News & Sports For April 18th

Early Voting Has Started
We’re less than two weeks away from this year’s primary election in Wilkes County and that means it’s time for One Stop Voting. For anyone whose work or school schedule will keep them away from the voting booth on May 2nd, the Wilkes Board of Elections has started the early voting process. From now until April 28th, you can go in to the Board of Elections office and cast your ballot. The Board’s operating hours are from 8:30am til 5pm Monday through Friday and then on April 29th, they’ll hold one final early voting day in the basement of the county office building from 8:30am til 1pm. Ballots that day will be cast for the primary only, not the school board race. The Board is located at 110 North Street in Wilkesboro and for more information you can give them a call at 651-7339.

Wachovia Numbers Good For Stock Holders
The first quarter earnings for Wachovia were announced on Monday, meaning good news for Wilkes County shareholders. The business reported $1.73 billion in earnings for the first quarter of 2006, up from $1.62 bilion at this same time last year. The company made $1.12 a share, up 11 cents from 2005. Wachovia is facing some concerns for stockholders, as short term interest rates are on the rise, meaning that the difference between what banks pay and what they charge on long term rates is shrinking.

Changes To Come For School Report Cards
If things go as planned, some changes will be coming in the way Wilkes County parents learn their childrens’ grades. Late last week, officials from the Department of Public Instruction announced that by 2008, parents could be getting their child’s grades in an email, instead of waiting for a report card to be brought home. As of now, one third of North Carolina schools take part in a state run data network, where the student’s grades, attendence, class schedule and other items are put in. Once all schools join the network, which is expected to happen by 2008, the individual county systems will be able to let parents log in. Under the current proposal, parents would be given an individual password which would allow them to check up on their child’s grades at any time, to learn how they scored on a test or how it affected their GPA. The plan won’t eliminate report cards, just give parents more information about their child’s progress in the classroom.

3WC Eye On Politics Part VI: County Commissioners
Here on the 3WC News, we’re taking a look at the political races in Wilkes County. That series continues today as we air parts of a conversation with Matt Ledford, Democratic candidate for county commissioner.
6am-Mr. Ledford discusses his qualifications
7am-talks about what changes he would like to make
8am-discusses his attitude about the role of county government in business
noon- Mr. Ledford talks about the county’s tax situation
5pm-discusses his goals if elected

Applebees Supporting The Children’s Home
If you’re out today hunting a place to eat, you might be able to help the Children’s Home at the same time. Applebee’s has announced that throughout the day today, if someone brings in a flyer for their “Dining To Donate” program, 15% of the meal price will be given to the Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home. You can pick up those flyers here at the radio station and that’s good for today only, at the Wilkesboro location.

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.

Recall Ordered Of Toyota Cars
Bad news today for some Toyota owners, as a recall has been ordered. Over 50,000 Lexus vehicles have been called back due to a malfunction. The problem is a faulty part in the seat belt assembly, which can cause the belt to jam after extended use. The cars affected are some Lexus GS and IS sedans. Owners of the affected cars will be contacted in the mail over the next few weeks and given instructions on where to take the vehicle, which will be repaired for free.

State Headlines

Hatred Spreads Through Durham On Easter
While most North Carolina citizens were spending time with family and friends on Easter, officials in Durham were cleaning up. Over 500 pamphlets were released across the city Sunday, all containing hate speech towards Jews, Hispanics and other minorities. Despite the propaganda, there were threats left with the literature, which was left in front yards, on light poles and in other areas across the city. Police spent a good portion of the day picking up the flyers, to use as evidence in an ongoing investigation.

North Carolina In The Running For Auto Plant
Possibly some good news on the horizon for workers in the Greensboro area, as an assembly plant could be moving in. Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that North Carolina is one of the finalists to land a proposed Toyota assembly plant. Supposedly on tap is a site near Greensboro, however officials from the NC Department of Commerce have refused to discuss the report as a matter of policy.

Two Arrested After Mooresville Shooting
Two people are in a Mooresville jail today, after a weekend shooting spree that wounded three. Mooresville police were called out Easter morning to a southern section of the city, responding to a report of shots being fired. They found a 16-yr-old boy and two men in their mid-20s, all wounded from gunfire. The three were airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center and remain in stable condition. Now officials have arrested 24-yr-old Kevin Ryan Conlon and 29-yr-old Desimon Barkeith Powell, charging them with the shootings. However it’s still unknown what started the violence and police are asking anyone with information to call them at 1-704-664-3311.

Sports Headlines

Baseball Later Tonight
High school baseball will be back on the radio tonight as we’ll be out in Viking County. North Wilkes will be taking on Wilkes Central in our 3WC Game Of The Week. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be out at the field for the first pitch around 7pm and we’ll go on the air with the pregame show at 6:45pm.

ACC Schools Land Football Commitments
Taking a look at college football, it was a good week for the NC State Wolfpack. Tight end George Bryan, who has played his high school ball in Wilmington and safety Chris Culliver from Garner committed to the Wolfpack this week. Bryan comes in at 6’6 ft. and weighs 250 lbs, was also recruited by Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina program and also the UNC Tarheels. Culliver meanwhile comes in at 6’1 ft and 190 lbs. The NC State coaching staff is expecting him to play strong safety and possibly fight for the starting position.

UNC Losing AD
The UNC Tarheels are missing some personnel today, after their associate athlete director announced he was resigning. Norwood Teague, who has been the Tarheels’ associate AD since 2001, will leave on July 1st to become the athletic director at Virginia Commonweath. Teague was responsible for setting up the Heels’ radio and tv arrangement with Learfield Sports along with their sponsorship by Wachovia.

NBA: Bobcats vs. Knicks
In the NBA last night, it was the Charlotte Bobcats beating the New York Knicks 98-91. Charlotte was led by rookie guard Alan Anderson, who had a career high 18 points. Also Raymond Felton added 16 points and 14 assists in the win. With the victory Charlotte improves to a franchise best 25-56 as they get set to end the season tomorrow against Philadelphia.

“First Lady Of Racing” Passes On
Members of the racing community are in mourning today, as the “first lady of racing” has died. Louise Smith, the first woman to ever race in Nascar passed away over the weekend. Smith raced the NASCAR circuit in the 40s and early 50s, winning 38 events on her way to a spot in the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Bill France gave Smith her first opportunity, in a race at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Without any training or ever having raced before, she finished third. Louise Smith was 89.

News & Sports For April 14th

Man Injured In 4-Wheeler Wreck
One man was seriously injured in a 4-wheeler wreck on Thursday. The incident happened on the Billings Hill Church Road, as a local man was out riding late at night. He lost control of the vehicle, running off the road and soon overturning. Highway Patrol officers and Aircare were called out and the man was airlifted to a local hospital.

Local Man Assaulted & Robbed
A North Wilkesboro man was caught by surprise when going out for some supplies Thursday morning. He was at the Grocery Bag Store when another man came walking up and punched him in the face. As the victim was lying dazed on the ground, his assailant went through his pockets and took $25 before jumping into a car and taking off. The victim was able to give sheriff’s deputies a description of his assailant, as well as the car he drove off in. That investigation continues.

3WC Eye On Politics Part V: County Commissioners
Here on the 3WC News, we’re continuing our series on the political races in Wilkes County. Beginning with today’s newscasts, we turn the focus toward the candidates in the Democratic primary for county commissioner, starting with incumbent Luther Parks.
7am-Mr. Parks shares some things he’s proud of from this past term.
8am-Commissioner Parks discusses the current tax situation in the county
12 noon-Commissioner Parks will be discussing his take on how local government should interact with businesses
5pm-we’ll continue the conversation with Mr. Parks as his discusses his goals if elected for another term

Gun Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro home earlier this week after thieves broke in. The incident happened on Statesville Road, as the homeowner returned to find the front door standing wide open. Nothing was damaged inside however a .303 British rifle was missing from the man’s bedroom. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
With the Easter holiday upon us, some people will be on the highways today traveling to visit relatives. Unfortunately that also raises the risk of an accident on the road. To plan ahead, the Wilkes Red Cross is holding a blood drive today over at the Speedway Ruitan Club. Everyone who comes out to donate blood will receive a free umbrella, commemorating 125 years of the Red Cross. That will run from 2-6:30pm and to schedule an appointment, the number is 838-4563.

Broke In To Have A Look Around
Someone broke into a camper on the Vannoy Road earlier this week, but apparently just wanted to look inside. Nothing was missing from the camper and no damage was done, except for the aluminum door which had been pried open. An estimated $300 worth of damage was done to the door and that investigation is ongoing.

Know What The Roads Are Like Before Leaving
As people pack up today to visit family and friends, it’s important to know what road conditions are like across the county. For people in Wilkes that can be accessed now on the internet by visiting the state DOT webpage at www.ncdot.org/traffictravel. Once there you can click on the real time travel information option and it will let you know what roads are like and how long a delay you can expect on your drive into work. In addition, the DOT wants to remind people of the “Move Over Law” now in effect across North Carolina. Under the new law, drivers are required to switch lanes or slow down when passing EMS, police or any other emergency personnel stopped on the side of the road.

Warning Continues For Bronchitis Medicine
If you’re fighting bronchitis, there are some things you need to know before reaching for that bottle of medicine. Federal regulators are continuing their investigation into the drug telithromycin, commonly known as Ketek. It’s a prescription drug that is used to fight bronchitis, sinusitis and pneumonia. A recent series of deaths and heath problems could be linked to the drug, officials say. One patient at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte died earlier this year after taking the drug, while another developed hepatitis. There is no evidence proving that Ketek was responsible for the problems, however the FDA is asking anyone who is taking Ketek to immediately call their doctor if any signs of liver problems start to occur.

The Taxman Returns Part I: Stress Reducers
Well we are t-minus three days and counting til the dreaded tax deadline of April 17th. But if you haven’t filed yet, don’t feel bad. An estimated 35% of Americans wait to file til the last minute, due to job and family responsibilities. If you’re one of those last minute filers, the IRS has some suggestions. First, start today and organize your tax records. With four days left, you might be surprised how quickly the filing process goes once you start. If you need to, pull out last year’s tax returns to use as a guide in preparing your documents. Also if you have questions, the IRS will probably have answers. They have a free question and answer section set up online at www.IRS.gov. The IRS also suggests that you file electronically, as it will get your return sent out quicker and that refund check brought back a lot faster. So far, over 1.6 million Americans have filed online this tax season, some using a variety of free programs. Here in North Carolina, you can file for free through the State Department of Revenue’s website at www.dor.state.nc.us. That program applies if you’re making $50,000 a year or less. Coming up on Monday’s newscast, we’ve reached the end of the road and it’s time to get that return in the mail. But what if you can’t afford to pay the government what you owe? We’ll offer some suggestions to consider.

Spring Share-A-Thon
The Spring share-a-thon for Ebenezer Children’s Home on 3WC will be held on April 28th & 29th. Volunteers are needed, as always, to make the event a success. Help is needed to answer the phones at the radio station, to work at the hot dog stand, and stand at various intersections in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro and collect money. To get involved you can call the Home at 336-667-LOVE.

State News

Explosion Hits UNC Charlotte
An explosion rocked the UNC Charlotte campus Thursday morning, leaving students and teachers in the dark. Just after 7am, work crews were attempting to repair an electrical line underground when suddenly the ground exploded and fire started pouring out of the hole. It’s unclear what ignited the explosion, which knocked out the power across campus and caused classes to be cancelled for the rest of the day. Out of the four workers, one has been released from the hospital, two others are in serious condition and the last has been taken to the North Carolina Burn Center in Chapel Hill in critical condition. No one else was injured in the blast, which witnesses said could be heard almost a mile away. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has investigators on the scene, checking into what caused the damage.

Pinehurst Man Stages Kidnapping
A Pinehurst man is in jail today, charged with staging his own kidnapping. Earlier this month, Jarid Hardee was arrested for stalking his ex girlfriend. He was placed on house arrest but then vanished. Soon after, his mother started receiving text message threats about what would happen to her son. Detectives investigated and found Hardee unharmed, living under the ex girlfriend’s house. He had set up shop in the crawlspace under the woman’s home, complete with canned food, a scanner, a machete, duct tape and a ski mask. Officials believe that Hardee was listening to the detectives, sending out the text messages to throw them off course.

Thousands Stranded Due To Bridge Problem
A defect in one North Carolina bridge stranded thousands of travelers on Thursday. While doing some routine work on Wednesday, engineers discovered a structural problem on the Little River Bridge in Johnston County. By Thursday morning, work crews were on their way out to the site, but the bridge, which is part of a major Amtrak rail line, had to be shut down. In doing so, Amtrak cancelled all of its’ New York to Florida and Virginia to Florida trains, as they would all have to cross the bridge. Over 2500 people have already been stranded by the repairs, as they’ve had to take buses or altogether cancel their Easter plans. Workers estimate that the bridge should be back up and running by this afternoon.

Job Cuts Coming For Mental Health Facility
A plan to save the state money will end up costing some Guilford County workers their jobs. $1.6 million in funding was taken away from the Guilford County Mental Health Center when the state outsourced work to a Virginia company. That company will now handle all Medicaid cases at a cheaper price, saving the state but leaving patients and workers out in the cold. Under the new guidelines, the Guilford Center can no longer handle Medicaid recipients, meaning they’ll have to go to another agency for help. In addition, 135 workers see their jobs terminated between now and December.

New History Museum Opens Its’ Doors
If you’re heading out to the coast this summer, there’s a new attraction to check out. On Thursday, the long delayed Museum of the Albemarle opened its’ doors for the first time. The 50,000 sq. foot area is dedicated to the history of the northeastern part of the state, displaying items such as handmade silver, a restored farmer’s house from the 1700s and an old shad boat from 1904. The project has been over 8 years in the making, delayed first by Hurricane Floyd and then by poor economic conditions.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene last night, it was the Elkin Bucking Elks beating East Wilkes in varsity baseball 15-7. In the jv matchup Elkin also took the victory, winning 11-4 and in softball it was East Wilkes beating the Lady Elks 8-0.

Redick Receives Top Award
While the Blue Devils season didn’t end as planned, Duke’s J.J. Redick continues to clean up the awards. On Wednesday Redick was given the Sullivan Award, handed out by the AAU organization to the nation’s top amateur athlete each year. In winning the trophy, Redick became the first men’s basketball player to do so since Bill Walton back in 1973.

UNC Charlotte Lands Recruit
In other college basketball news, UNC Charlotte officially landed another recruit for next season. High school senior David Booker, a 6’7 ft. forward from Mississippi, signed on with the team. As a senior for Moss Point High School, Booker averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds a night, scoring 50 points in the school’s first round game of the state tournament.

Bobcats Look To Reward Felton
In a season shot by injuries, the Charlotte Bobcats took a step toward securing their future by announcing this week they plan to pick up the third year option for rookie guard Raymond Felton. Felton has won back to back Rookie Of The Month awards in February and March and is giving Chris Paul some competition for Rookie Of The Year. The former UNC Tarheel says that the move makes him feel good, because he feels it was earned on the court.

Panthers Cornerback To Possibly Leave
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers could be minus one familiar face come training camp. Cornerback Ricky Manning is meeting with the Chicago Bears this weekend and is considering a deal with the team. As Manning is a restricted free agent, the Panthers have the right to match any offer but must do so within seven days. If the Panthers decline the offer, Chicago will owe them a third round draft pick.

Debuts Coming In Racing
Taking a look at the Busch racing circuit, this will be a debut weekend of sorts as drivers head to Nashville. Erin Crocker will be making her first start in the Busch series this weekend along with another rookie driver with a familiar last name. Steve Wallace, son of Rusty Wallace, will climb behind the wheel for his first Busch race as well.

News & Sports For April 12th

Two People Injured In Overnight Wreck
Two people are in the hospital today after a wreck on the Brushy Mountain Road. The incident happened just before 9pm last night, as a Boomer man lost control of the vehicle he was driving.The driver, 24 yr old Jason Allen St. Clair drove off the road in his 4-Runner and slammed into a tree as the vehicle overturned. Both St. Clair and his passenger, 23-yr-old Elizabeth Miller were injured badly in the wreck, to the point they had to be airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Highway Patrol officers said that alcohol was involved in the crash.

Questions Remain In Community Center Fire
It’s being labeled one of the worst fires in Wilkes County history, so bad that it took ten fire departments to put out. Early Tuesday morning, the Clingman Community Center went up in flames, also damaging portions of the medical center which is housed in the same building. Crews were called out at 12:44am and spent several hours battling the blaze, which completely gutted the center itself. Fire Marshal Nikki Hamby said on Tuesday that the blaze started near the door of the building and while the official cause is undetermined, investigators are considering several possible sources. A suspicious container was found near the front of the door, which has been sent off to the SBI lab for analysis. In addition, the building’s electrical system could have played a part in the fire, as the outdoor light had been left on.

Forest Fire Labeled As Arson
A forest fire that torched 50 acres near the Wilkes-Alleghany county line is officially being labeled as arson. The fire ignited late Monday afternoon on the side of Highway 18 North and people were evacuated as several homes in the area were placed in danger. However no houses were damaged and fire crews, working with the forest service were able to get the blaze under control. Forestry officials now say that it appears someone intentionally ignited the blaze.

3WC Eye On Politics Part III: David Day
Over the next two weeks, 3WC News will be taking a look at candidates in the political races in Wilkes County. That series continues today with David Day, Republican candidate for county commissioner.
6am-Mr. Day explains why he's running
7am-Mr. Day discusses his views on the current tax situation
8am-Mr. Day talks about ways the current budget and tax rate could be cut
12 noon-Mr. Day gives suggestions as to what needs to change to help Wilkes County move forward
5pm-Mr. Day talks about his views and ideas for small business in the county

Thieves Run Off With Mail
A Jonesville woman woke up earlier this week to find her mailbox was missing. During the night, thieves had literally ripped it off the post and ran off, taking the checks she had marked to pay bills inside. Since then the woman has called her bank and cancelled all of the checks, however despite the theft, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the night. That investigation continues.

JobFair Coming Up Today
The job market here in Wilkes County has taken a hit in recent months, with over 200 people on unemployment since January. However coming up today there is a Job Fair going on at Wilkes Community College. The fair will stretch from 10am til 1pm at the John A. Walker Center and is put on by the Wilkes Joblink Center. People are asked to bring their resumes and dress to impress when attending, as there will be over 40 businesses represented.

Car Insurance Rates On The Way Down
Good news for car owners both here in Wilkes and across North Carolina as auto insurance rates are on the way down. North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Jim Long announced this week that the maximum rate companies can charge will be dropped starting November 15th by 2.9%. That’s in addition to a rate decrease of 2.5% set to take effect May 15th. Good news for anyone who’s been in a wreck or has a bad driving record, as your insurance bill could drop as much as $70 a year.

Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as it can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is helping to solve that by taking applications for their financial assistance program. The program is open to anyone who can demonstrate a need for help paying utility or rent bills. However before going out, please remember that you can only be seen with an appointment, during either Tuesday or Thursday from 1-5pm. Also there is a limited amount of money available to help, given out on a need based approach. The Salvation Army is located in the Wilkes United Way office building, at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information or to set up an appointment you can call 651-7800.

Customers Asked To Stop Using Contact Solution
This next bit of news is for everyone who has eye contacts. The Bausch and Lomb company is putting a temporary hold on all its’ ReNu contact lens solution, stopping shipments to stores across the United States. The reason is that since 2005, 109 people who used the solution have been been infected with a fungus. This fungus grows inside the cornea and without treatment can cause its’ victims to go blind. Warning signs for the fungus include constant red eyes or pain, increased sensitively to light, blurred vision, increased tearing or some type of discharge. It should be noted that those infected might not have all the symptoms however if you are experiencing any of this, it’s advised that you get checked out by your doctor immediately. The FDA is also advising people to be sure and wash your hands with soap before handling your lenses. In addition, be sure to follow all cleaning and storage guidelines as given out by your doctor.

Red Cross Looking For Fundraising Help
We’ve talked a lot here on the news about the need for blood in Wilkes County. But thanks to last year’s hurricanes and the cost of relocating survivors, the local Red Cross needs help of a different kind as well. The local chapter continues to sell cookbooks, to help raise the money it needs to cover costs of daily operations. The cost of a cookbook is $10 and it contains recipes from chapter members along with their family and friends. For more information or to purchase one, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

State News

Murder Trial Postponed
An accident by one judge in North Carolina Superior Court this week has set back the start of a murder trial. Judge Abraham Jones sent prospective jurors home on Monday, after he referred to the defendant as a habitual felon. The entire pool of jurors was released from duty, as the judge believed his statement tainted their objectivity. The defendant Kenneth Wayne Maready stands accused of second degree murder in the case. He’s accused of stealing a car back in 2005, slamming into a Durham woman’s car while evading law enforcement officials. That woman was killed in the accident.

Winston Woman Arrested For Severe Child Abuse
A Winston Salem woman is in jail today, facing charges of felony child abuse. Earlier this month, Winston police were called out by a local man, concerned because his children and their mother had disappeared. He also told police that he feared for the children’s safety. The two children and the mother were located in Greensboro, however both kids were sent to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for needed treatment. One of the children, a five year old boy, had severe burns on both his legs and buttocks that hadn’t been treated. The mother, Paige Montrell Rouse is in the Forsyth County Jail, waiting for her court date.

Mandatory Fire Tax Being Proposed In Gibsonville
Dealing with a house fire could be a little more expensive for residents of Gibsonville, as the town considers a fire tax. The mandatory tax has made its’ way onto the May ballot and could mean increases of over $100 on property taxes. The local fire chief has said he plans asking for a 10 cent tax with the proceeds going to buy new materials for the firemen, some of whose equipment is over 20 years old.

Sports Headlines

High School Sports Changing Playoff System
There’s going to be a change next year in the way champions are crowned in some high school sports. Beginning in the fall, the playoff system in boys & girl’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball will all expand to a 64 team field. That was the recommendation made by a 20-person committee put together by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which made its’ report public this week. The recommendation will be voted on and is expected to be approved when the full association board meets in May. Council members said that one major reason for the change was to eliminate byes from the playoff format. Instead teams will go through a situation similar to that in college basketball, where the conference champions automatically get in and everyone else is selected by the board. However in this case, teams will be selected based only on their record within their classification. For example, if a 2-A school plays a 3-A team, regardless of the outcome, that game won’t count when it comes time to determine the playoff seedings. The recommendation will be voted on and is expected to be approved when the full association board meets in May.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard last night, it was the Greensboro Grasshoppers beating the West Virginia Power 4-2. Greensboro starter Chris Volstad, the Florida Marlins first round pick in last year’s draft, went seven innings and only gave up three hits to record his first win of the season. And up the road in Winston Salem, it was the Warthogs beating Myrtle Beach 5-1. Winston starter Lucas Harrell got his first win, going 5 1/3 and only coughing up one run. Warthogs infielder Chris Kelly kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at five games.

Bobcats Lose Another Player
And in the NBA, just when you thought the Charlotte Bobcats were safe, the injury bug strikes again. Bernard Robinson has joined the growing list of injured Bobcats as he’s out for the season. Robinson broke a finger last week in New Jersey and has been unable to dribble the ball or shoot effectively since. However expect the 2nd year player back in a Charlotte uniform next season, as coach Bernie Bickerstaff says Robinson is his utility guy, able to play all five positions on the court. The Bobcats take on Memphis later tonight.

Hurricanes Lose To New Jersey
On the ice last night, it was the Carolina Hurricanes losing to New Jersey by a score of 4-3 in overtime. Carolina players and fans alike are counting down the days, as there are only three games left til the playoffs begin in three weeks.

NASCAR Standings
Around the track in NASCAR, it’s almost dead even with less than 20 points separating the top two drivers. Jimmie Johnson is in first, 15 points ahead of Matt Kenseth. Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin are tied for third place, 46 points behind Johnson. Tony Stewart rounds out the top five, 97 points back of the leader.

News & Sports For April 11th

Austin Man Arrested For Murder
A man from the Austin Little Mountain area has been arrested for a murder that happened over the weekend. On Friday two men got into an argument on the Austin Little Mountain Road. As the argument got heated, one of the men pulled out a small caliber weapon and shot the other several times in the body. 46-yr-old Richard Dale “Ricky” Johnson was found dead at the scene by sheriff’s deputies, who arrested his assailant just down the road. 22-yr-old Timothy Laurence Phelps has been charged with first degree murder.

Thieves Break Into C.C. Wright School
A 19-yr-old teenager is in custody today after breaking into C.C. Wright school. Sunday night sheriff’s deputies got a call about a break-in in progress over at the school and arrived to find the teen walking away from campus. Additional stolen items were found at the teen’s home and in the Ford pickup truck he had been driving. $30 in cash and change had been taken from the school’s safe, which the boy had cracked open. Also batteries, tools, markers, calculators and other items totaling over $4000 was taken. 19-yr-old Zachary Linville Huffman is facing charges of safecracking, breaking & entering, felony larceny and possession of burglary tools.

More Counterfeit Money Coming Into Wilkes
Counterfeit money continues to enter Wilkes County, this time at the Dollar General in Wilkesboro. Over the weekend, employees at the Wilkesboro store were going through the day’s receipts when they discovered some of the money handed out had been counterfeit. A fake $20 bill had been slipped in. The money was given over to Wilkesboro police and the investigation continues.

3WC Eye On Politics Part II: County Commissioners
Over the next two weeks, 3WC News will be taking a look at candidates in the political races in Wilkes County. That series continues today with Robert Crews, 21-yr-old Republican candidate for county commissioner. We'll be airing a different part of the conversation with Mr. Crews throughout the day.
6am-why he's running for office
7am-what qualifications set him apart
8am-what he sees as the responsibility of a county commissioner
12 noon-how he sees the current tax rate
5pm-how a tax decrease would affect local services
7pm-what he promises to focus on if elected

Highway Patrol Out & About
The Highway Patrol has started a new program as we head into the Easter Break. 174 teenagers were killed last year in highway collisions, a number the Highway Patrol wants to see drop through their Operation Drive To Live. Over the next two weeks, Highway Patrol officers will be speaking at high schools here in Wilkes and around the area as well as patrolling near campus.

Blood Drive Later Today
Every day 1500 pints of blood are needed throughout North Carolina. With that in mind, a blood drive is going on today at the East Wilkes Middle School, partially organized by the students. The drive will last from 2-7:30pm and if you want to come out and give the gift of life, the number is 838-4563 to make an appointment.

Break-In At Roaring River Home
Thieves hit a home in Roaring River earlier this week, but apparently just came by to have a look around. One of the windows at the home had been shattered and as the owner arrived, they found the radio on along with several of the lights inside. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

State News

Questions Being Raised About NC Executions
Executions scheduled for later this month in North Carolina may not go on as planned, as a federal judge has stepped in. Judge Malcolm Howard spoke in U.S. District Court over the weekend, questioning if the current way of administering executions is humane. State officials have until Wednesday to provide the judge with material proving the inmates will be unconscious when put to death and therefore feel no pain. Otherwise executions here in the state will be put on hold while a humane way of performing the task is found.

Four Month Old Murder Solved In Greensboro
Officials in Greensboro have solved a four month old murder. Back on December 2nd of 2005, an elderly couple was assaulted at their home with the man later dying at the hospital. Now two suspects have been arrested in connection with 79-yr-old James Shoffner’s murder. 17-yr-old William Alexander Brown and another 15 year old boy are facing charges of first degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. No motive has been given for either the robbery or the killing.

The Great North Carolina Cheese Robbery
Two employees of MBM Food Service in Statesville stand accused of stealing over $200,000 worth of meat and cheese. Local police say that the thefts occurred over a six month period that began last October and just recently ended, with the thieves taking 5948 cases of various items. 34-yr-old Wilbert Thomas Johnson and 36-yr-old Harvey Rayfield Archie Jr. would steal the food, then turn it over to 46-yr-old Anthony Eugene Burton, a truck driver from Atlanta. Burton would sell the stolen food in Georgia as damaged goods and all three would share in the profits.

Greensboro DA Asks For Investigation Into PD
The Greensboro police department is under investigation again, this time by the state. Douglas Henderson, Guilford County’s District Attorney, requested that the state Attorney General’s office step in to take over parts of the investigation of the Greensboro PD, to avoid a conflict of interest. The State Attorney General’s office will be going over actions of the department, to determine if any laws were violated. If any violations are found, the case will be turned over to the SBI for a full criminal investigation.

Sports Headlines

Free Baseball Clinic Coming Up
Baseball players ages 5-10 years old will have an opportunity next month to work on their skills with the Wilkes Wildfire team. On May 20th, a free clinic will be held over at the VFW Field from 2-4pm. The focus of the clinic will be on helping the kids develop their hitting skills. However space will be limited to just 30 kids for the clinic, so if you want to sign your child up, you can call 667-3867 or 927-3348.

Wolfpack Going After Memphis Coach
NC State has set their sight on a new candidate for the head coaching job in men’s basketball, one that’s no stranger to the Final Four. Memphis coach John Calipari is in negotiations with the Wolfpack administration, discussing a possible deal although one has not yet been reached. State will face some strong competition with Calipari’s current school, as Memphis officials are working to present a new contract worth almost $1.5 million a year.

Redick Given Wooden Award
The top award in all of college basketball was handed out over the weekend, with Duke’s J.J. Redick taking home the Johon R. Wooden Award as Male Player Of The Year. The 6’4ft Redick won in the voting by just 72 points over Adam Morrison of Gonzaga. Redick’s teammate from Duke Shelton Williams came in third, more than 2000 points behind the top two finalists.

The Race Is On
We’re still several months away from the start of college football season, but the games have already begun for the UNC Tarheels. For the first time since he took over the team, coach John Bunting is holding a competition for the starting quarterback’s job between junior transfer Joe Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam Sexton. Dailey appears to have the early edge, going into the fall practice. During last Saturday’s spring game, Dailey tossed for 65 yards on 8-of-15 passing while Sexton only threw for 13 yards, going 2-of-3.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard last night, it was the Hickory Crawdads losing to the Lexington Legends 4-3. Hickory starter Derek Antelo gave up 3 runs in 5 innings of work and the Crawdad offense only generated 6 hits as Hickory drops to 1-4 on the year. Up the road in Greensboro, the Grasshoppers saw their unbeaten streak come to an end as they lost to the West Virginia Power 2-0. And finally it was Winston Salem beating Myrtle Beach 5-1 Monday night. Winston starter Adam Russell only gave up three hits in 5 innings as the Warthogs pick up only their second win of the year.

News & Sports For April 10th

News & Sports For Monday April 10^th 2006

Possible Changes Coming For Middle Schools

Middle school students in Wilkes will possibly have some extra help next year, thanks to Governor Easley’s new budget. Easley outlined some of the plans he has for education in a conference last week, this time targeting middle schools. The 2006-2007 plan would include money to hire literacy coaches for 100 middle schools in the state, as part of a test program. These coaches would work with classes and individual students, to help improve both their reading and writing skills. The test program will cost $5 million and if the results are positive, all middle schools could see literacy coaches hired by the 2007-2008 school year. Schools will be chosen for the test program based on their current test scores, with the lowest being selected first.

Man Arrested After Shooting In Hays

Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Hays Thursday night, after reports of shots fired came in. The incident happened on the Dehart Community Center Road. The victim wasn’t hurt thankfully and told deputies that his nephew had come over to the house drunk and started firing a shotgun in his direction. Deputies arrested Arthur Mack Brown, who yelled to the victim as he was being arrested that he was going to blow his brains out. The 34-yr-old Brown was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats. His shotgun was also taken until the court date.

3WC Eye On Politics Part I: County Commissioners

With the primaries on May 2^nd just a few weeks away, we’re going to be taking a look at all the candidates here on 3WC News, starting with the county commissioners. Each day we’ll be talking with a different candidate about his or her views regarding issues in Wilkes County and what they plan to do if elected. On today’s newscasts we’ll be talking with current county commissioner Zach Henderson.

6am-What accomplishments he’s proud of

7am-How he views the current tax situation in the county

8am-Ways the county commissioners are looking into helping local businesses

12noon-What his plans are for a second term, if re-elected

Air Conditioners Stolen From Local Homes

Two Wilkes County residents fell victim to air conditioner thieves last week. Apparently the thieves were preparing for summer, as they ran off with air conditioners from a North Wilkesboro home and one on Arbor Grove Church Road. In both cases, someone just walked up to the house and ripped the AC unit out of the window where it had been kept. Information on both cases was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today

With the countdown on to summer, it’s important to keep the local blood supply out of critical levels. A drive is going on today at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, running from 3-7pm. Please remember before giving however, you must at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To set up an appointment, the number to call is 838-4563.

Three Cars Totaled On Hwy 421

Early Friday morning, three cars were involved in an accident on Hwy 421. A North Wilkesboro woman was attempting to turn left onto 421 Business from Hwy 421 and thought her light was green. However the green light was actually on the other side of the road, as two vehicles had already started through the intersection. Those three vehicles collided, with the driver of that first car being taken to Wilkes Regional. An estimated $9500 worth of damage was done in the crash.

Recall Ordered Of Battery Charger

A recall has been ordered of several thousand battery chargers across the nation. Pelican Power is calling back an estimated 231,000 of its’ Brick Battery Charger. The problem comes due to a malfunction in the charger’s circuit board, which can lead to overheating and possibly a fire hazard after extended use. Customers are asked to call Electro Source LLC to receive a replacement at 1-800-263-1156 or through the website www.powerbrickrecall.net.

Car Abandoned In Moravian Falls

An abandoned car brought sheriff’s deputies out to Moravian Falls last week. Early Friday morning, deputies got a call about a vehicle parked in the middle of Cub Creek Church Road with no one inside. There was no sign of foul play, no damage done to the vehicle itself and it was towed away. As of this weekend, deputies hadn’t been able to get in touch with the vehicle’s owner.

State News

Hodge In Hospital After Shooting

A former NC State star is in the hospital today after a shooting this weekend. Julius Hodge, who was taken in the first round of the NBA Draft this year by the Denver Nuggets, was returning home from a nightclub when he was shot by an unknown assailant. Hodge had been at the club visiting a friend who was performing and then traveling home on I-76 in Denver, was shot three times in the leg. Officials say they don’t have any suspects and are clueless regarding any possible motive in the case. Hodge has been updated to good condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

One Man’s Junk Is Another Man’s Treasure

An Asheville woman got a surprise last week when she went to sell an old painting for $100. She took it to a local auction house, where the owner asked permission to check into the painting’s history before selling it. He found out the painting dated back to the Baroque period and was the work of Dutch artist Jan Havicksz Steen, done during the 1660s. Instead of $100, she ended up selling the painting this weekend for $397,000 at auction.

Children Injured During Rowan County Wreck

Several middle school kids were injured on Friday after their bus overturned. The incident happened in Rowan County, as the driver was attempting to avoid a wide load truck.. The driver swerved and got the bus back on the road, but lost control soon after and the vehicle flipped. About 20 students were on the bus when it flipped, with several reporting back pain. All of them were taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center and checked out, with officials calling the injuries minor.

Bomb Scare Causes Durham Evacuation

Durham police had to evacuate their headquarters on Friday after a bomb scare came in. A man came walking into the police station and told officers that he was concerned there was a bomb in his car, because he didn’t recognize one of the packages inside. The police station and portions of two local streets were shut down while the bomb squad investigated and later detonated the package. The package itself was determined not to be explosive and the man was taken to the local hospital to check his mental status.

Cabarrus County Candidate Claims Abuse

A candidate for sheriff in Cabarrus County is accusing his opponent of dirty tricks. Candidate John Brafford says that the current sheriff, Brad Riley, is using people in his department to attempt to scare him out of the race. Brafford claims to have been detained illegally for almost two hours recently by sheriff’s deputies. The deputies said in their incident report that they were keeping Brafford because he was both mentally and physically impaired, possibly due to medication. Sheriff Riley also swears that he had nothing to do with the incident.

Sports Headlines

Appalachian Invited To San Juan

Taking a look at college basketball, there’s a trip to the islands in the future of the Appalachian State team. The Mountaineers have been invited to take part in the San Juan Shootout , which will run December 17-22^nd. Appalachian joins a loaded field including Utah, Virginia, Central Florida, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbuilt and the native Puerto Rice-Mayaguez team. Games and times will be announced later on this summer.

Barnes Shoots Down State

NC State’s hunt for a basketball coach is continuing today, after their first choice shot them down. Texas Coach Rick Barnes officially declined the offer after speaking with State Athletic Director Lee Fowler earlier this week. The announcement leaves State without two of their top three choices, as Villanova Coach Jay Wright just signed an extension with the Wildcats.

Minor League Scoreboard

Around the minor leagues this weekend, it was Hickory beating Lake County on Sunday 9-4. Crawdads starter Todd Redmond went 5 innings, giving up one run and striking out 7. Hickory also got some help from shortstop Brent Lillibridge, who had two homeruns on the night. The win was Hickory’s first on the season, bringing them to 1-3. Meanwhile over in Greensboro it was the Grasshoppers on Sunday night shutting out Hagerstown 3-0. The win keeps Greensboro at a perfect 4-0 to start the season, with starter Sean West going 6 innings and only allowing two hits while striking out four.

NBA: Bobcats vs. Raptors

In the NBA last night, the Charlotte Bobcats beat Toronto 94-88. The Bobcats were led by Brevin Knight, who had 19 points, 10 assists and 3 rebounds in the winning effort. With the victory Charlotte improves to a franchise best 22-55, with their next game coming on Wednesday against Memphis.

NHL: Carolina vs. Atlanta

On the ice this weekend, Carolina took a step back as they lost 5-2 to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Hurricanes, having already locked up both a spot in the playoffs and first place in their division, are preparing for the postseason by letting their young guys have a chance to play. The loss drops Carolina to 51-21 on the year, with a game coming tomorrow night against New Jersey.

NASCAR Results

Wrecks and tempers ignited during Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500. Kasey Kahne took the checkered flag, with Matt Kenseth second, Tony Stewart third, Denny Hamlin in fourth and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five. Greg Biffle was in the hunt for the checkered flag, but got bumped by former teammate Kurt Busch and spun out, slamming into the wall and ending his day.

News & Sports For April 7th

Time’s Almost Up To Register
If you haven’t registered to vote yet, your time will soon be up. At 5pm today, voter registration will end for the Republican and Democratic primaries on May 2nd. If by this afternoon you aren’t registered, you won’t be able to cast a ballot in the primary elections or in the school board race. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm or if you’re out of town, you can mail it in with a postmark of today’s date.

Thieves Hit Local Business
Thieves were apparently getting ready for summer on Wednesday, as they hit a local business. Someone went up to Wilkes Heating & Air on Wednesday morning and took several air conditioners that had been sitting next to the building. The joke is on the thieves however, as the air conditioning units had been set aside for scrap metal since they didn’t work. Information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Wilkes Part Of Large Problem For NC Schools
Here in Wilkes and across North Carolina, the student population is increasing. With that increase comes a need for new schools or renovations to ones already standing, something that will cost the state an estimated $10 billion over the next five years. That figure comes from a survey released this week by the State Board of Education, detailing education projects in all 100 counties. North Carolina school enrollment is expected to hit 1.5 million students within the next eight years, straining already crowded classrooms. Right now over 7000 trailers are being used to house students across the state, as counties search for the money to build new facilities. Here in Wilkes, the local board has a $33 million renovation deal on the table for high schools, to help at least temporarily solve the problem. Still, state leaders from the Board of Education are calling for a change, not in personnel but in thinking. During their meeting this week members called on county leaders to help fund repairs and renovations, both of current schools and those being built so that North Carolina wouldn’t be in this situation again.

Fox To Have Wilkes County Office
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox wants people of the area to know that she’s available to help whenever possible. With that in mind, the congresswoman has an office here in Wilkes County that is in operation for certain portions of the week. On the first and third Friday of each month, Foxx has representatives available at the Wilkes County office building from 2 til 4pm. Her representatives will be over at the office building today from 2-4pm. If you’re not able to make it out during those hours, you can also send your comments or concerns to the congresswoman via her website, which is located at www.fox.house.gov.

Open Season On Turkey
Wilkees County hunters can get ready to lock and load, as Saturday is the official opening of turkey season. The season runs from April 8th to May 6th for bearded turkeys only, with a limit of one per day. One thing hunters suggest is that before you go out Saturday morning with gun in hand, be sure that you’ve scoped out the right spot. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, a lack of food or drought status could have the birds moving to a different location. So just because you saw them in one area back in the fall, it doesn’t mean they’ll still be there. For more tips, you can log on to www.nwtf.org. To report a kill, hunters can call 1-800-446-8663 or go online to www.ncwildlife.org. You can also check out different regulations and more information on the site.

Car Disappears From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he woke up Wednesday morning. His car was missing. Despite the theft, there was no damage left behind and no signs that the thieves had broken into the vehicle. There is however a suspect in the case and that investigation is ongoing.

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.

Thieves Hit Roaring River Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in Roaring River this week, about a theft that happened sometime in the last two weeks. The homeowner couldn’t be sure, but believes that between March 21st and April 3rd, someone broke in and stole over $300 worth of merchandise. Taken from inside were two bottles of perfume, a pair of diamond earrings and over 100 vicodin painkillers. Deputies have a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

State News

Bush Speaks To Charlotte Crowd
On Thursday, President Bush spoke to a crowd at Central Piedmont Community College, saying that he plans to stay the course in the war on terror. Bush said that he is still convinced invading Iraq was the right thing to do and that while putting troops in the country was a hard decision, he plans to stay as long as it takes. Bush said that the enemy believes Americans to be weak and we would only support the idea by pulling out early.

Coalition Asks For Wage Increase
North Carolina workers making minimum wage could soon be seeing more money in their paychecks, if a state coalition has their way. The group North Carolinians for Fair Wages requested that the General Assembly consider a bill to increase the minimum wage to $6 an hour, up from the current $5.15. An estimated 101,000 workers would be affected by the increase, one third of which are living below the poverty line, according to the NC Justice Center.

Fugitive Caught In NC
A joint effort by the FBI and Granville County authorities helped to catch a wanted fugitive on Thursday. Early Arnold Connelly was wanted on rape and incest charges back in Gwinnett County Georgia when he disappeared earlier this year. Members of the FBI’s Raleigh Safe Streets Task Force worked with officers from the Oxford Police Department to track Connelly down, once he was spotted in the area. He is currently being held in the Granville County Jail awaiting extradition.

Bull Goes After Deputy’s Car
A bull on the loose in Jacksonville caused some problems for one Onslow County deputy on Wednesday. Deputy Nicholas Wheeland had responded to a call for help, from a local man wanting to get the bull back in his pen. The animal had other ideas however and charged the patrol car, attempting to gore it with his horns. Thankfully the deputy managed to escape but the bull ended up causing over $1000 worth of damage to the vehicle before being herded back to his pen.

Jobs Leaving North Carolina
Bad news for some workers across North Carolina, as the Collins & Aikman Corporation announced plans on Thursday to shut down four plants here in the state. The company, which makes fabrics for automobiles, is one of the largest auto suppliers in the United States but officials said that they couldn’t compete in the current market. Three plants in Roxboro and one in Farmville North Carolina will be shut down by the end of September, meaning that over 1000 people will soon on the unemployment line.

Convicted Murderer Asks For DNA Test
A convicted murderer set for execution is asking Governor Easley to reopen his case. 40-yr-old Jerry Conner is set to be executed on May 12th for the 1990 murders of Minh Rogers and her daughter Linda. Conner is asking that the governor order a DNA test done of evidence found at the scene, which he believes will prove his innocence. Previous DNA testing on the evidence proved inconclusive but Conner and his attorneys now believe that will change with current improvements in technology. The claim of innocence caught some by surprise, considering that Conner’s own attorney admitted during the trial that his client had in fact killed the two women.

Sports Headlines

Tryouts Tomorrow For Wildfire
For any 11 year olds out there looking to play baseball, a tryout will be held tomorrow for the Wilkes Wildfire team. That will go on at the VFW Park from 2-4pm however there are some stipulations. Boys trying out for the team can’t turn 12 until after May 1st of 2007. In addition, there are only three spots available on the squad. If you’re interested you can call Manager Doug Staley at 667-3867 for more information. And also call the coach if it rains, to get information about a possible make up date.

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 announced this week 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.

Beasley To Stay A 49er
The news was better however for Charlotte 49er fans, as recruit Michael Beasley plans to stick around. There had been concern that the 6’10 high school senior would leave after his recruiter, assistant coach Dalonte Hill, left Charlotte to take the same position at Kansas State, however Beasley’s mother said on Wednesday that her son remains committed to UNC Charlotte. The 6’10 225 lb. Beasley is considered to be one of the top prospects of the 2007 class and has been wanting to play with the 49ers since he was 15.

Minor League Scoreboard
For minor league baseball teams in the area, Thursday was Opening Day and several local teams got involved in the action. Just up the road in Winston Salem, it was the Warthogs beating the Kinston Indians 4-3 at Ernie Shore Field. Catcher Donny Lucy helped lead the way for the Warthogs with a home run and three RBIs on the night. John Hurd got the win and Garry Bakker recorded the first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning. The two teams will square off again in Winston tonight with the first pitch set for 7pm. Meanwhile over in Greensboro, the Grasshoppers saw a record crowd of 9110 enter in and watch their 11-7 win over the Hagerstown Suns. One of the top prospects in A ball, Aaron Thompson, will take the mound tonight for Greensboro in game two of the series. The first pitch is set for 7pm tonight in Greensboro. Over in Hickory, the news wasn’t as good for the Crawdads, as they opened up with a 2-0 loss to the Lake County Captains. Fans got to see a pitching duel at L.P. Frans Stadium. Hickory starter Louis Valdez went seven innings and only gave up four hits before being pulled in the eighth inning. His replacement Jean Garavito got saddled with the loss after being rocked for two runs in two innings. The series continues tonight in Hickory at 7pm.

NBA: Bobcats vs. Nets
In the senior circuit of the NBA last night, it was the New Jersey Nets over the Charlotte Bobcats 113-102. The Bobcats were led by rookie guard Raymond Felton, who had 20 points and 7 assists in the loss. After last night, the Bobcats drop to 21-55, with a game coming up Sunday against Toronto.

Panthers To Hold Tour Across Carolinas
The Carolina Panthers will be going across the state in the next month, helping to educate kids about ways to save for college. Members of the team will be making their way to Winston Salem on April 25th at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The event will run from 3-6pm and will help people learn more about 529 Savings Plans. They will also be in Asheville and Raleigh on May 9th and 11th discussing the program.

News & Sports For April 5th

Search Warrant Leads To Drug Bust
Responding to a tip, sheriff’s deputies used a search warrant to enter a home on Culpepper Lane last Friday morning. What they found was a home being used as a base to sell drugs. When a man opened the door, deputies patted him down and discovered 35 rocks of cocaine in his pockets. In addition, four grams of marijuana, rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia was uncovered. Also $308 was confiscated from inside the home. 37-yr-old Steven Lavene March was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, drug possession with intent to sell & distribute and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Money Stolen From McGrady Home
A McGrady woman returned home on Sunday to find that thieves had paid her a visit. Taken from inside was over one thousand dollars in cash, that had been secured within the home. Despite the theft, there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. There is however a suspect and that investigation continues.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Wilkesboro Homes
Mailbox vandals hit a series of homes in the Wilkesboro area earlier this week. The incidents all happened on Industrial Drive, as people walked outside to find their mailboxes had been smashed. In addition, the vandals had damaged a car parked in a nearby lot. All total, an estimated $500 worth of damage was done, however no one could recall hearing or seeing anyone during the night. That investigation is ongoing.

Vandals Decorate North Wilkesboro Home
Who would sneak onto a piece of property just to do some decorating? That’s what a North Wilkesboro man is wondering today. He came home on Sunday to find that the cement ornaments in his yard had been moved around and some had been broken. An estimated $200 worth of damage was done as the would be decorators moved things around. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
Blood is needed somewhere in North Carolina every two seconds. With that in mind, it’s important to have a large supply on hand, to assist other counties if not our own. The Wilkes Red Cross is holding a drive today at Wilkes Community College from 9:30am til 3pm. Please remember you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs to donate. If you want to make an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.

Focus On Jobs
The job market here in Wilkes County has taken a hit in recent months, with over 200 people on unemployment since January. However coming up next week there will be a Job Fair at Wilkes Community College, to help put people in jobs that fit their abilities. The fair is put on by the Wilkes Joblink Center and coming up this Thursday, Beth Foster and Ricky Roten from the Joblink Center will be Brian’s guests this week for Focus on the Foothills. They'll be discussing not only the upcoming Job Fair but some other tools people can use to find a job here in Wilkes. That’s coming up tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Two Cars Totaled On Hwy 18
Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene of an accident Monday morning on Hwy 16/18. A Wilkesboro woman was slowing down for traffic with another car following close behind. Thanks to the rain, that second driver couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. Both vehicles were totaled and had to be hauled off, however thankfully no one was injured in the accident. An estimated $11500 worth of damage was done in the wreck.

Recall Ordered Of Cigarette Lighters
This next bit of news is for all those cigarette smokers out there. A recall has been issued of over half a million Speedway Cigarette Lighters, due to some malfunctions in the equipment. The Speedway SuperAmerica Corporation announced the recall this week, due to a defect which can cause lighters to suddenly catch fire after a undetermined amount of time. At least six serious injuries have been reported across the nation, dealing with burns to the head and hands when the lighter suddenly goes up in flames. All recalled lighters have the “Speedway” logo on the front and “Acculite” written on one of the sides. They were sold in convenience stores across North Carolina and throughout the U.S. for the last year. Anyone who has one is being asked to return it to the store for a full refund and for more information you can call the company at 1-800-643-1948.

Vandals Target Car In Moravian Falls
A Moravian Falls man got a surprise when he walked outside Sunday morning. Someone had tossed a rock through the window of his car. The vehicle had been parked close to the road and it looks like someone just heaved a rock from a passing car, shattering the rear window and causing $300 worth of damage. Despite all the noise such an act would cause, the homeowner couldn’t recall hearing or seeing anything unusual the night before. Information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

State News

Colin Powell To Speak At Elon
A former member of the Bush administration will be delivering the keynote address during Elon University’s spring convocation. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will be at the event, receiving an honorary doctor of law degree. Powell served as Secretary of State under President Bush from 2001-2005 before retiring. Before that, at age 52 he was the youngest officer to serve as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989-1993. The event is held each year at Elon to honor the Dean’s and President’s List students, as well as graduate students, current seniors and other members of the school body.

NC Lottery Right On Track
Within the first five days of operation, North Carolina’s new lottery has generated over $24 million but fell just short of the projected goal. Operators had hoped to make $25 million during the first week, but still called the project a very successful startup. Lottery commission members are planning to release at least one new game every two to three weeks, with the target being to have 30 games in play by 2007.

Might Help To Fill Up
Thieves broke into a middle school in Huntersville Monday night, but made one key mistake as they drove away. They forgot to fill up the gas tank. Late Monday night, Bradley Middle School was broken into, with audio & visual equipment being the only things taken. However they apparently didn’t notice the pickup truck used was on empty and ran out of gas a few miles down the road on Belhaven Drive. Residents called police after a man was seen going door to door in the area, asking for gas money. When officers arrived, they found the missing items inside the vehicle. Two suspects in the case took off before police arrived and are still at large.

Drought To Force Water Restrictions In Raleigh
While rain has fallen across the Foothills, parts of North Carolina are still under drought conditions. In Raleigh, local officials are considering some new rules that would affect life throughout the year. The city’s water conversation task force is recommending that year-round water restrictions be imposed in Raleigh. That would mean lawns could only be watered a maximum of three days a week and there would be changes in the city’s water rates. If you use more water, you’d pay more for it. An official decision isn’t expected for a few more weeks.

Rates Going Up For Gas In Some Counties
The cost of natural gas could be going up in some North Carolina counties. PSNC Energy has asked the State Utilities Commission to allow for a 3.6% rate increase in their natural gas services. The move, which affects people in 28 counties, would give PSNC an additional $28.4 million in yearly revenue. For most customers, that would mean an additional $3.75 each month on the power bill.

Sports Headlines

High School Baseball Scoreboard
Taking a look around the high school scene, somewhat of an upset last night as Wilkes Central knocked off Ashe County 7-4 in varsity baseball. With the victory, Central continues its’ two game winning streak, started last Friday against Starmount. The Eagles next opponent will be this Friday as they head up the road for an away game against North Surry.

Hunt Is On For New Wolfpack Coach
In college basketball, NC State’s search for a new coach has officially started. The frontrunner for the job, Texas coach Rick Barnes, has publicly declined the offer, saying that he’s happy in the Longhorn State. Other candidates for the job are Villanova’s Jay Wright, however he just now signed a new deal with the Wildcats. Also Iowa’s Steve Alford and Jim Larranaga from George Mason are being talked about as possible contenders. This will be State Athletic Director Lee Fowler’s first major hire, as he came on board with the Wolfpack back in 2000.

NCAA Women’s Scoreboard
On the women’s side of the court, a national champion was crowned last night as the Lady Terrapins of Maryland beat Duke 78-75 in overtime. Duke senior Monique Currie saw her college career end with a 22 point performance as the Lady Blue Devils end their season at 31-4.
NBA: Minnesota vs. Charlotte
It went down to the wire but the Charlotte Bobcats were able to knock off Minnesota 97-92 on Tuesday night. Brevin Knight had 24 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds to lead the Bobcats, who improve to 21-54 with the win.

Felton Named Rookie Of The Month
In other Bobcats news, rookie Raymond Felton received another award this week. For the second straight time, he was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, after averaging 17 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds a game during March. This marks the second time in two years that a Bobcats rookie has won the award in back to back months. Emeka Okafor did it last November and December.

News & Sports For April 4th

Duke Merger To Affect Wilkes Customers
Good news for all Duke Power customers in the area today as your bill will be declining later on this year. On Monday, Duke Power’s merger with Cinergy Corporation was finalized, in a $9 billion deal. However the North Carolina Utilities Commission added over 70 clauses and conditions before signing off on the merger, a move expected to help save customers millions of dollars. As one of the conditions, Duke Energy has to give its’ customers a $117.5 million cut in their electricity bills over the next year. Also during the next five years the company can’t raise rates as a way of passing on their costs to North Carolina customers. The deal is expected to save Duke Energy an estimated $655 million over the next five years alone.

Thieves Leave Empty Handed
Wilkesboro police were called out to Compu Credit over the weekend, in response to a possible theft. It appears that someone had broke into the building and was seen wandering on the second floor after everyone else had gone home. Upon hearing noises the would be thief took off running out the door and into the nearby woods. Nothing was missing or even disturbed inside the building and there was no sign of a break-in. Security camera footage was turned over to Wilkesboro police and that investigation continues.

Tools Stolen From North Wilkesboro Man
How do you break into someone’s house without leaving behind any evidence? That’s what a North Wilkesboro man is wondering today, after come back to find thieves had paid him a visit. Taken from his house was a plasma cutter and air compressor, both of which later showed up at a local pawn shop. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

Mailbox Vandals Target Local Home
A Millers Creek man got a surprise when he woke up on Saturday. Someone had been by the house during the night, smashing his mailbox and causing an estimated $50 worth of damage in the process. Despite the damage, the man couldn’t recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the night. That investigation is ongoing.

3WC Healthwatch: The Problem With Beef
Before you fire up the grill this spring, you might want to make some changes to the menu, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A study done by the American Association for Cancer Research found that a compound that can be formed when barbequing meat actually raises the risk of prostate cancer. The compound, called PhIP, is created when meat is cooked at very high temperatures, until it’s charred. Once ingested, that charred meat can act as an ignition switch, possibly leading to prostrate cancer. Now that doesn’t mean you have to toss out the grill, just be careful when cooking your meat. The Association recommends that you marinade meat before cooking, using about 4 fluid ounces of marinade for every 1 lb. of meat. That cuts down on the amount of carcinogens inside, possibly up to 90%. And while using the marinade, be sure and turn the food over from time to time, to make sure all areas are covered. Also another way to protect against cancer is to cut the fat off meat before cooking it and then also cutting off any charred or burned pieces before you start eating. It might mean a few extra minutes before supper is ready, but that could alsobe the difference between a clean bill of health and a trip to the hospital for cancer treatments.

Thieves Go Shopping On Damascus Church Road
Thieves broke into a home on the Damascus Church Road earlier this week, running off with over $800 worth of merchandise. Someone had shattered the home’s front window, then climbed in by standing on a trashcan. Once inside the thieves took a DVD player, several movies and some video games before leaving the same way they came. Information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Blood Drive Coming Up Later Today
With rain and wind in the forecast, there’s a growing potential for accidents and injuries across Wilkes County. That reality, combined with low turnouts at recent blood drives, has caused the Red Cross to increase the number of events they’re planning in April. The next drive is today at the local VFW Hall from 2-6:30pm. Please remember to eat well and drink plenty of fluids before going to give blood and to make an appointment, the number is 838-4563.

Pet Lovers Go Shopping On Oak Lane
Some pet lovers went shopping this week at a campsite on Oak Lane Road. Taken from the camp was a dog kennel, a step ladder, a bird bath, an outside water foundation and some scaffolding. Information about the items was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

State News

Helms In Poor Health
Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms has fallen on hard times. In an interview this weekend with the Raleigh News & Observer, Helms’ wife Dot said that her husband has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and has been put in a convalescent center. The 84-yr-old Helms can’t make speeches or handle business decisions due to the illness, which weakens the memory and cognitive functions of the brain.

More Join Call For Black’s Job
Politicians across North Carolina are calling for House Speaker Jim Black to resign, amid allegations of corruption. Now the voices are coming from within his own party. Democrat Alice Underhill, a representative from Craven County, made public a letter she had written, requesting that Black surrender his office due to the damage done to the party by recent investigations into his campaign’s way of handling finances. Fellow Democrats Lorene Coates and Pricy Harrison, representatives from Rowan and Guilford County echoed her sentiments. Black’s campaign stands accused of possible lobbying law violations involving a lobbyist who was also acting as his political director and illegal donations made from the video poker industry. So far Black has refused to resign, saying that he has done nothing wrong. The Wake County D.A.’s office is currently deciding if they have enough evidence to bring up criminal charges against Black but no decision on that has been reached.

NC Schools Rank Near Top In The Nation
Good news for students preparing to go to college, as North Carolina has two universities in the Top Ten. The Princeton Review has released their annual list of “America’s Best Value Colleges”, ranking NC State second in the nation. State got the nod due to scholarship and grant packages which have increased along with tuition, making it affordable for students to get an education. Also mentioned in the top ten was UNC-Asheville, which was ranked 6th. Campbell, East Carolina and Elon were also mentioned in the top 150. Each year the Princeton Review looks over data from 646 colleges, determining which is the best value for your dollar by examining costs, financial aid and academic opportunities.

Tourism Increasing Across NC
North Carolina’s tourism trade is booming, according to Gov. Mike Easley. His office estimates that $14.2 billion was spent last year alone in tourism dollars, an increase of 7.3% from 2004. In addition, the tourism industry here in the state now employs more than 185,000 people, generating over $460 million in tax revenue. The figures come from a study done by the Travel Industry Association of America, released on Monday during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Retiring Judges Causing Problems For State
North Carolina is facing a legal crisis today, thanks to several retiring judges. The state’s federal court now only has two judges working fulltime as the other two have taken semi-retirement, working on a part time basis. The federal court system calls for there to be four judges available to hear cases, however it’s unclear when any replacements will be named. Judges have to be nominated and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Concerns are being raised that the slow appointment process could cause delays in resolving criminal and civil cases before the court.

Sports Headlines

Baseball Tonight If Weather Holds
If the weather holds tonight, high school baseball will be on the radio as Ashe County visits Wilkes Central in a conference battle. We’ll go on the air at 6”45 with the McDonald’s pregame show, followed by the first pitch around 7pm. All this on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Sendek’s Loss Means Recruits Gone
With NC State now looking for a new coach, they could be looking for a new team as well. With Herb Sendek leaving to take the coaching job at Arizona State, the Wolfpack’s top recruit has announced that he’s reconsidered. 6’1 ft. high school point guard Chris Wright has announced that he’s withdrawing his commitment to State. In addition high school shooting guard Larry Davis is reconsidering where he wants to play. Both said that the loss of Coach Sendek played a part in their decision.

Bobcats Cut Rush
In the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats are one man short today after the team released shooting guard Kareem Rush. The 6’6 ft. Rush, who was obtained last year in a trade with the Lakers, had seen his playing time diminish over the last few weeks, due to what team officials called a lack of effort. Coach Bickerstaff said that Rush had a ton of talent, but the Bobcats are about hard work and maximum effort and with that being said, it was time to go in a different direction.

May To Be Out Til September
And more news from the Bobcats, as the team will be missing another member for the rest of the season. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff shot down any chance of a comeback for Sean May. The rookie forward is recovering from knee surgery and had wanted to play in at least one game this year. However Bickerstaff said that while May’s rehab is continuing and he’s practicing with the team, there was no reason for him to rush back before he’s ready and risk injuring the knee again.

NHL: Carolina vs. Washington
On the ice last night, it was the Carolina Hurricanes winning 6-5 over the Washington Capitals in a game that went to overtime. Having already locked up a playoff spot, the Hurricanes played several of their younger team members, but it was still enough to beat the Capitals. Carolina improves to 49-20, with seven games left in the regular season.

NASCAR Standings
With the Direct TV 500 in the books, the points race got shaken up. Jimmie Johnson climbs back into first place with Mark Martin 59 points back in second place. Matt Kenseth falls from first all the way to third place, 60 points behind Johnson. Meanwhile Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch round out the top five, both 101 points behind the leader.

News & Sports For April 3rd

Unemployment Climbs In Wilkes
Wilkes County’s unemployment rate continues to climb. At the end of February, the jobless rate stood at 5.7%, which translates to 1814 people finding themselves without work. That’s an increase of .6% from January, when unemployment was at 5.1% and continues a trend started at the end of December, as seasonal workers were let go. So far over the first three months of 2006, a total of 227 people have lost their job in Wilkes County. Also more bad news from the latest employment numbers, as the county’s labor force is shrinking. In January, the Wilkes labor force totaled 32150 people. By the beginning of March, that number had dropped to 32049, meaning that 101 people either retired or left the county.

All For A Bowl Of Soup
Thieves broke into a local man’s apartment last week, running off with two bowls of soup. The incident happened at an apartment complex on the Elledge Mill Road, as the renter came home to find the side door was open. Glass in the door had been shattered and thieves had walked right in. Taken from inside were two cans of soup, a ceramic piggy bank and $15 in change. Neighbors saw a woman hanging around the area and provided information to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Time Ticking Down To Register
Time’s almost up if you haven’t registered yet to vote in the primaries this year. At 5pm Friday, voter registration will be over. If by that afternoon you aren’t registered to vote, then you won’t be able to cast a ballot in the primary elections or in the school board race. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm or if you’re out of town, you can mail it in with a postmark of this Friday’s date.

Fox To Have Wilkes County Office
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox wants people of the area to know that she’s available to help whenever possible. With that in mind, the congresswoman has an office here in Wilkes County that is in operation for certain portions of the week. On the first and third Friday of each month, Foxx has representatives available at the Wilkes County office building from 2 til 4pm. That’s this Friday April 7th from 2-4pm. If you’re not able to make it out during those hours, you can also send your comments or concerns to the congresswoman via her website, which is located at www.fox.house.gov.

Blood Drive Coming Up Today
1500 pints of blood are used in hospitals and emergency rooms every day to treat accident victims, deal with disease and perform surgery. With accidents and other injuries constantly in the news, Wilkes County’s blood supply continues to hover around the critical level. In order to help solve the problem, the Red Cross has organized another blood drive today. The drive will be held at Millers Creek Baptist Church from 2-7pm. Before donating, just remember that you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lb. To set up an appointment you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563

Cheaper Way To File Taxes
We are t-minus 12 days and counting before this year’s tax deadline and a lot of people haven’t had time to file a return yet. But if you fit in that category don’t panic, because there is some help on the way. Filing your return doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, thanks to a new plan across North Carolina. The State Department of Revenue has set up an agreement with two companies to offer free state & federal tax returns through their website. The plan applies to anyone who makes $50,000 a year or less and can be accessed by going to www.dor.state.nc.us . That will let you link up with either TaxEngine or TaxSimple, the two companies providing the free service.

State News

Amendment Sold In Burlington
How much is history worth to you? For one person in Burlington, the answer was an astounding $1.8 million. That’s how much was paid out for an original copy of the 13th Amendment this weekend in Burlington. An auction house in the area had uncovered a copy of the document, of which only 13 copies were ever made and put it up to bid. A man from New York won the bidding and took home the document, which was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln, abolishing slavery over 150 years ago.

Bush Coming To Carolina
President Bush will be making a return to the Queen City this week. Bush will be making a stop in Charlotte on Thursday, to discuss progress in the war on terrorism. This will mark Bush’s 6th trip to North Carolina during his presidency. He last made an appearance back in December, speaking on global trade in Kernersville.

Burlington Students To Wait For Degree
Students in Buncombe County will have to wait a few days later to get their degree. 1300 seniors from local high schools had been scheduled to walk down the isle of the Asheville Civic Center the first week of June. However thanks to a scheduling conflict, instead of students elephants will be walking in the center. The ringing Brothers Circus will be making its’ way through Asheville and somehow the center was double booked. School officials are upset because they reserved the center back in August of 2005, with a date set for June 1st-4th. However as it stands, the students will be waiting up to 10 days before getting their diplomas.

Sports Headlines

Redick & Morrison Share National Spotlight
The season may be over for J.J. Redick, but the awards ceremonies have just begun. On Thursday, Redick and Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison were named co-players of the year by the United State Basketball Writers Association, marking the first time in history that two players have shared the award. Morrison and Redick were given the Oscar Robertson Trophy in a ceremony at Conseco Fieldhouse Friday night.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four, the field is set for tomorrow’s championship. It’ll be the Lady Blue Devils of Duke taking on the Lady Terrapins of Maryland. Maryland beat UNC 81-70, despite the Lady Tarheels getting 28 points and 10 rebounds from Erlana Larkins. It was Duke over LSU 64-45, thanks in part to 13 points from senior Monique Curry.

Sendek Leaves State
The NC State Wolfpack will have a new coach on the sidelines next year as Herb Sendek is on his way out west. Sendek accepted a job over the weekend with Arizona State, taking over as that college’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Sendek leaves the Wolfpack with a record of 191-132 in 10 seasons, having drawn criticism for his team’s early exit from the NCAA tournament this year.

Bobcats Lose To Cavs
It went down to the wire, but the Charlotte Bobcats fell just short on Sunday with a 101-97 loss to Cleveland. Raymond Felton led Charlotte with 20 points, as the Bobcats drop to 20-54.

NHL: Carolina vs. Atlanta
On the ice this weekend, the Carolina Hurricanes lost to Atlanta 5-2. Carolina was on cruise control for most of the game, having already locked up both a playoff spot and the Southeast Conference title. With the loss, the Hurricanes drop to 48-20 on the season with a game tonight against Washington.

NASCAR Results
It was Tony Stewart taking the checkered flag Sunday night at Martinsville, in the Direct TV 500. Jeff Gordon was second, Jimmie Johnson third, Dale Earnhart Jr. came in fourth and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Drivers will now head to Texas this next week for the Samsung/Radio Shack 500.

News & Sports For March 31st

Fire Departments Battle Blaze On Hwy 421
Officials from the Forestry Service and two Wilkes County fire departments were out for most of the afternoon on Thursday, battling a blaze on Hwy 421. The fire started just off of West Hwy 421, as dried out timber went up in smoke. Champion & Millers Creek fire departments were called out along with the Forest Service to put out the blaze, which raged for over four hours before they got it under control.

Con Artist Attempts To Scam Wilkes Bank
Wilkesboro police are investigating an attempted scam involving the local BB&T branch today. Earlier this month a Wilkesboro man opened up an account at the bank on River Street, depositing two checks worth over $10,000. However the bank soon learned that the checks were fake, as the company listed on them doesn’t exist. In addition, the man’s social security number, address and tax information all were revealed to be fake. 21-yr-old Daniel Minton is wanted on charges of obtaining property by false pretense both here in Wilkes and in another incident in Clemmons.

Thieves Hit North Wilkesboro Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to an apartment on the Elledge Mill Road Wednesday afternoon, after thieves paid a visit. The homeowner had returned to find several items missing and blood on the floor. Taken from inside were several bottles of pain medication, $6 in change and just under $200 in other merchandise. There is a suspect and that investigation continues.

Candlelight Vigil To Be Held Today
The Child Abuse Prevention Team is asking that you set aside a few minutes today, to join in remembering abused children in North Carolina. A Candlelight Vigil will be held at Our House from 11am til 9pm tonight, as the names of children killed by abuse are read and special music performed. In addition, Our House will be holding a diaper drive this Saturday to help supply the child abuse prevention team. That will go on at Cornerstone Church on Saturday from 10am til 12 noon. For more information on any of these events you can call Our House at 667-5555.

Tires Stolen From Local Business
Thieves hit a local business this week, running off with $2500 worth of tires. The incident happened at AE Myers Tire Service, on West Main Street in Wilkesboro. The owner of the business called sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday, after coming in to find that 12 tires had been taken off the wall in the garage. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else taken from the property. There is however a possible suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Child Advocacy Study Highlights Whats Needed
Throughout this week, we've been going over a study put out by the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute. In today's final part, we break down the recommendations that the study suggested should be put into place. On the economic side of things, the institute believes that more financial help for parents will mean better development for their kids. Among the economic suggestions was a request to raise the minimum wage until it reaches "a living wage" and guarantee health benefits to all workers, no matter how big or small the company. Also the study called for child care to be subsidized by the state and for North Carolina to install an Earned Income Tax Credit. As far as child safety goes, the institute called for universal health care for all children, regardless of their financial situation, while also creating better health and safety education programs in the local school systems. Finally to cut down on the abuse that is seen throughout the state, the study called for a decrease in the amount of time kids spend in the foster care system and instead finding a permanent family to take the children in. As with the rest of this week's information, you can go online and check it out at www.ncchild.org.

Blood Drive Coming Up Tomorrow
Each day across North Carolina, 1500 pints of blood are needed to treat accident victims and for use in surgery. With rain in the forecast, the Wilkes Red Cross is preparing for the worst by organizing another blood drive. This next one will be held tomorrow at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church on Hwy 115 from 10am til 2:30pm. And just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To call for an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.

Regional News

Caldwell County Joins Drug Program
Caldwell County has added their name to a growing list of areas that has signed up for a new drug discount card. The benefit, which is offered through the National Association of Counties, gives citizens an average savings of 20% on all their prescription needs. North Carolina counties involved with the benefit include Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba and Union

State News

Body Of Missing Teacher Found In Burke County
The search has ended for a missing teacher in Burke County. Steven Edge vanished nineteen days ago while out on Lake James and officials uncovered his body on Wednesday. A sonar camera was used to scan the lake and pinpointed what turned out to be Edge’s body, about 100 feet off shore. Workers from over ten separate agencies had searched for Edge since his disappearance. Bad weather is believed to be at fault in his death.

Wager Placed On Final Four
With teams from North Carolina and Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Final Four, wagers are being placed between state officials. Senator Elizabeth Dole was challenged by Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. If the Lady Heels win, Dole gets a plate of crab cakes. If the Lady Terrapins advance, then it’s Mukulski who gets to dig into a meal of North Carolina barbeque. Senator Dole not only accepted the challenge, but made a prediction of her own, saying that she expects to have two North Carolina teams in the final game.

Union County Prosecutors Made Deal For Testimony
Officials in Union County are investigating allegations made against two former prosecutors. In Wednesday’s edition of the Charlotte Observer, Johnell Porter, a witness in a 1996 murder trial, told reporters that he had lied while on the stand. Porter said that his made up testimony was the result of a deal he made with county prosecutors. Specifically prosecutors Ken Honeycutt and Scott Brewer are being investigated, for allegedly knowing about the deal but not mentioning it to the judge in the case or defense council. Porter’s testimony helped to convict John Gregory Hoffman of the murder of a Marshville store owner. After the allegations were made public, Hoffman was granted a new trial, to begin this fall.

Sports Headlines

UNC Drops In Latest Top 25 Poll
The latest college baseball poll was released and UNC takes a tumble. The Tarheels stumbled on the field, going 3-2 over the past week. That brought their record to 20-5, good enough to be ranked 7th in the nation. NC State meanwhile moved up in the list, rising to 17th with a record of 21-8. Florida State is sitting in first place with a record of 25-2.

NCAA Skills Contest
Taking a look at the men’s side of college basketball, the NCAA held their skills competitions last night, with players vying for the 3-point and dunk title. Justin Gray of Wake Forest was in the three-point contest, but was eliminated in the first round. The news was better for the ACC in the Dunk Championship, as it was UNC’s David Noel taking the title.

Paulus Goes Under The Knife
Duke fans are at ease today, after point guard Greg Paulus successfully made it through surgery this week. He had bone chips removed from his left wrist, after playing with a brace on it during this past season. Paulus is expected to be back up and ready to go by the time Midnight Madness comes around in October.

Carolina Players Make Ladies All-American Teams
Two players from North Carolina schools made the list when the Associated Press All-American women’s basketball teams were announced this week. On the first team was Ivory Latta, the 5’6 ft. junior from the UNC Tarheels and making the second team was 6 ft. senior Monique Currie from Duke. UNC will take on Maryland and Duke will face off against LSU in the women’s Final Four this Sunday.

Former Duke Player Considering Retirement
In the senior circuit of the NBA, it looks like the end of the road for a former Duke Blue Devil. Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill is considering retirement, after learning that he may need additional surgery. Hill is attempting to rehab a sports hernia injury, in hopes of making it back to play next year. The 33-yr-old Hill is already a veteran of the operating room, having six surgeries since August of 2000.

Spencer Taking Over The No. 49 This Weekend
In NASCAR, there’s going to be a change of pace this weekend for BAM Racing. Rookie driver Brent Sherman will be replaced for one week, with Jimmy Spencer taking over behind the wheel of the No. 49 Dodge. The reason for the switch is that under the new rules, drivers aren’t allowed to test at Martinsville and being a rookie, Sherman had never raced there before.