NC DMV Update

Governor Josh Stein held his latest NC Strong Update to share progress North Carolina is making to shorten wait times and improve customer experience at the DMV.  Last month, the Governor signed Senate Bill 245, allowing more North Carolinians to renew their driver’s licenses online. In just the first week, 10,000 people renewed their licenses remotely, helping shorten lines and improve in-person service. Thanks to funding approved by the legislature in August, the DMV filled all 64 examiner positions within a month.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

This week, Wilkesboro Police received information on the location of a stolen vehicle. The 2005 Toyota was located at a local business. The 43-year-old white female driver from Millers Creek was found inside the store and arrested. Charges included: possession of a stolen vehicle, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the Wilkes County Jail.

NC Behavioral Health Urgent Care

The North Carolina Department of Health and others celebrated the state’s continued investment in building a comprehensive mental health system this week with a ribbon-cutting at a new Behavioral Health Urgent Care in Pitt County. The facility will open its doors to clients on Monday, Oct. 27. NCDHHS is committed to ensuring there is someone to contact, someone to respond and a safe place to go if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. The location in Pitt County is the seventh that NC Health has helped launch in the past 18 months. 

NC Red Cross To Alaska

Red Cross Deployed 8 North Carolina Volunteers to Alaska Following Typhoon Halong. Eight disaster-trained volunteers from the American Red Cross North Carolina Region are deploying to Alaska to support relief efforts following Typhoon Halong, which devastated several coastal villages and forced the evacuation of about 2,000 people. Evacuees are being transported nearly 500 miles from their homes to safe shelter in Anchorage. The American Red Cross is working in close coordination with state, tribal and local officials.

Identity Theft

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating another case of Identity Theft. According to the 43-year-old North Wilkesboro victim, he has been contacted by a collection agency regarding a past due charge of $4000 on a credit card. The victim reports that he never applied for this card and that someone used his name and other information to obtain the card. There is no word on suspects at this time.

Break-in and Theft

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating a break-in and theft from the Traphill Community. The victim reports $4300 in property was stolen during that break-in. Stolen property includes: 2 generators, power tools, 2 chainsaws, 12 porcelain dolls, furniture and clothes. Two suspects were given with that report and charges are pending further investigation.

October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina

Governor Josh Stein  proclaimed October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina and encourages all North Carolinians to protect themselves from online threats and scams.  According to the FBI, North Carolinians lost $324 million to internet crimes in 2024. Scammers use emails, texts, social media messages, or fake websites to trick you into revealing sensitive data or sending money. Be wary of messages urging immediate action, offering something too good to be true, or asking for personal information. If you are not sure a message is real, look up another contact to verify. Never respond to the message or use the contact information it provides.

Connections: Recovery Support app

The North Carolina Department of Health has partnered with others to provide resources for military veterans and mental health providers through the Connections app. The Connections: Recovery Support app  provides 24/7 access to trained peers, and this free resource is available in English and Spanish. North Carolina is home to more than 615,000 veterans, making up about 7.3% of the adult population in the state. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, North Carolina had 209 veteran deaths by suicide in 2022, which is the last year data is available.

North Carolinians Traveling

North Carolinians are getting a head start on their holiday travel plans this year, according to new survey data from AAA. Top holiday travel trends include major cities, beach getaways, resort vacations (all-inclusive/multi-amenity hotels), and cruising. Over half (58%) of North Carolinians plan to take at least one overnight trip during the 2025 holiday season:  68% will travel for Christmas, 61% will travel for Thanksgiving, and 40% will travel for New Year's Eve. 25% of North Carolinians plan to take more holiday vacations this year.

Presents with a Purpose in Wilkes

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Bojangles of North Wilkesboro for Presents with a Purpose. The sheriff’s office and Bojangles of North Wilkesboro are accepting cash donations to purchase gifts for children in need this Christmas. Their goal this year is to help 300 children locally. A special event day with deputies on the roof of the North Wilkesboro Bojangles, activities for kids, and special singing in the evening is this Thursday, October 23 from 6am to 7pm at the North Wilkesboro Bojangles at the top of Second Street Hill.