Samaritan's Purse Response to Hurricane

Over the weekend, Samaritan's Purse DC-8 cargo plane departed from our Airlift Response Center in Greensboro, North Carolina—loaded with approximately 40,000 pounds of critical relief supplies and dozens of additional Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members bound for Jamaica. Once on the ground, Samaritan’s Purse medical team will be treating those in urgent need of care, while other team members distribute thousands of pounds of relief to hurting communities across the island.

Vehicle Thefts

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating some theft of vehicle reports. In the first, the property owner reports that the Chevy Monte Carlo valued at $2000 was sold by someone who was supposed to be repairing it. In the second report, the victim reported that his Chevy Blazer valued at $2500 was stolen while he was in jail. Suspects were listed with both reports, and charges are pending further investigation.

List of Thefts in Wilkes

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office received a list of thefts last week. A Ferguson resident reported the theft of a Taurus .45 pistol and a lock box. Stolen property is valued at $640. One suspect was given with that report. A North Wilkesboro victim reported the theft of a 5G cell phone valued at $200. Again, there is a suspect in that theft. And, a Moravian Falls man reported the theft of a license plate from his work truck. One white male suspect was also listed with that report. These investigations are ongoing and charges are pending.

NC Help with SNAP

The State of North Carolina will grant $10 million to local food banks across the state. The State is joined by AmeriHealth Caritas, which will give $5 million, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, which will accelerate $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift, and other donors. These announcements come as food banks prepare for an influx of need following the USDA’s decision to suspend the distribution of SNAP benefits for November. 

NC FACT

The North Carolina Department of Health announced a new program to help people with severe mental illness released from detention.  NC Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Teams (NC FACT) will deploy across the state to provide individualized assistance to people released from jail or prison including mental health care, housing support, vocational/educational support, substance use disorder care, and day-to-day living support. The goal is to reduce the likelihood the recipients will return to prison and create safer communities.  

Black Bear Cubs Released

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently released twelve rehabilitated black bear cubs back to the wild, with four of them coming from the coastal region and eight from the mountains. Bear cubs are released on state-managed lands at sites reasonably far from human development in the region where they were originally found. Some of the cubs are outfitted with tracking collars so biologists can monitor their movements. The tracking collars are designed to stay on the cubs until the following April; at that time, a timer on the collar causes it to drop off the cub.

Stolen and Recovered

Wilkesboro Police recovered a stolen UHaul van and made arrests. The UHaul van valued at $47,000 was reported stolen from a local business. The stolen van was later located and recovered in Wilkesboro. The white male and white female who had the stolen vehicle were arrested. Charges included larceny and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Break-in and Theft

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating a theft in Millers Creek. The property owner reported a large amount of cash, gold jewelry, clothes, and power tools were stolen. That stolen property totaled nearly $10,000. No suspects were listed with that report, and the investigation is still underway.

Yadkin Drug Arrest

This week, Detectives with the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office ACE Team were conducting surveillance in Hamptonville when they observed a Honda Civic Concord. Detectives had received information that white male driver had been involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in Yadkin County. During a traffic stop, detectives located a concealed handgun, methamphetamine, currency, and drug paraphernalia. The man was arrested on multiple drug charges.

Jubilee Home for Women in Durham

First Lady of North Carolina Anna Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrated the opening of the Jubilee Home for women in Durham on Thursday. Serving as reentry support for women who are released from prison or jail, the center will provide mental health, housing, employment, and other services to assist in improving outcomes. Jubilee Home is among 11 organizations awarded funding through NCDHHS.