News & Sports For April 7th

Time’s Almost Up To Register
If you haven’t registered to vote yet, your time will soon be up. At 5pm today, voter registration will end for the Republican and Democratic primaries on May 2nd. If by this afternoon you aren’t registered, you won’t be able to cast a ballot in the primary elections or in the school board race. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm or if you’re out of town, you can mail it in with a postmark of today’s date.

Thieves Hit Local Business
Thieves were apparently getting ready for summer on Wednesday, as they hit a local business. Someone went up to Wilkes Heating & Air on Wednesday morning and took several air conditioners that had been sitting next to the building. The joke is on the thieves however, as the air conditioning units had been set aside for scrap metal since they didn’t work. Information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Wilkes Part Of Large Problem For NC Schools
Here in Wilkes and across North Carolina, the student population is increasing. With that increase comes a need for new schools or renovations to ones already standing, something that will cost the state an estimated $10 billion over the next five years. That figure comes from a survey released this week by the State Board of Education, detailing education projects in all 100 counties. North Carolina school enrollment is expected to hit 1.5 million students within the next eight years, straining already crowded classrooms. Right now over 7000 trailers are being used to house students across the state, as counties search for the money to build new facilities. Here in Wilkes, the local board has a $33 million renovation deal on the table for high schools, to help at least temporarily solve the problem. Still, state leaders from the Board of Education are calling for a change, not in personnel but in thinking. During their meeting this week members called on county leaders to help fund repairs and renovations, both of current schools and those being built so that North Carolina wouldn’t be in this situation again.

Fox To Have Wilkes County Office
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox wants people of the area to know that she’s available to help whenever possible. With that in mind, the congresswoman has an office here in Wilkes County that is in operation for certain portions of the week. On the first and third Friday of each month, Foxx has representatives available at the Wilkes County office building from 2 til 4pm. Her representatives will be over at the office building today from 2-4pm. If you’re not able to make it out during those hours, you can also send your comments or concerns to the congresswoman via her website, which is located at www.fox.house.gov.

Open Season On Turkey
Wilkees County hunters can get ready to lock and load, as Saturday is the official opening of turkey season. The season runs from April 8th to May 6th for bearded turkeys only, with a limit of one per day. One thing hunters suggest is that before you go out Saturday morning with gun in hand, be sure that you’ve scoped out the right spot. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, a lack of food or drought status could have the birds moving to a different location. So just because you saw them in one area back in the fall, it doesn’t mean they’ll still be there. For more tips, you can log on to www.nwtf.org. To report a kill, hunters can call 1-800-446-8663 or go online to www.ncwildlife.org. You can also check out different regulations and more information on the site.

Car Disappears From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he woke up Wednesday morning. His car was missing. Despite the theft, there was no damage left behind and no signs that the thieves had broken into the vehicle. There is however a suspect in the case and that investigation is ongoing.

Toymaker Orders Recall
This next bit of news is for all parents and grandparents out there, as a recall has been ordered of a specific toy. About 3500 models of the Primary Sounds Toy Vehicles, sold from Kohl’s Department Store, are involved in the recall. That includes the yellow taxi, police cars and fire engine models. All are about 6 inches long and 5 inches wide. The problem stems from the hubcaps on the toy’s plastic wheels, which can come off and present a choking hazard. Customers are being asked to get in touch with the manufacturer, Kids Preferred LLC, for a full refund. The number to call is 1-866-763-8869.

Thieves Hit Roaring River Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in Roaring River this week, about a theft that happened sometime in the last two weeks. The homeowner couldn’t be sure, but believes that between March 21st and April 3rd, someone broke in and stole over $300 worth of merchandise. Taken from inside were two bottles of perfume, a pair of diamond earrings and over 100 vicodin painkillers. Deputies have a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

State News

Bush Speaks To Charlotte Crowd
On Thursday, President Bush spoke to a crowd at Central Piedmont Community College, saying that he plans to stay the course in the war on terror. Bush said that he is still convinced invading Iraq was the right thing to do and that while putting troops in the country was a hard decision, he plans to stay as long as it takes. Bush said that the enemy believes Americans to be weak and we would only support the idea by pulling out early.

Coalition Asks For Wage Increase
North Carolina workers making minimum wage could soon be seeing more money in their paychecks, if a state coalition has their way. The group North Carolinians for Fair Wages requested that the General Assembly consider a bill to increase the minimum wage to $6 an hour, up from the current $5.15. An estimated 101,000 workers would be affected by the increase, one third of which are living below the poverty line, according to the NC Justice Center.

Fugitive Caught In NC
A joint effort by the FBI and Granville County authorities helped to catch a wanted fugitive on Thursday. Early Arnold Connelly was wanted on rape and incest charges back in Gwinnett County Georgia when he disappeared earlier this year. Members of the FBI’s Raleigh Safe Streets Task Force worked with officers from the Oxford Police Department to track Connelly down, once he was spotted in the area. He is currently being held in the Granville County Jail awaiting extradition.

Bull Goes After Deputy’s Car
A bull on the loose in Jacksonville caused some problems for one Onslow County deputy on Wednesday. Deputy Nicholas Wheeland had responded to a call for help, from a local man wanting to get the bull back in his pen. The animal had other ideas however and charged the patrol car, attempting to gore it with his horns. Thankfully the deputy managed to escape but the bull ended up causing over $1000 worth of damage to the vehicle before being herded back to his pen.

Jobs Leaving North Carolina
Bad news for some workers across North Carolina, as the Collins & Aikman Corporation announced plans on Thursday to shut down four plants here in the state. The company, which makes fabrics for automobiles, is one of the largest auto suppliers in the United States but officials said that they couldn’t compete in the current market. Three plants in Roxboro and one in Farmville North Carolina will be shut down by the end of September, meaning that over 1000 people will soon on the unemployment line.

Convicted Murderer Asks For DNA Test
A convicted murderer set for execution is asking Governor Easley to reopen his case. 40-yr-old Jerry Conner is set to be executed on May 12th for the 1990 murders of Minh Rogers and her daughter Linda. Conner is asking that the governor order a DNA test done of evidence found at the scene, which he believes will prove his innocence. Previous DNA testing on the evidence proved inconclusive but Conner and his attorneys now believe that will change with current improvements in technology. The claim of innocence caught some by surprise, considering that Conner’s own attorney admitted during the trial that his client had in fact killed the two women.

Sports Headlines

Tryouts Tomorrow For Wildfire
For any 11 year olds out there looking to play baseball, a tryout will be held tomorrow for the Wilkes Wildfire team. That will go on at the VFW Park from 2-4pm however there are some stipulations. Boys trying out for the team can’t turn 12 until after May 1st of 2007. In addition, there are only three spots available on the squad. If you’re interested you can call Manager Doug Staley at 667-3867 for more information. And also call the coach if it rains, to get information about a possible make up date.

Boateng To Leave Duke
In college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils will be one man short when the season starts next fall. Center Eric Boateng announced this week that he plans to transfer from the school. The 6’10 ft. Boateng saw limited time with the team this season, averaging .7 points and .6 rebounds in 20 games.

Beasley To Stay A 49er
The news was better however for Charlotte 49er fans, as recruit Michael Beasley plans to stick around. There had been concern that the 6’10 high school senior would leave after his recruiter, assistant coach Dalonte Hill, left Charlotte to take the same position at Kansas State, however Beasley’s mother said on Wednesday that her son remains committed to UNC Charlotte. The 6’10 225 lb. Beasley is considered to be one of the top prospects of the 2007 class and has been wanting to play with the 49ers since he was 15.

Minor League Scoreboard
For minor league baseball teams in the area, Thursday was Opening Day and several local teams got involved in the action. Just up the road in Winston Salem, it was the Warthogs beating the Kinston Indians 4-3 at Ernie Shore Field. Catcher Donny Lucy helped lead the way for the Warthogs with a home run and three RBIs on the night. John Hurd got the win and Garry Bakker recorded the first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning. The two teams will square off again in Winston tonight with the first pitch set for 7pm. Meanwhile over in Greensboro, the Grasshoppers saw a record crowd of 9110 enter in and watch their 11-7 win over the Hagerstown Suns. One of the top prospects in A ball, Aaron Thompson, will take the mound tonight for Greensboro in game two of the series. The first pitch is set for 7pm tonight in Greensboro. Over in Hickory, the news wasn’t as good for the Crawdads, as they opened up with a 2-0 loss to the Lake County Captains. Fans got to see a pitching duel at L.P. Frans Stadium. Hickory starter Louis Valdez went seven innings and only gave up four hits before being pulled in the eighth inning. His replacement Jean Garavito got saddled with the loss after being rocked for two runs in two innings. The series continues tonight in Hickory at 7pm.

NBA: Bobcats vs. Nets
In the senior circuit of the NBA last night, it was the New Jersey Nets over the Charlotte Bobcats 113-102. The Bobcats were led by rookie guard Raymond Felton, who had 20 points and 7 assists in the loss. After last night, the Bobcats drop to 21-55, with a game coming up Sunday against Toronto.

Panthers To Hold Tour Across Carolinas
The Carolina Panthers will be going across the state in the next month, helping to educate kids about ways to save for college. Members of the team will be making their way to Winston Salem on April 25th at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The event will run from 3-6pm and will help people learn more about 529 Savings Plans. They will also be in Asheville and Raleigh on May 9th and 11th discussing the program.

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