New North Wilkesboro Fire Dept Update

Back in 2024, when Jeffrey Elmore served in the NC House, he helped secure $3.5 million for a new North Wilkesboro fire station. Since then, town commissioners in March approved hiring a design-build contractor, and in May, North Wilkesboro commissioners approved a contract with Jackson Builders for designing the new fire station, which is to be built on the former North Wilkesboro Elks Lodge property off Finley Avenue. At the November Town of North Wilkesboro Commissioners’ meeting, they chose to wait and update the newly elected board members, Randy Huffman as mayor and Sandra Espin and Alex Hamilton as commissioners, when they take office in December, The Town of North Wilkesboro will have to apply for an extension if they miss the June 30, 2026, deadline for using the $3,5 million from the state.

NC Deer and CWD

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reporting the first possible detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Edgecombe County. Wilkes, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin remain in a Primary Surveillance Area for CWD, but there is no mandatory testing. However, the transportation of a deer carcass or carcass parts out of a primary or secondary surveillance area is prohibited with a few exceptions. The placement of minerals or salt to purposely congregate wildlife is prohibited in primary and secondary surveillance areas.  Also, the placement of bait, food, or food products to purposefully congregate wildlife is prohibited from Jan. 2 – Aug. 31 in primary and secondary surveillance areas.

NC Advisory Council Meeting Today

The Advisory Council, established by Gov. Josh Stein executive order, meets today. The Advisory Council’s mission is to advance North Carolina’s commitment to safe, welcoming and inclusive schools by proposing and implementing solutions to promote school safety and improve student well-being. For example, they will support school systems as they implement local policies to make schools cell phone-free. In June, the Advisory Council published its Best Practices Guide for North Carolina Public Schools Units (PSUs) Establishing Personal Communication Device Policies. A livestream of the meeting will be available on YouTube.

Echoes of Forks of Cypress

Filmmaker Fredrick D. Murphy will be in the House Chamber of the North Carolina State Capitol on Monday, Dec. 1 from 6-8 p.m. for a screening of the documentary "Echoes of Forks of Cypress." Murphy is the creator of “History Before Us,” which explores history through filmmaking. The film explores the lives of enslaved people and enslavers at the Forks of Cypress plantation in Florence, Alabama. The enslaved and free people of Forks of Cypress had North Carolina roots. To learn more about the film, please visit historybeforeus.com.

Credit Card Fraud

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office received a report this week from a Millers Creek business man. The man reported a possible case of credit card theft and fraud. He advised that he has a business credit card issued through Wells Fargo. It is believed the card was either lost or stolen without his knowledge. Upon reviewing his account activity, he noticed two unauthorized charges on the card. There is no word on suspects.c

More Credit Card Fraud

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating another case of credit card fraud. According to the victim from Purlear, someone made over $5000 in charges on their credit card without their knowledge or permission. One white male suspect was listed with that report. Charges are pending further investigation.

Student Cellphone Policy in Wilkes

A new state law requiring public schools and charter schools adopt policies requiring cell phones and portable communication devices to be turned off during instructional time, prompted the Wilkes County School Board to adopt a policy last week. According to the policy for local schools, instructional time is the “time during which students are assigned to a teacher for the primary purpose of instruction.” Teachers may authorize individual students to use wireless communication devices for instructional purposes, if students are supervised. It also allows use of them during an emergency.

Beginning Teacher of the Year for Wilkes County Schools

Congratulations to Mr. Brandon Weaver of Mulberry Elementary. Mr. Weaver was recently selected as the 2025-26 Beginning Teacher of the Year for Wilkes County Schools. In addition to this honor, Mr. Weaver was presented with a $250 Donor's Choose award sponsored by Keith Lyall and Horace Mann Insurance. Click the headline of this article to learn more. The Beginning Teacher Of the Year award is sponsored by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and was developed to honor beginning teachers in NC public schools.

New NC Jobs

Scout Motors Inc., an automotive manufacturer, will create 1,200 jobs in Mecklenburg County. The project will invest $206.9 million to establish its corporate headquarters operation in the City of Charlotte. The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961-80. Scout Motors was formed in 2022 to craft the next era of trucks and SUVs. Scout Motors’ operation in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant, and over the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $4.8 billion.

NC and Toyota's Battery Plant

Governor Josh Stein joined Toyota leaders and local officials to celebrate the opening of Toyota’s first battery plant in North America. This $13.9 billion investment in Liberty is creating 5,100 jobs in Randolph County. “Today we celebrate historic progress as Toyota scales battery production right here in North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This groundbreaking investment will create more than 5,000 new jobs for North Carolinians and will strengthen our clean energy economy.”