News & Sports For July 15th

Soybean Rust Following Dennis
While it’s been several days since the rain from Hurricane Dennis fell on Wilkes, the storm left behind some potential problems for farmers. On the way up here Dennis managed to pick up particles of soybean rust from the Gulf Coast, which can ruin an entire year’s crop. Officials from the Cooperative Extension have warned soybean farmers to be on the lookout and take preventive measures, even if there hasn’t been any sign of the fungus. Soybean rust appears on the plant as little bumps that will quickly spread if not immediately treated. The only way to save the crop once rust has started to seep in is to spray it with fungicide that same day. With around 300 acres of soybeans here in the county, farmers need to keep an eye out for their plants.

Look Before You Leap
One car was totaled during a wreck on Hwy 268 this week. The incident happened on Tuesday afternoon, as a Thurmond woman attempted to cross all lanes of traffic to get to a nearby building. That didn’t work out so well, as she slammed into a Wilkesboro man’s vehicle as he was coming from the other direction. The man’s car was totaled and hers was damaged. Thankfully however no one was injured in the accident.

Drugs Stolen From McGrady Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in the McGrady community on Wednesday after thieves ran off with the homeowner’s medication. She had locked up and left home a few hours earlier, only to return and find that someone had been inside her medicine cabinet. Several bottles of pain medication had been taken, however aside from that nothing was damaged in the home. There was also no sign of a break-in. Sheriff’s deputies do have a suspect however and the investigation is ongoing.

3WC Eye On Health: Wood Smoke Can Be Health Hazard
In today’s 3WC Health Report, If you were to hear that smoke could cause lung cancer, it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise would it? But we’re not talking about cigarette smoke here. In a recent report in the medical journal Chest, doctors identified wood smoke as possibly a major trigger for the disease. Researchers studied 62 cancer patients, most of them non smokers who hadn’t been exposed to any major tobacco products for extended periods of time. Instead, one third of them had used wood stoves all their lives. But the smoke itself wasn’t the problem. Most of those who took part in the study didn’t routinely check to make sure vents and windows in their homes pushed the smoke outside. So instead the smoke just hung inside the house, leading to asthma, bronchitis and the doctors believe, lung cancer. While the evidence wasn’t strong enough to officially link the two, doctors said it might be a good idea to make sure your chimney vent is working before you toss another log on the fire.

Money Taken From Elkin Home
Thieves broke into an Elkin residence this week, walking out with $60 in cash. The incident happened while the homeowner was out of town, as she returned to find the money was missing from her bedroom and also some cigarettes had been stolen. In addition, gasoline had been siphoned out of the lawn mower in the front yard. There was no damage done to the home however, no sign of a break-in and also nothing else missing. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Samaritan’s Kitchen Update
Samaritan’s Kitchen has been expanding their operations in the last few months, to the point where they now deliver meals to over 450 different families across Wilkes County. That’s just over 1600 meals that need to be prepared, loaded up and delivered each week. With that progress comes a greater need for volunteers, as the organization finds itself falling short in most categories. The man need is for drivers to transport the meals on Saturdays, however cooks, assembly line workers, greeters and other volunteers are needed as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or just want some more information, you can drop by the Kitchen anytime from 8am til 2pm during the week. They’re located just down the road on Woodland Blvd from the Wilkesboro Post Office. You can also give them a call at 838-5331.

Check Road Conditions Before Leaving
With rain once again in the forecast this weekend, it’s important to know what the road conditions are like across Wilkes. Where the DOT has been working, what sections of highway have been closed off, things like that. You can access that by visiting the state DOT website at www.ncdot.org. Also you can check out information on proposed road projects and how the weather might affect both their schedule and your traffic at www.ncdot.org/projects/wilkescounty/. There you will also find information on public meetings, schedules, and area maps.

Voting Continues For Gospel Music Awards
There’s not much time left if you want to cast a ballot for 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. The station 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

Election One Step Closer To Resolution
Eight months after voters first went to the polls and North Carolina still doesn’t know who is going to be the new superintendent of public instruction. State lawmakers took another step toward solving that problem on Thursday, as both candidates testified before a legislative committee. Democrat June Atkinson won the election in November and the ensuing recount, holding a lead of 8355 votes over Republican Bill Fletcher. Still Fletcher refuses to admit defeat, as he has continued to challenge the legitimacy of the current results. Fletcher kept that up on Thursday, questioning even the legitimacy of the committee he was testifying at. He said that until the final vote count is determined, nothing else should be done. Fletcher was referring to a ruling by the state Supreme Court in February that determined 11,310 ballots were illegally cast in precincts other than the one voters were registered in. Atkinson meanwhile contends that the out of precinct ballots were legal, as a law passed in 2004 states that such votes should be counted. After the committee wraps up testimony, it will make a recommendation to the full House and Senate, who will then meet in a joint session and decide the winner. If that happens it will be the first time since 1835 that lawmakers in North Carolina have determined the winner of a statewide race.

Defendant Walks Out Of Court
A man in Troy North Carolina was found guilty on drug charges this week. Now all police have to do is find out where he is. Francisco Garcia Reyes just got up and walked out of the courtroom during a break in the trial, disappearing from sight. Officials lost sight of Reyes due to the crowded courtroom and have since issued a warrant for his arrest. It’s unknown if any of the officials in the courthouse will face disciplinary charges because of the escape.

Cell Phone Customers Have Information Leaked
A mistake made by a cell phone company in Pineville North Carolina exposed the personal information of hundreds of clients this week. The mistake was discovered when a man asked if he could have some empty boxes from Cingular’s store at a local strip mall. Store employees agreed, telling him to dig through the garbage and take what he wanted. However when the man started going through the trash, he found several boxes full of papers and folders. Those documents in fact contained the credit card numbers and bank account statements from store clients. One paper even gave the details for when the store’s armored truck pickup stops by for the money. When told of the error, the company said it was a one time accident that happened as an employee was cleaning out the office.

Students Might Pay To Play
Controversy is being stirred up in Pender County today, after a proposal by the Board of Education has people up in arms. The board wants to charge an annual fee of $50 to each high school student who takes part in a school sponsored athletic event. In addition, all middle school athletes would be charged a fee of $15. The reason for the fees? The Board wants to eliminate a gap in the budget of $500,000 and projects that charging to play sports would raise $80,000 over the next year alone. The topic is going to be brought up during the next meeting of the Pender County commissioners.

Dell Bringing In More Jobs
Some good news for people in the Winston area today, as Dell announced plans to bring in over a hundred new jobs. The company is building a conveyor system at its’ new plant and has issued a contract for the construction work. Just over a hundred temporary jobs will be created by the move and after the conveyor is complete, 10 workers will be hired on a permanent basis to help with tech support.

Move Over Law Signed By Easley
Drivers across the state have to move over now when they see flashing lights behind. Governor Easley signed the Move Over Act into law yesterday, making it illegal for drivers who block emergency vehicles. Under the new law, all drivers have to either pull over or slow down so that emergency vehicles can get around them without any delays. Anyone caught in violation of the law will be looking at a $25 fine and having to pay all court costs.

Sports Headlines

Little League Scoreboard
It was a tough night for the Wilkes National #1 Little League squad, as they lost in extra innings to East Catawba 2-1. The game went down to the wire, going into extra innings as the two teams battled it out. But even with the loss, the season isn’t over for the 9-10 year olds, as the playoffs are a double elimination tournament.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Winston-Salem beating Myrtle Beach 12-3 last night. Travis Hinton had four hits to lead the Warthogs, driving in three runs with a double and a triple on the night. And Winston starter Gio Gonzalez got his second win of the season, giving up two runs in five innings of work.

Charlotte Guard Goes To The Bulls
Former UNC Charlotte guard Eddie Basden will start his NBA career this weekend after agreeing to a contract with the Chicago Bulls. Basden, who went undrafted after a senior season where he was named defensive player of the year in Conference USA, will look to not only make the team, but be a key part of the rotation. The 6-5 Basden will sign a 5 year deal with Chicago when the free agency period officially begins next Friday.

Charlotte Gets Set To Impress NASCAR
NASCAR officials will be going around the country in the next two months to the final five cities who are trying to land the Hall of Fame. North Carolina gets its’ chance to impress on August 17th, which is the date set for NASCAR to tour Charlotte and see the plans presented for the Hall. Delegates will also hold meetings with local officials, discussing the proposal and touring the potential site. A final decision will be made by the end of the year.

$50,000 Fish May Be In North Carolina Waters
Currently somewhere in North Carolina a fish worth $50,000 is swimming. The Early Times company has created a contest, in which they released 25 tagged largemouth and spotted bass into both Lake Norman near Charlotte and Jordan Lake near Raleigh. If one of the bass are caught, the fisherman then can register the number on earlytimes.com. At the end of the month, one of the tags will be drawn out and the fisherman will walk away with the $50,000 check. The contest is open to anyone 21 and older.

News & Sports For July 14th

Land Dispute May Cause Tweetsie To Relocate
As 3WC reported back in June, Tweetsie Railroad may soon be forced to find a new location. The park has hired the services of two firms to help resolve some real estate issues it 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 2007 when the lease expires. Caldwell County still remains the frontrunner, due in part to both their location and the economic package being offered. However a dark horse candidate has entered the race as Wilkes County is being considered as a potential choice. One major problem facing the county however is that two sites have already been presented by Caldwell while Wilkes doesn’t have any under consideration. A final decision is expected by this fall.

More File For County Elections
As the deadline for filing is less than a month away, the list of candidates for this year’s election continue to grow. As 3WC reported on Monday, Steve Foster has decided to run for re-election as Major of North Wilkesboro, going against Gerald Lankford in the Republican primary. Also there will possibly be some new faces being named town commissioners this year, with Democrats Debbie Ferguson, Eric Williams and independent Laura Welborn entering the race. They’ll be vying for the seats of Faye Cox and Robert Johnson, both of whom are running for re-election. Over the bridge in Wilkesboro, incumbents Mike Inscore and James Hartley have both filed to run again and so far stand unopposed. Finally over in Ronda, three town commissioners seats have opened up. Brison Combs and Ricky Cothren are running for re-election but the final incumbent, James Jennings, hasn’t made an official decision. Going against them in the race are newcomers Manuel Wood and Holly Duplisea. All races are still open for people to file, with the deadline being August 5th at noon. Then after primaries are held, the regular elections will take place Nov. 8th.

Case Of ID Theft In Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro police have linked a case earlier this week to one reported back in May. Earlier this week officers were called out to Lowes Foods, after a $179 check was written from a local woman’s account. The only problem was that the woman had reported her checks stolen back in May, providing officers with a suspect. However the cashier couldn’t recall what the person looked like, unable to even tell if it was a man or a woman. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Always Look Where You’re Going
It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes on the road. A Wilkesboro woman learned that the hard way this week, after being involved in an accident. The incident happened Tuesday afternoon, as she was driving down 421 South. The woman took her eyes off the road for a minute while looking for something and glanced up in time to see that the cars in front of her had stopped at a red light. She slammed into the vehicle in front of her, causing an estimated $500 worth of damage. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Just Came In To Have A Look Around
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a construction site in Hays earlier this week, after someone broke into a trailer in the area. One of the trailers set up by Vannoy & Sons Construction had been broke into, as the would be thieves pried open a window and climbed in. Nothing however was taken from the trailer and no other damage was done on the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On The Community
Teenage mothers and unwanted pregnancies are an issue we as the church have a hard time relating to sometimes. We don’t know if or how we can help these soon to be mothers, so we at times back away from the situation. There is however an organization here in Wilkes that is dedicated to working with these women, helping take care of their needs and showing them the love of Christ. The Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been doing this for 10 years now and today on Focus on the Foothills, associate director Susan Sturgill will be Brian's guest. They'll be discussing the ministry itself, how people can get involved and some of their upcoming events. That's coming up later today at 1:05pm after the midday stock report.

Alzheimer’s Workshop Coming Up Tonight
Alzheimers can be a scary thing for both the victim and their family as well. How can you tell if someone has the disease? What are the warning signs? Tonight Villages of Wilkes is sponsoring a workshop on Alzheimers, where people can learn all the information they need to spot if a family member has the disease and also learn what they can do to help take care of that person. That workshop will take place at 7pm, at the Peace Haven Baptist Church Family Life Center. For more information you can call Donna Shumate at Villages of Wilkes. Her number is 667-2020.

Accident Leads To Drug Bust
Sheriff’s deputies responded to an accident Monday night only to later charge a driver for drug possession. 20-yr-old Jonathon William Matthew had already been arrested by the Highway Patrol for driving under the influence when deputies arrived. However a search of Matthew’s vehicle found 16 grams of marijuana and several different types of painkillers. Jonathon Matthew was additionally charged with drug possession with intent to sell and maintaining a vehicle for the sale of drugs.

Wilkes Open Forum To Discuss Energy
Have you ever wondered what other options besides gas are available to us here in North Carolina? What would happen if we made the switch to renewable energy to power our homes and is that a viable option? In this week’s Wilkes Open Forum, Dr. Dennis Grady of Appalachian State University will be talking about the subject, providing answers as to what choices we have here in North Carolina. That’s coming up tonight at 6pm, at the Wilkes County Library.

State News

Problems For State Employment Security Commission
The layoffs may continue around North Carolina this fall, with a state agency getting into the act. The Employment Security Commission announced on Wednesday that due to a recent court ruling, 175 workers may have to be let go. North Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that civil penalties collected by the state have to be put into a fund designated for school districts to use. This is a problem because $6.2 million of the commission’s budget has come out of fees collected from companies that have filed late reports. Without those funds, the commission says that some of their smaller offices may have to shut their doors and programs that help food stamp recipients find jobs might be terminated. As an alternative, the General Assembly has been asked to use state tax dollars to plug the $6.2 million hole. So far no decision has been made.

Local Task Force Appointed To Review Base Decisions
North Carolina’s Council of State approved $250,000 yesterday to be spent on a task force that would review the military’s decision on Pope Air Force Base. People from Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Moore counties are all represented on the task force, which is hoping to protect Pope from the recent string of base closings. Earlier this summer the Department of Defense had recommended that Pope be turned over to the Army and all air force equipment be transported to other states. If that were to happen a total of 743 military jobs would be lost, with 1055 civilian jobs being added. A final recommendation will be presented to the president by September 8th.

Wilmington Water Not Safe After All
A few days after people were allowed to go back into the water, it turns out that might not be a good idea. Almost two weeks ago, a busted pipe caused three million gallons of raw sewage to pour into Hewletts Creek in Wilmington, which then spread out to the other local waterways in the area. However over the weekend, officials said the bacteria had died down to the point it was safe to get back into the water. Two professors from UNC-Wilmington disagree. The professors found that bacteria in the sediment is at least three times higher than normal and in some cases thirty times higher. The reason for the difference is that the official studies only monitored the bacteria in the water, whereas the university studied bacteria in both the water and the sediment below it, where people would be walking. There has been no official response to this latest test.

Bombs Found In Northampton Residence
Officials in Northampton County are concerned after finding bomb making materials at a local residence this week. Following leads in an unrelated investigation, sheriff’s deputies had been searching a home just off Highway 158 when they discovered pipe bombs inside. Also inside were fuses and some black powder. No other information has been released except that the investigation is ongoing.

Hickory Restaurant Closed Down By County
Officials in Hickory shut down McGuffey’s Restaurant for the foreseeable future, in the wake of weekend storms that collapsed most of the parking lot. The restaurant has been deemed unfit for human habitation, as damage has been done to the building’s foundation. Now both the parking lot and the building itself have to be repaired before it can welcome back customers.

Leaders In Raleigh Unhappy With CAFTA
Less than two days before President Bush is set to speak in Charlotte, drumming up support for his latest free trade proposal, several leaders in Raleigh came out against it. CAFTA, or the Central America Free Trade Agreement, is opposed by virtually all working unions in the state, including the AFL/CIO. They say that the proposal is almost identical to NAFTA and will only encourage companies to outsource more jobs. Supporters of the bill didn’t deny any of this, only saying that CAFTA would allow free trade between the U.S. and Central American countries, which would benefit both parties.

Sports Headlines

Little League On The Radio Tonight
If the weather holds up tonight, the 3WC Sports Team will be back in action bringing you the Little League All Star game from the 9 & 10 year old division. Wilkes Nationals #2 will take on East Catawba at 6pm and we’ll be on hand to bring you the play by play. Ken Byrd will be out at the game and Brian Carlton will be at the station, updating you on all the day’s sports headlines and highlights. The first pitch is set for 6pm and we’ll go on the air at 5:50pm. That’s Little League baseball on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Tarheels Replace Announce Team
The UNC Tarheels introduced a familiar face as their new basketball analyst this week. Eric Montross will take over from Mick Mixon, who left to become the new announcer for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Montross worked with the team on a part time basis last season, being used during home games and during the ACC tournament.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, Winston Salem was beaten by Myrtle Beach 4-2 as Warthogs starter Ryan Wing gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. With the loss, Wing falls to 0-2 on the season. Micah Schnurstein had one of the team’s eight hits, as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

Hawks Sign Williams
Marvin Williams took one more step towards NBA stardom on Tuesday, as he signed a deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Williams, the #2 pick in June’s NBA draft, left school after one year to play with the pros. He was the last of the four Tarheels to sign a deal and also the last of the Top Ten draft picks to sign. He’s already been working out with the team’s summer league squad and plans to be ready to suit up when they start playing this weekend.

Bobcats News
Some news from the Charlotte Bobcats on your Thursday. The team said goodbye to several players on Wednesday as George Leach and Tamar Slay were released. Slay was a member of the Bobcats last season, but had to miss most of the second half after having surgery on his left ankle. His contract wasn’t renewed but he was invited back to try out. Slay had originally accepted the offer, but changed his mind on Wednesday. Also bad news for a former Tar Heel trying to make the team. Jason Capel will miss the first round of summer league games after back spasms put him out for a few weeks. A deadline for his return wasn’t given.

NC State Player Signs With Jets
In the NFL, a former member of the Wolfpack signed with the New York Jets on Tuesday. Andre Maddox, who was selected in the fifth round by the Jets this year, came to terms with the team and will be in training camp later on this month. Maddox, who played safety with NC State, saw his college career end with 341 tackles and eight sacks.

NASCAR News
In NASCAR, Nextel Cup officials announced fines had been handed out to five different crew chiefs for violations during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Michael Waltrip’s crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined $500 for missing a driver’s meeting, while Kevin Lepage crew chief Glenn Darrow was docked $2500 for using unapproved fuel cell foam. Morgan Shepherd’s crew chief Dan Kolanda was fined $10,000 for a spring mount violation, while the #9 Joel Shear received a $15,000 bill first for an unapproved rear coil spring mount and also because he violated his probation. Finally Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s crew chief Harold Holly was also docked $10,000 for using an unapproved oil tank reservoir cover.

News & Sports For July 13th

Property Broke Into At Mountain View Elementary
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Mountain View Elementary on Monday, after reports came in of a break-in on the property. Thieves gained access to the school’s storage building, breaking the lock and going inside. A weedeater was stolen, along with a leaf blower, black & decker tool kit and a gas can. The thieves apparently left in a hurry as the bolt cutters they had used to get inside were still on the ground when deputies arrived. The investigation is still ongoing.

Focus On The Community
For the past ten years, the Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been helping people in the community. But some people still remain confused as to what the Center actually does. Associate director Susan Sturgill will be talking with Brian about the ministry on Focus on the Foothills this coming Thursday. That’s coming up Thursday July 14th at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Be Sure To Slow Down At Traffic Lights
A wreck on 421 damaged two cars and totaled one earlier this week. The accident happened Monday afternoon, as a Millers Creek man was driving down the road. He saw the light in front of him had just turned green and expected the cars to speed up and move on. However the vehicles in front of him were slow in moving and the man couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. He slammed into the back of a Boone man’s car, totaling his own vehicle while causing $500 damage to the other one. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.

Vandals Hit Wilkes Recreation Buildings
For the second time in under a month, someone damaged the concession stands at Cub Creek Park. The incident was reported to polic on Monday, after workers found the damaged buildings. The doors had been damaged to one of the stands, allowing the vandals to get inside. However nothing was taken from the building, instead the table and bench nearby were torn apart and tipped over. On the other side of the field, vandals were unable to gain access, despite damaging portions of the building. All total over a hundred dollars worth of damage was done to the property and officers are continuing the investigation.

Stuff The Bus Continuing
The annual Stuff the Bus program is continuing around Wilkes County. Several locations have been set up around the area to take donations. Each year, Communities in Schools attempts to help needy kids around Wilkes, by providing them with the supplies they lack for class. If you want to donate supplies, there are buses at several locations including Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off items 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.

Drove Off With The Trailers
How do you steal a trailer without anyone noticing? Sheriff’s deputies are trying to figure that out today, after two utility trailers were taken from a Millers Creek residence earlier this week. The homeowner returned from a trip out of town to find them missing, with the cables and locks lying on the ground. No other evidence was left at the scene and no one in the area could recall seeing someone drive off with the trailers. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Cameras Stolen From Wilson’s Market
A Ferguson business fell victim to thieves earlier this week, as deputies were called out to Watson’s Market. However nothing was taken from inside the store itself, only the security cameras that had been positioned outside the business were taken. No damage was done to any other part of the property and there are currently no suspects. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wrecked Car Stolen From Thurmond Home
Why would someone steal a wrecked car? That’s what a Thurmond man is asking today, after returning to find his vehicle had been stolen. The car had broke down at his sister’s house, where it had been left until the man could return and get it towed. Instead he came back to find it was missing. There is a suspect in the case. His name & description were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Workers Laid Off Across The Piedmont
This hasn’t been a good week for some workers in the Piedmont. Over 400 people lost their jobs on Monday as two separate companies announced layoffs. The Sears Call Center in High Point dismissed 42 workers, after the company said they were no longer needed. Sears officials said that new technology is being installed that can handle the clerical positions most of the workers held while increasing efficiency. And just up the road in Winston Salem, Sara Lee announced plans for yet another round of cuts. 400 people will be let go from the company’s Winston Salem plants, part of a larger layoff throughout the nation. Sara Lee officials said that competition with foreign imports were to blame for the layoffs as they would lose profits otherwise.

Bush To Make Trip To Charlotte
President Bush will be in North Carolina this week, as he tries to drum up support for a new trade agreement with Central America. Bush will visit Charlotte on Friday, then speak at a Gaston County textile mill to discuss the particulars of the plan. The Central America Free Trade Agreement, similar to NAFTA, is designed to create a free trade zone between the U.S. and countries such as the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Honduras. It was passed by the Senate in June and now faces a vote within the next month in the House.

Jobs Coming To Alamance County
Good news for people in Alamance County today, as Kayser-Roth Corporation announced plans to expand operations and add new jobs. An estimated 180 new jobs will be added by the apparel maker over the next three years at the site. Most of the jobs will be in manufacturing, with workers moving into a new 100,000 square foot facility that is currently being built in Burlington. The jobs were made possible due in part to a $200,000 grant from Governor Easley’s One North Carolina Fund, which helps to provide assistance to economic interests in the state.

Cigarettes Holding Up Budget
Lawmakers announced on Tuesday that most of the details for a new budget have been hammered out with only one thing standing in the way. A cigarette tax. Officials can’t agree as to how much the tax should be raised, with House members wanting it brought up to 30 cents, while the Senate has demanded it be pushed to 40. That ten cent difference is the main issue being focused on as lawmakers sit down to the bargaining table. If a deal on the cigarette issue can be reached, a new budget might be ready for a vote by as soon as this Friday.

North Carolina A Good Place For A Nap
North Carolina is apparently the place to go if you want to get some sleep, according to Men’s Health magazine. A recent study in the journal ranked four North Carolina cities in the Top 100 places where people go to get some rest. Raleigh came in 16th, Durham was right behind at 20, down the list a bit was Charlotte, which came in 34th and finally Greensboro barely squeaked in at number 89. The study took into account the people in each city who averaged 7 hrs. of sleep a night, also those who need medicine to sleep and those suffering from insomnia. The study also found the best place in the world to sleep is Honolulu Hawaii and the worst is Fresno California.

Road Closed On Tuesday After Plant Fire
Officials in Johnston County shut down the Rainsmill Road on Tuesday after a fire broke out at a local factory. The fire, which burned parts of the Barrus Construction plant before being put out, was caused by a spark in the dust filtration system. The road was closed for two hours on Tuesday afternoon as cleanup crews picked up debris from the fire.

Sports Headlines

Duke Lands An Offensive Line Prospect
The Duke football team got a shot in the arm this week, as high school senior Jarrod Holt committed to the program. Holt, a 6-6, 300 lb. rising senior from Florida, will join the Blue Devils in 2006 and will provide some much needed help to the offensive line. Last season Duke was 2-9 and heads into the coming year with four holes in the offensive line, with only one new face ready to suit up. Holt said he picked Duke over NC State because he thought he could get a better education in Durham.

Tarheels Lose Pitching Coach
Bad news for the Tarheel baseball team today, as they lost their pitching coach. Roger Williams leaves Chapel Hill to take the same position at Georgia. He’ll leave a pitching staff that was ranked 10th in the nation last season with a combined ERA of 3.17, the school’s best record in over thirteen years. Williams also helped the pitchers develop confidence, which showed in a school record seven shutouts.

McCants Signs Up With T-Wolves
Rashad McCants officially became a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, as he signed a deal with the team. The two year contract was done in time for McCants to join the other rookies at the T-Wolves minicamp this week, before taking a starting role in their summer league. McCants was picked with the 14th selection in last month’s NBA draft, the last of four Tarheels to turn pro this year.

Panthers Player Honored
In the NFL, a member of the Carolina Panthers was honored this week, as linebacker Mark Fields received the George Halas Award. The award is given out every year to a player who overcomes personal or injury related issues to excel on the field. Fields had been battling Hodgkin’s disease but as the illness went into remission, he was able to return to the field and put on a show, with 60 tackles, four sacks and one interception. That was good enough to make it to the NFL’s Pro Bowl, but now he’ll be sitting out again, as the disease has come out of remission and will require treatment.

Panthers Sign Picks
In other Panthers news, the team signed up two more players on Monday. 5th round pick Geoff Hangartner, a center out of Texas A&M agreed to terms. Hangartner was an All-Big 12 player with the Aggies, starting 36 straight games at one point. Hugo Lira was also added to the roster this week. A wide receiver in NFL Europe, Lira will compete for a spot either on the team itself or to be assigned to the practice squad.

News & Sports For July 12th

Foster To Run Again
There’s officially a race on for mayor of North Wilkesboro. Incumbent Steve Foster has filed papers to run again, choosing to go against challenger Gerald Lankford. Foster had held off on making a decision until now, as he wanted to clear up some health concerns before committing. The two faced off once before during the 2001 election. Other races are also still open for contenders as the deadline to file in August 5th at noon.

Guns Stolen From North Wilkesboro Residence
How do you break into a locked house without leaving behind any evidence? A North Wilkesboro couple is wondering that today, after returning to find that thieves had broke into both their house and also one of their cars. Two guns, a Remington .22 rifle and a Ruger . 22 were both taken in the theft, in addition to a set of Pioneer car stereo and a set of Sony speakers. All total an estimated $1350 in merchandise was stolen, despite there not being any sign of a break-in and no one seen around the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Blood Drive Today With Supply Still Low
One day after people gathered around the county to donate blood, another drive will take place later this afternoon in hopes of raising the local supply above the critical stage. Even as donations come in, the need continues to hover around the critical stage. One of the reasons for that is the fact blood is only good for a 42-day period. After that time is up, the blood is worthless despite there being a need. The drive today will go on at the Wilkesboro Civic Center from 2-6:30pm. As always you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs before giving blood. To donate, you can either show up at the scene or call ahead for an appointment. The Red Cross number is 838-4563.

Wreck On 421 Totals Two
A wreck over the weekend on Hwy 421 totaled two vehicles as Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene. A Wilkesboro woman had been attempting to turn off but failed to look both ways before doing so. She didn’t notice a North Wilkesboro woman coming from the other way until it was too late. No one was injured in the crash, however estimated damages were placed at just over $9000.

Just Took Off Running
During a traffic check Sunday near the Mountain View Road, sheriff’s deputies saw a vehicle pull up and then stop. The driver then jerked the wheel and pulled off the road, jumping out of the car and taking off running into the woods. Deputies pursued by were unable to catch up with the man. His car was impounded and now authorities are using the man’s license plate to track him down and find out why he was in such a hurry to leave. No drugs or any other illegal substances could be found inside the vehicle still the investigation is ongoing.

Shots Fired At Man’s Vehicle
Deputies are trying to determine who took a shot at a local man as he was pulling out of the Circle C parking lot over the weekend. The man was helping carry his passed out friend to the vehicle when he got into an argument with an employee of the business. Then as the two were driving off, the friend woke up and started yelling obscene things out the window. Seconds later the man heard a shot ring out and when he pulled over down the road to check, there was a bullet hole in his truck. Neither man could give deputies a description of who shot at the vehicle however the investigation is ongoing.

Ebenezer To Hold Benefit Tournament
The Ebenezer Christian Childrens Home is gearing up for their annual benefit golf tournament. This year the tournament will be at Oakwoods Country Club on Saturday August 13th. There will be morning and afternoon flights. The format for the tournament is 4-man's captains choice and there will be over $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. Entry fee is $75 per person and if you pay by August 1st you will automatically be eligible for a 3 day- two night vacation. To sign up or for a brochure you may call the Home at 667-5683, that's 667-LOVE.

Farmers May Be Eligible For Federal Grant
Some good news for Wilkes County farmers today, as a new federal grant could be returning money to your pockets. Under the new program, put out by North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture, a portion of certification costs would be reimbursed if the farmers met certain guidelines. This applies to any farmer who has been certified by a USDA-accredited agent between October of 2004 and September of this year. Farmers have to turn in applications in order to be reimbursed and you can do that by getting in touch with Kevin Hardison at the state Agriculture Department. His number is 919-733-7136 ext. 232.

Relief From The Heat Available For Seniors
Yesterday the sun came out and quickly brought temperatures up into the mid 80s. With the same thing being forecasted for the rest of the week, it’s important for everyone to stay cool. That’s especially important for seniors and the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council recognizes this, as they are giving 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.

State News

Charlotte Police Ordered To Cut Down On Overtime
Charlotte police have been ordered to cut down on the time they spend investigating crimes in the area. The reason being that the city’s police department is hoping to cut down on the amount of overtime they pay out, a decision that was first reached in May and is now having some effects on the local area. According to statistics, violent crimes are up 30% in the area from the same time a year ago. While officials had no comment, the police union is checking into if the cuts are legal.

Blame It On The Squirrel
Over ten thousand people without power, thousands of dollars spent cleaning it up and traffic jams created throughout the day. For all this, you can thank one little squirrel. In Raleigh on Monday, a squirrel climbed into a transformer breaker in the western part of the city, shorting it out and leaving 11,500 people in the dark for nearly thirty minutes. That means traffic lights malfunctioned, businesses had to shut down operations and kids at home were in the dark. Thankfully however no one was injured and no accidents were reported during the blackout.

Debate Arrives Over Dancing Bill
Does North Carolina really need an official state dance? That’s what members of the State House are asking today, after a bill was proposed that would define several dances as being linked to the state. Clogging and shagging were the two that made the final vote, 101-7 and will be turned over for a vote in the Senate. Those seven politicians, members of both parties, were outraged that during a time when the state doesn’t even have a budget in place, time would be wasted on designating an official dance. Russell Capps, a Republican from Wake County, said that the naming craze is getting out of hand, after recent votes saw an official cat and official carnivorous plant chosen. It’s currently still unknown when a new budget proposal will go before the floor for a vote.

New State Drug Plan Causes Controversy
A new plan to cut the cost of prescription drugs has some state employees up in arms today. Under the plan, state workers would have their prescription drug costs significantly lowered, but certain things have been left off the list. As a result, state employees are saying that their quality of life has been damaged along with their bank accounts. What drugs were left off? Hair regrowth formula, male dysfunction and anti-wrinkle creams. As the plan is currently, all drugs that deal with medical conditions would see prices drop.

Advisory Lifted In Time For Vacations
Anyone planning a trip to Wilmington won’t have to worry about the water anymore. The advisory against swimming in Wilmington waterways has been lifted, after bacteria levels in the area dropped off significantly during the last four days. The bacteria got into the water as a result of a sewage spill, that happened last week. A 20-inch pipe ruptured in Hewletts Creek, allowing three million gallons of sewage to pour out into the water.

Greensboro Wants Drug Treatment Center Gone
If you build it, they will come. That’s what people in an East Greensboro neighborhood are worried about today. DREAMS Treatment Center has recently moved into the old YMCA and after remodeling the building, plans to open its’ doors. DREAMS is a drug treatment center, one that would allow addicts to come in and break their habit in a clean environment. People in the area said that by bringing in drug addicts, dealers will come back with them and are hoping that the treatment center moves out soon. To fight the concerns, owners of the center have agreed to a public hearing to be set up in the near future.

Sports Headlines

Local Scoreboard
Around the Little League field last night, in the girls 12 year old softball tournament it was the Wilkes National All Stars beating the Wilkes American All Stars 6-0. And in the boys 12-yr-old division, it was the Wilkes American League All Stars beating Ashe County 12-0. Coming up later today there’ll be a boys game at 5:30 and girls softball with the first pitch at 6pm.

American Legion Scores
In American Legion ball, Lexington pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in history over the weekend, as they beat Winston Salem 11-10. Lexington was down 10-0 in the bottom of the seventh with one last chance to bat, as the ten run rule would have gone into effect. Instead of giving up, the team rallied to score eleven runs in the next three innings, pulling out the win and taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Meanwhile, Rowan County might be out of the Legion playoffs, but that doesn’t mean their season is over. The team entered a wooden bat tournament over the weekend, taking part in one held at the University of South Carolina. The weekend proved to be a good one for Rowan County, as they ran through the tournament with a 3-0 record.

ASU Quarterback Honored
And up the road in Boone, Appalachian State’s quarterback was selected as a second team All-American. Quarterback Richie Williams received the honor from the Sports Network, who also rated his school as 28th among all Division I-AA football programs heading into this season. Williams earned the honor during a junior year that saw him set school records with 3109 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor league scoreboard last night, it was Hickory beating the Rome Braves 4-1. After a rain delay of over an hour, the game started off with a bang, as Crawdads catcher Neil Walker hit a solo shot home run to make it 1-0. Hickory starter Julio Guerrero got his 4th win, going seven innings while only giving up one run on three hits. Up the road in Winston, the Warthogs beat Kinston 5-2. Winston starter Ryan Rodriguez got his ninth win of the season, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning before giving up a two run homer.

NASCAR News
Taking a look at some NASCAR headlines, officials are considering a plan that would ban all testing during the last 10 races of this year. No reasoning was given for the idea, as it’s still in the planning stages. Also due to the damage from last week’s tornadoes, the October 30th race set for Atlanta Motor Speedway may have to be moved. Repair work is still continuing at the site but there are concerns that it might not be finished in time for drivers to roll onto the track. A final decision has yet to be made.

Martin May Hold Off Retirement
News from the Roush Racing camp today, as Mark Martin may not be retiring at the end of the season. Jack Roush asked Martin to consider staying around for one more year, as his replacement won’t be able to take over until 2007. Jamie McMurray was signed by Roush to take over Martin’s car, but his current contract with Chip Ganassi doesn’t run out until the end of next year. Martin hasn’t commented yet, but did tell Roush he was considering it.

News & Sports For July 11th

Keeping An Eye On The Storm
Hurricane Dennis made landfall over the weekend, hitting the coast of Florida and Alabama with wind gusts of over 120 mph. That could be bad news for Wilkes and the surrounding areas, as thunderstorms are supposed to blanket the region from now until possibly Thursday. As the storm, now a Tropical Depression, continues to follow the path of Hurricane Ivan, the next 24 hours will determine what affect it will have on the western part of our state. If it turns left or stays on its’ present course, the National Weather Service said that North Carolina will get rain but nothing else. However if the storm does keep following Ivan’s trail and turns right, the remnants would hit us sometime early Wednesday morning. We’ll continue to update you on the storm’s progress as the day goes on.

School Board Approves Measure To Keep Running
With state lawmakers dragging their heels to approve a new budget, funding for several programs is starting to run out. To head off any potential problems, the Wilkes Board of Education met last week and approved a new measure that would allow the county schools to keep operating until a budget is passed. Board officials authorized the Finance Officer to continue paying salaries and covering the day to day operating costs, which would then be taken out of the new budget once funding is passed down from the state level. A decision isn’t expected from state lawmakers on a new budget in the near future.

Thurmond Man Returns To Find Home Vandalized
A Thurmond man called police after discovering that a house owned by members of his family had been vandalized. The incident happened late last week, as the man came to check on some things he had in storage at the house. What he found was over twelve thousand dollars worth of damage, done to virtually every part of the property. Windows had been shattered, doors busted and floors torn to pieces. Also some of the chairs and tables inside had been damaged as well. No one had lived at the house in over a year as it had mostly been used for simple storage. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Drugs Stolen From Traphill Home
Always lock up before you leave. A man in Hays found out why that’s a good idea late last week, after returning to his truck to discover that thieves had got inside and stolen his medication. The medicine had been kept inside the vehicle, which the man forgot to lock as he went to work. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes Honors Veterans
Wilkes County took time out to honor our veterans over the weekend and people also got to see their first glimpse of the new Heritage Museum in the process. The names of over 350 soldiers were installed as part of the Veteran’s Brick Walk, which will now lead into the Museum. Families bought bricks for $100 a piece and saw their veterans honored during a ceremony on Saturday. The event itself started at 6pm and afterwards a special concert by the NC National Guard band was held. Throughout the day people could also tour the Robert Cleveland Log Home and the Old Wilkes Jail, while getting their first look inside the Heritage Museum. The Brick Walk ceremony is scheduled to be a yearly event and anyone who buys a brick now will have their veteran honored at the ceremony next July.

Blood Supply Hits Critical Levels
Over 1500 pints of blood are used every day in this state, to perform surgeries and treat patients at local hospitals. When you combine the recent holiday along with the storms that hit the area last week, it’s a recipe for disaster. Wilkes County’s blood supply has fallen past critical levels, to the point there’s not even a full day’s worth left on hand. With the possibility of more storms coming into the area this week, it’s important to get as many people as possible out to the blood drives going on today and tomorrow. Peace Haven Baptist Church is holding a drive from 2-6:30pm and there will be one also at the Glade Creek Community from 2:30-7pm tonight. Then on Tuesday a drive will be held at the Wilkesboro Civic Center from 2-6:30pm. As always you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs before giving blood. To donate, you can either show up at the scene or call ahead for an appointment. The Red Cross number is 838-4563.

Wilkes Open Forum To Discuss Energy
Have you ever wondered what other options besides gas are available to us here in North Carolina? What would happen if we made the switch to renewable energy to power our homes and is that a viable option? In this week’s Wilkes Open Forum, Dr. Dennis Grady of Appalachian State University will be talking about the subject, providing answers as to what choices we have here in North Carolina. That’s coming up this Thursday at 6pm, at the Wilkes County Library.

Workshop Coming Up Next Week On Alzheimer’s
Alzheimers can be a scary thing for both the victim and their family as well. How can you tell if someone has the disease? What are the warning signs? This coming Thursday Villages of Wilkes is sponsoring a workshop on Alzheimers, where people can learn all the information they need to spot if a family member has the disease and also learn what they can do to help take care of that person. That workshop will take place at 7pm on July 14th, at the Peace Haven Baptist Church Family Life Center. For more information you can call Donna Shumate at Villages of Wilkes. Her number is 667-2020.

State News

State Officials Upset At INS Over Raid
Less than a week after federal agents arrested 49 illegal immigrants at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, controversy has developed over the case. But the issue isn’t anything related to national security or how the illegals got into the country. Instead, officials from the state’s Labor Department have come out criticizing the immigration agents for the way the arrest was made. They said that federal agents abused the trust of the illegals, by inviting them to a fake safety meeting and then putting them under arrest. The Labor Department also said that the arrests have made their job harder, because illegals will be less likely now to come learn about current safety measures.

Goats Infest Raleigh Prep School
Students at the School of Communication Arts in Raleigh have been noticing some new classmates over the past few weeks. Goats have started appearing at the school, eating grass on the property and running around on the sidewalks. On Saturday however one of the creatures decided that he wanted to be part of the class. A billy goat slammed into the double layered window at the student’s entrance, shattering the outer pane before just as quickly bouncing away. Animal control had attempted to remove most of the goats, but some escaped. It’s still unknown where the goats came from, as no farmers in the area would lay claim to them.

DSS Miscommunication Blamed In Boy’s Death
Miscommunications between the Social Service agencies in two North Carolina counties are being blamed for the death of an 8-yr-old boy. The boy died from heat exposure after being left in his mother’s car during the weekend of May 21st. Now an investigation has found that complaints had been filed against the mother in two separate counties, Madison and Buncombe. In Buncombe County, complaints were raised against the mother for limiting food from her son. Social workers said they could find no problems and then referred the case to Madison County, where they said the mother then lived. Madison County officials then referred the case back to Buncombe, after workers discovered the family was living in Buncombe, where the mother was being held in jail. Buncombe DSS however says that they never received any files back from Madison. In the meantime, Devin Gibson died in the trunk of his mother’s Ford Escort, where he had been kept 16 hours after she couldn’t find a babysitter. 36-yr-old Michelle Gibson has since been charged with second degree manslaughter, two counts of felony child abuse and voluntary manslaughter.

Soldiers Heading Back To Iraq
The rest didn’t last long for a battalion from Fort Bragg, as the troops have been ordered back into service less than four months after returning from Iraq. The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment’s 1st Battalion has been called back to deploy to Afghanistan. Around 700 troops will pack up and ship overseas when the battalion leaves in two weeks. The soldiers served in Iraq for one year from 2003 to 2004, also returning to provide security during the elections earlier this year.

Traffic Stop In Randolph County Uncovers Drugs
A traffic stop over the weekend in Randolph County led to the discovery of over a hundred thousand dollars worth of drugs. Deputies at the traffic stop pulled over an Asheville man’s vehicle and searched the car after a K9 unit smelled drugs inside. 5000 doses of Ecstasy were discovered inside, along with just over $9000 in cash. Heip Hoang Pham of Asheville was charged with drug trafficking and deputies estimated the drug’s value at $110,000.

Sports Headlines

Preseason Polls Out & Local Colleges Ranked
September is still a long way off, but the preseason polls have already been released for Division I-AA football and some local teams made the top 100. Appalachian State comes in ranked 28th, with some major hurdles to overcome. After a 6-5 season, the Mountaineers have to replace wide receiver Davon Fowlkes in the lineup, as he’s now in training camp with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Western Carolina came in at number 55 after a 4-7 season and the Running Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb made the list at 73, looking to bounce back after a 5-6 season that saw quarterback Nick Roberts toss 17 interceptions. Furman got the number one ranking as the Paladins are coming off a 10-3 year in Division I-AA.

FSU QB Diagnosed
Last month, police took Florida State quarterback Wyatt Sexton to a hospital after he was found in the street calling himself God. At the time people believed that drug use may have had something to do with Sexton’s state, but that turns out not to be the case. Sexton has an advanced stage of Lyme disease, a virus carried by ticks and dangerous to humans. While the disease is treatable, Sexton will miss the entire 2005 football season in recovery. FSU coach Bobby Bowden plans to file with the NCAA to get a sixth year of eligibility for Sexton, so he can finish out his college career on the football field, instead of in a doctor’s office.

Duke Player Accepts invitation To US Tryouts
In college basketball, one player from here in the state accepted an invitation to play for the country. Duke’s Shelden Williams was one of 13 players who accepted invitations to try out for the U.S. team in this year’s World University Games. After the trials, which will go on from July 28th-31st, the team will be put into training camp and then head off to Turkey, where the games will be held starting August the 11th. With only 13 accepting invitations so far, only one will be cut as the team will carry 12 players.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard this weekend, it was Winston Salem beating Kinston 8-3 in ten innings. The Warthogs snapped a three game losing streak as closer Ehren Wassermann got his fourth win of the year. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads broke out with a 5-3 win over the Rome Braves. First baseman Mike Hofius was the hero of the night, coming in to pinch hit before slamming a two run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. That gave Hickory a 5-3 lead that they would never give up.

Bobcats Lock Up Draft Picks
And in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats locked up their draft picks as Raymond Felton and Sean May both came to terms on contracts. Both players are signed for two years guaranteed, with two additional years as a club option. Felton and May will be back on the court this week as they’re part of the Bobcats’ summer league team. They’ll be joined by a former teammate, as Jason Capel has signed on for the summer. Capel, who’s been playing in Europe since graduating from Chapel Hill, is hoping to land a spot on this year’s Bobcat team as a reserve.

NASCAR Scoreboard
For the first time this season, Dale Junior took a seat in victory lane as he won the USG Sheetrock 400. Matt Kenseth came in second, Jimmie Johnson third, Brian Vickers was fourth and last year’s winner Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. The win also helped Junior move back into the playoff hunt, as he stands in 13th now, four back of last playoff spot currently held by Kurt Busch.

News & Sports For July 8th

Wilkes Cleans Up From Cindy
The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy swept through the area yesterday, bringing along severe thunderstorms and a lot of rain. Now in the wake of the storm people are working to clean up the damage. Reports came in throughout the afternoon yesterday of downed trees, power outages and standing water covering the roads in some places. Duke Power crews worked on into the evening hours, to restore power to all of the affected customers, which totaled in the dozens. Rainfall varied from 3 inches reported in the Traphill area to 1 ½ in Boomer. And Wilkes County residents can now brace for yet another storm on the way. Hurricane Dennis has entered the Gulf of Mexico and is heading towards Florida. If it hits Florida in the next two days, as is expected, the remnants of it could follow a similar path to Cindy and end up passing through North Carolina in the early part of next week.

Second Arrest Made In Assault & Robbery Case
Earlier this week, 3WC reported about a break-in that left a Wilkes County man in the hospital. 83-yr-old Dewitt Warren Souther was beaten and robbed Tuesday night at his home. That same day officials arrested 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes and charged him with the crime, noting that he didn’t act alone. Now a second arrest has been made in the case as Haynes’ 21-yr-old girlfriend has also been arrested. Angela Beth Byers was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny.

Missing Girl Found In Charlotte
Some good news today for a local family. As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found Wednesday night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.

Head Start Taking Applications
Applications are now being taken for this year’s Head Start program, a preschool plan designed to help 3 and 4 year old children with their education. The program, which is run by the BROC agency, is currently accepting new students at their three locations here in Wilkes: The Cub Creek Center, the Lomax Center and also the North Wilkesboro Center. To be eligible, children and their families have to meet certain guidelines, mainly concerning the household income. In addition, the program also accepts disabled or special needs children regardless of their family income. When you come in to apply, you must have the child’s birth certificate and also proof of your income for the last year. This year’s program will run from August until May of 2006, 8:30am til 2:30pm Monday through Thursday. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell at the BROC head office. Her number is 667-7174.

Gas Thieves Hit Before Storm
Before the rain hit Wilkes County, yet another local business fell victim to gas thieves. The Rock Creek Run-In on Elkin Highway was the site of the latest incident, as a man pulled up Wednesday night, pumped his gas and told employees he’d be back to pay in fifteen minutes. He then got into his car and drove off, failing to return as promised. A description of both him and his vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies, along with his license plate number. That investigation is ongoing.

Flood Preparation
In the wake of the storms that passed through Wilkes on Thursday, the water is going down and cleanup is beginning. But after the storm is over, there are some things you need to check out. For instance, If your power was out for any extended period of time, the US Department of Agriculture suggests to keep an eye on your food. Supplies can go bad quickly once the power goes out. And if your house suffered any damage from flood waters, any carpets, mattresses or furniture that was soaked needs to be thrown away if possible. The reason being that the longer water sits in one place, you run the risk of mold or bacteria growing, which can lead to health problems. Finally be careful when walking around your house after a flood. Snakes and other creatures tend to look for dry spots to take refuge during a storm and that could include your basement or outbuilding.

Drugs Found At License Checkpoint
Sheriff’s deputies were operating a license checkpoint on Hwy 16 North earlier this week, when a man pulled up with a gun in the seat next to him. There was a temporary tag on the vehicle and no registration. After a few minutes hesitation, the man agreed to let deputies search his car. Inside they found eight grams of marijuana, some drug paraphernalia and a bottle of Xanax. 35-yr-old James Ivan Roland was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cars Vandalized Around Wilkes
Several drivers across the county found their cars vandalized this week. A Roaring River man walked outside his home to find that during the night, someone had smashed the drivers’ side window. No one in the area heard or saw anything during the night, including the homeowner himself. The same thing happened to a North Wilkesboro woman, as she also took a walk outside to find her drivers’ side window smashed. There are suspects and deputies are continuing the investigation into both cases.

Search Warrant Leads To Drug Bust
Acting on a search warrant, sheriff’s deputies went to a residence on Boone Trail this week. After being let in, deputies discovered 32 grams of marijuana, including some that had been stuffed down into the dog’s food. In addition they also found Xanax and Lorcet bottles lying around in the living room. Deputies arrested 41-yr-old William Andrew Johnston and charged him with felony possession of marijuana, along with another charge of drug possession for the pills and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.

Veterans Walk Dedication Tomorrow
Tomorrow afternoon people in Wilkes will gather together to honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony on Saturday at the Wilkes Heritage Museum. For anyone who bought a brick before the May 30th deadline, their 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 North Carolina National Guard Band. Once again that will take place tomorrow July 9th at the Old Wilkes Courthouse. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.

Medicine Stolen From Wilkes Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Absher Road this week, after thieves kicked down the door and had a look around. The homeowner and his wife returned to find their back door had been forced open and several bottles of prescription painkillers had been stolen from the house. Nothing else was taken from the residence and no other damage could be found. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Festival Pays Bills Two Years Later
Over two years after it took place, the Festival of Flight in Fayetteville has finished paying off creditors. Due to a lower turnout than expected, the 2003 festival racked up $263,000 in debt and organizers have spent the past two years trying to raise the money to pay. But an anonymous gift from a member of the festival’s board of directors helped the group put together enough funds to make good on their bills. The 11-day event was originally put together as a celebration of the Wright Brothers and their historic flight.

Cindy Leaves Mark Across Western North Carolina
Across North Carolina, Tropical Depression Cindy left her mark on Thursday. In Alexander, Catawba and Surry Counties, tornadoes knocked down trees and caused damage to homes while in Stokes County, a local school was flooded. Severe rain and wind beat down across the rest of the Piedmont and Catawba County also saw a sinkhole form in the parking lot of a Hickory restaurant. Lightning storms were also reported throughout the day and night in several parts of the state. Official damage estimates haven’t been finished yet but the final bill is expected to be in the millions.

Meth Lab Found And Destroyed In Conover
Police in Conover responded to a domestic disturbance this week, only to discover a meth lab in the process. A woman at the house had called police, wanting to take out assault charges on the two men inside. Police agreed and took her to the magistrate, where warrants were obtained. Once both men were in custody, they began talking about a meth lab being run out of the home by some of their friends who actually live in the home where they were arrested at. Police confirmed the lab’s existence and turned things over to the State Bureau of Investigation, whose agents began destroying it on Wednesday.

Two Men Charged With Shooting At Deputy’s Home
Officials in Catawba County have made two arrests in a case we first reported for you earlier this week. Two deputies with the Catawba County sheriff’s department had come home to find their houses had been shot at over the past week, in addition to one of the men’s patrol cars. Now 21-yr-old James Drew Ballard and 20-yr-old Adam Michael Miller have been arrested and charged with firing a weapon into an occupied property. Both men were arrested late Wednesday night, after investigators received an anonymous tip. The two had a brief struggle with officers, which resulted in them being taken to the hospital afterward for minor injuries. Now both are in jail without explaining why they took shots at the two homes. The two are also being investigated now by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Concerns Raised As Illegals Go To Trial
A federal judge raised concerns on Thursday about the case moving forward against 43 illegal immigrants that were found to be working at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Originally 49 had been arrested, but six were later released. Some of the illegals had been working for a subcontractor of the Department of Defense on the base, doing construction work. Now the judge overseeing the case has said he’s not sure that the workers understand the charges being brought against them and need to have attorneys, which they presently don’t. As a result, he ruled that all proceedings will be slow to guarantee the case is handled in the right way. The illegals got the jobs by using fake social security and green cards, which they obtained after coming across the border. INS officials called the incident a matter of national security, due to the fact that terrorists could easily use the same techniques as the illegals to gain access to the United States.

Thieves Steal From The Red Cross
The Highland chapter of the Red Cross is investigating itself today, after $20,000 was discovered to be missing. Officials believe the money was embezzled by a volunteer, who confessed when confronted. Formal criminal charges are coming as the case has been turned over to Fayetteville police. The organization is requesting both criminal charges be filed and the money repaid in full before any plea deal would be considered. Officials with the organization say that while the incident might hurt donations, they are more than willing to open up their books for any concerned donors.

Sports Headlines

Lawson May Leave Early For The Pros
UNC Tarheel fans might not want to get too attached to Tywon Lawson when he steps onto campus in 2006. During an interview this week, Lawson said that if the NBA hadn’t installed an age limit, he would have considered going straight to the pros. Lawson is currently the nation’s number one high school point guard and said that if the opportunity presents itself, he’ll do what’s best for him. If that means leaving school after one year, he’ll go if an NBA team guarantees him a spot as a lottery pick.

Former Duke Player To Make Professional Debut
A former member of the Duke Blue Devils will make their professional debut this weekend in golf. Brittany Lang, who was the ACC player of the year, left the Duke team after the season ended to pursue her dream of becoming a professional and she’ll get that chance today. Lang is part of the field at the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Coming Classic, which teed off yesterday. She’s also received a sponsor exemption to play in next weekend’s BMO Financial Canadian Women’s Open in Nova Scotia.

Randolph Given Another Chance
Shavlik Randolph has another chance at making it onto an NBA roster. The 6-10 Randolph left Duke after his junior season, only to go unnoticed during last month’s NBA draft. Now the Philadelphia 76ers have extended an offer to come in and work out during the summer. If the team likes his performance, a contract could be waiting. The Sixers’ staff said they liked Randolph’s athleticism and thought he was worth taking a chance on.

NASCAR News
Good news from around the NASCAR circuit today, as fans will be making the trek out to the Lady in Black for another season. Darlington Raceway is safe for 2006 according to track owners, who allowed letters to be sent out this week for ticket renewals for the May 13th Dodge Dealers 500. Over the past few years concerns have been raised as to Darlington’s future, but the “Lady in Black” as the track has come to be known will live for another season. Officials said that the sold out race this past May convinced them to keep the track going at least for a few more years. The full schedule for next season will be released later on this summer.

Atlanta Speedway Damaged
North Carolina wasn’t the only area to fall victim to the remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy. Georgia was also hit hard, especially at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the scoring towers were torn down and the Weaver grandstand was ripped to shreds, in addition to several buildings near the starting line. In addition, the Richard Petty tribute garden was wrecked, with lamp posts and flag poles tossed around the area. Estimated damages were placed at around $35 million however track officials said they would have things up and running by October 30th, when the Nextel Cup comes to town with the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.

News & Sports For July 7th

Breaking News:Missing Girl Found In Charlotte
As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found last night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.

FLOOD WATCH
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING TOLATE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR WILKES COUNTY. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN OVER THE NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND THE SOUTHWESTMOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA DURING THE MORNING HOURS TODAY. PERIODS OFHEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REST OF THEREGION BY LATE AFTERNOON. THE HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THELOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AND ISEXPECTED TO EXIT THE AREA IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING
ON FRIDAY. THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL BE HIGH. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY...WITH THE HEAVIEST ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

Man Assaulted And Robbed At His Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro man’s home on Tuesday, after he was assaulted and left for dead. The man’s son called deputies after walking in to find his father lying on the bed with multiple injuries. The house had also been ransacked and an estimated $2700 worth of material taken, along with the man’s Plymouth Voyager. Authorities were able to track down the thief in Winston Salem, after he used the man’s credit cards. 23-yr-old Justin Haynes was arrested and charged in the assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny. In addition, officials are still searching for others who were also involved. The 83-yr-old victim was taken to the hospital and later transferred to Forsyth Medical Center, where he’s currently recovering. Sheriff’s deputies are asking that anyone with information regarding the case please contact them at 667-8900.

Marijuana Traced And Burned In Ronda
Sheriff’s deputies were tipped off on Monday about some marijuana being grown on Clingman Road in Ronda. After investigating they found 42 plants along the field, across from a nearby park. All the plants were pulled up and destroyed, ranging in size from two to seven inches high. It’s unknown at this time who planted the marijuana but the investigation is ongoing.

Wreck Totals Two And Driver Later Arrested
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Monday night. A Wilkesboro man was driving down the highway when another vehicle attempted to cut in front, pulling out of the local Shell Station. The two cars slammed into each other, with estimated damages placed at $8000. The second driver then jumped out of his car and took off running down the highway, only to be caught by Wilkesboro police later on that night. Carlos Rodriguez-Torres was arrested and charged with DWI and hit & run.

Wilkes Board Of Elections Meets
The Wilkes County Board of Elections held a meeting Wednesday morning to renew their municipal agreement with all the towns in the area. Representatives from each town in Wilkes signs an agreement, allowing the board to help them run elections throughout the year and those documents were renewed during the meeting on Wednesday. In addition, more candidates have put their names in for the election as Manuel Wood submitted to be a candidate for town commissioner of Ronda. So far only five total candidates have put their names in the hat for positions in the county, but as we get closer to the deadline you can expect that to change. The deadline for filing in this year’s election is August 5th at 12 noon. You can also go online to check out who has already entered the races at http://www.wilkescounty.net/. Just scroll down the left side of the page and click on the elections icon.

Games Stolen While Owner Fishes
A Roaring River man called sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday after returning from a fishing trip to find that someone had broke into his trailer. A window had been busted out and the thieves climbed through, stealing the man’s Playstation II game system. However no other damage was done to the property and nothing else was stolen from the home. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Orientation Date Set For West Freshmen
Even though we’re not even halfway through with the month of July, it’s time for some kids to start thinking about the upcoming school year. West Wilkes High School has announced the date for this year’s freshman orientation. That will take place Thursday, August 11th starting at 6pm. The event will last for an hour and will be held in the gym. Parents of the incoming students are also requested to attend. To get more information about the orientation, you can call the school at 973-4503.

Focus On Charity
For every normal ordinary charity out to help people, there are usually three or four just looking to make a quick buck. But how can you tell the difference? There are several ways that fake charities can hook you in a scam, and we'll be discussing them today during Focus on the Foothills. David Dalrymple with the Better Business Bureau will be Brian's guest during the program today. They'll be discussing what makes a charity legit and how you can donate money with confidence, knowing that it won’t be lining someone’s pockets. That’s coming up later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Came In For A Look Around
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on the Damascus Church Road earlier this week after reports came in of a break-in. The home’s back door frame had been broken and someone had been through the house, but didn’t take anything. Nothing was stolen and also nothing else was damaged in the residence. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Stuff The Bus Continuing
The annual Stuff the Bus program is continuing around Wilkes County. Several locations have been set up around the area to take donations. Each year, Communities in Schools attempts to help needy kids around Wilkes, by providing them with the supplies they lack for class. If you want to donate supplies, there are buses at several locations including Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off items 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 in two days on July 1st.

Ran Off With The Generator
A North Wilkesboro couple returned home earlier this week to find that someone had broke into a building on their property. Two rocking chairs had been broken and a generator was missing from the storage area. In addition, the thieves had written obscene phrases on the couples’ trash cans. Just over a hundred dollars worth of damage was done to the property and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Bank Of America To Close Several Carolina Branches
Bad news today for some Bank of America employees, as the company announced plans to shut down 12 branches in North Carolina. Most of the banks affected are in Charlotte, including both stand alone and offices inside other stores. The move was part of a larger shut down of 100 locations across the nation, which company officials say is necessary as they examine their branch network. Mainly any employees affected will possibly just be relocated, as the company is also planning to build 100 new branches across the U.S. later this year. Any customers that would be affected by the move will be receiving a letter in the mail.

Illegal Workers Arrested At Air Force Base
A raid at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base uncovered several dozen illegal immigrants working at the site. On Wednesday, 49 people were arrested at the base in Goldsboro, all charged with violating the nation’s immigration policy. Federal agents said that the group was able to slip through immigration by using counterfeit documents. The group members had access to several sensitive areas at the base. As part of a construction crew, they worked on local homes, the infrastructure of the base itself and possibly some of the security systems. All are currently in an INS office in Cary, awaiting a federal court date.

Raw Sewage Spills In Wilmington
Officials in the Wilmington area have learned that a sewage problem is larger than they expected. Over the July 4th holiday, gallons of raw sewage spilled out into Hewletts Creek after a sewer line ruptured. All fishing & swimming has been banned in an area stretching from Wrightsville Beach to the Intracoastal Waterway near Peden Point and now comes news that cleanup might take longer than expected. Originally officials estimated the spill at one million gallons, but that number has since more than doubled. After examining records and taking samples, it’s now been placed at three million gallons, with officials concerned that the bacteria has merged with the sediment of the local waterways. What that means for locals is that all waterways are off limits until further tests can be done.

Harris Teeter To Buy Some Winn Dixie Stores
Good news today for some Winn Dixie employees, as Harris Teeter announced plans this week to buy nine of the company’s stores in North Carolina. In exchange for $16.75 million, Harris Teeter takes over each store’s lease and bought out the inventory. Overall 326 stores over a four state area are being closed by Winn Dixie if buyers can’t be found, causing a job loss for 22,000 people. In related news, the North Wilkesboro store has yet to receive an official bid, according to company officials.

US Air To Cut Out Pretzels
Still trying to find more ways of saving money, US Airways announced this week that they’ll be cutting back on some of their in flight services. As of September, the airline will no longer give out bags of pretzels to customers during the flight, a plan that will put an extra one million a year into the company’s pocket. Instead hungry passengers can buy a three ounce bag of trail mix for one dollar on domestic flights, while sandwiches are sold now on all flights over 2 ½ hours for at least $5 each. US Airways did say however that free juice and soda will still be served. Company officials said the change was made so that they could compete with lower-priced airlines.

Sports Headlines

Duke Recruiting Class Ranked Number One
It looks like this might be the year of the Blue Devils, if preseason predictions turn out to be right. Scouts from across the nation have come out and said that this year’s recruiting class for Duke is the strongest in the nation, with several players that some analysts believe could have gone in the NBA draft. Power forward Josh McRoberts was rated as the number one player in the nation, with point guard Greg Paulus right behind at number eighteen. Practice begins for the upcoming season on October 15th.

Blue Devil Possibly Pulling Double Duty
A member of the Duke basketball team will be pulling double duty this fall if some staff members have their way. Point guard Greg Paulus was also New York state’s all time passing leader in football when he finished high school this past year, wrapping up his senior season with 11,763 yards to go along with 152 touchdowns. The 6’1 Paulus is hoping to focus on basketball and fight for a starting job, but several members of Duke’s football team are trying to get him to pull double duty. As for Paulus himself, he says he’s just at the university to play basketball.

Tarheels To Face Davidson In Hoops
While a complete schedule hasn’t been announced yet, the UNC Tarheels at least know one of their opponents for next season. Davidson head coach Bob McKillop announced this week that the two schools had agreed to face each other in Chapel Hill on January 3rd 2006. The Heels aren’t the only big name school on the Davidson schedule however, as they have away games set up against Duke on Nov. 19th, Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 26th and UNC Charlotte on Nov. 30th.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor league last night, it was Hickory beating Columbus 6-3. Crawdads first baseman Mike Carlin went four for four at the plate, hitting his tenth home run in the process while starter Julio Guerrero got his seventh win of the season. Guerrero went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. Up the road in Winston, the Warthogs took over first place in their division after a 6-5 win over Potomac. Winston took the lead for good in the eighth inning, driving in three runs while holding off a Potomac attack. Winston reliever Juan Ovalles got his third win of the season, striking out three in two innings of work.

NASCAR News
Around the Nextel Cup circuit, Carl Edwards bounced back and recorded the quickest time of any driver in the first day of testing for next month’s Brickyard 400. Edwards had a speed of 179.165 around the track, beating Jimmy Spencer, Ricky Rudd and Edwards own teammate, Kurt Busch, who finished second.

News & Sports For July 6th

News & Sports For Wednesday July 6th 2005

Teen Missing In Wilkesboro Area
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.

Be Careful Who Has Your Information
A Wilkesboro woman called sheriff’s deputies to her apartment over the holiday, after learning why it’s not such a good idea to hand out keys to just anyone. The woman had just gotten back from a trip to visit her mother and had given out apartment keys to both her boyfriend and her neighbor. Days after she left however, the woman got a phone call saying a party was going on in her apartment and it sounded like things were getting crazy. When the woman returned, she found over $900 worth of items stolen from the place. Also it looked like someone had been living in the apartment. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

News From The Commissioners Meeting
Wilkes County Commissioners held their monthly meeting last night and 3WC’s own Ken Byrd opened up the proceedings, first with the invocation and then with his rendition of “The Ragged Old Flag”. Afterwards, several items were presented to the commissioners. The Animal Control Ordinance, which had been considered but put aside during the last meeting, passed with a unanimous vote. 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. Concerns were once again raised about the preparations for this to take effect, as Wilkes doesn’t yet have any procedures in place. But animal control agreed to work on getting things set up in time for the September deadline when this would take effect. Jody Brady gave the annual forestry service report and listed the three main concerns he planned to target in the next year. Working on maintaining water quality, also replanting trees after lumber companies have been through and dealing with the growing urban population were the three main issues cited.

Always Keep Your Doors Locked
A Wilkesboro man found out why it’s a good idea to keep your car doors locked over the weekend. A small handgun had been stored in the man’s truck, but he hadn’t kept the doors locked, leaving it open for anyone to steal. And that’s apparently what happened as he returned this past weekend to find it missing. Nothing else was taken from inside the truck and no damage was done to the vehicle itself. Wilkesboro police are investigating the case.

Ebenezer To Hold Benefit Tournament
The Ebenezer Christian Childrens Home is gearing up for their annual benefit golf tournament. This year the tournament will be at Oakwoods Country Club on Saturday August 13th. There will be morning and afternoon flights. The format for the tournament is 4-man's captains choice and there will be over $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. Entry fee is $75 per person and if you pay by August 1st you will automatically be eligible for a 3 day- two night vacation. To sign up or for a brochure you may call the Home at 667-5683, that's 667-LOVE.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
With the temperature rising and gas prices following suit, it’s no surprise that some people are trying to get away with not paying at the pump. The Fast Track on Hwy 421 West in Wilkesboro was the latest business to fall victim to the practice, as a man pulled up in a Jeep Cherokee and started filling up. After he was done, the man got into his vehicle and took off down the road. Employees inside the building were able to get a description of both the man and his car, along with the vehicle’s license plate number. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Vandals Break Into Former School
Wilkesboro police were called out to the former Woodward Middle School on Monday, after a burglar alarm on the building was triggered. A window on the property’s north side had been shattered and a nearby door was propped open with a rock. When deputies investigated, they found several teenagers around the building, who swore they didn’t go inside or have anything to do with the vandalism. Deputies also found a BB gun hidden in the grass near the school. Total damage done was estimated at $200. Names of the boys were taken and the investigation continues.

Wilkes To Honor Veterans This Saturday
This coming Saturday people in Wilkes will gather together in honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony this coming Saturday July 9th at the 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. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.

Focus On Charitable Donations
It seems like not a day goes by that we don’t hear from some new charity, asking for a donation. But how can you tell the good charities from the scams? And also how do all these charities get your information to call or send you something in the mail? David Dalrymple with the Better Business Buraey will be Brian's guest during Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be talking about some of the ‘warning signs’ you can look for and how you can tell a fake charity from one who’s actually trying to help the community. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Guns Stolen From Millers Creek Home
A Millers Creek man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find the doors to his house standing wide open. Also someone had opened the windows in the residence, before walking out with two of the man’s guns. Both guns, a 16 gauge single shot and a .22 caliber rifle had been stored inside. Despite the theft, there was no sign of a break-in and also nothing else taken from the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

4th Of July Leads To Charlotte Riot
Two days later police in Charlotte are still trying to sort out what happened during a celebration Monday night in the city. Officers were called in from across the county as chaos and a near riot broke out among some 2000 who were gathered to watch the fireworks. The incident happened after the show ended, as the people made their way out of the intersection between Trade and Tryon Street. Someone then tossed fireworks into the crowd, causing a panic that saw traffic blocked and dumpsters tossed into the street. These same unidentified people also tossed firecrackers at police as the chaos continued. No one was injured as almost 20 people were arrested in the wake of the panic. It took officials until 1am to get things back under control.

Flooding In Caldwell Leads To Repair Work
The holiday didn’t turn out so well for people in Caldwell County, as work crews are still cleaning up from this weekend’s storms. Roads along Highway 90 were flooded on Sunday night and the DOT still cleaning up in the storm’s wake. At one campground in the area, people got a surprise as a wall of water tore through the area, coming down off the mountain. Fifty campers had to be evacuated from the area and some were left behind, stranded on a bridge. Thankfully however the water subsided and no one was hurt. Still trees, limbs and water damage from the storm present DOT workers with a pretty heavy workload for the rest of the week.

Kernersville Park Gets Attention
As we celebrate America’s independence this week, one park in Kernersville is gathering national attention, but not due to any events being held there. Fourth of July Park is becoming noticed due to its’ unique name, given out almost 20 years ago when city officials took the area used for firework celebrations and turned it into a park. Now the park has also been renovated after the local Parks and Recreation Department spent a million dollars on repairs, making the area open to the public seven days a week.

Highway Patrol Cracks Down
Over 3700 citations were issued by Highway Patrol officers over the holiday weekend, according to officials on Tuesday. 700 tickets were issued for exceeding speeds of 75 mph in the five counties officers had designated as the deadliest last week. That included Johnston County, Robeson, Wake, Iredell and Cumberland. Overall speeding was the number one violation over the holiday but officers also handed out 735 equipment violations including 466 for not wearing a seatbelt.

Arsonist Burns Boy Scout Home
An Alamance County building that has served as a home for boy scouts over the past few decades is in ruins today after someone tried to burn it to the ground. During the holiday, someone set fire to a group of canoes outside the Alamance County troop’s building and the fire quickly spread to the structure itself. As the town had recently withdrawn fire insurance on the building, it’s up to the members to raise more than $30,000 to rebuild it. Law enforcement in the area are still investigating the case but so far there haven’t been any arrests. The troop is however accepting donations and you can send something to Boy Scout Troop 65, Kennette Drive, Graham North Carolina 27253.

Sports Headlines

Fastpitch Baseball Camp Coming Up
For any kids 13 and under who want to develop their baseball skills, a camp will be going on starting July 9th at the West Wilkes Middle School. There are only a few slots left for the camp, as you have to pre-register. Camp instructors will teach players how to work on their defensive skills, like how to field balls, hit their cut off man and turn a double play, while also working on their hitting technique and baserunning. Registration is $15 and to sign up, you can call Coach Summer Vogel at 927-3870 or send an email to CoachV@tristatebreakers.com

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Hickory falling to Columbus 12-6. Crawdad reliever Dustin Craig got the loss, giving up five earned runs in less than an inning of work. It was a different story up the road in Winston however, as the Warthogs beat Kinston 8-7, wrapping up a three game sweep of the Indians. Rafael Flores got his third win of the season, giving up one run in two innings of relief. Ehren Wassermann locked up his 18th save of the year.

American Legion Action
And news today from around the American Legion fields, as one team was disqualified from competition. Hours before their game with Shelby was supposed to start, the Huntersville team was disqualified after only eight players showed up for the game. Lacking enough players, the team saw their post season come to an end without even playing one game. Burke County took Huntersville’s place, just a few days after being eliminated by Hickory in a play-in game.

Chris Paul Signs Contract
In the NBA, rookie Chris Paul officially joined the league yesterday, signing a contract with the New Orleans Hornets. Paul’s deal was for three years, with options for two more on the table. While terms were not discussed, it’s believed he’ll be making $10 million in the first three years, a number that could double if the options are picked up. Paul will now head to Las Vegas, where he’ll be starting for the Hornets’ summer league squad, playing five games over the next week.

NASCAR News
Carl Edwards will have a decision to make at the end of this year, if he wants to run in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series next season. This year pulling double duty has had some mixed results for Edwards, who currently sits in fourth place in the Busch standings. But after a string of wins and top five finishes in the Nextel Cup, he’s slipped to 12th place having come up short the past two weeks. Edwards finished 38th at Sonoma and then 33rd at Daytona last week. Also with possible rule changes coming that would penalize drivers for running both circuits, a decision on Edwards’ future will have to be made before the season starts up in February.

News & Sports For July 5th

Teen Missing In Wilkesboro Area
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.

Jobless Rate Stayed Constant In May
The latest employment figures were released over the weekend and Wilkes stayed constant during the month of May. The county’s jobless rate of 5.6% remained the same, according to the state employment security commission. That’s still fairly ahead of the statewide average, which has fallen to 5.1%.

Stolen Check Turns Up In Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro police are investigating how a stolen check managed to turn up in the area over the weekend. A check was turned in to officers from the Run-In on Oakwoods Road, after it turned out to have been stolen back in June. The check had been taken from a car in Hickory, but made it’s way into Wilkes, where it was used over the weekend. There is a suspect in the case, as a Granite Falls teenager signed her name to the check, despite it not being her account. The investigation is ongoing.

Be Careful Where You Leave Your Car
Be careful where you leave your car. A Wilkesboro man learned why that’s important over the weekend after returning to find it had been decorated in his absence. The man had parked his car in front of his apartment before leaving for a concert with friends. When he got back, he found that some type of substance had been poured all over it, smeared on the top and middle of the car’s hood. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

Blood Supply Drained With Drive Tomorrow
Heading into the first week of July, Wilkes County is facing a blood shortage, with almost all types in less than a day’s supply. Especially needed are Type O and Type B, which are in critical condition. Over the next two weeks there will be several blood drives going on around the county. To set up an appointment for one or to volunteer, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Items Stolen From Britthaven Nursing Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Britthaven Nursing Home over the weekend after an air conditioner was stolen from one of the residents. There are no suspects and no signs of a break-in, but one of the air conditioners was just missing from the window. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Money Stolen From Traphill Home
A Traphill woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after discovering that someone had stolen some money from her home. There were no signs of a break-in and nothing else taken from the residence, except for $15 worth of quarters taken from the woman’s bedroom. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Workshop Coming Up Next Week On Alzheimer’s
When you hear the word Alzheimers, what do you think of? How can you tell if someone is suffering from the disease? What are the signs to look for? Next week Villages of Wilkes is helping to sponsor a workshop on the disease, where family members can learn all the information they need to help prepare. That workshop will take place at 7pm on July 14th, at the Peace Haven Baptist Church Family Life Center. For more information you can call Donna Shumate at Villages of Wilkes. Her number is 667-2020.

Local Woman Falls Victim To Fraud
A Wilkesboro woman called police over the weekend after falling victim to credit card fraud. She discovered the problem after her card was rejected for being over the limit. Having not used it in a while, the woman accessed her account and found that just over $400 had been spent on it in the past week. There is a suspect in the case and officers are continuing the investigation.

Tag Stolen From Purlear Woman’s Car
A Purlear woman noticed something strange when she returned home from a trip to the store over the weekend. Her license plate was missing, The woman had just bought the vehicle and a temporary tag had been placed on the car, which had been in place when she left for town earlier in the day. Returning home, she saw that the tag had been ripped off while she was in the store. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Home Of Deputies Shot At
Officials in Catawba County are investigating today after the homes of two sheriff’s deputies were shot at. The incidents happened over the weekend, while the deputies were away. Deputy Brian Kelly came out Sunday morning to find the holes, most likely caused by a shotgun, all over his property. Neighbors later told officials that they thought the sounds were simply fireworks being shot off. Two windows were shattered at the man’s house and holes covered the siding along the front side of the home. Just up the road in Conover, shots were fired at another deputy’s home, as well as his patrol car. Bullets tore into the man’s front porch and three hit the patrol car. The SBI has taken over the case and officials say there are suspects.

Alligator Attacks Swimmer In Wilmington
It’s always a good idea to read the signs before going swimming. A man in Wilmington learned that lesson the hard way this weekend, after being attacked by a 10-ft alligator. The 40-yr-old had decided to go swimming in Greenfield Lake, despite signs posted in the area that say not to get in the water due to alligators inside. He ignored repeated cries from people nearby and within minutes one of the local alligators clamped down on his right arm. After the gator let go, locals managed to drag the man to shore, after which he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Jobs Leaving Guilford County
The 4th of July didn’t bring good news for people in Guilford County, as 70 people were informed over the weekend that they’ll be losing their jobs this year. DaimlerChrysler Commericial Buses announced plans to close down production of the SLF model and with the change also comes some layoffs. Employees at the company’s Guilford County plant were told that 70 of them would be let go over the next few months, with the cuts mainly coming in manufacturing and administration. All affected employees will be informed of the move later this week.

Former Green Beret Sued By NC Man
A U.S. soldier currently in an Afghan prison now finds himself facing a lawsuit from a North Carolina man. Green Beret Jonathan Idema is serving a five year term in Afghanistan after being found guilty of abusing prisoners at a makeshift prison. Now he’s being sued by a NC man who claims the soldier owes him part of a $650,000 settlement. Idema had received the money after winning a lawsuit against his property managers, who had sold equipment from a business he owned while Idema was in a U.S. jail back in the 1990s. Bill Hagler said he helped Idema win the suit, but never received payment.

Weekend Rains Cause Evacuations
Rains that poured over North Carolina this weekend caused the evacuation of an assisted living center in Kannapolis. Sunday night 60 residents and employees from the Kannapolis Village Assisted Living Center were moved out, after high water threatened to flood the area. Later on that night, the Cabarrus County Water Rescue Team was called out to retrieve people from a nearby mobile home park, who had been trapped by the high water. All total the Rescue Team managed to retrieve 73 people from the area

Man Burns House And Tries To Shoot Firefighters
Firefighters in Rowan County found themselves under attack this weekend after responding to a call in the Gold Hill community. A 57-yr-old man had set his house on fire and started shooting at firemen as they tried to put it out. Jimmy Handley held off officials for almost two hours, holding a gun and watching as the house burned down. He refused to talk to officials or allow the fire to be put out. Instead after the house had burned down, he took the gun and shot himself. No one else was hurt in the incident. Handley has been identified as a war veteran and it’s believed he was suffering from some type of post traumatic stress disorder.

Sports Headlines

High School Guard Commits To Deacons
Wake Forest landed another recruit for the 2006 basketball season, as a point guard from Central Cabarrus signed on with the Deacons. Ishmael Smith, a 5-11 guard that some say could be better than Chris Paul, turned down offers from South Carolina and Clemson to commit to Wake. During his junior season, Ishmael averaged 25 points and 10 assists for Central Cabarrus and will look to add his skills to the Deacons’ up tempo attack.

Wake Suspends Two Football Players
While the news is good on the basketball court, Wake Forest also announced this weekend that two starters from their football team have been suspended for the first game of the season. Running back Chris Barclay and cornerback Riley Swanson were suspended from all team activities after violating athletics department policy, although it wasn’t explained what exactly they did. Both players will now miss the first game against Vanderbuilt, along with the first week of practice. Wake opens up their football season on September 1st.

Possible Front Runner For Olympic Coaching Job
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski tossed his hat into the ring, to be considered as the coach for the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team. While Coach K said he hasn’t been asked yet, he called the position a great honor and one he would love to have. US team director Jerry Colangelo said that Krzyzewski was one of 12 candidates that were being considered and a decision would be announced in the next few months.

Minor League Scoreboard
In Hickory last night, the Crawdads pulled out the 3-2 win against Columbus in front of a season high crowd of 5134. Hickory starter Kyle Pearson went 5 1/3, giving up two runs on four hits. Derek Drage got the win after shutting out Columbus over 3 and 2/3 innings of relief. Up the road in Winston, it was the Warthogs beating Kinston 9-5. Warthogs’ starter Gio Gonzalez got his first win of the year, striking out six in five innings of work.

Durham Bulls Get Callup
Up the road in Durham, two members of the minor league Bulls saw a dream come true this weekend, as they got called up to the majors. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up outfielder Joey Gathright and left handed pitcher Joe Beimel, looking to plug holes in their team. The team is hoping Gathright will add some pop to the lineup, as he was batting .305 for the Bulls, while Beimel will be plugged into the bullpen, after posting a 4.06 ERA in Triple A.

News & Sports For June 30th

News & Sports For Thursday June 30th 2005

Focus On Love Packages
How many Bibles are lying around your house, stacked up in a bookshelf or on a table? What about used devotionals from like several months ago, the ones you just haven’t had time to cart off to the dump? Well there is an organization that can use those old Bibles and devotionals to help spread the gospel. Love Packages, out of Illinois takes those materials and gives them out to people in other countries who don't normally have access to the gospel message. Today the organization's founder, Steve Schmitt will be Brian's guest for Focus on the Foothills. And you can hear that program later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Wilkes Residents Fall Victim To Fraud
Two more residents of Wilkes County have fallen victim to fraud over the last week. One woman called Wilkesboro police earlier this week after discovering that someone had been using her check card. Over the past month, the card has been used eight times in places that she had never been. But this wasn’t a case of theft, as the woman still had the card in her possession. Just up the road in Purlear, a woman called sheriff’s deputies after discovering that someone had charged items on her credit card 15 times in the past day. She went to get the card, only to find it missing, Apparently sometime during the last week, she misplaced the card and it got into someone else’s hands, who ran up charges until the card was maxed out. There are however suspects in the case and both investigations are continuing.

Gas Pump Damaged At Local Store
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Fosters’ Grocery in Ronda this week, after someone damaged one of the fuel pumps at the store. An estimated $100 worth of damage was done, as witnesses said the driver pulled up, backed into the pumps and then drove away. Witnesses also said that the man was armed, as a small pistol could be seen in the vehicle as he drove off. No serious damage was done to the gas pumps and descriptions of both the man and his vehicle were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Deadline Today For Crop Reports
Today is the deadline for all local farmers to turn in their crop reports. Reports have to be turned in to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency, by explaining where your plot of land is and what was planted on it this season. The reasoning behind the deadline is to protect local farmers in case of a hurricane or other disaster, so that your information will already be on file in case you qualify for federal aid. One other thing to consider is that if farmers fail to turn in their reports, the agency will charge a late fee. For anyone who still needs to get that taken care of, you can call to set up an appointment at 838-3622.

Break-in With No Evidence
How do you break into a house without leaving behind any evidence? That’s what a homeowner in Moravian Falls is asking today, after returning to find over $5000 worth of materials missing. There was no sign of a break-in, no doors unlocked and virtually no way a thief could have got inside. Still, somehow a person did come in and took $4000 in cash, a watch, a laptop computer and also a ring from the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Fly-In This Saturday
A special event will be taking place this coming Saturday at the Wilkes County Airport. The 14th annual Fly-in will be held, with classic planes, cars and fire trucks on display. The event, put on by the Mountain View Ruitan Club, will go on from 9am til 3pm with plane rides and games for any kids who want to come out. In addition, the Carolina Historic Aviation Museum will have displays on hand. Once again all of that starts at 9am Saturday morning at the Wilkes Airport.

Renters Take Everything But The Walls
A Pineville man called sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday after discovering that a house he had rented out was almost completely bare of everything. The renter had recently settled his bill and left almost a week ago, but the man hadn’t had a chance until now to check the home out. The carpet had been ripped up and taken from most of the place, also the cookstove, several screens, a piano and other items as well. All total an estimated $9195 worth of merchandise was stolen from the home and just over a thousand dollars worth of damage. The name of the renter along with the place he worked was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

Man Arrested At Traffic Checkpoint
Sheriff’s deputies were performing a traffic check at the intersection of Old 16 and Vannoy Road on Tuesday when they saw a car speed up and then come to a dead stop. The driver just sat in his car, some 200 feet from the checkpoint, refusing to move. After deputies requested him to pull up he refused but instead drove the car onto the shoulder of the road and then stopped again. The vehicle had no registration plates and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside. After the driver failed a sobriety test, deputies arrested 59-yr-old Albert Ray Barker and charged him with DWI and not having registration for his car.

State News

Ten Commandments Raise Questions In NC
Questions are being raised in Nash County tonight, after the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this week. The local courthouse in Nash has a copy of the Ten Commandments on display, one that’s stood inside for almost 100 years. Now local officials are wondering if they’ll be ordered to remove it. The display has already come under fire once, as it was covered during a recent murder trial. The defendant’s lawyers had argued that it was unconstitutional to have the words “thou shall not kill” over the jury box while they were debating the man’s guilt. County officials said they had no plans to remove the Commandments unless forced to, but the county attorney is still taking a look at the Supreme Court ruling, to make sure they’re not guilty of a potential violation.

Durham Man Arrested After Signing His Name
Durham police arrested a man on Monday in a case of identity theft after he signed his own name to a credit card purchase. The man had stolen a card three months ago from another person in the Raleigh area, using it all this time to run up over 33 purchases. The man was finally discovered after he used the card to get a room at a Durham hotel, signing his own name on the receipt. As it was different from the one on the card, a red flag was put up and police were notified. 29-yr-old Henrick Kutwa is facing 33 counts of financial identity fraud.

Easley Signs New Bill Into Law
Gov. Easley signed a bill this week that gives law enforcement officers more powers in the hunt for pedophiles on the Internet. The Child Exploitation Prevention Act makes it a felony crime to solicit anyone over the internet who is identifying themselves as a child. The bill also allows the SBI to investigate the technology and methods used by pedophiles to develop patterns of behavior that could be used to track them down. Before this bill went into effect, anyone caught online could only be charged with a misdemeanor.

Police Asking For Help In Search
Police in the Charlotte area are asking for people across North Carolina to help in the search for a man missing since Monday night. The man, Cordelro Renrecko Peoples disappeared around 8:30pm on Monday and hasn’t returned. His family is concerned not just for his disappearance but also because Peoples has a kidney problem that requires medicine. Medicine still sitting at his home on Beacon Hill Lane. The man is described as being 5’1 ft. and weighing 95 lbs., with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information about Cordelro Peoples is asked to call 911.

Raleigh Police Fired After Investigation
Two Raleigh policemen have been fired today after an investigation that found they had violated department procedure. Two other members of the department have resigned and two have been suspended. The officers involved told internal affairs that they routinely ignored calls, doctoring computer reporting and lying to others when asked if they had responded. So far, all the calls ignored have been minor occurrences, such as reports of trees lying in the road or complaints of loud music. The officers blamed their actions on the fact they were overworked and had to pick and choose which calls to answer. The department released a statement saying they had been tipped off by other officers and took the appropriate steps.

Sports Headlines

Fastpitch Baseball Camp Coming Up
For any kids 13 and under who want to develop their baseball skills, a camp will be going on starting July 9th at the West Wilkes Middle School. There are only a few slots left for the camp, as you have to pre-register. Camp instructors will teach players how to work on their defensive skills, like how to field balls, hit their cut off man and turn a double play, while also working on their hitting technique and baserunning. Registration is $15 and to sign up, you can call Coach Summer Vogel at 927-3870 or send an email to CoachV@tristatebreakers.com

Last Day To Sign Up For Volleyball
The deadline is today for anyone who wants to join the local volleyball league, as a second round of tournaments start in July. It’s open for anyone to take part, from middle school students all the way up to adults in separate 3 on 3 divisions.
There is a fee to register, as it costs $30 to sign up your team to play. Once again today is the last day to sign up for July’s tournament and to do that you can either call 957-7363 or shoot an email to holloways@wilkes.k12.nc.us

American Legion Notes
Some news and notes from around the local American Legion fields. With their win over Wilkes on Tuesday, Rowan County not only advanced to the second round, but also walked away with home field advantage. And one other team moved on to the second round, as Stanly County beat Mooresville 11-0, taking the series three games to one.

ACC-Big Ten Schedule Released
And for anyone who’s counting down the days until college basketball returns, the schedule has been released for this fall’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The event starts Nov. 28th as Virginia Tech and Ohio State match up, then one day later five games are up on the schedule, including a rematch of this year’s NCAA championship. Illinois and North Carolina will battle it out Nov. 29th, along with Wake Forest & Wisconsin, Clemson at Penn State, Purdue at Florida State and Miami, who takes on Michigan. The challenge wraps up on Nov. 30th, with Duke going against Indiana, Northwestern taking on Virginia, Maryland against Minnesota and NC State facing off against Iowa.

NASCAR News & Notes
In Nascar, a major sponsor has signed on for the fall race in Charlotte. Starting next season, the race at Lowes Motor Speedway will be known as the Bank of America 500, a title which is going to stick around for at least the next five years. And in other NASCAR news, Brian France spoke out this week during a teleconference about the diversity we’ll be seeing within NASCAR in the next few seasons. France said that doors were being opened, especially with Indy Racing rookie Danica Patrick doing so well in her first season on the track. He hinted that there could be an influx of Hispanic, African-American and female drivers making their way onto the track in the next few years.