Drive Through Flu Clinic Coming Up
With the cold weather moving into Wilkes, flu season's not far behind. To plan ahead this year, the Wilkes Health Department is holding a drive through flu clinic tomorrow November 5th. People can just drive up in their car, receive the shot and then take off down the road. For adults or children on Medicaid, there is no charge, however for everyone else, there is a cost. It will cost $20 for an flu shot and $33 for an pneumonia shot, that's for both adults and children. There is no sign up sheet or reservations, you just drive up to West Park Medical Center on Nov. 5th anytime from 8am til 3pm. The reason for the clinic is to help local officials test their mass vaccination plan. That way, in case of an outbreak, they'll be prepared to distribute vaccines as quick as possible. Credit or debit cards can't be used to pay for the shot, only personal checks, cash, Medicaid or Medicare. For more information you can call the Health Department at 651-7450.

Another Fugitive Caught In Wilkes
Sheriff's deputies responded to a call on the Bethany Ford Road this week and ended up arresting a fugitive. When arriving at the home, deputies walked into the middle of an argument between a woman and her husband. The woman told deputies that her husband was wanted on charges in Maryland. After running the man's name through the database, deputies found that 42-yr-old Roger Wayne Buckley did in fact have warrants for his arrest from Prince George County in Maryland. Buckley was arrested and taken to the Wilkes Jail, where he's currently awaiting extradition to Maryland.

Last Day For Christmas In Wilkes Applications
Today is the cutoff date for parents to turn in the names of their kids for the Christmas in Wilkes program. Every year, the names of needy kids are placed on Angel Trees throughout Wilkes County, so that people can provide the children with toys and clothes their parents otherwise couldn't afford. You can drop off applications at the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club Building, located behind Cooks in West Park. Today you can come by from 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.

Always Keep Your Doors Locked
It's always a good idea to lock your car doors when you leave. A Wilkesboro woman found that out the hard way this week, after leaving her pocketbook inside the car when she returned home. Coming outside Wednesday morning, she discovered that the pocketbook was missing. Inside she had kept her credit cards, checkbook, and several prescription medicines. Information was turned over to sheriff's deputies and that investigation continues.

Thieves Run Off With Halloween Decorations
Some thieves in North Wilkesboro apparently had their seasons confused this week, after running off with a local man's decorations. The North Wilkesboro resident hadn't taken down the decorations yet and walked out on Tuesday morning to find they were missing. Taken was a pumpkin with three ghosts sitting on top and also some yellow stakes. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Home Heating Series Pt.4
It's always a good idea to check your house before winter comes, as we explain in the fourth part of our home heating series. With cold temperatures on the way, it's time to turn on that heater or throw a few more logs on the fire. While this will keep out the cold, it could also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if you're not careful. Carbon monoxide is produced when items with carbon in it aren't completely burned. Here are some tips on how to prevent poisoning in your home. First have your home furnance checked to make sure the burners and vent systems are both working, with no cracks or other damage. Also make sure the water heater and furnance flue don't have any leaks or cracks especially near the joints, that can help the gas to escape. Even when it's cold outside, don't leave your car running in the basement or garage. The carbon monoxide put off by the exhaust can flow up into the rest of your house. Also if you have exhaust fans in the house, don't use them at the same time as the clothes dryer. The reason being this creates negative pressure in your house, pulling the carbon monoxide back in.

Purlear Break-In Leads To Arrest
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a home on Shingle Gap Road in Purlear this week, after reports came in of a break-in in progress. They arrived to find 30-yr-old Kelvin Chad Faw inside the home, having in his possession two handheld drills that had been recently reported stolen by the home's owner. It's unclear what exactly Mr. Faw was doing inside the house, but this wasn't the first time he had been at the property and had been warned before not to return. Kelvin Chad Faw was arrested and charged with breaking & entering, 1st degree trespassing and possession of stolen property.

Eat Fast Food For A Good Cause
Thoughout the day today, you can help raise money for a good cause with every burger you eat. Communities in Schools is partnering up with the local Hardees' for Community Day. A percentage of all the day's sales at Hardees will be donated to Communities in Schools, to help fund things such as their Lunch Buddy program. There's no paperwork involved, you don't have to request for your money to go to the organization. All you have to do is simply go in and eat sometime during the day. For more information or to make a donation on your own, you can give Communities in Schools a call. Their number is 651-7830.

Regional News

Major Job Loss In Lenoir
The town of Lenoir took a major hit Wednesday night, as Broyhill Furniture announced plans to close two of its' plants in the area. All total, 421 people will be affected by the move, which is scheduled to happen in stages between January and March of 2006. After being shut down, the furniture maker will then put up the plants for sale. Company officials said their continued restructuring was necessary to stay competitive in the global economy.

State News

Witness Gets Involved With Robbery
In Charlotte, a witness got involved with a robbery and now is being questioned by police. While at a bus stop, a man grabbed a woman's purse and took off running down the road. Another person standing in line pulled out a gun and started shooting at the robber, hitting him in the leg. Police were able to track the bleeding suspect to a nearby storm culvert and arrest him. However now officials also want to speak to the man who opened fire.

Black Substance Still Under Investigation
The State Department of the Environment has stepped in after an investigation into a black substance that flowed into the Pigeon River earlier this week. As a result of the contamination, the town of Canton had to temporarily shut down their water supply and bring water in from nearby Waynesville. Now it turns out that a Waynesville rubber company could be at fault. The Department of the Environment is preparing to charge AirBoss Rubber with violations of state regulations for nine of their 55-gallon barrels that were found near the Canton water filter plant. An estimated 15 gallons of the black substance leaked from the barrels into the nearby river and local police are continuing the investigation as to how they arrived at the plant. Health officials said however that the substance is harmless and the water is now safe to drink.

Easley Calls For Water Conservation
With the lack of rain across the state, Governor Mike Easley has called for water conservation in 29 different counties. Most of the targeted areas are in the central and eastern part of the state, including Alamance, Davidson, Guilford, Iredell and Meckenburg counties among others. The governor asked for people in the affected areas to use water wisely and ordered state officials to do everything possible to help people deal with the problem. As a result, Raleigh and several other cities have installed mandatory restrictions on water use.

Missing Woman Found In Lee County
Authorities in Lee County have found a woman that was missing for over a month. 22-yr-old Paula Ann Donathan disappeared while walking in Moore County late at night on October 5th. There were no charges on her credit cards or bank statements, no sign that she was alive. Then suddenly this week she turned up in Lee County, covered with a few scratches but otherwise in perfect health. Officials still have no clue where Donathan was for the past month.

Sports Headlines

High School Football Tonight
Around the high school scene, it's the final week of the regular season in football and all four local teams are in action. North Wilkes heads up the road to take on Starmount, while East Wilkes will be up at Mt. Airy. West Wilkes will be looking for their seventh win of the season and tuning up for the playoffs as they go on the road against North Stokes. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, Coach Jeremy Funderburk will close the door on his first season as head coach of the Wilkes Central Eagles as they play host to Forbush tonight in Moravian Falls. Kickoff of all four games is set for 7:30 and we'll go on the air tonight with the McDonald's pregame show at 7:15.

Appalachian State Moves Up In The Rankings
In college football, there was some good news for Appalachian State fans this week as the Mountaineers jumped up to number seven in Division I-AA. That's a climb of five spots from their previous position at number twelve. The 6-2 Mountaineers are currently in first place in the Southern Conference and will go on the road this Saturday to face the LSU Tigers. Gametime is set for 8pm.

NC State Lands Another Recruit
NC State recieved another commitment for their 2006 team as one of the top recruits in North Carolina agreed to play for the school. Nathaniel Irving, a linebacker at Wallace-Rose High School, became the seventh recruit to join the Wolfpack. The 6-3 Irving turned down an offer from East Carolina to sign with State.

Wake Forest Adds Players To Basketball Team
In college basketball, some new faces have been added to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Three walk-ons officially joined the team this week, all freshmen. 6-7 forward Bobby Hoekstra from Forsyth County Day and 6-2 guard Matt Smith from Advance joined the team, along with 6-1 guard Mike Lepore from New Jersey.

Carolina Gets 9th Win Of The Season
Last night in the NHL, it was the Carolina Hurricanes recording their ninth win of the season, beating Toronto 4-3. Eric Staal, reigning NHL player of the month, maintained his lead in points with two goals and an assist, as the Hurricanes improve to 9-2 on the season, keeping sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference.

Big Changes On the Way For The PGA
Some big changes are on the way for golf fans starting in 2007. PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem announced this week that as of 2007, the year will be built around the FedEx Cup, in a playoff format similar to NASCAR. From January to August golfers earn points in the different events, then at the end of the season four big tournaments would close things out, finishing in September at the Tour Championship.