Gary Parsons: No Prison Time

Former Wilkesboro Police Chief Gary Parsons will not serve prison time for a series of charges that includes stalking. IN a plea deal reached today, Parsons teceived a sentence of two years of supervised probation, three years of unsupervised probation, and 90 days of electronic house arrest. The case stems from his violation of a domestic protection order last year. He was also directed by the court to follow the terms of the earlier domestic protection order.

Parsons was stripped of his police duties in February 2006 after he was indicted on charges that included five counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and misuse of a public vehicle. He was also accused of "outfitting his minor son in a Wilkesboro Police Officer's uniform and allowing him to ride in patrol vehicles, attend official calls and be armed with a handgun." He pleaded guilty to those charges in March 2006.

Tyler Church, 14, Dies in Car-Motorcycle Crash

West Wilkes High School students are mourning the loss of a 14-year old boy who was killed yesterday in a motorcycle crash. Tyler Church was riding a motorcycle near the intersection of Conley Shumate Road and North Marley Ford Road about 5 yesterday afternoon. The Highway patrol has not confirmed reports that he was riding on the wrong side of the road, but we do know he was hit by a car, and apparently died at the scene. As of mid-afternoon, the wreck was still under investigation and the official report had not been released.

Woman Raped at Wilkesboro Raceway

A teenager from Spruce Pine was attacked and raped inside a restroom at Wilkesboro Raceway this weekend.Family members reported the crime to sheriff deputies on Saturday night about 6:30, after they discovered the woman shortly after the attack. She says a white male in his 20's burst into the bathroom stall and attacked her before she could react, slamming her head against the wall and raping her. According to the woman, her attacker was wearing a torn t-shirt and blue jeans, and a dark ball cap. The attack happened so quickly she was unable to tell deputies his height or build. A deputy searched the raceway, but did not find anyone matching the partial description. The woman was taken to the hospital to be checked for injury and to be treated for a knot on her forehead. The case remains under investigation.

Ashe County Fights FSA Consolidation in WIlkes

Politicians in Ashe county are starting a grass-roots effort to convinge the Farm Service not to consolidate their offices in Ashe, Allegheny and WIlkes county into a single site in Wilkes. At last week's Ashe County commission meeting, the board was told the North Carolina Agricultural Commission had recommended the change. County Manager Dan McMillan told the board the Ashe/Alleghany office has more to offer farmers, he says due to a larger agricultural popuplation and more farm-related businesses in Ashe county than Wilkes. He also cited their larger staff, more modern facilities and the low case load in Wilkes County. The board voted to write federal and state representatives to implore them to reconsider the consolidation in Wilkes County and to get the Farm Bureau involved as well.

Teem-Aged Boy Dies in Car-Motorcycle Crash

North Carolina Highway Patrol dispatchers confirm there was a fatality crash in Wilkes county last night. Official information concerning the wreck is sketchy, as the trooper's report has not yet been filed with dispatch. Here's what we've been able to put together; the wreck was reported yesterday afternoon just before 5pm at Conley Shumate Road and North Marley Ford Road, and involved a car hitting a motorcycle. The boy on the motorcycle was apparently in his mid-teens. The boy's name has not been released by authorities.

Rep. Fox on Energy Bill

Republicans in Congress are speaking out against what they call the "No" Energy Bill. Fifth-district congresswoman Virginia Foxx is one of the lawmakers decrying the The 800 page so-called “energy” bill that the Democrats passed, which she says takes our nation in the wrong direction on the road to energy independence. According to the GOP, this legislation will have an adverse impact on our economy and our energy security by increasing taxes on traditional energy companies by more than $15 billion.

This legislation is opposed by nearly every pro-business and pro-energy organization including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Taxpayers Union and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

Walktober

The Wilkes Family YMCA, Smart Start, Yadkin River Greenway Council, and the Wilkes County Health Department are sponsoring group walks throughout “Walktober. Each weekday, group walks are being held at one of several locaitons:

* Move More Mondays – meet at the CVS Trailhead near the hospital at 12 noon each Monday in October for a 30-minute walk along the Yadkin River Greenway.
* Tuesdays Evenings in Ronda – meet at the Ronda Memorial Park in Ronda at 5:30pm each Tuesday in October for a 30-minute walk around the park.
* Walking Wednesdays – meet at Melody Square parking lot in North Wilkesboro at 12 noon each Wednesday in October for a 30-minute walk through downtown.
* Cub Creek Thursdays – meet at Cub Creek Park at 8:00am each Thursday in October for a 30-minute walk.
* Get Fit Fridays - Meet in the back parking lot of the Wilkes Family YMCA at 9am every Friday in October for a 30-minute walk along the Yadkin River Greenway.

Each walk lasts only 30 minutes and is open to all ages and abilities. “Walking is a great way to get your 30 minutes of physical activity. You don’t need special equipment, just a comfortable pair of shoes.

IRS Warns of Scam

The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers in eastern North Carolina of a telephone scam. They are aslo concerned it will be tried in our area.

The scam artist, claiming to be an employee of a company that represents the IRS, states that the taxpayer is entitled to “additional money” since the taxpayer paid his or her taxes “on time.” The scam artist then proceeds to tell the taxpayer there is a “handling fee” and tries to obtain the taxpayer’s personal financial information.

"Scammers are using tax refunds as a tool to entice taxpayers into providing personal financial information that could be used to steal the taxpayer’s identity and money," said Mark Hanson, IRS spokesperson for the Carolinas.

The IRS urges people who get these questionable calls not to provide personal and financial information.

Any time taxpayers are contacted by an entity claiming to be from the IRS, they may call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to verify whether or not they should have been contacted.

Rep Foxx on SCHIP Veto

A local politician takes issue with some of the media coverage of President's Bush's veto of a program that provides health coverage to some children. Speaking yesteray on 3WC's Focus on the Foothills, 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx says that's about where the coverage stopped -- it's a program for kids. But she says what was really vetoed was an incredible expansion of the program, way beyond what the President originally proposed:

Foxx calls the expansion vetoed by the President the frist step in Democrats' quest for socialized health care. We'll have more comments from Foxx on upcoming 3WC Newscasts.

Strawberry Quick -- Not What You THink

Police and sheriff deputies say it sounds like an urban myth, but meth-laced candy is here in our area. An arrest last month yielded a scary drug- crystal methamphetamine that looks like candy and smells like strawberries. According to the DEA, this type of meth is engineered specifically to entice teenagers. The drugs came out of a three-month-long investigation by the Watauga county Sheriff’s Office and the SBI that resulted in three arrests. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may be made. In the meantime, DEA officials warn to be on the lookout for the drug, nicknamed Strawberry Quick. While it may look and smell like candy, it’s a very serious drug, officials warn.