Vehicle Break-In and Theft at Wilkesboro Hotel

They stole nearly $16,000 in property, stole over $900 using the victim's debit card, and caused over $300 in damages.  Wilkesboro Police were called to a vehicle break-in at the Addison Inn on Hwy 421.  Sometime between 10:30 Saturday night and 6 Sunday morning, someone broke into a Dodge truck hitched to a motorcycle trailer.  The vehicle which belonged to a Tennessee man was parked at the hotel.  The victim advised that his motorcycle, tools, wallet, helmet, and other items were taken.  Stolen debit cards were used at area stores.  Police are obtaining surveillance from locations where the cards were used and from the hotel in order to determine a thief or thieves in this theft.  Charges are pending further investigation.

Another Vehicle Break-In

At a nearby location, another vehicle break-in was reported.  This time the 2002 Jeep was parked at Wisco Diversified on Winkler Street.  Gas was siphoned from the vehicle, a side window was broken out, and cash and property was taken from inside the Jeep.  There is no word on suspects.  That investigation is also underway by Wilkesboro Police.

Returning It Before Buying It

It's illegal...but it is an interesting if not innovative concept.  Two white males were seen entering the Lowes Hardware on Hwy 421.  They were empty-handed when they came into the store.  The two then went to the tool section, picked up a power drill set, and went to Customer Service for a refund on the drill that they were yet to purchase.  One showed an ID to get the refund of $212 on a Lowes Gift Card.  The two then returned to the tool section, picked up a power drill set, and purchased it with the gift card.  Wilkesboro Police have in-store video of the fraud and theft, and Police have the name and address of the suspect as he showed his ID to get the refund.  Charges are pending.

Wilkes Rate Drops

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties including Wilkes in April, increased in three, and remained unchanged in two.  Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.7 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and one remained unchanged. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.6 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.9 percent.  The April not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.0 percent. When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 94 counties, increased in two, and remained unchanged in four. Wilkes County was one of the 95 to drop.  Wilkes unemployment rate dropped from 5.3 in March to 4.8 in April. The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, June 17, 2016 when the state unemployment rate for May 2016 will be released.

One Stop Voting and Registration Through Saturday

One Stop voting for the June 7th Primary continues at the Wilkes County Board of Elections office. Dates and times for voting are as follows:  now through Friday, June 3rd 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday, June 4th 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Voters will need to show acceptable photo ID when presenting to vote in person.  Persons who are not registered in the county may register to vote during the one-stop early voting period. This process is called “same-day registration.” By court order, this option is available for June 7. However, barring further court action, same-day registration will not be available for the general election in November. Individuals may only register and vote during the one stop voting period, this is not allowed on Election Day. Contact the Wilkes County Board of Elections for more information about same day registration. Election Day is Tuesday, June 7th; all polling places will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

NC Medicaid Waiver

North Carolina hit another milestone in Medicaid reform this week. Governor Pat McCrory signed a waiver that builds on the Medicaid reform legislation signed into law last September. The proposed application will transform health care in North Carolina in six key ways to:  Pay for improved patient outcomes; Integrate physical and behavioral health; Increase flexibility to invest in external factors to improve health; Extend care to families to increase children being reunited with their parents; Encourage providers to achieve the long-term goal of improving health outcomes; and have providers sharing responsibility with the state for achieving healthy outcomes within budget. As part of the reform process, the state’s Medicaid team and partners within the Department of Health and Human Services have held a dozen public hearings across the state to collect feedback from the public, including health care providers, patients, beneficiaries and advocates. In all, nearly 1,600 people attended the public hearings. Additionally, written comments were received from 750 citizens during the public comment period. Medicaid covers about 1.9 million of North Carolina’s citizens. Those beneficiaries are served by nearly 80,000 health care providers, making North Carolina one of the leading states in health care access for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Shoplifting Associated with Medication?

She advised that the shoplifting was due to medication for a medical condition.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Walmart regarding a shoplifter.  The woman was found in the parking lot with a shopping full of merchandise.  When asked by Police, the woman said she did not have a receipt for the items.  She also said that she is on prescribed medication by a doctor that causes her to do things she doesn't realize or remember.  The $400 in stolen clothing was returned to the store, the 61-year-old white female from North Wilkesboro was given a citation for larceny, and police escorted the woman home.

Shots Hit Window

There was a report of a shooting with damage to windows.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting incident in Ferguson.  The victim advised that two windows were damaged on the front side of the house due to someone shooting an air rifle.  No one inside the home was injured.  There is no word on suspects; the Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate.

Wilkes Scholarship Winners

The Wilkes Education Foundation (WEF) board approved $78,000 in scholarships to be awarded for the 2016-17 year. Scholarships include the Della Arnold Scholarships awarded to Wilkes, Iredell and Yadkin county students pursuing religious education; G. Gerald Hendley Family Scholarships awarded to individuals in Wilkes County pursuing careers in the medical fields; and Wilkes Education Foundation (WEF) Scholarships awarded to Wilkes County students based upon scholastic achievement, community service and financial need.  Della Arnold Scholarships of $500 each were awarded to Caitlin Shepherd, West Wilkes High School, and Katie Roberts, Yadkin High School.  G. Gerald Hendley Family Scholarships were awarded to Shauna Saunders ($25,000), North Wilkes High School;  McKayla Bumgarner ($10,000), West Wilkes High School; Brooke Schubert ($5,000), East Wilkes High School; Laura Phillips ($5,000), North Wilkes High School; and Allison Livengood ($5,000), North Wilkes High School.  Wilkes Education Foundation Scholarships were awarded to Brooke Church ($10,000), Wilkes Early College High School; and $1,000 each to Brooke Bentley, Wilkes Central High School; Lydia Burcham, East Wilkes High School; Laura Phillips, North Wilkes High School; Kayla Mounce, East Wilkes High School; Kaitlyn Sullivan, Wilkes Central High School; Alexandria Dillard, North Wilkes High School; Allison Livengood, North Wilkes High School; Shauna Saunders, North Wilkes High School; Cameron Tribble, North Wilkes High School; and Conner Sprinkle, West Wilkes High School.  Additionally, $7,000 was awarded to Wilkes Community College to assist Wilkes County School graduates with priority consideration given to those who have participated in the Career & College Promise program and/or earned a platinum, gold or silver-level Career Readiness Certificate.

NC Death Row Inmate Dies of Natural Causes

The NC Dept of Public Safety released a statement concerning a Death Row Inmate dying.  Death row inmate Bernard Lamp #0946174 died Monday morning at Rex Hospital of apparent natural causes.  Lamp, age 58, was convicted and sentenced to death in 2014 for the 2007 murder of Bonnie Lou Irvine in Iredell County.  He was serving time at the prison in Raleigh.