News & Sports For Thursday June 30th 2005

Focus On Love Packages
How many Bibles are lying around your house, stacked up in a bookshelf or on a table? What about used devotionals from like several months ago, the ones you just haven’t had time to cart off to the dump? Well there is an organization that can use those old Bibles and devotionals to help spread the gospel. Love Packages, out of Illinois takes those materials and gives them out to people in other countries who don't normally have access to the gospel message. Today the organization's founder, Steve Schmitt will be Brian's guest for Focus on the Foothills. And you can hear that program later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Wilkes Residents Fall Victim To Fraud
Two more residents of Wilkes County have fallen victim to fraud over the last week. One woman called Wilkesboro police earlier this week after discovering that someone had been using her check card. Over the past month, the card has been used eight times in places that she had never been. But this wasn’t a case of theft, as the woman still had the card in her possession. Just up the road in Purlear, a woman called sheriff’s deputies after discovering that someone had charged items on her credit card 15 times in the past day. She went to get the card, only to find it missing, Apparently sometime during the last week, she misplaced the card and it got into someone else’s hands, who ran up charges until the card was maxed out. There are however suspects in the case and both investigations are continuing.

Gas Pump Damaged At Local Store
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Fosters’ Grocery in Ronda this week, after someone damaged one of the fuel pumps at the store. An estimated $100 worth of damage was done, as witnesses said the driver pulled up, backed into the pumps and then drove away. Witnesses also said that the man was armed, as a small pistol could be seen in the vehicle as he drove off. No serious damage was done to the gas pumps and descriptions of both the man and his vehicle were turned over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

Deadline Today For Crop Reports
Today is the deadline for all local farmers to turn in their crop reports. Reports have to be turned in to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency, by explaining where your plot of land is and what was planted on it this season. The reasoning behind the deadline is to protect local farmers in case of a hurricane or other disaster, so that your information will already be on file in case you qualify for federal aid. One other thing to consider is that if farmers fail to turn in their reports, the agency will charge a late fee. For anyone who still needs to get that taken care of, you can call to set up an appointment at 838-3622.

Break-in With No Evidence
How do you break into a house without leaving behind any evidence? That’s what a homeowner in Moravian Falls is asking today, after returning to find over $5000 worth of materials missing. There was no sign of a break-in, no doors unlocked and virtually no way a thief could have got inside. Still, somehow a person did come in and took $4000 in cash, a watch, a laptop computer and also a ring from the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Fly-In This Saturday
A special event will be taking place this coming Saturday at the Wilkes County Airport. The 14th annual Fly-in will be held, with classic planes, cars and fire trucks on display. The event, put on by the Mountain View Ruitan Club, will go on from 9am til 3pm with plane rides and games for any kids who want to come out. In addition, the Carolina Historic Aviation Museum will have displays on hand. Once again all of that starts at 9am Saturday morning at the Wilkes Airport.

Renters Take Everything But The Walls
A Pineville man called sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday after discovering that a house he had rented out was almost completely bare of everything. The renter had recently settled his bill and left almost a week ago, but the man hadn’t had a chance until now to check the home out. The carpet had been ripped up and taken from most of the place, also the cookstove, several screens, a piano and other items as well. All total an estimated $9195 worth of merchandise was stolen from the home and just over a thousand dollars worth of damage. The name of the renter along with the place he worked was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation continues.

Man Arrested At Traffic Checkpoint
Sheriff’s deputies were performing a traffic check at the intersection of Old 16 and Vannoy Road on Tuesday when they saw a car speed up and then come to a dead stop. The driver just sat in his car, some 200 feet from the checkpoint, refusing to move. After deputies requested him to pull up he refused but instead drove the car onto the shoulder of the road and then stopped again. The vehicle had no registration plates and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside. After the driver failed a sobriety test, deputies arrested 59-yr-old Albert Ray Barker and charged him with DWI and not having registration for his car.

State News

Ten Commandments Raise Questions In NC
Questions are being raised in Nash County tonight, after the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this week. The local courthouse in Nash has a copy of the Ten Commandments on display, one that’s stood inside for almost 100 years. Now local officials are wondering if they’ll be ordered to remove it. The display has already come under fire once, as it was covered during a recent murder trial. The defendant’s lawyers had argued that it was unconstitutional to have the words “thou shall not kill” over the jury box while they were debating the man’s guilt. County officials said they had no plans to remove the Commandments unless forced to, but the county attorney is still taking a look at the Supreme Court ruling, to make sure they’re not guilty of a potential violation.

Durham Man Arrested After Signing His Name
Durham police arrested a man on Monday in a case of identity theft after he signed his own name to a credit card purchase. The man had stolen a card three months ago from another person in the Raleigh area, using it all this time to run up over 33 purchases. The man was finally discovered after he used the card to get a room at a Durham hotel, signing his own name on the receipt. As it was different from the one on the card, a red flag was put up and police were notified. 29-yr-old Henrick Kutwa is facing 33 counts of financial identity fraud.

Easley Signs New Bill Into Law
Gov. Easley signed a bill this week that gives law enforcement officers more powers in the hunt for pedophiles on the Internet. The Child Exploitation Prevention Act makes it a felony crime to solicit anyone over the internet who is identifying themselves as a child. The bill also allows the SBI to investigate the technology and methods used by pedophiles to develop patterns of behavior that could be used to track them down. Before this bill went into effect, anyone caught online could only be charged with a misdemeanor.

Police Asking For Help In Search
Police in the Charlotte area are asking for people across North Carolina to help in the search for a man missing since Monday night. The man, Cordelro Renrecko Peoples disappeared around 8:30pm on Monday and hasn’t returned. His family is concerned not just for his disappearance but also because Peoples has a kidney problem that requires medicine. Medicine still sitting at his home on Beacon Hill Lane. The man is described as being 5’1 ft. and weighing 95 lbs., with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information about Cordelro Peoples is asked to call 911.

Raleigh Police Fired After Investigation
Two Raleigh policemen have been fired today after an investigation that found they had violated department procedure. Two other members of the department have resigned and two have been suspended. The officers involved told internal affairs that they routinely ignored calls, doctoring computer reporting and lying to others when asked if they had responded. So far, all the calls ignored have been minor occurrences, such as reports of trees lying in the road or complaints of loud music. The officers blamed their actions on the fact they were overworked and had to pick and choose which calls to answer. The department released a statement saying they had been tipped off by other officers and took the appropriate steps.

Sports Headlines

Fastpitch Baseball Camp Coming Up
For any kids 13 and under who want to develop their baseball skills, a camp will be going on starting July 9th at the West Wilkes Middle School. There are only a few slots left for the camp, as you have to pre-register. Camp instructors will teach players how to work on their defensive skills, like how to field balls, hit their cut off man and turn a double play, while also working on their hitting technique and baserunning. Registration is $15 and to sign up, you can call Coach Summer Vogel at 927-3870 or send an email to CoachV@tristatebreakers.com

Last Day To Sign Up For Volleyball
The deadline is today for anyone who wants to join the local volleyball league, as a second round of tournaments start in July. It’s open for anyone to take part, from middle school students all the way up to adults in separate 3 on 3 divisions.
There is a fee to register, as it costs $30 to sign up your team to play. Once again today is the last day to sign up for July’s tournament and to do that you can either call 957-7363 or shoot an email to holloways@wilkes.k12.nc.us

American Legion Notes
Some news and notes from around the local American Legion fields. With their win over Wilkes on Tuesday, Rowan County not only advanced to the second round, but also walked away with home field advantage. And one other team moved on to the second round, as Stanly County beat Mooresville 11-0, taking the series three games to one.

ACC-Big Ten Schedule Released
And for anyone who’s counting down the days until college basketball returns, the schedule has been released for this fall’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The event starts Nov. 28th as Virginia Tech and Ohio State match up, then one day later five games are up on the schedule, including a rematch of this year’s NCAA championship. Illinois and North Carolina will battle it out Nov. 29th, along with Wake Forest & Wisconsin, Clemson at Penn State, Purdue at Florida State and Miami, who takes on Michigan. The challenge wraps up on Nov. 30th, with Duke going against Indiana, Northwestern taking on Virginia, Maryland against Minnesota and NC State facing off against Iowa.

NASCAR News & Notes
In Nascar, a major sponsor has signed on for the fall race in Charlotte. Starting next season, the race at Lowes Motor Speedway will be known as the Bank of America 500, a title which is going to stick around for at least the next five years. And in other NASCAR news, Brian France spoke out this week during a teleconference about the diversity we’ll be seeing within NASCAR in the next few seasons. France said that doors were being opened, especially with Indy Racing rookie Danica Patrick doing so well in her first season on the track. He hinted that there could be an influx of Hispanic, African-American and female drivers making their way onto the track in the next few years.

News & Sports For Tuesday June 28th 2005

Lowes Creates New Committee To Help Wilkes
Lowes Company announced on Monday that a new committee has been created to help needs in the Wilkes County area. The Wilkes County Hometown Grants Advisory Committee will help make recommendations and determine where best to give $250,000 in grants. Those grants will go out to local charitable organizations, as part of the Lowes’ Charitable and Educational Foundation. Local community leaders will be added to the committee in coming months, which is going to be chaired by Wilkesboro store manager Chuck Elledge. After the group makes recommendations, the proposal will be turned over for a final vote by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Deputies Catch Burglar In The Act
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence on Sunday, responding to reports of a burglary. When deputies arrived on the scene they found the suspect coming out of the basement empty handed. When he saw deputies the man took off running, only to be tracked down minutes later. After a brief fight, 38-yr-old Jeffrey Clinton Wagoner was arrested and charged with 1st degree burglary, property damage and resisting arrest.

Pepsi Machines Vandalized At Local Store
The BP store on Statesville Road was the latest place to be hit by vandals this week. Someone tried to rip apart the drink machines, apparently hoping to gain access to the money section inside. However despite causing over $100 worth of damage to the machine, the would be thieves gave up and went home. There are no suspects in the case however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Reminder: Horses Need West Nile Vaccine
As 3WC reported yesterday, we’re in the middle of mosquito season here in North Carolina. But that doesn’t just mean bad news for humans, the bugs can cause problems for our animals as well. For horse owners here in the county, if you haven’t already, it’s time to get your animal vaccinated. Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and the West Nile Virus are two diseases that have become a recurring problem for horse owners here in the state. Now in order to keep the horse vaccinated, owners have to give it two shots, each taken 30 days apart. These shots must be done by a local vet and won’t take effect until both have been injected. To get some more information about the diseases or where you can get a vaccine, you can contact Wilkes Animal Control at 903-7688.

Case Of ID Theft Discovered At Wal-Mart
Wilkesboro police were called out to Wal-Mart earlier this week, after a store manager uncovered a case of ID theft. Over the last few months, a man had been coming into the store and buying items, then getting cash back after writing a check. However this was news to the owner of the checks, who is some 40 years older than the man who’s been passing checks. It turns out that wasn’t the only thing fake, as the home phone number given out by the man turned out to be that of Tyson Foods. A description of the man was turned over to police and the investigation is ongoing.

Car Vandalized While Owner Shops
A Union Grove woman called sheriff’s deputies after coming back to her car to find the tires had been slashed. In addition, a man was crouched down near one of the tires and she was able to get a good look at him before he ran off. Nothing else was damaged on the vehicle and nothing was stolen from inside. Estimated damages were placed right at $175. The suspect is a former friend of the woman and his name, along with a description and address was turned over to sheriff’s deputies. The investigation is continuing.

Samaritan’s Kitchen Update
Samaritan’s Kitchen has been expanding their operations in the last few months, to the point where they now deliver meals to over 450 different families across Wilkes County. That’s just over 1600 meals that need to be prepared, loaded up and delivered each week. With that progress comes a greater need for volunteers, as the organization finds itself falling short in most categories. The man need is for drivers to transport the meals on Saturdays, however cooks, assembly line workers, greeters and other volunteers are needed as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or just want some more information, you can drop by the Kitchen anytime from 8am til 2pm during the week. They’re located just down the road on Woodland Blvd from the Wilkesboro Post Office. You can also give them a call at 838-5331.

Another Man Assaulted In His Car
For the second time in less than a week, a man was assaulted while in his car. A local man was driving down Woodland Blvd when someone jumped in front of his vehicle, yelling about a speed limit. The man ran over to the driver’s side window and grabbed at the driver’s arm, telling him he didn’t belong on that street. No one in the area could recall seeing anyone who matched the description provided. Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

Make Sure Your Keys Are Put Up
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro residence over the weekend, after the homeowner returned to find someone pulling out of his driveway. Over a thousand dollars worth of damage had been done to the car that had been parked at the home, with sugar in the gas tank, busted speakers and the face plate stolen from his radio. Keys were also stolen that allowed the thief access to the man’s home, however it didn’t appear that anything had been disturbed inside. The thief was identified by the homeowner, who provided both a name and also a description for deputies. Warrants are pending in the case.

Just Came In For A Look
A Millers Creek man came home to find that someone had paid him a visit while he was out of town. The door to the house had been kicked in and a nearby window was shattered. However nothing was taken from the residence itself and no other damage could be found. The house is a half mile from the main road, so the vandals went to a lot of trouble to damage a door. Current estimates place the damage at $2000 and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

Landmark Burned During Monday Fire
Monday morning, fire ignited inside one of the state’s historic landmarks, burning a good portion of it to the ground. The Hotel Astor, which has stood for over eighty years in Wilmington, sustained major damage during the blaze, which officials believe could have been intentionally caused. The fire ignited just before 5am, according to local officials and it took firefighters several hours to put it all out. Based on the evidence, both SBI and ATF investigators have been assigned to the case.

First Murder In Three Years Rocks Spencer
Officials in the town of Spencer North Carolina have to do something this week for the first time in almost three years. Investigate a murder. A 53-yr-old man was found dead in his home Sunday morning. Police also found the man’s wife and son outside, covered from head to toe with scratches, bite marks and cuts. They told officials that the man had assaulted them both before heading into the house and grabbing a weapon. Police wouldn’t explain how the man died, but whatever they found at the scene was enough to throw out the idea of suicide and instead label the death as a murder. That investigation is ongoing.

Money Figures Just Don’t Add Up
Questions are being raised today at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics after the president’s salary was made public. Gerald Boarman, the school’s president makes $195,000 a year, that’s more than nine of the chancellors who run public universities here in North Carolina. Boarman hasn’t commented as to if he thinks it’s fair, saying that he believes all of this infighting could hurt the reputation of the school. It’s unknown what if any changes will be made.

Medic Wants License Back After Dead Man Wakes Up
Earlier this year, a man in Franklin County was declared dead after an accident, only to wake up before the autopsy was going to be performed. Now one of the paramedics that was at the scene is asking for his license back. Randy Kearney had his license taken away after state officials said that he didn’t do his job properly. Kearney had checked for a pulse on the man and told other paramedics according to a written statement that he thought the man was dead. Based on that statement the man was put into a body bag and carted off to the morgue. Kearney’s attorneys now say that their client was only acting as a first responder on the scene that night and that state officials don’t have the right to take away his license.

Drug Program May Go Under The Knife
As state lawmakers continue to search for ways to solve the financial problem they created, yet another government program may be cut or at least have its’ funding trimmed. Here in North Carolina, nonviolent drug offenders have the option of going through a yearlong treatment plan instead of prison. Both judges and prosecutors alike testified to the program’s success, saying that a felon who has taken part in it is significantly less likely to be arrested again. Under the proposed budget, currently in the state Senate, almost all of the plan’s funding has been cut. Lawmakers say that they believe it can run efficiently with only federal money and little state support.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Teams Come Up Just Short In Cup Hunt
Around the local scene, high schools may have let out for the summer, but the final awards were just recently handed out by the state high school athletics association. Each year all schools with an athletic program in North Carolina try to win the Wachovia Cup. Votes are given to different schools based on the win-loss records of their programs, along with any conference or state titles they may have won during the year. While none of the Wilkes schools came close to winning the Cup itself, some did come close to taking the Conference Cup in their respective divisions. Wilkes Central finished in a tie for second place in the Mountain Valley 2A, coming up even with Hibriten. Forbush walked away with this year’s trophy, while West Wilkes came in sixth and North Wilkes finished in last place. Over in the Northwest 1A, Starmount took the conference title, with East Wilkes coming in sixth.

UNC & Wake Vying For Linebacker
In college football, a North Carolina prospect has become the focus of a recruiting battle between UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest. Matt Woodlief, a star linebacker at Bandys High School, is being recruited by both schools for their 2006 class but for different reasons. Wake Forest wants the 5-11 235 lb. Woodlief to come in as a linebacker, partly due to the punishing hits he’s become known for delivering on the field. The Tarheels on the other hand want him to come in as their fullback, a position which he gained 332 yards in limited action this past year. Woodlief however has yet to make up his mind, saying that wherever he goes, all he wants is lots of playing time and a chance at a good educations.

Wake Forest Player Travels To Asia
In college basketball, while most kids are either in summer school or doing a part time job, one local player is heading off to another country. Trent Strickland, a rising senior at Wake Forest, is getting ready to leave on a two week tour of East Asia. Strickland is going as part of the Athletes in Action sports ministry, which has set up the opportunity for college players to work out against squads from other countries, including China’s Olympic team, while also preaching the gospel. Strickland said that he’s excited to go, because he wants to put God first in his life and hopes this will help his spiritual growth.

NASCAR Drivers Have Issues With Tires
In NASCAR, with the playoff soon approaching tempers are heating up and accusations are being thrown out. The latest ones are against tires used by Ford and Dodge vehicles. Teams are being accused of using special valves on the tires that would release excess air pressure, keeping it constant during the race. Drivers would be affected by this due to the fact a car handles differently depending on the tire pressure. So far no violations have been found, although a recent testing did find that Dodge and Ford are ahead of GM in the tire race, with the two companies offering a better analysis program.

News & Sports For Monday June 27th 2005

Wilkesboro Hosts Dance Championship
This past weekend, people from over 20 states made their way into Wilkesboro to take part in the annual Dance Machine Performing Arts Championships. 1600 competitors took part in this year’s event, which had an overall attendance of 4000 people. The competition started on Thursday in the Walker Center at Wilkes Community College and went throughout the weekend, wrapping up Sunday afternoon. Original plans called for the championships to be held this year in High Point, but organizers changed their mind after a poll showed competitors wants to come back to Wilkesboro. Local estimates suggest that the event put in just under a million dollars to the regional economy.

Armed Robbery At Pleasant Hill Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out over the weekend to a residence in Pleasant Hill, after a local woman was robbed. Another woman came to the house demanding money and after being turned down, pulled out a hunting knife. Only finding two dollars and some change inside, she took off out the door. Later on the suspect’s father came over and returned the woman’s money, apologizing for his daughter’s actions. The robber was later found at her family’s residence, rambling and not making any sense. She was taken to Wilkes Regional where she was committed.

Vehicle Stolen By Tow Truck
A Jonesville man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after returning home to find his car had been stolen. Now deputies are trying to determine how that exactly happened, as the vehicle’s engine was blown and it was up on blocks. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone near the property. Also along with the vehicle itself, the man had boxed up portions of his clothes and other items due to the fact he was planning to move. There are no suspects however deputies are continuing the investigation.

Four Days Away From Crop Deadline
Local farmers have less than five days left until the second of this year’s crop report deadlines, coming up this Thursday June 30th. To meet the deadline, all you have to do is go out to the Wilkes Farm Service Agency, show where your plot of land is and what you planted this season. Something else to consider is that if any farmers fail to turn in their reports, they will be charged a late fee by the agency. For any farmers who still need to get that taken care of, you can go by the Farm Service Agency today. To set up an appointment or for more information, their number is 838-3622.

Man Assaulted On Highway
A Wilkesboro man called sheriff’s deputies late last week after being assaulted while on the highway. The man had pulled off on the shoulder of 421 for a minute when something hit him in the head. Just a few seconds later, three men came up and pulled him out of the car, beating him for several minutes before just as quickly leaving. They didn’t ask for money, didn’t steal the car and didn’t say a word, just beat the man and left. Descriptions of the men were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and the investigation is ongoing.

Just Stopped By To Have A Look
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Harrold Mountain Road late last week, after thieves shattered glass in the back door and went inside. However after the homeowner checked things out, nothing was missing from the place. Also there was no damage to the area and nothing to indicate someone had been inside, except for the shattered glass and open door. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Video Game Bandits Raid Wilkesboro Home
Never leave doors unlocked at your home. A Wilkesboro woman learned that the hard way over the weekend, after thieves walked right in and started shopping. Included in the theft was a dell computer, an X-Box game system, the woman’s telephone and her answering machine, along with several hundred dollars in cash. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Be Prepared For Mosquitoes
As we head into the month of July, mosquitoes are back in the county and there are some things you need to be aware of. The Centers for Disease Control have sent out an update, warning about possible viruses carried by the bugs. La Crosse is the most common mosquito-bred illness in the state. Unlike the sport of the same name, this can be a slow moving virus most often seen in children and seniors. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. Also the West Nile virus is the most well known disease caused by the insects. Strangely enough, 80% of people who contract West Nile in North Carolina won’t even know it for possibly several weeks. Symptoms are mostly the same as La Crosse, except you can also develop a skin rash and in rare occasions be temporarily paralyzed. Finally Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis is the most dangerous, but also the most rare. Symptoms appear to be a serious case of the flu, with a high fever and headache. Now to prevent against any of these while on your Independence Day vacation, doctors suggest putting on some mosquito repellent. DEET is the most recommended, but people can also use oil of eucalyptus or picaridin for the same results.

Roaring River Home Falls Victim To Thieves
Thieves broke into a Roaring River woman’s home late last week, causing over $500 in damage in the process. A sliding glass door at the home was shattered and thieves walked out with a tv, some jewelry and other items totaling an estimated $2700. That investigation is ongoing.

Check Road Conditions Before Leaving
With the July 4th weekend coming up, it’s important to know what the road conditions are like across Wilkes. Where the DOT is working, what sections of highway have been closed off, things like that. You can access that by visiting the state DOT website at www.ncdot.org. Also you can check out information on proposed road projects and how the holiday might affect both their schedule and your traffic conditions at www.ncdot.org/projects/wilkescounty/. There you will find information on public meetings, schedules, and area maps.

State News

Jobs Coming To Danville
Good news for people in Danville today, as 120 new jobs will be coming into the area this year. EIT, an electronic design and manufacturing service, is planning to build a manufacturing plant in the area, one that would serve as a central location for the company’s major markets. Construction is expected to begin within the month and hiring will go on later this year.

National Guard Soldiers Return Home
The city of Raleigh turned out to hold a welcome home celebration Saturday for members of the National Guard. The 30th Heavy Separate Brigade actually returned home almost six months ago, but their tour of duty was officially over on Saturday, and state officials came out to join in the celebration. Gov. Easley was on hand, as the troops returned to him the US flag he had given to the unit when they shipped out. Hootie & the Blowfish performed along with the brigade’s own band, called the Hickabillies. Members of the troop said they were glad to be home and just hoped that they were able to help the Iraqis return to normal life.

Major Drug Bust In Lincolnton
Over one thousand pounds of marijuana was seized in Lincoln County over the weekend, thanks in part to a tip from the Maiden Police Department. Members of the department, along with other officers from the Lincoln County Narcotics Task Force raided two homes in the area, finding 1114 pounds of marijuana and arresting three men. The drugs have an estimated street value of one million dollars and mark the largest bust in the area’s history.

Applications Show Widespread Damage From Storm
Last year North Carolina felt the force of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan, but the full extent of the damage wasn’t known until this weekend, when state officials got the last applications in for disaster assistance. All total, North Carolina received 4627 applications requesting aid money for damages to homes, roads or other items caused by last year’s storms. June 17th was this year’s deadline to request aid, which will come from a $247 million recovery package approved earlier this year by the legislature. The first checks will be sent out in August and continue on over a period of 18 months.

Portions Of Parkway Still Closed
Bad news today for anyone looking to take a trip on the Parkway this 4th of July weekend. You may have to take a detour or two along the way. Portions of the Parkway stretching from Mount Mitchell to NC Hwy 80 have been shut down and won’t reopen until the middle of next month. The eleven mile section of road had to be closed after rainfall in the area caused portions of the roadbed to wash away. Now work crews are trying to not only repair the road but also strengthen it so that this doesn’t happen again. Depending on the weather, work could last until August.

Sports Headlines

Wilkes Makes Playoffs, Falls To Rowan
Overcoming the odds, Wilkes County’s American Legion team made it into the playoffs, finishing just ahead of South Rowan thanks in part to a somewhat controversial ruling. Taking on Rowan County Saturday night in the first game of the series, Wilkes lost 11-6. The 6-15 Patriots had a chance to take the lead several times, but missed opportunities and errors sent Wilkes home with the loss. The best of five series will move back to Rowan County tonight with a gametime set for 7pm.

Tarheels Land Another Football Recruit
In college football news, UNC landed yet another prospect as Mount Tabor’s Ryan Taylor committed to the school. Taylor, a 6-4 215 lb. wide receiver who’s also a rising senior this year, turned down offers from Wake Forest and Vanderbilt to join the Heels. He’ll face a change of position in college however, as Tarheel coaches already said they plan to turn him into a H-back, a mix of fullback and tight end.

College Ends Early For Gardner-Webb Pitcher
For one college student, class ended a year earlier than planned, as Gardner-Webb’s Zach Ward was selected earlier this month by the Cincinnati Reds. After a few weeks of negotiating Ward officially signed with the team this weekend, leaving behind Boiling Springs for his new temporary home with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League. Ward said he hopes to make his way quickly through the minors so that he can play with one of his heroes, outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, the Hickory Crawdads rode an offensive explosion to take the 11-3 win over Asheville on Sunday. Crawdads starter Yoann Torrealba gave up three runs in six innings of work to pick up his second win of the season, while catcher Neal Walker helped carry the load with two home runs. And up the road in Winston, the Warthogs beat Wilmington 6-2. Warthogs starter Lance Broadway went five innings in his first game as a professional, giving up two runs while striking out three. Also Warthog Robert Valido kept his hitting streak alive as he extends it to 18 games.

Stewart Wins At Sonoma
In NASCAR, Tony Stewart took the checkered flag Sunday afternoon in the Dodge/Save Mart 350. Ricky Rudd came in second, Kurt Busch was third, Rusty Wallace was fourth and Dale Jarrett rounded out the top five. Greg Biffle took the lead in points despite a 14th place finish, as former leader Jimmie Johnson ended up 36th. Biffle now holds a 22 point lead in the standings.