Tools Stolen from Moravian Falls Driveway

Deputies are investigating the theft of a man's power tools from his van, while he was inside having lunch. Jame Earp says he took a break for lunch around 11 yesterday morning, and put the tools, which he'd been using on a project in his driveway, into the van. When he came back out to finish the job about 1 p-m, he found the van door open and the tools missing. The thief took a cordless drill, two skil saws, a nail gun, and a saws-all, together worth about 650-dollars. He believes he knows who did it, and told deputies the name and home address of that person. When the deputy went to the address, he found the home empty, utilities shut off, and windows broken out. There were signs that someone still lived there, though. The case is under investigation.

Expensive BBQ Grill Stolen

If you happen to see a high-dollar gas grill for the first time at a friend's next cook-out, you may want to ask a few questions. Daniel Tikalosky, who lives on Brushy Mountain Road, says his Jenn-Air Stainless Steel gas grill, worth 11-hundred dollars, was taken from his patio. This grill is a bit different from a standard model, as Tikalosky had built a wooden pull-out shelf into the unit. He tells deputies he had also purchased a full cover for the grill. Deputies are still investigating the theft, which was reported last weekend.

ID Theft Case Reported

A Wilkes woman may have a long road ahead of her, after someone stole her wallet and used her ID information to try and get credit. The teenager who lives on Speedway Road is just at the age where she's starting to use credit, too. She waited almost a week after the wallet was stolen to report the crime, which is being investigated as an identity theft case because there was no money in the wallet. During that week, she received a call from Elkin Chevrolet saying someone had used her information to apply for a car loan online. There's no telling where else the thief may have applied for credit, until the inquiries show up on her credit report. She told deputies she believes her ex-boyfriend might be the one who is doing this -- she believes that because her home phone number was used in the credit application at Elkin Chevrolet. So far, there have been no arrests.

N.C. State Fair Entry Deadlines Approaching

With opening day for the N.C. State Fair a little more than a month away, the deadline for submitting entries for the competitive competitions is rapidly approaching. The Fair offers 41 competition departments featuring thousands of categories that allow participants a chance to showcase nearly every imaginable talent from crafting and hobbies to food preservation and floral arranging. More than $605,000 in premium money, a colorful array of ribbons and bragging rights are at stake.

Competitions are open to the public, and a completed entry form must be submitted to the N.C. State Fair Entry Department. Entry deadlines vary by category. The entry deadline for livestock competitions is Sept. 15.

Sept. 17 is the deadline for a number of categories: Agronomy, Forage, Flower& Garden, Horticulture, Arts & Photography, Bees & Honey, Poultry, Rabbits, 4-H, Culinary, Clothing, Home Furnishings, Handicrafts & Hobbies and Amateur and Commercial Wine. Certain categories are restricted to North Carolina 4-H and FFA members.

Participants can find rules, entry forms and guidelines for each competitive department and cooking contests in the 2007 North Carolina State Fair Premium Book. Entry fees vary by category. An online copy of the premium book is available at www.ncstatefair.org/2007a/Competitions/prebooks.htm

The N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 12 - 21 in Raleigh.

Efforts Start to Help Sabrina Ayers' Family

Friends of Sabrina Ayers, the Wilkes teen seriously injured when she was thrown from a pickup bed last weekend, are organizing fundraisers to help her family pay the mounting medical expenses. According to posts on the GoWilkes.com web site, Sabrina's father Michael, who is a hair stylist at Korner Cuts, will be working the next couple of days, and they are urging those wanting to help with food or medical expenses to stop there to make a donation. No other organized effort has been made so far, but the family reportedly faces bills of over 250-thousand dollars so far. They have no medical insurance, and there was no auto insurance on the pickup she was thrown from, according to multiple posters. Sabrina is reported to still be in critical condition, and fighting pneumonia.

Convertible Top Slashed, Purse Stolen

A Wilkes Community College student tells police her convertible top was cut open and several items taken from the car while she was in class Tuesday. Cassandra Hays, who lives in Boone, parked the car in time for a 9:30 class, and says she returned about 11:45am. The only item taken from inside the car was her purse, which had been tucked behind the passenger seat. Inside it was some cash, a couple of credit cards, a debit card, and her check book. She called the credit card company right away to report the theft, and they told her someone had used the card at a filling station in Yadkinville at 10:44am. Police are checking with authorities there to see if there was a security videotape that might have caught an image of the person using the card.

4-Wheeler Stolen

Wilkes sheriff deputies are investigating the report of a stolen four-wheeler. Abby Russell called deputies to her home on Russel Gap Road last night about 6:30, to report the Honda Wolverine four-wheeler was missing. She estimated the value at 15-hundred dollars, and said she had no idea who might have taken it. Neighbors don't report anything, either. As for a time frame, it could have happened any time between about sunrise Tuesday and mid-afternoon yesterday. She is having to look up the serial number to provide it so deputies can enter the stolen ATV in the national crime database.

Debit Card, Checks Stolen

A 19-year old Wilkes man is accused of taking a woman's debit card and checkbook, and trying repeatedly to make a large purchase at Walgreens. The victim, a 23-year old Mocksville woman, says she was staying with a friend in rural North Wilkesboro. She accuses the friend's nephew of taking her car keys, opening the car and rifling her purse until he found the debit card and check book. Walgreens videotapes confirm he tried multiple times to make a nearly 75-dollar purchase with the debit card, and after it was declined, writing a check to make the purchase. Deputies list the case as under investigation.

Arts Grant Made to Wilkes Group

A state grant will help a local group continue its programs in the arts. The Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes will receive a nearly 22-thousand dollar grant from the Grassroots Arts Program, which will be used to provide funding for a number of programs. Created in 1977 by the General Assembly, the Grassroots Arts Program provides funding to each county on a per capita basis. A national model for other state arts agencies, the program was developed by Mary B. Regan, the executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council. The Grassroots Arts Program is unique since it empowers local arts councils and arts organizations to plan programs and projects for their citizens that reflect the arts and cultural traditions and resources specific to their area. By providing funding for localized efforts, the North Carolina Arts Council fosters a sense of pride in local communities and increases citizen participation in and ownership of local programs.

Harrassing Phone Calls Reported

A Wilkes woman is not sure how a harassing phone caller got her number, but she's concerned for her safety. The woman, whose name we are not releasing, tells deputies she has received repeated calls from another woman, who she says has a Hispanic accent. Because the victim's phone is listed in another person's name and the caller made repeated references to the victim's husband by name, she has become concerned about how the woman correctly associated her with the phone number. She has already contacted the phone company and is working with their security department to identify where the calls came from. The calls have happened several times since late last week. Deputies continue their investigation.