Western NC Youth Summit on Saturday

On Saturday, October 29th, more than 125 high school-aged youth from across Central and Western North Carolina including Wilkes will come together to attend the Sixth Annual North Carolina Youth Giving Summit. The WESTERN Summit will occur on October 29th at the Winston-Salem Marriott (425 North Cherry Street) from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Entitled "The POETRY Of Giving", the Summit is designed to prepare how and where these high school students will grant over $20,000 to help their communities. The funds have been donated from philanthropic organizations across the state and will be entrusted to these youth for allocation. The planning and training for the decision-making is taking place, but actual decisions on how to spend the money will take place in individual communities later in the year.  The WESTERN Summit (10/29) draws youth and adults from throughout the Central and Western part of the state, including Forsyth County, Mecklenburg County, Guilford County, Wilkes County, Jackson County, Cleveland County, and the Cherokee Reservation along the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  This Summit marks the only annual convening of all of these counties for youth philanthropic efforts. 

SURE Payments for Farmers in Wilkes

Wilkes County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Julia W Houck has announced that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses begins Monday, November 14.   “Producers across North Carolina experienced natural disasters during the 2010 crop year, causing hardship and financial losses to their agricultural operations,” said Julia Houck. “The SURE program provides assistance when disaster strikes.  Producers with 2010 crop losses are strongly encouraged to contact the Wilkes County FSA office to enroll in the SURE program," Houck explained.  To qualify for a SURE payment, a producer's operation must be located in a county declared as a disaster for 2010, and have at least a 10 percent production loss affecting one crop of economic significance.  Wilkes County producers wanting information on SURE program eligibility requirements can contact the Wilkes County FSA office at 207 W Main Street, by phone 336-838-3622 ext 2, or visit the website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.  

Stolen 4-Wheeler Pushed Away

They heard the dogs barking but didn’t think anything about someone stealing their 4-wheeler.  In a report filed with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, a Roaring River resident had their Kawasaki ATV stolen late Monday night.  It appears the thief or thieves pushed the ATV up the hill behind the house on Dellaplane Road and then loaded it onto another vehicle parked at the road.  The owner said their dogs were barking about 11pm, but they didn’t think anything about it.  The 4-wheeler described as a Kawasaki 320 with front and back racks and faded camo snap on cover was valued over 3200 dollars.  The 4-wheeler also had a dead battery, so it had to be pushed.  There are no suspects at this time.

Wilkesboro Finding Those Wanted in Other Counties

Wilkesboro Police have aided this week with the arrest of people found in Wilkesboro who were wanted in other counties and towns.  On Monday Wilkesboro Police received a call from Hickory Police regarding two suspects involved in a larceny.  The suspects’ vehicle was located in Oakhill Drive Apartments.  Police questioned the two men identified as Timothy Richardson and Zachary Shumate.  Richardson admitted to stealing the property off the back of a truck at Hickory Mall and Shumate admitted to selling the property at Wilkes Steel.  Hickory Police are in charge of those arrests.  Then Wilkesboro Police were called out this week to check on a man who was passed out on the loading dock of the ABC Store on Curtis Bridge Road.  Police identified the intoxicated man as Jason Linton of Wilkesboro.  Linton had 4 open warrants from Guilford County, so he was arrested and taken to the Wilkes County Jail where he blew a .27 on the alco-sensor test which is over 3 times the legal limit.

Car Break-Ins on Mulberry Mill Road

At least three residents on the Mulberry Mill Road in North Wilkesboro reported break-ins to their vehicles this week.  All the thefts were discovered Monday morning.  The first victim said that two of their cars were entered by thieves.  An iPod and a cassette converter valued at nearly 300 dollars were stolen.  The second victim also reported that both of their vehicles was entered and only a small amount of cash was taken.  A third resident on Mulberry Mill Road said their car was entered and again only some change was stolen.  No damages were listed with either car break-in.  Two victims reported seeing an unknown black male walking through the neighborhood in the past week.  There were no witnesses to the break-ins and the Sheriff’s Department is investigating.  Then Wilkesboro Police investigated a theft from a car at the apartments on Ruffin Street.  A resident said he left his car unlocked with his payroll check inside.  When he returned to the car, the check was gone.  There are no suspects. 

Shoplifting in Wilkes; Wanted in Iredell

After being caught for shoplifting, they discovered he was wanted in Iredell County.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Walmart this week by the Loss Prevention Officer concerning a possible shoplifter that they were detaining at the store.  David Brown of Moravian Falls was caught at the store trying to steal a hoodie and a pack of shirts.  Brown tried to run when he was first detained but later was cooperative with store employees and police.  When police checked, they found that Brown also was wanted in Iredell for theft of medication.  Brown was arrested and taken to jail.

Wilkes Crime Stoppers Offers Reward

The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department and Crime Stoppers continue to ask for the public’s help in the investigation of a man found dead last week.  Wilkes County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the death of a man from Hays:  On Tuesday, October 18^th, 2011, at approximately 8:20pm, Justin David Alexander was discovered deceased inside of his residence where he lived alone at Triplett Hollow Lane in Hays.  An autopsy revealed that Alexander died from blunt force trauma to the head.  The investigation by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and the SBI is being treated as a homicide.  Anyone with information, please contact Wilkes County Crime Stoppers at 667-8900. You do not have to reveal your identity.

Results from Operation Stop Arm in NC

The Highway Patrol ended its “Operation Stop Arm” campaign on Friday, Oct. 21.  The campaign which began on Monday, Oct. 17 was focused on promoting traffic safety around North Carolina schools, school buses and school bus stops. Troopers drove marked and unmarked patrol cars and followed more than 950 school buses across the state to remind motorists of the dangers that exist in and around school buses and school zones. Troopers issued numerous citations to motorists who failed to stop for a school bus and more than 6000 traffic violations statewide in and around schools and school zones including:

• Over 2,900 Speeding Violations
• Over 900 Seatbelt Violations
• 139 Child Safety Seat Violations

Every day in North Carolina, more than three-quarters of a million children ride the school bus to and from school. It is estimated that each school day, more than 2,000 drivers violate North Carolina’s school bus stop arm law.  So, despite the end of the campaign, troopers will continue to monitor school buses and school zones.

Judge Limits NC's Woman's Right to Know Law

Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles issued a ruling preventing the "Right to View" provision of North Carolina's "Woman's Right to Know" law from taking effect.  The remaining provisions of the law took effect Wednesday.  The law enacted by a bi-partisan override of Governor Perdue's July veto, requires that mothers seeking abortion be given information about the abortion and that a real-time ultrasound image of her unborn child be displayed so that she may view the image before the abortion can be performed.  “While we are happy that most of the provisions of the Woman's Right to Know law will go into effect tomorrow, it is extremely regrettable that mothers will be unable to see real-time images of their unborn children kicking and moving inside the womb and hear their children's heartbeat," said Barbara Holt, president of North Carolina Right to Life.  The judge allowed the informed consent part of the law that a booklet containing scientifically accurate information about risks, alternatives and information on the development of the unborn child, compiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, be offered to the mother at least 24 hours prior to an abortion so that she might have the opportunity to read and understand the information.  "We are confident that the Court, upon further review, will ultimately allow the ultrasound provision to take effect giving North Carolina mothers the opportunity to witness their living unborn children in the womb," Mrs. Holt added.  

Award Offered for Information on Local Homicide

There was a person of interest in the case of a man found dead last week.  But now, Wilkes County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the death of a man from Hays:  On Tuesday, October 18^th, 2011, at approximately 8:20pm, Justin David Alexander was discovered deceased inside of his residence located on Triplett Hollow Lane in Hays.  Alexander, who resided at the residence by himself, was last seen alive the previous afternoon.  An autopsy revealed that Alexander died from blunt force trauma to the head.  The investigation, which is being conducted by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, is being treated as a homicide.  Anyone with information, please contact Wilkes County Crime Stoppers at 667-8900 or Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office at 903-7600 or you may submit your information online at http://wilkescounty.crimestoppersweb.com .  You do not have to reveal your identity.