Car Break-Ins and Damages

At least 3 different reports dealing with vehicles locally came in to the Sheriff’s Department this week.  In the past few months here in Wilkes there have been numerous car break-ins including one this week.  A Rock Creek Church Road resident was the latest victim.  She told Sheriff’s Deputies that she discovered the break-in to her 2006 Chevy when she started to leave for work Tuesday morning.  No damages were reported to the car; however, a portable DVD player and DVD case holder were taken from the vehicle.  Stolen property is valued at nearly 200 dollars.  No suspects were listed with the report. 

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Then a Millers Creek victim reported some damage to property with no theft.  The woman told Deputies that sometime during the night someone shattered the back passenger side window of her 1990 Plymouth.  Damages are estimated at 300 dollars.  Nothing was reported stolen from inside the vehicle and again there are no suspects.

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And finally a Roaring River also reported a theft from her car.  The woman was stopped recently by a highway patrol officers, because the license tag was missing from her car.  As the woman reported to Sheriff’s Officials, the traffic stop was the first time she realized that the tag was stolen from the vehicle.  Law enforcement do have the tag number and the investigation is continuing.

Baby Bottles and 40 Days

We are on Day 16 of the 40 Days of Life Campaign.   40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends, and families.  During the 40 Days, the Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center also has their Baby Bottle Boomerang fundraiser.  Susan Sturgill explains the mission of Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center is to provide positive alternatives to abortion, to promote sexual integrity in our community, and provide post-abortion recovery and support. All the services at WPCC including pregnancy tests are free.  The Baby Bottle Boomerang is now through November 6^th, where people collect donations in bottles and end with a candlelight vigil.  For more information on the 40 Days of Life or the WPCC call locally 838-9272.

Cutting Screens and Attempting to Break-In

Someone tried to break in, but apparently, did not succeed.  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department recently, a North Wilkesboro resident reported that attempted break-in.  The victim returned home and found that someone had tried to get inside the house by prying and cutting the garage window screens on the front of the residence.  Entry was not made by would-be thieves and total property damage was only 100 dollars.  There were no witnesses in the neighborhood to the attempted break-in and are no suspects.

HondaJet Expanding in NC

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Honda Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of American Honda Motors Inc. and the manufacturer of the new HondaJet, will expand its facilities and land usage at Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport by constructing a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center on its campus.  The company’s new $20 million MRO facility is part of a broader plan to create 419 new jobs and invest a total of $78.7 million during the next five years in Guilford County. The project was made possible in part by a $1 million grant from the One North Carolina Fund.  According to Gov Perdue’s office--through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been announced since 2001.  

Gov Perdue on NC Pre-K

Gov. Bev Perdue sent a letter this week to leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly  requesting that the General Assembly take a first step in implementing a court order regarding NC Pre-K.  The governor requested resources to enable 6,300 additional at-risk students to enroll in NC Pre-K starting in January 2012.  On July 18, 2011, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Howard Manning issued an order that said “[t]he State of North Carolina shall not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program (NCPK).”  Judge Manning reaffirmed that ruling last month.  The Dept of Health and Human Services estimates that it will cost approximately $30 million to serve 6,300 additional children starting in January 2012. Gov. Perdue said that she has identified existing funds that the General Assembly could use without raising taxes, without putting the budget out of balance and without damaging critical priorities.

Monday Night House Fire in Wilkesboro

The roof was already collapsed and the abandoned house fully involved by the time Wilkesboro Firefighters arrived.  Neighbors called 911 Monday night when they saw the house burning on Kelly Hill Road.  Wilkesboro Fire Department responded just before 8pm Monday and were on the scene for about 3 hours to make sure the house fire was extinguished and the surrounding area was secure from hot spots.  Reportedly, no one has lived in the old 2-story house in over 30 years.  The cause of Monday night’s fire is still unknown at this time.  No injuries were reported from the fire.

Getting Out to Vote in Wilkes

If you’re planning on getting out to vote, then you need to know that the deadline to register for the Tuesday, November 8th municipal elections in Wilkes County is Friday, October 14.  Again this year, Wilkes is having One-Stop Voting at the County Board of Elections Room 315at the Wilkes County Office Building.  One Stop Voting will be weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., October 20 through November 4.  The only Saturday for One Stop Voting is November 5 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.  Unregistered voters may register and One-Stop Vote at the same time.  Registering to vote will NOT be offered on Election Day.  On Election Day November 8, 2011, polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. at the North Wilkesboro Fire Department, Wilkesboro Civic Center and Ronda Town Hall.  On the ballot for the upcoming election in North Wilkesboro,  current Commissioners Leonard A. Baugham Sr., Jeffrey Elmore, Bert Hall, and former mayor and commissioner Steven Foster are running for 3 seats in the Commissioners’ Race.  Jimmy Hayes, Sam Stroud, Michael Testerman, and Claude Andrew (Andy) Soots are vying for two seats with Wilkesboro Council.  Mike Inscore is running unopposed for a second term as Wilkesboro Mayor.   In Ronda Mayor Victor Varela is running for re-election against Manuel Wood. Also in Ronda Rex Ashley, Kevin Reece, and Bradley Combs are facing off for two seats on the Town Board.  Again One-Stop Voting begins October 20^th and the General Election is November 8^th.

Stolen Utility Vehicle

He thinks he left the keys in it, and now it is gone.  A North Wilkesboro resident on the Speedway Road called the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department over the weekend concerning a vehicle theft.  The Toro Twister Utility Vehicle valued at 3000 dollars was parked in the driveway of the owner when it was stolen.  The Utility Vehicle is described as being camo in color with a green bar, custom top, and tears in the driver’s seat.  There are no suspects in the theft.

Awareness Walk & Candlelight Vigil Tonight

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Awareness Walk and Candlelight Vigil to honor victims of domestic violence is today at the Wilkes Heritage Museum in Wilkesboro.  Beginning at 6pm, participants will walk to the Labyrinth at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where North Carolina victims of domestic violence will be remembered in word, prayer, and song.  Tim Murphy with Shelter Aid for Families in Emergencies or SAFE of Wilkes explains the walk is also to raise awareness and work toward ending domestic violence in our community.   Again, the Awareness Walk and Candlelight Vigil is Tuesday evening at 6pm.  For more information call SAFE at 838-9169.

He Asked for Batteries and She Gave Him Illegal Drugs

He asked if she had anything she shouldn’t have and expected her to return the batteries she saw her steal, but she handed him some illegal drugs instead.  In a report filed with the Wilkesboro Police, Crystal Gregory of Wilkesboro, was observed shoplifting batteries by Loss Prevention in Walmart.  When the Loss Prevention Officer confronted Gregory and asked if she had anything in her pocketbook, she handed him a small plastic baggie containing white powder.  It wasn’t the stolen batteries, but it was reason to call Police.  When they arrived, they asked to search her purse and found more drugs and drug related items.  Gregory said the drugs were not hers but belonged to a friend who asked her to hold them for him.  The man was questioned and denied any knowledge of the illegal drugs.  Police then asked the woman for permission to search her vehicle and found more plastic containers with white and pink powder.  Gregory was arrested and charged with one felony and two misdemeanor counts of drug possession.  She was placed under a 5500 dollar bond; her court date is set for November 23.