News & Sports For June 24th

News & Sports For Friday June 24th 2005

Heat Relief Still Available For Wilkes Seniors
Yesterday the temperature reached 90 degrees in Wilkesboro and with more hot weather on the way, many people can find themselves in a life threatening situation. For any seniors who don’t have an air conditioner or anything else to keep cool, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is handing out fans to anyone who meets their requirements. In order to get one, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

Two Totaled In Wreck On 421
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Wednesday morning. The incident happened as a Millers Creek man was trying to turn off 421 onto a side road before his light turned red. A driver coming from the other direction couldn’t slow down in time and slammed into the man’s car. As he tried to avoid the crash, that second driver swerved to the right, hitting a third vehicle that had been stopped waiting for his light to turn. All total an estimated $14,500 worth of damage was done, as the first two vehicles were totaled in the accident. Thankfully however no one was injured.

Drink Machines Damaged At Local Store
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Run-in on Elkin Highway in North Wilkesboro recently, after vandals caused over $500 worth of damage. There was no sign of an attempted break-in and also no damage done to the building itself. However some type of substance was poured into the money slots of the drink machines outside. Nothing was taken from the machines and it doesn’t appear that the vandals tried to gain access to the money inside. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Later Today
Later today a blood drive will be going on at the Lowes Foods up from Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. While there have been several drives going on in recent weeks, the need is still critical for donors to come out and give. Once again that drive will go on later today at the Lowes Foods in Wilkesboro, up from Wal-Mart at the Winkler Mill location from 10am til 2:30pm. To schedule an appointment, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Yet another Wilkes business fell victim to gas thieves this week. This time it was Neighbors Store on Hwy 268, as a vehicle pulled in, pumped $20 worth of gas and took off. A description of the vehicle and its’ driver was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, although there was some confusion as to if it was an actual case of theft, with employees not sure if the person paid or not. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Be Careful Where You Leave Your Keys
Never leave your keys inside your car. A North Wilkesboro man found that out the hard way this week, after thieves got in and took the vehicle for a joyride. This happened Tuesday night, but then hours later the vehicle was returned without any damage done to it in the process. The only catch was now the man’s mountain bike was missing. A local teen was caught later on Wednesday riding the bike and admitted to sheriff’s deputies that he had stolen it. The teen said he was looking for money to steal, but after seeing the key decided to take the car for a drive. The teen, whose name was withheld due to his age, was arrested and charged with breaking & entering, along with larceny of a motor vehicle.

Local Store Falls Prey To Vandals
Deputies were called out to the Artic Grill Wednesday morning, after vandals had apparently stopped by for a late night visit. The electrical wire around the building’s sign had been pulled down by a vehicle described to deputies as a tractor that had driven by hauling cars. All total an estimated $300 worth of damage was done in the incident and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Craving For Pizza Gets Out Of Hand
Two cars wrecked at Papa Johns Pizza Wednesday night, as Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene. The first driver had been trying to circle the building and accidentally entered into a one way area going the wrong direction. She slammed into the second car, just pulling out of the drive-through. The first vehicle was totaled, with damages in the crash estimated at just over $2000. No one was injured in the accident.

State News

Prisoner Tries To Escape Off Balcony
A simple traffic citation led to a Mecklenburg County man throwing himself off the courthouse balcony on Wednesday. The man, 29-yr-old Samuel Vance, had a court hearing to deal with a traffic ticket he had received for driving without a license. While in the courtroom, Mecklenburg deputies attempted to arrest Vance on an outstanding warrant in his name from Lee County, stemming from assault charges. When Vance saw the deputies coming he took off, running out of the room and onto a walking bridge nearby. When he saw someone step onto the bridge from the other side, Vance jumped off and dived over 15 feet to the ground. He wasn’t seriously injured but was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment, after which he’ll begin a jail sentence on the assault charges. Vance said he jumped because he simply didn’t want to go back to prison.

More Jobs On The Way Across The State
Some more good news today on the job market, as Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced they’ll be expanding operations in the next few months. With the expansion comes 100 new jobs across North Carolina, many of which should be added by the end of this year. Most of the jobs will be in the company’s new 29,000 sq. foot complex in Durham that’s currently under construction. Hiring is expected to begin in the next few months.

Hydraulic Fluid Turns Up At Another Hospital
It turns out that the Duke Health System wasn’t the only place hydraulic fluid was swapped for surgical cleaners. Baptist Medical Center announced this week that barrels were delivered supposedly containing a cleaning fluid for surgical instruments. Instead, it turned out to be hydraulic fluid. Workers checked the contents of the barrels however and discovered the mistake before anyone was exposed. It’s still unclear exactly how this batch of hydraulic fluid got exchanged with the cleaners.

Search Continues For Raleigh Suspect
And the search continues today for a man in the Raleigh area, after he led police on a high speed chase through two different towns. 25-yr-old Jermaine Holloway had been pulled over by law enforcement just before 1:30 Thursday morning on a routine traffic stop. After running his information it was discovered that there was an outstanding warrant against Holloway, but before authorities could arrest him, he drove off. After more than 30 minutes of chasing Holloway through Cary and nearby Raleigh, officials finally lost him near a local apartment building, where the man jumped out of the car and took off running. After two hours, officials called off the search but plan to continue later today.

End Possibly In Sight To Superintendent Race
Nearly seven months after voters went to the polls, a winner could soon be declared in the state race for superintendent of public schools. Back in November, Democrat June Atkinson beat Republican Bill Fletcher for the post, but constant challenges by Fletcher have kept her from assuming the position. Atkinson beat Fletcher by over eight thousand votes, a total the Republican says is inaccurate because he believes eleven thousand ballots should be thrown out. Following North Carolina law, a special committee of 10 lawmakers from here in the state have been appointed to begin deciding a winner. They’ll review written arguments from both candidates and take a look at the evidence to determine who has the most legal votes. All of this is expected to take place within the next month, after which a recommendation will be made to the General Assembly, who will then vote for the winner. All of this falls under the guidelines dictated by the state constitution.

Union Warship Found In Roanoke River
Researchers at East Carolina University recently confirmed that a wreckage at the bottom of the Roanoke River is in fact that of the USS Otsego, a Union warship sunk over a 140 years ago. Members of ECU’s Maritime Studies Program have been able to map the wreckage and pinpoint its’ location, 110 miles east of Raleigh near Jamesville. The 220 ft. vessel was one of 22 warships built to sever Conference supply lines, but it sank in December of 1864 when it hit 20 southern mines that had been laid out in the river. It’s unknown what if anything can be salvaged from the wreck, which has broken apart into rotten timber and twisted steel.

Sports Headlines

Confusion Ties Up Post 31 Future
The scores have come in and now the Wilkes Patriots get to pack up and wait. South Rowan did lose their game against Rowan County, falling 13-1 in a game called after seven innings. And while that does give Wilkes the edge by half a game in the overall standings, their records are dead even in the conference. What that means is tiebreaker rules go into effect, but in this case, most of them can’t be used either. The first rule has a winning team judged on head to head competition, but since Wilkes and South Rowan split their games this year, that’s thrown out. The second decider is how they did against higher seeded teams, also thrown out. Wilkes got swept by Mocksville, but then came back to split their series with Stanley County, while South did the opposite. Basically now it all depends on how Kannapolis did in their game late last night. The runs allowed rule is what officials are going by now, meaning that if Kannapolis wins but ends up with more runs given up than second place Rowan, Wilkes is in. However that’s the only scenario that works for the Patriots. Even if Kannapolis loses, Wilkes is out, due to the seeding. The only way for the Patriots to get into the playoffs now is to hope Kannapolis not only wins, but gives up a ton of runs doing so. We hope to have a score and a final decision to tell you about tonight on the 7pm News Update.

Volleyball League Reminder
The deadline’s coming up for anyone who wants to join a summer volleyball league this July. Anyone can take part, from middle school even up to adults in separate 3 on 3 leagues. There is a fee to register, as it costs $30 to sign up your team to play. The last day to sign up for July’s tournament is next Thursday June 30th and for more information you can call 957-7363 or send an email to holloways@wilkes.k12.nc.us

UNC Coach Gives His Take On NBA Age Rules
Around the college scene, UNC Tarheels coach Roy Williams gave his opinions to the media on Thursday when asked how the new age limit in the NBA would affect his recruiting. Williams called the limit, which prevents all players younger than 19 from entering the league, “just window dressing” and said it would be better to have nothing at all than what’s in place now. He said however the rule wouldn’t change the way he recruited, because he’s going out for the best players, regardless of how long they plan to stay in school. Williams also said that he hopes the Bobcats pick a few of his players in the upcoming draft so he can take a day off and come to their games next season.

Wake Forest Lands Football Recruit
In college football, Wake Forest landed a recruit this week, as Dennis Godfrey, a 6-3 250 lb. tight end from Lee County committed to the Deacons. Godfrey, a rising senior at Lee County High, is known both for his blocking ability as well as being able to catch the ball. Godfrey refused other offers from UNC, East Carolina and NC State to commit to Wake Forest.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor leagues last night, the Hickory Crawdads beat Greensboro 8-1. The Crawdads got six strong innings from starter Julio Guerrero, as he only gave up one run on six hits to get his first win of the season. Hickory goes on the road tonight to start a three game series with the Asheville Tourists.

News & Sports For June 23rd

News & Sports For Thursday June 23rd 2005

Rent To Own
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a house in Purlear earlier this week after renters ran off with almost everything inside. The property owner called deputies after the renters had paid off their bill and left, as he found several thousand dollars worth of material had disappeared with them. Included in the theft was an antique desk from the 1930s, a riding lawn mower, two book shelves and several other items as well. A description of the suspects along with the location of their workplace was turned over to deputies and the investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
As we reach the middle of summer, we’re also approaching one of the most critical times to give blood. The blood supply here in Wilkes is still at extremely low levels, as most people have been either driven off by the rain or gone on vacation and unable to give. There will be a drive going on later today at the Pilgrim Baptist Church from 2:30-7pm if you want to give the gift of life. Just a quick reminder if you do plan to go out, there are some requirements. You must be at least 17 yrs old and weigh no less than 110 lbs to donate. If you want to set up an appointment, you can call the local Red Cross at 838-4563.

Wreck On 421 Totals Two
When your light turns yellow, it might be a good idea to slow down. A Ferguson woman found this out the hard way earlier this week, after being involved in a two car accident. The wreck happened on 421, as the woman tried to speed through the intersection before her light turned red. She didn’t make it in time however and slammed directly into a vehicle coming from the other side. That second car spun out and hit a DOT sign near the 16 North ramp, finally coming to a stop several feet down the road. Both vehicles were totaled as damages were estimated at $20,000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Fire Still Under Investigation
Fire marshals were unable to determine what caused a Hays man’s home to burn down earlier this week. The fire happened on Hollow Tree Lane, as Mountain View firefighters were called out to the scene. However before they arrived, the fire had nearly burned the building to the ground. The homeowner is currently away serving time in a Catawba County jail and his home has been abandoned ever since he left. It’s still unclear what ignited the fire, as the home had burned down to the foundation.

Local Woman Alerts Deputies To Fraud
Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Hays woman’s house earlier this week, after she reported a case of attempted fraud. The woman had been contacted by someone with a Hispanic accent, who informed her she had just won a sweepstakes in South Carolina. He then went on to tell her that in order to claim the prize, she needed to send a $5000 to his address. But instead of the company’s name, he gave his own, along with other information detailing how she could reach him with the money. After she refused two other people were put on the line, one who attempted a southern accent and tried to convince her the sweepstakes was real. The information has been passed on and investigators are checking out the address given.

Focus On The Cross
Throughout the western part of the state, there are several programs helping kids stay active, while also getting them involved in their community and also sharing with them the Word Of God. One of those is the Carolina Cross Connection. Melissa Lineberger will be talking about the Connection during today's Focus on the Foothills broadcast. That’s after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Just Drove Off With The Mower
A North Wilkesboro man returned home on Tuesday to find that someone had paid him a visit while he was gone. However nothing was stolen from the home and no damage was done. The only thing missing was the man’s riding lawn mower that had been sitting outside. Neighbors couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anyone outside the home and there are no suspects at this time however deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Advisories Issued For Lake Cornelius
Officials in Mecklenburg County have issued a warning today, advising people to stay out of the water at Lake Cornelius. Tuesday afternoon, debris from recent storms clogged up a sewer line and caused over 300 gallons of sewage to spill into the lake. The line was quickly repaired and work is underway to clean up the area, but at this time it’s still not safe for anyone to get into the water.

East Carolina University Falls Victim To Fraud
The SBI has been called in to help East Carolina University discover who managed to breach their computer network’s security program. The hackers somehow gained access to the program and used it to obtain the personal information of 250 students. The intrusion was limited to the department of physician assistant studies, meaning that only students from that section of the school were affected. Officials discovered the breach after complaints kept coming in of slow computer speed in the department. While the server was being repaired, specialists found the intrusion. All students whose personal information was exposed are receiving a letter in the mail explaining what happened and what steps they need to take in order to prevent ID theft from occurring. As to who’s responsible, that investigation is still ongoing, say university officials.

Land Dispute May Cause Tweetsie To Relocate
One of the area’s most famous entertainment parks may be picking up and moving to a new location soon. Tweetsie Railroad has hired the services of two firms to help resolve some real estate issues the park finds itself facing. Tweetsie is located on three parcels of land, leased from two separate owners. Now issues have arisen regarding how much the lease payments should be among other things and the park may find itself being evicted in 2006 when the lease expires. With that in mind, Tweetsie officials are examining other places where the park could relocate. Any official decision however won’t be made until at least the end of this year.

Items Stolen From Hickory Library
Why steal something you could see for free? That’s what officials in Hickory are asking today, after over $20,000 worth of material was stolen from the Patrick beaver Memorial Library. It’s unclear exactly when or how the thefts occurred, as all items inside have special tags that set off the security system if removed from the building. Included in the stolen items are several World Book Encyclopedias, books and DVDs from the library collection. Library officials are considering installing video cameras to prevent something like this from ever happening again.

Wildlife Commission Offers Free Fishing
On the 4th of July this year, the state Wildlife Commission is offering a gift to any fishermen in North Carolina. From 12:01am until 11:59pm that day, all public inland waterways in the state are open for fishing, free of charge. That means you don’t have to buy a trout license or anything else before grabbing a pole and heading out to the water. However some rules will still be in effect, such as limits on size and how many fish you can catch. For more information you can call the Wildlife Commission at (919) 733-3633 or visit their website at www.ncwildlife.org.

Scenic Byway Opened Near Morganton
Officials with the state Board of Transportation took part in a ceremony yesterday to officially open North Carolina’s newest scenic byway. The Posgah Loop Scenic Byway, stretching 47 miles around the Pisgah National Forest, is the 49th such designation across the state and the first with sections open to only 4-wheel drive vehicles. Along the Loop you can see portions of the Linville Gorge, Table Rock, Lake James and of course the Pisgah National Forest. The road also ties in with the route taken by Revolutionary soldiers and early pioneers through the western part of the state.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Regular Season Ends With Loss
Tuesday night the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots saw their regular season come to an end and possibly their playoff hopes as well, with a 7-2 loss against Mocksville. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 4-11 overall, tied for the eighth spot with South Rowan. All that will change one way or another later today, as South Rowan was scheduled to play Rowan County. If South loses, the Patriots are in the playoffs. If South wins however, the season is over for Wilkes.

High School Senior Withdraws From Draft
Around the college scene, in a rare occurrence one high school player from North Carolina decided to take his name out of this year’s NBA draft and go to school. Just don’t expect him to stick around more than one year. Brandon Rush, who graduated this year from Mount Zion Christian Academy, announced that he was withdrawing from this year’s draft and planning on going to college. But instead of a degree, Rush plans to only stick around in the college scene one year, enough time he said to showcase his game and prove that he can play at a higher level. He withdrew after teams repeatedly told him he wasn’t going to be picked any higher than the second round. Now Rush will decide between Illinois and Oklahoma for his choice of college.

Randolph Commits To Draft
In other college basketball news, the Duke Blue Devils unexpectedly lost a player as Shavlik Randolph announced he was staying in the NBA draft. Randolph, a 6-10 junior only averaged 6 points at Duke and isn’t even on any of the mock drafts across the nation. Scouts and coaches, including Bernie Bickerstaff of the Charlotte Bobcats, have repeatedly told him that another year of fine tuning his game in college would help him greatly but he refused to pull out. There have been concerns about his lack of strength and quickness, although Randolph says he’s received a lot of positive feedback from teams and came to the decision after a lot of prayer.

UNC Football Team Adds Another
Turning to college football, the UNC Tarheels just continue to add pieces to what’s becoming a very strong recruiting class for next year. Logan Buchanan, a rising senior at Davie High School, committed to play for the Heels in 2006. Buchanan was part of a Davie defense that shut down opponents last year, holding them to just under 10 points a game. Buchanan will join five others as part of Carolina’s 2006 class, receiving the offer after a summer camp last week. He said there were other schools interested, but only Coach Bunting came out and made an offer, one he didn’t want to miss by turning down. Buchanan can officially become a member of the Tarheels next February by signing a letter of intent.

Bobcats Make First Move Of The Offseason
And in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats didn’t wait until the finals were over to make their first move. Qualifying offers will be sent to Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll and Jason Kapono as the team looks to keep most of its’ young core roster together. Those offers will become official on Friday and in addition, the team has called back former UNC talent Sean May for a second workout this weekend.

News & Sports For June 22nd

News & Sports For Wednesday June 22nd 2005

Breaking Story As Local Store To Close
Wilkes County stands to possibly lose some jobs in the coming weeks after Winn Dixie announced plans to shut down all stores north of Georgia. The Wilkes County store, located on the 421 bypass, would be included in that plan, however it’s not guaranteed that all these stores will close. Instead, Winn-Dixie plans to sell them off if any buyers are interested. Still, if no buyers can be found, the local stores will begin closing down in the next few months, as produce is sold off and employees are laid off. A timetable for any would be buyers to put in a bid has not been set but the company did say they hope to move on this quickly as they move out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Winn-Dixie officials said the move was needed as they have taken a severe hit due in part to Wal-Mart’s decision to begin offering groceries at their stores. Unable to compete with cheaper prices, the store chain is reorganizing to strengthen its’ business and regain lost profits.

News From Commissioners Meeting
Last night Wilkes County Commissioners met and approved a new budget for the upcoming year, one that will put many residents’ minds at ease. Concern had been raised in recent weeks over the possibility of a property tax increase, but there was no mention of that in the final budget voted on and approved Tuesday night. The new budget, which passed by a unanimous vote, will be $66.6 million for the next fiscal year. That includes extended services such as providing sewer services to the town of Ronda and allocating $135,000 for a new visitors center on US 421. But the main focus was on property taxes, which currently holds at 61 cents for every $100 of property owned. That plan will stay in place for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the budget voted on Tuesday. In other news from the meeting yesterday, a proposal was put forward to alter the county’s animal control laws. Under the new plan, complaints of animal cruelty can simply be called in & spoken instead of being put down in writing. Also, all dogs in the county would be required to have ID, some type of rabies tag, owner identification or microchip certifying who they belong to. Finally all dogs that have been labeled as dangerous in the past must be registered with the county’s Animal Control office and tracked, along with all trained guard dogs to prevent any incidents should the dog get loose. While the plan did pass 4-1, it must be voted on again to go into effect, as the vote wasn’t unanimous. Faye Byrd was the dissenting vote, as she believed the idea required further study. The proposal will be put up for vote again at the next meeting.

Farmers Subject To Fee After Deadline
Next Thursday, June 30th is the deadline for all farmers to turn in their final crop reports to the Farm Service Agency. But what farmers may not be aware of is that there’s a penalty attached if you don’t get the report turned in by the deadline. A fee will be tacked on to every farm that fails to get a report in for their corn, soybeans and other crops. You can call the agency for more information at 838-3622.

Never Speed Off After Giving Out Information
A routine traffic check on the Austin Traphill Road soon turned into a chase as deputies tracked down a suspect. A man pulled up and handed over his license but after smelling marijuana inside the vehicle, deputies asked him to park the car on the side of the road. The man refused and sped off down the road. Deputies followed him at speeds exceeding 85 mph at times, eventually losing him on a nearby road. However they still had his license and went to the man’s home, where his mother agreed to let them search. Several grams of marijuana, along with rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia were found inside. Warrants were taken out and 51-yr-old David Randall Newman has been charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding to escape arrest and resisting a public officer.

Vehicle Covered With Unknown Material
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Wal-Mart parking lot recently after a local man discovered that while he was inside, someone had been vandalizing his car. The left side of the vehicle was covered with some type of sticky substance that couldn’t be identified, although officers believe it to be some type of glue. There were no witnesses to the crime and no suspects, however the investigation is ongoing.

Remember What You Give The Law
A license check Monday night In Traphill led deputies to a fugitive from another state. As deputies were performing the license check on the Austin Traphill Road, a vehicle came through with expired tags, registered in Oklahoma. After the driver agreed to let them search, deputies found rolling papers and marijuana seeds inside the car. Despite having given over their licenses, one of the men in the car tried to give deputies a fake name. 21-yr-old Michael Lee Watkins and 39-yr-old Tammy Johnson were both charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending in the case.

Music Lovers Break Into Man’s Car
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after thieves stole over $1000 worth of music from his car. The man had kept the vehicle unlocked while he was at work, then came outside to find his CD cases and over 200 CDs were gone from the vehicle. Nothing else was taken from the car and there was no damage done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Red Means Stop Green Means Go
Running a red light proved to be a problem for a Wilkesboro man on Monday, as he ended totaling his car. The man had tried to run a light at the intersection of Curtis Bridge Road and River Street, instead colliding with a second vehicle, driven by a Moravian Falls woman. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash, with damages placed at just over $2500. 71-yr-old Thomas Mathis Buford was also charged with DWI and running a red light.

Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we head into the summer months, rabies is once again becoming a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine, officials are predicting this could potentially be a problem much like this past winter’s flu scare. The easiest way to solve the problem is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.

Drugs Stolen From State Road Home
Deputies were called out to a State Road residence on Monday, in response to a case of theft. Someone gained access to a local woman’s home, went into her medicine cabinet and took almost a hundred pills from different bottles. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else was stolen from the home. Deputies have a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Medical Center Pays Out Over A Million In Back Wages
The U.S. Labor Department recently finished an investigation into the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, checking out reports of financial mismanagement. They discovered that the center had shortchanged employees on their time cards, not crediting them for any overtime they worked. As a result, New Hanover had to pay out over $1.33 million dollars in lost wages to everyone that was affected by the practice, a list of over 3400 people. New Hanover officials said that it was a simple accident, as the time clocks had malfunctioned and started cutting off minutes from people in the hospital.

Job Market In Mecklenburg Gets A Boost
Good news today for people in Mecklenburg County, as a new manufacturing hub will be coming to the area in the next few months. Prairie Packaging announced their plans this week to build a manufacturing and distribution hub in Huntersville, to serve the entire east coast. With the new building also comes jobs, as 242 new positions will be created in several different areas including machine operators, electricians and other mechanical positions. The company made the announcement after receiving a Job Development Grant from the state, money set aside to help bring in new businesses. A timetable has not yet been set as to when hiring will begin.

Newton Sheriff’s Department Under Investigation
The Catawba County sheriff’s department finds itself at the center of an investigation today, as state officials attempt to determine how a significant amount of money went missing. The department first called in the SBI in May after some money went missing from the local offices. No other information regarding the missing cash has been released, as department officials said they wouldn’t comment until the investigation was over.

Broyhill Workers Receiving Federal Aid
Over 600 people will lose their jobs when Broyhill Furniture begins laying off workers this coming August. The federal government has stepped in however, as the U.S. Department of Labor announced this week that all of Broyhill’s terminated employees will be eligible for benefits until they can find work. Benefits will be drawn out as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which was created to help laid-off workers receive training and a steady income if their jobs fell victim to the expanding global market. Workers at eight separate plants in the Lenoir area are eligible for the program, but have to go by the local Employment Security Commission office to sign up.

Court Of Appeals Orders New Trials
The convictions of two murderers here in the state have been overturned by the Court of Appeals, after judges found several errors in how the men’s trials had been conducted. Vincent Lebron Ledford had been accused of killing a McDowell County man back in 2002 after the man was caught having an affair with Ledford’s wife. A jury found him guilty, but the court records show the judge in the case never told the jury they could find him not guilty by way of self-defense. Due to that oversight, the Appeals Court has ordered a new trial in the case. Also the court ruled that Demond Antonio Wells should get a new trial. Wells had been charged and found guilty in the shooting of a man outside a recording studio in New Hanover County. However because he presented no evidence in the case to defend himself, Wells was supposed to be given the final closing argument. Instead that went to the prosecutor. And as such Wells is also to be given a new trial.

Sports Headlines

North Carolina Players Invited To Trials
And around the college scene, some athletes from here in North Carolina have received invitations to try out for the Under 21 men’s national team. Included on the list was Justin Gray of Wake Forest, Curtis Withers from UNC Charlotte and J.J. Redick from Duke. All total 21 players got invitations for the tryouts, which take place in late July. Out of those 21, 12 will be picked to represent the US in next year’s World Championships.

Wake Forest Lands New Recruit
In other college basketball news, Wake Forest fans have a reason to celebrate today, as the team landed yet another commitment for the 2006 squad. Anthony Gurley, a 6-3 point guard from Massachusetts, committed to play for the Deacons. Gurley, a rising high school senior, led his team to the state championship last year while averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds. Heading into his senior season, Gurley already holds the school record at North Newton High with 1300 points. Gurley turned down offers from NC State, Miami, Iowa State and Boston College to play for Wake Forest. He’ll join two others in the class of 2006, 6-8 forward Jamie Skeen from Huntersville and L.D. Williams, the 6-5 guard from Yadkinville.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating the Fredrick Keys 7-5. Warthogs’ starter Lance Broadway gave up three runs in his professional debut, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings of work while getting a no decision. Broadway was the number one draft pick for the Chicago White Sox this year, coming out of Texas Christian University. Robert Valido kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at 17 games while Leo Daigle brought his RBI total up to a league leading 84. Up the road in Hickory, the offensive explosion continued as the Crawdads beat Greensboro 9-1. Hickory starter Yoann Torrealba had six strong innings of work, shutting out the Bats while striking out seven to get his first win of the year.

More Injury Problems For McCants
The hits just keep on coming for Rashad McCants, as he had to pull out of yet another workout with an injury, this time a bad hamstring. McCants was working out for the Charlotte Bobcats along with several other local players, including NC State’s Julius Hodge and his former UNC teammate Raymond Felton. McCants had gotten rave reviews from Bobcats’ coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who said that he could possibly be one of the best offensive players in this year’s draft. Other coaches and scouts are also making the comparison to last year’s star talent Ben Gordon, who has similar talents. Still, this latest injury comes at the worst possibly time for McCants, as the NBA draft is next Tuesday and depending on how bad the hamstring pull is, he may have to withdraw from several other scheduled workouts this week.

News& Sports For June 21st

News & Sports For Tuesday June 21st 2005

EPA Releases Wilkes Drinking Water Report
On Monday, the EPA released this year’s drinking water report for the town of Wilkesboro, giving an idea of how clean the water is. Overall the news was good, as there were no violations or contaminations reported over the past year. However one area of concern for Wilkes is the fact the Yadkin River was also cited as being highly susceptible to contamination, meaning that while nothing has been reported yet, current use of the river and the area around it could potentially pose a threat down the road. The report is released every year to help monitor the effect of businesses and other things on the environment.

Drugs Found At Millers Creek Home
Sheriff’s deputies searched a Millers Creek house on Friday, after receiving a tip that drugs were being sold from the residence. The people inside refused to open the door, so deputies were forced to break it down and begin their search. Inside the house they found several grams of meth and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia. 47-yr-old Susan Warden Godwin was arrested and charged with possession of drugs with the intent to sell & distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Be Careful Who You Let Inside
Be careful who you let inside your home. A North Wilkesboro man learned why that’s a good idea this week after falling victim to thieves at his house. The man had just returned home, taking time to empty out his wallet and other items on the table when someone he knew came to the door and asked to use the bathroom. The homeowner agreed and minutes later after the second man left, he noticed that both his wallet and other items were no longer on the table. Included in the theft was the man’s black wallet and all the items inside, along with $80 in cash. Deputies have charged 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes with the theft.

Salmonella On The Rise Across North Carolina
Yesterday 3WC News told you about a recall of certain shredded cheese packages here in North Carolina, as portions of the product had tested positive for salmonella. Now comes word from the Wilkes Health Department that on the whole, cases of salmonella are on the rise across the state. Already this year, the state’s Public Health Department has detected more cases than in the past three years combined. Here in Wilkes, there has been a slight increase as well. Right now, we’ve had 6 cases reported so far this year, up slightly from 2004 where we only had 14 cases reported period. Now there are however several quick and easy ways of making sure you don’t fall victim to the bacteria. First, don’t eat any raw eggs or anything that contains raw eggs. Also be sure not only to buy clean eggs, but also keep them refrigerated. Just take a look before buying to make sure there are no cracks, as bacteria can spread quickly once you get them out of the store and into your vehicle. And most important, always wash your hands and any equipment you’re using before and after you cook with eggs. For more information you can call the local Health Department at 651-7450.

Domino Effect Causes Wreck On Hwy 18
A simple case of follow the leader was to blame for a wreck that happened Sunday on Hwy 18. Three cars were involved in the accident, which caused an estimated $4800 worth of damage as one of the vehicles had to be towed away. A Purlear woman had apparently stopped at a median in the road and was attempting a U-turn, but the vehicles behind her couldn’t slow down in time. The third vehicle slammed into the second, creating a domino effect as two of out the three were totaled. The third driver, 22-yr-old Jose Garcia, was charged with failure to reduce speed and not having an operators’ license.

Local Business Falls Victim To Break-in
Thieves broke into a Wilkesboro business over the weekend, walking out with virtually everything but the kitchen sink. Someone pried open one of the doors to Queen’s Garage, removing the padlock and walking right in. Included in the theft were several air ratchets, drills, socket sets and other tools with a total value estimated at just over $2700. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Stuff The Bus Program Begins July 1st
The annual Stuff The Bus program will get underway this year on July 1st, helping to provide needy kids with the supplies they need for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There will be buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies at Dollar General, Super 10 and the Communities in Schools office. All different types of school supplies are needed, everything from paper to pens to calculators. For more information you can call Amie Blevins at Communities in Schools. Her number is 651-7830 extension #23. And once again that program kicks off next Friday July 1st.

Hays Home Shot Up By Vandals
A Hays man returned home over the weekend to find that someone had been by while he was gone. Portions of his house were riddled with holes from a BB gun, causing over $200 worth of damage. There is a suspect in the case, as neighbors witnessed a local teen shooting off his gun in the area, although no one actually saw him fire at the home. The investigation is ongoing.

Gas Thieves Hit Several Wilkes Businesses
As the price for gas continues to climb, some people in Wilkes are deciding not to pay at the pump. Two businesses in the county were the latest victims of gas thieves over the weekend. A truck pulled up to the Fast Track in Millers Creek Sunday afternoon, the driver got out, pumped in $20 worth of gas and then took off down the road. Down the road in Hays, the same thing happened at the Grocery Bag as a vehicle pulled up and pumped just over $20 before taking off. Employees at both stores were able to get the vehicle’s license plate and turned it over to deputies, along with a description of both the driver and vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.

Just Rode Off With The Evidence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence in Union Grove over the weekend, after a local man returned to find himself the victim of a break-in. Thieves had apparently come up to the man’s home and stolen his dirtbike, also taking with them the man’s helmet as well. There was no sign of a break-in and also no damage done to the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

People Get Sick At Greensboro Food Lion
Early Monday morning, a Greensboro store’s cleanup crew accidentally put four people in the hospital. The crew working at a Greensboro Food Lion had been using a gas-powered pressure washer to clean up the store, however due to the building’s poor ventilation, the fumes didn’t leave. After a few minutes, they overwhelmed several other people inside, who had to be taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Three of the people were later released, while the fourth remained in the hospital for treatment of an unknown condition. No other information was released to the public.

Arrest Made In Chicken Parts Case
Officials in the Mount Holly area closed the books on a case of chicken theft this week. Over a month ago, a trailer went missing from Colonial Freight with almost 2000 cases of Gold Kist chicken parts as cargo. Over the weekend, police arrested and charged Walter Hicks Petty after receiving phone calls from Petty’s neighbors informing them that the man was selling frozen chicken out of a trailer at his home. Despite the evidence, Petty says he’s not guilty of the theft, as another man dropped off the trailer at his home.

North Carolina Teaching Rules Under Question
The standards for prospective teachers in North Carolina may be getting a little tougher, if officials with the State Board of Education have their way. Currently North Carolina is one of four states across the nation that doesn’t require fingerprint data from teaching prospects as part of a criminal background check. The fingerprints are run against an FBI database that would put up a flag if there was any criminal activity in the applicant’s past. North Carolina’s policy instead leaves it up to individual school districts, to decide how strict or loose they want to be when performing background checks. This has led to concerns that any teacher with a criminal past would be able to locate a job in a state where their history wouldn’t be discovered, potentially leading to more law violations down the road. Several officials with the State Board of Education are now calling for the rules to be changed here in North Carolina, although that won’t happen for at least a few months if then.

Former Deserter Apologizes
Former Army deserter Charles Robert Jenkins is finishing up his visit to North Carolina, but before leaving, he held a press conference on Monday to apologize for his actions almost fifty years ago. The 65-yr-old Jenkins said he was sorry for letting his fellow soldiers down along with the government and everyone else that had trusted in him. Jenkins was referring to his desertion in 1965, when he sneaked across the DMZ and into North Korea. After that, he spent the next four decades teaching English and taking part in propaganda films for the communist country. Released last year by North Korea, Jenkins was extradited to the US from his home in Japan. Later court-martialed and sentenced to 25 days in jail, he served his time and spent a week in North Carolina, visiting family members before heading back to his home. Jenkins also talked about North Korean leader Kim Jong II, saying that he was an evil man who only cares about his personal luxury.

Escapee Caught In Gaston County
A man who had escaped from the Gaston County jail is back in custody today, after being turned in by a relative. 28-yr-old Clinton Rucker was set to be released in three months before escaping Saturday night. He managed to gain access to a minivan at the jail and took off after hours. After a relative called in local officials and alerted them to where he was, Rucker gave himself up. Now he’ll face additional charges of stealing a car and escaping from jail, to go along with the three months left on his original sentence.

Sports Headlines

American Legion Baseball Tonight
The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots will be back in action tonight as they get set for their final home game of the regular season. The Patriots will take on Mocksville, as they’ll lock up a spot in the playoffs with a win. A loss however could mean the end of their season so everything is on the line tonight and we’ll be bringing you all the action right here on 3WC. Ken Byrd will be at the field for the first pitch at 7pm and we’ll go on the air tonight at 6:45 with the pregame show.

Appalachian To Make Changes For Football
Around the college scene, some changes are in store for Appalachian State’s football schedule, as all the games will be moved this year to 3:30pm. The four home games, Sept. 17th against Coastal Carolina, Oct. 15th vs. Georgia Southern, Oct. 29th against Chattanooga and finally Nov. 12th vs. Western Carolina have all been bumped to the later time, giving people more time to make it out to ‘The Rock’ and hopefully cut down on some traffic jams and other problems.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem losing against Fredrick 10-6. The Keys roughed up Warthogs’ starter Wes Whisler, as he gave up five runs in five innings of work. Over his past four starts, Whisler’s ERA has ballooned to 17.06. One bright spot for the Warthogs was Robert Valido as he extended his hitting streak to 16 games. His teammate Leo Daigle is starting a streak of his own as well, having hit in 11 straight games.

Health Questions Hurt McCants
In the NBA, we’re a week away from the college draft and while the stock of some players has risen, others are in free fall. Rashad McCants seemed to be a lock as a first round pick not even a month ago, but recent workouts have called into question his health once again. During workouts with the Magic and several other teams, McCants couldn’t finish the drills because he kept getting sick. While most teams say they’ll be making judgements on his entire career and not just his current status, McCants has quietly slipped from being a potential lottery pick to a late first rounder or possibly even dropping into the second round. McCants is scheduled to work out with the Bobcats this week.

News & Sports For Monday June 20th 2005

Fire Last Week Declared To Be Arson
A fire in the Boomer area late last week has been ruled as arson, according to Wilkes Fire Marshals. Severe damage was done to the home, located on the Gunters Hill Road during the blaze on Wednesday and after some investigation, fire marshals believe it was intentionally set. They believe the arsonist used materials from within the home itself, which was unoccupied as it was being renovated by the owner. Over $30,000 worth of damage was done to the home in the fire and the investigation is ongoing.

Cell Phone Leads To Wreck On 268
Answering a call when you’re on the road can prove to be deadly. A Wilkesboro man found this out the hard way late last week when he was involved in a two car wreck on Hwy 268. The man had been trying to use his cell phone and wasn’t paying attention to the traffic ahead, which had come to a stop. He slammed into the vehicle in front of him, which was carrying a boat. The man’s car was totaled in the crash and over $3500 worth of damage was done to the boat he rammed.

Veterans To Be Honored Next Month
Plans are being finalized for the unveiling of the Veteran’s Brick Walk this summer. The event will take place on Saturday July 9th at the Veterans Walk, which will lead into the new Wilkes Heritage Museum. For anyone who bought a brick before the May 30th deadline, that veteran will be honored during the ceremony. There will also be a car show during the event, tours of the Old Wilkes Jail and Robert Cleveland Log Home and a special concert put on by the NC Army National Guard Band. Once again that will take place Saturday July 9th at the Old Wilkes Courthouse.

Music Lovers Break Into Hays Home
Thieves broke into a residence in Hays late last week, leaving with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. The homeowner returned from a funeral to find his front door had been kicked in and several items stolen including a Marlin .22 rifle, a Guild Acoustic guitar and a red burgundy pouch. Deputies have several leads in the case and the investigation continues.

Cheese Packages Recalled
A recall has been announced here in Wilkes and across the state for a certain type of shredded cheese packages. The decision was handed down on Friday by the NC Dept. of Agriculture, as all one lb. packages of Queso El Nica shredded cheese were pulled from shelves. Samples of the cheese had tested positive for salmonella and while there have been no reports of sickness so far, the department decided not to take chances. Anyone who has bought the cheese is asked to return to to the store or throw it away. Salmonella poisoning can cause fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and in some severe cases, aneurysms or arthritis.

Owner Returns To Find Car Vandalized
A Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after finding that someone had caused over $300 worth of damage to his car. The vehicle had been left at the man’s workplace and when he returned the next morning, vandals had sliced into the paint, leaving marks on both the right side and one of the doors. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

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

Gas Thieves Hit Wilkesboro Business
Yet another business in Wilkes became the victim of gas thieves late last week. Someone pulled into the Fast Track on Hwy 421 in Wilkesboro, pumped $50 of gas in their vehicle and then drove off without paying. Employees in the store were able to get a description and turned that information over to Wilkesboro police. That investigation is ongoing.

Two Totaled In Curtis Bridge Wreck
A lack of concentration led to a wreck on the Curtis Bridge Road late last week. A North Wilkesboro couple were driving down the highway when suddenly a second car attempted to cut in front of them and make it into the parking lot of Northwestern Bank. He failed, instead leading to a wreck that totaled both vehicles and caused over $4500 worth of damage. The driver of the second vehicle later told police he hadn’t noticed the first vehicle when starting to turn.

Voting Continues For Gospel Music Awards
Voting continues to select the winners of this year’s Southern Gospel Music Awards, put out by online magazine TheSouthernGospel.com. In each category ten finalists are presented for voters to choose from and this year 3WC made the cut. As we announced last week, 3WC was named as a top ten finalist for Favorite Radio Station and morning show DJ John Wishon was selected as one of the Favorite Radio Personalities, in addition to making the list of Favorite Concert MCs. Now if you want to get involved and vote, you can log on to www.thesoutherngospel.com , click on Southern Gospel Music Awards 2005 and cast your ballot. All it takes is a working email address to be able to make your voice heard.

State News

North Carolina Employment Numbers Up
Good news today on the job market, as the latest employment figures were released this weekend. North Carolina saw unemployment across the state drop to 5.1% by the end of May, that’s down .2% from 5.3 in April. For the fifth straight month, employment rose in the state as over 16,345 people have been hired since April. All total in 2005, 76,371 new jobs have been created in North Carolina.

Filing Deadlines Not Extended
Despite requests to the contrary, the signup for this year’s tobacco buyout program will not be extended. Several farmers’ groups had asked for an extension, in order to reach people that they said hadn’t heard about the state’s deadline. Members of the Farm Service Agency decided however that sufficient time had been given to alert all farmers across North Carolina, as announcements have been made in the newspaper, radio and tv along with several community meetings. One of the concerns voiced by the groups was that officials had failed to contact local minorities.

Flight Delayed As US Air Experiences Problems
For those who have a fear of flying, US Airways didn’t do much to help alleviate it this weekend. Electrical and mechanical problems forced the airline to delay a flight heading out of Charlotte to Little Rock Arkansas on Saturday. Local firefighters were called out to help put out a fire in the plane’s cockpit, a situation that was caused due to problems with the air conditioning. Passengers were just getting set to board when officials noticed the cockpit was smoking and announced the delays.

Asheville Man Arrested For Fraud
An Asheville man must pay out over $1.8 million to his victims after being found guilty of computer fraud. 44-yr-old Todd Wilson Short will also spend the next 10 years in prison after being sentenced on Friday. Short ran a business that offered laptop computers for sale via internet auctions, much like Ebay. Would be customers paid the money after winning but never got the merchandise. Over 250 people were taken in by the scam before Short was discovered and arrested. Short’s defense was that he’s mentally ill and believed he was working for the CIA.

Sports Headlines

American Legion Ball
It was a rough weekend for the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots, as the team saw their playoff chances take a major hit with their loss to Lexington. The Patriots fell 6-1 on Saturday night and in doing so, fell back into the eighth spot in the conference, just barely ahead of last place East Rowan. One more Patriots loss this week and their chance at a playoff spot will be non existent.

UNC Tarheels Sign Another Football Recruit
Several days after losing part of their backfield to injury, the Tarheel football team may have found his future replacement. Shaun Draughn, a 6 ft. 195 lb running back at Tarboro High School has announced his decision to commit to Chapel Hill. The rising senior made his decision after being offered a scholarship from Coach Bunting during a summer football camp Draughn attended this month. Draughn is also a versatile talent, able to play runningback, linebacker, cornerback, safety, return kicks and also saw some time at quarterback. This past year Draughn rushed for over a thousand yards and scored 25 touchdowns, while also passing for five more.

Around The Minor Leagues
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard from Sunday, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating Wilmington 6-3. Daniel Haigwood got the win for the Warthogs, giving up only two hits while striking out 11 in six innings of work. Warthog Robert Valido also continued his 15 game hitting streak, while teammate Leo Daigle got his league leading 80th RBI.

Panthers Sign Last Free Agent
In NFL news, the Carolina Panthers took care of business this weekend by signing the last of their free agents. Fullback Casey Cramer, the last exclusive rights free agent held over from last season, signed a one year deal to return to Carolina, worth $305,000. Cramer was signed from the Tennessee Titans practice squad late in the season and went on to contribute as both part of the offense and also on special teams. Now the team can focus on signing the last of its’ draft picks, including first rounder Thomas Davis.

Biffle Wins At Michigan
Greg Biffle took the checkered flag Sunday for the Batman Begins 500, his fifth win of the season. Tony Stewart was second, Mark Martin third, Matt Kenseth fourth and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five. Points leader Jimmie Johnson finished out of the top ten, finishing 19th and now only leading Biffle by 49 points heading into next weekend’s race.

Turkey Call Sold For Thousands
For anyone that has a turkey call put away in some part of the house, it might be a good idea to pull that out and dust it off. A hunter in Charlotte sold a turkey call at auction recently for $55,000, the highest price ever paid, according to experts in North Carolina. The equipment in question was known as a “trumpet yelper”, an eight inch long antique made of wood, a turkey’s wingbone and the shell from a .30 caliber bullet.

News For June 17th

News For Friday June 17th 2005

National Guard Soldiers To Ship Out
Some soldiers from the Wilkes County area will be shipping out to Iraq later on this year. Company A of the National Guard’s 505th Engineering Battalion has received orders for a one year tour of duty overseas, beginning later this fall. Current plans have the unit shipping out for two months of advanced mobilization and force protection training in August. Once that’s complete the company, which includes several members from both the North Wilkesboro and Boomer areas, will be making the trip overseas. Once in Iraq, the unit will be helping to repair the Iraqi infrastructure by repairing roads, fixing bridges and building schools along with other duties.

Came In To Have A Look Around
Thieves broke into a Millers Creek man’s storage building earlier this week, but apparently didn’t find what they were looking for. After breaking the padlock outside, the would be thieves came in, looked around and left without touching anything. Nothing inside was damaged or disturbed, according to the building’s owner. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Safekids Event Today
Throughout Wilkes County, around 85% of child safety seats are not installed or used properly. While this is slightly lower than the average throughout the state, it’s still high enough for concern. To help out local families, the Wilkes chapter of Safekids will be holding a safety checkpoint later today at Wal-Mart, from 2-4pm.

Wednesday Wreck Totals Two
A wreck Wednesday afternoon in Wilkesboro totaled two vehicles and caused over $3000 worth of damage. The incident happened on East Main Street, as a Roaring River teen failed to see the vehicle in front of her stop at a traffic light. Instead she plowed directly into the back of the car, causing over a thousand dollars worth of damage while totaling her own vehicle as well. No one was injured in the wreck.

Tobacco Deadline Today
Today is the last day that tobacco farmers here in the area can apply for the government’s buyout program. Under that plan, all tobacco growers will receive $3 for each pound of their crop grown from 2002-2004, then starting in 2006 payments will continue on a yearly basis. $3.9 billion has been allocated for farmers in North Carolina and as of Thursday state officials estimated that just over 90% of growers have signed up. If you are one of those 10% who still haven’t, you can do so by going to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency and filling out the paperwork today. To set up an appointment you can call the agency at 838-3622 extension #2.

Boat Stolen From North Wilkesboro Residence
Why would you only steal parts of a boat and not the whole thing? That’s what a North Wilkesboro man is asking today, after coming home this week to find that someone had stolen his sailboat. Actually the thieves had left behind the mast boom and also the rudder, but the rest of the ship had been carried off, in addition to the man’s trailer that had been used to carry it around. Despite the size of the ship, no one in the neighborhood could remember seeing it leave. The investigation is still ongoing.

Heat Relief Still Available For Wilkes Seniors
The humidity and rising temperatures have made it miserably hot over the past few days and while forecasters are calling for cooler weather this weekend, don’t expect it to stick around. With that being the case, many seniors can find themselves in an emergency situation, without air conditioning or anything else to help keep them cool in the summer months. For those seniors in need of aid, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving out fans to anyone who meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

Local Woman Charged After Break-in
Breaking up is hard to do. It’s even worse when your ex knows where valuable items are hidden and when you’ll be out of town. A Wilkes County man learned that the hard way this week after returning to find that someone had broke into his camper and stolen over a thousand dollars worth of merchandise. Included in the theft were two tvs, a .22 pistol, a gas powered air compressor and a DVD player among other things. With no damage done to the camper and no sign of forced entry, it appears the thieves managed to climb through one of the windows, which was unlocked. After some investigation, deputies charged 35-yr-old Pamela Darnell with the theft, in addition to breaking & entering.

Realtors Get Involved To Help Wilkes County
Every weekend, several yard sales go on across the county in hopes of raising money for different events. This week is no different, although one of the causes involved deals with the future of Wilkes. The Wilkes County Board of Realtors is sponsoring a yard sale to help the community. Money from the sale will go toward a billboard to be placed on the highway, encouraging people to come and check out what Wilkes County has to offer. And that fundraiser will take place this coming Saturday, June 18th at the warehouse behind Dwight Phillips Auto Sales. That’s 1031 River Road in Wilkesboro.

State News

Commissioners Canceling Trip
Across the state, commissioners from several different areas have announced their intentions to stay away from the annual National Association of Counties meeting. The weeklong event, which will be held in Hawaii this year, has an overall cost of several thousand dollars when you add in hotel and airfare costs, all of which are paid for by county tax dollars. As a result, one of Gaston County’s commissioners has canceled her trip, saying that it was a questionable decision in a tight budget year. Also Iredell, Cabarrus and Lincoln County officials said they never planned to go, in order to prevent locals from having that cost put on their shoulders. Still, for some that are planning to make the trip, they’d taken the cost out of their own pockets, including Gaston County Commissioner John Torbett, who’s using the occasion to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary.

Former Cafeteria Worker Admits To Stealing
A Garner woman confessed this week to stealing more than $200,000 from the school where she used to work. 36-yr-old Frances Parker, who worked as a cafeteria manager at Garner Senior High, turned herself in this week and admitted to taking $217,000 from the school’s cafeteria program. The embezzlement came to light back in February when school officials discovered some things that didn’t add up. The investigation led back to Parker but until now she hadn’t admitted to doing anything wrong. It’s still unclear why she took the money, but Parker has made a deal to pay it all back.

New Budget Approved By The House
North Carolina’s House of Representatives approved a budget on Thursday, which would normally mean it could now go to the governor for his signature. The only problem is that the House and Senate have differing opinions on what should be included. In the House version, cuts that had been taken out of Medicaid were restored and overall, the two year plan would cause the state to spend $17.1 billion. That’s $154.8 million more than the one approved by the Senate. Also there were differences in how much the cigarette tax should be raised. The Senate version of the tax is raised to 40 cents, while the House version has smokers paying a tax of 30 cents. All this means that now, as the budget goes back to the Senate, it will probably be voted down and the process will have to go back to the drawing board. The new fiscal year begins July 1st.

Charlotte Douglas Airport Part Of New Security Plan
Charlotte Douglas International was one of ten airports selected to test a new type of security device called the puffer machine. When passengers are picked for a secondary screening, they will step into a walkthrough portal where air will be puffed onto them. That air is then collected and analyzed for any trace elements of explosives. The machine is expected to be in place by the end of the summer and is the same type of device that military operations & power plants throughout the world have used for several years.

Trinity Company Announces Closings
Bad news today for workers in the Trinity area, as Confluence Holdings announced plans to shut down its’ local facility come August. The organization plans to consolidate all operations into one location, in Easley South Carolina. The company, which manufactures products for water activities, said that an estimated 120 workers would be affected. A company spokesman said that consolidating everything into one location was the best way for the organization to grow.

Sports Headlines

Appalachian Reveals Basketball Schedule
Good news for anyone wanting to watch their favorite ACC team without making the trip to their home court. Some of them will be coming to a local gym for the upcoming men’s basketball season. The schedule was released this week for Appalachian State’s upcoming men’s basketball season and included on the list of opponents are some big name schools, including Wake Forest, Tennessee and NC State. Officials at the school said they wanted to upgrade the quality of their schedule, mixing in some tough opponents to help strengthen and develop their incoming players.

UNC Tarheels Lose Running Back
Some bad news coming out of Chapel Hill today, as the Tarheels will be without runningback Ronnie McGill for at least five months. McGill torn a pectoral muscle while lifting weights this week on campus. Coach John Bunting said that McGill is also considering redshirting this season to save a year of eligibility. The injury leaves UNC a little short on running backs, as Louisiana State transfer Barrington Edwards is the only one left in the backfield with any college experience.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues last night, the losing ways continued for the Hickory Crawdads as they fell 8-6 against Kannapolis for their 11th loss in a row. Hickory starter Kyle Pearson was saddled with the loss after a big fifth inning that saw Kannapolis score three runs. Overall Pearson gave up 7 runs in the five innings he pitched. And up the road in Winston, the Warthogs rebounded with another offensive explosion, beating the Fredrick Keys 15-4 on Thursday. Charles Haeger got the win for Winston, striking out seven in six innings of work. Winston’s Leo Daigle also continued his own offensive torrent, hitting his 23rd home run of the season.

Panthers Take To The Links
The Carolina Panthers took some time off to play golf this week, as the team held their annual players-coaches tournament. Quarterback Jake Delhomme led the winning team, which consisted of himself, center Jeff Mitchell, guard Todd Fordham and defensive line coach Sal Sunseri. The group finished at 13 under par. Other groups didn’t fair as well, with John Fox leading a team bringing up the rear at six under par. Cornerback Ken Lucas, guard Mike Wahle and receiver Keary Colbert helped Coach Fox survive the loss.

News & Sports For June 16th

News & Sports For Thursday June 16th 2005

Focus On Life
When you hear the words Relay for Life, you might think of a charity event, something to do with running. But actually Relay for Life is a foundation put together to help raise money for cancer research through many different ways. You can hear Brian’s interview with Jo Dejournet later on today during Focus on the Foothills as we’ll be talking about the Relay organization, how you can get involved and some realities as to why it’s so important. That’s right after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Construction Company Falls Victim To Break-in
Members of a local construction company brought out sheriff’s deputies this week after discovering that someone had broke into one of their trailers and stole over a thousand dollars worth of tools. A trailer belonging to Vannoy & Sons Construction was broke into, after thieves apparently tossed a rock through one of the windows and walked in. They left with several thousand dollars worth of material, including a portable concrete saw, a cordless drill and a diamond blade. In addition, the thieves cut all phone lines to the trailer before making their escape. That investigation is ongoing.

Traffic Stop Leads To Weapons Charge
Running a red light is never a good idea, especially when there’s law enforcement following right behind you. A Traphill man learned it the hard way this week after speeding through a red light and then ignoring requests from the sheriff’s deputies to slow down and pull over. Eventually the driver stopped in the parking lot of McDonalds and as they approached, deputies could smell a strong odor of alcohol. The driver was clearly drunk and also, in between the seats he had a butcher knife sticking up with its’ handle extended. When deputies ran the vehicle’s tag, it came back as not having any insurance. 53-yr-old Roby Denver Simpson was arrested and charged with DWI, having alcohol in an open container, driving without insurance on the vehicle, running a red light and carrying a concealed weapon.

Broken Window Provides Opening
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after coming home to discover someone had paid him a visit while he was gone. One of the home’s windows had already been shattered but never repaired, so the thieves simply climbed through and went shopping. Included in the theft was a toaster oven, a hairdryer, a heating pad and a cassette radio. There are no suspects in the case but the investigation is ongoing.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Wilkesboro Home
Wilkesboro police were called out to a local residence earlier this week, after the homeowner returned to find he was the latest victim of mailbox vandals in the county. During the late night hours on Monday, neighbors reported hearing some kind of loud noises in the area, but neither the homeowner or anyone else went outside to check it out. The next morning the man came out to find $50 worth of damage done to his mailbox. There are no suspects however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Last Crop Report Deadline Coming Up
For local farmers, we’re less than fifteen days away from the second crop report deadline of this year. On June 30th, farmers have to report all corn, soybeans and other crops to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency. For any farmer who hasn’t yet filed their report, you can go to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency and get that taken care of today. If you’re unable to make it out to the agency, you can contact them at 838-3622.

Hit & Run In Hays
A Hays man called sheriff’s deputies after over $200 worth of damage was done to his car. The man had been driving down Traphill Road in Hays when another vehicle passed on the other side of the road and something was tossed out in his path. It turns out that someone had chunked a rock from out of the car and it hit the man’s windshield, causing several cracks and plenty of damage. This marks the latest of several similar cases in the Hays area, as locals have reported vehicles driving by and throwing rocks at oncoming cars. There are however no suspects in the case, but the investigation is ongoing.

Painkillers Stolen But No Crime Scene Found
A Millers Creek man reported a break-in and theft at his home, however deputies couldn’t find any sign of a crime scene. There was no sign of a break-in at the home, nothing damaged or taken except for a box of oxycodine painkillers. Also there was no witness to the crime, however the homeowner did have a suspect whose name and description he gave deputies. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Davie County Churches Victims Of Vandalism
Davie County officials are investigating a series of crimes at local churches today. Nine different churches in the county have been vandalized over the past three weeks, with equipment being shattered and items stolen. In each of the cases, the thief used a crowbar to come in one of the church doors, then walked around causing damage while selecting things to steal. Included in the thefts were several televisions, some musical equipment and also some of the church’s money. Officials haven’t been left empty handed however, as evidence was left behind at the scene of each crime and the detectives are following up on several leads.

Men Charged In ID Theft Case
According to Charlotte officials, two men have been arrested and charged after they were linked with over 600 cases of identity theft. 24-yr-old Ben Gadson and 26-yr-old Juan Canales gained access to credit cards through their jobs at the Outback Steakhouse in Matthews. They would copy the personal information down while swiping the customer’s card, then used the information to run up a tab of almost a million dollars. The Secret Service has gotten involved with the case and are also investigating a similar situation at a Red Lobster restaurant in Gastonia.

Man Missing In Jackson County
Sheriff’s deputies are still searching today for a man who vanished into the Tuckaseegee River on Tuesday, so they can arrest him. Search crews combed the area in homes of locating the man, who dove into the water to escape police. However there is concern that a current strengthened after days of rain could have caught him and drug him to his death. Everything started when an SUV began swerving around Hwy 74, alerting a nearby sheriff’s deputy, who attempted to pull the man over. Instead, the driver continued on and increased speed, until he was stopped by spike stripes deployed when he crossed over to Hwy 116. As the tires went flat, the man jumped out and started running towards the river, where he disappeared. A rescue team from Asheville has been called in to help with the search.

Charlotte Investigating Two Wednesday Robberies
Two stores in the Charlotte area were robbed on Wednesday and local authorities are continuing the investigation today. One of the cases happened at the BB&T Bank on South Tryon Street, as an older man in his mid to late forties came in and told employees he had a gun, although he never showed one. Instead the employees followed his instructions and turned over an undisclosed amount of money, after which he walked out into a waiting Pontiac Bonneville. Around the same time, a second robbery occurred at an Eckerd drug storeon Belhaven Boulevard. Two men came in wearing ski masks and displaying their guns. They grabbed the cash drawer and ran out, escaping from the scene on a bicycle according to witnesses.

Jobs Leaving Durham
Some bad news today for people in the Durham area, as a local pharmaceutical plant announced that it would be cutting costs by getting rid of employees. Over half of Mylan Bertek’s 370 employees will be let go in the move, which company officials say is part of a larger nationwide plan to help restructure & cut spending. It appears the cuts could just be the first part of a larger restructuring in the area, as the company said plans are in the works to shut down one of its’ plants in the area, although a timetable for the closure hasn’t been set.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Team Beats Concord
The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots rebounded from Tuesday’s loss to beat Concord last night 12-9 in a game marked by heated emotions and several ejections. During several periods the umpires had to halt play while issuing warnings to members of the Concord team, who continued to harass and criticize the officiating. The Patriots improve to 3-7 with the win as they head into tonight’s matchup on the road with Rowan County.

Minor League Scoreboard
And around the minors last night, the Winston Salem Warthogs came back to earth as they fell to the Fredrick Keys 9-4. Warthogs starter Fraser Dizard took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. With four games left in the season, the Warthogs currently stand a game back of first place Kinston.

Labonte Steps In For Leffler
In NASCAR, Terry Labonte got a new ride this week as it was announced he’ll be stepping into the #11 Chevy for the road course at Infineon Raceway later this month. Labonte will take over for Jason Leffler in the car for Joe Gibbs Racing. Team officials said they made the change because they wanted to make sure the car qualified for the race, something that hadn’t been guaranteed with Leffler behind the wheel. Leffler will remain the chief driver of the #11 as this is just a one race deal.

Countdown To Draft Continues
Around the NBA, the countdown continues to draft day, with rumors floating around of possible deals within the top five teams. The Charlotte Bobcats have dispelled all rumors that they planned to do a 2-1 deal, packaging the #5 and #13 picks in an attempt to move up. Meanwhile the team brought in some more players to work out, including Alabama’s Kennedy Winston and high school forward Gerald Green, both of which should be available when the Bobcats step up to the podium with the 13th pick. Several other players are scheduled for auditions in the coming weeks.

Nearly 500 lb Marlin Caught In NC
During the second day of this year’s Big Rock Blue Marlin competition, a man pulled in a 482 lb fish, good enough for second place in the tournament. The catch would have been good for third, as a 491 pounder had been grabbed earlier in the day, but the boat who caught it didn’t have a permit and so was disqualified. The current leader in the weeklong competition is the crew of the Gambler, a boat that brought in a 515 ½ lb. catch on Monday as the tournament began.

News & Sports For June 15th

Wilkes Sends Delegate To National Convention
Wilkes County will be sending a delegate to the National Association of Counties, when that organization’s yearly conference is held next month in Hawaii. County Commissioner Luther Parks will be this year’s delegate, taking part in presentations and programs on such issues as economic development and tourism. The convention itself has come under fire in recent weeks from taxpayers across the country and as a result, delegates from several states have backed out of attendance, including commissioners from Guilford and Davidson Counties in North Carolina. The main reason for the concern is due to the cost of attendance, as taxpayers will be picking up travel fare and room accommodations for their delegates, a move that will cost several thousand dollars. The conference is held in a different place each year, bringing together local officials to share ideas about how to improve their areas.

Tips Lead To More Drug Busts
Following more tips about reported drug activity in the area, sheriff’s deputies, along with members of the Special Enforcement Team searched a home on Parks Ridge Road this week. Inside the home they found traces of cocaine and marijuana, along with several books on how to make drugs and over four thousand dollars in cash. 15 different firearms were also seized from the property. 35-yr-old Grant Eugene Cowles and 26-yr-old Gloria Marguerite Davenport were arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Heat Leads To Local Break-In
For the second time in less than a week, Wilkesboro police were called out to the Cub Creek area, as yet another consession stand and the recreation office was broken into. But the joke was on the thieves, after they took the time to pull out the office air conditioner and went inside, they found there was nothing to steal. Local officials had already removed the money after weekend games and aside from that, the place was empty. Not willing to give up, the thieves then broke into a nearby consession stand, managing to steal several left over candy bars and around $50 in change. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
The Fast Track in Millers Creek was the latest victim of gas thieves in Wilkes County. Monday afternoon, a man drove up, put in $25 worth of gas and then took off without paying. Employees at the store witnessed the incident and were able to provide deputies with a description of both the man and his vehicle. That investigation is ongoing.

Tobacco Transition Payment Program
Wilkes County farmers have just two days until the deadline for this year’s Tobacco Buyout Program. Under the plan, growers would receive $3 for each pound of tobacco grown during the years 2002-2004 and then additional payments for the years following. $3.9 billion has been allocated for farmers in North Carolina and so far state officials estimate that 90% of growers have already signed up. If you are one of those 10% who still haven’t, you can do so by going to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency and filling out the paperwork today. To set up an appointment you can call the agency at 838-3622 extension #2.

Thieves Break Into Church Construction Site
Deputies were called out to the Calvary Baptist Church on Pads Road Monday morning, after thieves broke into a construction site on the property and stole over $600 worth of materials. Included in the theft were several aluminum ladder jacks, along with a 16 ft. ladder board. There was no damage done and it appears the thieves just walked in and took what they wanted. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Heat Relief Available For Elderly
The weather hit over 94 degrees in Wilkes County yesterday and many senior citizens are feeling the heat. This isn’t just a comfort problem, as the rising temperatures could lead to severe health problems. For those seniors in need of some relief, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving away fans this summer to any senior citizen that meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

Car Vandalized While Owner At Hospital
A Wilkes County woman called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find her car had been vandalized. The woman had been staying with her husband, who’s in the local hospital, in recent days and as such had no idea when the incident could have happened. Vandals scratched the car’s entire body while also stuffing dirt into the vehicle’s gas tank. Estimated cost of the damages were placed at just over $1000. There are suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Regional News

Local Girl Killed In Accident This Week
A wreck earlier this week in Elkin claimed the life of a 16-yr-old girl, according to the Highway Patrol. 16-yr-old Sara Williams was the passenger in a vehicle heading down C.C. Camp Road when the driver lost control and crossed the centerline before hitting a utility pole. The vehicle ended up on the other side of the road and despite wearing her seatbelt, Williams was killed in the crash. The driver however, 17-yr-old Kristin Draughn survived the wreck and charges against her are currently pending.

State News

Wake County Considers Year Round Classes
For students across the state, summer school has just started. But if some Wake County officials have their way, students in that area will be having less of a vacation come next year. School board members are considering a proposal that would make five of the Wake County middle schools and 15 of the elementary schools operate year round. The idea comes as 5000 new students are expected to enter classes in the area, some for the first time, this coming year.

Jobs Coming To Asheville Business
Good news for job hunters in the Asheboro area today, as a local company has been awarded a contract to make clothes for the government. Fox Apparel is looking to hire around 60 new people as they have been given a contract to make several thousand pairs of pants for the Forestry Department. The family owned company is taking applications for the jobs and could possibly add more workers later on this year as more contracts come in.

Over A Thousand Marijuana Plants Found In Durham
While doing a flyover last week, National Guard officials in Durham discovered 1300 marijuana plants sitting in a field near the highway. They informed sheriff’s deputies, who solved the problem this week by setting the entire place on fire. The plants, which had an estimated street value of over $7 million dollars, were destroyed by the deputies. An investigation is still going on to find out who originally planted the drugs.

Portions Of The Parkway Closed After Rains
For anyone looking to drive up on the Parkway this coming weekend, you may want to reconsider or at least plan on taking another route. Portions of the Parkway that stretch between N.C. Highway 80 and Mount Mitchell State Park have been closed until further notice. After this weekend’s rainfall, it was discovered that sections of the mountain slope and the roadbed had started to crumble. If you want to visit the park however, it’s still open, drivers just have to take the long way around and come in through Asheville. Engineers estimate it could take about a month to get everything fixed at the site. In addition, parts of the Parkway stretching from just north of Spruce Pine to the Linville Falls area have also been closed down for repairs. No timetable has been set for when that section will reopen.

Childress Racing Declared Lawsuit Winner
In Charlotte, a decision was finally reached in the lawsuit filed on behalf of the late Dale Earnhart, as a judge ruled in favor of Richard Childress Racing. After a 12-day session, the judge ruled that Omaha Life failed to share documents that would have determined if life insurance benefits should have been given out after the wreck which claimed Earnhart’s life. It’s now up to a jury to decide the amount, if anything, that will be given out under the policy.

Robber Needed Some Nicotine
Sheriff’s deputies in Rockingham County are looking for a robber who has a serious craving for nicotine. Monday night, a man came into Daniel’s Thrifty Mart, located in Reidsville, and demanded money from the employee on duty. He then pulled up his shirt to show that he was carrying a gun. Changing his mind, the robber then ordered the employee to lay down while he got some cigarettes along with cash from the store. Area officials are still searching for the robber.

Sports Headlines

Post 31 Falls To Rowan
Around the local scene last night, it was the Post 31 Patriots taking a beating from Rowan County 14-3. The Patriots managed to keep things even until the late innings, when Rowan exploded for nine runs to pull ahead for good. The loss drops Wilkes to 2-7 in conference play, just a half game ahead of East Rowan for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. And 3WC Sports will be back on the air tonight to bring you the Patriots’ game against Concord. The first pitch will be at 7pm and we’ll go on the air with the pregame show around 6:45.

UNC Assistant Coach In Court
While most of the UNC Tarheel football team is practicing for next season, one of the coaching staff finds himself in court. Brad Lawing, who is currently serving as the school’s recruiting coordinator, faces charges that he offered money to a potential recruit and his high school coach while working at Michigan State. The coach, who is facing racketeering charges of his own, implicated Lawing as he was sentenced on Monday, saying that he was asked how much it would take to bring a local player to the Spartans. An investigation by the NCAA found nothing to back up the coach’s claims, instead the opposite was found. Lawing testified in court that the coach, Lynn Lang, demanded $200,000 to get one of his players to commit to the Spartans. Lawing refused and the team soon after stopped recruiting the player. The high school coach was sentenced to six months in prison on Monday and Lawing was cleared of all charges.

Former Wake Forest Star Moving Up
Less than a month after the draft and one local player has already gotten started on his professional career. Ryder Mathias, a catcher from Wake Forest, signed a deal this week with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and will start his climb to the majors with the Hudson Valley Renegades, the team’s affiliate in the New York-Penn League. If Ryder shows the same batting skills he did in college, Tampa Bay may be calling him up pretty quick. This season alone, he hit .316 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs. However one thing Ryder would probably like to keep at Wake Forest is the record he set for most times hit by a pitch over a season, as he was drilled 29 times this year alone.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, the losing streak continues for the Hickory Crawdads as they fell to the Rome Braves 5-3. Hickory’s streak now stands at 10 games as the team failed to drive in the winning run several times with men left stranded on the corners. The news was better however for the Winston Salem Warthogs, as they beat the Fredrick Keys by what some would say is a football score. The Warthogs pulled out the 21-12 victory over the Keys as first baseman Leo Daigle hit for the cycle. This also marks the sixth straight game that Daigle has hit a home run.

Bobcats Could Take European Trip
Barring a lockout this summer, the Charlotte Bobcats could find themselves holding training camp in a European city in the near future. The NBA announced on Tuesday that beginning next season, four teams a year will hold training camps and play preseason matchups in European countries, as a way of developing the game’s international appeal. The two year trial program, sponsored by EA Sports, will continue a tradition began in 2003, when the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs went to Paris for a preseason game. It’s not yet known what teams will be involved with the program.

News & Sports For June 14th 2005

Local Health Food Recall
The Wilkes Health Department announced yesterday that over 63,000 pounds of beef have been recalled after traces of bacteria were discovered. Packages of Murry’s frozen ground beef and Murry’s meatballs have been called back after portions of the meat tested positive for Esherichia (eh-shur-ree-she-uh) coil. The bacteria is potentially lethal, as it can cause bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and sometimes can lead to kidney failure. The specific products involved are all 20-ounce packages of Murry’s Gourmet Meatballs with the item code 63101. In addition, all 10-lb boxes of Murry’s Steaks 4B Wide All Beef Patties with the codes 01357 and 01340 were included as well. North Carolina was one of several states that the infected beef was shipped to and for more information, you can call the Food & Safety Inspection Service at 1-888-674-6854.

Armed Robbery Turns Out To Be A Hoax
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies on Sunday, informing him that he had just been robbed at gunpoint. But that was before he changed his story and said he had been dropped off and his ride never came back. Then he told deputies it had all been a lie, confessing that he and a friend had been out to buy drugs, when the friend let him out of the vehicle and drove off with $140 of his money. The man, 32-yr-old Thomas Allen Greene was charged with filing a false report and deputies are still searching for his missing friend.

Boomer Woman Victim Of Break-In
A Boomer woman was the victim of a break-in earlier this week. After returning home, she noticed that the back door to her house had been pried open and several items had been stolen including a handgun and her prescription of painkiller pills. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Concession Stands Vandalized At Cub Creek
Wilkesboro police were called out to Cub Creek Park on Sunday, after officials discovered someone had been to the concession stand after hours. Over a hundred dollars worth of damage had been done to the stands, as it appeared someone had tried to get in. They failed however, only managing to partially pry open one of the doors. Nothing was taken from inside and no other damage was done to the area. The investigation is still ongoing.

Search Warrant Yields Drug Bust
Acting on a tip, sheriff’s deputies got a search warrant and went through an apartment at Bell Court earlier this week. Inside they found cocaine residue, some marijuana, several boxes of baggies and other items of drug paraphernalia. The apartment’s occupant, 43-yr-old Fred Douglas Ferguson was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Realtors Get Involved To Help Wilkes County
Every weekend, several yard sales go on across the county in hopes of raising money for different events. This week is no different, although one of the causes involved deals with the future of Wilkes. The Wilkes County Board of Realtors is sponsoring a yard sale to help the community, as all proceeds will go toward building a billboard promoting Wilkes to local travelers. That fundraiser will take place this coming Saturday, June 18th at the warehouse behind Dwight Phillips Auto Sales in Wilkesboro. All the proceeds from this will go to the construction of the billboard itself, but there’s just one problem. A design is needed to get people’s attention and that’s where the Board is asking local people to step in. Now to suggest a creative design for the billboard you can call the Wilkes County Board of Realtors at 667-9331. If your proposal is chosen, it will be put up as the county’s billboard to any travelers passing by on their way to or from Boone. Once the money is collected from the sale and a design is accepted, the plan is to have the billboard put up possibly by the end of next month.

Return Of The Mailbox Vandals
Mailbox vandals struck again here in Wilkes, this time hitting two homes in the Millers Creek area. The homeowners returned to find while no damage had been done to their house or any other part of the property, both of the mailboxes had been smashed. Over $40 worth of damage was caused in the process. This time however there are suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Drug House Discovered By Deputies
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a tip on Speedway Road over the weekend and uncovered a drug operation in the process. Members of the Special Enforcement Team accompanied the deputies as they went to the home, hoping to interrupt a drug deal in progress. The dealer was caught and the deputies searched his home, finding 61 grams of marijuana along with various items of drug paraphernalia. 17-yr-old Christopher Allen Steele was arrested and charged with drug possession, intent to sell & deliver drugs, maintaining a house for the sale of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

State News

Lawmakers Call For Iraq Timetable
As lawmakers throughout the country call for a decision on when the troops will be coming home, several from here in North Carolina have added their voice to the mix. Republican Congressman Walter Jones has signed on as a sponsor of a new bill that would call for a timetable, detailing a plan to get our soldiers out of Iraq. Jones said that once the Iraqis are trained to fight, we should turn over control of the country to them. Jones serves the district that covers both Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point.

North Carolina Out Of The Forecasting Business
As the hurricane season picks up and other storms head our way, North Carolina finds itself partially blind, at least for the next few days. One of the buoys stationed in the Outer Banks to help predict the weather had to be taken out of service on Monday, after boats constantly failed to pay attention and ran it over. The buoy, which covered the southeastern part of the state, will have to be thrown away, due to the severe damage it sustained and the earliest a new one can be brought out by the government is mid August. That means for at least the next two months, portions of the state will be totally blind when it comes to weather detection.

Over 3000 Patients Treated With Hydraulic Fluid
Over 3000 patients of the Duke Health System were treated with hydraulic fluid over the past year, according to a recently finished investigation. The report found that medical staff at Duke Health Raleigh and Durham Regional accidentally washed their instruments in hydraulic fluid, confusing it for detergent. The mixup occurred after hydraulic fluid was drained after work on the elevators and poured into empty detergent barrels last year. Those barrels were then picked up and redistributed for use as a cleaner. Despite concerns from the medical staff about unusually slick instruments, the problem wasn’t investigated for several weeks. As a result, several dozen of the over 3000 patients that were exposed to the fluid have faced additional medical problems including fatigue, pain in their joints and some have had to go back into the hospital for treatment.

Largest Hat Collection Sold
A dream came to an end this week in Hillsborough as over 3000 hats were sold at auction. The hats had been part of what people are calling the largest hat collection in the world, owned by a local man who died in 2001. He had planned to one day open the National Hat Museum but died before that could become a reality. Now as family members continue to struggle with the debts he left behind, the hat collection was put on sale to raise enough money to pay the bills. Most of the collection was bought by a Virginia man and his son, who have a 30 thousand square foot warehouse back home loaded with their collectibles. Ironically enough after spending almost a hundred thousand dollars on the auction, the man said he had no idea what he had just bought.

Three Men Arrested In Drive By Shooting
Police in the Fayetteville area arrested three men in connection with a shooting Sunday night. The three had drove by a local home, pulled out a shotgun and fired at the two people sitting outside. Both of the victims were found by a friend and taken to a local hospital, where they’re receiving treatment. It’s not believed that any of the wounds are life-threatening. Police arrested 19-yr-old William Burkett, 27-yr-old Brian Odom and 32-yr-old Howard Hargett, charging each with attempted murder, felony conspiracy, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. It’s still unknown what caused the trio to open fire in the first place.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Patriots In Action Tonight
Later on tonight if the weather stays away, we’ll have some American Legion baseball for you on the radio. The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots will be at home to take on Rowan County, in a rematch that was delayed several weeks ago by rain. Gametime is set for 7pm and we’ll go on the air with the pregame show at 6:45pm. That American Legion baseball on your home for local sports, 3WC.

Local Athletes Make Conference Team
Both the Mountain Valley and Northwest 1-A released their all conference teams this week and several Wilkes County players made the list. In baseball, Todd Ballard, Drew Ward and Brandon York from West Wilkes made the squad, along with Chris Pollock from North, Robby Monday from East and a pair of teammates from Wilkes Central, Nathan Handy and Jake Johnson. On the softball field, it was Erica Call from Wilkes Central, Brittany Parsons & Casey Sheeler from West, Megan Bell & Teresa Rutledge from East and Natasha Brown, Ashley Harding & Amy Vogel from North Wilkes making the list.

Turning toward the all-conference squad in soccer, it was loaded with Wilkes County players as Katie Andreski, Tiffany Ashley, Emily Gustafson, Jessica Norris and Leslie Warren , all from Wilkes Central made the squad. Also Sarah Dengler from North Wilkes and Kassie Oiler from West. In tennis, it was David Murphy from East Wilkes, Phillip Brame Zeb Gambill, Andrew Huggins and Jay Snipes from Wilkes Central and Graylyn Byrd, JT Campbell and Matt Dave from North Wilkes making the cut. Central’s Phillip Brame was also tagged as the player of the year.
Finally on the track, it was no surprise that Wilkes had over 30 players in the all conference team. On the boys side, it was Kevin Boehum, Trey Bryant, Jesse Hanlin, Matt Smith and Andrew Wagoner from North Wilkes, along with Steven Branch, Evan McNeil, Wesley Scearcy and Matt Triplett from West and Phillip Curley from Wilkes Central. For the girls, it was Bree Tharpe and Taylor Welborn from East Wilkes, along with Kayla Branciforte from North Wilkes, Lauren Amick, Mallory Beck, Morgan Beck, Marcia Brooks, Amanda Davis, Melanie Fyre, Krista Goforth, Jessica Hendrix, Tiffany Upchurch and Emily Wright from West. And from Wilkes Central, LeighAnn Dickinson, Lindsay Groce, Melinda Lackey, Cadina McCurdy, Deidre Morrison, Amy Will and Amanda Younger all were named to the conference team. Emily Wright from West Wilkes also was named the athlete of the year in Mountain Valley 2-A soccer and her coach Mary Wright received coach of the year honors.

Winston Salem Beats Fredrick
And turning to the minor league scene, Winston Salem took care of business against the Fredrick Keys last night as they took the 12-4 blowout victory. Warthogs’ starter Daniel Haigwood his seventh win of the season while Jose Ovalles pitched the ninth for his second save.

Williams Staying A Deacon
Wake Forest fans can breathe a sigh of relief today, as one of their underclassman changed his mind about entering the draft. 6-9 Eric Williams, the Deacons’ starting center, said that he had decided to withdraw and come back for his senior year. Williams had previously said he wouldn’t stay in unless guaranteed to be a first round pick. But as it stands now, he wasn’t even on many of the draft boards as a second rounder.

Nascar To Have Name Change
Now that people have gotten used to calling it the Nextel Cup, it’s time for another change on the NASCAR series. Nextel merged with Sprint and now company execs are deciding what to call the new company and in turn, the racing series it sponsors. Nextel took over as sponsor from RJ Reynolds in 2003, ending a 31 year partnership between the racing series and the cigarette maker. A new name is expected to be announced within the next month. It’s still not clear what if any affect the switch in names and brands will have on ticket prices.

News & Sports For June 13th

News & Sports For Monday June 13th 2005

Chicken House Catches Fire In Storm
Over the past few days, several storms have hit Wilkes County, leaving their mark with both rain and damage. Now one of those storms may be responsible for a fire that happened early Friday morning. Firefighters were called out to a blaze on the Red White & Blue Road as a chicken house had caught fire. The call went out just after 5am on Friday but before fire crews could arrive on the scene, the building had already collapsed. Roaring River and Broadway crews responded to the fire, which had apparently been burning several hours before the call went out. An exact cause hadn’t been determined but fire marshals said it was possible the weather played a part in igniting the blaze.

Counterfeit Money Found In Deposit
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Northwestern Bank on Curtis Bridge Road late last week, after some counterfeit money was discovered. A bank teller had found fake cash in a local man’s deposit, which he exchanged for the real thing. The counterfeit bill was turned over to police, as the man had no idea how it ended up in his possession. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

Tobacco Transition Payment Program
This coming Friday is the deadline to sign up for the 2005 Tobacco Buyout Program. Under the plan, growers would receive $3 for each pound of tobacco grown during 2002-2004 and then additional payments for the years following. $3.9 billion has been allocated for farmers in North Carolina and currently state officials estimate that 90% of growers have already signed up. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so by going to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency and filling out the paperwork today. To set up an appointment you can call the agency at 838-3622 extension #2.

Walked Off With The Air Conditioner
The hot weather has led to several break-ins over the last few days, as local people try to find ways of staying cool. Thieves broke into a Millers Creek woman’s home late last week, taking her air conditioner along with some medication. Nothing else was taken from the house and no damage was done to any part of the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Later Today
The rain and wind over the past few days hasn’t just caused problems on the roads. It’s also severely lowered turnouts at the area’s blood drives. With the blood supply in Wilkes currently at critical levels, it’s important to come out and give the gift of life if at all possible. Later today Wilkesboro Methodist Church will be holding a drive from 2-7pm. In order to schedule an appointment you can call the Wilkes Red Cross at 838-4563.

Nicotine Fix Leads To Break-In
Thieves broke into the Run-In on Hwy 421 West late last week, stealing almost $3000 worth of merchandise. A window was shattered in the back supply room, allowing thieves to come in and take over a hundred cartons of cigarettes along with some cans of snuff tobacco. The store is monitored by video camera and the thieves were caught on tape. There are suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Heat Relief Available For Elderly
The recent heat has caused problems for many Wilkes County citizens, but especially the elderly. As the temperature is expected to climb back into the 90s this week, it’s important for every senior in the area to be taken care of. The Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is giving away fans this summer to any senior citizen that meets their requirements. In order to get a fan, you must be at least 60 years old, live in Wilkes and be served by Duke Power. In addition, your home situation must present a threat to your life without the fans. Applications are being taken from 8:30am til 5pm at the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council office, located at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information you can contact them at 651-7811.

Just Broke In To Have A Look Around
A Wilkes County man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after finding over $200 worth of damage done to his car. The vehicle had been parked outside his house and during the night, the man had heard several loud noises, but didn’t go to check them out. The next morning, he came out to find someone had shattered the car’s windows. Nothing was taken from the vehicle and no other damage was done. The investigation is ongoing.

West Park To Hold Dedication Tomorrow
Tomorrow a ceremony will be held to honor American soldiers and dedicate the new American flag at West Park. The event will be held Tuesday June 14th, beginning at noon with a special performance from the Liberty Grove Baptist Church Choir, in addition to tributes from the local VFW group and the Boy Scouts, who will be raising the flag into its’ new position. Once again all of this will be held at West Park in the Health Foundation area. For more information you can contact the Foundation at 838-1949.

Local Business Falls Prey To Vandals
Wilkesboro police were called out to Dooley’s late last week after vandals caused over $600 worth of damage to the business. Someone gained access to the building and managed to empty out the propane tank, releasing over a thousand lbs. of the gas into the area. There is a suspect in the case, as a black Dodge truck had been seen just outside a few minutes before and the driver yelled that everyone in the building would get what was coming to them. Witnessed provided descriptions of both the man and his vehicle to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation is ongoing.

Regional News

Jonesville Man Killed In Head-On Collision
A Jonesville man died last week after a wreck on Center Road, according to the Highway Patrol. 53-yr-old Danny Ivan Wilkins was killed after his car crossed the median and struck another vehicle carrying a local family. All three family members were taken to Baptist Medical Center, treated and then released without serious injury. It’s unknown what caused Wilkins to cross the center line, but drugs or alcohol were not involved.

State News

Police In Concord Searching For Scam Artist
Concord police are warning people to be aware of a group of con artists operating in the area. Over the past few weeks, a man has come up to local homes, pretending to be with the power company. He then asks to look at some trees on the homeowner’s property that might need to be cut down. While the homeowner goes with him to check out the property, a second man then walks into the home and steals whatever he can carry. Usually in the scam, the second thief also cuts the home’s phone lines before leaving. The only description police have is that the first man has a scar and acne on his face and drives a four door gray truck. Anyone with information is asked to call the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Department at 704-920-3011.

Pet Snake On The Loose
Johnston County officials are asking people in the area to help them locate a pet that escaped from its’ house recently. It’s hard to miss this pet, as it’s an 8-foot long boa constrictor. The animal escaped from its’ home in Pine Level and so far, there have been no reports of sightings. Still, animal control officers warn that boas like to climb trees or hide in tall bushes and the rising temperatures could have driven it into hiding.

Series Of Armed Robberies Hit Raleigh
Three armed robberies in the Raleigh area this weekend may have been linked, according to local officials. All three robberies happened in a one hour period that stretched from late Friday night to the early morning hours on Saturday. In the first robbery, a man was robbed in a Hillsborough Street parking lot by at least two men. Then 30 minutes later, a second man was robbed and shot on Friendly Street. The bullet only grazed him and he had no serious injuries. In the final incident, a man was robbed in a parking lot on North Harrison Avenue. In all three, the men are described as being in their early to mid 20s, about 6 ft and weighing 180 lbs. Also in all three incidents, the robbers drove a silver Nisan Altima with a 30-day tag on it. Raleigh police are still investigating.

Jobs Coming To High Point
Good news for people in the High Point area today, as American Express announced plans to open a new call center in the area. The move, which was announced this weekend, will bring 300 jobs to High Point over the next two years. A five year lease was signed by the company for the Piedmont Centre, where the business will be located. This call center will focus on helping business and corporate customers make their travel arrangements. It’s expected to be open by September.

Almost 200 Yr Old Church Burns Down
A church in Nash County that had stood for almost 200 years burned down over the weekend. A fire ignited in Peachtree Baptist Church shortly before 5am Sunday morning and by the time firefighters had arrived on scene, the roof had already caved in. The church was built back in 1909 and has stood ever since. Church officials said that God knows what He’s doing and they believe He has a reason for allowing the fire. Fire investigators say while unsure what caused the fire, there’s no evidence to suggest arson. Meanwhile the church will be meeting at a local Masonic lodge.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes County Becomes Turkey Land
Wilkes County finished out this year’s turkey season as the number one destination for hunters in North Carolina. For the second straight year, there were more turkeys bagged in Wilkes than any other place in the state. 334 birds were killed this year, 14 more than second place Caswell County. Overall, 9824 turkeys were killed this season by North Carolina hunters, up from 8846 last year.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues this weekend, it was Winston Salem beating Wilmington 4-2. Warthogs’ starter Ryan Rodriguez got his seventh win of the year, going seven innings while giving up two runs on five hits. Relief pitcher Rafael Flores got the save by throwing two innings of shutout ball. Down the road in Georgia, the Hickory Crawdads took the 3-2 loss as they fell to the Rome Braves. The loss put Hickory’s losing streak at eight games, a streak they look to end tonight in the second game of the series.

Edwards Gets Win At Pocono
In NASCAR over the weekend, it was Carl Edwards pulling ahead of the field and taking the win at Pocono. Brian Vickers came in second, Joe Nemechek was third, Kyle Busch fourth and Michael Waltrip rounded out the top five.

Minter Signs Extension
In the NFL, some good news for Carolina Panther fans, as the team announced this weekend it had signed an extension with safety Mike Minter. Minter, who came to Charlotte in the second round of the ’97 draft, will finish out his career as a Panther under the new four year deal. Terms of the extension were not revealed, however the numbers for Minter speak for themselves. He’s the team’s all time tackle leader with 790 and last year alone, he had 94 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Minter said he & his family had put down deep roots in Charlotte and wanted to play for the same team that had drafted him.