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.

News & Sports For August 22nd

Local Fire Department Receives Grant
New technology is being made available every day to help make the jobs of firefighters easier. The only problem is that for most departments, the equipment is too expensive to buy. For one local group, that’s no longer a problem as the Department of Homeland Security handed out $617,500 to Wilkesboro. The money was used to buy a new vehicle for the station, as part of over 2040 grants given throughout the country. Homeland Security officials said that the grants were handed out to help ensure local stations have everything needed to do their job.

Two Cars Totaled In Weekend Wreck
Two cars were totaled in a wreck over the weekend on Hwy 16. A Roaring River man was pulling out from a side street but didn’t notice the traffic coming his way. He pulled out in front of a Wilkesboro woman, who couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision. Both cars were totaled, with estimated damages placed at $4000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Be Careful What You Leave Behind
A North Wilkesboro woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend, after over a thousand dollars worth of material was stolen from her home. There was no sign of damage to the home, as it appears the thieves had a key. Included in the theft were several movies, along with a DVD player and $400 worth of ladies clothing. There are two suspects and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Business
Gas thieves hit another business in the Wilkes County area. Late last week, a woman pulled up to the Fast Track on Winkler Street in Wilkesboro, pumped $25 in gas and then took off without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get a description of both the driver and vehicle, which were turned over to police. The woman, 41-yr-old Paula Michelle Phipps was later arrested after police found her registration was expired. She was charged with gas theft, improper registration and expired registration.

Wilkes Christian Sportsmen
For anyone who loves to hunt or fish, this next bit of information is for you. The Wilkes Christian Sportsmen will be holding their Banquet starting tonight at 6pm. The banquet continues on Tuesday and then wraps up Thursday night. Each day, dinner is set for 6pm and then the program itself kicks off at 7pm. As of this weekend, there were a limited number of tickets still left and you can pick them up at Minton Pawn, For Heaven’s Sake Book Store, Mike’s Bait & Tackle, Ed & Dale’s Gun Shop, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Peace Haven Baptist Church and Oakwoods Baptist Church. For more information you can call 667-7838.

Thieves Drive Off With Wilkesboro Man’s Mower
For the second time in under two weeks, thieves stole a lawn mower from a local residence. Deputies were called out to a Wilkesboro man’s home, after he returned to find damage done to the property and his mower missing, In addition to the mower, a nearby engine was also taken. Total estimated costs of both the damage and stolen property was placed at $350. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Never Leave Your Doors Unlocked
A Hays man learned over the weekend why it’s a good idea to always lock your car when you get out. After filling up at a local gas station, he left his wallet inside the vehicle while he went to pay. As he handed over the money, the man saw someone open his car door, steal money from his wallet and then take off in another vehicle, driving down the road. $150 in cash was stolen from inside the car, while video cameras captured the whole thing. Deputies recognized the suspect and were able to trace the license plate, They soon tracked down the suspect, 18-yr-old Anthony Wayne Shepard and placed him under arrest, for charges of theft and breaking and entering.

Tag Stolen From Local Woman’s Car
A Wilkesboro woman walked outside over the weekend to find someone had paid her a visit. The tag had been ripped off her car, however nothing was stolen and no other damage was done to either the vehicle or her property. Despite the stolen tag, no one in the area remembers hearing or seeing anything during the night. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

No More Libertarians For North Carolina
North Carolina might be missing a political party when elections are held this coming November. According to state law, all parties must get at least 10% of the vote in the elections for governor and president. The Libertarian party only came up with ¼ of the needed votes, however the party’s director has requested a hearing. The State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet later today and discuss the matter, but Libertarians are calling for discretion, asking for a stay while they raise enough votes to make up the 10%.

Unemployment Climbs In North Carolina
Bad news today across North Carolina on the job front, as the latest unemployment figures were released. The jobless rate rose to 5.7% in July, marking the highest it’s been since 2004. Officials from the Employment Security Commission blame the high numbers on students graduating from college and looking for full time jobs. In June alone, 30 thousand new people entered the workforce hunting for a full time job.

Six Million For New Machines
People in Guilford County are up in arms today, after a new plan was released that would cost taxpayers six million dollars. Election officials want to spend the money on new voting machines, upgrading the technology so that paper receipts would print out after each ballot. The idea is that with such ballots, there wouldn’t be any problems like the ongoing battle for Superintendent of Public Instruction. However some locals are protesting, saying that the money could be used on more needed things, such as to help fund new programs in school.

It’s All Greek To Me
With school starting, students are learning all types of new subjects. But what would you do if you walked into class and they were suddenly speaking a different language? It’s a new concept being developed in Charlotte, where one of several Greek charter schools have taken root. Everything at the elementary school is taught in Greek, from math, to reading to writing. Officials with the school say the idea is to help students learn about their Greek heritage, while also developing comprehension.

Easley Defends Not Pardoning Innocent Man
Gov. Easley spoke out over the weekend about his decision not to offer a pardon to an innocent man. Sylvester Smith was released this past November after serving nearly 21 years in jail for sexual assault. However new evidence in the case caused a judge to set him free. But without a pardon from the governor, Smith still has to register as a sex offender. Despite the ruling, Easley said he refuses to grant a pardon, saying that the governor has a higher set of standards than the court when it comes to determining innocence. Questions have also been raised about Easley’s own involvement in the case, as he was the prosecutor who originally put Smith behind bars. He said however that had nothing to do with his decision.

Blackouts Across State Caused By Heat
The heat was to blame for several blackouts across the state this weekend, according to officials from the power company. The lights went out in Edenton and surrounding areas for two hours on Saturday, then again on Sunday. The reason? The substation was overloaded, after people cranked up the air conditioner due to extreme heat. It took several hours, but Albemarle Energy customers had their power back on for good Sunday afternoon. Still, with the temperatures expected to stay in the 90s this week, it’s possible the same thing could happen again.

Sports Headlines

High School Scores
Around the high school scene, it was Hibriten beating Wilkes Central 34-10. The two rival schools playing in what will likely be their last game for a while, as Hibriten has moved out of the Mountain Valley Conference. Also West Wilkes lost to Avery 37-15. Elkin established itself as a power in the Northwest 1-A Conference, beating North Wilkes 49-6 in Coach Roy Carter’s Vikings debut. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, West Davidson beat East Wilkes 21-7.

UNC Down To One QB
Some bad news today for the Tarheel football team, as they’re slowly running out of players. Backup quarterback Roger Heinz had to sit out of practice this week with a sore back, the result of two herniated discs he’s been trying to play with. A doctor already told the sophomore that he’ll need surgery after the season, but with the pain increasing team officials are monitoring his condition and Heinz may have to redshirt. That would make the second quarterback on the injured list for the Tarheels, as true freshman Cameron Sexton broke his ankle during spring practice and is still going through rehab. Along with starter Matt Baker, that only leaves reshirt freshman Joey Bozich and several walk-ons available to play.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues this weekend, it was Winston Salem beating the Salem Avalanche 9-3. With the win, the Warthogs move half a game behind Salem in the hunt for the division title. Leo Daigle led Winston with three hits. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads came close but couldn’t finish off the Lexington Legends as they lost 6-5.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Vasicek
Continuing to rebuild their squad, the Carolina Hurricanes resigned their leading scorer Josef Vasicek over the weekend. Vasicek, who agreed to a two year deal, had 19 goals and 26 assists in 2004 before the league shut down. With the deal, the 6-4 center will stay with the team who drafted him back in 1998.

Panthers Lose First Preseason Match In Two Years
For the first time in two seasons, the Carolina Panthers lost a preseason game. They dropped against the Giants 27-21, breaking a winning streak of 10 preseason games, dating back to 2003. With the starters only playing for the first half, Carolina still managed to put on a show, with the highlight being Julius Peppers 29-yd-touchdown run off a fumble. In other Panthers news, running back Stephen Davis could be back on the field as early as this week, if he passes a physical. Doctors say that Davis is still recovering but has shown enough progress to go back to work.

Mayfield Wins At Michigan
In the NASCAR circuit, Jeremy Mayfield ran off with the checkered flag during Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400. Scott Riggs was second, Matt Kenseth third, Carl Edwards fourth and points leader Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. As it stands now, Tony Stewart still sits atop the standings, 105 in front of second place Jimmie Johnson.

News & Sports For August 19th

Local Church Holds Youth Conference
Emmanuel Church is celebrating its’ 13th year of operation in 2005 and portions of the church’s youth are working to honor that achievement. A conference will go on starting tonight at the church, located in North Wilkesboro, where the target is to bring 250 teens together to honor and worship God. The name of this year’s conference is Raising the Crop. If you want to get involved and help, you can do that as well. The church is accepting any donations of time, food or whatever you can give to help support the conference. It begins tonight at 7:30pm, continues tomorrow night at 7:30 and then finishes up Sunday at 10:30 that morning. They are located at 708 F Street in North Wilkesboro and the number to call for information is 903-0693.

Local Fire Deemed Arson
Wilkes Fire Marshals are investigating a blaze that took place earlier this week on C.B. Eller School Road. Someone had attempted to set part of the home on fire, managing to damage about seven inches of the outside. The exterior breaker box was damaged, along with part of the nearby siding. Marshals determined that the would be arsonist used some type of small torch or lighter to ignite the home. It was discovered and put out before any real damage could be done. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Upcoming Abortion Conference
The Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been helping people deal with unplanned pregnancies for the last 10 years. They also counsel women who are either considering abortion or have already gone through with one. Coming up tomorrow, the Center is putting together a program to help minister to those who are struggling to come to terms with an abortion in their past. That will go on once again tomorrow, August 20th starting at 9am in the morning. For more information you can call the Pregnancy Care Center at 838-9272.

Calf Stolen From Local Residence
Why would someone steal a calf? That’s what a Ferguson man is wondering today, after returning to find that one of his was missing. In addition to the missing calf, there was about $50 worth of damage done across his property, where it appeared that someone had been camping out. Trash was tossed around, clothing was laying in the field and there were remains of a fire. Despite all this no one had heard or seen anyone around the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes Heritage Museum Holds Fundraiser
Old Wilkes Inc. continues to raise money to put into their renovation project of what will be the Heritage Museum. One way of doing that will be on display this weekend, when the group hosts a giant yard sale. The event starts this afternoon at 4pm and runs til 8pm tonight, before starting back up Saturday morning at 8am and stretching on until 2pm. All kinds of items, from clothing, to art, to food will be available, with proceeds going to support the Old Wilkes renovation projects. Currently the organization is in charge of the Old Wilkes Jail, Robert Cleveland Log Home and Finely Law Office, in addition to the Old Wilkes Courthouse that is still under reconstruction. For more information or to get involved with the sale, you can call Laura Stroud at 838-4240 or contact the Old Wilkes offices at 667-3712.

Man Arrested For Drug Possession
A traffic stop in Wilkesboro led to an arrest by sheriff’s deputies this past Tuesday. Deputies had pulled over a vehicle for only having one working headlight. But when they came up to the driver’s side, there was a strong smell of marijuana coming out. The driver then opened his mouth to show deputies pieces of marijuana still inside. The man also had rolling papers in his lap. 18-yr-old Corey Holmes Nelson was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wilkes Christian Sportsmen
For anyone who loves to hunt or fish, this next bit of information is for you. The Wilkes Christian Sportsmen will be holding their Banquet next week beginning Monday night at 6pm. The banquet continues on Tuesday and then wraps up Thursday night. Each day, dinner is set for 6pm and then the program itself kicks off at 7pm. There are still tickets available and you can pick them up at Minton Pawn, For Heaven’s Sake Book Store, Mike’s Bait & Tackle, Ed & Dale’s Gun Shop, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Peace Haven Baptist Church and Oakwoods Baptist Church. For more information you can call 667-7838.

Money Stolen From Wilkesboro Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in Wilkesboro this week, after $30 was stolen. The homeowners returned to find the money, which was all in quarters, missing with no signs of a break-in. Nothing else was taken from the home and no damage was done. However deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Post Office Evacuated In Charlotte
Officials in Charlotte evacuated the Post Office on Scott Futrell Drive Thursday morning, after reports came in of a bomb threat. Around 6am someone called in and said there was a bomb in the building, however no explosives were ever found. By 8am bomb sniffing dogs had cleared the building and police were able to track the call to a pay phone just down the road.

War Protestors Hold Vigil In Durham
350 war protestors gathered this week in Durham, urging President Bush to bring the troops home. This was part of a larger network of events, which has been going on across the state since the first of August. The planners say that they want to hold these in support of Cindy Sheehan and all other mothers whose sons have been killed in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan has spent almost two weeks camped out near the president’s ranch in Texas, protesting the war and asking for the troops to come home, so no other mother will have to receive a message informing them that their son or daughter has been killed in combat. Across the state this week, 1700 people came out to the rallies, which were held in Charlotte, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and other areas.

Dam Project Causes Protest
In Randolph County, a dam project has people up in arms today. The Randleman Dam is almost finished and will soon bring water to people in the area. However that same dam is also forcing members of the community to find a new home. Farmers say they recognize that the dam is needed, but the problem is that they’re being lowballed for their land. The Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority has tried to buy all of the local farms, but has offered less than half of what they’re worth. If the farmers were to accept an offer like that, they wouldn’t have enough money to move their families, much less livestock and equipment. A hearing on the matter is scheduled to go before the Randolph County Superior Court on Monday.

Lawmakers Cashing In
Concerns are being raised about how much money is given out to state lawmakers. Despite being in recess, 99 lawmakers are still receiving their $104 a day checks. According to legislative records, 88 House members are still receiving checks and 11 senators. Now this isn’t a normal paycheck but rather what’s called an expense check, paid out for food and lodging on the drive to and from the lawmaker’s own district. Since these checks are automatically sent out, lawmakers have to officially decline them in order not to get one. Despite not being in Raleigh, some of the senators justified taking the money. Wake County Republican Neal Hunt said that he was catching up on emails sent out from local constituents and even though he’ll be doing this at home, felt it was appropriate to receive compensation. Both houses of government are expected to return next week for a new session.

Missing Woman Located
Officials in Lexington have located a woman that went missing August 6th. Kimberly trip was found this week in Georgia, having been abducted by her ex-boyfriend. Tripp had called her mother hours before she disappeared, telling her goodbye and saying that her ex-boyfriend had told her he would bring her back in a box. She was found in Mitchell County and was unharmed. The ex-boyfriend, Anthony Duncan, was arrested and charged with her kidnapping. He now facing an extradition hearing.

Reidsville Police Raid The Wrong House
A Reidsville woman got a shock earlier this week, after officers ordered her out of her home and pointed guns in her face. The woman had been eating breakfast when the officers arrived, banging at the door and ordering her to step outside. It turns out they were searching for an escaped murder suspect, but had the wrong home. Instead, the place they were looking for was right across the street. Instead of raiding the 20-yr-old suspect’s home, they went to one of a retired schoolteacher. Members of the police force, including the local captain apologized for the incident. The suspect, 20-yr-old Tim Thaxton turned himself in a few days later.

Sports Headlines

Football Friday Night Kicks Off
Around the high school scene, today officially kicks off football season and 3WC will be out at the local schools bringing you all the action with our Game of the Week. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be over at East Wilkes, broadcasting the Cardinals’ game against East Davidson. Also Brian Carlton will be in the studio, interviewing coaches and bringing you up to date scores from the other games going on in the area. Things start off at 7:15 tonight with the McDonald’s Pregame Show, then kickoff is set for 7:30. All on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Former Tarheels Return To Smith Center
Tarheel players both past and present will gather in the Smith Center next week for the fourth annual World’s Greatest Alumni Game. Already committed to show up are Raymond Felton and Sean May, both of which are starting their NBA career after winning the national title last season. The game starts at 7pm Saturday August 27th, with the former Heels suiting up against the ACC Pro All-Stars, which will include Josh Howard, Chris Paul and Daniel Ewing. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the American Diabetes Foundation.

Women Advance To Finals
In other college basketball news, the U.S. women’s team moved on to the finals after beating Russia 118-67 at the World University Games. The team went on a 20-0 run early in the first half and never let up, earning the right to face Serbia and Montenegro for the gold medal later today.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem falling to Wilmington 11-10. Warthogs’ reliever Juan Ovalles got the loss after giving up a solo home run in the eighth inning. Robert Valido led Winston, going 3-4 with three RBIs.

Panthers Sign Morgan To Extension
The Carolina Panthers locked up another vital part of their defense this week, coming to terms with linebacker Dan Morgan. The five year deal will keep Morgan in Carolina until at least 2009, a move that team officials said was a priority. Morgan said that he wants to finish his career as a Panther, playing for the team that drafted him and hopes to bring home a few Super Bowl trophies along the way.

Eury Jr. To Stay With DEI
In NASCAR, some good news today for Dale Earnhart Incorporated. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. agreed to a new contract, signing on with DEI for a long term deal. Eury Jr. the cousin of Dale Earnhart Jr., hasn’t said who he’ll be working with next season, as his current driver, Michael Waltrip, is leaving after this year.

Stewart Steps Down From Ride
Tony Stewart is stepping out of the driver’s chair and letting someone else take the wheel. In the Busch series that is. Stewart turned over the reins of the #33 Chevy to Tony Raines, who will be driving the car in the Busch series for the rest of the year. Up til now, Stewart had been splitting time in the vehicle with Raines but stepped aside so that he could focus on the Nextel Cup race.

News & Sprots For August 18th

False Missionary Popping Up
The Wilkes Sheriff’s Department has issued a warning for churches in the area. A young man pretending to be a missionary is in the area, trying to get donations for his supposed trip. In reality the money isn’t used for anything close to mission work. He’s already conned several churches in other counties and now information points to him being in Wilkes. The man is described as being oriental, around 5’7ft and skinny. He drives a green 1991 Toyota Corolla with New Hampshire license plates. If you have any information regarding this man, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at 903-7600.

Shots Fired At Moravian Falls Home
Sheriff’s deputies were recently called out to a home in Moravian Falls, after reports of shots being fired. The homeowner woke up to the sounds of gunfire around her residence, lasting for about two hours. Deputies were called in but there was no evidence at the scene and no witnesses. The investigation is ongoing.

Open House Later Today At West Wilkes
As we get set to wrap up the first week of school, students at West Wilkes High can take part tonight in an Open House. Parents can come in and meet with their children’s teachers, also getting to see the different classrooms. The event starts at 7pm with everyone gathering together in the gym. For more information you can call the school at 973-4503.

Another Round Of Gas Thieves In Wilkes
For the second time in under a week, gas thieves hit a business in Wilkes County. This time it was the Clingman Pit Stop in Ronda, as a person drove up in a green van, pumped $46 worth of gas and then took off without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get a description of both the driver and his vehicle, both of which were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Ran Off With The Pressure Washer
How do you just walk off with a pressure washer? That’s what a Traphill woman wants to know, as thieves paid her a visit this week. The washer was sitting on the porch when the woman left earlier in the day. However when she returned it was gone, with no marks left behind and no evidence that someone had been there. Deputies do have a suspect, as a witness described a man pulling up in a dump truck and loading the washer inside. A description of both the man and his truck were turned over to deputies, who are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Music
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start out as a musician? To juggle your music ministry with work, school and the everyday insanity of life? This week on Focus on the Foothills, we’ll be talking about all those subjects with musician and college student Wes Pickering, providing a snapshot of what the process is like, putting together a record and working to keep your grades up at the same time. To hear Brian's interview with Wes, you can tune in today for Focus on the Foothills. They’ll be discussing what’s involved if you want to get started in music, also providing some hints to help along the way. That’s coming up at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Medicare Information Session Later Today
It can be hard at times to understand all the legal language when going through an insurance contract. How much do you pay? What exactly is covered? It’s no different with Medicare, however coming up this week it’ll be a little easier to get some answers. There will be a public information session going on Thursday August 18th at the Wilkes Public Library. The session will go on from 11 am til 12 noon, with people on hand to answer your questions concerning Medicare Plan B. For more information you can call 670-2644.

Money Order Forged At Local Store
A woman came into the Fast Track in Wilkesboro this week, wanting to cash a money order. However employees at the store noticed that it looked strange, like someone had changed the name on it. After the woman was told that the check would have to be verified, she grabbed it and took off out the door. She was able to be identified and Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Accidental Poisons
Recently in the local Wal-Mart, a toxic gas was created when someone accidentally mixed two chemicals. But what other toxins are we exposing ourselves to in everyday life? Today we’re taking a look at that in our 3WC Healthwatch. If you’re bitten by a gnat or some other seemingly harmless bug, you tend not to think that much about it. But recent studies have shown that might not be such a good idea. Even the smallest insect can carry poison inside, so if you start itching in a place you’ve been bitten, you need to put an anti-inflammatory cream or spray on it. That helps not only alleviate the itch, but also cuts down on he poison. Also be careful of things in your house. Never sniff containers to see what’s inside and also be careful to toss out any old or outdated chemicals inside your home. In addition, be sure and turn on a fan or open up a window when mopping or using any other chemicals. That way the gases can escape outside and not be caught up with you. Finally remember that pesticides can be absorbed through the skin, so if you see a place that’s being sprayed, try to stay as far away as possible. It may cause extra driving time, but that’s better than a hospital stay.

State News

Jobs Leaving Burlington Area
Some bad news today for people living in Burlington, as more jobs are headed out of the area. Culp Inc. announced plans this week to shut down two yarn-making factories, a move that will cost 100 people their jobs. Equipment from the plant will be sold to a company in Chapel Hill. The move comes after an announcement about this year’s profits, which took a dive to $286 million. That’s $32 million less than at the same time last year. Company officials said that they weren’t prepared for profits to dip any lower and found that it was cheaper to buy yarn and then put it to use than to make their own.

Employee Frozen At Papa Johns
Winston Salem police were called out to the site of a robbery Wednesday on South Hawthorne Road, at the local Papa John’s store. Instead of the robber however, they found an employee locked up in the store’s walk-in freezer. Apparently what happened was that a man came in, showed a gun and demanded money. After taking the cash, he then locked an employee in the freezer and took off. Before being stuffed inside however, the employee was able to trigger the store’s alarm. Winston police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 336-773-7700.

All Chatham Students To Have A Laptop
When students in Chatham County make it back to class this week, there’s a surprise waiting. A brand new laptop computer. County officials invested one million dollars to buy Apple iBook computers for every high school student in the area. Currently they’re a little over halfway toward the goal, as just over 1,000 students will be given the laptops this week. The plan was to help equip students and make sure everyone has access to the same technology, to level the playing field for those who might not be able to afford one on their own.

Waste Spill Contaminates Neuse River
In Clayton North Carolina, cleanup continues on one of the worst spills ever in this part of the state. 600,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Neuse River, the result of a clogged pipe. Some debris from local construction blocked the pipe, causing the water to spill out of a manhole in a remote part of the area. It went unnoticed for over a month, due to the limited amount of traffic coming through. Town officials have since fixed the sewer line and pumped out around 113,000 gallons. However over 400,000 gallons still remain although officials say there shouldn’t be any concern about contaminated water sources.

Judge Causes Case To Be Overturned
A judge in Raleigh is under fire today, after her remarks led to a new trial for a convicted offender. 31-yr-old Douglas Shane Wright, a convicted sex offender, was given a new trial after the state Court of Appeals ruled that the judge in his case created a negative atmosphere that prevented him from having an impartial jury. Wright had been charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and sentenced to five years in prison. Now that decision has been overturned, after the court heard testimony about the judge’s behavior. According to witnesses, she repeatedly made disparaging remarks to the defense attorney and told the jurors they should be afraid of her. This isn’t the first time Judge Evelyn Hill has been the subject of controversy, as she’s been reprimanded by the state twice for misbehavior in the courtroom.

More NC Troops On The Way To Iraq
Bad news today for military families at Fort Bragg, as more North Carolina troops have received orders to ship out. 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will begin deploying to Iraq over the next two weeks, on a mission they haven’t even received details on yet. The unit returned from Iraq in 2004, after serving both in Fallujah and earlier in Afghanistan. Officials said that the soldiers wouldn’t be given orders until they arrive in Iraq, but are being told to prepare for some nontraditional missions.

Sports Headlines

University Team Continues To Win
The U.S. University team continues to roll through the competition at this year’s University Games. The games, offered as an alternative to those too old for the Under 21 league, are being played in Turkey. The American team put together another strong showing as they beat China 117-61. Duke’s Shelden Williams put in 16 points to help lead the team to victory. The news was just as good on the women’s side, as the U.S. beat Taiwan 109-57, advancing to the semi-finals. Duke’s Monique Currie added 14 points in the victory, as the U.S. moves on to face Russia later this week.

Duke Lands Football Recruit
In what’s shaping up to be a great recruiting class for football, Duke University has landed its’ 11th commitment for 2006. Brandon King, a fullback ranked as the 18th best player in Pennsylvania, has agreed to play for the team. The 6-3, 240 lb. King totaled up 651 rushing yards last season as a junior and will be used both for his running ability and also his blocking next year as a Blue Devil. A dedication to winning and good academic program were two of the things he said drew him to Durham.

Minor League Scoreboard

Minter Becomes New Champion
With the NFL preseason in full swing, there are bragging rights on the line and a new championship awarded to Carolina Panther Mike Minter. Minter was showing off his new title at the team’s practice facility on Wednesday, after he was crowned the new Madden 2006 champion. He even held a press conference to declare victory, proudly holding up his title belt, a white towel with the game’s label taped on it. Minter wanted to make sure everyone knew of his victory, because he came in near the bottom of the barrel in last year’s competition. However he solved that problem this time, he said, by practicing hard each and every day.

Hurricanes News & Notes
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes are going to loan out their coach for a few weeks. Peter Laviolette was selected this week as the new coach for next year’s U.S. Olympic team. The 40-yr-old Laviolette was a player during the 1994 team and coached the U.S. to a bronze medal at the world championships in 2004. In other news for the team, the Hurricanes agreed to a deal with defenseman Glen Wesley. The 36-yr-old Wesley is a fan favorite in Raleigh and will return for his 18th season in the league.

Nascar News & Notes
In NASCAR, a new team might be entering the Nextel Cup circuit next year, owned by a pair of Superbowl champs. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach have put together team called Hall of Fame Racing. Joe Gibbs has helped to supply the new team with cars and technology to get started and plans are in place to sign a driver possibly before the end of this season.

News & Sports For August

Notes From Commissioners Meeting
Wilkes County Commissioners met last night and discussed several items on the agenda. Six volunteers were recognized from different organizations in the county, for their service. They were Annie Wyatt from Hospice, Karen Clifton from the guardian child advocate program, Steve & Linda Minton from Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Mandy Markson from Communities in Schools and Ona Johnson from the Appalachian Senior Companion Program. All of these volunteers were given a certificate thanking them for their dedication and work ethic. Also at the meeting, county commissioners approved some budget amendments. To help refinance the Hanger loan, additional funds were approved for both the principal and interest payments of the county’s airport hanger. An increase of $1782 was established for the principal payment and the interest payment was increased by $4321. With the changes, the principal payment now stands at $25,882 and the interest payment is $8987. Also David McGrady from the Vocational Workshop spoke and outlined several problems the program finds itself facing. Over the past year, the workshop has found itself $385,000 in debt, partially from shrinking state funding. That has mainly been covered by cash reserves, which are drying up. Current cash losses were placed at $200,000 and there is only an estimated $50,000 in reserve. Proposals were presented to eliminate the debt, including getting rid of transportation to and from the workshop, which currently costs $85,000 a year. In addition, the café will be shut down, saving $25,000 and food will instead be offered by the Snack Shack, at a cost of $3 per meal. Director McGrady asked if the commissioners would consider increasing the amount of support provided by the county and if they could possibly subsidize transportation? Commissioners requested financial records from the organization and promised to take up the concerns in another meeting.

Mailbox Vandals Return To Wilkes
Mailbox vandals hit another home in the Wilkes County area this week. In Thurmond, a woman walked outside to find that her mailbox had been chopped down from its’ post and a hole had been punctured in it. $75 worth of damage was done, however no one can recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Music
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start out as a musician? To juggle your music ministry with work, school and the everyday insanity of life? This week on Focus on the Foothills, Brian Carlton will be talking about all those subjects with musician and college student Wes Pickering, providing a snapshot of what the process is like, putting together a record and working to keep your grades up at the same time. To hear Brian's interview with Wes, you can tune in tomorrow for Focus on the Foothills. They’ll be discussing what’s involved if you want to get started in music, also providing some hints to help along the way. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Ran Off With The Tire
Why would someone steal a tire? That’s what a Wilkesboro man is wondering today, after returning home to find his car was missing one. The man had parked his Chevy in the front yard six months ago as it didn’t work. After returning home this week, he found that one of the tires had been pulled off. Nothing else was stolen and no damage was done to either the car or the property. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

Medicare Forum To Be Held Tomorrow
It can be hard at times to understand all the legal language when going through an insurance contract. How much do you pay? What exactly is covered? It’s no different with Medicare, however coming up this week it’ll be a little easier to get some answers. There will be a public information session going on Thursday August 18th at the Wilkes Public Library. The session will go on from 11 am til 12 noon, with people on hand to answer your questions concerning Medicare Plan B. For more information you can call 670-2644.

Air Conditioners Stolen From Local Businesses
The heat is still affecting people around Wilkes County, who are looking for ways to cool off. But someone apparently decided he should have to pay to keep cool, as two air conditioners were stolen from the loading dock at Wilkes Heating & Air Conditioner. Over one thousand dollars worth of merchandise was taken from the business, however the joke is on the thieves as none of the units actually work. They had been set on the dock because of damages and were going to be looked at. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Retired Teachers In Wilkes To Meet
Retired teachers from around the Wilkes County area will come together for a meeting next Wednesday, August 24th. The event will be held at the Elks Club, starting at 12 noon. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss changes in the law, which will be done by Judge Gregory. In addition, Rev. Paul Huger will deal with any questions regarding Medicare Part D. Once again that will be going on August 24th at the Elks Club.

Illegal Dumping Becomes A Problem For Purlear Man
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Purlear man’s home, due to an unusual problem. Someone has been depositing their trash in his yard. No one has actually witnessed the dumping, but twice when the man returned from town this week, there was trash left on his property. There are no suspects, however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes Heritage Museum Holds Fundraiser
Old Wilkes Inc. continues to raise money to put into their renovation project of what will be the Heritage Museum. One way of doing that will be on display this weekend, when the group hosts a giant yard sale. The event starts Friday afternoon at 4pm and runs til 8pm that night, before starting back up Saturday morning at 8am and stretching on until 2pm. All kinds of items, from clothing, to art, to food will be available, with proceeds going to support the Old Wilkes renovation projects. Currently the organization is in charge of the Old Wilkes Jail, Robert Cleveland Log Home and Finely Law Office, in addition to the Old Wilkes Courthouse that is still under reconstruction. For more information or to get involved with the sale, you can call Laura Stroud at 838-4240 or contact the Old Wilkes offices at 667-3712.

Credit Card Stolen From Local Group Home
Deputies were called out to Rest Care this week, after officials at the group home discovered that a credit card had been stolen. The card, which was used to purchase items for the home, was discontinued so that the thief couldn’t use it. There were no reports of anyone attempting to use it and no suspects in the case.

State News

Greensboro Residents Asked To Dump The Pump
Tired of high gas prices? Well the city of Greensboro has come up with a possible solution called “Dump the Pump”. The city is suggesting that people give up cars for a ride on the bus. It costs two dollars for a roundtrip anywhere in Greensboro, less than the fee for just one gallon of gas. After seeing the latest round of skyrocketing prices, city officials said they felt the need to offer an alternative, to help people save money.

Town Forgets Own Birthday
Sometimes you accidentally forget a friend’s birthday and rush to make up for it. But for the town of Roxboro, nothing can make up for the celebration that would have been. The town turned 150 this past January, but local officials forgot all about the event. Instead, they were reminded just a few weeks ago after receiving a letter of congratulations from the state. Aside from the festivities involved, locals are upset over the missed marketing opportunities, which could have brought in much needed tourism dollars. To solve the problem, town commissioners have declared that January 9th in Roxboro will now be known as Founder’s Day, giving the town an official holiday to celebrate.

Man Gets Strange Sentence For Drunk Driving
A Waynesville judge handed down a unique punishment this week in the case of a drunk driver. Mark Calhoun had been charged with felony death by motor vehicle, after killing a 16-yr-old who was riding his bike. After a jury found Calhoun guilty, the judge ordered that he spend 90 days in jail, after which he has to pay $11,000 for the boy’s funeral and be placed under house arrest. In addition, the judge also ruled that for the next four years, Calhoun has to come back to jail, to serve a 48 hour sentence on the anniversary of the crash.

Hickory May Lose Flights
Bad news coming out of Hickory today, as the city may lose it’s Delta Connection Center. Less than a year after getting the service up and running, officials from Atlantic Southeast Airlines said that they would possibly leave the area if profits don’t increase over the next two months. Currently around 40% of all seats on Delta flights are sold in Hickory, 10% lower than the company’s estimates. It’s unclear what, if anything can be done to attract more customers, as the company doesn’t plan to lower prices and Hickory can’t afford to offer any other services.

Police Car Thief Still At Large
The search continues in Winston Salem for a man who stole a police car. 31-yr-old Derrick Devon Reid had been arrested Monday on assault charges and put in the back seat of the vehicle. The officers left the sliding window between the back seat and front open, so that Reid wouldn’t burn up on such a hot day. However when the officers stepped out of the car, Reid managed to crawl in between the seats and drive off, as the keys were still in the ignition. Police later found the car abandoned on Claremont Avenue in Winston Salem.

Easley Makes Pitch To Keep Movies
Gov. Mike Easley has made a pitch that he hopes some movie company will pick up. Namely he hopes they pick up and move production to North Carolina. Included in the budget signed on Saturday, is an item called the film incentive package. Under the plan, any production company that spends at least $250,000 in North Carolina would receive a tax credit equal to 15% of the cost for all goods, labor and services it purchases in the state. The maximum benefit a company can be given is $7.5 million, which in turn would require the company to spend at least $50 million in the state.

Sports Headlines

First Game Of The Week This Friday
Around the high school scene, this Friday kicks off football season and 3WC will be on hand to bring you all the action with our Game of the Week. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be over at East Wilkes, broadcasting the Cardinals’ game against East Davidson. Also Brian Carlton will be in the studio, interviewing coaches and bringing you up to date scores from the other games going on in the area. That’s high school football this Friday starting at 7:15 with the McDonalds Pregame Show, then kickoff is set for 7:30. All on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

UNC Football Team Gains One But Loses Another
It’s a case of good news/bad news in Chapel Hill, as one Tarheel was cleared to rejoin the football team, while two more are leaving. Freshman Mark Paschal is returning to the squad after charges were dropped against him in criminal court. The 18-yr-old Paschal had been charged with assault, drunk & disruptive behavior and resisting arrest on the night of July 9th. However after he went through an alcohol and drug education program, the prosecution agreed to drop all charges. Coach Bunting said that he believes Paschal learned a valuable lesson and he was glad to welcome him back to the team. The news wasn’t so good for defensive end Xavier Rainey, who announced that he’s quitting football. Rainey had broke his leg during spring practice and rehab wasn’t going as well as he had hoped.

NC State Loses Two Players
Down the road in Raleigh, some bad news also hit the Wolfpack training camp. NC State will lose defensive ends Raymond Brooks and Chip Cross for the season, according to the athletic director’s office. It wasn’t made public why the two wouldn’t make the squad, however they will be missed. The sophomore Brooks was a big part of the team’s defensive line, seeing action in ten games last year. Cross had just rejoined the team after a year off as he’s heading into his senior season.

Duke Adds Another To Offensive Line
Over in Durham, an experiment is taking place during camp. 6-7 senior Demetrius Warrick is working on a position change, moving from defensive tackle to plug a hole on the offensive line. The 300 lb. lineman has never played on the offensive side before, but Duke coaches believe he could have an impact on the game. The only catch is that Warrick has less than a month to learn a position that can take up to three years to master.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem losing to the Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-2. There were only slim pickings for the Warthogs, who were led by Robert Valido’s one RBI. Valido also had a stolen base in the loss.

Former Duke Player Locked Up With Contract
In the NBA, one former Duke player has a bit of job security today, after coming to terms on a new deal. Point guard Chris Duhon will return for another year with the Chicago Bulls, after the team matched an offer put out by Toronto. The three year deal will keep Duhon with the team that drafted him out of the second round last year, where he averaged 5 points and 4 assists as a backup. He also helped guide the Bulls to their first playoff appearance in seven years.

News & Sports For August 16th

Fox To Meet With Chairman In Wilkes Today
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox will be in Wilkes this morning, to meet with U.S. Representative John Boehner. Mr. Boehner is the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and will be touring Wilkes Community College along with Congresswoman Fox, before meeting with local officials. The point of the meeting is to discuss the Higher Education Act and how it could possibly affect Wilkes County.

Deputy Assaulted By Break-In Suspect
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to an Elkin residence earlier this week, after reports came of a break-in. A man had apparently busted into the home, knocking open the door and damaging a wall. Once inside he screamed at the homeowner and her family before rushing out and climbing the roof. Within a few minutes the man disappeared, just before deputies arrived. However he returned once again, refusing to let the deputies out of their vehicle. He kept cursing at the deputies, swinging the car doors and trying to hit them. 37-yr-old Richie Holbrook was arrested and charged with assaulting an officer, in addition to breaking & entering along with property damage. Estimated damages at the woman’s home were placed at $600 and it’s still unclear why the man chose that specific home to go into.

Gas Theft In North Wilkesboro
Gas thieves hit another business in Wilkes County earlier in the week, this time targeting the Run-In on Statesville Road. A man pulled up, pumped $36 worth of gas and then took off down the road, spinning tires while doing so. A description of both the man and vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we close the book on summer, rabies is still a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine, officials are still concerned of a potential problem. The easiest way to fix things is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.

Mower & Video Games Stolen
A Millers Creek man returned home earlier this week, only to find that someone had paid him a visit. Gone from inside was the man’s push mower, in addition to his X-Box game system. It appears that the thieves had pried open a side door with a pocket knife to gain access. Nothing else was stolen and no other damage was done to the home. There are several suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Health Department Offering Car Seat Help
85% of child safety seats across Wilkes County were not installed correctly, according to the local SafeKids organization. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it’s still high enough for concern. However if you’re still trying to figure out what the right way to install one is, you don’t have to wait until the next safety check. The Wilkes Health Department is partnering with SafeKids to help show parents the right way to install the seats. To set up an appointment, you can call Jean Edwards at the Health Department. Her number is 651-7478. Or if you want to wait until the next safety check, there will be one going on September 17th.

Gun Fired At Traphill Home
Deputies were called out to a Traphill residence after reports came in of shots fired at the house. The homeowner returned from church Sunday afternoon to find that his windows had been shattered and also parts of the siding on his home had been torn up as well, all this done by a shotgun blast. $2500 worth of damage was done to the property, however there are no suspects in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

“Spoofing” Pt. 1 Of Internet Safety Series
Virtually everyone is logging onto the internet these days, checking email and even working from home. However a new practice called spoofing can give you an online headache. The idea is a ripoff of an old practice, sending out fake emails that have the exact same information as a company you do business with, such as Wachovia, even down to the log-in screen. It’s even impossible to tell if the email is legit by looking at who sent it, as hackers can alter any portion of the message. First and foremost, if you get any emails from a company you do business with, log out and go directly to their website. Don’t click on any links that will connect you. While it may seem harmless, what that does in fact is link you with a hacker’s computer. Now he has a way into your system. Also the spoofed emails will always have a generic greeting, such as welcome Wachovia customer. Also realize that no legit company would ever ask for bank account, credit card or debit card numbers. They also wouldn’t ask for your drivers’ license or full name. These are all little tools hackers use to gain access to your information. The best thing to do is delete an email if it seems strange or if you think it’s hacked. Then if nothing else you can go directly to the website of the business in question and find out for yourself. It’s a lot cheaper than the alternative.

Thieves Leave Vehicle Behind At Heist
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home on Hwy 16 North earlier this week, after reports of a break-in in progress. They arrived to find several tools had been stolen from the woman’s home, including a $200 pressure washer and $200 welder. Estimated cost of everything that was stolen was placed at $1400. However a vehicle was parked nearby, one that didn’t belong to anyone in the neighborhood. Deputies radioed in and got the information as to who owned the car and are continuing the investigation.

Farmers At Risk Of Losing Benefits As Deadline Extended
Some farmers here in Wilkes County could be at risk of losing state aid dollars unless a mistake is corrected. The aid money is being sent out to any farmer who suffered crop losses or had to rebuild from last year’s hurricanes. 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, the number is 651-7331.

Never Leave Money Out In Plain Sight
A Wilkesboro man learned why it’s never a good idea to leave money in plain sight this week. He locked his car before going into a store, however when he came out, $60 that had been laying on the seat was missing along with his wallet. In addition the driver’s side door and driver’s side key lock were both damaged. Total damages were placed at $250 and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Police Hunt For Wingate Robber
Police at Wingate are hunting for a robbery suspect today, after a government employee was assaulted. A driver for one of Union County’s transportation vans was pulling out of a nearby Burger King when a man rose out of the backseat and tried to beat him with a pipe. After a brief struggle, the driver was able to toss the man off, after which he jumped out the door and took off running. There were no injuries and nothing was stolen from the van. However police around Wingate are still attempting to locate the man, before he strikes again. He’s described as a skinny black male, last seen wearing a red shirt and black cap. If you have any information Wingate Police are asking for a call at 704-233-1697.

North Carolina In First Regional Cold Case Group
The state of North Carolina is taking part in a law enforcement organization that’s the first of its’ kind on the East Coast. Investigators from North Carolina, Delaware, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia are all coming together as part of the Mid-Atlantic Cold Case Association. The group will help each other out on cases, offering a fresh pair of eyes to a case that might have stumped law enforcement til now. David Cordle is the president of the group, in addition to being the chief investigator for the Anne Arundel County state attorney’s office in Maryland.

Man Shot After Robbery
Winston Salem police are investigating after a robbery Monday morning. The incident happened around 6:30am at the K&W Cafeteria on Hanes Mill Road. A 54-yr-old man was shot after a would be robber came up to him in the parking lot and demanded his money. It’s unknown what exactly happened after that, however the man was shot and the robber took off in a small green car. No one could provide any more details of the incident. The man however, 54-yr-old Marshal Norman, is currently in Baptist Hospital, recovering from surgery.

Broyhill Plant In Lenoir Shuts Down
Bad news today for people in the Lenoir area, as Broyhill Furniture officially closed down their Occasional 1 plant. A few workers are remaining on staff to help run the warehousing operations, which will continue until all the stock has been moved. Today is also the final day for Lenoir’s Harper plant, which closes down at the end of business. Overall 475 jobs will be lost, with an additional 285 people being forced to relocate in order to keep theirs. Both plants are currently up for sale.

Caldwell County To Hold Employment Event
Some good news for people without work in Caldwell County, as later this week a job fair of sorts will be going on. Called “Directions”, the program will be set up at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute from Wednesday through Friday. Times are set starting at 10am in the morning and wrapping up that evening at 6pm. The program is designed to help any out of work people find connections for assistance and possibly jobs before they leave. The event is free to everyone and on hand will be healthcare providers, food, clothing and school supply drives among other things. Once again that’s taking place Wednesday through Friday at the Caldwell Community College from 10am til 6pm.

Sports Headlines

Tarheel Player Considers Redshirting
This year hasn’t gone as planned for Tarheel runningback Ronnie McGill, who’s recovering from a torn chest muscle. Now as he faces at least four months of rehab before he can get back on a football field, McGill is considering redshirting and making his return next season. An official decision hasn’t been made yet, but McGill said he didn’t want to return for just a few weeks and cause any problems for the team.

Duke Lands Ahead Of North Carolina In Preseason Poll
Some surprises came out in the first national college football poll. USA Today released its’ first preseason poll and more surprising than who was left off was who got a vote. The Duke Blue Devils received a vote in the poll, one more than both North Carolina and Wake Forest despite only winning eight games in five years. The only other North Carolina school receiving a vote was NC State, who was ranked 31st, with 69 votes.

Giuliani To Play At Duke
A member of the first family is enrolling this fall at Duke University. The first family of New York that is. Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, will head to Durham this fall in hopes of making the golf team. The 19-yr-old doesn’t have a scholarship, but will instead try to make the team as a walk-on. In addition to Giuliani, Coach Rod Myers returns most of a team that won the ACC title last season. Giuliani said one of the reasons he picked Duke was because of his friendships with some guys already on the team.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating the Wilmington Blue Rocks 6-5. Winston starter Wes Whisler got his third win of the year, only giving up one run in six innings of work while striking out seven. Reliever Fabio Castro picked up his second save of the year in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. Noah Hall led the Warthogs’ attack, going two for three with a home run.

Panthers Win Comes With Price
Not everything went as planned for the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, as two more players were added to the list of walking wounded. Linebacker Brandon Short sprained his left foot and special teams captain Karl Hankton sprained his shoulder. Some good news however also came for the team, as cornerback Ken Lucas, receiver Keary Colbert and safety Mike Minter were all cleared to return to practice, after recovering from injuries.

News & Sports For August 15th

Where Did You Come From?
A Wilkesboro man was walking through his home over the weekend when he noticed a woman in his kitchen. He asked who she was, only to see her run out the door. There was no damage done to the house and it didn’t appear that anything was stolen. However the man later found that his billfold had been taken, along with $60 in cash and his drivers’ license. A description of the woman was turned over to deputies and an investigation is ongoing.

Wreck On Oakwoods Road Wrecks Two
It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes on the road. A Moravian Falls man found that out the hard way over the weekend, as he was driving down Oakwoods Road. After looking away for a few seconds, he glanced up to see the vehicle in front of him had come to a stop. Unable to follow suit in time, the two cars collided, causing an estimated $10,500 in damage. The Moravian Falls man was taken by ambulance to Wilkes Regional.

Local Church Holds Youth Conference
Emmanuel Church is celebrating its’ 13th year of operation in 2005 and portions of the church’s youth are working to honor that achievement. A conference will go on this week at the church, located in North Wilkesboro, where the target is to bring 250 teens together to honor and worship God. The name of this year’s conference is Raising the Crop. If you want to get involved and help, you can do that as well. The church is accepting any donations of time, food or whatever you can give to help support the conference. They are located at 708 F Street in North Wilkesboro and once again the number to call for information is 903-0693.

Always Helps To Lock Your Doors
A High Point woman called Wilkesboro police over the weekend after discovering that thieves had been inside her car. The woman had left her vehicle while going to different businesses in the area, keeping a camera inside with the doors unlocked. However when she returned, the camera was missing. That investigation is ongoing.

Upcoming Abortion Conference
The Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been helping people deal with unplanned pregnancies for the last 10 years. They also counsel women who are either considering abortion or have already gone through with one. Coming up later this week, the Center is putting together a program to help minister to those who are struggling to come to terms with an abortion in their past. That will go on this Saturday, August 20th starting at 9am in the morning. For more information you can call the Pregnancy Care Center at 838-9272.

Air Conditioner Stolen From Local Home
The heat apparently got to at least one person over the weekend, as a Wilkesboro man returned home to find that thieves had stolen his air conditioner. Damage was done throughout the house, with the final bill estimated at around $500. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

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.

3WC Ranks In Top Five
The first round of voting is over and the Top Five Finalists were announced on Monday for this year’s Southern Gospel Music Awards. 3WC made the list as one of the top five radio stations, joining Joy FM, WJBZ, WDJC and KKGM on the list. Over one hundred thousand people from over 70 countries cast their vote for their favorites in each category. Now the second round of voting begins and you can cast a ballot even if you did so the first time. Same as before, you just have to log on to www.thesoutherngospel.com , click on Southern Gospel Music Awards 2005 and cast your vote. All it takes is a working email address to be able to make your voice heard. Then the winners of this year’s awards will be revealed on October 29th during a ceremony at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston Salem.

State News

Deputy Fired After Stealing Weed Eater
Normally law enforcement officers watch surveillance tapes, but for one Craven County sheriff’s deputy, he was the subject of one. Sgt. James Teel was fired from his job after being found guilty of stealing a weed-eater. The man was caught on tape walking over to a local storage shed, then kicking down the door and grabbing the trimmer. He pleaded guilty in criminal court, but didn’t give any reasons for his crimes. The 10-year law enforcement vet was given 45 days in a suspended jail sentence, along with 18 months of probation. This marks the fourth employee fired from the Sheriff’s Department in Craven County over the last week.

Bad News For College Students
While North Carolina finally has a state budget, that could actually be a bad thing for college students. In the $17 billion dollar budget, funding for state colleges & universities was cut 1.72%. Now what that means is schools are going to have to make up the difference themselves, which for many means a choice between cutting staff or increasing tuition. College officials across the state said the decision will be different for each school, but also said increasing tuition was the more likely choice.

Reward Offered As Hunt Continues
Officials in Winston Salem are hunting today for a hit & run driver and are offering a reward for information. A four year old boy was hurt last week after walking on the sidewalk of his street and being hit by a speeding car. The vehicle was described as a red convertible with a black top, but no other information could be provided by witnesses. After slowing down, the car kept on going down the road. The boy suffered a broken leg in the incident and now his parents are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If anyone has information about the case, you can call 336-727-2800.

Marines Return Home
Some good news for military families in the state this weekend, as 900 Marines returned home to Camp Lejeune. The 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine group had left for Iraq in January, where they helped to train the Iraqi army. Also while over there, the soldiers confiscated 125 weapons caches and 26,000 rounds of ammunition. On Sunday, families started arriving at 9am, with over 500 eventually crowding around. The soldiers said they were most proud of helping to calm the violence, as attacks were down almost 50% from January til July. 210 attacks went on in January, compared with 65 in July.

State Finally Has A Budget
One week after it was passed by state lawmakers, North Carolina’s budget became official as Governor Easley signed it into law. The $17.2 billion plan will stay as it was originally conceived, with over $600 million coming in via new tax plans. Several projects within the budget have been called into question, including $400,000 to pay for a Teapot Museum in Sparta and $1 million to help pay for an equestrian center in Rockingham County. Despite the concerns, Easley did in fact sign the budget into law.

Sports Headlines

Results Of Local Golf Tournament
Around the local scene, this weekend was the Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home Golf Tournament, played at Oakwoods Country Club. The winning team from the first morning flight included Bradley Eller, Burn Gregory, Todd Felts, John Battle, while second place went to Kerry Cook, Scott Prevette, Matt Reneger and Gray Burchette. On the second flight of the morning, it was John Burchette, Marsh Lyall, Mark Church and Don Rhodes taking first place, with Keith Huffman, Bob Simmons, Steve Ellis and L Tomlin. Later on during the afternoon, it was the team of James Mathis, Jeff Shoemaker, Jim Wiles and Jim Barlow finishing first, with Barry Byrd, Ed Snyder, Brian Bonette and Kent Sherrill coming in second. Then on the final flight of the day, it was Kevin Lyall, Erine Drumm, Mark Jolly and Brandon Jolly finishing first, with Bruce Miller, Josh Welborn, West Minton and Arthur Lankford wrapping up second place.

Under 21 Team Fails To Get Gold
It was a rough weekend for the U.S. Under 21 team, as they were knocked out of the running for a gold medal. Canada beat the U.S. by a score of 93-90 on Friday, a game that went into overtime. The U.S. rebounded on Saturday, winning the consolation game 99-79 over Puerto Rico. Justin Gray from Wake Forest had 16 points for the U.S., while Duke’s JJ Redick was ice cold, only scoring three points.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem losing against Fredrick 3-2. Ray Liotta got his first loss of the season, giving up three runs in seven innings of work. With the loss, Winston falls two games back in the race for the Southern Division title. Up the road in Hickory the news wasn’t any better for the Crawdads, who fell against Lake County 3-2.

Former 49er Gets Major Chance
Hurt by injuries, the Baltimore Orioles made a call to the minors for pitching help over the weekend. After one game, it seems they made a good decision. Former UNC Charlotte pitcher John Maine made his first start in the majors this season, tossing five innings of shutout baseball against the Toronto Blue Jays. The plans were to have Maine sent back down after one game, but club officials were so impressed they’ve added him to the roster.

Panthers Win Opening Game
In the NFL, it was a good start for the Carolina Panthers, who took their first preseason game 28-10. Playing against the Washington Redskins in front of just over 61,000 people, the Panthers put on a show both on and off the field. During halftime, they retired the jersey of former player and linebackers coach Sam Mills, who died earlier this year from cancer. Coming up next for Carolina is a matchup against the Giants, this Saturday at 8pm.

NASCAR Results
Tony Stewart took the checkered flag at Sunday’s Sirius at the Glen. Robby Gordon was second, Boris Said came in third, Scott Pruett was fourth and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five. With the win, Stewart moves ahead of second place Jimmie Johnson by 95 points in the race for the Cup.

News & Sports For August 12trh

Orientation Continues Tonight
With only three days left before the first day of class, orientation continues tonight at several of the local schools. At Mountain View Elementary, there will be an open house for Pre-K, kindergarteners and first graders from 4-5pm. Then from 5-6pm for 2nd and 3rd grades and finally 6-7pm is when 4th and 5th graders can come in and tour their new classes. Up the road at Boomer Ferguson, a special open house will take place at 7pm, so that Pre-K and kindergarteners can meet their teachers. For the rest of Boomer Ferguson’s students, open house will take place on August 22nd at 7pm. Over at East Wilkes Middle School, orientation starts at 6:30pm for all rising 6th graders. As for the rest of the county, Central Wilkes Middle School is holding orientation this Sunday from 3-5pm for all rising 6th graders and all other new students. Then Mount Pleasant Elementary will hold open house on the 18th and Millers Creek Elementary on the 25th.

Thieves Clean Out Local Store
The Outdoor Sportsman store in Wilkesboro was the victim of thieves this week, with $3378 worth of items either stolen or damaged. The thieves pried open on the of the doors at the business and walked in, carrying off pretty much whatever they could find, Included in the theft was a Dish Network TV box, several fishing rods, some reels, boxes of seed, buckets of minnows and other items. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Ebenezer Holds Tournament Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the date for this year’s golf tournament, to benefit the Ebenezer Garden Christian Children’s Home. The event will take place at Oakwoods Country Club, with morning and afternoon flights. The format for the tournament this year is four man captain’s choice, with over $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. The entry fee is $75 per person and only a few spots remain. All of the proceeds from the event will go to the Home, for use as needed. One of the projects that will be helped by proceeds from the event is the 4th home at Ebenezer called Hope, which is currently under construction. Once again there are a limited number of spots still open for the afternoon tournament. To sign up or for a brochure you may call the Home at 667-5683.

Broke In To Have A Look Around
Thieves broke into a Wilkesboro woman’s home this week, only they left the place just as they found it. Nothing was missing from the house, also no damage was done, except to a window. The would be thieves had apparently shattered a window and climbed inside, but didn’t find what they were looking for. Clothes had been scattered and tossed throughout the house, but there was no other evidence of a break-in. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Head Start Orientation
As we get closer to the start of school, we’re also approaching the beginning of this year’s Head Start program. With that in mind, orientation for Head Start will take place at all three Wilkes County Centers today. You and your child can come in anytime from 8am til 8pm, with officials on hand to answer your questions and show you around. Once again that’s going on today, at the Cub Creek, Lomax and North Wilkesboro Head Start Centers. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell at the BROC head office. Her number is 667-7174.

Wreck On River Street Totals One
It’s always a good idea to get a good night’s sleep before you drive. A Wilkesboro man found this out the hard way on Wednesday, as he fell asleep at the wheel. The man’s car skidded off the road and into a power pole. The car was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $3800, however thankfully the man walked away unhurt.

Drink Machines Across the Area Hit For Change
Wilkesboro police are investigating a series of break-ins today, where drink machines across the area were targeted. Machines at four different businesses were vandalized and then the thieves also either attempted to or succeeded at stealing the change inside. In one of the cases, a mysterious tip led police to the scene of the crime apparently minutes after the incident occurred. It’s unknown exactly how much money was stolen from the machines, however damages were placed at over $800. The investigation is ongoing.

Stuff The Bus Program Wrapping Up
With only a few days left before the start of school, it’s important for kids to get all the supplies they need for class. However with economic times not being the best here in Wilkes, many kids will enter the school term without the simplest things such as paper, pens and calculators. Communities in Schools wants to help solve that problem, with their Stuff the Bus program which is going on right now. You can drop off school supplies at several locations around Wilkes, including Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. There are also drop off spots at Dollar General, Super 10 and the Communities in Schools office. All different types of school supplies are needed, so anything you can donate would be welcomed. For more information you can call Amie Blevins at Communities in Schools. Her number is 651-7830 extension #23.

Weed-Eater Stolen From Purlear Home
A homeowner in Purlear came home earlier this week looking to take advantage of the sunlight outside and get some mowing done. However when he went out to get the mower, he found it was missing. In addition, thieves had also ran off with his weed-eater that had been lying nearby. No lock had been on the door next to which the materials were kept and it appears thieves just walked right in and helped themselves. That investigation is ongoing.

State News

School In Charlotte Falls Victim To Break In
Some hungry thieves broke into the Coulwood Middle School in Charlotte early Thursday morning. Police estimate that around 1am, thieves somehow gained access to the school through the doors, but without leaving behind any damage or evidence they were there. Instead, they made their way to the vending machines inside, smashing them open and then running off with both snacks and money.

Jobs Coming To Gaston County
Some good news today for people in Gaston County, as more jobs are heading into the area. Dole Foods announced plans this week to build a packaging plant in the area. The plant will be built in Bessemer City, with construction to begin later this year. Company officials are opening the doors to anyone who’s looking for a job. If you want to put in an application, you can go online and do so at the Dole website, which can be found at www.Dole.com.

Farmer In North Carolina Supplying White House
A Farmer in North Carolina will be supplying the White House this Christmas. A Laurel Spring man has been selected to provide this year’s White House Christmas tree. Now there are some requirements that have to be met here. The tree must stand 18 ½ feet tall at least. In October, the man’s farm will be visited by a member of the White House staff, who will have to approve the tree. Once that’s finished, the tree will be cut down at Thanksgiving and sent to Washington to be decorated.

Winston Police Need Help In Finding Missing Man
Officials in the Winston area are asking for help in locating a man who went missing Wednesday afternoon. 78-yr-old Willard Warren left home just passed noon on Wednesday and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. It’s believed Warren could be driving a tan 2001 GMC Sierra, with the license plate NZV-5013. The situation is serious because Warren has Alzheimer’s and may be disoriented. If anyone sees the man, officials are asking that you call 911.

Minimum Wage One Step Closer To Increase
North Carolina came one step closer on Thursday to raising the minimum wage, as a new bill passed through both the full House and a Senate committee. In the House, a bill was passed that would raise the minimum wage to $6. The vote was a tight one, as it came through 62-56. Afterwards the bill was passed on to the Senate, who will consider it along with their own measure, which recommends the exact same thing. The only difference between the two bills is that the House version also would add tax credits for all small businesses that give health insurance to workers. That provision isn’t in the Senate version, which instead wants to reduce corporate and income tax rates, while raising the cigarette tax by another five cents. Currently over 100,000 people in the state earn less than $6 an hour, according to the NC Justice Center.

Another Rowan County Official Quits
Less than a month after a scandal came to light in Rowan County, yet another public official left office. County attorney John Holshouser resigned his position, upset that action hadn’t been taken against the man who he believes caused all of this, current county commissioner Arnold Chamberlain. It was revealed earlier this month that Rowan County had spent $23,000 to hire a private investigator, in order to determine who was writing letters that criticized local government. That investigation found that Chamberlain had written the letters, a charge he denies. However because no action was taken against him, Holshouser resigned the position he had held for the past 16 years. In his resignation, Holshouser called the current county government a charade and said that people deserved better.

Sports Headlines

Duke Lands 10th Recruit
It’s been a good offseason so far for Duke’s football program. The team added another piece to the puzzle this week as Andrew Holoman announced his commitment to the school. Holoman, a 6’2 202 lb. linebacker from Virginia, accepted the school’s offer of a scholarship, saying that it had the mixture of academics and athletics that he wanted. In doing so, he turned down an offer from his father’s alma mater Virginia and also Georgia Tech.

Under 21 Team Advances
And in college basketball, you can chalk up yet another victory for the U.S. Under 21 team, thanks in part to a player from North Carolina. Last time it was a Blue Devil, but in this case a 49er stepped up to the plate, as Curtis Withers from UNC Charlotte led the team to a 82-79 win over Slovenia. Withers had 15 points as he helped rally the team back from a 13-point deficit. With the win, the U.S. team will match up later today, against the winner of the game between Israel and Canada.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem beating Wilmington 3-1 in a game that took ten innings to finish. Warthogs’ starter Lance Broadway had a good game despite not getting a decision, going six innings and striking out seven, without giving up a run. Reliever Fabio Castro got his fifth win of the season, after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Hurricanes Sign Another Player
The free agent period continues for the Carolina Hurricanes, as they agreed to a deal with right winger Justin Williams this week. Williams signed a one year deal with the team, after helping Canada win the gold medal at the World Hockey Championship.

Panthers Sign A Cornerback
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers added another player to the roster, signing Dwight Anderson. Anderson had been released earlier in the week by the St. Louis Rams, after he missed curfew over the weekend. Despite Anderson being a model citizen otherwise, Rams coach Mike Martz cut the young cornerback, who had a shot at possibly cracking their starting lineup this year. Anderson will compete for time with Ricky Manning Jr. in the nickel back position.

NASCAR News
In Nascar, it didn’t take Michael Waltrip long before his name was associated with another team. Now that it’s public knowledge Waltrip is leaving DEI, reports have come out that he might sign a deal soon with Joe Gibbs, filling the spot of recently fired Jason Leffler. Officials close to the situation say that an announcement could come in the next week.