Local Businessman Arrested

There are over a half dozen victims and counting including area residents and one fire department.  Wilkesboro Police and the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department are investigating several charges against Thomas Barnette of Brushy Mountain Garage Doors.  Several Wilkes residents reported to Wilkesboro Police that they paid for garage doors and services and only received part of what they ordered or in some cased received nothing at all except excuses.  Traphill Fire Department contacted the Sheriff’s Department concerning doors that they had ordered from Brushy Mountain Garage Doors that were never delivered and the Department was never reimbursed.  Orders and payments for garage doors ranged from 450 to 6855 dollars.  In all over 14,000 dollars in garage doors have not been delivered and installed to customers.  When the customers called they were given excuses but doors or reimbursements never came.  Only in one case when someone contacted a lawyer did they receive a partial reimbursement of a payment.  Over the weekend Wilkesboro Police found Thomas Barnette at his brother’s house.  He was arrested and charged with 7 counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense.  Bond was set at 10,000 dollars.  Wilkesboro Police are continuing to receive calls from Wilkes residence concerning payment for doors that were never installed, so additional charges are pending.

Catching Thieves and/or Employees

The surveillance videos not only catch customers shoplifting, but they also catch employees stealing.  In a report filed with the Wilkesboro Police, Walmart Loss Prevention called concerning theft by an employee.  When Police arrived at the store, they met with Deanna Bauguess of Wilkesboro who was being detained by store officials.  Bauguess was observed on video surveillance taking money from her cash drawer on 4 different occasions.  Bauguess admitted to the theft in a written statement.  Reportedly, 700 dollars in cash was stolen from the store.  Bauguess was arrested for felony larceny and taken to jail with a 2500 dollar bond.  

Asleep at the Wheel

One was injured after falling asleep at the wheel over the weekend in Wilkesboro.  Police were called to a one vehicle accident on Industrial Park Road.  The driver of a ’95 Pontiac, Bridgette Holmes, told police that she went to sleep driving west on Industrial Park Road.  Her car went left of center, hit a guardrail, spun around, went off the left side of the road, and traveled down an embankment.  Holmes was injured and transported to WRMC by Wilkes EMS.  Her car sustained 5000 dollars in damages, and she was charged with failure to maintain lane control.

Fighting, Damaging, Running, & Arresting

What started out as a domestic dispute ended with a house been severely damaged and one man being arrested on multiple counts.  The Sheriff’s Department was called to a Dollar Street, Millers Creek residence Saturday night.  The woman there said that her boyfriend had been drinking, they got into an argument, she tried to leave the house, and he grabbed her.  She escaped out the door and called 911.  Deputies arrived and told the woman how to take out a warrant for assault.  After Deputies left, they received another call from a neighbor saying someone was back at the house where the alleged assault had taken place.  Deputies contacted the woman who was out the Magistrate’s Office securing a warrant.  Deputies returned to the scene, saw the boyfriend, and, after a short footchase, arrested the man identified as Kenneth Moore.  The property owner and deputies checked out the house that had windows broken out, holes in the walls, and other damages.  Moore was charged with breaking and entering, damage to property, resisting arrest, and other open warrants.

NC FEMA Housing Ends Soon

When Hurricane Irene struck North Carolina six months ago, thousands of families were left homeless.  FEMA placed 5,452 families in vacant rental properties, which proved the most immediate, cost-effective solution.  For 194 families, the only real solution was a FEMA mobile home.  Initially, the FEMA trailers were not a viable option for the low-lying areas of eastern North Carolina due to the potential for future flooding.  So, Counties, State and FEMA Officials compromised.   FEMA installed the temporary housing units and occupants agreed to move out by April so that FEMA could pick up and move the units before hurricane season begins on June 1.  Nearly two dozen families have rebuilt or found other homes. Soon, the remaining individuals and families currently in the units will receive letters reminding them that they have two months left in the FEMA homes.

Coffee in DC with NC Senator

As the new session of Congress begins, U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) invites all North Carolinians visiting or living in Washington, D.C. to attend “Carolina Coffee” – held in Hagan’s D.C. office every Wednesday when the Senate is in session.  “I try to be in North Carolina as much as my official Senate duties will allow, but these coffees give me a chance to meet one-on-one with North Carolinians even when the Senate is in session,” said Hagan.  The coffees are held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Wednesday.  In addition to “Carolina Coffees” on Wednesdays, Hagan offers North Carolinians an opportunity to schedule staff-led tours of her Washington office, tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, White House, U.S. Library of Congress, Supreme Court,  and Pentagon.  Just go to her website www.hagan.senate.gov

Man Burned in Hays House Fire

A Hays resident was burned fighting a house fire over the weekend.  According to Assistant Fire Marshal Nikki Hamby, Traphill Fire Department was called out to a home on Wiles Ridge Road at 1:30 Saturday morning.  The modular home was heated with a wood stove and it was determined the fire started around the wood stove.  The homeowner Roby Wiles, Jr., his wife and daughter were in the house but were able to get out.  However, Wiles tried to fight the fire himself and received burns to 30 percent of his body.  He was taken to Baptist Hospital.  The house was totally destroyed, and the Red Cross is assisting the family with clothes and shelter.

One Man Charged in Shooting & One Man Not Charged

One man has been charged in a shooting and another man will not be charged in another shooting.  Brandon McGrady, the 26-year-old son of Charles McGrady, has become the second man to be charged with murder in the shooting death of Jimmy Shore, Jr. back in December.  Charles McGrady had already been charged in that shooting.  The younger McGrady was arrested and charged Friday afternoon after investigators obtained additional information and discussed the case with District Attorney Tom Horner.  The McGradys were relatives of the deceased Shore and there was a history of fighting between them.  The shooting happened at the home of Shore on Wiles Ridge Road in Hays on December 20.  Shore died at the scene.   (additional)  Then a Wilkes man who shot intruders back in November will not be charged.  District Attorney Horner determined that Steve Whitley was acting in self defense when he shot two people who broke in to a building he owned on NC Hwy 18 in Mulberry.  The shooting happened on November 5.  David Cynor, age 23 was shot during the break-in and later died at Baptist Hospital.  A second person involved in the break-in, Sara Seagraves age 22, was also shot and taken to Baptist.  She was listed in critical condition initially but has since been released.  Seagraves has also been charged with breaking and entering and first-degree trespassing.  

Another Mobile Meth Lab

One was arrested and other charges are pending following the discovery of yet another mobile meth lab in Wilkes.  Thursday night, Deputy Chris Key received a call of a suspicious person near the mausoleum at Mountlawn Cemetery.  The Officer arrived and found David Yourgevidge and Jonathan Beavers inside a ’96 pickup owned by Beavers.  While talking with the two men, Deputy Key noticed meth lab components inside the truck.  Other officers arrived as backup and to secure the volatile meth lab. Yourgevidge admitted to making meth and was arrested and charged with manufacture of meth.  Other charges are pending further investigation.

Damaged to Bank Owned House

Who owns the property and who is causing the damages?  The Wilkes Sheriff’s Department was called last week to secure a house.  According to the report, the house had gone into foreclosure and was owned by M & T Bank.  However, someone had been staying at the house with some dogs.  When deputies entered the house, they found the residence seriously damaged.  There were holes in the walls and most of the copper wiring had been cut out and removed.  Deputies found luggage with a name of a person they contacted and that person said the property belonged to them.  However, the bank said it was theirs and no one was to be in the house.  Deputies removed 3 dogs from inside and outside the house and secured the property.  Animal Control was called to take the dogs.  After the Deputies left, they received a call from someone who said that the suspect had returned to the property.  Deputies also returned and found further damages to the house, but the suspect was gone.  Charges are pending.