Roanoke Rapids officials agreed to pay $750,000 to cut ties with
performer Randy Parton, whom they hired in June 2005 to run an
entertainment complex that they hoped would spark the city's
economy. Parton, younger brother of country superstar Dolly Parton,
persuaded the city to borrow $21.5 million to build The Randy Parton
Theatre. He was to perform there and manage it. However, attendance at
the 1,500-seat theater has been disappointing since it opened in July.
The city replaced Parton as manager in November with Boston-based UGL
Unicco. It fired Parton as a performer in December, alleging that he had
shown up drunk for a show, then dropped UGL in February. The payment to
Parton bought out the remaining five years on his contract, which
promised him at least $250,000 a year.
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