Student Essay and Video Contest

Attention local students, the deadline is this Friday. Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is again sponsoring American History Essay and Video Contests for middle and high school students. In 2025, a seventh-grader won the Wilkes County contest and placed second nationally. The deadline is this Friday, October 31. For more information, go to wilkesdarschools@gmail.com.

North Carolina Nurse Initiative

To encourage more registered nurses to serve in rural areas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is providing tax-free educational loan repayments. This new North Carolina Nurse Initiative is available to qualifying nurses committed to practices in underserved areas across the state. North Carolina’s rural population is the second largest in the country with more than 4.6 million people living in rural areas. For more information, visit the NCDHHS Office of Rural Health website. 

NC SNAP Payments May Be Delayed

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the November benefits for the 1.4 million North Carolinians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP will be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues.  This month, NCDHHS was directed by the USDA to delay the issuance of November SNAP benefits due to the ongoing federal shutdown. While October benefits are not impacted, there is a significant risk that November benefits will not be issued on their normal schedule.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month and is to inform the public about warning signs, risk factors, and what to do in a cardiac emergency. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to enroll in a CPR and AED course so they can learn what to do when someone goes into cardiac arrest and minutes matter. Each year, 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. and about 90% of them die. Visit redcross.org/takeaclass to sign up for online or in-person training classes. 

North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program

Last week, Governor Josh Stein announced that the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program has awarded $25 million to local and state efforts to promote transportation safety across the state.  These programs, which began October 1, are designed to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities on North Carolina’s roads using education, enforcement, and community building strategies.  The 119 grants benefit a range of recipients, including state and local law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.  

BROC In Wilkes Gets Stop Order Due to Gov Shutdown

According to the NC Dept of Health and Human Services, Wilkes County’s Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, known as BROC, has been issued a Stop Work order as a result of a lapse in federal funding due to the government shut-down. Wilkesboro Town Councilman Andy Soots told 3WC News that 6 BROC employees were sent home Monday due to the lack of funding. Currently, Soots said there is about 3 weeks of funding locally for BROC which oversees programs such as: Elderly Nutrition, Meals on Wheels, Weatherization, and HeadStart.

Elkin Police Using Facebook to Catch Suspect

The Elkin Police Department is asking for your help in identifying a person who committed an armed robbery over the weekend, on Saturday, October 25^th, in Elkin. The suspect was wearing a hoodie and a mask, and a picture of the suspect can been seen on the Elkin Police Facebook page. If you recognize the suspect or have any information that can help with the investigation, then you are asked to call Elkin Police Department at (336)-258-8910.

New 911 Facility in Surry County

This month, Surry County began operations in their new 911 communications center. This new 911 Comm Center in Surry County is nearly 3 times the size of the old facility, which allows staff from multiple agencies to coordinate responses during bad storms and other disasters. The facility also has upgraded dispatcher radios and new consoles. The better equipment in the larger space helps dispatchers hear emergency calls more clearly and communicate more effectively with field personnel.

North Carolina’s Heroes MAKE America Program

This week, Governor Stein announced the GE Aerospace Foundation’s $500,000 investment toward North Carolina’s Heroes MAKE America Program. Heroes MAKE America works with companies to equip veterans with skills for careers in advanced manufacturing as they rejoin the workforce. Each year, North Carolina’s aviation industry’s more than 400 companies contribute $88 billion to the state’s economy and support more than 400,000 jobs.

North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program Awards Grants

Last week, Governor Josh Stein announced that the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program has awarded $25 million to local and state efforts to promote transportation safety across the state.  These programs, which began October 1, are designed to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities on North Carolina’s roads using education, enforcement, and community building strategies.  The 119 grants benefit a range of recipients, including state and local law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.