Wilkes Folks Going to Raleigh Rally Today

Some local Wilkes County church members and pastors are traveling to the state capitol today to take part in a rally. According to the website ReturnAmerica.com, Our state legislators and governor recently showed courage when they passed and signed into law House Bill 2. This law is a reversal of the “Bathroom Bill” the Charlotte City Council passed which permitted men to enter women’s restrooms. Since the passage of HB 2, over 100 companies have put pressure on our state legislators and governor to reverse the bill.  Therefore, Return America has scheduled a major rally in Raleigh today, April 25, 2016, at 12 Noon to show appreciation for state legislators and to encourage them to stay the course. Return America is sponsoring the rally and have asked pastors to bring their congregations to show their support to our elected officials.  Return American says thousands need to be present to show support for a woman’s right to enter the restroom areas designated only for women. They will meet at Halifax Mall located directly behind the Legislative Building in Raleigh on today, April 25 at 12 Noon. Return America was officially started in April 2006, and Dr. Ron Baity is the founder and president. 

Pulled to Arrest Wanted Man

When a Wilkesboro Police Officer saw a wanted man in a car, he followed the vehicle.  A trace on the license tag revealed the tag did not match the vehicle.  The Officer initiated a traffic stop.  The Officer asked the man wanted on felony warrants to step out of the car.  Bobby Gene Gilreath, III, was arrested and charged with two open felony warrants of obtaining property by false pretense and financial card theft.  The driver of the car was cited for having a fictitious license tag, and the tag was seized.  The owner had the car towed.

Armed Robbery Investigation

The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called to investigate an armed robbery and break-in and theft.  In the first report, a Traphill resident reported that a two white males came into her house with a ball bat and a hammer.  The two stole her pocketbook.  No injuries were reported.  Deputies have the name of one suspect and charges are pending.  In the second report, a Purlear resident reported that someone came in their house and stole a bucket of money estimated at $450.  Sheriff's Deputies are investigating both reports.

Blue Ridge Electric Helps Customers with Upgrades

Energy efficiency home upgrades can help lower your monthly energy bills—but they can also be costly.  Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is now offering members a way to finance qualifying energy efficiency improvements with their Energy Saver Loan program, part of the cooperative’s family of Powerful Solutions energy efficiency and renewable energy programs being introduced in 2016. Qualified members may borrow up to $7,500 and repay it in installments on their monthly electric bill. Blue Ridge Electric is also working with community action organizations to help lower income qualified members make weatherization and heating improvements to their homes at no cost. Blue Ridge Electric serves some 74,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Learn more at BlueRidgeEMC.com.

Jobs and Visitor Spending from NC Parks

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 17,834,698 visitors to national parks in North Carolina spent $1.19 billion in the state in 2015. That spending resulted in 19,984 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $1.67 billion.  “The national parks of North Carolina attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Stan Austin, Southeast Regional Director. Some of the parks visitation numbers for NC Parks are:  Blue Ridge Parkway: 8,742,112 non-local visitor; Cape Hatteras National Seashore: 2,132,600 non-local visitors; Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 4,445,562 non-local visitors; and Wright Brothers National Memorial: 367,235 non-local visitors. According to the 2015 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (31.1 percent) followed by food and beverages (20.2 percent), gas and oil (11.8 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (9.8 percent). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. 

First Graduation of NC Military Academy

A graduation ceremony for the 1st Class of Cadets enrolled at the Tarheel Challenge Youth Academy at New London, NC, last week. The Tarheel Challenge Academy is a disciplined, military style educational program for male and female youth, ages 16–18, that have dropped out of school or are having difficulty being successful in a current school environment.  The program is sponsored by the North Carolina National Guard.  After these students graduate the 22 week resident program, they will begin a one year post residential mentoring program.  A majority of the graduates also completed a General Equivalency Degree, while enrolled in the resident program. 

Parkway Section Near Linville Closed Temporarily

A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 316.5 to Milepost 317.5 will close Monday, April 18, 2016, for approximately six weeks in order to make repairs to the historic Linville River Bridge. Access to Linville River Picnic Area and the Linville Falls visitor center, camping, and hiking activities will be available from the north at NC181 near Pineola.  Detours signs will be in place to direct travelers around this area. During this project, both lanes in this section of the Parkway will be closed to all activity (cars, bicycles, and hikers) to ensure the safety of Parkway visitors and staff. This work requires equipment and workers to remain in the travel lanes during these activities. 

You Must Dial with Area Code Starting Tomorrow

Starting this Saturday, April 23, 2016, all local calls made within the North Carolina 336 area code must use the 10 digit telephone number (area code plus the 7-digit local telephone number), whether home phone cell phone. To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the North Carolina Utilities Commission ordered a 743 Area Code Overlay for the area with the 336 area code. This means that two area codes, 743 and 336, will now be used in our area.  Starting April 23, 2016, all local calls must be placed using 10‑digit telephone numbers (336 or 743 plus the 7-digit local telephone number). Beginning May 23, 2016, customers in the 336 area code region requesting new service, adding an additional line, or moving their service, may be assigned a number with the new 743 area code. The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 743 area code overlay are:  Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change; You will need to dial 10 digits (area code + 7-digit local telephone number) for all local calls; For billing purposes, what is now a local call will remain a local call; You will continue to dial 1+ area code + 7-digit local telephone number for all long distance calls; The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay; and You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.

Fake 20's Passed in Wilkesboro

Wilkesboro Police are investigating some funny money being passed at the Chic Fil A.  Restaurant management had video surveillance of the 3 white males that arrived in a brown Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Each of the three purchased some food and paid for the purchase with a fake 20-dollar-bill.  Police have a description of the three suspects and their vehicle.  Charges of counterfeiting are pending further investigation.

Break-Ins and Thefts

Two were in Millers Creek and one in Ronda.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office continues to have a list of break-ins and thefts to investigate each week.  Recently the Sheriff's Dept was called concerning two thefts in Millers Creek.  One victim reported that a racing bike was stolen from their residence.  The stolen racing bike was valued at $1500.  Then another Millers Creek victim reported the theft of some prescription medication.  The medicine was stolen from the victim's truck which was parked in their driveway.  The third report is from Ronda; however, this victim also reported the theft of prescription drugs.  The pills were taken from their house.  No suspects were listed with either report.