News & Sports For June 14th

Wilkes County Farmers May See Changes
Farmers in Wilkes County could soon see some much needed relief for their wallet, if several North Carolina lawmakers have their way. Energy costs for small farmers skyrocketed over the last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the tune of $5.2 billion. Such high costs are forcing several small farmers, such as those in Wilkes, to abandon the business. North Carolina House Representatives Bob Etheridge & Brad Miller are working to solve that problem, by developing proposals to lower the cost of fuel and create better trade agreements. Currently there are 2955 farmers within Wilkes County and if the farm reform proposal goes for a vote, each one could be seeing over one thousand dollars cut off their bills. Overall in 2005, Wilkes County ranked 5th in the state with $232,733 generated from farming.

Dropout Rate In Wilkes On The Rise
Some mixed results for Wilkes County schools, as the latest dropout report has been released by North Carolina. Overall the dropout rate for high schools here in the county rose during the 2004-2005 school year, with 4.74% of students quitting. This marks the third straight year Wilkes County’s dropout rate has increased, up from 4.73% in 2003 and 4.24% in 2002.

Flag Day Celebration Starts At Noon
A ceremony will be held later today at West Park to honor America’s soldiers. The 2nd annual Flag Day celebration in Wilkes County will get started at 12 noon with the presentation of colors by the VFW Post 1142. Dr. Brad Shinaman will speak at the event and then Heather Murphy, Director of the Health Foundation will read a list of local citizens who have been remembered through a donation to the Spirit of American Giving campaign. Music will be provided by the Wilkes Seniors on Stage and the event is free to the public. Once again all of this will be held at West Park and for more information you can contact the Health Foundation at 838-1949.

Our House To Hold Parenting Classes
There’s some help on the way for any new parents out there, as Our House will be holding parenting classes starting later this week. “The Power Of Parenting” will run from 9:30 til 11:30am on Friday, June 15th, the first of about eight weeks worth of sessions. The cost is $10 to sign up for the classes, which will be held at Our House, located at 203 East Main Street in Wilkesboro. If you want more information, the number to call is 667-5555.

Local Woman Arrested As Stolen Goods Found
A McGrady woman was arrested earlier this week after deputies found stolen property in her vehicle. Deputies had received a call Sunday night that someone had stolen gravel from the lot near Rock Springs Church on Hwy 18 North. A witness gave deputies a description of a minivan that had been in the area, which they located about a half mile away parked in a driveway. When deputies looked inside, they found the stolen gravel, along with a shovel and wheelbarrow. The vehicle’s owner told deputies she had no idea how the gravel got inside and stated that even if she did, she wouldn’t rat them out. 30-yr-old Rebecca Mae Taylor was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property.

Focus On Schools
With school out for the summer, most groups associated with kids have shut down as well. Communities in Schools however is still up and running, as they have several programs that last throughout the year. Amy Whitley from Communities in Schools will be Brian’s guest during Focus on the Foothills this week, as they’ll be talking about some of the upcoming events. Also they’ll be discussing the need for volunteers and what kinds of help are most needed. That’s coming up Thursday afternoon at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

3WC Techwatch: All Purpose Cell Phone
How would you like a cell phone that can help with your laundry? You may not have to wait long for one, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. IBM has developed a new type of cell phone, which is currently being tested by using Wake Forest students. The phones use a voice-activated linkup with the internet to help solve problems, such as if a student’s trying to catch a bus. All they have to do is ask “What time is the next bus?” A GPS system will then locate all of the nearby buses and tell the student how long it will be before they’re at his or her stop. In addition, it can be hard to fight for a washer and dryer if you’re living in a dorm. Thanks to the new phones, students will be able to find out if there are any available washers and where they are, saving time. Once the test is complete, IBM says they plan to offer the service to EMS teams, doctors and salesmen as a specialized product. But don’t kid yourself, if you want to save time, you’ll have to spend money, as it won’t be cheap.

Recall Ordered Of Jeep Grand Cherokee
There’s some bad news for Jeep owners, as a recall is going on. Included in the callback are all 2003 and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee models, which due to a problem in the vehicle’s seat warmer, could catch on fire. The problem occurs when people don’t turn off the seat warmer when they get out of the vehicle. Over time, it can break down the adhesive properties in the seat, causing a fire to start. Already 32 cars have gone up in flames thanks to the defect. Owners can either take the vehicle back to the dealership where they got it from or wait to receive information in the mail.

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

State News

Southern Baptists Call For Evangelism
Southern Baptist leaders are calling for the church to get more involved with evangelism. That was the message put out this week during the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro, where leaders said they were concerned about the rate of growth or lack of it in congregations. In Southern Baptist churches, an average of just two people are baptized each year, meaning that for the most part, the church membership stays the same. Current Southern Baptist president Bobby Welch is calling for the Body of Christ to stop talking about evangelism and go out and do it. Tuesday kicked off the convention’s annual meeting, as delegates prepare to elect a new president.

Lottery Numbers Don’t Add Up
The state budget may have to be changed, thanks to North Carolina’s lottery commission. The commission announced this week that they don’t expect to meet the current goal of $425 million to be designated for education. Due to start up costs, salaries and other expenses, they said the funds available will be an estimated 6% less or roughly $401 million. But even that number could change, as the commission is basing it solely on projected figures and not on raw data. With the news state lawmakers may have to adjust the budget or find another way of coming up with the $21 million that will be lost.

Former Duke Star Arrested On Tuesday
A former basketball star at Duke University was arrested Tuesday morning in Durham. 21-yr-old J.J. Redick was charged with driving while impaired, after registering a blood alcohol level of .11. North Carolina’s legal blood alcohol limit is .08. Redick had attempted to dodge a police checkpoint and made an illegal U-turn to do so, getting the attention of officers. He also had his drivers’ license taken away and faces an additional charge of unlawful use of highways. Redick was released on $1000 bond with a court date set for July 17th.

Johnston County Students To Have Longer Days
Students in Johnston County may have some long days ahead of them this fall. County leaders are considering a plan that would extend a normal high school day by 25 minutes. Middle school and elementary students would also be affected, as they would have an additional 15 minutes tacked on to their school day. Officials say that the extra time would help students improve their grades and also assist those who are working with special projects. A final decision is expected before the end of July.

Special Forces Soldiers Could See Benefits Increase
Special Forces troops, both here in North Carolina and across the country, could see their retirement pay increase if a new bill goes through. North Carolina Representative Robin Hayes introduced the bill this week, dubbed the Special Operations Forces Retention Improvement Act. Under the plan, all special forces troops who have been in their unit at least five years would see their benefits raised by an unspecified amount. The bill could be voted on by the end of June in the House.

Sports Headlines

Johnson Leaving North Wilkes
The rebuilding men’s basketball program at North High took a hit this week, with the resignation of head coach Tommy Johnson. He’ll leave North to become the new head coach at Canton Pisgah High School, a 2A powerhouse that currently holds a 51-game regular season winning streak. In one season as coach of the Vikings, Johnson helped the team improve to 4-20 however they ended the regular season with a six game losing streak. The assistant coaches at North High, Richard Canter, Buford Fox and Mark Shumate will be in charge when basketball camp rolls around next week while Athletic Director Randy Joines searches for a replacement.

American Legion Baseball Tonight
In other local action, the Wilkes American Legion baseball team takes the field again tonight. The team will play host to West Forsyth, with the Post 31 Patriots struggling to climb out of last place in their division. Gametime is set for 7pm and the McDonald’s pregame show will be on the air around 6:45pm here on 3WC.

State Lands Football Recruit
On the college scene, good news for the NC State Wolfpack as their football team landed another recruit. Sam Jones, a rising senior at Fuquay-Varina High School has committed to the team. The 6’5 ft. 264 lb. Jones plays both offensive and defensive tackle and runs a 40-yd-dash in 5.1 seconds. State coaches said that they plan to use Jones mainly on the defensive side of the ball. He turned down offers from East Carolina and UNC to join the Wolfpack, saying that he felt at home on campus and felt after praying that was where he needed to be.

Wake Adds To Football Staff
A former member of the Wake Forest football team has joined its’ coaching staff. Team officials announced this week that Mark Moroz, a former offensive tackle with the Deacons, is now on the staff as a recruiting assistant. He’ll work with potential recruits, answering questions and talking with them about the program. As a student, Moroz played four years on the team from 2000-2003 and started 24 games during that span.

Bobcats Considering Trade Options
With the NBA draft two weeks from tonight, teams are trying to move up and land the player they want. The Charlotte Bobcats are trying to put together a deal that would see them walk away with the number one pick in the draft. The Toronto Raptors currently own the pick but desperately need a point guard, of which there aren’t that many available. One possible scenario has Charlotte sending the number three pick they own along with Brevin Knight to Toronto for the number one pick, which they would use to select Adam Morrison. Then if they do agree to the deal, the Bobcats would turn around and fill Knight’s spot on the roster in with their second round pick, widely expected to be Wake Forest guard Justin Gray.

Smith Held Out Of Practice
Some potentially bad news for the Carolina Panthers, who will be missing wide receiver Steve Smith for the next few days. Smith has been held out of practice this week after developing some tightness in his hamstring. While the injury isn’t believed to be serious, the coaching staff plans to take precautions and may hold Smith out of the last week of summer camp. Coach Fox told the media on Monday night that Smith could be kept on the shelf until training camp in July, depending on how his leg feels later this week.

Arena Racing Coming To NC
A new style of racing is on its’ way to North Carolina and several NASCAR teams want in on the action. Arena Racing will begin its’ season in November and then run through late March, with all of the races being held on Saturday nights. Drivers race on an aluminum track one tenth of a mile long with 18 degree turns, with cars that run on 390cc Honda engines with 61-inch wheelbases and weigh around 725 pounds. The series, which was created in Norfolk Virginia, will spread to Charlotte on November 11th, where the season will begin in Cricket Arena. 56 spots are still open for the league and it costs $12,000 to purchase a team, which comes complete with an already assembled car. Also you don’t have to be out of school to step behind the wheel. Drivers can be as young as 14 in the series. Already it’s attracted attention from some NASCAR teams, as Joe Gibbs will run a car and Tony Stewart is considering getting involved as well.

News & Sports For June 13th

Wilkes County Drug Trafficker Arrested
Sheriff’s deputies went to investigate a North Wilkesboro home this weekend, finding dog fighting and drugs inside. After getting a search warrant for the house on Fishing Creek Road, deputies went inside to discover 83 rocks of crack cocaine. Sitting in a cabinet next to the drugs was $2058 in cash and outside deputies found the instruments used in dog fighting. Bloody break sticks were found, along with eleven dogs kept behind the house, most of which were injured in some way. 28-yr-old Robert Edward Coles III was arrested and charged with drug trafficking, maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs and dog fighting.

Cheaper Drugs Available For Blue Cross Members
There’s good news today if you are a member of Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The company has announced that it’s extending a program that makes it a lot cheaper to get generic drugs. The co-payment waiver plan gives you the next new prescription for free. That doesn’t mean a new refill of something that you’ve been taking for a while, but rather a generic prescription you’re getting filled for the first time. The drugs covered by the plan are any that deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and high cholesterol. There isn’t any paperwork to do, you just present the Blue Cross ID card when getting the prescription filled. This is however just a one time waiver. When you need a refill the co-payment plan goes back into effect. The plan had been scheduled to end on July 31st, but company officials decided to extend the program for another six months. Data from Blue Cross projects that the program has helped customers save an estimated $20 million on prescription drugs.

Wilkesboro Man Killed By Driver
One Wilkesboro man is dead today after an accident Sunday night. Verlie Church Jr. had been out on a walk and was crossing Hwy 421 near West Gate Dr. when he was hit by a driver. The driver of the car, a 17-yr-old from Boone, was heading east on the highway just before 10pm Sunday night and told police she didn’t see Mr. Church until it was too late to stop. After hitting Church, the girl drove about 9/10ths of a mile before pulling off at Save Mart to call 911. The 61-yr-old Church died at the scene while the girl walked away without a scratch. An estimated $6000 in damage was done to the girl’s car.

3WC Techwatch: Possible Problems For Your PC
You could be helping hackers retrieve your personal information without knowing it, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. Several watchdog groups have come out warning of a problem for all web browers that use JavaScript. The defect can cause problems for Internet Explorer and Firefox users, as hackers can use the JavaScript program in reverse. Under normal circumstances, it helps the computer remember passwords and other personal information. But if a hacker is able to gain access to the computer through the internet, he could reverse the program. That would allow him to see what keys the user hit and in what order, effectively giving him the information you typed. A patch is being designed to help solve the problem, but until it’s released, officials are asking people to be careful what business they do online.

Local Man Arrested For Stealing Steaks
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man over the weekend after he was caught stealing from Holly Mountain IGA. An employee from the store called deputies after watching a man put two steaks into his pocket, then run out the door. He got into a Red Honda Civic, which she was able to provide deputies with the license plate for and took off down the road. As deputies were heading to the store, they passed the vehicle and started to pursue. After a few minutes the thief slowed down, then jumped out of the car and took off running across Highway 18 North. After a brief chase deputies tracked down 28-yr-old Derick Aaron Owens and found six steaks from IGA in the backseat of the vehicle. In addition, Owens had three outstanding warrants for his arrest and now faces charges of larceny, resisting a public officer and failure to stop for blue lights & siren.

Recall Ordered Of Several Dozen Packaged Foods
If you’re planning on using any type of self-heating container when storing food, this next bit of news could prove important. A recall has been ordered of all 10 oz. Lakeside Foods self-heating containers. The problem is that some of the packages were contaminated with bacteria due to the fact their seals leak. The products which use these containers are all 10 oz. containers of Chef Jay's Zesty Chicken, Chef Jay's Hearty Beef, Wolf Gang Puck Rich Caramel Latte & Rich Espresso Latte, Hillside French Vanilla Latte & Hillside Hazelnut Latte, Decadent Chai Tea Latte and Yummers Hot Chocolate. North Carolina was one of 32 states that the products were distributed to and customers can return the items to the store they bought them from for a free refund. Or if you have questions, you can call Lakeside Foods at 1-800-466-3834 Ex. 4090.

Gas Thieves Target Village Market
Gas thieves targeted another Wilkes County business over the weekend this time hitting the Village Market #2 in North Wilkesboro. On Saturday, a man pulled up in a red Camero, pumped $37.71 in gas and then drove off down the road. Employees from inside the store were able to give deputies a description of both the man and his vehicle. That investigation is ongoing.

Camera Stolen From Hayes Home
Thieves broke into a Hayes woman’s home while she was in the hospital last week, running off with a digital camera. The homeowner came back on Sunday and discovered the theft, however there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. Also nothing else was taken from the residence. Deputies are continuing that investigation.

Regional News

Two Teens Killed In Caldwell Accident
Speed was to blame for an accident in Caldwell County that took the life of two teens. Saturday afternoon, Highway Patrol officers were called out to a road in Granite Falls, where they found the bodies of two 16-yr-olds, burned alive in their vehicle. The driver apparently lost control when he went around the curve, causing the car to go off the road and slam into a tree, where it burst into flames. Friends of the two boys found the wreckage and called for help after they didn’t show up for a planned meeting.

State News

Electronic Recycling Could Soon Be Reality
A new type of recycling could soon be reality across North Carolina, if one state lawmaker has his way. Every year, an estimated 50,000 tons of electronic trash is discarded, including digital cameras, computers and other bits of technology here in the state. Now Wake County State Senator Janet Cowell has created a solution. In a proposal soon to be put forth to the Senate, Cowell suggests designating at least one drop off site in each of the state’s 100 counties. That way people can get rid of last year’s equipment for free, without polluting local landfills. Money would be raised for the plan through a $4 tax on all computers, televisions and printers, expected to generate at least $11 million a year. That money would be turned over to county leaders, who would in turn have the option of creating their own drop-off facilities or paying a company to do it.

Charlotte School Placed Under Lockdown
Some teachers at one Charlotte school got a surprise on Monday as the building was placed under lockdown. Teachers had been working at Merry Oaks Elementary School for several hours when police officials came by, searching for a robbery suspect. While the man was still on the loose, they ordered the building be placed under lockdown. No one was hurt, but teachers had to stay inside the building on into the evening hours Monday night.

Hunt Is On For Missing Man In Lincoln County
Officials in Lincoln County are trying to determine what happened to a local man who vanished last week. 22-yr-old Cletus Davis was last seen at his home on June 4th. There was no sign of a break-in at the home or anything to indicate he had been the victim of foul play. Davis is described as being 5’9 ft. and weighing 145 lbs. with brown eyes and brown hair. Deputies are also trying to track down Davis’ vehicle, a 1996 silver Dodge Intrepid, which has also disappeared. A reward is being offered for information leading officers to Davis and people can call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department at 1-704-736-8856.

More NC Troops On Their Way Overseas
North Carolina is saying goodbye to some more troops today, as they get ready to ship out. 60 members of the 113th Field Artillery Headquarters & Headquarters Battery will be leaving for additional training at Fort Dix, before traveling to Iraq. The National Guard troops, which are based out of Greensboro, were honored in a ceremony Sunday at the First Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro. This will be the group’s second deployment in less than a year. Last fall they were sent down to Louisiana to help with Hurricane Katrina relief.

Concord Boy Charged With Murder
A 16-yr-old Concord boy is in jail today, charged in the murder of his father. On Sunday morning, police were called out in regards to a domestic disturbance where they found 36-yr-old Antonio Cousar (Co-sar) dead of a gunshot wound. The man’s girlfriend had been hiding in another part of the home and told police that his son had shot him & ran off. 16-yr-old Demarcus Cousar was found at a shopping center a few blocks away along with the .38 caliber revolver officers believe was used in the shooting. No motive has been determined for the killing and Demarcus is currently in the Cabarrus County jail awaiting trial.

Sports Headlines

New Rule For NCAA Sports
A new rule could soon be changing the face of college sports. Effective this fall, any athlete will gets their degree in four years but still has one year of eligibility left can transfer to another university’s graduate program. Then without having to sit out, he or she would be able to continue their playing career for one more season. The idea is to help seniors who may not be ready to enter a pro atmosphere, to continue to develop their game. Universities are concerned however that rival schools will try to steal their players. For example if a senior is coming off the bench at a big name university, a smaller school may try to recruit him to come in as a graduate and play as a starter for one season. It’s too late to switch for the coming year, but officials expect a lot of activity next spring.

Duke Lands Football Recruit
In college football, the Blue Devils have landed their first commitment for 2007. Eriks Reks announced over the weekend that he plans to join the Duke team after high school. The 6’5 ft. 227 lb. Reks is a rising senior at Xaverian Brothers High School in Massachusetts and a former classmate of Duke starting quarterback Zack Asack. As a junior this past season, Reks played both defensive end and tight end, recording 78 tackles, 14 sacks and a blocked punt. In addition he can run a 40-yd. dash in 4.59 seconds and is an excellent blocker. Reks turned down offers from Connecticut and Buffalo to join the Blue Devils, saying that he believes Duke can rise to the top of the conference.

Winthrop Pitcher Wins AwardSwitching gears to college baseball, a Winthrop pitcher has received a national award. Winthrop pitcher Alex Wilson was named the National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball. In his first season, Wilson recorded 143 strikeouts while going 13-3 for Winthrop, picking up wins against Miami, Wake Forest and Alabama.

Bobcats Land Second Round Pick
In the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats have landed another pick in the upcoming draft. Thanks to a complicated scenario, the Bobcats got the Sacramento Kings’ 2nd round pick, to complete a deal made last fall for point guard Jason Hart. Under terms of an earlier agreement, the Orlando Magic had control of the pick or they could decline and wait til next year. The Magic chose that option, giving the pick, 50th overall, to the Bobcats. So far that’ll be the team’s only choice in the second round, as they traded away their own selection in the trade that brought Melvin Evy and Eddie House over from the Clippers.

Former Panther Hired By Kansas City
In the NFL, a former member of the Carolina Panthers has a new job today. Former Panthers linebacker Ray Farmer has been hired by the Kansas City Chiefs, to serve as their director of pro personnel. The 33-yr-old Farmer, who is also a graduate of Duke University, will evaluate potential free agents, scout opponents and get information on potential draft picks. Since his retirement Farmer had been working as a college scout for the Atlanta Falcons.

Summer Shootout Starts Tonight
On the racing scene, the Summer Shootout starts tonight over at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Shootout, which marks its’ 13th straight year of operation with tonight’s race, runs through August 8th. Legend cars, Thunder Roadsters and Bandoleros will be on the track to compete with the gates opening at 5pm. The races will begin at 5:30pm.

News & Sports For June 12th

More Soldiers Placed At Risk
It turns out that more Wilkes County troops could be at risk of having their information exposed. Last Thursday Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson was called to testify before Congress, about the theft of information that has put veterans and those currently in combat at risk. Last week the VA send out a press release saying that only 50,000 National Guard and Navy soldiers were exposed to the problem. But while testifying to Congress, Nicholson had to admit that wasn’t entirely correct. All total, the personal information of 2.2 million Guard, Reserve & Navy troops from North Carolina and around the country was on the computer disk stolen from a VA official’s home. Already problems are starting to pop up. A Gulf War vet in Ohio called officials over the weekend, after failing to receive his disability check. Stolen in the theft were not only social security numbers and medical information, but also phone numbers and home addresses, which means anything coming through the mail could be taken. Veterans and currently enlisted soldiers are being asked to check their bank statements when possible, to make sure they don’t fall victim to ID theft. Also if you believe that your information has been used, call 1-800-FED-INFO.

Wilkes County To Hold Flag Day Celebration
A ceremony will be held this Wednesday at West Park to honor America’s soldiers. The 2nd annual Flag Day celebration in Wilkes County will get started at 12 noon on June 14th with the presentation of colors by the VFW Post 1142. Dr. Brad Shinaman will speak at the event and then Heather Murphy, Director of the Health Foundation will read a list of local citizens who have been remembered through a donation to the Spirit of American Giving campaign. Music will be provided by the Wilkes Seniors on Stage and the event is free to the public. Once again all of this will be held at West Park and for more information you can contact the Health Foundation at 838-1949.

Gas Thieves Hit Wilkes Business
Apparently gas prices were too high for one person in Wilkes last week. On Thursday, a man pulled up to Wykes Food Mart in a silver convertible and pumped $4 worth of gas, then drove off without paying. A witness recognized the thief and told deputies where he lived. That investigation continues.

Blood Drives Going On Today
There is nothing more important than giving the gift of life and during the summer months, nothing is more needed. On an average day, 1500 pints of blood are used by hospitals and doctors across North Carolina to treat patients and perform surgeries. If you want to help maintain the local blood supply, you can do that by taking part in a series of blood drives later today. The Wilkesboro First United Methodist Church will host a drive from 2-7pm and another drive will be held at Antioch Baptist Church from 2-6:30pm. Now anyone who signs up to give blood this month can enter into a drawing for a free $1500 gas card from Citgo. To call for an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.

One Car Totaled After Wreck On 421
One car was totaled and another damaged after an accident Thursday morning in Wilkesboro. A Millers Creek man was traveling down Hwy 421 when a second car slammed into him. That second vehicle was driven by a Purlear man, who had been attempting to merge back onto the highway from the Lowes Home Improvement access road. Thankfully no one was injured however estimated damages were placed at $1500.

Recall Ordered Of Digital Cameras
There some bad news for some digital camera owners out there, as your machine could start a fire. Hewlett Packard has announced a recall of its’ HP Photosmart R707 Digital Cameras. An estimated 224,000 cameras are involved in the recall, which was done due to a malfunction in some models. The camera can cause non-rechargeable batteries to overheat while connected to an adapter or docking station, igniting a fire that can damage both the camera and any other items around. Already reports have come in from across the country of damage being done by the camera. Hewlett Packard asks that anyone who owns the camera get in touch with them for a free repair. The HP website is www.hp.com or you can call 1-866-304-7117 between 6am and 6pm Monday through Friday.

Mower Driven Off From Wilkesboro Home
A Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he returned home last Thursday, as thieves had paid him a visit. As he can up to the house, a white SUV pulled out of his driveway and sped off down the road. After looking around the property, he found that one of his riding lawn mowers had been stolen, along with a weed trimer. A description of both the vehicle and its’ driver were turned over to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Always Lock Up Before You Leave
It’s never a good idea to leave your car unlocked, especially with items inside. A North Wilkesboro man found out why last week, as thieves ran off with some items from inside. He had left the car to pick up some things at Foster’s BP, but when he returned, the driver’s side door was standing open and his saw was gone from inside. That investigation continues.

Regional News

Man Dies In Elkin Crash
One man is dead after an accident Friday night in Elkin. Highway Patrol officers said the wreck occurred just before 8pm on I-77, where construction work had traffic slowed to a crawl. A man from Cleveland North Carolina was driving on the highway but didn’t notice that traffic was slowing. By the time he did realize, it was too late to slam on the brakes and he plowed into a tractor-trailer. 67-yr-old Robert Allison was taken to Baptist Medical Center where he died later that night.

Broyhill Shutting Down Another Plant
The job market continues to shrink in Caldwell County, as yet another furniture plant is shutting its’ doors. Broyhill Furniture announced over the weekend that it will be closing the doors on its’ Pacemaker plant, effective August 26th. The move will put 692 people on the unemployment line and marks the 5th plant Broyhill has closed in the area since 2005. Company officials blamed overseas competition for the decision.

Three Men Charged In Lenoir Murder
Three men have been arrested in Caldwell County in connection with a murder that happened over the weekend. Early Saturday morning, 41-yr-old Mark Anthony Gibbs was gunned down at his home on Piedmont Street, shot twice with what police said was a .45 caliber gun. Within a few hours, thanks to witnesses at the scene and evidence, police arrested & charged three Catawba County men with the crime. 26-yr-old Teunta (Tay-un-ta) Hunter was charged with the murder, while 29-yr-old Jermaine Hunter and 31-yr-old Timothy Gaither face charges of being an accessory after the fact.

State News

More Jobs Coming To Asheville
Good news for people living in the Asheville area, as more jobs will soon be on the way. Volvo announced over the weekend that it will be expanding operations at the Asheville plant, bringing in 264 new jobs and also investing $30 million into the area. The move comes in part thanks to an estimated $10.6 million in grant money from North Carolina. Volvo plans to start hiring next May.

NC Senators Ask President For Change
President Bush received a letter from two North Carolina Senators over the weekend, calling for a change in judicial appointees. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Sen. Richard Burr are asking the president to reconsider who he appoints to the bench, saying that more North Carolina judges need to be considered, especially for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The 4th Court covers a 5 state area which includes North & South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. However out of the 15 judges on the court, only one is from North Carolina.

Sports Headlines

Carolina Bound For The World Series
In college baseball, the Carolina Tarheels made history over the weekend as they qualified for the College World Series. Carolina beat Alabama on Friday & Saturday night to sweep the best two out of three series and advance for the first time since 1989. With the win, the Tarheels improve to 50-13 on the season.

Highs & Lows For NC Players
The NBA’s predraft camp was held this past week and several North Carolina players took part. For UNC forward David Noel, the experience may have locked him in as a first round pick. The 6’6 ft. Noel filled up the stat sheet, with 6 points, 7 assists and 2 steals, however scouts at the camp said that his one problem is not being able to consistently create his own shot. Wake Forest center Eric Williams saw his chances of being picked shrink, after committing 15 fouls within a span of 61 minutes during the week. UNC Charlotte’s Curtis Withers had problems of his own, as the 6’8 ft. forward was constantly outmuscled for rebounds and committed 6 fouls in 20 minutes of play.

Duke Could Have Two First Round Picks
Some good news from the college ranks, as the Duke Blue Devils could see two of their seniors picked up in the first round of the NBA draft. J.J. Redick is projected to go in the Top 13 and now this weekend it was announced that Sheldon Williams is almost a lock to go in the Top 5. Williams suddenly cancelled all of his workouts with teams below the Number 5 pick, which means that he’s landed a commitment from one of the top five clubs in the draft.

Hurricanes Drop Game Three
On the ice Saturday night, the Carolina Hurricanes lost Game Three of the Stanley Cup finals, thanks to a questionable goal by Edmonton. With 2:15 left in the game, the puck ricocheted off goalie Cam Ward and hit the chest of Edmonton’s Ryan Smith, who fell forward and caused the puck to go into the goal. Carolina protested because they said Smith was in the crease, which is illegal but refs allowed the goal to stand. Game Four is set for tonight with Carolina holding the 2 games to 1 lead.

Hamlin Wins At Pocono
On the Nextel Cup circuit Sunday night, it was Denny Hamlin overcoming a blown tire to take the checkered flag at Pocono. Kurt Busch was a close second and despite racing with a fractured shoulder blade, Tony Stewart was able to claim third. Brian Vickers came in fourth and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five.

Drivers Play Musical Chairs
In other NASCAR news, several drivers are looking to play their own version of musical chairs. Brian Vickers has announced that he’s looking for another ride for next season. Vickers, who currently drives the No. 25 Chevy for Hendrick Motorspots, said that he just felt a change was needed, based on the way things were going with the car. It’s believed that Vickers could be planning a move over to the new Team Red Bull when it gets up and running next year.

News & Sports For June 7th

Public Hearings Held On Budget & Schools
Wilkes County commissioners met last night and dealt with several items on the agenda. A public hearing was held, for anyone who wanted to share their opinions on the new school improvements project. No one stepped forward to voice an opinion and so the commissioners moved on to discuss the county budget. As it stands, the budget for the next fiscal year is $68,448, 303. Donnie Bumgarner spoke up during the public hearing and explained that Social Services needs at least one more employee, which there isn’t enough money in the current budget to provide for. Also JoAnn Elledge questioned why commissioners had approved a possible increase in salaries for county employees when unemployment is still a problem here in Wilkes. County Manager Gary Page countered that unemployment is actually down significantly in the county. In May, that number was 4.4%.

Merlefest Goes Over Budget
Other news from last night’s commissioners’ meeting, as the board approved a transfer of money to cover additional expenses of Merlefest. The festival went over the projected budget this season, which had been placed at $31,250. To cover the additional fees, $7153 was transferred over from the general fund. Those fees included an additional $1635 for maintenance and repair of the grounds.

Pastor Turns Himself In On Sex Charges
Charges of sexual abuse from residents of two counties including Wilkes have caused a Statesville pastor to give himself up to police. 64-yr-old Carl Edward Nixon has served as pastor of Believers Faith Center for over 20 years, also actively involved with the church’s Christian academy for kids ages . He now faces charges of sexually assaulting three of the children that attended his church, once in 1989, with a second and third incident happening in 1991 and 1995. One of the girls, who is now 18, is a native of Wilkes County and was the first to come forward back in May. Then soon after, the other two girls, who are now 29 and 24 respectively, told police what happened to them. All three said that they were hesitant in discussing the event because they didn’t think anyone would believe it. Nixon was arrested on Monday and then released on $25,000 bond.

Wilkes SAFE Organization Receives Money From Governor
One Wilkes County organization is getting some much needed support from the governor. In a decision announced on Tuesday, Governor Mike Easley has handed out $21.96 million to programs across the state, as part of the Governor’s Crime Commission. That money is earmarked for programs that will help to improve community safety and assist the victims of crimes, domestic or otherwise. Wilkes County’s SAFE Inc. received $146,785.30, to go toward improving their victim services programs. The grants are handed out each year, as the commission determines from the applications turned in which areas need money the most.

One Car Totaled In College Street Accident
One car was totaled and another damaged in an accident on Collegiate Drive Monday morning. A Wilkesboro woman was traveling down the highway when she was hit by another car. That second vehicle, driven by a Boomer man, had been trying to merge onto the road from a parking lot at Wilkes Community College. No one was injured in the crash but estimated damages were placed at $2000.

All For Some Free TV
Thieves targeted a Moravian Falls home on Monday, breaking in & going shopping. Two cable boxes were unhooked and carried out of the home, along with two tvs from the residence. In addition, $1500 in cash was stolen from the homeowner’s bedroom. The home on Hwy 16 South had no signs of a break-in and no damage done to the property however that investigation continues.

Tools Stolen From Moravian Falls Home
Several hundred dollars worth of tools were taken this week from a Moravian Falls home. The incident happened sometime Monday afternoon at a residence on East Meadows Road. The homeowner got a phonecall from a relative, who informed him that some men had been by the property and were seen running off from a storage building. Witnesses later told deputies that two white men pulled up in a Toyota Camry and tried to break into the house. When that failed, they walked around and broke into a storage building instead. A drill, three chainsaws, a couple of drop cords and other items were taken from inside, an estimated $570 worth of merchandise. Descriptions of the suspects and their car were given to deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Thieves Hit Local Business
Wilkesboro police were called out to a local business on Monday after thieves paid a visit. An air compressor was stolen from Oasis Tanning, although it’s unclear how it was taken. There was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. The theft was discovered by store employees when they arrived early Monday morning, as the compressor had been unhooked from the building. That investigation continues.

Thieves Go On Shopping Spree At Local Home
Deputies were called out to a home on Industrial Drive Monday morning after $1300 worth of merchandise went missing. Someone had broke into a storage building on the property and ran off with a chainsaw, a wrench, several drills and other tools. There is however a suspect in the case, as locals witnessed a man walking around the area that morning. A description of the man was given to deputies and they’re continuing the investigation.

Regional News

Caldwell County Approves “Something”Construction plans are moving forward for a new project in Caldwell County, but citizens and town officials are left in the dark. Caldwell commissioners gave approval on Monday to sell part of the land at Foothills Regional Airport, where they were told “something” would be coming in the next few months. Airport Authority members told the commissioners that they had been working on the deal for almost six months but couldn’t provide any details as to the name of the company or what it would entail. Officials did say however that an announcement about the project could come sometime in the next 30 days.

State News

NC Marine Group Shipping Out
For the fourth time in five years, members of North Carolina’s Marine unit are shipping out overseas. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit will start loading up today and plan to be on their way by Friday of this week. 2200 Marines will be in the group, to go along with an infantry battalion from the 8th Marine Regiment, Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 and a support group.

Duke To Spend $2 Billion In Upgrades
State officials are now considering an application from Duke Energy, as the company has asked for permission to upgrade one of its’ plants. If approved, $2 billion in upgrades would be done to the facility that straddles the county line between Cleveland and Rutherford. Two new coal-fired energy units would be installed, replacing the older, less efficient ones under the plan, which wouldn’t be finished until 2011.

Teacher Under Investigation In Rowan County
Officials in Rowan County are investigating a teacher in the area today. 47-yr-old Joe David Cress has been placed on suspension with pay while local law enforcement continue their investigation. It’s still unknown what exactly the agriculture teacher stands accused of doing, as both and school officials refuse to say. What they did say however is that a student is involved in the investigation.

Teenagers Behind String Of Robberies In Greensboro
It turns out that a group of teenagers were behind a recent string of bank robberies in the Greensboro area. Officials have arrested six people in connection to the three crimes, four of which were teens and two were juveniles. The group is believed responsible for bank robberies in Cabarrus, Chatham and Davidson counties that occurred during the months of March and April. Police arrested the group before they could carry out plans to rob banks in Albemarle and Stanly counties. The group now faces charges of conspiracy, bank robbery with a deadly weapon and attempted bank robbery. Officials are still looking for two members of the group, who are on the loose.

Bears Making Their Presence Known
People in Alexander and Burke County are growing concerned about some furry friends that are making their presence known this summer. Bears have started to come out into local neighborhoods, walking right through the front lawns and even in some cases on the road. A black bear sighting in the Maiden area over the weekend was the fourth in the past week. During that time black bears have popped up in Morganton, Bethlehem and Maiden. One black was seen walking into the football stadium at Freedom High School, while another was making his way to Judge’s Riverside Restaurant in Morganton. Wildlife officials are saying there’s nothing to be concerned about, that the bears are just coming out to hunt for food and tend to leave humans alone.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Baseball Results
It was a rough night for the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots. They lost in American Legion action to Rowan County 23-0 at Wilkes Central High School. Wilkes pitchers gave up five runs in the first two innings and never recovered, as head coach Randy Ashley had to use most of his available pitching staff to finish the game. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 0-10 on the season.

NC Pitchers Top Tuesday’s Draft
Several North Carolina pitchers made it to the top of the list for Major League Baseball’s amateur draft on Tuesday. UNC’s Andrew Miller was the first North Carolina player taken, as he went to the Detroit Tigers with the 6th pick. The 6’6 ft. Miller went 12-2 in the regular season, to help UNC make it to the postseason. A Demon Deacon was the next North Carolina product in the draft, as the San Diego Padres took Wake Forest third baseman Matthew Antonelli with the 17th pick. The 6’1 ft. Antonelli can hit with power and also has decent speed. Scouts project that he could play virtually any position on the field. Boston also got into the Tarheel craze, selecting UNC pitcher Daniel Bard with the 28th pick. The 6’4 ft. righthander has one of the best arms in the draft, with a fastball that hits 97 mph at times however he’s had a problem with control. The draft wraps up later today.

Panthers Sign UNC Player
On the football field, another new face was introduced as a member of the Carolina Panthers Tuesday afternoon. Kyle Ralph, a rookie offensive lineman from UNC Chapel Hill was signed to a free agent contract. The 6’4 303 lb. Ralph had originally caught on with the Seattle Seahawks after the draft as an unsigned free agent. But the team had too many linemen and not enough jobs, so he was waived. Ralph will be one of 16 linemen in Carolina’s training camp competing for 12 spots on the roster.

Elliot Suiting Up For Red Bull
A familiar face will be back behind the wheel later this year in NASCAR. Team Red Bull won’t officially enter the series until 2007, when their two cars will run on the circuit full time. But to test out their current product and get the team ready, Red Bull announced this week that Bill Elliot will drive a car for them in three races this season. Elliot will drive in the Bank of America 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway & the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta, then turn around and race at the Dickies 500 at Texas.

News & Sports For June 6th

Wilkes County Says Goodbye To Former Police Officer
This afternoon, Wilkes County will say goodbye to one of its’ favorite sons, as Dennis Eller is laid to rest. The 41-yr-old Eller, a former lieutenant in the Wilkesboro Police Department, left his job to work as a security guard in the Iraqi city of Basra in 2004. He returned home last year to a different kind of fight, battling against stomach cancer. Eller lost that fight on Saturday and will be laid to rest today at Lewis Fork Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at 2pm with Pastor Sherrill Wellborn presiding.

Major County Meeting Coming Up Tonight
Later on tonight, a major meeting is being held in Wilkes County. A public hearing is going on at 6pm tonight in the county office building, dealing with both the school system and the county budget. The new school improvements project, which would affect all four county high schools, is up for discussion. In addition, citizens will be able to give their opinion on the county’s budget for the next year. That’s going on tonight beginning at 6pm in the commissioners’ room of the county office building.

Some National Guard Troops Affected By Theft
It turns out that Wilkes County vets weren’t the only locals affected by a break-in at the Veterans Administration offices. Over the weekend, the VA released information that an estimated 50,000 active duty soldiers in the National Guard and Navy also had their personal information stolen. Veterans Affairs officials in Virginia still aren’t sure how much information was taken, as their investigation continues. As with the vets, VA officials are asking that National Guard troops check their bank statements when possible, to make sure they don’t fall victim to ID theft.

Blood Drive Going On Today
Summer can pose a problem to the Red Cross, as people go on vacation and the number of blood donors drops way down. Despite the lowered blood supply, the need is as strong as ever. To help solve the problem, the Wilkes Red Cross is holding a drive today at the local VFW Hall from 2-6:30pm. To add some more incentive, donors can enter their name in to win a $1500 gas card from Citgo, which will be awarded later this month. To sign up and donate, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

More GM Vehicles Recalled
Bad news for more GM owners, this time involving your trucks. An estimated 400,000 GM trucks have been recalled, to to a malfunction in the brake light system. All 2004, 2005 and 2006 models of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are included in the recall, along with the 2006 models of the Isuzu I-280 and I-350. The problem comes from a malfunction in the brake lights, due to faulty installation. After an extended period, the brake lights in the truck may go out completely or stay on permanently. Also as a result of the malfunction, cruise control on the vehicles will become inoperative. Owners can take the vehicle back to the dealer they bought it from for a free repair.

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
A man on Reynolds Avenue got a surprise when returning home last Friday. The back door to his house was standing wide open and it was clear someone had been inside. The glass portion of the door had been shattered and it appears the vandals just walked right in. However once inside the vandals didn’t touch anything, as there was no damage done and nothing disturbed in the residence. That investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: An Ear To Hear
Your teenager’s headphones could be causing him to go deaf, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A survey done by Zogby International recently found that over half of high school students polled have at least one of the symptoms of hearing loss. The reason? They have the music turned up too loud in their IPods or other digital players. While out and about, noise from traffic or other sounds can get in the way of a good song, so teens turn it up to the maximum volume. But that’s where it gets dangerous. In the new digital players, maximum volume can be as high as 120 decibels, as loud as a jet taking off from the runway. If you listen at that level for more than ten minutes at a time, doctors say, it can lead to permanent damage. Even if the results aren’t permanent, they can affect the student’s performance in the classroom. Additional research at Vanderbilt University found that students suffering from any type of hearing loss are at least 10 times more likely to fail a test or flunk a grade than those with normal hearing. But this doesn’t mean you have to toss the players in the trash. As long as the sound is kept at medium levels, there’s no damage done. Teens just have to learn that along with the on/off switch, there’s also one for volume. For more information, parents can visit the National Institute on Deafness at their website http://www.nidcd.nih.gov.

SCM Needs Help
It’s hard at times to put food on the table and also pay your bills. Here in Wilkes, several organizations reach out and help people who are struggling through hard times, including Samaritan’s Christian Ministry. Now however the Kitchen finds itself needing some help of its’ own. So many people have been by in recent weeks that the shelves are almost empty and there aren’t enough workers to prepare meals on the weekends. If you can set aside thirty minutes or three hours, whatever you can spare, please give the ministry a call at 838-5331.

State News

Number Of NC Meth Labs Falling
Good news across North Carolina, as the number of meth labs in the state are falling. Attorney General Roy Cooper made that announcement over the weekend, explaining that state officials only found 11 labs in May. That’s a drop of over 60% from this same time last year and Attorney General Cooper attributes a new state law for the change. Late last year, state lawmakers made it illegal to obtain any cold medicine that contained pseudoephedrine without a prescription. In addition people have to sign a log when they buy the medicine and show a picture ID.

Send In The Clowns
Officials in Charlotte are trying to track down a clown today. On Monday morning, a local branch of the First Citizens Bank was robbed by a man dressed up in a clown suit. Just before 9:30am, a man came walking in, dressed in what witnesses say was a hobo type clown suit. He walked up to the teller and demanded money before escaping into a black Ford Explorer that was waiting nearby. The suspect is described as a black male in his late 20s, about 5’10 ft. and around 140 lbs. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 1-704-334-1600.

Missing Man Found In Burke County
A man who had been missing for over two days was found in Burke County on Monday. 68-yr-old Harvey Huffman had gone for a walk near Lake Rhodhiss on Saturday, but never came back. After covering a 5-mile area around the lake with dogs, helicopters and boats, officials found Mr. Huffman on Monday afternoon. He had apparently gotten disoriented when out for his walk and just walked over to a nearby shack, where he waited for someone to find him.

Body Identified In Burke County
A body that was discovered last week in Moore County has now been identified. Last Thursday, some locals found the body of 53-yr-old William Bost in an abandoned tobacco barn. The discovery put to rest a nearly two month long search for the attorney, who vanished from his home back in April. There didn’t appear to be any evidence of foul play and officials are writing off the death as suicide.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Baseball Tonight
The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots are back in Wilkes County tonight, playing their 5th game in the last 5 days. Rowan County is in town and the action will start at 7pm with the first pitch. Ken Byrd will be on hand at the field to bring you the play by play and we’ll get things started with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45pm.

Appalachian Wins Conference Awards
On the college scene, Appalachian State walked away with several trophies last week. The Mountaineers were awarded both the Commissioner’s Cup and the German Cup, handed out each year by the Southern Conference for the best men’s & women’s athletic department. This marks the sixth time Appalachian has won both awards at the same time.

Panthers Release Cornerback
The Carolina Panthers released a member of their roster this week, cutting cornerback Garnell Wilds. Wilds had been recently involved in a motor scooter accident in Florida, injuring his knee. Team officials had asked all players to stay away from dangerous activities, especially with training camp competition coming up. Last year Wilds split time between the team’s practice squad and regular roster. The cut leaves Carolina with 91 players in the mix for jobs. That number has to be dropped down to 53 by the end of training camp in September.

NC Runner Offered Football Contract
A world famous track runner from North Carolina has been offered a football contract. Justin Gatlin, co-owner of the 100-meter world record, has been invited to training camp by the Philadelphia Eagles. If he had agreed, the team planned to use Gatlin as a punt and kickoff returner. However Gatlin said that he has just one goal, to organize a race between the top two runners in the world, to finally crown the world’s fastest man.

Chip Ganassi Looking To Make A Change
A new face will be behind the wheel for Chip Ganassi Racing on June 25th. The No. 40 Dodge, usually driven by rookie David Stremme, will instead be piloted by road racing specialist Scott Pruett. Ganassi officials gave no reason for the change, but said that Stremme would be back behind the wheel the next week at Daytona.

News & Sports For June 5th

Wilkes Unemployment Dramatically Drops
The unemployment rate here in Wilkes is dropping rapidly as we enter the month of June. At the beginning of May, Wilkes had a 4.4% unemployment rate, the lowest it’s been since the year 2000. There were 277 new jobs created and 71 people added to the total workforce. The numbers show a continuation of growth that was started back in February, as the county’s unemployment rate has been on a steady decline ever since. Wilkes is mere percentage points above the state unemployment average, which stands at 4.1%. All of those numbers were taken from the latest monthly report released from the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.

Medication Stolen From North Wilkesboro Woman
Thieves ran off with some medication from a North Wilkesboro home late last week. The incident happened early Thursday morning, as the homeowner had invited a friend inside. Minutes after coming in, that friend somehow found their way to the medicine cabinet and started stealing some of the painkillers inside. However when the homeowner walked up and saw what she was doing, the would be thief downed the evidence, over 15 painkillers in one mouthful. Amazingly, she didn’t suffer any serious medical problems, but her name was given over to deputies by the homeowner, who wanted her charged for stealing the medication. That investigation continues.

Price Of Cigarettes May Remain For Another Year
There’s some potentially good news for cigarette smokers in Wilkes County, as a planned tax hike could be put off. Last July, state lawmakers agreed to increase the cigarette tax to 30 cents but agreed to temporarily delay it. Now lawmakers want to put off implementing the tax once again, as studies are showing higher cigarette prices would hurt sales in counties close to the South Carolina and Tennessee border. The idea was proposed in a new bill last week, looking to compete with South Carolina, whose lawmakers did the exact same thing earlier this year. If the bill passes, the cigarette tax won’t go up until July 1st of 2007.

Just Wanted Some Help Cutting Grass
Some thieves in the Ferguson area apparently just wanted some help cutting grass, as they broke into a home late last week. The homeowner came back on Thursday to discover the theft, which happened at a log cabin on the Casper Hawkins Road. A storage shed on the property was broke into, as thieves cut the lock and walked inside. Taken from the building, was a Toro riding mower, a generator and a Buckmaster bow. That investigation is ongoing.

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
A Hayes man went to check on some family property late last week, but found that someone had beaten him there. The front door had been pried open, but despite the damage nothing was missing or even touched inside the home. In fact besides the open door, there was no evidence that anyone had been near the house. That investigation is ongoing.

Blood Drive Later Today
Summer is traditionally a time of need for the Red Cross, as vacations and other commitments severely deplete the attendance at blood drives. With the local supply nearing critical levels, the Wilkes chapter of the Red Cross is holding a drive today at Millers Creek United Methodist Church. The drive runs from 2-7pm and all donors who come out will be entered into a drawing for a free $1500 gas card from Citgo. The drawing will be held later this month and to sign up, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Local Home
Last week, mailbox vandals targeted a home on the Johnson Road. A local woman came outside to find her mailbox broken. Both the box itself and the post it had been on were smashed and lying on the ground. However despite the noise such an event would cause, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything the night before. Estimated damage was placed at $20 and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Jonesville On America’s Most Wanted
The town of Jonesville got some national attention over the weekend after it was featured on America’s Most Wanted. The tv show dedicated a segment to a case that’s gone unsolved for almost 10 years. Back on October 5th 1996, police officer Gregory Keith Martin was shot while performing a routine traffic stop on I-77. In the time since then, sketches have been released of the three men believed to be involved, but officials haven’t been able to get any leads.

State News

North Carolina Now Has Alternative Fuel Station
There’s a new option for people tired of paying an arm and a leg at the pump. A gas station in Southern Pines has now become North Carolina’s first place to sell only alternative fuel. Two types of ethanol can be bought at the business, along with an alternative biodiesel mix for truckers. Here in North Carolina, there are 5500 state vehicles that run on ethanol or natural gas.

North Carolina Says Goodbye To Hugh Morton
Hundreds of North Carolinians said goodbye to an old friend this weekend, as Hugh Morton was laid to rest. Morton was the owner of Grandfather Mountain and was known across the state for his efforts to preserve the natural beauty and the wildlife that live in the North Carolina mountains. Sunday night people came together at Grandfather Mountain to pay tribute to the man in a memorial service set up in his honor. Morton died last week after a long struggle with cancer. Hugh Morton was 85.

Vandals Target Another Church
Yet another North Carolina church fell prey to vandals over the weekend, this time in Gastonia. Officials at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church came in over the weekend to find that someone had done some redecorating. Pentagrams were carved in the church’s floors and walls, both in and outside of the sanctuary in addition to sections of profanity. The carpet was damaged, fire extinguishers were painted and even some of the children’s toys from the nursery were affected. Estimated damage at St. Michaels was placed at $10,000 and police in the area are continuing the investigation.

School Students Rushed To Hospital In Eden
Class was dismissed Friday at a high school in Eden North Carolina, after someone released pepper spray in the building. Early Friday morning, a student came in and started spraying portions of a hallway. Within a few minutes, the spray had drifted into several classrooms, affecting both students and teachers. Several students had to be rushed to the hospital after having problems breathing and the school itself was evacuated. The culprit has since been discovered and now officials are considering what if any punishment he’ll face.

Sports Headlines

Tarheel Recruit Ranked High
Some good news for the UNC Tarheels on the recruiting front, as a future member of the football team is ranked in the nation’s Top 100. Wide receiver Dwight Jones, who currently attends Burlington Cummings High School was given a five star ranking by high school website Rivals.com. That’s the highest grade possible for high school players and it comes after a season where the 6’5 ft. 210 lb. Jones caught 49 passes for 952 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Tarheel Expected To Be First Pick
In other Tarheel sports news, one of UNC’s starting pitchers is expected to be taken with the first pick in today’s Major League Baseball draft. 6’6 ft. Andrew Miller won 11 games this year during the regular season, picking up 102 strikeouts along the way to being named the ACC’s pitcher of the year. He’s the consensus pick for the Kansas City Royals, who choose first in the draft, to be held this afternoon. Also expected to go in the first round is UNC Charlotte starter Daniel Bard.

Williams Lands Another Award
Former Appalachian State quarterback Richie Williams was honored last week as the Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year. The announcement was made Wednesday night during the conference awards dinner at Hilton Head. Last year Williams led Appalachian to their first ever NCAA national title in Division I-AA, tossing for 2809 yards and 20 TDs while rushing for 936 yards. The now graduated senior also holds the Southern Conference record for total offense, finishing with 9370 yards in his college career. Williams has since signed a contract with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats, playing along former teammate Davon Fowlkes. Preseason for the CFL starts this weekend.

Panthers Coach Gets Promotion
Panthers Coach John Fox also announced a slight change in his coaching staff last week. Running backs coach Jim Skipper was promoted to assistant head coach. The 57-yr-old Skipper, in addition to working with the team’s running backs, has been involved in game management for several years, watching the clock, keeping track of timeouts and penalties. Coach Fox said the promotion was to give Skipper recognition for the jobs he already does.

Former Blue Devil Getting Back On Court
In the NBA, a former member of the Duke Blue Devils is attempting to get back on the court. Point guard Jason Williams saw his NBA career come to a halt back in 2003, after a motorcycle crash tore ligaments in his knee and damaged nerves in one of his legs. Now after almost three years of rehab, Williams wants to get back on an NBA court and is working out for the Toronto Raptors, who as it turns out are in the market for a point guard.

Kenseth Wins At Dover
On the Nextel Cup circuit, it was Matt Kenseth on Sunday taking the checkered flag in the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Kenseth passed Jamie McMurray with time running out to get the win at Dover. McMurray finished second, Kevin Harvick came in third, Jeff Burton was fourth and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Next up drivers head to Pocono this coming Sunday for the Pocono 500.

News & Sports For June 2nd

New Bill Would Mean No School Until Age 5 For Wilkes Kids
A new bill in the North Carolina House could have Wilkes County kids starting school a year later. In the proposed bill, created by Forsyth County Rep. Dale Folwell, all kids entering kindergarten would have to be five years old. Currently state law allows some four year olds to enter school early, as long as they turn five before October 17th. Now that deadline has been moved back to August 31st, in order to guarantee that virtually every student is at least five. The reason for the change is that some state officials are concerned four year olds aren’t mentally or in some cases physically ready to begin kindergarten. The bill was introduced over the weekend in the House and should be up for consideration in the next few weeks.

Local Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A Millers Creek woman got a surprise this week, when she received a phone call from Social Services. It turns out that someone had obtained her information and was trying to use her Social Security card to get assistance. The request for assistance was denied, however Social Security couldn’t provide any information on the suspect besides a name. However additional sources have come forward and given deputies information on a possible suspect. That investigation continues.

Vandals Hit PeaceHaven Church
Vandals hit PeaceHaven Church earlier this week. The church, on Bryd Ridge Road in North Wilkesboro was targeted sometime between Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. Deputies arrived to find profanity sprayed on parts of the church and also on some of the church’s playground equipment. A window at the playground had also been shattered. There are suspects in the cases however, as it appears the vandals signed their names on the playground. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Bike Rodeo Coming Up Tomorrow
The 4th Annual Seth Teague Bicycle Rodeo is coming up tomorrow here in Wilkes. The event will go on Saturday from 10am til 2pm at the Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse on Hwy 421 with officials from SAFE KIDS on hand to instruct on bike safety. Helmets will be given out to any riders who don’t have one, also kid’s IDs will be provided. In addition, SAFEKIDS will perform minor repairs and adjustments for any bikes that need them. Ambulances, fire trucks, helicopters and police vehicles will also be on display for anyone who wants to take a look. For more information about the event, you can contact the Wilkes Chapter of SAFEKIDS at 921-7534.

Drove Off From The Driveway
Deputies were called out after a Wilkesboro man had his car stolen this week. The incident happened at a residence on Roses Lane, as the man had parked his car and got a ride, because the vehicle was in need of repair. When he returned home Wednesday afternoon the car was gone and neighbors told of a man in a tow truck driving off with it. A description of the thief along with information about the car was turned over to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation continues.

Preparing For Summer Part III: Pet Care
With temperatures hitting the mid 90s this week, we’ve been sharing several different ways to help beat the heat. But while preparing for summer, we tend to forget about the effects heat has on our pets. Dogs are especially susceptible to the hot weather, with heatstroke being one of the major problems. Dogs are actually more affected by the heat than we are, mainly because their bodies conserve heat more than ours do. Panting and drinking plenty of water helps, but brain damage can set in after 15 minutes of exposure to temperatures over 100. Some ways to keep your pet cool are first and foremost, make sure they have a shaded place to go, such as a basement or other place out of the heat. Also you can take an cold towel, soak it in cool, but not cold water. Ice cold water would be a shock to the dog’s system, after coming in from the heat. Cool water however can help the animal maintain a lower body temperature. And aside from making sure they have plenty of water to drink, give the pets small ice cubes they can lick. Keep in mind that pugs and bulldogs, along with all older animals are extremely susceptible to heatstroke.

Vandals Hit Little Dipper
Vandals targeted another Wilkes County business on Monday, this time hitting the Little Dipper in North Wilkesboro. Early Monday morning, employees came in to find that someone had pried open the Pepsi machines outside. Salt had been poured into the coin changer and the vandals additionally tried to pry off the lock to a nearby storage building. Despite the damage, which was estimated at $150, nothing was taken. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Mailbox Vandals Cause Damage Of A Different Sort
Mailbox vandals targeted a neighborhood in North Wilkesboro this week, causing damage of a different sort. Instead of using baseball bats and cars, they used a marker. Mailboxes at homes on Maple Drive and Byrd Ridge Road had profanity written on them in permanent marker. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Thieves Break Into Damaged Car
Thieves took advantage of an auto accident this week to run off with over $100 in merchandise. A Thurmond woman had been involved in an accident in Surry County and got her vehicle towed to a nearby lot. When she came back on Tuesday to pick up the vehicle, the CDs and CD player inside were missing. That investigation is ongoing.

Wilkes Animal Shelter To Hold Adoption Fair
Coming up this Saturday, the Wilkes Animal Shelter wants to help you find a furry friend to take home. They’re holding an Adoption Fair this week, courtesy of the Wilkes Humane Society. The event will run from 10:30am til 3pm at the shelter on 408 Call Street in Wilkesboro. It costs $75 to adopt a dog or puppy and $55 for a cat or kitten. That fee covers the cost of all vaccines and exams the animal would need, along with paying to have the pet spayed or neutered. If you want to look at some of the animals up for adoption before going over, they’re on the Humane Society website at www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org.

State News

North Carolina Guard Short On Vehicles
Some problems have arisen for the North Carolina National Guard, made worse by the beginning of hurricane season. Under current policy, Guard units leave their vehicles & most of their equipment behind when returning from Iraq. But as more units are shipped out and vehicles are destroyed, the Guard finds itself in the midst of a shortage. North Carolina’s Guard units are missing 300 Humvees out of its’ normal group of 750, which could spell trouble if a hurricane hits the state. Army & Guard officials say that they’re working to correct the problem, but won’t be able to guarantee when the vehicles will arrive. The latest estimate projects that it will be at least the end of this month before any new vehicles or equipment arrives, meaning that Guard units will have to make do with what they have in the case of an emergency.

Fire Started By Baptismal Equipment
Officials in Winston Salem have determined what caused a local church to go up in flames. Early Sunday morning, the Heavenview United Pentecostal Church caught fire with an estimated $1 million in damage done. Now fire marshals believe the blaze started with an electrical short. It’s believed that the baptismal pool’s pump and heater system shorted out, starting the fire which quickly spread to the rest of the sanctuary.

Fugitive Arrested In Durham
Officials in Durham captured a fugitive this week that had been on the run for over a month. 39-yr-old Stevie Floyd Gardner was arrested on Tuesday after police tracked him down by using phone records. Gardner had been wanted on charges of kidnapping his 4-yr-old son and taking his girlfriend’s father hostage when law enforcement closed in. Gardner is now in the Durham jail awaiting his day in court with bail set at $1.2 million.

University City A Source Of Bad Air
Bad news for anyone planning on attending UNC Charlotte in the fall. Your lungs might pay for it. EPA officials announced this week that University City is one of the worst areas in the state, in regards to air quality. The problem stems from major traffic congestion in some parts of the area, which helps to generate more pollution than normal. University City rates 106 on the government’s Air Quality Index, a test where bad air quality means a higher score. Those areas rating a 100 or worse have until 2010 to clean up or they’ll lose billions in federal dollars for road repair & transportation.

North Carolina Radio Legend Passes Away
North Carolina said goodbye to a radio legend on Wednesday. Ralph Epperson was a member of the North Carolina Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and was one of the first DJs to feature local bluegrass performers on his radio station. That station WPAQ 740 AM went on the air back in 1948, blending bluegrass & folk music with news delivered from the station’s Mt. Airy studio. Epperson had continued to work at the station until May 12th, when he fell & suffered an injury. Then while recovering in the hospital he suffered a stroke. Ralph Epperson was 85.

Sports Headlines

Patriots In Action Tonight
In American Legion baseball, the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots take to the field tonight looking to rebound from a slow start. The team is 0-6 after Wednesday’s loss to Yadkin County and now face six games in the next seven days. Today they’re on the road against Lexington with the first pitch set for 7pm.

Basketball Camps Start On Monday
The first basketballs camp of the summer start on Monday here in Wilkes County. For girls in first through ninth grade, a camp is going on at Wilkes Central June 5th-8th from 8-11am. The event is going to be held at Wilkes Central and early registration costs $50 or you can sign up the day of the event for $60. Also the North Wilkes girls camp starts on Monday as well. That’s for girls in 2nd-9th grade and will be held from 12 noon til 3pm June 5th through the 8th. The cost is $45 but all rising ninth grade girls coming from North Middle School can attend for free.

Panthers Picked To Win Super Bowl
In the NFL, the preseason is still several months away but magazines are already selecting their picks to win the Super Bowl. Street & Smith, which is getting set to release their Pro Football Yearbook, has chosen Carolina as the team to win it all this year. The Charlotte based company has Denver as the Panthers’ opponent in the big game, believing they’ll beat Indianapolis while Carolina is expected to knock off Seattle.

Fines Handed Out In NASCAR
Fines & penalties were handed out this week on the Nextel Cup circuit. NASCAR officials put driver Kyle Busch on probation, effective til December 31st. They also fined him $50,000 and took away 25 points in the Chase for the Cup. All of that comes from Busch’s actions Sunday after a wreck with Casey Mears, when he walked back onto the track and tried to toss a piece of his car at Mears’ vehicle. The points deduction drops Busch from 9th to 10th in the Chase for the Cup, as he’s now 14 points behind Kevin Harvick. Also Jeremy Mayfield was docked 25 points after his car failed inspection. The roof of the No. 19 Dodge fell below the minimum height requirement of 51 inches.

News & Sports For June 1st

Good & Bad News For Wilkes County Vets
It turns out that some Wilkes County vets may be at risk of having more than just their personal information stolen. Earlier this month, 3WC News told you about the theft of computer files that contained information for over 26 million vets, taken from the home of a Veterans Affairs official. Now comes word that the theft may be more serious than originally thought. Memos from VA officials were obtained and released this week by the Associated Press, detailing that in addition to social security numbers and birthdates, the vets’ phone numbers and home address were taken in the theft. Also a list of those who participated in chemical testing programs during World War II, which totals up to include 6744 vets was taken. What can local vets do to prevent becoming a victim? The Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that you continue to keep a close eye on your bank statements and check your account regularly. Be sure to let officials at your bank know if you notice any irregularities. You can also call one of the major credit bureaus and check to make sure your information is secure, either by calling Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742 or TransUnion at 1-800-680-7298.

Thieves Break Into Lowes Foods
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Lowes Foods on Statesville Road earlier this week after thieves broke in. The call came out at 3:30am Monday morning when employees came in and found the back door had been pried open. All total an estimated $9100 in damage was done, as the thieves attempted to pry open the safe, cut through the security wiring and also damaged the central security system box. After all that however the only things missing from inside were 51 cartons of cigarettes along with some ribeye steaks. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Money Orders Stolen From Traphill Home
Be careful who you let inside your house. A Traphill couple found that out the hard way recently. Earlier this week they called sheriff’s deputies to report the theft of several money orders that had been left at their residence on Billings Hill Church Road. Just over a week ago, they had invited some people in, leaving the orders stuffed in a cabinet. After the guests left, unfortunately so did the money. After getting in contact with authorities, the couple found that two out of the three orders had been cashed over the past week. Names and descriptions of the suspects were given over to deputies and that investigation continues.

Preparing For Summer Part II: Home Invasion
Heat exposure has killed eight thousand people in the last twenty years and most died in their own homes. So how can you keep the heat out of your house? In today’s second installment of our Beat The Heat Summer Series, we’re examining quick and easy ways to sunproof your home. First check to make sure your attic is properly ventilated. If insulation or anything else is clogging the vents, the attic temperature can climb as high as 150 degrees. Also make sure that all blinds and curtains have been pulled down in all areas of your home. That alone could help the temperature drop more than ten degrees in your home. For anyone with an air conditioner, clean the filter every month. A dirty filter on your AC will force it to work harder, raising your energy bill while not exactly keeping things cool. Also be sure and check your weather stripping. A properly sealed door can keep most of the hot air outside and away from you. Finally, make sure to turn down your fans to the low setting when it’s humid outside. The reason being is that slower movement can allow the fan to pull moisture out of the air, basically acting as a buffer to drain that humidity and make things more comfortable. Coming up in tomorrow’s third segment of the series, we’ll take a look at ways to help our pets survive in the heat.

Gas Thieves Target Wilkes Businesses
Several businesses here in Wilkes fell victim to gas thieves this week. A man pulled up to the Run-In on Hwy 421 West in Wilkesboro Monday night. He pumped $10 worth of gas, then jumped into his Chevy Blazer and took off down the road. Neighbors’ Store in Elkin meanwhile was hit Tuesday morning, as a man came in and paid for several purchases. However as he pulled out, employees discovered that he had also pumped $63 worth of gas but failed to pay for it. Information regarding the man and his vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

All For A Few More Cans
Moody’s Grocery fell victim to thieves earlier this week, who seemed to come in with a singular purpose in mind. The glass was shattered in the front door and it appears the thieves walked right in. However they didn’t bother the cash register, only leaving with 3 bundles of Copenhagen dipping tobacco and a $6 roll of change. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Teens
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month across North Carolina, something definitely needed as the latest numbers show 45% of all firstborn children are born to unwed mothers and teens. Laura Edwards from the Community Health Connection will be Brian’s guest today for Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be taking a look at what the numbers say for Wilkes County. That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Loading Ramp Stolen From Holly Mountain IGA
Thieves targeted the Holly Mountain IGA earlier this week, but not for any of the items contained inside. The building’s loading ramp was stolen sometime Sunday night, picked up from the back of the business. Nothing else was damaged or even touched at the building but deputies are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: Lack Of Iron Causes Baldness
For anyone whose hair is starting to vanish, the answer to regrowing it could be in your kitchen, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have released a study which links baldness to iron deficiencies in the body. The study took several test subjects and examined their body’s reaction when given iron rich foods to eat. What it found was that the subjects who were losing hair were also suffering from some form of iron deficiency in their body. As they were given iron rich foods to eat, the rate of hair loss was dramatically slowed. Officials from the clinic say that more testing is needed to definitely link the two conditions, but encourage people to eat foods rich in iron if they notice their hair is falling out. Foods such as watermelon, strawberries, bananas and liver were suggested as the best things to try. Liver by itself has more iron in it than virtually anything else, with 8 miligrams of iron for every three ounces of liver. Prune juice is right behind it, with 7.4 miligrams of iron in every ¾ of a cup. The study was published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Two Cars Totaled On Wilkesboro Blvd
Two cars were totaled after a collision on Wilkesboro Blvd earlier this week. On Tuesday afternoon, a North Wilkesboro man slowed down for traffic just after 5:30pm, near the intersection with East Main Street. The driver behind him, another North Wilkesboro man, couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. An estimated $4000 worth of damage was done in the wreck but thankfully no injuries were reported.

State News

Minimum Wage Increase Approved
Minimum wage workers across the state came one step closer this week to a pay raise. The North Carolina House, by a vote of 72-43 on Tuesday, approved a $1 an hour increase in the minimum wage. The increase was already approved by the Senate, so now all that’s needed is to determine if the new law will be part of the state budget or presented to the governor as a stand alone bill. A decision is expected within the next month.

Massive Wreck On I-85 Snares 50 Cars
It took just under three hours for Highway Patrol officers to sort out the chaos from a series of wrecks on I-85 & I-40 yesterday. 82 cars were involved in the incidents, which happened in Orange County around 7:30am Tuesday morning. Heavy rainfall in the area is being held responsible for most of the problems, as drivers were heading into work. Within a five mile stretch of the two highways, there were 44 collisions with one person having to be carried off by helicopter to the local hospital. 34 other injuries were reported from the scene, but none of them were serious. I-85 opened back up by 11am.

Quest Continues To Save Ocean Isle Beach
Work continues by the Army Corps of Engineers today as they try to save a North Carolina beach. 48,000 cubic yards of sand has been brought in by the Corps to help rebuild Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County. Due to hurricanes and other storms over the past few years, erosion has taken off at the beach with an average of 6 feet of sand disappearing per month. With hurricane season once again upon us, that puts local homes at risk with no barrier between them and the ocean. The Corps started rebuilding the beach this past weekend, first stacking sandbags over an estimated 800 feet of land and then covering it with the sand.

Durham Student Had His Mouth Taped Shut
A lawsuit has been filed against a Durham school teacher this week, accusing her of taping a student’s mouth shut during class. The parents of the 9-yr-old boy filed the suit, which targets the teacher, the principal at Hope Valley Elementary, the Durham school board and the local superintendent. The boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, also has asthma and is blind in one eye. According to court papers, the teacher pulled out some tape during class after growing tired of sounds the boy was making and put it on his mouth. The teacher was released from her job less than two weeks after the alleged incident happened.

Landing Field May Be Moved From NC
A five year battle by the Navy to purchase land in North Carolina could be coming to a close. Since 2001, the Navy has been trying to build a runway on 30,000 acres of land in Washington County, to use as a practice field for pilots at Oceana Air Station in Virginia Beach. But the move has been blocked by environmental activists, who say that it would damage nearby wildlife habitats. That battle could be ending as a federal commission has recommended moving practice sessions to already established Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida, which would save thousands in building costs alone. A decision is expected before the end of the year.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Results
In local baseball last night, the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots took a hit as they fell to Yadkin County 8-2. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 0-6 in American Legion play, with a rough schedule ahead of them. They’ve got six games to play in the next seven days, with a road trip to Lexington starting things off on Friday.

Catawba College Gets To Keep Name
Around the college scene, one North Carolina school got a reprieve from the NCAA on Tuesday as they can keep their mascot. Catawba College had been one of several schools targeted by the NCAA for what they called mascots offensive to minorities, as Catawba’s teams are called the Indians. However after reviewing the case, NCAA officials agreed to remove Catawba from the list after receiving a letter from the Catawba Indian Nation, who gave its’ blessing for the name to stay.

Instant Replay Changes Coming To College
Some changes will be coming next season in college football. The NCAA announced a change to the instant replay rule this week. Under the revised rules, coaches can challenge one play each game to be reviewed by instant replay, but only if the team has a timeout left. If the ruling is reversed, the team won’t be charged a timeout but if it stands, one timeout will be taken away.

Summer School Starts For Panthers
In the NFL, summer school officially started for the Carolina Panthers. The team began their voluntary workout program, which will last for the next 3 ½ weeks. The only player not in camp was wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who the coaching staff said was taking care of personal issues and would be back on Friday. The only player not taking part in drills Wednesday afternoon was defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead, who’s recovering from a knee injury.

Mayfield’s Car Fails Inspection
On the NASCAR circuit, bad news for fans of the No. 19 Dodge. Jeremy Mayfield’s ride failed the post race inspection after Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, as the roof didn’t mean the minimum height requirement of 51 inches. No official announcement has been made as to what the penalty will be, although points are expected to be knocked off and at least a $20,000 fine handed out.

Stewart To Start On Sunday
Some good news however for Tony Stewart, as he won’t have to undergo surgery on his fractured right shoulder. Stewart injured the shoulder in a wreck Sunday night during the Coca-Cola 600, on the same shoulder he damaged during a crash Saturday in the Busch Series race. Doctors now say that only time and rest will heal the injury, however Stewart is climbing back into his car this weekend for the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Stewart will qualify for Nextel points because he started the race, but he won’t be going the distance. Ricky Rudd will step in as a replacement driver for the No. 20 at a certain point in Sunday’s race, which could be the standard procedure for at least the next month.

News & Sports For May 31st

Record Highs Set Across Wilkes County
Wilkes and the surrounding region saw the heat wave continue on Tuesday. Record highs were set in the area, as the temperature hit 94 degrees. That breaks the old record of 91, set back in 1969. However some good news as we’ll see some relief from that hot weather at least for the rest of the week. The National Weather Service is calling for highs in the mid 80s with the possibility of thunderstorms today through Friday. That storm system is expected to push back the hot air and by next Sunday, we could see highs only reaching the mid 70s and lows back in the mid 50s.

Explosives Found At Local Home
The Wilkes Hazardous Devices Unit was called out Monday night after some explosives were found at a home on North Ridge Road. The owner of the house was packing up to move and came across 14 sticks of dynamite while cleaning out a storage shed. HDU secured the explosives and took them to the sheriff’s department training ground, where they were disposed of. It’s estimated that the dynamite was around 20 years old and is believed to have been bought by another member of the homeowner’s family but then forgotten.

Vandals Take Aim At Local Schools
Two Wilkes County schools fell prey to vandals over the weekend. Over a thousand dollars worth of damage was done to West Wilkes High and Roaring River Elementary. At West High, several drink & snack machines were broke into, but nothing was missing from inside. Nothing else was damaged or even touched on the property. Over at Roaring River, vandals tossed rocks through several windows, shattering them and causing an estimated $500 in damages while also shattering the street light nearby. But despite the damage, nothing was missing or even disturbed inside the school itself. Deputies are continuing the investigation in both cases.

Two People Injured In Wreck On 421
One car was totaled and two people were rushed to the hospital after an accident Monday on Hwy 421. The incident happened just after 2pm as a North Wilkesboro man was slowing down for a yellow traffic signal. The second driver, a Purlear man, was following behind and smoking a cigarette. He dropped the cigarette and bent down to pick it up, unaware the vehicle in front of him was stopped. Both drivers were taken to Wilkes Regional and estimated damages were placed at $2300.

Preparing For Summer Part I: Taking Care Of The Car
Over the past week, the temperature has hit the mid 90s several times, reminding us that summer is just around the corner. But before the heat wave arrives, we have some tips on how to prepare both your house and your car in our Beat the Heat Summer Series. In our first segment today, we’re taking a look at ways you can protect your car against the weather.
First, in heated conditions, make sure to keep your car filled with antifreeze. If you’re running low, fill it up before you take off, otherwise your car could overheat before you get to your destination. Also open your car doors and let the air circulate before starting it up. That won’t just help the car, but also make it a little easier for you to bear the drive before the AC kicks in. And speaking of the air conditioner, never crank it all the way up to full blast when first starting the car. Instead start off at the regular or mild setting, to give the vehicle a chance to get started. Otherwise you run the risk of straining the air conditioner’s capacity while the car won’t be getting cooler any faster. If possible, put a sunshade on your car’s windshield when you get out. It will help cut down on the car’s temperature by reducing the heat buildup inside. And finally, more important than the car is your safety, so be sure and bring water with you on a hot day, to avoid getting dehydrated. And if you find yourself in need of help on the road, dial * HP so the highway patrol can help you out. Tomorrow in part two of our series, we’ll be going over some ways to keep your home cool.

Thieves Run Off With Local Man’s Mailbox
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he walked outside to check his mail on Monday. Both his mailbox and the post it had stood on were missing. Nothing else was damaged or even touched on the property and no one could recall seeing anything unusual during the day. Deputies are continuing that investigation.

Just Came In For Some Late Night Shopping
Deputies were called out to Thurmond’s Grocery early Tuesday morning, after some would be thieves hit the place. An alarm was triggered just after 3am, but when deputies arrived on the scene nothing was missing and the only thing damaged was the store’s front glass panel. Apparently the thieves weren’t able to get inside and took off running once the alarm sounded. That investigation is ongoing.

Recall Ordered Of Volkswagen Cars
There’s bad news for some Volkswagen owners out there, as the company has discovered a problem in their Jetta and New Beetle models. A recall has been ordered of all Jetta and New Beetle models from the years 1999 through 2002, due to an issue with the brake system. After a period of time, the vehicle’s brake light switch may malfunction, either leaving the lights on all the time or causing them to go dead. Owners can take the car back to the dealer they got it from for a free repair and for more information you can call 1-800-822-8987.

Gun Drops & Vanishes On Highway
A Ferguson man called sheriff’s deputies on Monday after misplacing a handgun. He had left the weapon sitting on his truck’s tailgate and then drove from the Rom Eller Road to the Ferguson post office. When he arrived at the post office and remembered the pistol, he looked back to find it was gone. Also after retracing his route, the gun was nowhere to be found. Information on the .22 Smith & Wesson was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

State News

NC Withholds Votes Due To High Salaries
North Carolina’s retirement system is taking a stand against what its’ officials are calling extremely high salaries. The system, which owns 11 million shares of Exxon stock, announced this week that it will be withholding its’ support from the current board of directors, some of whom are up for re-election. The decision is based on an estimated $400 million retirement package given out to former Exxon chairman Lee Raymond, along with other deals handed out to executives. State Treasurer Richard Moore said that he feels oil executives are hiking up gas prices to fatten their own wallets and those excessive pay packages will likely diminish the value of individual stocks.

High Gas To Increase Tourism
The high gas prices could actually be good for North Carolina’s economy, according to travel bureaus across the state. Unable to head out of state on vacation, people are choosing to travel closer to home and North Carolina businesses are reaping the rewards. The number of in state visitors heading to the North Carolina coast has risen 25% over this same time a year ago.

Powerball Suffers A Setback
While North Carolina’s lottery got off to a good start earlier this year, the same couldn’t be said for its’ Powerball game. The latest addition to the state lottery began selling tickets at 5am Tuesday morning, but some vendors failed to read instructions sent out by lottery officials and caused a temporary crash. In the email, officials warned not to turn off the machines, as they take a while to restart and download the data again. An estimated 800 vendors in gas stations and other stores across the state forgot and flipped the switch anyway, leaving them with no tickets for consumers. The machines were back up and running by Tuesday night, but it’s unknown how much money was lost during the 12 hr. period most of the machines were down. Today’s first Powerball prize is estimated to be at $38 million.

Vance County Nets Largest Seizure In History
A routine traffic stop for sheriff’s deputies in Vance County soon turned into a history making arrest over the weekend. At 10pm Friday night, deputies were running a traffic safety check on Hwy 1 when they encountered an unlicensed driver. While checking the truck for drugs, $1,550,000 in cash was found in the back seat. Officials from the DEA were contacted and the money was seized, along with the truck. Both the driver and passenger were also arrested. When the final total from the bust was released this week, it turned out to be the largest amount of cash ever seized in county history.

High Point Church Falls Prey To Arson
A church in High Point fell prey to arsonists on Monday. Officials from the High Point fire department were called out to Springfield Baptist Church around 2:30am Monday morning, after someone driving by saw the flames. Portions of the sanctuary, the pastor’s study and the Sunday School department were all damaged in the blaze, which has been officially labeled a case of arson. It’s unknown if the fire is connected to a series of break-ins that the church has suffered over the past eight months.

Sports Headlines

Basketball Camps Coming Up At West High
With summer officially arriving in Wilkes County, basketball camps are just around the corner. At West High, basketball camp for girls ages 8-14 begins next Monday June 5th and continues until June 9th. The program will run each day from 9am til noon and costs $65. To sign up, you can call Coach David Beck at 973-4503 extension 149. On the boys side of the court, camp starts June 12th for boys ages 7-14 and will run until June 15th. The boys program starts at 8:30am and runs til noon each day, with a cost of $60. Coach Larry Siers can be reached for more information or to sign up at 973-4503.

Post 31 Baseball Tonight
The Wilkes Post 31 Baseball team will be in action again tonight, taking on Yadkin County and the 3WC Sports Team will be on hand to bring you the play by play. Gametime is set for 7pm over at Wilkes Central and we’ll go on the air with the McDonald’s pregame show around 6:45pm, then turn things over to Ken Byrd at 7pm for the first pitch.

NC State Player To Turn Pro
The NC State Wolfpack officially lost another member of their basketball team on Tuesday, as sophomore Cedric Simmons announced he was staying in the NBA Draft. Underclassmen can go through the draft workouts without signing an agent as long as they pull out before the actual draft. However Simmons stepped over all that by signing with agents Justin Zanick and Andy Miller. In his second year at State, Simmons averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds and is projected to be a first round pick.

NHL Playoffs: Game 6
On the ice last night, it was the Buffalo Sabres winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, beating Carolina 2-1. With the win, Buffalo ties the series up at 3 games each with Game Seven set for this Thursday.

Car Of The Future Being Tested By NASCAR
Nextel Cup crews are getting their first look at the future of the sport this week, as testing continues on NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow”. The new model is 2 inches taller than the current car and 4 inches wider, with several new safety improvements as well. Eight drivers were out yesterday and back on the track today testing the car. Joe Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers, Scott Riggs, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton all took their turn behind the wheel. The new car will make its’ Nextel Cup debut in 2007 on just the short tracks, building to a full time schedule in 2009.

News & Sports For May 30th

Some Long Distance Tax Relief On The Way
Some tax relief will be on the way for Wilkes County citizens, to the tune of over one million dollars. The US Treasury Department announced over the weekend that it will stop collecting the excise tax on long distance calls and plans to refund an estimated $15 billion to citizens across the country. The excise tax appears on your monthly statement and how much you pay depends on how long you talked on the phone. 3% of the total bill is taxed and those taxes added on to your monthly charges. For example, if your bill was $100, the excise tax would make up $3 of it. Even for a normal phone bill which might not reach above $50 a month, that’s around $18 a year paid out in taxes. The tax itself is over 100 years old, created back in 1898 to help finance the Spanish-American War. Now Treasury officials say they’re not just going to stop collecting the fee, but also refund some of the $300 billion that has been brought in over the years. On next year’s tax return, you’ll be able to claim three years worth of excise fees, which can be found on your current monthly bill. Find the excise tax charge, then multiply it by 12 to get what you pay out over a full year. Then multiply that result by 3 and you have the total of what you’ll be able to claim on next year’s taxes. Business will also be able to claim a refund.

Thieves Target Local Business
A local business fell prey to thieves late last week as sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Randy Miller Lumber Company. The incident happened sometime late Wednesday night, as an employee noticed the damage when they came in Thursday morning. Thieves had broke into two locked rooms at the building, gaining access by climbing onto an oil drum outside and then pushing open a window. Several hundred dollars worth of tools and other equipment was taken in the theft and that investigation continues.

Car Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Be careful where you leave your car keys. That’s the lesson a North Wilkesboro man learned late last week. The incident happened at a home on the Yellow Banks Road, as the man woke up and prepared for work. However as he walked out the door, the man discovered his truck had gone missing. He had left the keys in the ignition when parking the vehicle the night before. However no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything during the night. Over the weekend the truck was discovered abandoned in Giles County Virginia.

Local Business Falls Victim To Fraud
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Grocery Bag late last week after the business fell victim to fraud. A woman came in and cashed a check for $225, which later turned out to be fake. A description of the woman was turned over to deputies along with the fake check and that investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: Chocolate Good For The Brain
Chocolate might not just taste good but it could actually be good for you, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A recent study from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia has showed that eating milk chocolate could actually increase your brain power. The reason being that chocolate contains several stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. For the study, people were given 85 grams of milk chocolate, 85 grams of dark chocolate and 85 grams of a imitation substance. After 15 minutes, those who were given the chocolate performed better at tasks involving memory and problem solving. They also showed a quicker reaction time and had a longer attention span. Researchers do warn however that while moderate doses of chocolate can be beneficial, too much can lead to health problems. Any amount over one fourth of a pound a day is considered to be unhealthy.

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

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

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
Some would be thieves broke into a local residence but left empty handed. The homeowner returned to the property, on Single Gap Road, to find a window shattered but nothing missing from inside. In addition there was nothing else damaged on the property, which has been unoccupied for several months. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Jonesville To Have Town Hall Built
People in Jonesville will soon have a town hall to call their own. Officials announced over the weekend that construction on a town hall will be built on donated land starting this November. The plan is to have a 5500 sq. foot building on NC Hwy 67 near the I-77 intersection. Included inside will be a visitors center, town council chamber and a drive through where citizens can pay bills and handle their affairs. In addition, the Jonesville Police Department will base their headquarters out of the building. It's expected to cost an estimated $1.2 million and should be finished by November of 2007.

State News

College Students Could Have Background Checks
Before going off to college, high school seniors could have one more hurdle to climb if some North Carolina lawmakers have their way. Under a new bill filed this weekend, all incoming students would be required to undergo a criminal background check before being admitted. Fingerprints would be taken and tested, along with a complete background check. The move comes after two UNC Wilmington students were killed last year by fellow students, both of which had lied about their criminal history. The bill would only affect students planning to attend a college in the UNC system.

Cumberland County Falls Victim To ID Theft
One North Carolina county is working to recover after falling victim to ID theft. An estimated $6759 in taxpayers' money was stolen from Cumberland County, thanks to a series of counterfeit checks. Two people, 44-yr-old Edwin Lynwood Reid and 40-yr-old Gloria Elizabeth Wade both of Fayetteville, have been arrested in connection with the scheme. Police are also investigating another counterfeiting scheme involving Reid, this time in his own town of Fayetteville. With other charges possibly pending, Reid is facing 10 counts of obtaining property by false pretense and is in the Cumberland County jail awaiting trial.Wade is facing charges of conspiracy, also remaining in the Cumberland Jail. The county won't actually lose money, as the debt will fall on the businesses who accepted the checks.

Church Destroyed In Winston
One congregation in Winston Salem is having to pick up the pieces today after their church burned to the ground. The Heavenview United Pentecoastal Church went up in flames early Sunday morning, caving in the sanctuary's roof and causing one of the walls to collapse. It's unknown what caused the blaze, but fire officials don't believe that arson was involved. For right now the church is holding services in the fellowship hall and plans to continue until the sanctuary can be rebuilt.

Sports Headlines

State Recruit Decides To Stay
Good news today for the NC State Wolfpack, as one basketball recruit has decided to stay. Since ciach Herb Sendek left for another job, the university announced it would allow recruits to renounce their letters of commitment and pick another school if they wanted. Several took State up on the offer but one has decided to stay. 6'7 ft. high school senior Dennis Horner reaffirmed his commitment to the team over the weekend, saying that he was comfortable with the team and with new coach Sidney Lowe.

Gardner-Webb Joining Big South
A process that began almost five years ago will soon be finished, as Gardner-Webb is set to join the Big South. The university is currently just an associate member of the conference, participating in football. But as of July 1st 2008, all 20 of the school's athletic teams will compete in the Big South conference. The conference association brings with it a chance to play for the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament.

NC Teams Make It To World Series
Several North Carolina teams will be in the field of 64 for the College World Series when play starts this week. NC State and UNC Chapel Hill were two out of the seven ACC teams to make the field. In North Carolina's case, they'll host a first round matchup on Friday, the first time they've done so since 1984. Also making the field was UNC Asheville, coming in with a record of 28-33 and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in school history. Regional games start at the different locations Friday afternoon.

Hurricanes Have To Play Without Cole
Some bad news for the Carolina Hurricanes, as they'll be one man short the rest of the playoffs. Forward Erik Cole had to go on the disabled list earlier this year with a fractured vertebra, but had been hoping to return by the end of this series. Now it turns out that while Cole is continuing to heal, he's not at the point yet where physical contact is allowed. In 60 games this season before the injury, Cole had 30 goals and 29 assists. The Hurricanes take the ice tonight holding a 3-1 lead in the series against Buffalo.

NASCAR Points Standings
A second place finish in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 didn't have any effect on Jimmie Johnson. He stays atop the points standings, 109 ahead of second place Matt Kenseth. Mark Martin is in third, 209 points behind, while the crash Sunday dropped Tony Stewart all the way to fourth place, 231 points behind. Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounds out the top five, 271 behind the leader.

Stewart Injured In Sunday's Race
Sunday was a bad night for Tony Stewart. Not only did he lose the race, but a wreck he was involved in sent him to the hospital. Now the diagnosis might have him on the sidelines for at least one week, as Stewart has a broken right shoulder blade. What makes it worse is that the injury happened to the same shoulder he bruised Saturday night during a crash in the Busch race. Stewart was released from the hospital and is described as being day to day. Team officials said a decision will be made later this week as to when he'll step behind the wheel again.