News & Sports For January 10th

North Carolina Safer In The Workplace
According to a recent study, Wilkes County and North Carolina as a whole are improving safety measures. The State Department of Labor released the figures, which showed that 80 people in North Carolina were killed last year in work related accidents. That’s a drop from the previous total of 83 back in 2004. Construction was listed as the most dangerous profession, totaling 34% of the deaths. Manufacturing came in second and the agricultural industry ranked third. Out of the 80 deaths, 77 were men and three were women. In Wilkes and the surrounding area, one person was crushed by falling equipment in the past year, while seven received injuries just simply listed as “other”.

High Speed Chase Lands Local Man Behind Bars
A routine stop for a revoked license soon turned into a high speed chase for Wilkesboro police. On Saturday, Officers pulled over a man for driving with a revoked license. As they approached the vehicle, he suddenly spun tires and took off down the road. The officers followed, traveling at a high rate of speed from 421 to NC 16 South, at times exceeding 90 mph. Police lost the suspect at the Alexander County line, however warrants are now being taken out for the driver, 33-yr-old Jody Lane Clonch. In addition to eluding arrest, it seems the vehicle wasn’t his, but instead belonged to his employers at Empire Chevy. Warrants have been taken out on Clonch for resisting arrest, speeding, reckless driving and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Trailer Stolen From Local Home
How does a trailer get stolen without anyone noticing? That’s what a Yadkinville man is wondering today. He called sheriff’s deputies after arriving at the house he’d been working on to find the trailer had vanished. The incident happened on the Mathis Farm Road and no one could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual in the area. That investigation is ongoing.

3WC Techwatch: Keeping An Eye On Credit
Keeping track of your credit report is a good way to avoid being a victim of ID theft. But as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch, you need to be careful. Now more than ever it’s important to keep up with your credit cards and make sure no one’s using your name. However free credit report scams are popping up, as hackers change with the technology. Everyone is eligible to order one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies as of September of last year. But hackers have set up several dummy websites that for all intents and purposes appear to be the real thing. The only difference is that once your information is entered, you get locked out while the information is used to ruin your credit. The Federal Trade Commission has located 130 imposter sites over the last year alone. To solve the problem, you can get a free credit report by going through the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov. You can follow the directions on the site to one of the three credit reporting companies and guarantee that your information is secure. Or if you’re not comfortable using the internet, then request the information over the phone by calling 1-877-322-8228. After all, it’s better to deal with this now instead of finding out later.

Frostbitten Thieves Run Off With Generator
Thieves broke into a Boomer home over the weekend, just searching for some help in keeping warm. They left with a Briggs and Straton Generator, taken from a section of the house that was being remodeled. Nothing else was taken or even touched in the theft. That investigation continues.

Vandals Leave Behind Expensive Repair Bill
A Roaring River woman called Wilkesboro police after leaving work this weekend. She discovered over $200 in damage had been done to her car. The bumper had been damaged and key marks stretched across both sides. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual but that investigation continues.

Blood Supply Still Shrinking With Drive Today
With the blood supply at critical levels, it’s more important than ever to come out and give. However over the past few weeks, blood drives in Wilkes have seen a very small turnout, meaning that on average more blood is being used than what is coming back in. The Red Cross is holding a series of emergency drives this week to try and replenish the blood. The next one is going on today at Wilkes Senior Village, by appointment only. To call and set up a time to give, the Red Cross number is 838-4563. That drive today lasts from 1:30-4:30pm.

One Car Totaled On Hwy 268
One car was totaled after an accident on Hwy 268 West this weekend. A Wilkesboro man was driving down the highway when he says that a white vehicle suddenly swerved into his lane of traffic, forcing him to get out of the way. In doing so he slammed into a nearby guardrail. No one was hurt and the other vehicle quickly left the scene. Estimated damages to the rail and car were placed at $3000.

Thieves Ride Off With Local Woman’s Bike
Always keep things locked up when you leave. A North Wilkesboro woman learned why that’s a good idea this week, as her son’s bike was stolen. The bike, which had been left outside, was discovered missing when the family returned home from a recent trip. There are suspects in the case and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Search Over For Caldwell Woman
The search has ended for a Caldwell County woman who disappeared December 29th. The body of 48-yr-old Emily Anderson was found over the weekend in South Carolina. She was found dead, locked up in the tool box in the back of her truck. Authorities were able to track down the woman’s vehicle just west of Spartanburg on I-85. The FBI have been called in to assist in the case.

State News

Greensboro Police Chief Resigns
A few days after being locked out of his own office by the city manager, Greensboro police chief David Wray announced he was resigning. Wray sent letters to the press on Monday, declaring the end to his 2 ½ year term. The chief said that recent controversies in his department, including some race related, have hurt his ability to lead. Wray also said in the letter that he was ultimately responsible for everything that goes on and calls the decision “in the best interests of the department”.

NC Highways Ranked 4th In Nation
North Carolina is considered a good state to go driving in, according to a political watchdog group. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety release a study each year, called the Roadmap to State Highway Laws. In this year’s roadmap, North Carolina was ranked 4th, just behind Georgia and Washington. Nevada was ranked number one. The study ranks states based on child safety, teen driving and impaired driving, among other things.

Hepatitis Outbreak In Alamance
Officials in Alamance County are working to contain a possible outbreak of Hepatitis in the area. Already five cases of Hepatitis A have been confirmed and seven more people could be infected. So far, the health department has no clue as to what could have spread the infection. Local leaders say they believe the situation has been dealt with and don’t expect anymore cases to pop up.

Myrick Attacks NC Gas Increase
Another lawmaker has come out criticizing North Carolina’s gas tax increase, this time on the federal level. Representative Sue Myrick, along with the 13 other members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation, received letters from State Senate leader Marc Basnight and House Speaker Jim Black. The letters requested federal help with the problem. Myrick responded by suggesting that state lawmakers fix the situation by putting a halt to the one billion worth of funds that have been transferred from the Highway Trust Fund in the last five years. Funds from the gas tax are placed in the Trust Fund, for use in repairing roads. Instead, money has been taken out for pet projects of state leaders. Both Black and Basnight refused for the state to take responsibility for the problem.

Sports Headlines

High School Basketball
Around the high school scene, some scores from last night. It was East Wilkes knocking off the heavily favored Bishop McGuiness squad 71-55. The Lady Cardinals didn’t fare as well however, as they lost to Bishop McGuiness 57-19. And all four county teams are in action tonight. North Wilkes plays host to Starmount, while Wilkes Central is on the road playing Surry Central. Then in our 3WC Game of the Week, it’s going to be East Wilkes marching up to Millers Creek as they’ll take on the Blackhawks of West Wilkes. We’ll go on the air at 7pm with the pregame show and then join Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7:15 for the play by play.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at some college basketball from last night, it was East Tennessee State over Gardner-Webb 89-66. The Bulldogs fell despite 12 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks from Simon Conn, as they drop to 6-7, good enough for 6th in the Atlantic Sun conference. It was High Point over Coastal Carolina 82-62, the streaking Elon Phoenix over Chattanooga 92-74, Delaware State knocked off NC A&T 56-52 and it was Appalachian State over Western Carolina 68-53. DJ Thompson had 18 points and 5 assists to lead the Mountaineers, who improve to 6-9 on the year.

NC State Lands Basketball Recruit
In other college basketball news, NC State has already started planning for 2008 as 6'2 ft guard Chris Wright committed to the team. Wright, who plays for St. John's High In Washington DC is ranked as the 6th best high school junior in the country. He picked the Wolfpack over Duke, Villanova and Wake Forest. Scouts believe he could be a star in the NBA, with some calling him a taller version of Philadelphia guard Allen Iversion.

NC State Loses Football Coach
The news wasn't so good however for the NC State football team. Coach Chuck Amato will have to replace part of his staff before next season. Special teams coach Manny Diaz announced that he was leaving to take the defensive coordinator job at Middle Tennessee. Diaz had been with the Wolfpack for six seasons.

Smith Named Comeback Player Of The Year
With one round in the books, the Carolina Panthers were celebrating a win of another kind as wide receiver Steve Smith was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, an award he shares with Teddy Bruschi of the New England Patriots. Votes for the two were split 50-50 down the middle, as writers didn't know which achievement to award. Smith returned from a broken leg to lead the league in catches and receiving yards, while Bruschi bounced back from a mild stroke he suffered last year.