News & Sports For May 29th

Principal Assignments Handed Out By Wilkes
A game of musical chairs is going on in the Wilkes County school system, as several new principals will be coming in next year. Wilkes County Superintendent Dr. Steve Laws announced the changes on Friday, detailing who will be coming & going as preparations continue for the fall. Four elementary schools will have new principals when classes start back in August. Carrie Allen is the new principal at CB Eller, working for the first time as a principal after serving as a principal fellow. Mount Pleasant will also have a change at the top, with Susan Blackburn coming over from West Middle School, where she served as principal. Eric Barker will be leaving his job as assistant principal at East High to take over as principal at Ronda Clingman next year. And Wilkesboro Elementary will have a new face in the principal’s office as well, with John Parsons coming over from North High, where he served as assistant principal. For the middle schools, Cynthia Altmueller will replace Susan Blackburn at West Middle, coming over from East Middle where she worked as assistant principal. And East Middle will get a new principal as well, with Jodi Weatherman coming into the county. She had formerly served as the assistant principal for Onslow County High School. Finally two high schools will see a change at the top as Wilkes Central & West High will get new principals. Steve Moree will switch from West Wilkes to Wilkes Central and Hal Gatewood, formerly the principal over the Elkin City Schools, will step in at West High. Joey Bullis, formerly the principal at East Middle, will take over as head of the Career Center.

More Changes For Wilkes School Personnel
In addition to appointing new principals, Dr. Laws also named two new assistant principals for county schools on Friday. Wayne Triplett will leave his job as Career Center principal, to take over as assistant principal at North Wilkesboro. Also Wesley Wood will make the move from West Middle School to North High, taking over as that school’s new assistant principal. Also announced was the formal resignation of Wilkes Central principal Scott Kaufman, although no reason was given. Plus Jim McRae, Jerry Swaim, Ken Tucker, Bob Habershaw and Mike Dancy all announced their retirement from the school system.

Fire Labeled As Arson
A fire on Groce Road last week was the result of arson. That was the determination of Wilkes Fire Marshals, after investigating the case. The structure on Groce Road hadn’t been lived in since 2001 and the power had been cut off. Despite all of that, the place went up in flames last Monday, already beyond saving by the time Ronda firemen arrived on the scene. Fire marshals said that someone went inside and used some old junk left behind by the owner to start the blaze. There are currently no suspects in the case but the investigation continues.

Nance Found Not Guilty
Not guilty. That was the verdict handed down in the case of a Wilkes County man accused of manslaughter. On Wednesday of last week, jurors found 28-yr-old Charlie Randall Nance not guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Christopher Lee Caudill. The 19-yr-old Caudill was stabbed to death on October 25th of last year, in the home which he shared with his sister and Nance, the father of his sister’s three children. During a heated argument between the two, Nance stabbed Caudill but defense attorneys argued it was self defense as he feared for his life. Nance they argued had tried to escape by going into the bathroom and shutting the door, but Caudill broke it down. The district attorney’s office didn’t dispute the defense’s case, but said that Nance had used too much force to defend himself, by pulling a knife on an unarmed opponent. Caudill later died while being transported to the hospital. It only took an hour of deliberations for the jury to return with a verdict.

Vandals Target Mt. Pleasant School
Sheriff’s deputies were called out late last week to Mt. Pleasant School after vandals paid a visit. On Thursday morning, officials came in to find that someone had broke into the playground area at the school, proceeding to spin tires and do doughnuts in the grass. All total an estimated $250 worth of damage was done, however the school itself was untouched. The vandals also left something behind as they drove off, as a North Carolina license tag was found in the area. Deputies are tracking down the tag’s owner.

Thieves Target Local Business
A local business fell victim to thieves late last week in Wilkesboro. The alarm went off at Greene’s Equipment and Supplies, as deputies arrived to find the front door shattered. Glass was sprayed across the area as it appeared the thieves walked right in, picked up the cash register and walked out. Nothing else was missing from the business, although several TVs and VCRs had been taken off their shelves and tossed on the floor. Shoe prints were found by the door and a beer bottle, along with a crowbar had been left lying nearby. All of the evidence was taken in for fingerprinting and that investigation continues.

Thieves Target North Wilkesboro Home
Thieves targeted a home in North Wilkesboro last week, running off with almost $3000 worth of merchandise. The incident happened on the Elledge Mill Road, as there was damage done to both the front and basement doors, along with a basement window. Once inside, the thieves broke into the homeowner’s safe, running off with several guns stored there. Taken from the sale was a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 Heritage revolver and a 7mm rifle. That investigation is ongoing.

Wildlife Resource Commission Warns About Boating
Memorial Day is normally the start for boating season across the state, when people here in Wilkes and around the area go out on the lake. But before you load up, there are some things to careful of, according to the Wildlife Resource Commission. Before you take the boat out, be sure to inspect everything. Just because it worked before doesn’t mean it’ll be ready to go now. Also most important, be sure and follow the guidelines, which includes making sure that everyone on board has a personal floatation device on. North Carolina law makes it mandatory that kids ages 13 and under wear one and adults are cautioned to as well. Otherwise just be safe and have a great time out on the water.

Tag Stolen From Hays Woman’s Car
A Hays woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after discovering that something was missing from her car. The vehicle’s license plate had been ripped off sometime in the last 24 hours, however she had no clue when or where it happened. The tag’s information was given to sheriff’s deputies and they are continuing the investigation.

Regional News
Mount Airy Family Featured In National Geographic
A Mount Airy family is getting some national attention, as they’re the focus of an upcoming magazine. The Bunker family from Mount Airy is featured in next month’s issue of National Geographic, detailing their legacy through the years. The family, which consists of hundreds of people across Surry County, can trace their heritage back to Eng and Chang Bunker, conjoined twins who were somewhat famous during their lives in the 1800s. Before their death in 1874, the twins married two sisters from the area and had 21 children. The article, which will be in the June issue of National Geographic, is entitled "Zip USA Mount Airy NC 27030 Together Forever". Several of the family’s living members are interviewed in the piece.

Wreck Friday Sends Six To Hospital
Six people were taken to the hospital in Surry County on Friday afternoon after an accident on the Little Mountain Church Road. 16-yr-old Zach Yarbrough lost control of the car he was driving while going around a curve in the road and slammed head-on into another vehicle, driven by a local woman. Both the woman, 69-yr-old Elva Danley and all five of the teenagers in the car were taken to Baptist Medical Center with serious injuries. Hospital officials however said that none of the wounds appear to be life threatening.

State News
Lawmakers Work To Keep Eye Exams Alive
A controversial law got some help from State Democrats over the weekend. Earlier this year, House Speaker Jim Black added a new program into the state budget, making it mandatory for kids to get a thorough eye exam before they would be allowed to enter kindergarten. These new exams were supposed to help catch vision problems early and make it easier for kids to learn, but parents and other lawmakers protested due to the extra cost. The exams had been set to begin this year, but a state judge put a hold on the program until at least 2007 after school systems threatened a lawsuit. Now State Democrats are looking to make sure the program isn’t eliminated entirely, as some Republicans have threatened to do during the short session this summer. Democrats filed a new bill in the State House this weekend, which would guarantee the eye exams would in fact go on as scheduled in 2007. Opponents of the bill argue that the exams take away a child’s right to a free education, placing additional costs on parents.

Raleigh Man Arrested For Check Fraud
Officials in Raleigh have arrested a local man for over $76,000 worth of check fraud. Over the past three weeks, 36-yr-old Darren Durrell Disroe made over 12 trips to a check cashing business, passing forged checks for an estimated $76,434. He has been charged with trafficking counterfeit instruments and in the Wake County jail awaiting his court date.

Man Drowns In Winston Lake
One man is dead after a swimming accident Saturday afternoon in Winston. The incident happened at a lake near Mallard Lakes Drive, as firefighters were called out with reports of a man drowning. Several people in the area had already started searching for the man by the time firefighters got to the scene, but it took a dive team to locate his body about one hour later. Police are investigating the incident but haven’t released any information, except to say the victim was a 21 years old male.

Reward Issued For Murder Suspect
Business owners in the Raleigh area have put together a reward for help in tracking down a murder suspect. 77-yr-old James "J.P." Morris was found dead on May 12th, inside the Growing Motors company that he owned. He was also the host of a Christian radio program in the Raleigh area. The companies, in connection with the victim’s friends & family are offering $5000 for information leading to the arrest of 34-yr-old Robert Randolph Watson. Raleigh officials say they believe Watson is still in the state and has connections in Roxboro, Burlington and the city of Durham. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-919-683-1200.

Sports Headlines
Central Falls In Soccer Championship
In high school sports, the season came to an end Saturday night for the Wilkes Central Lady Eagles. They lost in the state 1A/2A soccer championship to the Lady Pirates of Swansboro 5-0. Swansboro kept Wilkes Central in check by double and sometimes triple teaming senior Katie Andreski. The Lady Eagles will wrap up the season with a record of 25-3.

NC State Recruit Changes Mind
Around the college scene, NC State’s men’s basketball program will be one man short when the season begins this fall. High school senior Larry Davis announced over the weekend that he was renouncing his commitment to the Wolfpack. After coach Herb Sendek left for Arizona State, NC State officials told recruits they would be released from their commitments if they wanted to attend another school. The 6’3 ft. Davis took the Wolfpack up on the offer and will join Seton Hall instead. Davis said that new Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe had nothing to do with him leaving the Wolfpack, it’s just that Seton Hall is closer to his family’s home in New York.

ACC Baseball Championship
In college baseball, the NC State Wolfpack came close but couldn't seal the deal as they lost in conference play. The #25 ranked Wolfpack lost to the #2 team in the nation Clemson 8-4 in the ACC championship game. Now both teams have to play the waiting game as they see if they've got a shot at making it to the College World Series.

NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals
On the ice last night, it was the Carolina Hurricanes moving one step closer to the Stanley Cup finals as they beat Buffalo in overtime 4-3. With the win, Carolina takes a commanding 3-2 lead in the series and can seal the deal at Buffalo Tuesday night.

Minor Leaguer Gets His Chance
Last week on the Sportsdesk we told you about Carolina Panthers minor leaguer Tony Brown, who won co-Defensive MVP honors in the NFL Europe league this season. Now comes word that the former University of Memphis defensive tackle has been invited to Panthers training camp and will get a shot to make the final roster. Brown had 40 tackles, 4 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception and two blocked field goals this year while playing for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.

NASCAR Results
Around the NASCAR circuit, it was Kasey Kahne pulling into victory lane last night in the Coca-Cola 600. Jimmie Johnson ws second, Carl Edwards third, Mark Martin fourth and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five.