon Forge and the Dollywood theme park — owned partially by Dolly Parton — also are situated in Sevier County. While the Internet is filled with information about Dolly, little is publicly available about Randy. His old Web sites and his new one, rptheatre.com, say information about Randy is “coming soon.” Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens told CJ that Randy Parton played there for several years. “He played in a 1,000-seat theater and primarily did the big closing show before he left for North Carolina,” Owens said. “It was a very successful show, based on our surveys of our guests.” Sevier County public records show that the primary home for Parton and his wife Deb is a 1,200-square-foot house on a small lot. They initially acquired the home with the help of sister Dolly. The 2006 market value was $60,000. Randy Parton and his wife paid off the mortgage in 2005 after they received a $500,000 advance to come to Roanoke Rapids. The Partons also own three vacant lots acquired from other relatives. Sevier County election officials told CJ that they have no record of Randy or Deb Parton ever registering to vote there."

$21 million is a lot of tax money to risk on one unproven guy with not much of a following.

This has all the ear-marks of a big financial boondoggle. Governor wannabe Richard Moore's opponents will jump all over this if it fails, since he OK'd the spending.

7/12/2007 11:06:15 PM

I grew up in that area. A lot of people believe in the Randy Parton Theater project--I hope it all works out.

7/13/2007 3:30:49 AM

I don't care how much they believe in it, why did I need to pay so much in state income taxes this year!?!?

7/13/2007 8:23:10 AM

^ I hear you. I'm worried about this Randy Parton thing, too. But there's been too much invested in the theater for it to fail now--and as far as I know, it's sunk costs anyway. So, I'm just hoping it works out for everyone.

Whether or not the theater should have been built with the financial scheme that was used is another matter--but that debate should happen. I think the outcome of such a debate, however, will depend largely on how successful theater actually is.

7/14/2007 1:48:21 AM

what difference does it make? we burn through $21 million every four (4) hours in Iraq. and that's low-balling the numbers.

Dolly's big ol' titties gave masturbatory material to at least 3 generations of Southern men. So we can give her brother four Iraq-hours, i think.

7/14/2007 2:27:10 AM

^ Apples and oranges.

7/14/2007 2:38:12 AM

^ cantaloupes and watermelons, more like it.

7/14/2007 4:19:48 AM

Check out this short video performance and see if the money was well spent.

http://www.partonparton.com/media/ifthataintcountry.wmv

7/14/2007 9:23:19 AM

The area has nothing for jobs. They're hoping in the words of one Roanoke Rapids resident I know, "a redneck Disney".

7/14/2007 2:41:53 PM

Would it not have been substantially cheaper if the state paid each and every family in the area to move elsewhere? They could be relocated to Raleigh for less than $1000 a piece. Oh, and they would be substantially more helped with that, since I suspect this "Country Disney" thing is going to fail the instant the tax dollars dry up.

7/15/2007 11:38:09 AM

^ No. Because it reminds me too much of the Nazis forcing the Jews into a ghetto.

Godwin's Law!

The problem with that area is that the all of the state east of I-95 just needs to split off and form the State of East Carolina. All of the state's money is spent on Charlotte, the Triad, and the Triangle. It's like New York State in that New York City gets all the money and Upstate gets nothing. I know they have the most people but that doesn't mean they should get ALL the money. The only time any of the east's tax money is used in the east is for beach renourishment cause the millionaires from the northeast and Raleigh stupidly built houses right on the beach and they go buy off the politicians so they can have a nice view two weekends out of the year. The only employers of notable size are the federal government (5 military bases), farming - which is near dead, and fishing - which is dead. You have all these houses sprouting up everywhere for completely no reason and will probably never have residents in them. And occasionally hurricanes do occur, although they only declared them national disasters after Raleigh's malls got flooded. Then what happens is in the summer all the dumbsh*ts from the Triangle come down to Atlantic Beach and Wilimington for the weekly migration and go "Huh, the roads down here suck." No kidding you assholes.

[Edited on July 15, 2007 at 1:22 PM. Reason : .]

7/15/2007 1:07:42 PM

Quote :

"I don't care how much they believe in it, why did I need to pay so much in state income taxes this year!?!?"

Because your state income tax didn't put a fucking cent into this theatre.

So shut the fuck up.

7/15/2007 1:19:33 PM

If any businessman ever tried to pitch a theatre in Roanoke Rapids as "the premier entertainment destination on the East Coast," I would immediately kick him out of my office, laughing my ass off every step of the way.

7/15/2007 4:40:50 PM

^^^wow, maybe you should talk to somebody about those issues.

plus: if your beloved region split off, where would it get the money to support this funding if it doesn't have the people of the rest of the state?

7/15/2007 6:14:31 PM

Quote :

"Because your state income tax didn't put a fucking cent into this theatre."

The state taxpayers are putting $5 miillion into this project. Plus if the TIF financing fails to come through...guess who's on the hook for paying it off...you betcha..the NC taxpayer.

Quote :

" More than $5 million in other public funds have been appropriated for the project, including $500,000 by the General Assembly for marketing; $399,000 by the Golden LEAF Foundation for water and sewer; a $1 million Community Development Block Grant for water and sewer; a $500,000 Rural Economic Development Center grant for water and sewer; and $2.5 million in road improvements by the Department of Transportation. "

[Edited on July 15, 2007 at 10:16 PM. Reason : .]

7/15/2007 10:16:10 PM

golden leaf comes from the tobacco lawsuit settlement.

dot is highway tax.

actually, nothing of these items comes from the state income tax

you god damned retard.

7/15/2007 11:03:34 PM

^
Who is paying the taxes that support the NCDOT?...I'm guessing NC citizens. Where are the funds coming from for the state to supply grant money...again perhaps NC taxpayers?

There are many other ways for the state to shake down citizens for tax-money besides the income tax.

The bottom line is this is a City/State joint project with basically no money invested by Parton. NC taxpayers are being forced to pay for a very big gamble.

7/16/2007 1:22:55 AM

once again, none of said money is coming from income tax.

so shut the fuck up.

7/16/2007 1:27:38 AM

I think I have something to offer considering that I do drive by Carolina Crossroads and the RPTheatre twice a day and have gotten to watch it get built. This thing is built on a lot of promises and dreams, and I hope for the towns sake it takes off. Surveys have shown that it could be a good entertainment stop over and would be a nice break for folks making the NY-FL runs. However, this thing is not going to make it on its own. It needs supporting rides, shopping, and other entertainment to attract people. We have heard about a dolphin show, waterpark, Elvis's rollercoaster, and an outlet shopping center. But this shit takes time to develop and currently its still just in the development stage. Now a vocal minority in town is starting to get nervous that no news means things have fallen through. I have friends that work for the county and Carolina Crossroads and everybody seems to understand that its just still getting finalized. All I do know for sure is that on the CCR grounds the RPTheatre has been built and they are building a Hilton Gardens hotel, but thats it. The other local developments have done pretty good, but those had little or no government support, and the town has got a lot of new housing being developed. Also the cost of housing in town has gone through the damn roof, with houses selling for WAY over market value, purely on speculation. For example my parents sold their house near the river for $205k Jan. 2006. A year later that guy was asking $300k for the same house with almost no work done and sold it. If this shit goes south though, people are going to be MAJORLY upside down in these houses, and thats one reason I plan to get the hell out of here ASAP and try to move to the Charlottesville, VA area.

Thought I'd also point to the website and mention he has the schedule up for the rest of the year. Looks like its just him performing with local people and his fatso daughter. So much for legends of the Grand Ole Opry and shit like we were promised I guess?

http://www.freetoview.net/index.php/1011110A/c63776b28c89c3d2a4c8903c15eed6581f7231823ff120729038f713e58643e418136

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 7:45 AM. Reason : ]

7/16/2007 7:27:58 AM

^^ My bad, nit-pick much? Or is it your assertion that I did not buy any gasoline?

7/16/2007 8:25:52 AM

you are the one bitching about your income taxes being high.

so shut the fuck up.

7/16/2007 9:15:19 AM

Quote :

"Moore Knew of Parton Annual Fee State Treasurer Richard Moore was aware of $1.5 million annual fee By Don Carrington, July 16, 2007 RALEIGH — Staff members of State Treasurer Richard Moore acknowledged Tuesday that Moore knew about Randy Parton’s annual $1.5 million “artist fee” but disputed as irrelevant a key contention of a feasibility study regarding the arrangement to build with public funds a theater in Roanoke Rapids named after the entertainer. For more than two months Moore and his staff have avoided answering questions about the project. Moore is chairman of the Local Government Commission, which gave final approval on Feb. 6 for Roanoke Rapids to borrow $21.5 million to finance the Randy Parton Theatre. The commission, whose staff is housed in the treasurer’s office, must approve all city and county plans to borrow money. It determines whether a local government can afford to pay the money back. Deputy Treasurer Vance Holloman and Debt Management Director Tim Romocki, Moore staff members involved in the Parton Theatre approval process, acknowledged, when asked by Carolina Journal, that Moore specifically knew about Parton’s annual fee before approving the project. CJ also asked them whether Moore was aware of a feasibility study that required 200,000 square feet of retail space and two hotels to first be in place for the theater to succeed. Holloman and Romocki would not answer the question and suggested the requirement was irrelevant. The theater is scheduled to open July 26, but only one hotel is under construction, and none of the retail space has been started. The 35,000-square-foot theater was completed and turned over to Parton in March. It is to be the cornerstone of the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District, located along Interstate 95. According to his agreement with the city, Parton has almost total control of theater operations and is responsible for making monthly payments to cover the city’s loan on the project. A lot was riding on Moore’s approval of the project. If the public financing had not been approved, the private developer, B&C Roanoke LLC, would have had to obtain private funds for the long-term financing of the facility. Roanoke Rapids officials are planning for ticket sales and other theater revenues to raise enough funds to pay the debt service and Parton’s $1.5 million annual fee. If those funds are not enough, local sales or property taxes will have to be used. The theater’s first show featuring Parton and his newly formed band, The Moonlight Bandits, is scheduled for July 26. A schedule posted on rptheatre.com indicates his shows will run Wednesdays through Saturdays for the remainder of the year, but no other acts are listed. Feasibility study Roanoke Rapids hired Economics Research Associates, an international consulting firm, to study the feasibility of the Randy Parton Theatre. According to information on the company’s Web site, “ERA is the leading consulting firm serving the entertainment and leisure development industry, and has “pioneered the analytical techniques and methodologies related to the planning, development and operational evaluation of many of the world’s leading attractions.” An employee in ERA’s Washington, D.C., office said the manager for the Roanoke Rapids project was Bill Owens. When CJ reached Owens by phone, he refused to discuss the study and said he was told by city officials not to answer any questions about the study. Both the initial report, dated April 15, 2005, and the final report, dated Dec 13, 2005, said ERA considers the proposed Randy Parton Theatre a “market-viable attraction concept, given that the following underlying assumptions are met”: • Key elements of the larger proposed development, including two hotels, at least 200,000 square feet of retail space, and additional entertainment/amusement opportunities are operational by the time the theatre opens. • The theatre is competently and proactively managed to maximize earnings and deliver a product that is in tune with the marketplace. • The show(s) associated with theatre are of high quality, are regularly “refreshed” with new content, and are appropriately targeted to draw from resident and visitor segments. • Pre- and post-opening marketing efforts are sufficiently funded, and are successfully targeted to generate a healthy mix of visitor market attendance. • The theater achieves an average, per-attendee ticket price of about $23, which reflects an adult ticket price of about $30 combined with effective discounting and ticket packaging policies designed to encourage repeat and family visitation. • The theater is able to draw on a range of non-ticket revenues typical to similar venues, for example concessions and gift shop revenues. • The $3 million reserve funded by the City of Roanoke Rapids is an available resource for covering expected start up costs and operating deficits. • No major act of terrorism or war, or other major economic shocks, have significant negative impact on the domestic tourism economy during the forecast horizon. The fund-raiser Moore, a Democrat, said May 22 that he will be a candidate for governor in the 2008 election. Roanoke Rapids area supporters sponsored a fundraiser for him June 11 at the home of Halifax County Commissioner Gene Minton. Minton is also a board member of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The bureau is a government agency, and board members are chosen by the county commissioners. Tickets to the fundraiser were $100 per person, with Patrons, Sponsors and Hosts paying $500, $1,000 and $2,000 respectively. Listed at the top of the invitation, apparently designated as hosts, were people with close ties to the theater. Included were Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewry Beale, Carolina Crossroads developer Michael Dunlow, theater employees Cathy and Mike Scott, and State Rep. Michael Wray, who helped secure state funds to promote the project. Documents obtained by CJ show that the bureau’s executive director, Lori R. Medlin, used her government e-mail account the day of the fundraiser to solicit attendees. “Subject: Fundraiser for Richard Moore,” the e-mail said. “Please review the attached invitation. It is not too late to decide to attend. You may arrive at the event this evening and check in with Gene.” Medlin sent the e-mail to an undisclosed list of recipients. A copy of the invitation was provided as an e-mail attachment. Medlin did not return phone messages seeking comment about her work for the Moore campaign. Two years ago the General Assembly appropriated $500,000 to promote the Parton Theatre and surrounding Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District. Medlin’s bureau is managing those funds. "

Richard Moore for governor? I don't think so.

7/16/2007 9:25:14 AM

you're finally right about something. It will be Bev. Perdue.

7/16/2007 9:35:48 AM

Quote :

"They could be relocated to Raleigh for less than $1000 a piece"

What? To where? Into what housing? How do they pay for said housing? I know real estate prices in RR aren't anywhere near what the cost of equivalent housing is in Raleigh.

Quote :

"If any businessman ever tried to pitch a theatre in Roanoke Rapids as "the premier entertainment destination on the East Coast," I would immediately kick him out of my office, laughing my ass off every step of the way."

Yeah, I've passed this thing several times on 95 and wondered why they put it where they did. To draw a parallel with another redneck pursuit; NASCAR dropped both races at N. Wilkesboro and Rockingham Speedways, as well as one race at Darlington because a) it drew away from that god-awful track in Charlotte and -- more relevant to this discussion -- b) because there was nothing, other than the race track, to draw fans to the area around those three tracks. This place strikes me as a strong case of the latter.

7/16/2007 10:11:10 AM

^ Just cut them a check for their share; it'd be cheaper and more effective at helping with whatever they choose to do. If they want to stay where they are and be jobless, so be it, hopefully they put the money towards their credit card debt.

7/16/2007 10:40:28 AM

^^^ I agree.

7/16/2007 8:48:53 PM