News & Sports For June 22nd

News & Sports For Wednesday June 22nd 2005

Breaking Story As Local Store To Close
Wilkes County stands to possibly lose some jobs in the coming weeks after Winn Dixie announced plans to shut down all stores north of Georgia. The Wilkes County store, located on the 421 bypass, would be included in that plan, however it’s not guaranteed that all these stores will close. Instead, Winn-Dixie plans to sell them off if any buyers are interested. Still, if no buyers can be found, the local stores will begin closing down in the next few months, as produce is sold off and employees are laid off. A timetable for any would be buyers to put in a bid has not been set but the company did say they hope to move on this quickly as they move out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Winn-Dixie officials said the move was needed as they have taken a severe hit due in part to Wal-Mart’s decision to begin offering groceries at their stores. Unable to compete with cheaper prices, the store chain is reorganizing to strengthen its’ business and regain lost profits.

News From Commissioners Meeting
Last night Wilkes County Commissioners met and approved a new budget for the upcoming year, one that will put many residents’ minds at ease. Concern had been raised in recent weeks over the possibility of a property tax increase, but there was no mention of that in the final budget voted on and approved Tuesday night. The new budget, which passed by a unanimous vote, will be $66.6 million for the next fiscal year. That includes extended services such as providing sewer services to the town of Ronda and allocating $135,000 for a new visitors center on US 421. But the main focus was on property taxes, which currently holds at 61 cents for every $100 of property owned. That plan will stay in place for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the budget voted on Tuesday. In other news from the meeting yesterday, a proposal was put forward to alter the county’s animal control laws. Under the new plan, complaints of animal cruelty can simply be called in & spoken instead of being put down in writing. Also, all dogs in the county would be required to have ID, some type of rabies tag, owner identification or microchip certifying who they belong to. Finally all dogs that have been labeled as dangerous in the past must be registered with the county’s Animal Control office and tracked, along with all trained guard dogs to prevent any incidents should the dog get loose. While the plan did pass 4-1, it must be voted on again to go into effect, as the vote wasn’t unanimous. Faye Byrd was the dissenting vote, as she believed the idea required further study. The proposal will be put up for vote again at the next meeting.

Farmers Subject To Fee After Deadline
Next Thursday, June 30th is the deadline for all farmers to turn in their final crop reports to the Farm Service Agency. But what farmers may not be aware of is that there’s a penalty attached if you don’t get the report turned in by the deadline. A fee will be tacked on to every farm that fails to get a report in for their corn, soybeans and other crops. You can call the agency for more information at 838-3622.

Never Speed Off After Giving Out Information
A routine traffic check on the Austin Traphill Road soon turned into a chase as deputies tracked down a suspect. A man pulled up and handed over his license but after smelling marijuana inside the vehicle, deputies asked him to park the car on the side of the road. The man refused and sped off down the road. Deputies followed him at speeds exceeding 85 mph at times, eventually losing him on a nearby road. However they still had his license and went to the man’s home, where his mother agreed to let them search. Several grams of marijuana, along with rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia were found inside. Warrants were taken out and 51-yr-old David Randall Newman has been charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding to escape arrest and resisting a public officer.

Vehicle Covered With Unknown Material
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Wal-Mart parking lot recently after a local man discovered that while he was inside, someone had been vandalizing his car. The left side of the vehicle was covered with some type of sticky substance that couldn’t be identified, although officers believe it to be some type of glue. There were no witnesses to the crime and no suspects, however the investigation is ongoing.

Remember What You Give The Law
A license check Monday night In Traphill led deputies to a fugitive from another state. As deputies were performing the license check on the Austin Traphill Road, a vehicle came through with expired tags, registered in Oklahoma. After the driver agreed to let them search, deputies found rolling papers and marijuana seeds inside the car. Despite having given over their licenses, one of the men in the car tried to give deputies a fake name. 21-yr-old Michael Lee Watkins and 39-yr-old Tammy Johnson were both charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending in the case.

Music Lovers Break Into Man’s Car
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after thieves stole over $1000 worth of music from his car. The man had kept the vehicle unlocked while he was at work, then came outside to find his CD cases and over 200 CDs were gone from the vehicle. Nothing else was taken from the car and there was no damage done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Red Means Stop Green Means Go
Running a red light proved to be a problem for a Wilkesboro man on Monday, as he ended totaling his car. The man had tried to run a light at the intersection of Curtis Bridge Road and River Street, instead colliding with a second vehicle, driven by a Moravian Falls woman. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash, with damages placed at just over $2500. 71-yr-old Thomas Mathis Buford was also charged with DWI and running a red light.

Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we head into the summer months, rabies is once again becoming a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine, officials are predicting this could potentially be a problem much like this past winter’s flu scare. The easiest way to solve the problem is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.

Drugs Stolen From State Road Home
Deputies were called out to a State Road residence on Monday, in response to a case of theft. Someone gained access to a local woman’s home, went into her medicine cabinet and took almost a hundred pills from different bottles. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else was stolen from the home. Deputies have a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Medical Center Pays Out Over A Million In Back Wages
The U.S. Labor Department recently finished an investigation into the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, checking out reports of financial mismanagement. They discovered that the center had shortchanged employees on their time cards, not crediting them for any overtime they worked. As a result, New Hanover had to pay out over $1.33 million dollars in lost wages to everyone that was affected by the practice, a list of over 3400 people. New Hanover officials said that it was a simple accident, as the time clocks had malfunctioned and started cutting off minutes from people in the hospital.

Job Market In Mecklenburg Gets A Boost
Good news today for people in Mecklenburg County, as a new manufacturing hub will be coming to the area in the next few months. Prairie Packaging announced their plans this week to build a manufacturing and distribution hub in Huntersville, to serve the entire east coast. With the new building also comes jobs, as 242 new positions will be created in several different areas including machine operators, electricians and other mechanical positions. The company made the announcement after receiving a Job Development Grant from the state, money set aside to help bring in new businesses. A timetable has not yet been set as to when hiring will begin.

Newton Sheriff’s Department Under Investigation
The Catawba County sheriff’s department finds itself at the center of an investigation today, as state officials attempt to determine how a significant amount of money went missing. The department first called in the SBI in May after some money went missing from the local offices. No other information regarding the missing cash has been released, as department officials said they wouldn’t comment until the investigation was over.

Broyhill Workers Receiving Federal Aid
Over 600 people will lose their jobs when Broyhill Furniture begins laying off workers this coming August. The federal government has stepped in however, as the U.S. Department of Labor announced this week that all of Broyhill’s terminated employees will be eligible for benefits until they can find work. Benefits will be drawn out as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which was created to help laid-off workers receive training and a steady income if their jobs fell victim to the expanding global market. Workers at eight separate plants in the Lenoir area are eligible for the program, but have to go by the local Employment Security Commission office to sign up.

Court Of Appeals Orders New Trials
The convictions of two murderers here in the state have been overturned by the Court of Appeals, after judges found several errors in how the men’s trials had been conducted. Vincent Lebron Ledford had been accused of killing a McDowell County man back in 2002 after the man was caught having an affair with Ledford’s wife. A jury found him guilty, but the court records show the judge in the case never told the jury they could find him not guilty by way of self-defense. Due to that oversight, the Appeals Court has ordered a new trial in the case. Also the court ruled that Demond Antonio Wells should get a new trial. Wells had been charged and found guilty in the shooting of a man outside a recording studio in New Hanover County. However because he presented no evidence in the case to defend himself, Wells was supposed to be given the final closing argument. Instead that went to the prosecutor. And as such Wells is also to be given a new trial.

Sports Headlines

North Carolina Players Invited To Trials
And around the college scene, some athletes from here in North Carolina have received invitations to try out for the Under 21 men’s national team. Included on the list was Justin Gray of Wake Forest, Curtis Withers from UNC Charlotte and J.J. Redick from Duke. All total 21 players got invitations for the tryouts, which take place in late July. Out of those 21, 12 will be picked to represent the US in next year’s World Championships.

Wake Forest Lands New Recruit
In other college basketball news, Wake Forest fans have a reason to celebrate today, as the team landed yet another commitment for the 2006 squad. Anthony Gurley, a 6-3 point guard from Massachusetts, committed to play for the Deacons. Gurley, a rising high school senior, led his team to the state championship last year while averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds. Heading into his senior season, Gurley already holds the school record at North Newton High with 1300 points. Gurley turned down offers from NC State, Miami, Iowa State and Boston College to play for Wake Forest. He’ll join two others in the class of 2006, 6-8 forward Jamie Skeen from Huntersville and L.D. Williams, the 6-5 guard from Yadkinville.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating the Fredrick Keys 7-5. Warthogs’ starter Lance Broadway gave up three runs in his professional debut, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings of work while getting a no decision. Broadway was the number one draft pick for the Chicago White Sox this year, coming out of Texas Christian University. Robert Valido kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at 17 games while Leo Daigle brought his RBI total up to a league leading 84. Up the road in Hickory, the offensive explosion continued as the Crawdads beat Greensboro 9-1. Hickory starter Yoann Torrealba had six strong innings of work, shutting out the Bats while striking out seven to get his first win of the year.

More Injury Problems For McCants
The hits just keep on coming for Rashad McCants, as he had to pull out of yet another workout with an injury, this time a bad hamstring. McCants was working out for the Charlotte Bobcats along with several other local players, including NC State’s Julius Hodge and his former UNC teammate Raymond Felton. McCants had gotten rave reviews from Bobcats’ coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who said that he could possibly be one of the best offensive players in this year’s draft. Other coaches and scouts are also making the comparison to last year’s star talent Ben Gordon, who has similar talents. Still, this latest injury comes at the worst possibly time for McCants, as the NBA draft is next Tuesday and depending on how bad the hamstring pull is, he may have to withdraw from several other scheduled workouts this week.