The local and regional news page of 12403wc Hometown Christian Radio.
Friday, June 24, 2005
News & Sports For June 24th
News & Sports For Friday June 24th 2005
Heat Relief Still Available For Wilkes Seniors
Yesterday the temperature reached 90 degrees in Wilkesboro and with more hot weather on the way, many people can find themselves in a life threatening situation. For any seniors who don’t have an air conditioner or anything else to keep cool, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is handing out 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.
Two Totaled In Wreck On 421
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Wednesday morning. The incident happened as a Millers Creek man was trying to turn off 421 onto a side road before his light turned red. A driver coming from the other direction couldn’t slow down in time and slammed into the man’s car. As he tried to avoid the crash, that second driver swerved to the right, hitting a third vehicle that had been stopped waiting for his light to turn. All total an estimated $14,500 worth of damage was done, as the first two vehicles were totaled in the accident. Thankfully however no one was injured.
Drink Machines Damaged At Local Store
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Run-in on Elkin Highway in North Wilkesboro recently, after vandals caused over $500 worth of damage. There was no sign of an attempted break-in and also no damage done to the building itself. However some type of substance was poured into the money slots of the drink machines outside. Nothing was taken from the machines and it doesn’t appear that the vandals tried to gain access to the money inside. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Blood Drive Later Today
Later today a blood drive will be going on at the Lowes Foods up from Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. While there have been several drives going on in recent weeks, the need is still critical for donors to come out and give. Once again that drive will go on later today at the Lowes Foods in Wilkesboro, up from Wal-Mart at the Winkler Mill location from 10am til 2:30pm. To schedule an appointment, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Yet another Wilkes business fell victim to gas thieves this week. This time it was Neighbors Store on Hwy 268, as a vehicle pulled in, pumped $20 worth of gas and took off. A description of the vehicle and its’ driver was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, although there was some confusion as to if it was an actual case of theft, with employees not sure if the person paid or not. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Keys
Never leave your keys inside your car. A North Wilkesboro man found that out the hard way this week, after thieves got in and took the vehicle for a joyride. This happened Tuesday night, but then hours later the vehicle was returned without any damage done to it in the process. The only catch was now the man’s mountain bike was missing. A local teen was caught later on Wednesday riding the bike and admitted to sheriff’s deputies that he had stolen it. The teen said he was looking for money to steal, but after seeing the key decided to take the car for a drive. The teen, whose name was withheld due to his age, was arrested and charged with breaking & entering, along with larceny of a motor vehicle.
Local Store Falls Prey To Vandals
Deputies were called out to the Artic Grill Wednesday morning, after vandals had apparently stopped by for a late night visit. The electrical wire around the building’s sign had been pulled down by a vehicle described to deputies as a tractor that had driven by hauling cars. All total an estimated $300 worth of damage was done in the incident and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Craving For Pizza Gets Out Of Hand
Two cars wrecked at Papa Johns Pizza Wednesday night, as Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene. The first driver had been trying to circle the building and accidentally entered into a one way area going the wrong direction. She slammed into the second car, just pulling out of the drive-through. The first vehicle was totaled, with damages in the crash estimated at just over $2000. No one was injured in the accident.
State News
Prisoner Tries To Escape Off Balcony
A simple traffic citation led to a Mecklenburg County man throwing himself off the courthouse balcony on Wednesday. The man, 29-yr-old Samuel Vance, had a court hearing to deal with a traffic ticket he had received for driving without a license. While in the courtroom, Mecklenburg deputies attempted to arrest Vance on an outstanding warrant in his name from Lee County, stemming from assault charges. When Vance saw the deputies coming he took off, running out of the room and onto a walking bridge nearby. When he saw someone step onto the bridge from the other side, Vance jumped off and dived over 15 feet to the ground. He wasn’t seriously injured but was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment, after which he’ll begin a jail sentence on the assault charges. Vance said he jumped because he simply didn’t want to go back to prison.
More Jobs On The Way Across The State
Some more good news today on the job market, as Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced they’ll be expanding operations in the next few months. With the expansion comes 100 new jobs across North Carolina, many of which should be added by the end of this year. Most of the jobs will be in the company’s new 29,000 sq. foot complex in Durham that’s currently under construction. Hiring is expected to begin in the next few months.
Hydraulic Fluid Turns Up At Another Hospital
It turns out that the Duke Health System wasn’t the only place hydraulic fluid was swapped for surgical cleaners. Baptist Medical Center announced this week that barrels were delivered supposedly containing a cleaning fluid for surgical instruments. Instead, it turned out to be hydraulic fluid. Workers checked the contents of the barrels however and discovered the mistake before anyone was exposed. It’s still unclear exactly how this batch of hydraulic fluid got exchanged with the cleaners.
Search Continues For Raleigh Suspect
And the search continues today for a man in the Raleigh area, after he led police on a high speed chase through two different towns. 25-yr-old Jermaine Holloway had been pulled over by law enforcement just before 1:30 Thursday morning on a routine traffic stop. After running his information it was discovered that there was an outstanding warrant against Holloway, but before authorities could arrest him, he drove off. After more than 30 minutes of chasing Holloway through Cary and nearby Raleigh, officials finally lost him near a local apartment building, where the man jumped out of the car and took off running. After two hours, officials called off the search but plan to continue later today.
End Possibly In Sight To Superintendent Race
Nearly seven months after voters went to the polls, a winner could soon be declared in the state race for superintendent of public schools. Back in November, Democrat June Atkinson beat Republican Bill Fletcher for the post, but constant challenges by Fletcher have kept her from assuming the position. Atkinson beat Fletcher by over eight thousand votes, a total the Republican says is inaccurate because he believes eleven thousand ballots should be thrown out. Following North Carolina law, a special committee of 10 lawmakers from here in the state have been appointed to begin deciding a winner. They’ll review written arguments from both candidates and take a look at the evidence to determine who has the most legal votes. All of this is expected to take place within the next month, after which a recommendation will be made to the General Assembly, who will then vote for the winner. All of this falls under the guidelines dictated by the state constitution.
Union Warship Found In Roanoke River
Researchers at East Carolina University recently confirmed that a wreckage at the bottom of the Roanoke River is in fact that of the USS Otsego, a Union warship sunk over a 140 years ago. Members of ECU’s Maritime Studies Program have been able to map the wreckage and pinpoint its’ location, 110 miles east of Raleigh near Jamesville. The 220 ft. vessel was one of 22 warships built to sever Conference supply lines, but it sank in December of 1864 when it hit 20 southern mines that had been laid out in the river. It’s unknown what if anything can be salvaged from the wreck, which has broken apart into rotten timber and twisted steel.
Sports Headlines
Confusion Ties Up Post 31 Future
The scores have come in and now the Wilkes Patriots get to pack up and wait. South Rowan did lose their game against Rowan County, falling 13-1 in a game called after seven innings. And while that does give Wilkes the edge by half a game in the overall standings, their records are dead even in the conference. What that means is tiebreaker rules go into effect, but in this case, most of them can’t be used either. The first rule has a winning team judged on head to head competition, but since Wilkes and South Rowan split their games this year, that’s thrown out. The second decider is how they did against higher seeded teams, also thrown out. Wilkes got swept by Mocksville, but then came back to split their series with Stanley County, while South did the opposite. Basically now it all depends on how Kannapolis did in their game late last night. The runs allowed rule is what officials are going by now, meaning that if Kannapolis wins but ends up with more runs given up than second place Rowan, Wilkes is in. However that’s the only scenario that works for the Patriots. Even if Kannapolis loses, Wilkes is out, due to the seeding. The only way for the Patriots to get into the playoffs now is to hope Kannapolis not only wins, but gives up a ton of runs doing so. We hope to have a score and a final decision to tell you about tonight on the 7pm News Update.
Volleyball League Reminder
The deadline’s coming up for anyone who wants to join a summer volleyball league this July. Anyone can take part, from middle school even up to adults in separate 3 on 3 leagues. There is a fee to register, as it costs $30 to sign up your team to play. The last day to sign up for July’s tournament is next Thursday June 30th and for more information you can call 957-7363 or send an email to holloways@wilkes.k12.nc.us
UNC Coach Gives His Take On NBA Age Rules
Around the college scene, UNC Tarheels coach Roy Williams gave his opinions to the media on Thursday when asked how the new age limit in the NBA would affect his recruiting. Williams called the limit, which prevents all players younger than 19 from entering the league, “just window dressing” and said it would be better to have nothing at all than what’s in place now. He said however the rule wouldn’t change the way he recruited, because he’s going out for the best players, regardless of how long they plan to stay in school. Williams also said that he hopes the Bobcats pick a few of his players in the upcoming draft so he can take a day off and come to their games next season.
Wake Forest Lands Football Recruit
In college football, Wake Forest landed a recruit this week, as Dennis Godfrey, a 6-3 250 lb. tight end from Lee County committed to the Deacons. Godfrey, a rising senior at Lee County High, is known both for his blocking ability as well as being able to catch the ball. Godfrey refused other offers from UNC, East Carolina and NC State to commit to Wake Forest.
Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor leagues last night, the Hickory Crawdads beat Greensboro 8-1. The Crawdads got six strong innings from starter Julio Guerrero, as he only gave up one run on six hits to get his first win of the season. Hickory goes on the road tonight to start a three game series with the Asheville Tourists.
Heat Relief Still Available For Wilkes Seniors
Yesterday the temperature reached 90 degrees in Wilkesboro and with more hot weather on the way, many people can find themselves in a life threatening situation. For any seniors who don’t have an air conditioner or anything else to keep cool, the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council is handing out 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.
Two Totaled In Wreck On 421
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Wednesday morning. The incident happened as a Millers Creek man was trying to turn off 421 onto a side road before his light turned red. A driver coming from the other direction couldn’t slow down in time and slammed into the man’s car. As he tried to avoid the crash, that second driver swerved to the right, hitting a third vehicle that had been stopped waiting for his light to turn. All total an estimated $14,500 worth of damage was done, as the first two vehicles were totaled in the accident. Thankfully however no one was injured.
Drink Machines Damaged At Local Store
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Run-in on Elkin Highway in North Wilkesboro recently, after vandals caused over $500 worth of damage. There was no sign of an attempted break-in and also no damage done to the building itself. However some type of substance was poured into the money slots of the drink machines outside. Nothing was taken from the machines and it doesn’t appear that the vandals tried to gain access to the money inside. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Blood Drive Later Today
Later today a blood drive will be going on at the Lowes Foods up from Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. While there have been several drives going on in recent weeks, the need is still critical for donors to come out and give. Once again that drive will go on later today at the Lowes Foods in Wilkesboro, up from Wal-Mart at the Winkler Mill location from 10am til 2:30pm. To schedule an appointment, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Yet another Wilkes business fell victim to gas thieves this week. This time it was Neighbors Store on Hwy 268, as a vehicle pulled in, pumped $20 worth of gas and took off. A description of the vehicle and its’ driver was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, although there was some confusion as to if it was an actual case of theft, with employees not sure if the person paid or not. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Keys
Never leave your keys inside your car. A North Wilkesboro man found that out the hard way this week, after thieves got in and took the vehicle for a joyride. This happened Tuesday night, but then hours later the vehicle was returned without any damage done to it in the process. The only catch was now the man’s mountain bike was missing. A local teen was caught later on Wednesday riding the bike and admitted to sheriff’s deputies that he had stolen it. The teen said he was looking for money to steal, but after seeing the key decided to take the car for a drive. The teen, whose name was withheld due to his age, was arrested and charged with breaking & entering, along with larceny of a motor vehicle.
Local Store Falls Prey To Vandals
Deputies were called out to the Artic Grill Wednesday morning, after vandals had apparently stopped by for a late night visit. The electrical wire around the building’s sign had been pulled down by a vehicle described to deputies as a tractor that had driven by hauling cars. All total an estimated $300 worth of damage was done in the incident and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Craving For Pizza Gets Out Of Hand
Two cars wrecked at Papa Johns Pizza Wednesday night, as Wilkesboro police were called out to the scene. The first driver had been trying to circle the building and accidentally entered into a one way area going the wrong direction. She slammed into the second car, just pulling out of the drive-through. The first vehicle was totaled, with damages in the crash estimated at just over $2000. No one was injured in the accident.
State News
Prisoner Tries To Escape Off Balcony
A simple traffic citation led to a Mecklenburg County man throwing himself off the courthouse balcony on Wednesday. The man, 29-yr-old Samuel Vance, had a court hearing to deal with a traffic ticket he had received for driving without a license. While in the courtroom, Mecklenburg deputies attempted to arrest Vance on an outstanding warrant in his name from Lee County, stemming from assault charges. When Vance saw the deputies coming he took off, running out of the room and onto a walking bridge nearby. When he saw someone step onto the bridge from the other side, Vance jumped off and dived over 15 feet to the ground. He wasn’t seriously injured but was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment, after which he’ll begin a jail sentence on the assault charges. Vance said he jumped because he simply didn’t want to go back to prison.
More Jobs On The Way Across The State
Some more good news today on the job market, as Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced they’ll be expanding operations in the next few months. With the expansion comes 100 new jobs across North Carolina, many of which should be added by the end of this year. Most of the jobs will be in the company’s new 29,000 sq. foot complex in Durham that’s currently under construction. Hiring is expected to begin in the next few months.
Hydraulic Fluid Turns Up At Another Hospital
It turns out that the Duke Health System wasn’t the only place hydraulic fluid was swapped for surgical cleaners. Baptist Medical Center announced this week that barrels were delivered supposedly containing a cleaning fluid for surgical instruments. Instead, it turned out to be hydraulic fluid. Workers checked the contents of the barrels however and discovered the mistake before anyone was exposed. It’s still unclear exactly how this batch of hydraulic fluid got exchanged with the cleaners.
Search Continues For Raleigh Suspect
And the search continues today for a man in the Raleigh area, after he led police on a high speed chase through two different towns. 25-yr-old Jermaine Holloway had been pulled over by law enforcement just before 1:30 Thursday morning on a routine traffic stop. After running his information it was discovered that there was an outstanding warrant against Holloway, but before authorities could arrest him, he drove off. After more than 30 minutes of chasing Holloway through Cary and nearby Raleigh, officials finally lost him near a local apartment building, where the man jumped out of the car and took off running. After two hours, officials called off the search but plan to continue later today.
End Possibly In Sight To Superintendent Race
Nearly seven months after voters went to the polls, a winner could soon be declared in the state race for superintendent of public schools. Back in November, Democrat June Atkinson beat Republican Bill Fletcher for the post, but constant challenges by Fletcher have kept her from assuming the position. Atkinson beat Fletcher by over eight thousand votes, a total the Republican says is inaccurate because he believes eleven thousand ballots should be thrown out. Following North Carolina law, a special committee of 10 lawmakers from here in the state have been appointed to begin deciding a winner. They’ll review written arguments from both candidates and take a look at the evidence to determine who has the most legal votes. All of this is expected to take place within the next month, after which a recommendation will be made to the General Assembly, who will then vote for the winner. All of this falls under the guidelines dictated by the state constitution.
Union Warship Found In Roanoke River
Researchers at East Carolina University recently confirmed that a wreckage at the bottom of the Roanoke River is in fact that of the USS Otsego, a Union warship sunk over a 140 years ago. Members of ECU’s Maritime Studies Program have been able to map the wreckage and pinpoint its’ location, 110 miles east of Raleigh near Jamesville. The 220 ft. vessel was one of 22 warships built to sever Conference supply lines, but it sank in December of 1864 when it hit 20 southern mines that had been laid out in the river. It’s unknown what if anything can be salvaged from the wreck, which has broken apart into rotten timber and twisted steel.
Sports Headlines
Confusion Ties Up Post 31 Future
The scores have come in and now the Wilkes Patriots get to pack up and wait. South Rowan did lose their game against Rowan County, falling 13-1 in a game called after seven innings. And while that does give Wilkes the edge by half a game in the overall standings, their records are dead even in the conference. What that means is tiebreaker rules go into effect, but in this case, most of them can’t be used either. The first rule has a winning team judged on head to head competition, but since Wilkes and South Rowan split their games this year, that’s thrown out. The second decider is how they did against higher seeded teams, also thrown out. Wilkes got swept by Mocksville, but then came back to split their series with Stanley County, while South did the opposite. Basically now it all depends on how Kannapolis did in their game late last night. The runs allowed rule is what officials are going by now, meaning that if Kannapolis wins but ends up with more runs given up than second place Rowan, Wilkes is in. However that’s the only scenario that works for the Patriots. Even if Kannapolis loses, Wilkes is out, due to the seeding. The only way for the Patriots to get into the playoffs now is to hope Kannapolis not only wins, but gives up a ton of runs doing so. We hope to have a score and a final decision to tell you about tonight on the 7pm News Update.
Volleyball League Reminder
The deadline’s coming up for anyone who wants to join a summer volleyball league this July. Anyone can take part, from middle school even up to adults in separate 3 on 3 leagues. There is a fee to register, as it costs $30 to sign up your team to play. The last day to sign up for July’s tournament is next Thursday June 30th and for more information you can call 957-7363 or send an email to holloways@wilkes.k12.nc.us
UNC Coach Gives His Take On NBA Age Rules
Around the college scene, UNC Tarheels coach Roy Williams gave his opinions to the media on Thursday when asked how the new age limit in the NBA would affect his recruiting. Williams called the limit, which prevents all players younger than 19 from entering the league, “just window dressing” and said it would be better to have nothing at all than what’s in place now. He said however the rule wouldn’t change the way he recruited, because he’s going out for the best players, regardless of how long they plan to stay in school. Williams also said that he hopes the Bobcats pick a few of his players in the upcoming draft so he can take a day off and come to their games next season.
Wake Forest Lands Football Recruit
In college football, Wake Forest landed a recruit this week, as Dennis Godfrey, a 6-3 250 lb. tight end from Lee County committed to the Deacons. Godfrey, a rising senior at Lee County High, is known both for his blocking ability as well as being able to catch the ball. Godfrey refused other offers from UNC, East Carolina and NC State to commit to Wake Forest.
Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor leagues last night, the Hickory Crawdads beat Greensboro 8-1. The Crawdads got six strong innings from starter Julio Guerrero, as he only gave up one run on six hits to get his first win of the season. Hickory goes on the road tonight to start a three game series with the Asheville Tourists.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:11 AM
Thursday, June 23, 2005
News & Sports For June 23rd
News & Sports For Thursday June 23rd 2005
Rent To Own
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a house in Purlear earlier this week after renters ran off with almost everything inside. The property owner called deputies after the renters had paid off their bill and left, as he found several thousand dollars worth of material had disappeared with them. Included in the theft was an antique desk from the 1930s, a riding lawn mower, two book shelves and several other items as well. A description of the suspects along with the location of their workplace was turned over to deputies and the investigation continues.
Blood Drive Later Today
As we reach the middle of summer, we’re also approaching one of the most critical times to give blood. The blood supply here in Wilkes is still at extremely low levels, as most people have been either driven off by the rain or gone on vacation and unable to give. There will be a drive going on later today at the Pilgrim Baptist Church from 2:30-7pm if you want to give the gift of life. Just a quick reminder if you do plan to go out, there are some requirements. You must be at least 17 yrs old and weigh no less than 110 lbs to donate. If you want to set up an appointment, you can call the local Red Cross at 838-4563.
Wreck On 421 Totals Two
When your light turns yellow, it might be a good idea to slow down. A Ferguson woman found this out the hard way earlier this week, after being involved in a two car accident. The wreck happened on 421, as the woman tried to speed through the intersection before her light turned red. She didn’t make it in time however and slammed directly into a vehicle coming from the other side. That second car spun out and hit a DOT sign near the 16 North ramp, finally coming to a stop several feet down the road. Both vehicles were totaled as damages were estimated at $20,000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.
Fire Still Under Investigation
Fire marshals were unable to determine what caused a Hays man’s home to burn down earlier this week. The fire happened on Hollow Tree Lane, as Mountain View firefighters were called out to the scene. However before they arrived, the fire had nearly burned the building to the ground. The homeowner is currently away serving time in a Catawba County jail and his home has been abandoned ever since he left. It’s still unclear what ignited the fire, as the home had burned down to the foundation.
Local Woman Alerts Deputies To Fraud
Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Hays woman’s house earlier this week, after she reported a case of attempted fraud. The woman had been contacted by someone with a Hispanic accent, who informed her she had just won a sweepstakes in South Carolina. He then went on to tell her that in order to claim the prize, she needed to send a $5000 to his address. But instead of the company’s name, he gave his own, along with other information detailing how she could reach him with the money. After she refused two other people were put on the line, one who attempted a southern accent and tried to convince her the sweepstakes was real. The information has been passed on and investigators are checking out the address given.
Focus On The Cross
Throughout the western part of the state, there are several programs helping kids stay active, while also getting them involved in their community and also sharing with them the Word Of God. One of those is the Carolina Cross Connection. Melissa Lineberger will be talking about the Connection during today's Focus on the Foothills broadcast. That’s after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.
Just Drove Off With The Mower
A North Wilkesboro man returned home on Tuesday to find that someone had paid him a visit while he was gone. However nothing was stolen from the home and no damage was done. The only thing missing was the man’s riding lawn mower that had been sitting outside. Neighbors couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anyone outside the home and there are no suspects at this time however deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
Advisories Issued For Lake Cornelius
Officials in Mecklenburg County have issued a warning today, advising people to stay out of the water at Lake Cornelius. Tuesday afternoon, debris from recent storms clogged up a sewer line and caused over 300 gallons of sewage to spill into the lake. The line was quickly repaired and work is underway to clean up the area, but at this time it’s still not safe for anyone to get into the water.
East Carolina University Falls Victim To Fraud
The SBI has been called in to help East Carolina University discover who managed to breach their computer network’s security program. The hackers somehow gained access to the program and used it to obtain the personal information of 250 students. The intrusion was limited to the department of physician assistant studies, meaning that only students from that section of the school were affected. Officials discovered the breach after complaints kept coming in of slow computer speed in the department. While the server was being repaired, specialists found the intrusion. All students whose personal information was exposed are receiving a letter in the mail explaining what happened and what steps they need to take in order to prevent ID theft from occurring. As to who’s responsible, that investigation is still ongoing, say university officials.
Land Dispute May Cause Tweetsie To Relocate
One of the area’s most famous entertainment parks may be picking up and moving to a new location soon. Tweetsie Railroad has hired the services of two firms to help resolve some real estate issues the park 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 2006 when the lease expires. With that in mind, Tweetsie officials are examining other places where the park could relocate. Any official decision however won’t be made until at least the end of this year.
Items Stolen From Hickory Library
Why steal something you could see for free? That’s what officials in Hickory are asking today, after over $20,000 worth of material was stolen from the Patrick beaver Memorial Library. It’s unclear exactly when or how the thefts occurred, as all items inside have special tags that set off the security system if removed from the building. Included in the stolen items are several World Book Encyclopedias, books and DVDs from the library collection. Library officials are considering installing video cameras to prevent something like this from ever happening again.
Wildlife Commission Offers Free Fishing
On the 4th of July this year, the state Wildlife Commission is offering a gift to any fishermen in North Carolina. From 12:01am until 11:59pm that day, all public inland waterways in the state are open for fishing, free of charge. That means you don’t have to buy a trout license or anything else before grabbing a pole and heading out to the water. However some rules will still be in effect, such as limits on size and how many fish you can catch. For more information you can call the Wildlife Commission at (919) 733-3633 or visit their website at www.ncwildlife.org.
Scenic Byway Opened Near Morganton
Officials with the state Board of Transportation took part in a ceremony yesterday to officially open North Carolina’s newest scenic byway. The Posgah Loop Scenic Byway, stretching 47 miles around the Pisgah National Forest, is the 49th such designation across the state and the first with sections open to only 4-wheel drive vehicles. Along the Loop you can see portions of the Linville Gorge, Table Rock, Lake James and of course the Pisgah National Forest. The road also ties in with the route taken by Revolutionary soldiers and early pioneers through the western part of the state.
Sports Headlines
Post 31 Regular Season Ends With Loss
Tuesday night the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots saw their regular season come to an end and possibly their playoff hopes as well, with a 7-2 loss against Mocksville. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 4-11 overall, tied for the eighth spot with South Rowan. All that will change one way or another later today, as South Rowan was scheduled to play Rowan County. If South loses, the Patriots are in the playoffs. If South wins however, the season is over for Wilkes.
High School Senior Withdraws From Draft
Around the college scene, in a rare occurrence one high school player from North Carolina decided to take his name out of this year’s NBA draft and go to school. Just don’t expect him to stick around more than one year. Brandon Rush, who graduated this year from Mount Zion Christian Academy, announced that he was withdrawing from this year’s draft and planning on going to college. But instead of a degree, Rush plans to only stick around in the college scene one year, enough time he said to showcase his game and prove that he can play at a higher level. He withdrew after teams repeatedly told him he wasn’t going to be picked any higher than the second round. Now Rush will decide between Illinois and Oklahoma for his choice of college.
Randolph Commits To Draft
In other college basketball news, the Duke Blue Devils unexpectedly lost a player as Shavlik Randolph announced he was staying in the NBA draft. Randolph, a 6-10 junior only averaged 6 points at Duke and isn’t even on any of the mock drafts across the nation. Scouts and coaches, including Bernie Bickerstaff of the Charlotte Bobcats, have repeatedly told him that another year of fine tuning his game in college would help him greatly but he refused to pull out. There have been concerns about his lack of strength and quickness, although Randolph says he’s received a lot of positive feedback from teams and came to the decision after a lot of prayer.
UNC Football Team Adds Another
Turning to college football, the UNC Tarheels just continue to add pieces to what’s becoming a very strong recruiting class for next year. Logan Buchanan, a rising senior at Davie High School, committed to play for the Heels in 2006. Buchanan was part of a Davie defense that shut down opponents last year, holding them to just under 10 points a game. Buchanan will join five others as part of Carolina’s 2006 class, receiving the offer after a summer camp last week. He said there were other schools interested, but only Coach Bunting came out and made an offer, one he didn’t want to miss by turning down. Buchanan can officially become a member of the Tarheels next February by signing a letter of intent.
Bobcats Make First Move Of The Offseason
And in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats didn’t wait until the finals were over to make their first move. Qualifying offers will be sent to Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll and Jason Kapono as the team looks to keep most of its’ young core roster together. Those offers will become official on Friday and in addition, the team has called back former UNC talent Sean May for a second workout this weekend.
Rent To Own
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a house in Purlear earlier this week after renters ran off with almost everything inside. The property owner called deputies after the renters had paid off their bill and left, as he found several thousand dollars worth of material had disappeared with them. Included in the theft was an antique desk from the 1930s, a riding lawn mower, two book shelves and several other items as well. A description of the suspects along with the location of their workplace was turned over to deputies and the investigation continues.
Blood Drive Later Today
As we reach the middle of summer, we’re also approaching one of the most critical times to give blood. The blood supply here in Wilkes is still at extremely low levels, as most people have been either driven off by the rain or gone on vacation and unable to give. There will be a drive going on later today at the Pilgrim Baptist Church from 2:30-7pm if you want to give the gift of life. Just a quick reminder if you do plan to go out, there are some requirements. You must be at least 17 yrs old and weigh no less than 110 lbs to donate. If you want to set up an appointment, you can call the local Red Cross at 838-4563.
Wreck On 421 Totals Two
When your light turns yellow, it might be a good idea to slow down. A Ferguson woman found this out the hard way earlier this week, after being involved in a two car accident. The wreck happened on 421, as the woman tried to speed through the intersection before her light turned red. She didn’t make it in time however and slammed directly into a vehicle coming from the other side. That second car spun out and hit a DOT sign near the 16 North ramp, finally coming to a stop several feet down the road. Both vehicles were totaled as damages were estimated at $20,000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the crash.
Fire Still Under Investigation
Fire marshals were unable to determine what caused a Hays man’s home to burn down earlier this week. The fire happened on Hollow Tree Lane, as Mountain View firefighters were called out to the scene. However before they arrived, the fire had nearly burned the building to the ground. The homeowner is currently away serving time in a Catawba County jail and his home has been abandoned ever since he left. It’s still unclear what ignited the fire, as the home had burned down to the foundation.
Local Woman Alerts Deputies To Fraud
Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Hays woman’s house earlier this week, after she reported a case of attempted fraud. The woman had been contacted by someone with a Hispanic accent, who informed her she had just won a sweepstakes in South Carolina. He then went on to tell her that in order to claim the prize, she needed to send a $5000 to his address. But instead of the company’s name, he gave his own, along with other information detailing how she could reach him with the money. After she refused two other people were put on the line, one who attempted a southern accent and tried to convince her the sweepstakes was real. The information has been passed on and investigators are checking out the address given.
Focus On The Cross
Throughout the western part of the state, there are several programs helping kids stay active, while also getting them involved in their community and also sharing with them the Word Of God. One of those is the Carolina Cross Connection. Melissa Lineberger will be talking about the Connection during today's Focus on the Foothills broadcast. That’s after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.
Just Drove Off With The Mower
A North Wilkesboro man returned home on Tuesday to find that someone had paid him a visit while he was gone. However nothing was stolen from the home and no damage was done. The only thing missing was the man’s riding lawn mower that had been sitting outside. Neighbors couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anyone outside the home and there are no suspects at this time however deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
Advisories Issued For Lake Cornelius
Officials in Mecklenburg County have issued a warning today, advising people to stay out of the water at Lake Cornelius. Tuesday afternoon, debris from recent storms clogged up a sewer line and caused over 300 gallons of sewage to spill into the lake. The line was quickly repaired and work is underway to clean up the area, but at this time it’s still not safe for anyone to get into the water.
East Carolina University Falls Victim To Fraud
The SBI has been called in to help East Carolina University discover who managed to breach their computer network’s security program. The hackers somehow gained access to the program and used it to obtain the personal information of 250 students. The intrusion was limited to the department of physician assistant studies, meaning that only students from that section of the school were affected. Officials discovered the breach after complaints kept coming in of slow computer speed in the department. While the server was being repaired, specialists found the intrusion. All students whose personal information was exposed are receiving a letter in the mail explaining what happened and what steps they need to take in order to prevent ID theft from occurring. As to who’s responsible, that investigation is still ongoing, say university officials.
Land Dispute May Cause Tweetsie To Relocate
One of the area’s most famous entertainment parks may be picking up and moving to a new location soon. Tweetsie Railroad has hired the services of two firms to help resolve some real estate issues the park 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 2006 when the lease expires. With that in mind, Tweetsie officials are examining other places where the park could relocate. Any official decision however won’t be made until at least the end of this year.
Items Stolen From Hickory Library
Why steal something you could see for free? That’s what officials in Hickory are asking today, after over $20,000 worth of material was stolen from the Patrick beaver Memorial Library. It’s unclear exactly when or how the thefts occurred, as all items inside have special tags that set off the security system if removed from the building. Included in the stolen items are several World Book Encyclopedias, books and DVDs from the library collection. Library officials are considering installing video cameras to prevent something like this from ever happening again.
Wildlife Commission Offers Free Fishing
On the 4th of July this year, the state Wildlife Commission is offering a gift to any fishermen in North Carolina. From 12:01am until 11:59pm that day, all public inland waterways in the state are open for fishing, free of charge. That means you don’t have to buy a trout license or anything else before grabbing a pole and heading out to the water. However some rules will still be in effect, such as limits on size and how many fish you can catch. For more information you can call the Wildlife Commission at (919) 733-3633 or visit their website at www.ncwildlife.org.
Scenic Byway Opened Near Morganton
Officials with the state Board of Transportation took part in a ceremony yesterday to officially open North Carolina’s newest scenic byway. The Posgah Loop Scenic Byway, stretching 47 miles around the Pisgah National Forest, is the 49th such designation across the state and the first with sections open to only 4-wheel drive vehicles. Along the Loop you can see portions of the Linville Gorge, Table Rock, Lake James and of course the Pisgah National Forest. The road also ties in with the route taken by Revolutionary soldiers and early pioneers through the western part of the state.
Sports Headlines
Post 31 Regular Season Ends With Loss
Tuesday night the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots saw their regular season come to an end and possibly their playoff hopes as well, with a 7-2 loss against Mocksville. With the loss, Wilkes drops to 4-11 overall, tied for the eighth spot with South Rowan. All that will change one way or another later today, as South Rowan was scheduled to play Rowan County. If South loses, the Patriots are in the playoffs. If South wins however, the season is over for Wilkes.
High School Senior Withdraws From Draft
Around the college scene, in a rare occurrence one high school player from North Carolina decided to take his name out of this year’s NBA draft and go to school. Just don’t expect him to stick around more than one year. Brandon Rush, who graduated this year from Mount Zion Christian Academy, announced that he was withdrawing from this year’s draft and planning on going to college. But instead of a degree, Rush plans to only stick around in the college scene one year, enough time he said to showcase his game and prove that he can play at a higher level. He withdrew after teams repeatedly told him he wasn’t going to be picked any higher than the second round. Now Rush will decide between Illinois and Oklahoma for his choice of college.
Randolph Commits To Draft
In other college basketball news, the Duke Blue Devils unexpectedly lost a player as Shavlik Randolph announced he was staying in the NBA draft. Randolph, a 6-10 junior only averaged 6 points at Duke and isn’t even on any of the mock drafts across the nation. Scouts and coaches, including Bernie Bickerstaff of the Charlotte Bobcats, have repeatedly told him that another year of fine tuning his game in college would help him greatly but he refused to pull out. There have been concerns about his lack of strength and quickness, although Randolph says he’s received a lot of positive feedback from teams and came to the decision after a lot of prayer.
UNC Football Team Adds Another
Turning to college football, the UNC Tarheels just continue to add pieces to what’s becoming a very strong recruiting class for next year. Logan Buchanan, a rising senior at Davie High School, committed to play for the Heels in 2006. Buchanan was part of a Davie defense that shut down opponents last year, holding them to just under 10 points a game. Buchanan will join five others as part of Carolina’s 2006 class, receiving the offer after a summer camp last week. He said there were other schools interested, but only Coach Bunting came out and made an offer, one he didn’t want to miss by turning down. Buchanan can officially become a member of the Tarheels next February by signing a letter of intent.
Bobcats Make First Move Of The Offseason
And in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats didn’t wait until the finals were over to make their first move. Qualifying offers will be sent to Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll and Jason Kapono as the team looks to keep most of its’ young core roster together. Those offers will become official on Friday and in addition, the team has called back former UNC talent Sean May for a second workout this weekend.
posted by Scott Roberts # 12:28 PM
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
News & Sports For June 22nd
News & Sports For Wednesday June 22nd 2005
Breaking Story As Local Store To Close
Wilkes County stands to possibly lose some jobs in the coming weeks after Winn Dixie announced plans to shut down all stores north of Georgia. The Wilkes County store, located on the 421 bypass, would be included in that plan, however it’s not guaranteed that all these stores will close. Instead, Winn-Dixie plans to sell them off if any buyers are interested. Still, if no buyers can be found, the local stores will begin closing down in the next few months, as produce is sold off and employees are laid off. A timetable for any would be buyers to put in a bid has not been set but the company did say they hope to move on this quickly as they move out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Winn-Dixie officials said the move was needed as they have taken a severe hit due in part to Wal-Mart’s decision to begin offering groceries at their stores. Unable to compete with cheaper prices, the store chain is reorganizing to strengthen its’ business and regain lost profits.
News From Commissioners Meeting
Last night Wilkes County Commissioners met and approved a new budget for the upcoming year, one that will put many residents’ minds at ease. Concern had been raised in recent weeks over the possibility of a property tax increase, but there was no mention of that in the final budget voted on and approved Tuesday night. The new budget, which passed by a unanimous vote, will be $66.6 million for the next fiscal year. That includes extended services such as providing sewer services to the town of Ronda and allocating $135,000 for a new visitors center on US 421. But the main focus was on property taxes, which currently holds at 61 cents for every $100 of property owned. That plan will stay in place for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the budget voted on Tuesday. In other news from the meeting yesterday, a proposal was put forward to alter the county’s animal control laws. 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. While the plan did pass 4-1, it must be voted on again to go into effect, as the vote wasn’t unanimous. Faye Byrd was the dissenting vote, as she believed the idea required further study. The proposal will be put up for vote again at the next meeting.
Farmers Subject To Fee After Deadline
Next Thursday, June 30th is the deadline for all farmers to turn in their final crop reports to the Farm Service Agency. But what farmers may not be aware of is that there’s a penalty attached if you don’t get the report turned in by the deadline. A fee will be tacked on to every farm that fails to get a report in for their corn, soybeans and other crops. You can call the agency for more information at 838-3622.
Never Speed Off After Giving Out Information
A routine traffic check on the Austin Traphill Road soon turned into a chase as deputies tracked down a suspect. A man pulled up and handed over his license but after smelling marijuana inside the vehicle, deputies asked him to park the car on the side of the road. The man refused and sped off down the road. Deputies followed him at speeds exceeding 85 mph at times, eventually losing him on a nearby road. However they still had his license and went to the man’s home, where his mother agreed to let them search. Several grams of marijuana, along with rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia were found inside. Warrants were taken out and 51-yr-old David Randall Newman has been charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding to escape arrest and resisting a public officer.
Vehicle Covered With Unknown Material
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Wal-Mart parking lot recently after a local man discovered that while he was inside, someone had been vandalizing his car. The left side of the vehicle was covered with some type of sticky substance that couldn’t be identified, although officers believe it to be some type of glue. There were no witnesses to the crime and no suspects, however the investigation is ongoing.
Remember What You Give The Law
A license check Monday night In Traphill led deputies to a fugitive from another state. As deputies were performing the license check on the Austin Traphill Road, a vehicle came through with expired tags, registered in Oklahoma. After the driver agreed to let them search, deputies found rolling papers and marijuana seeds inside the car. Despite having given over their licenses, one of the men in the car tried to give deputies a fake name. 21-yr-old Michael Lee Watkins and 39-yr-old Tammy Johnson were both charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending in the case.
Music Lovers Break Into Man’s Car
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after thieves stole over $1000 worth of music from his car. The man had kept the vehicle unlocked while he was at work, then came outside to find his CD cases and over 200 CDs were gone from the vehicle. Nothing else was taken from the car and there was no damage done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Red Means Stop Green Means Go
Running a red light proved to be a problem for a Wilkesboro man on Monday, as he ended totaling his car. The man had tried to run a light at the intersection of Curtis Bridge Road and River Street, instead colliding with a second vehicle, driven by a Moravian Falls woman. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash, with damages placed at just over $2500. 71-yr-old Thomas Mathis Buford was also charged with DWI and running a red light.
Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we head into the summer months, rabies is once again becoming a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine, officials are predicting this could potentially be a problem much like this past winter’s flu scare. The easiest way to solve the problem is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.
Drugs Stolen From State Road Home
Deputies were called out to a State Road residence on Monday, in response to a case of theft. Someone gained access to a local woman’s home, went into her medicine cabinet and took almost a hundred pills from different bottles. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else was stolen from the home. Deputies have a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Medical Center Pays Out Over A Million In Back Wages
The U.S. Labor Department recently finished an investigation into the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, checking out reports of financial mismanagement. They discovered that the center had shortchanged employees on their time cards, not crediting them for any overtime they worked. As a result, New Hanover had to pay out over $1.33 million dollars in lost wages to everyone that was affected by the practice, a list of over 3400 people. New Hanover officials said that it was a simple accident, as the time clocks had malfunctioned and started cutting off minutes from people in the hospital.
Job Market In Mecklenburg Gets A Boost
Good news today for people in Mecklenburg County, as a new manufacturing hub will be coming to the area in the next few months. Prairie Packaging announced their plans this week to build a manufacturing and distribution hub in Huntersville, to serve the entire east coast. With the new building also comes jobs, as 242 new positions will be created in several different areas including machine operators, electricians and other mechanical positions. The company made the announcement after receiving a Job Development Grant from the state, money set aside to help bring in new businesses. A timetable has not yet been set as to when hiring will begin.
Newton Sheriff’s Department Under Investigation
The Catawba County sheriff’s department finds itself at the center of an investigation today, as state officials attempt to determine how a significant amount of money went missing. The department first called in the SBI in May after some money went missing from the local offices. No other information regarding the missing cash has been released, as department officials said they wouldn’t comment until the investigation was over.
Broyhill Workers Receiving Federal Aid
Over 600 people will lose their jobs when Broyhill Furniture begins laying off workers this coming August. The federal government has stepped in however, as the U.S. Department of Labor announced this week that all of Broyhill’s terminated employees will be eligible for benefits until they can find work. Benefits will be drawn out as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which was created to help laid-off workers receive training and a steady income if their jobs fell victim to the expanding global market. Workers at eight separate plants in the Lenoir area are eligible for the program, but have to go by the local Employment Security Commission office to sign up.
Court Of Appeals Orders New Trials
The convictions of two murderers here in the state have been overturned by the Court of Appeals, after judges found several errors in how the men’s trials had been conducted. Vincent Lebron Ledford had been accused of killing a McDowell County man back in 2002 after the man was caught having an affair with Ledford’s wife. A jury found him guilty, but the court records show the judge in the case never told the jury they could find him not guilty by way of self-defense. Due to that oversight, the Appeals Court has ordered a new trial in the case. Also the court ruled that Demond Antonio Wells should get a new trial. Wells had been charged and found guilty in the shooting of a man outside a recording studio in New Hanover County. However because he presented no evidence in the case to defend himself, Wells was supposed to be given the final closing argument. Instead that went to the prosecutor. And as such Wells is also to be given a new trial.
Sports Headlines
North Carolina Players Invited To Trials
And around the college scene, some athletes from here in North Carolina have received invitations to try out for the Under 21 men’s national team. Included on the list was Justin Gray of Wake Forest, Curtis Withers from UNC Charlotte and J.J. Redick from Duke. All total 21 players got invitations for the tryouts, which take place in late July. Out of those 21, 12 will be picked to represent the US in next year’s World Championships.
Wake Forest Lands New Recruit
In other college basketball news, Wake Forest fans have a reason to celebrate today, as the team landed yet another commitment for the 2006 squad. Anthony Gurley, a 6-3 point guard from Massachusetts, committed to play for the Deacons. Gurley, a rising high school senior, led his team to the state championship last year while averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds. Heading into his senior season, Gurley already holds the school record at North Newton High with 1300 points. Gurley turned down offers from NC State, Miami, Iowa State and Boston College to play for Wake Forest. He’ll join two others in the class of 2006, 6-8 forward Jamie Skeen from Huntersville and L.D. Williams, the 6-5 guard from Yadkinville.
Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating the Fredrick Keys 7-5. Warthogs’ starter Lance Broadway gave up three runs in his professional debut, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings of work while getting a no decision. Broadway was the number one draft pick for the Chicago White Sox this year, coming out of Texas Christian University. Robert Valido kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at 17 games while Leo Daigle brought his RBI total up to a league leading 84. Up the road in Hickory, the offensive explosion continued as the Crawdads beat Greensboro 9-1. Hickory starter Yoann Torrealba had six strong innings of work, shutting out the Bats while striking out seven to get his first win of the year.
More Injury Problems For McCants
The hits just keep on coming for Rashad McCants, as he had to pull out of yet another workout with an injury, this time a bad hamstring. McCants was working out for the Charlotte Bobcats along with several other local players, including NC State’s Julius Hodge and his former UNC teammate Raymond Felton. McCants had gotten rave reviews from Bobcats’ coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who said that he could possibly be one of the best offensive players in this year’s draft. Other coaches and scouts are also making the comparison to last year’s star talent Ben Gordon, who has similar talents. Still, this latest injury comes at the worst possibly time for McCants, as the NBA draft is next Tuesday and depending on how bad the hamstring pull is, he may have to withdraw from several other scheduled workouts this week.
Breaking Story As Local Store To Close
Wilkes County stands to possibly lose some jobs in the coming weeks after Winn Dixie announced plans to shut down all stores north of Georgia. The Wilkes County store, located on the 421 bypass, would be included in that plan, however it’s not guaranteed that all these stores will close. Instead, Winn-Dixie plans to sell them off if any buyers are interested. Still, if no buyers can be found, the local stores will begin closing down in the next few months, as produce is sold off and employees are laid off. A timetable for any would be buyers to put in a bid has not been set but the company did say they hope to move on this quickly as they move out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Winn-Dixie officials said the move was needed as they have taken a severe hit due in part to Wal-Mart’s decision to begin offering groceries at their stores. Unable to compete with cheaper prices, the store chain is reorganizing to strengthen its’ business and regain lost profits.
News From Commissioners Meeting
Last night Wilkes County Commissioners met and approved a new budget for the upcoming year, one that will put many residents’ minds at ease. Concern had been raised in recent weeks over the possibility of a property tax increase, but there was no mention of that in the final budget voted on and approved Tuesday night. The new budget, which passed by a unanimous vote, will be $66.6 million for the next fiscal year. That includes extended services such as providing sewer services to the town of Ronda and allocating $135,000 for a new visitors center on US 421. But the main focus was on property taxes, which currently holds at 61 cents for every $100 of property owned. That plan will stay in place for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the budget voted on Tuesday. In other news from the meeting yesterday, a proposal was put forward to alter the county’s animal control laws. 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. While the plan did pass 4-1, it must be voted on again to go into effect, as the vote wasn’t unanimous. Faye Byrd was the dissenting vote, as she believed the idea required further study. The proposal will be put up for vote again at the next meeting.
Farmers Subject To Fee After Deadline
Next Thursday, June 30th is the deadline for all farmers to turn in their final crop reports to the Farm Service Agency. But what farmers may not be aware of is that there’s a penalty attached if you don’t get the report turned in by the deadline. A fee will be tacked on to every farm that fails to get a report in for their corn, soybeans and other crops. You can call the agency for more information at 838-3622.
Never Speed Off After Giving Out Information
A routine traffic check on the Austin Traphill Road soon turned into a chase as deputies tracked down a suspect. A man pulled up and handed over his license but after smelling marijuana inside the vehicle, deputies asked him to park the car on the side of the road. The man refused and sped off down the road. Deputies followed him at speeds exceeding 85 mph at times, eventually losing him on a nearby road. However they still had his license and went to the man’s home, where his mother agreed to let them search. Several grams of marijuana, along with rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia were found inside. Warrants were taken out and 51-yr-old David Randall Newman has been charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding to escape arrest and resisting a public officer.
Vehicle Covered With Unknown Material
Wilkesboro police were called out to the Wal-Mart parking lot recently after a local man discovered that while he was inside, someone had been vandalizing his car. The left side of the vehicle was covered with some type of sticky substance that couldn’t be identified, although officers believe it to be some type of glue. There were no witnesses to the crime and no suspects, however the investigation is ongoing.
Remember What You Give The Law
A license check Monday night In Traphill led deputies to a fugitive from another state. As deputies were performing the license check on the Austin Traphill Road, a vehicle came through with expired tags, registered in Oklahoma. After the driver agreed to let them search, deputies found rolling papers and marijuana seeds inside the car. Despite having given over their licenses, one of the men in the car tried to give deputies a fake name. 21-yr-old Michael Lee Watkins and 39-yr-old Tammy Johnson were both charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending in the case.
Music Lovers Break Into Man’s Car
A North Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after thieves stole over $1000 worth of music from his car. The man had kept the vehicle unlocked while he was at work, then came outside to find his CD cases and over 200 CDs were gone from the vehicle. Nothing else was taken from the car and there was no damage done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Red Means Stop Green Means Go
Running a red light proved to be a problem for a Wilkesboro man on Monday, as he ended totaling his car. The man had tried to run a light at the intersection of Curtis Bridge Road and River Street, instead colliding with a second vehicle, driven by a Moravian Falls woman. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash, with damages placed at just over $2500. 71-yr-old Thomas Mathis Buford was also charged with DWI and running a red light.
Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we head into the summer months, rabies is once again becoming a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine, officials are predicting this could potentially be a problem much like this past winter’s flu scare. The easiest way to solve the problem is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.
Drugs Stolen From State Road Home
Deputies were called out to a State Road residence on Monday, in response to a case of theft. Someone gained access to a local woman’s home, went into her medicine cabinet and took almost a hundred pills from different bottles. There was no sign of a break-in and nothing else was stolen from the home. Deputies have a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Medical Center Pays Out Over A Million In Back Wages
The U.S. Labor Department recently finished an investigation into the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, checking out reports of financial mismanagement. They discovered that the center had shortchanged employees on their time cards, not crediting them for any overtime they worked. As a result, New Hanover had to pay out over $1.33 million dollars in lost wages to everyone that was affected by the practice, a list of over 3400 people. New Hanover officials said that it was a simple accident, as the time clocks had malfunctioned and started cutting off minutes from people in the hospital.
Job Market In Mecklenburg Gets A Boost
Good news today for people in Mecklenburg County, as a new manufacturing hub will be coming to the area in the next few months. Prairie Packaging announced their plans this week to build a manufacturing and distribution hub in Huntersville, to serve the entire east coast. With the new building also comes jobs, as 242 new positions will be created in several different areas including machine operators, electricians and other mechanical positions. The company made the announcement after receiving a Job Development Grant from the state, money set aside to help bring in new businesses. A timetable has not yet been set as to when hiring will begin.
Newton Sheriff’s Department Under Investigation
The Catawba County sheriff’s department finds itself at the center of an investigation today, as state officials attempt to determine how a significant amount of money went missing. The department first called in the SBI in May after some money went missing from the local offices. No other information regarding the missing cash has been released, as department officials said they wouldn’t comment until the investigation was over.
Broyhill Workers Receiving Federal Aid
Over 600 people will lose their jobs when Broyhill Furniture begins laying off workers this coming August. The federal government has stepped in however, as the U.S. Department of Labor announced this week that all of Broyhill’s terminated employees will be eligible for benefits until they can find work. Benefits will be drawn out as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which was created to help laid-off workers receive training and a steady income if their jobs fell victim to the expanding global market. Workers at eight separate plants in the Lenoir area are eligible for the program, but have to go by the local Employment Security Commission office to sign up.
Court Of Appeals Orders New Trials
The convictions of two murderers here in the state have been overturned by the Court of Appeals, after judges found several errors in how the men’s trials had been conducted. Vincent Lebron Ledford had been accused of killing a McDowell County man back in 2002 after the man was caught having an affair with Ledford’s wife. A jury found him guilty, but the court records show the judge in the case never told the jury they could find him not guilty by way of self-defense. Due to that oversight, the Appeals Court has ordered a new trial in the case. Also the court ruled that Demond Antonio Wells should get a new trial. Wells had been charged and found guilty in the shooting of a man outside a recording studio in New Hanover County. However because he presented no evidence in the case to defend himself, Wells was supposed to be given the final closing argument. Instead that went to the prosecutor. And as such Wells is also to be given a new trial.
Sports Headlines
North Carolina Players Invited To Trials
And around the college scene, some athletes from here in North Carolina have received invitations to try out for the Under 21 men’s national team. Included on the list was Justin Gray of Wake Forest, Curtis Withers from UNC Charlotte and J.J. Redick from Duke. All total 21 players got invitations for the tryouts, which take place in late July. Out of those 21, 12 will be picked to represent the US in next year’s World Championships.
Wake Forest Lands New Recruit
In other college basketball news, Wake Forest fans have a reason to celebrate today, as the team landed yet another commitment for the 2006 squad. Anthony Gurley, a 6-3 point guard from Massachusetts, committed to play for the Deacons. Gurley, a rising high school senior, led his team to the state championship last year while averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds. Heading into his senior season, Gurley already holds the school record at North Newton High with 1300 points. Gurley turned down offers from NC State, Miami, Iowa State and Boston College to play for Wake Forest. He’ll join two others in the class of 2006, 6-8 forward Jamie Skeen from Huntersville and L.D. Williams, the 6-5 guard from Yadkinville.
Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating the Fredrick Keys 7-5. Warthogs’ starter Lance Broadway gave up three runs in his professional debut, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings of work while getting a no decision. Broadway was the number one draft pick for the Chicago White Sox this year, coming out of Texas Christian University. Robert Valido kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at 17 games while Leo Daigle brought his RBI total up to a league leading 84. Up the road in Hickory, the offensive explosion continued as the Crawdads beat Greensboro 9-1. Hickory starter Yoann Torrealba had six strong innings of work, shutting out the Bats while striking out seven to get his first win of the year.
More Injury Problems For McCants
The hits just keep on coming for Rashad McCants, as he had to pull out of yet another workout with an injury, this time a bad hamstring. McCants was working out for the Charlotte Bobcats along with several other local players, including NC State’s Julius Hodge and his former UNC teammate Raymond Felton. McCants had gotten rave reviews from Bobcats’ coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who said that he could possibly be one of the best offensive players in this year’s draft. Other coaches and scouts are also making the comparison to last year’s star talent Ben Gordon, who has similar talents. Still, this latest injury comes at the worst possibly time for McCants, as the NBA draft is next Tuesday and depending on how bad the hamstring pull is, he may have to withdraw from several other scheduled workouts this week.
posted by Scott Roberts # 8:28 AM
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
News& Sports For June 21st
News & Sports For Tuesday June 21st 2005
EPA Releases Wilkes Drinking Water Report
On Monday, the EPA released this year’s drinking water report for the town of Wilkesboro, giving an idea of how clean the water is. Overall the news was good, as there were no violations or contaminations reported over the past year. However one area of concern for Wilkes is the fact the Yadkin River was also cited as being highly susceptible to contamination, meaning that while nothing has been reported yet, current use of the river and the area around it could potentially pose a threat down the road. The report is released every year to help monitor the effect of businesses and other things on the environment.
Drugs Found At Millers Creek Home
Sheriff’s deputies searched a Millers Creek house on Friday, after receiving a tip that drugs were being sold from the residence. The people inside refused to open the door, so deputies were forced to break it down and begin their search. Inside the house they found several grams of meth and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia. 47-yr-old Susan Warden Godwin was arrested and charged with possession of drugs with the intent to sell & distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.
Be Careful Who You Let Inside
Be careful who you let inside your home. A North Wilkesboro man learned why that’s a good idea this week after falling victim to thieves at his house. The man had just returned home, taking time to empty out his wallet and other items on the table when someone he knew came to the door and asked to use the bathroom. The homeowner agreed and minutes later after the second man left, he noticed that both his wallet and other items were no longer on the table. Included in the theft was the man’s black wallet and all the items inside, along with $80 in cash. Deputies have charged 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes with the theft.
Salmonella On The Rise Across North Carolina
Yesterday 3WC News told you about a recall of certain shredded cheese packages here in North Carolina, as portions of the product had tested positive for salmonella. Now comes word from the Wilkes Health Department that on the whole, cases of salmonella are on the rise across the state. Already this year, the state’s Public Health Department has detected more cases than in the past three years combined. Here in Wilkes, there has been a slight increase as well. Right now, we’ve had 6 cases reported so far this year, up slightly from 2004 where we only had 14 cases reported period. Now there are however several quick and easy ways of making sure you don’t fall victim to the bacteria. First, don’t eat any raw eggs or anything that contains raw eggs. Also be sure not only to buy clean eggs, but also keep them refrigerated. Just take a look before buying to make sure there are no cracks, as bacteria can spread quickly once you get them out of the store and into your vehicle. And most important, always wash your hands and any equipment you’re using before and after you cook with eggs. For more information you can call the local Health Department at 651-7450.
Domino Effect Causes Wreck On Hwy 18
A simple case of follow the leader was to blame for a wreck that happened Sunday on Hwy 18. Three cars were involved in the accident, which caused an estimated $4800 worth of damage as one of the vehicles had to be towed away. A Purlear woman had apparently stopped at a median in the road and was attempting a U-turn, but the vehicles behind her couldn’t slow down in time. The third vehicle slammed into the second, creating a domino effect as two of out the three were totaled. The third driver, 22-yr-old Jose Garcia, was charged with failure to reduce speed and not having an operators’ license.
Local Business Falls Victim To Break-in
Thieves broke into a Wilkesboro business over the weekend, walking out with virtually everything but the kitchen sink. Someone pried open one of the doors to Queen’s Garage, removing the padlock and walking right in. Included in the theft were several air ratchets, drills, socket sets and other tools with a total value estimated at just over $2700. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Stuff The Bus Program Begins July 1st
The annual Stuff The Bus program will get underway this year on July 1st, helping to provide needy kids with the supplies they need for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There will be buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies 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 next Friday July 1st.
Hays Home Shot Up By Vandals
A Hays man returned home over the weekend to find that someone had been by while he was gone. Portions of his house were riddled with holes from a BB gun, causing over $200 worth of damage. There is a suspect in the case, as neighbors witnessed a local teen shooting off his gun in the area, although no one actually saw him fire at the home. The investigation is ongoing.
Gas Thieves Hit Several Wilkes Businesses
As the price for gas continues to climb, some people in Wilkes are deciding not to pay at the pump. Two businesses in the county were the latest victims of gas thieves over the weekend. A truck pulled up to the Fast Track in Millers Creek Sunday afternoon, the driver got out, pumped in $20 worth of gas and then took off down the road. Down the road in Hays, the same thing happened at the Grocery Bag as a vehicle pulled up and pumped just over $20 before taking off. Employees at both stores were able to get the vehicle’s license plate and turned it over to deputies, along with a description of both the driver and vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.
Just Rode Off With The Evidence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence in Union Grove over the weekend, after a local man returned to find himself the victim of a break-in. Thieves had apparently come up to the man’s home and stolen his dirtbike, also taking with them the man’s helmet as well. There was no sign of a break-in and also no damage done to the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
People Get Sick At Greensboro Food Lion
Early Monday morning, a Greensboro store’s cleanup crew accidentally put four people in the hospital. The crew working at a Greensboro Food Lion had been using a gas-powered pressure washer to clean up the store, however due to the building’s poor ventilation, the fumes didn’t leave. After a few minutes, they overwhelmed several other people inside, who had to be taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Three of the people were later released, while the fourth remained in the hospital for treatment of an unknown condition. No other information was released to the public.
Arrest Made In Chicken Parts Case
Officials in the Mount Holly area closed the books on a case of chicken theft this week. Over a month ago, a trailer went missing from Colonial Freight with almost 2000 cases of Gold Kist chicken parts as cargo. Over the weekend, police arrested and charged Walter Hicks Petty after receiving phone calls from Petty’s neighbors informing them that the man was selling frozen chicken out of a trailer at his home. Despite the evidence, Petty says he’s not guilty of the theft, as another man dropped off the trailer at his home.
North Carolina Teaching Rules Under Question
The standards for prospective teachers in North Carolina may be getting a little tougher, if officials with the State Board of Education have their way. Currently North Carolina is one of four states across the nation that doesn’t require fingerprint data from teaching prospects as part of a criminal background check. The fingerprints are run against an FBI database that would put up a flag if there was any criminal activity in the applicant’s past. North Carolina’s policy instead leaves it up to individual school districts, to decide how strict or loose they want to be when performing background checks. This has led to concerns that any teacher with a criminal past would be able to locate a job in a state where their history wouldn’t be discovered, potentially leading to more law violations down the road. Several officials with the State Board of Education are now calling for the rules to be changed here in North Carolina, although that won’t happen for at least a few months if then.
Former Deserter Apologizes
Former Army deserter Charles Robert Jenkins is finishing up his visit to North Carolina, but before leaving, he held a press conference on Monday to apologize for his actions almost fifty years ago. The 65-yr-old Jenkins said he was sorry for letting his fellow soldiers down along with the government and everyone else that had trusted in him. Jenkins was referring to his desertion in 1965, when he sneaked across the DMZ and into North Korea. After that, he spent the next four decades teaching English and taking part in propaganda films for the communist country. Released last year by North Korea, Jenkins was extradited to the US from his home in Japan. Later court-martialed and sentenced to 25 days in jail, he served his time and spent a week in North Carolina, visiting family members before heading back to his home. Jenkins also talked about North Korean leader Kim Jong II, saying that he was an evil man who only cares about his personal luxury.
Escapee Caught In Gaston County
A man who had escaped from the Gaston County jail is back in custody today, after being turned in by a relative. 28-yr-old Clinton Rucker was set to be released in three months before escaping Saturday night. He managed to gain access to a minivan at the jail and took off after hours. After a relative called in local officials and alerted them to where he was, Rucker gave himself up. Now he’ll face additional charges of stealing a car and escaping from jail, to go along with the three months left on his original sentence.
Sports Headlines
American Legion Baseball Tonight
The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots will be back in action tonight as they get set for their final home game of the regular season. The Patriots will take on Mocksville, as they’ll lock up a spot in the playoffs with a win. A loss however could mean the end of their season so everything is on the line tonight and we’ll be bringing you all the action right here on 3WC. Ken Byrd will be at the field for the first pitch at 7pm and we’ll go on the air tonight at 6:45 with the pregame show.
Appalachian To Make Changes For Football
Around the college scene, some changes are in store for Appalachian State’s football schedule, as all the games will be moved this year to 3:30pm. The four home games, Sept. 17th against Coastal Carolina, Oct. 15th vs. Georgia Southern, Oct. 29th against Chattanooga and finally Nov. 12th vs. Western Carolina have all been bumped to the later time, giving people more time to make it out to ‘The Rock’ and hopefully cut down on some traffic jams and other problems.
Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem losing against Fredrick 10-6. The Keys roughed up Warthogs’ starter Wes Whisler, as he gave up five runs in five innings of work. Over his past four starts, Whisler’s ERA has ballooned to 17.06. One bright spot for the Warthogs was Robert Valido as he extended his hitting streak to 16 games. His teammate Leo Daigle is starting a streak of his own as well, having hit in 11 straight games.
Health Questions Hurt McCants
In the NBA, we’re a week away from the college draft and while the stock of some players has risen, others are in free fall. Rashad McCants seemed to be a lock as a first round pick not even a month ago, but recent workouts have called into question his health once again. During workouts with the Magic and several other teams, McCants couldn’t finish the drills because he kept getting sick. While most teams say they’ll be making judgements on his entire career and not just his current status, McCants has quietly slipped from being a potential lottery pick to a late first rounder or possibly even dropping into the second round. McCants is scheduled to work out with the Bobcats this week.
EPA Releases Wilkes Drinking Water Report
On Monday, the EPA released this year’s drinking water report for the town of Wilkesboro, giving an idea of how clean the water is. Overall the news was good, as there were no violations or contaminations reported over the past year. However one area of concern for Wilkes is the fact the Yadkin River was also cited as being highly susceptible to contamination, meaning that while nothing has been reported yet, current use of the river and the area around it could potentially pose a threat down the road. The report is released every year to help monitor the effect of businesses and other things on the environment.
Drugs Found At Millers Creek Home
Sheriff’s deputies searched a Millers Creek house on Friday, after receiving a tip that drugs were being sold from the residence. The people inside refused to open the door, so deputies were forced to break it down and begin their search. Inside the house they found several grams of meth and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia. 47-yr-old Susan Warden Godwin was arrested and charged with possession of drugs with the intent to sell & distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.
Be Careful Who You Let Inside
Be careful who you let inside your home. A North Wilkesboro man learned why that’s a good idea this week after falling victim to thieves at his house. The man had just returned home, taking time to empty out his wallet and other items on the table when someone he knew came to the door and asked to use the bathroom. The homeowner agreed and minutes later after the second man left, he noticed that both his wallet and other items were no longer on the table. Included in the theft was the man’s black wallet and all the items inside, along with $80 in cash. Deputies have charged 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes with the theft.
Salmonella On The Rise Across North Carolina
Yesterday 3WC News told you about a recall of certain shredded cheese packages here in North Carolina, as portions of the product had tested positive for salmonella. Now comes word from the Wilkes Health Department that on the whole, cases of salmonella are on the rise across the state. Already this year, the state’s Public Health Department has detected more cases than in the past three years combined. Here in Wilkes, there has been a slight increase as well. Right now, we’ve had 6 cases reported so far this year, up slightly from 2004 where we only had 14 cases reported period. Now there are however several quick and easy ways of making sure you don’t fall victim to the bacteria. First, don’t eat any raw eggs or anything that contains raw eggs. Also be sure not only to buy clean eggs, but also keep them refrigerated. Just take a look before buying to make sure there are no cracks, as bacteria can spread quickly once you get them out of the store and into your vehicle. And most important, always wash your hands and any equipment you’re using before and after you cook with eggs. For more information you can call the local Health Department at 651-7450.
Domino Effect Causes Wreck On Hwy 18
A simple case of follow the leader was to blame for a wreck that happened Sunday on Hwy 18. Three cars were involved in the accident, which caused an estimated $4800 worth of damage as one of the vehicles had to be towed away. A Purlear woman had apparently stopped at a median in the road and was attempting a U-turn, but the vehicles behind her couldn’t slow down in time. The third vehicle slammed into the second, creating a domino effect as two of out the three were totaled. The third driver, 22-yr-old Jose Garcia, was charged with failure to reduce speed and not having an operators’ license.
Local Business Falls Victim To Break-in
Thieves broke into a Wilkesboro business over the weekend, walking out with virtually everything but the kitchen sink. Someone pried open one of the doors to Queen’s Garage, removing the padlock and walking right in. Included in the theft were several air ratchets, drills, socket sets and other tools with a total value estimated at just over $2700. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Stuff The Bus Program Begins July 1st
The annual Stuff The Bus program will get underway this year on July 1st, helping to provide needy kids with the supplies they need for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There will be buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies 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 next Friday July 1st.
Hays Home Shot Up By Vandals
A Hays man returned home over the weekend to find that someone had been by while he was gone. Portions of his house were riddled with holes from a BB gun, causing over $200 worth of damage. There is a suspect in the case, as neighbors witnessed a local teen shooting off his gun in the area, although no one actually saw him fire at the home. The investigation is ongoing.
Gas Thieves Hit Several Wilkes Businesses
As the price for gas continues to climb, some people in Wilkes are deciding not to pay at the pump. Two businesses in the county were the latest victims of gas thieves over the weekend. A truck pulled up to the Fast Track in Millers Creek Sunday afternoon, the driver got out, pumped in $20 worth of gas and then took off down the road. Down the road in Hays, the same thing happened at the Grocery Bag as a vehicle pulled up and pumped just over $20 before taking off. Employees at both stores were able to get the vehicle’s license plate and turned it over to deputies, along with a description of both the driver and vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.
Just Rode Off With The Evidence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence in Union Grove over the weekend, after a local man returned to find himself the victim of a break-in. Thieves had apparently come up to the man’s home and stolen his dirtbike, also taking with them the man’s helmet as well. There was no sign of a break-in and also no damage done to the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
People Get Sick At Greensboro Food Lion
Early Monday morning, a Greensboro store’s cleanup crew accidentally put four people in the hospital. The crew working at a Greensboro Food Lion had been using a gas-powered pressure washer to clean up the store, however due to the building’s poor ventilation, the fumes didn’t leave. After a few minutes, they overwhelmed several other people inside, who had to be taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Three of the people were later released, while the fourth remained in the hospital for treatment of an unknown condition. No other information was released to the public.
Arrest Made In Chicken Parts Case
Officials in the Mount Holly area closed the books on a case of chicken theft this week. Over a month ago, a trailer went missing from Colonial Freight with almost 2000 cases of Gold Kist chicken parts as cargo. Over the weekend, police arrested and charged Walter Hicks Petty after receiving phone calls from Petty’s neighbors informing them that the man was selling frozen chicken out of a trailer at his home. Despite the evidence, Petty says he’s not guilty of the theft, as another man dropped off the trailer at his home.
North Carolina Teaching Rules Under Question
The standards for prospective teachers in North Carolina may be getting a little tougher, if officials with the State Board of Education have their way. Currently North Carolina is one of four states across the nation that doesn’t require fingerprint data from teaching prospects as part of a criminal background check. The fingerprints are run against an FBI database that would put up a flag if there was any criminal activity in the applicant’s past. North Carolina’s policy instead leaves it up to individual school districts, to decide how strict or loose they want to be when performing background checks. This has led to concerns that any teacher with a criminal past would be able to locate a job in a state where their history wouldn’t be discovered, potentially leading to more law violations down the road. Several officials with the State Board of Education are now calling for the rules to be changed here in North Carolina, although that won’t happen for at least a few months if then.
Former Deserter Apologizes
Former Army deserter Charles Robert Jenkins is finishing up his visit to North Carolina, but before leaving, he held a press conference on Monday to apologize for his actions almost fifty years ago. The 65-yr-old Jenkins said he was sorry for letting his fellow soldiers down along with the government and everyone else that had trusted in him. Jenkins was referring to his desertion in 1965, when he sneaked across the DMZ and into North Korea. After that, he spent the next four decades teaching English and taking part in propaganda films for the communist country. Released last year by North Korea, Jenkins was extradited to the US from his home in Japan. Later court-martialed and sentenced to 25 days in jail, he served his time and spent a week in North Carolina, visiting family members before heading back to his home. Jenkins also talked about North Korean leader Kim Jong II, saying that he was an evil man who only cares about his personal luxury.
Escapee Caught In Gaston County
A man who had escaped from the Gaston County jail is back in custody today, after being turned in by a relative. 28-yr-old Clinton Rucker was set to be released in three months before escaping Saturday night. He managed to gain access to a minivan at the jail and took off after hours. After a relative called in local officials and alerted them to where he was, Rucker gave himself up. Now he’ll face additional charges of stealing a car and escaping from jail, to go along with the three months left on his original sentence.
Sports Headlines
American Legion Baseball Tonight
The Wilkes Post 31 Patriots will be back in action tonight as they get set for their final home game of the regular season. The Patriots will take on Mocksville, as they’ll lock up a spot in the playoffs with a win. A loss however could mean the end of their season so everything is on the line tonight and we’ll be bringing you all the action right here on 3WC. Ken Byrd will be at the field for the first pitch at 7pm and we’ll go on the air tonight at 6:45 with the pregame show.
Appalachian To Make Changes For Football
Around the college scene, some changes are in store for Appalachian State’s football schedule, as all the games will be moved this year to 3:30pm. The four home games, Sept. 17th against Coastal Carolina, Oct. 15th vs. Georgia Southern, Oct. 29th against Chattanooga and finally Nov. 12th vs. Western Carolina have all been bumped to the later time, giving people more time to make it out to ‘The Rock’ and hopefully cut down on some traffic jams and other problems.
Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem losing against Fredrick 10-6. The Keys roughed up Warthogs’ starter Wes Whisler, as he gave up five runs in five innings of work. Over his past four starts, Whisler’s ERA has ballooned to 17.06. One bright spot for the Warthogs was Robert Valido as he extended his hitting streak to 16 games. His teammate Leo Daigle is starting a streak of his own as well, having hit in 11 straight games.
Health Questions Hurt McCants
In the NBA, we’re a week away from the college draft and while the stock of some players has risen, others are in free fall. Rashad McCants seemed to be a lock as a first round pick not even a month ago, but recent workouts have called into question his health once again. During workouts with the Magic and several other teams, McCants couldn’t finish the drills because he kept getting sick. While most teams say they’ll be making judgements on his entire career and not just his current status, McCants has quietly slipped from being a potential lottery pick to a late first rounder or possibly even dropping into the second round. McCants is scheduled to work out with the Bobcats this week.
posted by Scott Roberts # 9:17 AM
Monday, June 20, 2005
News & Sports For Monday June 20th 2005
Fire Last Week Declared To Be Arson
A fire in the Boomer area late last week has been ruled as arson, according to Wilkes Fire Marshals. Severe damage was done to the home, located on the Gunters Hill Road during the blaze on Wednesday and after some investigation, fire marshals believe it was intentionally set. They believe the arsonist used materials from within the home itself, which was unoccupied as it was being renovated by the owner. Over $30,000 worth of damage was done to the home in the fire and the investigation is ongoing.
Cell Phone Leads To Wreck On 268
Answering a call when you’re on the road can prove to be deadly. A Wilkesboro man found this out the hard way late last week when he was involved in a two car wreck on Hwy 268. The man had been trying to use his cell phone and wasn’t paying attention to the traffic ahead, which had come to a stop. He slammed into the vehicle in front of him, which was carrying a boat. The man’s car was totaled in the crash and over $3500 worth of damage was done to the boat he rammed.
Veterans To Be Honored Next Month
Plans are being finalized for the unveiling of the Veteran’s Brick Walk this summer. The event will take place on Saturday July 9th at the Veterans Walk, which will lead into the new 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.
Music Lovers Break Into Hays Home
Thieves broke into a residence in Hays late last week, leaving with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. The homeowner returned from a funeral to find his front door had been kicked in and several items stolen including a Marlin .22 rifle, a Guild Acoustic guitar and a red burgundy pouch. Deputies have several leads in the case and the investigation continues.
Cheese Packages Recalled
A recall has been announced here in Wilkes and across the state for a certain type of shredded cheese packages. The decision was handed down on Friday by the NC Dept. of Agriculture, as all one lb. packages of Queso El Nica shredded cheese were pulled from shelves. Samples of the cheese had tested positive for salmonella and while there have been no reports of sickness so far, the department decided not to take chances. Anyone who has bought the cheese is asked to return to to the store or throw it away. Salmonella poisoning can cause fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and in some severe cases, aneurysms or arthritis.
Owner Returns To Find Car Vandalized
A Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after finding that someone had caused over $300 worth of damage to his car. The vehicle had been left at the man’s workplace and when he returned the next morning, vandals had sliced into the paint, leaving marks on both the right side and one of the doors. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.
Roadside Assistance For Farmers
The Department of Agriculture has created a new program for farmers in the area, one that would help them market their products. The Roadside Farm Market program is designed to help farmers directly sell their fruits and vegetables to people who might otherwise buy the products at a store. Now for more information or to get involved with the program, you can contact Ross Williams at the NC Department of Agriculture. His number is 919-733-7887. Applications are also available at the Wilkes Cooperative Extension office.
Gas Thieves Hit Wilkesboro Business
Yet another business in Wilkes became the victim of gas thieves late last week. Someone pulled into the Fast Track on Hwy 421 in Wilkesboro, pumped $50 of gas in their vehicle and then drove off without paying. Employees in the store were able to get a description and turned that information over to Wilkesboro police. That investigation is ongoing.
Two Totaled In Curtis Bridge Wreck
A lack of concentration led to a wreck on the Curtis Bridge Road late last week. A North Wilkesboro couple were driving down the highway when suddenly a second car attempted to cut in front of them and make it into the parking lot of Northwestern Bank. He failed, instead leading to a wreck that totaled both vehicles and caused over $4500 worth of damage. The driver of the second vehicle later told police he hadn’t noticed the first vehicle when starting to turn.
Voting Continues For Gospel Music Awards
Voting continues to select the winners of 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. As we announced last week, 3WC 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
North Carolina Employment Numbers Up
Good news today on the job market, as the latest employment figures were released this weekend. North Carolina saw unemployment across the state drop to 5.1% by the end of May, that’s down .2% from 5.3 in April. For the fifth straight month, employment rose in the state as over 16,345 people have been hired since April. All total in 2005, 76,371 new jobs have been created in North Carolina.
Filing Deadlines Not Extended
Despite requests to the contrary, the signup for this year’s tobacco buyout program will not be extended. Several farmers’ groups had asked for an extension, in order to reach people that they said hadn’t heard about the state’s deadline. Members of the Farm Service Agency decided however that sufficient time had been given to alert all farmers across North Carolina, as announcements have been made in the newspaper, radio and tv along with several community meetings. One of the concerns voiced by the groups was that officials had failed to contact local minorities.
Flight Delayed As US Air Experiences Problems
For those who have a fear of flying, US Airways didn’t do much to help alleviate it this weekend. Electrical and mechanical problems forced the airline to delay a flight heading out of Charlotte to Little Rock Arkansas on Saturday. Local firefighters were called out to help put out a fire in the plane’s cockpit, a situation that was caused due to problems with the air conditioning. Passengers were just getting set to board when officials noticed the cockpit was smoking and announced the delays.
Asheville Man Arrested For Fraud
An Asheville man must pay out over $1.8 million to his victims after being found guilty of computer fraud. 44-yr-old Todd Wilson Short will also spend the next 10 years in prison after being sentenced on Friday. Short ran a business that offered laptop computers for sale via internet auctions, much like Ebay. Would be customers paid the money after winning but never got the merchandise. Over 250 people were taken in by the scam before Short was discovered and arrested. Short’s defense was that he’s mentally ill and believed he was working for the CIA.
Sports Headlines
American Legion Ball
It was a rough weekend for the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots, as the team saw their playoff chances take a major hit with their loss to Lexington. The Patriots fell 6-1 on Saturday night and in doing so, fell back into the eighth spot in the conference, just barely ahead of last place East Rowan. One more Patriots loss this week and their chance at a playoff spot will be non existent.
UNC Tarheels Sign Another Football Recruit
Several days after losing part of their backfield to injury, the Tarheel football team may have found his future replacement. Shaun Draughn, a 6 ft. 195 lb running back at Tarboro High School has announced his decision to commit to Chapel Hill. The rising senior made his decision after being offered a scholarship from Coach Bunting during a summer football camp Draughn attended this month. Draughn is also a versatile talent, able to play runningback, linebacker, cornerback, safety, return kicks and also saw some time at quarterback. This past year Draughn rushed for over a thousand yards and scored 25 touchdowns, while also passing for five more.
Around The Minor Leagues
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard from Sunday, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating Wilmington 6-3. Daniel Haigwood got the win for the Warthogs, giving up only two hits while striking out 11 in six innings of work. Warthog Robert Valido also continued his 15 game hitting streak, while teammate Leo Daigle got his league leading 80th RBI.
Panthers Sign Last Free Agent
In NFL news, the Carolina Panthers took care of business this weekend by signing the last of their free agents. Fullback Casey Cramer, the last exclusive rights free agent held over from last season, signed a one year deal to return to Carolina, worth $305,000. Cramer was signed from the Tennessee Titans practice squad late in the season and went on to contribute as both part of the offense and also on special teams. Now the team can focus on signing the last of its’ draft picks, including first rounder Thomas Davis.
Biffle Wins At Michigan
Greg Biffle took the checkered flag Sunday for the Batman Begins 500, his fifth win of the season. Tony Stewart was second, Mark Martin third, Matt Kenseth fourth and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five. Points leader Jimmie Johnson finished out of the top ten, finishing 19th and now only leading Biffle by 49 points heading into next weekend’s race.
Turkey Call Sold For Thousands
For anyone that has a turkey call put away in some part of the house, it might be a good idea to pull that out and dust it off. A hunter in Charlotte sold a turkey call at auction recently for $55,000, the highest price ever paid, according to experts in North Carolina. The equipment in question was known as a “trumpet yelper”, an eight inch long antique made of wood, a turkey’s wingbone and the shell from a .30 caliber bullet.
Fire Last Week Declared To Be Arson
A fire in the Boomer area late last week has been ruled as arson, according to Wilkes Fire Marshals. Severe damage was done to the home, located on the Gunters Hill Road during the blaze on Wednesday and after some investigation, fire marshals believe it was intentionally set. They believe the arsonist used materials from within the home itself, which was unoccupied as it was being renovated by the owner. Over $30,000 worth of damage was done to the home in the fire and the investigation is ongoing.
Cell Phone Leads To Wreck On 268
Answering a call when you’re on the road can prove to be deadly. A Wilkesboro man found this out the hard way late last week when he was involved in a two car wreck on Hwy 268. The man had been trying to use his cell phone and wasn’t paying attention to the traffic ahead, which had come to a stop. He slammed into the vehicle in front of him, which was carrying a boat. The man’s car was totaled in the crash and over $3500 worth of damage was done to the boat he rammed.
Veterans To Be Honored Next Month
Plans are being finalized for the unveiling of the Veteran’s Brick Walk this summer. The event will take place on Saturday July 9th at the Veterans Walk, which will lead into the new 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.
Music Lovers Break Into Hays Home
Thieves broke into a residence in Hays late last week, leaving with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. The homeowner returned from a funeral to find his front door had been kicked in and several items stolen including a Marlin .22 rifle, a Guild Acoustic guitar and a red burgundy pouch. Deputies have several leads in the case and the investigation continues.
Cheese Packages Recalled
A recall has been announced here in Wilkes and across the state for a certain type of shredded cheese packages. The decision was handed down on Friday by the NC Dept. of Agriculture, as all one lb. packages of Queso El Nica shredded cheese were pulled from shelves. Samples of the cheese had tested positive for salmonella and while there have been no reports of sickness so far, the department decided not to take chances. Anyone who has bought the cheese is asked to return to to the store or throw it away. Salmonella poisoning can cause fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and in some severe cases, aneurysms or arthritis.
Owner Returns To Find Car Vandalized
A Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after finding that someone had caused over $300 worth of damage to his car. The vehicle had been left at the man’s workplace and when he returned the next morning, vandals had sliced into the paint, leaving marks on both the right side and one of the doors. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.
Roadside Assistance For Farmers
The Department of Agriculture has created a new program for farmers in the area, one that would help them market their products. The Roadside Farm Market program is designed to help farmers directly sell their fruits and vegetables to people who might otherwise buy the products at a store. Now for more information or to get involved with the program, you can contact Ross Williams at the NC Department of Agriculture. His number is 919-733-7887. Applications are also available at the Wilkes Cooperative Extension office.
Gas Thieves Hit Wilkesboro Business
Yet another business in Wilkes became the victim of gas thieves late last week. Someone pulled into the Fast Track on Hwy 421 in Wilkesboro, pumped $50 of gas in their vehicle and then drove off without paying. Employees in the store were able to get a description and turned that information over to Wilkesboro police. That investigation is ongoing.
Two Totaled In Curtis Bridge Wreck
A lack of concentration led to a wreck on the Curtis Bridge Road late last week. A North Wilkesboro couple were driving down the highway when suddenly a second car attempted to cut in front of them and make it into the parking lot of Northwestern Bank. He failed, instead leading to a wreck that totaled both vehicles and caused over $4500 worth of damage. The driver of the second vehicle later told police he hadn’t noticed the first vehicle when starting to turn.
Voting Continues For Gospel Music Awards
Voting continues to select the winners of 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. As we announced last week, 3WC 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
North Carolina Employment Numbers Up
Good news today on the job market, as the latest employment figures were released this weekend. North Carolina saw unemployment across the state drop to 5.1% by the end of May, that’s down .2% from 5.3 in April. For the fifth straight month, employment rose in the state as over 16,345 people have been hired since April. All total in 2005, 76,371 new jobs have been created in North Carolina.
Filing Deadlines Not Extended
Despite requests to the contrary, the signup for this year’s tobacco buyout program will not be extended. Several farmers’ groups had asked for an extension, in order to reach people that they said hadn’t heard about the state’s deadline. Members of the Farm Service Agency decided however that sufficient time had been given to alert all farmers across North Carolina, as announcements have been made in the newspaper, radio and tv along with several community meetings. One of the concerns voiced by the groups was that officials had failed to contact local minorities.
Flight Delayed As US Air Experiences Problems
For those who have a fear of flying, US Airways didn’t do much to help alleviate it this weekend. Electrical and mechanical problems forced the airline to delay a flight heading out of Charlotte to Little Rock Arkansas on Saturday. Local firefighters were called out to help put out a fire in the plane’s cockpit, a situation that was caused due to problems with the air conditioning. Passengers were just getting set to board when officials noticed the cockpit was smoking and announced the delays.
Asheville Man Arrested For Fraud
An Asheville man must pay out over $1.8 million to his victims after being found guilty of computer fraud. 44-yr-old Todd Wilson Short will also spend the next 10 years in prison after being sentenced on Friday. Short ran a business that offered laptop computers for sale via internet auctions, much like Ebay. Would be customers paid the money after winning but never got the merchandise. Over 250 people were taken in by the scam before Short was discovered and arrested. Short’s defense was that he’s mentally ill and believed he was working for the CIA.
Sports Headlines
American Legion Ball
It was a rough weekend for the Wilkes Post 31 Patriots, as the team saw their playoff chances take a major hit with their loss to Lexington. The Patriots fell 6-1 on Saturday night and in doing so, fell back into the eighth spot in the conference, just barely ahead of last place East Rowan. One more Patriots loss this week and their chance at a playoff spot will be non existent.
UNC Tarheels Sign Another Football Recruit
Several days after losing part of their backfield to injury, the Tarheel football team may have found his future replacement. Shaun Draughn, a 6 ft. 195 lb running back at Tarboro High School has announced his decision to commit to Chapel Hill. The rising senior made his decision after being offered a scholarship from Coach Bunting during a summer football camp Draughn attended this month. Draughn is also a versatile talent, able to play runningback, linebacker, cornerback, safety, return kicks and also saw some time at quarterback. This past year Draughn rushed for over a thousand yards and scored 25 touchdowns, while also passing for five more.
Around The Minor Leagues
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard from Sunday, it was the Winston Salem Warthogs beating Wilmington 6-3. Daniel Haigwood got the win for the Warthogs, giving up only two hits while striking out 11 in six innings of work. Warthog Robert Valido also continued his 15 game hitting streak, while teammate Leo Daigle got his league leading 80th RBI.
Panthers Sign Last Free Agent
In NFL news, the Carolina Panthers took care of business this weekend by signing the last of their free agents. Fullback Casey Cramer, the last exclusive rights free agent held over from last season, signed a one year deal to return to Carolina, worth $305,000. Cramer was signed from the Tennessee Titans practice squad late in the season and went on to contribute as both part of the offense and also on special teams. Now the team can focus on signing the last of its’ draft picks, including first rounder Thomas Davis.
Biffle Wins At Michigan
Greg Biffle took the checkered flag Sunday for the Batman Begins 500, his fifth win of the season. Tony Stewart was second, Mark Martin third, Matt Kenseth fourth and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five. Points leader Jimmie Johnson finished out of the top ten, finishing 19th and now only leading Biffle by 49 points heading into next weekend’s race.
Turkey Call Sold For Thousands
For anyone that has a turkey call put away in some part of the house, it might be a good idea to pull that out and dust it off. A hunter in Charlotte sold a turkey call at auction recently for $55,000, the highest price ever paid, according to experts in North Carolina. The equipment in question was known as a “trumpet yelper”, an eight inch long antique made of wood, a turkey’s wingbone and the shell from a .30 caliber bullet.
posted by Scott Roberts # 7:35 AM
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