Wind Advisory

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 4 AM EST TUESDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE. A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 31 TO 39 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 57 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG MAY DOWN TREES AND CAUSE POWER OUTAGES...AND WILL MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Men Accused of Stealing Cable Service

Wilkesboro police are seeking explanations from the residents of one local apartment after a Charter Cable representative found a cable running from a damaged box at the complex to their apartment. The two men, both 21 years old, live at Windermere Apartments. A Charter maintenance worker found the damaged box on Wednesday, but wasn't able to report it to police until yesterday. The box had been pried open, and service hooked up for the apartment, which was not listed in Charter records as a customer. He asked police to file a report for theft of service. The officer went to the apartment and knocked to try and find out more, but there was no answer. He did get the tenants' names from the office. Because they have yet to be formally charged with a crime, we're withholding their names at this time.

Counterfeit Bill Passed at Rock Creek BP

Wilkes sheriff deputies haven't finished their review of the surveillance tape from a local convenience store, but they already have a pretty good description of the woman who allegedly passed a counterfeit 10-dollar bill yesterday. It happened about 20 till 10 last night at Rock Creek BP. According to the clerk, the woman came in and picked up two apples, asked for some lottery tickets, and paid for it with a 10-dollar bill. He says the woman acted nervous the whole time she was in the store, and seemed to be in quite a hurry to leave. he completed the transaction and she scooted outside into a waiting silver passenger car and left headed west. At that point, he looked carefully at the bill and realized it was a fake. the woman is white, of undetermined age, about 5-feet 5-inches tall, with a large build, and brown medium-length hair. The clerk did not offer a clothing description, but deputies expect they'll have that when they review the tape.

Holiday Traffic Enforcement Campaign Announced

Gov. Mike Easley today announced that state and local law enforcement officers will be out in force during the next month as part of a holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. Officers will be conducting checkpoints and stepped-up patrols across the state from today through Jan. 2, in an effort to remove impaired drivers from North Carolina roads this holiday season.

“As motorists travel to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, they should do so responsibly,” Easley said. “That means obeying the speed limit and not driving after drinking alcohol. Law enforcement officers will be on the hunt for impaired drivers to help make sure everyone has a safe holiday.”

Alcohol-related traffic crashes occur more frequently during this time of year when large numbers of people are traveling to and from holiday gatherings where alcohol is likely to be served. Between Nov. 30, 2006 and Jan. 2, 2007, 120 North Carolina motorists were involved in fatal traffic crashes, and 27 people were killed.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will hold a Tree of Life and candlelight ceremony on the state Capitol grounds at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7 to honor all those who died in alcohol related crashes in 2006.

$7,000 Worth of Tools Stolen

There's no telling who broke into a Hays man's storage building, or when, but nearly 7-thousand dollars worth of tools and equipment are missing. Deputies took the report from Jeffrey Myers earlier this week. He says he went to the outbuilding Tuesday morning for the first time in almost three months and found the tools missing. Myers does not remember if he left the door unlocked or not, but there were no signs anywhere on the building of forced entry. The missing tools include a nearly 700-dollar DeWalt miter saw, five cordless DeWalt drills valued together at 700-dollars, 3-thousand dollars forth of electrical tools, a DeWalt table saw worth 400-dollars, a 200-dollar welder, and two Stihl chain saws valued together at 800-dollars. He has no idea who might have taken the stuff. The case remains listed as under investigation.

Former Criminal Allegedly Back At It

It didn't take long for a new employee at the Coffee House in Millers Creek to be discovered stealing from the business. Deputies were called to the restaurant Wednesday afternoon by Jonathan Ashley, who told them an employee that had worked there only two weeks, 33-year old Nicole Watson, had been caught stealing form the store twice. The first time, a week ago today, was captured on the security video, which showed Watson pocketing 14-dollars in cash. the register that night came up more than 50-dollars short, and Ashely believes Watson is to blame. In addition, the register came up 44-dollars short Sunday night, according to store records. Prior to the incidents, Watson was a client of Probation and Parole, and when she visited her probation officer this week she was arrested on the warrants, which allege two counts of theft by an employee.

Chase and Struggle Leads to Taser Use

A Wilkesboro man is behind bars on an outstanding assault warrant, after he led sheriff deputies on a short foot chase. Deputies had been looking for 30-year old William Vencill for some time, to take him in on the outstanding warrant charging him with assault on a female, property damage, and resisting arrest. They were tipped to his whereabouts shortly before 11 Wednesday night. Two deputies confronted Vencill to serve the warrants, but as they approached, he took off into a nearby field. The foot chase led about 80 yards into the field, before Vencil and one of the deputies slipped and fell in the mud. As they were struggling to get back up, the deputy says Vencil kicked him in the head, apparently by accident. The deputy then took out his Taser and fired, missing Vencil. The wires on the Taser probes coiled harmlessly on the ground, and the probes themself never made contact. Nevertheless, Vencil was arrested by the two deputies without any further problem. He now faces two additional charges of resiting arrest, and is jailed on the other outstanding warrants.

Big Jim Hamill Passes

Legendary Kingsmen lead vocalist Jim Hamill passed away this morning at the age of 73. In addition to singing with the Kingsmen, he performed with the Weatherfords, Blue Ridge Quartet, the Rebels Quartet, the Oak Ridge Quartet and the Senators. Subscribers of Singing News Magazine had voted Mr. Hamill "Favorite Lead Singer" five times, as well "Mr. Gospel Music" twice during the magazine's Fan Awards.

Though he was often regarded as one of the best frontmen in Southern Gospel music, his singing ability was also ranked among the best. Many Southern Gospel fans will long remember his performances of "Love Lifted Me" and "The Apple Tree Song" among many others.

Mr. Hamill's legacy also includes his efforts to continually put the younger members of the groups he sang with into the spotlight. Though he was confident in his own stage abilities, Mr. Hamill thought it was more important to encourgage the young performers and give them the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

Several Guns Stolen, Victim Believes He Knows Who Took 'Em

A burglar took several guns from a Ronda home earlier this week, and deputies are still looking for the person. Glen Blackburn reported the theft Tuesday mid-day. The burglar had taken a small pane of glass out of the front door to gain entry to the house, and once inside had broken the glass on the front of a gun cabinet to get the long guns. Nothing else in the house was disturbed. Blackburn told deputies the names of a man and woman he believes to be responsible, because the man had asked him for money not long ago, and when Blackburn refused, the man spouted off that he knew where the safe was. In addition, neighbors say they saw the man and woman go in and out of the house earlier. Deputies have not released the pair's names, and they are still trying to locate them. The guns, which include several rifles,a shotgun and a couple of BB guns, belong to Blackburn's son Chad, who is serving in the US Army. They are worth about 13-hundred dollars.

Assault with a Bolt

Two people were hurt and police have issued warrants against two others, following one of the oddest attacks in recent memory. According to North Wilkesboro police, Scott Nafe, the owner of the former Carolina Mirror factory building on N.C. 268 East, was taken to Baptist Medical Center with a skull fracture after being attacked with an eight-inch bolt. That's right, the device one usually uses to attach things together. Police say a disgruntled contractor, Michael Sutton, attacked Nafe and employee Katrina Johnson. Warrants have also been issued against his father, William Rose Sutton.
The victims said Michael Sutton had gotten into an argument with Nafe over money before the assault occurred. According to the police report, Johnson jumped in and was trying to defend Nafe. A couple of men working on the business tried to get the younger Sutton off Nafe during the attack and that was when the older Sutton began swinging a chain, to keep anyone from intervening.

Police are still looking for the men, who are laborers from out of the area.