News & Sports For Friday September 16^th 2005

Results From Thursday’s Debate

Tax dollars and the hospital were the main topics of last night’s debate in North Wilkesboro. The two Republican candidates for mayor, incumbent Steve Foster and challenger Gerald Lankford took questions from the audience and also from the moderator. Mayor Foster said that he was 95% certain that two or three large companies would be moving to the area in the next year or so, bringing with them 300 to 500 jobs. That however he said was still in the planning stages. Both candidates came out in favor of nonpartisan elections, saying that it made sense for a small town like North Wilkesboro. The question of merging with Wilkesboro was brought up and again both candidates said they believe some services could be merged together, such as police, water and sewage. Steve Foster said in addition that he would listen if a proposal to merge the two came across his desk, but had no plans to do so. Gerald Lankford meanwhile brought up the point that if the towns were merged, he believes that North Wilkesboro’s identity will be lost. The main issue of the night however was the hospital. A question was brought up from the audience, asking why the new bylaws are such a problem to the hospital board. Gerald Lankford said that it’s because the board, who has consulted on the matter with attorneys, believes the bylaws would disrupt both the hospital and life around town. Foster disagreed, saying that the laws would take control out of the hands of a few and back into the hands of the people. The primary for the Republican nomination is Tuesday September 27th.

More Aid With Concert This Saturday

The donation drives continue throughout Wilkes County today for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Child Abuse Prevention Team will be taking up donations of diapers, wipes, baby food and formula from 9am til 5pm today and next week from Monday through Thursday at the same time. On Friday of next week, the drive will last from 9am til 12 noon. In addition, there will be a benefit concert held this Saturday at Peace Haven Baptist Church, with all funds being donated to World Vision, to help the hurricane victims. The concert will be free but a love offering will be taken up. Appearing at the church will be Living Well, Faithwalk, Jonathon Cox and Greg Cook w/ Set Free. The number to call for more information is 764-8616. And across the county, the Wilkesboro Church of Christ is holding a drive, with collection points at Lowes Foods and Food Lion locations here in Wilkes. You can also drop off donations at the church, located at 1103 Walnut Circle in Wilkesboro. Finally the State Employees Credit Union is still collecting donations of both supplies and money. All that is turned over to the Red Cross. And if you missed any of these or other donation sites that we mention on the news, just call the 3WC Studios here at 838-9992 and we’ll be glad to get you that information

Wreck On 421 Totals Two

Wilkesboro police were called out on Thursday morning to a wreck on Hwy 421. A truck driver from Fort Mill felt a jolt as he was accelerating after a green light, but didn’t think anything of it til he pulled into the parking lot of Lowes Hardware. Attached to the back of the vehicle was a car’s bumper. The driver went back to the scene, to find a vehicle missing a few parts. That second car had been driven by a woman from Vilas North Carolina, who said that she didn’t see the truck until the last minute when it was too late to stop. She slammed into him and also took a chunk out of the pavement on 421. Estimated damages were placed at $16,000 and that woman was taken to Wilkes Regional Medical Center.

Just Came In To Take A Look Around

A Traphill woman got a surprise when she returned home on Wednesday. The door to her house had been kicked open. Nothing was stolen from inside and nothing else was damaged. The woman had been gone out of town for several months, but neighbors had been watching the place for her and said it was locked and secure two days ago. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Free Breakfast & Clothes Given Out This Saturday

For people out there who are in need, this Saturday you can get some new clothes and a hot meal. The Wilkesboro Church of Christ is holding a giveaway, where people can come in, get a free breakfast and also pick up some clothes as well. There will be men’s, women’s and children’s sizes available at the church, which is located at 1103 Walnut Circle in Wilkesboro, just behind Dwight Phillips Auto Sales. The event starts at 8am and continues until 11am. For more information you can call 838-5695.

Windows Broke In Dockery Grocery

Sheriff’s deputies were called out this week to Dockery Grocery, after vandals shattered the store’s windows. It appears that someone had tried to pry open the door, but when that failed, they went after the window. Except what the would be thieves didn’t notice is that it was double paned glass. One section shattered but the second stayed intact. Estimated damages to the business were placed at $1175 and the investigation is ongoing.

Blood Drive On Saturday

While all of us want to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, some may not be able to afford donating money or other items. If that’s the case, then you can give some of your time and donate the gift of life. There is a blood drive going on tomorrow at the Bethany Baptist Church, which is open to the public. It will run from 9:30am until 2:30pm in the afternoon. Remember before giving blood you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds.

Mailbox Vandals Return To Wilkes

Mailbox vandals hit a North Wilkesboro home this week. The homeowners didn’t hear or see anything unusual during the night, however Wednesday morning they came out to find the mailbox had been smashed. In addition, a second mailbox nearby had been damaged as well. No one in the neighborhood could recall hearing or seeing anyone. Estimated damages were placed at $80 and the investigation continues.

Kid’s Day Held Tomorrow

Coming up tomorrow, towns across the nation will be taking part in Kids Day America. Here in Wilkes, an event will go on from 12 noon until 3pm. At the event, which will be held at West Park Chiropractic, there will be free ID cards handed out and also safety instruction from local fire departments. Also information will be given out about child safety and environmental issues. Dr. Mark Glanzer’s office will also have free spinal exams and scoliosis screenings for any parent who wants to get their child tested. There will be snacks, giveaways and door prizes for the event as well.

State News

Damage Reports From Ophelia

Hurricane Ophelia has left its’ mark on the Carolina coast. Not as powerful as Katrina, the storm still managed to snap trees and rip down power lines. By Thursday night, an estimated 100,000 people were still left in the dark. Businesses were also flooded along with homes near the beach and a curfew has been installed in New Hanover County for the next few days. In that area, no one can be out before 6am and after 6pm. As a result of the storm, 1730 people are currently in emergency shelters and more could arrive later this morning.

Billy Graham Offers Home & Gives Challenge

The Rev. Billy Graham has gotten involved with the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina and has issued a challenge to all churches in America. Graham and his wife have adopted a family of five from New Orleans, letting them stay in one of their guest homes until they can get back to their own. Graham also told reporters that there shouldn’t be a need for shelters filled to overflowing. He called for all churches in America to adopt one family each, saying if that happened, it would solve the problem.

More Victim Scams Pop Up In North Carolina

For the third time this week, a person from North Carolina has been arrested after a scam related to the relief effort. 23-yr-old Tiffany Signal was arrested after she lied to Red Cross volunteers, telling them that she was a victim of the storm. The Raleigh resident used a fake name and address when talking with the volunteers, eventually being given a 14-day pass to stay at a nearby hotel, in addition to $665 to live off of. Wednesday night Signal was arrested after authorities discovered her story was false. She’s currently being held in the Wake County Jail.

Jobs To Leave Newton

Bad news for people living in the Newton area, as 90 people will be unemployed by Christmas. Joan Fabrics Corporation announced this week that it will be shutting its’ doors on October 3^rd, leaving the company’s employees out in the cold. Company officials said the decision was based on adverse economic conditions, but declined to explain further. As the plant prepares to close, most employees find themselves working only 32 hours a week, dramatically down from the 60 some were used to.

New Bills To Be Presented To Congress

A North Carolina Representative is introducing some new legislation before Congress that would make serious changes in the illegal immigration laws. Sue Myrick is preparing to introduce the Scott Gardner Act, named after a teacher in Gaston County. Mr. Gardner was killed by an illegal alien who hit his car while driving drunk. The alien had been cited for drunk driving four times before, but never deported. Under the new bill, all illegal aliens who are caught driving drunk would be immediately deported. Also after any incident with the law, their name and information would be turned over to the FBI. The second bill would significantly raise the fines businesses pay for hiring illegals. Called the 10-K Run For The Border Act, it would raise the fines to $10,000 for each offense. Currently the fee is $250.

Sports Headlines

Football Friday Night

High school football is in full swing and tonight two of the county’s teams are in action. The North Wilkes Vikings, fresh off an impressive 35-7 win over Alleghany, will head up the road to take on Alexander Central. Meanwhile the East Wilkes Cardinals look to rebound from their 14-7 loss last week against East Surry. They go on the road to face off against North Stokes. Kickoff for both games is set for 7:30pm. Both Wilkes Central and West Wilkes have the week off.

Carolina Panthers News

The Carolina Panthers have made some roster changes in the wake of Kris Jenkin’s season ending injury. Third round draft pick Atiyyah Ellison was promoted from the practice squad and 2^nd year player Khaleed Vaughn, a 6-4 defensive tackle, was signed to take Ellison’s place. The injury bug continues to hang around, as safety Marlon McCree and linebacker Brandon Short are both recovering from injuries sustained last Sunday. McCree injured his thigh, while Short continues to suffer problems with his foot, an injury that has plagued him throughout training camp. Both are listed as probable for this weekend and look to suit up against the Patriots.

U.S. Gone From Baseball Cup

As we told you earlier this week, the U.S. Junior Team has secured a spot in next year’s Baseball World Cup. The Senior team however, saw their chances go up in smoke on Wednesday night, after a loss against Cuba. The Junior team is made up of college and high school players, which is why their World Cup won’t be played til next year, because of class schedules. The senior team is composed of minor leaguers and others who are out of school but not in the major leagues. That senior team took a beating from Cuba this week, falling 11-3 and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Cuba has won the World Cup title 11 out of the 12 years it’s been in existence.

Former Hurricanes’ Captain Retires

In the NHL, a former captain of the Carolina Hurricanes announced his retirement on Thursday. Ron Francis called it quits after a 23-year career in the league. The 42-yr-old Francis finishes in the league’s top ten in both games played and points scored. He’s fourth all time in points, with 1798 and third in games, after suiting up for 1731. Francis also finished his career second only to Wayne Gretzky in assists, with 1249. He helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 and won the Cup twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

Crew Chiefs Changing Places

Some surprises this week out of NASCAR, as drivers already out of the playoff hunt experiment for next season. Tony Eury Jr. will be back with his cousin this weekend, officially taking over as the crew chief for Dale Earnhart Jr. Junior’s previous chief, Steve Hmiel, had only assumed the job on a temporary basis and will go back to his permanent post as DEI technical director. As for Michael Waltrip, the switch leaves him with a new crew chief for the rest of the season as well. Tony Gibson, Waltrip’s car chief, will get the promotion for the rest of the year.

Loomis Leaves Hendrick

The bad news keeps coming for Jeff Gordon and his team. Less than a week after failing to qualify in this year’s chase, now he’s lost his crew chief. Robbie Loomis, who has worked with Gordon for the last five years, announced that effective immediately he’ll be stepping down from his role with the Number 24. The move comes after Loomis accepted a job for next year, running the daily operations of Petty Enterprises. Under his new position, Loomis will be in charge of both cars in the Petty garage, working with drivers Kyle Petty and Jeff Green. For the rest of this season however, Loomis will be moving to another part of the Hendrick garage, acting as a consultant with the Number 48 car of Jimmie Johnson. To take Loomis’ place, Hendrick named 26-yr-old Steve Letarte as crew chief, beginning with this Sunday’s race. Letarte has worked on the Number 24 for nine years as a mechanic and car chief.

Public Hearing Ends Without Answer

There was no answer last night after the town of North Wilkesboro’s public hearing. A meeting had been called to determine if the town should switch to non-partisan elections, a hot topic with a primary coming up a week from this Friday. Five years ago during the last primary, it cost taxpayers $2898. Counting North Wilkesboro, only seven areas throughout the entire state continue to run partisan elections. While members of the board were split on the issue, all agreed that it should be decided by a referendum. No vote was taken on the subject however, so it will be at least three weeks before any final decisions can be made. The board meets again on October 4^th.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Once men reach a certain age, prostate cancer can become a serious problem. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and coming up next week there will be a free clinic here in Wilkes, available for any men 45 and older. For more information about the disease itself or the clinic, you can call 838-5655.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Despite the drop in gas prices, some people here in Wilkes still refuse to pay at the pump. Gas thieves hit H.G. Greens on the Clingman Road on Monday. A man pulled up and pumped diesel fuel into several cans he had stored in the vehicle. Then after getting them loaded he took off down the road. A copy of the store’s video camera was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and there is a suspect in the case.

Focus On The Persecuted Church
For many of us, the closest we’ve been to a foreign country is when we sit at home and watch the news. But in some of the countries around the world, Christians are facing persecution and enduring trials for their faith. One such man of God is Pastor Aniel Rupnuran of Dundee South Africa. Pastor Rupnuran will be Brian’s guest this week for Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be discussing the struggles of the persecuted church in the world. That’s coming up tomorrow on Focus, at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

The Grass Needed Mowing
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in Roaring River on Monday, after thieves ran off with over a thousand dollars worth of material. The homeowner went out to a storage building on the property, to discover that the lock had been broken and several weed-eaters, along with a chainsaw had been taken. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Wilkes Students In National Semifinals
Two Wilkes County students have made it into the semi-finals of the National Merit Scholarship Program. Emily Wayne and Nicholas Frazer are both in the running for the scholarship. Emily Wayne is a senior at Wilkes Central High. She attended Governor’s School over the summer and works with both the debate and quiz bowl teams. Nicholas Frazer was also a Wilkes Central student until this fall, when he began attending Simon’s Rock College, the nation’s only college of arts & science designed for students of high school age. He was also a member of both the debate and quiz bowl teams. The two were part of 16,000 students who made the cut as semifinalists. Out of that number, 8000 will receive scholarships totaling $30 million next spring.

Tip Leads To Drug Bust In Boomer
Sheriff’s deputies received a tip over the weekend about drugs being sold at a Boomer residence. Once arriving at the residence on Boomer Road, deputies saw a man standing in the driveway. After a search, they found crack cocaine in his hip pocket. People inside the home told deputies they could come in and search the place, where they discovered bags of crack cocaine totaling over seven grams and drug paraphernalia. Marijuana was also found after a search of the vehicles. Geoffery Earp was charged with maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs, in addition to drug possession with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kendra Moore, Robin Anderson and Charles Bullis were all charged with drug possession, while Benny Ferguson was charged with maintaining a vehicle for the sale of drugs and drug possession.

Free Food & Clothes Coming This Saturday
For people out there who are in need, this Saturday you can get some new clothes and a hot meal. The Wilkesboro Church of Christ is holding a giveaway, where people can come in, get a free breakfast and also pick up some clothes as well. There will be men’s, women’s and children’s sizes available at the church, which is located at 1103 Walnut Circle in Wilkesboro. That’s just behind Dwight Phillips Auto Sales. The event starts at 8am and continues until 11am. For more information you can call 838-5695.

More Disaster Relief Being Sent
The relief efforts continue throughout Wilkes County. Now from 3-7pm each day, people can drop off supplies at the old K-Mart Building. Several area churches have set up a donation drive there, with volunteers to organize the donations and get them ready to ship to Mississippi. There is still a need for volunteers, so if you have thirty minutes or three hours to spare, call Pastor Larry Adams and he’ll set that up. His number is 667-8660. Carolina West Wireless is also sponsoring a donation drive in connection with Wilkes Telecommunications, Parsons Trucking, Surry Telephone and Skyline Telephone. Until this Saturday, you can drop off supplies at Carolina West including water, diapers, baby supplies and toiletries. Also the The Brushy Mountain Chiropractic Center is working with the Red Cross to donate items for Hurricane Katrina victims. For every $20 donation given until September 27th, the Center will offer a free exam and x-ray. Those exams will be done on the 27^th and only by appointment, on a first come first serve basis. Finally there will be a benefit concert held this Saturday at Peace Haven Baptist Church, with all funds being donated to World Vision, to help the hurricane victims. The concert will be free but a love offering will be taken up. Appearing at the church will be Living Well, Faithwalk, Jonathon Cox and Greg Cook w/ Set Free. The number to call for more information is 764-8616. And if you missed any of these or other donation sites that we mention on the news, just call the 3WC Studios here at 838-9992 and we’ll be glad to get you that information.

State News

Man Arrested In Katrina Scam
In Jacksonville North Carolina an 18-year-old was arrested this week in yet another scam regarding Hurricane Katrina. However once the case was over, he found himself facing six different charges. 18-yr-old Jerod Edward Bates and his 15-yr-old accomplice broke into a Frito Lay truck on Monday, taking an estimated $500 worth of food from inside. Then they set up shop and attempted to resell the items, pretending to be raising money for the hurricane victims.

Evacuees Return To Coliseum
Some victims of Hurricane Katrina would rather stay at a shelter than go with family and friends. That’s the case today in Charlotte, as the Red Cross and Salvation Army see people return to the shelter within days of leaving. The city of Charlotte has set up a shelter in the old Charlotte Coliseum, providing medical care and food to victims at a cost of around $70,000 a day. Many don’t give reasons as to why they return, but some say that it’s because they’re out of money. Shelter officials are working to find long term housing for evacuees, in addition to permanent jobs and healthcare.

Lawmakers Bend But 't Break Rules
A two month investigation came to an end this week, as State Attorney General Roy Cooper found that lawmakers didn’t violate the state’s constitution. At the center of the dispute was the fact that $14 million had been set aside last year for certain legislators’ pet projects. Senate leader Marc Basnight and the co-speakers of the House, Jim Black and Richard Morgan, set aside the money from last year’s budget. Some money went to fund health care centers and historic buildings, while also helping to create a job that a friend of Representative Black was given in the Department of Cultural Resources. That position was created using $45,000 of state tax money and then Black’s friend was recommended for the job. Attorney General Cooper said that he could find no specific violation of the law, but was disturbed by the way things were handed. He recommended that from now on, all state spending be explained in detail before the legislature and announced to the public.

Robbery Suspect Hit By Car
In Asheville, a robbery suspect was killed as he was leaving the store. The man had jumped the counter at Oakley Food Center and took some cash from the register. Then he took off running out the door, followed by an employee of the store and a customer. The customer got into his car and after that the details become sketchy. Somehow the robber ended up behind the customer’s vehicle and was hit by the car. His injuries were bad enough to earn a trip to the hospital, where he died soon after. Authorities haven’t decided if any charges will be filed against the store customer.

Central NC Gets New Name
A name change for part of North Carolina has people up in arms today. The central part of the state has long been referred to as the Piedmont. Now it will officially have that title in North Carolina’s travel website. Some businesses are questioning the move however, saying that they believe the name should have been kept as central North Carolina, due to the fact it didn’t need to be explained. Regardless of the discussion, the new name will officially be introduced later this week.

Sports Headlines

Wake Forest Loses Basketball Player
In college basketball, Wake Forest is losing another member of its’ team. Senior guard Richard Joyce announced this week that he’s quitting the sport so that he can graduate early in December. The 6-5 Joyce missed most of last season recovering from a foot injury and now without him, Wake only returns six scholarship players. Seniors Eric Williams, Justin Gray, Chris Ellis and Trent Strickland are all returning, in addition to sophomore Kyle Visser. Those six will most likely be a strong part of the rotation, as no other players have much experience on the college level.

Duke Football Lands Offensive Recruit
On the football field, despite their blowout loss at Virginia Tech, there was some good news for Duke coach Ted Roof this week. Doug Weaver, a junior from Roxboro committed to the team for 2007. The 6-6 275 lb. junior, who plays offensive tackle turned down offers from Wake Forest and East Carolina to attend the school. He said that he wanted to play close to home and was also impressed with Coach Roof’s determination to rebuild the program.

Duke To Stick With Two Sided System
In other Duke football news, Coach Ted Roof announced this week that he’ll be sticking with the same two quarterbacks for the present time. Juniors Mike Schneider and Curt Dukes have taken all of the snaps this season but have posted up horrific numbers the first two weeks. Schneider tossed for 153 total yards over the first two games, with three interceptions and no touchdowns, while Dukes has only completed one pass for eight yards. The main reason Roof is sticking with the two is to give freshmen Gene Donne and Zack Asack time to study and perfect the playbook. Both were listed in the nation’s Top 40 quarterbacks last year as seniors.

Grasshoppers GM Leaving For A New Type Of Team
In minor league baseball, the Greensboro Grasshoppers are in the market for a general manager today, after Tom Howe quit. Howe resigned his position to join a different type of team, accepting a job with the Piedmont Baptist Association. He had served as the club’s GM since October of 2004, helping in the transition to the new stadium and the new name.

Carolina Hurricanes Get Back On Ice
The countdown has finally started for the return of NHL hockey. As the Carolina Hurricanes get set to take the ice, the team opened training camp this week at the RBC Center. Head coach Peter Laviolette has opened practice to the public, letting the people get to know their team. Then on Friday the team will suit up for their first preseason game against the Washington Capitals. The puck will drop at 7pm.

Man Killed On Hwy 18 Monday Morning
Wilkesboro police are still investigating after a death on Hwy 18 Monday morning. In the early hours, a man was apparently crossing the road when he was hit by a car speeding down the highway. The man was killed instantly however police are still searching for any clues about the vehicle that hit him. Traffic was detoured for several hours as police blocked off the scene and cleaned up the area. We’ll have more details for you as they become available.

Relief Efforts Continue Throughout Wilkes
Relief efforts are continuing throughout the county today to bring aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Harvest Time Ministries continues to send trailers down to Mississippi and is still accepting donations. While all donations are appreciated, the most needed items are cleaning supplies, school supplies, diapers and baby bottles. Also if anyone has some spare toys, they would also be a great thing to give out to the children. People can come by and donate at any time and if there’s no one around, you can drop off items on the porch of Harvest Time Ministries, located at 501 C Street in Wilkesboro. If you have any questions, you can call Gene Shepard at 667-6071. Calvary Baptist Church continues to take donations as well in their Fellowship Hall, to send down to three Louisiana towns in need. In addition to regular donations, the church has also challenged local businesses if you haven’t gotten involved yet to act as a donation drop site. For more information you can call Jean Hodges at 973-4194. And if you missed any of these or other donation sites that we mention on the news, just call the 3WC Studios here at 838-9992 and we’ll be glad to get you that information.

Always Turn The Alarm On
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Hayes woman’s home over the weekend, after she woke up to see thieves had paid her a visit. While she was sleeping, someone gained access to her house and stole over $400 worth of items. Included in the theft was a pair of eyeglasses, in addition to $5 in cash and other items. It’s unclear exactly how the thieves got inside as there was no damage done to any part of the home. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Habitat For Humanity Building New Home
We hear stories on the news about the victims of Hurricane Katrina and how they lost their homes, but many others here in our own county find themselves unable to afford a house or trailer due to medical bills and other issues. Habitat For Humanity is working to solve that problem, as they have another house under construction, to give to a needy family. Volunteers are needed at the latest Habitat House, being built on Hwy 268 East. The home is ready for sheetrocking and volunteers are needed every Friday and Saturday. For more information you can call Habitat at 651-7817.

Car Stolen From North Wilkesboro Residence
It’s never a good idea to leave the keys in your car. A North Wilkesboro man found that out this week after waking up to find his vehicle had been stolen. In addition to the vehicle, there was a .22 revolver underneath the front driver seat taken as well. There is however a suspect in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

Red Cross Offers Opportunity To Help
While supplies continue to be donated across Wilkes County, many people can’t afford to give money or other items. If you find yourself in that situation and still want to help, the Red Cross is offering the first of several training sessions later tonight. In order to volunteer for any type of disaster relief, people first have to complete the Red Cross training sessions. The first one will be held tonight from 6-9:30pm. To get more information you can call the local Red Cross at 838-4563.

Man Arrested After Elkin Break-In
An Elkin man called sheriff’s deputies over the weekend after returning to discover that thieves had broke into his cabin and stolen several thousand dollars worth of material. Later on over the weekend, another person noticed a car sitting in a field and reported it as suspicious after noticing a tv, muzzle loader and other items inside. Witnesses turned over the vehicle’s license plate to deputies, who tried to use it to track down the vehicle’s owner. Instead, they found the man’s 15 year old girlfriend, who admitted that she and her boyfriend did in fact commit the crime. The girl was charged as a juvenile and her 21-yr-old boyfriend, Jonathon David England was charged with breaking & entering, stealing a firearm and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Debate Between Candidates This Thursday
With the North Wilkesboro Primary coming up in two weeks, voters will get their first chance to hear the candidates express their views in person. Challenger Gerald Lankford and incumbent Steve Foster will hold a debate this Thursday at the Wilkes County Library. The Republican candidates will discuss the issues starting at 6pm in a debate open to the public. The winner of this month’s primary will go on to face George Church in the November election.

Guns And Jewelry Stolen From Ronda Home
Thieves broke into a Ronda man’s home over the weekend and walked out with several thousand dollars worth of guns and jewelry. Included in the theft was the victim’s wedding ring, along with nine other rings and a Ruger .22 caliber pistol. Thieves gained access through a side door to the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

State News

National Guard Program Gets NC Tryout
North Carolina will be testing out a new program designed to help families of its’ National Guard units over the next few months. Citizen Soldier is a new plan put out and funded by the Defense Department, who handed out $1.8 million dollars to put it to the test. The goal is to make it easier for families of National Guard soldiers to get help, organizing support services through different agencies. To learn more about the program and get the information you need, you can get in touch with your local National Guard unit. Here in Wilkes County,

NC Woman Accused Of Hurricane Fraud
With the influx of donation drives and contributions coming in to help the hurricane victims, there are also reports of fraud. A woman from Kernersville was arrested and charged this week with fraudulently soliciting money for the relief effort. 22-yr-old Heather Parrish posed as a member of the National Guard, requesting money from people to help evacuees. However that cover story was revealed to be a lie and Parrish was soon arrested. She had only received money from one person before her arrest. Parrish will appear in court on September 30th.

Durham Police Car Slams Into House
Homeowners in Durham received a wake up call Monday morning, when a police car slammed into the side of a house on Kent Street. The officer was assisting in the chase for a wanted felon when he lost control of the car. He swerved to avoid a car in front of him, jumping the sidewalk and crashing into the house. Both the officer and those inside the home were able to walk away uninjured, however both the vehicle and the building were seriously damaged. The Durham Police Department has opened up an investigation into the case.

Hurricane Ophelia Now Tropical Storm
People on North Carolina’s coast can breathe a little easier today, after Hurricane Ophelia was downgraded to a tropical storm. Winds from the storm have dropped to 70 mph but the hurricane warning has not been changed at this time. The reason being that officials from the National Hurricane Center said Monday night that the storm could head out to sea and gather strength. It’s been hard to track Ophelia mainly because it’s moving extremely slow, at times appearing to be stationary on the Carolina coast. Gov. Easley however refused to take chances and issued a mandatory evacuation of all non residents from Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks.

Murdock Outlines Kannapolis Plans
David Murdock has huge plans for Kannapolis and he outlined them in a speech Monday morning. Murdock, who bought the former Pillowtex #1 plant, wants to turn it into a research campus dealing with biotechnology. Groundbreaking for the complex should begin in roughly three months, with the finished product including 1.2 million square feet of technology space. In addition to the complex itself, about 700 homes and 350,000 square feet of retail space will be built. Gov. Easley and Senator Dole were on hand for the announcement, which state officials said had the potential to revitalize the North Carolina economy.

Sports Headlines

UNC Charlotte Lands Hoops Recruits
There are high hopes for UNC Charlotte’s basketball team as the school moves into their new conference. Now the university is reloading with more talent headed in next season. 6-6 guard Cameron Tatum committed to Charlotte over the weekend. The high school senior from Georgia, who averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds last year picked UNC Charlotte over NC State and Tennessee. Also Charles Dewhurst, a 6-6 guard from Charlotte Latin High School committed to play for the 49ers.

UNC Tarheels Add New Opponents
Steve Spurrier will be paying a visit to Chapel Hill in the near future. The South Carolina Gamecocks have agreed to play the Tarheels in a two game series starting in 2007. October 13th of that year the Gamecocks will make their way into Chapel Hill, but it’ll take three years to have a rematch. The Heels will head into South Carolina on September 18th 2010. The two teams signed the games as a way of filling that last spot in the schedule, now that the NCAA has added a 12th game on the season. Over the history of the two schools, they’ve met 54 times with North Carolina winning 34 of the games.

Bobcat Lends Hand To Victims
Several hundred victims of Hurricane Katrina have found their way to Charlotte North Carolina, most still hunting for friends and family members. But one member of the Charlotte Bobcats is doing his part to try and lend a hand. Rookie Sean May brought his family to the Charlotte Coliseum armed with t-shirts, socks, underwear and water, to give to the evacuees. They also handed out books to the kids and spent time listening to the stories shared by the victims. May said that he wanted to do something to help, because he felt it was his responsibility.

Panthers News & Notes
If the last second loss to New Orleans wasn’t bad enough, the Carolina Panthers will have to do without the services of defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. In Sunday’s game, Jenkins injured his knee and after getting it checked out, doctors determined the ACL ligament had been torn. Now Jenkins will miss the rest of the season.

US Baseball Falls Short
Some baseball news, as the USA fell just short against Cuba in the Pan American Junior Championships. Cuba won 2-1 in the gold medal game, landing their sixth straight title, while the US received its’ third straight silver medal. As a result of making it to the championship, both teams receive a spot in the World Championships, which will be held next year in Cuba.

USA Readies Another Olympic Bid
Just because New York lost out in its’ Olympic bid this past year doesn’t mean the USA has given up on hosting the games again. A group in Los Angeles announced over the weekend that the city would be putting in a bid for the 2016 games. One aspect of the bid that makes it especially attractive to voters is the fact it will be financed solely by private donations. No taxpayer money will be used.

Red Cross Offers Opportunity To Help
While supplies continue to be donated across Wilkes County, many people can’t afford to give money or other items. If you find yourself in that situation and still want to help, the Red Cross is offering the first of several training sessions tomorrow night. In order to volunteer for any type of disaster relief, people first have to complete the Red Cross training sessions. Tuesday night the first one will be held from 6-9:30pm. To get more information you can call the local Red Cross at 838-4563.

Foxx Vote Raises Questions
How much of our government’s aid dollars will actually make it to the victims of Hurricane Katrina? That question was brought up late last week in the U.S. House by 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. Foxx asked why there wasn’t any guidelines as to what the $51.8 billion will be spent on, with no money set aside for rebuilding areas damaged by the storm. Instead all of the money as it stands now would be placed in the hands of state officials, to be spent on whatever they decide. As a result, Foxx was one of eleven members who voted against the bill. All of those members are calling for the bill to be revised, to provide relief directly to those families who were hit hard, instead of putting the money in the hands of the state. Members of the Democratic Party meanwhile have come out and attacked the eleven, saying that there was no reason to revise the bill and accusing them of abandoning the hurricane victims.

Deputies Discover Bombs And Drugs
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Wilkes County residence late last week to serve a warrant, only to later discover homemade explosives. Deputies announced their presence when they arrived at the home and heard people yelling inside, saying to hide it under the chair. Once they came inside they served the warrant for assault on one of the suspects, but also found two silver cartridges with fuses attached. Also found inside was a 30-06 rifle, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Marijuana seeds were later found along with plants being grown inside the house. Jason Howard Greene and Travis Nathaniel Pierce were charged with maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs, drug possession and possessing a weapon of mass destruction.

Early Morning Wake Up Call
A Roaring River man woke up early Thursday morning after a loud noise outside his home. He came out to find dents and damage to the side of the house, where a two by four had slammed against it. The board had been left by the vandals, with around $40 worth of damage done. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to help get men informed about the deadly disease and what can be done to diagnose it. September 23rd there will be a free clinic here in Wilkes, available for any men 45 or older. From 9am until 2pm, people can come in and get checked for the disease. For more information, you can call 838-5655.

Deputies Investigate Forged Checks
A Traphill woman noticed that her bank account was lower than it should be over the weekend. She checked and found that someone had been writing checks and forging her name. She contacted sheriff’s deputies and turned over the information, including a suspect’s name. That investigation is ongoing.

Always Keep Your Doors Locked
It’s always a good idea to lock your car doors when you leave. A Wilkesboro man learned that the hard way over the weekend, after he came back and found thieves had paid him a visit. The man had left $5000 in his car and forgot to lock the doors. He then walked into a nearby store and returned to find the money was gone. Wilkesboro police are investigating the case.

State News

Hurricane Ophelia Heading To NC
With the Gulf Coast still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, now people in North Carolina are being advised to watch out. Hurricane Ophelia is sitting just off the cost with wind speeds of 85 mph. By no means as strong as Katrina, the storm has still brought on hurricane watches for 250 miles of coastline. Governor Mike Easley declared a state of emergency over the weekend, but it’s not clear where the storm will turn. Officials from the National Hurricane Center said that it could drift on out to sea or make a move toward North Carolina. If it does head back toward land, that would be around late Tuesday night.

Job Fairs In The Works For Evacuees
More help is coming for hurricane victims in North Carolina. Later this week, there will be two job fairs set up in the Charlotte area, to help people find jobs. While details haven’t been finalized yet, over fifty different companies will be involved, including Coca-Cola and Home Depot. Those fairs will be open to hurricane victims only and identification will be checked.

Big Plans In Store For Kernersville
Good news for people in the Kernersville area, as plans are starting to take shape for the former Pillowtex building. It was purchased earlier this year by billionaire David Murdock, who announced he was going to transform the property into a biotechnology complex. Later today, Murdock will be at the plant to unveil the finalized plans and explain what exactly will be involved. Murdock, a California native, said that he hopes to revitalize the area’s economy by getting the complex up and running. 4800 people were left without a job when the plant closed down in 2003.

Hurricane Victims Robbed In Gastonia
If losing their home to Hurricane Katrina wasn’t enough, a family from Louisiana returned to their hotel room this weekend to find they’d been robbed. The family, who had been put up in a hotel by people in Gaston County, came back to discover $6200 worth of items had gone missing. Included in the theft were two cameras and $300, among other things. Officials said that the thieves gained access to the room by using guest keys, although it’s unclear why they were accepted. The investigation is ongoing.

Andy Griffith Makes Donation
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill just became one of the largest collectors of Mayberry memorabilia. Andy Griffith announced over the weekend that he was donating film footage, manuscripts and other items stretching across his entire 55 year career to the school. The documents will be used as part of the university’s Southern Historical Collection, which currently holds more than 15 million items.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Taking a look around the high school scene last night, it was West Wilkes beating Bishop McGuiness 24-7. With the win, the team heads into a bye week at 3-1, their best record in two years. Just up the road at East Wilkes the news wasn’t so good for Cardinal fans, as their team lost as heartbreaker 14-7, to drop in the standing to 2-2. And in our 3WC Game Of The Week, it was North Wilkes breaking a two year losing streak with a win against Alleghany 35-7, earning Coach Roy Carter his first victory as a Viking.

College Football Scoreboard
Around the college scene, it was a bad weekend for teams from North Carolina. The UNC Tarheels lost their opening game 27-21 to Georgia Tech, after a mistake filled afternoon. The Tarheels had a chance to come back and win the game, but quarterback Matt Baker was intercepted three times in the last six minutes. Meanwhile Appalachian State had a chance early, but saw their hopes die in the second half of a 36-8 loss against Kansas. Appalachian trailed by less than two touchdowns at halftime with the score 13-0. But the defense caved in the second half and Kansas soon took control. In Durham, the Duke Blue Devils didn’t have any chance, as they were clocked 45-0 by Marcus Vick and his Virginia Tech Hokies.

Panthers Fall In Season Opener
In the NFL, penalties and mistakes ended up costing the Carolina Panthers in their home opener. They lost 23-20 to the New Orlean Saints on a last second field goal by Saints kicker John Carney. The Panthers appeared to have some communication problems, as they were tagged eleven times for penalties totaling 84 yards. Stephen Davis and Steve Smith came out in full force however, as Smith had eight catches for 138 yards and Davis rushed 13 times for 81 yards in his return from knee surgery.

Parker Makes NFL Debut
The news was better however for a former North Carolina player. Third year running back Willie Parker made his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers and racked up 161 rushing yards as the team cruised to a 34-7 victory. Parker was put into the starting lineup after injuries to both Jerome Bettis and Deuce Staley during the preseason.

Chase For The Cup Begins After Richmond
In NASCAR, the ten man playoff field has been set after Saturday’s Rock & Roll 400. Kurt Busch took the checkered flag and announced he was donating half of the night’s winnings to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Also he donated half of the night’s souvenir sales. Meanwhile Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhart Jr. are out, while Ryan Newman and Jeremy Mayfield are in the race. So the Chase for the cup shapes up like this. It’s Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth. Now under the Chase rules, everyone is basically back at square one. First place Tony Stewart has only a five point lead over second place Biffle, with all other drivers also separated by only five points each.