Changes In Store For Clingman Polling
For anyone heading out to the polls on May 2nd, there’s going to be a change of plans in the Clingman area. Due to the fire at the Clingman Community Center, the polling place for voters in the New Castle Precinct has been moved to the Ronda Clingman School gym. Polling places across the county will be open on May 2nd starting at 6:30am and continuing until 7:30pm that night.
Big Turnout For Family Center Opening
Politicians and other dignitaries from across Wilkes County turned out for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Kulynych Family Life Center. The event was held at 4pm Thursday afternoon, with most of the county commissioners on hand along with State Senator John Garwood and Representative Tracey Walker. Sheriff Dane Mastin and Wilkesboro Mayor Norman Call were there as well. After the ribbon cutting itself, Susan Whittington from the Rainbow Center welcomed people, calling the project “not a building, but a commitment between government, businesses and individuals”. She also gave a personal story about why working at the Rainbow Center was so important, talking about a young girl she met at a Christmas party whose soul appeared to be gone due to the horrible things that had happened in her life. She also explained that this Family Life Center will affect not just Wilkes County, but will be used to help kids and families across the entire Northwestern region of the state. Once the center is up and running, they will hold counseling sessions for couples considering divorce, families dealing with stress or those who have recently lost a loved one. In addition, the center will also provide substance abuse therapy and bring in specialists to help educate the community about certain issues and health concerns.
Thieves Hit North Wilkesboro Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in North Wilkesboro earlier this week, after thieves ran off with a woman’s weedeater. The incident happened at a home on the Suncrest Orchard Road Wednesday evening, as a woman returned to find both her weedeater and a battery charger stolen, along with an air compressor. There was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property itself. There is however a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.
3WC Eye On Politics Part II: State House
Here on the 3WC News, we’re counting down to the May 2nd primaries by taking a look at the races around Wilkes County. Today we continue with the Republican primary for the 94th District of the State House with challenger Barry Brown.
6am-why he's running
7am-what he can do to help with the job market
8am-His take on the lottery
Noon-His take on the current state budget and the pay increase for lawmakers
5pm-How to help the local farmers
Fundraiser Being Held For Prison Ministry
Families in Wilkes County have a loaded day of music, food and information waiting on Saturday as Faith Christian Assembly is holding their Southern Explosion 2006. The event, which begins at 10am and lasts til 5pm that afternoon, will include nine different musical groups, a KidsFest with an air castle and other games. Also people can come in to take part in the Community Health Connection’s annual Healthfest event. Child ID’s will be done by the Wilkesboro police, the county’s Health Department will perform several different health screenings free of charge and doctors will be on hand to discuss different medical tests. Southern Explosion will be held at the Faith Christian Assembly, located at 161 Greenhill Road behind the Canipe School of Dance. All proceeds from the event will go to the Wilkes Prison Ministry and for more information people can call 667-8777.
Blood Drive Going On Today
As we count down to the end of school, it’s a time of year when proms and parties are going on across the state. Unfortunately with these events each year comes an increased risk of traffic accidents. To help keep the blood supply above critical levels, a drive is going on today at the Louisiana Pacific plant at Roaring River from 10am til 2:30pm. With low turnouts at the recent drives, the Red Cross is asking people to come out and donate if at all possible. To set up an appointment, the number is 838-4563.
Regional News
More Jobs Leaving Caldwell County
Bad news for people in the Caldwell County area, as more jobs are leaving the region. The Paxar company, which makes printed t-shirt labels and tags, announced plans this week to layoff 112 employees of their Lenoir plant. The jobs will be terminated by December, in a move company officials said was necessary as they switch the work to plants in other countries. The Lenoir plant will remain open however with a reduced workforce.
State News
Police Go Hunting Pajama Bandit
Officials in Greensboro are hunting for a man in his pajamas today. Late Wednesday night, a man came into the Texaco Gas Mart, wearing a t-shirt, pajama pants and some black bedroom slippers. He asked for some cigarettes and then indicated he had a gun, ordering the clerk to hand over all the money in the register. A description of the thief was turned over to local authorities and police say that it matches a suspect in yet another robbery, one that happened two hours earlier on nearby Pisgah Church Road.
Company Shutting Down Local Operations
The economy in Davidson County took a hit this week, as Billings Transportation announced it will be shutting down operations and selling the business. The logistics division of the trucking company was bought by Aero Logistics, a group based out of California. What that means is almost all of the 225 employees at the company’s Lexington division will lose their jobs, along with almost 100 more across the country.
Reward Offered For Robbery Information
Over one thousand dollars has been offered for information leading to an arrest in a Kernersville robbery case. Purdue Pharmaceuticals has put up $1000 and the Kernersville police are adding an additional $2000, for anyone who can provide leads in the robbery of a CVS store. On March 17th, a man came into the CVS store on Union Cross Road in Kernersville, pulled out a handgun and ordered an employee to provide him with drugs. After he received the drugs, the man then took off out the door and into a waiting car. The man is described as being a white male about 5’9ft, wearing a white baseball cap, dark jacket, blue jeans and had tattoos on his knuckles. Anyone with information can call the Winston Crimestoppers at 336-727-2800.
World News
North Carolina Missionaries Arrested
In some world news, several North Carolina missionaries were arrested in China, after a raid on a Christian retreat. No official charges were filed and the missionaries were released soon after, but police officials in the Chinese city of Kunming are accusing the five Christians of being “foreign religious infiltrators”. While the accusation is not an official criminal charge, it ties in with the Communist Party’s belief that missionaries are being sent in from other countries to use the gospel as a weapon, converting the people and then overthrowing the government. All five have ties to churches in the Greensboro area and were working at a Christian retreat center outside of the city when the raid occurred.
Sports Headlines
High School Baseball Tonight
If the weather cooperates, we’ll have high school baseball on the radio tonight as the 3WC Sports Team heads up the road to Cardinal Country. East Wilkes will be playing host to West, in a battle of Northwest 1-A teams. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm tonight and we’ll go on the air with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45pm.
UNC Player Misses Out On Award
In women’s college basketball, a player from the UNC Tarheels just barely missed landing the top award in the country. UNC’s Ivory Latta was one of five finalists for the Honda Award, given out each year to the nation’s top female college basketball player. Seimone Augustus took home the trophy, marking the second straight season she’s won the award.
Carroll Expected Back
A day after putting up 24 points in the Bobcats’ season ending victory over Philadelphia, Matt Carroll’s future seems to be secure. Team sources said this week that they plan to pick up the option on Carroll’s contract, guaranteeing him a spot on the roster for next season. In his third year in the NBA, the Notre Dame grad averaged 7 points and shot 81% from the free throw line.
McCauley Out For Subway 500
Kurt Busch will have a new guy working with him from pit row this Saturday, during the Subway 500. Crew chief Roy McCauley is recovering from surgery he had on Tuesday to treat a blocked artery. The 36-yr-old will be replaced on the No.2 Dodge team by Matt Gimbel, who will serve as a fill-in until McCauley returns.
Former Panther Signs With Giants
In the NFL, the rebuilding of the Carolina Panthers continues as linebacker Brandon Short agreed to a deal with the New York Giants. Short had been released by the Panthers in a salary move March 2nd, but team officials had discussed a possible return with his agent. Taking Short’s spot in the starting lineup will be either last year’s first round pick Thomas Davis or second year player Adam Seward.