News & Sports For August 31st

Woodward School Has New Owner
On Monday night, the Wilkes County School Board met and went over several items on the agenda. The board officially severed their ties with the old Woodward Middle School property, accepting a bid from the Brushy Mountain Baptist Association to buy it. Lawson Horton from the Association says that the Association has several plans for the building. Aside from bringing in their own offices, the Association is putting together plans for a school, also hoping to move in their Upwards basketball program and several other groups. The Association is talking with Habitat for Humanity and Samaritan's Kitchen among others, who want to be part of the new facility.

License Check Leads To Arrest
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man near Edgewood Road this week after nearly being hit by his vehicle. The deputies were performing a license check when a vehicle came up and refused to stop. The driver then aimed the car at one of them, who was able to barely move out of the way in time, hitting the driver’s side door with his flashlight. Deputies then pursued the man on NC 115 in what became a high speed chase, with speeds reaching above 80 mph. The man went through the parking lots of two different stores before deputies lost him. However they had been able to get the man’s license plate number and tracked him down at home. 39-yr-old Clyde Grady Nickelson Jr. was arrested and charged with DWI, assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing to avoid arrest.

Blood Drive Later Today
Wilkes County’s blood supply is in a critical stage as we head into September. All blood types are in critical levels, with Type O & Type B especially needed. This could cause serious problems as we move on through hurricane season. Even though Katrina passed us by, we still have several months left in the season, without enough blood to last through a major storm. To solve that problem, the Red Cross is asking people to come out and give today during their blood drive at Community Alternatives. It starts at 10am this morning and runs until 2:30 this afternoon. Just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. If you want some more information before heading out, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Just Wanted To Look Around
A North Wilkesboro woman got off work this week to find that someone had been inside her vehicle. The lock had been torn off her car’s trunk, but nothing was missing and no other damage was done to the vehicle. An estimated $400 worth of damage was done in the incident. There are several suspects in the case.

Voter Registration Deadline This Friday
Time’s almost up if you haven’t registered yet to vote this year. At 5pm Friday, voter registration for the North Wilkesboro Primary will be over. If by that afternoon you aren’t registered to vote, then you won’t be able to cast a ballot. The same goes for the November elections. All registrations have to be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm or if you’re out of town, you can mail it in with a postmark of this Friday’s date. Tomorrow on the 3WC News we’ll take a look at the upcoming primaries in the area.

Jewelry Stolen From Ronda Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda woman’s home this week, after thieves took off with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. Despite all the items missing, there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to any part of the property. Included in the theft was a $600 diamond ring, a $500 gold rope necklace and several other items. There are suspects in the case however and the investigation is ongoing.

Gas Savers Part Three
With gas prices continuing to go up, it’s more important than ever to conserve fuel. Today in the third part of our gas savers series, we take a look at some other ways to save you time and money at the pump. First of all, keep your engine in tune. That may seem like a small thing, but an out of tune engine can lower your gas mileage by about 4%. Also be on the lookout for worn out sparkplugs. They can drop your car’s gas mileage by 30%. Be sure and replace the car’s air filter when needed. A clogged filter can cost you an additional 15 cents a gallon. Finally make sure to check your tires. Underinflated tires wear down quick, offering more resistance and forcing your engine to work harder. The gas mileage on underinflated tires can drop by 15% or more in some cases. It may seem like a long list of things to do, but it’ll be worth it when you can spend more time away from the pump.

Focus On Veterans
They are called America’s greatest generation. The veterans of World War II gave all they had to protect this country, leaving behind family and friends to fight across the ocean. Now members of the Wilkes VFW Hall want to honor our local vets by taking them on a free trip to the World War II Memorial. Rex Eldrith from the VFW Hall will be my guest tomorrow for Focus on the Foothills, as we’ll be talking about the upcoming trip, what’s involved and how anyone can take part. That’s tomorrow after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

State News

North Carolina Has A Lottery
North Carolina is no longer the only state without a lottery. Tuesday afternoon, the Senate held a special session and voted on the measure, passing it by a vote of 25-24. The Senate was deadlocked, with the absence of two members, John Garwood of Wilkes, who’s recovering from illness and Harry Brown of Jacksonville, who decided to miss the session to start his honeymoon. With their absence, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue exercised her executive powers and cast the deciding vote. The bill earlier passed in the House so now it goes to Gov. Easley for his signature and will be made law.

Fugitive Found At UNCC
After over a week of searching, a North Carolina fugitive is behind bars. Robert Windsor stands accused of kidnapping then murdering his girlfriend, before leaving her body in the trunk of her car. He later abandoned the vehicle on I-77 and disappeared. Over the weekend however, reports came in that he had been sighted in University City, hanging around the UNC Charlotte campus. Campus police found the man on Monday, walking near the main entrance to the school. He was arrested and quickly brought back to Catawba County. It’s still unknown why he went to UNC Charlotte, as he had no ties to the school.

North Carolina Students Get Boost In SATS
Good news for North Carolina students, as the average SAT score here in the state has improved over the last year. According to figures released on Tuesday by the College Board, the class of 2005 improved by four points over the year before. Students here in the state averaged a score of 511 on the math section, that’s up from 507 in 2004. However the verbal test scores stayed the same, with students averaging 499. Virtually every demographic group increased their scores with the exception of Hispanic students. Despite the progress, North Carolina still lags behind the national average, which rose also this year to 520 in math and 508 on the verbal.

Bus Shooting Under Investigation
Officials in Durham are investigating a shooting today, after someone fired on an occupied Transit bus. The incident happened Monday afternoon as the bus was traveling down Holloway Street. Witnesses at the scene described a man standing in the yard of a nearby house, pulling out his gun and opening fire. Three bullets hit the bus windows, but no one was injured. It’s believed at this time the bus wasn’t the target, but rather a vehicle that had passed in front of it. Officials are continuing the investigation at this hour.

Man Who Died Not Criminal
After investigating further, it appears an innocent man died during a police chase in Belmont. Over the weekend, police at a DWI checkpoint saw a vehicle do a U-turn, let out a woman and then take off down the road. The woman told police she had been kidnapped and later raped, a story that would turn out to be false. Police pursued the driver, who eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed, later dying from his injuries. Now the woman has admitted that she made up the whole story, because she was scared of being arrested. The man had let her out and turned around because he’d been drinking and didn’t want to be caught.

Sports Headlines

Volleyball Scores From Tuesday Night
Around the high school scene, some volleyball action on your Tuesday night. It was Forbush beating North Wilkes in JV action 2 games to nothing. In both games Forbush took the win 25-20. In varsity action, Forbush also pulled out a clean sweep 3 games to nothing against North Wilkes.

Friday Night Football
When the wind and rain expected to depart by Thursday, all the local high schools will be back in action this week. Right here on 3WC, we’ll be back out at Wes Steele Stadium for a game between Wilkes Central and East Wilkes. The Cardinals come in off a win against North at 1-1, while coach Jeremy Funderburk and the Eagles look to rebound from an 0-2 loss. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be on hand to bring you the play by play, while Brian Carlton will be back at the station, giving you updates on all the other games going on in the area. Kickoff is set for 7:30 with the pregame show going on the air at 7:15. All this on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Blackman Starts For State
With a few days before their first game of the season, NC State finally named a starting running back. Sophomore Darrell Blackman will get the start, beating out fellow sophomore Bobby Washington, junior Reggie Davis and freshman Toney Baker, Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene. The coaching staff said that Blackman got the nod due to the fact he can catch, block and also is a talented runner, a triple threat that none of the others could match.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem falling to Kinston 10-5. Warthogs starter Lance Broadway was roughed up for eight runs in four innings of work. Robert Valido and Leo Daigle led the Warthogs with three hits each.

Former Tarheel To Get Start
A former UNC Tarheel will get his chance to make an impact in the NFL on Opening Day. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker, who was signed as a rookie free agent by the team, will replace Jerome Bettis in the starting lineup. Bettis injured his right calf muscle and so Parker, who graduated two years ago from UNC, will step in and take his place. The 5-10 209 lb. Parker will line up behind the tackles for Pittsburgh’s game September 11th against Tennessee.

NASCAR Facing Gas Problems
NASCAR officials are facing a problem that can’t be fixed with testing or a suspension. Rising gas prices are causing car owners to consider several options, to avoid losing profits. Some of the teams who have been considering adding a third driver will most likely put that off for another season. In addition, teams are worried that the high prices will keep fans away not just during the Chase For The Cup, but also into next year.

News & Sports For August 30th

Update On Katrina
As the winds die down from Hurricane Katrina and it’s downgraded to a tropical storm, officials in North Carolina continue to keep an eye on the situation. Here in Wilkes, Duke Power issued a statement warning people to be careful around creeks, rivers and other bodies of water. Western North Carolina may be out of the storm’s path, but we can expect several inches of rain and possibly some flooding along with it. Several Duke Power personnel are on standby in case we do get severe weather and they ask that if you are having problems with the electricity, to call when it happens instead of waiting til later. In addition, they ask that anyone who sees a downed power line or some other wire, don’t come near it. You can however call 1-800-POWERON for more information or if you have questions.

Gas Thieves Hit Two More Wilkes Businesses
As prices go up at the pump, it’s no surprise that some people are refusing to pay. Gas thieves hit two more businesses in Wilkes County, first at the Millers Creek Market and then at the Grocery Bag. At the Millers Creek Market, a man drove up to the pump, put in $12 worth of gas and then took off down the road without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get his car’s license plate however and also provided deputies with a description of the vehicle. Then another man pulled up to the Grocery Bag #2 in Traphill, pumping $10 worth of gas before driving off. A description of that vehicle was also turned in and the investigation in both cases is ongoing.

Gas Savers Part Two: Keeping Your Cool
Have you ever got in your car and started it up, only to notice that the gas needle had dropped since you had turned it off? As the August rays beat down on your car, they also suck up gas from inside. In part two of our 3WC Gas Savers series, we’re explaining some more ways to help save money at the pump. First try and park your car in the shade. Parking in sunlight will help your car’s gas evaporate quicker on a hot day. While storing it in the shade won’t solve the problem, it will make the evaporation process go a lot slower, saving at least part of your gas for the ride home. Also make sure your gas cap is tight. Each year, an estimated 147 million gallons of gas are lost due to misplaced or loose gas caps. Air conditioning might seem like a vacuum, draining your gas dry and your wallet too. But studies have shown that while driving on the highway, most cars are actually more efficient when the air conditioning is on, as long as you don’t go too far. Cranking it on full blast won’t get things cool any faster, but what it will do is put a drain on both your battery and gas. When you have an open window, it produces more resistance for your car to fight against, meaning that the engine has to work harder to keep up to speed and that translates into more gas being burned. Coming up tomorrow in part three of our series, we’ll tell you how the right tire can keep you away from the pump for a few more days.

Police Searching For Hit & Run Driver
A North Wilkesboro woman was driving down 421 earlier this week when suddenly a car slammed into her. The vehicle had pulled out of a side street, not paying attention to traffic and totaling both cars in the process. That second driver fled the scene on foot before anyone arrived and apparently with good reason. The car had been stolen a few hours earlier from its’ owner. Estimated damages were placed at $8000 and no one was injured. Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

WCC To Hold Start Up Business Classes
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a business? Maybe you have questions about what’s involved, what paperwork you have to fill out and what hoops you have to jump through. Starting this Thursday, Wilkes Community College is offering a series of seminars focusing on developing small businesses. The first takes place this Thursday, from 6-9pm in Room 1110 of the Student Resource Center. There is no cost, but college officials ask that you call ahead to pre-register. The number to call is 838-6210.

BROC Holding Educational Event Today
Do you have questions about the BROC operation? What exactly is their senior meal plan? How can I sign up for programs? What are the requirements? Coming up later today, members of the Maple Springs Senior Citizens group will be out at Bojangles on Curtis Bridge Road from 11am til 2pm. They’ll be discussing the BROC agency, handing out literature, talking about the different programs and giving out door prizes. Portions of Bojangles’ sales today will go directly to BROC.

High School Students Buckle Up Or Lose It
Here in Wilkes County and across the state, a new type of program is being offered to help keep the roads safe. R U Buckled is a new initiative in 53 of the state’s high schools, including all four in Wilkes County. Under the new plan, students have to wear seat belts at all times. If they’re caught on campus without one on, their parking privileges will be revoked and they’ll have to get a ride for any school activities for the rest of the year. This was put into practice due to the fact that 63% of all 16-to-20 yr olds who were killed in traffic accidents weren’t wearing seat belts.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Traphill Home
Mailbox vandals hit another home in the Traphill area this week. On Sunday, a local man returned home to find his mailbox had been trashed, marking yet another vandalism case in the area. None of the neighbors could recall hearing or seeing anyone come around the property, however estimated damages were placed at around $30. That investigation is ongoing.

State News

Easley Opens North Carolina Up To Refugees
With so many left homeless at least temporarily because of the storm, Gov. Mike Easley has opened North Carolina up as a safe haven. Three National Guard armories across the western part of the state have been opened for use as shelters. Over ten thousand people fled their homes in the face of the hurricane and any of those without a place to go can take shelter in the armories. There is one in Charlotte, right off I-77 on West Boulevard, another in Gastonia on Robinwood Road and finally one in Asheville on Shelborne Road. Two National Guard troops have been assigned to each shelter, to assist the full time staff on scene.

Alamance Man Arrested After Four Month Operation
22-yr-old David Lee Martin Jr. was arrested this week by Alamance County authorities for stealing. When all was said and done, they had charged him with 46 different crimes after what police say has been a four month crime wave. Over the last four months Martin stole everything from a Frito Lay truck to a piece of candy from a store. He’s currently being held in Alamance under $100,000 bond after being arrested at the scene of his latest crime.

Prisoner Gets Another Chance At Freedom
Clifton Spencer has been sitting in jail for years, serving time for a murder he claims he didn’t commit. IN 1990, someone killed a waitress in Manteo and after a brief investigation, Clifton was arrested and charged with the crime. He pled no contest at the time, saying that he was pressured to do so by his lawyer, who told him there was no way he’d get a fair trial. Now an old washcloth found at the scene might prove his innocence. The cloth was used by the killer to clean up after he disposed of the victim, leaving DNA traces behind. Those traces have a man’s DNA on them, but not that of Clifton Spencer. With no other evidence linking him to the scene, Spencer will get another trial possibly by the end of this year and could be a free man in 2006. It’s unknown why he was pressured by the lawyer, as the plea of no contest was about the only thing held up as evidence.

Natural Gas Prices Set To Climb
If you think the price at the pump is bad, wait til this winter. Piedmont Natural Gas announced this week that it plans to raise rates by 14%. That means overall, the cost to heat your home could climb by as much as $200 and that’s if the winter season is a normal one. A bad winter could mean upwards of $300 extra for natural gas, leading some people to cancel their gas service and break out the axe to solve the problem the cheap way.

Durham Bulls Do Their Part For Storm Victims
With people across the country struggling to do their part to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, one North Carolina baseball team is giving up their paychecks. The Durham Bulls announced before last night’s game that all proceeds from the event will be donated to disaster relief efforts. In addition, all of the team’s food supplies left over from this homestand will be donated as well. Monday was the last game of the season for the team and officials said this was the quickest and best way they could think of to help.

Sports Headlines

Maybin Still Won’t Sign
Around the minor leagues, the cousin of former Tarheel Rashad McCants still finds himself without a team. Cameron Maybin, who was drafted as the 10th pick by the Detroit Tigers this year, continues to hold out for a better deal. Maybin, who graduated this past year from Roberson High, wants a signing bonus of about one million more than the Tigers are willing to pay. He’s already lost the chance of playing this season and will likely have to wait until spring training if he does sign, as the fall league is coming up quick. If negotiations don’t go the way he hopes, Maybin has also said he’s open to the possibility of going to a community college and then re-entering the draft next year, in hopes that some team will give him the money he wants.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, Winston Salem moved back into first place after beating Salem 6-0 Monday night. The Warthogs got six shutout innings from starter Ray Liotta, who earned his sixth win of the season. Tom Collaro led the Warthogs, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Panthers Announce Cuts
The Carolina Panthers lowered the axe on 11 players Monday, trimming their roster to 79. By 4pm today, the team has to cut another three in order to get down to the NFL limit of 76. Included in the cuts were Rod Rotherford, last year’s practice squad quarterback who lost a battle with fourth round pick Sefan Lefors for the third string job. Also wide receivers Taylor Stubblefield and J.R. Toliver made the list, along with tight end Chad Mustard, running back Nick Maddox and defensive tackle Omari Jordan. Cornerback Dwight Anderson and linebacker Marcus Lawrence were let go, along with linemen Bill Ferrario, Chase Johnson and Michael Watson. The team has to release an additional 23 players on Saturday, when league rosters have to be trimmed down to the maximum of 53.

Former Winston Salem Player Waived By Bills
Monday was also the end of the line for a former Winston Salem State player, as Tory Woodbury was released by the Buffalo Bills. Woodbury, the school’s all time passing leader, had been working as a quarterback, safety and special teams player for the Bills, but just barely missed the cut. This marks the third team in the last three years to release the 27-yr-old Woodbury.

NASCAR Moving To Canada?
Nascar is considering an expansion for next season, moving into uncharted territory. Plans are coming together to add a race in Montreal, taking over from the Indy car Champ races held each year at the Formula One road course. As the Champ series has one more year on its’ contract, 2007 is the most likely date for the expansion to begin, unless a buyout can be reached. It’s not been decided yet if another race will be added to the schedule, or if a track in the U.S. will lose one of their races to Canada.

Busch Driver Accused Of Cheating
A driver from the Busch Series finds himself in trouble today along with possibly the car’s owner. After the race it was discovered that the tires on Reed Sorenson’s car had been illegally soaked, meaning that they were softened with chemicals to have a better grip on the raceway. Both his crew chief and tire specialist face not only fines but possible suspensions as well. Also NASCAR officials were looking into possible fines being handed out against car owner Chip Ganassi, who some believe okayed the move. The cause for concern comes from the fact that rubber is degraded when chemicals are used on it, meaning that while it might hold traction better for a few minutes, there’s a greater chance the tire could blow during a race and create a wreck.

News & Sports For August 29th

Katrina Heads Inland
With evacuations still going on in portions of Mississippi and Louisiana, just how much of an effect will Hurricane Katrina have on Wilkes and the surrounding area? Currently the hurricane has sustained winds of around 165 mph and is making landfall near New Orleans. Right now, what that means for Wilkes is simply a lot of rain, but things could change in the next 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center has Katrina on a track that would take it right to the edge of North Carolina by early Wednesday. If at any time the hurricane turns east, we would be directly in the path of what would be by then a tropical storm. As conditions change we’ll have updates on the storm and what if anything we need to do to get ready for it.

Break-In To Steal Leaf Blower
Sheriff’s deputies were called out over the weekend to a Wilkesboro residence, after the homeowner returned to find thieves had broke into his storage building. However the only thing taken from the area was a leaf blower that had been kept inside. Nothing else was damaged or missing. The thieves apparently had climbed in through an open window. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Gas Savers Part One: Driving Habits
Gas prices both here in Wilkes and across the state are continuing to skyrocket. And now with the damage done by Hurricane Katrina, it’s more important than ever to conserve gas. This week on 3WC News, we’re bringing you a special series on gas conversation, some quick tips on how to get the most out of your car while keeping money in your wallet. First off, take it easy with that lead foot. Studies done by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy show that the faster you accelerate, the lower your fuel efficiency drops. What that means is that if you push your car by going 75mph or higher, the gas mileage drops by 33%. True you’ll get to your destination a lot faster, but you’ll also be making a trip back to the pump a lot faster as well. Another good idea to conserve gas is to remove any excess items that you don’t need while in the vehicle. For every 100 pounds of extra weight, your car’s gas mileage drops by 2%. Finally be careful how much time you allow your car to idle during the day. Studies have shown that on average, more gas is burned when the car is idling then during a drive to work. Tomorrow in part two of our series, we’ll go over how keeping the air conditioner running could actually help you save on gas.

More Items Dumped On Roaring River Property
For the second time in less than a week, a Roaring River homeowner walked outside to find junk lying in the yard. This time a woman called sheriff’s deputies after coming out to find several appliances had been tossed onto her property. Despite the trash, no one could recall hearing or seeing anyone come near the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Central Wilkes Middle School To Hold First Falcon Night
Later tonight, students and parents will make their way to Central Wilkes Middle School for the first Falcon Family Night. Information will be available about the school’s athletic programs, also about some new laws that will affect how PE and Health classes operate. There will also be free blood pressure and diabetes screenings at the event, along with several other activities. That will be held this coming Monday, August 29th from 6-8pm in the gym of Central Wilkes Middle School. Anyone who attends the school is invited along with their parents. For more information you can call Chris Gambill at 667-7453.

Wreck On Westwood Lane Totals Two
It’s always a good idea to look both ways before pulling out. A North Wilkesboro man learned that the hard way last week, after being involved with a two car wreck. He was pulling out of the Food Lion in Wilkesboro but failed to notice oncoming traffic, slamming into a second vehicle that was driving down Westwood Lane. Total damages were placed at $2500 but thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Samaritan’s Kitchen In Need Of Help
Last week during Focus on the Foothills, we talked with Elizabeth Ferguson from Samaritan’s Kitchen about the need for volunteers. In the last week however, that need has grown and the Kitchen finds itself shorthanded. Everyone from retirees to those who just want to give a few hours in community service are asked to come out and help during the week. Help is especially needed Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am til 1pm. Those hours are when meals are being prepared for the Saturday deliveries, in addition to helping people from the community that need food. The number to call to get more information is 838-5331.

Drainage System Trashed At North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man returned home last week to discover that someone had attempted to do some home repairs while he was out. The drainage system on his home had been torn apart, with estimated damages placed at $500. There is however a suspect in the crime, as a man was seen wandering around the home while the owner was gone. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Later Today
Wilkes County’s blood supply is in a critical stage as we end the month of August. All blood types have less than a day’s supply left, with Type O especially lacking. Officials from the Red Cross talked to 3WC last week and confirmed that there are just a few vials left of Type O here in the county, which could cause serious problems if the hurricane heads our way. To help build up the supply enough to last through a major storm, the Red Cross is asking people to come out and give today during their blood drive at Welcome Home Baptist Church. It starts at 2:30pm this afternoon and runs to 7pm tonight. Just remember before giving, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. If you want some more information before heading out, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

State News

Amber Alert Still In Effect For Missing 12-Yr-Old
Officials across North Carolina are still searching for a missing 12-yr-old girl who vanished on Friday. As 3WC mentioned on Friday, an Amber Alert has been issued for 12-yr-old Jodie Renee Collie who left her home in Rocky Mount Friday morning and hasn’t been seen since. It’s believed that the girl is in the company of a registered sex offender, 27-yr-old Phillip Dankler, who she had developed a friendship with. Collie left a note for her parents, asking them to leave her alone and not call the police. The pair are traveling in a beige 2005 Hyundai Sonata with NC license plate NWN-2630. Jodie Collie is described as being 5-4 and 114 lbs, with green eyes and brown hair. Denkler is 6’1 and 150 lbs, with short black hair and green eyes.

Man Arrested For Aiming Gun At High School Parents
A man is in jail today after pointing a shotgun at four people who were waiting for a football team to return. On Friday night, two women and two kids were waiting for the Broughton High jv football team to get back, when a man walked up the street and pointed a gun in their face. He told them they had to leave the premises before being arrested by a patrolling officer. 45-yr-old Michael Burton Tighe gave no reason for his actions and is being held in the Wake County jail.

Scam Nets Thousands Of Dollars From Burke County
Families across Burke County are up in arms today, after it turns out a good deed they performed may have been for nothing. 32-yr-old William Hannagan from Valdese was arrested and charged with conning people for money. Hannagan would tell people that his wife and child were injured in a car wreck and he needed money so he could go visit them in the hospital. Some gave him money, while others went with him to the gas station so he could fill up the tank. Apparently this isn’t the first time Hannagan has conned people, as he’s wanted for the same crime in Statesville.

Republican Senator Has Ticket For Manufacturing Survival
People across the country are looking for a solution to the problem of outsourcing, as more jobs are daily lost to other countries. Republican Jim Jacumin thinks he has the solution. Jacumin, the Republican senator from Burke County, has put forth a bill to the General Assembly for consideration that would help create a furniture technology center. The center would help to create new technology, saving American companies millions of dollars while also making it cheaper to produce goods here rather than to outsource the work.

Warship To Be Turned Into Campground
If some state leaders have their way, the U.S.S. North Carolina will be turned into a campground. The 65-yr-old warship was decommissioned some time ago and is now a war memorial and museum. But plans are being drawn up to turn the crew bunks into a camping space, where around 175 people could spend the night. That’s part of a proposed $1.6 million in renovations, including a new air conditioning unit throughout the ship, bathrooms, exhibit areas and repairs to lower deck passages. Officials said that the ship would not meet safety standards and the cost of bringing it up to code would be more than could be afforded at this time.

Billy Graham Breaks Ground On New Ministry
The Rev. Billy Graham might be ending his crusade ministry, but he broke ground on another way of sharing the gospel this weekend. Graham helped to break ground on his own museum, a place that will highlight how the son of a dairy farmer went on to preach the Gospel around the world. But instead of just a memorial, the building is an interactive tool where people can hear sermons, kids can learn about God and anyone can accept Jesus as Savior. The 86-yr-old Graham said he didn’t want the building to glorify himself but God. The museum, which opens in 2007, is being built on the grounds of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.

Sports Headlines

High School Football Roundup
Around the high school scene, it was a close one over in Moravian Falls, as the West Wilkes Blackhawks beat Wilkes Central in overtime 12-6. In a hard fought defensive struggle, both teams had chances to win the game, but the senior leadership at West helped the Blackhawks pull away at the end. On the other side of the county, it was East Wilkes beating North 19-7, meaning that Coach Roy Carter of the Vikings will have to wait one more week for his first win with the team. East and West both improve to 1-1, while Central and North fall to 0-2 on the season

Wake Forest Lands Football Commitment
In college football, Wake Forest landed another recruit this weekend. Tripp Russell, who’s entering his senior year at Mount Tabor High School, commited to play for the Deacons. The 6-3 Russell, a linebacker in high school, will also see time at defensive end for the Deacons. Wake Forest was the only school to offer Russell a scholarship, an effort that helped to seal the deal.

UNC Wins Battle Of Alumni
Even though their days of playing college basketball are over, several ACC alumni gathered together one more time on Saturday in the Smith Center for the World’s Greatest Alumni Game. This marks the fourth year of the event, which pits former Tarheel players against alumni from other ACC schools. Raymond Felton, Sean May and Brendan Haywood all suited up for the Heels, who also added J.R. Smith to their roster for the night. Smith had commited to Carolina before going pro straight from college. Chris Paul and Josh Howard from Wake Forest, along with Daniel Ewing from Duke were some of the ACC alumni that showed up. North Carolina won 139-126, with all proceeds from the event going to the American Diabetes Association.

Panthers Beat Cleveland In Preseason
In the NFL, Carolina Panthers rallied to beat Cleveland 23-20 in their third preseason game of the year. The Panthers improved to 2-1 in the preseason after backup quarterback Chris Weinke tossed a 21-yrd touchdown pass to receiver Efrem Hill with less than a minute left. The team will wrap up this year’s preseason on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was a rough day for the Winston Salem Warthogs, as they lost to Salem 9-0. Warthogs starter Ryan Rodriguez gave up five runs in his six innings of work to get the loss. Mike Floyd of the Salem Avalanche hit two home runs on his way to going for the cycle.

NASCAR Results
With two races to go before the Chase for the Cup, the standings got shook up Sunday. Matt Kenseth ran off with the win, followed by Jeff Burton in second, Greg Biffle in third, Ricky Rudd fourth and Rusty Wallace rounding out the top five. Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon made his way back into the top ten. Gordon finished sixth in Sunday’s race, sliding back into the tenth spot in the standings.

News & Sports For August 26th

Wilkes County Hit By Earthquake Aftershock
Portions of Wilkes County were hit Wednesday night with what experts are calling the aftershocks of an earthquake. Around 11pm Wednesday, an earthquake registering 3.8 on the Richter scale hit Eastern Tennessee near the community of Hot Springs. Less than an hour later, aftershocks from that quake were felt in Western North Carolina, including portions of Wilkes. Families in Millers Creek , Moravian Falls, Wilkesboro and Purlear all reported rumbling and shaking, however there were no reports of damage and no one injured from the quake. It’s unknown why the quake happened, as there previously hadn’t been any major seismic activity in the area.

Pressure Washer Stolen From Millers Creek Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Millers Creek residence on Wednesday, after the homeowner returned to find someone had been in his garage. The lock was broken on the building and a pressure washer that had been stored inside was missing. The joke appears to be on the thieves however, as the washer was falling apart and being held together with green cord. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes County Citizens Could Be In For A Refund
Phone fraud is a major problem across the United States and here in North Carolina, the Attorney General’s office is doing their best to deal with it. Now comes news that Wilkes County citizens, along with other people in the state, might be owed some money. Anyone who was involved with American Savings Discount Club, will soon be able to get their money back. The loan company conned 20,000 people here in Wilkes and across the state into signing up for overpriced and illegal loans. ASDC officials would call people and promise them loans ranging from $500 to $1500 in price, all in exchange for an up front payment of $100 and then $30 each month. What actually happened was that once customers signed up, they were told about an additional $30 membership fee, along with a loan repayment fee. As a result, the company has been forced to pay out $2.1 million in refunds and to receive one, you must fill out a claim form, then return it by October 6th. To find out if you qualify or to get a form, you can call the Claims Administrator at Analytics Inc. Their toll free number is 866-890-4856.

Car Vandalized At Traphill Residence
A Traphill man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find that someone had tried to steal his car. The steering column was broken and over $300 worth of damage was done to the vehicle. Despite the damage, no one in the area heard or saw anyone come near the house. That investigation is ongoing.

Central Wilkes Middle School To Hold First Falcon Night
This coming Monday, students and parents are being invited to Central Wilkes Middle School for the First Falcon Family Night. Information will be available about the school’s athletic programs, also about some new laws that will affect how PE and Health classes operate. There will also be free blood pressure and diabetes screenings at the event, along with several other activities. That will be held this coming Monday, August 29th from 6-8pm in the gym of Central Wilkes Middle School. Anyone who attends the school is invited along with their parents. For more information you can call Chris Gambill at 667-7453.

Ronda Woman Falls Victim To Prank Calls
A Ronda woman called deputies earlier this week after constantly receiving harassing phone calls on her cell. A person keeps calling every few days, not saying anything to begin with but then cursing at the woman before hanging up. However the woman’s cell has caller ID on it, so the phone number was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and traced. Still the caller continues to harass, as the woman has received at least 13 calls over the last three weeks from the same person. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Recall Of Frozen Meat Affects Wilkes Consumers
A recall is going on of an estimated 900,000 pounds of frozen beef patties across the country. The problem is that some of them have been contaminated with the deadly E. coli bacteria and are a health risk. The recalled products all come from Flanders Inc. and include all three and five pound packages of Flanders Bun Buster 100% Beef Burgers. Also all two, five and ten pound packages of Flanders Beef Patties, and all ten pound packages of Flanders Homestyle Cubed Beef Patties. Finally all two pound packages of America’s Pride Beef Patties, ten pound packages of Flanders Patty Mix, five pound packages of Value Time Beef Patties and all five pound boxes of Grill Master Beef Patties have been recalled. All of the affected products have an establishment number on them of EST 9145 and you can see that by looking inside the USDA seal of inspection. North Carolina was one of several states across the nation to receive the bad beef. You can return the meat to where you bought it for a refund and if you have any questions, the USDA Meat & Poultry office has set up a hotline at 1-888-674-6854.

Moravian Falls Man Is Victimized By Illegal Dumping
Why dump your garbage on someone else’s lawn? That’s what a Moravian Falls man is wondering today, after coming home to find that someone had dumped clothes and trash in his yard. Then just two days later, he returned home to find that a broken down air conditioner was sitting in his yard as well. There are currently no suspects in the case however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Thief Leaves After Pushing Out Window
A witness stopped a would be thief from breaking into a Wilkesboro residence this week. A neighbor of the victim saw a woman trying to climb in through the front window, prying it open and shattering it. After being seen, the thief took off down the road, but not before being recognized. The woman’s name and description were turned over to police by the neighbor and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

High School Athletes Asked To Pay
For the second time this year, a city in North Carolina is asking their high school athletes to pay in order to play. Athletes at Page High School in Greensboro were asked to pay $30 for each sport they’re involved in, a move designed to help the school recoup the nearly $20,000 in debt they’ve amounted. Currently no high school in North Carolina charges a required fee in order for players to take part and Page officials don’t want to change that, saying that the $30 fee would be completely voluntary. For the most part students and their parents have agreed to help fund the school, with fundraisers being organized for later this year. However some families have questioned how much of their money will be going to the athletic programs, as they already have to pay for things like gloves and warm up gear. There are 27 separate athletic teams at Page High School with an athletics budget of $135,000.

Libertarian No More
The State Board of Elections handed down a ruling this week, eliminating one political party from the upcoming elections. The Libertarian Party was removed from consideration, due to the fact they failed to at least get 10% of the votes in last year’s governor’s and presidential races. Under state law, official political parties have to at least achieve that 10% margin or their members and candidates become listed as unaffiliated. The Libertarian Party didn’t even come close, finishing with ¼ of the needed votes. With that being the case, unaffiliated candidates have to get signatures totaling up to 4% of the voters in their area, in order to be placed on the ballot. Party leaders say that they plan to sue the state to get the rule overturned.

16 Tons Of Copper Wire Stolen From NC Town
Why would you steal 16 tons of copper wire? Officials in Warrenton North Carolina are trying to figure that out today, after arresting and charging two men with the theft. Two of the town’s employees, 51-yr-old Gregory Reese and 34-yr-old Frank Gutskey used their positions to steal the wire from an abandoned textile plant. After stealing the copper wire, which was estimated at a value of $20,000, the two then sold it in the Rocky Mount community. It’s believed at this time that the two used town equipment, including a forklift, to steal the wire and then took it out of town to sell. Gutskey, who’s in charge of garbage collection and Reese, who supervises the town’s water and sewer systems were also suspended from their jobs without pay until a verdict is handed down in the case.

100 Year Old Man Rounds The Track
In Belmont, Roy Lawing celebrated his birthday by driving around the track at Lowes Motor Speedway. His 100th birthday. Speedway president Humpy Wheeler first took Lawing on a lap around the track, hitting speeds of 100 in honor of the man’s 100th birthday. Then Lawing took the wheel himself and drove the pace car around the track for two laps. Afterwards he was treated to a cake with the words Aged To Perfection on it. Lawing reached 75 mph during his laps but said if he knew he was being timed, he would have gone faster.

More North Carolina Troops Headed To Iraq
More soldiers from here in North Carolina have received the call to ship out to Iraq. 1500 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg have been called to deploy and set up protection for the October 15th referendum on the country’s constitution. Then if Iraqi citizens approve the constitution, the soldiers will stay in place for the national elections in December. Officials estimate that the troops will be over in Iraq for a total of 120 days. An exact date of when the soldiers will be shipping out has not yet been announced.

Kannapolis Residents Get More Than They Expected At The Faucet
Strange things happened when residents of Kannapolis went to turn on the water Wednesday night. Instead of the normal clear water, liquid poured out in different colors, some dark and as some residents called it disfigured. City officials said that there wasn’t any health threat due to the colored water and the problem was being corrected. What had apparently happened is that maintenance work was going on Wednesday on the fire protection system in downtown Kannapolis. Mud and other sediment had apparently got into the water system somehow and into the drinking water. The problem was solved by early Thursday.

Sports Headlines

High School Football Tonight On 3WC
The second week of high school football got underway last night as East Wilkes beat North in JV football 33-8. Coming up tonight Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be over in Moravian Falls, as Wilkes Central plays host to West Wilkes as our 3WC Game Of The Week. Brian will be over at the station, keeping you up to date on the other major game going on, between North High and East. That’s coming up tonight at 7:15 with kickoff set for 7:30, on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Tarheels Land Another Football Recruit
Taking a look at the college scene, the UNC Tarheels have landed another football commitment for 2006. Ed Barham, a 6-5 tight end from Virginia agreed to come play at Chapel Hill. The senior from Surry County High School is a two way player, working both as a defensive end and also as a tight end, the position he’ll be assuming at UNC. Last season Barham had 110 tackles and eight sacks on defense, while also catching 20 passes for 500 yards. This marks the 23rd player to commit to the Heels for 2006.

ACC Basketball Schedule Highlights Part Two
Yesterday we told you about some of the highlighted games on the ACC basketball schedule this season. Now taking a look at the second half of the year, NC State will tip things off against North Carolina on Saturday Jan. 7th, while the next day Duke travels to Wake Forest to take on the Deacons. The Wolfpack head to Durham on Jan. 18th, before going home to host Wake Forest on the 21st. February 7th is a date going to be circled on a lot of calendars this year as that’s the first matchup between Duke and Carolina in Chapel Hill. Four days later, Wake Forest will host UNC Charlotte, before going on the road to play the Blue Devils on February 14th. North Carolina will face off against Wake Forest in Winston Salem Sunday, February 19th, then go on the road against NC State Feb. 22nd. Then the final game between Duke and UNC will take place in Durham on Saturday March 4th, the same day NC State and Wake Forest square off in Winston Salem.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues, the Hickory Crawdads lost a player as catcher Neil Walker was promoted to the Pirates other single A team, the Lynchburg Hillcats. The 19 year old Walker ranked second in the league with 146 hits so far, good enough to be named to the South Atlantic League All Star Team. Walker had averaged .301 for the season, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 68 runs during his stay in Hickory.

Former Tarheel Looking To Make A Name In NFL
It’s been four years since Ronald Curry suited up and heard the roar of an ACC crowd. Now the former Tarheel is looking to stake his claim in the NFL, as he works to solidify his hold as the third receiver of the Oakland Raiders. Curry is coming off major surgery, as a tear in his Achilles’ tendon forced him out of the last four games the team played in 2004. A seveth round pick, Curry finished second on the team in receiving last season, despite the injuries, having put up 50 catches for 679 yards.

Dale Junior Looking For A Family Connection
Dale Earnhart may look to family connections to plug the holes in his team next season. Earnhart, while not officially announcing it, has all but said his cousin Tony Eury Jr. will be crew chief on the No. 8 in 2006. Junior told reporters thatit was pretty obvious what DEI plans to do with the team, after Eury Jr. signed a long term contract. Junior also wants Tony Eury Sr. to serve as team manager for his Busch Series team, but no decision has been made. With several months still left in the season, it’s unlikely an officially announcement regarding Eury Jr. will come for a while, as he’s currently the crew chief for Michael Waltrip’s No. 15 Chevy.

News & Sports For August 25th

Illness To Garwood Plays Part In Lottery Debate
North Carolina is still without a lottery today and a hospital visit by Wilkes Senator John Garwood played a part. With Garwood in the hospital recovering from illness, a vote on the lottery would be deadlocked, as Republicans and Democrats stood tied on the issue. State Democrats tried to fix the issue by challenging a leave of absence taken by one member of the Senate. Under state rules, a Senate member has to request a leave of absence, meaning that they have to find another senator who will agree to be paired up with them. The pair basically cancel each other’s vote out, keeping any one side from having an unfair advantage due to sickness or other issues. After Garwood went to the hospital, Majority Leader Tony Rand challenged the absence of another Republican who was paired with a Democrat. If such a challenge was held up, it would mean that Democrats had the necessary votes needed to pass through the lottery. However minutes later, Democrat Marc Basnight, the Senate leader, surprisingly withdrew the request and allowed the session to end without a vote on the lottery. Basnight later said the move was made to treat the Republican delegates with respect.

One Stop Shopping In North Wilkesboro
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he returned home on Tuesday. Thieves had broke in through the back door and taken several thousand dollars worth of materials. Included in the theft was a gun cleaner kit, some golf clubs, a telescope, a cordless drill and several other items. There are vehicle tracks leading from the man’s back yard onto Fishing Creek Road, but as of yet deputies have no suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

United Way Campaign Begins Today
Later tonight, the Wilkes United Way organization is holding an event to kick off their 2005-2006 campaign. The price of admission is one can of non perishable food. There will be food and games, along with musical performances, face painting and other things. In addition, raffle tickets will be sold, with the winner receiving two tickets to the Food City 500 Nextel Cup Race in Bristol. To get more information you can call the local United Way office at 651-7800 or visit their website at www.Uwwilkes.org.

Gas Thieves Hit Again
For the second time in less than two days, gas thieves hit a business in the Wilkes County area. This time a man pulled up to the Rock Creek BP, pumped just over $26 worth of gas into his car and drove off. Employees however were able to get a description of both the man and his vehicle, which were turned over to deputies. The investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Kitchen
When people can’t afford to buy food, who do they turn to? Here in Wilkes, the Samaritan’s Kitchen lends a hand. The Kitchen, which has been in operation for over six years, is involved with several different programs throughout the week. Elizabeth Ferguson, Volunteer Coordinator for the Kitchen, will be Brian's guest on Focus later today. They'll be discussing some ways you can get involved and lend a hand if you want to do that. That’s today at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Just Came Over To Borrow The Shed
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda woman’s home on Tuesday, after she discovered something strange on her property. Thieves had apparently tried to break into one of her storage buildings, however once inside they turned around and left. Nothing was taken from the building and no other damage was done to any part of the property. There is a suspect in the case, as witnesses saw a white pickup in the area and were able to describe it, along with the driver to deputies.

Roadside Assistance For Farmers
The Department of Agriculture has created a new program for farmers in the area, one that would help them market their products. The Roadside Farm Market program is designed to help farmers directly sell their fruits and vegetables to people who might otherwise buy the products at a store. Now for more information or to get involved with the program, you can contact Ross Williams at the NC Department of Agriculture. His number is 919-733-7887. Applications are also available at the Wilkes Cooperative Extension office.

Wreck On Main Street Totals Two
Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene of a wreck on Main Street Tuesday afternoon. A Traphill woman had slowed down due to traffic ahead of her when she was hit from behind. The second driver, a Hays woman, had been following behind but didn’t notice the car coming to a stop in time to avoid a collision. Both cars were totaled and had to be towed away, with estimated damages placed at $6800. That second driver, Amber Nicole Davis was charged with failure to reduce speed and having unsafe tires. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Mailbox Vandals Hit For Second Time This Week
A Darby man was the latest victim of mailbox vandals this week. During the night, the man heard a loud noise and came out to see what it was. While he didn’t see anyone around, his mailbox was damaged, making it the eighth such case in that area. Over the last few weeks several different homes in the area have been targets of the vandals but in each cases, no one actually saw the crime taking place. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Murder Suspect Doesn’t Show Up For Court
In Burlington, police are on the hunt for a murder suspect, a man who was released on bond and appears to have fled. Ramone Donte Stewart was charged with first degree murder after killing a man outside a bar two years ago. Stewart was released on $275,000 bond, but failed to show up for his trial. Warrants have been issued for his arrest and officials are asking anyone with information to call their local law enforcement office.

Mixed Results For NC In Base Realignment
The news was mixed for North Carolina after the Base Realignment Commission made its’ recommendations. Due to the closing of Fort McPherson in Georgia, two separate Army commands will be transferring to Pope Air Force Base. In addition, the 7th Special Forces Group will be moved from Fort Bragg to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, while Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division will gain a brigade combat team. All total, 4325 new jobs will be coming to Fort Bragg over the next few months. However the commission also recommended that the Naval Reserve Center in Asheville be shut down, one of 20 such centers that the Pentagon wants eliminated. Before any of this can happen however, both President Bush and the Congress have to approve the changes.

Drivers Stranded After Heavy Rains
Several dozen drivers had to look for new ways of getting to work on Wednesday, after their cars were stranded on a parking deck. Tuesday night, flash flooding in the Charlotte area led one parking deck on Executive Park Drive to be submerged, causing damage to 75 vehicles in the area. The reason for the flooding comes from a design flaw, as a creek runs below the deck. People spent a good part of the day scooping out water and trying to dry off their vehicles.

Milk Causes Traffic Problems On I-40
Parts of I-40 near Greensboro were backed up Wednesday morning as work crews cleaned up a wreck. A tractor trailer carrying milk overturned, spilling out 200 gallons onto the highway. One lane of I-40 was closed until the afternoon, as workers attempted to clean up the milk and move the truck out of the way. Officials believe a lack of sleep was the cause of the crash, as the driver was airlifted to Baptist Hospital.

ATV Ring Broke Up In Gaston County
Officials in Gaston County announced on Wednesday that they’ve broken up an ATV theft ring that had been operating in the area. The ringleader, 19-yr-old Michael Shane Hoffman, was arrested and charged this week. Hoffman and his group are accused of stealing ATVs from Cleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg and York Counties. Portions of the stolen goods already recovered are estimated at $55,000 with more still missing.

Sports Headlines

UNC Loses QB For Season
Bad news for the Tarheels, as they’ve officially lost their backup quarterback for the season. Roger Heinz agreed to have surgery on his back, to repair two herniated discs that have all but wiped out his sophomore year. With Heinz now officially out, that leaves freshman Cam Sexton as the backup. Sexton had been competing for the starting job in spring practice, until he broke his ankle, which he’s still rehabbing. Behind Sexton on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Joey Bozich, true freshman Bobby Rome, and walk-ons Ben Johnson and Jay Spence. Matt Baker will be the starter when the Heels take the field on September 10th.

ACC Schedule Part One
The ACC basketball schedule was released on Wednesday, with the conference making a record 265 appearances on national TV. This season marks the first that Boston College will take part in, as the conference expands to 12 schools. Some important games for local fans will be Saturday Nov. 19th, when Gardner-Webb takes on the national champion Tarheels. Then one day later on Sunday, November 20th, the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest play host to UNC Asheville. Appalachian State comes to Winston for a matchup against the Deacons on Friday Nov. 25th and then Elon comes to Wake on Saturday December 3rd. The Mountaineers will continue to make their rounds in the ACC, as Appalachian heads to Reynolds Coliseum to take on the Wolfpack Saturday December 10th. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the other highlights on the schedule after December.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating Lynchburg 4-1. The Warthogs got a strong pitching performance from starter Ray Liotta, who didn’t give up any runs in six innings of work to get his fifth win of the season. Orionny Lopez came on in relief to record his first save of the season.

Davis Moves Up To First Team
In the NFL, some good news for Panther fans, as running back Stephen Davis was moved up into the starting lineup. Until now, Deshaun Foster had been the starting back, but the return of Davis bumped him to the second unit. Davis, who’s recovering from off season knee surgery, is expected to be kept out of Friday’s game with Cleveland but is targeting next week’s matchup against Pittsburgh as his official return.

Junior To Run Busch Team
In NASCAR, Dale Junior is making a move of sorts as he starts up his own Busch team. JR Motorsports, will have the number 88 Chevy in the Busch Series next season, driven by Mark McFarland and sponsored by the US Navy. This won’t be the first race for McFarland or the #88, as Junior debuted the team this season in the Pro Cup Series. McFarland drove the car to one win and ten top ten finishes in thirteen races. Eaarnhart says he still wants DEI involved with the venture, but there is no agreement currently in place.

Rule Changes Coming In NASCAR
Some major news coming out of NASCAR today, as certain rule changes were announced for 2006. The current testing policy will be refined, with each team allowed only six designated tracks to test at. Two of the six tests have to be at Daytona and Indianapolis, with the other four still up for discussion. Also a tire leasing policy will go into effect, replacing the current program of buying them each week. At each track, teams will be able to lease as many tires as they want, however all of them must be returned before the crew leaves the track. Also cars will be impounded after qualifying at 31 of next year’s 36 races.

News & Sports For August 24th

Deadline Fast Approaching For Farmers
There is less than two weeks left for Wilkes County farmers to receive state funds if their property was damage by hurricanes last year. State aid money will be sent out on September 9th to anyone who suffered crop losses or had to rebuild from last year’s storms. However when filing out their information sheet, several hundred farmers throughout North Carolina refused to allow the state to share their information with federal agencies. This causes a problem because the Department of Agriculture is the one in charge of sending out the aid money & without that consent form, they don’t know who to send it to. The deadline to turn in a form is September 9th and you can pick one up at the Cooperative Extension office. To call for more information, their number is 651-7331.

Drink Machines Targeted Across Wilkes
Around Wilkes, thieves hit a series of drink machines, apparently looking for some easy money. Two Wilkesboro businesses were hit, first at a lumber yard on Hwy 16 and then at 421 Motors. In both cases the thieves pried open the machine door and removed the money from inside. The same thing happened to another business on Boone Trail, as thieves ripped open the machine and took the money. In all three cases, the missing money totaled up to $50, while $800 in damages was done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

United Way Campaign Begins Tomorrow
On Thursday of this week, the Wilkes United Way organization is holding an event to kick off their 2005-2006 campaign. The price of admission is one can of non perishable food. There will be food and games, along with musical performances, face painting and other things. IN addition, raffle tickets will be sold, with the winner receiving two tickets to the Food City 500 Nextel Cup Race in Bristol. To get more information you can call the local United Way office at 651-7800 or visit their website at www.Uwwilkes.org.

Just Came By To Borrow A Few Things
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence this week, after the homeowner returned to find thieves had been by. The man’s tiller was missing, along with his chainsaw. However there was no sign of a break-in and nothing else damaged or stolen on the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

WCC To Host Financial Class For Adults
Sometimes it can be a pain collecting on a debt. Regardless if it’s something owed by a neighbor or payment charged to your business. Coming up next month, Wilkes Community College is holding a seminar, to help people understand what their legal rights are in such a situation. Such as what are your options for collecting a bad debt? What to do when a debtor skips town? The meeting is free, however you must register ahead of time to get in. To sign up, you can call WCC at 838-6210. That will take place on September 29th, sponsored by the Small Business Center of the college.

Another Case Of Gas Theft
Yet another business in Wilkes fell victim to gas thieves this week. A man drove up to the Little Market Basket in Wilkesboro, pumped just over $10 in gas and then drove off without paying. Employees however were able to get a description of both the man and the vehicle, which were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Focus On The Kitchen
When people can’t afford to buy food, who do they turn to? Here in Wilkes, the Samaritan’s Kitchen lends a hand. The Kitchen, which has been in operation for over six years, is involved with several different programs throughout the week. Later this week on Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking with Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Ferguson about what exactly the organization is and how you can get involved if you want to do that. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Wreck On Winkler Mill Road Totals Two
It’s always a good idea to look before you leap. A North Wilkesboro man learned this week it’s the same when you’re driving. The man was driving on the Winkler Mill Road when he looked away for a few minutes. He turned back around just in time to see his car slam into the one in front. Both cars spun in the intersection, finally coming to a stop a few feet down the road. Both cars were totaled in the crash and had to be towed away. Estimated damages were placed at $3500. Thankfully however no one was injured in the wreck.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Another Home
Yet another home in the Wilkes County area fell prey to mailbox vandals this week. A Roaring River man walked outside to find that his mailbox had been pulled up and damaged, with estimated costs placed at $30. Despite the damage, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

The Wait Is Over
North Carolina finally has a superintendent of public schools. June Atkinson was selected by a joint session of both the House and Senate 93 to 21. However the vote was not without controversy, as nearly 50 lawmakers wrote “protest” on their ballot, saying that they couldn’t and shouldn’t determine a winner in the race. This marks the first time since 1835 where the General Assembly had to step in and select a winner in a statewide race. Atkinson was immediately sworn in and will assume her duties later today. This ends almost a year of court battles on the subject. Atkinson won the election by 8535 votes, however Republican Bill Fletcher challenged the results, saying that some of the provisional ballots were cast out of the voter’s home precinct and shouldn’t be counted. Atkinson then won again in the recount but Fletcher continued to block her appointment with new court challenges. Now that state lawmakers have stepped in, there’s no other options left open.

Over A Hundred Students Released From College Team
Controversy has ignited at Louisburg College here in North Carolina, after over a hundred students were released from the football team. The problem came after head coach Tim Newton guaranteed spots to players, despite there being more than the necessary limit. The president of Louisburg said the college made a decision to order the players cut, because they couldn’t afford to keep them all on the team. Costs of uniforms, meals and other problems were raised. However that doesn’t help some students, who paid $19,000 to attend on the promise of having a shot at the football team. Now without a tryout or any other chance, they’ve been released. The NAACP is considering filing a lawsuit in the case.

Truck Goes Hog Wild On Interstate
Officials near Raleigh had to clean up portions of the interstate on Tuesday, after several passengers of a truck went hog wild. The vehicle had been carrying pigs when the driver suddenly had to pull over, as he noticed that some of the animals were falling onto the road. It’s unclear exactly how the pigs escaped, but several were running around the Beltline before being rounded up. None of the animals were killed and thankfully no drivers were injured while swerving to avoid them. Traffic however was backed up for several hours during the cleanup.

Man Drives Into Raleigh High School
High school students in Raleigh got a surprise when leaving class yesterday. At Broughton High School, a truck crashed into the school’s lobby. Apparently the driver had come by to pick up his grandson, but got his foot stuck on the accelerator. As a result, he drove into the building, through the glass doors and came to rest in the gym lobby. While people were in the area at that time, thankfully no one was hurt in the crash. Police are determining today if the driver will face charges, however the first day of school will go on as planned later this week.

Fake 911 Calls Land Iredell Teen In Hot Water
An Iredell teenager has been arrested after police discovered she was responsible for over 1500 fake calls to 911. 19-yr-old Heather Garrison called 911 repeatedly since the first of the month, always cursing, whispering or laughing. The calls were eventually tracked down to her phone, leading to the arrest. It’s still unclear why exactly she made the calls, as she didn’t say anything to officers.

Sinkhole Grows In Hickory
It’s become the case of the giant expanding hole. A sinkhole at Buffalo’s Restaurant in Hickory continues to grow today, to the point where it soon might begin affecting traffic on Highway 70. In July, the sinkhole opened up, but no one has stepped forward to pay for the necessary repair work. As a result, water pools up during each rainfall and spills out into the nearby highway, creating problems for drivers. Now, as portions of the pavement continue to fall in, Hickory officials continue to debate who is actually going to pay for the needed construction. A decision on the matter isn’t expected until next month at the earliest.

Water Goes Out In Mount Holly
Residents of Mount Holly had to do without water for parts of this week, after a pipe was damaged. On Monday, a gas company was doing some work when they punctured a nearby water main just off Highway 273. While work crews repaired the damaged pipes, residents living around Old Hickory Grove Road found themselves without water for eight hours. Crews worked around the clock, finally finishing the repairs around 1am Tuesday morning.

Sports Headlines

Edwards Has Goals For UNC
You could say that Barrington Edwards has some modest goals for his first official season as a Tarheel. But then you’d be wrong. Edwards told reporters that his first goal this season will be to rush for 1,000 yards. By comparison, the last Tarheel running back to do that was Jonathan Linton back in 1997. Taking over as the starter due to Ronnie McGill’s injuries, Edwards doesn’t have much competition for the spot, as backup Vince Wilson recently announced he’ll be transferring before the season begins. And UNC will have their first game just over two weeks from now, as they go on the road to face Georgia Tech September 10th.

Wake Forest Loses Two Players
Bad news up the road in Winston Salem, as two Wake Forest players were lost for the season due to injury. Andrew Conroy, a freshman linebacker and Will Hollis, a junior receiver, both had serious knee injuries that have developed during camp and will require surgery. Conroy has already had the procedure and Hollis went under the knife yesterday. Losing Hollis especially hurt the Deacons, as he was a key player on special teams last year.

North Carolina Players Added To Lombardi List
In other college football news, several players from here in the state made the Lombardi Award Watch List. The Lombardi Award is handed out each year to the top offensive lineman in the country and 123 names were put in for consideration this season. Manny Lawson, a senior from NC State, senior Kyle Ralph from North Carolina and junior Steve Vallos from Wake Forest were all added to the list. Throughout the season, names will be eliminated until the top lineman is chosen by a committee at the end of the year.

Tarheels Turn Down European Basketball Player
Despite having some depth problems, UNC’s basketball program turned down a potential recruit on Monday. European forward Cem Dinc had recently attracted attention from both the Tarheels and Indiana, based on his offensive skills and 6-10 frame. But UNC officials told Dinc on Monday that if he wanted to suit up as a member of the ‘Heels, it would probably be a good idea to first take a year of prep school to get ready. While Dinc considers his options, he’s scheduled to visit Indiana this week.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem beating Lynchburg 7-4. Warthogs starter Ryan Rodriguez became just the second 11 game winner in the Carolina League, giving up two runs in seven innings of work. With the win, Winston stays a game behind the Salem Avalanche in the hunt for the Southern Division title.

Davis Makes Position Change For Panthers
For the second time in less than a week, Thomas Davis is changing positions with the Carolina Panthers. Originally Davis had made the switch to linebacker, after starter Brandon Short went down with a leg injury. But now after strong safety Colin Branch is out for the year with an MCL tear, Davis is moving back to his original position. Davis played strong safety for three years at Georgia, while also developing skills as an occasional starter at linebacker.

News & Sports For August 23rd

Local Teacher Named To State Committee
A Wilkes County teacher was named to the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee this week. James A Brooks, who teaches Latin, English and photojournalism at West High was appointed for his second time as a member of the committee. Along with other members of the group, Mr. Brooks will advise the governor of different concerns from teachers across the state. The committee also helps improve teaching and learning in public schools, while recommending new strategies to recruit teachers into North Carolina. The governor appoints all committee members, who will serve out a two year term.

Deputies Raid Dealer’s House
Sheriff’s deputies found drugs and money while executing a search warrant on Sunday. They were investigating a tip on the Rocky Ford Road and once inside the home, found an ice cream scoop covered with three grams of cocaine. In addition, a nearby fingernail clip and also a screwdriver were covered in cocaine as well. 59 morphine vials were found on a couch, along with marijuana seeds and the materials for making cocaine. 58-yr-old Luther Lee Key was arrested and charged With drug possession with intent to sell and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

More Open House Meetings At Local Schools
As local kids start their second week of school, it’s time for parents to get to know their children’s teachers and also see the classrooms. On Thursday of this week both Millers Creek Elementary and North Wilkesboro have their open house sessions. For Millers Creek Pre K through 2nd grade will hold open house from 6-7pm on Thursday, then orientation will go on for 3rd through 5th graders from 7-8pm. Over at North Wilkesboro Elementary Open House starts this Thursday at 4:30pm and runs until 6pm. Then next Monday Wilkes Central will hold their Open House from 6-8pm.

Wreck On 421 Totals One
It’s always a good idea to watch the road in front of you. A North Wilkesboro woman found that out the hard way earlier this week, as her car was totaled in a wreck. The woman had been following another vehicle through the green light, but didn’t notice when the car ahead stopped to let traffic go by. She slammed into the back of the other car, causing just under two thousand dollars in damage. The woman’s car had to be towed off, however thankfully no one was hurt in the crash.

All For A Few Quarters More
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home on Shingle Gap Road over the weekend, after reports came in of a break-in. The thieves pried off a screen from one of the windows, then climbed inside, taking a necklace, a .38 revolver $150 in quarters and some more jewelry. Estimated costs of all the damage done was placed at $350. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Warning About Mosquito Bites
Beware of bugs. That’s the warning sent out this week in our 3WC Healthwatch. According to the State Department of the Environment, there have recently been two confirmed cases of eastern equine encephalitis in local animals. While livestock could be in jeopardy so too could humans. It’s rare for a human to contract the disease but North Carolina averages at least one case a year. Triple E attacks the body’s central nervous system, in both animals and humans, causing inflammation of the brain. Symptoms take anywhere from two days to two weeks to show up and they include fever and headache, confusion, drowsiness and later on possibly a coma. There is no vaccine and no cure for the disease, so the best thing to do is break out the mosquito repellent and be careful of where you go outside.

Musical Break-In On Richardson Road
Thieves broke into a home on Richardson Road this week, taking over $160 worth of items from inside. It’s unknown exactly how the thieves gained access to the home, as no damage could be seen anywhere on the property. But once inside, they took a CD player, some tools and a metal toolbox. There is however a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Costs To Rise For Certain Tests
Bad news for local farmers, as the cost of some testing measures will be going up starting next week. North Carolina’s Agriculture Board ruled on Monday that increases would go into effect for plant tissue analysis, waste analysis, solution analysis and any testing for heavy metal content in soil. The amount of increase varies from test to test, with most only raising by one dollar. Routine soil testing however will still be a free service. This marks the first increase in fees in over 16 years and once again it will take effect September 1st.

Thieves Rip Off Ronald McDonald Fund
The McDonalds in Wilkesboro was hit by thieves late Sunday night. The Ronald McDonald Fund donation box was ripped off the wall, causing just over $600 worth of damage to the building. None of the night shift saw or heard anything in regards to the incident however officers are continuing the investigation.

State News

Special Ceremony Held For Civil War Brothers
A ceremony nearly two hundred years in the making was held on Sunday, as family members and friends gathered to honor two brothers who fought in the Civil Wart. Hosea and Jacob Horn were on different sides of the conflict, Jacob serving with the Union Army and his brother joining up with the Confederates. Over one hundred people made it out to the gravesite in Wilmington, where a memorial was held and the brothers were laid to rest in a family cemetery. The brothers’ remains had been lying in unmarked graves until discovered recently.

Extra Money Handed Out To Keep Teachers
Good news for school systems across North Carolina, as state lawmakers have given Gov. Easley $170 million to spend on recruiting teachers. The money is to be used over the next two years, on signing bonuses, pay raises or to increase the benefits of retiring teachers, to convince them to stay in the classroom. State officials hope that the money can keep teachers in the classroom and stop an exodus that the state has seen over the last few years.

School Bus Torched In Greensboro
Some high school kids in Greensboro are having to find another way to class today, after their buses were torched by vandals. The incident happened over the weekend, as Grimsley High’s principal came out to see the buses going up in flames. Principal Rob Gasparelo had been taking care of some paperwork before the new school year started this week, only to walk outside and see the wreckage. Police said they have no suspects, but damages were placed at around $60,000. It’s virtually impossible either one could be salvaged, as windows were shattered and portions of the buses were melted.

Duke Power To Possibly Charge For Water
Bad news today for people living along the Catawba River. Duke Power has announced plans to consider charging a fee for any town or city that gets water from the company’s manmade lakes along the river. That includes Lake James, Lake Wylie, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Norman, Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss. The reason for the charge Duke officials say is due to the fact over the next 50 years the demand for water is expected to double. To make sure they don’t run out of water, the company wants to charge fees and use that money for conservation. Even if Duke Power does agree to go ahead with the charges, the easiest they could take affect is 2012.

Police Hunting Statesville Man
Officials across North Carolina are on the hunt today for a Statesville man who’s been accused of murder. Police believe that Robert Lane Windsor is still in the area, after the body of his ex girlfriend was found in the trunk of her car. Windsor had kidnapped the girlfriend earlier this month from her home in Conover, however he apparently abandoned both the body and the vehicle. It’s still unknown why he kidnapped the woman in the first place however police are continuing the investigation. A description of Windsor was not available at this time.

New I-140 Opened By Easley
Governor Easley took the first step on Monday toward opening up a new road to the beach. The first completed section of Interstate I-140 was declared open for drivers, a three mile section of road stretching from I-40 to NC 133. Eventually the four lane road will reach Wilmington, allowing people to drive around some of the small towns in the area and shrinking the time it takes to arrive at the beach. The next part of the project is set to be ready for drivers by December.

Sports Headlines

UNC Basketball Adds Another Player
Looking to reload after this summer’s mass exodus, the UNC Tarheels welcomed another freshman into their 2005 basketball team. Mike Copeland’s freshman season had been put on hold for a few weeks, while the grades came in from his summer school classes. But now that he’s received As in the two classes, Copeland is free to sign his scholarship with UNC, opening the door for him to take the court as a member of this year’s Tarheel team. The 6-8 235 Copeland averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds at Reynolds High School.

US Teams Take Gold In Turkey
It was a double dip for the US teams in this year’s World University Games. Both teams walked away with the gold medal as first last Friday the women beat Serbia & Montenegro 86-77. Then on Sunday, the U.S. men’s team beat Ukraine 85-70 behind Shelden Williams’ 15 points and 14 rebounds. This marks the first time since 1997 that the U.S. has made a clean sweep in the tournament.

Panthers Lose Player For Season
The Carolina Panthers lost a player for the season, after it was announced that safety Colin Branch will undergo surgery. Branch tore his MCL and ACL ligaments on the right knee during Saturday’s preseason matchup against the New York Giants. Fighting to take Branch’s spot will be rookie Ben Emmanuel along with free agent pickups Idrees Bashir and Marlon McCree.

Stewart & Johnson Lock Up Chase Spot
In NASCAR, two of the drivers who will be competing for the championship were decided on Sunday, as both Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson locked up spots. Stewart, the current points leader, was guaranteed a spot in the Chase For The Cup after finishing fifth at Michigan. Likewise Johnson earned a spot after coming in 10th at Michigan, cementing the second place spot in points.

Riggs To Join Everham
In other NASCAR news, Scott Riggs announced plans to join Everham Motorsports beginning next season. Riggs, coming off a second place finish in Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400, is expected to make an official announcement with the team next week at Bristol.

News & Sports For August 22nd

Local Fire Department Receives Grant
New technology is being made available every day to help make the jobs of firefighters easier. The only problem is that for most departments, the equipment is too expensive to buy. For one local group, that’s no longer a problem as the Department of Homeland Security handed out $617,500 to Wilkesboro. The money was used to buy a new vehicle for the station, as part of over 2040 grants given throughout the country. Homeland Security officials said that the grants were handed out to help ensure local stations have everything needed to do their job.

Two Cars Totaled In Weekend Wreck
Two cars were totaled in a wreck over the weekend on Hwy 16. A Roaring River man was pulling out from a side street but didn’t notice the traffic coming his way. He pulled out in front of a Wilkesboro woman, who couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision. Both cars were totaled, with estimated damages placed at $4000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Be Careful What You Leave Behind
A North Wilkesboro woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend, after over a thousand dollars worth of material was stolen from her home. There was no sign of damage to the home, as it appears the thieves had a key. Included in the theft were several movies, along with a DVD player and $400 worth of ladies clothing. There are two suspects and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Business
Gas thieves hit another business in the Wilkes County area. Late last week, a woman pulled up to the Fast Track on Winkler Street in Wilkesboro, pumped $25 in gas and then took off without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get a description of both the driver and vehicle, which were turned over to police. The woman, 41-yr-old Paula Michelle Phipps was later arrested after police found her registration was expired. She was charged with gas theft, improper registration and expired registration.

Wilkes Christian Sportsmen
For anyone who loves to hunt or fish, this next bit of information is for you. The Wilkes Christian Sportsmen will be holding their Banquet starting tonight at 6pm. The banquet continues on Tuesday and then wraps up Thursday night. Each day, dinner is set for 6pm and then the program itself kicks off at 7pm. As of this weekend, there were a limited number of tickets still left and you can pick them up at Minton Pawn, For Heaven’s Sake Book Store, Mike’s Bait & Tackle, Ed & Dale’s Gun Shop, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Peace Haven Baptist Church and Oakwoods Baptist Church. For more information you can call 667-7838.

Thieves Drive Off With Wilkesboro Man’s Mower
For the second time in under two weeks, thieves stole a lawn mower from a local residence. Deputies were called out to a Wilkesboro man’s home, after he returned to find damage done to the property and his mower missing, In addition to the mower, a nearby engine was also taken. Total estimated costs of both the damage and stolen property was placed at $350. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Never Leave Your Doors Unlocked
A Hays man learned over the weekend why it’s a good idea to always lock your car when you get out. After filling up at a local gas station, he left his wallet inside the vehicle while he went to pay. As he handed over the money, the man saw someone open his car door, steal money from his wallet and then take off in another vehicle, driving down the road. $150 in cash was stolen from inside the car, while video cameras captured the whole thing. Deputies recognized the suspect and were able to trace the license plate, They soon tracked down the suspect, 18-yr-old Anthony Wayne Shepard and placed him under arrest, for charges of theft and breaking and entering.

Tag Stolen From Local Woman’s Car
A Wilkesboro woman walked outside over the weekend to find someone had paid her a visit. The tag had been ripped off her car, however nothing was stolen and no other damage was done to either the vehicle or her property. Despite the stolen tag, no one in the area remembers hearing or seeing anything during the night. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

No More Libertarians For North Carolina
North Carolina might be missing a political party when elections are held this coming November. According to state law, all parties must get at least 10% of the vote in the elections for governor and president. The Libertarian party only came up with ¼ of the needed votes, however the party’s director has requested a hearing. The State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet later today and discuss the matter, but Libertarians are calling for discretion, asking for a stay while they raise enough votes to make up the 10%.

Unemployment Climbs In North Carolina
Bad news today across North Carolina on the job front, as the latest unemployment figures were released. The jobless rate rose to 5.7% in July, marking the highest it’s been since 2004. Officials from the Employment Security Commission blame the high numbers on students graduating from college and looking for full time jobs. In June alone, 30 thousand new people entered the workforce hunting for a full time job.

Six Million For New Machines
People in Guilford County are up in arms today, after a new plan was released that would cost taxpayers six million dollars. Election officials want to spend the money on new voting machines, upgrading the technology so that paper receipts would print out after each ballot. The idea is that with such ballots, there wouldn’t be any problems like the ongoing battle for Superintendent of Public Instruction. However some locals are protesting, saying that the money could be used on more needed things, such as to help fund new programs in school.

It’s All Greek To Me
With school starting, students are learning all types of new subjects. But what would you do if you walked into class and they were suddenly speaking a different language? It’s a new concept being developed in Charlotte, where one of several Greek charter schools have taken root. Everything at the elementary school is taught in Greek, from math, to reading to writing. Officials with the school say the idea is to help students learn about their Greek heritage, while also developing comprehension.

Easley Defends Not Pardoning Innocent Man
Gov. Easley spoke out over the weekend about his decision not to offer a pardon to an innocent man. Sylvester Smith was released this past November after serving nearly 21 years in jail for sexual assault. However new evidence in the case caused a judge to set him free. But without a pardon from the governor, Smith still has to register as a sex offender. Despite the ruling, Easley said he refuses to grant a pardon, saying that the governor has a higher set of standards than the court when it comes to determining innocence. Questions have also been raised about Easley’s own involvement in the case, as he was the prosecutor who originally put Smith behind bars. He said however that had nothing to do with his decision.

Blackouts Across State Caused By Heat
The heat was to blame for several blackouts across the state this weekend, according to officials from the power company. The lights went out in Edenton and surrounding areas for two hours on Saturday, then again on Sunday. The reason? The substation was overloaded, after people cranked up the air conditioner due to extreme heat. It took several hours, but Albemarle Energy customers had their power back on for good Sunday afternoon. Still, with the temperatures expected to stay in the 90s this week, it’s possible the same thing could happen again.

Sports Headlines

High School Scores
Around the high school scene, it was Hibriten beating Wilkes Central 34-10. The two rival schools playing in what will likely be their last game for a while, as Hibriten has moved out of the Mountain Valley Conference. Also West Wilkes lost to Avery 37-15. Elkin established itself as a power in the Northwest 1-A Conference, beating North Wilkes 49-6 in Coach Roy Carter’s Vikings debut. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, West Davidson beat East Wilkes 21-7.

UNC Down To One QB
Some bad news today for the Tarheel football team, as they’re slowly running out of players. Backup quarterback Roger Heinz had to sit out of practice this week with a sore back, the result of two herniated discs he’s been trying to play with. A doctor already told the sophomore that he’ll need surgery after the season, but with the pain increasing team officials are monitoring his condition and Heinz may have to redshirt. That would make the second quarterback on the injured list for the Tarheels, as true freshman Cameron Sexton broke his ankle during spring practice and is still going through rehab. Along with starter Matt Baker, that only leaves reshirt freshman Joey Bozich and several walk-ons available to play.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues this weekend, it was Winston Salem beating the Salem Avalanche 9-3. With the win, the Warthogs move half a game behind Salem in the hunt for the division title. Leo Daigle led Winston with three hits. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads came close but couldn’t finish off the Lexington Legends as they lost 6-5.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Vasicek
Continuing to rebuild their squad, the Carolina Hurricanes resigned their leading scorer Josef Vasicek over the weekend. Vasicek, who agreed to a two year deal, had 19 goals and 26 assists in 2004 before the league shut down. With the deal, the 6-4 center will stay with the team who drafted him back in 1998.

Panthers Lose First Preseason Match In Two Years
For the first time in two seasons, the Carolina Panthers lost a preseason game. They dropped against the Giants 27-21, breaking a winning streak of 10 preseason games, dating back to 2003. With the starters only playing for the first half, Carolina still managed to put on a show, with the highlight being Julius Peppers 29-yd-touchdown run off a fumble. In other Panthers news, running back Stephen Davis could be back on the field as early as this week, if he passes a physical. Doctors say that Davis is still recovering but has shown enough progress to go back to work.

Mayfield Wins At Michigan
In the NASCAR circuit, Jeremy Mayfield ran off with the checkered flag during Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400. Scott Riggs was second, Matt Kenseth third, Carl Edwards fourth and points leader Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. As it stands now, Tony Stewart still sits atop the standings, 105 in front of second place Jimmie Johnson.

News & Sports For August 19th

Local Church Holds Youth Conference
Emmanuel Church is celebrating its’ 13th year of operation in 2005 and portions of the church’s youth are working to honor that achievement. A conference will go on starting tonight at the church, located in North Wilkesboro, where the target is to bring 250 teens together to honor and worship God. The name of this year’s conference is Raising the Crop. If you want to get involved and help, you can do that as well. The church is accepting any donations of time, food or whatever you can give to help support the conference. It begins tonight at 7:30pm, continues tomorrow night at 7:30 and then finishes up Sunday at 10:30 that morning. They are located at 708 F Street in North Wilkesboro and the number to call for information is 903-0693.

Local Fire Deemed Arson
Wilkes Fire Marshals are investigating a blaze that took place earlier this week on C.B. Eller School Road. Someone had attempted to set part of the home on fire, managing to damage about seven inches of the outside. The exterior breaker box was damaged, along with part of the nearby siding. Marshals determined that the would be arsonist used some type of small torch or lighter to ignite the home. It was discovered and put out before any real damage could be done. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Upcoming Abortion Conference
The Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been helping people deal with unplanned pregnancies for the last 10 years. They also counsel women who are either considering abortion or have already gone through with one. Coming up tomorrow, the Center is putting together a program to help minister to those who are struggling to come to terms with an abortion in their past. That will go on once again tomorrow, August 20th starting at 9am in the morning. For more information you can call the Pregnancy Care Center at 838-9272.

Calf Stolen From Local Residence
Why would someone steal a calf? That’s what a Ferguson man is wondering today, after returning to find that one of his was missing. In addition to the missing calf, there was about $50 worth of damage done across his property, where it appeared that someone had been camping out. Trash was tossed around, clothing was laying in the field and there were remains of a fire. Despite all this no one had heard or seen anyone around the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes Heritage Museum Holds Fundraiser
Old Wilkes Inc. continues to raise money to put into their renovation project of what will be the Heritage Museum. One way of doing that will be on display this weekend, when the group hosts a giant yard sale. The event starts this afternoon at 4pm and runs til 8pm tonight, before starting back up Saturday morning at 8am and stretching on until 2pm. All kinds of items, from clothing, to art, to food will be available, with proceeds going to support the Old Wilkes renovation projects. Currently the organization is in charge of the Old Wilkes Jail, Robert Cleveland Log Home and Finely Law Office, in addition to the Old Wilkes Courthouse that is still under reconstruction. For more information or to get involved with the sale, you can call Laura Stroud at 838-4240 or contact the Old Wilkes offices at 667-3712.

Man Arrested For Drug Possession
A traffic stop in Wilkesboro led to an arrest by sheriff’s deputies this past Tuesday. Deputies had pulled over a vehicle for only having one working headlight. But when they came up to the driver’s side, there was a strong smell of marijuana coming out. The driver then opened his mouth to show deputies pieces of marijuana still inside. The man also had rolling papers in his lap. 18-yr-old Corey Holmes Nelson was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wilkes Christian Sportsmen
For anyone who loves to hunt or fish, this next bit of information is for you. The Wilkes Christian Sportsmen will be holding their Banquet next week beginning Monday night at 6pm. The banquet continues on Tuesday and then wraps up Thursday night. Each day, dinner is set for 6pm and then the program itself kicks off at 7pm. There are still tickets available and you can pick them up at Minton Pawn, For Heaven’s Sake Book Store, Mike’s Bait & Tackle, Ed & Dale’s Gun Shop, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Peace Haven Baptist Church and Oakwoods Baptist Church. For more information you can call 667-7838.

Money Stolen From Wilkesboro Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in Wilkesboro this week, after $30 was stolen. The homeowners returned to find the money, which was all in quarters, missing with no signs of a break-in. Nothing else was taken from the home and no damage was done. However deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Post Office Evacuated In Charlotte
Officials in Charlotte evacuated the Post Office on Scott Futrell Drive Thursday morning, after reports came in of a bomb threat. Around 6am someone called in and said there was a bomb in the building, however no explosives were ever found. By 8am bomb sniffing dogs had cleared the building and police were able to track the call to a pay phone just down the road.

War Protestors Hold Vigil In Durham
350 war protestors gathered this week in Durham, urging President Bush to bring the troops home. This was part of a larger network of events, which has been going on across the state since the first of August. The planners say that they want to hold these in support of Cindy Sheehan and all other mothers whose sons have been killed in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan has spent almost two weeks camped out near the president’s ranch in Texas, protesting the war and asking for the troops to come home, so no other mother will have to receive a message informing them that their son or daughter has been killed in combat. Across the state this week, 1700 people came out to the rallies, which were held in Charlotte, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and other areas.

Dam Project Causes Protest
In Randolph County, a dam project has people up in arms today. The Randleman Dam is almost finished and will soon bring water to people in the area. However that same dam is also forcing members of the community to find a new home. Farmers say they recognize that the dam is needed, but the problem is that they’re being lowballed for their land. The Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority has tried to buy all of the local farms, but has offered less than half of what they’re worth. If the farmers were to accept an offer like that, they wouldn’t have enough money to move their families, much less livestock and equipment. A hearing on the matter is scheduled to go before the Randolph County Superior Court on Monday.

Lawmakers Cashing In
Concerns are being raised about how much money is given out to state lawmakers. Despite being in recess, 99 lawmakers are still receiving their $104 a day checks. According to legislative records, 88 House members are still receiving checks and 11 senators. Now this isn’t a normal paycheck but rather what’s called an expense check, paid out for food and lodging on the drive to and from the lawmaker’s own district. Since these checks are automatically sent out, lawmakers have to officially decline them in order not to get one. Despite not being in Raleigh, some of the senators justified taking the money. Wake County Republican Neal Hunt said that he was catching up on emails sent out from local constituents and even though he’ll be doing this at home, felt it was appropriate to receive compensation. Both houses of government are expected to return next week for a new session.

Missing Woman Located
Officials in Lexington have located a woman that went missing August 6th. Kimberly trip was found this week in Georgia, having been abducted by her ex-boyfriend. Tripp had called her mother hours before she disappeared, telling her goodbye and saying that her ex-boyfriend had told her he would bring her back in a box. She was found in Mitchell County and was unharmed. The ex-boyfriend, Anthony Duncan, was arrested and charged with her kidnapping. He now facing an extradition hearing.

Reidsville Police Raid The Wrong House
A Reidsville woman got a shock earlier this week, after officers ordered her out of her home and pointed guns in her face. The woman had been eating breakfast when the officers arrived, banging at the door and ordering her to step outside. It turns out they were searching for an escaped murder suspect, but had the wrong home. Instead, the place they were looking for was right across the street. Instead of raiding the 20-yr-old suspect’s home, they went to one of a retired schoolteacher. Members of the police force, including the local captain apologized for the incident. The suspect, 20-yr-old Tim Thaxton turned himself in a few days later.

Sports Headlines

Football Friday Night Kicks Off
Around the high school scene, today officially kicks off football season and 3WC will be out at the local schools bringing you all the action with our Game of the Week. Ken Byrd and Keith Briand will be over at East Wilkes, broadcasting the Cardinals’ game against East Davidson. Also Brian Carlton will be in the studio, interviewing coaches and bringing you up to date scores from the other games going on in the area. Things start off at 7:15 tonight with the McDonald’s Pregame Show, then kickoff is set for 7:30. All on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Former Tarheels Return To Smith Center
Tarheel players both past and present will gather in the Smith Center next week for the fourth annual World’s Greatest Alumni Game. Already committed to show up are Raymond Felton and Sean May, both of which are starting their NBA career after winning the national title last season. The game starts at 7pm Saturday August 27th, with the former Heels suiting up against the ACC Pro All-Stars, which will include Josh Howard, Chris Paul and Daniel Ewing. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the American Diabetes Foundation.

Women Advance To Finals
In other college basketball news, the U.S. women’s team moved on to the finals after beating Russia 118-67 at the World University Games. The team went on a 20-0 run early in the first half and never let up, earning the right to face Serbia and Montenegro for the gold medal later today.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston Salem falling to Wilmington 11-10. Warthogs’ reliever Juan Ovalles got the loss after giving up a solo home run in the eighth inning. Robert Valido led Winston, going 3-4 with three RBIs.

Panthers Sign Morgan To Extension
The Carolina Panthers locked up another vital part of their defense this week, coming to terms with linebacker Dan Morgan. The five year deal will keep Morgan in Carolina until at least 2009, a move that team officials said was a priority. Morgan said that he wants to finish his career as a Panther, playing for the team that drafted him and hopes to bring home a few Super Bowl trophies along the way.

Eury Jr. To Stay With DEI
In NASCAR, some good news today for Dale Earnhart Incorporated. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. agreed to a new contract, signing on with DEI for a long term deal. Eury Jr. the cousin of Dale Earnhart Jr., hasn’t said who he’ll be working with next season, as his current driver, Michael Waltrip, is leaving after this year.

Stewart Steps Down From Ride
Tony Stewart is stepping out of the driver’s chair and letting someone else take the wheel. In the Busch series that is. Stewart turned over the reins of the #33 Chevy to Tony Raines, who will be driving the car in the Busch series for the rest of the year. Up til now, Stewart had been splitting time in the vehicle with Raines but stepped aside so that he could focus on the Nextel Cup race.

News & Sprots For August 18th

False Missionary Popping Up
The Wilkes Sheriff’s Department has issued a warning for churches in the area. A young man pretending to be a missionary is in the area, trying to get donations for his supposed trip. In reality the money isn’t used for anything close to mission work. He’s already conned several churches in other counties and now information points to him being in Wilkes. The man is described as being oriental, around 5’7ft and skinny. He drives a green 1991 Toyota Corolla with New Hampshire license plates. If you have any information regarding this man, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at 903-7600.

Shots Fired At Moravian Falls Home
Sheriff’s deputies were recently called out to a home in Moravian Falls, after reports of shots being fired. The homeowner woke up to the sounds of gunfire around her residence, lasting for about two hours. Deputies were called in but there was no evidence at the scene and no witnesses. The investigation is ongoing.

Open House Later Today At West Wilkes
As we get set to wrap up the first week of school, students at West Wilkes High can take part tonight in an Open House. Parents can come in and meet with their children’s teachers, also getting to see the different classrooms. The event starts at 7pm with everyone gathering together in the gym. For more information you can call the school at 973-4503.

Another Round Of Gas Thieves In Wilkes
For the second time in under a week, gas thieves hit a business in Wilkes County. This time it was the Clingman Pit Stop in Ronda, as a person drove up in a green van, pumped $46 worth of gas and then took off without paying. Employees inside the store were able to get a description of both the driver and his vehicle, both of which were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Ran Off With The Pressure Washer
How do you just walk off with a pressure washer? That’s what a Traphill woman wants to know, as thieves paid her a visit this week. The washer was sitting on the porch when the woman left earlier in the day. However when she returned it was gone, with no marks left behind and no evidence that someone had been there. Deputies do have a suspect, as a witness described a man pulling up in a dump truck and loading the washer inside. A description of both the man and his truck were turned over to deputies, who are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Music
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start out as a musician? To juggle your music ministry with work, school and the everyday insanity of life? This week on Focus on the Foothills, we’ll be talking about all those subjects with musician and college student Wes Pickering, providing a snapshot of what the process is like, putting together a record and working to keep your grades up at the same time. To hear Brian's interview with Wes, you can tune in today for Focus on the Foothills. They’ll be discussing what’s involved if you want to get started in music, also providing some hints to help along the way. That’s coming up at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Medicare Information Session Later Today
It can be hard at times to understand all the legal language when going through an insurance contract. How much do you pay? What exactly is covered? It’s no different with Medicare, however coming up this week it’ll be a little easier to get some answers. There will be a public information session going on Thursday August 18th at the Wilkes Public Library. The session will go on from 11 am til 12 noon, with people on hand to answer your questions concerning Medicare Plan B. For more information you can call 670-2644.

Money Order Forged At Local Store
A woman came into the Fast Track in Wilkesboro this week, wanting to cash a money order. However employees at the store noticed that it looked strange, like someone had changed the name on it. After the woman was told that the check would have to be verified, she grabbed it and took off out the door. She was able to be identified and Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Accidental Poisons
Recently in the local Wal-Mart, a toxic gas was created when someone accidentally mixed two chemicals. But what other toxins are we exposing ourselves to in everyday life? Today we’re taking a look at that in our 3WC Healthwatch. If you’re bitten by a gnat or some other seemingly harmless bug, you tend not to think that much about it. But recent studies have shown that might not be such a good idea. Even the smallest insect can carry poison inside, so if you start itching in a place you’ve been bitten, you need to put an anti-inflammatory cream or spray on it. That helps not only alleviate the itch, but also cuts down on he poison. Also be careful of things in your house. Never sniff containers to see what’s inside and also be careful to toss out any old or outdated chemicals inside your home. In addition, be sure and turn on a fan or open up a window when mopping or using any other chemicals. That way the gases can escape outside and not be caught up with you. Finally remember that pesticides can be absorbed through the skin, so if you see a place that’s being sprayed, try to stay as far away as possible. It may cause extra driving time, but that’s better than a hospital stay.

State News

Jobs Leaving Burlington Area
Some bad news today for people living in Burlington, as more jobs are headed out of the area. Culp Inc. announced plans this week to shut down two yarn-making factories, a move that will cost 100 people their jobs. Equipment from the plant will be sold to a company in Chapel Hill. The move comes after an announcement about this year’s profits, which took a dive to $286 million. That’s $32 million less than at the same time last year. Company officials said that they weren’t prepared for profits to dip any lower and found that it was cheaper to buy yarn and then put it to use than to make their own.

Employee Frozen At Papa Johns
Winston Salem police were called out to the site of a robbery Wednesday on South Hawthorne Road, at the local Papa John’s store. Instead of the robber however, they found an employee locked up in the store’s walk-in freezer. Apparently what happened was that a man came in, showed a gun and demanded money. After taking the cash, he then locked an employee in the freezer and took off. Before being stuffed inside however, the employee was able to trigger the store’s alarm. Winston police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 336-773-7700.

All Chatham Students To Have A Laptop
When students in Chatham County make it back to class this week, there’s a surprise waiting. A brand new laptop computer. County officials invested one million dollars to buy Apple iBook computers for every high school student in the area. Currently they’re a little over halfway toward the goal, as just over 1,000 students will be given the laptops this week. The plan was to help equip students and make sure everyone has access to the same technology, to level the playing field for those who might not be able to afford one on their own.

Waste Spill Contaminates Neuse River
In Clayton North Carolina, cleanup continues on one of the worst spills ever in this part of the state. 600,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Neuse River, the result of a clogged pipe. Some debris from local construction blocked the pipe, causing the water to spill out of a manhole in a remote part of the area. It went unnoticed for over a month, due to the limited amount of traffic coming through. Town officials have since fixed the sewer line and pumped out around 113,000 gallons. However over 400,000 gallons still remain although officials say there shouldn’t be any concern about contaminated water sources.

Judge Causes Case To Be Overturned
A judge in Raleigh is under fire today, after her remarks led to a new trial for a convicted offender. 31-yr-old Douglas Shane Wright, a convicted sex offender, was given a new trial after the state Court of Appeals ruled that the judge in his case created a negative atmosphere that prevented him from having an impartial jury. Wright had been charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and sentenced to five years in prison. Now that decision has been overturned, after the court heard testimony about the judge’s behavior. According to witnesses, she repeatedly made disparaging remarks to the defense attorney and told the jurors they should be afraid of her. This isn’t the first time Judge Evelyn Hill has been the subject of controversy, as she’s been reprimanded by the state twice for misbehavior in the courtroom.

More NC Troops On The Way To Iraq
Bad news today for military families at Fort Bragg, as more North Carolina troops have received orders to ship out. 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will begin deploying to Iraq over the next two weeks, on a mission they haven’t even received details on yet. The unit returned from Iraq in 2004, after serving both in Fallujah and earlier in Afghanistan. Officials said that the soldiers wouldn’t be given orders until they arrive in Iraq, but are being told to prepare for some nontraditional missions.

Sports Headlines

University Team Continues To Win
The U.S. University team continues to roll through the competition at this year’s University Games. The games, offered as an alternative to those too old for the Under 21 league, are being played in Turkey. The American team put together another strong showing as they beat China 117-61. Duke’s Shelden Williams put in 16 points to help lead the team to victory. The news was just as good on the women’s side, as the U.S. beat Taiwan 109-57, advancing to the semi-finals. Duke’s Monique Currie added 14 points in the victory, as the U.S. moves on to face Russia later this week.

Duke Lands Football Recruit
In what’s shaping up to be a great recruiting class for football, Duke University has landed its’ 11th commitment for 2006. Brandon King, a fullback ranked as the 18th best player in Pennsylvania, has agreed to play for the team. The 6-3, 240 lb. King totaled up 651 rushing yards last season as a junior and will be used both for his running ability and also his blocking next year as a Blue Devil. A dedication to winning and good academic program were two of the things he said drew him to Durham.

Minor League Scoreboard

Minter Becomes New Champion
With the NFL preseason in full swing, there are bragging rights on the line and a new championship awarded to Carolina Panther Mike Minter. Minter was showing off his new title at the team’s practice facility on Wednesday, after he was crowned the new Madden 2006 champion. He even held a press conference to declare victory, proudly holding up his title belt, a white towel with the game’s label taped on it. Minter wanted to make sure everyone knew of his victory, because he came in near the bottom of the barrel in last year’s competition. However he solved that problem this time, he said, by practicing hard each and every day.

Hurricanes News & Notes
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes are going to loan out their coach for a few weeks. Peter Laviolette was selected this week as the new coach for next year’s U.S. Olympic team. The 40-yr-old Laviolette was a player during the 1994 team and coached the U.S. to a bronze medal at the world championships in 2004. In other news for the team, the Hurricanes agreed to a deal with defenseman Glen Wesley. The 36-yr-old Wesley is a fan favorite in Raleigh and will return for his 18th season in the league.

Nascar News & Notes
In NASCAR, a new team might be entering the Nextel Cup circuit next year, owned by a pair of Superbowl champs. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach have put together team called Hall of Fame Racing. Joe Gibbs has helped to supply the new team with cars and technology to get started and plans are in place to sign a driver possibly before the end of this season.