Buy Some...Steal Some

A 52-year-old North Wilkesboro woman was cited for shoplifting in Wilkesboro this week.  Store personnel watched the woman while she was shopping at Walmart.  The woman put some items in a shopping cart and other items in her pocketbook.  Store staff watched as the woman went to a cash register and paid for the items in the buggy but not the things she put in her pocketbook.  She was stopped in the parking lot and asked to return to the store until Police arrived.  She was cooperative with store management and with Police.  The woman did not have any previous charges, so she only received a citation this time for shoplifting and was released.  The stolen property valued at 79 dollars was recovered and returned to the store.

Helper Becomes Victim

There is an old saying about "no good deed goes unpunished."  Such was the case it seems for a Taylorsville man.  He took someone to the Wilkes Social Services Office so she could apply for the energy assistance program.  He said that while they were waiting, the woman went back out to his car alone.  She returned and finished her business at the Social Services Office.  Later, the money noticed that his cell phone and two diamond rings were missing from his car.  Questioning of family members determined that the woman did have the cell phone and rings.  A warrant has been issued for her arrest.  The stolen phone and rings are valued at nearly 3000 dollars.

Local Break-Ins and Thefts

The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating a couple of break-ins and thefts reported earlier this week.  A property owner called concerning a break-in at an apartment they own at Lakeview Drive.  No one is currently living in the apartment.  The property owner was checking on the apartment and found damages to the door and air conditioner.  The sliding door was removed from the tracks and someone had entered the property, but nothing was reported stolen.  The air conditioner had also been tampered with and was damaged.  Then a North Wilkesboro resident called the Sheriff's Office about a theft.  Reportedly, someone entered the victim's home and took some prescription medicine.  Nothing else was reported stolen.  No suspects were listed with either report.

NC Counties Trying to Make Monday Food Stamp Deadline

Counties across North Carolina continue to make headway toward the February 10 goal for eliminating backlogs of FNS (food stamp), with more than 1,100 additional applications processed on Tuesday.  According to DHHS leadership, the challenge this week has been for counties to maintain the momentum gained over the weekend. To assist in that effort, DHHS has deployed more than 290 staff across the state in regional processing centers, in county social services departments and in Raleigh to process claims and provide guidance on the ground as needed. With the February milestone just days away, DHHS staff has been working closely with counties not only to process cases, but to support management in identifying opportunities for improving work flow. As a county-administered system, local social services agencies are responsible for processing applications for FNS as well as Medicaid and other eligibility programs.  With the transition to NC FAST and a paperless system, counties are adjusting business practices to take full advantage of the new capability.  County and state staff will continue their work through the remainder of the week and into the weekend to resolve outstanding cases that remain to meet the USDA requirements for the February 10 deadline.

NC Gov on Read to Achieve

This week, the North Carolina State Board of Education will review school district alternatives to the third grade Read to Achieve assessments. Governor Pat McCrory issued the following statement:  “It’s imperative that EVERY child regardless of their circumstance is reading at grade level by the third grade.  I applaud the new legislation that sets the bar high for our students and teachers and allows local flexibility in its implementation."  The Governor said,  "As I’ve traveled the state and met with teachers, students and superintendents, I’ve consistently heard they need flexibility in implementing the law to ensure we are not over testing."   Governor McCrory is currently working with legislative leaders on education initiatives focused around respect, rewards and results for our students, parents and teachers.

NC Education Forum

And speaking of education....National educational experts and policy leaders will join North Carolina leaders to discuss how teacher quality impacts educational outcomes at the 29th annual Emerging Issues Forum: Teachers and the Great Economic Debate on February 10-11, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Additionally, they will have over 200 education leaders from every county in our state in the audience to bring issues from all corners of the state to this conversation.  Established in 2002, the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) is a public policy organization dedicated to North Carolina’s future competitiveness. For more information on IEI’s work, visit www.emergingissues.org.

Watch Out for Tax Scams

With the 2014 tax season underway, the Internal Revenue Service continues to remind taxpayers of tax-related scams using the IRS name. Tax scams can take many forms, with scammers posing as the IRS in everything from e-mail refund schemes to phone calls. The IRS warns taxpayers to be vigilant of any unexpected communication supposedly from the IRS. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or phone to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. For more information, visit www.IRS.gov.  

One Stabbed and One Arrested in Wilkes

One man has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and one man was hospitalized. According to the Wilkes Sheriff's Office, two men were at a home drinking and playing pool.  A dispute between the two men occurred initially involving some pushing and then one man drew a knife stabbing the other man.  The 48-year-old man who sustained the stab wound was air-lifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Department has arrested Joel Lee Marley, age 43, for assault with a deadly weapon.

Funding Discussion at Commissioners' Meeting

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners met this week for their regular meeting.  They discussed the Economic Development Agreement with Gardner Glass, and action on that agreement is scheduled for the next Commissioners' meeting later this month.  Commissioners also had one dissenting for regarding some budget amendments and transfers.  The County Commissioners committed 700,000 dollars to Wilkes Community College to go toward the renovation project of the building on the Oakwoods property.  The County has already given WCC 200,000 dollars and now the college is requesting the remaining half a million dollars.  Commission Keith Elmore said he knew they had committed to the funding but asked if the 500,000 dollars needed to be paid out now.  Elmore also requested an update from the college on the progress of the renovation project.  When the Commissions voted on transferring the funds, all but one voted for with Commissioner Gary L. Blevins voting against.

Lease Agreement Approved at Commissioners' Meeting

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners met this week to get updates on the construction of the new jail, approve budget amendments and transfers, and approve board appointments for the WTA and High Country Council.  The Commissioners also took action on a lease agreement from ASJ Mathis Farms.  The lease resolution is for the land near the county landfill and requires that ASJ Mathis Farms pay annually 4199 dollars through 2016.  Commissioner Elmore asked if this lease would affect the flying club's lease and was assured that they were compatible with the flying club still having property to safely fly their remote control aircraft.  The lease was approved by all Commissioners.