Stolen Kayak

A Wilkesboro woman called the Sheriff's Department about a stolen kayak.  The victim, who lives on Old 60, told Sheriff's Investigators that a kayak was stolen from the front yard of their home.  The stolen boat is described as a blue camo, top seater kayak.  No suspects were listed with the report; the Sheriff's Office is still investigating.

Stolen Tools

A Wilkes resident who lives near Elkin reported to the Wilkes Sheriff's Office about a break-in and theft at his residence.  The victim lives on the Murray Road.  While they were away from home, someone entered their garage and removed several tools.  That break-in investigation is ongoing.

One Stop Voting Starts Today

One Stop Voting begins today. Voters in North Carolina have a second Primary coming up due to a court ruling to re-draw district lines.  State Voters now have access to an online voter guide for the June 7 primary. The eleven-page guide prepared by the State Board of Elections is designed to inform voters of key election dates, and several pages contain information on voter ID requirements and exceptions. Additional information is available online: VoterID.nc.gov. With a few days remaining until the June 7 primary, there are some important dates to keep in mind.  Thursday, May 26 – one stop early voting begins; Tuesday, May 31 – deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail; Saturday, June 4 – one stop early voting ends at 1 p.m.; Monday, June 6 – military and overseas deadline for receipt of voter registration and absentee ballot request; and Tuesday, June 7 – primary election day (polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.)

WCC Professor and Author Releases New Book

Dr. Lisa Muir, an English instructor at Wilkes Community College, recently released her first book titled “Taking Down the Moon,” a collection of 15 short stories, published by 67 Press in Winston-Salem. Prior to publication, Dr. Muir presented some of the collection at the 2016 Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) Conference in Seattle. Dr. Muir serves as the National Area Chair for Creative Fiction for the PCA/ACA Conference, which draws 3,000 or more participants from across the country.

Foxx Questions Using Federal Grant Money for Abortions

The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), this week held a hearing to examine the misuse of AmeriCorps funds and ongoing oversight deficiencies at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Most recently, an investigation by the CNCS Office of Inspector General revealed that federal grant money was used by AmeriCorps members to provide abortion-related services in violation of federal law. During the hearing, Chairwoman Foxx questioned Wendy Spencer, head of CNCS, about the corporation's enforcement policies, as well as actions necessary to hold CNCS—along with its grantees and sub-grantees—accountable for following the law.  Foxx said, "If people who had worked for me had broken the law, I’d have no tolerance for them whatsoever. Zero tolerance."  Foxx said, "You talk a lot about intentions. We need to be talking about metrics and true accountability …"

Visiting NC for Memorial Day Weekend

The Memorial Day holiday, which is set aside to honor deceased men and women from the Armed Forces, is expected to be a busy one. The holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, and ends at midnight, Monday, May 30.  North Carolina is an ideal travel destination, ranking in the top 10 most visited states for domestic travel.  Nothing compares to what North Carolina has to offer – natural scenic beauty, rich history and culture, vibrant cities, quaint small towns and its central East Coast location.  This means that more people will be on our highways, increasing the chance of traffic crashes.  Trooper will increase patrols on all interstates and major four-lane highways during the holiday weekend with the hopes of saving lives. "As Memorial Day approaches, traffic will increase throughout North Carolina. We want to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend," said Colonel Bill Grey, Highway Patrol Commander. "Please fasten your seatbelts, obey the speed limit and don’t drink and drive. The choices you make can be difference between life and death.” Citizens may report crashes, impaired drivers, stranded motorists or other highway situations to the Highway Patrol by dialing * HP (*47) on their cellular telephones.

Death from Monday Morning Wreck in Wilkes

A woman that was airlifted following a wreck in Traphill Monday morning has died.  According to Trooper Dean of the NC Hwy Patrol, the woman, Elizabeth Ella Perry, 20, of Traphill, was traveling about 6:30am Monday in the northbound lane of Traphill Road when she was hit head on by another vehicle that went left of center.  Ms. Perry was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center with critical injuries.  The men in the vehicle that went left of center were taken to WRMC where they were treated for their injuries and released.  Trooper Dean said that alcohol was not a factor and the reason for the wreck is still under investigation.  Charges are pending against the driver of the other vehicle, Gregory Dean Tucker of Ennis.

Three Charged with Wilkesboro Murders Get Life

The charge was murder and all 3 received life sentences.  Three people involved in a robbery and stabbing death of two people in Wilkesboro last September were sentenced to life in prison in Wilkes Superior Court after pleading guilty. Richard Weston Ward, 25, of Country Square Drive, Wilkesboro; Katrina Ann Malouin, 39, of Burnsville; and Alexander Miguel White, 22, of Black Mountain also pleaded guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon. Charges of first-degree kidnapping, identity theft, financial card theft and larceny of a motor vehicle against all three were consolidated with their first-degree murder charges. The three were charged with murdering and robbing Linda Kate Ward Frazier, 55, of River St.Wilkesboro, and Russell William Szekely, 53, of Millers Creek. Wilkesboro police found their bodies in Frazier’s River Street apartment on the morning of Sept. 7, 2015.

Vehicle Break-In and Theft

Wilkesboro Police are investigating a vehicle break-in.  The victim reported that she left her car parked overnight at the Dollar General on Hwy 421.  When she returned the next morning, she found the driver's side window broken out.  Several things were stolen from the car including a Colombia jacket, cooking utensils, and CD's.  Stolen property is valued at $430 dollars and damages listed at $200.  Police are looking at store surveillance video to determine a suspect in this break-in.

Wear Your Life Jacket

As we approach the Memorial Day Weekend when many will travel to and on the water, the National Safe Boating Council kicks off its Wear It! campaign promoting safe boating and life jackets this week which is National Safe Boating Week. North Carolina ranks No. 4 in the nation for boating accidents, with 162 boating mishaps in the state in 2015. Nationally, drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2015, and that 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. You never know when there may be a boating mishap, so it’s important that everyone onboard always wears a life jacket.