Some Long Distance Tax Relief On The Way
Some tax relief will be on the way for Wilkes County citizens, to the tune of over one million dollars. The US Treasury Department announced over the weekend that it will stop collecting the excise tax on long distance calls and plans to refund an estimated $15 billion to citizens across the country. The excise tax appears on your monthly statement and how much you pay depends on how long you talked on the phone. 3% of the total bill is taxed and those taxes added on to your monthly charges. For example, if your bill was $100, the excise tax would make up $3 of it. Even for a normal phone bill which might not reach above $50 a month, that’s around $18 a year paid out in taxes. The tax itself is over 100 years old, created back in 1898 to help finance the Spanish-American War. Now Treasury officials say they’re not just going to stop collecting the fee, but also refund some of the $300 billion that has been brought in over the years. On next year’s tax return, you’ll be able to claim three years worth of excise fees, which can be found on your current monthly bill. Find the excise tax charge, then multiply it by 12 to get what you pay out over a full year. Then multiply that result by 3 and you have the total of what you’ll be able to claim on next year’s taxes. Business will also be able to claim a refund.

Thieves Target Local Business
A local business fell prey to thieves late last week as sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Randy Miller Lumber Company. The incident happened sometime late Wednesday night, as an employee noticed the damage when they came in Thursday morning. Thieves had broke into two locked rooms at the building, gaining access by climbing onto an oil drum outside and then pushing open a window. Several hundred dollars worth of tools and other equipment was taken in the theft and that investigation continues.

Car Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Be careful where you leave your car keys. That’s the lesson a North Wilkesboro man learned late last week. The incident happened at a home on the Yellow Banks Road, as the man woke up and prepared for work. However as he walked out the door, the man discovered his truck had gone missing. He had left the keys in the ignition when parking the vehicle the night before. However no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. Over the weekend the truck was discovered abandoned in Giles County Virginia.

Local Business Falls Victim To Fraud
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Grocery Bag late last week after the business fell victim to fraud. A woman came in and cashed a check for $225, which later turned out to be fake. A description of the woman was turned over to deputies along with the fake check and that investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: Chocolate Good For The Brain
Chocolate might not just taste good but it could actually be good for you, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A recent study from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia has showed that eating milk chocolate could actually increase your brain power. The reason being that chocolate contains several stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. For the study, people were given 85 grams of milk chocolate, 85 grams of dark chocolate and 85 grams of a imitation substance. After 15 minutes, those who were given the chocolate performed better at tasks involving memory and problem solving. They also showed a quicker reaction time and had a longer attention span. Researchers do warn however that while moderate doses of chocolate can be beneficial, too much can lead to health problems. Any amount over one fourth of a pound a day is considered to be unhealthy.

Recall Ordered Of Cigarette Lighters
This next bit of news is for all those cigarette smokers out there. A recall has been issued of over half a million Speedway Cigarette Lighters, due to some malfunctions in the equipment. The Speedway SuperAmerica Corporation announced the recall this week, due to a defect which can cause lighters to suddenly catch fire after a undetermined amount of time. At least six serious injuries have been reported across the nation, dealing with burns to the head and hands when the lighter suddenly goes up in flames. All recalled lighters have the "Speedway" logo on the front and "Acculite" written on one of the sides. They were sold in convenience stores across North Carolina and throughout the U.S. for the last year. Anyone who has one is being asked to return it to the store for a full refund and for more information you can call the company at 1-800-643-1948.

Red Cross Looking For Fundraising Help
We’ve talked a lot here on the news about the need for blood in Wilkes County. But thanks to last year’s hurricanes and the cost of relocating survivors, the local Red Cross needs help of a different kind as well. The local chapter continues to sell cookbooks, to help raise the money it needs to cover costs of daily operations. The Wilkes chapter finds itself struggling financially after a very slow first quarter in terms of donations. The cost of a cookbook is $10 and it contains recipes from chapter members along with their family and friends. For more information or to purchase one, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
Some would be thieves broke into a local residence but left empty handed. The homeowner returned to the property, on Single Gap Road, to find a window shattered but nothing missing from inside. In addition there was nothing else damaged on the property, which has been unoccupied for several months. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Jonesville To Have Town Hall Built
People in Jonesville will soon have a town hall to call their own. Officials announced over the weekend that construction on a town hall will be built on donated land starting this November. The plan is to have a 5500 sq. foot building on NC Hwy 67 near the I-77 intersection. Included inside will be a visitors center, town council chamber and a drive through where citizens can pay bills and handle their affairs. In addition, the Jonesville Police Department will base their headquarters out of the building. It's expected to cost an estimated $1.2 million and should be finished by November of 2007.

State News

College Students Could Have Background Checks
Before going off to college, high school seniors could have one more hurdle to climb if some North Carolina lawmakers have their way. Under a new bill filed this weekend, all incoming students would be required to undergo a criminal background check before being admitted. Fingerprints would be taken and tested, along with a complete background check. The move comes after two UNC Wilmington students were killed last year by fellow students, both of which had lied about their criminal history. The bill would only affect students planning to attend a college in the UNC system.

Cumberland County Falls Victim To ID Theft
One North Carolina county is working to recover after falling victim to ID theft. An estimated $6759 in taxpayers' money was stolen from Cumberland County, thanks to a series of counterfeit checks. Two people, 44-yr-old Edwin Lynwood Reid and 40-yr-old Gloria Elizabeth Wade both of Fayetteville, have been arrested in connection with the scheme. Police are also investigating another counterfeiting scheme involving Reid, this time in his own town of Fayetteville. With other charges possibly pending, Reid is facing 10 counts of obtaining property by false pretense and is in the Cumberland County jail awaiting trial.Wade is facing charges of conspiracy, also remaining in the Cumberland Jail. The county won't actually lose money, as the debt will fall on the businesses who accepted the checks.

Church Destroyed In Winston
One congregation in Winston Salem is having to pick up the pieces today after their church burned to the ground. The Heavenview United Pentecoastal Church went up in flames early Sunday morning, caving in the sanctuary's roof and causing one of the walls to collapse. It's unknown what caused the blaze, but fire officials don't believe that arson was involved. For right now the church is holding services in the fellowship hall and plans to continue until the sanctuary can be rebuilt.

Sports Headlines

State Recruit Decides To Stay
Good news today for the NC State Wolfpack, as one basketball recruit has decided to stay. Since ciach Herb Sendek left for another job, the university announced it would allow recruits to renounce their letters of commitment and pick another school if they wanted. Several took State up on the offer but one has decided to stay. 6'7 ft. high school senior Dennis Horner reaffirmed his commitment to the team over the weekend, saying that he was comfortable with the team and with new coach Sidney Lowe.

Gardner-Webb Joining Big South
A process that began almost five years ago will soon be finished, as Gardner-Webb is set to join the Big South. The university is currently just an associate member of the conference, participating in football. But as of July 1st 2008, all 20 of the school's athletic teams will compete in the Big South conference. The conference association brings with it a chance to play for the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament.

NC Teams Make It To World Series
Several North Carolina teams will be in the field of 64 for the College World Series when play starts this week. NC State and UNC Chapel Hill were two out of the seven ACC teams to make the field. In North Carolina's case, they'll host a first round matchup on Friday, the first time they've done so since 1984. Also making the field was UNC Asheville, coming in with a record of 28-33 and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in school history. Regional games start at the different locations Friday afternoon.

Hurricanes Have To Play Without Cole
Some bad news for the Carolina Hurricanes, as they'll be one man short the rest of the playoffs. Forward Erik Cole had to go on the disabled list earlier this year with a fractured vertebra, but had been hoping to return by the end of this series. Now it turns out that while Cole is continuing to heal, he's not at the point yet where physical contact is allowed. In 60 games this season before the injury, Cole had 30 goals and 29 assists. The Hurricanes take the ice tonight holding a 3-1 lead in the series against Buffalo.

NASCAR Points Standings
A second place finish in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 didn't have any effect on Jimmie Johnson. He stays atop the points standings, 109 ahead of second place Matt Kenseth. Mark Martin is in third, 209 points behind, while the crash Sunday dropped Tony Stewart all the way to fourth place, 231 points behind. Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounds out the top five, 271 behind the leader.

Stewart Injured In Sunday's Race
Sunday was a bad night for Tony Stewart. Not only did he lose the race, but a wreck he was involved in sent him to the hospital. Now the diagnosis might have him on the sidelines for at least one week, as Stewart has a broken right shoulder blade. What makes it worse is that the injury happened to the same shoulder he bruised Saturday night during a crash in the Busch race. Stewart was released from the hospital and is described as being day to day. Team officials said a decision will be made later this week as to when he'll step behind the wheel again.