Tried to Drive Off with One Then Another

Two vehicles parked at a local business were damaged when someone tried to steal them.  Wilkesboro Police are investigating damages to two cars at Perry's Service Center.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Perry's and spoke with the owner who showed them a car where the steering column had been damage in attempt to steal the vehicle.  Police asked Mr. Perry to check other vehicles in the parking lot.  A second vehicle, a pickup, was found with the same damages to the steering column.  Surveillance video showed a tall thin male subject around both of the vehicles that were damaged.  There is no word on the identity of the suspect.  Damages to car were listed at 400 dollars and to the truck 200 dollars.  Wilkesboro Police are still investigating.

Virus D68 Comes to NC

That virus D68 that has affected so many across the country and sent so many children to the hospital has now come to our state. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the presence of enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, in six patients from North Carolina.  The specimens that tested positive for EV-D68 were obtained from children ages 10 and under with respiratory illnesses. Specific information about the children, including county of residence or hospital location, is not being released in order to protect patient confidentiality.  Allison Marron with Wilkes Health Dept says this is not a new virus.  AIR  Enteroviruses are common viruses that can cause a range of symptoms, include runny nose, coughing, mouth sores, fever and body aches. Some patients will also develop wheezing and difficulty breathing. Enteroviruses are transmitted through close contact with an infected person, or by touching objects or surfaces that are contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes. Health officials are recommending that people wash hands vigorously and often with soap and water for 20 seconds,  and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. If you or your child experience cold-like symptoms and difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider right away.

Funny Money in Deposit

It was passed sometime over the weekend.  Wilkesboro Police received a call from Great State Bank this week regarding the discovery of a counterfeit 20-dollar bill in a deposit.  An employee at the bank told Police that the fake cash was found in a deposit from Taco Bell.  The manager of the restaurant said that no deposits were made on weekends and it was impossible to determine when the funny money was brought in or who passed it.  The counterfeit money was seized as evidence.  

Caught for One and Charged with Three

Caught for shoplifting and arrested on multiple charges.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Kohls concerning a shoplifter they had detained.  Store staff watched the man select an item from the shelf, remove it from the packaging while walking around the store, then replace the empty package on the shelf, and leave the store.  The man was stopped in the parking lot but not before he tossed something inside the open window of his car.  When Police arrived, they found no stolen merchandise on the man, but they did find the stolen mobile portable charger in his car.  The man was arrested for larceny and also two open warrants of obtaining property by false pretense and breaking and entering.

Harvest Time: 16 Years and Counting

Sixteen years and counting.  The educational challenge of the 21st Century has motivated Harvest Time Christian Academy to uphold their standard of excellence that has earned them Model Status again this year, which is 16 years in a row.  Using the individualized Bible-based curriculum of Accelerated Christian Education, Harvest Time focuses on Christian character training and outstanding academic accomplishments while demonstrating computer enhanced education.  This past year, the average student's grade in all subjects was over 96 percent.  Harvest Time believes that their school's achievement is attributed in part to community commitment.  Harvest Time is located in the former Woodward Middle School building.

NC Youth Tobacco Survey Good and Bad

According to the Wilkes Health Department, the 2013 N.C. Youth Tobacco Survey, released this week, delivers both good and bad news to those working to prevent tobacco use among North Carolina students. Results show the lowest teen cigarette smoking rates ever recorded, along with a significant increase in teen use of certain non-cigarette tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and hookahs (water pipes). Cigarette smoking among North Carolina middle school students dropped 40 percent from 2011 to 2013, falling from 4.2 percent to 2.5 percent. Among high school students, the drop was 13 percent, from 15.5 percent to 13.5 percent. However, current use of electronic cigarettes among North Carolina high school students jumped by 352 percent from 1.7 percent in 2011 to 7.7 percent in 2013. Ten percent of high school students said they are considering using electronic cigarettes in the next year and 10.6 percent of high school students are considering hookah use in the next year.  “We celebrate the decline in cigarette smoking; however this trend toward other tobacco use and dual use of tobacco products is a real cause for concern,” said Dr. Ruth Petersen, chief of the Chronic Disease and Injury Section in the N.C Division of Public Health. “Nicotine in these tobacco products is highly addictive, and there is evidence that using nicotine during adolescence may harm brain development."

NC Prisoners Growing and Donating Food to Hungry

North Carolina prisoners are growing their own food and donating to help feed the hungry. Correction Enterprises, the prison industry and inmate job training section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, is donating 4,500 cases of canned squash to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.   The squash was grown and canned by inmates working at the Caledonia Prison Farm in Halifax County.  The Food Bank received the first shipment of two truckloads last week and a second shipment this week.  The entire donation of 4,500 cases will fill five tractor-trailers.  “The staff and inmates who work on the farm are pleased to be able to make this contribution of our extra vegetables this season,” said Correction Enterprises director Karen Brown.  Governor McCrory has proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month in North Carolina.  

From Fuel Tanks to Refrigerator...They Took It All

Over 9000 dollars in property was stolen from a McGrady property owner.  The victim called the Wilkes Sheriff's Department to report a break-in of a house and an outbuilding he owns on Vannoy Road.  The thieves cut an I-bolt and chain to get inside the storage building and also forcibly entered the house.  A whole list of property from both was stolen including a fuel tank, drill press, air compressor, table sander, other hand and power tools, several electric motors, aluminum, a double-barrel shotgun, a wood stove, an LP heater, a microwave, and refrigerator. Again, stolen property totaled over 9000 dollars. The property owner does not live at this location all the time.  The last time the property was secure was September 1, so the break-in and theft happened sometime between September 1 and September 18th.  There is no word on suspects.  

He Heard But Didn't Get to See Thieves

They got over 4800 dollars in property and would have gotten more if the owner hadn't scared off the thieves.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office was called last week regarding a theft.  The victim reported that he was at home and went outside to walk his dog.  While he was outside, he heard voices and noises from his storage building.  When he got to the building, he saw that several items were missing and several others were laid out as if someone was getting ready to load them up.  Stolen property included an Echo, a Poulan, a Husqvarna, and a Skil chainsaw; a weed-eater, a jumpbox, and other tools.  The victim didn't see anyone, but there were footprints and tire tracks left at the scene.  The Wilkes Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft.

Allegedly Took Nearly $20,000 from Employer

It is believed he stole nearly 20,000 dollars from his employer.  Wilkesboro Police were called last week concerning a theft by employee from Holly Mountain Enterprises.  The Vice President of the company had information concerning someone who was in charge of collecting money bags from area stores owned by Holly Mtn.  That employee was too have deposited the money from those bags immediately.  It was suggested that he did not make same day deposits and had kept back some money.  The company also had evidence that company rebate checks were stolen by this employee.  Police were asked to be on hand at the company office when the employee was called in.  The man was accused of taking 19,949 dollars from Holly Mtn Enterprises. When the employee came to the office, his employment was terminated.  However, no arrest was made as the investigation of theft and fraud is still under investigation.