Partin’ with Parton

Carolina Journal has highlighted problems with the Randy Parton Theatre since its planning stages. Now the rest of the world is starting to catch up with executive editor Don Carrington and his colleagues. Left to the private sector, the Roanoke Rapids project might never have seen the light of day. Since taxpayers are on the hook, Don has been keeping track of each piece of evidence of poor planning, questionable spending, and dubious deals. The News & Observer is paying attention to CJ’s role in exposing the problems. JLF vice president Chad Adams also contributed to the discussion, explaining the downside of the Parton Theatre’s tax-increment financing scheme for a Los Angeles Times story with nationwide distribution. (That was just one example of Chad’s nationwide exposure. Wearing his hat as director of the Center for Local Innovation, Chad also contributed comments to a Christian Science Monitor story highlighting the impact of high-tech industries on rural America.)