The local and regional news page of 12403wc Hometown Christian Radio.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Foxx: Dems Ask for Bipartisanship, But Cut Down Competing Plans

Listen carefully when you hear calls for bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. The loudest cries right now are coming from Democrats, who have lost their ability to ram their agenda through Congress largely without debate. The call Republicans the "party of no." According to Fifth-District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, the fact is that the Democrat leadership -- particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- shut down or sharply limit the chance for anyone to offer alternative solutions:






Foxx' comments came during an appearance on 3WC's Focus on the Foothills last week. We'll have additional excerpts in upcoming newscasts.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:44 AM

Candidates Beeline Filing Office Monday

Day one of candidate filing season, and there was a line yesterday morning at the Board of elections office. Among the first in line: Wilkes County Chief Deputy Chris Shew, who is running to take over the job Dane Mastin says he will leave this year. Shirley Randleman was also there, filing as she promised she would last week for a second term representing the 94th district in the North Carolina House. Janet Handy has decided she wants to run for another term as Clerk of Court, and two political newcomers filed for county commission -- David Gambill and Gary L. Blevins are running for county commissioner.

Democrat Luther Parks told the Journal-Patriot he would probably seek a third term as county commissioner though he is not certain when he will file. Zach Henderson, a Republican who would also be seeking a third term, said he is undecided on whether to run.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:36 AM

Want to Know About the Roads? Use 511, not 911

Local emergency dispatchers say when the weather gets like this, they're inundated with calls asking about road conditions. But they really aren't the ones to call. The Wilkes Communications Center is encouraging each of us to utilize the 511 automated voice response system to find out about hazardous road conditions instead of calling the communications center. Comm Center director Capt. David Carson tells the Journal-Patriot that 911 calls to the communications center about road conditions hamper the ability of dispatchers to respond to emergency calls.

The North Carolina 511 system is part of a nationwide effort to make traffic information available by telephone. The 511 system was implemented in North Carolina in the summer of 2004. 511 uses an automated voice response system, which means callers are guided through a menu with a series of requests. You can ask for specific areas, and the system will provide information about traffic incidents, closures and other important roadway conditions.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:31 AM

Winter Weather Advisory through Wednesday AM

...WINTRY MIX EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT...ADDITIONAL UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO THE MOUNTAINS BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. COLD AIR IN PLACE FROM HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHEAST WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SNOW THIS MORNING...WITH A TRANSITION TO A WINTRY MIX DURING THE DAY. THE FRONT WILL MOVE EAST OF THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT... WITH A REINFORCING SHOT OF COLD AIR WITH ANOTHER FRONT WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING...BECOMING MIXED WITH SLEET BY MIDDAY. SOME FREEZING RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS LIKELY. 1 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ARE EXPECTED.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:28 AM

Monday, February 08, 2010

Damage in Parts of Wilkes Heavy; Power is Back On

While the damage in parts of Wilkes county from the weekend ice storm may resemble the level of devastation from Hurricane Hugo, there is some good news to report this morning: Both Blue Ridge Electric and Duke Energy say they restored power to all their customers in our area by late yesterday. BREMCO’s public relations coordinator Renee Whitener said crews from sister cooperatives Randolph Electric Membership Corporation and Pike Corporation were called in to help with their power restoration efforts. Listeners in the Brushy Mountain area likened the damage from the ice storm to that experienced by the area from Hurricane Hugo.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:44 AM

Foxx: Dems' Claims of Obstructionism Untrue

Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown had barely taken office before Democrats, who lost their super majority in the Senate with his election, started pressuring Republicans not to stand in the way of bills. Fifth District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, speaking on last week's Focus on the Foothills, says Republican opposition to the massive expansions of government being proposed is quite different than Democrats simply saying no to judicial nominees of former President Bush:






The complete interview with Virginia Foxx is available on our podcast page at 12403wc.com, and we'll have additional excerpts in upcoming 3WC newscasts.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:41 AM

Friday, February 05, 2010

School Employees Ask Local Legislators for Help

Non-certified employees at Wilkes schools have been living with a 10-percent pay cut because of cuts made to their hours in relation to the shorter school year. Yesterday, they asked State Sen. Steve Goss and Rep. Shirley Randleman to do something about it. The local legislators told teacher assistants, bus drivers and cafeteria workers they would discuss the concerns with Wilkes Schools Superintendent Steve Laws. In comments to the group yesterday, Goss indicated he was of a mixed mind on th pilot project. "In hindsight," Goss said, "I think I've been involved in an unfunded mandate. There shouldn't have been a pilot program unless it was funded by the state. But the pilot program was presented to the legislature as a way to prevent teachers from losing their jobs, and I didn't want to see people lose their jobs." According to the Journal-Patriot, members of the group said that they were told by the superintendent that 29 teaching positions were saved by the switch to the 162-day calendar.

posted by Newsroom  # 3:59 PM

Updated Winter Storm Warning

...WINTRY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY...DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST STATES WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TO ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST TONIGHT BEFORE PASSING OFFSHORE ON SATURDAY. THE STORM WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD WINTRY WEATHER OVER MUCH OF THE MID ATLANTIC AND MID APPALACHIAN REGION THROUGH SATURDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST SATURDAY. A WINTRY MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION BACK TO SNOW LATER TONIGHT. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.

UP TO ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE...WITH ADDED SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES. TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DANGEROUS THROUGH SATURDAY.

* STRONG WINDS ALONG THE RIDGES WILL LIKELY CAUSE TREES AND POWER LINES TO COME DOWN.

posted by Newsroom  # 3:52 PM

Update Winter Storm Warning

...WINTRY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY...

.LOW PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL LIFT NORTHEAST TODAY...INTENSIFY ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTLINE TONIGHT...AND MOVE OFFSHORE ON SATURDAY. THE STORM WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD WINTRY WEATHER OVER MUCH OF THE MID ATLANTIC AND MID APPALACHIAN REGION THROUGH SATURDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST SATURDAY.

SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN BY OR SHORTLY AFTER NOON...BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO SNOW TONIGHT. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.

ONE QUARTER INCH TO ONE HALF INCH ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM...WITH SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS. OUR METEOROLOGIST, WAYNE MARCUS, IS FORECASTING 1 TO 3 INCHES BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER TO RAIN, AND BETWEEN 2 AND 7 INCHES TOTAL BY TOMORROW ACROSS THE LISTENING AREA.

TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DANGEROUS THROUGH SATURDAY.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:28 AM

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Watauga Sees Drug Cases Up in 2009

The Watauga County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Unit said that in 2009, drug investigations were on the way up. Investigators say there were nearly 130 arrests and more than 730 related charges filed. They call those "significant increases" in arrests and charges over 2008. The Watauga Democrat reports that Captain Al Reed of the special operatns unit said there were no working meth labs found in the county last year. All the drugs the investigators seized had a street value of more than a million dollars.

posted by Newsroom  # 10:34 PM

Winter Storm Watch Update

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM CURRENTLY BRINGING SNOW TO THE PLAINS MOVE INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY TOMORROW MORNING. THE LOW WILL THEN TRACK OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST BY SATURDAY MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

SNOW WILL BEGIN EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN DURING THE DAY BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO SNOW LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

UP TO ONE QUARTER INCH ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND SLEET MAY ALSO OCCUR. OUR METEROROLGIST, WAYNE MARCUS, IS CURRENTLY CALLING FOR 1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE WILKESBOROS. ACROSS THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS...MODERATE SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE STORM IS STILL DEVELOPING, AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES COULD OCCUR WITH EVEN A SMALL CHANGE IN ITS PROJECTED TRACK. A COLDER AIRMASS COULD INCREASE SNOW...SLEET OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS.

posted by Newsroom  # 2:41 PM

Local Couple Honored for Their Tireless Support

A pair of local business owners are being recognized for their continual support of downtown revitalization. Donna and Junior Goforth were recently recognized as 2009 Main Street Champions. According to a news release, the Goforths were selected for this special honor by Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro in appreciation of their exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process. The Goforths, who were unable to be present for the ceremony, received a certificate commemorating their designation, along with Champions from 33 other communities. The Goforths own and operate Hallmark/Quickframe.

posted by Newsroom  # 2:35 PM

Awards Given

Two local residents have been recognized by state officials for their efforts in the health improvement field. Beth Lovette, the director of the Wilkes County Health Department, has received the Ronald H. Levine Legacy Award for Local Innovation in Public Health, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Keith Bentley, DDS, received the Carl Durham Award from the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health. The award recognizes his contributions and accomplishments toward improving and protecting public health through his dedicated leadership and service.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:24 AM

Winter Weather on the Way Again

...WINTER PRECIPITATION EXPECTED FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A STRONG STORM SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES WILL MOVE INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY FRIDAY MORNING. THE LOW WILL THEN TRACK OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST BY SATURDAY MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

SNOW WILL BEGIN EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN DURING THE DAY BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO SNOW LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. UP TO ONE QUARTER INCH ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. A SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AND SLEET MAY ALSO OCCUR.

THE TYPE OF PRECIPITATION WITH THIS STORM IS STILL UNCERTAIN. ANY CHANGE IN THE TRACK OF THE LOW...OR A COLDER AIRMASS COULD PRODUCE LARGER SNOW...SLEET OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:18 AM

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Project Lazarus Combats Prescription Drug Abuse

It was started here in Wilkes County to help curb prescription drug abuse.
Fred Brason started Project Lazarus calling it an immediate issue that needs to be addressed. Several professionals met in Haywood County to figure out how to combat the problem of prescription drug abuse. Brason said the project has several parts, including a way to keep people from doctor shopping and pharmacy shopping, which is a component of prescription drug abuse. Brason says North Carolina has one of the highest rates of abuse. He said quote -- "Of all the prescriptions in North Carolina, 45.4 percent are narcotics. In 2008, there were 15 million narcotic prescriptions written.”

posted by Newsroom  # 9:42 PM

NW Takes First Step To Change Who Manages the Police Chief

They've talked about it for years, but the North Wilkesboro Town Board has now actually taken the first step toward changing the town charter to bring the police chief under the direction of the city manager instead of bypassing the manager and being directly accountable to the board. Commissioners this week set a public hearing on the proposal for March 2nd. The mention of now being the time to make that change came at the previous board meeting when it was announced that North Wilkesboro would be looking for a new chief to replace Randy Rhodes, who plans to retire soon largely for health reasons. The Journal-Patriot reports he recently underwent back surgery. The vote was 4-to-1 in favor of having the public hearing, which is required before the board could enact the change in April. Bert Hall asked for a one month delay because he was not at the work session last month and had not had time to study the proposal. In most communities, the police chief is directly accountable to the city manager or administrator, and indirectly accountable to the governing body. It is believed that this arrangement puts the chief on an equal footing with other department heads and removes them from direct political involvement.

posted by Newsroom  # 3:18 PM

Should Land Use Around W. Kerr Scott Reservoir Change?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated plans to update the Master Plan for W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir, in the Wilkesboro, North Carolina area. The Master Plan provides reservoir managers with guidance and direction on land allocation and management, existing and future recreational opportunities, and resource inventories.

The public is invited to provide comments regarding the Master Plan update. The Corps’ intent is to identify public concerns that should be considered in the planning process. Written comments may be submitted to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 499 Reservoir Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 within 30 days of date of this announcement, or comments may be posted during the same time frame at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Recreation/index.htm. To view the current Master Plan and comment submittal form, click “W. Kerr Scott” under the “Master Plans” heading.

As part of the planning process, the public is invited to attend an open house on February 17, at the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir Visitor Center. The open house will run from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. We will be discussing the details of the Master Plan update process and answering questions regarding that process. The Corps is very interested in receiving public comments and participation in the master planning process.

posted by Newsroom  # 3:09 PM

Goss Honored for Campaign Finance Transparency

State Senator Steve Goss, who represents Alexander, Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes County in the NC Senate, has been recognized by the watchdog group Democracy North Carolina as having filed “superior “ State Board of Elections reports disclosing details about his campaign expenses and donations. Goss is among 32 legislators receiving the award. "These 32 (legislators) went well beyond the minimum of the law to give the public valuable information about where they get their campaign money and how it’s spent,” Bob Hall , the Democracy North Carolina’s Executive Director said. Award winners filed their six reports in 2007-2008 on time, in an accessible format, listed the purpose of 99% of the expenses over $50, and provided the required information on individuals who gave $50 or more to their campaign.

The Sunshine Awards symbolize the increasing emphasis on openness and accountability in state government, Hall said. “You could call 2009 the ‘Transition Year for Greater Openness’. It began with the new governor adopting measures for greater disclosure and campaign reform and ended with a top aide of the old governor facing questions about his role in possible illegal activities revealed through campaign reports and emails obtained under the state’s open records law.”

posted by Newsroom  # 5:40 AM

Christmas Week Storm Now a Federal Disaster

President Barack Obama yesterday signed the formal declaration of a major disaster for western North Carolina counties affected by the December ice and snow storms. The action opens federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms and flooding during week ending with Christmas Day.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe winter storms and flooding. Counties includes are Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey. Wilkes county is not part of the disaster declaration. FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:36 AM

NWS: Patchy Fog this Morning

AREAS OF FOG...DENSE IN SOME SPOTS ESPECIALLY NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE...WILL RESULT IN VISIBILITIES WELL BELOW A MILE IN SPOTS. A FEW LOCATIONS ARE ALSO SEEING TEMPERATURES AT OR JUST BELOW FREEZING...AND THEREFORE SOME ROADS..PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS MAY HAVE SOME ICY SPOTS. FREEZING FOG IN A FEW LOCATIONS MAY ALSO RESULT IN A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE ON RAISED SURFACES. PLEASE
EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVELING OR WALKING ON PAVEMENT THIS MORNING...AS ICY SPOTS MAY BE HARD TO DETECT...AND LOCAL VISIBILITIES MAY BE SUDDENLY REDUCED.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:33 AM

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Prison Nurse Accused of Bringing Pipe Bomb into Prison

A prison nurse in Taylorsville is in jail, accused of bringing pipe bombs to the Alexander Correctional Institute. Sherry Bortz will be in court today after she was arrested over the weekend and charged with two counts of possession of weapons of mass destruction and one count of possession of a controlled substance. Investigators say they got a Crimestoppers tip about drugs in a car and drug dogs found the pipe bombs. A Wilkes County bomb squad detinated the bombs. A second Crimestoppers tip told police that Bortz might try to break her son out of the Caldwell County jail, which is where Bortz was lodged when she was arrested. She’s being held on $150,000 bond.

posted by Newsroom  # 9:56 PM

Jobless Numbers Up in December

Unemployment rates increased in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December, and the counties surrounding Wilkes saw increases from November ranging from 0.3 percent in Avery and Wilkes counties to 0.7 percent in Ashe county. According to data released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission, unemployment stood at 11.3 percent for the High Country overall in December, a 0.4 percent rise from November and above the state rate of 10.9 percent.

Here are the unemployment rates by county and the increase from November:

Alleghany – 12.3 (an increase of 0.8)

Ashe – 12.3 (an increase of 0.7)

Watauga – 7.8 (an increase of 0.4)

Wilkes – 13.4 (an increase of 0.3)

posted by Newsroom  # 3:31 PM

Baker Racing School Announces First Dates at Historic NWS

Buck Baker Racing School will hold its firs weekend of racing school at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in just under three weeks. Saturday Feb. 20th and Sunday the 21st will be the first weekend of racing school at Historic NWS. According to a release from Speedway Associates president Alton McBride, the Baker school will host a session once a month this year. To find out more or to register for the classes, contact the Buck Baker Racing School.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:50 AM

Randleman to Run for Term 2

Shirley Randleman will run for a second term as 94th District state representative, according to an announcement yesterday. Randleman is a Republican finishing her first term in the General Assembly. In her release, Randleman looked forward: "I continue to work very closely with the county and towns to promote economic growth and workforce development. We cannot count on government to restore our economy," she said. "It's going to take all of us working together to grow and maintain our small businesses. It's great when General Motors and other large companies hire a few hundred people, but, think what would happen if every small business could add one or two employees."

posted by Newsroom  # 5:49 AM

WIlkesboro Hires Full-Time Fire Chief

Wilkesboro has a new Fire Chief. Lee Sudia of Fayetteville will become the first full-time professional chief for Wilkesboro when he begins work February 22nd. His first order of business: hiring three full-time firefighters. Current Chief Keith Reid has been asked to be one of two Assistant Chiefs. The other is Fletcher Reeves. The expansion to a combination full-time and volunteer fire service is being financed by a federal grant, according to the Journal-Patriot. The 325-thousand dollar grant from the Homeland Security Department is being matched by over 427-thousand dollars form the town, which has purchased an aerial platform truck and built the fire station on Cherry Street. The federal grant pays the full-time staff salaries for five years. Over 30 people applied for the chief position.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:43 AM

Freezing Rain, Sleet to Start Our Day

Forecasters say that freezing rain or sleet today may glaze over area roadways that only yesterday were cleared of snow and ice from this past weekend's winter storm. Neighborhood streets and rural roads in Northwest North Carolina still covered with snow and ice could be even more slippery, said Marc Clenard, National Weather Service meteorologist in Blacksburg, Va.

The frozen precipitation likely will begin after sunrise and turn to rain in the afternoon, when temperatures rise as high as the mid-30s to the low 40s, said both Clenard and Jonathan Blaes, a weather-service meteorologist in Raleigh. Less than 1 inch of accumulation is expected, but freezing rain and sleet may accumulate on bridges and overpasses. The freezing rain and sleet could also topple limbs and trees onto power lines, knocking out electricity to homes and businesses.

Most school systems in the region, including Wilkes County Schools and Wilkes Community college will remain closed for a second day. City and state road crews told the Winston-Salem Journal yesterday that they have made good progress clearing snow from roads and highways. However, streets in city neighborhoods and rural areas remained covered with snow and ice.

DOT crews will monitor the weather and will put down more salt this morning, if necessary, said Charles Reinhardt, a DOT-division-maintenance engineer in North Wilkesboro.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:34 AM

Monday, February 01, 2010

Wilkes EDC CEO Resigns

The Wilkes' Economic Development Corporation's Executive Director resigned last week. Don Alexander would not comment on the resignation, saying he had no definite plans. Wilkes EDC board chair Blake Lovette said EDC assistant director and CFO Robin Hamby will now serve as the interim CEO until a replacement is found. Alexander's contract calls for him to continue to get paid for five months as the CEO of the EDC. Lovette said Alexander wants to work in a bigger market than Wilkes and the board wishes him all the best.

posted by Newsroom  # 9:20 PM

Alexander Resigns as Wilkes EDC Director

Less than two weeks after the Wilkes Economic Development Commission voted to hire a consultant to create a strategic plan for future economic development efforts in the county, the head of the group has resigned. According to a brief release from the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce this morning, Wilkes EDC Director Don Alexander tendered his resignation at the end of the business day Friday. It was effective immediately. No reason was given. The WilkesEDC Twitter account posted a message this morning saying "Don Alexander is no longer associated with Wilkes EDC. I would gladly welcome any professional referrals or recommendations. Thank you." It is unclear whether the message originated with Alexander or with personnel at Wilkes EDC.

posted by Newsroom  # 1:40 PM

Man Convicted in 1993 Wilkes Murder Denied Parole

A man sentenced to a life prison term for a 1993 murder in Wilkes County will remain behind bars. Johnny Leonard King was sentenced for the January, 1993 murder before laws were toughened in late 1994, eliminating parole.King had a long criminal record prior to his life sentence; ha has had numerous disciplinary issue will in the state prison system. He is currently incarcerated at the Albemarle Correctional Institution, where he has been since 2006. King had been participating in a program known as MAPP -- the Mutual Agreement Parole Program, which is a scholastic and vocational program offered to selected convicts. According to the parole commission, his participation in that program has been revoked, and he will not be considered for parole again until early 2012.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:44 AM

Officials Confirm Closure of Wilkes CompuCredit Center

Officials at CompuCredit confirmed to 3WC News late Friday something they announced to employees on Thursday: the collections call center in Wilkes will close the end of March. The Wilkesboro center and one in Salt Lake City are both set to close March 31st, according to CompuCredit officials in Atlanta. Two Atlanta-area centers will also close. All told, 740 employees will lose their job, 234 of them in Wilkes County. The employees were offered a severance package and outplacement assistance, according to the company. State officials say a "rapid response team" from the N.C. Employment Security Commission and the Wilkes JobLink Center will share information on workforce training and unemployment benefits with employees at CompuCredit before it closes.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:38 AM

Winter Storm Aftermath Update

Driving conditions this morning are slick in many places, as the runoff from yesterday's snow melt refroze quickly last night. Secondary roads were still slushy late in the day, so they will be pretty rough this morning due to the refreezing. Gov. Bev Perdue on Saturday signed an emergency declaration to help the state recover from snow and ice storms. The declaration paves the way for authorities to seek federal funds for debris clearing, emergency utility restoration and other damages.

The governor also said as many as two thirds of the school districts across the state made the decision to cancel classes today, including Wilkes County Schools and Wilkes Community College. District, Superior and Small Claims courts in Wilkes are also closed today, and the county Library will not open until 11am.

Much of the northern half of the state received 8 or more inches of snow and sleet.

Authorities said that state highway patrol troopers responded to nearly 1,800 calls of vehicle crashes. About 1,000 of them were collisions. The patrol said there were no storm-related fatalities, and that 1,800 troopers remain on alert to help stranded motorists. One death in Surry County is being blamed on the storm. A Dobson-area man was the victim of an apparent cardiac arrest Saturday morning, which is being linked to the weather.

posted by Newsroom  # 5:34 AM

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