Boone Plane Crash

A small plane crashed Monday afternoon on the Boone Golf Course.  Boone Police have identified those on the Piper PA-32 plane:  John Field Worsley II, age 68, of Lenoir; Steven Cox Berry, age 43, of Banner Elk and Benjamin (Ben) Franklin Chappell, age 69, of Boone. As of Monday night, both Worsley and Berry were listed in critical condition at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem.  Chappell, a retired NC State Highway Patrolman, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Witnesses on the golf course noted the plane appeared to be in distress. The Federal Aviation Administration has been on the scene since Monday afternoon. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to began their investigation yesterday. 

Lowes Grant to Wilkesboro Elementary

The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $15,934 grant to the Wilkesboro Elementary School for replacing the media center’s bookshelves. The center’s current shelves are dried out, splintered, and too high for students to reach. The grant will fund 25 new bookshelves to replace the existing ones. The Wilkesboro Elementary School grant was recommended by Lowe’s hometown grant advisory committee comprised of representatives from education, recreation and business in Wilkesboro-area communities. The committee reviews applications quarterly and recommends grants to the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation board of directors. The foundation has earmarked $250,000 in annual contributions for Wilkesboro-area community improvement and public school projects.

Eastern NC Fire Update

The Whipping Creek Road Fire in Eastern NC is now 15,449 acres in size and is over 50% contained. On Sunday, 2 CL-415 Super Scoopers made 126 rounds dropping over 200,000 gallons of water to strengthen control lines. Flights have continued this week using infrared camera technology to provide increased accuracy of the fire size and to locate areas requiring attention due to residual heat. Firefighters continue to construct and improve containment lines to support and monitor the fire perimeter for flare-ups. Fire crews continue to monitor weather and fuel conditions for their daily planning of suppression tactics. The incident now has 153 firefighters and fire managers assigned to the fire, primarily from the North Carolina Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

NC Company Expansion

Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced that an expansion by Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. will bring 275 new R&D and pharma-manufacturing jobs to Durham. The New Jersey-based maker of generic pharmaceuticals plans to invest over $31.7 million in a new state-of-the-art national headquarters for specialty pharmaceutical R&D.  “Our state is eager topartner with this global company as it embarks on its business objectives and grows its presence in North Carolina’s life sciences community,” said Governor McCrory.  Aurobindo Pharma USA will establish a new R&D and manufacturing center in Durham. The company currently employs 14 scientists/workers in Raleigh. Among the new employees will be researchers, analytical chemists, production operators, quality control specialists and others. Aurobindo’s expanded operations in North Carolina will create a $17.1 million annual payroll impact for Durham and surrounding counties.

Merlefest This Weekend

It begins this week. MerleFest 2016 begins 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 throughout the college, participants at MerleFest know to expect the unexpected. Late night jam sessions, band competitions, special guests onstage, and one-time-only musical collaborations are all a part of the musical event. In addition to music, MerleFest offers special activities and shopping. The Shoppes at MerleFest is a centrally-located shopping village that features demonstrating artisans, vendors, convenience foods, official MerleFest memorabilia and services, and Internet access. 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.

Arrested for Assault with Deadly Weapon

A Wilkesboro man was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after a fight with his roommate.  Police were called to South Street apartments regarding a fight in progress.  The victim and his girlfriend were outside.  The victim was bleeding and had knife wounds.  Police called Wilkes EMS and then questioned both the victim and his roommate who both stated the argument began over peanut butter.  Police found the knife with blood on it in the apartment.  The weapon was seized as evidence. The roommate, Corinthian McLeod, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.  He was taken to the Wilkes County Jail and bond set at $2500.

Beware the Pay More Than Cost Scam

Beware the scam or overpayment.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office received information on a possible fraud or scam last week.  The Wilkes resident was trying to sell an item via the Internet.  The buyer sent a check for more than the amount of the purchase price with instructions to cash anyway and send back the extra.  The seller did NOT cash the check and did not send the item they were selling, but they did call the Wilkes Sheriff's Office.  A popular scam among thieves is to send a bogus of fake check in an amount higher than the selling price.  They tell the seller to cash the check and send the extra money back with the item they purchased.  Later the seller finds out the check is a fake, so the seller is out the amount of the check and the item they sold plus being responsible for cashing a bad check.  If you are selling something, and the buyer tries to pay with a check with extra to send back....don't fall for it.  It's a scam.

Wilkes Community SkillsUSA Results

Wilkes Community College students led the state in overall medal counts at the 51st Annual SkillsUSA North Carolina Leadership and Skills Conference on April 19-21, 2016, in Greensboro. Over 2,300 high school and postsecondary students competed in over 110 different skills and leadership contests. WCC students brought home 70 medals: 35 first place gold medals, 11 second place silver medals, 11 third place bronze medals, 6 fourth place finishes and 7 fifth place credits. Participating in the competition were 20 Career and College Promise high school students and 89 WCC students. Of the 109 WCC competitors, 70 placed in the top five in the state. Top 10 results will not be released until May 10; however, many of the WCC students were confirmed as among the top 10 in their contests. WCC was inducted into the inaugural North Carolina SkillsUSA Elite 100 Club, which means WCC has had over 100 students competing for the last five years. Additionally, WCC received an award for most distinguished regional rally for its Region 7 competition hosted for high school students on February 29.  Those who received first place awards will now represent North Carolina and Wilkes Community College at the 52nd SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky., on June 20-25, 2016.

NC Governor on President's Statement

Governor's Pat McCrory's Office released the following statement following President Obama's recent comments about North Carolina. The statement can be attributed to Josh Ellis, Communications Director for Governor Pat McCrory:  “Governor McCrory agrees with President Obama that all people are welcome to our state and everybody will be treated well with extraordinary hospitality.  However, the governor respectfully disagrees with the political left’s national agenda to mandate changes to basic, common-sense restroom norms.” 

More about the NC Gov's Budget

North Carolina will invest in strengthening education, enhancing public safety, improving the health of all citizens and building roads that connect our communities under Governor Pat McCrory's proposed budget adjustments for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year. Highlights of the governor's budget proposal are:  No tax or fee increases proposed in this budget; Increases the total savings reserve account to $1.4 billion, or nearly 7 percent of overall state spending, by adding $300 million to the state’s rainy day fund. Since 2013, North Carolina has nearly tripled the savings reserve, making it the largest in state history; Increases average teacher pay in North Carolina to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history by providing an average 5 percent pay increase; Provides and Expands funding by nearly $6 million to provide scholarships for an additional 300 special needs students; Provides support services to ensure community college students graduate with a credential or degree; Devotes $21 million to increasing pay for State Troopers, Correctional Officers, State Bureau of Investigation Agents, Alcohol Law Enforcement Agents, Assistant District Attorneys, and Assistant Public Defenders; Enhances the safety of our children at school by investing $2.8 million to support the development and maintenance of school safety plans; and Provides $155 million for the Repairs and Renovations Account to maintain state infrastructure.