News & Sports For December 19th

Ice Storm Being Compared To Hugo
The ice storm that visited Wilkes last week left people without power for several days. Now after having time to calculate the extent of the problem, Duke Power is saying this was one of the worst storms since Hurricane Hugo in regards to the power going out. Across North and South Carolina, 683,000 saw their power kicked off by the weather, compared to 696,000 by Hugo. Tree limbs and downed power lines in sections of Wilkes and the surrounding area made it harder for workers to get things back up and running. In fact it took most of the weekend for work crews to get everything back to normal.

Local Man Killed In Wreck
The ice and snow led to at least one death here in Wilkes County. Friday morning, a man from Granite Falls lost control of his vehicle and slammed into an oncoming tow truck on Hwy 16/18 near Boomer. 24-yr-old Jose Silverio Menchu-Santizo died at the scene.

Thieves Hit Millers Creek Home
Deputies were called out to a house in Millers Creek last week, after thieves dropped by. Witnessed reported seeing two men come into the house while the owner was gone, grab some items from inside and take off. It's unclear exactly how they got inside the house, as no damage was done to the property and there was no sign of a break-in. Included in the theft was over $4000 in cash and some jewelry. One of the thieves was identified and that information was turned over to sheriff's deputies. The investigation is ongoing.

Taxpayers In Wilkes And Around State Paying For Poor Health
Wilkes County taxpayers are having to dig deeper into their pockets, in order to foot the bill for unhealthy people. That was the finding of a study released on Tuesday by Be Active North Carolina. The organization discovered that it's costing North Carolina $24.1 billion a year to pay for health insurance, with most of that due to extra expenses. For children alone the cost is $38.2 million a year. Physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes and an improper diet are to blame for the increase, according to health experts from the organization. The increase was broke down into four categories: excess weight was responsible for $9.7 billion, while physical inactivity took another $9 billion. The cost of treating people with diabetes took in $3 billion and the final $2.4 billion was swallowed by poor diet, as people didn't eat enough fruits and vegetables. The good news is that we can start chipping away at the extra cost, to the tune of $1.5 billion a year, by simply eating the right kinds of food and getting exercise.

Gun Stolen From Millers Creek Residence
Thieves broke into a Millers Creek man's home last week, stealing a gun and then running off. They got inside by breaking off the doorlock, however once in the building nothing else was damaged or even touched. The only thing missing was a .22 caliber semi-automatic. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

Booze It And Lose It Campaign Cleans Up In Wilkes
The annual Booze It And Lose It Campaign continues in Wilkes and across the state. On Friday, law enforcement released details as to how the program has gone so far. Since it began on Nov. 17th, there have been 100 speeding tickets and 40 seatbelt violations here in the county. Also 11 DWIs with two of them under 21. Also 14 drug violations. Out of the surrounding counties, only Forsyth and Watauga had more situations involving drugs than Wilkes. The program will continue until after New Year's Day.

Watch Out For CO2
With ice and snow on the ground, it's time to turn on that heater or throw a few more logs on the fire. While this will keep out the cold, it could also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if you're not careful. Carbon monoxide is produced when items with carbon in it aren't completely burned. Here are some tips on how to prevent poisoning in your home. Even when it's cold outside, don't leave your car running in the basement or garage. The carbon monoxide put off by the exhaust can flow up into the rest of your house. Also if you have exhaust fans for any type of heater in the house, don't use them at the same time as the clothes dryer. The reason being this creates negative pressure, pulling the carbon monoxide back in.

Wilkes Cares Needs Help
During the Christmas season, we hear so much about Angel Trees and raising money for presents, but there are other needs, just as important here in the county. Wilkes Cares is facing a serious problem, as their shelves are almost empty of food and they don't have enough clothes to give to needy kids. One of the major needs is for childrens' coats, especially with winter weather constantly in the forecast. If you have any children's clothes or extra food to donate, you can drop it by to Wilkes Cares. They're located on the Elkin Hwy in North Wilkesboro. You can also call at 838-4900.

Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as the holidays approach. It can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is 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 eithr 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.

Regional News

Several Churches Vandalized In Jonesville
Officials in Jonesville are investigating after two incidents last week at local churches. People coming into Jonesville First Baptist and Arlington First Baptist were greeted with an unexpected sight last Thursday. Windows and doors at both churches had been pried open, but nothing was missing from inside. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 336-679-2366.

State News

More Jobs Coming To Hickory
Some good news for people who live in Catawba County, more jobs will be coming soon. 30-50 more positions will be added at Centro Plastics, thanks in part to a grant from the local county commissioners. Centro produces parts used by both John Deere and Caterpillar tractors.

Bank Of America Solves Direct Problem
Bank of America is taking the direct route to solving a problem. Over the past week, customers across North Carolina have found their accounts strangely empty. None of the direct deposits made it to their accounts, thanks to a glitch in the system. The company has since discovered the problem and promises that it will be fixed and the money will be in the right account by Monday night.

Gas Prices To Rise Again
Bad news for virtually all drivers out there. Starting next month, it will cost more to fill up in North Carolina. The state motor fuel tax will be raised by three cents, the largest hike in 16 years. The increase further raises what has already become the most expensive gas tax in the Southeast, which will now stand at 29.9 cents.

Sports Headlines

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the college scoreboard this weekend, it was UNC Asheville over Brevard College 82-48, also Western Carolina beat the Citadel 83-57. Winthrop took care of East Carolina 78-48, it was High Point over Longwood 88-72, UNC Wilmington knocked off Coastal Carolina 79-50 and Appalachian State beat Marshall 73-65. The Mountaineers improve to 4-5 with the win, behind DJ Thompson's 25 points. Around the ACC, it was Wake Forest over Princeton 61-42. Eric Williams put up 15 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Deacons. Also freshman Tyler Hansborough put up 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead the Tarheels over Santa Clara 76-58. NC State had no problems with Miami as they beat the Hurricanes 81-69. Finally the J.J. Redick show rolled into town as Duke wiped out Valparaiso 104-77. Redick led the Blue Devils with 30 points while Shelden Williams had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

NCAA Division II Championship Game
They’re celebrating in Boone today, after Appalachian State won the first title in school history. The Mountaineers beat Northern Iowa 21-16 on Friday night, taking the Division I-AA championship. Appalachian took the lead for good when defensive end Marques Murrell sacked Northern Iowa’s quarterback, who fumbled the ball. Jason Hunter picked it up and ran it in for a score with less than two minutes remaining. Richie Williams came off the bench in the second half, tossing for 129 yards in his final game as a senior.

Panthers Keep On Rolling
The Carolina Panthers are sitting alone atop the NFC South after a 27-10 blowout of the New Orleans Saints. Jake Delhomme tossed for 176 yards and a touchdown while running for one more as the Panthers improve to 10-4 on the season. Up next Carolina plays host to Dallas on Saturday.

Bobcats Fall To Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are on a mission to get back to the Finals and made an example out of Charlotte over the weekend. On Saturday, Charlotte lost 103-78. Emeka Okafor led the Bobcats with 14 points and 13 rebounds, who saw their record fall to 6-18 on the season. They play host to Sacramento later tonight.

Hurricanes Beat New Jersey
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes kept their winning streak alive, beating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday. The Hurricanes improve to 21-9 on the year.

Closings and Cancellations For December 16th

Wilkes County Schools: Closed & Optional Teacher Workday

Wilkes Community College & Child Development Center- 2 hour delay

Gordon Baptist Christian School-child care only

Millers Creek Christian School-closed

Creation Express-closed

Woodlawn Child Development Center-open at 9:30am

Wilkes Wellness Center & Rehab Services-open at 8am

Christmas For Kids party-cancelled & rescheduled for a later date

Medical Associates of Wilkes-open at 11am

Tyson Foods-Fresh plant 2 hr. delay first shift

News & Sports For December 16th

Weather Causes Power Outages
The ice and snow that fell on Thursday led to some people staying in the dark for part of the day. Sections of Wilkes saw the power flicker on and off, thanks to downed power lines. In the Winkler Mill area, a tree limb fell and knocked out power for most of the day, while sections of Millers Creek and the Cricket community went without as well. For those still without power this morning, Duke Power and Blue Ridge Electric said that they hope to have everything restored to normal by this afternoon at the latest. 900 Blue Ridge Electric customers across a three county region were affected by the storm, while Duke Power said that 1600 people in Wilkes were without. All total, over 450,000 people throughout the Carolinas and Georgia fell victim to the ice storm, knocking down power lines and shorting out the phones.

In Case Of Power Outage
With ice and snow still hanging around the county, areas are still at risk of losing their power. If you do have a power outage to report this morning, you can call Duke Power at 1-800-769-3766 or Blue Ridge Electric customers can call 1-800-448-2383. Stay tuned here to 3WC and we'll have weather updates for you throughout the day.

Warnings When Heating Home
The things you don't do can be just as important when dealing with ways to heat your home. With the temps hovering around freezing, today and Monday we'll be going back for a look at things to be cautious of when trying to keep warm. First off, never use gasoline or starter fluid to ignite a fire in your fireplace. You'd be surprised how many people do that each year and cause a major blaze that puts the entire home at risk. Also fireplace chimneys commonly build up creosote, which is itself flammable. Be careful how much trash or paper you burn in your fireplace, as they are the number one cause of creosote buildup. Also be careful when using space heaters. They need to be kept on the floor, away from any combustible materials. Always unplug your heaters when going to bed or leaving the house and if you have a kerosene heater, never substitute gas or camp stove fuel. That could cause some serious problems you don't need. On Monday, carbon monoxide can be a major problem where furnaces and fireplaces are concerned. We'll take a look at some of the problems and offer some solutions.

Red Cross Looking For Fundraising Help
The Red Cross finds itself in need of help as we head toward the end of the year. The local chapter continues to sell cookbooks, to help raise the money it needs to cover costs of daily operations, in addition to the funds used to help victims of the recent hurricanes. The cost of a cookbook is $10 and it contains recipes from chapter members along with their family and friends. With Christmas coming next week, it might be a good idea for last minute shoppers. For more information or to purchase one, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Anti-War Protestors Reach 5th District
The anti-war movement has apparently reached the 5th District. On Wednesday, protestors took a petition with just over 500 names to the Clemmons office of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. Their goal? To convince the congresswoman to support a timeline to begin troop withdraws from Iraq. The Democratic group MoveOn.org was responsible for the creation of the petition and collection of names, taken from people across the 5th District. Congresswoman Foxx has said that she wants to bring the troops home, but not before their job is finished and the terrorists defeated.

Winter Booze It And Lose It Program Continues
Unfortunately the Christmas season can mean more opportunities for people to drink and drive. To help prevent any drunk driving accidents, the Highway Patrol will be out in force across Wilkes over the next few weeks, as part of the annual Winter Booze It & Lose It campaign. During the Christmas season last year, 47 people in the state died due to alcohol related accidents. Checkpoints will be out in full force and troopers will be patroling over the next month to prevent any more fatalities.

Newest Protection Against Fraud
With the Christmas season in full swing, this is also a busy time of year for thieves, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information is a major target. But now, people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. The Identity Theft Protection Act, a new law that went into effect December 1st will allow you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. The only problem is that while thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.

State News

Black Made "Poor Decisions"
Jim Black, North Carolina's Speaker of the House, came out and apologized to citizens for what he called poor decisions in regards to the state lottery. He also promised to be more careful when accepting money from lobbyists and other donors associated with the lottery industry. In a conference with reporters earlier this week, he admitted poor judgement was used. Black and his office are involved in an investigation by federal agents into the video poker industry.

Winter Weather Not A Friend To Retailers
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and that's a problem for retailers across the state. According to business owners, the winter weather this week has caused their finances to take a hit, as ice & snow kept people at home. Owners said that if the bad weather lasts more than one day, it could cut into their profits and make things tight for the rest of the year. The top concern of store owners is that people will decide to go online instead of heading out, choosing to buy their gifts from ebay and other stores with the click of a mouse.

Deputies Bust Meth Maker In The Act
Officials in Davidson County have busted a meth making operation after catching the man in the act. After getting a tip, Davidson County sheriff's deputies went to a local house and the owner came to the door wearing rubber gloves. The deputies came inside and found that he had just started making meth as they were coming up to the house. County officials say this isn't the first time David McClain has been arrested and charged for meth making.

Former State Senator May face Jail Time
A former senator from here in North Carolina may face jail time after pleading guilty to charges this week. On Thursday, 71-yr-old John Carrington, a former state senator from Wake County, pleaded guilty to charges he helped illegally export items to China. Carrington's company makes law enforcement equipment and he went against U.S. law to ship some of his merchandise to the communist country. Carrington has already been given a 850,000 fine and could also be thrown in jail, depending on what the judge rules. A sentencing hearing has been set for March of 2006.

Work Continuing On Winston Roads
Bad news for anyone who is planning on making the trip to Winston tonight, for some last minute Christmas shopping. It might take awhile. The DOT will be closing the outside lane of I-40 at the Hanes Mall Boulevard exit, starting tonight at 7pm. Work will be going on to replace the outside shoulder of the road and will keep things blocked off until 3pm Saturday afternoon. Drivers in the area can expect some delays getting to and from the mall.

Sports Headlines

Games Cancelled
With no school today, all the basketball games in the county have been cancelled.

Tarheels Keep Their Defensive Coordinator
Coach John Bunting will at least have one member of his staff returning for next season. Defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders agreed in principle to a contract on Monday, agreeing to stay with the Heels. Sanders had been offered jobs at both Kansas State and Texas A&M, but he turned them down. Last season was his first as a defensive coordinator at Chapel Hill and Sanders said this was the best place for both him and his family.

Appalachian In Championship Game
Questions surround Appalachian State as they head into tonight's championship game with Northern Iowa. Gametime is set for 8pm, but no one's sure who will be coming in behind center. Quarterback Richie Williams was thought to be out for the year, after injuring a tendon last week, but now it appears he simply sprained it. The coaching staff said that Williams is makling progress in his rehab, but they aren't sure if he can suit up tonight. If not, the job will be turned over to backup Trey Elder, who took over after Williams' injury and guided the team to a 29-23 win over Furman last week.

Carolina vs. Columbus
The Carolina Hurricanes continue to roll as they beat the Columbus BlueJackets last night 2-1. The Hurricanes were led by two goals from Rod Brind'Amour as they improve to 20-9 on the season.

Carolina Panthers Ranked 8th Of All U.S. Sports Teams
The Carolina Panthers are one of the top sports teams in the U.S., according to a new poll from ESPN. Teams from most U.S. sports, including basketball, baseball and football, were all ranked based on several factors. Also fans from across the country were polled, asking where the teams rate as far as ownership, talent, the relationship with fans and several other things. The San Antonio Spurs came in first, followed by the Detroit Pistons. But 8th on the list were the Carolina Panthers, as fans said that they appreciated the team's impact both on and off the field, giving North Carolina a franchise we can be proud of.

Raleigh Sprinter Facing More Trouble
North Carolina resident Tim Montgomery is putting away his track shoes for good. Montgomery, who earlier this week was suspended for two years after being tied in with an illegal doping operation, said that he'd rather retire now then return later and be looked at as a cheat. Montgomery, who lives in Raleigh, has denied that he took any illegal substances. Even though he never tested positive, Montgomery's ban came as a result of evidence collected in the BALCO scandal, where federal officials are investigating a California lab that supplied illegal drugs to athletes.

News & Sports For December 15th

Electric Companies Warn About Power Outages
As winter weather hits the county, both Duke Power and Blue Ridge Electric are asking people to be careful in case the power goes out. With the ice and snow expected to keep falling until later this afternoon, power lines can snap. If you do have a power outage to report this morning, you can call Duke Power at 1-800-769-3766 or Blue Ridge Electric customers can call 1-800-448-2383. Stay tuned here to 3WC and we'll have weather updates for you throughout the day.

East Bend Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A woman from East Bend got in touch with the Wilkesboro Bank of America branch this week, after noticing that she was missing money from her bank account. Just over a thousand dollars in fact. Apparently someone had gained access to her ATM card and used it to go on a spending spree in California. The case has been turned over to California authorities and the investigation continues.

How To Protect Yourself On the Roads
With ice and snow covering the roads today and more possibly coming, it's important to remember several things when driving. First and foremost, plan your driving route. When winter weather hits, the side roads and shortcuts that might get you to work quicker could also cause you to be in a wreck. The reason being that those side roads aren't plowed and salted as often as the highways and other big traffic areas. Also be sure to keep your windows and windshield clear at all times. Just seeing the road in front of you isn't enough, especially at intersections where a driver could lose control and you'd never see the car if your windshield is frozen. If nothing else, don't be afraid to pull over and clean the windows by hand. It's more time consuming but it could also save your life. Finally, be a defensive driver. Just take it slow and be careful, you might not get to work as quick, but better late than never.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Unfortunately for one Wilkesboro woman, the phrase no good deed goes unpunished proved true this week. A woman had come by her office, asking if she could use the phone and call for a ride. She handed over the phone and went to take care of some business. When she returned, the other woman was gone, along with the wallet from her purse. Inside were several credit and debit cards, along with her personal information and social security card. After getting in touch with the companies, it turns out the thief was already on a spending spree. Her credit cards had been used at local stores, with several hundred dollars being charged to the account. The suspect was caught on video and Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

Mailbox Vandals Return To Wilkes
Sheriff's deputies were called out to investigate another case of mailbox vandalism this week over in Westwood Hills. A woman walked out of her house on Tuesday morning, to discover both the mailbox and the post it had been sitting on were damaged and lying in the yard. There were also tire tracks from where a vehicle had ran over the box and then took off. Despite the evidence, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On Children
Hundreds of children are abused and neglected by their parents here in North Carolina. We hear about what happens to the parents, as they enter prison or rehab facilities, but who is looking out for the children? North Carolina's Guardian Ad Litem program is responsible for taking care of the kids and acting on their best interests. Eva Hendershot from the Wilkes branch will be Brian's guest today for Focus on the Foothills. They'll be talking about the organization, what exactly they do and how you can get involved if you're interested in doing so. That's coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Broke Lock But Couldn't Get The Money
Thieves left the Run-In store on Statesville Road empty handed this week. Someone had damaged the lock on the building's Coca-Cola machine, attempting to gain access to the money changer. But while the lock was broken, the thieves apparently couldn't figure out how to open the door, as nothing was missing from inside. Damage was placed at $50 and the investigation continues.

Last Today For Marine Toy Drive
Time is up if you want to donate a toy for a needy child here in Wilkes. Today is the last day of the local Marine Corps detachment's toy drive. If you are out, braving the winter weather today, there are drop-off locations at the Hardees on 421, the Lowes Foods on 421, the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery and Lowes Foods at Midtown Plazza. All the toys must be new and unwrapped and will be given out to children here in the county. For more information you can call the Marine Corps at 667-0204.

Climbed In To Have A Look Around
Vandals hit a mobile on the Breeze Hill Road this week. A man came by to check on his rental property and found that someone had already paid a visit, causing $150 in damage. A side window to the home was shattered, but nothing was taken or damaged inside. There is a possible suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

State News

Police In Salisbury Catch The Sock Bandit
Several weeks after the sock bandit began his crime spree, Salisbury officials have put him behind bars. A man has been robbing businesses in the area armed with socks on his hands, giving people the implication that he had a gun. However when he tried to rob a bowling alley on Tuesday night, the employees weren't fooled. They grabbed and held him there until police arrived. Richard Simmons is now sitting in the Salisbury jail awaiting his day in court.

Raleigh McDonalds Drawing Controversy For Sign
A McDonald's sign is Raleigh is drawing criticism and complaints today. It reads "Merry Christmas. Jesus is the Reason for the Season." Several of the protestors said that they were offended because it only names Jesus as the reason for the holiday and quote "doesn't give credit to anyone else". McDonald's managers said that the sign has actually been good for business, with church groups coming in to eat.

Winston Salem Company Will Help You Manage Money
Good news for anyone out there who needs help managing their finances. A new company in Winston Salem can help you do just that for under $20. Simplifi.net works with families to plan ahead, taking your monthly income and using it to prepare a map for the future. An interactive program called Sophie will offer suggestions, explaining what to do now to get where you want to be financially. The service is set up with a free 30-day membership and after that is $13 a month or $75 a year. The company's CEO said that he created the program because he realized that most financial planners only work with the rich, not those in the middle.

You Can Control Winston Student's Christmas Lights
Do you get fascinated, watching Christmas lights turn on and off? A student in Winston Salem has created a new project, that allows people to go on the internet and control the Christmas lights at his house. By logging on to www.controlthesnow.com, people can flip the switch and turn the 30,000 light display on and off. People get one minute each to control the lights, starting at 5:30pm and going on til midnight. People can also sponsor a light by making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House through the site.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Taking a look around the high school scene last night, it was East Surry over the West Wilkes Blackhawks 67-40. Poor shooting troubled the Blackhawks all night long, as they fell behind by 18 at the half and just couldn't close the distance. Chad Lankford led West with 9 points. The news was better however for the East Wilkes Cardinals, as they knocked off Alleghany 66-51 behind 18 points from Brent Poplin. The Cardinals improve to 2-5 on the season. On the girls side of the ball, it was East Surry over West Wilkes 58-38. Erin Hollars had 14 for the Lady Blackhawsk, who drop to 1-5.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college basketball scene last night, it was Coastal Carolina knocking off South Carolina State 72-57. NC A&T lost to Campbell 93-72 and it was the NC State Wolfpack beating UNC Asheville 86-56. Illian Evtimov led State with 19 points, as the Wolfpack improve to 7-1 on the season.

Bunting Closer To Naming Offensive Coordinator
The UNC Tarheels are one step closer to having a full coaching staff once again, as Coach John Bunting announced some of the candidates he s been interviewing for the vacant offensive coordinator position. Former offensive coach Gary Tranquill retired at the end of the season. Now former East Carolina coach Steve Logan has been mentioned as one of the frontrunners. Logan is currently working as a quarterbacks coach in NFL Europe, after guiding the ECU Pirates to five bowl games and 69 wins in his 11 seasons. Also making the list was Fresno State offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, the brother of NC State coach Curt Cignetti.

Wake Punter Named All-American
Wake Forest punter Ryan Plackemeier became only the fourth player in team history to make the All-American team this week. On Tuesday, Plackemeier was named to the squad, after setting an NCAA career record punting average of 45 yards.

Charlotte Breaks Losing Streak
It was a great night for Bobcats fans, as Charlotte ended their losing streak by beating New Jersey 91-83. The Bobcats were led by Emeka Okafor, who had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks on the game. Leading scorer Gerald Wallace sat out his second straight game
with an injury to his scoring hand.

Hurricanes Send Down Ward
The Carolina Hurricanes made a roster move on Wednesday, sending down one of their rookies for some more seasoning in the minor leagues. Rookie goalie Cam Ward has been sitting on the bench after struggling through the last month, where he gave up 21 goals in three games. The 21-yr-old Ward will report to the Lowell Lake Monsters, in hopes of bouncing back to the Canes by January. He s also competing in tryouts for
Team Canada s Olympic squad.

News & Sports For December 14th

Wilkes County Searching For New Voting System
Earlier this year North Carolina issued a mandate to all 100 counties, saying that each one needed to have their voting systems replaced by the 2006 elections. Wilkes County's board of elections has been hard at work over the past few months, going over the different models approved by the state and trying to determine which best suits the county's needs and also it's budget. Throughout this morning, members of the board will be trying out demos of the different products, then select one in a meeting later this month. After the board passes that resolution, the next step is to bring it before the county commissioners, first for a public forum to let people see it and ask questions. Then the commissioners will vote on the request, deciding if they'll approve the purchase. A date for the forum has not yet been decided, according to election officials but it is expected to happen within the next month. The reason being that a contract with the vendors has to be signed by January 20th, in order for the machines to be up and running in time for next year's elections. State leaders called for the switch after several problems came up during the 2004 campaigns, including 4000 ballots disappearing in the agriculture commissioner's race.

Guns Stolen From Local Home
Thieves broke into a house on Wildwood Shady Lane this week, running off with several thousand dollars worth of guns in the process. The homeowners were out of town, as one of them has been in the hospital. Deputies were called out by the couple's son, who had been by to check on the place while they were gone. He returned to find the back door kicked in and several guns missing from inside, including a .22 Remington rifle, a 16 gauge shotgun. Also over $5000 worth of jewelry had been taken. There are suspects in the case and the investigation continues.

3WC Eye On Safety: Protect Yourself While Shopping
With Christmas just over a week away, it's time to head out and get those last few presents for family and friends. But while you're out and about, it's a good idea to take some precautions and stay safe. Law enforcement across the state have several suggestions to follow. First, always keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up when leaving the vehicle. Over the past few weeks here in Wilkes several reports have come in of thieves opening unlocked doors and running off with items from inside. Also don't leave pckages on the seat of your car. The reason being, would be thieves can see the items as they're walking by and it serves as a temptation to them. Once you buy something, put it in your trunk or behind the seat, out of sight. Finally, keep a grip on your purse, handbag or wallet and make sure not to set it down on either the top of your vehicle or off to the side when loading your purchases. That way thieves can't grab it and take off running before you've had a chance to react. Overall just watch out and have a safe holiday season.

Money Stolen From Car Wash
Sheriff's deputies were called out to DJ's Car Wash on Monday, after thieves broke into the change machine and took the coins. A store employee came to open up at the business just as the suspect was running off. Along with the change, air fresheners were also stolen from inside. A description of both the suspect and his vehicle were turned over to deputies and the investigation continues.

Be Careful What You Leave Behind
A Hamptonville man in town to play golf found that he left more behind this week than just his swing. The man's wallet disappeared while at Countryside Golf Course, with $200 in cash and several credit cards inside. Also inside the wallet was his social security card and other personal information. The man has since cancelled all of his cards and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Christmas For Kids Deadline Arrives
For anyone who's taken a tag from the Christmas for Kids trees, the deadline is here. After tallying up the donations, the group found there were still children left on the trees on Monday and extended the time until tonight. If you want to donate money or pick up a name on the trees, they'll still be out until close of business today at both Lowes Foods locations on Hwy 18 and Hwy 115. Or if you have already taken a name and want to drop off your gift, you can do that as well. Drop-off sites are at Johnson Oil Company, the Navy recruiting station and both Lowes Foods stores, on Hwy 18 North and on 115. Also to get in touch with Christmas for Kids you can call 696-4462.

Focus On The Children
Hundreds of children are abused and neglected by their parents here in North Carolina. We hear about what happens to the parents, as they enter prison or rehab facilities, but who is looking out for the children? North Carolina's Guardian Ad Litem program is responsible for taking care of the kids and acting on their best interests. Eva Hendershot from the Wilkes branch of the Guardian program will be Brian's guest this week on Focus on the Foothills. They'll be talking about the organization, what exactly they do and how you can get involved if you're interested in doing so. That's coming up tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Ran Off With The Pressure Washer
Deputies were called out to a home on the White Plains Road this week, after thieves paid a visit. A storage building on the property had been broken into and a pressure washer had been taken. This marks the second washer that the homeowner has lost to thieves. There is a possible suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

DirecTV Offering Refunds
Good news for any DirecTV customers in Wilkes County. You may be eligible for a refund. North Carolina's attorney general has reached a settlement with the satellite company, requiring DirecTV to pay back customers who feel they were lied to. The small print in DirecTV's ads proved to, on occasion, contradict the offer on the same page. Now to avoid a legal battle, DirecTV customers can appy for a refund. You're eligible for a refund if you believe to have been overcharged for anything by the company since 2001. That includes contract terms, installation problems, programming issues or cancellation charges. To apply for a refund, you need to mail a complaint to DirecTV Complaint Program P.O. Box 29079 Glendale California 91209-9079.

State News

Radioactive Material Goes Missing In Statesville
A container of radioactive material has gone missing in Statesville and state officials believe it was stolen. North Carolina's Radiation Protection Section announced on Monday that the material had vanished from a locked vehicle over the weekend, taken while the driver was eating at a nearby restaurant. At stake is two millicuries of Americium 241, used to test equipment from nuclear medicine facilities. The material is in two stainless steel tubes, sealed up in a 35-millimeter container. Siemens Medical Solutions has put out a $1000 reward for the material's return.

Crime Spree Ends In Lenoir
Officials in Lenoir stopped a two day crime spree on Monday, catching the suspect just after he robbed his latest victim. 35-yr-old CHarles Lenard Way was arrested on Maple Street Monday night, after embarking on a series of robberies. He hit several businesses in the Caldwell County area, taking several hundred dollars in cash. Way is now in the Caldwell County Jail waiting for his day in court.

Raleigh Sprinter Banned For Two Years
An Olympic sprinter from North Carolina has been banned from his sport for two years, after being involved with a steroid scandal. Tim Montgomery, a former world record holder in the 100-meter run, has been implicated as part of the BALCO hearings. Members of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Op turned over evidence that Montgomery had been involved with doping and other illegal steroid use. The Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down the decision on Tuesday. Montgomery makes his home in Raleigh.

State Lottery Faces Lawsuit
North Carolina's new lottery isn't even up and running yet, but already its' facing a lawsuit. The NC Institute For Constitutional Law announced that it will file suit on Thursday, questioning how the lottery was voted in. According to the Institute, lawmakers violated the state constitution by holding a reading of the bill and voting on it in the same day. They believe the three readings, as called for by state law, should have been spread out over a three day period, to allow for discussion. Traditionally that has been the case, but state officials suspended the ruling when they pushed through the lottery bill, arguing that the lottery wasn't a standard revenue bill and shouldn't be treated as such. If the lawsuit does in fact go through, then lawmakers might have to vote again on the bill and it could put a hold on plans to begin the games in April.

Immigration Commission Holds First Meeting
North Carolina needs facts, not assumptions about immigration. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory explained that was the main reason he's created an Immigration Study Commission, which held it's first meeting on Monday. All 23 member sof the panel have been appointed by the mayor and include a wide variety of people, from federal agents to city officials and several Latino community leaders. The commission is charged wth investigating the impact that the increase in illegal immigration has had on North Carolina and Charlotte in particular. They'll be focusing on the effects on public safety, employment, education and healthcare. By late summer of 2006, the commission will return and present McCrory with their results and any recommendations.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scoreboard last night, it was Wilkes Central over Ashe County 57-45. North Wilkes meanwhile took care of Forbush 50-49. Brett Whittington put up 15 points as the 3-5 Vikings got a much needed win on the road. Also on the girls side, it was the Lady Eagles of Central over Ashe County 56-35. Amy Will came one block short of a triple double, scoring 24 points, pulling down 11 rebounds and recording 9 blocks. Sarah Brown also was a force in the paint, putting up 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. The Lady Eagles improve to a perfect 8-0 with the win, while Ashe County drops to 5-2.

NCAA Scoreboard
In college basketball, a major upset last night as unranked Depaul knocked off the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 84-81. Eric Williams had 24 points for the Deacons, who saw Justin Gray go cold down the stretch and only finish with 12 points. The 16th ranked Deacons fall to 7-1 with the loss.

Duke Lands Recruit For Football
The good news keeps coming for Duke's football team. The Blue Devils landed their 17th commitment for next season as Patrick Egboh agreed to play. Egboh is a 6-4 230 lb. defensive end from Texas who ran the 40 yard dash in 4.79 seconds. As a senior this year, Patrick racked up 79 tackles, 10 sacks and two fumbles. He turned down offers from Baylor, New Mexico, Tulane and Villanova to join the Blue Devils.

Bobcats Fall Against Denver
Around the senior circuit, it was Denver knocking off Charlotte 101-85. Charlotte's losing streak fell to eight games, as they drop to 5-17 on the season. Some good news however for the Bobcats, as forward Emeka Okafor came out of his slump to score 17 points, grab 12 rebounds and record three blocks on the night. Sean May also added 13 points and 6 rebounds for Charlotte, who will take on New Jersey tonight.

Carolina Hurricanes Pick Up Win Against Chicago
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes got back on the right track last night, with a 5-3 win over Chicago. Matt Cullen had two goals for the Hurricanes, who improve to 19-9, good enough to stay in first place in the Southeastern Conference, a spot they've held for the past two months.

News & Sports For December 13th

Wilkes Income Standard Smaller Than Most Around
More economic problems for Wilkes, as new reports find the county on the lower end of the financial spectrum. The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center has released a report, detailing the income standard for each of the state's 100 counties. In 2005, the income standard here in Wilkes is $25,404, that's good enough to rank 57th in the state. Also Wilkes falls short in the immediate area, as only three out of the eight counties that surround it have a lower income. Those counties are Alleghany, Ashe and Surry, all with standards of $25,068. Watauga is the highest in the region, with an income standard of $30,876. Alexander and Caldwell County both come in just slightly above at $26,664, while Iredell has a standard of $28,704 and Yadkin is at $30,012. Overall across the state, Orange County has the highest income standard at $37,512 while Edgecombe County is dead last at $24,804.

Tip Leads To Cocaine Bust
Sheriff's deputies responded to a tip on Hill Avenue over the weekend, about a cocaine manufacturing operation that was going on. Once inside, they found cocaine residue everywhere. The utensils in the kitchen were covered with it, as was the cold water knob on the sink. In addition, drug paraphernalia, including scales and baggies were found, along with $260 in cash. Chris James Weary and April Michelle Walker were both arrested and charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell, along with maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Students To Possibly Pay More For College Loans
Bad news for anyone either starting college or just graduating. Starting next year, it may be a lot harder to pay back those college loans. The U.S. Congress is close to approving some new legislation that would cut down on the federal deficit, but use college students to do it. Currently in the UNC college system, there are 138,844 people that took out student loans to pay for class. That rounds out to 70% of the student population. According to the government's own study, the average college graduate leaves with $17,500 in debt. How will the new proposal affect students? Because $14.3 billion is scheduled to be trimmed from student aid programs, meaning that instead of grants, people will have to take out more loans to cover the cost. $5800 in fees and interest would be added to existing loans that span over a 30-yr-period. Congress is meeting this week to hammer out differences between the Senate bill and the House version.

Arrest For Stolen Property Leads To Problems
Responding to a disturbance on the Union Community Road in Thurmond, sheriff's deputies ran the license plate of the vehicle outside the house. The tag, which apparently had been recently put on the car, came back as being stolen from Galax Virginia. The homeowner, 22-yr-old Francisco Moreno Pina was arrested for possession of stolen property. However once at intake, the suspect got to the pay phone and started repeatedly dialing 911. He told operators that he was in jail and didn't know why. Deputies also charged him with iterfering with emergency communications.

Christmas For Kids Deadline Extended
Things have changed since yesterday, when we told you that the deadline was here for Christmas for Kids. After tallying up the donations, the group found there were still children left on the trees. 100 kids have been helped by generous donors here in the county, but that still leaves 55 more who are needing support. If you want to donate money or pick up a name on the trees, they'll still be out until Wednesday at both Lowes Foods locations on Hwy 18 and Hwy 115. To get in touch with Christmas for Kids you can call 696-4462.

Blood Drive Today
As we stand just over one week away from Christmas, it's a time when friends and family start to pack up and head to spend Christmas with loved ones. Mixed with ice and snow, those reunions can prove to be deadly at times. With 1500 pints of blood used each day and the supply here just above critical levels, it's critical that the Red Cross receives as much as possible. A drive is going on today at Peacehaven Baptist Church from 2-6:30pm. To call for an appointment you can get in touch with the Red Cross at 838-4563 or simply stop by to donate.

Car Stolen From Moravian Falls Residence
Be careful who you let borrow your car. A Moravian Falls man found that out over the weekend. He called sheriff's deputies over the weekend, after his vehicle was stolen. The owner had let a friend borrow it and it was sitting at the woman's house on Saturday when someone managed to gain access to it and drove off. On Sunday deputies were able to locate the vehicle, wrecked about a mile from the woman's house. That investigation is ongoing.

Lifespan Part 3: Donations
On Friday and Monday we've been talking with Anita Bare from Lifespan, explaining what the group is and how you can lend them a hand during the holiday season. Now as we close up the series today, Anita talks about another way besides food or money that you can help the group.
And you can catch that interview by tuning in to the 3WC News today. Also if you want to help the people of Lifespan, you can call Patricia Church or Anita Bare at 667-5001. Or you can also drop by the organization, which is located at 1203 Creek Drive in Wilkesboro, near Cub Creek Countertops.

Ran Off With A Mider Saw
Who would steal a saw? That's what a North Wilkesboro man is asking today, after thieves broke into his garage and ran off with a mider saw. Apparently the garage was unlocked and thieves walked right in. However there was no sign of damage and nothing else was taken from inside. Also no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the weekend. That investigation is ongoing.

Marine Corps Collecting Toys
While out shopping for Christmas presents this week, the local detachment of the Marine Corps is asking you to set aside one of those gifts for a needy child. The Corps is collecting toys for kids at four locations here in Wilkes. You can drop off new and unwrapped toys at the Hardees on 421, the Lowes Foods on 421, the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery and Lowes Foods at Midtown Plazza. All of the toys will be given out to needy children here in Wilkes and must be dropped off by December 15th. For more information you can call the Marine Corps at 667-0204.

State News

State Lawmakers Spending Campaign Money
State lawmakers are still spending their campaign contributions, except this time it's on themselves. According to a report from the News & Observer of Raleigh, several dozen lawmakers continued to use cash from their campaigns after their term was over. For Guilford Representative Joni Bowie, the $25,000 left over in her account went to a new sports car and a retirement fund. Others wrote checks to themselves, cashing in on thousands of dollars sent in by donations. Under North Carolina law the practice is legal, as long as candidates report the cash as personal income to the IRS and disclose it in their campaign finance report.

Woman Gets Degree After 19 Years In College
A 51-yr-old grandmother will walk away this week from NC State University with a master's degree, after 19 years in college. Sandy Britt Thomason has only taken two semesters off over the past 19 years, working towards her master's in communication after earning a bachelor's degree in 2000. Taking sometimes only one course at a time, she started as a 33-yr-old mother in back in 1987, juggling school and her kids' activities. Thomason will take the walk and get her degree on Wednesday.

School Starts On A Friday
Parents in some North Carolina school districts are up in arms today after seeing the new school calender for next year. Mecklenburg, Wake, Durham and Forsyth County have all decided to start school on a Friday. Board members in all four counties are calling the idea crazy, wondering why the date couldn't either be moved up or in some cases pushed back to the next week. Teachers in each of the counties said that they're concerned that no one will attend the first day and also about poor attention spans. Here in Wilkes, the school year starts on August 8th, which is a Tuesday.

National Guard Troops Hold Ceremony Today
Today marks the 369th birthday of the National Guard and here in North Carolina ceremonies will be held across the state in honor of the event. At 9am this morning in Charlotte, Mayor Pat McCrory will deliver the oath of enlistment to several soldiers who are either re-enlisting or joining up for the first time. Similar ceremonies will be held in Raleigh, Jacksonville and Elizabethtown. In the last four years, 9942 National Guardsmen have been sent out in service of the country.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard w/ Game Tonight
Taking a look at the high school basketball scene, last night it was North Surry beating North Wilkes 67-54. The Vikings kept it close, entering the fourth quarter with a tie score before North Surry put the game away. Aaron Church led North Wilkes with 19 points, while Elijah Baker was the only other player in double figures with 17. The Vikings fall to 2-5 with the loss. On the girls side of the court, it was the Lady Greyhounds of North Surry beating North Wilkes 41-21. Sarah Smith put in 11 for the Lady Vikings, who fall to 2-4 with the loss. Because of the weekend rescheduling, one game will not be played tonight. East Wilkes vs. Elkin has been bumped back until next Monday, according to Coach Cornette of the Cardinals. Also coming up tonight, two of the local schools are in action. North Wilkes go on the road against Forbush, the second game in two nights for the Vikings. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, it'll be Wilkes Central taking on Ashe County. We'll go on the air at 7pm with the McDonald's pregame show, then turn things over to Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7:15 with the play by play of the girl's varsity game, already in progress.

NCAA Scoreboard
In college basketball last night, there was almost a major upset as Wisconsin beat UNC Wilmington 54-51. T.J. Carter put in 19 points for Wilmington, who falls to 7-2 with the loss, dropping into second place in the Colonial Atlantic Conference.

Appalachian In Championship Game
In college football the date and time has been set and Appalachian State is bound for the championship. The Mountaineers will take on Northern Iowa this Saturday in the Division I-AA playoffs. Gametime is set for 8pm in Chattanooga Tennessee. It took overtime for the 11-3 Northern Iowa team to beat Texas State 40-37 last week, while the 11-3 Mountaineers got in thanks to their 29-23 win over Furman.

Deshaun Foster Not Seriously Injured
Some good news for the Carolina Panthers after Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay. The injury to tailback Deshaun Foster isn't that serious. Foster suffered a bruised shoulder and had to leave the game, with Stephen Davis and Nick Goings replacing him in the lineup. However after doctors took a look, it appears he'll be able to suit up against the Saints this week.

Steve Smith Sets Another Record
In other Panthers news, wide receiver Steve Smith continues to pull in the records, as he set another team mark against the Bucs. Smith caught 5 passes for 103 yards, making the eighth time this year he's passed 100 yards. That set a Panthers record, as nobody else in team history had passed 100 yards more than seven times in a season.

Bobcats May Lose Okafor
Some bad news for Charlotte Bobcats fans, as the team may be without starting forward Emeka Okafor when they take on Denver tonight. Okafor had to leave in the third quarter on Saturday after spraining his right toe. The Bobcats play host to the Nuggets with tipoff set for 7:30pm.

News & Sports For December 12th

Families Struggling To Pay Living Expenses
Despite what politicians may say, things aren't looking good for families both here in Wilkes and across North Carolina. According to a study put out last week by the N.C. Budget and Tax Center, almost half of the families with children here in the state can't afford to pay for basic living expenses with what they earn from their paychecks. That includes being able to pay for child care, food, healthcare, housing, transportation and taxes. Research showed that it would take earnings of $44,256 for a two parent, two child family to survive without assistance in a city. That number was reduced to $39,264 when dealing with rural areas such as here in Wilkes County. For single parent families, it would take $33,072 to survive on their own in a city and $27732 in a rural area. 49.1% of families here in the state are given some form of assistance because their earnings don't meet those levels.

Winter Weather Causes Series Of Wrecks
Ice on the highways Friday morning led to several accidents. Six seperate incidents were reported to Wilkesboro police, all involving people losing control of their vehicle due to black ice on the roads. Thankfully no one was badly injured in the wrecks reported to Wilkesboro police, however estimated damages were placed at just over $28000.

Drunk Driving Arrest Soon Leads To Wild Animals and Drugs
Sheriff's deputies went out to assist in a drunk driving arrest last week on Old Hwy 60 and ended up busting the driver for drugs. Once the man got out of his vehicle, deputies searched and found several bags in his pants which contained 43 grams of marijuana and 21 grams of cocaine. In addition, $321 in cash was taken from the man as well. As 23-yr-old Randy Eugene Davidson was being arrested, he admitted to buying the drugs and told deputies where to search. Once they arrived at the home, investigators discovered some marijuana inside along with two alligators. Wildlife officers were called in to take care of the animals and the investigation is continuing.

Blood Drive Going On Today
The winter weather that hit last week left behind wrecks and injuries across Wilkes County. And as the people recover, so is the blood supply. Here in WIlkes the supply has stayed just above critical levels, as the blood taken in last week helped to balance out what was needed. But with more winter weather possibly on the way, it's important to have as much on hand as possible. A drive is going on today at Speedway Ruitan Club from 2-6:30pm. No appointments are needed, but if you want to avoid waiting in line, you can call the Red Cross and set up a time to donate. Their number is 838-4563.

Thieves Hit Local Convenience Store
Sheriff's deputies were called out to Jimmy's Superette on Sparta Road last week, after reports came of a break-in. The thieves had climbed in through the back window to the business, after using the drink coolers as a footstool. Once inside, the thieves took 40 cartons of cigarettes, several knives, tobacco, lighters and money from the register. All total, the estimated loss was placed at just over $4000. At least one of the thieves left some evidence behind however. The person had apparently cut himself while climbing through the store window, leaving blood patterns all over the area. Also he left behind several bloody fingerprints on both the register and cigarette cartons. That investigation is still ongoing.

Final Day To Turn In Christmas For Kids Gifts
Today's the last day to turn in those gifts, if you've taken a tag from one of the Christmas for Kids trees at Lowes Foods. You can drop off gifts at Johnson Oil Company, the Navy recruiting station and both Lowes Foods stores, on Hwy 18 North and on 115. If the situation has changed and you find yourself unable to donate a gift, then you just need to call Christmas for Kids at 696-4462.

Thieves Rip Off Drink Machines At WCC
Wilkesboro police were called out to Wilkes Community College late last week after thieves raided several drink machines on campus. Someone managed to bust the locks on two Pepsi machines, prying open the doors and running off with all the cash inside. In addition, a Tropicana machine was damaged but the thieves couldn't pry it open. Combined total of both the damage and money lost was placed at $1600. That investigation continues.

Lifespan Part Two: Christmas Plans
With Christmas coming up, it can be easy at times to forget the mentally disabled. But here in Wilkes, one organization is working to help these people learn independence and feel like a part of the community. In part two of our series about Lifespan, Anita Bare explains what the group has planned for Christmas and how you can help. To hear Brian's interview with Anita, you can tune in today for the news. Also if you want to help the people of Lifespan with their Christmas project, you can call Patricia Church or Anita Bare at 667-5001. Or you can also drop by the organization, which is located at 1203 Creek Drive in Wilkesboro, near Cub Creek Countertops. On tomorrow's final part of the series, Anita explains another way people can help by donating clothes to the group.

Always Keep Your Guns Locked Up
Always lock up your weapons. A Wilkesboro man found out why that's a good idea last week, after theves opened his gun safe up and walked off with the weapons stored inside. The safe was unlocked and the only weapon inside was a custom made 300 Winchester. It's still unknown exactly how the thieves managed to get inside, as there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to any other part of the building. That investigation is ongoing.

State News

Free Flu Clinic In Forsyth Today
For anyone still needing a flu shot vaccine, you can get one today if you head out of the county. The Forsyth Health Department has 1,000 doses of the vaccine left and are offering them free of charge to anyone, on a first come, first serve basis. The doors to the Department, located at 799 Highland Avenue will open today at 7:30am this morning.

Student At Winston Salem State Arrested For Weapons
Over the weekend, a student from Winston Salem State University was arrested on weapons charges. Campus police found a shotgun and loaded handgun in 20-yr-old Corey Martel Torain’s car. Torain had been stopped by police because of a burned out headlight and after he agreed to let the officers search, the Mossburg pump action shotgun and a .380 handgun were both discovered. No reason has been given as to why Torain had the weapons in his car. He now stands charged with carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a weapon on educational property.

15 Year Old Arrested For Murder In Randolph
A 15-yr-old girl is in jail today, after being linked to a murder. Joseph Wood, a Charlotte mechanic was found shot to death in Randolph County last month. Now police have arrested four people, one of which is a 15-yr-old girl. The girl, whose boyfriend is one of the other three, has already been charged with first degree murder and kidnapping. Charges against the other three are pending in the case.

Sports Headlines

People In Wilkes Invited Out To New Volleyball League
For any kids or adults stuck inside thanks to the winter weather, an organization here in the county is inviting you to give them a try. DIVA, the Dig It Volleyball Association, is holding a meeting tonight at East Wilkes Middle School. For anyone interested in playing volleyball, DIVA will hold a tournament tournament throughout the month of December, with a membership signup fee of $50. For information about the group or to sign up, the number to call is 957-7363 and once again the first meeting is tonight at the East Wilkes Middle School starting at 6pm.

Central Girls Still Undefeated
In a make-up game this weekend, the Wilkes Central Lady Eagles kept their unbeaten streak alive with an 81-64 win over Starmount. Amy Will led the Lady Eagles with 27 points, while Laura Rollins and Sarah Brown also scored in double figures. Rollins put in 16 and Brown had 15 for the team, who improves to 7-0 on the year.

Elkin Takes Football Title
For the third time in the last four years, Elkin’s football team hosted up the trophy after winning the Class 1-A state championship. Elkin beat Northhampton-West 42-12, blowing out their opponent thanks in large part to a swarming defense that caused four turnovers. Quarterback Tyler Transou was named the MVP.

Appalachian Marches On
One rung up the ladder in the college scene, Appalachian State continues to march on toward their own title game. The Mountaineers knocked off Furman on Saturday, despite losing quarterback Richie Williams in the first half. Williams is out for the year after rupturing a tendon in the first quarter. His backup Trey Elder tossed for 165 yards, leading the Mountaineers to a 29-23 win and a spot in next week’s state championship.

NCAA Basketball Scoreboard
Around the college basketball scoreboard, it was UNC Greensboro over Gardner-Webb 76-68. Also Valparaiso beat UNC Charlotte 80-77, Western Carolina knocked off East Carolina 56-48 and NC State took out Appalachian State 92-68. Finally the number one ranked Duke Blue Devils took care of business against number two Texas, as they blew out the Longhorns 97-66 behind 41 points from J.J. Redick.

Bobcats Lose To Raptors
In the senior circuit of the NBA, Charlotte can’t seem to shake off their losing streak, which now stands at seven straight after a 111-103 loss to Toronto. Charlotte had to play the second half without forward Emeka Okafor, who left with an injured foot. Gerald Wallace had 13 points, 14 rebounds and a block for the Bobcats, who fall to 5-16.

Panthers Take A Hit Against Tampa
The Carolina Panthers saw their streak come to an end on Sunday in a 20-10 loss to Tampa Bay. Until this weekend, the Panthers had won five straight against the Bucs. Quarterback Jake Delhomme tossed for 220 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers fall to 9-4 on the season, with New Orleans on the schedule for next week. The loss also knocks Carolina back into a tie with Tampa for first place in the NFC South.

Carolina Hurricanes Fall To San Jose
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes took a hit as they fell to San Jose 4-3. The loss drops Carolina to 18-9 on the season, just one game ahead of Tampa Bay in the Southeastern Conference.

News & Sports For December 9th

WILKES COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

COUNTY EMPLOYEES DON'T REPORT IN TIL 9:30AM

Winter Weather Hits Wilkes
Old Man Winter finally made his presence known in Wilkes County, as sleet and freezing rain fell over the area last night. The power is still out in parts of the county, including sections of Broadway stretching from Damascus Church all the way to C.C. Wright School. And ice is still on bridges and other low lying areas across Wilkes, so please be careful when out driving this morning.

Gift Card Scam Busted By Police
A gift card scam was broken up this week by Wilkesboro police. At Lowes Hardware, a man had been going through the store gathering up items and passing it off as stuff he had purchased. He took the items to the return desk and exchange them for gift cards. At the time of his arrest, he had $1225 worth of gift cards accumulated. Loss prevention officials put together tapes of his activities and turned things over to Wilkesboro police, who made the arrest. 31-yr-old Jerry Kenneth Wyatt was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses.

Foxx Helps To Pass Natural Gas Amendment
5th District Representative Virginia Foxx took a step on Thursday toward lowering natural gas prices for people here in the area. Foxx and the rest of the House Agriculture Committee passed an amendment to the Commodity Futures reauthorization. That amendment gives the Trading Commission the authority to investigate market manipulations during any time of price increases. It also raises the penalties handed out for such manipulations. Foxx said that she wanted to do everything possible to keep the cost of natural gas low for families during the winter season.

Weapon Goes Missing From Car
A wildlife officer called sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday after discovering that a rifle was missing from his car. The officer had seized the weapon from a suspect and planned to turn it in the next day. Instead when he arrived home, the rifle was gone. Information was turned over to deputies and the investigation continues

Christmas In Wilkes Needs Help
Several hundred people took tags from the Christmas in Wilkes Angel Trees over the past month, helping needy kids during the holiday season. However now that the deadline has passed, the organization has a problem. 163 of the tags that were taken have not been turned back in, which is a problem since the gifts were supposed to be distributed today. If you did take a tag but haven’t bought a gift yet, please do that this morning and be sure to call Christmas in Wilkes and let them know. The number to call is 927-2969.

Christmas In Wilkes Weather Changes
With the winter weather that hit the county, some changes have been made for Christmas in Wilkes. Families had been called and asked to pick up their childrens' gifts today, but due to the icy conditions this morning, they can do that later this afternoon. Or if you can't make it out to pick up those gifts today, please call Christmas in Wilkes at 927-2969 and you can arrange another time to do it.

Break-In At Myers Tire
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Myers Tire location in Millers Creek on Thursday, after reports of a break-in. Would be thieves had pushed open one of the doors to the business, without damaging the padlock that was on it. However it was a wasted effort, as the door had been blocked from the inside by several cabinets and tools. Nothing was taken from the building but damage was placed at $100. That investigation is ongoing.

Man Finds Rifle Stolen
A Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies to report a theft, one that happened over a month ago. The man told deputies that his rifle had been stolen, although he couldn’t say when exactly and there was no evidence of a crime. He also couldn’t provide suspects, because so many people had been in the home. That investigation continues.

Amnesty Week Is In Effect For Late Fees
Some good news for anyone whose holiday schedule has kept you from returning that overdue library book. The Wilkes County Library is holding an Amnesty Week, cutting fines in exchange for donations. For each can of food donated to the Library this week, $1 will be deducted from any overdue books, tapes or other items on loan. That will run from today until this Saturday December 10th, after which the regular late fees will go back into effect. And for those who don't have late fees but want to help out hungry people, you can drop off supplies at the library as well. The library is located at 215 Tenth Street in North Wilkesboro.

Regional News

Two People Facing Counterfeiting Charges In Dobson
Authorities in Dobson have broke up a counterfeiting ring and now two people are facing charges. Galax police got in touch with Surry County investigators after arresting a local woman for passing counterfeit bills. 38-yr-old Bridgette Morgan of Dobson and 35-yr-old Marvin Clinton Chapell are both in custody facing counterfeit charges, while Morgan is also been charged with obstruction of justice. Surry County officials searched Morgan's home and found several items used in the counterfeiting scheme, including a computer, printer and counterfeit currency patterns. All the evidence was turned over to the U.S. Secret Service.

State News

Highways Safer Near NC Churches
It's safer on the highway near churches here in North Carolina, according to a new study released this week. The research, done by Quality Planning Corporation, found that anyone living within a mile of a church is 10% less likely to have an accident than the average driver. The study took into account some 2 million accidents and found that around a church, the rate of accidents tends to decrease. By comparison, anyone living one mile around a restaurant, the study found, is 30% more likely to be involved in a wreck.

Green Beret Creator Dies
Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough died this week. Yarborough, a resident of Southern Pines North Carolina, was responsible for the creation of the Army's Green Beret strike force and also helped to design the winged paratrooper insignia back in 1941. Yarborough had served in the Army for 35 years, also working as commander of the Special Warfare Center during Vietnam. He was 93.

NC Court Keeps Christian Oath
People testifying in cases will still swear their oath using the Bible, thanks to a ruling yesterday in North Carolina Superior Court. Judge Donald Smith tossed out the ACLU's lawsuit, which had called for other non-Christian texts to be used for the oath, saying that the group had no legal grounds to file it in the first place. The lawsuit was taken out in July, as the ACLU said it was acting on behalf of its' members across the state.

Prayer Vigil Held For Activist
Many people have lost friends and family to the Iraqi conflict. Yesterday, members of the student and faculty body at Guilford College gathered to hold a prayer vigil for one specific person. Activist Tom Fox, a member of a Christian peacemaking team, was abducted by a group near the end of November. Now the "Swords of Righteousness Brigade" have announced they will execute the hostages on Saturday unless America agrees to a trade of captives. Starting at 7am Thursday morning, people came throughout the day to the Moon Room, to pray and remember Fox, who worked with the nearby Quaker community.

Rabies Scare In Lexington
Officials in Lexington are asking people to stay away from stray dogs and cats, after a rabies scare in the area. The Davidson County Health Department is also suggesting that people who live in the area take precaution with their own animals as well. On December 1st a rabid raccoon was shot and killed in the Denton community, causing the concern. Officials are urging people to be careful, since saliva from a rabid animal can contain the disease and even if your pet wasn't bitten, contact of any kind can leave him or her exposed.

Authorities Waited A Day Before Issuing Amber Alert
Questions are being raised today as to why authorities waited before issuing an Amber Alert for Devin and Donovan Reed. The two boys were found yesterday by authorities, safe at their grandparents' home in Durham County. However now comes word that police waited one whole day before putting out the Amber Alert, which has some people up in arms. The boys were taken on Tuesday, after social workers informed their parents that the two would be removed from the home, because it didn't have any power. The boys' father then issued threats to anyone who tried to take his kids and when officials arrived at the home, both the boys and parents were long gone. Officials said that while they couldn't release all the details, they had information that waiting to issue the alert wouldn't cause any problems.

Sports Headlines

High School Basketball Tonight
Depending on the weather conditions, there'll be some high school basketball on the radio tonight. Starmount heads into Moravian Falls, to take on the Wilkes Central Eagles. For the Lady Eagles, this is a chance to keep their unbeaten streak alive at 7-0, while the boys will have a shot at knocking off some of their major competition in the 2A division. We'll be going on the air at 7pm with the McDonald's pregame show and then join Ken Byrd and Keith Briand for the play by play at 7:15.

Playoff System Possibly In NCAA's Future
The face of college football could be changing in the future, after a hearing this week on Capital Hill. The House Subcommittee on Commerce and Trade held a meeting with NCAA officials, inquiring why Division I college football is the only sport without a playoff system. Lawmakers said they weren't going to force the issue, but called on NCAA officials and members of the BCS committee to put together a system soon. Officials said they were open to change but that school presidents would have to approve adding any additional games to the schedule, something they've so far refused to do.

Peppers Possibly Out For Sunday
In the NFL, Carolina could be missing a major part of their defense when they go on the road against Tampa this Sunday. Julius Peppers is still recovering from an ankle injury, caused by a cut block in last Sunday's game against Atlanta. Team doctors and Peppers himself said that they're not sure if the ankle will be 100% and the defensive end may have to miss possibly two out of the last three games of the regular season.

Jake Delhomme Moving Up
In other Panthers news, quarterback Jake Delhomme is slowly making his way into the record books. Delhomme needs 293 passing yards to hit the 10,000 yard mark, which would put him second all time in team history. Former Panther Steve Beuerlein currently holds the record with 12,690 yards.

NHL: Hurricanes Win
In the NHL last night, the Carolina Hurricanes continued their winning ways as they beat the LA Kings 3-2. The win improves Carolina's record to 18-8 on the season.

NASCAR News
Around the NASCAR circuit, some changes are in the works for Penske Racing. Kodak has pulled out from being the sponsor for the Number 77 Dodge, leaving driver Travis Kvapil without a ride. Kodak said that the company wanted to take a year long break to give Penske time to field a more competitive team. In other NASCAR headlines, Kurt Busch is getting a new crew chief for next season, as Roy McCauley will take over on the Number 2 Dodge. He'll replace Larry Carter.

News & Sports For December 7th

Notes From Wilkes County Commissioners Meeting
The Wilkes County Commissioners' held their monthly meeting last night and several issues were discussed. First, the boys soccer team from Wilkes Central was honored by the commissioners for winning the state championship. Coach Mike Sloan spoke about the team and introduced the players, who were given a pin by chairman Zach Henderson. Also a team of students from West Wilkes was honored for a competition they've entered. The students, led by Bryan Shumate who spoke to the commissioners, are entering the EV Challenge, a competition of schools across the nation to build an electric car. West is one of four high schools in the state that is taking part in the competition. They hope to have the vehicle finished by February 1st and ready to present by the deadline of April 6th. In other news from the meeting, the commissioners approved giving the Pro-Net company a service contract to sort through some data processing issues here in the county. Redundant systems and possible overcharging by vendors were some of the main reasons for the decision, as there have been some discrepancies in labor charges over the past few months. In addition, the company would help to monitor the county's computer systems and be able to track down hackers that try and get into the system. The motion passed 4-1, with Keith Elmore as the dissenting opinion. Elmore had requested more time, to bring in other companies to bid on the process. As it stands, the county manager's office estimated that the contract will cost $60,000. Also county commissioner Faye Byrd called for some changes in the Economic Development Commission, including a closer working relationship with the Vocational Workshop. She suggested that the new economic director be allowed to research and write grants to bring in new businesses.

Christmas For Kids Raffle Continues
As tags from the Christmas for Kids Angel Trees continue to be taken down throughout the county, there is another way you can lend a hand. Raffle tickets are being sold at $1 each, with prizes available ranging from an electric scooter to restaurant certificates and even a 27' inch TV. There's only one more day to enter the raffle, as the drawing will be held tomorrow, December 8th and winners will be contacted over the next few days. All money raised by the raffle will go to support the program, by helping to purchase gifts for any children whose names weren't taken down off the Angel Tree. As for the program itself, names can be taken and gifts turned in through next Monday December 12th. You can drop off gifts or buy raffle tickets at Johnson Oil Company and both Lowes Foods stores, on Hwy 18 North and on 115. Also you can drop off gifts at the Navy station here in Wilkes, that's at 1717 Winkler Street in Wilkesboro. The Angel Trees are up at both Lowes stores and will stay out through the weekend.

Never Keep Money Inside Your Car
Never leave cash inside your car. Employees of Ted's Kicking Chicken found that out the hard way this week. They had parked the car at their house, but left a laptop computer, along with $2500 in cash inside. During the early morning hours on Monday, sounds were heard outside the house and the woman looked out to see two men running away from the unlocked vehicle. One of the thieves slipped and dropped the laptop, which was recovered. There was no damage done to the car and nothing else missing. That investigation is ongoing.

529 Plans: How To Get Them
Throughout this week on the 3WC News, Brian has been talking with Carol Owens from financial service Scott & Stringfellow about 529 plans. They've been going over how the plans can help you guarantee there is money available for your kids' college fund. In the final part of the series, we explain what you need to look for when investing. Financial planners will go over things with you, explaining the options that are available. But when going with a plan, experts say to consider three items. First consider how you want to invest your stock. With over 47 different options, it can be easy to jump right in without knowing the consequences. Some plans will change as the child gets older and those changes could affect the end result. Also beware of fees. In most plans, there is a management fee ranging from .25% to .95% a year. But others will have hidden fees such as an enrollment charge or an annual maintenance fee of over 2%. Finally, make sure you discuss with your financial advisor how the 529 plan will affect any possible financial aid, given by your child's college. In some plans, 5.6% of the total earned by the plan would be counted by colleges as your family's expected contribution. In others if the student is named as owner of the plan, that increases to 35%.

Deer Stand Goes Missing
Who would carry off a deer stand? That's what a Millers Creek man is wondering today, after his was stolen. Deputies were called out on Sunday, after the homeowner returned and went walking on his property. He found the deer stand that had been used all season was now missing. It's unclear who carried off the stand or where it went, as no one in the area could recall seeing anything suspicious. That investigation continues.

Focus On Music
The 3WC phonelines have been rining off the hook over the past few months, with questions about Singing in the Foothills. Is it coming back? Where will it be held? How can I get tickets? All those questions and more will be answered on Thursday, as John Wishon will be sitting in with Brian for Focus on the Foothills. They'll go over the details of the event and try to clear up some of the questions that have been asked. That's tomorrow at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Blood Drive Coming Up Today
With sleet and snow in the forecast for this weekend, it's important to get as much blood as possible on hand in case of wrecks and other icy problems. The Red Cross is continuing their string of blood drives today, with one going on at Wilkes Community College. You can give blood starting at 9:30 this morning and stretching on until 3pm this afternoon. With 1500 pints used on an average day here in the state, we need to get the supply out of critical levels. You can set up an appointment by calling the Red Cross at 838-4563 or simply drop by the college and give.

Road Sign Stolen In North Wilkesboro
Sheriff's deputies were called out recently to the Rock Creek Church Road, after thieves ran off with the road sign. A witness told deputies that she saw four boys take the sign and provided details and descriptions. Deputies located both the sign and the boys, who apologized and helped to put it back up. No charges were filed and the names were not released, as all of the boys are under 16.

State News

Free Flu Shots In Greensboro
With flu season in full swing, people are hunting for the vaccine. If you haven't already gotten a shot this year, it might be a good idea to make the trip to Greensboro this morning. The Guilford County Health Department announced on Tuesday that they have flu shots left and will be handing them out free of charge today. You can go over to the clinic anytime from 8am til 11am to receive the shot. It's located at 1100 Wendover Avenue in Greensboro and for more information you can give the department a call at 641-7777.

Tuition On The Rise For Appalachian Students
Bad news for anyone returning to or going to Appalachian State for the first time. Beginning next fall, tuition at the university is going to be climbing once again. The move still has to be approved by the UNC Board of Governors, but as it stands Appalachian's trustees agreed to raise tuition by $400. That would make tuition $2221, as opposed to the current $1821. The Board of Governors has to approve the request because it falls over the limit of a $322 tuition hike that they imposed this year. Appalachian officials said they want to get an exception for the rule, in order to guarantee a quality education for their students, while at the same time making sure that the faculty is taken care of.

New Program Helping To Find Jobs In Caldwell
Over the past few months, several hundred workers in Caldwell County have found themselves out of jobs, as plants were closed and sold. Now however there's some hope on the way, courtesy of the county's new Caldwell Works program. The program, which begins in January will give unemployed workers some hands on training in several different fields. People can choose from either education, health care of horticulture, spending around 15 hours in the field and 20 hours in the classroom. Depending on their success, officials can then set up interviews and possibly have them in a new job within a few months.

Man Killed After Stealing Ambulance In Raleigh
A Wake County man is dead today after he stole an ambulance from the local EMS. The incident happened early Tuesday morning, when Wake County EMS responded to a call at a Raleigh convenience store. A man had seemed to be having a stroke and when EMS arrived, he began fighting with them, before running out of the store. The man jumped into the ambulance and took off down the road, but he didn't pay attention to the curve and went straight over an embankment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Annexation Causes Problems For Fayetteville
Residents of Fayetteville are having some problems today, thanks to the city's recent annexation. Some of the areas just outside the city have been annexed in, to add more tax revenue. However that decision may end up costing someone their life. The annexed homes have not yet been linked to the 911 system, meaning that dispatchers have no clue where to send EMS should there be an emergency. Already there has been one reported problem, when a 6-month-old girl was hit in the head by a falling TV set. After no paramedics showed up 45 minutes later, the mother and grandmother took her to the nearby fire department and they helped her get treatment. Officials say they're working to solve the problem.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Three of the county's high schools were in action last night. For the girls varsity, it was the Lady Eagles keeping their unbeaten streak alive with a 66-50 win over Statesville. Amy Will had 24 points and Sarah Brown added 13 points & 11 rebounds for Wilkes Central. The end result wasn't so good for the West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks as they lost to North Stokes 61-49. West started out in control, opening up a 13-2 lead, but soon faded and in the second half it was all North Stokes. Emily Deal led the 0-5 Lady Blackhawks with 18 points. And up the road at East Wilkes, the Lady Cardinals lost to South Stokes 67-53. Amanda Williams put in 15 points for the 1-3 East Wilkes squad. On the boys side of the court, things weren't much better, as the Blackhawks of West fell to North Stokes 92-80. West falls to 3-2 with the loss as they were led by Kurtis Lankford's 27 points. Chad Lankford also tossed in 16 for the Blackhawks. Finally it was East Wilkes losing to South Stokes 72-57. The Cardinals led at the half 20-18, but couldn't hold on. Brett Poplin had 21 and Cody Cook added 19 for the 1-3 Cardinals.

Local Player Commits To High Point
High Point's girls team will get some added firepower next season, courtesy of Wilkes Central. Amy Will, a senior guard for the Lady Eagles, has committed to play for the university. The 5-10 Will was the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year last season and her team is off to a 5-0 start so far. The Lady Eagles are in action tonight at Statesville.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college scoreboard, it was UNC Greensboro taking care of East Carolina 78-70. Also Tennessee beat Appalachian State 89-81. DJ Thompson had 14 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds for the Mountaineers, who fall to 3-4 and last place in the Southern Conference.

UNC Lands Another Football Commitment
While UNC's football season didn't exactly turn out as planned, good news continues to pour in about next year. Mike Ingersoll, a senior at Butler High School in Matthews, committed to play for the team. Ingersoll has split time between the tight end and defensive end positions. able to run the 40 yard dash in 4.89 seconds despite weighing in at 6-5 260 lbs. UNC officials said that Ingersoll could also see some time at guard on the offensive line, in addition to playing tight end. When injuries cut down the Butler team last season, Ingersoll stepped in for the guard position.

Carolina Takes Care Of Business Against Anaheim
It didn't take long for the Carolina Hurricanes to get back to their winning ways. The Hurricanes beat Anaheim last night 6-2, behind a hat trick from Kevyn Adams. Carolina improves to 17-8 on the season, staying two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the Southeastern Conference.

News & Sports For December 6th

Local Man Arrested After Police Find A Fugitive & Meth
Sheriff's deputies responded to a tip this week that an employee at Showtime Video in Millers Creek was harboring a fugitive. After investigating, they found that the man, 49-yr-old Dwayne Michael Dancy had in fact helped Crystal Gregory hide from the law, by setting her up in a local hotel and paying for the room. Mr. Dancy confessed to deputies and as they were placing him under arrest, a bag was found in one of his pockets containing methamphetamine. In addition, a roll of money totaling $310 was found and confiscated as well. Mr. Dancy was charged with possession with intent to sell and distribute as well as harboring a fugitive.

Holiday Grinch Makes His Way To North Wilkesboro
A homeowner in North Wilkesboro woke up on Sunday to find that some people don't like Christmas decorations. Over $500 worth of damage was done to the man's home, as the vandals destroyed his reindeer ornaments outside, along with parts of a door and several chairs. Neither he or his wife woke up due to some cold medication they had been taking. Nothing was taken or disturbed inside the house, all the damage was focused on the front door and other areas around the home. That investigation is ongoing.

Planning Ahead Part Two: Who Can Do It and When?
It can be frustrating, planning for college. Often you have to set aside money ten to fifteen years in advance and even then it can be a headache, not knowing how to structure your investment in order to get the full benefits of it. 529 plans are a way that parents can jump over all those hurdles and have some financial security for their children's college fund. Carol Owens from financial service Scott & Stringfellow explains who qualifies for the plan and when's the best time to invest. And you can hear Brian's interview with Carol today on the 3WC News, then in tomorrow's final segment, Carol explains how you go about setting up a 529 plan and where you can get that information.

All For Some Cigarettes
Sheriff's deputies were called out on Sunday to the SAR store in Millers Creek, after reports came of a break-in. Thieves had shattered a window payne at the business, then using the open window to climb inside. However inside the store nothing was damaged or disturbed, as it appeared they came for one thing and one thing only. 15 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes, estimated at $300 worth, were taken. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Amnesty Week Is In Effect For Late Fees
Some good news for anyone whose holiday schedule has kept you from returning that overdue library book. The Wilkes County Library is holding an Amnesty Week, cutting fines in exchange for donations. For each can of food donated to the Library this week, $1 will be deducted from any overdue books, tapes or other items on loan. That will run from today until this Saturday December 10th, after which the regular late fees will go back into effect. And for those who don't have late fees but want to help out hungry people, you can drop off supplies at the library as well. The library is located at 215 Tenth Street in North Wilkesboro.

Thieves Take Jacket & Leave Behind Everything Else
Some thieves broke into an apartment in the Windmere complex in Wilkesboro this weekend, running off with cash and a jacket. The homeowner returned from work and went to unlock her door, only to find it pushed open without assistance. Portions of sheetrock and the doorframe itself was lying on the floor and shoe imprints were left all around the area. Despite all the damage, thieves only took $40 in cash and a blue fleece jacket instead of the DVD player and other items inside. Officers are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Connected To Scout Troop
The Red Cross is holding another blood drive today at the North Wilkesboro VFW Hall, as part of their effort to raise the blood supply before serious winter weather hits the county. But the Red Cross aren't the only ones involved with this drive, as a local Boy Scout Troop is taking part. For Siyon Chin and the rest of Scout Troop 325, this is an important project as well. Siyon helped to organize the drive as part of a merit badge project and you can come out to help Siyon and the rest of the Scouts from 2-6:30pm today at the North Wilkesboro VFW Hall.

Broke In To Have A Look Around
Some curious thieves broke into a Wilkesboro residence over the weekend. Thieves broke into a home on North Cherry Street, shattering the glass pane on the front door. However once inside, they apparently couldn't find what they were looking for as nothing was taken or damaged. The only thing out of place was the fact that most of the doors inside the house had been opened. That investigation is ongoing.

Newest Protection Against Fraud
With the Christmas season in full swing, this is also a busy time of year for thieves, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information is a major target. But now, people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. The Identity Theft Protection Act, a new law that went into effect December 1st will allow you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. The only problem is that while thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.

Another License Plate Ripped Off At Wal-Mart
More problems in the Wal-Mart parking lot this weekend, as yet another person came out to find their license tag had been ripped off the car. In this case, the tag wasn't simply pulled off but ripped, as the screws were torn out as well, causing damage to the vehicle. The damage to the car is still being estimated and the investigation continues.

State News

Bush In Kernersville
Taxes and the economy were on President Bush's mind when he spoke Monday afternoon to a group of 500 workers at a Kernersville plant. The president praised the economy, citing 215,000 jobs that were created in November as a sign of growth. At the same time, he also asked Congress to extend the tax cuts currently in place, to help re-enforce the growing economy. Speaking at the Deere-Hitachi Construction Corporation, President Bush criticized American businesses for failing to live up to their pension plans, putting the burden soley on the government to provide.

Former Defensive Back Saves Christmas In Concord
An elderly couple in Concord had their Christmas plans saved by a former college football player this week. The couple was walking back to their car in the parking lot of Concord Mills when two robbers assaulted them and stole the Christmas presents they had bought for their grandkids. As the robbers took off, they were followed by someone who had witnessed the crime, a former college defensive back. He tackled one of the robbers, recovering the stolen merchandise but was unable to keep the two suspects from escaping. All of the gifts were returned intact and undamaged to the couple.

Mental Health Rehaul Failing
Bad news for North Carolina's mental health system. The massive overhaul of the program, which has been going on for four years, isn't working. This according to the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons With Disabilities. In fact instead of getting better, the problem could be growing. Mentally ill patients are ending up in hospital emergency rooms and jails due to a lack of monitoring and failure to take their medication. Four years ago North Carolina turned over the mental health system to private companies, who have struggled to keep things under control. More than 358,000 people are in the state's health system, with adult patients increasing in number over the last four years.

Actor Gives Money To Help Rocky Mount People
People in Rocky Mount are getting some help this year in paying for their heating bils. Actor Denzel Washington donated $25,000 to the Winter Assistance program, the largest gift in its' 19-year history. The donation comes thanks to Washington's friendship with Rocky Mount native Herman Boone, a high school football coach whose life Denzel portrayed in the movie "Remember The Titans".

Edgecombe Schools Run Like A Business
Tired of low test scores, Edgecombe County schools are trying a new tactic. Each school is now being run like a business. Goals are set for the county and each individual school sets their own goals as well. Then within the school, each student has to set their own goal, in order to keep up with state expectations. This way, county officials say, the kids feel responsible for their own success or failure. Each one keeps a data folder, that they update with progress reports and graphs are used by teachers to show how close or far off each student is from their goal, so they know what to work on. Officials say that in the two years since the program started, test scores and overall grades have increased, along with the students' enthusiasm about learning.

Sports Headlines

Local Player Commits To High Point
High Point's girls team will get some added firepower next season, courtesy of Wilkes Central. Amy Will, a senior guard for the Lady Eagles, has committed to play for the university. The 5-10 Will was the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year last season and her team is off to a 5-0 start so far. The Lady Eagles are in action tonight at Statesville.

High School Basketball Tonight
Two of our county high schools have basketball teams in action tonight. Wilkes Central goes on the road to Statesville, with the girls team looking to stay undefeated at 5-0. West Wilkes meanwhile will be playing host to North Stokes, The Lady Blackhawks are looking for their first win and the boys varsity are hoping to build on the momentum from their victory over Bishop McGuiness.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college scene last night, it was Elon over Guilford College 87-63. The Phoenix recorded their second win of the season, putting their record at 2-5. Also it took overtime but Gardner-Webb pulled out the 67-58 victory over Mercer. Simon Conn led the Bulldogs with 20 points, a career high 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots as the team improves to 4-2 on the year.

State To Play In Charlotte
Around the college football scene, bowl bids have been accepted and the postseason schedule is finalized. NC State will be heading down to Charlotte on New Year's Eve, to take on South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Wolfpack finished the season on a 4-1 winning streak to wrap up at 6-5 and earn an invite to the bowl. The game kicks off at 11am December 31st in Bank of America Stadium.

Carolina Walking Wounded After Sunday
Taking a look at the NFL, several Carolina Panthers are walking wounded after Sunday's win over Atlanta. Defensive end Mike Rucker sprained his ankle, while tight end Michael Gaines is suffering from a thigh bruise. Also guard Tutan Reyes injured his knee, but team officials don't know how severely or if he could miss part of the regular season.

Hurricanes Lose Star Rookie
If Saturday's loss to Phoenix wasn't bad enough, the Carolina Hurricanes got some more news on Monday. Rookie forward Andrew Ladd was placed on injured reserve, after damaging his knee during the game against the Coyotes. It's unknown exactly how long Ladd could be gone, leaving an offensive hole in the team that will be filled by minor leaguer Chad LaRose. LaRose was called up from the minors on Monday to take Ladd's spot on the roster, having put up 25 points in 23 games so far this year.