Wilkes Jail Escapee Found

Gone by night; caught by morning.  According to the NC Dept of Public Safety, corrections and law enforcement officers began seeking an escaped inmate, Joey Carrico, who escaped from the Wilkes Correctional Center Wednesday night.  Prisons dog handlers and staff from Wilkes Correctional Center caught inmate Joey Carrico at approximately 5:20 this morning (Thursday) in North Wilkesboro. Wilkes CC staff discovered Carrico had escaped at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and immediately initiated escape procedures. Correction staff were assisted by the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office and the North Wilkesboro Police Department in catching Carrico this morning without incident.  Carrico has been transported to segregation at Caldwell Correctional Center. Originally, Carrico, 35, was serving 2 years for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.  He was due for release in February 2013.  He will now face escape charges.   

Fishing for Trouble

There’s an old Chinese Proverb that says:  Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.  And then there’s an old American law:  Shoplift line and lures to fish and go straight to jail especially if you also have drugs in your pockets.  In a report filed with Wilkesboro Police, a Walmart employee contacted a Police Officer outside the store about a possible shoplifter.  When they watched the man leave the store, Police and the store employee stopped him and asked about stolen merchandise.  The man, David White of North Wilkesboro, admitted to stealing the lures and fishing line kit and removed them from his pocket.  Police asked the man if he had anything else in his pockets.  White admitted to having a bottle of pills for which he did not have prescriptions.  The bottle in White’s possession contained 3 different types of medication.  White was arrested and charged with drug possession and larceny.  He was taken to jail with a 15,000 dollar bond.

Shot, Deflated, and Cut

Was it just a prank, a form of revenge, neither, or both?  A property owner on Curtis Bridge Road has contacted the Sheriff’s Department regarding vandalism and damage to property at his house.  Reportedly, his house was shot with a paint ball gun, the air was let out of his lawn mower tires, and the phone lines to the house were cut.  The incident happened sometime Monday afternoon.  No estimate on damages to property was given with the report and no suspects were listed.  The Sheriff’s Department is still investigating.

And-a Thief Gets Your Gun

More guns were stolen in a home break-in this week.  There have been several home break-ins reported to the Sheriff’s Department over the past few days and a couple included the theft of guns.  A resident on the Parsonsville Road in Purlear came home to find that someone had been in their house.  This time the only thing reported missing was a couple of guns:  a Glock and a Kel Tech .9mm.  In another home break-in, no guns were stolen but furniture and clothes were.  Normally not topping the list of stolen items, but in this case, the victim says that a kitchen table and miscellaneous adult’s and children’s clothes were stolen.  The thief entered the house through a back window that they broke out.  Stolen property is valued at 600 dollars.  There is a suspect in both of these break-ins and charges are pending.

Stolen From Construction Site

In another home break-in, the house could not be secured as it was still under construction.   The unfinished home is located on Heron Point Drive in Moravian Falls.  The victim told Wilkes Sheriff’s Deputies that someone must have come onto the property between Sunday morning and Monday morning.  The victim said that an extension cord and a 42-inch barrel fan valued at 200 dollars were stolen from the construction site.  No damages were reported, and there are no suspects at this time.

Left Chickens...Stole Battery

Sometimes they steal the whole generator and other times they take just the battery.  Several residents across the county over the past six months have reported the theft of batteries from vehicles, mowers, logging equipment, tractors, and other equipment.  In a report filed recently with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department, someone broke into a chicken house off the Red White Blue Road in Roaring River.  In that break-in a battery was stolen from a generator at the chicken house.  The stolen battery was valued at 110 dollars.  There were no witnesses to the theft and are no suspects.

Outdoor Drama in North Wilkesboro

This is the last weekend to see the outdoor production in North Wilkesboro of “Otto Wood the Bandit.”  The play is produced by Ken Welborn of The Record, written by Jerry Lankford, and directed by Heather Dean.  Wes Martin, who co-stars in the show tells us the play is based on the life of a Wilkes County native.  AIR:  There was a song written called “Otto the Bandit” that was recorded by the late Doc Watson.  Tonight, David Holt of UNC-TV and who played with Doc Watson, will be there to introduce the show.  A pre-concert by the Elk String Band begins at 7:30 and the outdoor drama begins at 8.  The cost is 7 dollars per person, and the performance will be at Record Park in North Wilkesboro tonight, Friday, and Saturday.

Early Voting for Run-Off Begins Today

Before November General Elections….there will be state-wide runoff elections on July 17^th for the Republican and Democratic Primaries that were held in May.  Early Voting begins today, June 28th.  The state wide offices for the Republican run-off are:  NC LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR(Dan Forest, Tony Gurley), NC SECRETARY OF STATE(Kenn Gardner, Ed Goodwin), NC SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, (Richard Alexander, John Tedesco), and NC COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE (Mike Causey, Richard Morgan).  The statewide office for the Democratic run-off is: NC COMMISSIONER OF LABOR (Marlowe Foster, John C. Brooks).  According to the Wilkes Board of Elections, Early Voting at the County Office Building is today through July 14; Monday through Friday 8:30 til 5 and Saturday, July 14^th  from 8:30 til 1.  The run-off election is July 17^th.  Polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm.

Churches Gathering to Pray in Charlotte

On September 2, 2012, the eve of the opening of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, NC, a large non-denominational church service will be held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre to pray for our city and our nation.  The free event, called Charlotte714, is based upon the biblical call to God's people in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads:  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. David Benham, one of the business leaders organizing the Charlotte714 event said,  “We want to gather the night before the Democratic National Convention because it provides an incredible platform for our nation to see God’s church united in repentance and prayer for our country.”  According to Benham, Charlotte714 will include short addresses by local church leaders and nationally recognized Christian musicians. Pastors wanting more information about participating in Charlotte714 should visit www.charlotte714.com.

House Fire Tuesday Night

No one was injured but the home was totally destroyed by fire.  Last night just after 9, Wilbar, Millers Creek, and Cricket Fire Departments responded to a house fire in Wilbar.  The older model frame house was owned by Kathy Hamby.  According to Assistant Fire Marshal Nikki Hamby, the owner and two friends lived in the house.  Apparently the fire started from an electrical problem with a fan being used inside the home.  Everyone was able to get out of the house safely, but the house was completely destroyed in the fire.  The Red Cross was called to help Ms. Hamby with shelter and clothes.  The fire was ruled accidental.