News & Sports For June 5th

Wilkes Unemployment Dramatically Drops
The unemployment rate here in Wilkes is dropping rapidly as we enter the month of June. At the beginning of May, Wilkes had a 4.4% unemployment rate, the lowest it’s been since the year 2000. There were 277 new jobs created and 71 people added to the total workforce. The numbers show a continuation of growth that was started back in February, as the county’s unemployment rate has been on a steady decline ever since. Wilkes is mere percentage points above the state unemployment average, which stands at 4.1%. All of those numbers were taken from the latest monthly report released from the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.

Medication Stolen From North Wilkesboro Woman
Thieves ran off with some medication from a North Wilkesboro home late last week. The incident happened early Thursday morning, as the homeowner had invited a friend inside. Minutes after coming in, that friend somehow found their way to the medicine cabinet and started stealing some of the painkillers inside. However when the homeowner walked up and saw what she was doing, the would be thief downed the evidence, over 15 painkillers in one mouthful. Amazingly, she didn’t suffer any serious medical problems, but her name was given over to deputies by the homeowner, who wanted her charged for stealing the medication. That investigation continues.

Price Of Cigarettes May Remain For Another Year
There’s some potentially good news for cigarette smokers in Wilkes County, as a planned tax hike could be put off. Last July, state lawmakers agreed to increase the cigarette tax to 30 cents but agreed to temporarily delay it. Now lawmakers want to put off implementing the tax once again, as studies are showing higher cigarette prices would hurt sales in counties close to the South Carolina and Tennessee border. The idea was proposed in a new bill last week, looking to compete with South Carolina, whose lawmakers did the exact same thing earlier this year. If the bill passes, the cigarette tax won’t go up until July 1st of 2007.

Just Wanted Some Help Cutting Grass
Some thieves in the Ferguson area apparently just wanted some help cutting grass, as they broke into a home late last week. The homeowner came back on Thursday to discover the theft, which happened at a log cabin on the Casper Hawkins Road. A storage shed on the property was broke into, as thieves cut the lock and walked inside. Taken from the building, was a Toro riding mower, a generator and a Buckmaster bow. That investigation is ongoing.

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
A Hayes man went to check on some family property late last week, but found that someone had beaten him there. The front door had been pried open, but despite the damage nothing was missing or even touched inside the home. In fact besides the open door, there was no evidence that anyone had been near the house. That investigation is ongoing.

Blood Drive Later Today
Summer is traditionally a time of need for the Red Cross, as vacations and other commitments severely deplete the attendance at blood drives. With the local supply nearing critical levels, the Wilkes chapter of the Red Cross is holding a drive today at Millers Creek United Methodist Church. The drive runs from 2-7pm and all donors who come out will be entered into a drawing for a free $1500 gas card from Citgo. The drawing will be held later this month and to sign up, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Local Home
Last week, mailbox vandals targeted a home on the Johnson Road. A local woman came outside to find her mailbox broken. Both the box itself and the post it had been on were smashed and lying on the ground. However despite the noise such an event would cause, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything the night before. Estimated damage was placed at $20 and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Jonesville On America’s Most Wanted
The town of Jonesville got some national attention over the weekend after it was featured on America’s Most Wanted. The tv show dedicated a segment to a case that’s gone unsolved for almost 10 years. Back on October 5th 1996, police officer Gregory Keith Martin was shot while performing a routine traffic stop on I-77. In the time since then, sketches have been released of the three men believed to be involved, but officials haven’t been able to get any leads.

State News

North Carolina Now Has Alternative Fuel Station
There’s a new option for people tired of paying an arm and a leg at the pump. A gas station in Southern Pines has now become North Carolina’s first place to sell only alternative fuel. Two types of ethanol can be bought at the business, along with an alternative biodiesel mix for truckers. Here in North Carolina, there are 5500 state vehicles that run on ethanol or natural gas.

North Carolina Says Goodbye To Hugh Morton
Hundreds of North Carolinians said goodbye to an old friend this weekend, as Hugh Morton was laid to rest. Morton was the owner of Grandfather Mountain and was known across the state for his efforts to preserve the natural beauty and the wildlife that live in the North Carolina mountains. Sunday night people came together at Grandfather Mountain to pay tribute to the man in a memorial service set up in his honor. Morton died last week after a long struggle with cancer. Hugh Morton was 85.

Vandals Target Another Church
Yet another North Carolina church fell prey to vandals over the weekend, this time in Gastonia. Officials at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church came in over the weekend to find that someone had done some redecorating. Pentagrams were carved in the church’s floors and walls, both in and outside of the sanctuary in addition to sections of profanity. The carpet was damaged, fire extinguishers were painted and even some of the children’s toys from the nursery were affected. Estimated damage at St. Michaels was placed at $10,000 and police in the area are continuing the investigation.

School Students Rushed To Hospital In Eden
Class was dismissed Friday at a high school in Eden North Carolina, after someone released pepper spray in the building. Early Friday morning, a student came in and started spraying portions of a hallway. Within a few minutes, the spray had drifted into several classrooms, affecting both students and teachers. Several students had to be rushed to the hospital after having problems breathing and the school itself was evacuated. The culprit has since been discovered and now officials are considering what if any punishment he’ll face.

Sports Headlines

Tarheel Recruit Ranked High
Some good news for the UNC Tarheels on the recruiting front, as a future member of the football team is ranked in the nation’s Top 100. Wide receiver Dwight Jones, who currently attends Burlington Cummings High School was given a five star ranking by high school website Rivals.com. That’s the highest grade possible for high school players and it comes after a season where the 6’5 ft. 210 lb. Jones caught 49 passes for 952 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Tarheel Expected To Be First Pick
In other Tarheel sports news, one of UNC’s starting pitchers is expected to be taken with the first pick in today’s Major League Baseball draft. 6’6 ft. Andrew Miller won 11 games this year during the regular season, picking up 102 strikeouts along the way to being named the ACC’s pitcher of the year. He’s the consensus pick for the Kansas City Royals, who choose first in the draft, to be held this afternoon. Also expected to go in the first round is UNC Charlotte starter Daniel Bard.

Williams Lands Another Award
Former Appalachian State quarterback Richie Williams was honored last week as the Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year. The announcement was made Wednesday night during the conference awards dinner at Hilton Head. Last year Williams led Appalachian to their first ever NCAA national title in Division I-AA, tossing for 2809 yards and 20 TDs while rushing for 936 yards. The now graduated senior also holds the Southern Conference record for total offense, finishing with 9370 yards in his college career. Williams has since signed a contract with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats, playing along former teammate Davon Fowlkes. Preseason for the CFL starts this weekend.

Panthers Coach Gets Promotion
Panthers Coach John Fox also announced a slight change in his coaching staff last week. Running backs coach Jim Skipper was promoted to assistant head coach. The 57-yr-old Skipper, in addition to working with the team’s running backs, has been involved in game management for several years, watching the clock, keeping track of timeouts and penalties. Coach Fox said the promotion was to give Skipper recognition for the jobs he already does.

Former Blue Devil Getting Back On Court
In the NBA, a former member of the Duke Blue Devils is attempting to get back on the court. Point guard Jason Williams saw his NBA career come to a halt back in 2003, after a motorcycle crash tore ligaments in his knee and damaged nerves in one of his legs. Now after almost three years of rehab, Williams wants to get back on an NBA court and is working out for the Toronto Raptors, who as it turns out are in the market for a point guard.

Kenseth Wins At Dover
On the Nextel Cup circuit, it was Matt Kenseth on Sunday taking the checkered flag in the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Kenseth passed Jamie McMurray with time running out to get the win at Dover. McMurray finished second, Kevin Harvick came in third, Jeff Burton was fourth and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Next up drivers head to Pocono this coming Sunday for the Pocono 500.

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