Troops To Be Honored This Weekend
This weekend, people in Wilkes and the surrounding areas will be turning out to honor our troops before they ship out. The 505th Engineering Battalion of North Carolina’s National Guard have received their orders and will depart for Iraq in the fall of this year. Before that however, the troops have to go to another base out of the area for training. They’ll leave for that extended training session after the ceremonies, which will take place in separate parts this weekend. The battalion is made up of several different units from all over the area, some of which have been broken up with the skills of some soldiers required elsewhere. A ceremony for the Lexington, Mocksville and Mount Airy units will be held at 10am Saturday morning at the Vance Auditorium in Lexington. Later on in the day, the Kings Mountain unit, along with portions of the Elkin group will hold their send off. That will take place at 2pm at Kings Mountain High School. Here in Wilkes a ceremony will be held Sunday at 10am honoring the North Wilkesboro unit at the Walker Center. Finally at 2pm Sunday afternoon, portions of the Elkin group will join with the Gastonia unit at the First Baptist Church in Gastonia for the final send off. It’s not been defined as to how long the troop is expected to be overseas, although estimates are placed at around one year.

More Counterfeit Money Comes Into Wilkes
Counterfeit money continues to flow into Wilkes County, the latest incident taking place at the Northwestern Bank in Millers Creek. While bringing in the deposits on Wednesday, bank employees noticed that several of the bills were in fact fake. A $1 and a $5 were proved to be counterfeit, although there’s no way of knowing who made the deposit. The evidence was turned over the sheriff’s deputies, who are continuing the investigation.

Voting Nearing An End For Gospel Awards
There’s only three days left if you want to cast a ballot for this year’s Southern Gospel Music Awards. The awards are put out by online magazine TheSouthernGospel.com and the Top Five Finalists in each category will be announced this coming Monday, August 1st. 3WC is in the running for Favorite Radio Station and morning show DJ John Wishon was named as one of the Favorite Radio Personalities, in addition to making the list of Favorite Concert MCs. If you want to get involved and vote, you can log on to www.thesoutherngospel.com , click on Southern Gospel Music Awards 2005 and cast your ballot. All it takes is a working email address to be able to make your voice heard. Then the winners of this year’s awards will be revealed on October 29th during a ceremony at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston Salem.

Gas Theft In Traphill
With the temperatures skyrocketing this week, it’s no surprise that drivers have been burning more gas than normal, keeping the air conditioner going in their cars. A couple in Traphill however decided they shouldn’t have to pay for it. A car pulled up to the Pleasant Hill Grocery in Traphill, the driver pumped $27 worth of gas and then took off without paying. Store employees were able to get a description of both people in the car as well as the vehicle itself and turned all the information over to deputies. That investigation is ongoing.

How To Beat The Heat Part Four: In The Kitchen
Now that the temperatures have dropped and we have a small break from the recent heatwave, it might be a good idea to starting thinking about taking precautions for the next one. In today’s fourth segment of our Summer Series, we take a look at some problems with food in the heat. Something to think about when putting food in the refrigerator, keep the temperature too hot or too cold and either way you can end up spreading bacteria. The Department of Health says that cold foods should be kept at a minimum of 45 degrees. Any higher and you risk bacteria setting in. Also be sure to wash your hands with hot soapy water before and after handling food. While it might not seem like a big deal, bacteria can grow into a virus causing you some problems later on. Also when cooking, be sure to turn the temperature up to at least 140 degrees if using the stove, or the high setting on your microwave. That will guarantee that any bacteria on the food will be killed. Finally never eat anything that’s been left out for more than one hour, if the temperature climbs above 90 degrees. While it might not smell or taste funny, that bacteria can quickly get into your body and wreck havok.

Mailbox Vandals Hit Again
For the second time in less than a week, mailbox vandals hit a home in the Wilkes County area. Except this time it appears they were trying to keep the homeowner out, not get in. Deputies were called out to a Wilkesboro residence on Wednesday, after the woman came home to find someone had put a masterlock on her mailbox, sealing it shut. There was no damage done to the box and nothing else disturbed on the property. Also no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone come by the home while the owner was gone. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Drove Off With The Mower
A Ronda man called sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday after discovering that his riding mower had been stolen. The vehicle had been parked near the side of the house the night before, but when the homeowner woke up, he found it was missing. There is a suspect in the case, as people in the area saw a local man at the house the night before. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

BROC Head Start Continues
Applications are still 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. In order to be eligible, the child has to turn three years old by October 16th of this year. The program itself will run from August until May of 2006, 8:30am until 2:30pm Monday through Thursday. For more information you can call Judi Mitchell at the BROC head office. Her number is 667-7174.

Never Leave Your Home Unlocked
It’s always a good idea to lock up before you leave. A Millers Creek family found that out this week, after returning to discover that thieves had paid them a visit. While the family was out, thieves came in and took a stereo from the home, in addition to $4200 in cash that had been hidden away in an envelope. Nothing else was missing and there was no damage done. The doors hadn’t been locked however, so the thieves just walked right in and took what they wanted. Neighbors however couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anyone near the home. The investigation is ongoing.

State News

Pender County Athletes Won’t Pay
Some good news today for student athletes in Pender County, as the board of commissioners shot down a proposal that would have forced them to pay in order to play. County officials had presented a plan earlier this month that would have forced students to pay a fee of at least $15 if they wanted to take part in school athletic programs. That idea was conceived after the local school system found itself with a $500,000 shortfall in the budget. So instead, now officials are planning to cut the funding for the library in half and chop $170,000 from the school materials and supplies budget.

Firefighter Charged With Arson
Officials in Union County have arrested a junior member of the Lanes Creek Fire Department, charging him with arson. 17-yr-old Matthew Oates is suspected by detectives of setting fire to two empty houses in the area along with a storage building and a mailbox. The teenager is currently being held in the Union County Jail after the arson spree, which detectives believe started last year. Oates didn’t provide detectives with any idea why he committed the crimes.

Woman Robbed While Jogging
Be careful what you wear when out jogging. That’s the lesson a Charlotte woman learned Wednesday night after being robbed while out on a run. A man came walking up to the woman and demanded that she hand over $1500 worth of jewelry that she was wearing. After handing over the jewelry, the woman watched as the man walked off, getting into a nearby Toyota Camry and driving off.

Jobs Leaving Pleasant Garden
Opponents of the CAFTA agreement were in shock as the bill passed through Congress this week, despite severe arguments against it by several members of the House, including 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox. Now opponents of the bill are concerned that their argument has been proven true, as layoffs were announced at yet another manufacturing plant in North Carolina. 280 people will be out of work this fall as Hooker Furniture announced that they will be shutting down their plant in Pleasant Garden this coming October. Company officials said that they couldn’t compete with overseas labor and would rely more on imported goods for their customers.

Cleanup Continues At Train Derailment
Cleanup continues today at the site of a train derailment at the Davidson/Rowan County line. Several rail cars jumped the tracks and fell into a nearby reservoir, where the limestone cargo started leaking out. In addition, another of the cars held ground up glass, which also spilled into the water. It’s unclear exactly how the derailment happened, but thankfully none of the crew was injured. However local authorities estimate that it could take days to clean up the area. While the limestone won’t hurt the environment, it could be dangerous to animals that come to drink at the reservoir.

Chemical Spill In Forsyth
Portions of U.S. 52 were shut down in Forsyth County on Thursday after a chemical spill. The incident happened Thursday morning, when a tractor-trailer flipped, spilling its’ 50 gallon cargo of hydrocide. The chemical, which is sprayed on buildings to help repel water, covered parts of the area, causing one lane of the highway to be shut down while cleanup crews came in. No one was hurt in the accident.

Sports Headlines

UNC Locks Up Another Prospect
The UNC Tarheels added another piece to their football puzzle this week, after Morgan Randall committed to the school. Randall, a 6’6 245 offensive lineman, from Greenville Rose High School said that he picked Carolina in part because of a great combination of athletics and academics that the school offers, but also because of the family ties he has in the area. Every member of his family that had gone to college graduated as a Tarheel and he wanted to continue that tradition. The move marks the 16th commitment UNC has for 2006.

Randolph Will Sign NBA Deal
It seemed like Shavlik Randolph made a mistake, giving up his senior season at Duke to enter the NBA draft. It looked like more of one after he went undrafted. Now however Randolph will get a chance at proving himself after signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 6-10 Randolph will be at summer camp with the rest of the team when they meet next week.

Bobcats Trade With Phoenix
The Charlotte Bobcats made a trade yesterday, sending a second round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for 27-yr-old center Jake Voskuhl. Voskuhl, who served as the backup to Amare Stoudemire, will add some depth to a Bobcat team coming into just their second season in the league. The team plans to use him as a backup to starting center Primoz Brezec.

Minor League Scoreboard
In the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem falling against Potomac 8-6. Warthogs’ starter Ryan Rodriguez got a no-decision, despite striking out seven and only giving up four runs in six innings. Rodriguez left in the sixth with a 6-3 lead, but Winston relievers got shelled by the Potomac attack. Javier Ortiz got his first loss of the season.

Panthers Trade For One, Sign Another
This was a busy week for the Carolina Panthers, as team officials were wheeling and dealing. They traded a conditional draft pick to the Washington Redskins, in exchange for former Clemson wide receiver Rod Gardner. The 27-yr-old Gardner was no longer in the Redskins’ plans, despite a reputation as a physical playmaker like former Panther Mushsin Muhammad. In addition, the Panthers came to a deal with fourth round pick Stefan Lefors. Lefors signed a four year deal with the team and will compete to be Jake Delhomme’s backup this season.

SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY... A STATIONARY FRONT WILL REMAIN ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE THROUGH THISAFTERNOON. A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE LIFTING NORTHEAST ALONGTHE BOUNDARY WILL COMBINE WITH HEATING TO PRODUCE SHOWERS ANDTHUNDERSTORMS BY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS ALONG WITH ISOLATED LARGEHAIL. THE STRONGER MORE ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORM CLUSTERS AREEXPECTED TO DEVELOP EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...WHERE WARMERTEMPERATURES WILL ALLOW THE ATMOSPHERE TO BECOME INCREASINGLY MOREUNSTABLE. IN ADDITION SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING WITHRAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE IN A SHORTPERIOD. THIS COULD CAUSE ISOLATED FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POORDRAINAGE AREAS.

Shooting Under Investigation
Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a shooting that happened Tuesday afternoon in North Wilkesboro. A 15-yr-old boy was found in a pool of his own blood at the home, with a rifle lying nearby. The boy was still alive and tried to fight with EMS workers as they transported him to Wilkes Regional. He was later airlifted to Baptist Hospital, where he’s currently being treated. The boy was alone in the house, with no sign of a break-in or anyone else being present. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Wilkes Open Forum Tonight
The war in Iraq has touched all of us to some degree. We either have family and friends serving over there or know someone who does. To help discuss the situation and the impact of it on Wilkes County, a special Town Hall version of the Wilkes Open Forum will be held later tonight. That will take place at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish House beginning at 7pm. Everyone is invited to the church, which is located on Cowles Street in Wilkesboro.

Mailbox Vandals Strike Again
A Purlear man was the latest victim of mailbox vandals this week as he returned home to find it had been wrecked. It appeared as though someone had repeatedly smashed the box, causing an estimated $59 worth of damage. Despite the noise such an event would cause, none of the neighbors could recall hearing or seeing anything. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

No Child Left Behind Part Two: Middle & High Schools
As school officials go over the results from this year’s No Child Left Behind tests, Wilkes County has to deal with several problems. Yesterday in part one we covered the elementary schools, now we take a look at the middle and high school scores. East Wilkes Middle School was the only one in the county to meet the requirements, with Central Wilkes right behind at 96%. The middle schools at West and North were slightly behind however, as both finished with a grade of 88.2%. Up on the high school level, two of the county high schools met the federal standard. Those were Wilkes Central and North Wilkes. Both East and West High fell slightly back, as East registered a 90% grade while West came in at 92%. Tomorrow in the final part of our County Schools series, we go over some of the positives from this year’s report and Kaye Lamb explains where the school system plans to go from here.

Always Keep Your Doors Locked
It’s always a good idea to lock your car doors when going into the store. A Hays woman found that out the hard way this week, after coming out of Wal-Mart to discover that thieves had got inside her car. The woman’s CD player, several tapes and a few CDs were stolen from the vehicle, totaling just under $100. Video camera footage is being handed over to sheriff’s deputies to see if they can locate the suspect.

Blood Drive Going On By Appointment
Around 1500 pints of blood are used each day in North Carolina, to deal with the aftermath of car wrecks and sickness. Here in Wilkes County, the blood supply is still hovering around critical levels, despite the recent string of drives over the last few weeks. Especially needed is Type O and Type B blood, both of which are under less than a day’s supply. There will be another blood drive going on today at New River Behavioral Healthcare, however if you want to donate it’s by appointment only. To set up an appointment, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563. Just remember before giving blood, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs.

How To Beat The Heat Part Three: Home Invasion
Heat exposure has killed eight thousand people in the last twenty years and most died in their own homes. So how can you keep the heat out of your house? In today’s third installment of our Summer Series, we’re examining quick and easy ways to sunproof your home. First check to make sure your attic is properly ventilated. If insulation or anything else is clogging the vents, the attic temperature can climb as high as 150 degrees. Also turn off all lights you’re not using, such as in other areas of the house. That won’t just cut down on heat, but also on your power bill. Make sure that all blinds and curtains have been pulled down as well. That alone could help the temperature drop more than ten degrees in your home. Finally just like in your cars, don’t immediately crank your air conditioner up to the high setting. Instead start it off at the low level and then after a few minutes turn it up. That will help lower the strain on the machine and prevent costly burnouts.

Traffic Backed Up After Car Catches Fire
Firefighters were called out to the Fore Brothers gas station in Wilkesboro yesterday, to put out a car fire. The incident happened near the intersection of Woodfield and Westwood Hills as traffic was backed up for over an hour. Officials were out directing traffic while firemen put out the blaze, however it’s unknown at this time what caused the car to ignite. Thankfully no one was inside when the vehicle caught fire.

Focus On Discipleship
It can be hard for kids to determine what they want to do in life. Even moreso if they feel called to the ministry. But a program called Extreme Discipleship here in Wilkes is working to help solve that problem, by allowing teens to work in different types of ministry opportunities. To hear from the Pastor and some of the kids involved in the program, you can tune in for Focus on the Foothills. That’s coming up later today after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

State News

Clerk Prevents Robbery But May Face Charges
In High Point, a clerk at a local store stopped a robbery from happening, but now may face criminal charges in response. A man walked into Whites Fast Food around 8:30pm Tuesday night, demanding money. Instead of agreeing, the clerk pulled out a gun of his own and shot the would be robber in the face. The robber was taken to High Point Regional, where he’s receiving treatment but now questions are being raised if the clerk might face charges of his own for the shooting. Local officials didn’t rule out the prospect, but they haven’t said he would either.

Newspaper Under Fire For Inventing Quotes
The media is supposed to just report the news, not create it. A newspaper in Reidsville stands accused today of crossing that line, inventing quotes for a story that ran earlier this year. The Reidsville Review runs a feature each day called Two Cents Worth, where local people are asked a question and their pictures are listed, along with the answers to the question. According to the newspaper’s corporate sponsor Media General Inc., the feature went beyond simple news in May, as people were pictured next to quotes they never said. In addition, none of the so called locals that were displayed even lived anywhere close to Reidsville. It’s unclear what if anything will happen as a result.

ACLU Takes North Carolina To Court
Witnesses may no longer have to put their hand on the Bible in court, if the ACLU has their way. The group filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina this week, demanding that instead of just a Bible, any religious text should be allowed on the stand. The move comes after a ruling in Guilford County, where a judge said that it would be illegal for a Muslim to take an oath by putting his hand on the Quaran. They first asked the Administrative Office Of the Courts to make such a practice legal, but were refused. The AOC said that it would be up to either state lawmakers or the court system to approve such a change, so the ACLU filed suit. Under current law, witnesses have to take the oath of truth by putting their hand on a “Holy Scripture” in order to be recognized.

Greenville Minister Arrested Again
Last week, 3WC News told you about a Greenville minister who was arrested for videotaping people at the beach. Now the man is in jail again, this time charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Details weren’t released after officers picked up Harris from his home. The minister currently sits in the Pitt County jail, with a court date set for later today.

A Computer Mistake Causes School To Fail
Not all of the schools that failed the No Child Left Behind requirements are to blame for their test scores. That was determined on Wednesday after it was revealed that a computer glitch, rather than student grades, caused one high school in Johnston County to fail. Smithfield-Selma High failed due to the fact three students with disabilities were given the wrong code on their tests, which made it appear they had failed. In reality, the students had passed and Selma should have received a 100% score from the federal test. However it may be several months before the problem can be corrected, as the State Board of Education has to meet and hear the complaint. After such a meeting, then the Board will decide if the school’s grade should be changed.

Power Out In Graham
Thanks in part to the current heat wave, parts of the Triad went to bed without power last night. In Graham, 911 service was knocked out, in addition to traffic lights. The reason for the outage? A substation failed, after the constant strain being put on the system. According to Duke Power, the heat has caused a record amount of energy to be used, a demand that in some places the system finds itself unable to handle. Work crews spent a good part of the night fixing the problem and most everyone should have their power back on this morning.

Sports Headlines

Prospect Chooses Pirates Over Wolfpack
NC State lost out on a top football prospect this week, as Fayetteville Byrd graduate Doug Palmer announced he was going to East Carolina to play next season. Palmer had originally signed with the Wolfpack, but didn’t make the grade on his college board scores. Since the ACC won’t accept student athletes who fail the boards, Palmer was free to choose another school and he did. The 6-3, 290 lb. defensive lineman will suit up as a member of the East Carolina program this year, choosing to play now instead of spending a year at prep school to build up his scores.

ACC Unveils Instant Replay Plan
The ACC unveiled its’ plans for instant replay this week, hoping to make a seamless transition to the rule. Just like in the NFL, there has to be irrefutable proof of a mistake before a call can be overturned and certain plays, such as holding or pass interference, can’t be challenged at all. Over $400,000 was spent on equipment to make the idea a reality in ACC football. Instant replay takes effect this coming season.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at last night’s scoreboard, it was Winston Salem continuing their winning streak as they beat the Lynchburg Hillcats 8-4. Fernando Hernandez picked up the win after throwing two shutout innings in relief. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads rode a great pitching performance of their own to take the 7-1 win over Kannapolis. Hickory starter Julio Guerrero only gave up one run in eight innings of work, to get his fifth win. Since the All-Star break, the Crawdads are 20-12, moving back into contention for the top spot in the South Atlantic Conference.

US Team Takes Game One
The US National Team won their first match at the Under 21 Global Games on Wednesday 119-64. UNC Charlotte forward Curtis Withers led the team with 22 points, as J.J. Redick added 14.

Original Bobcat Heading To Sacramento
As the Charlotte Bobcats prepare for their second season of existence, one of the team’s original players from last year finds himself headed out the door. A deal is almost done that will send point guard Jason Hart to the Sacramento Kings, in exchange for a second round draft pick. Hart, who started 27 of the Bobcats’ games last year, will be replaced in the lineup by Raymond Felton, who the team took with the 5th pick in this year’s draft. The trade won’t become final until next week, when the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement is finalized.

Panthers Sign Another Pick
The Carolina Panthers came one step closer to getting all their draft picks signed on Tuesday, as the team came to terms with Atiyyah Ellison on a deal. Ellison, one of the team’s two third round picks from this year’s draft, signed a contract for three years, worth around $1.3 million. The 6-3 303 lb. Ellison will be competing for a spot as part of the defensive line. With only three picks left unsigned, General Manager Marty Hurney said he believed all the players would be in the fold when camp opens up this Saturday.

No Child Left Series Part One
Nothing has attracted controversy like the No Child Left Behind program. With the official results in from this year’s tests, there is a mixed bag of information awaiting local instructors. Over the next few days we’ll be taking a look at the results from Wilkes and the surrounding areas, going over them and explaining what they mean. These federal regulations are based on several different factors, targeting separate groups of kids, each based on different racial and economic factors, among other things. If just one of these groups fails to meet the percentage federal officials declared adequate in math or reading, then the entire school fails in that part of the program. Taking a look at the data, only six of the county’s thirteen elementary schools met the program’s requirements. Those schools were Traphill, Ronda-Clingman, Mountain View, Mount Pleasant, CB Eller and Roaring River. However those who failed usually did so by one or two points. As an example, Boomer-Ferguson Elementary failed to meet the standard, despite finishing 92% of the program’s goals. In fact only three elementary schools finished below 90% and that was Millers Creek at 88%, Wilkesboro Elementary at 88% and Moravian Falls Elementary who came in last at 84%. During the news today associate superintendent Kaye Lamb will be explaining what the data means for our county. Then tomorrow in part two of our series, we’ll take a look at the problems as they relate to the middle and high schools, then on Friday in the news Kaye will talk about some of the good things to come out of the report and where we go from here.

Wreck On 421 Totals One
A wreck on 421 Monday afternoon totaled one car and caused several hundred dollars worth of damage to the other one. A North Wilkesboro woman was turning onto the highway from a side road but didn’t notice the traffic coming on. She pulled out and slammed into another vehicle, causing them both to spin out. Estimated damages were placed at just under $6000. Thankfully however no one was hurt in the accident.

Just Came In To Borrow A Few Things
A Wilkesboro business was the victim of a break-in earlier this week. Employees at Tarheel Lumber came into work on Monday to find that some things were missing from a utility trailer. There was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the property. $100 was taken, in addition to a cell phone and a nail gun. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Shots Fired At Jonesville Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Jonesville residence on Monday after reports came in of shots being fired. An argument had gone on a few minutes earlier between two people at the home, which ended after one of them took off in his car, saying he’d be back. The man returned minutes later, armed with two handguns. He started shooting at the home, hitting the front door and a car that was parked nearby. Then after being let inside by the homeowner, the man continued shooting until he hit his target in the leg. Afterwards according to witness reports, the man and two friends began beating the victim. The victim and his girlfriend, who was also in the home, managed to escape and call 911, after which he was taken to Hugh Chatham Hospital. The homeowner Shannon Moose was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and second degree kidnapping, while 34-yr-old William Rodney Thomas was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging a weapon into occupied property. Andy William Norman was arrested and charged with assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Lunch Buddies Holds Training Session Today
When the new school year arrives, just under a hundred kids will be on a waiting list for the lunch buddy program. The reason for that is simply the need has been greater than the response. Now if you want to change that and becomes a friend to a local child, the Wilkes Chapter of Communities in Schools is holding a Lunch Buddy Training Session later today. The session will be held from 12 noon until 1pm today at the Communities in Schools office, located at 1260 College Avenue in Wilkesboro. For more information you can call their office at 651-7830 extension #23.

Summer Heat Series Part Two
It was another scorching hot day across Wilkes, with temperatures hitting the triple digits. Now all this heat isn’t good for your car, but what can you do to solve the problem? In part two of our 3WC Summer Series, we’re taking a look at ways you can protect your car against the weather outside. First, in heated conditions, make sure to keep your car filled with antifreeze. If you’re running low, fill it up before you take off, otherwise your car could overheat before you get where you’re going. Also open your car doors and let the air circulate before starting it up. That won’t just help the car, but also make it a little easier for you to bear the drive before the AC kicks in. And speaking of the air conditioner, never crank it all the way up to full blast when first starting the car. Instead start off at the regular or mild setting, to give the vehicle a chance to get started. Otherwise you run the risk of straining the air conditioner’s capacity while the car won’t be getting cooler any quicker. If possible, put a sunshade on your car’s windshield when you get out. It will help cut down on the car’s temperature by reducing the heat buildup inside. And finally, more important than the car is your safety, so be sure and bring water with you on a hot day, to avoid getting dehydrated. And if you find yourself in need of help on the road, dial * HP so the highway patrol can help you out. Tomorrow in part three of our series, we’ll be going over some more ways to keep your home cool.

Heatwave Leads To AC Theft
As the temperature climbs here in Wilkes, some people refused to tough it out. A Hays man returned home on Tuesday to find that someone had decided to help themselves to his air conditioner. In addition, a CD player, microwave and some cash had been stolen from the home. It’s unclear exactly how the thieves got inside, as there was no sign of a break-in. There is a suspect however and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Generation Next
Ministry can come in many forms, from tent revival meetings to providing food for the needy. One church here in Wilkes is expanding on that, helping to serve as a training ground for the next generation. Pastor Keith Nix of Restoration Worship Center has developed what he calls the Extreme Discipleship Program. To hear more about the Discipleship program, you can tune in for this week’s Focus on the Foothills. I’ll be talking with Pastor Nix about the program and some other parts of the ministry that he’s involved in. Plus we’ll be talking with some of the kids serving with the group this year. That’s coming up tomorrow on Focus, just after the midday stock report at 1:05pm.

Regional News

Blackberry Festival This Saturday
This coming Saturday, people from across the state will be making their way into Lenoir for the annual Blackberry Festival. This marks the fourth year the event has been held, with food and games scheduled throughout the day. Things will start at 10am in downtown Lenoir, with the Blackberry Princess pageant. Then country bands will be on hand throughout the day performing along with eating contests and a special ceremony to honor the troops at noon. For more information you can call the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce at 828-726-0616.

State News

Weapons Seized In Wilmington
Attempting to make a drug bust on Tuesday, Wilmington police instead uncovered over a half dozen guns. One officer went over to talk with a group smoking marijuana in the downtown area on Tuesday, but as he came closer they went their separate ways. He caught up with two of the men, only to see a weapon fall out and hit the ground. Other officers came over to help detain the men, after which the officers searched the men’s vehicles. Inside they found a nine-millimeter handgun, a .380 revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun and two SKS assault rifles, all of which were loaded. Neither man could provide officers with a reason why the loaded guns were in the cars. Both Antoine Graham and Eric Bullard were arrested and taken to jail. In addition, police found out that Bullard was already wanted on drug trafficking charges.

Tax Money Used To Spy On Citizens
How would you like it if your tax dollars were being used to spy on you by the local government? That’s what people in Rowan County are upset about today. A private investigations firm has come forward, saying that County officials paid them over $23,000 to track down local citizens. The reason? Officials wanted to know who was writing letters that criticized county spending policies. Now several county commissioners have stepped forward and tried to defend the policy, saying that it was a matter of security. However no one could point to any threats or other charges made in the letters that would have been cause for concern. The private investigations firm, Kirker Investigations, said that they checked out more than seven local citizens over the past five years, being paid $23,044 by the county to do so. Everyone named as a possible suspect is planning to file suit against Rowan County.

More Money Coming To Lee County Schools
Some good news today for Lee County schools, as it turns out they’ll have a little more money to spend than planned. The Department of Transportation cut into the parking lot for East Lee Middle School while working on the 421 Bypass. As per state law, the DOT paid the school to get the damage fixed, however local officials were able to get things repaired for almost $100,00 less than was paid out. The DOT gave Lee County $455,000 to cover the costs and the county only spent $339,000 of it. That means $116,000 will go into the school budget, to pay for books, equipment upgrades and other things as needed.

North Carolina To Sue TVA
North Carolina is going to court against the Tennessee Valley Authority. State Attorney General Roy Cooper made the announcement on Monday after repeated attempts failed to convince TVA to clean up its’ coal power plants. Emissions from the plant drift into the western mountains of NC, and studies have found that these toxins have damaged the health of both people and plants. The Clean Smokestacks Act, which was signed into law in 2002, makes suchs fumes illegal in North Carolina. TVA meanwhile says that billions are being spent on cleanup, but refuses to show how or where the money is being used. Cooper said that the case could go to court within the next month.

Thieves Strongarm Home in Wayne County
Officials in the Wayne County area are looking for some thieves who had to be pretty strong to pull off this heist. A homeowner returned to find that their 900-lb safe had been ripped out of the house, along with over $320,000 in cash, guns and other items. There are no suspects and police in Goldsboro are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 919-735-2255.

That Sinking Feeling
The rainstorms from several weeks ago may seem like ancient history to people in Wilkes, but officials in Hickory are still dealing with the storm’s after effects. Two sinkholes were formed at Hickory businesses, at McGuffey’s and Buffalos’ Restaurant. Now officials are concerned that one of the sinkholes may be expanding to engulf portions of the road. While the sinkhole at Buffalos’ had originally swallowed only the restaurant’s parking lot, now parts of the sidewalk are crumbling and officials are concerned that it could expand to take parts of nearby Highway 70 as well. Despite the concern however, nothing has been done to fix the problem, unlike at McGuffey’s down the road. Work crews have begun what is expected to be a two month project, rebuilding the drainage system and the parking lot in hopes of solving the problem.

Sports Headlines

UNC Lands Another Running Back
The Tarheels locked up another position player for their 2006 squad, as running back Johnny White committed to the team. White, a 6 ft. 195 back from Asheville High agreed to play for the Heels, saying he loved the school and thought it would be a great place to go to college. He’ll enter Chapel Hill ranked as one of the top ten seniors in the nation, turning down offers from Arkansas, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Tennessee. Last season as a junior, White rushed for 2184 yards and 39 touchdowns while marking a time of 4.4 in the 40 yard dash.

Deacons Name Starting QB
Just up the road in Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons finally have decided on a quarterback. Sophomore Ben Mauk will be the starter when the season starts, having beaten out senior Cory Randolph in practice. The news couldn’t come at a better time for the Deacons, as the team lost running back Chris Barclay for at least the first game of the year. Barclay was suspended by both the school and the athletic department, for an unspecified violation. He’ll be eligible to rejoin the team for their game September 10th.

Wake Forest Coach Qualifies For Race
One of the Wake Forest coaches will be in Helsinki during the World Track and Field Championships, as a competitor. Matt Kerr, an assistant coach for Wake’s track and field team, qualified as a member of Team Canada’s squad. He ran with the team during a meet in Belgium, running the 3000 meter steeplechase in 8 minutes, 20 seconds.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues last night, it was Hickory getting blown out by Kannapolis 10-1. Hickory starter Derek Hankins got the loss after giving up six runs in seven innings of work. The bullpen also collapsed for the Crawdads, giving up four runs in the last three innings. No Crawdad player got more than two hits in the game. The news was better up in Winston, as the Warthogs beat Lynchburg 18-8. Warthogs starter Wes Whisler got his second win of the season, despite giving up six runs in five innings of work. Winston was led by Noah Hall, who had two home runs and a triple.

Carolina Hurricanes Unveil New Season
After a lockout that wiped out last season, the Carolina Hurricanes will take to the ice again this year as the team released its’ preseason schedule this week. The NHL preseason has the ‘Canes playing eight games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and several other teams to get ready for their first official matchup in over a year. The first game is set for Sept. 16th in Raleigh against the Washington Capitals.

Changes In Store For Mountain View Students
The new school year will also bring some changes for families at Mountain View Elementary. The school has some new policies that will go into effect, including changes as to how parents drop off and pick up kids. Car riders will still be dropped off in the mornings at the entrance to the main building however it’ll be a different situation during the afternoon. Any student in grades kindergarten through second grade with a brother or sister in grades three through five will be picked up by parents in front of the main office. Any student in grades three through five without brothers or sisters in the K-2 age group will be picked up now at the lower entrance to the new building. The school also asks parents picking up third through fifth graders at their designated pickup to use the new driveway, coming in beside the medical center and leaving near the school gym,

Drugs Found During License Check
Sheriffs deputies were performing a license check over the weekend when they discovered mushrooms and marijuana. The check was going on at the intersection of Hwy 16 and Arbor Grove Church Road when a car suddenly stopped short, swerving into a nearby parking lot. Deputies walked up to the vehicle and the driver informed them he didn't have a license. After being asked if there were drugs n the car, the vehicles passenger pulled out 4 grams of marijuana. Deputies later found mushrooms hidden in the car as well. 18-yr-old Summerlyn Deanne Glass was charged with drug possession with intent to sell and also maintaining a vehicle for the sale of drugs.

Update: In court Ms. Glass' charge of Schedule II Drug Possession was reduced to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and she was given supervised probation. The charge against Ms. Glass for maintaining a vehicle for the sale of drugs was reduced to a misdemeanor and she was given consolidatedated judgement. Charges of Schedule VI drug possession and paraphernalia were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Rabies Becoming A Concern This Year
As we head into the dog days of summer, rabies is once again becoming a problem both in Wilkes and across the state. With a shortage of the rabies vaccine possibly looming, officials are predicting this could be a problem much like this past winter’s flu scare. The easiest way to fix things is to go and have your pet vaccinated, which at the local clinics costs $10. Keep in mind if that seems like a lot, humans can also contract the virus and it costs around $2500 to treat an infected person. If you’re not sure, call your vet and check that your animals all have up to date vaccinations. If you have any questions, you can call Animal Control at 903-7688 or the Wilkes Health Department at 651-7450.

Always Make Sure You Lock Your Car
A Boomer man called sheriff’s deputies after coming outside to find that someone had broke into his car. An amplifier for the car’s stereo system had been ripped out after the man left his vehicle unlocked. All total an estimated $125 in damages and lost merchandise was done to the car. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Stuff The Bus Program Continues
Despite the heat, many people are out and about in Wilkes County this week. If you find yourself with some extra school supplies, you can drop them off at a Stuff the Bus location while in town. The Stuff The Bus program helps to provide needy kids with the supplies they lack for school. There are several locations around the Wilkes County area for you to drop off supplies this year. There are buses at Wal-Mart, CVS, Eckerd, Staples and also between the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches in North Wilkesboro. You can also drop off supplies at Dollar General, Super 10 and the Communities in Schools office. All different types of school supplies are needed, everything from paper to pens to calculators. For more information you can call Amie Blevins at Communities in Schools. Her number is 651-7830 extension #23.

Money & Jewelry Taken From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro woman got a surprise over the weekend after receiving a call from her bank. Someone had walked into the bank branch, pretending to be the woman and tried to cash one of her checks. The bank took the forged check but didn’t cash it, instead allowing the thief to be captured on video camera. A description of the thief was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, meanwhile the victim in the case found that checks weren’t the only thing missing. Apparently someone had broke into her house, picking up the checks and also some jewelry that had been lying around. It’s unclear however how thieves got inside, as there was no sign of a break-in. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Tools Stolen With No Evidence Left
A North Wilkesboro man is trying to figure out how someone could have broke into his house over the weekend, even after he locked up. Two weed-eaters, a toolbox and other items were stolen from the man’s home but there was no evidence of a break-in. Nothing was damaged and no other items were stolen from the residence. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Heat Dangerous For Animals As Well
With temperatures hitting triple digits this week, we hear several different ways to help beat the heat. But we can forget about the effects heat has on our pets. Dogs are especially susceptible to heat, with heatstroke being one of the major problems. Dogs are actually more affected by the heat than we are, mainly because their bodies conserve heat more than ours do. Panting and drinking plenty of water helps, but if left out in the heat for long, brain damage can set in after 15 minutes of exposure to temperatures over 100. Some ways to keep your pet cool in the heat, first and foremost, make sure they have a shaded place to go, such as a basement or other place out of the heat. Also you can take an cold towel, soak it in cool, but not cold water. Ice cold water would be a shock to the dog’s system, after coming in from the heat. Cool water however can help the animal maintain a lower body temperature. And aside from making sure they have plenty of water to drink, give the pets small ice cubes they can lick. Keep in mind that pugs and bulldogs, along with all older animals are extremely susceptible to heatstroke.

One Stop Shopping
A Moravian Falls woman got a shock when she came home over the weekend. Someone had broke into the home and took virtually everything but the kitchen sink. Two air mattresses, comforters, a tv, CD player and several other items were taken from the home, in addition to the woman’s credit card. All total over one thousand dollars worth of material was taken however that wasn’t the end of it. After checking with her credit card company, the woman found that thieves had gone on a shopping spree, making several purchases in the few hours that they had the card. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

State News

Plan In Motion To Stop Spread Of Raccoon Rabies
Over the past decade, cases of raccoon rabies have spread throughout North Carolina, traveling from the mountains to the foothills. Now state officials have a plan to solve the problem, by sending in some airmail. Over the next month, planes will start dropping bait throughout five counties in North Carolina to act as a test program. That area will include Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey. The bait looks like the ketchup packs that you get at restaurants and is covered with a vaccine to the disease. According to officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, planes will dump packets of the vaccine across most of the wooded areas in the targeted counties, in hopes that they can stop the disease from spreading into Tennessee and other states.

Would Be Thief Goes Hungry
A Krispy Kreme employee stopped a robbery earlier this week, by knocking the thief over with a shopping cart. A man walked into the High Point Krispy Kreme store, pulled out a pocketknife and ordered the employees to hand over the money. Instead one of the employees shoved a cart toward the thief as the man tried to jump over the counter. Stumbling over the cart, the thief jumped back and took off running out the door. Officials in High Point are now looking for the man, who came walking in without a mask or anything else to hide his features. He’s reported as being around 5’10, weighing 180 lbs and is said to be in his late twenties. Officials are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 336-889-4000.

Highway Patrol Warns Drivers To Slow Down
For any drivers out there who like to put their foot on the gas, be careful. The Highway Patrol is out looking for you. The Highway Patrol has started Operation Slow Down, targeting drivers who violate the posted speed limits. The reason for the crackdown is the fact that speeding citations have risen 147 percent over the last six years.

McDowell County Leader In Meth Lab Production
According to state officials, McDowell County has been the site of most of North Carolina’s meth production. Over the last six months, 46 meth labs were discovered and destroyed in McDowell, more than any other portion of the state. Overall the western part of the state is where most labs were found, throughout the foothills and mountain counties. 199 labs have been destroyed so far this year in North Carolina, that’s up by 20% over this same period last year.

Moore County DMV Under Investigation
The DMV in Moore County has closed its’ doors, as the office faces an investigation by the SBI. Nothing was disclosed in detail, but officials would say there were several accounting irregularities which caused the SBI to be brought in. The building itself was raided by SBI agents and computers were seized, among other things.

Inmate On Death Row Gets New Trial
A judge in Stokes County gave inmate Rex Penland a new trial, after DNA evidence raised doubts about the prosecution’s case. Penland had been found guilty in 1994 of the murder of a Winston Salem prostitute, sentenced to death row. In 1996 the evidence was presented to the state Supreme Court and his conviction was upheld. However now DNA tests on the knife Penland supposedly used to kill the woman found only his blood on it, With that being the case, a judge in Superior Court ruled this week that a retrial should be held. The judge however said that even with his decision, he believes the state has a strong case against Penland and that the lack of evidence doesn’t prove his innocence.

Sports Headlines

ACC Football Poll Released
According to the preseason polls, teams from North Carolina are expected to have a hard time in the redesigned ACC conference this fall. Ballots were turned in from different sportswriters, as they selected the two divisional champions of the ACC’s football program. Florida State and Virginia Tech were picked as the top two, with Boston College and Miami coming up close behind. NC State was the only North Carolina team to make it into the top five, as all the rest were found at the bottom of the barrel. Wake Forest and UNC Chapel Hill were picked to finish near the bottom, while Duke is dead last in the poll. ACC football kicks off the first week of September.

NC State Names Starting Quarterback
Quarterback Jay Davis has apparently locked up the starting job for the NC State Wolfpack, after a brief training camp battle with sophomore Marcus Stone. Davis has impressed the coaching staff with his mechanics, his teammates by taking control as a leader and his critics by stepping up and working on his mistakes. The rising senior comes in after a troubled junior season that saw him taking over for Phillip Rivers, after Rivers was picked in the NFL Draft.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard, it was Winston falling against Lynchburg 8-2. Wartgos’ starter Gio Gonzalez was shelled for his first loss of the season, giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Up the road in Hickory, the news was better for the Crawdads, as they rallied from five back to beat Kannapolis 9-5 Monday night. Hickory starter Romulo Sanchez picked up the win, going six innings while giving up five runs. Closer Matt Capps slammed the door on Kannapolis, picking up his 13th save. With the win, Hickory moves just two games back of Delmarva in the race for the Northern Division title.

Panthers Cut Players As Training Camp Draws Near
With less than a week before training camp, the Carolina Panthers made some pre-emptive cuts on Monday. Running back Joey Harris and defensive tackle Cleveland Pickney were both let go, along with safety Scott Farley. The three players spent most of last year on the practice squad, getting into a few games due to the Panthers’ injury bug. Now with everyone healthy, the team found itself with too many players and not enough spots to fit them in. Training camp for all NFL teams starts on Friday.