County Commissioners Meeting Today

The Wilkes County Commissioners will hold a regular monthly meeting today beginning at 6:45pm with a time of public concerns.  The meeting will begin at 7pm.  Items on the agenda for Tuesday's Commissioners' meeting include a report from our representative in Raleigh Jeffrey Elmore, a Wilkes Community College Health Sciences Building Update, the Annual Report for Wilkes County Community Child Protection Team from the DSS, action on the Gardner Glass Economic Development Agreement, and a county financial report.  The meeting this evening is in the Commissioners' Room of the County Office Building.

Two Successful Fundraisers: The Home & WCC

It was a successful weekend for fundraisers.  On Saturday, Ebenezer Christian Childrens Home hosted a sold-out concert with Michael Combs and Fortify at the Stone Center. Former resident Andrea Byrd was also there to give her testimony and sing.  Director Jean Davis said over 3500 dollars was raised for the Home which is celebrating 20 years in 2014.  Check their website for upcoming events including Michael English and the Nelons at the Walker Center on July 25. (www.ebenezerfamily.org) Then, Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation hosted a Sweetheart Dinner and Dance on Saturday in the Lakey Ballroom at the Walker Center. WCC culinary students, under the direction of chefs Kimrey Jordan and Chuck Wallace, prepared a world-class, four-course meal for attendees. Proceeds from the event netted approximately $13,000 for the Health Sciences Center Capital Campaign. For more information on donating to the WCC Endowment Corporation or the Health Sciences Center Capital Campaign, contact the Wilkes Community College Development Office at 336-838-6491. 

NC Storm Re-cap

As winter weather has moved out of the state, temperatures are rising and road conditions are improving, but the storm last week was costly.  “Unfortunately, the final hours of this storm turned out to be the most deadly,” Governor Pat McCrory said.  Five people died during the latest snow storm that hit the state last week.  Two people died after from a hit-and-run driver on Interstate 40 in Wake County.  Also, two people in Burke County died after suffering heart attacks while shoveling snow.  The fifth person to die hit a phone pole after driving on black ice in Charlotte Friday morning.  Highway Patrol troopers responded to more than 1,800 calls for service across the state at the height of the storm. Last week’s call total exceeded 10,500. National Guard soldiers, Wildlife officers, Alcohol Law Enforcement agents and DOT also assisted hundreds of motorists.  In the storm's aftermath, the utility companies reported about 47,800 power outages statewide, mostly in eastern counties.  The NCDOT reminds motorists you can always get information on road conditions by calling 511, visiting the NCDOT website and following the NCDOT on Twitter. Also, you can find current weather and road conditions on the free ReadyNC mobile app. Traffic conditions can be found on  www.ncdot.gov.

USDA Recognizes NC for Meeting Deadline

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services received a letter late Friday afternoon from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Southeastern Regional Office confirming that North Carolina has satisfied the USDA's requirements for the February 10 deadline for resolving FNS (food stamp) applications and recertifications.  In the letter, the USDA acknowledges the significant progress the state has made toward reducing the remaining outstanding cases.  "We are pleased by the federal government's response to the outstanding work performed by state and county social services staff to address this issue," said DHHS Deputy Secretary Sherry Bradsher.  To meet the federal government's February 10 deadline, the state was required to make significant progress towards resolution of applications and recertifications pending over 90 days and any expedited applications older than 7 days. 

Sen Richard Burr Explains His Plan

Recently, the Raleigh News & Observer ran an editorial attacking the Patient CARE Act, a Senator Richard Burr proposal to repeal Obamacare and replace it with patient-centered reforms. On his website Burr said:  "Throughout the editorial, they mischaracterized the proposal, and mislead their readers about the plan and its contents." In an attempt to set the record straight, Sen Burr explains his plan on his website.  He said,  "When the health care debate began, I warned that the President's health care bill was the wrong direction for our nation and North Carolina. I offered an alternative then-The Patients' Choice Act-along with Senator Tom Coburn because health care was broken before Obamacare. Unfortunately, as a result of its implementation, things are worse today than they were before. Going back to the way our health care system looked before is not an option, but neither is continuing on the current course of increased costs, government mandates, and broken promises." Sen Burr said, "...the Patient CARE Act,...is based on principles that will lower costs and expand access to quality coverage and care by empowering Americans to make their own health care decisions, rather than empowering government to make decisions for them."  The details of the Patient CARE Act can be found at www.burr.senate.gov

Flu Case Still in NC and in Wilkes

The flu is still showing up in Wilkes.  According to the CDC, widespread influenza activity is being reported by 24 states including North Carolina with cases of flu also still being reported here in Wilkes County.   The CDC says, Flu activity is likely to continue for several more weeks. Anyone aged 6 months and older who has not gotten a flu vaccine yet this season should get one now. Flu vaccine is widely available and protects against the strains of flu circulating this year, including H1N1. Flu vaccine is available in nasal spray and shot form. Contact your physician, pharmacy or the Wilkes County Health Department to schedule a flu shot. To schedule an appointment, please call the Health Department at 651-7450 to schedule an appointment. The cost is only $25.00 and we accept Medicare (red, white and blue card), Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield. In addition to vaccination, DHHS encourages everyone to use personal precautions to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bend of your arm, Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and Stay home when you are sick.   For more information on flu and to find out where you can get a flu vaccination in your community, visit www.flu.nc.gov.

Money Making Scheme

It was a money making scheme until she got caught.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Walmart regarding a white female suspect.  Store employees explained to Police that the woman they had detained in the store today had been banned due to previous incidents.  Also the woman was making fraudulent transactions.  She would bring in old store receipts into the store, find those items on the receipt in the store, and then take them to customer service to return them for cash.  The woman's activities had been captured on in-store surveillance.  The woman identified as Monique Burton of Lenoir was arrested and charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretense and 3 counts of trespassing.  Her bond was set at 3500 dollars.  Her daughter, who was with her and who had also been banned from all Walmart stores, was arrested on two counts of trespassing.  Her bond was set at 1000 dollars.

She Left and a Thief Came By

She left home to go to a neighbors house and left her door unlocked.  Wilkesboro Police were called out to Cub Creek Apartments regarding a theft.  Upon arrival, Police spoke with the victim who stated that she had gone next door and left her door unlocked.  About 30 minutes later, she and her neighbor heard noises and returned to the victim's apartment.  It was at that time that she noticed the back door open.  Also 20 dollars in cash that had been on a kitchen table was gone.  Nothing else was reported stolen from the apartment.  There is no word on suspects.  Police did advise the woman to keep her doors locked.

Big Week For Taxes

The IRS reminded taxpayers the Presidents Day holiday period typically marks one of the busiest weeks of the tax filing season for its phone lines. There are other alternatives to help taxpayers find answers to commonly asked tax questions.  The Internal Revenue Service has several easy-to-use, online tools on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund, request a copy of their tax transcript or get an answer to their tax questions around the clock. Due to limited resources, the IRS has changed the services provided at the toll-free telephone number and IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers. To save time and find answers faster, taxpayers should make www.IRS.gov their first stop.  More than 90 percent of refunds are issued in less than 21 days. IRS representatives will not provide individual refund information before then. Taxpayers can easily find information about their refund by using the Where’s My Refund? tool. It’s available on IRS.gov and on the Smartphone app, IRS2Go. 

NC Health Advisories

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health is issuing two health advisories related to the recent coal ash spill in the Dan River in Eden.  The advisories address concerns associated with human exposure and consumption of fish and shellfish.  
 Because the Duke Power-Eden coal ash spill is located in North Carolina's portion of the Dan River, a potential hazard exists immediately downstream of the release. Therefore, the DHHS Division of Public Health recommends that people avoid recreational contact with water and sediment in the Dan River in North Carolina downstream of the Duke Power-Eden spill site. Also, the DHHS recommends that people not consume any fish or shellfish collected from the Dan River in North Carolina downstream of the Duke Power-Eden spill site. The Dept is working with other agencies to collect fish downstream of the spill and will evaluate the data from fish samples as it becomes available to identify when health risks associated with eating the fish are no longer a concern.