News & Sports For September 6th

Gas Shortage Not Affecting Wilkes Schools
With the cost of gas staying above three dollars a gallon, there have been questions raised about its’ effect on the school system. On Friday 3WC News talked with David Johnson from the school’s transportation office about the problem. Currently school buses here in Wilkes consume 1,000 gallons of fuel a day, meaning that the county is spending just over 3200 dollars daily. However according to Johnson, the problem isn’t as bad as it could have been, thanks to new policies installed over the last year. The school board eliminated backtracking, meaning that for the most part only one bus runs through a route. Granted it does mean that some students have a longer ride home, but several thousand dollars has been saved through the practice. In addition, the county has reduced the time buses idle, starting them up just as class is getting out among other things. Still with the higher gas prices and longer rides, Johnson says he expects to see fewer kids riding buses here in the county. And with gas supplies lower than normal, he says the school system will be limiting extra activities, such as field trips and other events to help save fuel. The school day however will remain as is, with no current plans to shorten it due to the gas supplies.

What To Do If You Are Searching For Loved Ones
While Hurricane Katrina didn’t hit Wilkes physically, many people here in the county have family and friends who disappeared in the storm’s wake. Now the Red Cross has put together a way for you to track down your missing loved ones. Called the Family Links Registry, it’s available either by phone or the internet. You can call 1-877-568-3317 or log on to www.redcross.org. Either way you can find out if your relative or friend has already been registered and learn where they’ve been evacuated to. The Red Cross can also help you get in touch with them. In addition, there are several other registries that you can sort through to get in touch with family members. The National Next of Kin Registry at www.nokr.org will match located evacuees with family members. Also katrinaconnections at www.katrinaconnections.com is available to be used.

Red Cross Looking For Volunteers
While many people here in the county have donated food, clothes and money the Red Cross still finds itself short in one category, that of volunteers. The Red Cross needs volunteers to go down and work in the medical field, also to help hand out supplies and deal with other issues. For anyone who’s interested in doing this, there will be training classes going on throughout the week at several locations. Here in Wilkes, you can call the local chapter for information at 838-4563.

Blood Drives Going On Today
We’ve all heard about the destruction throughout Mississippi and Louisiana and efforts are going on to send down supplies. But even if you can’t afford to donate food or clothes, you can help in another way. The Red Cross is holding two blood drives today, in order to send down south. The first is at the VFW Hall this afternoon from 2-6:30pm and across town, there will be another one at 6the Wilkesboro Civic Center from 2-6:30pm as well. Just remember before giving blood you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs.

License Check Leads To Drug Bust
A license check on Hwy 16 led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies over the weekend. As deputies approached the car, it had a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside. The driver was asked if deputies could search the car, which he agreed to. Once inside, they found two bags containing 1.1 grams of cocaine and another bag holding 3 grams of marijuana. 22-yr-old Latosha Ann Boyd was arrested and charged with drug possession.

Gas Thieves Respond To Shortage
As gas prices rose last week, it’s no surprise that some people in Wilkes found less than legal ways of filling up the tank. The Neighbor’s Store on Hwy 268 fell victim to gas thieves late last week. A person drove up in a white SUV, pumped 51$ worth of gas and then drove off without paying. A description of both the vehicle and its’ driver were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

WCC Continues Small Business Series
With unemployment rising here in the county, it could be a good idea to start thinking about running your own business. Wilkes Community College is trying to help you get all the tools to start one, as they’re hosting a series of seminars over the next five weeks. The first was held last week and now coming up this Thursday, the second in the series will be held in the Student Resource Center. The topic of this week’s seminar deals with your ideas for a business, asking “Is My Business Concept Viable?” That will go on from 6-9pm in Room 1110 of the Student Resource Center. Even if you missed the first one, you can still join in the seminar. There is no cost but school officials ask that you call ahead and register at 838-6210.

Always Keep Your Doors Locked
It’s always a good idea to lock up before you leave. A North Wilkesboro man learned that the hard way last week, as he returned to find thieves had walked right into his house. The man had left the doors unlocked, only to return Thursday morning and find $800 worth of material stolen from inside, Included in the theft was a gas powered pressure washer and a craftsman air compressor. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Cattlemen’s Association To Meet Thursday
For any cattle owners here in the county, the Wilkes Cattlemen’s Association will be meeting this Thursday. The event will take place at 6:30pm at the Farm Bureau Building in North Wilkesboro. However if you are planning to attend, it’s asked that you call ahead to make reservations. The number to call is 651-7331.

Gun Stolen From Hays Home
A Hays man returned home over the weekend to find that someone had broke in and stolen a gun from inside. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else stolen from the house, however there is a suspect in the case. A local man had come by a few days earlier, wanting to talk about the weapon. The joke appears to be on the thief however, as the gun was missing a pin that rotates the cylinder. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Thieves Go Shopping At Ronda Home
A family in Ronda came home over the weekend to find that thieves had paid them a visit. Despite there not being any sign of a break-in, a 23’ tv, DVD player, several videos and an air conditioning unit were taken from the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

State Testing City Water
Officials from the state health department are testing the drinking water in several North Carolina cities, after reports came in of possible lead contamination. Durham and three other cities, which weren’t named, are all being tested for lead in the drinking water. This comes after high levels of lead were found in the blood of two children under the age of six, both of whom became extremely sick. The testing will continue over the next two months, as officials try to determine where the lead came from.

U.S. 321 To Shut Down
People traveling through Lenoir on U.S. 321 will have to make alternate plans today, as portions of the road will be closed for repairs. The section of 321 leading to Blowing Rock from Caldwell County will be closed from noon til 2pm, between Kirby Mountain Road and Blackberry Road. The DOT has put up detour signs, leading from Lenoir on Hwy 18 through Wilkesboro, before turning off onto U.S. 421 towards Boone. Blasting is going on to help widen the highway.

North Carolina Designated As Primary Recovery State
With refugees continuing the pour out of Louisiana, North Carolina has been designated as the primary recovery state. Officials from FEMA made the announcement on Monday. What that means is any evacuees who can’t find friends or family will be taken to places here in the state. 500 people arrived in Charlotte Monday night and 400 more were taken to Raleigh. More are expected in Greensboro later this week.

Gas Prices Hit North Carolina Economy
The high gas prices hit North Carolina hard over the weekend, cutting down tourism during Labor Day. Holiday travelers at the beaches decreased by 50%, with most averaging just under 600 people for the entire weekend. Overall Triple A of the Carolinas estimated that tourism across the state would drop at least 15%. However good news is in the forecast for the rest of this month. The main pipelines that supply North Carolina are back online as of Friday and with repairs continuing, we could see lower prices within the next two weeks. As far as the gas supply itself, while some stations have run out across the state, refills should be coming later today.

Minor In Christianity Offered At UNC
For the first time in school history, UNC Chapel Hill will be offering a minor in Christianity. Students can start signing up for the curriculum, which is called Christianity and Culture, this coming spring. The idea came about thanks to Christian Smith, a sociology professor at the school. He did a four year study on the spiritual lives of teens, in which he discovered that most know nothing about Christianity, despite the fact they call themselves members of the faith. In a quiz handed out to students at the beginning of a New Testament class, over 50% usually fail.

Sports Headlines

Friday Night Football Results
Around the high school scene this weekend, it was West Wilkes beating North Wilkes 35-7. With the win, the Blackhawks improve to 2-1, their best record since 2003, while the Vikings fall to 0-3. For the Blackhawks, they go on to face Bishop McGuiness at home this week, while we’ll be making our way out to North Wilkes, as they host Alleghany. In our 3WC broadcast Friday night, it was the East Wilkes Cardinals beating Wilkes Central 42-0, in a game highlighted by penalties and missed opportunities. The Eagles now fall to 0-3, while the Cardinals move on up to 2-1. This week Wilkes Central goes on the road against Watauga, while East will host East Surry.

UNC Chapel Hill News & Notes
In college basketball, Mike Copeland Jr. officially became the latest member of the UNC Tarheels this week, after being approved by the university’s admissions office. Copeland becomes the fifth member of this year’s recruiting class, a 6-7 235 lb. forward who will have a chance to start if he performs well in the coming weeks of practice. The class of new Tarheels includes 6-9 Tyler Hansbrough, 6-5 Marcus Ginyard, 6-5 Danny Green and 6-3 guard Bobby Frasor.

UNC Wins Basketball Exhibition
The 2006 season started off on the right foot for Coach Roy Williams and the Tarheels. The team went on the road over the Labor Day weekend, flying in to take on a club team in the Bahamas. The Heels won 106-85 on Sunday, thanks in part to 27 points from Reyshawn Terry. Earlier on Saturday, the Heels won their first game in the islands 100-66 over the Real Deal Shockers, a team from a local league. The news wasn’t all good for the team however, as they committed 38 turnovers during Saturday’s game.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem falling to Potomac 8-5. Warthogs’ starter Wes Whisler was credited with the loss after giving up six runs in five innings of work. With the loss, Winston falls into a tie for first place with the Salem Virginia team. A one game playoff has been set up for later tonight at 7pm, to be held in Virginia.

In Wake Of Race Gordon Falls
After Kyle Busch’s first win as a NASCAR driver, teams are gearing up for the last race before the Chase for the Cup. The 20-yr-old Busch took the checkered flag in Sunday’s Sony HD 500 while Rusty Wallace clinched the eighth playoff spot. Now that leaves five drivers fighting over two spots. Jeff Gordon fell out of the tenth spot, losing it to Matt Kenseth as he finished 21st. Now Gordon, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Elliot Sadlier and Kenseth are all fighting for the final two spots as the race heads to Richmond this Saturday.

News & Sports For September 2nd

Gas Shortage Scare
A gas shutdown in the area turned out to be a hoax. Several people have called the 3WC Studios over the past 24 hrs, asking about a supposed gas cut off that was to take place at 3pm Thursday afternoon. What got this started is partially due to a nationwide protest effort that is asking people not to buy gas over the Labor Day weekend. The protesters are asking that for either one day or the entire weekend, people abstain from buying gas. According to Brandon Tabor, creator of the Slow Pump Movement, this is supposed to be a way to cut down on the oil companies’ profits. That movement, combined with Gov. Easley’s request for citizens to conserve gas, is what helped to create the panic. While supplies are running low here in the area, several companies confirmed that there isn’t going to be a shutdown and as long as gas keeps coming in, they’ll keep selling it. You could experience long lines at the pump, but for the most part that’s the extent of the problem. If however you believe that one of the stations in your area is trying to gouge you with high prices, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx has set up a place on her website to report it. You can go to www.foxx.house.gov and look on the right side of the page. Coming up in state news we’ll have more about Easley’s remarks and how they might affect your Labor Day plans.

Hold On To Your Checkbook
A Wilkesboro man learned this week why it’s a good idea to hold on to your checkbook. He accessed his bank account, only to find that checks had been written in his name, which he had never cashed. It turns out that the man’s ex-wife had gotten his checkbook somehow and had gone on a spending spree. It’s not clear exactly how much was taken from the account, as there are several more checks pending. That investigation is ongoing.

Voter Registration Deadline Today
Time’s almost up if you haven’t registered yet to vote this year. At 5pm today, voter registration for the North Wilkesboro Primary will be over. If by that afternoon you aren’t registered to vote, then you won’t be able to cast a ballot. The same goes for the November elections. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm. However if high gas prices make it impossible to get to town, you can mail in your registration with a postmark of today’s date.

Signs Stolen From Taco Bell
The Taco Bell in Wilkesboro fell victim to thieves this week. However the suspects didn’t want food or money, instead all they ran off with was a sign in the window. Two advertising signs, that had been put up on the inside of the dining room were taken by customers as they left the restaurant. Witnesses provided identification of the suspects and that information was turned over to police. The investigation is ongoing.

Local Churches Pitching In To Help Relief Effort
With the death toll rising and supplies desperately needed, several churches here in Wilkes are lending a hand to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Oak Grove Baptist Church, on the Rock Quarry Road in North Wilkesboro is leaving on Friday to take some supplies down to Mississippi. Several members of the church family are in one of the towns affected by Katrina and Oak Grove is going down to bring them back. In addition they’re taking supplies to give out to anybody who needs them. That includes canned goods, clothes, deodorant and any other emergency supplies you want to donate. They’re leaving tomorrow morning around lunchtime, but will be taking donations at the church until 9pm tonight at the Fellowship Hall and then early tomorrow morning. Celebration Church is also putting together a trailer full of items to take down. They leave early tomorrow morning, to head down. For the rest of the night, they’ll also have a trailer set up at the church, located in what used to be the old Union School. All donations are welcome, but the church is mostly looking for clothes, food and healthcare items such as deodorant and bandaids to take down. And as we get information in about other donation drives, we’ll be sure and let you know.

Wreck Sends Two People To Hospital
A wreck earlier this week on the Brushy Mountain Road sent two people to the hospital. Dr. Mary Small was traveling down Brushy Mountain Road when she lost control of her car. The vehicle ran off the road and she jerked the wheel, bringing it back onto the highway. The car then crossed the center line and went directly into the path of a man coming from the other direction. Both cars were totaled in the crash and both drivers had to be taken to Wilkes Regional for treatment. An update on their condition was not available at this time.

WCC To Host Financial Class For Adults
Sometimes it can be a pain collecting on a debt. Regardless if it’s something owed by a neighbor or payment charged to your business. Coming up later this month, Wilkes Community College is holding a seminar, to help people understand what their legal rights are in such a situation. Such as what are your options for collecting a bad debt? What to do when a debtor skips town? The meeting is free, however you must register ahead of time to get in. To sign up, you can call WCC at 838-6210. That will take place on September 29th, sponsored by the Small Business Center of the college.

Drugs Found After Traffic Stop
A traffic stop in Wilkesboro this week led to an arrest for drug possession. Officers were on patrol when they observed a car driving past, a vehicle whose driver was known not to have a license. They pulled over the woman, who confirmed that her license had expired. Officers asked if they could search the car and she agreed. However upon the search they found a set of scales, marijuana leaves and some baggies, in addition to $780 in cash. 18-yr-old Savannah Lynn Webb was arrested and charged with drug possession with intent to sell, not having a license and possession of drug paraphernalia. Later after being searched at the intake center, 34 grams of marijuana was found on her person.

State News

Easley Urges Conservation
Gov. Easley held an emergency press conference on Wednesday, asking people to conserve gas during the Labor Day weekend. His request comes due to the fact that North Carolina is one of nine states that receive most of their fuel supplies from the Gulf Coast, a section hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. 90% of North Carolina’s gas comes from this region. With most of those oil refineries off line until repairs can be made, only 30% of the normal gas supply is making its’ way into North Carolina. Gov. Easley said that North Carolina isn’t out of gas, but supplies are running low, so he urged people if possible to stay in this weekend and save gas for important trips. He also asked that people cancel their Labor Day plans and stay home when possible, to help the state get through the weekend. By next week, the Department of Energy plans to have the gas supply up to 50%, which will alleviate some of the concerns. Triple A of the Carolinas says that the problem won’t be gas running out but rather people panicking.

More Oil Headed To NC
Good news however for North Carolina drivers, as more gas will be on the way this weekend. Colonial Pipeline has confirmed that they’ve managed to restart their main supply lines, which will start pumping at about 35% of normal today. By the end of the weekend company officials hope to have that number up to 60% but say that it will take some time to bring things back up to normal.

“Sin” Taxes Begin Today
Expect another hit to your wallet this weekend, as the so-called “sin” taxes take effect. As of Thursday morning, a pack of cigarettes costs 25 cents more than normal, as the tax rose to 30 cents. Meanwhile the cost of a carton also rose to $3 more than usual. Opponents of smoking say that the increase is a good thing, as they hope it will cause people to quit smoking. In addition higher taxes on candy, alcohol, satellite and cable television will all take hold.

Jobs Headed To Wilmington
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for people in Wilmington, as more jobs are headed into the area. General Electric announced plans on Thursday to expand its’ jet engine and nuclear power companies to include new plants in Wilmington. The move is expected to generate 200 jobs in the area over the next five years. $3.4 million in incentives was handed out by the state to attract the business, with most of that coming from the Job Development Investment Grant, a program that gives money out to businesses that help generate new jobs. The bad news is that 50 of those new jobs will be transfers from other positions in Tennessee and California.

Cold Medicine Now Harder To Come By
For anyone who has sinus problems or fights cold symptoms, North Carolina could be making it harder to do so. The state House passed a bill yesterday that would limit access to medicine that contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that’s found in items like Sudafed. The drug is also a major ingredient in creating methamphetamines. Once this bill becomes law, any tablet form medicine that contains the drug would be available only as a prescription. All gel caps and medicine for children would originally be left on shelves, but the state reserves the right in this bill to restrict those to prescription at a later date. And for those left on the shelves, you can only buy three packages each month. If Gov. Easley signs the bill into law, which he hasn’t indicated one way or the other, it would take effect January 15th. Attorney General Roy Cooper said the bill was an important step in getting meth off the streets. Once the law takes effect you will only be able to buy the medicine by showing

Lawn Mower Races Offending Neighbors
An Alleghany man is having to go to court in order to keep racing. Neighbors of Ronnie Woodie was taking the man to court because they feel the lawn mower races that he holds on his property “doesn’t fit” with the surrounding area. Some of Woodie’s 50 neighbors have also accused him of trying to intimidate them by putting up signs in his yard and firing guns for no reason. For the last four months, Woodie has held lawn mower races in his backyard, with the proceeds going to benefit local organizations. So far, he’s donated $1000 to the Glade Creek Fire Department and $700 to the local elementary school. Woodie said that he and the other families who take part are just wanting to have a good time while helping out the community at the same time. A court date has yet to be announced.

Sports Headlines

High School Sports
Around the high school scene last night, it was West Wilkes beating North 20-0 in JV football. Also Wilkes Central beat North 9-0 in tennis. In jv volleyball North beat Wilkes Central 2 games to none and in the varsity match it was North winning 3 games to none. If high gas prices have put a damper on your Friday plans you can tune in tonight and join the 3WC Sports Team as we’ll be out at Wes Steele Stadium for our Football Friday Night broadcast. Wilkes Central will play host to East Wilkes in a battle of the birds. The Cardinals come in with a record of 1-1, while the Eagles look to rebound from an 0-2 start. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be on hand to bring you the play by play, while Brian Carlton will be back at the station, giving you updates on all the other games going on in the area. Kickoff is set for 7:30 with the pregame show going on the air at 7:15. All this on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating Kinston 5-1. Warthogs starter Gio Gonzalez picked up the win after going seven innings and allowing only one run. The Warthogs are also working with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina to collect supplies to send down to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. For anyone heading out to tonight’s game, the team is asking that you bring drinking water, cleaning supplies, canned goods or flashlights and batteries. They’ll be putting all of this together to send with the latest shipment from the Second Harvest Food Bank this weekend.

Panthers Final Preseason Game
The Carolina Panthers let most of their starters have the day off on Thursday, so they could take a look at those players left on the bubble. It showed in the final score, as they lost to Pittsburgh 21-17. Stefan Lefors spent most of the night at quarterback for the Panthers, completing 7 of 11 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Drew Carter meanwhile caught 7 passes for 107 yards in the loss. Next week the Panthers will open the regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints.

Erin Cocker To Make Busch Debut
NASCAR’s Busch Series is going to get another addition coming next week. Erin Crocker, the 24-yr-old woman who races for Evernham Motorsports, is expected to make her debut when the series heads to Richmond Virginia on the 9th. Crocker has been racing in the Automobile Racing Club of America series, finishing second in one race and coming in third two other times. Depending on how she performs, company officials said she could make an appearance on the Nextel Cup circuit next season.

News & Sports For September 1st

Big Climb In Local Unemployment
Bad news for Wilkes County’s economy, as the local unemployment numbers were released for July. During the month, unemployment here in Wilkes soared to 6.6%, up from 6% in June and continuing a climb started back in May, when the rate was at 5.6%. Currently here in the county there are 33,197 people listed as being part of the workforce. Out of that number, 30,998 are employed while 2199 are still hunting for a job.

Hurricane Relief Being Organized
As the death toll continues to climb in Louisiana and Mississippi, people are working to make sure food, water and other needs are provided for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Here in Wilkes there two operations currently going on, the first organized by the Red Cross. They’re taking up money donations, to help buy supplies for those still living. You can drop a donation of any amount to the local Red Cross office, located on 104 West Street here in Wilkesboro. Or you can also mail a donation in to American Red Cross, Wilkes-Alleghany Counties Chapter 104 West Street Wilkesboro NC 28697-2433. If you do mail it however please make sure you label it as a donation to the hurricane relief effort. The other operation is being run by the United Way, which has set up a Hurricane Katrina Response Fund, not just for the present time but also for the long term recovery needs. This is also just accepting monetary donations. You can drop off donations to the United Way, but just make sure that you explain that it’s for the hurricane relief fund. As we get the details regarding other operations here in Wilkes, we’ll be sure and let you know.

Focus On Veterans
They are called America’s greatest generation. The veterans of World War II gave all they had to protect this country, leaving behind family and friends to fight across the ocean. Now members of the Wilkes VFW Hall want to honor our local vets by taking them on a free trip to the World War II Memorial. Rex Eldrith will be my guest today for Focus on the Foothills, as we’ll be talking about the upcoming trip, what’s involved and how anyone can take part. That’s right after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Got In To Have A Look Around
A Millers Creek man called Wilkesboro police this week, after discovering that his car had been vandalized. The driver side door had been damaged, with the actual door lock hanging outside of the vehicle. Estimated damages were placed at $150, however nothing was stolen or broken inside the vehicle. Security cameras at the store where this happened gave police a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Primary Elections One Month Away
On September 27th, Wilkes County voters will head back to the polls and select a candidate in two primary elections. In North Wilkesboro, the race is for the Republican nomination for mayor, between incumbent Steve Foster and his challenger Gerald Lankford. Lankford was Foster’s opponent in the last election as well. Whoever wins will then move on to face George G. Church in November. North Wilkesboro is also holding a primary for town commissioner. Two people out of the five running can be selected to represent the Democratic ticket in this year’s election. Those five are Billy Joe “Crow” Church, Faye Cox, Debbie F. Ferguson, Robert L. Johnson and Eric Williams. Faye Cox and Robert Johnson are the incumbents, each running for re-election.

WCC To Hold Start Up Business Classes
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a business? Maybe you have questions about what’s involved, what paperwork you have to fill out and what hoops you have to jump through. Starting tonight, Wilkes Community College is offering a series of seminars focusing on developing small businesses. The first takes place tonight, from 6-9pm in Room 1110 of the Student Resource Center. There is no cost, but college officials ask that you call ahead to pre-register. The number to call is 838-6210.

State News

Amber Alert Cancelled As Girl Discovered
Good news today as the Amber Alert has been called off for 12-yr-old Jodie Collie. She was found shortly after 9pm Tuesday night, at a bus station in Des Moines Iowa, unharmed and in good health. There was no sign of the man she had left with, 27-yr-old Phillip Daniel Denkler. Collie had called her grandfather, who then got in touch with the FBI on Tuesday, to go pick her up. She said that she had been dropped off at the bus station by Denkler and other then being shaken up, appeared to be physically and mentally ok. Police later arrested Philip Denkler, charging him with felony child abduction and violating parole.

Burlington Man Faces More Charges
Earlier this week 3WC told you about David Lee Martin Jr., a 22 yr-old man who was facing 46 different charges for crimes he committee over the last four months. The warrants however continue piling up for the man, as Martin is now wanted for an additional 47 charges of theft in the Burlington area, bringing the grand total to 93. He’s now facing charges of grand theft auto, breaking into a coin machine and taking part in a dogfighting ring, among other things. Martin is currently being held in Alamance County under what’s now an $180,000 bond.

Former Duke Star Raising Money
Former Duke point guard Chris Duhon has seen his hometown devastated over the last few days, as Hurricane Katrina poured over Slidell Louisiana. His childhood home was destroyed and several friends are now homeless as well. To help take care of the need, Duhon has created the Chris Duhon Hurricane Relief Fund, working in connection FEMA to distribute any donated clothing, food and other supplies to the 25,000 people left in Slidell. Several family and friends are staying with the point guard at his house in Chicago, as he gets set to enter his second season in the NBA. Anyone wanting to donate to the Chris Duhon Fund, can send supplies to the Stand Tall Foundation c/o Chris Duhon 1151 North State Street Box 249 Chicago IL 60610.

Bill Becomes Law Without A Vote
A mistake made by the State Senate last week allowed a bill to go into law without being voted on. The proposal, which dealt with new restrictions on auctioneer licensing, appeared to have made it through the Senate and was given to Gov. Easley to sign. He did so earlier this week and the bill became law. However now it seems that bill never made it past the House. The House had approved it and sent it earlier this month to the Senate for consideration. Due to a clerical error, the paperwork stated that it had in fact passed and was ready to be signed. The solution is almost as confusing as the problem itself. In order to bring the bill to the Senate, first it has to be challenged and then repealed by the General Assembly. Otherwise it’ll stay as part of state law.

Gas Prices Hit Government Officials
Officials in Buncombe County announced that travel is being limited due to shrinking gas supplies. Throughout Buncombe, only essential services such as EMS and law enforcement will be allowed to continue using county funds due to higher prices and fear of a possible shortage. Buses, social service operations and other county jobs may have to find alternative ways of getting to work, as cars provided to them could be taken away. County officials are also asking residents not to make any unnecessary trips, in order to help conserve gas. This marks the latest incident stemming from the damage left behind due to Hurricane Katrina.

New Jobs Coming To Thomasville
Good news for people in Thomasville, as more jobs are headed to the area. Imaflex Inc, a Canadian plastics company, will be bringing 50 new jobs with it when it opens up later this year. The company has bought the Tyco Plastics building and after some renovations this fall, will be open for business. The move comes after $125,000 was given as a grant from Gov. Easley’s One North Carolina Fund, to help with moving expenses. Average wages at the plant will be $550 a week and applications are currently being taken. You can send one in at the Employment Security Commission.

Sports Headlines

Bobcats Lock Up Another Player
Turning toward the basketball court, the Charlotte Bobcats added another piece to the puzzle on Wednesday, signing shooting guard Matt Carroll. Carroll was picked up by the Bobcats last year from the developmental league and earned rave reviews for his defense, free throw shooting and scrappy style of play. With his signing, the team now has 12 players under contract, with camp just a few weeks away. Negotiations are still going on with small forward Gerald Wallace.

Panthers Make SI Cover
For the last few years, making the cover of Sports Illustrated has been a good sign for NFL teams on the road to the Super Bowl. Now the Carolina Panthers hope that tradition continues. The Panthers were selected as this year’s pick by SI to win the Super Bowl, as they predict it’ll be Carolina over Indianapolis by a score of 31-27. There is some history on their side in this, as SI correctly predicted that the Patriots would walk away with the trophy last season. Now, coming off a 7-9 year, the Panthers hope to rebound and prove that their 2003 appearance in the big game wasn’t a fluke.

Panthers News & Notes
In other Panther news, the team released two more players to drop down to 76. Long snapper Adam Johnson and rookie safety Ben Emmanuel were released, while receiver Micah Ross was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring pull. This Saturday another round of cuts will hit, as NFL rosters have to be trimmed down to 53 players. That being the case, today’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will make or break the chance of some players to be on the team. Coach Fox said on Wednesday that most of the starters will sit out the game, while those not guaranteed a roster spo t will have most of the attention.

Countdown Is On
In NASCAR, time is ticking down for those drivers still in the hunt for the last three playoff spots. Six drivers are in the running, with the other seven spots already locked up. Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon are currently in those last three spots, but Matt Kenseth, Elliot Sadler and Jamie McMurray are knocking on the door. With two races left before the Chase for the Cup starts, teams have to put in a solid performance this week or see their championship hopes crumble. This Sunday teams head up to California Speedway for the Sony HD 500.

News & Sports For August 31st

Woodward School Has New Owner
On Monday night, the Wilkes County School Board met and went over several items on the agenda. The board officially severed their ties with the old Woodward Middle School property, accepting a bid from the Brushy Mountain Baptist Association to buy it. Lawson Horton from the Association says that the Association has several plans for the building. Aside from bringing in their own offices, the Association is putting together plans for a school, also hoping to move in their Upwards basketball program and several other groups. The Association is talking with Habitat for Humanity and Samaritan's Kitchen among others, who want to be part of the new facility.

License Check Leads To Arrest
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man near Edgewood Road this week after nearly being hit by his vehicle. The deputies were performing a license check when a vehicle came up and refused to stop. The driver then aimed the car at one of them, who was able to barely move out of the way in time, hitting the driver’s side door with his flashlight. Deputies then pursued the man on NC 115 in what became a high speed chase, with speeds reaching above 80 mph. The man went through the parking lots of two different stores before deputies lost him. However they had been able to get the man’s license plate number and tracked him down at home. 39-yr-old Clyde Grady Nickelson Jr. was arrested and charged with DWI, assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing to avoid arrest.

Blood Drive Later Today
Wilkes County’s blood supply is in a critical stage as we head into September. All blood types are in critical levels, with Type O & Type B especially needed. This could cause serious problems as we move on through hurricane season. Even though Katrina passed us by, we still have several months left in the season, without enough blood to last through a major storm. To solve that problem, the Red Cross is asking people to come out and give today during their blood drive at Community Alternatives. It starts at 10am this morning and runs until 2:30 this afternoon. Just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. If you want some more information before heading out, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Just Wanted To Look Around
A North Wilkesboro woman got off work this week to find that someone had been inside her vehicle. The lock had been torn off her car’s trunk, but nothing was missing and no other damage was done to the vehicle. An estimated $400 worth of damage was done in the incident. There are several suspects in the case.

Voter Registration Deadline This Friday
Time’s almost up if you haven’t registered yet to vote this year. At 5pm Friday, voter registration for the North Wilkesboro Primary will be over. If by that afternoon you aren’t registered to vote, then you won’t be able to cast a ballot. The same goes for the November elections. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm or if you’re out of town, you can mail it in with a postmark of this Friday’s date. Tomorrow on the 3WC News we’ll take a look at the upcoming primaries in the area.

Jewelry Stolen From Ronda Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda woman’s home this week, after thieves took off with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. Despite all the items missing, there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to any part of the property. Included in the theft was a $600 diamond ring, a $500 gold rope necklace and several other items. There are suspects in the case however and the investigation is ongoing.

Gas Savers Part Three
With gas prices continuing to go up, it’s more important than ever to conserve fuel. Today in the third part of our gas savers series, we take a look at some other ways to save you time and money at the pump. First of all, keep your engine in tune. That may seem like a small thing, but an out of tune engine can lower your gas mileage by about 4%. Also be on the lookout for worn out sparkplugs. They can drop your car’s gas mileage by 30%. Be sure and replace the car’s air filter when needed. A clogged filter can cost you an additional 15 cents a gallon. Finally make sure to check your tires. Underinflated tires wear down quick, offering more resistance and forcing your engine to work harder. The gas mileage on underinflated tires can drop by 15% or more in some cases. It may seem like a long list of things to do, but it’ll be worth it when you can spend more time away from the pump.

Focus On Veterans
They are called America’s greatest generation. The veterans of World War II gave all they had to protect this country, leaving behind family and friends to fight across the ocean. Now members of the Wilkes VFW Hall want to honor our local vets by taking them on a free trip to the World War II Memorial. Rex Eldrith from the VFW Hall will be my guest tomorrow for Focus on the Foothills, as we’ll be talking about the upcoming trip, what’s involved and how anyone can take part. That’s tomorrow after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

State News

North Carolina Has A Lottery
North Carolina is no longer the only state without a lottery. Tuesday afternoon, the Senate held a special session and voted on the measure, passing it by a vote of 25-24. The Senate was deadlocked, with the absence of two members, John Garwood of Wilkes, who’s recovering from illness and Harry Brown of Jacksonville, who decided to miss the session to start his honeymoon. With their absence, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue exercised her executive powers and cast the deciding vote. The bill earlier passed in the House so now it goes to Gov. Easley for his signature and will be made law.

Fugitive Found At UNCC
After over a week of searching, a North Carolina fugitive is behind bars. Robert Windsor stands accused of kidnapping then murdering his girlfriend, before leaving her body in the trunk of her car. He later abandoned the vehicle on I-77 and disappeared. Over the weekend however, reports came in that he had been sighted in University City, hanging around the UNC Charlotte campus. Campus police found the man on Monday, walking near the main entrance to the school. He was arrested and quickly brought back to Catawba County. It’s still unknown why he went to UNC Charlotte, as he had no ties to the school.

North Carolina Students Get Boost In SATS
Good news for North Carolina students, as the average SAT score here in the state has improved over the last year. According to figures released on Tuesday by the College Board, the class of 2005 improved by four points over the year before. Students here in the state averaged a score of 511 on the math section, that’s up from 507 in 2004. However the verbal test scores stayed the same, with students averaging 499. Virtually every demographic group increased their scores with the exception of Hispanic students. Despite the progress, North Carolina still lags behind the national average, which rose also this year to 520 in math and 508 on the verbal.

Bus Shooting Under Investigation
Officials in Durham are investigating a shooting today, after someone fired on an occupied Transit bus. The incident happened Monday afternoon as the bus was traveling down Holloway Street. Witnesses at the scene described a man standing in the yard of a nearby house, pulling out his gun and opening fire. Three bullets hit the bus windows, but no one was injured. It’s believed at this time the bus wasn’t the target, but rather a vehicle that had passed in front of it. Officials are continuing the investigation at this hour.

Man Who Died Not Criminal
After investigating further, it appears an innocent man died during a police chase in Belmont. Over the weekend, police at a DWI checkpoint saw a vehicle do a U-turn, let out a woman and then take off down the road. The woman told police she had been kidnapped and later raped, a story that would turn out to be false. Police pursued the driver, who eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed, later dying from his injuries. Now the woman has admitted that she made up the whole story, because she was scared of being arrested. The man had let her out and turned around because he’d been drinking and didn’t want to be caught.

Sports Headlines

Volleyball Scores From Tuesday Night
Around the high school scene, some volleyball action on your Tuesday night. It was Forbush beating North Wilkes in JV action 2 games to nothing. In both games Forbush took the win 25-20. In varsity action, Forbush also pulled out a clean sweep 3 games to nothing against North Wilkes.

Friday Night Football
When the wind and rain expected to depart by Thursday, all the local high schools will be back in action this week. Right here on 3WC, we’ll be back out at Wes Steele Stadium for a game between Wilkes Central and East Wilkes. The Cardinals come in off a win against North at 1-1, while coach Jeremy Funderburk and the Eagles look to rebound from an 0-2 loss. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be on hand to bring you the play by play, while Brian Carlton will be back at the station, giving you updates on all the other games going on in the area. Kickoff is set for 7:30 with the pregame show going on the air at 7:15. All this on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Blackman Starts For State
With a few days before their first game of the season, NC State finally named a starting running back. Sophomore Darrell Blackman will get the start, beating out fellow sophomore Bobby Washington, junior Reggie Davis and freshman Toney Baker, Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene. The coaching staff said that Blackman got the nod due to the fact he can catch, block and also is a talented runner, a triple threat that none of the others could match.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem falling to Kinston 10-5. Warthogs starter Lance Broadway was roughed up for eight runs in four innings of work. Robert Valido and Leo Daigle led the Warthogs with three hits each.

Former Tarheel To Get Start
A former UNC Tarheel will get his chance to make an impact in the NFL on Opening Day. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker, who was signed as a rookie free agent by the team, will replace Jerome Bettis in the starting lineup. Bettis injured his right calf muscle and so Parker, who graduated two years ago from UNC, will step in and take his place. The 5-10 209 lb. Parker will line up behind the tackles for Pittsburgh’s game September 11th against Tennessee.

NASCAR Facing Gas Problems
NASCAR officials are facing a problem that can’t be fixed with testing or a suspension. Rising gas prices are causing car owners to consider several options, to avoid losing profits. Some of the teams who have been considering adding a third driver will most likely put that off for another season. In addition, teams are worried that the high prices will keep fans away not just during the Chase For The Cup, but also into next year.

News & Sports For August 30th

Update On Katrina
As the winds die down from Hurricane Katrina and it’s downgraded to a tropical storm, officials in North Carolina continue to keep an eye on the situation. Here in Wilkes, Duke Power issued a statement warning people to be careful around creeks, rivers and other bodies of water. Western North Carolina may be out of the storm’s path, but we can expect several inches of rain and possibly some flooding along with it. Several Duke Power personnel are on standby in case we do get severe weather and they ask that if you are having problems with the electricity, to call when it happens instead of waiting til later. In addition, they ask that anyone who sees a downed power line or some other wire, don’t come near it. You can however call 1-800-POWERON for more information or if you have questions.

Gas Thieves Hit Two More Wilkes Businesses
As prices go up at the pump, it’s no surprise that some people are refusing to pay. Gas thieves hit two more businesses in Wilkes County, first at the Millers Creek Market and then at the Grocery Bag. At the Millers Creek Market, a man drove up to the pump, put in $12 worth of gas and then took off down the road without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get his car’s license plate however and also provided deputies with a description of the vehicle. Then another man pulled up to the Grocery Bag #2 in Traphill, pumping $10 worth of gas before driving off. A description of that vehicle was also turned in and the investigation in both cases is ongoing.

Gas Savers Part Two: Keeping Your Cool
Have you ever got in your car and started it up, only to notice that the gas needle had dropped since you had turned it off? As the August rays beat down on your car, they also suck up gas from inside. In part two of our 3WC Gas Savers series, we’re explaining some more ways to help save money at the pump. First try and park your car in the shade. Parking in sunlight will help your car’s gas evaporate quicker on a hot day. While storing it in the shade won’t solve the problem, it will make the evaporation process go a lot slower, saving at least part of your gas for the ride home. Also make sure your gas cap is tight. Each year, an estimated 147 million gallons of gas are lost due to misplaced or loose gas caps. Air conditioning might seem like a vacuum, draining your gas dry and your wallet too. But studies have shown that while driving on the highway, most cars are actually more efficient when the air conditioning is on, as long as you don’t go too far. Cranking it on full blast won’t get things cool any faster, but what it will do is put a drain on both your battery and gas. When you have an open window, it produces more resistance for your car to fight against, meaning that the engine has to work harder to keep up to speed and that translates into more gas being burned. Coming up tomorrow in part three of our series, we’ll tell you how the right tire can keep you away from the pump for a few more days.

Police Searching For Hit & Run Driver
A North Wilkesboro woman was driving down 421 earlier this week when suddenly a car slammed into her. The vehicle had pulled out of a side street, not paying attention to traffic and totaling both cars in the process. That second driver fled the scene on foot before anyone arrived and apparently with good reason. The car had been stolen a few hours earlier from its’ owner. Estimated damages were placed at $8000 and no one was injured. Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

WCC To Hold Start Up Business Classes
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a business? Maybe you have questions about what’s involved, what paperwork you have to fill out and what hoops you have to jump through. Starting this Thursday, Wilkes Community College is offering a series of seminars focusing on developing small businesses. The first takes place this Thursday, from 6-9pm in Room 1110 of the Student Resource Center. There is no cost, but college officials ask that you call ahead to pre-register. The number to call is 838-6210.

BROC Holding Educational Event Today
Do you have questions about the BROC operation? What exactly is their senior meal plan? How can I sign up for programs? What are the requirements? Coming up later today, members of the Maple Springs Senior Citizens group will be out at Bojangles on Curtis Bridge Road from 11am til 2pm. They’ll be discussing the BROC agency, handing out literature, talking about the different programs and giving out door prizes. Portions of Bojangles’ sales today will go directly to BROC.

High School Students Buckle Up Or Lose It
Here in Wilkes County and across the state, a new type of program is being offered to help keep the roads safe. R U Buckled is a new initiative in 53 of the state’s high schools, including all four in Wilkes County. Under the new plan, students have to wear seat belts at all times. If they’re caught on campus without one on, their parking privileges will be revoked and they’ll have to get a ride for any school activities for the rest of the year. This was put into practice due to the fact that 63% of all 16-to-20 yr olds who were killed in traffic accidents weren’t wearing seat belts.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Traphill Home
Mailbox vandals hit another home in the Traphill area this week. On Sunday, a local man returned home to find his mailbox had been trashed, marking yet another vandalism case in the area. None of the neighbors could recall hearing or seeing anyone come around the property, however estimated damages were placed at around $30. That investigation is ongoing.

State News

Easley Opens North Carolina Up To Refugees
With so many left homeless at least temporarily because of the storm, Gov. Mike Easley has opened North Carolina up as a safe haven. Three National Guard armories across the western part of the state have been opened for use as shelters. Over ten thousand people fled their homes in the face of the hurricane and any of those without a place to go can take shelter in the armories. There is one in Charlotte, right off I-77 on West Boulevard, another in Gastonia on Robinwood Road and finally one in Asheville on Shelborne Road. Two National Guard troops have been assigned to each shelter, to assist the full time staff on scene.

Alamance Man Arrested After Four Month Operation
22-yr-old David Lee Martin Jr. was arrested this week by Alamance County authorities for stealing. When all was said and done, they had charged him with 46 different crimes after what police say has been a four month crime wave. Over the last four months Martin stole everything from a Frito Lay truck to a piece of candy from a store. He’s currently being held in Alamance under $100,000 bond after being arrested at the scene of his latest crime.

Prisoner Gets Another Chance At Freedom
Clifton Spencer has been sitting in jail for years, serving time for a murder he claims he didn’t commit. IN 1990, someone killed a waitress in Manteo and after a brief investigation, Clifton was arrested and charged with the crime. He pled no contest at the time, saying that he was pressured to do so by his lawyer, who told him there was no way he’d get a fair trial. Now an old washcloth found at the scene might prove his innocence. The cloth was used by the killer to clean up after he disposed of the victim, leaving DNA traces behind. Those traces have a man’s DNA on them, but not that of Clifton Spencer. With no other evidence linking him to the scene, Spencer will get another trial possibly by the end of this year and could be a free man in 2006. It’s unknown why he was pressured by the lawyer, as the plea of no contest was about the only thing held up as evidence.

Natural Gas Prices Set To Climb
If you think the price at the pump is bad, wait til this winter. Piedmont Natural Gas announced this week that it plans to raise rates by 14%. That means overall, the cost to heat your home could climb by as much as $200 and that’s if the winter season is a normal one. A bad winter could mean upwards of $300 extra for natural gas, leading some people to cancel their gas service and break out the axe to solve the problem the cheap way.

Durham Bulls Do Their Part For Storm Victims
With people across the country struggling to do their part to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, one North Carolina baseball team is giving up their paychecks. The Durham Bulls announced before last night’s game that all proceeds from the event will be donated to disaster relief efforts. In addition, all of the team’s food supplies left over from this homestand will be donated as well. Monday was the last game of the season for the team and officials said this was the quickest and best way they could think of to help.

Sports Headlines

Maybin Still Won’t Sign
Around the minor leagues, the cousin of former Tarheel Rashad McCants still finds himself without a team. Cameron Maybin, who was drafted as the 10th pick by the Detroit Tigers this year, continues to hold out for a better deal. Maybin, who graduated this past year from Roberson High, wants a signing bonus of about one million more than the Tigers are willing to pay. He’s already lost the chance of playing this season and will likely have to wait until spring training if he does sign, as the fall league is coming up quick. If negotiations don’t go the way he hopes, Maybin has also said he’s open to the possibility of going to a community college and then re-entering the draft next year, in hopes that some team will give him the money he wants.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, Winston Salem moved back into first place after beating Salem 6-0 Monday night. The Warthogs got six shutout innings from starter Ray Liotta, who earned his sixth win of the season. Tom Collaro led the Warthogs, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Panthers Announce Cuts
The Carolina Panthers lowered the axe on 11 players Monday, trimming their roster to 79. By 4pm today, the team has to cut another three in order to get down to the NFL limit of 76. Included in the cuts were Rod Rotherford, last year’s practice squad quarterback who lost a battle with fourth round pick Sefan Lefors for the third string job. Also wide receivers Taylor Stubblefield and J.R. Toliver made the list, along with tight end Chad Mustard, running back Nick Maddox and defensive tackle Omari Jordan. Cornerback Dwight Anderson and linebacker Marcus Lawrence were let go, along with linemen Bill Ferrario, Chase Johnson and Michael Watson. The team has to release an additional 23 players on Saturday, when league rosters have to be trimmed down to the maximum of 53.

Former Winston Salem Player Waived By Bills
Monday was also the end of the line for a former Winston Salem State player, as Tory Woodbury was released by the Buffalo Bills. Woodbury, the school’s all time passing leader, had been working as a quarterback, safety and special teams player for the Bills, but just barely missed the cut. This marks the third team in the last three years to release the 27-yr-old Woodbury.

NASCAR Moving To Canada?
Nascar is considering an expansion for next season, moving into uncharted territory. Plans are coming together to add a race in Montreal, taking over from the Indy car Champ races held each year at the Formula One road course. As the Champ series has one more year on its’ contract, 2007 is the most likely date for the expansion to begin, unless a buyout can be reached. It’s not been decided yet if another race will be added to the schedule, or if a track in the U.S. will lose one of their races to Canada.

Busch Driver Accused Of Cheating
A driver from the Busch Series finds himself in trouble today along with possibly the car’s owner. After the race it was discovered that the tires on Reed Sorenson’s car had been illegally soaked, meaning that they were softened with chemicals to have a better grip on the raceway. Both his crew chief and tire specialist face not only fines but possible suspensions as well. Also NASCAR officials were looking into possible fines being handed out against car owner Chip Ganassi, who some believe okayed the move. The cause for concern comes from the fact that rubber is degraded when chemicals are used on it, meaning that while it might hold traction better for a few minutes, there’s a greater chance the tire could blow during a race and create a wreck.

News & Sports For August 29th

Katrina Heads Inland
With evacuations still going on in portions of Mississippi and Louisiana, just how much of an effect will Hurricane Katrina have on Wilkes and the surrounding area? Currently the hurricane has sustained winds of around 165 mph and is making landfall near New Orleans. Right now, what that means for Wilkes is simply a lot of rain, but things could change in the next 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center has Katrina on a track that would take it right to the edge of North Carolina by early Wednesday. If at any time the hurricane turns east, we would be directly in the path of what would be by then a tropical storm. As conditions change we’ll have updates on the storm and what if anything we need to do to get ready for it.

Break-In To Steal Leaf Blower
Sheriff’s deputies were called out over the weekend to a Wilkesboro residence, after the homeowner returned to find thieves had broke into his storage building. However the only thing taken from the area was a leaf blower that had been kept inside. Nothing else was damaged or missing. The thieves apparently had climbed in through an open window. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Gas Savers Part One: Driving Habits
Gas prices both here in Wilkes and across the state are continuing to skyrocket. And now with the damage done by Hurricane Katrina, it’s more important than ever to conserve gas. This week on 3WC News, we’re bringing you a special series on gas conversation, some quick tips on how to get the most out of your car while keeping money in your wallet. First off, take it easy with that lead foot. Studies done by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy show that the faster you accelerate, the lower your fuel efficiency drops. What that means is that if you push your car by going 75mph or higher, the gas mileage drops by 33%. True you’ll get to your destination a lot faster, but you’ll also be making a trip back to the pump a lot faster as well. Another good idea to conserve gas is to remove any excess items that you don’t need while in the vehicle. For every 100 pounds of extra weight, your car’s gas mileage drops by 2%. Finally be careful how much time you allow your car to idle during the day. Studies have shown that on average, more gas is burned when the car is idling then during a drive to work. Tomorrow in part two of our series, we’ll go over how keeping the air conditioner running could actually help you save on gas.

More Items Dumped On Roaring River Property
For the second time in less than a week, a Roaring River homeowner walked outside to find junk lying in the yard. This time a woman called sheriff’s deputies after coming out to find several appliances had been tossed onto her property. Despite the trash, no one could recall hearing or seeing anyone come near the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Central Wilkes Middle School To Hold First Falcon Night
Later tonight, students and parents will make their way to Central Wilkes Middle School for the first Falcon Family Night. Information will be available about the school’s athletic programs, also about some new laws that will affect how PE and Health classes operate. There will also be free blood pressure and diabetes screenings at the event, along with several other activities. That will be held this coming Monday, August 29th from 6-8pm in the gym of Central Wilkes Middle School. Anyone who attends the school is invited along with their parents. For more information you can call Chris Gambill at 667-7453.

Wreck On Westwood Lane Totals Two
It’s always a good idea to look both ways before pulling out. A North Wilkesboro man learned that the hard way last week, after being involved with a two car wreck. He was pulling out of the Food Lion in Wilkesboro but failed to notice oncoming traffic, slamming into a second vehicle that was driving down Westwood Lane. Total damages were placed at $2500 but thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Samaritan’s Kitchen In Need Of Help
Last week during Focus on the Foothills, we talked with Elizabeth Ferguson from Samaritan’s Kitchen about the need for volunteers. In the last week however, that need has grown and the Kitchen finds itself shorthanded. Everyone from retirees to those who just want to give a few hours in community service are asked to come out and help during the week. Help is especially needed Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am til 1pm. Those hours are when meals are being prepared for the Saturday deliveries, in addition to helping people from the community that need food. The number to call to get more information is 838-5331.

Drainage System Trashed At North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man returned home last week to discover that someone had attempted to do some home repairs while he was out. The drainage system on his home had been torn apart, with estimated damages placed at $500. There is however a suspect in the crime, as a man was seen wandering around the home while the owner was gone. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Later Today
Wilkes County’s blood supply is in a critical stage as we end the month of August. All blood types have less than a day’s supply left, with Type O especially lacking. Officials from the Red Cross talked to 3WC last week and confirmed that there are just a few vials left of Type O here in the county, which could cause serious problems if the hurricane heads our way. To help build up the supply enough to last through a major storm, the Red Cross is asking people to come out and give today during their blood drive at Welcome Home Baptist Church. It starts at 2:30pm this afternoon and runs to 7pm tonight. Just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. If you want some more information before heading out, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

State News

Amber Alert Still In Effect For Missing 12-Yr-Old
Officials across North Carolina are still searching for a missing 12-yr-old girl who vanished on Friday. As 3WC mentioned on Friday, an Amber Alert has been issued for 12-yr-old Jodie Renee Collie who left her home in Rocky Mount Friday morning and hasn’t been seen since. It’s believed that the girl is in the company of a registered sex offender, 27-yr-old Phillip Dankler, who she had developed a friendship with. Collie left a note for her parents, asking them to leave her alone and not call the police. The pair are traveling in a beige 2005 Hyundai Sonata with NC license plate NWN-2630. Jodie Collie is described as being 5-4 and 114 lbs, with green eyes and brown hair. Denkler is 6’1 and 150 lbs, with short black hair and green eyes.

Man Arrested For Aiming Gun At High School Parents
A man is in jail today after pointing a shotgun at four people who were waiting for a football team to return. On Friday night, two women and two kids were waiting for the Broughton High jv football team to get back, when a man walked up the street and pointed a gun in their face. He told them they had to leave the premises before being arrested by a patrolling officer. 45-yr-old Michael Burton Tighe gave no reason for his actions and is being held in the Wake County jail.

Scam Nets Thousands Of Dollars From Burke County
Families across Burke County are up in arms today, after it turns out a good deed they performed may have been for nothing. 32-yr-old William Hannagan from Valdese was arrested and charged with conning people for money. Hannagan would tell people that his wife and child were injured in a car wreck and he needed money so he could go visit them in the hospital. Some gave him money, while others went with him to the gas station so he could fill up the tank. Apparently this isn’t the first time Hannagan has conned people, as he’s wanted for the same crime in Statesville.

Republican Senator Has Ticket For Manufacturing Survival
People across the country are looking for a solution to the problem of outsourcing, as more jobs are daily lost to other countries. Republican Jim Jacumin thinks he has the solution. Jacumin, the Republican senator from Burke County, has put forth a bill to the General Assembly for consideration that would help create a furniture technology center. The center would help to create new technology, saving American companies millions of dollars while also making it cheaper to produce goods here rather than to outsource the work.

Warship To Be Turned Into Campground
If some state leaders have their way, the U.S.S. North Carolina will be turned into a campground. The 65-yr-old warship was decommissioned some time ago and is now a war memorial and museum. But plans are being drawn up to turn the crew bunks into a camping space, where around 175 people could spend the night. That’s part of a proposed $1.6 million in renovations, including a new air conditioning unit throughout the ship, bathrooms, exhibit areas and repairs to lower deck passages. Officials said that the ship would not meet safety standards and the cost of bringing it up to code would be more than could be afforded at this time.

Billy Graham Breaks Ground On New Ministry
The Rev. Billy Graham might be ending his crusade ministry, but he broke ground on another way of sharing the gospel this weekend. Graham helped to break ground on his own museum, a place that will highlight how the son of a dairy farmer went on to preach the Gospel around the world. But instead of just a memorial, the building is an interactive tool where people can hear sermons, kids can learn about God and anyone can accept Jesus as Savior. The 86-yr-old Graham said he didn’t want the building to glorify himself but God. The museum, which opens in 2007, is being built on the grounds of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.

Sports Headlines

High School Football Roundup
Around the high school scene, it was a close one over in Moravian Falls, as the West Wilkes Blackhawks beat Wilkes Central in overtime 12-6. In a hard fought defensive struggle, both teams had chances to win the game, but the senior leadership at West helped the Blackhawks pull away at the end. On the other side of the county, it was East Wilkes beating North 19-7, meaning that Coach Roy Carter of the Vikings will have to wait one more week for his first win with the team. East and West both improve to 1-1, while Central and North fall to 0-2 on the season

Wake Forest Lands Football Commitment
In college football, Wake Forest landed another recruit this weekend. Tripp Russell, who’s entering his senior year at Mount Tabor High School, commited to play for the Deacons. The 6-3 Russell, a linebacker in high school, will also see time at defensive end for the Deacons. Wake Forest was the only school to offer Russell a scholarship, an effort that helped to seal the deal.

UNC Wins Battle Of Alumni
Even though their days of playing college basketball are over, several ACC alumni gathered together one more time on Saturday in the Smith Center for the World’s Greatest Alumni Game. This marks the fourth year of the event, which pits former Tarheel players against alumni from other ACC schools. Raymond Felton, Sean May and Brendan Haywood all suited up for the Heels, who also added J.R. Smith to their roster for the night. Smith had commited to Carolina before going pro straight from college. Chris Paul and Josh Howard from Wake Forest, along with Daniel Ewing from Duke were some of the ACC alumni that showed up. North Carolina won 139-126, with all proceeds from the event going to the American Diabetes Association.

Panthers Beat Cleveland In Preseason
In the NFL, Carolina Panthers rallied to beat Cleveland 23-20 in their third preseason game of the year. The Panthers improved to 2-1 in the preseason after backup quarterback Chris Weinke tossed a 21-yrd touchdown pass to receiver Efrem Hill with less than a minute left. The team will wrap up this year’s preseason on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was a rough day for the Winston Salem Warthogs, as they lost to Salem 9-0. Warthogs starter Ryan Rodriguez gave up five runs in his six innings of work to get the loss. Mike Floyd of the Salem Avalanche hit two home runs on his way to going for the cycle.

NASCAR Results
With two races to go before the Chase for the Cup, the standings got shook up Sunday. Matt Kenseth ran off with the win, followed by Jeff Burton in second, Greg Biffle in third, Ricky Rudd fourth and Rusty Wallace rounding out the top five. Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon made his way back into the top ten. Gordon finished sixth in Sunday’s race, sliding back into the tenth spot in the standings.

News & Sports For August 26th

Wilkes County Hit By Earthquake Aftershock
Portions of Wilkes County were hit Wednesday night with what experts are calling the aftershocks of an earthquake. Around 11pm Wednesday, an earthquake registering 3.8 on the Richter scale hit Eastern Tennessee near the community of Hot Springs. Less than an hour later, aftershocks from that quake were felt in Western North Carolina, including portions of Wilkes. Families in Millers Creek , Moravian Falls, Wilkesboro and Purlear all reported rumbling and shaking, however there were no reports of damage and no one injured from the quake. It’s unknown why the quake happened, as there previously hadn’t been any major seismic activity in the area.

Pressure Washer Stolen From Millers Creek Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Millers Creek residence on Wednesday, after the homeowner returned to find someone had been in his garage. The lock was broken on the building and a pressure washer that had been stored inside was missing. The joke appears to be on the thieves however, as the washer was falling apart and being held together with green cord. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes County Citizens Could Be In For A Refund
Phone fraud is a major problem across the United States and here in North Carolina, the Attorney General’s office is doing their best to deal with it. Now comes news that Wilkes County citizens, along with other people in the state, might be owed some money. Anyone who was involved with American Savings Discount Club, will soon be able to get their money back. The loan company conned 20,000 people here in Wilkes and across the state into signing up for overpriced and illegal loans. ASDC officials would call people and promise them loans ranging from $500 to $1500 in price, all in exchange for an up front payment of $100 and then $30 each month. What actually happened was that once customers signed up, they were told about an additional $30 membership fee, along with a loan repayment fee. As a result, the company has been forced to pay out $2.1 million in refunds and to receive one, you must fill out a claim form, then return it by October 6th. To find out if you qualify or to get a form, you can call the Claims Administrator at Analytics Inc. Their toll free number is 866-890-4856.

Car Vandalized At Traphill Residence
A Traphill man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find that someone had tried to steal his car. The steering column was broken and over $300 worth of damage was done to the vehicle. Despite the damage, no one in the area heard or saw anyone come near the house. That investigation is ongoing.

Central Wilkes Middle School To Hold First Falcon Night
This coming Monday, students and parents are being invited to Central Wilkes Middle School for the First Falcon Family Night. Information will be available about the school’s athletic programs, also about some new laws that will affect how PE and Health classes operate. There will also be free blood pressure and diabetes screenings at the event, along with several other activities. That will be held this coming Monday, August 29th from 6-8pm in the gym of Central Wilkes Middle School. Anyone who attends the school is invited along with their parents. For more information you can call Chris Gambill at 667-7453.

Ronda Woman Falls Victim To Prank Calls
A Ronda woman called deputies earlier this week after constantly receiving harassing phone calls on her cell. A person keeps calling every few days, not saying anything to begin with but then cursing at the woman before hanging up. However the woman’s cell has caller ID on it, so the phone number was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and traced. Still the caller continues to harass, as the woman has received at least 13 calls over the last three weeks from the same person. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Recall Of Frozen Meat Affects Wilkes Consumers
A recall is going on of an estimated 900,000 pounds of frozen beef patties across the country. The problem is that some of them have been contaminated with the deadly E. coli bacteria and are a health risk. The recalled products all come from Flanders Inc. and include all three and five pound packages of Flanders Bun Buster 100% Beef Burgers. Also all two, five and ten pound packages of Flanders Beef Patties, and all ten pound packages of Flanders Homestyle Cubed Beef Patties. Finally all two pound packages of America’s Pride Beef Patties, ten pound packages of Flanders Patty Mix, five pound packages of Value Time Beef Patties and all five pound boxes of Grill Master Beef Patties have been recalled. All of the affected products have an establishment number on them of EST 9145 and you can see that by looking inside the USDA seal of inspection. North Carolina was one of several states across the nation to receive the bad beef. You can return the meat to where you bought it for a refund and if you have any questions, the USDA Meat & Poultry office has set up a hotline at 1-888-674-6854.

Moravian Falls Man Is Victimized By Illegal Dumping
Why dump your garbage on someone else’s lawn? That’s what a Moravian Falls man is wondering today, after coming home to find that someone had dumped clothes and trash in his yard. Then just two days later, he returned home to find that a broken down air conditioner was sitting in his yard as well. There are currently no suspects in the case however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Thief Leaves After Pushing Out Window
A witness stopped a would be thief from breaking into a Wilkesboro residence this week. A neighbor of the victim saw a woman trying to climb in through the front window, prying it open and shattering it. After being seen, the thief took off down the road, but not before being recognized. The woman’s name and description were turned over to police by the neighbor and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

High School Athletes Asked To Pay
For the second time this year, a city in North Carolina is asking their high school athletes to pay in order to play. Athletes at Page High School in Greensboro were asked to pay $30 for each sport they’re involved in, a move designed to help the school recoup the nearly $20,000 in debt they’ve amounted. Currently no high school in North Carolina charges a required fee in order for players to take part and Page officials don’t want to change that, saying that the $30 fee would be completely voluntary. For the most part students and their parents have agreed to help fund the school, with fundraisers being organized for later this year. However some families have questioned how much of their money will be going to the athletic programs, as they already have to pay for things like gloves and warm up gear. There are 27 separate athletic teams at Page High School with an athletics budget of $135,000.

Libertarian No More
The State Board of Elections handed down a ruling this week, eliminating one political party from the upcoming elections. The Libertarian Party was removed from consideration, due to the fact they failed to at least get 10% of the votes in last year’s governor’s and presidential races. Under state law, official political parties have to at least achieve that 10% margin or their members and candidates become listed as unaffiliated. The Libertarian Party didn’t even come close, finishing with ¼ of the needed votes. With that being the case, unaffiliated candidates have to get signatures totaling up to 4% of the voters in their area, in order to be placed on the ballot. Party leaders say that they plan to sue the state to get the rule overturned.

16 Tons Of Copper Wire Stolen From NC Town
Why would you steal 16 tons of copper wire? Officials in Warrenton North Carolina are trying to figure that out today, after arresting and charging two men with the theft. Two of the town’s employees, 51-yr-old Gregory Reese and 34-yr-old Frank Gutskey used their positions to steal the wire from an abandoned textile plant. After stealing the copper wire, which was estimated at a value of $20,000, the two then sold it in the Rocky Mount community. It’s believed at this time that the two used town equipment, including a forklift, to steal the wire and then took it out of town to sell. Gutskey, who’s in charge of garbage collection and Reese, who supervises the town’s water and sewer systems were also suspended from their jobs without pay until a verdict is handed down in the case.

100 Year Old Man Rounds The Track
In Belmont, Roy Lawing celebrated his birthday by driving around the track at Lowes Motor Speedway. His 100th birthday. Speedway president Humpy Wheeler first took Lawing on a lap around the track, hitting speeds of 100 in honor of the man’s 100th birthday. Then Lawing took the wheel himself and drove the pace car around the track for two laps. Afterwards he was treated to a cake with the words Aged To Perfection on it. Lawing reached 75 mph during his laps but said if he knew he was being timed, he would have gone faster.

More North Carolina Troops Headed To Iraq
More soldiers from here in North Carolina have received the call to ship out to Iraq. 1500 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg have been called to deploy and set up protection for the October 15th referendum on the country’s constitution. Then if Iraqi citizens approve the constitution, the soldiers will stay in place for the national elections in December. Officials estimate that the troops will be over in Iraq for a total of 120 days. An exact date of when the soldiers will be shipping out has not yet been announced.

Kannapolis Residents Get More Than They Expected At The Faucet
Strange things happened when residents of Kannapolis went to turn on the water Wednesday night. Instead of the normal clear water, liquid poured out in different colors, some dark and as some residents called it disfigured. City officials said that there wasn’t any health threat due to the colored water and the problem was being corrected. What had apparently happened is that maintenance work was going on Wednesday on the fire protection system in downtown Kannapolis. Mud and other sediment had apparently got into the water system somehow and into the drinking water. The problem was solved by early Thursday.

Sports Headlines

High School Football Tonight On 3WC
The second week of high school football got underway last night as East Wilkes beat North in JV football 33-8. Coming up tonight Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be over in Moravian Falls, as Wilkes Central plays host to West Wilkes as our 3WC Game Of The Week. Brian will be over at the station, keeping you up to date on the other major game going on, between North High and East. That’s coming up tonight at 7:15 with kickoff set for 7:30, on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Tarheels Land Another Football Recruit
Taking a look at the college scene, the UNC Tarheels have landed another football commitment for 2006. Ed Barham, a 6-5 tight end from Virginia agreed to come play at Chapel Hill. The senior from Surry County High School is a two way player, working both as a defensive end and also as a tight end, the position he’ll be assuming at UNC. Last season Barham had 110 tackles and eight sacks on defense, while also catching 20 passes for 500 yards. This marks the 23rd player to commit to the Heels for 2006.

ACC Basketball Schedule Highlights Part Two
Yesterday we told you about some of the highlighted games on the ACC basketball schedule this season. Now taking a look at the second half of the year, NC State will tip things off against North Carolina on Saturday Jan. 7th, while the next day Duke travels to Wake Forest to take on the Deacons. The Wolfpack head to Durham on Jan. 18th, before going home to host Wake Forest on the 21st. February 7th is a date going to be circled on a lot of calendars this year as that’s the first matchup between Duke and Carolina in Chapel Hill. Four days later, Wake Forest will host UNC Charlotte, before going on the road to play the Blue Devils on February 14th. North Carolina will face off against Wake Forest in Winston Salem Sunday, February 19th, then go on the road against NC State Feb. 22nd. Then the final game between Duke and UNC will take place in Durham on Saturday March 4th, the same day NC State and Wake Forest square off in Winston Salem.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues, the Hickory Crawdads lost a player as catcher Neil Walker was promoted to the Pirates other single A team, the Lynchburg Hillcats. The 19 year old Walker ranked second in the league with 146 hits so far, good enough to be named to the South Atlantic League All Star Team. Walker had averaged .301 for the season, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 68 runs during his stay in Hickory.

Former Tarheel Looking To Make A Name In NFL
It’s been four years since Ronald Curry suited up and heard the roar of an ACC crowd. Now the former Tarheel is looking to stake his claim in the NFL, as he works to solidify his hold as the third receiver of the Oakland Raiders. Curry is coming off major surgery, as a tear in his Achilles’ tendon forced him out of the last four games the team played in 2004. A seveth round pick, Curry finished second on the team in receiving last season, despite the injuries, having put up 50 catches for 679 yards.

Dale Junior Looking For A Family Connection
Dale Earnhart may look to family connections to plug the holes in his team next season. Earnhart, while not officially announcing it, has all but said his cousin Tony Eury Jr. will be crew chief on the No. 8 in 2006. Junior told reporters thatit was pretty obvious what DEI plans to do with the team, after Eury Jr. signed a long term contract. Junior also wants Tony Eury Sr. to serve as team manager for his Busch Series team, but no decision has been made. With several months still left in the season, it’s unlikely an officially announcement regarding Eury Jr. will come for a while, as he’s currently the crew chief for Michael Waltrip’s No. 15 Chevy.

News & Sports For August 25th

Illness To Garwood Plays Part In Lottery Debate
North Carolina is still without a lottery today and a hospital visit by Wilkes Senator John Garwood played a part. With Garwood in the hospital recovering from illness, a vote on the lottery would be deadlocked, as Republicans and Democrats stood tied on the issue. State Democrats tried to fix the issue by challenging a leave of absence taken by one member of the Senate. Under state rules, a Senate member has to request a leave of absence, meaning that they have to find another senator who will agree to be paired up with them. The pair basically cancel each other’s vote out, keeping any one side from having an unfair advantage due to sickness or other issues. After Garwood went to the hospital, Majority Leader Tony Rand challenged the absence of another Republican who was paired with a Democrat. If such a challenge was held up, it would mean that Democrats had the necessary votes needed to pass through the lottery. However minutes later, Democrat Marc Basnight, the Senate leader, surprisingly withdrew the request and allowed the session to end without a vote on the lottery. Basnight later said the move was made to treat the Republican delegates with respect.

One Stop Shopping In North Wilkesboro
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he returned home on Tuesday. Thieves had broke in through the back door and taken several thousand dollars worth of materials. Included in the theft was a gun cleaner kit, some golf clubs, a telescope, a cordless drill and several other items. There are vehicle tracks leading from the man’s back yard onto Fishing Creek Road, but as of yet deputies have no suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

United Way Campaign Begins Today
Later tonight, the Wilkes United Way organization is holding an event to kick off their 2005-2006 campaign. The price of admission is one can of non perishable food. There will be food and games, along with musical performances, face painting and other things. In addition, raffle tickets will be sold, with the winner receiving two tickets to the Food City 500 Nextel Cup Race in Bristol. To get more information you can call the local United Way office at 651-7800 or visit their website at www.Uwwilkes.org.

Gas Thieves Hit Again
For the second time in less than two days, gas thieves hit a business in the Wilkes County area. This time a man pulled up to the Rock Creek BP, pumped just over $26 worth of gas into his car and drove off. Employees however were able to get a description of both the man and his vehicle, which were turned over to deputies. The investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Kitchen
When people can’t afford to buy food, who do they turn to? Here in Wilkes, the Samaritan’s Kitchen lends a hand. The Kitchen, which has been in operation for over six years, is involved with several different programs throughout the week. Elizabeth Ferguson, Volunteer Coordinator for the Kitchen, will be Brian's guest on Focus later today. They'll be discussing some ways you can get involved and lend a hand if you want to do that. That’s today at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Just Came Over To Borrow The Shed
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda woman’s home on Tuesday, after she discovered something strange on her property. Thieves had apparently tried to break into one of her storage buildings, however once inside they turned around and left. Nothing was taken from the building and no other damage was done to any part of the property. There is a suspect in the case, as witnesses saw a white pickup in the area and were able to describe it, along with the driver to deputies.

Roadside Assistance For Farmers
The Department of Agriculture has created a new program for farmers in the area, one that would help them market their products. The Roadside Farm Market program is designed to help farmers directly sell their fruits and vegetables to people who might otherwise buy the products at a store. Now for more information or to get involved with the program, you can contact Ross Williams at the NC Department of Agriculture. His number is 919-733-7887. Applications are also available at the Wilkes Cooperative Extension office.

Wreck On Main Street Totals Two
Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene of a wreck on Main Street Tuesday afternoon. A Traphill woman had slowed down due to traffic ahead of her when she was hit from behind. The second driver, a Hays woman, had been following behind but didn’t notice the car coming to a stop in time to avoid a collision. Both cars were totaled and had to be towed away, with estimated damages placed at $6800. That second driver, Amber Nicole Davis was charged with failure to reduce speed and having unsafe tires. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Mailbox Vandals Hit For Second Time This Week
A Darby man was the latest victim of mailbox vandals this week. During the night, the man heard a loud noise and came out to see what it was. While he didn’t see anyone around, his mailbox was damaged, making it the eighth such case in that area. Over the last few weeks several different homes in the area have been targets of the vandals but in each cases, no one actually saw the crime taking place. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Murder Suspect Doesn’t Show Up For Court
In Burlington, police are on the hunt for a murder suspect, a man who was released on bond and appears to have fled. Ramone Donte Stewart was charged with first degree murder after killing a man outside a bar two years ago. Stewart was released on $275,000 bond, but failed to show up for his trial. Warrants have been issued for his arrest and officials are asking anyone with information to call their local law enforcement office.

Mixed Results For NC In Base Realignment
The news was mixed for North Carolina after the Base Realignment Commission made its’ recommendations. Due to the closing of Fort McPherson in Georgia, two separate Army commands will be transferring to Pope Air Force Base. In addition, the 7th Special Forces Group will be moved from Fort Bragg to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, while Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division will gain a brigade combat team. All total, 4325 new jobs will be coming to Fort Bragg over the next few months. However the commission also recommended that the Naval Reserve Center in Asheville be shut down, one of 20 such centers that the Pentagon wants eliminated. Before any of this can happen however, both President Bush and the Congress have to approve the changes.

Drivers Stranded After Heavy Rains
Several dozen drivers had to look for new ways of getting to work on Wednesday, after their cars were stranded on a parking deck. Tuesday night, flash flooding in the Charlotte area led one parking deck on Executive Park Drive to be submerged, causing damage to 75 vehicles in the area. The reason for the flooding comes from a design flaw, as a creek runs below the deck. People spent a good part of the day scooping out water and trying to dry off their vehicles.

Milk Causes Traffic Problems On I-40
Parts of I-40 near Greensboro were backed up Wednesday morning as work crews cleaned up a wreck. A tractor trailer carrying milk overturned, spilling out 200 gallons onto the highway. One lane of I-40 was closed until the afternoon, as workers attempted to clean up the milk and move the truck out of the way. Officials believe a lack of sleep was the cause of the crash, as the driver was airlifted to Baptist Hospital.

ATV Ring Broke Up In Gaston County
Officials in Gaston County announced on Wednesday that they’ve broken up an ATV theft ring that had been operating in the area. The ringleader, 19-yr-old Michael Shane Hoffman, was arrested and charged this week. Hoffman and his group are accused of stealing ATVs from Cleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg and York Counties. Portions of the stolen goods already recovered are estimated at $55,000 with more still missing.

Sports Headlines

UNC Loses QB For Season
Bad news for the Tarheels, as they’ve officially lost their backup quarterback for the season. Roger Heinz agreed to have surgery on his back, to repair two herniated discs that have all but wiped out his sophomore year. With Heinz now officially out, that leaves freshman Cam Sexton as the backup. Sexton had been competing for the starting job in spring practice, until he broke his ankle, which he’s still rehabbing. Behind Sexton on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Joey Bozich, true freshman Bobby Rome, and walk-ons Ben Johnson and Jay Spence. Matt Baker will be the starter when the Heels take the field on September 10th.

ACC Schedule Part One
The ACC basketball schedule was released on Wednesday, with the conference making a record 265 appearances on national TV. This season marks the first that Boston College will take part in, as the conference expands to 12 schools. Some important games for local fans will be Saturday Nov. 19th, when Gardner-Webb takes on the national champion Tarheels. Then one day later on Sunday, November 20th, the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest play host to UNC Asheville. Appalachian State comes to Winston for a matchup against the Deacons on Friday Nov. 25th and then Elon comes to Wake on Saturday December 3rd. The Mountaineers will continue to make their rounds in the ACC, as Appalachian heads to Reynolds Coliseum to take on the Wolfpack Saturday December 10th. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the other highlights on the schedule after December.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating Lynchburg 4-1. The Warthogs got a strong pitching performance from starter Ray Liotta, who didn’t give up any runs in six innings of work to get his fifth win of the season. Orionny Lopez came on in relief to record his first save of the season.

Davis Moves Up To First Team
In the NFL, some good news for Panther fans, as running back Stephen Davis was moved up into the starting lineup. Until now, Deshaun Foster had been the starting back, but the return of Davis bumped him to the second unit. Davis, who’s recovering from off season knee surgery, is expected to be kept out of Friday’s game with Cleveland but is targeting next week’s matchup against Pittsburgh as his official return.

Junior To Run Busch Team
In NASCAR, Dale Junior is making a move of sorts as he starts up his own Busch team. JR Motorsports, will have the number 88 Chevy in the Busch Series next season, driven by Mark McFarland and sponsored by the US Navy. This won’t be the first race for McFarland or the #88, as Junior debuted the team this season in the Pro Cup Series. McFarland drove the car to one win and ten top ten finishes in thirteen races. Eaarnhart says he still wants DEI involved with the venture, but there is no agreement currently in place.

Rule Changes Coming In NASCAR
Some major news coming out of NASCAR today, as certain rule changes were announced for 2006. The current testing policy will be refined, with each team allowed only six designated tracks to test at. Two of the six tests have to be at Daytona and Indianapolis, with the other four still up for discussion. Also a tire leasing policy will go into effect, replacing the current program of buying them each week. At each track, teams will be able to lease as many tires as they want, however all of them must be returned before the crew leaves the track. Also cars will be impounded after qualifying at 31 of next year’s 36 races.

News & Sports For August 24th

Deadline Fast Approaching For Farmers
There is less than two weeks left for Wilkes County farmers to receive state funds if their property was damage by hurricanes last year. State aid money will be sent out on September 9th to anyone who suffered crop losses or had to rebuild from last year’s storms. However when filing out their information sheet, several hundred farmers throughout North Carolina refused to allow the state to share their information with federal agencies. This causes a problem because the Department of Agriculture is the one in charge of sending out the aid money & without that consent form, they don’t know who to send it to. The deadline to turn in a form is September 9th and you can pick one up at the Cooperative Extension office. To call for more information, their number is 651-7331.

Drink Machines Targeted Across Wilkes
Around Wilkes, thieves hit a series of drink machines, apparently looking for some easy money. Two Wilkesboro businesses were hit, first at a lumber yard on Hwy 16 and then at 421 Motors. In both cases the thieves pried open the machine door and removed the money from inside. The same thing happened to another business on Boone Trail, as thieves ripped open the machine and took the money. In all three cases, the missing money totaled up to $50, while $800 in damages was done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

United Way Campaign Begins Tomorrow
On Thursday of this week, the Wilkes United Way organization is holding an event to kick off their 2005-2006 campaign. The price of admission is one can of non perishable food. There will be food and games, along with musical performances, face painting and other things. IN addition, raffle tickets will be sold, with the winner receiving two tickets to the Food City 500 Nextel Cup Race in Bristol. To get more information you can call the local United Way office at 651-7800 or visit their website at www.Uwwilkes.org.

Just Came By To Borrow A Few Things
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence this week, after the homeowner returned to find thieves had been by. The man’s tiller was missing, along with his chainsaw. However there was no sign of a break-in and nothing else damaged or stolen on the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

WCC To Host Financial Class For Adults
Sometimes it can be a pain collecting on a debt. Regardless if it’s something owed by a neighbor or payment charged to your business. Coming up next month, Wilkes Community College is holding a seminar, to help people understand what their legal rights are in such a situation. Such as what are your options for collecting a bad debt? What to do when a debtor skips town? The meeting is free, however you must register ahead of time to get in. To sign up, you can call WCC at 838-6210. That will take place on September 29th, sponsored by the Small Business Center of the college.

Another Case Of Gas Theft
Yet another business in Wilkes fell victim to gas thieves this week. A man drove up to the Little Market Basket in Wilkesboro, pumped just over $10 in gas and then drove off without paying. Employees however were able to get a description of both the man and the vehicle, which were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Kitchen
When people can’t afford to buy food, who do they turn to? Here in Wilkes, the Samaritan’s Kitchen lends a hand. The Kitchen, which has been in operation for over six years, is involved with several different programs throughout the week. Later this week on Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking with Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Ferguson about what exactly the organization is and how you can get involved if you want to do that. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Wreck On Winkler Mill Road Totals Two
It’s always a good idea to look before you leap. A North Wilkesboro man learned this week it’s the same when you’re driving. The man was driving on the Winkler Mill Road when he looked away for a few minutes. He turned back around just in time to see his car slam into the one in front. Both cars spun in the intersection, finally coming to a stop a few feet down the road. Both cars were totaled in the crash and had to be towed away. Estimated damages were placed at $3500. Thankfully however no one was injured in the wreck.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Another Home
Yet another home in the Wilkes County area fell prey to mailbox vandals this week. A Roaring River man walked outside to find that his mailbox had been pulled up and damaged, with estimated costs placed at $30. Despite the damage, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

The Wait Is Over
North Carolina finally has a superintendent of public schools. June Atkinson was selected by a joint session of both the House and Senate 93 to 21. However the vote was not without controversy, as nearly 50 lawmakers wrote “protest” on their ballot, saying that they couldn’t and shouldn’t determine a winner in the race. This marks the first time since 1835 where the General Assembly had to step in and select a winner in a statewide race. Atkinson was immediately sworn in and will assume her duties later today. This ends almost a year of court battles on the subject. Atkinson won the election by 8535 votes, however Republican Bill Fletcher challenged the results, saying that some of the provisional ballots were cast out of the voter’s home precinct and shouldn’t be counted. Atkinson then won again in the recount but Fletcher continued to block her appointment with new court challenges. Now that state lawmakers have stepped in, there’s no other options left open.

Over A Hundred Students Released From College Team
Controversy has ignited at Louisburg College here in North Carolina, after over a hundred students were released from the football team. The problem came after head coach Tim Newton guaranteed spots to players, despite there being more than the necessary limit. The president of Louisburg said the college made a decision to order the players cut, because they couldn’t afford to keep them all on the team. Costs of uniforms, meals and other problems were raised. However that doesn’t help some students, who paid $19,000 to attend on the promise of having a shot at the football team. Now without a tryout or any other chance, they’ve been released. The NAACP is considering filing a lawsuit in the case.

Truck Goes Hog Wild On Interstate
Officials near Raleigh had to clean up portions of the interstate on Tuesday, after several passengers of a truck went hog wild. The vehicle had been carrying pigs when the driver suddenly had to pull over, as he noticed that some of the animals were falling onto the road. It’s unclear exactly how the pigs escaped, but several were running around the Beltline before being rounded up. None of the animals were killed and thankfully no drivers were injured while swerving to avoid them. Traffic however was backed up for several hours during the cleanup.

Man Drives Into Raleigh High School
High school students in Raleigh got a surprise when leaving class yesterday. At Broughton High School, a truck crashed into the school’s lobby. Apparently the driver had come by to pick up his grandson, but got his foot stuck on the accelerator. As a result, he drove into the building, through the glass doors and came to rest in the gym lobby. While people were in the area at that time, thankfully no one was hurt in the crash. Police are determining today if the driver will face charges, however the first day of school will go on as planned later this week.

Fake 911 Calls Land Iredell Teen In Hot Water
An Iredell teenager has been arrested after police discovered she was responsible for over 1500 fake calls to 911. 19-yr-old Heather Garrison called 911 repeatedly since the first of the month, always cursing, whispering or laughing. The calls were eventually tracked down to her phone, leading to the arrest. It’s still unclear why exactly she made the calls, as she didn’t say anything to officers.

Sinkhole Grows In Hickory
It’s become the case of the giant expanding hole. A sinkhole at Buffalo’s Restaurant in Hickory continues to grow today, to the point where it soon might begin affecting traffic on Highway 70. In July, the sinkhole opened up, but no one has stepped forward to pay for the necessary repair work. As a result, water pools up during each rainfall and spills out into the nearby highway, creating problems for drivers. Now, as portions of the pavement continue to fall in, Hickory officials continue to debate who is actually going to pay for the needed construction. A decision on the matter isn’t expected until next month at the earliest.

Water Goes Out In Mount Holly
Residents of Mount Holly had to do without water for parts of this week, after a pipe was damaged. On Monday, a gas company was doing some work when they punctured a nearby water main just off Highway 273. While work crews repaired the damaged pipes, residents living around Old Hickory Grove Road found themselves without water for eight hours. Crews worked around the clock, finally finishing the repairs around 1am Tuesday morning.

Sports Headlines

Edwards Has Goals For UNC
You could say that Barrington Edwards has some modest goals for his first official season as a Tarheel. But then you’d be wrong. Edwards told reporters that his first goal this season will be to rush for 1,000 yards. By comparison, the last Tarheel running back to do that was Jonathan Linton back in 1997. Taking over as the starter due to Ronnie McGill’s injuries, Edwards doesn’t have much competition for the spot, as backup Vince Wilson recently announced he’ll be transferring before the season begins. And UNC will have their first game just over two weeks from now, as they go on the road to face Georgia Tech September 10th.

Wake Forest Loses Two Players
Bad news up the road in Winston Salem, as two Wake Forest players were lost for the season due to injury. Andrew Conroy, a freshman linebacker and Will Hollis, a junior receiver, both had serious knee injuries that have developed during camp and will require surgery. Conroy has already had the procedure and Hollis went under the knife yesterday. Losing Hollis especially hurt the Deacons, as he was a key player on special teams last year.

North Carolina Players Added To Lombardi List
In other college football news, several players from here in the state made the Lombardi Award Watch List. The Lombardi Award is handed out each year to the top offensive lineman in the country and 123 names were put in for consideration this season. Manny Lawson, a senior from NC State, senior Kyle Ralph from North Carolina and junior Steve Vallos from Wake Forest were all added to the list. Throughout the season, names will be eliminated until the top lineman is chosen by a committee at the end of the year.

Tarheels Turn Down European Basketball Player
Despite having some depth problems, UNC’s basketball program turned down a potential recruit on Monday. European forward Cem Dinc had recently attracted attention from both the Tarheels and Indiana, based on his offensive skills and 6-10 frame. But UNC officials told Dinc on Monday that if he wanted to suit up as a member of the ‘Heels, it would probably be a good idea to first take a year of prep school to get ready. While Dinc considers his options, he’s scheduled to visit Indiana this week.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating Lynchburg 7-4. Warthogs starter Ryan Rodriguez became just the second 11 game winner in the Carolina League, giving up two runs in seven innings of work. With the win, Winston stays a game behind the Salem Avalanche in the hunt for the Southern Division title.

Davis Makes Position Change For Panthers
For the second time in less than a week, Thomas Davis is changing positions with the Carolina Panthers. Originally Davis had made the switch to linebacker, after starter Brandon Short went down with a leg injury. But now after strong safety Colin Branch is out for the year with an MCL tear, Davis is moving back to his original position. Davis played strong safety for three years at Georgia, while also developing skills as an occasional starter at linebacker.

News & Sports For August 23rd

Local Teacher Named To State Committee
A Wilkes County teacher was named to the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee this week. James A Brooks, who teaches Latin, English and photojournalism at West High was appointed for his second time as a member of the committee. Along with other members of the group, Mr. Brooks will advise the governor of different concerns from teachers across the state. The committee also helps improve teaching and learning in public schools, while recommending new strategies to recruit teachers into North Carolina. The governor appoints all committee members, who will serve out a two year term.

Deputies Raid Dealer’s House
Sheriff’s deputies found drugs and money while executing a search warrant on Sunday. They were investigating a tip on the Rocky Ford Road and once inside the home, found an ice cream scoop covered with three grams of cocaine. In addition, a nearby fingernail clip and also a screwdriver were covered in cocaine as well. 59 morphine vials were found on a couch, along with marijuana seeds and the materials for making cocaine. 58-yr-old Luther Lee Key was arrested and charged With drug possession with intent to sell and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

More Open House Meetings At Local Schools
As local kids start their second week of school, it’s time for parents to get to know their children’s teachers and also see the classrooms. On Thursday of this week both Millers Creek Elementary and North Wilkesboro have their open house sessions. For Millers Creek Pre K through 2nd grade will hold open house from 6-7pm on Thursday, then orientation will go on for 3rd through 5th graders from 7-8pm. Over at North Wilkesboro Elementary Open House starts this Thursday at 4:30pm and runs until 6pm. Then next Monday Wilkes Central will hold their Open House from 6-8pm.

Wreck On 421 Totals One
It’s always a good idea to watch the road in front of you. A North Wilkesboro woman found that out the hard way earlier this week, as her car was totaled in a wreck. The woman had been following another vehicle through the green light, but didn’t notice when the car ahead stopped to let traffic go by. She slammed into the back of the other car, causing just under two thousand dollars in damage. The woman’s car had to be towed off, however thankfully no one was hurt in the crash.

All For A Few Quarters More
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home on Shingle Gap Road over the weekend, after reports came in of a break-in. The thieves pried off a screen from one of the windows, then climbed inside, taking a necklace, a .38 revolver $150 in quarters and some more jewelry. Estimated costs of all the damage done was placed at $350. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Warning About Mosquito Bites
Beware of bugs. That’s the warning sent out this week in our 3WC Healthwatch. According to the State Department of the Environment, there have recently been two confirmed cases of eastern equine encephalitis in local animals. While livestock could be in jeopardy so too could humans. It’s rare for a human to contract the disease but North Carolina averages at least one case a year. Triple E attacks the body’s central nervous system, in both animals and humans, causing inflammation of the brain. Symptoms take anywhere from two days to two weeks to show up and they include fever and headache, confusion, drowsiness and later on possibly a coma. There is no vaccine and no cure for the disease, so the best thing to do is break out the mosquito repellent and be careful of where you go outside.

Musical Break-In On Richardson Road
Thieves broke into a home on Richardson Road this week, taking over $160 worth of items from inside. It’s unknown exactly how the thieves gained access to the home, as no damage could be seen anywhere on the property. But once inside, they took a CD player, some tools and a metal toolbox. There is however a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Costs To Rise For Certain Tests
Bad news for local farmers, as the cost of some testing measures will be going up starting next week. North Carolina’s Agriculture Board ruled on Monday that increases would go into effect for plant tissue analysis, waste analysis, solution analysis and any testing for heavy metal content in soil. The amount of increase varies from test to test, with most only raising by one dollar. Routine soil testing however will still be a free service. This marks the first increase in fees in over 16 years and once again it will take effect September 1st.

Thieves Rip Off Ronald McDonald Fund
The McDonalds in Wilkesboro was hit by thieves late Sunday night. The Ronald McDonald Fund donation box was ripped off the wall, causing just over $600 worth of damage to the building. None of the night shift saw or heard anything in regards to the incident however officers are continuing the investigation.

State News

Special Ceremony Held For Civil War Brothers
A ceremony nearly two hundred years in the making was held on Sunday, as family members and friends gathered to honor two brothers who fought in the Civil Wart. Hosea and Jacob Horn were on different sides of the conflict, Jacob serving with the Union Army and his brother joining up with the Confederates. Over one hundred people made it out to the gravesite in Wilmington, where a memorial was held and the brothers were laid to rest in a family cemetery. The brothers’ remains had been lying in unmarked graves until discovered recently.

Extra Money Handed Out To Keep Teachers
Good news for school systems across North Carolina, as state lawmakers have given Gov. Easley $170 million to spend on recruiting teachers. The money is to be used over the next two years, on signing bonuses, pay raises or to increase the benefits of retiring teachers, to convince them to stay in the classroom. State officials hope that the money can keep teachers in the classroom and stop an exodus that the state has seen over the last few years.

School Bus Torched In Greensboro
Some high school kids in Greensboro are having to find another way to class today, after their buses were torched by vandals. The incident happened over the weekend, as Grimsley High’s principal came out to see the buses going up in flames. Principal Rob Gasparelo had been taking care of some paperwork before the new school year started this week, only to walk outside and see the wreckage. Police said they have no suspects, but damages were placed at around $60,000. It’s virtually impossible either one could be salvaged, as windows were shattered and portions of the buses were melted.

Duke Power To Possibly Charge For Water
Bad news today for people living along the Catawba River. Duke Power has announced plans to consider charging a fee for any town or city that gets water from the company’s manmade lakes along the river. That includes Lake James, Lake Wylie, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Norman, Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss. The reason for the charge Duke officials say is due to the fact over the next 50 years the demand for water is expected to double. To make sure they don’t run out of water, the company wants to charge fees and use that money for conservation. Even if Duke Power does agree to go ahead with the charges, the easiest they could take affect is 2012.

Police Hunting Statesville Man
Officials across North Carolina are on the hunt today for a Statesville man who’s been accused of murder. Police believe that Robert Lane Windsor is still in the area, after the body of his ex girlfriend was found in the trunk of her car. Windsor had kidnapped the girlfriend earlier this month from her home in Conover, however he apparently abandoned both the body and the vehicle. It’s still unknown why he kidnapped the woman in the first place however police are continuing the investigation. A description of Windsor was not available at this time.

New I-140 Opened By Easley
Governor Easley took the first step on Monday toward opening up a new road to the beach. The first completed section of Interstate I-140 was declared open for drivers, a three mile section of road stretching from I-40 to NC 133. Eventually the four lane road will reach Wilmington, allowing people to drive around some of the small towns in the area and shrinking the time it takes to arrive at the beach. The next part of the project is set to be ready for drivers by December.

Sports Headlines

UNC Basketball Adds Another Player
Looking to reload after this summer’s mass exodus, the UNC Tarheels welcomed another freshman into their 2005 basketball team. Mike Copeland’s freshman season had been put on hold for a few weeks, while the grades came in from his summer school classes. But now that he’s received As in the two classes, Copeland is free to sign his scholarship with UNC, opening the door for him to take the court as a member of this year’s Tarheel team. The 6-8 235 Copeland averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds at Reynolds High School.

US Teams Take Gold In Turkey
It was a double dip for the US teams in this year’s World University Games. Both teams walked away with the gold medal as first last Friday the women beat Serbia & Montenegro 86-77. Then on Sunday, the U.S. men’s team beat Ukraine 85-70 behind Shelden Williams’ 15 points and 14 rebounds. This marks the first time since 1997 that the U.S. has made a clean sweep in the tournament.

Panthers Lose Player For Season
The Carolina Panthers lost a player for the season, after it was announced that safety Colin Branch will undergo surgery. Branch tore his MCL and ACL ligaments on the right knee during Saturday’s preseason matchup against the New York Giants. Fighting to take Branch’s spot will be rookie Ben Emmanuel along with free agent pickups Idrees Bashir and Marlon McCree.

Stewart & Johnson Lock Up Chase Spot
In NASCAR, two of the drivers who will be competing for the championship were decided on Sunday, as both Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson locked up spots. Stewart, the current points leader, was guaranteed a spot in the Chase For The Cup after finishing fifth at Michigan. Likewise Johnson earned a spot after coming in 10th at Michigan, cementing the second place spot in points.

Riggs To Join Everham
In other NASCAR news, Scott Riggs announced plans to join Everham Motorsports beginning next season. Riggs, coming off a second place finish in Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400, is expected to make an official announcement with the team next week at Bristol.