New NC Laws

Last week, Governor Pat McCrory signed 10 bills into law, including:  H.B. 566 - A bill to amend the Eyewitness Identification Reform Act. The bill clarifies that law enforcement officers may be eyewitnesses.  H.B. 800 - A bill to make omnibus technical and clarifying changes to North Carolina's Motor Vehicle Dealers and Manufacturers Licensing Law. And, S.B. 273 - A bill to authorize counties to reduce or waive interest or penalties on delinquent motor vehicle taxes for tax years prior to July 1, 2013.

Thousands Stolen from Unoccupied House

Over $5000 in property was stolen from an unoccupied property in North Wilkesboro.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called concerning a theft from a house on Mulberry Pine Street, North Wilkesboro.  The property is currently being managed by PennyMac Loan Services LLC.  According to the report, an offender or multiple offenders entered the residence without using force and removed several things including:  a KEY LOCK BOX, a HOT WATER HEATER, a CENTRAL AIR UNIT, and an INDOOR FURNACE.  Stolen property was valued at $5660.  The theft occurred sometime between August 5 and August 15.  That investigation is still underway.

Two of Same Stolen from Same Place

Yes, we have already established that at least here in Wilkes, thieves will strike the same place more than once.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called to a Moravian Falls residence concerning a couple of thefts.  The victim stated that over the past two weeks she has had two riding lawn mowers stolen from her front yard.  No suspects were listed with the report; the investigation is still underway.

Stolen Credit Card Used

He lost it.  Someone else found it and used it, and there is a suspect.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating some credit card fraud.  A North Wilkesboro called and reported that he had lost his credit card sometime back in April.  He did not report it at that time but rather just forgot about it, because he does not use it and thought maybe his wife had it.  Recently, the victim received his credit card bill and saw the lost or stolen card had been used 15 different times, totaling in charges about $500. The victim made some phone calls and found out that a power bill was paid in a suspect's name.  Sheriff's Officials are still investigating and charges are pending.

Income Tax Fraud Victim in Wilkes

Since January, the Wilkes Sheriff's Office has received several reports of ID Theft and Tax Fraud regarding tax returns being filed with someone's stolen information.  This type of theft and fraud has been occurring for several years.  Just last week, a Wilkes resident received information from the IRS that someone had filed a tax return using her personal information in December 2011.  The IRS and Federal Trade Commission are the ones to investigate tax fraud reports; however, the victim must also file a report with local law enforcement.  There have been so many cases over the past few years of income tax return fraud, that the IRS has a backlog of investigations that they are still working on.  No suspects were listed with this latest report from Wilkes.  To find out more about Tax Return Fraud, how to protect yourself or what to do if you are a victim, visit the official IRS website:  www.irs.gov

Let's Us Pray for Wilkes

It's that time again and they are asking churches to help.  The 6th Annual Wilkes County - PASS or Prayer Around the School System is scheduled for Saturday, August 22^nd or Sunday, August 23^rd  .  If your church would like to participate and pray for our administration, staff, and students of  Wilkes County Schools, then please call 835-7133 to schedule a day, time and school.  The goal for the Wilkes County PASS is to have at least one church at each school for this special time of prayer. The schools that currently do NOT have any church sign up to pray are:  Boomer Ferguson, Millers Creek, Mt. Pleasant, North Wilkesboro, Ronda/Clingman, Roaring River, Traphill, and Wilkesboro elementary schools.  Churches are also needed for East Wilkes Middle, Central Wilkes Middle, East High, West High, and Wilkes Early College. Date and time may be set by church leading the prayer service at each school site. For more information or to sign up, call Amy Samples at 835-7133.  Again, Prayer services will be held at each elementary, middle, and high school on August 22 and/or August 23.  

Wilkes Residents Are Asked to Take the Survey

Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Wilkes County Health Department, and the Health Foundation have been working closely with community members to craft the Community Health Needs Assessment for Wilkes County. They are inviting you to help by taking part in the community health opinion survey.  There is a link to the Community Needs Health Assessment survey. WRMC, Wilkes Health, and the Health Foundation are asking any Wilkes County resident over the age of 18 to complete the survey. It is anonymous, it cannot be tracked back to you in any way, and will allow you the opportunity to tell them what YOU believe is important in Wilkes County concerning Community Health Needs. Your input, along with others in the community, will be combined and presented at a community meeting next Spring.  Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015WilkesCommunityHealthSurvey

Another Reminder to Parents of New Immunization Requirements

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding parents of North Carolina middle school students to be aware of recent changes to immunization requirements, effective July 1. Children not up-to-date on these vaccinations will have 30 days from the start of school to be inoculated before facing suspension.  The updated requirements are:  Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV) - (protects against meningitis) and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (whooping cough) Vaccine (Tdap). "Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death," said Megan Davies, M.D., Acting State Health Director and Chief of DHHS' Division of Public Health's Epidemiology Section.  Parents with questions about their children's vaccinations can contact the Wilkes Health Dept at 651-7450.  WCHD offers vaccinations for infants and children through age 18.

Baptist Medical Joins a Group of 60

Wake Forest BaptistMedical Center joined an elite group of nearly 60 academic medical institutions across the country this month in a collaborative mission to fast-track research discoveries that bring better preventative and treatment solutions. As a new member of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium, Wake Forest Baptist received a $15.6 million grant that will be used, in efforts with other collaborative members, to impact patient care, generate best practices and help transform health care choices and providers. “Being part of this prestigious program is a game-changer in many ways for our Medical Center,” said John D. McConnell, M.D., CEO, Wake Forest Baptist. 

Yet Another Scam and Victim in Wilkes

It seems scams are more prevalent than ever, so you are advised to always be sure with whom you are doing business.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office received a call last week concerning a scam.  The victim advised that she had been looking for a house to rent and she came across an ad on gowilkes that advertised a house on Byrd Ridge Rd for rent. She contacted the number  and spoke with an individual who told her to $600 into an account at Wells Fargo. The victim went to the Wells Fargo in North Wilkesboro and deposited the $600.  The victim was then asked to deposit $350 more, but she did not.  She did, however, discovered that Applefield Reality was in charge of the Byrd Ridge Rd and contacted them. The victim was told to contact the Sheriff's Office, because she was a victim of a scam. That investigation is underway; there is no word on suspects.