News & Sports For July 4th

Hottest Day Of The Year Hits NC
The temperature gauge might not have registered it as such, but yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far here in North Carolina. Temperatures hit the mid 90s with it reaching 95 degrees in Wilkesboro. The problem was the humidity, which pushed the local heat index up past 100 for the day. Weather forecasters do offer some hope for the rest of the week, with a chance of rain and temperatures not expected to reach above 90 degrees. However until the hot weather dies down, the state’s Health Department is suggesting to keep children, elderly adults and pets inside as much as possible, to avoid excessive heat exposure.

Celebrations Planned For Tonight
Wilkes County is planning to celebrate July 4th in a big way, with events going on throughout the night. At 8:45pm tonight, the annual Emergency Vehicles Parade will get underway. The parade will start at West Park, then head onto West D Street and continue on in a loop until it reaches the new Board of Education offices on Cherry Street. Following the parade, the Wilkes Law Enforcement Association will start setting off fireworks from their normal spot at Memorial Park.

Break-In At Greene Lumber
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Greene’s Lumber on Sunday, after thieves broke in. Someone shattered a window at the business and climbed in to do some shopping. However once inside, the thieves left almost everything where they found it. No money was missing and nothing else was damaged inside. The only things taken were several papers that contained information about the business. Deputies were later able to track down the papers and return them to the owner. The investigation into the break-in continues.

Rocket’s Red Glare Lights Up Traphill Mailbox
A Traphill woman got a little more than she expected in the mail over the weekend. Sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning the mailbox exploded, thanks to a firecracker that had been placed inside. This marks the 12th time in the past fives years that vandals have targeted the house, located on Traphill Union Road. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Beware of Fireworks
Before you light up that sparkler tonight, there are some things you need to be aware of, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. Over the past ten years, an estimated 85,000 kids have been treated in the ER for fireworks related injuries. Last year alone, sparklers were responsible for nearly half of the injuries to kids five and younger. In order to have a safe 4th of July celebration, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a list of suggestions on how to prevent fireworks from getting out of control. First only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface, away from the house and any dry leaves or other flammable material. Also be sure to throw away any fireworks that didn’t ignite correctly. Otherwise could come by and pick them up, leading to a trip to the emergency room. Above all else, be sure that your kids are supervised. The information shows that children are 11 times more likely to get injured if they’re on their own and not under adult supervision. The information comes from a study set to be published in the July edition of Pediatrics.

Medication Stolen From Roaring River Home
Thieves broke into a Roaring River home over the weekend, running off with several hundred dollars worth of medication. A woman and her husband had gone to visit her mother, dropping off some medicine that was needed. She put the medicine in the kitchen and within a few hours it was gone. Taken in the theft were several bottles of the painkillers Roxycodine and Oxycotin. There is a suspect and the investigation is ongoing.

Vandals Target Moravian Falls Home
Vandals took aim at a Moravian Falls house over the weekend. The homeowner was asleep Saturday afternoon when he heard glass breaking and came to check it out. As he got to the front door, a vehicle was speeding off and he noticed that one of the windows had been shattered. Information has been turned over to deputies regarding a possible suspect and the investigation continues.

Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest
A routine traffic stop led to an arrest for Wilkesboro police recently. Officers pulled over a man for having an expired tag on his vehicle. When they called in the tag, it was reported back as being a fake. In addition, the driver didn’t have any insurance for the vehicle and the inspection sticker had expired. 26-yr-old Christopher Justin Spencer was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of having a fictitious license and not having insurance, along with one count of driving with an expired inspection sticker.

DOT Warns Drivers To Move Over
As we’re celebrating July 4th, the DOT is offering some advice for drivers. Even though construction is shut down for the holiday, drivers will be assessed a $250 penalty for speeding through a marked work zone. Even though the workers won’t be there, speeding though such places can be dangerous there could be sections with just one lane open. Also the DOT advises to leave early if you have to be somewhere, not just to get a head start but also to avoid driving at times with a lot of traffic congestion. For anyone wanting to see what road conditions are like before leaving the house, you can dial the state’s travel information line at 511 or log on to www.ncdot.org/traffictravel

State News

Preparations Continue For Bush Visit
Preparations continued on into the night at Fort Bragg for the President’s scheduled visit today. He is set to arrive at the post this afternoon and spend most of the day there before heading back to the nation’s capital tonight. The visit will be Bush’s third to Bragg within the last five years. In 2002, he spoke to the troops about the war in Afghanistan and then in 2005 came back to discuss why we needed to enter Iraq. Republican lawmakers voiced their approval of the President’s decision to return, citing Fort Bragg’s heavy involvement in the war on terror.

More Jobs Coming To Edgecombe County
There’s some good news on the way to Edgecombe County, as more jobs are headed to the region. Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools announced plans over the weekend to building a manufacturing facility in Edgecombe. The move will bring in 69 new jobs over the next three years and was made possible by a $45,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Blue Hawaiian officials said they chose North Carolina for the site because of its’ highly trained workforce and good location.

Company Sets Up Family Reunion For 4th
One company in Greensboro is helping families get in touch with their loved ones for the 4th. During today’s Fun Fourth Festival in Greensboro, people will be able to speak to soldiers in Iraq via Webcast, talking to people that for some haven’t been seen in over a year. Grassroots Productions is helping to sponsor both the festival and the webcast. Company officials said they wanted people to see what life is really like over there and to let the troops know that they have support back here at home. The Webcast runs today from 9:30am til 1pm.

Meth Lab Uncovered In Randolph County
An abandoned residence in Randolph County has been condemned by the Health Department, after officials found a meth lab operating inside. A complete lab was discovered at the home on Old Thomasville Road, with deputies carrying off loads of chemicals and meth paraphernalia. Because of the chemicals and the potential hazard they pose to residents, the local Health Department has condemned the building and the investigation continues.

Sports Headlines

Cremins Returns To The Sideline
A former Appalachian State head coach will be back on the sideline this fall as Bobby Cremins has joined up with the College of Charleston. He was formally introduced during a press conference on Monday after agreeing to a six year contract with the Cougars. Cremins had been out of coaching since 2000, when he retired as head coach of Georgia Tech. Before that he got started at Appalachian State back in 1975, putting up 100 wins during his six years in Boone. Cremins will be coming back to the site of his first coaching job this season with the Cougars, who play at home and away against Appalachian State as part of the Southern Conference schedule.

Bobcats Sign Another Player
The offer was mentioned earlier in the month, but on Friday it became official. UNC Charlotte forward Curtis Withers will be joining the Charlotte Bobcats for their summer league team, receiving an invitation to try out and make the roster. As a senior last year, Withers averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds for the 49ers, displaying an impressive rebounding ability. The first summer league game is set for next Monday.

Familiar Faces On Bobcats Roster
As far as the rest of the Bobcats summer league roster goes, there are a few familiar faces making an appearance. The team’s draft picks this year, Adam Morrison and Ryan Hollins will be on board, along with current third string point guard Kevin Burleson. Also making his first appearance on the court in over four months will be forward Sean May, who is still working himself into game shape. Emeka Okafor will also be practicing with the team, to help rehab his own injury. Mini-camp started yesterday at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Hurricanes Lock Up Free Agents
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to bring back most of their championship team next season. To do that, the Canes announced deals with four of their free agents over the weekend. 21-yr-old forward Eric Staal was inked to a three year deal after a season where he led the team in scoring, putting up 100 points during the regular season. In addition, defenseman Mike Commodore and right winger Chad LaRose were both resigned to two year contracts and goalie Cam Ward has a new backup, with John Grahame coming over from Tampa Bay.

Possible Changes On The Way For NASCAR
There could be some changes on the way for NASCAR, according to chairman Brian France. Talking with reporters over the weekend, France said that officials are looking at some alternations to the Nextel Cup circuit, which would take effect next season. The major change that’s being considered is an increase in points handed out to the winners of each race, to award victory and not just consistency. Also the number of spots in the Chase for the Cup could climb, as currently the top ten drivers have a shot at the title. That could expand to possibly 12 or even the top 15.

News & Sports For July 3rd

Local Church Wins National Award
One local church has been honored with a national award. Celebration Church was selected this year as one of 46 ministries nationwide to receive Church Health Awards. The awards are handed out each year by Purpose Driven Ministries, honoring churches across the globe that adopt the model spelled out in Pastor Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Church”. Using the model, churches have to decide what will be the five major points of their ministry. For the Wilkesboro based Celebration Church, those five points are connecting for fellowship, growing for discipleship, honor for worship, serving others and reaching out in evangelism. Since the church’s beginnings back in 2004, 400 people have come to know Christ through the ministry outreach and on a normal Sunday over 300 people are there for worship.

Celebrations Planned For Tomorrow
Wilkes County is planning to celebrate July 4th in a big way, with events going on throughout the night. As soon as it gets dark tomorrow, the Wilkes Law Enforcement Association will start setting off fireworks from their normal spot at Memorial Park. Also at 8:45pm, the annual Emergency Vehicles Parade will get underway. The parade will start at West Park, then head onto West D Street and continue on in a loop until it reaches the new Board of Education offices on Cherry Street.

New Law To Hit North Carolina
A new law finally went into effect on Saturday, one that will be taking more money from the pockets of Wilkes County smokers. On July 1st, the cigarette tax here in North Carolina climbed an additional 5 cents as part of a bill that was passed earlier this year. In addition, motorists who don’t move out of the way of emergency vehicles will now be facing some heavy fines. As per the new “Move Over” law, anyone who doesn’t change lanes or at least slow down when passing by a stopped emergency vehicle will receive a $250 fine. Previously the fee was only $25.

Thieves Run Off With Local Woman’s Gun
Thieves targeted a home on the Congo Road last week, running off with several weapons from inside. The homeowner returned early Friday morning to find that her front door was standing wide open, as was the door to the back bedroom. Taken from inside was a 30-06 Smith & Wesson rifle, along with a nearby scope. Information about the gun was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

Gospel Morning Coming Up At Heritage Museum
This Saturday will be a treat for Southern Gospel music fans here in Wilkes County. The Wilkes Heritage Museum is holding a Gospel Heritage Morning on Saturday July 8th, featuring performances by Wise Men’s View and the Unity Baptist Church Youth Choir. The event is free to the public and gets underway at 10am, running til 12 noon. There is however a cost if you want to tour the Heritage Museum itself and 3WC will be on hand, broadcasting portions of the program live during the event. For more information you can give the museum a call at 667-3171.

Video Games Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he returned home last Thursday. Someone had pried open a back window at his house, on the Congo Road, and climbed in to do a little shopping. However the only thing taken from inside was a Playstation 2 video game system, worth an estimated $150. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone near the property but that investigation continues.

Heat Relief Available For Elderly
Summertime can mean problems for the elderly, with rising temperatures leading to sickness and possibly death. With that in mind, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving away fans this summer to any senior citizen that meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 228 Fairplains School Road. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

One Car Totaled In Wreck On Curtis Bridge Road
One car was totaled after an accident last week on Curtis Bridge Road. The incident happened Thursday afternoon just before 2pm, as a Glade Valley man got lost looking for Brookwood Drive. He spotted the road just as he passed by, slamming on the brakes before attempting to back up. However what the man didn’t see was a vehicle behind him, driven by an Elkin man. That second car couldn’t get out of the way in time to avoid a collision. Thankfully no one was hurt but an estimated $2000 worth of damage was done. The first driver, Oliverio Bautista Otero was charged with driving without a license by Wilkesboro police.

State News

North Carolina Finally Has A Budget
State lawmakers have finally come to terms on a budget for this fiscal year. Details on the final plan won’t be released until later today, but state officials said over the weekend that both certain parts of the state’s sales and income tax rates were trimmed in the compromise. However the proposed minimum wage increase appears to have been left out, along with a gasoline tax cap. A final vote on the bill is expected later this week.

Easley To Send Guard out West
Governor Easley announced over the weekend that he’s planning to send North Carolina troops to help with border control. 300 members of the state’s National Guard will be sent out to sections of the Mexican border with Texas and Arizona, a move Easley says is necessary to keep our country safe. The Department of Defense asked that more Guard units be sent out west, where soldiers are helping battle wildfires.

Another Community College In Hot Water
Yet another community college here in the state is facing problems today. The State Auditor has released reports detailing problems in 13 of the state’s community colleges with one of the most notable being Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge Community College lost an estimated $33,000 on athletics alone last year and also claimed $1.9 million more in federal aid than it actually possessed. In addition, the school overstated its’ unrestricted assets by an estimated $3.3 million, giving people the idea there was more money than was available. Blue Ridge’s head baseball coach has also been put on probation for violating school policy. He put $7298 from work study checks into a personal account, which was later used to help pay for his players’ housing needs.

Former NC Senator Says We Need War On Poverty
A former North Carolina senator is calling for a different kind of war today. John Edwards, who also served as the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate in 2004, suggested over the weekend that instead of targeting other countries, the U.S. Government needs to declare war on poverty. During a speech over the weekend in Portland, Oregon, Edwards cited several examples of how the U.S. can help eliminate poverty. He called for an increase n the minimum wage, an expansion of the earned income tax credit and also changes to allow more workers the ability to join a union or form their own.

New Town Created in Davidson County
For people driving through Davidson County, there’s something new to catch your eye. Over the weekend, the town of Midway was officially formed and incorporated. Area leaders had been talking about creating a new town for years, but the threat of annexation by a larger city such as Winston Salem caused them to act. It can be located by driving past Winston Salem and into Davidson County on Highway 52. Mayor Norman Wilkes says he’s busy searching for someone to take the positions of town clerk, town manager and town attorney.

Sports Headlines

Fall Soccer Registration Has Started
For any kids wanting to play soccer this fall, the Tri-County League is holding registration. You can stop by the Elkin Recreation Department anytime to pick up a registration form, plus there will be three days of open enrollment coming up later this month. On July 15th, July 22nd and July 29th, kids can walk in, hand over their forms and get registered to play. There is a fee however. For the 10 and under groups, it’s $35 a person while for kids 11-14, it’s $45. For more information you can call Shawna Bogart at 336-874-2398.

No Expansion For NCAA
There won’t be any changes coming for college basketball, at least not this year. The men’s basketball committee shot down a proposal over the weekend that would have almost doubled the NCAA tournament’s size from 65 teams to a whopping 128. The committee said that expansion wasn’t needed and said that things wouldn’t change any time soon.

Linebacker Commits To Duke
The Duke football team got another shot in the arm, as linebacker Justin Wilkerson has committed to the school. The 6’3 ft. 230 lb. Wilkerson also plays tight end and fullback in his high school system. He told reporters that the coaching and the system Duke plans to use is a good fit and he also was impressed by the academic side, saying that a Duke degree will help him land a good job after college. Wilkerson turned down an offer from East Carolina to join the Blue Devils.

Panthers Land New Scouting Director
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Don Gregory, making him their new director of college scouting. The 50-yr-old Gregory has worked for the Kansas City Chiefs the last four years as a national scout and before that was a scout for San Diego. He’ll take over control of the team’s college draft preparations from Tony Softli, who left last month to join the St. Louis Rams.

ACC Players Land NBA Contracts
In the NBA, several ACC players were able to lock in contracts after the draft. Wake Forest center Eric Williams will be suiting up for the New Jersey Nets next season. The 6-9 Williams went undrafted on Wednesday night, but on Thursday, found himself with a contract offer from the Nets. His former teammate, Justin Gray, will also be suiting up, except he’ll be heading up north to join the Toronto Raptors. Both players will take part in their new teams’ summer league squads when play starts later this month.

NASCAR Results
Taking a look at the NASCAR scene this weekend, it was Tony Stewart pulling into victory lane after the Pepsi 400. the Busch brothers were right behind, with Kyle Busch finishing second and Kurt Busch in with third place. Boris Said was fourth and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five.

News & Sports For June 30th

Fly-In To Be Held This Saturday
As Wilkes County gets set to celebrate the 4th of July, a tribute of a different kind will be held tomorrow. The 15th annual Fly-In will go on at the Wilkes County Airport, with all types of aircraft up for display. The event, which begins at 9am and lasts til 3pm in the afternoon, will feature planes from World War II, a Blackhawk helicopter will be on display and also Army paratroopers will perform jumps at 11am and 1pm. There’s also going to be games for the kids with an air walk, several ball games, a money in the hay search and other activities. The Mountain View Ruitan Club also plans to have live music performing during the event.

Stuff The Bus Begins Tomorrow
The annual Stuff The Bus program will get underway tomorrow, helping to provide needy kids with supplies for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There will be buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies at Dollar General, Super 10 and the Communities in Schools office. All different types of school supplies are needed, everything from paper to pens to calculators. For more information you can call Communities in Schools at 651-7830.

Local Woman Falls Victim To Credit Card Fraud
A Roaring River woman got in touch with deputies on Wednesday, after discovering that someone had been impersonating her. Sometime during the last week the woman’s credit card had disappeared. Now it turns out the thief had been pretending to be her and using it at local businesses, to the tune of $3695. Information is still being collected as the investigation goes forward.

Thieves Break In Just To Hear The News
A Lenoir man came to check on a camper he owned off of Livingston Road earlier this week, only to find that thieves had beaten him there. One of the windows had been damaged, along with parts of the camper’s siding. Taken from inside were two portable radios, along with a Troybuilt generator. There is however a possible suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Toymaker Orders Recall
This next bit of news is for all parents and grandparents out there, as a recall has been ordered of a specific toy. About 3500 models of the Primary Sounds Toy Vehicles, sold from Kohl’s Department Store, are involved in the recall. That includes the yellow taxi, police cars and fire engine models. All are about 6 inches long and 5 inches wide. The problem stems from the hubcaps on the toy’s plastic wheels, which can come off and present a choking hazard. Customers are being asked to get in touch with the manufacturer, Kids Preferred LLC, for a full refund. The number to call is 1-866-763-8869.

Wreck On Main Street Totals Two
Two cars were totaled after an accident Wednesday afternoon in Wilkesboro. The incident happened on East Main Street, as a Wilkesboro woman was preparing to turn off onto a side street. The driver behind her, a North Wilkesboro man, didn’t see her slow down in time to avoid a collision. No serious injuries were reported from the crash, but both cars were totaled with estimated damages placed at $5000.

3WC Healthwatch: The Road To A Clear Mind
The way you eat could be a strong defense against Alzheimer’s disease, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. Doctors at the Columbia University Medical Center have released information about a study they performed, involving older patients and their diet. They discovered that people who eat from a Mediterranean style diet are 40% less likely to develop Alzheimers. 2258 elderly people were part of the study, done over a four year period in New York. That type of diet includes eating a lot of vegetables, fruits, cereal and fish, while limiting how much meat and dairy products that you eat. In addition, people on this type of diet try to stay away from foods rich in saturated fats, as much as possible. The information was recently published in the online version of the Annals of Neurology.

Thieves Go On Spending Spree With ATM Card
A North Wilkesboro woman got a surprise when she checked her bank account earlier this week. Not only was it empty, but someone continued to charge things on the account, running up overdraft fees. All total, the combined money stolen and fees from the bank totaled $1041. It’s still unclear exactly how or when the woman’s ATM card was stolen, as she hadn’t even noticed it was missing. There is a possible suspect and the investigation continues.

Two Hospitalized After Wreck On Hwy 421
Two people were sent to the hospital after an accident Tuesday night on Hwy 421. A Wilkesboro man was heading east on the highway when suddenly another driver cut in front of him, causing a collision. Debris from the accident also hit a third car, which was in a nearby lane. The first two drivers were both taken by EMS to Wilkes Regional, while estimated damages were placed at $19,350. The driver who cut in front, 71-yr-old Thomas Prevett, was charged with unsafe movement by Wilkesboro police.

State News

Bush To Visit NC Troops
President Bush will be back in North Carolina on July 4th, celebrating with the troops at Fort Bragg. The White House announced the visit yesterday, saying that he plans to speak at their holiday event. This will mark the third time since 2001 that the president has been to Bragg. Back in March of 2002 he spoke about fighting the Taliban and then in June of 2005, he explained why the war in Iraq was necessary.

Beachgoers Ignore Rip Current Warnings
So far this summer season, 153 people have been rescued from rip currents at North Carolina beaches. The problem, say rescue officials, is that beachgoers are ignoring the warnings, both those posted up and also from lifeguards. At Wilmington’s Wrightsville Beach alone, 108 people have been saved from the deadly current, which pulls people out into the ocean as it returns from the shore. Right now the beach is on track to break last year’s total, which stood at 122 people.

Guilford County May Have Link To Missing Person
One Guilford County resident could have found a link to help investigators solve a missing persons case. On Wednesday, a man came out to some property he owned in Summerfield to find a skull sitting in the driveway. After deputies were called to the scene, they did a search and found the rest of the remains nearby. Now the body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office, to get a positive ID. Officials said that they were still trying to determine the cause of death and the case hasn’t been labeled as a homicide.

NC Community College Strained By Workers
The recent influx of workers going back to college has brought one community college in the state to a breaking point. Officials from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College announced this week that their resources are almost tapped out, due to a massive increase in students, most of which are unemployed textile workers. The college has since received a warning from its’ main accrediting agency, which was concerned because full evaluations of both the teachers and programs weren’t done this year, due to a lack of funding. Cabarrus has been given one year to turn in the evaluations or the school could be placed on probation.

Former Cafeteria Manager Gets Almost Four Years
A sentence was handed out yesterday in the case of a Wake County cafeteria manager who stole money from her school. Frances Parker pleaded guilty earlier this month to taking over $200,000 from Garner Senior High School’s nutrition program and going on a spending spree with the money. Thursday morning, a Wake County judge sentenced her to at least 44 months in prison. Parker also agreed to refund the school for what she took.

Sports Headlines

South Caldwell Pitcher Commits To Tarheels
A high school pitcher from within the region will soon be suiting up for the Tarheels. South Caldwell pitcher Madison Bumgarner announced his decision this week. The junior helped lead his team to the State 4A championship and along with way he picked up a 12-2 record with a 0.99 ERA. The 6’5 ft. Bumgarner, who’s lefthanded, has impressed scouts with a fastball that reaches speeds of 97 mph at times. He’s also not bad at the plate, batting .392 this past season with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs.

Boateng To Leave Duke
In college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils will be one man short when the season starts next fall. Center Eric Boateng has announced that he plans to transfer from the school. The 6’10 ft. Boateng saw limited time with the team this season, averaging .7 points and .6 rebounds in 20 games.

State Player Has Hearing Postponed
The fate of one NC State basketball player is still up in the air today. The immigration hearing for Wolfpack forward Gavin Grant has been delayed until July 11th, due to scheduling conflicts. Grant stands accused of entering the U.S. illegally as a child and if found guilty, he could be forced to leave the country. Grant’s legal team meanwhile says that the player did in fact enter through legal means and has the paperwork to prove it.

ACC Players May Get Opportunities
In the wake of last night’s NBA draft, several players from North Carolina schools were on the outside looking in. Wake Forest guard Justin Gray went undrafted, as did his teammate forward Eric Williams. In addition, UNC Charlotte forward Curtis Withers was left off the list. For two out of the three, there’s still hope their future could be in Carolina. Before the draft, the Bobcats told Withers that if he wanted it, there would be a spot for him on their summer league team. Charlotte has also expressed interest in Gray, possibly to bring him in as the team’s third point guard, who could one day serve as the backup to starter Raymond Felton.

Two More Hurricanes To Try Free Agency
The changes keep coming for the Carolina Hurricanes. Two more members of the team have announced they plan to test the free agent waters this summer. The contracts for Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward are set to expire this Saturday, when the new business year officially starts in the NHL. Both said they’re interested in returning and the team wants them back, however some other things could be in play. The 29-yr-old Cullen is also considering a potential deal with the Minnesota Wild, who play in his home state, after a season where he scored a career high 25 goals. Meanwhile the 33-yr-old Ward has been linked to the Detroit Red Wings, who he played for earlier in his career.

NASCAR News
Around the NASCAR circuit, one team has been locked up for a few years. Jimmy Elledge agreed to a contract extension with Chip Ganassi Racing, extending his tour of duty on the No. 41 Dodge, driven by Reed Sorenson. Ganassi said that Elledge has been a key part in developing the organization’s young drivers and believed that assistance should be rewarded.

News & Sports For June 29th

State Health Director Wants Wilkes Smoke Free
If North Carolina’s health director has her way, all Wilkes County businesses could be smoke free by next year. Dr. Leah Devlin is calling for all businesses across the state to ban smoking inside their respective buildings. Devlin’s call comes after a new report from the U.S. Surgeon General was released on Tuesday. It found that nonsmokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of heart disease by up to 30% and their risk of developing lung cancer also goes up to 30%. That could cause problems here in North Carolina, where an estimated 23% of all adults smoke and 43% of the entire population is exposed to secondhand smoke. Already across the state, 39 hospitals are completely smoke free, including Wilkes Regional. Dr. Devlin also wants people to know that North Carolina has a program to help people quit, which you can learn about at www.quitnownc.org or by calling 1-800-784-8669.

Local Woman Falls Prey To Forgers
A Boomer woman got a call from her bank earlier this week, as several suspicious checks had come in that supposedly she had signed for. When she went to take a look at her account, the woman noticed that several of her checks had gone missing. The two people who were attempting to cash the checks had apparently done some home repairs for the woman in recent days and that’s when it’s believed they took the checks. The account was closed and information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation continues.

Wilkes County Bridges In Need Of Repair
Wilkes County bridges could use a facelift. That’s according to AAA of the Carolinas, who released their annual list of the most dangerous bridges in the state. Wilkes County had four rank in the Top 650. The bridge over Reddies River on US 421 Business came in at #231, while the one over Mulberry Creek on Hwy 268 fell right behind at #305. The bridge over Cub Creek on State Road 1001 was also labeled as hazardous, being ranked #381 worst in the state. And finally coming in at #644 was the bridge over Bugaboo Creek on Hwy 268. In general, bridges across the state are in worse shape now than in January of 2005. Last year, 30.5% of all bridges in NC were labeled as substandard or dangerous. In 2006, that number has increased to 31.2%. Money for bridge repair comes out of the state’s highway trust fund, which has been raided in recent years by lawmakers. Money that was supposed to go for replacing roads and bridges has instead been used on pet projects, to the tune of $250 million being taken out each year.

Focus On The Family
As we near the midpoint of election season, who’s looking out for issues affecting the family? Here in North Carolina, the Family Policy Council is dedicated to doing just that. Coming up on today's Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be interviewing John Rustin, the Director of Government Relations for the FPC. They'll be discussing where North Carolina stands in regards to certain issues such as gay marriage, the lottery and where funds are being directed in the state budget. They’ll also be talking about how people can get involved and help make a difference in each of these issues. That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

All This Just To Watch TV
Thieves broke into a Traphill woman’s home earlier this week, running off with a DVD Player and a television. The incident happened sometime early Monday morning on the Traphill Ridge Road. However despite the theft, there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property itself. Neighbors were able to give deputies a potential suspect, as it’s believed the thief had a key and walked right in. That investigation is ongoing.

Mentor Training Today
Currently just over 60 kids are on a waiting list at Communities in Schools, as the need for a mentor is greater than the supply. If you have a few extra hours in the week and want to make a difference in a child’s life, a volunteer training session is being held today. The session will last just one hour, from 12 noon til 1pm at the Communities in Schools office. If you’re interested in signing up or just want more information, you can give them a call at 651-7830 extension #21. The Communities in Schools office is now located at 613 Cherry Street in what used to be the old Lowes complex.

Golf Tournament To Benefit Respite Care
For all you golfers out there, how would you like to play the game you love and help a good cause at the same time? Coming up later today, a golf tournament will be held at Stone Mountain Golf Club, with the first prize winner walking away with 4 tickets to the Bank of America 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway. It costs $50 per person to enter and all the proceeds from today’s event will go to benefit Respite Care of Wilkes. The starting time is set for 1pm this afternoon with a free lunch provided beginning at 11:30am. All you have to do to sign up is pull in at the Stone Mountain Golf Club’s Pro Shop and they’ll be able to get things squared away.

Baby Teethers Recalled
Before you give that teether to your baby, there’s some news you need to hear. A recall has been ordered of five different styles of teethers, put out by The First Years Inc. 500,000 of the teethers have been called back due to a possible contamination of bacteria inside. The company has learned that in several liquid filled teethers, the bacterias aeruginosa and putida can be found. If somehow the teether gets punctured and a baby ingests the liquid, that can cause serious illness. The recall involves all Disney Days of Hunny Soft Cool Ring Teethers, all Disney Soft Cool Ring Teethers, the Sesame Beginnings Chill and Chew Teether, the First Years Cool Animal Teether and the First Years Floating Friends Teether. A hotline has been set up to get more information at 1-866-725-4407. You can also get information from the company’s website at www.thefirstyears.com.

Dog Stolen From Purlear Home
A Purlear woman came home on Monday to find that her dog had been stolen. The incident happened on the Dockery Road, as witnesses told deputies that the thief walked right into the back yard, unchained the dog and carried it off. The name of the suspect along with a location where he lives was given over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

State News

State Lawmaker To Resign
One North Carolina lawmaker plans to give up his seat in the midst of controversy. Durham Representative Paul Miller gave House Speaker Jim Black his official letter of resignation last Friday, but offered no explanation as to why he was quitting. Miller stands accused of mail fraud, after being arrested earlier this month by federal authorities. He’s believed to have sent the U.S. Department of Education fake checks which he tried to pass off as proof that he had repaid over $20,000 in student loans. Larry Hall, the Democratic nominee for Miller’s seat in the upcoming elections, is expected to be the party’s recommended choice to take over for the remainder of the term.

Evidence In Massive Drug Bust Burns
Sheriff’s deputies in Wake County recently found an abandoned 18-wheel truck just off US 64. The keys were still in the ignition and the engine was running, but no driver could be found. Once they looked inside, deputies found over one ton of marijuana along with 25 pounds of cocaine. The sheriff’s department has since incinerated most of the drugs involved and are continuing the investigation to find the missing driver.

NC State To Pay For Toxic Dump
NC State is going to have to spend millions of dollars over the next few years to clean up one of their mistakes. Between 1969 and 1980, the university’s agriculture and science labs dumped acids, dead animals which contain radioactive waste and chemicals into a 1.5 acre site near the school. Over time that site has become one of the most polluted areas in the United States, with contaminated water seeping into the nearby Richland Creek. Cleanup was supposed to begin 10 years ago, but State requested time to prove to the EPA that the chemicals would dissolve on their own. That plan failed and so now university officials have to fork out money for 17 extraction wells on the site, which will be used to pump out the tainted water and clean up the toxins. All total the cleanup is expected to cost $3.8 million and could take up to 30 years to finish.

Jacksonville Residents No Longer At Risk
The rainfall earlier this week proved to be both a blessing and a curse for residents in Jacksonville North Carolina. While the local crops needed the water, heavy rains damaged a privately owned dam in the area and led to some residents being evacuated. The road near the dam’s spillway was washed out by the water and officials Tuesday morning started warning people to consider evacuating just in case the dam should collapse. Now after two days of sun, the danger has passed and people are being welcomed back in. Jacksonville officials said their main focus now is to work on repairing the damage left behind, estimated to be in the millions.

Jobs Coming To Guilford County
More jobs will be coming to Guilford County over the next three years, as a sports equipment company plans to move in. Legacy Paddlesports, makers of kayaks and canoes, will bring with it 244 jobs when the company’s new plant is built. The move comes thanks in part to a $100,000 grant from North Carolina and company officials said that the state’s well trained workforce was another major factor in the decision. Construction is expected to begin on the plant within the next two months.

Sports Headlines

NC State Lands Another Recruit
Another day and another recruit in the fold for the NC State football team. Henry Lawson, a 6’3 ft. 290 lb. junior from Charlotte Catholic High School has committed to the team. The offensive lineman was a key part of a Charlotte Catholic squad that has a 32 game winning streak heading into next season and State coaches believe he could possibly compete for a starting job as a freshman. Lawson turned down offers from Wake Forest and Boston College to join the Wolfpack, who have locked up seven recruits for their 2007 class from North Carolina. Last year they had just six.

Winthrop Coach Changes Schools
In college basketball, Winthrop’s streak of making it to the NCAA postseason tournament might be ending. Head coach Gregg Marshall announced this week that he’ll be leaving, to take the coaching job at College of Charleston. Over his eight year career at Winthrop, Marshall built the Eagles into a contender, putting together 165 wins and six appearances in the NCAA tournament. Now Marshall will return to the school where he began his coaching career, looking to improve on the Cougars’ 18-10 record last season.

Bobcats Select
With the third pick in last night’s NBA draft, the Charlotte Bobcats chose Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison. The 6’8 ft. junior averaged 28 points a game last season and earned the nickname “Ammo” for his ability to hit shots from anywhere. In the second round, Charlotte went for a defensive presence by choosing UCLA center Ryan Hollins. The 7 ft. Hollins is a shot blocker and rebounder who was a big part of the Bruins’ run to the title game last season.

ACC Players Picked Up In The Draft
There were also several ACC players picked up in yesterday’s draft. Duke’s Shelton Williams went with the 5th pick to the Atlanta Hawks while his teammate J.J. Redick was chosen with the 11th pick by Orlando. NC State’s Cedric Simmons found a home with the New Orleans Hornets, who drafted him 15th. And in the second round, UNC Tarheel forward David Noel went to Milwaukee with the 39th pick.

Hurricanes Continue To Make Changes
Some changes will be coming for the Carolina Hurricanes next season. The team will be losing backup goalie Martin Gerber, who told the Canes that he plans to test the free agent market, in pursuit of a starting job and also a raise. As a starter this season with Carolina, the 31-yr-old Gerber went 38-14, but was replaced by Cam Ward after a poor performance in the playoffs. Ward would go on to win the Conn Smythe trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup finals.

News & Sports For June 28th

Changes Approved For Wilkes County Schools
There will be some more changes coming for Wilkes County schools this fall. The Board of Education met on Tuesday afternoon and approved some more personnel changes for next year. Rebecca Mastin will be taking over as principal for Moravian Falls Elementary. For the middle schools, there will be several new faces taking over as well. Sharon Shoupe becomes the new assistant principal at East Middle, assuming the role formerly held by Cynthia Altmueller, who left to become the principal at West Middle School. Speaking of West Middle, Ramona Hemric is the new assistant principal, taking the job of Wesley Wood. Mr. Wood left to take the assistant principal’s job at North High. At Central Wilkes Middle School, Stephanie Williams steps in as the new assistant principal. In addition, Katherine Cater will be the new assistant principal at East High. She takes over for Eric Barker, who left to become principal at Ronda Clingman. And finally Terri Wilson is the new assistant principal at West High. All of these changes will take effect in the fall.

Stuff The Bus Program Begins July 1st
The annual Stuff The Bus program will get underway this Saturday, helping to provide needy kids with supplies for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There will be buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies at Dollar General, Super 10 and the Communities in Schools office. All different types of school supplies are needed, everything from paper to pens to calculators. For more information you can call Communities in Schools at 651-7830. And once again that program kicks off in three days on July 1st.

Just Trying To Keep Cool
Some thieves broke into a building on the Rock Creek Church Road this week, apparently just trying to keep cool. They ran off with the homeowner’s air conditioner, along with 50 VHS movies, 20 books and several small tools. An estimated total of everything stolen came out to be $1065. There is a suspect in the theft, as a man was seen hanging around the property by witnesses. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Family
As we near the midpoint of election season, who’s looking out for issues affecting the family? Here in North Carolina, the Family Policy Council is dedicated to doing just that. Coming up on Thursday's Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking with John Rustin, the Council's Director of Government Relations. They'll be discussing where North Carolina stands in regards to certain issues such as gay marriage, the lottery and where funds are being directed in the state budget. They’ll also be talking about how people can get involved and help make a different in each of these issues. That’s coming up tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Thieves Drill In To Get What They Want
A man came out to check on his vacation home this week, only to find that someone had beaten him there. Thieves had drilled into a sliding glass door on the property, located on the Brushy Mountain Road, pulling the door off track and walking right in. Everything but the kitchen sink was taken from inside, including furniture, several tools and even some of the wall fixtures. Despite the massive theft, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone near the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Better Living Through Venom
Scientists may have found a way to cure brain cancer, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. The Henry Ford Health System is conducting a series of tests using a treatment derived from scorpion venom. In the procedure, doctors flood the venom with low level radiation and then inject it into a patient’s bloodstream. Once the mixture comes in contract with a tumor, it kills the cancer cells. Reports of the trials have been released this week at the Health Physics Society meeting in Rhode Island, with doctors claiming that the treatment is showing promising signs of working. Officials say however that it’s too early to determine if the venom can be used as a cure.

Keys Stolen From Local Residence
Some thieves were kind enough to return part of what they had stolen from a local residence this week. Last month, residents of the home on Greenhorn Road had lost their keys outside. Monday afternoon, they returned to find the keys on the kitchen counter, although some of them were still missing. A house key and a four wheeler key had been taken from the set. Aside from that, several things had been moved around inside but nothing else was taken. That investigation continues.

Car Stolen From Traphill Residence
Thieves took off with a Traphill man’s car earlier this week. On Sunday, he had parked the vehicle at a house belonging to his girlfriend’s aunt and left. When he returned on Monday, the vehicle was gone with a witness telling about a tow truck that had pulled up to the truck and carted it off. Deputies tracked down the wrecker driver, who said that he had been hired to tow the truck away from the house. The owner of the house told deputies she had nothing to do with the towing, however there is a suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

Regional News

Watauga Sheriff Facing Additional Lawsuit
More accusations are coming out against current Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook, as he’s become the target of yet another lawsuit. On Friday of last week Patricia Shook filed suit against the sheriff, claiming that she lost her job because she complained about sexual comments he made toward other female workers. Shook worked as the chief of communications for Watauga and also claimed that she was told her job would be on the line if she kept complaining about another worker’s poor performance. This comes in the wake of another lawsuit, filed back on June 13th by former chief deputy Paula Townsend, who accused the sheriff of firing her after she turned down his request for a date.

State News

Storm System Could Cause Problems
A storm system just off the North Carolina coast could potentially spell trouble later on this week. The National Hurricane Center is watching a low pressure system that’s about 90 miles south of Cape Fear and drifting towards North Carolina. Officials say that the conditions exist for the system to become a tropical depression at any minute. Even if the system doesn’t turn into a tropical storm, the National Weather Service says to expect periods of heavy rain and wind over the next two days.

Jobs On The Way To Davie County
There’s some good news for people in Davie County as more jobs could be on the way. County officials have been alerted about a manufacturing company who wants to move into the area, there’s just one catch. In order for the town of Mocksville to land the business, they and the county have to put up at least $100,000 in economic incentives. A public hearing will be held in the county to discuss the issue on July 10th, but until then officials aren’t releasing the name of the business. Over 100 new jobs would come into the area with the new company if the incentives are approved.

Fayetteville Standoff Leads To Arrest
A standoff that lasted for several hours in Fayetteville finally came to a close yesterday afternoon. Cumberland County officials had been searching for 29-yr-old Kennard Meshawn Fisher, who was wanted on robbery, kidnapping and drug charges. They found Fisher inside a trailer at a mobile home park off of Highway 301, armed and refusing to come out. Also inside the home were several of Fisher’s family members. Eventually they helped convince him to give up and turn himself over to deputies, who took him in peacefully. Fisher now faces charges of maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs, robbery, first degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.

Son Arrested After Duke Athletic Director’s Boating Accident
The son of Duke University’s athletic director is facing charges today after an accident that injured his father. Athletic director Joe Alleva (Ah-Leev-ah) was out with his son on Hyco Lake when the boat they were in ran aground on some rocks. The athletic director had to be taken to Person Memorial Hospital to be treated for a head injury, while his son was asked to and refused to take a breathalyzer test. 27-yr-old Joseph David Alleva was driving the boat and officials have charged him with operating a motorboat while impaired. Joe Alleva has since been released from the hospital and is expected back at work this week.

New Commander Takes Over NC Marines
North Carolina’s Marines will soon have a new general in command. Major General Keith Stadler has been nominated for a promotion to lieutenant general and with that comes an assignment to lead the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed at Camp Lejeune. Stadler will come over from Quantico Virginia, where he currently serves as commander of the Marine Training and Education Command. He’ll be taking over from Lieutenant General James Amos, who is being reappointed to a position at Marine headquarters in Washington.

Sports Headlines

49ers Building New Stadium
Another stadium is getting set to go up in the Charlotte area, this time for a local university. UNC Charlotte has announced plans to completely overhaul their baseball facilities, putting $5.9 million into the project that officials say will be one of the best baseball stadiums in the entire Southeastern United States. The new 1,000 seat stadium will hold a press box for both radio and television, brand new dugouts, hospitality suites and a picnic area near the right field foul line. Construction starts this coming August and Hayes Stadium is expected to be finished by the time the season starts next spring.

State Lands Another Football Prospect
The NC State football team added another piece to the puzzle this week, as defensive tackle Justin Whaley committed to the school. Whaley, a 6’4 ft. 260 lb. junior from Wilson Hunt High School in North Carolina, told reporters that this was a dream come true as he’s been a Wolfpack fan all his life. State coaches want to utilize Whaley’s size and have him play on both sides of the ball, working on the offensive line as well. The commitment is State’s sixth for 2007.

Panthers Reset Their Return Game
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are planning to make some changes for the upcoming season. Wanting to protect wide receiver Steve Smith from injury, the team is pulling him from doing kick returns. Instead, rookie tailback Deangelo Williams has been getting most of the reps as a member of the return team, along with cornerback Chris Gamble. Williams actually volunteered for the job, as he wanted to be used wherever he could help the team.

NBA Draft Coming Up Tonight
In the NBA, the clock is counting down for several former ACC players, as they wait to see who will take them in tonight’s draft. Duke’s Shelton Williams is expected to be a top five pick while his former teammate J.J. Reddick is also projected to go in the top ten. Meanwhile NC State’s Cedric Simmons is also expected to be a first round choice. Also some other ACC players are on the bubble, waiting to see if they’ll be picked up in round two. Wake Forest’s Eric Williams, his teammate Justin Gray, UNC Tarheel David Noel and UNC Charlotte’s Curtis Withers are all in the mix as the draft tips off tonight at 7pm.

Hurricanes Offer Contracts To Free Agents
On the ice, the Carolina Hurricanes are taking steps to bring back their team for another shot at the title. The team’s five free agents were all given qualifying offers on Monday, that had a 10% raise attached from this year’s salary. Eric Staal, Erik Cole, Justin Williams, Mike Commodore and Chad LaRose will all see their contracts expire on June 30th, but under the current labor agreement, they can’t accept the terms until July 1st as they won’t technically be free agents before then. Also by extending the offer, Carolina is allowed to match any contract the players might get from other teams on the free agent market.

Hunting To Become An Official Sport
For all you hunters out there, it might be time to get out that rifle and start practicing. The World Hunting Association has announced plans to create a competitive hunting tour starting this fall. Over $500,000 would be up for grabs in the tournament, which would take hunters around the world in competition. During the tournament hunters will use tranquilizers to shoot white tailed deer and other animals, beginning with the first competition this fall at the Lost Arrow Ranch in Michigan. An official date for the competition has yet to be set.

News & Sports For June 27th

Wilkes County Still Under Flood Watch
Wilkes County is under a flash flood watch today, which is expected to remain in effect until at least tonight and possibly Wednesday morning. With rainfall already reaching over 2 inches in places, the National Weather Service is warning that small creeks and streams could flood their banks. The rain is expected to continue periodically throughout today, as a front is remaining stationary over the Appalachian Mountains. Also this rainfall may be heavy at times, with an additional 2 to 3 inches predicted to fall by Wednesday.

Sex Offenders Leaving List
Monday on the 3WC News, we told you about a new program State Attorney General Roy Cooper wants to install, to protect against sex offenders. Now we take a look at why it’s needed. Under current North Carolina law, sex offenders have to be registered for a 10-yr-period and then their names are taken off the list. For those offenders who were registered in 1996, that means they’re no longer in the system as of this year. That however doesn’t apply to repeat offenders or violent predators, who have to stay registered for life. In Wilkes County, there are currently 97 registered sex offenders living in areas stretching from North Wilkesboro to Boomer, none of which are classified as violent. Across North Carolina, there are over 9000 people registered as sex offenders. As we approach the midpoint of election year, members of the House are re-examining the law to possibly make changes and keep all offenders registered for life. No decision has been reached however, on the Attorney General’s proposed program.

Mailbox Vandals Target More Homes
Deputies are investigating two more cases of mailbox vandalism that occurred over the weekend. On Mountain View Road, a man called deputies after vandals hit his mailbox on both Friday and Saturday night. An estimated $60 worth of damage was done and deputies were able to retrieve some evidence from the scene, as part of the vandals’ car appears to have fallen off. Deputies were also called out to Center Church Road in Thurmond, as vandals targeted another home. Sometime early Sunday morning a car drove by the house and ran over the mailbox, causing an estimate $20 in damage. Both investigations are ongoing.

Truck Stolen From Wilkesboro Home
Thieves drove off with a Wilkesboro man’s truck over the weekend. The man, who lives on Fishing Creek Arbor Road, called deputies after coming outside Sunday morning to find his truck was missing. There were signs that a tow truck at been in the driveway and it appears that the vehicle was hooked up and towed away. A description of the vehicle was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Recall Ordered For Pacemakers & Defibrillators
Some bad news today for anyone who has a pacemaker, as it could be defective. That was the announcement made on Monday by the Boston Scientific Corporation, which has issued a recall of an estimated 23,000 pacemakers and defibrillators. The problem comes due to a malfunction in one of the device’s electrical components, which can cause the device to short out. Already five such malfunctions have occurred after patients went through surgery to receive the device. In two cases the patients became temporarily unconscious as a result. Those who have pacemakers are being asked to set up an appointment with your doctor at the earliest possible time, to determine if your device is one that falls under the recall and what steps to take.

Thieves Break In To Play Video Games
It appears thieves had just one thing on their mind after breaking into a home on FA Foster Road this weekend and that was playing video games. The homeowner returned from church on Sunday to find one of his windows had been shattered and the screen pulled out, but for the most part, things were just like he had left them inside. The only things missing were 50 Playstation games, worth over $1000. However a neighbor down the road was able to give deputies a description of a truck that had been at the residence earlier in the day along with a possible suspect. That investigation continues.

Samaritan’s Christian Ministry Update
Samaritan’s Christian Ministry has been expanding their operations in the last few months, to the point where they now deliver meals to over 450 different families across Wilkes County. That’s just over 1600 meals that need to be prepared, loaded up and delivered each week. With that progress comes a greater need for volunteers, as the organization finds itself falling short in most categories. The man need is for drivers to transport the meals on Saturdays, however cooks, assembly line workers, greeters and other volunteers are needed as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or just want some more information, you can give them a call at 838-5331.

Car Damaged While Visiting A Friend
A North Wilkesboro woman got a surprise when she came back to her car Saturday night. The back glass was shattered and an estimated $400 worth of damage had been done to the vehicle. The incident happened on the Red, White and Blue Road, as the woman was visiting a friend. Despite the damage, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone around the property. That investigation continues.

State News

Catawba Schools Go After Google
The Google search engine is under attack by a school system here in North Carolina. On Friday, the Catawba County School System filed an injunction against the company, demanding that any information related to it be removed. The problem was discovered last week, when a Catawba County official performed a search on the web and uncovered the Social Security numbers and test scores of 619 of the county’s students. They were on a Google search page, available for anyone to see. It’s still unclear exactly how the information was accessed by the search engine in the first place.

Fort Bragg To Cut Jobs
Bad news for people living around Fort Bragg, as the base is having to cut civilian jobs in the wake of a budget crunch. The organization in charge of overseeing Army bases, the Installation Management Agency, has announced that they plan to drop the current budget by at least an estimated $530 million as of September 30th. That leaves Bragg operating at 1/5 of their normal budget, which stands at $1 million. As a result, nine temporary civilian positions at the base have been eliminated, use of government vehicles on the base has been limited and office staff won’t have the money to buy new pens, paper or other supplies until October 1st. In addition, agency officials said that further cuts could be coming in 2007, as they look to provide as much money as possible to the units deployed oversees.

Body Turns Up In Rocky Mount
A father and son in Rocky Mount got a surprise over the weekend during a trip to the park. While tossing rocks into the Tar River, the pair found something floating in the water and tried to get a closer look. What they found was a partially decomposed body that was traveling down the river. Rocky Mount police are working to determine both the victim’s ID and also what caused his death, as it appeared he had been in the water for some time.

Gardner-Webb Vice President Dies In Crash
Gardner-Webb University is mourning the loss of a staff member today. Over the weekend, David Boan (Bo-ann) was killed after a car wreck in Tennessee. Boan, who served as the university’s vice president for development, was traveling on Hwy 154 when he lost control of the vehicle and it flipped over. According to the Highway Patrol Boan wasn’t speeding and he was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. He had just been promoted to his current job in March of this year, after working in the university’s fundraising department since 2002. A funeral will be held later today at 2pm at the Boiling Springs Baptist Church.

Stanley County Residents Evacuated After Leak
On Monday, residents of one Stanley County neighborhood were evacuated after a gas leak was discovered at a local plant. Just after 9am, an accident occured at the Tuckertown Water Treatment Plant. Workers were attempting to change gas cylinders when one of them malfunctioned and chlorine gas started leaking out. It took all of the morning and most of the afternoon to contain the problem, as local officials ordered an evacuation of a half mile all around the plant. No one was seriously injured in the accident, however two plant workers had to be taken for treatment at Stanly Regional Medical Center.

Sports Headlines

Beavers Win World Series
On the college scene, there's a new national champion in college baseball. The Oregon State Beavers knocked off the UNC Tarheels last night 3-2 in the third and final game of the College World Series. The win marks Oregon State's first ever national title.

UNC Lands Coveted Running Back
In college football, the UNC Tarheels added another member to their 2007 team with Ryan Houston committing to the school. Houston, a 6’2 ft. 245 lb. tailback at Butler High School in Matthews, rushed for 1914 yards as a junior while putting up 34 touchdowns. Scouts say that Houston’s size, along with his 4.6 speed in the 40-yd-dash remind them of former NFL star Natrone Means. Houston turned down offers from Clemson, Florida and Miami to join the Heels, saying that he felt the new offense run by Heels coordinator Frank Cignetti would fit him the best.

Coaches Want NCAA Tournament To Increase
If several college coaches have their way, the NCAA basketball tournament will see a major expansion next year. This week the NCAA is holding its’ annual coaches basketball committee meetings in Florida and the main topic is expanding the tournament. Instead of the current 65 teams involved, a proposal is one the table to double the size and allow 128 teams to play for the title. Members of the National Association of Coaches suggested the increase because they believe that making the postseason could help several of their colleagues keep their jobs.

State Lands Basketball Recruit
In other college hoops news, NC State got a much needed shot in the arm on Sunday, as Johnny Thomas committed to the school. Thomas, a 6’5 ft. shooting guard/small forward at Greensboro Day High School, is the first recruit for new Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe. As a junior last season, Thomas averaged 17 points a game and also impressed college scouts with his ability to rebound and great shooting skills. He turned down an offer from Virginia Tech to play with the Wolfpack, saying that he thought it was a better fit.

Hurricanes Lock Up Coach
Less than a week after winning the Stanley Cup, Carolina Hurricanes officials showed their appreciation to head coach Peter Laviolette by inking him to a new five year contract. Laviolette’s current contract had been set to expire at the end of June along with members of his staff. The assistant coaches were also resigned, with Kevin McCarthy and Jeff Daniels both agreeing to five year contracts. McCarthy will also see a promotion, as he’ll now be the new associate head coach of the Canes.

Vickers Officially A Red Bull
In NASCAR, Brian Vickers now has a ride locked up for 2007. The current driver of Hendrick Motorsports No. 25 Chevy will switch teams and race for Team Red Bull beginning next season. Earlier this year the 22-yr-old Vickers had asked for his release from Hendrick Motorsports, to pursue other opportunities. In the current season, Vickers stands 20th in points, 1619 behind current leader Jimmie Johnson.

News & Sports For June 26th

Dooley Opens To Packed House
Hundreds of people braved the rain on Friday night to see the first 2006 performance of “Tom Dooley”. A full house of 850 people was on hand as the Wilkes Playmakers opened up the new Forest Edge Amphitheater at Fort Hamby. County commissioners, along with state and national lawmakers were also in the crowd as the site was dedicated. Then the audience was treated to a performance by the Kingston Trio before the play started. As for the venue where the play took place, it cost $750,000 to build the Forest Edge Amphitheater, most of which came from grants and private donations.

Nominations Open For Southern Gospel Awards
Voting has started for this year’s Southern Gospel Music Awards. From now until midnight on June 30th, you can nominate candidates in 27 different categories like favorite male singer and also favorite small market radio station. After the deadline on June 30th, the votes will be totaled and the Top Ten Nominees in each category will be announced. If you want to nominate someone, all you have to do is log on to www.thesoutherngospel.com and click on the awards link at the top of the page.

New Plan Would Alert Parents If Sex Offender Moves In
If State Attorney General Roy Cooper has his way, parents of Wilkes County students would be alerted if a sex offender moved next door. As state lawmakers continue to debate what the final budget should look like, Cooper is asking them to set aside some extra money for a new project. He wants to create a new email service, called the NC Sex Offender Watch Program. The alert service would automatically warn people when a sex offender moves within a mile of a certain building, such as their child’s school. Inside each email there would be a photo and description, so people could recognize the offender and also a list of his crimes. If it’s approved, parents could sign up for the project and designate certain areas where they would be alerted if a sex offender moves nearby. Cooper is requesting $300,000 to get the project started in addition to over $500,000 to hire more personnel to help track child predators.

Blood Drive Coming Up Later Today
Each day 1500 pints of blood are needed across North Carolina. With that being the case, not all the supply taken in local drives can go to Wilkes County as there are more immediate needs. To help build the supply back up and lend a hand to other counties, a drive is going on today at the Pilgrim Baptist Church from 2:30-7pm. And just as a reminder, anyone who signs up and donates will be entered into a drawing for a free $1500 Citgo gas card. To call for an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.

How To Fight Against ID Theft
Over the past month, everyone from war veterans to housewives have been exposed to identity theft. Over one million troops had their information stolen from the Veterans’ Affairs office, while Wachovia customers fell victim to a potential hack of the company’s system. But a new law here in North Carolina could help protect you from being robbed of your information. The Identity Theft Protection Act is a new law that went into effect last December. It will allow you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. There is a catch however, as you’re able to do that thanks to a security freeze. While thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.

Recall Ordered Of Windsuits
This next bit of news potentially affects all families with boys from newborn to age 7. A recall has been ordered for a particular type of child’s windsuit this week. The Reebok company has issued a callback for an estimated 55,000 windsuits, a zip up jacket and pants set sold in Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us and Mervyns stores across the country. The problem comes from the Reebok logo which hangs on the windsuit’s zipper. In several cases it has detached from the zipper and been swallowed by the child, who picks it up and starts chewing on it. Reebok is asking that customers either cut off the rubber logo themselves or return the item for a free replacement suit. For more information you can call 1-800-873-5570 or log on to the Reebok website at www.Reebok.com

Heat Relief Available For Elderly
Summertime can mean problems for the elderly, with rising temperatures leading to sickness and possibly death. With that in mind, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving away fans this summer to any senior citizen that meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 228 Fairplains School Road. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

3WC Techwatch: Sniffing Out A Good Movie
The next time you’re in a movie theater, you might be able to smell what’s happening on screen, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. A Japanese company has developed “smellovision”, a new way for movie audiences to interact with the characters. When certain scenes appear on the screen, special machines under the seats release different fragrances. For an emotional scene, you might smell peppermint or for a joyful time you could smell a blend of orange and grapefruit. The idea is being tested out on Japanese audiences this summer and if it proves successful, could be coming to a theater near you by 2007.

Regional News

Taylorsville Wife Charged In Husband’s Death
One month after her husband was murdered, a Taylorsville woman has been charged with the crime. 84-yr-old Fielding Strikeleather was gunned down in the couple’s home May 21st, by what his wife told police was an intruder. She said that a man came to their door, asking for help as his car was out of gas. Her husband went to the basement to get a gas can and minutes later she heard gunshots. However after a monthlong investigation, local officials couldn’t find any evidence to prove that another man had been in the house. Now 57-yr-old Brenda Strikeleather has been charged with her husband’s murder, although Alexander County officials refuse to say what proof led to the arrest.

Three Man Facing Charges In Surry County Assault
Three men in Surry County are in jail today, charged with the vicious assault and hanging of a woman in Mount Airy. The incident happened early last week, as the woman was sexually assaulted by three men, then injected with some unknown substance before being hung from a tree. She was later released and the men ran off. Officials have now charged Mount Airy resident Jerry Gray Worrell, Raymond Max Eddy Jr. of King and Wayne Ray Lawson with the crime. Worrell and Lawson are facing charges of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and felony strangulation. Eddy Jr. meanwhile is only charged with kidnapping. There is still no motive for the crime.

State News

University Official Wants To Help Illegals
If one official at NC State University has his way, in state tuition will be handed out to the children of illegal immigrants. NC State Provost Larry Neilsen spoke out on behalf of the illegals during a conference held last Thursday, saying that we should do everything in our power to help them become educated citizens. Neilsen is calling for a plan to be revived in the General Assembly which would give the children of illegals access to cheaper in state tuition fees and grants if they want to attend college.

Bill Of Rights Coming Back To NC
North Carolina owns the Bill of Rights. That was the decision of a federal appeals judge late last week. At the end of the Civil War, North Carolina’s original copy of the Bill of Rights was stolen and had found its’ way into the hands of a Connecticut businessman, who put its’ price tag at $30 million. That soon became moot as federal officials raided the man’s office and seized the document back in 2003. Now the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has supported that seizure, saying that North Carolina holds the rightful possession of the document. The businessman’s attorneys are saying that their client plans to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Davie County Deputy Fired
One Davie County sheriff’s deputy has been fired after being placed in the center of a state investigation. Detective Robert Trotter was suspended a month ago for what officials are calling “alleged criminal conduct”. Now the 16-yr vet of the sheriff’s department has been fired, despite no criminal charges being filed. No one is willing to say what exactly Trotter had been accused of doing.

Sports Headlines

College World Series
In college baseball last night, the Carolina Tarheels fell just short in their bid to become national champs. They lost in Game Two of the College World Series Finals to Oregon State 11-7. The Beavers of Oregon State blew up against Tarheel pitching, exploding for 7 runs in the fourth inning alone. The third and final game will go on tonight.

State To Lose Football Player
The NC State football team will be one player short when it starts playing later this summer. Quarterback Mike Greco announced last Thursday that he’s transferring out of the program. The 6’3 ft. 220 lb. Greco was a freshman redshirt last season and now finds himself behind both junior starter Marcus Stone and fellow sophomore Daniel Evans, while also competing for time with incoming freshman Justin Burke. That isn’t to say that Greco doesn’t have talent, as this spring during practice he tossed a 60-yd touchdown and also showed some speed, rushing for another 60-yd score. That athleticism had State officials considering a change of positions for the sophomore, who says that he wants to play quarterback. To do that, he’s enrolled at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi and will play with their football team the Wildcats while sorting out his options.

Duke Recovering From Injuries In college basketball, one of the ACC’s top programs should be back up to full strength by the time the season rolls around. Duke point guard Greg Paulus is almost fully healed from wrist surgery, according to team officials. The rising sophomore is expected to be 100% by August and should be able to play the full season without any complications. Also fellow sophomore David McClure is recovering from his knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the season opener.

Bobcats Narrow Down Choices
The Charlotte Bobcats are still trying to decide who will be their picks in this week’s draft. Last week, several candidates were brought in, including two ACC stars and one player from Charlotte. Wake Forest graduate Trent Strickland, Maryland’s Nik Caner-Medley, UNC Charlotte grad Curtis Withers and Georgetown’s Brandon Bowman were all brought in for a workout. Withers, a 6’8 ft. forward with a talent for rebounding, impressed team officials to the point they told him if he doesn’t get drafted, there’s a spot waiting on Charlotte’s summer league team.

Hurricane Forward Receives Award
A few days after winning the Stanley Cup, one Carolina Hurricane isn’t done picking up awards. As the NHL handed out its’ offseason awards last week, Carolina forward Rod Brind’Amour received the Selke Trophy, given out to the league’s best defensive forward. He landed over 50% of the vote, picking up 80 of the 129 possible votes. Shortly after Brind’Amour got more good news, as he signed a new five year deal which will keep him in Carolina until he’s 40 years old.

NASCAR Results
On the NASCAR circuit, it was Jeff Gordon picking up the checkered flag in the Dodge/Save Mart 350. Ryan Newman came in second and Terry Labonte rounded out the top three.

News & Sports For June 23rd

Dooley Play Begins Tonight
Tonight will kick off the 2006 season of “Tom Dooley”, presented by the Wilkes County Playmakers. For the first time in its’ history, the play will be held outside at the new Fort Hamby Outdoor Amphitheatre and appearing tonight will be the Kingston Trio, performing their hit song “Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley”. The musical performance will begin at 7pm with the play to follow after. The performance is already sold out for tonight, but the play runs through June 30th at Fort Hamby, before switching back to Benton Hall on July 20th. Tickets are $15 a person and can be bought by calling the Wilkes Playmakers at 336-838-7529 or online at www.wilkesplaymakers.com

White Powder Found On Mailboxes
Deputies were called out to several homes in Moravian Falls Wednesday afternoon, after a white powder was found inside the mailboxes. A mailman found the first batch of powder, which covered the outside of a box on Hwy 18 South. Just down the road on Hwy 18, a local woman found the same type of white powder stuffed inside her mailbox. The powder tested negative for cocaine and didn’t appear to have any harmful effects. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone near the boxes either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The powder has been sent off for testing and that investigation continues.

3WC Techwatch: Keeping Track Of Kids
It’ll be a little easier to keep track of your kids, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. A new system launched by Sprint will make it easier to keep track of kids by using their cell phones. The system is called the Sprint Family Locator and was officially launched last week. In the system, a GPS device embedded in the cell phone transmits a unique signal, giving the owner’s exact location. That information is then relayed to the parents, providing an interactive map and street address. The service was created in response to the recent string of child kidnappings and disappearances across the United States. One thing however some parents may not like. Every time information is requested, the cell phone’s owner is notified with a text message.

Summer Blast At Food Lion
For anyone trying to find a way to keep cool, there’s an event going on tomorrow at Food Lion. The Moravian Falls Food Lion store is holding a “Summer Blast” celebration, complete with food, music and games. The entertainment gets started at 10am and will stretch on til 2pm that afternoon with a dunking booth, face painting, a fishing game, a hula hoop contest and at 11am you can sign up to throw a pie at your manager. The event is put on as a fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A routine traffic stop led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies earlier this week. Tuesday afternoon just before 1pm, deputies pulled over a man for speeding at the intersection of Bethany Ford and Rock Creek Road. The driver told deputies that he didn’t have his license with him and after a record check it was found to have been revoked. After getting permission to search, deputies found two tablets of the painkiller Hydrocodone hidden inside a cigarette pack. 20-yr-old Michael Cale Groce was arrested and charged with drug possession, driving with a revoked license and exceeding the speed limit.

Problems Found With Nissan Altima
Bad news for anyone who owns a 2006 version of the Nissan Altima, as a problem has been discovered. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the discovery this week, which affects an estimated 85,000 vehicles. The problem comes from an issue with the engine’s piston rings. After a certain amount of time they can start to malfunction, causing the engine to eat up oil at a faster rate than normal. In such cases, the car’s oil has to be kept at least at the minimum level or an engine fire can ignite. Nissan hasn’t yet announced how they plan to fix the problem, as officials are asking owners to check their oil levels every day. For more information you can call Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Tires Taken From Local Home
A local man got a surprise when he returned home earlier this week as thieves had been by. The man came home to his residence on the Greenhorn Road to find someone had run off with several truck tires that had been sitting in his yard. There was no damage done to the house itself and nothing else was missing from the property. That investigation continues.

Regional News

Easley Grants Money To Dobson
Economic development in the town of Dobson got a shot in the arm on Thursday. Gov. Easley announced that Dobson has been given a $200,000 grant by the state, to help pay for expansion of their water and sewer infrastructure. Under the current plan, water and sewer service would expand past Zephyr Road to the point where it intersects with Exit 93 of I-77. Once the project is finished, local leaders predict that up to 500 new jobs could be created as new businesses move in. The money comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission, a partnership between federal and state governments that’s designed to help enhance economic development.

State News

House & Senate Move Closer To Budget Approval
North Carolina came one step closer to having a budget this week, as the House & Senate continue to work out their differences. One key component of the House plan is providing money to help take over the total cost of Medicaid. To do that, they set out $53 million from the current budget to help counties pay their share of the Medicaid cost. The Senate, which earlier had opposed setting aside money in this year’s budget, agreed to a compromise on Wednesday, agreeing to put $20 million in to help cover the cost. Discussions are still continuing on how to handle a minimum wage increase and salary hikes for school teachers.

NC Outlaws Campaign Cash Trade
A longtime practice of politicians here in North Carolina may soon be illegal. The State House tentatively approved a bill during their session on Wednesday which would make it against the law for campaign donations to be used as personal funds. Under the plan, a candidate or group would only be allowed to spend campaign cash in seven specific areas including paying for campaign costs, contributions to other campaigns and as a donation to charity.

Convicted Killer Found In North Carolina
A convicted killer who was deported to Mexico has been found in a tiny North Carolina town. Juan Herrara Gonzalez had previously been deported to Mexico, after serving time in a California prison for manslaughter. During a recent search by INS agents in Madison North Carolina, Gonzalez was found to be once again inside U.S. borders. He was working at the Pine Hall Brick Company, having forged his passport and other documents. Agents arrested Gonzalez, charging him with entering the country illegally after having been deported. The charges carry a penalty of up to nine years in jail, after which he’ll be turned over to Mexican authorities.

New Commander At Fort Bragg
There’s a changing of the guard coming at Fort Bragg. Major General Thomas Csrnko is taking over command of the U.S. Army Special Forces, stationed at the base. Csrnko was the commander of the U.S. Special Operations in Europe before being reassigned to this post. He takes over for Brigadier General John F. Mulholland, who was given the job back in April.

Eagle Scout Badge Given Out A Half Century Later
More than half a century after he first got involved with the Eagle Scouts, a World War II vet finally received his badge this week. 79-yr-old Salisbury resident Harry McCora had earned the badge back in 1945, but shipped out to serve with the Navy before he could receive it. McCora said he recently applied to get the Eagle Scout badge to show his grandkids that people can do more than just play video games. After receiving his information, including a detailed account about the other merit badges he had earned, McCora was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.

Jobs Coming To High Point
Some good news for the High Point area today, as more jobs are coming in. Legacy Classic Furniture announced plans this week to build a distribution center in High Point and will also move some of the company’s corporate offices there as well. The move brings 120 new jobs to the area with additional people expected to be hired once the center gets up and running. High Point’s City Council helped get things rolling with a $305,000 incentives package.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Players In State Games
There’s still some baseball to be played for several Wilkes County athletes. As we mentioned on yesterday’s Sportsdesk, the State Games have started here in North Carolina, giving upperclassmen a chance at getting recognized by both college and professional scouts. However there are also games being played by the underclassmen from this year’s baseball teams. Players are selected from one of eight regions across North Carolina, with each of those regions acting as a team. Wilkes County falls into Region 7, which also includes players from Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie, Iredell, Surry, Watauga and Yadkin. Representing Wilkes County will be Justin Spears from West Wilkes and Wilkes Central’s Josh White. In addition, Wilkes Central coach Terry Johnson was named as one of the team’s assistants.

ECU Quarterback Joins Coaching Staff
Switching to talk college football, a former member of the East Carolina team is moving up to join the coaching staff. Paul Troth played at the university from 2001 to 2003, recording the 9th best single season passing record in school history. During the 2002 season, Troth tossed for 2315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’ll join Coach Skip Holtz’s staff as an offensive assistant, replacing Kevin Turco, who was named the new defensive line coach at Newberry this spring.

State Losing Recruits
There’s some bad news today for the NC State basketball team, as more recruits are leaving. Athletic director Lee Fowler announced this week that two high school players which had committed to the school have asked for and received their unconditional release. High school guard Larry Davis and forward Dan Werner both were released from their commitment to State this week and have already made other plans. Davis is now set to join Seton Hall and Werner will head south to join the University of Florida squad. Both players cited the loss of coach Herb Sendek as a major part of their decision.

Players Refuse To Tryout For Bobcats
You can mark off three names from the list of players being considered for the Charlotte Bobcats’ #3 pick in next week’s draft. Texas center Lamarcus Aldridge, LSU forward Tyrus Thomas and Washington guard Brandon Roy all backed out of their scheduled workouts with the team on Thursday. The agents for Roy and Thomas said their clients were injured, but no attempts were made to even come in and meet with Bobcats officials.

Marlin Gets New Crew Chief
There’s a been a change behind the scenes for driver Sterling Marlin and the No. 14 Chevy. Doug Randolph was removed from his position as crew chief, to be reassigned to another section of MB2 Motorsports. In his place, Scott Eggleston will take over for this Sunday’s Dodge/Save Mart 350. The switch came after Marlin fell to 34th in points after 15 races and team officials decided a change was needed.

News & Sports For June 22nd

Tropical Storm Could Be On The Way
Despite all the hot weather Wilkes County’s experiencing, the alternative could be worse. According to forecasters from the National Weather Service, a tropical storm could be on the way to North Carolina. Meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a current storm system that’s developing in the Bahamas, as short range forecasts predict that it will soon start moving toward North Carolina. If everything follows the pattern, the National Weather Service estimates that a tropical storm or depression could be created within the next four days and then could arrive in North Carolina by early next week. Southeastern counties in the state are still cleaning up after the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto paid a visit last week.

County Manager Breaks Down Fire Contracts
During Tuesday’s meeting of county commissioners, new contracts were approved for both the Broadway and Moravian Falls fire departments. In each of the contracts, the current fire tax of 5 cents per $100 of property was kept as is. However wording in the document gave each department the right to raise the tax to 15 cents, triple the current rate. County Manager Gary Page explained to 3WC News on Wednesday that the additional wording is just in the contract to satisfy NC law, which states that fire departments can have a tax up to but not exceeding 15 cents. He said that neither of the departments had requested a change in the tax and plan to keep it at 5 cents.

Heat Relief Available For Elderly
Summertime can mean problems for the elderly, with rising temperatures leading to sickness and possibly death. With that in mind, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving away fans this summer to any senior citizen that meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 228 Fairplains School Road. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

Damage Done At Hamby Muffler
An estimated $200 in damaged was done at Hamby’s Muffler Shop this week. Sometime Tuesday afternoon, a man pulled up and used the vacuum machine at the business’ car wash. Then as he was leaving, the man drove into the store’s sign before taking off. Wilkesboro police were called out as employees provided a description of both the man and his vehicle. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Connection
With summer in full swing, it can be hard at times to handle all of the repairs needed at your home. That’s where the Carolina Cross Connection steps in. Taylor Whitley from the organization will be Brian’s guest later today for Focus on the Foothills as they’ll be discussing the group, how you can help or how you can get help from them if you need it. That’s coming up right after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Climbed In To Have A Look Around
Wilkesboro police were called out to a residence at the Cub Creek Apartment Complex on Monday after thieves paid a visit. A local man called police after watching several people push in a window and climb into one of the apartments. However there was no damage done to the apartment and nothing was taken from inside. The open window and unlocked doors were the only signs that someone had been there at all. A description of the would be thieves was turned over to officers and the investigation continues.

Samaritan’s Christian Ministry Update
Samaritan’s Christian Ministry has been expanding their operations in the last few months, to the point where they now deliver meals to over 450 different families across Wilkes County. That’s just over 1600 meals that need to be prepared, loaded up and delivered each week. With that progress comes a greater need for volunteers, as the organization finds itself falling short in most categories. The man need is for drivers to transport the meals on Saturdays, however cooks, assembly line workers, greeters and other volunteers are needed as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or just want some more information, you can drop by the Kitchen anytime from 8am til 2pm during the week. They’re located just down the road on Woodland Blvd from the Wilkesboro Post Office. You can also give them a call at 838-5331.

Laptop Computer Stolen From Boomer Home
How can thieves break in without leaving any evidence behind? That’s the question facing a Boomer man today. Earlier this week he left the house to grab some dinner, laying his laptop computer on the kitchen table. When he returned, the doors were still locked as there was no sign of damage, however the laptop was missing. Nothing else was taken from the home and that investigation continues.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A routine traffic stop led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies. Deputies were doing a license check at the intersection of Rock Creek Road and 268 East when they noticed that a passenger in one of the vehicles had an open beer can. After getting the car to pull over, deputies asked for and received permission to search the vehicle. They found a glass tube inside with cocaine residue on it, along with a pill bottle filled with cocaine. In addition a smoking pipe and other drug paraphernalia were located. 40-yr-old Arvil Keith Wagoner was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

State News

Restaurant Stands Accused Of Violating Religious Freedom
One Winston Salem restaurant stands accused of religious discrimination today. Copeland’s of New Orleans is the business named in the suit, accused of illegally firing a worker last year when she refused to go against her religious beliefs. Back in 2005, Norma Hager was terminated after refusing to work on Sunday, saying that it was against her Mormon religion. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission agreed, filing a lawsuit on her behalf against Copeland’s saying that the company violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

EMS Patients Fall Victim To Thieves
Former patients of Cumberland County EMS now have to play the waiting game, to find out if they’re victims of ID theft. Officials in the county announced this week that a laptop computer, which contained the personal information of over 24,000 patients, has gone missing. However police aren’t sure if they can label it a theft or not, as there’s no evidence yet to prove it was stolen. Letters are being sent out to all patients, warning of the problem and suggesting they check their bank statements to prevent ID theft.

Deacon Football Recruit Charged
A future member of the Wake Forest football team is in trouble today. On Tuesday, Wake Forest recruit Dennis Godfrey Jr. was indicted and charged with first degree kidnapping, second degree rape and several other offenses relating to an incident that happened last October. Court papers say that Godfrey Jr., a tight end at Lee County High, was indicted for assaulting a 16-yr-old in Lee County, back on October 1st of 2005. If he’s found guilty, Godfrey could spend up to 30 years in jail.

Search Ends In Tragedy
Unfortunately the search for a Lincoln County man has ended in tragedy. On Monday, 70-yr-old Clyde Davis vanished from his home. Family & friends along with law enforcement searched the property for nearly two days without finding the man. Firefighters, EMS workers and other personnel from Catawba, Gaston, Cleveland and Mecklenburg County all turned out to aid in the search. Then late Tuesday the body of Mr. Davis was found in a small barn, a few hundred yards from his house. It’s unknown at this time what caused the man’s death.

UNC Grad Plans To Plead Guilty
A man who stands accused of attempting to kill at least nine students on the UNC Chapel Hill campus plans to plead guilty. 23-yr-old Mohammed Taheri-Azar, a graduate of the school, rented an SUV on March 3rd and tried to drive it through the Pit. He said that his goal was to avenge the deaths of Muslims around the world. On Wednesday, Azar stood before Superior Court Judge Carl Fox and requested that he be allowed to represent himself. Minutes later he changed his mind, after the judge informed him that first he’d have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Davidson To Possibly Be Labeled Historic
People in Davidson might soon be living in a historic part of North Carolina. The North Carolina Historic Preservation Office has added the town’s name to a growing list of properties for consideration. If approved, Davidson would be added to the National Register for Historic Places, making property owners eligible for federal and state tax credits if they ever want to renovate. In the town there are an estimated 500 commercial and residential structures deemed to be a historic site.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Coach On East/West Staff
Even though the season is over for high school baseball in Wilkes County, one local coach is still playing. The North Carolina East/West baseball series starts off this week and it’ll have a Wilkes County element in the mix. West Wilkes Head Coach Daniel Ward is serving as an assistant to the Western North Carolina team, working for the staff of head coach Reid Holmes from Southwest Guilford High. The tournament gives high school players a chance to be noticed by scouts from the college and professional ranks, possibly earning them a scholarship or a shot at being drafted. The series runs through Sunday of this week with games at NC State and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Tarheels In College World Series
Taking a look at the college scene, the Carolina Tarheels are moving on to the championship round of the College World Series. They beat Cal State Fullerton last night 6-5, thanks in part to two home runs from outfielder Jay Cox. With the win Carolina advances to take on the winner of tonight’s matchup between Rice & Oregon State.

Tarheels Land Football Recruit
Switching gears to the football scene, the Carolina Tarheels have possibly added a major piece to their defense after landing another recruit. High school junior William Brimfield announced over the weekend that he’s committing to join the Heels. The 6’5 ft. 285 lb. Brimfield is both an offensive and defensive tackle at Hunter Kinard Tyler High in Neeses South Carolina. Last season he claimed several awards, being named to the All-Conference, All-Region and All State teams. Brimfield turned down an offer from South Carolina State to join the Heels, who expect to play him full time at defensive tackle.

Former Duke Player Going To Italy
One member of the Duke basketball team plans to take his game overseas this year. Duke graduate Lee Melchionni has received an offer from Italian team Benetton Treviso to join them and play in the European league. The 6’6 ft. Melchionni will have a chance to hone his shooting skills while with Benetton, as that’s what the team is known for. 7’ ft. forward Andrea Bargnani developed into a Dirk Nowitzki type player while with the team and is predicted to go as one of the first ten picks in the NBA draft.

Panthers Look To Replace Softli
Two days after they lost their director of college scouting to the Rams, the Carolina Panthers are hunting for a replacement. 46-yr-old Tony Softli, who had been with the Panthers since their inception back in 1995, left to become the new vice president of player personnel up in St. Louis. To replace him, the Panthers are eyeing a short list, which currently includes their own national scout Jeff Morrow and also former Atlanta vice president of player personnel Ron Hill. Hill was behind the decision to draft Mike Vick and also drafted current Panther linebacker Chris Draft.

NASCAR Owner In Trouble
The future of one Nextel Cup team could be up in the air. 54-yr-old Gene Haas, owner of Hass CNC Racing, is facing federal charges for defrauding the government out of $20 million in tax money. Haas was arrested and charged Monday with filing false tax returns, witness intimidation and investigation of conspiracy. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Haas wrote off $50 million in fake business expenses, saving his company a reported $20 million in taxes. It’s unclear what effect this will have on the CNC Racing team, which runs Jeff Green’s No. 66 Chevy and the No. 00 Chevy driven in the Busch Series by Johnny Saulter.

News & Sports For June 21st

Plane Crashes & Pilot Dies In Moravian Falls
One man is dead today after a plane crash Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened on the Cane Ridge Road in Moravian Falls, near a chicken farm in the area. At about 4pm, the single engine plane dipped down and crashed on the property, instantly killing the pilot. Officials were called out minutes later after a truck driver passing by called 911. No one else was injured in the crash and officials are still trying to determine what caused the accident. According to the FAA, the plane left Kissimmee, FLA and was headed to the Wilkes County airport. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected at the site today to continue the investigation.

County Commissioners Approve The Budget
County commissioners approved the 2006-2007 budget during their meeting last night. By a unanimous vote, the amount of $68,344,540 passed and will take effect on July 1st. Under the plan, a 5% supplement was granted for employees of the public schools in addition to a 1.5% supplement handed out to community college workers.

New Members Appointed To Planning Board
Two new candidates to serve on the Wilkes Planning Board were selected last night. The terms of Paul Billings and Randall Woodruff were set to expire at the end of this month and both told the Planning Board they were not interested in being re-appointed. To serve in their place, the Board released a list of names for county commissioners to consider. One of those recommended, Carl Miller, was accepted by commissioners and approved as a nominee. Miller had served on the board previously, as his last term ended two years ago. Commissioners then went in a different direction, declining the board’s second recommendation of James Adams. Instead Johnny Alexander was chosen as the second nominee. If both Miller and Alexander accept, they’ll join the Wilkes Planning Board at the end of this month.

Drug Operation Disrupted By Deputies
Acting on a tip, deputies were called out to a home on Jones-Dancy Street Monday night. What they found inside was a drug manufacturing operation. Several large bong pipes were uncovered, along with a set of scales, a plastic tub and other paraphernalia used to manufacture drugs. Several boys in the house also had marijuana and the prescription painkiller Oxycotin in their possession. 18-yr-old Kevin Everett Puckett was arrested and charged with manufacturing drugs, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

ID Thieves Target Local Man
A State Road man fell prey to thieves this week, except their target was his Social Security numbers. The man had signed up to volunteer with a local group and as a precaution, they performed a background check. What the check uncovered was that someone had been using his social security ID to go on a spending spree. There is a suspect and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Lawn Mower Stolen From Ronda Residence
Thieves drove off with a Ronda woman’s lawn mower earlier this week. She had just returned from a trip out of town on Monday to discover that over a thousand dollars had been taken from the residence. Both a trailer that she had kept on the property and her lawn mower were missing. It appears that the thieves simply unhooked the trailer and took off down the road. Deputies do have a suspect and the investigation is ongoing.

Millers Creek Home Falls Victim To Thieves
Deputies were called out to a Millers Creek home on Monday, after thieves paid a visit. Taken from the residence on Bumgarner Lane was a Rolex watch, a necklace and several rings with an estimated value of $1600 all total. Despite the theft there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. However deputies do have a suspect and that investigation continues.

Thieves Break In To Borrow Tools
A Traphill woman got a surprise when she arrived home on Monday. Over one thousand dollars worth of tools had disappeared from a storage shed on her property, despite the building being locked up and no sign of a break-in. Taken in the theft were several saws, eight hammers, two drills and a few other items. There is however a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Recall Ordered Of Medicine Patch
If you put anything near the mouth of a child, chances are he or she will eat it. Now that bit of information has caused a recall of a certain children’s brand of medicine. The drug company Novartis has issued a recall of its’ Triaminic Vapor Patches, after several children tried to eat them. The patches are supposed to be placed on either the child’s chest or throat, however some have been peeled off by the kids and chewed on. That’s led to headaches and in one case a seizure, as the patches contain eucalyptus oil and camphor. Company officials are asking parents to toss the products in the trash as they work to come up with an alternative form of medicine.

Wilkesboro Woman Falls Victim To Hit & Run
A hit & run driver was responsible for an accident on Hwy 421 Monday night. Just before 5pm on Monday, a Wilkesboro woman was traveling down 421 when a nearby vehicle suddenly swerved over and hit her car. The force of the impact caused the woman’s vehicle to cross over 421 and slam into the guardrail, before bouncing back to rest in the median. There were no injuries but the woman’s car was totaled with estimated damage placed at $5000. That second vehicle drove off from the scene and police are investigating.

State News

Change In Law Will Cost NC Millions
A change in state law will cost North Carolina taxpayers over $5 million dollars. Last year, the General Assembly approved a change that will grant in state status to certain students from other states and countries. As in state students, part of their scholarship cost will come from state tax dollars and it’s not going to be cheap. In a report released this week, the UNC College System estimates that it will cost the state an additional $5.2 million to help pay for these students, most of whom are in athletic programs. Out of the 456 out of state students receiving the benefit, over 2/3 of them will be playing a sport for their chosen university. By 2010, experts say the cost to taxpayers could grow to $20 million a year, as more out of state students take advantage of the law.

Convicted Murderer Gets A Third Trial
The third time could be the charm for a Wake County woman. Back in 2000, Karen Elaine Everett was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison after shooting her husband in their Fuquay-Varina home. In 2004, the convicted was overturned, due to what lawyers called improper instructions to the jury. She was granted a second trial and again found guilty later that same year. Now the NC Court of Appeals on Tuesday has granted Everett a third trial, saying that prosecutors should have allowed testimony to be heard about the husband’s violent tendencies. Everett claims that she killed her husband in self defense after he repeatedly attacked her.

Search Continues For Lincoln County Man
The search is continuing today in Lincoln County, as officials try to determine what happened to a 70-yr-old man who vanished on Monday. The man disappeared from his home just off NC Hwy 73 shortly after 1pm on Monday afternoon and no one has seen or heard from him since. Sheriff’s deputies, police and family members covered the man’s farm and also most of the nearby property searching on into the night without success. Charlotte Mecklenburg police even volunteered the use of their helicopter, which went over the site for over four hours. Officials said the entire situation was strange because the missing man had no history of medical or other problems and there was no sign of foul play.

Jobs Coming To Hickory
Good news for people living in the Hickory area, as more jobs are on the way. Baker Furniture announced plans this week to build a distribution center and move its’ operating headquarters to the area. 70 jobs will be coming to the area over the next three years, with $12 million being invested in the site. The move comes thanks in part to a $76,000 grant from North Carolina.

Graveyard Vandals Being Hunted
A group of vandals in Chatham County has caused over $20,000 in damage in the past few days as they targeted area churches. 78 headstones were broken at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, some dating back to the early 1800s. Meanwhile just down the road 149 gravestones were damaged at Lystra Baptist Church. There are no suspects in either case and deputies are asking for the public’s help in tracking down the vandals.

Sports Headlines

Patriots Lose To Kannapolis
Over on the local scene last night, it was a rough outing for the Post 31 Patriots as they lost to Kannapolis 20-6. Pitching was again a problem for the Patriots, as they coughed up 9 runs in the first two innings and had to rally from behind several times just to keep the game going. With the loss Post 31 heads into their final set of games still hunting for that elusive first win.

Wilkes Central In Top 10
Taking a look at the high school scene, the final standings have been released for this year’s Wachovia Cup. The competition is held each year between programs in Divisions 1,2, 3 & 4A to award the best athletics program in each level. Rank is determined based on how many sports a school fields a team in and also how many of those teams finished in the top eight in their respective state tournaments. One Wilkes County team made the Top Ten, as Wilkes Central came in 6th out of all Class 2-A. Central was one of just two Mountain Valley Conference teams to make the Top Ten, as Forbush came in 9th. Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons won the 2-A Wachovia Award. In the 1-A rankings, only one local team came close and that was Elkin, which finished 11th.

UNC Asheville Freshman To Transfer
In college basketball, some bad news for UNC Asheville as one of their leading scorers is taking off. Michael Ellis announced this week that he’s transferring to Mercer, after a season that saw him average 9 points a game and receive the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year award. As per NCAA rules, Ellis has to sit out next season and will join Mercer’s team in time for the 2007-2008 year. No reason was given for the decision.

Former Tarheel Possibly Out For The Season
Switching gears to the NBA, the news isn’t good for a former UNC Tarheel. Rashad McCants had to undergo surgery on his right knee over the weekend, a move which could possibly see him miss most if not all of next year’s NBA season. McCants had microfracture surgery performed on his right knee Friday afternoon after experiencing soreness in it for the past month. Officials with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected McCants last year with the 14th pick, didn’t specify how the injury occurred but said that at the earliest doctors don’t expect him back on the court for another four months. As a rookie last season, the 6’4 ft. McCants averaged 7 points a game but started to ignite in the final month of the season, scoring 28 points in a win over Atlanta.

Panthers Loosing Their Scouting Director
In the NFL, some bad news behind the scenes for the Carolina Panthers, as they’ve lost a member of the front office. Director of college scouting Tony Softli is expected to join the St. Louis Rams later this week. Softli has been a member of the Panthers since their first season, working first as a regional scout before moving up to help oversee the team’s college draft. He’s leaving to join old friend Scott Linehan, who was hired back in January as the Ram’s new head coach. Linehan and Softli have a history dating back to 1994, when they both served on the coaching staff for the University of Washington.

NASCAR To Go Unleaded
On the NASCAR scene, drivers could soon have their choice of regular or unleaded to fill up. NASCAR officials announced on Monday that they’ll be testing unleaded fuel over the rest of this year, with hopes of going to it full time by 2007. The decision was made as officials look to steer away from gas that contains lead based additives. July 29th will be the first date unleaded fuel is used on the Busch Series, as all cars will fill up with it for a four week trial. Then based on the results of the trial, unleaded fuel could be used for the rest of the season on the Busch circuit. NASCAR also said they hope to introduce unleaded fuel to the Nextel Cup by the time Daytona rolls around next February.