News & Sports For March 31st

Fire Departments Battle Blaze On Hwy 421
Officials from the Forestry Service and two Wilkes County fire departments were out for most of the afternoon on Thursday, battling a blaze on Hwy 421. The fire started just off of West Hwy 421, as dried out timber went up in smoke. Champion & Millers Creek fire departments were called out along with the Forest Service to put out the blaze, which raged for over four hours before they got it under control.

Con Artist Attempts To Scam Wilkes Bank
Wilkesboro police are investigating an attempted scam involving the local BB&T branch today. Earlier this month a Wilkesboro man opened up an account at the bank on River Street, depositing two checks worth over $10,000. However the bank soon learned that the checks were fake, as the company listed on them doesn’t exist. In addition, the man’s social security number, address and tax information all were revealed to be fake. 21-yr-old Daniel Minton is wanted on charges of obtaining property by false pretense both here in Wilkes and in another incident in Clemmons.

Thieves Hit North Wilkesboro Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to an apartment on the Elledge Mill Road Wednesday afternoon, after thieves paid a visit. The homeowner had returned to find several items missing and blood on the floor. Taken from inside were several bottles of pain medication, $6 in change and just under $200 in other merchandise. There is a suspect and that investigation continues.

Candlelight Vigil To Be Held Today
The Child Abuse Prevention Team is asking that you set aside a few minutes today, to join in remembering abused children in North Carolina. A Candlelight Vigil will be held at Our House from 11am til 9pm tonight, as the names of children killed by abuse are read and special music performed. In addition, Our House will be holding a diaper drive this Saturday to help supply the child abuse prevention team. That will go on at Cornerstone Church on Saturday from 10am til 12 noon. For more information on any of these events you can call Our House at 667-5555.

Tires Stolen From Local Business
Thieves hit a local business this week, running off with $2500 worth of tires. The incident happened at AE Myers Tire Service, on West Main Street in Wilkesboro. The owner of the business called sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday, after coming in to find that 12 tires had been taken off the wall in the garage. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else taken from the property. There is however a possible suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Child Advocacy Study Highlights Whats Needed
Throughout this week, we've been going over a study put out by the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute. In today's final part, we break down the recommendations that the study suggested should be put into place. On the economic side of things, the institute believes that more financial help for parents will mean better development for their kids. Among the economic suggestions was a request to raise the minimum wage until it reaches "a living wage" and guarantee health benefits to all workers, no matter how big or small the company. Also the study called for child care to be subsidized by the state and for North Carolina to install an Earned Income Tax Credit. As far as child safety goes, the institute called for universal health care for all children, regardless of their financial situation, while also creating better health and safety education programs in the local school systems. Finally to cut down on the abuse that is seen throughout the state, the study called for a decrease in the amount of time kids spend in the foster care system and instead finding a permanent family to take the children in. As with the rest of this week's information, you can go online and check it out at www.ncchild.org.

Blood Drive Coming Up Tomorrow
Each day across North Carolina, 1500 pints of blood are needed to treat accident victims and for use in surgery. With rain in the forecast, the Wilkes Red Cross is preparing for the worst by organizing another blood drive. This next one will be held tomorrow at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church on Hwy 115 from 10am til 2:30pm. And just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To call for an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.

Regional News

Caldwell County Joins Drug Program
Caldwell County has added their name to a growing list of areas that has signed up for a new drug discount card. The benefit, which is offered through the National Association of Counties, gives citizens an average savings of 20% on all their prescription needs. North Carolina counties involved with the benefit include Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba and Union

State News

Body Of Missing Teacher Found In Burke County
The search has ended for a missing teacher in Burke County. Steven Edge vanished nineteen days ago while out on Lake James and officials uncovered his body on Wednesday. A sonar camera was used to scan the lake and pinpointed what turned out to be Edge’s body, about 100 feet off shore. Workers from over ten separate agencies had searched for Edge since his disappearance. Bad weather is believed to be at fault in his death.

Wager Placed On Final Four
With teams from North Carolina and Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Final Four, wagers are being placed between state officials. Senator Elizabeth Dole was challenged by Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. If the Lady Heels win, Dole gets a plate of crab cakes. If the Lady Terrapins advance, then it’s Mukulski who gets to dig into a meal of North Carolina barbeque. Senator Dole not only accepted the challenge, but made a prediction of her own, saying that she expects to have two North Carolina teams in the final game.

Union County Prosecutors Made Deal For Testimony
Officials in Union County are investigating allegations made against two former prosecutors. In Wednesday’s edition of the Charlotte Observer, Johnell Porter, a witness in a 1996 murder trial, told reporters that he had lied while on the stand. Porter said that his made up testimony was the result of a deal he made with county prosecutors. Specifically prosecutors Ken Honeycutt and Scott Brewer are being investigated, for allegedly knowing about the deal but not mentioning it to the judge in the case or defense council. Porter’s testimony helped to convict John Gregory Hoffman of the murder of a Marshville store owner. After the allegations were made public, Hoffman was granted a new trial, to begin this fall.

Sports Headlines

UNC Drops In Latest Top 25 Poll
The latest college baseball poll was released and UNC takes a tumble. The Tarheels stumbled on the field, going 3-2 over the past week. That brought their record to 20-5, good enough to be ranked 7th in the nation. NC State meanwhile moved up in the list, rising to 17th with a record of 21-8. Florida State is sitting in first place with a record of 25-2.

NCAA Skills Contest
Taking a look at the men’s side of college basketball, the NCAA held their skills competitions last night, with players vying for the 3-point and dunk title. Justin Gray of Wake Forest was in the three-point contest, but was eliminated in the first round. The news was better for the ACC in the Dunk Championship, as it was UNC’s David Noel taking the title.

Paulus Goes Under The Knife
Duke fans are at ease today, after point guard Greg Paulus successfully made it through surgery this week. He had bone chips removed from his left wrist, after playing with a brace on it during this past season. Paulus is expected to be back up and ready to go by the time Midnight Madness comes around in October.

Carolina Players Make Ladies All-American Teams
Two players from North Carolina schools made the list when the Associated Press All-American women’s basketball teams were announced this week. On the first team was Ivory Latta, the 5’6 ft. junior from the UNC Tarheels and making the second team was 6 ft. senior Monique Currie from Duke. UNC will take on Maryland and Duke will face off against LSU in the women’s Final Four this Sunday.

Former Duke Player Considering Retirement
In the senior circuit of the NBA, it looks like the end of the road for a former Duke Blue Devil. Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill is considering retirement, after learning that he may need additional surgery. Hill is attempting to rehab a sports hernia injury, in hopes of making it back to play next year. The 33-yr-old Hill is already a veteran of the operating room, having six surgeries since August of 2000.

Spencer Taking Over The No. 49 This Weekend
In NASCAR, there’s going to be a change of pace this weekend for BAM Racing. Rookie driver Brent Sherman will be replaced for one week, with Jimmy Spencer taking over behind the wheel of the No. 49 Dodge. The reason for the switch is that under the new rules, drivers aren’t allowed to test at Martinsville and being a rookie, Sherman had never raced there before.

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