Wilkes County Commissioners’ meeting will be in a different location

Today’s Wilkes County Commissioners’ meeting will be in a different location. The Wilkes County Commissioners will meet Tuesday, October 20 at the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department Training Room, at 381 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro. A time of Public Concerns and Commissioners’ comments will begin at 5pm, followed immediately by the regular meeting. Then the Town of Wilkesboro has called a special meeting of the Wilkesboro Town Council for Wednesday at 9am at the Wilkesboro Town Hall to have a zoning ordinance review.

nine grant requests for local governments, including one in Elkin

North Carolina's Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved nine grant requests for local governments totaling $2,236,000, including one in Elkin. The grants include commitments to create 219 jobs. As a result of these grants, the additional private investment is expected to exceed $504 million. The Town of Elkin in Surry County is getting a $100,000 grant to improve pedestrian connectivity and ADA accessibility for the Elkin Public Library. The project will add 260 feet of sidewalks on Front Street, repair existing sidewalks, and restore a historic stone retaining wall. The grant is expected to leverage an additional private investment of $8,053 in Elkin.  

scam involving someone claiming to be with the sheriff’s office

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating a scam involving someone claiming to be with the sheriff’s office and stealing thousands of dollars. According to the report, a 79-year-old North Wilkesboro resident was scammed out of $10,000 by someone claiming to be a captain with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office. There is no word on the true identity of the suspect.

asking for the public’s help in a 2007 missing person case

The SBI is asking for the public’s help in a 2007 missing person case from Vance County. Leslie Joe Grissom, a white female, was last seen on July 8, 2007. She was 19 years old at that time. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office requested the SBI to assist with the case in June of last year. If you know anything about Leslie’s disappearance or where she may be, please contact the SBI or the Vance County Sheriff’s Office 

S-Line Raleigh to Richmond Innovating Rail Program

Governor Josh Stein and Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson joined the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in Raleigh to announce $550 million in Federal-State Partnership funding to advance the S-Line Raleigh to Richmond Innovating Rail Program, a project that will reduce Raleigh-to-Richmond Virginia travel times by an hour. NC By Train continues to see strong ridership growth, serving hundreds of thousands of passengers annually and connecting North Carolina’s major cities and destinations with safe, reliable service.  

Grant Funds for Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced that the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees has awarded $28 million in grants for projects that will protect North Carolina’s land and water from the mountains to the coast. The funds from these grants will protect 10,000 acres, most of which will eventually be open to the public for hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, birding, and other recreational uses. $22 million in grants will go to rural and economically distressed counties. Locally, Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District - Painter Lane - Mulberry Creek will receive a $274,364 grant.

Different Location for County Commissioners' Meeting and Public Concerns

Tomorrow’s Wilkes County Commissioners’ meeting will be in a different location. The Wilkes County Commissioners will meet Tuesday, October 20 at the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department Training Room, at 381 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro. A time of Public Concerns and Commissioners’ comments will begin at 5pm, followed immediately by the regular meeting.

2026 Hometown Hero Award

According to the North Wilkesboro Police Department, the 2026 Hometown Hero Award goes to Sergeant Rocky Whitley, presented by McNeill Chevrolet. North Wilkesboro Police expressed their thanks to David McNeill, NC Auto Dealers Association, and all of the great sponsors of this event. Recently, some North Wilkesboro Officers took time to do routine maintenance and facility upkeep on their historical police headquarters and surrounding grounds. North Wilkesboro Police are also joining with Wilkesboro Police and others on the Fish 4 Fun for Kids Saturday, October 24^th at Wilkes Community College pond.

Early Voting continues through 3pm on Saturday, October 31

Early Voting began last week and continues through 3pm on Saturday, October 31. Election Day is Nov. 3 for the general election. The last day to request an absentee ballot is tomorrow, October 20^th. Also, Election Day is the last day to return absentee ballots is 730pm on November 3. For more voter information locally, contact the Wilkes County or Surry County Board of Elections. Or, you can get information online through the NC Board of Elections.

fall respiratory illness season vaccinations

On Friday, the NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and additional NC Health Dept leadership staff got their fall respiratory illness season vaccinations at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Last week, NC Dept of Health announced the first flu-related death of the 2026-2027 season. State health officials are encouraging people to now protect themselves and their families from flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations are available at pharmacies, private medical offices, some federally qualified health care centers and local health departments.