Man Arrested for Violating Burn Ban

The Wilkes county Fire Marshal's office has arrested the first person this year to be charged with violating the statewide burn ban signed by Governor Easley last week. Neighbors called in a trash pile that was being burned by Alan Wayne Willard, a 46 year-old Miller's Creek resident, on Tuesday night. When Fire Marshal Kevin Bounds showed up, he found the leaves and grass burning, along with some black plastic pipe, right at the edge of the woods. He had been called to Willard's place for another fire, and warned Willard at the time about the statewide burn ban, telling him he would not be able to burn the leaves until the ban is lifted. Willard was arrested this time, and charged with violating the ban, as well as with leaving the fire unattended. The fire was still small enough he was able to put it out with a water hose before he was hauled off to jail.