Good & Bad News For Wilkes County Vets
It turns out that some Wilkes County vets may be at risk of having more than just their personal information stolen. Earlier this month, 3WC News told you about the theft of computer files that contained information for over 26 million vets, taken from the home of a Veterans Affairs official. Now comes word that the theft may be more serious than originally thought. Memos from VA officials were obtained and released this week by the Associated Press, detailing that in addition to social security numbers and birthdates, the vets’ phone numbers and home address were taken in the theft. Also a list of those who participated in chemical testing programs during World War II, which totals up to include 6744 vets was taken. What can local vets do to prevent becoming a victim? The Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that you continue to keep a close eye on your bank statements and check your account regularly. Be sure to let officials at your bank know if you notice any irregularities. You can also call one of the major credit bureaus and check to make sure your information is secure, either by calling Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742 or TransUnion at 1-800-680-7298.

Thieves Break Into Lowes Foods
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Lowes Foods on Statesville Road earlier this week after thieves broke in. The call came out at 3:30am Monday morning when employees came in and found the back door had been pried open. All total an estimated $9100 in damage was done, as the thieves attempted to pry open the safe, cut through the security wiring and also damaged the central security system box. After all that however the only things missing from inside were 51 cartons of cigarettes along with some ribeye steaks. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Money Orders Stolen From Traphill Home
Be careful who you let inside your house. A Traphill couple found that out the hard way recently. Earlier this week they called sheriff’s deputies to report the theft of several money orders that had been left at their residence on Billings Hill Church Road. Just over a week ago, they had invited some people in, leaving the orders stuffed in a cabinet. After the guests left, unfortunately so did the money. After getting in contact with authorities, the couple found that two out of the three orders had been cashed over the past week. Names and descriptions of the suspects were given over to deputies and that investigation continues.

Preparing For Summer Part II: Home Invasion
Heat exposure has killed eight thousand people in the last twenty years and most died in their own homes. So how can you keep the heat out of your house? In today’s second installment of our Beat The Heat Summer Series, we’re examining quick and easy ways to sunproof your home. First check to make sure your attic is properly ventilated. If insulation or anything else is clogging the vents, the attic temperature can climb as high as 150 degrees. Also make sure that all blinds and curtains have been pulled down in all areas of your home. That alone could help the temperature drop more than ten degrees in your home. For anyone with an air conditioner, clean the filter every month. A dirty filter on your AC will force it to work harder, raising your energy bill while not exactly keeping things cool. Also be sure and check your weather stripping. A properly sealed door can keep most of the hot air outside and away from you. Finally, make sure to turn down your fans to the low setting when it’s humid outside. The reason being is that slower movement can allow the fan to pull moisture out of the air, basically acting as a buffer to drain that humidity and make things more comfortable. Coming up in tomorrow’s third segment of the series, we’ll take a look at ways to help our pets survive in the heat.

Gas Thieves Target Wilkes Businesses
Several businesses here in Wilkes fell victim to gas thieves this week. A man pulled up to the Run-In on Hwy 421 West in Wilkesboro Monday night. He pumped $10 worth of gas, then jumped into his Chevy Blazer and took off down the road. Neighbors’ Store in Elkin meanwhile was hit Tuesday morning, as a man came in and paid for several purchases. However as he pulled out, employees discovered that he had also pumped $63 worth of gas but failed to pay for it. Information regarding the man and his vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

All For A Few More Cans
Moody’s Grocery fell victim to thieves earlier this week, who seemed to come in with a singular purpose in mind. The glass was shattered in the front door and it appears the thieves walked right in. However they didn’t bother the cash register, only leaving with 3 bundles of Copenhagen dipping tobacco and a $6 roll of change. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Teens
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month across North Carolina, something definitely needed as the latest numbers show 45% of all firstborn children are born to unwed mothers and teens. Laura Edwards from the Community Health Connection will be Brian’s guest today for Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be taking a look at what the numbers say for Wilkes County. That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Loading Ramp Stolen From Holly Mountain IGA
Thieves targeted the Holly Mountain IGA earlier this week, but not for any of the items contained inside. The building’s loading ramp was stolen sometime Sunday night, picked up from the back of the business. Nothing else was damaged or even touched at the building but deputies are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Lack Of Iron Causes Baldness
For anyone whose hair is starting to vanish, the answer to regrowing it could be in your kitchen, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have released a study which links baldness to iron deficiencies in the body. The study took several test subjects and examined their body’s reaction when given iron rich foods to eat. What it found was that the subjects who were losing hair were also suffering from some form of iron deficiency in their body. As they were given iron rich foods to eat, the rate of hair loss was dramatically slowed. Officials from the clinic say that more testing is needed to definitely link the two conditions, but encourage people to eat foods rich in iron if they notice their hair is falling out. Foods such as watermelon, strawberries, bananas and liver were suggested as the best things to try. Liver by itself has more iron in it than virtually anything else, with 8 miligrams of iron for every three ounces of liver. Prune juice is right behind it, with 7.4 miligrams of iron in every ¾ of a cup. The study was published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Two Cars Totaled On Wilkesboro Blvd
Two cars were totaled after a collision on Wilkesboro Blvd earlier this week. On Tuesday afternoon, a North Wilkesboro man slowed down for traffic just after 5:30pm, near the intersection with East Main Street. The driver behind him, another North Wilkesboro man, couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. An estimated $4000 worth of damage was done in the wreck but thankfully no injuries were reported.

State News

Minimum Wage Increase Approved
Minimum wage workers across the state came one step closer this week to a pay raise. The North Carolina House, by a vote of 72-43 on Tuesday, approved a $1 an hour increase in the minimum wage. The increase was already approved by the Senate, so now all that’s needed is to determine if the new law will be part of the state budget or presented to the governor as a stand alone bill. A decision is expected within the next month.

Massive Wreck On I-85 Snares 50 Cars
It took just under three hours for Highway Patrol officers to sort out the chaos from a series of wrecks on I-85 & I-40 yesterday. 82 cars were involved in the incidents, which happened in Orange County around 7:30am Tuesday morning. Heavy rainfall in the area is being held responsible for most of the problems, as drivers were heading into work. Within a five mile stretch of the two highways, there were 44 collisions with one person having to be carried off by helicopter to the local hospital. 34 other injuries were reported from the scene, but none of them were serious. I-85 opened back up by 11am.

Quest Continues To Save Ocean Isle Beach
Work continues by the Army Corps of Engineers today as they try to save a North Carolina beach. 48,000 cubic yards of sand has been brought in by the Corps to help rebuild Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County. Due to hurricanes and other storms over the past few years, erosion has taken off at the beach with an average of 6 feet of sand disappearing per month. With hurricane season once again upon us, that puts local homes at risk with no barrier between them and the ocean. The Corps started rebuilding the beach this past weekend, first stacking sandbags over an estimated 800 feet of land and then covering it with the sand.

Durham Student Had His Mouth Taped Shut
A lawsuit has been filed against a Durham school teacher this week, accusing her of taping a student’s mouth shut during class. The parents of the 9-yr-old boy filed the suit, which targets the teacher, the principal at Hope Valley Elementary, the Durham school board and the local superintendent. The boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, also has asthma and is blind in one eye. According to court papers, the teacher pulled out some tape during class after growing tired of sounds the boy was making and put it on his mouth. The teacher was released from her job less than two weeks after the alleged incident happened.

Landing Field May Be Moved From NC
A five year battle by the Navy to purchase land in North Carolina could be coming to a close. Since 2001, the Navy has been trying to build a runway on 30,000 acres of land in Washington County, to use as a practice field for pilots at Oceana Air Station in Virginia Beach. But the move has been blocked by environmental activists, who say that it would damage nearby wildlife habitats. That battle could be ending as a federal commission has recommended moving practice sessions to already established Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida, which would save thousands in building costs alone. A decision is expected before the end of the year.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Results
In local baseball last night, the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots took a hit as they fell to Yadkin County 8-2. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 0-6 in American Legion play, with a rough schedule ahead of them. They’ve got six games to play in the next seven days, with a road trip to Lexington starting things off on Friday.

Catawba College Gets To Keep Name
Around the college scene, one North Carolina school got a reprieve from the NCAA on Tuesday as they can keep their mascot. Catawba College had been one of several schools targeted by the NCAA for what they called mascots offensive to minorities, as Catawba’s teams are called the Indians. However after reviewing the case, NCAA officials agreed to remove Catawba from the list after receiving a letter from the Catawba Indian Nation, who gave its’ blessing for the name to stay.

Instant Replay Changes Coming To College
Some changes will be coming next season in college football. The NCAA announced a change to the instant replay rule this week. Under the revised rules, coaches can challenge one play each game to be reviewed by instant replay, but only if the team has a timeout left. If the ruling is reversed, the team won’t be charged a timeout but if it stands, one timeout will be taken away.

Summer School Starts For Panthers
In the NFL, summer school officially started for the Carolina Panthers. The team began their voluntary workout program, which will last for the next 3 ½ weeks. The only player not in camp was wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who the coaching staff said was taking care of personal issues and would be back on Friday. The only player not taking part in drills Wednesday afternoon was defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead, who’s recovering from a knee injury.

Mayfield’s Car Fails Inspection
On the NASCAR circuit, bad news for fans of the No. 19 Dodge. Jeremy Mayfield’s ride failed the post race inspection after Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, as the roof didn’t mean the minimum height requirement of 51 inches. No official announcement has been made as to what the penalty will be, although points are expected to be knocked off and at least a $20,000 fine handed out.

Stewart To Start On Sunday
Some good news however for Tony Stewart, as he won’t have to undergo surgery on his fractured right shoulder. Stewart injured the shoulder in a wreck Sunday night during the Coca-Cola 600, on the same shoulder he damaged during a crash Saturday in the Busch Series race. Doctors now say that only time and rest will heal the injury, however Stewart is climbing back into his car this weekend for the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Stewart will qualify for Nextel points because he started the race, but he won’t be going the distance. Ricky Rudd will step in as a replacement driver for the No. 20 at a certain point in Sunday’s race, which could be the standard procedure for at least the next month.