Attempted Break-In on Church Property

According to the report, someone tried to get in but was unsuccessful.  A member of Rock Creek Church of Christ called the Sheriff’s Department concerning an attempted break-in of an outbuilding belonging to the church.   It seems someone tried to kick and pry open the door of the storage building on church property.  The unknown person did not get inside the building and nothing was reported stolen.  However, the building did sustain 500 dollars in damages.  No suspects were listed with this report.

CIS: January is Mentoring Month

This week we spoke with Jetti of Communities in Schools about January being National Mentoring Month.  Jetti explained that CIS is busy with several programs to help the youth here in Wilkes.  Jetti thanked the 54 volunteers that worked with Wilkes youth last year, but she told 3WC that there is a great need for volunteers and mentors locally.   You can also sign up for the Lunch Buddies program and have lunch with a child once a week.  If you’re interested in being a mentor to a child in Wilkes, there is an upcoming training session next week.  My complete interview about Communities in Schools of Wilkes County can be heard on our website as a 3WC podcast.

NC Sen Hagan Comments on Bipartisanship

Last night the President gave his State of the Union Address and the Democrat Senator for North Carolina Kay Hagan crossed the aisle to sit with Republican Senator John McCain.  We asked Senator what she hoped to accomplish with her bipartisan decision last night.  Hagan said, “I think it’s something everyone should do as a token of support.  It shows that if we can sit together, then we can work together.”  With partisanship at an all time high and the national approval rating of Congress at an all time low, Sen. Hagan said that she hopes the Congressional members from both sides of the aisle don’t wait for the upcoming election to work together.  My complete conversation with Senator Hagan can be heard on our website as a 3WC podcast.

NC Board of Agriculture Meeting Today: Potatoes & Cattle

The N.C. Board of Agriculture are meeting today in the Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds. The meeting is open to the public.  The board will consider requests from the N.C. Potato Association and N.C. Cattlemen’s Association.  If approved by the board, the Potato Association referendum would allow growers to vote this year on whether to continue an assessment of 1 cent per hundredweight of potatoes sold by growers. The assessment would be used for promotions, marketing and research for North Carolina’s Irish potato crop.  The Cattlemen’s Association is seeking board approval to conduct a referendum this fall on whether to continue an assessment paid by cattle farmers. The six-year assessment would be $1 per head of beef and dairy cattle sold in the state. The money would be used to support youth involvement, promotion, research, education and issues management for the state’s cattle industry.  The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body administered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.

Local Wrecks--2 Stories

Wilkesboro Police are still investigating and trying to reconstruct events of an accident that happened early Sunday morning.  Two people were transported to the hospital with one being transferred to Baptist.  So far, the accident report indicates that 1989 Nissan driver by Pablo Izquierdo, age 21 of Wilkesboro, was traveling east on Main Street in Wilkesboro.  Joshua Aaron, age 19 of Wilkesboro, was driving a ’92 Toyota and traveling west on Main Street.  Both vehicles traveled left of center into the each other’s path.  The impact destroyed both cars.  Izquierdo was pinned inside his vehicle for an extended amount of time.  Izquierdo had been drinking and showed signs of gross impairment.  The second driver, Aaron, admitted to smoking marijuana prior to the collision.  Two passengers in Aaron’s car were 20-year-old James Ester of Wilkesboro and 22-year-old Michael Howell of North Wilkesboro were injured in the wreck.  Ester was taken to WRMC by Wilkes EMS and Howell was taken to Baptist Hospital by Wilkes Rescue Squad.  Charges by Wilkesboro Police are pending further investigation as to the cause of this wreck.

In another wreck over the weekend in Wilkesboro, the only thing injured was a building and the driver’s car.  Wilkesboro Police investigated the accident that happened in the parking lot of Asbury Court Town Homes on Woodfield Way.  The driver of a 2000 BMW, Chen Xingguo of Wilkesboro, was attempting to park when he hit the accelerator instead of the brake.  The BMW then collided with the building causing damage to the brick exterior and the door frame of the adjacent home.  Damages to the car are estimated at 600 dollars with damages to the building listed at 300 dollars.  The driver was not injured.  

More Windows Shot at Myers Tire

For the second time in less than a week, another vehicle was damaged at Myers Tire by someone shooting a window.  Over the weekend, an employee called Wilkesboro Police when he saw that the driver’s side window of truck had be shattered.  The window appeared to have been shot with a BB or pellet gun.  The window was shattered but not completely shot out.  Reportedly, the window was fine when employees left the night before.  Damages are estimated at 100 dollars.  This is the second such incident.   As 3WC News reported last week, when employees arrived to work last Monday, they saw the 1500 dollars in damages to two trucks.  The side window of one vehicle was shattered with several marks on the windshield that appeared to be from an air rifle.  There were also impact marks on the windshield of another truck.  The tire store does not have video surveillance in the parking lot, so there is no information on possible suspects.  Police took photographs of the damages and collected evidence.  The investigation is still underway.  Police have advised Myers Tire to get a camera surveillance system.

Fighting and Drug Possession

Multiple charges were filed against two men following the report of a fight in Wilkesboro.    Wilkesboro Police were called to a fight in progress at a gravel parking lot at Westwood Park involving subjects possible armed with a pole.  When police arrived, the suspects had all left the scene and witnesses gave police information on those involved in the fight leaving in a gold Jeep Cherokee and a white Oldsmobile.  Police located the Jeep in Fieldstone Estates.  The two 20-year-old men, a white male and black male, inside the Jeep matched the description of two involved in the fight.  The men were asked to exit the vehicle by police.  Inside the Jeep, officers found 2 knives, a large wooden stick, marijuana, cash, and a variety of drug paraphernalia associated with buying and selling including pipes, scales, and a box of baggies.  The driver was Ethan Whiddon of North Wilkesboro and the passenger was Jordan Graham.  Whiddon was arrested and charged with maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, two counts of drug possession including possession to sell and deliver marijuana, and carrying a concealed weapon and jailed under a 2500 dollar bond.  Graham was arrested and charged with 3 counts of possession including  possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and jailed under a 1500 dollar bond.

Over 14,000 Dollars Stolen from House in the Past Year

The owner moved out of state about a year ago, and sometime in the 12 months that have passed, someone entered the house and made away with a truck load of property.  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department, the owner is returning in a couple of weeks and had his son to check on the house.  The man door of the house had been pried open.  10,000 dollars in copper wiring and pipes was stolen and 3 flatscreen LCD TV’s were taken including a 52-inch LG, a 37-inch Panasonic, and a 36-inch Panasonic.  Stolen property is valued over 14,000 dollars.  Damages to the breaker box and plumbing is estimated at 4000 dollars.  More stolen property may be added to the list after the owner returns home in a couple of weeks.  At this time, there is no word on suspects; the Sheriff’s Department is still investigating.

Sen Hagan on the F-35B

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, applauded Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s decision to remove the F-35B Lightning II from "probation."  “The decision to grant the F-35B full status is essential for the Marine Corps to operate and move seamlessly from the sea, ashore, and in the air,” said Senator Hagan.  “It is the tactical capabilities of these types of planes that allowed Marines from North Carolina to save F-15 pilots who crashed in Libya last summer,” Hagan explained.  Senator Hagan worked with the Governor's office, NC's Commerce Secretary, and the North Carolina Military Foundation to ensure North Carolina’s selection as host of the Marine Corps Joint Strike Fighter.  Hagan also said, “F-35B represents the future of aviation for the Marine Corps and all of Eastern North Carolina.  I expect the F-35Bs to attract more defense companies, defense contracts, and defense jobs to our state.”

Legal Aid for Wilkes County, NC

In the fall of 2011, due to the loss of over 2 million dollars in annual federal and state funding, Legal Aid of North Carolina or LANC closed its Boone Office among others across the state.  The 70,000 local residents who are financially eligible for legal assistance from LANC are now served by offices in Morganton and Winston-Salem.  Of the 7 northwest North Carolina counties, Morganton is serving 4 counties, and the Winston-Salem office is serving Alleghany, Ashe, and Wilkes.  LANC is a state-wide, non-profit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income individuals to prevent homelessness or displacement and protecting domestic violence victims.  Those in Wilkes needing LANC assistance may call 1-866-219-5262 or go online www.legalaidnc.org.