Multiple Drug Arrests in Wilkes

More drug arrests locally as the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department continues to crack down on dealers in the area.  According to Detective Craig Dancy of the Sheriff’s Department, 25 people have been charged as the result of a 3 ½ month undercover operation.  Some of these arrests came from tips by local citizens.  Of the 25, most were low level dealers; however, 4 were also charged with trafficking.  It is believed that Fredrick Bass, Jr. of Lewisville was bringing in cocaine from Winston-Salem.  Bass was arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic and sell cocaine.  Anthony Vannoy of Wilkesboro was charged with trafficking cocaine and 4 counts each of selling and attempting to sell and deliver cocaine.  Denise Gardner of North Wilkesboro was charged with trafficking opium prescription drugs and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.  And Donald Roberts of North Wilkesboro was also charged with trafficking and selling opium prescription meds.  All of the 25 sold at least twice to undercover officers working with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.

Took Picture of Burglar

The Sheriff’s Department has been called to a number of home break-ins recently, and in one of those break-ins, a neighbor was able to get pictures.  A Millers Creek resident reported that someone had entered her home and stolen several things.  A neighbor, who was thinking quickly, decided something might be amiss and took a picture of the suspect and their vehicle.  The “caught on camera thief” stole 5 Lexmark printers, a 1200 watt Generator, 4 Singer sewing machines, 2 vacuum cleaners, and end table, 5 car buffers, a DeWalt Drill battery, and other items all valued over 1200 dollars.  The suspect was driving a green Jeep Cherokee.  The victim did not recognize the driver.  The Sheriff’s Department is still investigating.

Took Jewelry...Left Phone

If they can get the phone to work, then they may find a burglar.  A Millers Creek woman returned home Sunday afternoon and found her home had been broken into.  Someone broke a window in the door to gain access to the house.  The thief stole only jewelry including 25 sterling silver rings, a white gold ring, 22 sterling silver necklaces, and a gold rope necklace.  Stolen jewelry is valued over 1000 dollars.  The victim found a purple Sanyo cell phone next to the jewelry box that Sheriff’s Deputies retrieved as evidence.  The phone appeared damaged and did not display any information at the time.  The investigation is continuing and charges are pending finding the owner of that left behind phone.

Cleaned Out by Thief

In another home break-in, again the thief entered by breaking a door window.  The property owner, who lives out of town, said they only came to the Wilkes property twice a year.  Well, at least once this year, thieves also came.  Reported stolen from the house on Sparta Road in McGrady—a wood stove, coach and chair, entertainment center, 4 chairs, Kenmore dryer, weed eater, and push mowers.  Stolen property was valued at 1600 dollars.  The identity of the thieves who obviously knew that had plenty of time to clean out the place is unknown.

Funny Money Passed at Work

He said he must have picked up the funny money in a card game.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Tyson Foods on Monday.  A cafeteria determined a 20-dollar-bill handed to him was counterfeit.  The man who had given him the fake cash was taken to the Tyson office and questioned by police.  The man told police that he didn’t have any idea of ever having a counterfeit bill in his possession.  The man said he assumed he picked up the bill playing cards in the Statesville area over the weekend.  When he checked his wallet, a second fake 20-dollar bill was found.  Police seized both counterfeits for evidence; no charges were filed at this time.

Gospel Musical Back by Popular Demand

It’s a Gospel Musical.  Wilkes Playmaker is presenting Smoke on the Mountain this week.   The play was presented by Wilkes Playmakers back in the Spring and is back this fall by popular demand.  Director Nicole Vidrine hopes the public demand for more performances of Smoke will continue.  Smoke on the Mountain is tonight and Thursday night at 7pm--doors open at 6pm—at Cranberry Baptist Church on the Wilkes-Yadkin Road in Roaring River.  There is no admission price but a love offering will be received.

More NC Jobs

Gov. Bev Perdue has announced that Coilplus, Inc., a flat rolled steel processor in Guilford County, plans to create 23 new jobs and invest $12.7 million during the next three years in Greensboro as part of an expansion in North Carolina.  Coilplus started in 1985 in Alabama and has grown to nine plants throughout the United States and two locations in Mexico.  Coilplus is part of the global network of Metal One, owned by Mitsubishi and currently has 41 employees at its facility in Greensboro.  The project was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.  The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. 

Arrested After Car Chase

A car chase Sunday afternoon ended with a 24-year-old man in jail.  Just after 4pm Sunday, a Wilkes County Sheriff’s Deputy met a pickup at the 300 Block of Traphill Road.  The truck was passing in a no passing zone and traveling at a high rate of speed.  The Deputy gave chase and was able to stop the pickup at the Intersection of Glen Dancy and Dillard Road.  The driver, Donald Foster, was arrested on at least 8 different charges including driving with license revoked, no insurance, speeding, and drug possession.  Foster was taken to the Wilkes County Jail under a 500 dollar bond.

Someone Shot Through Her Bedroom

Was it a hunter and an accidental shooting or was it something else?  A woman called the Sheriff’s Department recently to report a shooting at her house at Johnson Acres.  The shooting occurred in the morning hours while she was still in bed.  Reportedly, an unknown person shot into the victim’s mobile home.  The bullet came in through the bedroom where the woman was asleep.  Damage was done to the outer and inner walls of the home.  The victim was unharmed by the bullet that tore through her bedroom.  Neighbors were interviewed who were sighting muzzle loaders; however, it was determined that they were too far away to have shot through the house.  There are no suspects at this time.

Possible Thief Trying to Sell Locally

Oftentimes, pawn shops are where thieves and shoplifters take their stolen items to sell for cash.  This weekend, a pawn shop in Traphill decided a “would-be seller” was just a little too suspicious.  Sunday morning, a woman from Winston-Salem entered the Golden Dollar Pawn Shop on Traphill Road.  The woman wanted to sell items at the pawn shop; however, the employee noticed that all the items were new, still in the packaging, and the security bars were cut off.  The shop employee told the woman that he was calling the Sheriff’s Office.  That’s when the woman left the items on the counter at the pawn shop, and she left the scene.  The shop employee did get a tag number on the woman’s car, and the Sheriff’s Department is investigating.