News & Sports For October 3rd

What The Child Fatality Report Says About Wilkes

On Friday’s newscast, we told you about the recent increase in child deaths throughout North Carolina. Unfortunately the same holds true here in Wilkes County. According to information from the County’s Health Department, 10 children on average die every year here in Wilkes. As of last week, that number in 2005 was already up to 15. Most of those deaths come as a result of premature births and defects. Birth defects don’t automatically mean the child will die, but in order to prevent it, the parents and doctors have to work together. For more information on how to deal with birth defects in your baby, you can contact the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450. Coming up later this month we’ll be going over the subject in more depth as part of our 3WC Healthwatch.

Forged Papers Help Thief Steal Medication

Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Millers Creek Pharmacy last week, after thieves attempted to get painkiller medications by using forged documents. After taking the prescriptions, pharmacists called the doctor’s office in question and learned the papers had been forged. Names of the suspects were turned over to sheriff’s deputies, along with the evidence. That investigation is ongoing.

Coats For Kids Starts Today

Starting today, you can drop off coats to give to a needy family in Wilkes. Our House, in connection with Christmas in Wilkes, is starting up their annual Coats For Kids drive. Any and all coats are welcomed, new or used, child or adult size, whatever you have to give will be used and appreciated. Two locations here in the area are accepting the coats, Wilkesboro Cleaners and Hourglass Cleaners in North Wilkesboro. Donations can be dropped off any day between now and October 28^th. During the week, you can drop off coats from 11am til 7pm Monday through Wednesday, then from 9am til 5pm on Thursday and Friday. For more information you can call Sherry Mabry at Our House. The number is 667-5555.

More Counterfeit Money Entering Wilkes

Counterfeit money continues to be a problem here in Wilkes, the latest incident happening at Northwestern Bank in Millers Creek. Last week, a bank employee was going through the deposits when she found some counterfeit money along with the cash from Dollar General. The evidence was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the store is being contacted, in hopes of identifying the counterfeiters.

Hit & Run On Moravian Street

Wilkesboro police are searching for a hit & run driver today, after a wreck Thursday afternoon on Moravian Street. Two vehicles were backing out of the Flowers Bread Store parking lot at the same time, but one failed to notice the other. The second driver wasn’t paying attention and slammed into the front corner of the first car, causing an estimated $1000 in damage. That second driver then took off down the road, leaving the scene of the crime. Police are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Coming Up Today

With people still recovering from the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, blood supplies and other items have been sent down by the Red Cross, to take care of the wounded. However with the blood going down south, the supply throughout the rest of the country is dropping. Here in North Carolina and especially in Wilkes County, the blood supply is staying at critical levels with just over a day’s supply. If you want to help solve that problem, a drive is going on later today at Millers Creek Methodist Church from 2-7pm. You can either call the Red Cross and set up an appointment at 838-4563 or just stop by and they’ll fit you in as quick as possible.

Be Careful Who You Let Inside

A Purlear man found out late last week that it’s a good idea to be careful who you let inside your home. He had invited a man into the house and showed him his .22 caliber Glenfield rifle. Then later on they went fishing and the man asked if they could bring the rifle, which the homeowner agreed to. After returning from fishing, the homeowner went inside to get something, then came back out to find the man and his rifle both gone. Since the theft he hasn’t been able to locate the man. Sheriff’s deputies are continuing the investigation.

Benefit For St. Jude Children’s Hospital Next Week

If you had a good time this weekend at the Apple Festival, there’s another celebration coming up October 15th, where you can have a good time and help a great cause. A benefit will be going on to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, beginning at 10am at the Bowman Branch Farm in North Wilkesboro. For a $5 donation, you can take part in a horseback scavenger hunt, pony rides, face painting and horseshoe painting. Also for an addition $5, you can enter in the Chili Cookoff, with a cash prize awarded for first place. For more information or to get directions to the farm, you can call 984-3862 or 838-8382.

Larceny At Local Store

Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Precision Fabricators last week, after thieves ran off with over $2000 worth of items. Stolen from outside the store was 1500 lbs. of copper wire. There are however suspects in the case, as two men had been bragging to people that they had stolen the wire. That investigation is ongoing.

Thieves Get Inside Wilkesboro Home

A Wilkesboro homeowner returned to a surprise late last week. The back window to her home was open and rings were missing from inside, worth an estimated $3000. There are no suspects in the case, however deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Explosives Found At Home Of Suspected Kidnapper

Police in Snow Camp North Carolina found more than they bargained for over the weekend when searching a local home. The wife of a kidnapping suspect called deputies after finding what’s been described as a suspicious device, which was later detonated on the front lawn. Officials searched but didn’t find any other explosives. The homeowner, Samuel Brown, is a suspect in the kidnapping of a 13 year old girl last week.

More Jobs Leaving Mount Airy

Bad news for people in Mount Airy today, as more jobs will be leaving the area in the next two months. Bassett Furniture is closing the doors on its’ Mount Airy plant, putting 300 workers on the unemployment line. The company said it plans to import most of its’ products from now on and cited cheaper foreign prices as a reason for the closing. The move will save Bassett $4 million dollars.

Jobs Coming To Mitchell County

Some good news tonight for people in Mitchell County, as Genesis Furniture announced plans to build in the area. 206 new jobs will be coming in, thanks in part to a $206,000 grant from Gov. Easley’s One North Carolina Fund. The county itself also offered some incentives. Average weekly pay for the jobs will be $520 plus benefits.

Gas Hike Due To Delivery

AAA of the Carolinas explained this weekend why there has been a sudden hike in gas prices. In part it’s due to the fact stations are being charged more in delivery fees, as drivers and gas companies are raising their rates. In addition, more credit cards are being used to pay for gas and for each card used, the company charges individual stations a fee, taking away a percentage of the sale. An investigation has been started however, to determine if some stations are using the news as an excuse to raise rates. If companies are found guilty, there could be jail time involved.

UNC System Violates Public Laws

On Friday’s broadcast we told you about Erskine Bowles being nominated as the new head of the North Carolina university system. However a lawyer from the North Carolina Press Association is charging that laws were violated due to a “secret” meeting of the search committee. The press and public were told of a meeting of the search committee on September 7^th, but Amanda Martin, lawyer for the Press Association, said that laws were broken because the committee didn’t specify the time and place of the meeting. It’s possible that a lawsuit could be brought against the board.

Sports Headlines

Friday Night Football Scoreboard

Taking a look at the high school scene Friday night, it was Forbush beating North Wilkes 39-6. With the loss, the Vikings drop to 1-6 on the season. Up the road in Moravian Falls, the news wasn’t any better for Eagles fans, as Wilkes Central lost to Starmount 21-6, dropping their record on the season to 1-5. Finally in our 3WC Game of the Week, it was West Wilkes taking the Wilkes County Championship as they beat East Wilkes 16-0 before an energetic crowd in Millers Creek. West improves to 4-2 with the win, their best record since 2003, while East drops to 3-4 with the loss.

College Football Scoreboard

In college football, it was a weekend of surprises. North Carolina shocked Utah by not just winning, but dominating the Utes 31-17. Matt Baker tossed for 267 yards and two touchdowns to lead the now 2-2 Tarheels, who will go on the road next week to face Louisville. Also a name from the past helped Wake Forest knock off Clemson 31-27. Senior Cory Randolph stepped back behind center, taking over from sophomore Ben Mauk and tossed for 222 yards, including the game winning touchdown. The 2-3 Deacons next go on the road this week against Florida State. Finally for the first time in 21 years, a freshman quarterback started for Duke. Zack Assack took the reins and tossed for 111 yards, while also rushing for 58 and a touchdown. But he was pulled in the final minutes with a tie ballgame and Duke ended up losing to Navy 28-21.

Former Tarheel Signs With Spurs

Around the NBA, a member of last year’s college championship team finally found a spot on the pro circuit. Jawad Williams signed a deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Williams will be coming off the bench as both a power forward and small forward for the Spurs, taking the place of Devin Brown, who signed with the Utah Jazz.

One Of The First Bobcats Set To Retire

In other NBA news, one of the original Charlotte Bobcats called it a career yesterday. 36-yr-old Steve Smith, who was picked by the Bobcats in last year’s expansion draft, announced his retirement at Michigan State, where he holds the all time scoring record. Through his 14 year career, Smith won a gold medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team in 2000 and a league championship with the Spurs in 2003.

Blast From The Past At Talledega

On the Nextel Cup circuit, it was a blast from the past on Sunday as Dale Jarrett took the checkered flag. Tony Stewart came in second, followed by Matt Kenseth in third, Ryan Newman was fourth and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five. Current points leader Jimmie Johnson finished 31^st.

Suspensions And Fines Handed Out

NASCAR officials completed their exam of the cars seized last week, handing out a suspension and also changing the rules as a result. First, effective next season, the type of rear shock absorber used by the Hendrick Motorsports cars will be illegal. No points were taken from the drivers but things will be different in the future. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick’s crew chief Todd Berrier was suspended not just for Sunday’s race but also the foreseeable future. The trunk on Harvick’s car wasn’t properly sealed, the fuel vent wasn’t vented to the outside of the car and hatches leading from the trunk to the shock absorbers were open when they should have been shut. As a result, Harvick was penalized by starting 42^nd in Sunday’s race.