News & Sports For October 12th

Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center In Need Of Supplies

As we go through October, the Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center finds itself in need of supplies. Diapers and baby wipes are badly needed by the organization, along with willing volunteers. Coming up soon there will be a volunteer training program going on, the dates of which will be announced in the next few days. At their memorial gathering this past weekend, $1925 was raised to help support the group. For more information about what training involves or if you want to donate, you can call the Center at 838-9272. You can also drop off supplies at their building, located at 1224 School Street in Wilkesboro.

Never Leave Money In Your Car

It’s not a good idea to leave money in an unlocked vehicle. A Wilkesboro woman learned that lesson this week , after thieves opened up her truck and walked away with $500. The money had been laying in the console of the truck with the doors unlocked. There was no damage done to the truck itself and nothing else stolen from inside. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On Foxx

We hear a lot about money being sent down to the Gulf Coast by our government, to help with disaster relief. But how much of it is actually getting to the people? 5^thDistrict Congresswoman Virginia Fox wil be discussing that and other topics with Brian during Focus on the Foothills this week as they’ll be talking about illegal immigration, the energy crisis and where the money being sent for hurricane relief is actually going. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Gun Stolen From Local Home

Thieves broke into a local man’s home this week, but only left with a .38 caliber pistol. Nothing else was taken from the home and there was no damage done to the property. The theft occurred as the man was preparing to move to another area. There are suspects in the case and that investigation continues.

Presentation Coming Up Today On Medicare

If you’re confused about the new Medicare Plan D program, you’re not alone. Many people throughout the country are confused as to how exactly the new plan works. To help solve that problem, a presentation will be given tonight at Center Baptist Church. The church, located in the Mulberry community, will host the meeting at 7pm, with representatives from Social Security and Medicare both on hand to explain and take questions. For more information you can call 670-3564.

Storage Building Raided In Millers Creek

Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a piece of property in Millers Creek earlier this week, after thieves broke into a storage building. The building belonged to a construction company that was doing work behind Millers Creek Baptist Church. Taken in the theft were several thousand dollars worth of tools, including several drills and a Milwaukee skill saw. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Child Abuse Prevention Team To Hold Conference

Child abuse affects all of us in some way, in our churches, schools and even in the workplace. To help people better understand the problem, the Child Abuse Prevention Team here in Wilkes County is getting set to hold a conference coming up next month. It will cost $55 to attend and for more information you can call Our House at 667-5555 before November 4^th.

Guns Stolen From Ronda Home

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a break-in that happened in the Ronda community. Earlier this week, thieves pried open the front door of a local man’s home, later walking out with five different guns, totaling over a thousand dollars in value. Nothing else was damaged or touched throughout the home. That investigation continues.

Samaritan’s Kitchen In Need Of Help

When people can’t afford to buy food here in Wilkes County, they go to the Kitchen. Samaritan’s Kitchen has been in operation for just over six years, helping people put food on the table. Now however the Kitchen finds itself in major need of support, both with food donations and volunteer help. So if you can spare thirty minutes or three hours, please contact volunteer coordinator Elizabeth Ferguson with the Kitchen. The number to call is 838-5331.

State News

NC Courts May Suspend Civil Cases

Civil cases may not be heard in North Carolina courts, if the state’s chief justice has her way. Justice Beverly Lake Jr. has ordered prosecutors to catch up with criminal cases, of which there are 79,000 waiting to go to trial here in the state. She also said the court was underfunded by lawmakers, who cut just over $70 million from their budget this year. Last year’s budget stood at $383 million while this year it’s $310. Justice Lake said that the lack of funding leads to more delays in getting a case to trial, violating the defendant’s rights.

Bulletproof Vests Taken From Community College

Who would steal 20 bulletproof vests? That’s what officials in Brunswick County want to know. Thieves broke into a law enforcement classroom at Brunswick Community College this week and walked out with 20 of the vests. Over a thousand dollars worth of equipment was left behind in the classroom, as the thieves apparently were only interested in the vests.

I-40 Reopened In Davie County

Portions of I-40 in Davie County were reopened yesterday after a tractor trailer wrecked. Around 5am, the truck wrecked and spilled its’ cargo, shingles and other building supplies. Crews had to shut down the area for three hours as they cleaned up the mess. Thankfully however there were no injuries, although it’s unclear what caused the truck to wreck, as no other vehicles were involved.

Cheap Gas In Alamance

A mistake by a gas station in Alamance led to some cheap gas for several people. A news photographer was driving through the area when he found a local station selling gas for 29 cents a gallon. The sign was meant to read $2.95 a gallon, but employees had misspelled it on both the pumps and signs. The photographer went inside and told employees, who immediately corrected the mistake. However locals who drove by in the early morning before the photographer arrived were able to fill up for under 10 dollars.

Hooker Furniture Closing Doors

Bad news for people today in Pleasant Garden, as Hooker Furniture announced on Tuesday that the local plant will be shutting its’ doors effective immediately. Almost 170 workers were still there this week, helping to produce and load the plant’s final shipments. They had been informed of the decision several months ago and the company helped to hold job fairs and find other employment for the now out of work employees. Around 45 workers will still be employed til the end of the year, to help pack up supplies and clean up the plant.

Lawmakers Decide Not To Override Veto In Teacher Dispute

State lawmakers decided on Tuesday not to try and overturn Gov. Easley’s veto of the teacher licensing bill. The plan had been designed to bring more teachers into North Carolina, by lowering our requirements and standards. Easley refused to allow it however, saying that the state couldn’t progress and move forward with teachers who aren’t qualified to do their jobs. Democrats and Republicans alike met with the governor this week and have apparently reached a compromise, although nothing was official on Tuesday night. Lawmakers will meet later today to discuss the matter.

Sports Headlines

Coach K Leading Candidate For Olympics

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski might be getting a second job in the near future. He’s emerged as one of the front runners to be named the new coach for the U.S. 2008 Olympic men’s team. Despite the possible new job, Coach K isn’t leaving behind his former one. Earlier reports had the coach stepping away from Duke while preparing for the 2008 games, but school officials said that wasn’t the case. If Krzyzewski is picked, he’ll be the first college coach to take over the men’s team since 1988.

Duke Defenseman Possibly Out For Season

The news just keeps getting worse however for the Duke football team. Freshman Vince Oghobaase, is still recovering from knee surgery and may have to redshirt the rest of the season. A decision on shutting it down for the rest of the year will be made after this week. Oghobaase, one of the top 100 defensive ends in the nation coming out of high school, was expected to be a big part of the Duke defense, however after spring practice, he had to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, which he’s still trying to recover from.

Preseason Polls Start Coming Out

In college basketball, the preseason polls are starting to be released, beginning with the Atlantic Sun conference. A North Carolina team is number one in the new poll, as Gardner-Webb is expected to repeat as champion of the conference this season. The school in southern North Carolina received 20 out of the 30 first place votes and will retain their starters from last season’s 18-12 run.

East Carolina Searching For Baseball Coach

Around the college baseball scene, East Carolina is hunting for a new coach, as current team leader Randy Mazey has been suspended. The school didn’t explain why the three year coach had been suspended and not fired, but they did say a search for a replacement was in the works. Until then, assistant Billy Godwin will serve as the acting head coach of the program.

Panthers Make Some Roster Moves

Coming off their win over Arizona on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers did some shuffling with their roster this week. Adam Seward, who’s out for the year with an injured foot, was placed on injured reserve. Taking his place from the practice squad was fellow linebacker and second year player Sean Tufts. Also tight end Mike Seidman may have to miss a few more games, as he continues to heal from a shoulder injured against Miami. Seidman has been back at practice, but Coach Fox says he’s not ready to play in a game just yet.

NASCAR Standings

Heading into this weekend’s race at Charlotte, it’s Tony Stewart back atop the leaderboard, 75 points ahead of second place Ryan Newman. Greg Biffle is 88 points back in third place, with Rusty Wallace and Jimmie Johnson rounding out the top five. Carl Edwards is sixth, Mark Martin seventh, Matt Kenseth eighth, Jeremy Mayfield ninth and Kurt Busch is at the back of the Chase standings, coming up in tenth place.