Severe Storm and Tornadoes in Wilkes

Severe storms and a tornado passed through Wilkes yesterday evening. Woodfield Apartments in Wilkesboro were damaged. The BP and IGA on Hwy 18 were damaged.  Houses were damaged near downtown Wilkesboro. There were Facebook pictures of a funnel cloud on Hwy 18 near Tyson. A tornado reportedly touched down in Ronda and Roaring River.  Trees and power lines were down all over Wilkes last night and today. Storms also caused damages in Elkin and Surry County. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in NC

As indicated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was detected in a dairy herd in North Carolina. HPAI was previously detected in 6 other states. The North Carolina Department of Health and The NC Department of Agriculture believe the overall risk to the general public remains low. There are no concerns with the safety of the commercial milk supply at this time because products are pasteurized before entering the market. People should not consume or prepare food with raw or unpasteurized milk. Updated information and guidance is available from the CDC and the FDA.  

Funny Money Investigation

On Tuesday, North Wilkesboro Police Sergeant Adam Whitley responded to the Dollar General on Statesville Road in reference to counterfeit currency. The manager reported that Monday evening a female passed $200 in counterfeit cash in the store. Also, The Salvation Army store on Wilkesboro Ave reported receiving a counterfeit $20 bill Monday evening. It’s unclear if the same person is passing the fake cash, but the suspect from the Dollar General was a female, slim build with straight black hair. Anyone with information can call North Wilkesboro PD, (336) 838-3158

Stolen UHauls in Thurmond

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office was called this week regarding the larceny of UHaul trailers. The owner of FootHills Grocery off Hwy 21 in Thurmond reports that three U-Haul trailers were stolen from her store parking lot. The first trailer is an open auto transport trailer, the second is a 5x8 enclosed trailer, and the third is a 6x12 enclosed trailer All three are U-Haul trailers and are valued over $17,000. The theft happened during the past week, but there is no word on suspects at this time.

Outdoor Spring CleanUp Rescheduled

They had scheduled some outdoor spring cleaning, but the weather this week will prevent that for now. The North Wilkesboro Downtown Cleanup Day, scheduled for today, Friday, April 12th, will be rescheduled due to high winds and the ground being too wet to drive trucks without damaging the grass. The Town of North Wilkesboro stated that they be rescheduling the cleanup day. 

Foxx On Her Bill for Workforce

Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a statement after the House passed her bill, the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act, that expands the skills development, strengthens the relationship between employers and the workforce system, and puts more Americans on the pathway to successful careers. Foxx said: “This legislation will bolster the efficiency of the workforce system by dedicating 50 percent of funding to upskilling workers…By elevating skills development, this bill will deliver more opportunities for Americans to prepare for good-paying jobs.”

Burglary in Progress

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office responded to another burglary in progress on Lobo Drive in Wilkesboro.  One female was at home at the time of the burglary, and two windows were broken out. The 25-year-old white male suspect was arrested and charged with breaking and entering to terrorize, damage to property and communicating threats.

NC Is 10th Worst

As North Carolina recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, our state ranked as the 10th worst state in the nation in infant mortality in 2021, and about one in six children is facing hunger. Additionally, thousands of children in North Carolina spend months or years in the foster care system. North Carolina is also in the middle of a child care crisis. Last year, 278 child care facilities closed in North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services this week released an update to its Early Childhood Action Plan to address key actions the department is taking to improve early childhood development in North Carolina. 

IRS, Taxes, and ID Theft

Several reports have been made to the Wilkes Sheriff’s Office regarding ID Theft associated with tax returns, and people discovering someone has filed for a tax refund in their name. If your e-filed return is rejected because of a duplicate filing under your Social Security number, or if the IRS instructs you to do so, complete Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, attach it to the back of your completed paper tax return and mail to the IRS location in your state. If you prefer, you have the option to submit the Form 14039 online and mail your paper return separately. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps you should take right away to protect yourself and your financial accounts.

Stolen from Fire Dept

A local fire department contacted the Wilkes Sheriff’s Office concerning a theft. A metal wire wagon valued at $150 was stolen from the Millers Creek Fire Department. No  suspects were listed with that report. The theft was discovered Monday and the investigation is ongoing.