News Index

Your Hometown Christian Radio Station. WWWC Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Thursday
May032007

Gas Drive-Off

A local convenience store owner thought he knew who it was that drove off without paying for gas recently, but he may have been wrong. A man and a woman in a blue and silver Chevy Blazer drove up to Deep Ford Market in Millers Creek Monday evening, pumped 20-dollars in gas, and left. The store owner gave deputies the name of a person they thought it may have been, and deputies went to the person's last known address. But she wasn't there...she'd moved and the current residents didn't know where to. Deputies confirmed she does own a Blazer matching the drive-off vehicle description, but it is registered to the address she no longer lives at. Deputies are on the lookout for her.

Thursday
May032007

...and He Didn't Even Get to Ride It!

No sooner did a Moravian Falls resident get his 15-hundred dollar lawnmower home from the store than someone hooked the trailer up and towed it off. Shannon Bollie tells sheriff deputies he bought the Craftsman 42-inch cut riding mower over the weekend, and brought it home on a trailer, which he parked in his shed. Early Monday morning, he'd noticed the mower was still there, but about 12 hours later, it was gone, before he'd even had the change to cut the grass. A nearby resident reports seeing a dark colored pickup in the area Monday pulling a mower on a trailer. So far, deputies have not identified any suspects.

Thursday
May032007

$75 Stolen from Pepsi Machine

It appears someone has a key to at least one Pepsi machine in Wilkes, and is using it to open the machine and take change from the cash box. An employee of Roaring River Auto sales called sheriff deputies Monday and reported that someone had taken about 75-dollars in change form the machine at the business. It happened sometime between 2:30 Saturday afternoon and about 9:30 Monday morning. There was no evidence of a break-in, and the machine was locked before the employee opened it to remove the money. Deputies are investigating.

Thursday
May032007

Computer, Digital Camera Stolen from WCHS

A teacher at Wilkes Central High School says someone recently stole a laptop computer and several other items form his classroom. John Elledge tells school resource officer Nancy Graybeal he left school back on April 24th and knows the items were still in his room at 4:15 that afternoon. He locked the door behind him, as usual. When he came to school the next morning, he found the items missing, and subsequent investigation showed the thief had probably come in through the window. It seems most of the ground floor windows at the school can be easily opened form the outside. Maintenance staff is working to secure them The items stolen include a Powerbook Laptop computer, a Canon Digital Camera, about 50-dollars in cash, and a 35-dollar check. So far, there are no suspects

Wednesday
May022007

Purse Containing $1,600 Stolen

Two people have been arrested for stealing over 1-thousand dollars from a Traphill woman. 23-year old Thomas Charlie Billings and 24-year old Ralicia Nicole Horton were arrested as they came out of the woods last night not far from the home of 67-year old Ruby Wilson. According to Wilson, one of the thieves kept her occupied in another room of her house while the other made noises as if they were using the bathroom and the phone. In reality, they were grabbing and concealing her purse. The purse had about 16-hundred dollars in cash in it.



When deputies arrested the two a a few minutes later, they found 500-dollars in Horton's purse, and further investigation found 600-dollars Billings had hidden in the woods. The whereabouts of the remaining 500-dollars isn't clear, although the crime report lists it as recovered. A search of Billings and Horton also found a crack pipe, which had enough cocaine residue to warrant drug possession charges. Both stand charged with felony theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well.

Wednesday
May022007

WCC Students Win Five Medals in Vocational Contest

Wilkes Community College’s Industrial, Engineering and Customized Industry Training Division students recently took top honors in five categories at the Skills USA North Carolina competition that was held at the Greensboro Coliseum Annex.



Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It helps each student excel. Skills USA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).



In 2005, Automotive Systems Technology instructor, Hardin Kennedy organized and developed the Wilkes Community Skills USA Club. In 2006, Wilkes Community College was represented at the state and national competition in its first year of competing with 12 students from various engineering technology disciplines displaying their knowledge and skills. From 2005 to 2007, club membership at WCC has grown to approximately 150 students. This growth was evident at Greensboro this year with 27 students competing while 25 others observed and gained valuable knowledge from evaluating and benchmarking their statewide peers.



When the competition began this year with students showcasing their presentation, technical and leadership skills in various technology and trades sectors, the WCC students exerted a magnificent effort by winning 23 medals overall during the competition. To cap off those awards, there were 5 first place winners who will have an opportunity to compete on a national level in late June in Kansas City. The first place winners were:

  • Architectural Technology: Joel Clonch
  • Automotive Systems Technology: Luke Wells
  • Building Construction Technology: Trevin Cooper
  • Computer Engineering Technology: Brandon Underwood
  • Building Construction Technology Teamworks: Jeff Safely, Ryan Cox, Nathan Moose, Nick Adams

Wednesday
May022007

ID Theft Case

Wilkes sheriff deputies say another resident has reported a case of identity theft. Reba Minton went down to apply for electrical service with Duke Energy recently, and was told the company's record showed she owed them a bill already. Duke officials said the bill in her name was for an address in Purlear. She's never lived there, but she used to date the man who does. Minton says he's used her personal information, including date of birth and social security number, in the past to obtain a credit card. According to the police report, the outstanding bill at the Purlear home was more than 72 dollars.

Wednesday
May022007

Oh, and He Didn't Pay Taxes on that Moonshine, Either

Sometimes deputies realize something's wrong when a car speeds by. Other times, it's when a driver is trying to creep by without being noticed. A deputy patrolling on Speedway Road recently encountered that second situation, when he saw a man driving about 10 miles an hour under the speed limit and pulled in behind him. The man was weaving down the road, occasionally drifting into the oncoming lane. The deputy turned on his blue lights and got the man to pull over without incident.



When he walked up to the car, it was obvious there was alcohol in the car, base don the smell wafting out the window. The driver, 52-year old Donald Hanks, said he'd had a couple of beers, the usual amount suspected drunk drivers will admit to. He had no driver's license, because it had been revoked for DUI previously. When the deputy searched the car, he found a quart jar of hooch. He arrested Hanks,who blew a .12 on the intoxilizer when he arrived at jail. Hanks faces charges of DUI, driving after his license was revoked, and not paying taxes on a quart of moonshine.



Wednesday
May022007

Puppy Kicked, Left to Die

Neighbors say a Wilkes dog owner was extremely cruel to a puppy over the weekend. Daniel Scott Hartley was arrested Sunday. Neighbors tell sheriff deputies they watched him call a small white pit bull puppy to him, and start kicking, stomping, and hitting the dog until it lay motionless in the front yard. Then he climbed into a car and left, inspite of their pleas not to leave the dog in that condition. The dog was dead by the time deputies arrived, but neighbors told them it had survived almost half an hour after the beating.



When Hartley came home, deputies questioned him. His story was that he'd been leaving with a friend, and the firend had backed over the puppy with the car by accident. He says he left the puppy laying on the ground to give it a chance to live. He was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals. The dog will undergo necropsy to detemine the cause of death.

Tuesday
May012007

Rabies Season is Here

Spring and summer mean more outdoor time and more open windows-and more chances for people to come in contact with wildlife, including flying bats.

While many people are aware that raccoons, foxes and unvaccinated dogs and cats may carry rabies, many do not know that bats can also transmit this deadly disease to people. And because bats are small and quiet, and their bites are usually painless, people don’t always realize when they have been bitten. In recent years, human cases of rabies in the United States are almost exclusively linked to bats.

While rabies disease can be prevented if a person is treated very soon after they are exposed, once symptoms develop rabies is nearly always fatal. Since there is no known cure, people must know what they can do to protect themselves and their families.

People should not sleep in a cabin, tent, shelter or lodging facility if bats are present. If you awaken to find a bat in your room, tent or cabin, it should be captured and tested for rabies as quickly as possible, and you should seek medical advice. Health officials say if you are bitten, seek medical help right away.



There will be a series of pet vaccination times coming up across Wilkes county the early part of this month.



They include:



Tuesday, May 8th 6:30pm-7:30pm

· Boomer Community Center

· Millers Creek Elementary

· Ronda-Clingman Elementary

· Traphill Elementary

Thursday, May 10th 6:30pm-7:30pm

· Mt. Pleasant Elementary

· Mountain View Elementary

· Mulberry Elementary

· Southeastern Community Center

Saturday, May 12th

· Animal Hospital of Wilkes (12noon - 2pm)

· Elkin Veterinary Clinic (9am - 12noon)

· Riverview Animal Hospital (8am-12noon)

· State Road Animal Hospital (8am-12noon)

· Wilkes Veterinary Hospital (1pm-2pm)