Thousands of Dollars in Jewelry Stolen

Wilkesboro Police are investigating the theft of 7500 dollars in jewelry.  The victim lives on Corporation Street in Wilkesboro.  Recently, she noticed her 14 kt diamond cluster set and her 14 kt gold diamond wedding band with 5 diamonds missing from her residence.  The woman had done some investigating on her own and believed she saw the rings in a estate showcase at a local jewelry store a week ago.  However, when she returned the rings were gone.  Again the value of the stolen jewelry is 7500 dollars.  There are suspects in this jewelry theft and charges are pending further investigation by Wilkesboro Police.

Power On After Storm

Full power restoration in Wilkes and surrounding counties was complete as of 3:39 p.m. Monday after the Sunday night’s storm that brought high winds, hail and lightning resulting in damage to the system that affected around 500 members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation.  Outages were widely scattered all across the service area of Blue Ridge Electric, beginning at midnight Sunday.  The cooperative had 50 different areas where power lines and poles had been torn down or damaged by the storm.  Summer storms can lead to downed power lines and Blue Ridge Electric reminds members that downed lines can still be energized and therefore dangerous or even deadly. The public should report downed power lines to the cooperative and stay as far away as possible. Only a Blue Ridge Electric line technician should attempt to remove or handle a downed power line.  In the event of an outage, members are encouraged to call the PowerLine number at 1-800-448-2383.  For more information, visit the cooperative’s website for an outage map and safety information at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com . Blue Ridge Electric serves some 74,000 members in Wilkes, Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery and Alexander counties.                                                                                                        

NC Plane Fighting Fires Crashes

The Air Force did not immediately release the names of those killed and injured after a C-130 from North Carolina crashed fighting fires out west. The North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing sent two aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Saturday morning to support firefighting efforts throughout the Rocky Mountain area.  MAFFS is a joint Department of Defense and U.S. Forest Service program designed to provide additional aerial firefighting resources when commercial and private air tankers are no longer able to meet the needs of the forest service.  The Charlotte-based aircraft joined C-130s from the Wyoming Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force Reserve's which have been operating from Colorado Springs.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the other C-130’s have been grounded for now.  The 145^th based in Charlotte received notification of the mission on Friday and left on Saturday.  The fatal plane crash happened Sunday night.

More Jobs Coming to NC

Gov. Bev Perdue has more jobs coming to our state.  First, FerroFab Inc., a manufacturer of specialized fabricated metal components, will locate a new facility in Richmond County.  The company plans to create 54 jobs and invest $510,000 over the next three years in Hamlet. The project was made possible in part by a $81,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.  Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $30,019, plus benefits.  Gov. Perdue also announced that Greenheck Fan Corporation, a leading manufacturer of air movement and control equipment, will expand its operations in Cleveland County.  The company plans to create 62 jobs and invest $7.8 million over the next three years in Kings Mountain. The project was made possible in part by a $150,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.  The company will be establishing a new manufacturing operation adjacent to an existing Greenheck facility which currently employs more than 50 people in North Carolina.  Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $31,985, plus benefits.

Car Damaged Near Construction Area

Be careful traveling on Hwy 421 and other areas where you know construction work is being done.  Last week, a Ferguson woman’s car was damaged after she struck debris on Hwy 421 near Zion Hill Church Road.  The woman’s left front wheel hit a large rock in the roadway causing the tire to blow out and causing extensive damage to the wheel.  The accident report by Wilkesboro Police noted that there is ongoing construction activity in the area consisting of multiple dump trucks carrying dirt and other materials.  At the time of the report, it was unknown which construction company’s truck might have dropped the rock in the roadway.  Thankfully, no one was reported injured in the accident. 

Stolen Motorcycle Was on Craigs List

Was it related to the post on Craigs List or did someone just noticed that he was out of town?  The Wilkes Sheriff’s Department was called to investigate the theft of a motorcycle last week from a residence on Cricket Ivy Lane in North Wilkesboro.  The victim told Sheriff’s Investigators that he put the motorcycle on Craigs List a week and a half ago.  Then he week to the beach for a few days and left the motorcycle locked in his garage.  When he returned home, he saw that the padlock on the garage had been cut and was missing…as was his motorcycle.  Again, it has not been determined if the theft was related to the posting on Craigs List or if a thief just noticed that the property owner was out of town.  The stolen bike is described as a Harley-Davidson Road Glide valued at 10,000 dollars.  The stolen motorcycle was entered in the National Crime Information Center or NCIC.  There are no known witnesses to the theft and are no suspects.  The investigation is still underway.

Possible Stalker Update

Here is an update to a possible stalker story.  Last week, 3WC News reported on an incident at Kohls in Wilkesboro regarding a man acting suspiciously.  According to the initial report, a North Wilkesboro woman and her young daughter were shopping in Kohls when the woman noticed that a man in the store went everywhere she went.  At one point, the man approached and spoke to the woman’s little girl.  The woman and her daughter left the store.  The man followed them into the parking lot and walked around their car before going to his own vehicle.  The man left the scene before Wilkesboro Police arrived.  The man was described as a white male in his 30’s, 5’8”, clean shaven, short hair, and about 175 pounds.  He was last seen driving a teal green Ford Explorer with a Tennessee license plate.  He never touched the woman or spoke to her directly, but he certainly appeared to be following her.  Police obtained video surveillance from the store which Police say shows substantial evidence to support the woman’s claim of a stalker.  Police have been in contact with the woman.  She has not seen or heard from the possible stalker anymore.  The store video was seized by Police as evidence.  Local law enforcement advise:  If you believe someone is following or possibly stalking you then call 911 and stay around other people in public areas until Police arrive.  

Ripped from Ground

Who ripped it from the ground and stole the cash?  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department last week, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the theft of a cash box.  The metal cash box was used at the parking area of Smithey’s Creek Landing off South Minton Road.  The theft report states that during the overnight hours, someone used a vehicle to remove from the ground, steal, and take away a metal lock box used to collect money.  The amount of money believed to have been in the box at the time of the box was not given with the report.  There are no suspects, but the Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate.

Wilkes Sheriff's Advice on Fourth of July Safety

With the approach of the Fourth of July, Wilkes County Sheriff Chris Shew asks all citizens to join him in making this Fourth of July holiday happy and enjoyable for all.  During the July 4^th Holiday, our highways experience one of the highest traffic flows of the year.  Sheriff Chris Shew reminds all Wilkes County residents of the following safety tips:  Always shift your attention every few seconds, constantly scanning the road ahead and behind you.  Never blankly stare ahead;  You should pull out into the opposite lane of traffic when passing while you are still well behind the car in front.  Never cut abruptly out of your lane into the opposite lane when passing;  Always signal your intentions to other drivers with your brake lights, turn signals, horn and/or headlights;  Drivers should always “aim high” in steering.  That is, glance frequently at points well ahead of you; and Never follow too closely.  Sheriff Shew says, “Be courteous and tolerant of other drivers.  Please don’t get angry with bad drivers or reckless ones – just get out of their way.”

NC Council on Women Moving to New Office

The N.C. Council for Women is relocating on July 2-3 from an external facility to offices in the ground floor of the Administration Building in Raleigh. Effective Thursday, July 5, the agency will operate from Suite G120, 116 W. Jones St., Raleigh.  To allow phone and computer lines to be transferred and reconnected, the Council’s Raleigh staff will be unable to respond to inquiries until Thursday morning. The Council’s main telephone line, 919-733-2455, and staff directory, will not change.  If a referral for woman’s at-risk services is needed during this time, please contact the nearest Region Office for appropriate services. Additionally, citizens who need assistance may call local law enforcement or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.  In Wilkes, Shelter Aid for Families in Emergencies or SAFE of Wilkes has a 24/7 crisis line at 838-SAFE or 838-7233.