Broke Into One But Not the Others

The selective thieves only picked one of the victim’s outbuildings to break-in and steal.  A Hays resident called Wilkes County Sheriff’s Officials this week to report an outbuilding break-in and theft.  The victim noticed the lock on one of his outbuildings had been broken off and several things were taken from inside the building including an Arc welder, air compressor, propane tank with burner, large table top vice, 12 agriculture sprayer heads still in Tractor Supply Package, and an agriculture sprayer hose still in the box.  Stolen property is valued at 1300 dollars.  None of the other outbuildings were touched by thieves.  There are no suspects.

Multiple Property Damage Reports

The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department has also been busy this week investigating damage to property.  In one report from a residence near Elkin, the homeowner stated that they returned home to find a glass broken out of their house.  Someone had pulled a pet cage under a window where they broke out the window and crawled inside the house.  The house was gone through as if someone were looking for something, but nothing was reported missing.  Damages to the window were 150 dollars.  Then a Wilkesboro resident reported a broken window at their home.  Sheriff’s Deputies questioned neighbors in the area, but no one admitted any knowledge of the incident.  It is unknown if the window was broken from a rock or was shot out.  Damages are listed at 300 dollars.  And finally, a Traphill victim called to report that someone cut his tires.  Two tires on a pickup and one tire on a car were all punctured and flattened.  Damages are estimated at 250 dollars.

Congresswoman Foxx on China

Some in the US Senate including Senators from NC Hagan and Burr have called for legislation to get China to revalue its currency but the White House said this could violate international trade rules.  Many economists say China holds down the value of its yuan currency to give its exporters an edge in global markets.   In our conversation with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx yesterday, she said we need to strengthen the dollar before we try to fix the yuan.  Air:  In other words, Foxx said we need to clean our own financial house before cleaning out another’s house.  My complete interview with Congresswoman Foxx can be heard as a Focus on the Foothills podcast on our website:   www.hometownchristianradio.com

Continued Irene Recovery In NC

To continue the recovery from Hurricane Irene in North Carolina, mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Henderson, Kinston and Wilmington to provide free rebuilding information today through Tuesday, Oct. 11.  Advisors have suggestions and publications to help homeowners, renters and business owners protect their properties against damaging winds, floods and fires.  Mitigation measures may reduce mold and mildew and protect electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances. They also reinforce structures against high wind, flood, fire and secure personal property.  No registration for disaster assistance is required for these publications or advice. Information on flood insurance is also available.  Information about strengthening property can be downloaded at http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/

3 Car Mtn View Wreck This Morning

Injuries were reported in a wreck involving 3 cars on the Mtn View Road this morning.  According to Trooper Chris Anderson, Kristie Miller of Hays was headed toward town on the Mtn View when she ran off the road, lost control of her 2007 Toyota, crossed the center line hitting a blue Honda, and then hit a van head on.  Miller suffered the most injuries and was transported to WRMC.  The driver of the Honda was pregnant but only sustained minor injuries.  The woman and two children in the van also suffered non-life threatening injuries.  The two children were treated and released.  Miller was charged in the wreck with failure to maintain lane control.

Jobs Coming to Wilkes as North Wilkesboro Company Expands

NC Gov. Bev Perdue has announced that CertainTeed Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer of building materials, will expand its North Wilkesboro fiber cement siding plant. The project is expected to create 29 jobs, and the company expects to invest $2.7 million in the facility by the end of 2013. The project was made possible in part by a $98,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.   At the North Wilkesboro facility, the company will use the funds to purchase and install equipment for a new paint line, a process that previously had been done by third party vendors.  The initiative is expected to improve efficiencies and provide better service to the company’s customers.  Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $42,741 not including benefits. The Wilkes County average annual wage is $29,172.  Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, CertainTeed also has NC plants in Oxford, Claremont, and Roxboro.  The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects to create new jobs. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  Besides, the One North Carolina Fund, other partners that helped with this project include the North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Community Colleges, Wilkes County, and Wilkes Economic Development Corporation.

Foreclosed House Hit by Thief

The break-in and theft happened sometime within the past 3 months but was just discovered this week.  In a report filed with the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department by the State Employees Credit Union, a foreclosure house was broken into and damaged.  The house on Mountain View Road in Hays was last known secure on July 1.  This week, a bank employee found that the side door of the house was forced open and the door frame damaged.  Several cabinet doors had been damaged or removed.  The whole house had been gone through.  The kitchen floor was damaged by water where the door had been left open.  The heat pump valued at 6000 dollars was also stolen from outside the foreclosed house.   Damages are estimated over 4300 dollars.  The bank has secured the home again.  The exact date of the break-in and the identity of thieves is unknown.

Shoe Boxes and The Journey

You’re invited to take part in The Journey.   Tonight “The Journey” event is being held at Baptist Home Church.  You’ll gain ideas, inspiration, encouragement, and resources to support you and your group in collecting shoe boxes to send around the world to children in need says Dan Jarvis with Operation Christmas Child of Samaritan’s Purse.  Jaris says sharing the Gospel of Jesus is the main mission of the shoe boxes.  National collection week for the shoe boxes begins November 14^th.  For more information go to www.samaritanspurse.org or go to Baptist Home Church, Sparta Road, North Wilkesboro tonight from 6:30 til 8pm.

More and More Stolen Batteries

As we reported earlier this week, one of the things most commonly stolen in Wilkes now is batteries.  Copper thefts and thefts of or from cars often top the list for local thieves but batteries are making their way to the top of the list.  On Monday a North Wilkesboro resident contacted the Sheriff’s Department concerning several batteries stolen from his residence.  Batteries were taken out of his International Truck and an older Ford pickup.  The victim said that Shefield Grading had several pieces of equipment parked in his yard from which batteries were also stolen.  Seven batteries valued at 670 dollars were taken including 6 12-volt Diesel truck batteries and a 12-volt battery.  No suspects were listed with the report.  Over the weekend, a Millers Creek resident reported the theft of two diesel truck batteries.  Also, a victim from Hays told Sheriff’s Deputies that there had been multiple thefts from his property including one last week where 3 batteries were stolen off his road tractors parked on his property in North Wilkesboro.  In Boomer, a man returned home, saw two men attempting to steal the batteries from his dump truck, he gave chase, and the  two men were captured and arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies.

Stealing from Cars in the Parking Lot

If you look suspicious, then you’re probably doing something illegal.  That’s what some witnesses thought when they saw two men looking inside cars in a parking lot at a local restaurant.  Wilkesboro Police were called to the Sagebrush restaurant regarding to suspicious men seen around several cars in the parking lot.  They even seen entering one car.  When Police arrived, they found the two men near Glenn Hill Apartments.  At first one of the two men, Terry Shomaker of Wilkesboro, told police his car had run out of gas and that was why he was walking.  The second man, David Walker of North Wilkesboro, was found on River Street.  Witnesses reported seeing Shomaker looking inside several cars and entering one while Walker served as a lookout.  On vehicle owner reported some money missing from their car.  Both Shomaker and Walker were arrested.  Shomaker was charged with felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle.  Walker was charged with felony aid and abetting.