Debit Card Lost/Stolen

A West Jefferson woman says her debit card has disappeared, and was used by whoever found or took it at an Exxon station in Wilkes. Geneva Greer tells Wilkesboro Police she last used the card at 4 Brothers on Westwood Lane Tuesday evening. She's not sure if she put the card back in her purse after she bought gas, or if it may have been taken from her office. Regardless, the bank told her when she reported the missing card that someone had used it on Halloween Day to buy gas at an Exxon station in Wilkes county, she thought with the store number 4219. None of the stations selling Exxon gas around here say that's their store number. There are no clues to exactly how the card got in someone else's possession, but it has been deactivated by the bank, so it's no good to that person any more. The 45-dollar tank of gas is the only loss reported.

Interactive Drought Site Unveiled

The government has unveiled a new Web site where you can monitor U.S. drought conditions, get forecasts, and know how drought is impacting the communities. Called the U.S. Drought Portal, the site was developed for the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

"The new portal site provides all the information that managers need in one location, and delivers unprecedented access to key operational drought resources to answer the most pressing questions facing policymakers, emergency planners, businesses and the public," according to a NOAA spokesman. NIDIS is a collaboration between numerous federal agencies and several state governments to provide a dynamic and accessible drought-risk information system. NIDIS was created in response to extended drought conditions over the past decade, with strong advocacy from the Western Governors' Association and other groups. NIDIS, led by NOAA, coordinates use of the U.S. Drought Portal for drought risk assessment and management among its federal, state, tribal and local partners.

The site is at www.drought.gov.

Copper Thief is Pretty Enterprising

Wilkesboro Police are investigating a theft that involved quite a bit of work for the thief. They were called to Mark Johnson's business on Central Drive Wednesday afternoon after Johnston discovered someone had cut out the copper wiring that went to his outdoor receptacles. According to the police report, the thief had taken off the breaker box cover, cut the wires, taken off each receptacle cover, and pulled the wire out. Then the person took the time to put all the covers back on to conceal the theft. In all, about 500-dollars of wire was taken. Johnston isn't sure when it happened -- the last time he remembers using one of the outlets was early last month. Officers say they have some leads in the case, but have not identified any suspects for sure.

Easley: Conservation Still Necessary

Gov. Mike Easley today called on all citizens, including those who rely on private wells, to continue their water conservation efforts even though last week’s rains lessened the severity of drought throughout much of North Carolina. Last week’s rainfall, which dropped up to six inches in parts of the state and only one inch in others, helped many parched wells, reservoirs and streams. The effects of the rain are shown in the latest federal drought map, which shows that the number of counties in exceptional drought, the worst level of drought, decreased from 72 counties to 22 counties.

“Even though we are seeing some improvement in the drought map since last week’s rain, every county is still in some form of drought,” said Easley. “The effect of that rainfall could likely be short-lived, as climatologists are predicting a drier-than-average winter, so we all need to continue to conserve.”

For that reason, the governor renewed his call today for all North Carolina citizens, including those on well water, to eliminate outdoor water use such as irrigation, car washing or hosing paved surfaces. He said those whose source of water is a private well should be conserving water just like people who receive water supplied by a reservoir, because all sources of water are important to sustain during the drought. The governor said that many people are under the wrong impression that people who rely on well water for everyday use are not affected by low supplies in public water systems.

Eat Smart Move More Challenge

Worried about Holiday Hangover, that embarrassing moment when you realize that those extra pounds you gain over the holidays are causing your belly to hang over your now-tight pants? If so, join the second annual Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge.

Register now at www.MyEatSmartMoveMoreNC.com, to join this free six-week weight maintenance challenge. The goal is to not gain any weight over the holidays. It’s free, and all you need is an email address to sign up.

The challenge is designed to help people manage the triggers that cause them to gain weight over the holidays. Each week, participants will receive a free newsletter via email containing tips on managing holiday stress, giving healthy gifts, squeezing in physical activity and navigating parties. Recipes for quick, easy, healthy dinners to prepare on busy nights and for healthier holiday goodies are also included. A food diary to track food and drink, an activity log to track activity, and a weight log are available to download from the website.

Registration for the Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge opens November 1. The Challenge will kick-off with its first newsletter on November 19. Visit www.MyEatSmartMoveMoreNC.com to join today!

Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge is a part of the Eat Smart, Move More…NC movement to increase healthy eating and physical activity opportunities wherever North Carolinians live, learn, earn, play and pray. Find out more at www.EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com.

Wilkesboro Police Investigate Two Minor Injury Wrecks

Two people suffered minor injuries and refused EMS treatment in separate wrecks in Wilkesboro. The first wreck was Monday afternoon at the Highway 16 and 18 intersection with Woodfield Way. Fred Lockaby of Taylorsville was southbound on the highway, stopped at the traffic light. He was hit from behind by Bobby Stafford of Statesville, who told officers he could not see the red light due to the glare from the sun. Stafford received a ticket nonetheless, for failing to reduce speed to avoid a wreck.

Anyone who has tried to pull off one of the downtown Wilkesboro side streets onto Main Street can sympathize with Roland Wilfong, who was trying to do just that Tuesday. He was trying to get from East Street onto Main, and had pulled out past the row of parked vehicles just a bit to look for oncoming traffic. As he did that, he hit an eastbound vehicle driven by Deborah Royal of North Wilkesboro. She slid about 50 feet down the street and nearly hit a parked car on the other side, but stopped before impact. Royal was checked out by EMS, but refused treatment. Wilfong was ticked for an unsafe movement, and for not renewing his license plate on time.

New Home Vandalized

Sheriff deputies are looking into a vandalism incident that resulted in more than 16-hundred dollars damage to a brand-new mobile home. They were called to the home on old Traphill Road in Ronda Tuesday night about 6:30pm, but quickly learned the damage could have happened any time in the previous two weeks. Jessica Gwyn, the owner, did not report that the home had been broke into, but because setup was still being completed, that may not have been necessary. Most of the damage was done in the kitchen and living room, which did have appliances and furniture that had come with the house. Gwyn gave deputies the name of a 19-year old woman she suspects may be responsible. The person's name is being withheld because of the continuing investigation.

House Fire Cause: Could Be Arson

Arson is not being ruled out as the cause of a fire that consumed a Traphill home last Friday. A report released by fire investigator Nick Hamby says the house, which was reported on fire around 1 a-m that day, was engulfed in flame when Traphill firefighters arrived. by the time it was out, the fire had consumed nearly all of the main floor and the roof of the home. The extreme amount of damage made it nearly impossible to tell what might have started the fire, which caused 200-thousand dollars worth of damage. The origin of the fire is listed as undetermined, but arson is not being ruled out because of a similar fire that was extinguished September 10th before it could get much hold on the house. The fire report lists no suspects.

Several Pepsi Machines Broken Into

Three times recently, someone has broken into a Pepsi machine in Wilkes county. Two of the break-ins happened last Thursday, but deputies didn't release the report on one of the related cases until today. Both involved the Pepsi machines outside Run-In stores -- one on Highway 421 West and the other on Highway 115 South. The padlock had been cut off the machine on 421 West, then it had been opened with a vending machine key. Like at the Run-IN on 115 South, only the Pepsi machines were broken into, leading authorities to believe someone has obtained a key that fits just that model of soda machine.

Early yesterday, someone pried their way into the one drink machines outside Thurmond Grocery. Again, it was a Pepsi machine, but because the thief had to pry their way in to steal the change box, authorities aren't looking at it being connected to the earlier break-ins. Between the damage and the stolen change boxes, it appears the total loss in the three cases will be about 450-dollars. Deputies have no suspects at this point, but all three incidents are under investigation.

Suspect Arrested in Jonathan Whitmore Death

Authorities have made an arrest in the shooting death of Jonathan Whitmore. According to the sheriff's office, deputies from WIlkes county, State Bureau of Investigations Agents, and Durham Police raided the home of 42-year old Keith Donnell Miles in Durham this morning. Deputies say they believe the motive for the killing was a business-related dispute over money owed. They have not released any further information at this time.

Whitmore's body was found two weeks ago Friday, laying in a ditch near his home. He'd last been seen by family members that Thursday night. None of them reported eharing the shot. Deputies have withhheld most details of the case during the investigation.