Missing Man Found Dead in Wilkes

After a man was reported missing earlier this month, the SBI were called to assist in the investigation. The missing man’s cell phone pinged near Mountain Valley Church Road, so investigators walked through that area when they saw a wrecked vehicle down an embankment. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, troopers responded Friday to a collision on West Mountain Valley Church Road in North Wilkesboro. The missing man, 58-year-old Roger David Harris, was heading west in a Nissan pickup when it ran off the road to the left, traveled down an embankment and struck a tree. Troopers said Harris died at the scene. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Harris had been reported missing on Friday, September 4.

local thefts

Wilkesboro Police are investigating some local thefts. One property owner reported that he accidently left his cell phone on a bench at the pickle ball courts at Cub Creek. When he returned to get it, the phone was gone. In the second incident, a local store on Oakwoods Road reported a white male entered the store and stole several items. Both investigations are ongoing.

recipients of the Adrienne Louise Necessary Scholarship

Wilkes Community College has named Isaac Curry and Zara Absher as recipients of the Adrienne Louise Necessary Scholarship. The scholarship supports Wilkes County students pursuing a career in nursing. Established at WCC in 2008 by the J.F. Cook Family, the Adrienne Louise Necessary Scholarship honors the life and legacy of Adrienne Necessary, a graduate of WCC who worked at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.

arrested former Aberdeen Police Lieutenant

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has arrested former Aberdeen Police Lieutenant Leigh Ann Brooks. In December, the Aberdeen Police Chief asked the SBI to initiate an investigation of sexual assault. As a result, Brooks has now been charged with multiple counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child and Statutory Rape. This week, former officer was taken into custody by the SBI and transported to the Hoke County Detention Center

Bennett Place State Historic Site

Bennett Place State Historic Site will host a luminary program dedicated to the stories of enslaved people on Friday, Sept. 18. This program commemorates the 331,059 who were enslaved in North Carolina and freed after the Civil War. Once the home of James and Nancy Bennett, this 189-acre farm in the North Carolina Piedmont became the location of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War. Bennett Place is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within North Carolina.

Today, Sept. 11

Today, Sept. 11, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team welcome emergency services personnel and guests for remembrance and prayer at the Billy Graham Library on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Will Graham, son of Franklin Graham, will offer a message of hope. Just as his grandfather, Billy Graham, did at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance at the National Cathedral in the days following the terrorist attacks, Will Graham will call for prayer for first responders, government leaders, our nation, and for a spiritual awakening in our country.

Wilkes County Schools thanks North Carolina Senator Eddie Settle

Wilkes County Schools thanks North Carolina Senator Eddie Settle for his commitment and support of the local school system. Senator Settle presented Wilkes high school principals with funding totaling $40,000 to provide support for high school band programs. Also, Wilkes County Schools thanks the N.C. Department of Transportation crews who have started a project to improve the traffic pattern at Ronda-Clingman Elementary School in Wilkes County. The project involves adding room for additional vehicle storage and improving traffic flow for personal vehicles and school buses alike. The N.C. Board of Transportation voted in June and July to allocate $750,000 for the project.

Wilkes Art Gallery Grassroots Arts Program received $48,421

The North Carolina Arts Council announced 10.9 million dollars in grant awards for fiscal year 2026-27 including for Wilkes, Surry, and Yadkin counties. A total of 340 grants will support nonprofit arts organizations, schools, after-school programs, municipalities, and artists in all 100 counties. Grant amounts range from $2,000-$354,000. The Wilkes Art Gallery Grassroots Arts Program received $48,421. Surry Arts Council received a total of $59,500 plus $14,000 to the Foothills Arts Council in Surry. Yadkin Arts Council received two grants totaling $41,500.

charged a former Wrightsville Beach Police Department officer

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged a former Wrightsville Beach Police Department officer with misuse of an Automated License Plate Reader system. A New Hanover County grand jury indicted former officer Tonya Baker on one count of misuse of an Automated License Plate Reader system. She was arrested this week and the SBI's investigation is ongoing. 

North Carolina Aquariums celebrated their official 50th anniversary

This week, the North Carolina Aquariums celebrated their official 50th anniversary. Gov. Josh Stein recognized the milestone with a proclamation honoring the NC Aquariums’ 50 years of contributions to education, conservation, research, tourism, and communities across the state. Established Sept. 9, 1976, as three Marine Resources Centers at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores, and Roanoke Island, the NC Aquariums have grown into a statewide system that welcomes more than one million visitors each year.