News & Sports For November 21st

Scholarship Being Offered To Children Of Vets
As we head toward the holiday season, deadlines are creeping up on high school students who want to apply for college scholarships. Here in Wilkes, a special scholarship is being offered by the Veteran's Service Office. You can tune in to the news today as Veterans Service Officer Ralph Broyhill explains the details on how high school kids can apply.

Time Ticking Down To Apply For Disaster Relief Aid
There's only nine days left if you want to apply for disaster relief aid this year. Governor Easley declared 50 counties throughout the state, including Wilkes as disaster areas after last year's swarm of hurricanes. Now over 15 months later, if you are still struggling to put the pieces back together because of the storms, you can apply for assistance. The state of North Carolina will give limited help in paying off any Small Business Administration home loans that you received from the government. People in Wilkes and the surrounding areas have until December 1st to apply, which you can do by contacting Belinda Jones with the NC Redevelopment Center at 919-733-1566 or by mail at 102 North Salisbury Street 20325 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699.

Mission Trip Upcoming For Wings of Eagle
People here in Wilkes County sent down food, clothes and blood to the victims of Gulf Coast hurricanes earlier this year and now one group is heading out to another part of the world to help a need. Wings of Eagle Ministry, run by Dr. Charles Cain, is preparing to leave on a mission trip to India in March of 2006. To help support the ministry, you can call Dr. Cain at 921-2764 or send prayers/donations to Wings of Eagle Ministry, at 444 Bud West Road, Boomer NC 28606.

Thieves Break Into Home On Sawmill Road
Sheriff's deputies were called out late last week to a home on Sawmill Road after thieves paid a visit. The homeowner returned to find two men sitting in a car in his backyard, before they took off. After going inside the house, he found that the glass door in the back of the home had been shattered and the residence itself had been trashed. Clothes were scattered across the floor, boxes and other items were thrown around. Despite all the damage however, only one thing appeared to be missing, a 12 gauge shotgun. Information on the two suspects was turned over to sheriff's deputies and that investigation continues.

Cornerstone Church Invites Community To Thanksgiving
For anyone still trying to figure out what to do for Thanksgiving, Cornerstone Church has an idea. Come have dinner with them. The church is inviting the entire community to a Thanksgiving dinner set for 2pm on Thursday. The meal is free to anyone who comes by and includes Turkey w/ all the trimmings. The church is hoping to make this an annual event, but are needing help with the finishing touches. If anyone in the community would like to donate time to clean up afterwards, cook or serve the meals, the church would welcome the help. For anyone interested in helping, you can call the church at 838-8542.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A traffic stop on Hwy 268 East led to a drug bust for sheriff's deputies last week. Deputies pulled up behind a driver whose tail lights were busted, so they pulled him over. He told deputies he had a license, but didn't have it with him. When they ran his name, Com Center informed them that he had 6 felony warrants out. 23-yr-old Michael Joseph Billings was arrested and in doing so, deputies found a crack pipe and some cocaine residue, along with a pistol he had concealed in his waistband. Billings was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Disturbance Due To Marijuana
Sheriff's deputies were called out to HIS AutoSales last week, after reports came in of an intoxicated man walking down the road. Deputies tried to ask the man's name, but he ignored them and kept walking, stopping only to ask people for a ride. When deputies stopped him and did a weapons check, they found .28 grams of marijuana on his person. 20-yr-old Javier Mendoza Castelan was arrested and charged with drug possession and intoxicated & disruptive behavior.

Tag Stolen From Vehicle
Why would someone steal a temporary car tag? That's what people at the Boone Trail AutoHaus are wondering today, after discovering that one of their cars had a tag stolen. The incident apparently happened as employees were taking the car to an auto auction. Somehow during the trip, thieves gained access to the vehicle and ripped off the temporary tag, which was set to expire within the next two weeks. Information was turned over to sheriff's deputies and that investigation continues.

State News

NC Man Faces Charges Over Iraq
A North Carolina man is facing federal charges today, after allegations that he accepted bribes while working in Iraq. Robert Stein Jr. from Fayetteville, who worked with the Coalition Provisional Authority, is accused of taking over $600,000 to award building contracts to specific companies. Stein and his wife then took the money and used it to buy cars, jewelry and real estate, according to investigators. More charges are pending in the case.

Jobs Leaving Sanford
Some bad news for people in Sanford North Carolina, as more jobs are leaving the area. The GKN PLC company announced that they’ll be closing down the Sanford plant in 2007, meaning that almost 300 people will be out of work. The plant builds drive shaft components for cars and work from the plant will be transferred to a new one being built in Mexico.

Gunshot Rings Out At Franklinville School
Officials in Franklinville are investigating today after a gunshot last week at a local elementary school. Almost 100 students were out on the playground at Grays Chapel Elementary when a shot rang out nearby. Officials immediately closed down the playground, ballfield and basketball courts and some parents have decided to keep their kids out of school while the investigation continues.

No Children Allowed
A petition is gaining support throughout North Carolina today, one that calls for a ban on children in certain high class restaurants. If successful, the petition would force restaurants to create special child free areas where adults could go. Over 400 people have signed it so far and it’s even gotten national attention in some New York papers, however everyone isn’t happy. Restaurant owners are against the petition, fearing that it could run off business. To see the petition, you can log on to www.petitiononline.com/childfree/petition.html

Concerns Being Raised About ASU Safety
Concerns are being raised about the safety of students at Appalachian State University, after a series of recent events. 3WC News told you about a student’s murder earlier this month, now comes reports that Appalachian has the highest rate of drug problems of any school in the UNC system. A meeting will be held later today between interim chancellor Cindy Wallace and local authorities to determine what can be done about the problems.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Central Wins State Championship
Around the high school scene, Wilkes Central is coming home with a championship. The Eagles’ men’s soccer team came from behind to beat Cardinal Gibbons 4-3 to win the state’s 2A championship. Trailing 2-1 coming out of halftime, Central scored the final two goals of the game on Saturday, receiving the first soccer championship in school history. Central will finish the year with a 19-2-1 record, having snapped a 22 game winning streak for Gibbons.

High School Football Scoreboard
In high school football, it was the end of the road last night for East Wilkes, as the Cardinals fell in second round action 27-7 to the Cherokee Braves. Meanwhile Elkin cruised to the next level, running over Hobbton 52-0.

NCAA Football Scoreboard
Around the college football scene, it was East Carolina beating Marshall 34-29, Wofford knocking off Gardner-Webb 56-42, Charleston Southern beating Coastal Carolina 34-27, South Carolina State defeating NC A&T 43-27 and Appalachian State wrapping up their regular season by winning the Southern Conference title with a 52-14 defeat of Elon. In ACC action, NC State kept its’ playoff hopes alive with a 24-3 win over Middle Tennessee State and North Carolina drove down to score in the final minutes and pull out a hard fought win over the Duke Blue Devils 24-21. Carolina needs to win next week against Virginia Tech in order to be eligible for the postseason.

NCAA Basketball Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college basketball scoreboard this weekend it was Winthrop over Marquette 71-64, High Point beat Maine 70-67. In ACC action, Duke took care of Davidson 84-55. J.J. Redick led the Blue Devils with 29 points, while Shelden Williams added 20 points, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks for the team. Up the road in Chapel Hill, there was almost a major upset as the Tarheels barely escaped with an 83-80 win over the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs. With less than two seconds left, David Noel hit a three pointer to win the game for Carolina, while freshman Ricky McPhee had 21 to lead the Bulldogs. Finally NC State won the Hispanic College Fund Classic on Sunday, after beating Delaware 73-57. Cedric Simmons and Gavin Grant both had 22 points for the Wolfpack.

Bobcats Fall Against Timberwolves
In the NBA, it was a rough weekend for the Charlotte Bobcats. They lost to Minnesota 102-89, falling to 3-8 on the year. Charlotte was led by Raymond Felton, who had 15 points and 5 assists. On the other side, playing for the Timberwolves, Rashad McCants had 11 points, 4 rebounds, two steals and a block.

Panthers Lose To Bears
The Carolina Panthers took a hit in their quest to return to the Super Bowl. They lost Sunday 13-3 to the Chicago Bears, but the story of the day was a horrible performance by the offensive line. They allowed eight sacks and most of quarterback Jake Delhomme’s completions were done while on the run for his life. The team falls to 7-3 with Buffalo on the schedule next week.

NASCAR Results
Tony Stewart took the Nextel Cup Championship after Sunday's Ford 400. It marks the second championship of his career, after a crazy race that saw him finish 15th and his closest competitor in the Chase wreck. Greg Biffle took the checkered flag on Sunday, giving his team some momentum heading into next season. Mark Martin was second and Matt Kenseth came in third.