News & Sports For June 8th

News For Wednesday June 8th 2005

Wilkesboro Puts Hold On Mountain Sale
Plans to lease Gobbler’s Knob came to a halt this week as Wilkesboro officials announced the deal was off the table. The town had been in talks with Vulcan Materials to lease the top 200 feet of the mountain in exchange for a yearly payment of $7500 and royalties for each ton of rock taken out. Despite the announcement, it doesn’t mean that the deal is finished. Town officials announced at a meeting on Monday that they’ll continue to take a look at their options and possibly in the near future an amended offer will be extended to Vulcan. While the town could make over $1 million from the lease, concerns have been voiced about the ecological impact, especially after Monday’s presentation showed that there is a possibility a local watershed would be affected. In addition, the mountain can be seen from most portions of the county and could present an eyesore for any tourists driving through the proposed state visitor center which would be on U.S. 421.

Decision Handed Down On School Funds
Yesterday the Wilkes County Commissioners held their monthly meeting and one of the issues on the agenda dealt with the school system. Commissioners approved a measure that would refund $2 million to the school system for the costs involved with drawing and developing plans related to the upcoming school improvements package. As soon as those plans are drawn, bids will be taken and then commissioners will vote on approving the contracts. A target date for the plans to be finished hasn’t been set, although it’s expected to take at least the next four months.

Local Man Robbed In His Home
A Roaring River man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after being robbed in his home. At around 2am Sunday morning, the man woke up to find two other people in his house. One of them demanded money and after being told the man didn’t have any, hog-tied the homeowner and drug him into the kitchen, where the robbers proceeded to start beating him. One of the two walked through the house, apparently trying to find something but failing as the two soon left. The only thin taken from the residence was $65 from the homeowner’s wallet. The man only sustained minor injuries in the incident and deputies are continuing the investigation.

One Stop Shopping
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence in Ferguson earlier this week, after thieves broke in to do some shopping. The homeowner returned to find his front door had been kicked in and over $1200 worth of merchandise taken. Included in the theft was a 27 inch tv, a Winchester shotgun, a Regal guitar and several other items. That investigation is ongoing.

West Park To Hold Flag Dedication
A ceremony will be held next week to honor American soldiers and also to dedicate the new American flag at West Park. The event will be held Tuesday June 14th, beginning at noon with a special performance from the Liberty Grove Baptist Church Choir, in addition to tributes from the local VFW group and the Boy Scouts, who will be raising the flag into its’ new position. Once again all of this will be held at West Park in the Health Foundation’s park. For more information you can contact the Foundation at 838-1949.

Just Drove In And Took The Camper
How do you drive off with a camper top without anyone noticing? That’s what a Wilkesboro man is trying to find out today, after coming outside to find his had gone missing. The man had heard noises during the night but didn’t think anything of them. The thieves gained access to the camper top by smashing one of the vehicle’s windows and prying it off. Nothing else was damaged on the property and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Time To Play Kick The Car
Thieves broke into a Millers Creek man’s car earlier this week, ripping out the radio before causing over a hundred dollars worth of damage to the vehicle. Dents had been kicked in almost every section of the car, with quarter panels smashed in and other sections battered as well. The vehicle had been parked in the man’s driveway and despite the noise, he didn’t wake up during any part of the vandalism. There are suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Fox
With all the problems facing our government, certain issues are either being ignored or pushed under the radar. Stem cell research falls into the second category, with a bill that recently passed through the U.S. House allowing for extended use of embryonic cells. Congresswoman Virginia Fox was one of a slim few who voted against the bill and late last week she called in and explained why.
Play Cart: Fox1
Now to hear more of my interview with Congresswoman Fox, you can tune in this coming Thursday for Focus on the Foothills. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Thieves Go On Listening Spree
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Millers Creek residence recently after broke into a local man’s car and stole over $200 worth of merchandise from inside. Included in the theft was just over $150 worth of music CDs, a camera and $5 in change. The doors had been left unlocked so thieves just opened them up and took what they wanted. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Case Of ID Theft Causes Headache For Deputies
A Ronda man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after discovering that someone had been writing checks in his name. Several local stores had contacted the man in recent weeks, informing him that his checks had bounced. However the man himself hadn’t been out shopping in over a month. After some investigation, deputies tracked the theft to a female family member, who admitted having the checks, however she claimed that she hadn’t been the one to use them. She then provided deputies with information regarding several others who could have committed the theft. There are several suspects in the case and deputies are still continuing the investigation.

State News

Missing Fisherman Located
Three days after he had gone missing, Rowan County authorities found the body of a missing fisherman. Monday night, searchers were able to locate the body near Cow Island on High Rock Lake. Over the past three days, volunteers have searched the water around High Rock Lake, looking for a local man who fell out of his boat late Friday evening. He had been fishing with his 10-yr-old son and two friends, who watched as the man fell into the water.

Thomasville Furniture To Begin Cuts
Bad news today for Thomasville Furniture employees, as the company announced the largest layoff in its’ history Tuesday afternoon. 620 employees will be fired before the end of this year, according to company officials, starting with the closing of Plant A in Thomasville. Davidson County workers have also been informed that 302 support jobs would be removed from the area, with more to follow. All of these cuts will begin in August as the company continues its’ restructuring plans. A lower demand for furniture and overseas competition were cited as two of the main reasons for the move. All released workers can file for federal benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act.

Modeling Agency Goes Under The Knife
The Face Modeling Agency has shut down in recent weeks, but that didn’t stop the Attorney General in North Carolina from issuing an order to the company. All of the company’s former clients have to be paid back for work that was never done. The Face Agency has been accused of corruption for several years, with several newspapers and TV stations doing investigations. At last estimate, the state attorney general’s office says that 512 people were scammed by the would be talent agency, who promised magazine covers and tv show spots to its’ clients. While money was paid out, the promised roles never materialized. A list of the scam victims had been given to the Attorney General and they plan to contact each one, forcing Face to give each one a refund.

Several Hundred Foster Kids Now Homeless
A shocking study was released this week that showed North Carolina’s foster care system has some serious holes in it. The reason? Almost 500 kids were released from foster care in 2004 after they turned eighteen. Out of that number, one in eight are now homeless. The study, which was supported by independent coordinator Youth Homes Inc., found that most foster kids in the system have a hard time surviving on their own due to having little money and also in some cases, no skills to get a job with. $1000 is given to former foster kids to pay for their housing each year and $500 a year is given out for living expenses such as food and clothes. That runs out three years after they turn eighteen and leave.

Vietnam Memorial Going On Tour In Caldwell
Each year, it’s estimated that at least 3.5 million people travel to Washington and pay a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. For some here in North Carolina who can’t afford to make that trip, the Memorial is going on tour. In September, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience will come to Caldwell County. The traveling memorial is a three quarter scale version of the original that goes around the country from California to New York City. The wall will be up for viewing at the Lenoir Mall from September 9th through the 11th.

Attack Of The Killer Bees
With summertime on the way, bees are out and about in North Carolina, but usually in manageable numbers. However that wasn’t the case for a Greenville woman, who saw 20 bees swarming around one of the walls in her house and got some spray, thinking she’d solve the problem. Instead, she discovered over 10,000 of the bees living in the walls, an entire colony that had taken up residence at her house. A local bee keeper was called out and quickly took care of the problem, extracting the bees using his own customized vaccum. Now the colony has a new home in his personal backyard collection, along with several thousand more of the insects.

Sports Headlines

NC State Lands Another Recruit
NC State continues to restock its’ basketball program, as yet another junior recruit committed to the Wolfpack. Larry Davis, a 6-3 shooting guard from New York City, picked State over Villanova and Pittsburgh. Last year as a junior, Davis averaged fourteen points, seven rebounds and eight assists while also keeping a 4.0 GPA. Davis said he picked State because he thought it was the best school to help him achieve his full potential.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor league scoreboard last night, it was Hickory losing a close one 3-2 against the Greenville Bombers. The Bombers drove in the winning run on an RBI single from center fielder Bret Levier and then held off a Crawdads rally to take the win. Despite not getting a decision, Hickory starter Derek Hankins pitched a good game, going six innings while only giving up two runs on six hits.
The news was better however up the road in Potomac, as the Winston Salem Warthogs beat the Nationals 7-2. Ryan Rodriguez got his sixth win of the season, going six innings and only allowing one run on six hits. With the victory, Winston stands a half game behind first place Kinston.

Major League Draft Begins
Tuesday was the first day of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft, with two North Carolina players taken in the first round. Cameron Maybin, from TC Robinson High School was picked 10th by the Detroit Tigers. Maybin, a center fielder with Roberson who is also the cousin of former Tarheel Rashad McCants, will be looked to provide some help for the Tigers’ shaky defense in the near future. He also brings some pop to the lineup, as Maybin set a state record last year with a .662 average in his senior season at Roberson. And Braves fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because some help for that much maligned bullpen could be on the way soon. Atlanta picked Joseph Devine, a right handed pitcher from NC State with the 27th pick in yesterday’s draft. Depending on how quickly he signs, some scouts are saying that Devine could be in an Atlanta uniform as early as next summer.

North Carolina Players Go To Camp
As the NBA’s draft day gets closer, some North Carolina players were invited to this week’s workout camp in Chicago. Eddie Basden from UNC Charlotte, Jackie Manuel & Jawad Williams from the Tarheels, Eric Williams from Wake Forest and high school senior Brandon Rush from Durham Mount Zion Academy were all invited to take part in workouts at the event, which serves as a chance for lesser known athletes to have a chance to shine and possibly move up on draft day. One surprise from the camp was that NC State’s Julius Hodge announced that he had been offered an invitation but turned it down. A reason for Hodge’s decision wasn’t given. UNC Tarheel Marvin Williams along with teammates Raymond Felton, Sean May and Rashad McCants are all scheduled to hold private workouts with interested teams this week.