Unemployment Rates Decrease in Wilkes and all NC

They say it decreased in Wilkes and all across the state. According to the NC Dept of Commerce, Unemployment Rates decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in March.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 13.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.2 percent.  All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.6 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.4 percent.  The March not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.4 percent.  Here in Wilkes the Unemployment Rate last month was 5.3 compared to 5.7 last month and 5.6 one year ago, so Wilkes is now 0.1 lower than the state average.  The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, May 20, 2016 when the state unemployment rate for April 2016 will be released. This information may be accessed on the Commerce website at nccommerce.com/lead

Stolen Purse and Bible

They even stole her Bible.  Wilkesboro Police were called to investigate a theft in Lowes Hardware parking lot.  The victim reported that while she was inside the store that someone stole her pocketbook from her car.  In her purse was checks, bank card, medication, and a Bible.  Police are checking surveillance video to determine a suspect.  There are no other leads at this time.  The theft happened about noon Tuesday.  

Eastern NC Fire Mostly Contained

Fire activity on the Whipping Creek Road Fire of Hyde and Dare counties in Eastern NC has been declining for several days.  Infrared flights have shown few hotspots; those spots have been dealt with individually and directly by water drops and hand crews.  Since the fire complexity and activity level have decreased, the need for resources, including both people and equipment, has also declined.  As a result, state teams are being replaced by local units.  With the forecast weather of rain and low wind, the fire is not expected to increase in size from its current 15,453 acres.  However, firefighters will take no chances and will continue to monitor and mop-up until infrared flights indicate there is no heat at all.  Current containment is almost 80 percent.

NC Work on Workers' Compensation Claims

North Carolina is proactively settling workers’ compensation claims that will result in more than $24 million in cost savings.  “We owe it to the people of North Carolina to be good stewards of their tax dollars,” said Governor McCrory. To facilitate the settlement of these claims, a $2 million Workers’ Compensation Settlement Reserve Fund was created to augment settlement funding available from individual agencies.  So far, seven claims have been approved by the Industrial Commission and paid in full. By closing just these seven claims, the state has achieved nearly $5 million in future cost avoidance. By increasing oversight and enhancing the claims management process, the State of North Carolina has succeeded in reducing the payout for workers’ compensation claims. 

Focus on the Foothills

Angela talks with representatives from Guardian ad Litem

FOF

Merlefest Starts Today

MerleFest 2016 begins today, Thursday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m., and runs through Sunday, May 1.  Approximately 75,000 participants will gather at this annual homecoming of musicians and music lovers at Wilkes Community College for the nation’s largest celebration of American roots music with over 100 artists on 13 stages.  The complete lineup and stage schedules are posted at merlefest.org/lineup and available on the MerleFest mobile app; festival updates are delivered via Twitter (@MerleFest) and Facebook. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of "traditional plus" music.

16-year-old Arrested for Having Weapon at School

A 16-year-old Wilkes Central High School student was arrested this week for possession of a weapon on school grounds.  According to Brandon Absher of the Wilkes Sheriff's Office, the girl and her brother came to school in their Dad's truck.  They all forgot that a gun was in the truck.  Then at break, the 16-year-old girl found the gun and took a selfie of herself and the gun.  No one was harmed or even threatened by the teen or the weapon; however, the Wilkes County School System and the Sheriff's Office has a zero tolerance for possession of weapons on school grounds.  The girl was charged with felony possession and is awaiting her court date.

Thefts in Wilkes

The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating a couple of thefts.  In the first report, a Purlear resident reported that someone had stolen a pressure washer off their front porch.  In the second report, a Millers Creek victim reported that someone over the past week had taken a weed eater from an outbuilding.  No suspects were listed with either report.

Eastern NC Fire Update

The Whipping Creek Road Fire in Dare and Hyde counties in Eastern NC remains at 15,449 acres in size and containment has increased to 62%. A perimeter flight, on Monday, using infrared camera technology revealed minimal heat on the fire. The locations identified were hit with helicopter water drops supported by firefighter direct attack on the hot spots. A follow up infrared flight was Tuesday morning. Fire crews continue to monitor weather and fuel conditions for their daily planning of suppression tactics. Minimal fire growth is expected now even though increased fire weather conditions prevail. The incident now has 146 firefighters and fire managers assigned to the fire, primarily from the North Carolina Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Operation Drive to Live Results

The State Highway Patrol concluded Operation Drive to Live after a week-long education and enforcement campaign.  The campaign was last week and was focused on promoting safe driving awareness to teenage drivers.  During Operation Drive to Live, Troopers enforced all traffic laws around the state's high schools and conducted traffic safety education programs. Troopers were actively looking for violations such as speeding, following too closely, careless and reckless driving and any violation of the motor vehicle laws that can result in serious injury or death. In addition, troopers presented over 125 traffic safety education programs to students across the state.  In 2015, the Highway Patrol investigated over 58,812 motor vehicle collisions involving drivers and passengers who were between the ages of 15 – 19. Of those collisions, 10,501 injuries were reported and 107 resulted in one or more fatalities.  Last week, the NC Highway Patrol were at 517 high schools.  Patrol Officers handed out:  Seatbelt Violations:  1,378; Speeding Violations:  4,189;  and nearly 6000 other traffic violations. Although the campaign has ended, troopers across the state will continue to educate and closely monitor teenage drivers with one goal in mind; to save lives.