News & Sports For May 26th

Lowes Stock Splits
Major news from the world of finances as Lowes announced a major stock split on Thursday. The news came as Lowes held a meeting of company officials. Under the plan, stockholders would get one additional share of stock for every share they hold as of June 16th. After news of the split occurred, shares of Lowes stock rose $1.44 to $62.10 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Those extra shares will be given out on June 30th. In other news from the meeting, Lowes raised its’ quarterly dividend to 10 cents a share, which will translate to 5 cents a share after the split. Those dividends will be paid out August 4th to all stockholders who hold stock as of July 21st.

Money Coming In For Wilkes Wastewater Treatment
Good news for people in the towns of Ronda, Elkin and Jonesville, as money is coming in to help with wastewater. 5th District Representative Virginia Foxx announced on Thursday that the Department of the Interior has included $750,000 in their 2007 budget, for Wilkes County. The money is designated to help consolidate the wastewater treatment needs of Elkin, Jonesville and Ronda into one facility, the new Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority. The Authority will be in charge of collecting, treating and otherwise handling the wastewater issues in the three towns, marking a change from the current situation where all three have separate treatment plants. The move is designed to help prevent any backups in the transmission or inflow systems.

Thieves Hit Construction Site On Bethel Road
Deputies were called out to a construction site on Bethel Road this week, after thieves ran off with several thousand dollars worth of equipment. Construction workers had been building a new home on the property, located at 1194 Bethel Road, leaving their tools after quitting for the day. When they returned on Monday, several thousand dollars in equipment was gone, including a table saw, air compressor, nailgun and even the radio they had kept onsite. There are no suspects in the case but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Chase Ends As Suspect Flees
A routine traffic stop earlier this week near County Square Mobile Home Park led to charges being filed. Deputies attempted to get a man to stop his vehicle near the mobile home park, but he refused, speeding off down Hwy 16 South. Deputies pursued the man to the Knollwood subdivision, where he jumped out of the car and took off running, disappearing from sight. The man’s car was towed and charges are pending against the vehicle’s owner.

DOT Offers Advice With Memorial Day Approaching
As we’re heading into Memorial Day weekend, the DOT is offering some advice for drivers. Even though construction is shut down for the holiday, drivers will be assessed a $250 penalty for speeding through a marked work zone. Even though the workers won’t be there, speeding though such places can be dangerous there could be sections with just one lane open. Also the DOT advises to leave early if you have to be somewhere, not just to get a head start but also to avoid driving at times with a lot of traffic congestion. For anyone wanting to see what road conditions are like before leaving the house, you can dial the state’s travel information line at 511 or log on to www.ncdot.org/traffictravel

Local Man Catches Would Be Thieves In The Act
A local man got a surprise when he came home early Thursday morning. Several teenagers were standing in his yard. When he asked what they were doing, the teens said they had been looking at his car & took off. Later on, an inspection of the car found the driver’s side door to be unlocked, despite the man locking it before leaving earlier. Also there were handprints found on the car and scratchmarks on the door, from where it appears a wire hanger had been inserted to unlock the door. The car’s owner was able to identify all three of the suspects and charges are pending.

Hit & Run Driver Causes Thousands In Damage
A Wilkesboro woman was the victim of a hit & run driver Wednesday night, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The incident happened on South Curtis Bridge Road, near the intersection with Woodland Boulevard. The woman was traveling down the highway when a vehicle on the other side of the road suddenly decided to pass, going over the yellow line to do so. The woman didn’t have enough time to avoid the other vehicle, who slammed into her and kept on going. No one was injured in the crash but estimated damages were placed at $1200.

Recall Ordered Of Salads & Sandwiches
Before you grab a bite to eat later today, you might want to hear this next bit of news. A recall has been ordered by the Made-Rite Sandwich company of an estimated 27,000 chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches. The products are being recalled because an error was made at the processing plant, exposing the packages to bacteria. The sandwiches have been sold in convenience & grocery stores across North Carolina and a larger 14 state region under the brand names of Great American Deli, Granny Green and Lil’ Cindys’. Company officials are asking people to toss out the sandwiches, even if they don’t appear rotten or smell spoiled. Customers can return their package to the place they bought it from for a full refund and anyone with questions can call Made-Rite Sandwich Company at 1-800-343-1327.

Wilkesboro Man Falls Victim To Hit & Run
A Wilkesboro man fell prey to a hit & run driver Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened on Hwy 421 near the Kennedy Street intersection, as the man was in the turn lane. A vehicle coming from the other direction suddenly did a quick turn, attempting to get across to another lane. The driver failed however, slamming into the Wilkesboro man’s car and then speeding off. An estimated $5000 in damage was done and EMS was called out to the scene, but the man refused treatment.

Vandals Target Car While Couple Sleeps
A North Wilkesboro couple were woke up earlier this week by a popping noise outside. By the time they went out to check, one of the brakelights had been shattered on the husband’s Dodge Ram, causing an estimated $53 in damage. There are suspects in the case however the owner asked that no further action be taken.

Regional News

Body Of Decomposed Man Identified
Officials in Alleghany County have identified the body of a man found back on May 6th. The body was discovered by residents living on Chevy Lane, just off of NC Hwy 18, after a strong odor started to drift through the area. He’s since been identified as 21-yr-old Jose Castro Lopez and already sheriff’s deputies have a suspect in his murder. Lopez was found shot to death from what officials say was a small-caliber handgun and now 33-yr-old Lonnie Dale Love of Pine Swamp Road has been arrested for the crime. In addition, a second warrant has been issued in the case, but the name of that suspect was not released.

State News

State Senate Approves Budget
North Carolina came one step closer to having a budget established for next year, after it passed through the State Senate on Thursday. The vote was 34 to 14 in favor of the $18.8 billion budget, which among other things will increase the state’s minimum wage. Under the new budget, North Carolina’s minimum wage will be set at $6.15 an hour and also the gas tax will be capped at 29.9 cents, unable to be raised higher during the next fiscal year. The highest tax bracket will also see a cut, from 8.25% to a flat 8% on income tax, a move that officials said would help small business owners to grow. The state sales tax will drop as well, from 7% to 6.75%. Both changes in the tax will take effect in January. Public school teachers will get an 8% raise, while community college & university workers will see a 6% hike. All other state employees will get a 5% raise in pay. The bill now goes to the State House for its’ approval with a vote expected within the next three weeks.

Republicans Up In Arms Over Budget
Not everyone is happy however with the new budget. Several Senate Republicans are warning that it will lead to new financial problems for North Carolina. Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger from Rockingham County says he believes the only way to keep things at their current level long term is to increase taxes, not decrease them. To do otherwise he advises is a “down payment for a future fiscal crisis”.

State Convention Makes Its’ Stand Clear On Gays
The North Carolina Baptist State Convention made its’ stance clear on gays this week, as the group’s board of directors met in Asheboro. It will now be against the convention’s rules to ordain any gay clergy, make statements in public supporting homosexuality or taking in homosexual members. If any churches violate this policy, their membership in the convention may be revoked. This was partially aimed at the liberal Alliance of Baptists, a group out of Washington that invites gays to join the church body. 21 churches across North Carolina are associated with both the Alliance and the state convention. The new rules will be presented to the entire convention for ratification in its’ annual meeting this November.

Man Arrested In Mercury Spill
Officials in Durham have arrested a man in connection with the mercury spill that happened Tuesday night. 21-yr-old Carlos Guerra, an air conditioning technician, is facing a charge of misdemeanor larceny for taking the mercury out of an unlocked container at a job site he was at. Guerra then gave out the mercury to four kids last Friday night at Iglesia de Restauracion, a church in Durham. The kids went on to put the mercury in water guns and bring it to school on Tuesday, spraying their classmates and exposing an estimated 60 children to the toxin. No reason was mentioned as to why Guerra gave out the mercury. One child had to be taken to the hospital with mercury poisoning.

State Banking Commission Agrees To Shut Down Company
North Carolina’s Banking Commission upheld an earlier decision, ruling to shut down the company Advance America. Back in December, the commission ruled that Advance had violated state consumer finance laws, by charging annual interest rates over 400%. The decision means that the 117 offices Advance America has in North Carolina will be shut down effective immediately

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Central Set To Hold Basketball Camps
With summer on the way time’s ticking down til the annual Wilkes Central Boys & Girls Basketball Camps. For girls in first through ninth grade, their camp will go on June 5th-8th from 8-11am at Wilkes Central High School. You can register early for a fee of $50 or pay $60 at the start of camp. For more information you can call Coach Waugh at 927-4077. On the boys side, camp starts for guys in grades 5th-9th June 12th and runs til June 15th, also from 8 til 11am each day. The cost is the same as with the girls and for more information you can call Coach Hagaman at 984-1571 for more information.

Fishing Clinics Coming Up
For any kids out there looking to become champion fishermen, the Wildlife Resource Commission wants to help. Fishing clinics will be going on over the next two weeks across the state. The closest ones to Wilkes County will be on June 3rd and June 10th, when clinics are held in Alexander and Surry Counties. The clinic in Alexander County be going on June 3rd from 9am til 1pm at the Ellendale Community Center Pond for kids ages 1-17. You can register at the Sporting Goods Department of the Taylorsville Wal-Mart or by calling 1-828-632-4176. Over in Surry County, the fishing clinic will go on June 10th at the Yadkin River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park from 10am til 2pm. All kids ages 16 and younger are welcome and you can pre-register by calling Pilot Mountain State Park at 336-325-2355. Across the state, prizes will given out through a drawing with gifts donated by Bass Pro Shops. The grand prize in the statewide clinics are three lifetime comprehensive fishing licenses, with an estimated value of $250 each.

Carolina Panthers Rookies Raking Up Awards
While the NFL season is still a few months away, the minor league of NFL Europe is just now wrapping up its’ season. The Carolina Panthers have several former draft picks in the minor league and two of them are picking up awards. Defensive tackle Tony Brown was named the Co-Defensive MVP of the league, after a minor league season that saw him record 40 tackles, four sacks, one fumble, one interception and block two field goals. In addition, offensive guard Chad Beasley was named to the All-NFL Europe first team.

NASCAR Qualifying
Scotty Riggs won qualifying last night for the Coca-Cola 600. Jeremy Mayfield was second and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top three. Drivers will start their engines Sunday afternoon at the Lowes Motor Speedway.