News & Sports For October 24th

Wilkes Man Killed In Iraq
A Wilkes County Navy corpsman was killed last Friday in Iraq. A roadside bomb attack killed 25-year-old Chris Thompson of Millers Creek. Thompson was assigned to a Marine unit and was serving his second combat tour in a job similar to an Army medic. Thompson and another Marine died in the blast about 25 miles west of Baghdad. Chris is the son of Larry and Geraldine Thompson also of Millers Creek. The Thompson's were home around 9:30 on Friday evening when two Navy officers arrived at their house to deliver the bad news.

Christmas In Wilkes Taking Applications
Starting today, applications will be taken for this year’s Christmas in Wilkes program. The program helps each year, by providing needy kids with clothes and toys their parents couldn’t otherwise afford. People can apply from now until Nov. 4th at certain times during the week. You can drop off applications at the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club Building, located behind Cooks in West Park. Monday through Wednesday, you can come by from 11am til 7pm, then on Thursday and Friday, from 11am til 5pm. When coming to apply, parents or guardians must bring a picture ID, proof of their current income and social security cards for both the parents and children. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell with Christmas in Wilkes. Her number is 667-7174.

Assault & Robbery At Wilkesboro Business
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Fast Track on Hwy 421 late last week after a fight broke out in the parking lot. A Boomer man had been assaulted in the parking lot, with the robbers taking his wallet. Witnesses described both the suspects and the vehicle they drove off in. After viewing the security cameras and getting a positive identification, warrants were taken out on 31-yr-old Michael Dewitt Ferguson Jr for strong armed robbery, assault and trespass.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Despite gas prices dropping around the area, some people here in Wilkes are still refusing to pay. Late last week gas thieves hit the Run-In on Oakwoods Road. A man came into the store, told employees he didn’t have enough money to pay for his gas and left his driver’s license as proof that he’d be back to pay. Instead he drove off down the highway and didn’t come back. Later on that night, Wilkesboro police tracked him down on Hwy 268, where he admitted that he wasn’t planning on returning, despite having left his license. 19-yr-old Tyler Ian Wray was arrested and charged in addition to the gas theft, with drug possession after deputies found marijuana inside his car.

Truck Stolen From Millers Creek Home
Be careful where you leave your vehicle. That proved true for a Millers Creek man last week, after his truck was stolen. He had parked the vehicle near a local store, then carpooled to work. However when returning that night, the vehicle was missing. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything, however the investigation is ongoing.

Lunch Buddy Training Session
Communities in Schools again finds itself short on volunteers as we near the halfway part of the school semester. Over a hundred kids are still on a waiting list, hoping to be paired up with a lunch buddy for the rest of this year. By joining the program, adults agree to meet up for about one hour a day with a kid at one of the local schools. The pair eat lunch together and get to know each other, giving the child a friend that otherwise they might not have. Coming up this Wednesday, a training program for the lunch buddy program will be held from 12 noon til 1pm. That will go on at the Communities in Schools office, just off School Street on College Ave. here in Wilkesboro. For more information you can call Amie Blevins, the program’s director. Her number is 651-7830 extension 23.

Wreck On Collegiate Drive Totals One
A wreck late last week on Collegiate Driver damaged one car and totaled another. A Boomer woman was driving down the road and had to slow down for oncoming traffic. The vehicle behind her, driven by a Wilkesboro woman, couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. That second vehicle was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $2500, while $500 worth of damage was done to the first car. Thankfully however no one was injured in the wreck.

Pistol Taken From Open Car
Always lock your car when you leave. A Wilkesboro woman found out last week that’s especially true when you have a pistol in the vehicle. She had secured the weapon, then left the vehicle unlocked while going to visit relatives. When she returned to the car, the pistol was missing. A description of the weapon was given to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: Stress Kills
This next bit of news is for all the men in their 20s and 30s. Your job could literally be killing you, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A study released this weekend by researchers in Finland discovered that stress at work leads to problems in men’s arteries. Just over one thousand people were tested for the study, which found that men with high stress levels usually showed signs of artery disease. That’s where the artery narrows, preventing blood from getting through and leading to a heart attack or stroke. The same study found however, that the problem was unique to men and that women of the same age didn’t suffer the same way, although it was unclear why. The best way to prevent the arteries from narrowing, according to the study, is to make yourself take a day or two off from work at least every two months. That way you can relax and the strain won’t continue to build.

Broke In To Get The Wallet
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence over the weekend, after thieves ran off with the homeowner’s wallet. There was no sign of damage done to the property and also no clear indication as to how thieves got inside the home. However the homeowner’s wallet, along with his driver’s license and social security card was missing. Nothing else was stolen from the home. There is however a suspect and deputies are continuing that investigation.

State News

Storms Aid Recovery Of Ancient Ship
The recent storms on the Carolina coast may have helped solve a longstanding question. The wind and rain unearthed some medical supply bowls, two cannons and other debris from the shipwreck some believe to be The Queen Anne’s Revenge. While recent dives haven’t been able to officially determine the ship’s identity, the medical bowls and other collected debris could.

FBI Looking Into NC House Speaker
Less than a week after his political director was accused of violations, State House Speaker Jim Black finds himself under investigation. The FBI this weekend seized records related to Black’s political meetings at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte and also obtained records of Black’s campaign finance reports. Officials say that it’s part of an ongoing investigation into the video poker industry but didn’t specify further.

Jobs Coming To Newton
Some good news today for people in Newton, as 150 new jobs will be coming into the area. Flowers Foods, a Georgia company, has bought out what used to be the Harvest States plant. The area will be expanded to 150,000 square feet over the next four months and 150 new jobs will be created as a result.

More Inmates Possibly Up For Parole
More of the inmates in North Carolina prisons could soon be out on the street, now that a new law has taken effect. Under the new law, the Parole Commission has to attempt to release at least 20% of the eligible inmates that were sent to prison before 1994. Officials say the change will help to free up room for newer inmates, who are more of a threat to society. Just under 4000 prisoners will be effected by the new law.

People Arrested After Dumping Gas
Throughout the area, people have been searching for cheap gas. However over the weekend in King North Carolina, police arrested two men for pouring it out. The two men drove up to a local McDonald’s and poured 60 gallons of gas down a storm drain, before being arrested for illegal dumping. No reason has been given as to why they decided to dump the gas.

Jobless Rate Takes A Fall
Some good news for the North Carolina economy, as the state’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5% at the end of September. That’s down from 5.6% in August and it continues a rebound from the all time high this year, which was 5.7% in July.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Taking a look around the high school scene, it was Wilkes Central beating North Surry 10-7. With the win, Central improves to 2-7 on the year. Meanwhile a tough break for West Wilkes, as they fall to Mount Airy 16-0. Mistakes and dropped passes caused problems for the West offense, as the team falls to 6-3 with the loss. Next up they'll take on East Surry, looking for win number seven on the season. And North Wilkes falls against Surry Central, losing 47-12. With the loss, North drops to 1-9 on the year. And finally East Wilkes took care of business on Friday, beating South Stokes 24-0.

ACC Scoreboard
Wake Forest took a step toward fixing their season with a 27-19 win over NC State. Chris Barclay ran 36 times for the Deacons, racking up 117 yards. Wake improves to 3-5, while State falls to 2-4 and drops into last place in the ACC’s Atlantic Division. Up the road in Chapel Hill, the defense was solid all day for the Tarheels, as they beat the 23rd ranked Virginia Cavaliers 7-5. Ronnie McGill, in his first full game back from injury, ran 23 times for 118 yards. The win pulls Carolina up to 3-3 on the season, tied with Miami for second place in the Coastal division of the ACC. Finally Florida State beat Duke 55-24, in the most competitive game played between the two schools in over five years. Duke freshman Requan Boyette rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown as the team drops to 1-7.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the rest of the college scene, it was Memphis beating East Carolina 27-24, dropping the Pirates to 3-4 on the season. It took triple overtime but Gardner-Webb pulled out the 55-52 victory over VMI. Elon was blown out by Furman 45-6 and Appalachian State clocked Wofford with a 49-17 win. Richie Williams tossed for 249 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 73 more. With the win, the Mountainers improve to 5-2, good enough for second place in the Southern conference.

Gordon Wins At Martinsville
It was Jeff Gordon taking the checkered flag Sunday at Martinsville. Points leader Tony Stewart came in second, Jimmie Johnson third, Bobby Labonte fourth and Jeff Burton rounded out the top five.

Hurricanes Blow Out Capitals
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes improved to 4-2 on the year with a blowout 4-0 victory over Washington. The Hurricanes took 41 shots during the game but lost rookie goalie Cam Ward, who sprained his left arm after a collision at the net.