News & Sports For December 20th

Signs Looking Good For White Christmas
Anyone dreaming of a white Christmas may get their wish this year. The early forecast is in for the weekend and there is a possibility of some white stuff appearing. Rain mixed with snow is called for during the evening hours of Christmas Eve, turning completely to snow as the temperature falls to 32 degrees. Chance of snow/rain is 30%. Even with the forecast of rain, it's important to remember that can turn to ice as the thermometer keeps dropping, so be careful when planning your weekend trips.

Roaring River Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A Roaring River woman got a surprise over the weekend when she learned that a check had been written to her Wachovia account, one she never wrote. The check was used at a Wal-Mart in Winston-Salem, however bank officials noticed something strange with the check and called to be sure it was legit. All the information was turned over to sheriff's deputies and the investigation continues.

Health Department Offering Car Seat Help
85% of child safety seats across Wilkes County were not installed correctly, according to the local SafeKids organization. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it’s still high enough for concern. And with Christmas less than a week away, it's important to get those seats installed correctly before heading out to visit family members. The Health Department is working in connection with Safekids to do free safety checks. All you have to do is call ahead to make an appointment. To set one up, you can call Jean Edwards at the Health Department. Her number is 651-7478.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Another Wilkes Residence
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a home on the Rock Creek Road over the weekend,after another case of mailbox vandalism. A man walked outside to check his mail, only to discover that the box had been damaged. It appears to have been struck by something passing by, with estimated damage placed at $20. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night, but that investigation continues.

Gas Thieves Return To Wilkes Business
Gas thieves hit another business in Wilkes over the weekend, this time targeting Jimmy's Superette on Sparta Road. A man pulled up in a Nissan Sentra, pumped just over $22 in gas and then took off down the road without paying. Employees however were able to get a good look at both the man and his vehicle, which they described to sheriff's deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

DOT Cautions As Holidays Approach
With many families on the road to visit relatives this week, the DOT is asking people to be careful during trips. Before heading out, just remember you can dial 511, the DOT's free travel information line to learn about road conditions and any accidents or construction on the road you're traveling. The department also asks drivers to please be patient and obey the speed limits, especially if there's ice or snow in the forecast. And remember that under the new Move Over law, drivers must either change lanes or slow down when passing a stopped ambulance or other emergency vehicle.

Be Careful What Stays Inside The Car
Be careful what you leave inside the car. A Wilkesboro man found that out the hard way this week, after thieves broke into his vehicle and ran off with over a thousand dollar worth of material. The car had been parked at his house and no one inside could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual. But when he walked out to get something, he discovered thieves had been by. Included in the theft was a .270 Remington rifle, $800 worth of CDs and an $80 pair of Nike tennis shoes. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as the holidays approach. It can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is taking applications for their financial assistance program. The program is open to anyone who can demonstrate a need for help paying utility or rent bills. However before going out, please remember that you can only be seen with an appointment, during eithr Tuesday or Thursday from 1-5pm. Also there is a limited amount of money available to help, given out on a need based approach. The Salvation Army is located in the Wilkes United Way office building, at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information or to set up an appointment you can call 651-7800.

Car Vandalized At Food Lion
Sheriff's deputies were called out to the Food Lion in Millers Creek over the weekend, after a shopper came out to discover someone had been doing some work on his car. The top of his convertible had been torn, with a hole cut through it. Nothing was taken or bothered inside the vehicle, however estimated damage was placed at $3000. That investigation continues.

Regional News

Congresswoman Foxx Brings Jobs To Alleghany
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is bringing some hope to Alleghany County. On Monday, she got clearance to appropriate $4 million to the Martin Marietta Composites plant in Sparta. The money will be used to develop military equipment at the plant and also at least 24 new jobs will be created as a result. The money was part of a Defense Spending Measure, which now goes before the President for his signature.

State News

Piece Of American History Burns In Caldwell County
A piece of America's history caught fire over the weekend in Caldwell County. Late Friday night the Burlington Mill plant in Rhodhiss went up in flames as local fireman tried to battle the blaze. The American flag flown on the moon during the 1960s was made in the complex, which had long since been vacated. There was no power in any of the buildings, so local officials are treating it as a case of arson.

Dead Fish Flop Up On Shore
What caused thousands of fish to wash up on Wrightsville Beach? Officials in the area are looking for answers today. Over the weekend, several hundred thousand menhaden fish were washed ashore on the beach, but there is no evidence of an oil spill or any other man made accident. North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources is still collecting samples from both the water and the fish, which is currently being tested.

State Democrats Tagged For Possible Illegal Fundraising
Speaker of the House Jim Black is possibly facing another scandal, as a national Democratic group he's been linked to is being investigated for illegal campaign donations. Republicans are charging that the group, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, took illegal corporate donations and funneled them into campaigns on the state level. The question has been raised as to where the DLCC got $395,000 to spend in support of Democratic candidates for the 2004 elections. It's a concern because the group didn't list any money spent on fundraising and there's no clear evidence as to where the money came from. A decision has not yet been reached by state officials.

Taking A Short Walk Off A Long Pier
One piece of North Carolina history will be washed away next year. In Long Beach, a 1,000 ft. pier recorded as the longest in the state will be closing down after New Year's. The Long Beach Pier is home to a restaurant, tackle shop and is the place where locals have gone to fish for the last 50 years. It was rebuilt after Hurricane Floyd but now the owner is selling, calling it a sign of progress.

Sports Headlines

NCAA Scoreboard
Butler beat Elon 86-50, Coastal Carolina knocked off Chowan 81-59, UNC Greensboro lost to Delaware 89-77 and UNC Charlotte lost at home to Indiana 71-54. Poor shooting and several key turnovers proved to be too much for the 49ers to overcome, as they drop to 5-5 on the season.

Charlotte Bobcats Beat Sacramento
Taking a look at the senior circuit of the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats picked up their seventh win of the season, knocking off Sacramento 106-103. It took overtime to do it, but Charlotte held on for the win. Premoz Breznec had 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead Charlotte, who had to play the last few minutes without forward Emeka Okafor, who left with a sprained ankle. Former Tarheel Raymond Felton got his second start of the season and put in 14 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

Carolina Panthers News & Notes
Coming off their 27-10 blowout win over New Orleans, the Carolina Panthers have made some roster moves. Gone is wide receiver Rod Gardner, after a season where he never really fit into the offense. Taking his place in the lineup now is Drew Carter, who immediately made an impact during Sunday's game with two catches for 48 yards. In other team news, the Panthers put Stephen Davis on injured reserve, basically ending his season after his surgically repaired knee continued to have problems. Fullback Casey Cramer was called up from the practice squad to take Davis' place.