Drug Dealer Busted In Wilkes
Sheriff’s deputies uncovered a drug trafficking ring last week while searching for a man. Deputies arrived at the home of a Wilkesboro man and were met at the door by a woman who informed them he wasn’t there. After receiving permission to come in and look, deputies found marijuana in an ashtray, in addition to three rocks of crack cocaine. A butane torch lighter was also located, along with a book on how to grow marijuana inside, several mason jars filled with the plant and over 55 gallons of non taxed liquor. The homeowner, 47-yr-old Michael Dean Scott was eventually located and charged with drug possession, drug trafficking and possession of non taxed liquor. The woman, Linda Jane Sloop was also charged with drug possession.
It’s always a good idea to look before you leap. A Wilkesboro man found out the same rule applies when you’re driving. The man was attempting to turn onto Hwy 18 from River Street but failed to pay attention to traffic. He didn’t see a Ferguson man driving down the street until it was too late. That first driver fled the scene but was quickly located by Wilkesboro police. 38-yr-old Vincente Mendez was charged with failure to yield the right of way and also leaving the scene of an accident. An estimated $1800 in damage was done in the crash.
North Carolina’s Agricultural Department put out a warning for all farmers this weekend regarding pesticides. Apparently there have been several accidents when transporting the chemicals and the department released some tips to consider. First, make sure that the chemicals are separated from any food, seed, grain or livestock feed. Also do not carry pesticides in the passenger seat of your vehicle. The reason being that vapors can be released from the canister and prove deadly to the driver and anyone else in the vehicle. Also when purchasing pesticides, make sure to check the product labels are clearly seen and also tighten any caps, plugs or stoppers that appear loose. While pesticides aren’t used that much during the fall months, they can still cause problems.
Who would steal a pager from a fire department? That’s what sheriff’s deputies are trying to determine today. A man came into the Wilbar Fire Department late last week, asking for some help in programming his pager. Firefighters checked and found it had their tones on it and ran the serial numbers, eventually discovering that it was in fact the same pager that had been stolen from the department some time ago. The man told deputies where he got the pager and there is a suspect in the case. That investigation is ongoing.
A routine traffic stop led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies late last week on the Dehart Church Road. When deputies approached the car, the driver told them she didn’t have a driver’s license. After getting permission, they searched the car and found 15 grams of cocaine along with several xanax pills that were hidden inside. 43-yr-old Lena Palmer Hawkins was arrested and charged with drug possession.
With Hurricane Katrina last month and now Rita, the Gulf Coast still needs our help. But people here in Wilkes need your help as well and all it takes is one hour of your time. With the school year back in full swing, Lunch Buddies are needed at all of the local schools. There’s a training session that will go on this Wednesday, September 28th for anyone who wants to know more about the program. It’ll be held at the Communities in Schools office from 12 noon til 1pm. For more information or to sign up you can call Amie Blevins at Communities in Schools. Her number is 651-7830 extension 23.
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda man’s home late last week, after thieves broke in. The only thing missing from the house was a semi-automatic rifle, that had been stored in a gun cabinet. Nothing was damaged in the house and there was no indication as to how the thieves got inside. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation is ongoing.
Animal Adoption Fair Next Week
Driving to the dump was apparently too long a trip for some people, as residents of Wilkes County came home last week to find trash dumped on their property. An Elkin woman came home to find that furniture had been dumped on her lawn. The same thing happened to a Darby woman, as she returned to find trash tossed in bags across her property. In both cases, neighbors in the area couldn’t recall hearing or seeing anything during the day. Those investigations are continuing.
WCC To Host Financial Class For Adults
Sometimes it can be a pain collecting on a debt. Regardless if it’s something owed by a neighbor or payment charged to your business. Coming up this Thursday, Wilkes Community College is holding a seminar, to help people understand what their legal rights are in such a situation. Such as what are your options for collecting a bad debt? What to do when a debtor skips town? The meeting is free, however you must register ahead of time to get in. To sign up, you can call WCC at 838-6210. That will take place this Thursday September 29th, sponsored by the Small Business Center of the college.
State News
Fire At Burke County Plant Costs Jobs
Over a hundred people in Burke County are out of work today, after a fire this weekend. The blaze burned down the Robinson Hosiery plant, with flames reaching over 50 feet high. All of the production capacity in the Valdese plant was destroyed and the 120 workers find themselves without jobs while rebuilding begins. Firefighters believe the cause was a problem in the electrical system.
A high school project in Currituck County was mistaken to be a death threat late last week. The project, which was on freedoms here in the U.S., included a photograph of the president, which had been fastened to a wall by a thumbtack. Because the thumbtack was on the president’s head, a call was placed to the Secret Service by the company who developed the film, believing it to be a threat on his life. The students involved and their parents were questioned and eventually the case was closed.
Teachers in low performing schools across the state will be getting a bonus. $3 million will be given out to teachers in 37 schools, after their test scores increased this year. The increase wasn’t enough however, as Gov. Easley is still sending teams to those low ranking schools, to help solve the problems that exist. Only 60% of students in those 37 schools passed the state exams this year.
Suspect Stops Chase To Smoke Drugs
A high speed chase in Dunn North Carolina ended quick over the weekend, because the suspect had other things on his mind. Police were following a car thief as he sped through the area, but after a few miles the man slowed the vehicle to a crawl, eventually pulling into a nearby parking lot. When officers came up to the car, they found the suspect, still trying to light his crack pipe.
A North Carolina fugitive went to extreme measures to avoid being captured over the weekend, chewing off his own fingertips. Robert Nicks, who was wanted on weapons and drug charges, failed to evade police but still attempted to hide his identity. Nicks chewed the skin off his fingertips to delay a positive identification, however authorities were able to use a digital machine to collect his fingerprints anyway.
North Carolina students may find some more competition when it comes to getting into college. UNC Chapel Hill announced this weekend that any out of state student with a full scholarship will now be given the benefits of someone from here in North Carolina and that includes paying the in state tuition price. In addition, those students won’t count as part of the out of state class, which can’t make up any more than 18% of a school’s total population.
Sports Headlines
Around the high school scene this weekend, it was Elkin beating West Wilkes 23-0. With the loss West falls to 3-2, while Elkin improves to 6-0 on the season. Up the road at East Wilkes it was homecoming, but not such a great one on the field for the Cardinals. They lost to Bishop McGuiness 24-13, dropping to 3-3 while Bishop moves up to 4-2. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, it was Wilkes Central clocking North Wilkes 50-12 in a game highlighted by mistakes and penalties on both sides of the ball. Central was led by Jemarcus Wilson, who ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns during the game. The win was the first for Eagles head coach Jeremy Funderburk, as the team improves to 1-4 on the year. North drops to 1-5 with the loss.
It was a busy weekend in college football. Appalachian State blew away the Citadel 45-13, behind 259 passing yards from quarterback Richie Williams. The Mountaineers improve to 3-1 with the win and head into a bye week, before their first Southern Conference matchup against Furman on October 8th. Around the state, it was Elon beating NC A&T 12-9 for their first win of the season, while Gardner-Webb fell just short against Tennessee-Martin 31-28. GWU’s Jermaine Boston fumbled in the final minutes and two plays later the Skyhawks scored the winning points. Meanwhile Wingate beat Tusculum 10-7, improving to 4-0 on the young season.
ACC Football Scoreboard
Around the ACC, Wake Forest invited Maryland into Groves Stadium and took a beating, as they lost 22-12. Penalties and fumbles cost the Deacons, as they fall to 1-3 with the loss. Quarterback Ben Mauk only completed 18 passes for 133 yards. Likewise, it was a blowout in Virginia, as they ran over Duke 38-7. The 1-3 Blue Devils did have one bright spot, as freshman Zack Assack again took over the reins and tossed for 87 yards in limited action, completing seven of his thirteen passes. In Raleigh, things didn’t go as planned for the NC State Wolfpack, who saw the Tarheels come in and pretty much dictate the game’s tempo. Barrington Edwards ran for 129 yards, while Matt Baker threw for 177 and two touchdowns as the Heels beat the Wolfpack 31-24.
Panthers Fall To Dolphins In Final Minute
It came down to the final minute, but the Carolina Panthers just couldn’t pull out a win, as they fell to the Miami Dolphins 27-24. Jake Delhomme had 284 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw an interception in the last two minutes which gave Miami the ball. They would go on to kick a field goal and win. Steve Smith also had a big day for the Panthers, with eleven catches for 171 yards.
NASCAR Results
Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in Sunday’s MBNA 400. Kyle Busch was second, Rusty Wallace third, Mark Martin was fourth and Ryan Newman rounded out the top five. Points leader Tony Stewart saw his championship hopes take a fall, as he came in 18th. Greg Biffle, number two in the Chase for the Cup, finished 13th.