News & Sports For June 28th

News & Sports For Tuesday June 28th 2005

Lowes Creates New Committee To Help Wilkes
Lowes Company announced on Monday that a new committee has been created to help needs in the Wilkes County area. The Wilkes County Hometown Grants Advisory Committee will help make recommendations and determine where best to give $250,000 in grants. Those grants will go out to local charitable organizations, as part of the Lowes’ Charitable and Educational Foundation. Local community leaders will be added to the committee in coming months, which is going to be chaired by Wilkesboro store manager Chuck Elledge. After the group makes recommendations, the proposal will be turned over for a final vote by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Deputies Catch Burglar In The Act
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence on Sunday, responding to reports of a burglary. When deputies arrived on the scene they found the suspect coming out of the basement empty handed. When he saw deputies the man took off running, only to be tracked down minutes later. After a brief fight, 38-yr-old Jeffrey Clinton Wagoner was arrested and charged with 1st degree burglary, property damage and resisting arrest.

Pepsi Machines Vandalized At Local Store
The BP store on Statesville Road was the latest place to be hit by vandals this week. Someone tried to rip apart the drink machines, apparently hoping to gain access to the money section inside. However despite causing over $100 worth of damage to the machine, the would be thieves gave up and went home. There are no suspects in the case however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Reminder: Horses Need West Nile Vaccine
As 3WC reported yesterday, we’re in the middle of mosquito season here in North Carolina. But that doesn’t just mean bad news for humans, the bugs can cause problems for our animals as well. For horse owners here in the county, if you haven’t already, it’s time to get your animal vaccinated. Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and the West Nile Virus are two diseases that have become a recurring problem for horse owners here in the state. Now in order to keep the horse vaccinated, owners have to give it two shots, each taken 30 days apart. These shots must be done by a local vet and won’t take effect until both have been injected. To get some more information about the diseases or where you can get a vaccine, you can contact Wilkes Animal Control at 903-7688.

Case Of ID Theft Discovered At Wal-Mart
Wilkesboro police were called out to Wal-Mart earlier this week, after a store manager uncovered a case of ID theft. Over the last few months, a man had been coming into the store and buying items, then getting cash back after writing a check. However this was news to the owner of the checks, who is some 40 years older than the man who’s been passing checks. It turns out that wasn’t the only thing fake, as the home phone number given out by the man turned out to be that of Tyson Foods. A description of the man was turned over to police and the investigation is ongoing.

Car Vandalized While Owner Shops
A Union Grove woman called sheriff’s deputies after coming back to her car to find the tires had been slashed. In addition, a man was crouched down near one of the tires and she was able to get a good look at him before he ran off. Nothing else was damaged on the vehicle and nothing was stolen from inside. Estimated damages were placed right at $175. The suspect is a former friend of the woman and his name, along with a description and address was turned over to sheriff’s deputies. The investigation is continuing.

Samaritan’s Kitchen Update
Samaritan’s Kitchen has been expanding their operations in the last few months, to the point where they now deliver meals to over 450 different families across Wilkes County. That’s just over 1600 meals that need to be prepared, loaded up and delivered each week. With that progress comes a greater need for volunteers, as the organization finds itself falling short in most categories. The man need is for drivers to transport the meals on Saturdays, however cooks, assembly line workers, greeters and other volunteers are needed as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or just want some more information, you can drop by the Kitchen anytime from 8am til 2pm during the week. They’re located just down the road on Woodland Blvd from the Wilkesboro Post Office. You can also give them a call at 838-5331.

Another Man Assaulted In His Car
For the second time in less than a week, a man was assaulted while in his car. A local man was driving down Woodland Blvd when someone jumped in front of his vehicle, yelling about a speed limit. The man ran over to the driver’s side window and grabbed at the driver’s arm, telling him he didn’t belong on that street. No one in the area could recall seeing anyone who matched the description provided. Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

Make Sure Your Keys Are Put Up
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence over the weekend, after the homeowner returned to find someone pulling out of his driveway. Over a thousand dollars worth of damage had been done to the car that had been parked at the home, with sugar in the gas tank, busted speakers and the face plate stolen from his radio. Keys were also stolen that allowed the thief access to the man’s home, however it didn’t appear that anything had been disturbed inside. The thief was identified by the homeowner, who provided both a name and also a description for deputies. Warrants are pending in the case.

Just Came In For A Look
A Millers Creek man came home to find that someone had paid him a visit while he was out of town. The door to the house had been kicked in and a nearby window was shattered. However nothing was taken from the residence itself and no other damage could be found. The house is a half mile from the main road, so the vandals went to a lot of trouble to damage a door. Current estimates place the damage at $2000 and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Landmark Burned During Monday Fire
Monday morning, fire ignited inside one of the state’s historic landmarks, burning a good portion of it to the ground. The Hotel Astor, which has stood for over eighty years in Wilmington, sustained major damage during the blaze, which officials believe could have been intentionally caused. The fire ignited just before 5am, according to local officials and it took firefighters several hours to put it all out. Based on the evidence, both SBI and ATF investigators have been assigned to the case.

First Murder In Three Years Rocks Spencer
Officials in the town of Spencer North Carolina have to do something this week for the first time in almost three years. Investigate a murder. A 53-yr-old man was found dead in his home Sunday morning. Police also found the man’s wife and son outside, covered from head to toe with scratches, bite marks and cuts. They told officials that the man had assaulted them both before heading into the house and grabbing a weapon. Police wouldn’t explain how the man died, but whatever they found at the scene was enough to throw out the idea of suicide and instead label the death as a murder. That investigation is ongoing.

Money Figures Just Don’t Add Up
Questions are being raised today at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics after the president’s salary was made public. Gerald Boarman, the school’s president makes $195,000 a year, that’s more than nine of the chancellors who run public universities here in North Carolina. Boarman hasn’t commented as to if he thinks it’s fair, saying that he believes all of this infighting could hurt the reputation of the school. It’s unknown what if any changes will be made.

Medic Wants License Back After Dead Man Wakes Up
Earlier this year, a man in Franklin County was declared dead after an accident, only to wake up before the autopsy was going to be performed. Now one of the paramedics that was at the scene is asking for his license back. Randy Kearney had his license taken away after state officials said that he didn’t do his job properly. Kearney had checked for a pulse on the man and told other paramedics according to a written statement that he thought the man was dead. Based on that statement the man was put into a body bag and carted off to the morgue. Kearney’s attorneys now say that their client was only acting as a first responder on the scene that night and that state officials don’t have the right to take away his license.

Drug Program May Go Under The Knife
As state lawmakers continue to search for ways to solve the financial problem they created, yet another government program may be cut or at least have its’ funding trimmed. Here in North Carolina, nonviolent drug offenders have the option of going through a yearlong treatment plan instead of prison. Both judges and prosecutors alike testified to the program’s success, saying that a felon who has taken part in it is significantly less likely to be arrested again. Under the proposed budget, currently in the state Senate, almost all of the plan’s funding has been cut. Lawmakers say that they believe it can run efficiently with only federal money and little state support.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Teams Come Up Just Short In Cup Hunt
Around the local scene, high schools may have let out for the summer, but the final awards were just recently handed out by the state high school athletics association. Each year all schools with an athletic program in North Carolina try to win the Wachovia Cup. Votes are given to different schools based on the win-loss records of their programs, along with any conference or state titles they may have won during the year. While none of the Wilkes schools came close to winning the Cup itself, some did come close to taking the Conference Cup in their respective divisions. Wilkes Central finished in a tie for second place in the Mountain Valley 2A, coming up even with Hibriten. Forbush walked away with this year’s trophy, while West Wilkes came in sixth and North Wilkes finished in last place. Over in the Northwest 1A, Starmount took the conference title, with East Wilkes coming in sixth.

UNC & Wake Vying For Linebacker
In college football, a North Carolina prospect has become the focus of a recruiting battle between UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest. Matt Woodlief, a star linebacker at Bandys High School, is being recruited by both schools for their 2006 class but for different reasons. Wake Forest wants the 5-11 235 lb. Woodlief to come in as a linebacker, partly due to the punishing hits he’s become known for delivering on the field. The Tarheels on the other hand want him to come in as their fullback, a position which he gained 332 yards in limited action this past year. Woodlief however has yet to make up his mind, saying that wherever he goes, all he wants is lots of playing time and a chance at a good educations.

Wake Forest Player Travels To Asia
In college basketball, while most kids are either in summer school or doing a part time job, one local player is heading off to another country. Trent Strickland, a rising senior at Wake Forest, is getting ready to leave on a two week tour of East Asia. Strickland is going as part of the Athletes in Action sports ministry, which has set up the opportunity for college players to work out against squads from other countries, including China’s Olympic team, while also preaching the gospel. Strickland said that he’s excited to go, because he wants to put God first in his life and hopes this will help his spiritual growth.

NASCAR Drivers Have Issues With Tires
In NASCAR, with the playoff soon approaching tempers are heating up and accusations are being thrown out. The latest ones are against tires used by Ford and Dodge vehicles. Teams are being accused of using special valves on the tires that would release excess air pressure, keeping it constant during the race. Drivers would be affected by this due to the fact a car handles differently depending on the tire pressure. So far no violations have been found, although a recent testing did find that Dodge and Ford are ahead of GM in the tire race, with the two companies offering a better analysis program.