Schools Drop As Test Results Released
More bad news today for some parents of Wilkes County students. The state released final results from this year’s ABC’s of Public Education program, holding schools accountable for student performances in all of the end of grade testing and other plans. Here in Wilkes, six schools failed to meet expectations for the year. They were CB Eller Elementary, Millers Creek Elementary, Mount Pleasant Elementary, Roaring River Elementary and North Wilkesboro Elementary, in addition to North Wilkes Middle School. All others met state expectations, while some in fact exceeded them. We’ll go over this more in detail starting on Monday, breaking down each individual school by examining their scores from the state.

Be Careful Who Has Your Information
Be careful who you give out personal information to. That’s what a local man learned this week. Some of his personal information, along with one of his credit cards had ended up in the hands of his girlfriend without his permission. Checking his account, the man soon found that $30 had been spent in the last day alone. Because he hadn’t given permission, the man took out a warrant for the girl’s arrest. But that wasn’t all that deputies found when they brought her in. Inside her purse was her boyfriend’s credit card along with two others that he hadn’t noticed missing yet, in addition to a capital one card apparently stolen from her grandfather. 22-yr-old Amanda Marie Wyatt was arrested and charged with two counts of larceny and financial card fraud.

Wreck On Curtis Bridge Road Totals Two
A wreck on Curtis Bridge Road damaged two vehicles this week. A Moravian Falls woman was trying to merge from a side road but failed to see the oncoming traffic. She slammed into a Wilkesboro woman who couldn’t get out of the way in time. Both vehicles were totaled, with estimated damages placed at $3600. However after giving out her information, the first driver took off down the road. Jennifer Ann Rathburn was charged with hit & run, along with failure to yield the right of way.

Maple Hill Grocery Falls Victim To Vandals
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the Maple Hill Grocery on Wednesday, after employees came in to find that damage had been done to the place overnight. The building’s front window was shattered, with estimated damages placed at $300. There is however a suspect in the case, as a man in a white Chevy truck was seen in the parking lot doing donuts during the night. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Deadline Today For Filing
Today’s the final day for anyone who wants to put their name in the election race this year. The deadline is today at noon, after that the nominees are locked in and we start progressing toward the primaries for those races who need one. One of those will be for the Republican nomination for mayor of North Wilkesboro. Incumbent Steve Foster is running again as is his opponent from the last time around, Gerald Lankford. A primary date will be set and then the winner of that vote will go on to face Democrat George G. Church in the November election. One more name was added to the race for Ronda commissioner this week, as Patricia Hawkins entered the race. She’ll join incumbents Brison Combs and Ricky Cothren, along with Manuel Wood, Helen Porter, Wanda Blackburn and Holly Duplisea. Over the bridge in Wilkesboro, incumbents Mike Inscore and James Hartley will be running unopposed for their town commissioner seats, while in North Wilkesboro, Billy Joe “Crow” Church, Robert L. Johnson, Debbie Ferguson, Faye Cox and Eric Williams will all be vying for the two Democratic seats up for grabs.

Items Stolen From Forest Service
The local branch of the Forest Service found itself the victim of a break-in this week as thieves walked out with over $1500 worth of material. There was no sign of a break-in at the property and no damage done, however several boxes of tools were missing. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

3WC Healthwatch: A Stalk A Day Keeps The Cancer Away
This next bit of news is for everyone out there who doesn’t like eating vegetables. You might want to reconsider. In today’s 3WC Healthwatch, scientists from the Institute of Food Technologists have found that eating broccoli could help prevent bladder cancer or possibly slow its’ spread if you’ve already contracted the disease. Doctors told the Reuters news service that compounds in broccoli called isothiocynates aggressively go after cancer cells in the bladder, dramatically slowing their spread. While this is by no means a miracle cure, it can help patients slow the spread of their disease in some cases and for others who are cancer free, broccoli sprouts can help you stay that way. One thing to consider however is that this research is still in the early stages and it’s not yet clear how much broccoli you’d need to eat before seeing results.

Radio Stolen From Car
A Millers Creek woman returned from a trip to find that thieves had paid a visit to her house. The radio was ripped out of her car, however no other damage was done to the vehicle and nothing else was bothered on the property. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Relay For Life Later Today
When we hear the word cancer, the first thing we think of is death. But it’s not always a life-ending disease and with more research, it’s possible we could see a cure in our lifetime. To do that however, money has to be raised for the research, more than just the government can spare. One organization built to do just that is Relay For Life and this year’s Relay for Life event will be held at Wilkes Community College later on today. The event will begin at 6pm and continue on until 10am Saturday morning. For more information you can call Jo Dejournet at 838-3973.

State News

State Wanting Improvement In Failing Schools
The latest round of tests haven’t done much to improve North Carolina’s scores or standing in regards to education. With that being the case, Gov. Easley announced this week that he wants special teams to be sent into the 44 high schools that had low performance scores. These teams would be put together with workers from the state’s Department of Public Instruction and as a trial run, will start their program in 10 Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools. Each team will record data from the schools’ students and teachers, analyzing it while also taking a look at how schools in the area spent the money they were given. Then they’ll present goals for each school and recommendations on how to improve.

Minimum Wage Might Be Raised
Good news for people making minimum wage today, as your paychecks could be increasing. North Carolina’s House Finance Committee approved a bill Thursday morning that would raise the minimum wage here in the state to $6 per hour. That was part of a larger bill, creating a tax credit for all small businesses that give their employees health insurance. The bill will now go to the full House for a vote, after passing the committee 22-10. Opponents of the increase say that in order to keep increasing profits, companies would begin laying off workers to make up the difference. A similar bill failed to pass the House in June.

Reward Offered For Missing Guilford County Man
One week after a Guilford County man wandered off from his home and there’s still no sign of him. Officials used dogs over the weekend to track him and ended up at the Adams Farm shopping center, where the animals lost the scent. Now family members of 84-yr-old Frank Rasche are asking the public for help and have put out a $5000 reward for information. Residents living around the Guilford County area are being asked to search around any wooded areas near their homes, the most likely place for the man to be, according to county officials.

Missing Radiation In North Carolina
Residents of Charlotte were warned yesterday of a possible health risk, as a device holding radioactive materials went missing. North Carolina’s Radiation Protection Section said that the device in question was a gauge, used to measure the amount of radiation in the area. It disappeared from a construction site where it was being used near Highway 74. According to officials, if not handled correctly, the gauge can cause both health and safety problems, so they’re asking people to stay at least 15 feet away if they spot it. Anyone who does locate the device is asked to call the NC Radiation Protection Section at 919-571-4141.

Bragg Deserter Arrested
An Army soldier from Fort Bragg has been arrested in New Hampshire, after deserting from his post. 40-yr-old Gerald Remacle had been missing for over a year when officials found him living in New Hampshire. He was arrested and charged with desertion, in addition to driving with a suspended license. He’s currently in custody awaiting extradition back to North Carolina.

Wachovia Trimming Jobs From Carolina Cities
Bad news today for Wachovia employees, as the company announced it plans to cut an estimated 150 jobs over the next few months. The cuts were made so that Wachovia can outsource the jobs to another company, Chicago-based Hewitt Associates in order to save money. Most of the affected positions here in North Carolina will be in Charlotte branches, but company officials said they haven’t made a final decision as to who will be terminated.

Sports Headlines

NC State Lands Transfer
NC State will have some help coming in the linebacker position, if they can just wait a year for him to get here. Pat Bedics decided to transfer from Penn State, giving up his eligibility this season in accordance with NCAA rules. The reason the 6 ft. 230 lb. Bedics chose State doesn’t have to do with football as much as it does family. His brother John is a defensive tackle for the Wolfpack, currently planning to redshirt his freshman year.

Shelden Williams Named To U.S. Team
Duke’s Shelden Williams finds himself keeping busy over the summer months. He was named this week to the U.S. team for this year’s World University Games, joining fellow NCAA players such as West Virginia’s Mike Gansy and Eric Hicks of Cincinnati. This year’s games will be held starting on August 12 and going through the 22nd in Turkey.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor leagues last night, it was Hickory blowing out the Lakewood Blueclaws 12-1. Crawdads starter Yoann Torrealba got his fourth win after giving up one run in seven innings of work. Meanwhile Hickory left fielder Anthony Bocchino led the offense with two home runs and six RBIs. Up the road in Winston however the news wasn’t as good, as the Fredrick Keys beat the Warthogs 9-4.

Former Hornet Takes Coaching Job
It’s been several years since the Charlotte Hornets packed up and moved to New Orleans, but locals still hold up some of their former players as icons. Many of those retired players have taken jobs within the new Charlotte Bobcats organization and one is stepping onto the court this year for the first time as a head coach. Muggsy Bogues was announced this week as the new head coach of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting. The Sting, who have the worst record in the league at 3-21, found themselves in need of a coach after general manager Trudi Lacey stepped down from the position. Bogues says he wants to instill a strong defensive attitude and an up tempo style of attack, to bring the team out of last place.

Jarrett Testing Out New Ford Car
Dale Jarrett was out on the racetrack this week, testing out a new car. But Jarrett won’t be driving this car on a permanent basis, unless he switches teams. The Wood Brothers asked Jarrett to test Ford’s newest racing model car, the Fusion. Before signing on with Robert Yates, Jarrett had drove for the Wood Brothers and agreed to help them test out the latest product. If all goes according to plan, the Fusion could be out on the track by possibly next season.

Hurricanes Sign Second Free Agent
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes signed their second free agent in three days, locking up Oleg Tverdovsky. The 29-yr-old defenseman will help anchor a Carolina defense that is just getting to know each other and compete for a spot on the roster. The team restructured the defense after it fell flat during the 2003 season, helping them come to a last place finish.

County Unemployment Numbers Released
Bad news today for Wilkes County residents, as the latest unemployment numbers were released. According to the State ESC, unemployment here in Wilkes skyrocketed in June, bouncing back up to 6%. That’s an increase of over 4%, as we finished out the month of May at 5.6%. As it stands now, Wilkes has a labor force of 32,566 people. Out of that number, 30,596 are employed with 1970 looking for work. Once again we’re over the state average, which was 5.3% at the end of June.

Thieves Run Off With Diaper Bag From Ferguson Home
On Tuesday a Ferguson woman called sheriff’s deputies after her car was broke into. Due to the heat outside, she had left the windows down while going into a local store. When she returned however, several items were missing. The thieves took a diaper bag, bottles and baby formula, along with bank checks and some personal papers that had been inside. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Focus On Adoption
Over a thousand kids are currently in the custody of Social Services here in North Carolina, with eight hundred in need of foster parents. DSS can’t handle them all, so other agencies have popped up to help carry the burden. Today at 1:05pm we’ll have the rest of my interview with Ladonna during Focus on the Foothills. That’s coming up right after the midday stock report.

Lawnmower Stolen From Wilkesboro Residence
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Wilkesboro man’s home on Monday, after thieves rode off with his lawnmower. The man returned to find that someone had literally busted open the doors to a nearby storage building, removing the riding lawn mower in addition to a push mower and a gas tank. Estimated damages were placed at $500. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Blood Drive Later Today
The blood supply in the county continues to fall in the critical category, despite repeated blood drives over the last few weeks. Poor turnout at many of the drives has kept the blood at its’ current level, with again a desperate need for Type O and Type B, both of which are under a day’s supply. Wilkes Regional Medical Center is holding a blood drive going on throughout the day. It starts at 7am and continues on til 11:30am this morning. Then after a short break it starts back up this afternoon at 1pm, stretching until 5:30pm. Before donating, just remember that you must be at least 17 years old, weigh no less than 110 lbs and be in good health. To set up an appointment you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Thieves Run Off With Gas
A Wilkesboro man returned home this week to find that someone had been driving through his yard while he was away. Also it appeared that thieves had paid him a visit, as several items from the home were missing. A gas can and a miter saw were both stolen, despite there not being any damage done to the home itself and nothing else taken from the property. There is however a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

So Where Did The Car Go?
A North Wilkesboro man came walking up to sheriff’s deputies to report a stolen vehicle. Apparently he was out at Foster’s Grocery earlier this week buying gas when the vehicle was taken. According to him, while he was inside, someone got into the blazer and drove off down the road. He then walked all the way from Ronda to report the crime. Deputies noticed that he smelled of alcohol but began an investigation. Portions of the vehicle’s bumper were found in Moravian falls, where it looks like the blazer had struck the bank. However there was no sign of the vehicle itself. Video footage is coming in from Foster’s Grocery and the investigation is ongoing.

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.

Be Careful Who You Let Inside
A Millers Creek man learned why it’s a good idea to be careful who you let inside your home. Earlier in the week he had let in several acquaintances to his girlfriend’s house, leaving them alone for several minutes while dealing with some other issues. When he returned all three of them left the house, however several items from the home left with them. When the girlfriend returned later in the night, she found that over a thousand dollars worth of jewelry was missing from the house. The names of the two friends were turned over to sheriff’s deputies and an investigation is ongoing.

State News

Jobs Coming To Gaston County
Good news today for workers in Gaston County, as over 500 jobs are headed to the area. Dole Foods announced that a plant will be built in Bessemer City, to possibly open up within the next year. The plant, which will be located near NC 274 in the SouthRidge Business Park, will process vegetables for the company and employ 525 people by 2008. When the plant is up to full speed, three thousand workers will have jobs there.

US Air Jet Lands In Durham
A US Air jet had to land in Durham on Wednesday after strange odors began filling up the cabin. The flight had just taken off from Charlotte when the pilot said he began smelling a strange odor in the room. Minutes later the smoke alarms went off as well and the pilot redirected the flight to Durham. All 66 passengers on board were fine and there were no incidents with the landing. However officials still don’t know what caused the smell, as the smoke had evaporated by the time the plane reached Durham.

Lexington Schools Consider A Merger
Looking to help ease the tax burden on citizens, Lexington officials are considering a merger in their school system. The current proposal would have the entire city school system merge with Davidson County, but it has both supporters and critics. Supporters claim the move would help lower the taxes currently imposed on city schools, however opponents say that it would also cause the city to lose several million dollars in funding from the federal government. In particular the Lexington School Board has opposed the plan, saying that the current setup has allowed them to guide and raise the performance of students, so there’s no reason to change.

No Budget In Sight
With only a day before the current stopgap runs out, it doesn’t appear that lawmakers are any closer to a budget. In fact, House Speaker Jim Black came out on Wednesday, telling reporters not to expect any announcements regarding the budget, because negotiations have stalled. The main issues deal with the proposed cigarette tax increase and possible pay raises for state employees. With that being the case, yet another stopgap measure will be voted on and installed, so that the state can continue to pay employees. Black said that it was possible a deal could be reached by next Friday.

More Money Coming To Elizabeth City Schools
Some good news today for schools in the Elizabeth City area, as a judge has turned over $34,000 to the school system. Back in April, officers discovered the money stored in the back of the department’s evidence locker, gathered from arrests stemming back as far as 1989. After presenting the cash before a court, the judge in the case ruled they could use it to buy new evidence tracking software, among other things. Now however that same judge has reversed his decision, ordering police to turn over the money to the school system some three months later. The reason, said Judge J. Richard Parker, is because North Carolina’s constitution orders that all penalties and forfeitures have to go to the public schools. It’s unknown if the department plans to appeal or if they have already spent the money.

Lawmakers Give Two Million To Study Bridge Building
While lawmakers can’t come to terms on a new budget, they did find time however to award two million dollars for a study at East Carolina University. The study is designed to determine if it would be possible to build a 10-mile bridge over Currituck Sound. Such a move was deemed necessary due to heavy traffic near the southern end of the county, however opponents say the traffic won’t get lighter, as easy access will entice more people to move into the area. Overall the project would currently cost one hundred million if it actually goes forward, financed with taxpayer bonds. The study will begin this coming fall.

Sports Headlines

Wide Receiver Chooses UNC
The number is now 19 for Tarheel football coach John Bunting. Yet another high school recruit has committed to the Heels, this one from just down the road in Charlotte. Hakeem Nicks, a junior wide receiver at Independence High, announced that he’ll suit up for the Heels in 2006. The 6-2 Nicks said he never considered any other school besides UNC.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard, it was Winston beating Salem 4-2 on Wednesday as Warthogs starter Ray Liotta got his second win of the season. Liotta only gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings of work. With the win, the Warthogs move into a tie with Salem for first place in the Carolina League’s Southern Division. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads blew away the Lakewood Blueclaws 9-1. Crawdads starter Julio Guerrero gave up three runs in six innings to record his sixth win of the year.

Panthers Hit With Injury Bug Again
Some bad news for the Carolina Panthers, as they couldn’t make it out of camp without getting hit by the injury bug. Now linebackers Brandon Short and Chris Draft are nursing injuries. Draft had to be held out of camp on Monday after experiencing some problems with asthma, while Short is having pain in his knee. Also backup center Siitupe Peko’s out with a knee sprain. The only good news out of all this is that the injuries give some of the team’s free agents and draft picks a chance to develop with more playing time.

Rush To Re-Sign With Bobcats
Kareem Rush will become the first Bobcats free agent to re-sign with the team, his agent announced on Wednesday. His agent said that Rush had talked with Denver and New Jersey, but committed to Charlotte after those deals fell through. Charlotte traded with the Lakers to get Rush during last season, as the team needed an explosive scorer.

Hurricanes Sign Free Agent
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes continued to restructure their lineup this week, coming to terms with free agent Cory Stillman. Stillman will take over for departed Jeff O’Neil, who was traded earlier this week. In 2003 playing for Tampa Bay, he put up 80 points. The Hurricanes are looking to revive a struggling offense that scored only 172 goals over the entire 2003 season, good enough for last in the NHL.

News And Notes From Commissioners Meeting
Wilkes County Commissioners held their monthly meeting last night and approved several items on the agenda. The commissioners approved a request that Rawhide Road be added to the state system, so that it can be maintained by the DOT. The road, near Oak Grove Church, needed to be added also so that some legal issues dealing with the right of way could be cleared up. That request will now go to the state for a final decision. Alex Hamilton was also appointed to another four year term as tax administrator. He gave commissioners an update on how collections went this year. Wilkes improved from last year’s totals, with 96.41% of taxes collected from citizens. That’s up from 96.08% at this time last year. Mr. Hamilton also mentioned that probably a year from now, he’ll present property values to the commissioners and allow them to decide if there should be any change in the property tax rate. In addition, Elizabeth Forester and Karen Clifton were both appointed to serve on the Public Library Board, with Joyce Anderson and William Warden Jr. being appointed to the regional library board. Faye Byrd also requested that before future hearings, consideration be made to do away with appointments and instead allow people to apply for the roles. And commissioners appointed chairman Zach Henderson as the Wilkes delegate to the North Carolina Association of Counties meeting.

More Enter The Races As Time Ticks Down
With three days left until this year’s filing deadline, more candidates are adding their names to the races for public office here in Wilkes. Democrat George G Church entered into the hotly contested race for mayor of North Wilkesboro, joining a campaign field that includes the incumbent mayor Steve Foster and his opponent, fellow Republican Gerald Lankford. Over the bridge in Wilkesboro, incumbents Mike Inscore and James Hartley still run unopposed for their town commissioner seats. However in Ronda, two more people joined the race for town commissioner. Helen Porter and Wanda Blackburn, both of which are running a non-partisan campaign, filed to run. They’ll join a crowded field of incumbents Brison Combs and Ricky Cothren, along with fellow challengers Manuel Wood and Holly Duplisea. The deadline for filing in this year’s race is Friday August 5th at noon.

Break-In At Local Business
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Millers Creek business this week after thieves came by to pay a visit. A vehicle near the business was damaged when thieves tossed a rock through the windshield, going inside but only stealing a cell phone. A crowbar was also stolen from the business, however nothing else was taken and no other damage was done on the property. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Two Cars Totaled In Wreck On 421
It always helps to look before you leap. A North Wilkesboro man found out this week that the same is true when driving. The man tried to merge into a lane on Hwy 421, despite the presence of oncoming traffic. He failed to make it, slamming into a vehicle driven by a North Wilkesboro woman. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash, with estimated damages placed at $6000. Thankfully however no one was injured in the wreck.

Lowes Hands Out Grants To Wilkes Businesses
Lowes Company announced this week that several grants have been awarded to local groups here in Wilkes, courtesy of its’ Charitable and Educational Foundation. Four groups benefited from the grants, including the Thankful Community Club, which was given $11,000 to repair and upgrade community facilities in order to expand their after school programs. Wilkes Community College received $1600 to digitize their slides dealing with local history, Relay for Life was given $1000 to support cancer research and the Senior Center got $4000 to purchase a quilting machine. These are the first set of Hometown grants handed out by the new committee, which was formed earlier this year. If your organization wants to apply for a grant, you can visit www.lowes.com/community and fill out an application.

Damage Done To Rivers Edge Skate Park
Wilkesboro police were called out on Monday to Rivers Edge Skate Park, after several incidents of vandalism were discovered. Vandals had apparently pried open two locked doors at the park, then later breaking the front cover of a coke machine in the area. Nothing was taken and no other damage was done. Estimated damages were placed at around $800. There are no suspects but the investigation is ongoing.

Air Compressor Stolen From Roaring River Home
A man in Roaring River called sheriff’s deputies on Monday after thieves broke into his barn, stealing an air compressor. It’s not exactly clear how the thieves got inside, as no locks were broken and nothing else was damaged. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Relay For Life This Friday
When we hear the word cancer, the first thing we think of is death. But it’s not always a life-ending disease and with more research, it’s possible we could see a cure in our lifetime. To do that however, money has to be raised for the research, more than just the government can spare. One organization built to do just that is Relay For Life and this year’s Relay for Life event will be held at Wilkes Community College on Friday, August 5th. The event will begin at 6pm and continue on until 10am Saturday morning. For more information you can call Jo Dejournet at 838-3973.

Stuff The Bus Program Continues
The annual Stuff The Bus program is underway, helping 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. Buses are stationed 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.

State News

Portions Of NC-18 In Catawba County Closed
Portions of NC-18 in Catawba County were closed throughout the afternoon on Tuesday as crews cleaned up a gasoline spill. Over 200 gallons of gas spilled onto the highway around 10am yesterday morning, as the tank flipped. The driver wasn’t injured and no one else was hurt in the incident, however several nearby homes had to be evacuated as DOT workers cleaned up the spill. It was reopened just after 4pm for drivers.

Two Killed In Amtrak Wreck
An Amtrak train derailed just after noon on Tuesday, slamming into a nearby dump truck. Both people inside the truck were killed, however the 180 passengers on the train survived without any serious injuries. The #80 train, coming in from Charlotte, was on its’ way to New York when the incident happened. It’s still unclear what exactly happened to cause the collision. Officials spent most of the afternoon at the scene cleaning up and trying to determine what went wrong.

Jobs Leaving Charlotte Area
Bad news for workers at Charlotte Douglas Airport, as the Transportation Security Administration announced it would be laying off security screeners. 54 workers are expected to be let go by the TVA as it continues to restructure personnel at the airport. More part time screeners will be hired to make up the difference, although company officials never explained why they wouldn’t let the already hired workers simply take a reduction in hours. The layoffs are expected to begin in the next few weeks.

Armed Robbery Under Investigation In Charlotte
Charlotte police are looking for help after an armed robbery at North Tryon Street Monday night. A man walked up to the counter of the Petro Express around 1am, pulled out a gun and demanded money. After getting almost $100, he took off running out the door. Police are going over the store’s surveillance tape but so far have no suspects. They’re asking anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at 704-334-1600.

Rowan County Manager Fired After Public Outcry
Last week, Rowan County citizens learned that their tax dollars had been used to pay a detective agency to investigate a letter writing campaign. Now that decision has cost one employee his job as county manager Tim Russell was fired this week. Russell had served as the county manager for 21 years but commissioners decided they had no choice but to let him go. $23,000 was paid out to a detective agency by the county, who asked them to discover who was behind the letter writing campaign attacking the financial decisions that had been made.

North Carolina Group Accused Of Violating Religious Freedom
A Bible study course taught by a North Carolina company violates religious freedom, according to a group in Texas. The Texas Freedom Network came out this week against the course, which is taught in high schools across 37 states. The group said it was full of errors because it taught the Bible was inspired by God and that creationism is in fact a viable theory. The course, which was created by the North Carolina based National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, is an elective which students can choose to take, but aren’t forced to. Pastor Ragan Courtney spoke out in defense of the Texas Freedom Network, saying that no student should have a religious belief forced on them.

Sports Headlines

North Carolina Lands Another Recruit
The recruits keep piling in for UNC Chapel Hill, as yet another high school player committed to play football as a Tarheel. Tony Elzy, a running back from Ohio, declared his commitment to the Heels this week, becoming the 18th member of next year’s freshman recruits. The 5-10 Elzy ran for 2511 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, twice running for 400 yards in a single game.

Former Wake Star Signs With Patriots
A former Demon Deacon came one step closer to NFL stardom this week, as Jason Anderson signed with the New England Patriots. Anderson, who was a receiver at Wake Forest until graduating last year, was cut last week by the Tennessee Titans. Facing some potential holes in their receiving corps, the Patriots signed him to a deal and he’ll now have the chance to make the team during training camp.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look around the minor league scoreboard, it was Winston Salem losing against the Salem Avalanche 6-3 Tuesday night. With the loss, Winston drops one game back in the race for the Carolina League’s Southern Division title. Warthogs’ relief pitcher Fraser Dizard got the loss, giving up five runs in only 2/3 of an inning. Up the road in Hickory, the Crawdads lost a heartbreaker 1-0 against the Lakewood Blueclaws.

Donnalley Takes Over New Team
Former Carolina Panther guard Kevin Donnalley opened up the first week of his new job on Monday, when practice began for high school players. Donnalley, who retired from the Panthers in 2004, took over this spring as head coach of Charlotte Christian School. Records were set during the first day, as 75 players came to try out for the team. Donnalley will have his work cut out for him however, as he takes over a squad that finished 0-10 last year.

New Drivers Coming Into Nascar
Bill France promised that new drivers would be entering the NASCAR circuit in the next few years and that is starting to take place. Paul Tracy, a racing star from up in Canada, will be testing out a Richard Childress car at Michigan International Speedway this coming week, with plans of entering the Nextel Cup race on August 21st. The 36-yr-old Tracy said he wanted to test out the car first before making an official entry into the race. If he comes in, Tracy will be racing for Childress.

Former DEI Chief Leaves For Everham
As the game of musical chairs continues at DEI, one employee has left for a competitor. Pete Rondeau, the former crew chief for Dale Jr., announced that he’s leaving DEI and switching over to Everham Motorsports, where he’ll be the director of research and development. Rondeau was removed halfway through the season from his job as crew chief, with Steve Hmiel taking over for the rest of this season.

3WC Ranks In Top Five
The first round of voting is over and the Top Five Finalists were announced on Monday for this year’s Southern Gospel Music Awards. 3WC made the list as one of the top five radio stations, joining Joy FM, WJBZ, WDJC and KKGM on the list. Over one hundred thousand people from over 70 countries cast their vote for their favorites in each category. Now the second round of voting begins and you can cast a ballot even if you did so the first time. Same as before, you just have to log on to www.thesoutherngospel.com , click on Southern Gospel Music Awards 2005 and cast your vote. 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.

Car Theft Turns Into Arson
A Thurmond woman called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after her truck was stolen. The vehicle had been at the woman’s home when she went to bed, but the next morning it was gone. Deputies located the vehicle a few miles down the road, completely burned on the inside. The remains of a few matches were found inside, along with other evidence causing deputies to determine this was a case of arson. There is a suspect in the case while both sheriff’s deputies and the fire marshal’s office are investigating.

Wreck On 421 Totals One
A wreck on 421 over the weekend totaled one car and damaged another. A Wilkesboro woman was driving down the highway when the vehicle in front of her suddenly came to a stop. She couldn’t stop in time to avoid hitting the car, slamming into the left rear fender before going off the road and into the nearby cables. The driver of the second car said she had stopped because of a bedliner lying in the highway. Estimated damages were placed at $5000, thankfully however no one was injured.

Blood Drives Later Today
The Wilkes chapter of the Red Cross continues to stage blood drives as we head into the home stretch of the summer months. All blood types are needed, but especially type O and Type B. There will be two drives going on today. One is at Gardner Glass, starting at 11am and going on til 3:30pm this afternoon. The next will be at the VFW Post 1142 Hall, next to the Department of Transportation on Hwy 115. That’s from 2-6:30pm. Before donating, just remember that you must be at least 17 years old, weigh no less than 110 lbs and be in good health. To set up an appointment you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

Clothes Ignited At Local Business
Deputies were called out to Chip’s Bargin Barn over the weekend along with the Mulberry Fire Department. The reason was that someone had gained access to the store and decided to set the clothes on fire. Some of the women’s clothes hanging on a rack were in flames as firefighters arrived on scene. All total over $200 worth of damage was done. It’s unclear how the vandals got inside, there is however a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Heatwave Leads To Theft In North Wilkesboro
A North Wilkesboro man returned over the weekend to find a house he was renting out had its’ air conditioner stolen. Deputies were called out and the renter was questioned, eventually admitting to stealing the unit and later pawning it. It also turns out that immediately after pawning it, the renter had reported it stolen. 21-yr-old Kevin Marlow was arrested and charged with larceny, in addition to filing a false report. The air conditioner was tracked down and returned to its’ owner.

Pregnancy Center To Hold Event This Month
The Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center has been helping people deal with unplanned pregnancies for the last 10 years. They also counsel women who are either considering abortion or have already gone through with one. Coming up later this month, the Center is putting together a program to help minister to those who are struggling to come to terms with an abortion in their past. That will go on August 20th starting at 9am in the morning. For more information you can call the Pregnancy Care Center at 838-9272.

Never Leave Cash In Your Car
A Taylorsville woman discovered why it’s not such a good idea to leave money in your car over the weekend. Parked her car at Tyson and went to work inside. However during the day, someone opened the car door and took her wallet from inside, stealing her driver’s license, credit cards and an estimated $61 in cash. There are no suspects but deputies are continuing the investigation.

Woman Arrested At Jerseys’ For Drug Use
Deputies responded to a call at Jerseys’ over the weekend, in regards to some possible drug use. Once there the manager pointed out a girl who had been seen snorting cocaine in the bathroom. Deputies searched the woman and found a pen that had been hollowed out and had cocaine residue inside. Also the woman had ½ of a hydrocodine pill in her pocket, along with several other pills and a smoking pipe. 35-yr-old Laura Danette Hodges was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

State News

Lawmakers Continue To Battle Over Budget
North Carolina still doesn’t have a budget, over a month after the new fiscal year began. Stopgap measures have been voted in to keep the state running, as lawmakers continue to disagree over taxes. Originally the main problem was the fact Republicans and Democrats are ten cents apart on the cigarette tax increase. However now those differences span healthcare and money for education, along with taxes. Lawmakers have til Friday to come to an agreement, as the latest stopgap measure ends Friday night.

Reason For Derailment Possibly Discovered
Officials in Davidson County think they may have found out what caused a train to derail last week, spilling ground glass and limestone in the Tuckertown Reservoir. They believe the heat was to blame, as a manager from the Winston Salem Southbound Railway took a look at the site this weekend. The manager said that high heat caused the tracks to bend, which in turn led to the derailment. Cleanup is still continuing from the wreck.

Parts Of UNC Chapel Hill Catch Fire
Firefighters were called out early Monday morning to a blaze on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. The Phillips Hall Annex was in flames, as a fire had started between the second floor ceiling and the roof. Damages to the building were placed at $50,000 while one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and released. It’s unknown what exactly caused the blaze at this time, although heat could be a factor.

Missing: One Bald Eagle
People in Charlotte are on the hunt today, looking for a creature that escaped over the weekend. Garibaldi the eagle flew the coop this weekend after a thunderstorm damaged its’ habitat at the Carolina Raptor Center. The bird has been sited several times, most recently on Sunday, but officials haven’t been able to catch him. The bird needs to be found quickly because he has a wing injury that prevents him from soaring through the air and will only last two weeks without the proper food and treatment.

New Evidence Could Help Solve Case
Good news today for the police department in Rich Square, as new evidence could help solve a five year old murder. Joe White, the former police chief in Rich Square, was killed during a traffic stop in 2000. A man has been arrested and charged with his murder, but no trial date has been set as the locals continue to put together evidence. Now something investigators found over the weekend may help solve the case, according to local officials. They wouldn’t go into detail, but the district attorney has requested the death penalty for Jason Herbert, who stands accused of White’s murder.

Sports Headlines

Gray To Get First Shot
With Chris Paul gone to the NBA, Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser finds himself with a hole at the point guard position. Prosser has come out now this week and said that rising senior Justin Gray would have the first shot at taking over the position this year. If he fails, incoming freshmen Harvey Hale and Shamaine Dukes will both get a shot.

Duke Class Ranked Number One
While last season saw the Blue Devils fall a bit short in the NCAA tournament, this year’s class gets rave reviews from college scouts. The new freshman class for Duke was ranked number one in the nation and Coach Krzyzewski said that with the talent in this group, one or more of the freshmen could break into the starting lineup. 6-10 forwards Josh McRoberts and Eric Baoteng will vie for time at the power forward and center position, with the loser backing up returning senior Eric Williams. Also guards Greg Paulus and Martynas Pocius will look to win the point guard spot. Regardless, Coach Krzyzewski said that he wanted this year’s team to use more of an uptempo fast break style of play while looking to limit turnovers. Whoever fits the definition the best will start, regardless if they’re a senior or freshman.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues last night, it was Winston Salem beating Salem 2-1. It took ten innings, but the Warthogs moved into a tie for first place in the Carolina League’s southern division with the win. Fabio Castro got his fourth win of the season after pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Mills Uniform To Be Retired
The Carolina Panthers announced on Monday that they’ll be retiring the jersey of Sam Mills this season. Mills, who was both a player and later a coach for the team, died from intestinal cancer at age 45 earlier this year. The team will honor Mills during a ceremony at halftime of their preseason game August 13th. In other team news, the Panthers announced that linebacker Mark Fields is undergoing treatments for Hodgkins’ Disease and so far is progressing well.

Hurricanes Trade Star Player
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes didn’t waste any time making deals now that it’s open season. The team traded Jeff O’Neil to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a pick in next year’s draft. O’Neil was one of the team’s original players, helping them make it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002. However due to the new salary cap, O’Neil’s contract requests couldn’t fit with other players still left to sign. O’Neil had asked that if he was traded, he’d like to end up back home in Toronto and the team granted his request.

Armed Robbery In Elkin
Police in Elkin are investigating an armed robbery that happened Friday afternoon. A man entered the Wachovia Branch on North Bridge Street in Elkin around 1pm, pulled out a handgun and demanded money. After receiving the cash he walked out into a minivan that was in the bank’s parking lot. Witnesses said the man wore a green ski mask, blue jeans, a blue shirt and hiking boots. Police are now viewing the bank’s security cameras, which caught the man as he pulled in & out of the lot. If anyone has information regarding the robbery, officials are asking that you call the Elkin Police Department at 835-9822.

Soldiers Honored During Sunday Ceremony
Wilkes County said goodbye to its’ National Guard troops on Sunday, as they prepared to leave for Iraq. A ceremony was held at the Walker Center at 10am Sunday morning, as family and friends stood and cheered in support. In attendance were the mayors of both Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, Norman Call and Steve Foster. Senator John Garwood and Representative Tracey Walker were on hand, along with Wilkesboro commissioner Gary Blevins, North Wilkesboro commissioner Robert Johnson and county commissioners Zach Henderson, Charlie Sink, Faye Byrd and Keith Elmore. Lieutenant Colonel Matt Rosseau spoke to the troops, calling for dedication and asking them to be prepared, while Lil Ingram, wife of Major General Ingram, spoke to the families abut the burden put on them while the soldiers are away. Finally both the commander of the 505th, Captain Mark MacMahon and Major General Ingram both spoke, thanking people for the support given and reminding those in attendance that we are a nation at war. The 505th Engineering Battalion, along with 30 members of the 823rd Detachment’s Quarry Team from Elkin will leave this week for extended training, then will pack up and ship off for at least a year in Iraq.

Drug Bust At Ferguson Home
Sheriff’s deputies went to a Ferguson home over the weekend, responding to a tip about possible drugs being sold inside. The homeowner told them they could come in and search, after which deputies found smoking pipes, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. In addition, an eighteen year old girl was found inside, clearly drunk. She informed deputies that the smoking pipes were hers. 31-yr-old Jerry Ray Bowman was arrested and charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a home for the sale of drugs. Also 18-yr-old Jamie Evone Whitley was charged with underage drinking, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Break-In At Wilkes Honda
Wilkesboro police were called out to investigate a break-in at Wilkes Honda late last week. Someone tossed concrete through one of the front windows at the business, walking right in. Stolen from inside was a red & black Honda dirt bike. There are no suspects, however estimated damages to the business were placed at $750. Officers are continuing the investigation.

Never Leave Your Keys Inside
A Traphill man learned last week why it’s not a good idea to leave your keys in the car. After parking his car, he left the keys inside while going into his house. The next morning, the man walked out to find the vehicle was missing. There weren’t any noises during the night or anything else to indicate someone was near the house. Two days later, the car was found in a nearby hay field, abandoned but without any damage done. The only things missing from inside was a pair of sunglasses and some CDs. Neighbors told deputies they didn’t see or hear anything unusual, despite the presence of the car inside the hay field. The investigation is ongoing.

Wilkesboro Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A Wilkesboro woman got a surprise when she checked her bank account online last week. Someone had withdrawn $159, which went over the limit as she didn’t have that much money inside. Apparently thieves had used her information to obtain four VISA credit cards, taking the money from the account. There are no suspects at this time.

Fox To Have Wilkes County Office
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Fox wants people of the area to know that she’s available to help whenever possible. With that in mind, the Congresswoman will be opening an office here in Wilkes County that will be in operation portions of the week. On the first and third Friday of each month, the Congresswoman will have representatives available at the Wilkes County office building from 2 til 4pm. If you’re not able to make it out during those hours, you can also send your comments or concerns to the congresswoman via her website, which is located at www.fox.house.gov.

Schools Set Open House Dates
With school just around the corner, it’s time for students to get their schedules and attend orientation. At East Wilkes High School, incoming 9th graders will have orientation on August 11th from 6 to 8pm. During that time students can check out the classrooms, talk to teachers and get information about different activities offered at East Wilkes. Then at West Wilkes Middle School, 7th and 8th graders can pick up their schedules next Tuesday, August 9th from 3 to 6pm. Orientation for incoming 6th graders will be held two days later on August 11th at three different times. Students can come in at either 3pm, 4 or 5pm.

Upcoming Teacher’s Conference
For teachers in Wilkes, summer is a time to relax and recover from the grueling demands of the other ten months in the year. In place to help meet those demands is a group called RESA, the Regional Educational Service Alliance. RESA helps teachers work on building the educational credits they’re required by the state to receive. Coming up tomorrow here in Wilkes, a conference will be going on that can help teachers do just that, before all the chaos of the classroom sets in. From August 2nd through the 4th, RESA will host “Focus on Diversity” a conference dedicated to helping teachers work with students of all educational, social and ethnic backgrounds. To register for the conference, teachers can call the RESA office here in Wilkes. Their number is 667-2191 or you can drop by their office, located just above the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department on Curtis Bridge Road.

State News

Errors Found At Randolph Community College
Federal officials have finished an investigation of Randolph Community College, uncovering several financial and administrative mistakes at the school. Letters had been sent out to several students who received too much money from the federal Pell Grant, ordering them to repay the school. Federal investigators said that was inappropriate and also blamed the school for not properly determining how much money the students should receive. As a result, the excess money may have to be repaid out of the school’s own funds.

Greensboro Police Searching For Man
Police in Greensboro are hunting today for a local man who vanished over the weekend. 84-yr-old Frank Rasche disappeared from his home early Sunday morning and hasn’t got in touch with any family or friends since. He appears to be wandering around on foot and officials were able to track him down near the Adams Farm Shopping Center, before the dogs they were using got tired and lost the scent. The only distinctive marking on the man is a six pointed star tattooed on his left arm. If anyone notices the man, officials ask that you call 911.

Durham Concert Cancelled After Wreck
The Christian group Newsong was scheduled to perform in Durham on Sunday, but that event had to be cancelled after an accident early in the morning. The details weren’t released, however it has been confirmed that no one in the group was hurt. Still the incident was severe enough for them to miss the concert, which was to be held at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, before a USA baseball game. The game went on as scheduled at 5pm.

Attempted Robbery In Greensboro
A Dry Cleaners store in Greensboro was almost robbed over the weekend with a toy gun. A man walked in, pulled out a gun and ordered the manager to give him some money. After the manager opened up the register, she realized the gun was fake and tried to wrestle him to the ground. He was able to escape and take off running, however officials were able to retrieve the toy gun and are examining it for fingerprints.

Church Plans To Picket Marine Funeral
On Tuesday, 32-yr-old Marine Sgt. Bryan Opskar will be laid to rest in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. However aside from friends and family, the man’s funeral will also play host to a group of picketers. Members from the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas plans to protest at the funeral, because they believe the Marine’s death is linked to the gay agenda here in America. Sgt. Opskar died after an explosion in Iraq, however the church believes that the bomb was similar to one that was detonated at its’ compound in the early 90s, proof they say of a national attempt to stop the anti-gay movement. Police will be on hand to provide security at the funeral, in case of any conflict that breaks out.

Sports Headlines

Appalachian QB Receives Preseason Award
The season hasn’t even started yet and Richie Williams is already getting awards. Williams, the starting quarterback for Appalachian State, was named as the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The award is voted on before each season by the conference coaches. Williams is coming off a year where he tossed 24 touchdowns and threw for 3109 yards. He was also named starting quarterback of the first team in all conference selections. Appalachian will kick off their season September 3rd on the road against Eastern Kentucky.

North Carolina Players Cut
Two players from North Carolina schools saw their NFL dreams take a hit this week, as Davon Fowlkes and TA McLendon were both cut. Fowlkes, who had been working out with the Indianapolis Colts, was released by the team this week so that they could fill his spot with another running back. Fumbles were the main problem for McLendon however, as he couldn’t hold on to the ball. Local media reported that he had fumbled constantly during the last two days of practice. Left untouched in the draft, McLendon had got on with the Falcons and received an invite to training camp. However that fumbling problem was apparently not something that Coach Jim Mora Jr. wanted to deal with, so he released the former NC State star.

Minor League Scoreboard
Around the minor leagues last night, it was Hickory falling against Charleston 8-6. The loss was the Crawdads’ third in four games as starter Derek Hankins only went three innings, giving up five runs on three hits. The news wasn’t any better for the Winston Salem Warthogs, as they fell against Potomac 6-4. Warthogs starter Wes Whisler gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings of work, for his sixth loss of the season.

Durham On Sportscenter
North Carolina will take the spotlight on ESPN later today, as Sportscenter continues its’ 50 States in 50 Days tour. Today Sportscenter makes a stop in Durham, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The show will be broadcast live from the field before the Durham Bulls minor league game at 7pm, against the Charlotte Knights.

Hurricanes Pick On Defense
After a yearlong labor dispute, the NHL came one step closer to getting back on the ice this weekend, holding their annual amateur draft. The Carolina Hurricanes had the third pick and selected defenseman Jack Johnson, who experts think could be a potential franchise player.

Kahne Wins Court Battle
In NASCAR, Kasey Kahne won his court battle against Ford this week. Kahne had been sued by the automaker, who said that he violated their sponsor agreement when he went to race in the Nextel Cup circuit for Everham Motorsports. A federal judge heard the case this week and ruled in favor of Kahne, unable to find a foundation for the case. The 25-yr-old will look to get back into the Chase for the Cup when the Nextel circuit resumes with the Allstate 400 on August 7th.