The local and regional news page of 12403wc Hometown Christian Radio.
Friday, July 08, 2005
News & Sports For July 8th
Wilkes Cleans Up From Cindy
The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy swept through the area yesterday, bringing along severe thunderstorms and a lot of rain. Now in the wake of the storm people are working to clean up the damage. Reports came in throughout the afternoon yesterday of downed trees, power outages and standing water covering the roads in some places. Duke Power crews worked on into the evening hours, to restore power to all of the affected customers, which totaled in the dozens. Rainfall varied from 3 inches reported in the Traphill area to 1 ½ in Boomer. And Wilkes County residents can now brace for yet another storm on the way. Hurricane Dennis has entered the Gulf of Mexico and is heading towards Florida. If it hits Florida in the next two days, as is expected, the remnants of it could follow a similar path to Cindy and end up passing through North Carolina in the early part of next week.
Second Arrest Made In Assault & Robbery Case
Earlier this week, 3WC reported about a break-in that left a Wilkes County man in the hospital. 83-yr-old Dewitt Warren Souther was beaten and robbed Tuesday night at his home. That same day officials arrested 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes and charged him with the crime, noting that he didn’t act alone. Now a second arrest has been made in the case as Haynes’ 21-yr-old girlfriend has also been arrested. Angela Beth Byers was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny.
Missing Girl Found In Charlotte
Some good news today for a local family. As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found Wednesday night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.
Head Start Taking Applications
Applications are now being taken for this year’s Head Start program, a preschool plan designed to help 3 and 4 year old children with their education. The program, which is run by the BROC agency, is currently accepting new students at their three locations here in Wilkes: The Cub Creek Center, the Lomax Center and also the North Wilkesboro Center. To be eligible, children and their families have to meet certain guidelines, mainly concerning the household income. In addition, the program also accepts disabled or special needs children regardless of their family income. When you come in to apply, you must have the child’s birth certificate and also proof of your income for the last year. This year’s program will run from August until May of 2006, 8:30am til 2:30pm Monday through Thursday. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell at the BROC head office. Her number is 667-7174.
Gas Thieves Hit Before Storm
Before the rain hit Wilkes County, yet another local business fell victim to gas thieves. The Rock Creek Run-In on Elkin Highway was the site of the latest incident, as a man pulled up Wednesday night, pumped his gas and told employees he’d be back to pay in fifteen minutes. He then got into his car and drove off, failing to return as promised. A description of both him and his vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies, along with his license plate number. That investigation is ongoing.
Flood Preparation
In the wake of the storms that passed through Wilkes on Thursday, the water is going down and cleanup is beginning. But after the storm is over, there are some things you need to check out. For instance, If your power was out for any extended period of time, the US Department of Agriculture suggests to keep an eye on your food. Supplies can go bad quickly once the power goes out. And if your house suffered any damage from flood waters, any carpets, mattresses or furniture that was soaked needs to be thrown away if possible. The reason being that the longer water sits in one place, you run the risk of mold or bacteria growing, which can lead to health problems. Finally be careful when walking around your house after a flood. Snakes and other creatures tend to look for dry spots to take refuge during a storm and that could include your basement or outbuilding.
Drugs Found At License Checkpoint
Sheriff’s deputies were operating a license checkpoint on Hwy 16 North earlier this week, when a man pulled up with a gun in the seat next to him. There was a temporary tag on the vehicle and no registration. After a few minutes hesitation, the man agreed to let deputies search his car. Inside they found eight grams of marijuana, some drug paraphernalia and a bottle of Xanax. 35-yr-old James Ivan Roland was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Cars Vandalized Around Wilkes
Several drivers across the county found their cars vandalized this week. A Roaring River man walked outside his home to find that during the night, someone had smashed the drivers’ side window. No one in the area heard or saw anything during the night, including the homeowner himself. The same thing happened to a North Wilkesboro woman, as she also took a walk outside to find her drivers’ side window smashed. There are suspects and deputies are continuing the investigation into both cases.
Search Warrant Leads To Drug Bust
Acting on a search warrant, sheriff’s deputies went to a residence on Boone Trail this week. After being let in, deputies discovered 32 grams of marijuana, including some that had been stuffed down into the dog’s food. In addition they also found Xanax and Lorcet bottles lying around in the living room. Deputies arrested 41-yr-old William Andrew Johnston and charged him with felony possession of marijuana, along with another charge of drug possession for the pills and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.
Veterans Walk Dedication Tomorrow
Tomorrow afternoon people in Wilkes will gather together to honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony on Saturday at the Wilkes Heritage Museum. For anyone who bought a brick before the May 30th deadline, their 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 North Carolina National Guard Band. Once again that will take place tomorrow July 9th at the Old Wilkes Courthouse. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.
Medicine Stolen From Wilkes Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Absher Road this week, after thieves kicked down the door and had a look around. The homeowner and his wife returned to find their back door had been forced open and several bottles of prescription painkillers had been stolen from the house. Nothing else was taken from the residence and no other damage could be found. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
Festival Pays Bills Two Years Later
Over two years after it took place, the Festival of Flight in Fayetteville has finished paying off creditors. Due to a lower turnout than expected, the 2003 festival racked up $263,000 in debt and organizers have spent the past two years trying to raise the money to pay. But an anonymous gift from a member of the festival’s board of directors helped the group put together enough funds to make good on their bills. The 11-day event was originally put together as a celebration of the Wright Brothers and their historic flight.
Cindy Leaves Mark Across Western North Carolina
Across North Carolina, Tropical Depression Cindy left her mark on Thursday. In Alexander, Catawba and Surry Counties, tornadoes knocked down trees and caused damage to homes while in Stokes County, a local school was flooded. Severe rain and wind beat down across the rest of the Piedmont and Catawba County also saw a sinkhole form in the parking lot of a Hickory restaurant. Lightning storms were also reported throughout the day and night in several parts of the state. Official damage estimates haven’t been finished yet but the final bill is expected to be in the millions.
Meth Lab Found And Destroyed In Conover
Police in Conover responded to a domestic disturbance this week, only to discover a meth lab in the process. A woman at the house had called police, wanting to take out assault charges on the two men inside. Police agreed and took her to the magistrate, where warrants were obtained. Once both men were in custody, they began talking about a meth lab being run out of the home by some of their friends who actually live in the home where they were arrested at. Police confirmed the lab’s existence and turned things over to the State Bureau of Investigation, whose agents began destroying it on Wednesday.
Two Men Charged With Shooting At Deputy’s Home
Officials in Catawba County have made two arrests in a case we first reported for you earlier this week. Two deputies with the Catawba County sheriff’s department had come home to find their houses had been shot at over the past week, in addition to one of the men’s patrol cars. Now 21-yr-old James Drew Ballard and 20-yr-old Adam Michael Miller have been arrested and charged with firing a weapon into an occupied property. Both men were arrested late Wednesday night, after investigators received an anonymous tip. The two had a brief struggle with officers, which resulted in them being taken to the hospital afterward for minor injuries. Now both are in jail without explaining why they took shots at the two homes. The two are also being investigated now by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Concerns Raised As Illegals Go To Trial
A federal judge raised concerns on Thursday about the case moving forward against 43 illegal immigrants that were found to be working at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Originally 49 had been arrested, but six were later released. Some of the illegals had been working for a subcontractor of the Department of Defense on the base, doing construction work. Now the judge overseeing the case has said he’s not sure that the workers understand the charges being brought against them and need to have attorneys, which they presently don’t. As a result, he ruled that all proceedings will be slow to guarantee the case is handled in the right way. The illegals got the jobs by using fake social security and green cards, which they obtained after coming across the border. INS officials called the incident a matter of national security, due to the fact that terrorists could easily use the same techniques as the illegals to gain access to the United States.
Thieves Steal From The Red Cross
The Highland chapter of the Red Cross is investigating itself today, after $20,000 was discovered to be missing. Officials believe the money was embezzled by a volunteer, who confessed when confronted. Formal criminal charges are coming as the case has been turned over to Fayetteville police. The organization is requesting both criminal charges be filed and the money repaid in full before any plea deal would be considered. Officials with the organization say that while the incident might hurt donations, they are more than willing to open up their books for any concerned donors.
Sports Headlines
Lawson May Leave Early For The Pros
UNC Tarheel fans might not want to get too attached to Tywon Lawson when he steps onto campus in 2006. During an interview this week, Lawson said that if the NBA hadn’t installed an age limit, he would have considered going straight to the pros. Lawson is currently the nation’s number one high school point guard and said that if the opportunity presents itself, he’ll do what’s best for him. If that means leaving school after one year, he’ll go if an NBA team guarantees him a spot as a lottery pick.
Former Duke Player To Make Professional Debut
A former member of the Duke Blue Devils will make their professional debut this weekend in golf. Brittany Lang, who was the ACC player of the year, left the Duke team after the season ended to pursue her dream of becoming a professional and she’ll get that chance today. Lang is part of the field at the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Coming Classic, which teed off yesterday. She’s also received a sponsor exemption to play in next weekend’s BMO Financial Canadian Women’s Open in Nova Scotia.
Randolph Given Another Chance
Shavlik Randolph has another chance at making it onto an NBA roster. The 6-10 Randolph left Duke after his junior season, only to go unnoticed during last month’s NBA draft. Now the Philadelphia 76ers have extended an offer to come in and work out during the summer. If the team likes his performance, a contract could be waiting. The Sixers’ staff said they liked Randolph’s athleticism and thought he was worth taking a chance on.
NASCAR News
Good news from around the NASCAR circuit today, as fans will be making the trek out to the Lady in Black for another season. Darlington Raceway is safe for 2006 according to track owners, who allowed letters to be sent out this week for ticket renewals for the May 13th Dodge Dealers 500. Over the past few years concerns have been raised as to Darlington’s future, but the “Lady in Black” as the track has come to be known will live for another season. Officials said that the sold out race this past May convinced them to keep the track going at least for a few more years. The full schedule for next season will be released later on this summer.
Atlanta Speedway Damaged
North Carolina wasn’t the only area to fall victim to the remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy. Georgia was also hit hard, especially at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the scoring towers were torn down and the Weaver grandstand was ripped to shreds, in addition to several buildings near the starting line. In addition, the Richard Petty tribute garden was wrecked, with lamp posts and flag poles tossed around the area. Estimated damages were placed at around $35 million however track officials said they would have things up and running by October 30th, when the Nextel Cup comes to town with the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.
The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy swept through the area yesterday, bringing along severe thunderstorms and a lot of rain. Now in the wake of the storm people are working to clean up the damage. Reports came in throughout the afternoon yesterday of downed trees, power outages and standing water covering the roads in some places. Duke Power crews worked on into the evening hours, to restore power to all of the affected customers, which totaled in the dozens. Rainfall varied from 3 inches reported in the Traphill area to 1 ½ in Boomer. And Wilkes County residents can now brace for yet another storm on the way. Hurricane Dennis has entered the Gulf of Mexico and is heading towards Florida. If it hits Florida in the next two days, as is expected, the remnants of it could follow a similar path to Cindy and end up passing through North Carolina in the early part of next week.
Second Arrest Made In Assault & Robbery Case
Earlier this week, 3WC reported about a break-in that left a Wilkes County man in the hospital. 83-yr-old Dewitt Warren Souther was beaten and robbed Tuesday night at his home. That same day officials arrested 23-yr-old Justin Charles Haynes and charged him with the crime, noting that he didn’t act alone. Now a second arrest has been made in the case as Haynes’ 21-yr-old girlfriend has also been arrested. Angela Beth Byers was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny.
Missing Girl Found In Charlotte
Some good news today for a local family. As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found Wednesday night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.
Head Start Taking Applications
Applications are now being taken for this year’s Head Start program, a preschool plan designed to help 3 and 4 year old children with their education. The program, which is run by the BROC agency, is currently accepting new students at their three locations here in Wilkes: The Cub Creek Center, the Lomax Center and also the North Wilkesboro Center. To be eligible, children and their families have to meet certain guidelines, mainly concerning the household income. In addition, the program also accepts disabled or special needs children regardless of their family income. When you come in to apply, you must have the child’s birth certificate and also proof of your income for the last year. This year’s program will run from August until May of 2006, 8:30am til 2:30pm Monday through Thursday. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell at the BROC head office. Her number is 667-7174.
Gas Thieves Hit Before Storm
Before the rain hit Wilkes County, yet another local business fell victim to gas thieves. The Rock Creek Run-In on Elkin Highway was the site of the latest incident, as a man pulled up Wednesday night, pumped his gas and told employees he’d be back to pay in fifteen minutes. He then got into his car and drove off, failing to return as promised. A description of both him and his vehicle were turned over to sheriff’s deputies, along with his license plate number. That investigation is ongoing.
Flood Preparation
In the wake of the storms that passed through Wilkes on Thursday, the water is going down and cleanup is beginning. But after the storm is over, there are some things you need to check out. For instance, If your power was out for any extended period of time, the US Department of Agriculture suggests to keep an eye on your food. Supplies can go bad quickly once the power goes out. And if your house suffered any damage from flood waters, any carpets, mattresses or furniture that was soaked needs to be thrown away if possible. The reason being that the longer water sits in one place, you run the risk of mold or bacteria growing, which can lead to health problems. Finally be careful when walking around your house after a flood. Snakes and other creatures tend to look for dry spots to take refuge during a storm and that could include your basement or outbuilding.
Drugs Found At License Checkpoint
Sheriff’s deputies were operating a license checkpoint on Hwy 16 North earlier this week, when a man pulled up with a gun in the seat next to him. There was a temporary tag on the vehicle and no registration. After a few minutes hesitation, the man agreed to let deputies search his car. Inside they found eight grams of marijuana, some drug paraphernalia and a bottle of Xanax. 35-yr-old James Ivan Roland was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Cars Vandalized Around Wilkes
Several drivers across the county found their cars vandalized this week. A Roaring River man walked outside his home to find that during the night, someone had smashed the drivers’ side window. No one in the area heard or saw anything during the night, including the homeowner himself. The same thing happened to a North Wilkesboro woman, as she also took a walk outside to find her drivers’ side window smashed. There are suspects and deputies are continuing the investigation into both cases.
Search Warrant Leads To Drug Bust
Acting on a search warrant, sheriff’s deputies went to a residence on Boone Trail this week. After being let in, deputies discovered 32 grams of marijuana, including some that had been stuffed down into the dog’s food. In addition they also found Xanax and Lorcet bottles lying around in the living room. Deputies arrested 41-yr-old William Andrew Johnston and charged him with felony possession of marijuana, along with another charge of drug possession for the pills and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs.
Veterans Walk Dedication Tomorrow
Tomorrow afternoon people in Wilkes will gather together to honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony on Saturday at the Wilkes Heritage Museum. For anyone who bought a brick before the May 30th deadline, their 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 North Carolina National Guard Band. Once again that will take place tomorrow July 9th at the Old Wilkes Courthouse. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.
Medicine Stolen From Wilkes Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Absher Road this week, after thieves kicked down the door and had a look around. The homeowner and his wife returned to find their back door had been forced open and several bottles of prescription painkillers had been stolen from the house. Nothing else was taken from the residence and no other damage could be found. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
Festival Pays Bills Two Years Later
Over two years after it took place, the Festival of Flight in Fayetteville has finished paying off creditors. Due to a lower turnout than expected, the 2003 festival racked up $263,000 in debt and organizers have spent the past two years trying to raise the money to pay. But an anonymous gift from a member of the festival’s board of directors helped the group put together enough funds to make good on their bills. The 11-day event was originally put together as a celebration of the Wright Brothers and their historic flight.
Cindy Leaves Mark Across Western North Carolina
Across North Carolina, Tropical Depression Cindy left her mark on Thursday. In Alexander, Catawba and Surry Counties, tornadoes knocked down trees and caused damage to homes while in Stokes County, a local school was flooded. Severe rain and wind beat down across the rest of the Piedmont and Catawba County also saw a sinkhole form in the parking lot of a Hickory restaurant. Lightning storms were also reported throughout the day and night in several parts of the state. Official damage estimates haven’t been finished yet but the final bill is expected to be in the millions.
Meth Lab Found And Destroyed In Conover
Police in Conover responded to a domestic disturbance this week, only to discover a meth lab in the process. A woman at the house had called police, wanting to take out assault charges on the two men inside. Police agreed and took her to the magistrate, where warrants were obtained. Once both men were in custody, they began talking about a meth lab being run out of the home by some of their friends who actually live in the home where they were arrested at. Police confirmed the lab’s existence and turned things over to the State Bureau of Investigation, whose agents began destroying it on Wednesday.
Two Men Charged With Shooting At Deputy’s Home
Officials in Catawba County have made two arrests in a case we first reported for you earlier this week. Two deputies with the Catawba County sheriff’s department had come home to find their houses had been shot at over the past week, in addition to one of the men’s patrol cars. Now 21-yr-old James Drew Ballard and 20-yr-old Adam Michael Miller have been arrested and charged with firing a weapon into an occupied property. Both men were arrested late Wednesday night, after investigators received an anonymous tip. The two had a brief struggle with officers, which resulted in them being taken to the hospital afterward for minor injuries. Now both are in jail without explaining why they took shots at the two homes. The two are also being investigated now by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Concerns Raised As Illegals Go To Trial
A federal judge raised concerns on Thursday about the case moving forward against 43 illegal immigrants that were found to be working at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Originally 49 had been arrested, but six were later released. Some of the illegals had been working for a subcontractor of the Department of Defense on the base, doing construction work. Now the judge overseeing the case has said he’s not sure that the workers understand the charges being brought against them and need to have attorneys, which they presently don’t. As a result, he ruled that all proceedings will be slow to guarantee the case is handled in the right way. The illegals got the jobs by using fake social security and green cards, which they obtained after coming across the border. INS officials called the incident a matter of national security, due to the fact that terrorists could easily use the same techniques as the illegals to gain access to the United States.
Thieves Steal From The Red Cross
The Highland chapter of the Red Cross is investigating itself today, after $20,000 was discovered to be missing. Officials believe the money was embezzled by a volunteer, who confessed when confronted. Formal criminal charges are coming as the case has been turned over to Fayetteville police. The organization is requesting both criminal charges be filed and the money repaid in full before any plea deal would be considered. Officials with the organization say that while the incident might hurt donations, they are more than willing to open up their books for any concerned donors.
Sports Headlines
Lawson May Leave Early For The Pros
UNC Tarheel fans might not want to get too attached to Tywon Lawson when he steps onto campus in 2006. During an interview this week, Lawson said that if the NBA hadn’t installed an age limit, he would have considered going straight to the pros. Lawson is currently the nation’s number one high school point guard and said that if the opportunity presents itself, he’ll do what’s best for him. If that means leaving school after one year, he’ll go if an NBA team guarantees him a spot as a lottery pick.
Former Duke Player To Make Professional Debut
A former member of the Duke Blue Devils will make their professional debut this weekend in golf. Brittany Lang, who was the ACC player of the year, left the Duke team after the season ended to pursue her dream of becoming a professional and she’ll get that chance today. Lang is part of the field at the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Coming Classic, which teed off yesterday. She’s also received a sponsor exemption to play in next weekend’s BMO Financial Canadian Women’s Open in Nova Scotia.
Randolph Given Another Chance
Shavlik Randolph has another chance at making it onto an NBA roster. The 6-10 Randolph left Duke after his junior season, only to go unnoticed during last month’s NBA draft. Now the Philadelphia 76ers have extended an offer to come in and work out during the summer. If the team likes his performance, a contract could be waiting. The Sixers’ staff said they liked Randolph’s athleticism and thought he was worth taking a chance on.
NASCAR News
Good news from around the NASCAR circuit today, as fans will be making the trek out to the Lady in Black for another season. Darlington Raceway is safe for 2006 according to track owners, who allowed letters to be sent out this week for ticket renewals for the May 13th Dodge Dealers 500. Over the past few years concerns have been raised as to Darlington’s future, but the “Lady in Black” as the track has come to be known will live for another season. Officials said that the sold out race this past May convinced them to keep the track going at least for a few more years. The full schedule for next season will be released later on this summer.
Atlanta Speedway Damaged
North Carolina wasn’t the only area to fall victim to the remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy. Georgia was also hit hard, especially at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the scoring towers were torn down and the Weaver grandstand was ripped to shreds, in addition to several buildings near the starting line. In addition, the Richard Petty tribute garden was wrecked, with lamp posts and flag poles tossed around the area. Estimated damages were placed at around $35 million however track officials said they would have things up and running by October 30th, when the Nextel Cup comes to town with the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.
posted by Scott Roberts # 7:32 AM
Thursday, July 07, 2005
News & Sports For July 7th
Breaking News:Missing Girl Found In Charlotte
As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found last night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.
FLOOD WATCH
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING TOLATE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR WILKES COUNTY. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN OVER THE NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND THE SOUTHWESTMOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA DURING THE MORNING HOURS TODAY. PERIODS OFHEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REST OF THEREGION BY LATE AFTERNOON. THE HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THELOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AND ISEXPECTED TO EXIT THE AREA IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING
ON FRIDAY. THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL BE HIGH. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY...WITH THE HEAVIEST ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.
Man Assaulted And Robbed At His Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro man’s home on Tuesday, after he was assaulted and left for dead. The man’s son called deputies after walking in to find his father lying on the bed with multiple injuries. The house had also been ransacked and an estimated $2700 worth of material taken, along with the man’s Plymouth Voyager. Authorities were able to track down the thief in Winston Salem, after he used the man’s credit cards. 23-yr-old Justin Haynes was arrested and charged in the assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny. In addition, officials are still searching for others who were also involved. The 83-yr-old victim was taken to the hospital and later transferred to Forsyth Medical Center, where he’s currently recovering. Sheriff’s deputies are asking that anyone with information regarding the case please contact them at 667-8900.
Marijuana Traced And Burned In Ronda
Sheriff’s deputies were tipped off on Monday about some marijuana being grown on Clingman Road in Ronda. After investigating they found 42 plants along the field, across from a nearby park. All the plants were pulled up and destroyed, ranging in size from two to seven inches high. It’s unknown at this time who planted the marijuana but the investigation is ongoing.
Wreck Totals Two And Driver Later Arrested
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Monday night. A Wilkesboro man was driving down the highway when another vehicle attempted to cut in front, pulling out of the local Shell Station. The two cars slammed into each other, with estimated damages placed at $8000. The second driver then jumped out of his car and took off running down the highway, only to be caught by Wilkesboro police later on that night. Carlos Rodriguez-Torres was arrested and charged with DWI and hit & run.
Wilkes Board Of Elections Meets
The Wilkes County Board of Elections held a meeting Wednesday morning to renew their municipal agreement with all the towns in the area. Representatives from each town in Wilkes signs an agreement, allowing the board to help them run elections throughout the year and those documents were renewed during the meeting on Wednesday. In addition, more candidates have put their names in for the election as Manuel Wood submitted to be a candidate for town commissioner of Ronda. So far only five total candidates have put their names in the hat for positions in the county, but as we get closer to the deadline you can expect that to change. The deadline for filing in this year’s election is August 5th at 12 noon. You can also go online to check out who has already entered the races at http://www.wilkescounty.net/. Just scroll down the left side of the page and click on the elections icon.
Games Stolen While Owner Fishes
A Roaring River man called sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday after returning from a fishing trip to find that someone had broke into his trailer. A window had been busted out and the thieves climbed through, stealing the man’s Playstation II game system. However no other damage was done to the property and nothing else was stolen from the home. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.
Orientation Date Set For West Freshmen
Even though we’re not even halfway through with the month of July, it’s time for some kids to start thinking about the upcoming school year. West Wilkes High School has announced the date for this year’s freshman orientation. That will take place Thursday, August 11th starting at 6pm. The event will last for an hour and will be held in the gym. Parents of the incoming students are also requested to attend. To get more information about the orientation, you can call the school at 973-4503.
Focus On Charity
For every normal ordinary charity out to help people, there are usually three or four just looking to make a quick buck. But how can you tell the difference? There are several ways that fake charities can hook you in a scam, and we'll be discussing them today during Focus on the Foothills. David Dalrymple with the Better Business Bureau will be Brian's guest during the program today. They'll be discussing what makes a charity legit and how you can donate money with confidence, knowing that it won’t be lining someone’s pockets. That’s coming up later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.
Came In For A Look Around
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on the Damascus Church Road earlier this week after reports came in of a break-in. The home’s back door frame had been broken and someone had been through the house, but didn’t take anything. Nothing was stolen and also nothing else was damaged in the residence. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Stuff The Bus Continuing
The annual Stuff the Bus program is continuing around Wilkes County. Several locations have been set up around the area to take donations. Each year, Communities in Schools attempts to help needy kids around Wilkes, by providing them with the supplies they lack for class. If you want to donate supplies, there are buses at several locations including Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off items 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 in two days on July 1st.
Ran Off With The Generator
A North Wilkesboro couple returned home earlier this week to find that someone had broke into a building on their property. Two rocking chairs had been broken and a generator was missing from the storage area. In addition, the thieves had written obscene phrases on the couples’ trash cans. Just over a hundred dollars worth of damage was done to the property and the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Bank Of America To Close Several Carolina Branches
Bad news today for some Bank of America employees, as the company announced plans to shut down 12 branches in North Carolina. Most of the banks affected are in Charlotte, including both stand alone and offices inside other stores. The move was part of a larger shut down of 100 locations across the nation, which company officials say is necessary as they examine their branch network. Mainly any employees affected will possibly just be relocated, as the company is also planning to build 100 new branches across the U.S. later this year. Any customers that would be affected by the move will be receiving a letter in the mail.
Illegal Workers Arrested At Air Force Base
A raid at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base uncovered several dozen illegal immigrants working at the site. On Wednesday, 49 people were arrested at the base in Goldsboro, all charged with violating the nation’s immigration policy. Federal agents said that the group was able to slip through immigration by using counterfeit documents. The group members had access to several sensitive areas at the base. As part of a construction crew, they worked on local homes, the infrastructure of the base itself and possibly some of the security systems. All are currently in an INS office in Cary, awaiting a federal court date.
Raw Sewage Spills In Wilmington
Officials in the Wilmington area have learned that a sewage problem is larger than they expected. Over the July 4th holiday, gallons of raw sewage spilled out into Hewletts Creek after a sewer line ruptured. All fishing & swimming has been banned in an area stretching from Wrightsville Beach to the Intracoastal Waterway near Peden Point and now comes news that cleanup might take longer than expected. Originally officials estimated the spill at one million gallons, but that number has since more than doubled. After examining records and taking samples, it’s now been placed at three million gallons, with officials concerned that the bacteria has merged with the sediment of the local waterways. What that means for locals is that all waterways are off limits until further tests can be done.
Harris Teeter To Buy Some Winn Dixie Stores
Good news today for some Winn Dixie employees, as Harris Teeter announced plans this week to buy nine of the company’s stores in North Carolina. In exchange for $16.75 million, Harris Teeter takes over each store’s lease and bought out the inventory. Overall 326 stores over a four state area are being closed by Winn Dixie if buyers can’t be found, causing a job loss for 22,000 people. In related news, the North Wilkesboro store has yet to receive an official bid, according to company officials.
US Air To Cut Out Pretzels
Still trying to find more ways of saving money, US Airways announced this week that they’ll be cutting back on some of their in flight services. As of September, the airline will no longer give out bags of pretzels to customers during the flight, a plan that will put an extra one million a year into the company’s pocket. Instead hungry passengers can buy a three ounce bag of trail mix for one dollar on domestic flights, while sandwiches are sold now on all flights over 2 ½ hours for at least $5 each. US Airways did say however that free juice and soda will still be served. Company officials said the change was made so that they could compete with lower-priced airlines.
Sports Headlines
Duke Recruiting Class Ranked Number One
It looks like this might be the year of the Blue Devils, if preseason predictions turn out to be right. Scouts from across the nation have come out and said that this year’s recruiting class for Duke is the strongest in the nation, with several players that some analysts believe could have gone in the NBA draft. Power forward Josh McRoberts was rated as the number one player in the nation, with point guard Greg Paulus right behind at number eighteen. Practice begins for the upcoming season on October 15th.
Blue Devil Possibly Pulling Double Duty
A member of the Duke basketball team will be pulling double duty this fall if some staff members have their way. Point guard Greg Paulus was also New York state’s all time passing leader in football when he finished high school this past year, wrapping up his senior season with 11,763 yards to go along with 152 touchdowns. The 6’1 Paulus is hoping to focus on basketball and fight for a starting job, but several members of Duke’s football team are trying to get him to pull double duty. As for Paulus himself, he says he’s just at the university to play basketball.
Tarheels To Face Davidson In Hoops
While a complete schedule hasn’t been announced yet, the UNC Tarheels at least know one of their opponents for next season. Davidson head coach Bob McKillop announced this week that the two schools had agreed to face each other in Chapel Hill on January 3rd 2006. The Heels aren’t the only big name school on the Davidson schedule however, as they have away games set up against Duke on Nov. 19th, Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 26th and UNC Charlotte on Nov. 30th.
Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor league last night, it was Hickory beating Columbus 6-3. Crawdads first baseman Mike Carlin went four for four at the plate, hitting his tenth home run in the process while starter Julio Guerrero got his seventh win of the season. Guerrero went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. Up the road in Winston, the Warthogs took over first place in their division after a 6-5 win over Potomac. Winston took the lead for good in the eighth inning, driving in three runs while holding off a Potomac attack. Winston reliever Juan Ovalles got his third win of the season, striking out three in two innings of work.
NASCAR News
Around the Nextel Cup circuit, Carl Edwards bounced back and recorded the quickest time of any driver in the first day of testing for next month’s Brickyard 400. Edwards had a speed of 179.165 around the track, beating Jimmy Spencer, Ricky Rudd and Edwards own teammate, Kurt Busch, who finished second.
As 3WC reported earlier this week, police have been searching for a missing Ashe County teen after she disappeared over the weekend in Wilkesboro. She was found last night at the home of a man in Matthews North Carolina, uninjured and there of her own accord. Police were able to locate 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette due in part to a caller who saw the missing posters as he came into Wilkes County and informed officials where the girl was and who she was with. Charlotte police were contacted and they met Amanda, determining that she had been staying with the man willingly. Amanda’s father was called and told of his daughter’s whereabouts and drove down to Charlotte to pick her up.
FLOOD WATCH
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING TOLATE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR WILKES COUNTY. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN OVER THE NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND THE SOUTHWESTMOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA DURING THE MORNING HOURS TODAY. PERIODS OFHEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REST OF THEREGION BY LATE AFTERNOON. THE HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THELOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AND ISEXPECTED TO EXIT THE AREA IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING
ON FRIDAY. THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL BE HIGH. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY...WITH THE HEAVIEST ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.
Man Assaulted And Robbed At His Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro man’s home on Tuesday, after he was assaulted and left for dead. The man’s son called deputies after walking in to find his father lying on the bed with multiple injuries. The house had also been ransacked and an estimated $2700 worth of material taken, along with the man’s Plymouth Voyager. Authorities were able to track down the thief in Winston Salem, after he used the man’s credit cards. 23-yr-old Justin Haynes was arrested and charged in the assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and felony larceny. In addition, officials are still searching for others who were also involved. The 83-yr-old victim was taken to the hospital and later transferred to Forsyth Medical Center, where he’s currently recovering. Sheriff’s deputies are asking that anyone with information regarding the case please contact them at 667-8900.
Marijuana Traced And Burned In Ronda
Sheriff’s deputies were tipped off on Monday about some marijuana being grown on Clingman Road in Ronda. After investigating they found 42 plants along the field, across from a nearby park. All the plants were pulled up and destroyed, ranging in size from two to seven inches high. It’s unknown at this time who planted the marijuana but the investigation is ongoing.
Wreck Totals Two And Driver Later Arrested
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on 421 Monday night. A Wilkesboro man was driving down the highway when another vehicle attempted to cut in front, pulling out of the local Shell Station. The two cars slammed into each other, with estimated damages placed at $8000. The second driver then jumped out of his car and took off running down the highway, only to be caught by Wilkesboro police later on that night. Carlos Rodriguez-Torres was arrested and charged with DWI and hit & run.
Wilkes Board Of Elections Meets
The Wilkes County Board of Elections held a meeting Wednesday morning to renew their municipal agreement with all the towns in the area. Representatives from each town in Wilkes signs an agreement, allowing the board to help them run elections throughout the year and those documents were renewed during the meeting on Wednesday. In addition, more candidates have put their names in for the election as Manuel Wood submitted to be a candidate for town commissioner of Ronda. So far only five total candidates have put their names in the hat for positions in the county, but as we get closer to the deadline you can expect that to change. The deadline for filing in this year’s election is August 5th at 12 noon. You can also go online to check out who has already entered the races at http://www.wilkescounty.net/. Just scroll down the left side of the page and click on the elections icon.
Games Stolen While Owner Fishes
A Roaring River man called sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday after returning from a fishing trip to find that someone had broke into his trailer. A window had been busted out and the thieves climbed through, stealing the man’s Playstation II game system. However no other damage was done to the property and nothing else was stolen from the home. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.
Orientation Date Set For West Freshmen
Even though we’re not even halfway through with the month of July, it’s time for some kids to start thinking about the upcoming school year. West Wilkes High School has announced the date for this year’s freshman orientation. That will take place Thursday, August 11th starting at 6pm. The event will last for an hour and will be held in the gym. Parents of the incoming students are also requested to attend. To get more information about the orientation, you can call the school at 973-4503.
Focus On Charity
For every normal ordinary charity out to help people, there are usually three or four just looking to make a quick buck. But how can you tell the difference? There are several ways that fake charities can hook you in a scam, and we'll be discussing them today during Focus on the Foothills. David Dalrymple with the Better Business Bureau will be Brian's guest during the program today. They'll be discussing what makes a charity legit and how you can donate money with confidence, knowing that it won’t be lining someone’s pockets. That’s coming up later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.
Came In For A Look Around
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on the Damascus Church Road earlier this week after reports came in of a break-in. The home’s back door frame had been broken and someone had been through the house, but didn’t take anything. Nothing was stolen and also nothing else was damaged in the residence. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Stuff The Bus Continuing
The annual Stuff the Bus program is continuing around Wilkes County. Several locations have been set up around the area to take donations. Each year, Communities in Schools attempts to help needy kids around Wilkes, by providing them with the supplies they lack for class. If you want to donate supplies, there are buses at several locations including Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off items 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 in two days on July 1st.
Ran Off With The Generator
A North Wilkesboro couple returned home earlier this week to find that someone had broke into a building on their property. Two rocking chairs had been broken and a generator was missing from the storage area. In addition, the thieves had written obscene phrases on the couples’ trash cans. Just over a hundred dollars worth of damage was done to the property and the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Bank Of America To Close Several Carolina Branches
Bad news today for some Bank of America employees, as the company announced plans to shut down 12 branches in North Carolina. Most of the banks affected are in Charlotte, including both stand alone and offices inside other stores. The move was part of a larger shut down of 100 locations across the nation, which company officials say is necessary as they examine their branch network. Mainly any employees affected will possibly just be relocated, as the company is also planning to build 100 new branches across the U.S. later this year. Any customers that would be affected by the move will be receiving a letter in the mail.
Illegal Workers Arrested At Air Force Base
A raid at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base uncovered several dozen illegal immigrants working at the site. On Wednesday, 49 people were arrested at the base in Goldsboro, all charged with violating the nation’s immigration policy. Federal agents said that the group was able to slip through immigration by using counterfeit documents. The group members had access to several sensitive areas at the base. As part of a construction crew, they worked on local homes, the infrastructure of the base itself and possibly some of the security systems. All are currently in an INS office in Cary, awaiting a federal court date.
Raw Sewage Spills In Wilmington
Officials in the Wilmington area have learned that a sewage problem is larger than they expected. Over the July 4th holiday, gallons of raw sewage spilled out into Hewletts Creek after a sewer line ruptured. All fishing & swimming has been banned in an area stretching from Wrightsville Beach to the Intracoastal Waterway near Peden Point and now comes news that cleanup might take longer than expected. Originally officials estimated the spill at one million gallons, but that number has since more than doubled. After examining records and taking samples, it’s now been placed at three million gallons, with officials concerned that the bacteria has merged with the sediment of the local waterways. What that means for locals is that all waterways are off limits until further tests can be done.
Harris Teeter To Buy Some Winn Dixie Stores
Good news today for some Winn Dixie employees, as Harris Teeter announced plans this week to buy nine of the company’s stores in North Carolina. In exchange for $16.75 million, Harris Teeter takes over each store’s lease and bought out the inventory. Overall 326 stores over a four state area are being closed by Winn Dixie if buyers can’t be found, causing a job loss for 22,000 people. In related news, the North Wilkesboro store has yet to receive an official bid, according to company officials.
US Air To Cut Out Pretzels
Still trying to find more ways of saving money, US Airways announced this week that they’ll be cutting back on some of their in flight services. As of September, the airline will no longer give out bags of pretzels to customers during the flight, a plan that will put an extra one million a year into the company’s pocket. Instead hungry passengers can buy a three ounce bag of trail mix for one dollar on domestic flights, while sandwiches are sold now on all flights over 2 ½ hours for at least $5 each. US Airways did say however that free juice and soda will still be served. Company officials said the change was made so that they could compete with lower-priced airlines.
Sports Headlines
Duke Recruiting Class Ranked Number One
It looks like this might be the year of the Blue Devils, if preseason predictions turn out to be right. Scouts from across the nation have come out and said that this year’s recruiting class for Duke is the strongest in the nation, with several players that some analysts believe could have gone in the NBA draft. Power forward Josh McRoberts was rated as the number one player in the nation, with point guard Greg Paulus right behind at number eighteen. Practice begins for the upcoming season on October 15th.
Blue Devil Possibly Pulling Double Duty
A member of the Duke basketball team will be pulling double duty this fall if some staff members have their way. Point guard Greg Paulus was also New York state’s all time passing leader in football when he finished high school this past year, wrapping up his senior season with 11,763 yards to go along with 152 touchdowns. The 6’1 Paulus is hoping to focus on basketball and fight for a starting job, but several members of Duke’s football team are trying to get him to pull double duty. As for Paulus himself, he says he’s just at the university to play basketball.
Tarheels To Face Davidson In Hoops
While a complete schedule hasn’t been announced yet, the UNC Tarheels at least know one of their opponents for next season. Davidson head coach Bob McKillop announced this week that the two schools had agreed to face each other in Chapel Hill on January 3rd 2006. The Heels aren’t the only big name school on the Davidson schedule however, as they have away games set up against Duke on Nov. 19th, Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 26th and UNC Charlotte on Nov. 30th.
Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor league last night, it was Hickory beating Columbus 6-3. Crawdads first baseman Mike Carlin went four for four at the plate, hitting his tenth home run in the process while starter Julio Guerrero got his seventh win of the season. Guerrero went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. Up the road in Winston, the Warthogs took over first place in their division after a 6-5 win over Potomac. Winston took the lead for good in the eighth inning, driving in three runs while holding off a Potomac attack. Winston reliever Juan Ovalles got his third win of the season, striking out three in two innings of work.
NASCAR News
Around the Nextel Cup circuit, Carl Edwards bounced back and recorded the quickest time of any driver in the first day of testing for next month’s Brickyard 400. Edwards had a speed of 179.165 around the track, beating Jimmy Spencer, Ricky Rudd and Edwards own teammate, Kurt Busch, who finished second.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:52 AM
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
News & Sports For July 6th
News & Sports For Wednesday July 6th 2005
Teen Missing In Wilkesboro Area
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.
Be Careful Who Has Your Information
A Wilkesboro woman called sheriff’s deputies to her apartment over the holiday, after learning why it’s not such a good idea to hand out keys to just anyone. The woman had just gotten back from a trip to visit her mother and had given out apartment keys to both her boyfriend and her neighbor. Days after she left however, the woman got a phone call saying a party was going on in her apartment and it sounded like things were getting crazy. When the woman returned, she found over $900 worth of items stolen from the place. Also it looked like someone had been living in the apartment. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
News From The Commissioners Meeting
Wilkes County Commissioners held their monthly meeting last night and 3WC’s own Ken Byrd opened up the proceedings, first with the invocation and then with his rendition of “The Ragged Old Flag”. Afterwards, several items were presented to the commissioners. The Animal Control Ordinance, which had been considered but put aside during the last meeting, passed with a unanimous vote. 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. Concerns were once again raised about the preparations for this to take effect, as Wilkes doesn’t yet have any procedures in place. But animal control agreed to work on getting things set up in time for the September deadline when this would take effect. Jody Brady gave the annual forestry service report and listed the three main concerns he planned to target in the next year. Working on maintaining water quality, also replanting trees after lumber companies have been through and dealing with the growing urban population were the three main issues cited.
Always Keep Your Doors Locked
A Wilkesboro man found out why it’s a good idea to keep your car doors locked over the weekend. A small handgun had been stored in the man’s truck, but he hadn’t kept the doors locked, leaving it open for anyone to steal. And that’s apparently what happened as he returned this past weekend to find it missing. Nothing else was taken from inside the truck and no damage was done to the vehicle itself. Wilkesboro police are investigating the case.
Ebenezer To Hold Benefit Tournament
The Ebenezer Christian Childrens Home is gearing up for their annual benefit golf tournament. This year the tournament will be at Oakwoods Country Club on Saturday August 13th. There will be morning and afternoon flights. The format for the tournament is 4-man's captains choice and there will be over $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. Entry fee is $75 per person and if you pay by August 1st you will automatically be eligible for a 3 day- two night vacation. To sign up or for a brochure you may call the Home at 667-5683, that's 667-LOVE.
Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
With the temperature rising and gas prices following suit, it’s no surprise that some people are trying to get away with not paying at the pump. The Fast Track on Hwy 421 West in Wilkesboro was the latest business to fall victim to the practice, as a man pulled up in a Jeep Cherokee and started filling up. After he was done, the man got into his vehicle and took off down the road. Employees inside the building were able to get a description of both the man and his car, along with the vehicle’s license plate number. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Vandals Break Into Former School
Wilkesboro police were called out to the former Woodward Middle School on Monday, after a burglar alarm on the building was triggered. A window on the property’s north side had been shattered and a nearby door was propped open with a rock. When deputies investigated, they found several teenagers around the building, who swore they didn’t go inside or have anything to do with the vandalism. Deputies also found a BB gun hidden in the grass near the school. Total damage done was estimated at $200. Names of the boys were taken and the investigation continues.
Wilkes To Honor Veterans This Saturday
This coming Saturday people in Wilkes will gather together in honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony this coming Saturday July 9th at the 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. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.
Focus On Charitable Donations
It seems like not a day goes by that we don’t hear from some new charity, asking for a donation. But how can you tell the good charities from the scams? And also how do all these charities get your information to call or send you something in the mail? David Dalrymple with the Better Business Buraey will be Brian's guest during Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be talking about some of the ‘warning signs’ you can look for and how you can tell a fake charity from one who’s actually trying to help the community. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Guns Stolen From Millers Creek Home
A Millers Creek man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find the doors to his house standing wide open. Also someone had opened the windows in the residence, before walking out with two of the man’s guns. Both guns, a 16 gauge single shot and a .22 caliber rifle had been stored inside. Despite the theft, there was no sign of a break-in and also nothing else taken from the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
4th Of July Leads To Charlotte Riot
Two days later police in Charlotte are still trying to sort out what happened during a celebration Monday night in the city. Officers were called in from across the county as chaos and a near riot broke out among some 2000 who were gathered to watch the fireworks. The incident happened after the show ended, as the people made their way out of the intersection between Trade and Tryon Street. Someone then tossed fireworks into the crowd, causing a panic that saw traffic blocked and dumpsters tossed into the street. These same unidentified people also tossed firecrackers at police as the chaos continued. No one was injured as almost 20 people were arrested in the wake of the panic. It took officials until 1am to get things back under control.
Flooding In Caldwell Leads To Repair Work
The holiday didn’t turn out so well for people in Caldwell County, as work crews are still cleaning up from this weekend’s storms. Roads along Highway 90 were flooded on Sunday night and the DOT still cleaning up in the storm’s wake. At one campground in the area, people got a surprise as a wall of water tore through the area, coming down off the mountain. Fifty campers had to be evacuated from the area and some were left behind, stranded on a bridge. Thankfully however the water subsided and no one was hurt. Still trees, limbs and water damage from the storm present DOT workers with a pretty heavy workload for the rest of the week.
Kernersville Park Gets Attention
As we celebrate America’s independence this week, one park in Kernersville is gathering national attention, but not due to any events being held there. Fourth of July Park is becoming noticed due to its’ unique name, given out almost 20 years ago when city officials took the area used for firework celebrations and turned it into a park. Now the park has also been renovated after the local Parks and Recreation Department spent a million dollars on repairs, making the area open to the public seven days a week.
Highway Patrol Cracks Down
Over 3700 citations were issued by Highway Patrol officers over the holiday weekend, according to officials on Tuesday. 700 tickets were issued for exceeding speeds of 75 mph in the five counties officers had designated as the deadliest last week. That included Johnston County, Robeson, Wake, Iredell and Cumberland. Overall speeding was the number one violation over the holiday but officers also handed out 735 equipment violations including 466 for not wearing a seatbelt.
Arsonist Burns Boy Scout Home
An Alamance County building that has served as a home for boy scouts over the past few decades is in ruins today after someone tried to burn it to the ground. During the holiday, someone set fire to a group of canoes outside the Alamance County troop’s building and the fire quickly spread to the structure itself. As the town had recently withdrawn fire insurance on the building, it’s up to the members to raise more than $30,000 to rebuild it. Law enforcement in the area are still investigating the case but so far there haven’t been any arrests. The troop is however accepting donations and you can send something to Boy Scout Troop 65, Kennette Drive, Graham North Carolina 27253.
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
Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Hickory falling to Columbus 12-6. Crawdad reliever Dustin Craig got the loss, giving up five earned runs in less than an inning of work. It was a different story up the road in Winston however, as the Warthogs beat Kinston 8-7, wrapping up a three game sweep of the Indians. Rafael Flores got his third win of the season, giving up one run in two innings of relief. Ehren Wassermann locked up his 18th save of the year.
American Legion Action
And news today from around the American Legion fields, as one team was disqualified from competition. Hours before their game with Shelby was supposed to start, the Huntersville team was disqualified after only eight players showed up for the game. Lacking enough players, the team saw their post season come to an end without even playing one game. Burke County took Huntersville’s place, just a few days after being eliminated by Hickory in a play-in game.
Chris Paul Signs Contract
In the NBA, rookie Chris Paul officially joined the league yesterday, signing a contract with the New Orleans Hornets. Paul’s deal was for three years, with options for two more on the table. While terms were not discussed, it’s believed he’ll be making $10 million in the first three years, a number that could double if the options are picked up. Paul will now head to Las Vegas, where he’ll be starting for the Hornets’ summer league squad, playing five games over the next week.
NASCAR News
Carl Edwards will have a decision to make at the end of this year, if he wants to run in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series next season. This year pulling double duty has had some mixed results for Edwards, who currently sits in fourth place in the Busch standings. But after a string of wins and top five finishes in the Nextel Cup, he’s slipped to 12th place having come up short the past two weeks. Edwards finished 38th at Sonoma and then 33rd at Daytona last week. Also with possible rule changes coming that would penalize drivers for running both circuits, a decision on Edwards’ future will have to be made before the season starts up in February.
Teen Missing In Wilkesboro Area
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.
Be Careful Who Has Your Information
A Wilkesboro woman called sheriff’s deputies to her apartment over the holiday, after learning why it’s not such a good idea to hand out keys to just anyone. The woman had just gotten back from a trip to visit her mother and had given out apartment keys to both her boyfriend and her neighbor. Days after she left however, the woman got a phone call saying a party was going on in her apartment and it sounded like things were getting crazy. When the woman returned, she found over $900 worth of items stolen from the place. Also it looked like someone had been living in the apartment. There are suspects in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
News From The Commissioners Meeting
Wilkes County Commissioners held their monthly meeting last night and 3WC’s own Ken Byrd opened up the proceedings, first with the invocation and then with his rendition of “The Ragged Old Flag”. Afterwards, several items were presented to the commissioners. The Animal Control Ordinance, which had been considered but put aside during the last meeting, passed with a unanimous vote. 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. Concerns were once again raised about the preparations for this to take effect, as Wilkes doesn’t yet have any procedures in place. But animal control agreed to work on getting things set up in time for the September deadline when this would take effect. Jody Brady gave the annual forestry service report and listed the three main concerns he planned to target in the next year. Working on maintaining water quality, also replanting trees after lumber companies have been through and dealing with the growing urban population were the three main issues cited.
Always Keep Your Doors Locked
A Wilkesboro man found out why it’s a good idea to keep your car doors locked over the weekend. A small handgun had been stored in the man’s truck, but he hadn’t kept the doors locked, leaving it open for anyone to steal. And that’s apparently what happened as he returned this past weekend to find it missing. Nothing else was taken from inside the truck and no damage was done to the vehicle itself. Wilkesboro police are investigating the case.
Ebenezer To Hold Benefit Tournament
The Ebenezer Christian Childrens Home is gearing up for their annual benefit golf tournament. This year the tournament will be at Oakwoods Country Club on Saturday August 13th. There will be morning and afternoon flights. The format for the tournament is 4-man's captains choice and there will be over $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. Entry fee is $75 per person and if you pay by August 1st you will automatically be eligible for a 3 day- two night vacation. To sign up or for a brochure you may call the Home at 667-5683, that's 667-LOVE.
Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
With the temperature rising and gas prices following suit, it’s no surprise that some people are trying to get away with not paying at the pump. The Fast Track on Hwy 421 West in Wilkesboro was the latest business to fall victim to the practice, as a man pulled up in a Jeep Cherokee and started filling up. After he was done, the man got into his vehicle and took off down the road. Employees inside the building were able to get a description of both the man and his car, along with the vehicle’s license plate number. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Vandals Break Into Former School
Wilkesboro police were called out to the former Woodward Middle School on Monday, after a burglar alarm on the building was triggered. A window on the property’s north side had been shattered and a nearby door was propped open with a rock. When deputies investigated, they found several teenagers around the building, who swore they didn’t go inside or have anything to do with the vandalism. Deputies also found a BB gun hidden in the grass near the school. Total damage done was estimated at $200. Names of the boys were taken and the investigation continues.
Wilkes To Honor Veterans This Saturday
This coming Saturday people in Wilkes will gather together in honor of some of the county’s veterans. The Veteran’s Brick Walk will be unveiled in a special ceremony this coming Saturday July 9th at the 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. The car show starts at 2pm and the ceremony itself begins at 5:30 that night.
Focus On Charitable Donations
It seems like not a day goes by that we don’t hear from some new charity, asking for a donation. But how can you tell the good charities from the scams? And also how do all these charities get your information to call or send you something in the mail? David Dalrymple with the Better Business Buraey will be Brian's guest during Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be talking about some of the ‘warning signs’ you can look for and how you can tell a fake charity from one who’s actually trying to help the community. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Guns Stolen From Millers Creek Home
A Millers Creek man called sheriff’s deputies earlier this week after returning home to find the doors to his house standing wide open. Also someone had opened the windows in the residence, before walking out with two of the man’s guns. Both guns, a 16 gauge single shot and a .22 caliber rifle had been stored inside. Despite the theft, there was no sign of a break-in and also nothing else taken from the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
State News
4th Of July Leads To Charlotte Riot
Two days later police in Charlotte are still trying to sort out what happened during a celebration Monday night in the city. Officers were called in from across the county as chaos and a near riot broke out among some 2000 who were gathered to watch the fireworks. The incident happened after the show ended, as the people made their way out of the intersection between Trade and Tryon Street. Someone then tossed fireworks into the crowd, causing a panic that saw traffic blocked and dumpsters tossed into the street. These same unidentified people also tossed firecrackers at police as the chaos continued. No one was injured as almost 20 people were arrested in the wake of the panic. It took officials until 1am to get things back under control.
Flooding In Caldwell Leads To Repair Work
The holiday didn’t turn out so well for people in Caldwell County, as work crews are still cleaning up from this weekend’s storms. Roads along Highway 90 were flooded on Sunday night and the DOT still cleaning up in the storm’s wake. At one campground in the area, people got a surprise as a wall of water tore through the area, coming down off the mountain. Fifty campers had to be evacuated from the area and some were left behind, stranded on a bridge. Thankfully however the water subsided and no one was hurt. Still trees, limbs and water damage from the storm present DOT workers with a pretty heavy workload for the rest of the week.
Kernersville Park Gets Attention
As we celebrate America’s independence this week, one park in Kernersville is gathering national attention, but not due to any events being held there. Fourth of July Park is becoming noticed due to its’ unique name, given out almost 20 years ago when city officials took the area used for firework celebrations and turned it into a park. Now the park has also been renovated after the local Parks and Recreation Department spent a million dollars on repairs, making the area open to the public seven days a week.
Highway Patrol Cracks Down
Over 3700 citations were issued by Highway Patrol officers over the holiday weekend, according to officials on Tuesday. 700 tickets were issued for exceeding speeds of 75 mph in the five counties officers had designated as the deadliest last week. That included Johnston County, Robeson, Wake, Iredell and Cumberland. Overall speeding was the number one violation over the holiday but officers also handed out 735 equipment violations including 466 for not wearing a seatbelt.
Arsonist Burns Boy Scout Home
An Alamance County building that has served as a home for boy scouts over the past few decades is in ruins today after someone tried to burn it to the ground. During the holiday, someone set fire to a group of canoes outside the Alamance County troop’s building and the fire quickly spread to the structure itself. As the town had recently withdrawn fire insurance on the building, it’s up to the members to raise more than $30,000 to rebuild it. Law enforcement in the area are still investigating the case but so far there haven’t been any arrests. The troop is however accepting donations and you can send something to Boy Scout Troop 65, Kennette Drive, Graham North Carolina 27253.
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
Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues, it was Hickory falling to Columbus 12-6. Crawdad reliever Dustin Craig got the loss, giving up five earned runs in less than an inning of work. It was a different story up the road in Winston however, as the Warthogs beat Kinston 8-7, wrapping up a three game sweep of the Indians. Rafael Flores got his third win of the season, giving up one run in two innings of relief. Ehren Wassermann locked up his 18th save of the year.
American Legion Action
And news today from around the American Legion fields, as one team was disqualified from competition. Hours before their game with Shelby was supposed to start, the Huntersville team was disqualified after only eight players showed up for the game. Lacking enough players, the team saw their post season come to an end without even playing one game. Burke County took Huntersville’s place, just a few days after being eliminated by Hickory in a play-in game.
Chris Paul Signs Contract
In the NBA, rookie Chris Paul officially joined the league yesterday, signing a contract with the New Orleans Hornets. Paul’s deal was for three years, with options for two more on the table. While terms were not discussed, it’s believed he’ll be making $10 million in the first three years, a number that could double if the options are picked up. Paul will now head to Las Vegas, where he’ll be starting for the Hornets’ summer league squad, playing five games over the next week.
NASCAR News
Carl Edwards will have a decision to make at the end of this year, if he wants to run in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series next season. This year pulling double duty has had some mixed results for Edwards, who currently sits in fourth place in the Busch standings. But after a string of wins and top five finishes in the Nextel Cup, he’s slipped to 12th place having come up short the past two weeks. Edwards finished 38th at Sonoma and then 33rd at Daytona last week. Also with possible rule changes coming that would penalize drivers for running both circuits, a decision on Edwards’ future will have to be made before the season starts up in February.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:39 AM
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
News & Sports For July 5th
Teen Missing In Wilkesboro Area
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.
Jobless Rate Stayed Constant In May
The latest employment figures were released over the weekend and Wilkes stayed constant during the month of May. The county’s jobless rate of 5.6% remained the same, according to the state employment security commission. That’s still fairly ahead of the statewide average, which has fallen to 5.1%.
Stolen Check Turns Up In Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro police are investigating how a stolen check managed to turn up in the area over the weekend. A check was turned in to officers from the Run-In on Oakwoods Road, after it turned out to have been stolen back in June. The check had been taken from a car in Hickory, but made it’s way into Wilkes, where it was used over the weekend. There is a suspect in the case, as a Granite Falls teenager signed her name to the check, despite it not being her account. The investigation is ongoing.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Car
Be careful where you leave your car. A Wilkesboro man learned why that’s important over the weekend after returning to find it had been decorated in his absence. The man had parked his car in front of his apartment before leaving for a concert with friends. When he got back, he found that some type of substance had been poured all over it, smeared on the top and middle of the car’s hood. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.
Blood Supply Drained With Drive Tomorrow
Heading into the first week of July, Wilkes County is facing a blood shortage, with almost all types in less than a day’s supply. Especially needed are Type O and Type B, which are in critical condition. Over the next two weeks there will be several blood drives going on around the county. To set up an appointment for one or to volunteer, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Items Stolen From Britthaven Nursing Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Britthaven Nursing Home over the weekend after an air conditioner was stolen from one of the residents. There are no suspects and no signs of a break-in, but one of the air conditioners was just missing from the window. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Money Stolen From Traphill Home
A Traphill woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after discovering that someone had stolen some money from her home. There were no signs of a break-in and nothing else taken from the residence, except for $15 worth of quarters taken from the woman’s bedroom. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Workshop Coming Up Next Week On Alzheimer’s
When you hear the word Alzheimers, what do you think of? How can you tell if someone is suffering from the disease? What are the signs to look for? Next week Villages of Wilkes is helping to sponsor a workshop on the disease, where family members can learn all the information they need to help prepare. That workshop will take place at 7pm on July 14th, at the Peace Haven Baptist Church Family Life Center. For more information you can call Donna Shumate at Villages of Wilkes. Her number is 667-2020.
Local Woman Falls Victim To Fraud
A Wilkesboro woman called police over the weekend after falling victim to credit card fraud. She discovered the problem after her card was rejected for being over the limit. Having not used it in a while, the woman accessed her account and found that just over $400 had been spent on it in the past week. There is a suspect in the case and officers are continuing the investigation.
Tag Stolen From Purlear Woman’s Car
A Purlear woman noticed something strange when she returned home from a trip to the store over the weekend. Her license plate was missing, The woman had just bought the vehicle and a temporary tag had been placed on the car, which had been in place when she left for town earlier in the day. Returning home, she saw that the tag had been ripped off while she was in the store. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Home Of Deputies Shot At
Officials in Catawba County are investigating today after the homes of two sheriff’s deputies were shot at. The incidents happened over the weekend, while the deputies were away. Deputy Brian Kelly came out Sunday morning to find the holes, most likely caused by a shotgun, all over his property. Neighbors later told officials that they thought the sounds were simply fireworks being shot off. Two windows were shattered at the man’s house and holes covered the siding along the front side of the home. Just up the road in Conover, shots were fired at another deputy’s home, as well as his patrol car. Bullets tore into the man’s front porch and three hit the patrol car. The SBI has taken over the case and officials say there are suspects.
Alligator Attacks Swimmer In Wilmington
It’s always a good idea to read the signs before going swimming. A man in Wilmington learned that lesson the hard way this weekend, after being attacked by a 10-ft alligator. The 40-yr-old had decided to go swimming in Greenfield Lake, despite signs posted in the area that say not to get in the water due to alligators inside. He ignored repeated cries from people nearby and within minutes one of the local alligators clamped down on his right arm. After the gator let go, locals managed to drag the man to shore, after which he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Jobs Leaving Guilford County
The 4th of July didn’t bring good news for people in Guilford County, as 70 people were informed over the weekend that they’ll be losing their jobs this year. DaimlerChrysler Commericial Buses announced plans to close down production of the SLF model and with the change also comes some layoffs. Employees at the company’s Guilford County plant were told that 70 of them would be let go over the next few months, with the cuts mainly coming in manufacturing and administration. All affected employees will be informed of the move later this week.
Former Green Beret Sued By NC Man
A U.S. soldier currently in an Afghan prison now finds himself facing a lawsuit from a North Carolina man. Green Beret Jonathan Idema is serving a five year term in Afghanistan after being found guilty of abusing prisoners at a makeshift prison. Now he’s being sued by a NC man who claims the soldier owes him part of a $650,000 settlement. Idema had received the money after winning a lawsuit against his property managers, who had sold equipment from a business he owned while Idema was in a U.S. jail back in the 1990s. Bill Hagler said he helped Idema win the suit, but never received payment.
Weekend Rains Cause Evacuations
Rains that poured over North Carolina this weekend caused the evacuation of an assisted living center in Kannapolis. Sunday night 60 residents and employees from the Kannapolis Village Assisted Living Center were moved out, after high water threatened to flood the area. Later on that night, the Cabarrus County Water Rescue Team was called out to retrieve people from a nearby mobile home park, who had been trapped by the high water. All total the Rescue Team managed to retrieve 73 people from the area
Man Burns House And Tries To Shoot Firefighters
Firefighters in Rowan County found themselves under attack this weekend after responding to a call in the Gold Hill community. A 57-yr-old man had set his house on fire and started shooting at firemen as they tried to put it out. Jimmy Handley held off officials for almost two hours, holding a gun and watching as the house burned down. He refused to talk to officials or allow the fire to be put out. Instead after the house had burned down, he took the gun and shot himself. No one else was hurt in the incident. Handley has been identified as a war veteran and it’s believed he was suffering from some type of post traumatic stress disorder.
Sports Headlines
High School Guard Commits To Deacons
Wake Forest landed another recruit for the 2006 basketball season, as a point guard from Central Cabarrus signed on with the Deacons. Ishmael Smith, a 5-11 guard that some say could be better than Chris Paul, turned down offers from South Carolina and Clemson to commit to Wake. During his junior season, Ishmael averaged 25 points and 10 assists for Central Cabarrus and will look to add his skills to the Deacons’ up tempo attack.
Wake Suspends Two Football Players
While the news is good on the basketball court, Wake Forest also announced this weekend that two starters from their football team have been suspended for the first game of the season. Running back Chris Barclay and cornerback Riley Swanson were suspended from all team activities after violating athletics department policy, although it wasn’t explained what exactly they did. Both players will now miss the first game against Vanderbuilt, along with the first week of practice. Wake opens up their football season on September 1st.
Possible Front Runner For Olympic Coaching Job
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski tossed his hat into the ring, to be considered as the coach for the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team. While Coach K said he hasn’t been asked yet, he called the position a great honor and one he would love to have. US team director Jerry Colangelo said that Krzyzewski was one of 12 candidates that were being considered and a decision would be announced in the next few months.
Minor League Scoreboard
In Hickory last night, the Crawdads pulled out the 3-2 win against Columbus in front of a season high crowd of 5134. Hickory starter Kyle Pearson went 5 1/3, giving up two runs on four hits. Derek Drage got the win after shutting out Columbus over 3 and 2/3 innings of relief. Up the road in Winston, it was the Warthogs beating Kinston 9-5. Warthogs’ starter Gio Gonzalez got his first win of the year, striking out six in five innings of work.
Durham Bulls Get Callup
Up the road in Durham, two members of the minor league Bulls saw a dream come true this weekend, as they got called up to the majors. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up outfielder Joey Gathright and left handed pitcher Joe Beimel, looking to plug holes in their team. The team is hoping Gathright will add some pop to the lineup, as he was batting .305 for the Bulls, while Beimel will be plugged into the bullpen, after posting a 4.06 ERA in Triple A.
The search is continuing today for an Ashe County teen who was last seen in the Wilkesboro area. 17-yr-old Amanda Mallette was supposedly dropped off at McDonalds by a family friend and was last seen near Wal-Mart in Wilkesboro. That was on Saturday and one day later, the girl’s father filed a missing person’s report. It’s believed that the girl used a pay phone at Wal-Mart to call someone, although authorities are unclear as to what happened after that. The girl’s mother, who is divorced from the father, said she received a call late Saturday night from someone whose name she can’t remember, saying that the girl was headed to the beach and wouldn’t be back for two months. 17-yr-old Amanda was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Wilkesboro police at 667-7277.
Jobless Rate Stayed Constant In May
The latest employment figures were released over the weekend and Wilkes stayed constant during the month of May. The county’s jobless rate of 5.6% remained the same, according to the state employment security commission. That’s still fairly ahead of the statewide average, which has fallen to 5.1%.
Stolen Check Turns Up In Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro police are investigating how a stolen check managed to turn up in the area over the weekend. A check was turned in to officers from the Run-In on Oakwoods Road, after it turned out to have been stolen back in June. The check had been taken from a car in Hickory, but made it’s way into Wilkes, where it was used over the weekend. There is a suspect in the case, as a Granite Falls teenager signed her name to the check, despite it not being her account. The investigation is ongoing.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Car
Be careful where you leave your car. A Wilkesboro man learned why that’s important over the weekend after returning to find it had been decorated in his absence. The man had parked his car in front of his apartment before leaving for a concert with friends. When he got back, he found that some type of substance had been poured all over it, smeared on the top and middle of the car’s hood. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.
Blood Supply Drained With Drive Tomorrow
Heading into the first week of July, Wilkes County is facing a blood shortage, with almost all types in less than a day’s supply. Especially needed are Type O and Type B, which are in critical condition. Over the next two weeks there will be several blood drives going on around the county. To set up an appointment for one or to volunteer, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Items Stolen From Britthaven Nursing Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Britthaven Nursing Home over the weekend after an air conditioner was stolen from one of the residents. There are no suspects and no signs of a break-in, but one of the air conditioners was just missing from the window. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Money Stolen From Traphill Home
A Traphill woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after discovering that someone had stolen some money from her home. There were no signs of a break-in and nothing else taken from the residence, except for $15 worth of quarters taken from the woman’s bedroom. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Workshop Coming Up Next Week On Alzheimer’s
When you hear the word Alzheimers, what do you think of? How can you tell if someone is suffering from the disease? What are the signs to look for? Next week Villages of Wilkes is helping to sponsor a workshop on the disease, where family members can learn all the information they need to help prepare. That workshop will take place at 7pm on July 14th, at the Peace Haven Baptist Church Family Life Center. For more information you can call Donna Shumate at Villages of Wilkes. Her number is 667-2020.
Local Woman Falls Victim To Fraud
A Wilkesboro woman called police over the weekend after falling victim to credit card fraud. She discovered the problem after her card was rejected for being over the limit. Having not used it in a while, the woman accessed her account and found that just over $400 had been spent on it in the past week. There is a suspect in the case and officers are continuing the investigation.
Tag Stolen From Purlear Woman’s Car
A Purlear woman noticed something strange when she returned home from a trip to the store over the weekend. Her license plate was missing, The woman had just bought the vehicle and a temporary tag had been placed on the car, which had been in place when she left for town earlier in the day. Returning home, she saw that the tag had been ripped off while she was in the store. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.
State News
Home Of Deputies Shot At
Officials in Catawba County are investigating today after the homes of two sheriff’s deputies were shot at. The incidents happened over the weekend, while the deputies were away. Deputy Brian Kelly came out Sunday morning to find the holes, most likely caused by a shotgun, all over his property. Neighbors later told officials that they thought the sounds were simply fireworks being shot off. Two windows were shattered at the man’s house and holes covered the siding along the front side of the home. Just up the road in Conover, shots were fired at another deputy’s home, as well as his patrol car. Bullets tore into the man’s front porch and three hit the patrol car. The SBI has taken over the case and officials say there are suspects.
Alligator Attacks Swimmer In Wilmington
It’s always a good idea to read the signs before going swimming. A man in Wilmington learned that lesson the hard way this weekend, after being attacked by a 10-ft alligator. The 40-yr-old had decided to go swimming in Greenfield Lake, despite signs posted in the area that say not to get in the water due to alligators inside. He ignored repeated cries from people nearby and within minutes one of the local alligators clamped down on his right arm. After the gator let go, locals managed to drag the man to shore, after which he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Jobs Leaving Guilford County
The 4th of July didn’t bring good news for people in Guilford County, as 70 people were informed over the weekend that they’ll be losing their jobs this year. DaimlerChrysler Commericial Buses announced plans to close down production of the SLF model and with the change also comes some layoffs. Employees at the company’s Guilford County plant were told that 70 of them would be let go over the next few months, with the cuts mainly coming in manufacturing and administration. All affected employees will be informed of the move later this week.
Former Green Beret Sued By NC Man
A U.S. soldier currently in an Afghan prison now finds himself facing a lawsuit from a North Carolina man. Green Beret Jonathan Idema is serving a five year term in Afghanistan after being found guilty of abusing prisoners at a makeshift prison. Now he’s being sued by a NC man who claims the soldier owes him part of a $650,000 settlement. Idema had received the money after winning a lawsuit against his property managers, who had sold equipment from a business he owned while Idema was in a U.S. jail back in the 1990s. Bill Hagler said he helped Idema win the suit, but never received payment.
Weekend Rains Cause Evacuations
Rains that poured over North Carolina this weekend caused the evacuation of an assisted living center in Kannapolis. Sunday night 60 residents and employees from the Kannapolis Village Assisted Living Center were moved out, after high water threatened to flood the area. Later on that night, the Cabarrus County Water Rescue Team was called out to retrieve people from a nearby mobile home park, who had been trapped by the high water. All total the Rescue Team managed to retrieve 73 people from the area
Man Burns House And Tries To Shoot Firefighters
Firefighters in Rowan County found themselves under attack this weekend after responding to a call in the Gold Hill community. A 57-yr-old man had set his house on fire and started shooting at firemen as they tried to put it out. Jimmy Handley held off officials for almost two hours, holding a gun and watching as the house burned down. He refused to talk to officials or allow the fire to be put out. Instead after the house had burned down, he took the gun and shot himself. No one else was hurt in the incident. Handley has been identified as a war veteran and it’s believed he was suffering from some type of post traumatic stress disorder.
Sports Headlines
High School Guard Commits To Deacons
Wake Forest landed another recruit for the 2006 basketball season, as a point guard from Central Cabarrus signed on with the Deacons. Ishmael Smith, a 5-11 guard that some say could be better than Chris Paul, turned down offers from South Carolina and Clemson to commit to Wake. During his junior season, Ishmael averaged 25 points and 10 assists for Central Cabarrus and will look to add his skills to the Deacons’ up tempo attack.
Wake Suspends Two Football Players
While the news is good on the basketball court, Wake Forest also announced this weekend that two starters from their football team have been suspended for the first game of the season. Running back Chris Barclay and cornerback Riley Swanson were suspended from all team activities after violating athletics department policy, although it wasn’t explained what exactly they did. Both players will now miss the first game against Vanderbuilt, along with the first week of practice. Wake opens up their football season on September 1st.
Possible Front Runner For Olympic Coaching Job
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski tossed his hat into the ring, to be considered as the coach for the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team. While Coach K said he hasn’t been asked yet, he called the position a great honor and one he would love to have. US team director Jerry Colangelo said that Krzyzewski was one of 12 candidates that were being considered and a decision would be announced in the next few months.
Minor League Scoreboard
In Hickory last night, the Crawdads pulled out the 3-2 win against Columbus in front of a season high crowd of 5134. Hickory starter Kyle Pearson went 5 1/3, giving up two runs on four hits. Derek Drage got the win after shutting out Columbus over 3 and 2/3 innings of relief. Up the road in Winston, it was the Warthogs beating Kinston 9-5. Warthogs’ starter Gio Gonzalez got his first win of the year, striking out six in five innings of work.
Durham Bulls Get Callup
Up the road in Durham, two members of the minor league Bulls saw a dream come true this weekend, as they got called up to the majors. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up outfielder Joey Gathright and left handed pitcher Joe Beimel, looking to plug holes in their team. The team is hoping Gathright will add some pop to the lineup, as he was batting .305 for the Bulls, while Beimel will be plugged into the bullpen, after posting a 4.06 ERA in Triple A.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:16 AM
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