Wilkes County Drug Trafficker Arrested
Sheriff’s deputies went to investigate a North Wilkesboro home this weekend, finding dog fighting and drugs inside. After getting a search warrant for the house on Fishing Creek Road, deputies went inside to discover 83 rocks of crack cocaine. Sitting in a cabinet next to the drugs was $2058 in cash and outside deputies found the instruments used in dog fighting. Bloody break sticks were found, along with eleven dogs kept behind the house, most of which were injured in some way. 28-yr-old Robert Edward Coles III was arrested and charged with drug trafficking, maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs and dog fighting.

Cheaper Drugs Available For Blue Cross Members
There’s good news today if you are a member of Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The company has announced that it’s extending a program that makes it a lot cheaper to get generic drugs. The co-payment waiver plan gives you the next new prescription for free. That doesn’t mean a new refill of something that you’ve been taking for a while, but rather a generic prescription you’re getting filled for the first time. The drugs covered by the plan are any that deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and high cholesterol. There isn’t any paperwork to do, you just present the Blue Cross ID card when getting the prescription filled. This is however just a one time waiver. When you need a refill the co-payment plan goes back into effect. The plan had been scheduled to end on July 31st, but company officials decided to extend the program for another six months. Data from Blue Cross projects that the program has helped customers save an estimated $20 million on prescription drugs.

Wilkesboro Man Killed By Driver
One Wilkesboro man is dead today after an accident Sunday night. Verlie Church Jr. had been out on a walk and was crossing Hwy 421 near West Gate Dr. when he was hit by a driver. The driver of the car, a 17-yr-old from Boone, was heading east on the highway just before 10pm Sunday night and told police she didn’t see Mr. Church until it was too late to stop. After hitting Church, the girl drove about 9/10ths of a mile before pulling off at Save Mart to call 911. The 61-yr-old Church died at the scene while the girl walked away without a scratch. An estimated $6000 in damage was done to the girl’s car.

3WC Techwatch: Possible Problems For Your PC
You could be helping hackers retrieve your personal information without knowing it, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. Several watchdog groups have come out warning of a problem for all web browers that use JavaScript. The defect can cause problems for Internet Explorer and Firefox users, as hackers can use the JavaScript program in reverse. Under normal circumstances, it helps the computer remember passwords and other personal information. But if a hacker is able to gain access to the computer through the internet, he could reverse the program. That would allow him to see what keys the user hit and in what order, effectively giving him the information you typed. A patch is being designed to help solve the problem, but until it’s released, officials are asking people to be careful what business they do online.

Local Man Arrested For Stealing Steaks
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man over the weekend after he was caught stealing from Holly Mountain IGA. An employee from the store called deputies after watching a man put two steaks into his pocket, then run out the door. He got into a Red Honda Civic, which she was able to provide deputies with the license plate for and took off down the road. As deputies were heading to the store, they passed the vehicle and started to pursue. After a few minutes the thief slowed down, then jumped out of the car and took off running across Highway 18 North. After a brief chase deputies tracked down 28-yr-old Derick Aaron Owens and found six steaks from IGA in the backseat of the vehicle. In addition, Owens had three outstanding warrants for his arrest and now faces charges of larceny, resisting a public officer and failure to stop for blue lights & siren.

Recall Ordered Of Several Dozen Packaged Foods
If you’re planning on using any type of self-heating container when storing food, this next bit of news could prove important. A recall has been ordered of all 10 oz. Lakeside Foods self-heating containers. The problem is that some of the packages were contaminated with bacteria due to the fact their seals leak. The products which use these containers are all 10 oz. containers of Chef Jay's Zesty Chicken, Chef Jay's Hearty Beef, Wolf Gang Puck Rich Caramel Latte & Rich Espresso Latte, Hillside French Vanilla Latte & Hillside Hazelnut Latte, Decadent Chai Tea Latte and Yummers Hot Chocolate. North Carolina was one of 32 states that the products were distributed to and customers can return the items to the store they bought them from for a free refund. Or if you have questions, you can call Lakeside Foods at 1-800-466-3834 Ex. 4090.

Gas Thieves Target Village Market
Gas thieves targeted another Wilkes County business over the weekend this time hitting the Village Market #2 in North Wilkesboro. On Saturday, a man pulled up in a red Camero, pumped $37.71 in gas and then drove off down the road. Employees from inside the store were able to give deputies a description of both the man and his vehicle. That investigation is ongoing.

Camera Stolen From Hayes Home
Thieves broke into a Hayes woman’s home while she was in the hospital last week, running off with a digital camera. The homeowner came back on Sunday and discovered the theft, however there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. Also nothing else was taken from the residence. Deputies are continuing that investigation.

Regional News

Two Teens Killed In Caldwell Accident
Speed was to blame for an accident in Caldwell County that took the life of two teens. Saturday afternoon, Highway Patrol officers were called out to a road in Granite Falls, where they found the bodies of two 16-yr-olds, burned alive in their vehicle. The driver apparently lost control when he went around the curve, causing the car to go off the road and slam into a tree, where it burst into flames. Friends of the two boys found the wreckage and called for help after they didn’t show up for a planned meeting.

State News

Electronic Recycling Could Soon Be Reality
A new type of recycling could soon be reality across North Carolina, if one state lawmaker has his way. Every year, an estimated 50,000 tons of electronic trash is discarded, including digital cameras, computers and other bits of technology here in the state. Now Wake County State Senator Janet Cowell has created a solution. In a proposal soon to be put forth to the Senate, Cowell suggests designating at least one drop off site in each of the state’s 100 counties. That way people can get rid of last year’s equipment for free, without polluting local landfills. Money would be raised for the plan through a $4 tax on all computers, televisions and printers, expected to generate at least $11 million a year. That money would be turned over to county leaders, who would in turn have the option of creating their own drop-off facilities or paying a company to do it.

Charlotte School Placed Under Lockdown
Some teachers at one Charlotte school got a surprise on Monday as the building was placed under lockdown. Teachers had been working at Merry Oaks Elementary School for several hours when police officials came by, searching for a robbery suspect. While the man was still on the loose, they ordered the building be placed under lockdown. No one was hurt, but teachers had to stay inside the building on into the evening hours Monday night.

Hunt Is On For Missing Man In Lincoln County
Officials in Lincoln County are trying to determine what happened to a local man who vanished last week. 22-yr-old Cletus Davis was last seen at his home on June 4th. There was no sign of a break-in at the home or anything to indicate he had been the victim of foul play. Davis is described as being 5’9 ft. and weighing 145 lbs. with brown eyes and brown hair. Deputies are also trying to track down Davis’ vehicle, a 1996 silver Dodge Intrepid, which has also disappeared. A reward is being offered for information leading officers to Davis and people can call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department at 1-704-736-8856.

More NC Troops On Their Way Overseas
North Carolina is saying goodbye to some more troops today, as they get ready to ship out. 60 members of the 113th Field Artillery Headquarters & Headquarters Battery will be leaving for additional training at Fort Dix, before traveling to Iraq. The National Guard troops, which are based out of Greensboro, were honored in a ceremony Sunday at the First Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro. This will be the group’s second deployment in less than a year. Last fall they were sent down to Louisiana to help with Hurricane Katrina relief.

Concord Boy Charged With Murder
A 16-yr-old Concord boy is in jail today, charged in the murder of his father. On Sunday morning, police were called out in regards to a domestic disturbance where they found 36-yr-old Antonio Cousar (Co-sar) dead of a gunshot wound. The man’s girlfriend had been hiding in another part of the home and told police that his son had shot him & ran off. 16-yr-old Demarcus Cousar was found at a shopping center a few blocks away along with the .38 caliber revolver officers believe was used in the shooting. No motive has been determined for the killing and Demarcus is currently in the Cabarrus County jail awaiting trial.

Sports Headlines

New Rule For NCAA Sports
A new rule could soon be changing the face of college sports. Effective this fall, any athlete will gets their degree in four years but still has one year of eligibility left can transfer to another university’s graduate program. Then without having to sit out, he or she would be able to continue their playing career for one more season. The idea is to help seniors who may not be ready to enter a pro atmosphere, to continue to develop their game. Universities are concerned however that rival schools will try to steal their players. For example if a senior is coming off the bench at a big name university, a smaller school may try to recruit him to come in as a graduate and play as a starter for one season. It’s too late to switch for the coming year, but officials expect a lot of activity next spring.

Duke Lands Football Recruit
In college football, the Blue Devils have landed their first commitment for 2007. Eriks Reks announced over the weekend that he plans to join the Duke team after high school. The 6’5 ft. 227 lb. Reks is a rising senior at Xaverian Brothers High School in Massachusetts and a former classmate of Duke starting quarterback Zack Asack. As a junior this past season, Reks played both defensive end and tight end, recording 78 tackles, 14 sacks and a blocked punt. In addition he can run a 40-yd. dash in 4.59 seconds and is an excellent blocker. Reks turned down offers from Connecticut and Buffalo to join the Blue Devils, saying that he believes Duke can rise to the top of the conference.

Winthrop Pitcher Wins AwardSwitching gears to college baseball, a Winthrop pitcher has received a national award. Winthrop pitcher Alex Wilson was named the National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball. In his first season, Wilson recorded 143 strikeouts while going 13-3 for Winthrop, picking up wins against Miami, Wake Forest and Alabama.

Bobcats Land Second Round Pick
In the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats have landed another pick in the upcoming draft. Thanks to a complicated scenario, the Bobcats got the Sacramento Kings’ 2nd round pick, to complete a deal made last fall for point guard Jason Hart. Under terms of an earlier agreement, the Orlando Magic had control of the pick or they could decline and wait til next year. The Magic chose that option, giving the pick, 50th overall, to the Bobcats. So far that’ll be the team’s only choice in the second round, as they traded away their own selection in the trade that brought Melvin Evy and Eddie House over from the Clippers.

Former Panther Hired By Kansas City
In the NFL, a former member of the Carolina Panthers has a new job today. Former Panthers linebacker Ray Farmer has been hired by the Kansas City Chiefs, to serve as their director of pro personnel. The 33-yr-old Farmer, who is also a graduate of Duke University, will evaluate potential free agents, scout opponents and get information on potential draft picks. Since his retirement Farmer had been working as a college scout for the Atlanta Falcons.

Summer Shootout Starts Tonight
On the racing scene, the Summer Shootout starts tonight over at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Shootout, which marks its’ 13th straight year of operation with tonight’s race, runs through August 8th. Legend cars, Thunder Roadsters and Bandoleros will be on the track to compete with the gates opening at 5pm. The races will begin at 5:30pm.