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.  

NC Symphony at the Walker Center Tonight and Friday Morning

The North Carolina Symphony is coming to town tonight for a concert at the Walker Center at 8pm.  Then Friday at 10am, the NC Symphony will present a free educational performance to elementary and middle school-age students from Wilkes as part of a series that forms the core of the most extensive education programs of any U.S. orchestra.   The educational concert features special demonstrations by the Symphony’s renowned staff of conductors and world-class musicians.  Education concerts are presented free in schools or concert halls such as the one for students Friday morning at the Walker Center.  The educational concert is closed to the public.  Again, tonight’s performance at The Walker Center featuring Schubert’s Great Symphony is open to the public and begins at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for tonight’s concert www.ncsymphony.org .

Foxx Named Taxpayer Hero

The taxpayer watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste has named Congresswoman Virginia Foxx a “Taxpayer Hero” for her record of voting to protect taxpayers, cut spending and to oppose wasteful government expenditures.  Foxx received a 98% score in the group’s ratings, which was the highest score in the North Carolina congressional delegation.    Citizens Against Government Waste’s (CAGW) congressional rankings examine Representatives’ voting records to identify members of Congress who stand up for the taxpayers’ interests and also those who fail to deliver on promises of fiscal responsibility.  “On behalf of taxpayers, we thank and applaud Congresswoman Foxx for her votes to cut wasteful spending, reduce taxes, and make government more accountable to taxpayers,” said CCAGW President Tom Schatz.  For a full list of ratings and the rating methodology please visit http://www.ccagwratings.org/.

Good News Announced at Wilkes Commissioners' Meeting

Several items were on the agenda for last night’s Wilkes County Commissioners’ Meeting.  Jeff Garstka, President of the Wilkes Economic Development was there to report on some good news for a local company.  Key City Furniture has announced a partnership with Schnadig to product two lines of upper-end upholstery including one for Ralph Lauren at the local plant with shipping expected to begin in the fourth quarter.  This announcement was welcome news to the 100+ employees at Key City.  The Darden Restaurants with the combined Olive Garden/ Red Lobster are moving forward with their plans with a possible opening in Fall of 2012.  It’s National 4-H Week and the Commissioners approved a Proclamation and recognized the many 4-H members in attendance at the meeting.  Wilkes 4-H member Luke Williams gave a report from the Youth Summit he attended with Commissioner Gary D. Blevins.  Commissioners also adopted a Proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.

More Stolen Vehicles in Wilkes

There are more stolen vehicles to add to an ever-growing list since last week including the theft of a truck which belonged to the Wilkes County Schools.  In a report filed with the Sheriff’s Office on Monday, a McGrady resident reported the theft.  The man is employed by the Wilkes County School System and had the 1984 Chevy S-10 parked at his residence at the time of the theft.  The doors were left unlocked with the keys inside.  The pickup is yellow with Wilkes County Schools painted on both doors and is valued at 1500 dollars.  Then another McGrady resident reported the theft of his pickup.  The 1982 tan Toyota pickup was parked in his shed at his residence.  Again the doors were left unlocked with the keys inside the vehicle.  It appears whoever stole the truck drove it through a grass field behind the shed to leave by way of Sparta Road.  Yesterday, 3WC reported on the theft of a van with the keys inside.  The van belonged to a Boone car dealership and was parked at the home of an employee on Boone Trail.  There are no suspects in either case.  

Almost Caught Breaking In

Well a vehicle owner in Boomer almost caught a thief trying to break-in his car this week.  According to the report with the Sheriff’s Department, the man was at home and saw a white male trying to break in his’95 Ford Mustang.  The man was unable to break in the car; however, he was able to leave the scene before Sheriff’s Deputies arrived.  There was only minor damage to the car and nothing reported stolen.  Again the would-be thief is described as a white male, about 5’9”, 160 pounds, wearing jeans, a black hat and black hoodie.  The man left the area on foot.  The Sheriff’s Department is investigating.

Another Theft from Landfill

The Sheriff’s Department has also received a couple of reports of stolen lawn mowers.  An employee with the Wilkes County Landfill called to report that several larcenies had taken place at the landfill.  In the most recent theft, the Landfill Manager had a surveillance video showing 3 white males with 2 of the men pushing 2 mowers with 2 radiators and a battery piled on top and a third carrying a weedeater.  The investigating officer found evidence at the scene and charges are pending.  Then a Millers Creek resident reported the theft of a red, self-propelled Murray push mower valued at 250 dollars.  The mower was stolen from behind the victim’s house on Lovette Home Street.  There are no suspects.

Wilkes Church Vandalized

A church in Wilkes was the target of vandals recently.  Over the weekend, Wilkes County Sheriff’s Officials received a call from a third party concerning graffiti on Suncrest Church.  When a deputy arrived, he met with the church pastor.  Graffiti was spray painted on an exterior wall of the church.  Neighbors near Suncrest church were questioned, but no one had any information on possible suspects in the vandalism.  The pastor said the graffiti would be painted over as soon as possible.  The type of graffiti or an estimate of damages to the church were not given with the report.  The Sheriff’s Department is continuing to follow up in the area with their investigation.

One Robbed and One Only Damaged

In a couple of local break-ins, one reported a theft and another just reported damages.  A homeowner on the Pilgrim Baptist Church Road is in the process of moving, but he got some unsolicited help moving from thieves.  The man told Sheriff’s Deputies that he returned home and found that the back door had been pried open and a window was broken out of the home.  There were tire tracks where someone had backed up to the front door.   Property stolen from inside the house included an entertainment center and a set of binoculars.  Also the go cart chained to a tree in the back yard was taken.  Stolen property totaled over 1600 dollars.  Then a Moravian Falls resident called to report a break-in without a theft this week.  The homeowner returned home to find the front door had been broken open and the door frame damaged.  The homeowner searched the house but could not find that anything had been stolen.  The Sheriff’s Department is investigating.  

5th District Congresswoman Foxx Calls for End to Congressional Pension

The federal budget deficit will hit $1.3 trillion in 2011, topping one trillion dollars for the third year in a row.  Foxx says that is why she has voted under both Republican and Democrat administrations to reduce federal spending and get the federal deficit under control.  As important as it is to cut federal spending, Congress also needs to lead by example and closely examine its own budget.  This year the House of Representatives cut its own budget by $55 million for 2011 and voting for an additional $39.1 million cut for 2012.  That amounts to nearly $100 million in cuts to the House budget.  Foxx contends the best place to continue the cutting is the congressional pension program.  Very few North Carolina private sector workers have such generous retirement benefits.  Foxx says there is an easy fix to this problem: stop the congressional pension.  So, Foxx cosponsored legislation with Congressman Mike Coffman from Colorado to wind down the pension program.  This legislation (H.R. 2913) would end the pension program and save taxpayers millions each year.  Foxx explains that while this will not balance the budget and end the federal deficit, it is a start; and it sends a message to America that Congress is serious about cutting spending—including its own budget and benefits.