Wilkes Income Standard Smaller Than Most Around
More economic problems for Wilkes, as new reports find the county on the lower end of the financial spectrum. The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center has released a report, detailing the income standard for each of the state's 100 counties. In 2005, the income standard here in Wilkes is $25,404, that's good enough to rank 57th in the state. Also Wilkes falls short in the immediate area, as only three out of the eight counties that surround it have a lower income. Those counties are Alleghany, Ashe and Surry, all with standards of $25,068. Watauga is the highest in the region, with an income standard of $30,876. Alexander and Caldwell County both come in just slightly above at $26,664, while Iredell has a standard of $28,704 and Yadkin is at $30,012. Overall across the state, Orange County has the highest income standard at $37,512 while Edgecombe County is dead last at $24,804.

Tip Leads To Cocaine Bust
Sheriff's deputies responded to a tip on Hill Avenue over the weekend, about a cocaine manufacturing operation that was going on. Once inside, they found cocaine residue everywhere. The utensils in the kitchen were covered with it, as was the cold water knob on the sink. In addition, drug paraphernalia, including scales and baggies were found, along with $260 in cash. Chris James Weary and April Michelle Walker were both arrested and charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell, along with maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Students To Possibly Pay More For College Loans
Bad news for anyone either starting college or just graduating. Starting next year, it may be a lot harder to pay back those college loans. The U.S. Congress is close to approving some new legislation that would cut down on the federal deficit, but use college students to do it. Currently in the UNC college system, there are 138,844 people that took out student loans to pay for class. That rounds out to 70% of the student population. According to the government's own study, the average college graduate leaves with $17,500 in debt. How will the new proposal affect students? Because $14.3 billion is scheduled to be trimmed from student aid programs, meaning that instead of grants, people will have to take out more loans to cover the cost. $5800 in fees and interest would be added to existing loans that span over a 30-yr-period. Congress is meeting this week to hammer out differences between the Senate bill and the House version.

Arrest For Stolen Property Leads To Problems
Responding to a disturbance on the Union Community Road in Thurmond, sheriff's deputies ran the license plate of the vehicle outside the house. The tag, which apparently had been recently put on the car, came back as being stolen from Galax Virginia. The homeowner, 22-yr-old Francisco Moreno Pina was arrested for possession of stolen property. However once at intake, the suspect got to the pay phone and started repeatedly dialing 911. He told operators that he was in jail and didn't know why. Deputies also charged him with iterfering with emergency communications.

Christmas For Kids Deadline Extended
Things have changed since yesterday, when we told you that the deadline was here for Christmas for Kids. After tallying up the donations, the group found there were still children left on the trees. 100 kids have been helped by generous donors here in the county, but that still leaves 55 more who are needing support. If you want to donate money or pick up a name on the trees, they'll still be out until Wednesday at both Lowes Foods locations on Hwy 18 and Hwy 115. To get in touch with Christmas for Kids you can call 696-4462.

Blood Drive Today
As we stand just over one week away from Christmas, it's a time when friends and family start to pack up and head to spend Christmas with loved ones. Mixed with ice and snow, those reunions can prove to be deadly at times. With 1500 pints of blood used each day and the supply here just above critical levels, it's critical that the Red Cross receives as much as possible. A drive is going on today at Peacehaven Baptist Church from 2-6:30pm. To call for an appointment you can get in touch with the Red Cross at 838-4563 or simply stop by to donate.

Car Stolen From Moravian Falls Residence
Be careful who you let borrow your car. A Moravian Falls man found that out over the weekend. He called sheriff's deputies over the weekend, after his vehicle was stolen. The owner had let a friend borrow it and it was sitting at the woman's house on Saturday when someone managed to gain access to it and drove off. On Sunday deputies were able to locate the vehicle, wrecked about a mile from the woman's house. That investigation is ongoing.

Lifespan Part 3: Donations
On Friday and Monday we've been talking with Anita Bare from Lifespan, explaining what the group is and how you can lend them a hand during the holiday season. Now as we close up the series today, Anita talks about another way besides food or money that you can help the group.
And you can catch that interview by tuning in to the 3WC News today. Also if you want to help the people of Lifespan, you can call Patricia Church or Anita Bare at 667-5001. Or you can also drop by the organization, which is located at 1203 Creek Drive in Wilkesboro, near Cub Creek Countertops.

Ran Off With A Mider Saw
Who would steal a saw? That's what a North Wilkesboro man is asking today, after thieves broke into his garage and ran off with a mider saw. Apparently the garage was unlocked and thieves walked right in. However there was no sign of damage and nothing else was taken from inside. Also no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the weekend. That investigation is ongoing.

Marine Corps Collecting Toys
While out shopping for Christmas presents this week, the local detachment of the Marine Corps is asking you to set aside one of those gifts for a needy child. The Corps is collecting toys for kids at four locations here in Wilkes. You can drop off new and unwrapped toys at the Hardees on 421, the Lowes Foods on 421, the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery and Lowes Foods at Midtown Plazza. All of the toys will be given out to needy children here in Wilkes and must be dropped off by December 15th. For more information you can call the Marine Corps at 667-0204.

State News

State Lawmakers Spending Campaign Money
State lawmakers are still spending their campaign contributions, except this time it's on themselves. According to a report from the News & Observer of Raleigh, several dozen lawmakers continued to use cash from their campaigns after their term was over. For Guilford Representative Joni Bowie, the $25,000 left over in her account went to a new sports car and a retirement fund. Others wrote checks to themselves, cashing in on thousands of dollars sent in by donations. Under North Carolina law the practice is legal, as long as candidates report the cash as personal income to the IRS and disclose it in their campaign finance report.

Woman Gets Degree After 19 Years In College
A 51-yr-old grandmother will walk away this week from NC State University with a master's degree, after 19 years in college. Sandy Britt Thomason has only taken two semesters off over the past 19 years, working towards her master's in communication after earning a bachelor's degree in 2000. Taking sometimes only one course at a time, she started as a 33-yr-old mother in back in 1987, juggling school and her kids' activities. Thomason will take the walk and get her degree on Wednesday.

School Starts On A Friday
Parents in some North Carolina school districts are up in arms today after seeing the new school calender for next year. Mecklenburg, Wake, Durham and Forsyth County have all decided to start school on a Friday. Board members in all four counties are calling the idea crazy, wondering why the date couldn't either be moved up or in some cases pushed back to the next week. Teachers in each of the counties said that they're concerned that no one will attend the first day and also about poor attention spans. Here in Wilkes, the school year starts on August 8th, which is a Tuesday.

National Guard Troops Hold Ceremony Today
Today marks the 369th birthday of the National Guard and here in North Carolina ceremonies will be held across the state in honor of the event. At 9am this morning in Charlotte, Mayor Pat McCrory will deliver the oath of enlistment to several soldiers who are either re-enlisting or joining up for the first time. Similar ceremonies will be held in Raleigh, Jacksonville and Elizabethtown. In the last four years, 9942 National Guardsmen have been sent out in service of the country.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard w/ Game Tonight
Taking a look at the high school basketball scene, last night it was North Surry beating North Wilkes 67-54. The Vikings kept it close, entering the fourth quarter with a tie score before North Surry put the game away. Aaron Church led North Wilkes with 19 points, while Elijah Baker was the only other player in double figures with 17. The Vikings fall to 2-5 with the loss. On the girls side of the court, it was the Lady Greyhounds of North Surry beating North Wilkes 41-21. Sarah Smith put in 11 for the Lady Vikings, who fall to 2-4 with the loss. Because of the weekend rescheduling, one game will not be played tonight. East Wilkes vs. Elkin has been bumped back until next Monday, according to Coach Cornette of the Cardinals. Also coming up tonight, two of the local schools are in action. North Wilkes go on the road against Forbush, the second game in two nights for the Vikings. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, it'll be Wilkes Central taking on Ashe County. We'll go on the air at 7pm with the McDonald's pregame show, then turn things over to Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7:15 with the play by play of the girl's varsity game, already in progress.

NCAA Scoreboard
In college basketball last night, there was almost a major upset as Wisconsin beat UNC Wilmington 54-51. T.J. Carter put in 19 points for Wilmington, who falls to 7-2 with the loss, dropping into second place in the Colonial Atlantic Conference.

Appalachian In Championship Game
In college football the date and time has been set and Appalachian State is bound for the championship. The Mountaineers will take on Northern Iowa this Saturday in the Division I-AA playoffs. Gametime is set for 8pm in Chattanooga Tennessee. It took overtime for the 11-3 Northern Iowa team to beat Texas State 40-37 last week, while the 11-3 Mountaineers got in thanks to their 29-23 win over Furman.

Deshaun Foster Not Seriously Injured
Some good news for the Carolina Panthers after Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay. The injury to tailback Deshaun Foster isn't that serious. Foster suffered a bruised shoulder and had to leave the game, with Stephen Davis and Nick Goings replacing him in the lineup. However after doctors took a look, it appears he'll be able to suit up against the Saints this week.

Steve Smith Sets Another Record
In other Panthers news, wide receiver Steve Smith continues to pull in the records, as he set another team mark against the Bucs. Smith caught 5 passes for 103 yards, making the eighth time this year he's passed 100 yards. That set a Panthers record, as nobody else in team history had passed 100 yards more than seven times in a season.

Bobcats May Lose Okafor
Some bad news for Charlotte Bobcats fans, as the team may be without starting forward Emeka Okafor when they take on Denver tonight. Okafor had to leave in the third quarter on Saturday after spraining his right toe. The Bobcats play host to the Nuggets with tipoff set for 7:30pm.