NC Business Optimism Up

The National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.8 points in April to a post-recession high of 95.2. The economy continues to perform modestly and April’s index followed suit as it crossed the 95 marker for the first time since 2007. Seven Index components improved, one was unchanged and two fell. State-specific data isn’t available, but Gregg Thompson, state director of NFIB/North Carolina, said small-business owners across the state remain frustrated by the slow pace of recovery. “Our members are feeling more upbeat than they were this time a year ago, but we're still not where we want to be or where we ought be,” he said. NFIB is North Carolina's leading small-business association with over 8,000 dues-paying members representing a cross section of the state's economy.

A Couple of Scam Cases in Wilkes

In a couple of check involved scams, one Wilkes resident became a victim and one Wilkes resident called the Sheriff's Office.  In the first report, a Boomer woman answered an ad in the paper and communicated with someone in another country via email.  The woman was sent a check and instructed to cash the check but send part of the money back.  The woman feared this was a scam, so she notified the Wilkes Sheriff's Office and the newspaper.  She did not cash the check but turned it over to Sheriff's Investigators.  In the second incident, a Wilkes resident stated that they received a call one afternoon in which the caller explained that the Wilkes man had won a lottery prize.  In order to claim the prize, the man was told to send a 10,000 dollar check to an address in Arizona.  The check was sent, received, and cashed before the man realized it was a scam.  According to www.fraud.org, fake check scams are clever ploys designed to steal your money. You can avoid becoming a victim by recognizing how the scam works and understanding your responsibility for the checks that you deposit in your account. If someone you don’t know wants to pay you by check but wants you to wire some of the money back, beware! It’s a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars. There are many variations of the fake check scam. It could start with someone offering to buy something you advertised, pay you to do work at home, give you an “advance” on a sweepstakes you’ve supposedly won, or pay the first installment on the millions that you’ll receive for agreeing to have money in a foreign country transferred to your bank account for safekeeping. Whatever the pitch, the person may sound quite believable.  In either case, if you are sent a check to cash and send back money or if you are asked to sent a check or wire money to receive a prize....DO NOT SENT MONEY.  It's a scam.

Wilkes Community Graduation: A Change in Plans

It's a change in venue for graduates. Wilkes Community College’s 48^th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be on Thursday, May 15, in the John A. Walker Community Center. College officials implemented the rain plan due to the forecast of imminent heavy rains on Thursday. Two ceremonies will be held, and tickets will be required for admission. Graduates have received their allotments of admission tickets. Members of the public may view the graduation ceremonies through a live stream. Access the live stream from www.wilkescc.edu/Graduation. The Health Sciences Division and Industrial and Workforce Development Divisions graduates will participate in the 4 p.m. ceremony. The Arts and Sciences Division and the Business and Public Service Technologies Division graduates will participate in the 7 p.m. ceremony.

Stuffing and Stealing Hundreds

They were able to stuff hundreds of dollars in stolen items into their pocketbooks.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Kohls regarding a couple of shoplifters.  The two white females were observed by store staff.  The women would select clothing, go into the fitting room, and stuff the clothes in their pocketbook.  The women were stopped when they attempted to leave without paying.  One woman admitted to stealing and stuffing a total of 335 dollars in clothes and the other woman admitted to stealing and stuffing over 900 dollars in clothes.  The 1200 dollars in stolen property was recovered and returned to the store; the women were charged with larceny.

Drag Stolen Property Into Woods

Looks like they dragged all of it into the woods.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating a theft from a property on JA Russell Drive.  The victim reported that a pull behind disc, a 4-foot drag,  a 2-foot auger bit, and scaffolding braces were stolen.  The equipment and other property was stored behind the owner's house.  It appeared that someone had drug the property from the back of the house, through the woods nearby, and down an old logging road.  There is no word on suspects; the stolen property was valued at 1000 dollars.

WCC Clubs Collects Shoes

Wilkes Community College’s ENACTUS Club selected Project Sole as its spring service project. The club collected 331 pairs of athletic shoes to help needy individuals living in poverty situations throughout the United States and Third World countries. ENACTUS is a global non-profit and community of students who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives. WCC’s ENACTUS chapter has a regional representative who recommended the Project Sole Project to the club. In addition to the boxes placed on WCC’s Wilkes and Ashe campuses and at the Alleghany Center, the YMCA of Wilkes County allowed collection boxes to be placed at its family center and the Express Y. The New Life Center in Millers Creek, Lowe’s Hardware and Wilkesboro’s Qdoba also had collection boxes.

NC Political Leader Dies

The second highest vote getter in the recent Democratic primary for North Carolina’s Second Congressional District seat, Keith Crisco, died Monday, according to his company, Asheboro Elastics Corporation.  The 71-year-old textile entrepreneur and former state commerce secretary reportedly died at his home after a fall. Following news of the sudden death of former Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce Keith Crisco, Governor Pat McCrory released the following statement: “My heart sank, like so many other people who admired Keith Crisco, when I learned of his sudden passing,” said Governor McCrory. “While I was a mayor, and now as governor, Keith was a partner, collaborator and strong advocate for the state he loved." Crisco was a resident of Asheboro for the past 35 years. Crisco served as North Carolina Department of Commerce secretary from 2009 to 2012 under Governor Beverly Perdue.  

NC Gov Praises Debt Reduction

At a news conference at a Raleigh NCWorks office Monday, Governor Pat McCrory praised the drastic reduction of North Carolina’s unemployment insurance debt to the federal government, which dropped  by approximately $1.5 billion since January 2013, when the obligation stood at $2.6 billion. The governor also praised the success of NCWorks in matching employers and with jobseekers, but said more reforms are needed to modernize the state’s workforce development efforts.  Governor McCrory said, "I am encouraged by the incredible progress DES and NCWorks have made in a short period of time and I look forward to working with the General Assembly for more reforms that will keep up the positive momentum we’ve built.” The governor said he would like to see the General Assembly modernize workforce development laws to account for the impact of online job searches. He wants a photo ID to be required for the collection of benefits and statutory changes that would protect the confidentiality of claimants during the appeals process, while at the same time preserving North Carolina’s federal eligibility.  

Only Taking the Cash

Over a thousand dollars in change was reported stolen from a location on Boone Trail.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called last week regarding a theft from an outbuilding.  The victim told Sheriff's Investigators that about 1500 dollars in change including quarters and dimes was stolen.  Also a red toolbox and some tools were taken.  The items were in a storage building that was only tied shut.  There is a suspect in this theft and charges are pending.

At a Wilkesboro residence, again only money was reported stolen.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called to a house on Country Square Drive regarding a break-in and theft.  There were no signs of forced entry; however, 480 dollars in cash was taken from a bedroom.  Nothing else was reported stolen; there are no suspects in this theft.

Already Banned

The charges included larceny and trespassing as one was already banned from the store.  Wilkesboro Police were called out to Walmart regarding two shoplifters being detained at the store.  Store staff observed two white females take food, a drink, and makeup from the store.  The two were stopped in the parking lot and asked to step back inside the store to wait for Police.  One of the two had already been banned from the store for a previous incident.  Citations were given for trespassing and larceny and both were given a court date before being released.