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.

Jumping on the Hood and Underage Drinking

When police heard the argument and then saw one woman jumping up and down on the hood of a car, they decided to take action.  In a report filed with the Wilkesboro Police Department, officers reported observing two females in the parking lot of Walmart having an argument.  One got in the driver’s seat of a car and the other climbed on the car and starting jumping up and down.  When officers questioned the two, one said her friend had been drinking and was trying to stop her from driving.  A third female was found walking nearby who had also been drinking with the other two.  All three were underage and were given citations for underage drinking.  One was very intoxicated, blowing a .19 which is more than twice the legal limit, and began having difficulty breathing.  EMS and the girl’s mother were called to the scene.  The girl was later released to her mother after being cleared by EMS.  The other two girls were also escorted home.

NC Gov For Traditional Marriage But Voting Against Amendment

Over the weekend, NC Governor Bev Perdue released a statement regarding the upcoming vote on a Constitutional Amendment banning same sex marriages.  Gov Perdue said she had been told “the proposed constitutional amendment will harm our state’s business climate and make it harder to grow jobs here.”  Perdue went on to say that she believes marriage is between one man and one woman which is why she voted for the law in 1996 that defines marriage as between one man and one woman and why she continues to support that law today. However, Perdue stated that she would vote against the amendment, because she said, “I cannot in good conscience look an unemployed man or woman in the eye and tell them that this amendment is more important than finding them a job.”   If the constitutional amendment is approved by voters during the May primary, North Carolina would become the final state in the Southeast to add a constitutional amendment regarding same-sex marriage.  

Another Moped Hit by Vehicle on Hwy 421

Two are in very serious condition at Baptist Hospital following an accident last night with a moped on Hwy 421.  According to the Hwy Patrol, Brittany Kirchner of Wake Forrest was driving a 1996 Jeep, and traveling West on Hwy 421 after 8pm Sunday.  Joseph Hodges and a passenger Ricky Weaver both of Wilkesboro were on a moped also traveling West on Hwy 421.  The Jeep collided with the moped and both vehicles came to rest on the shoulder of the road.  Both 18-year-old boys, Hodges and Weaver, were transported to Baptist Hospital.    It was just one year ago when two other 18-year-old boys were hit while riding a moped on Hwy 421 near the Brushy Mountain Road in Wilkesboro.  One of the two in last year’s accident died and charges were filed against a North Wilkesboro couple for felony hit and run.  No charges have been filed in the wreck last night pending further investigation.

Trying to Outrun Police on a Scooter

Since he had been drinking, he tried to outrun police…but he was riding a scooter.  Needless to say, it was not a high speed chase.  Wilkesboro Police received a call of a possible drunk driver on a scooter.  The police soon found the driver, identified as Todd McAdoo of Wilkesboro.  He tried to elude police by running a stop sign and by speeding up to 40 mph.  Police activated their blue lights and pulled the driver near his residence on North Moravian Street.  McAdoo apologized for speeding and running the stop sign, yelled at his fiancée inside his residence, and refused to do a sobriety test.  McAdoo’s license had been revoked for 3 other DWI’s.  Police arrested him, impounded his scooter, and took him to the intake center where he blew .06.  McAdoo was not charged with DWI, but he was charged with driving with license revoked and reckless driving.  He scooter was taken out of impound.