Wilkes County Gets Tourism Grant
Gov. Easley handed out $130,000 in grants this week to counties here in North Carolina, with some of that money coming to Wilkes. The governor gave out the grants to 29 different programs, each designed to increase tourism in their area. $2800 was given over to the Chamber of Commerce here in Wilkes, which will be used to create new print ads focusing on the county's history and the beauty of the area. The grant will also be matched by local funds, giving a total of $5600 for the project.

Last Day For Energy Applications
With the economy still struggling here in the area, it can be hard at times for people to afford to pay their heating bill. But there is help, if you qualify. Social Service here in Wilkes has been taking applications for their Low Income Energy Assistance Program. This is the final day for people to come in and apply, which you can do at the Social Service office, located on College Street in Wilkesboro. Applications will be taken from 8:30am til 5pm. This will be a one time credit to help in paying for your heating costs this winter.You can call Social Services for more information at 651-7400.

Deputies Arrest Man After Vandalism At Bojangles
Sheriff's deputies were called out to Bojangles on Hwy 16 North early Thursday morning, after reports came in of a suspicious person in the area. The man was seen parking his car and then walking over to the restaurant, where minutes later a loud crash was heard. Deputies arrived on the scene and saw the man run to his car and prevented him from leaving. The restaurant's drive through window had been shattered with a rock, however there was no damage done or anything taken from inside. 23-yr-old Kurtis Michael Zollman admitted to causing the damage, although he didn't explain why. He was arrested and charged with attempted breaking & entering, property damage and driving with a revoked license.

Wilkes Art Gallery Opens Christmas Show Tonight
Coming up tonight, the Wilkes Art Gallery will begin its’ Annual Christmas Show and Sale. The event runs from tonight til Christmas Eve. As a kickoff to the event, a reception will be held from 6-8pm at the Gallery, to coincide with the annual Light-Up Downtown celebration going on throughout the night. Over 50 different artists from here in the region will have their work on display during the show.

Mailbox Vandals Return For The Holidays
Mailbox vandals hit another home in the North Wilkesboro area this week, this time going after something other than just the box itself. A man came back from an out of town trip on Tuesday, only to see his mailbox, a small ornament nearby and a sign indicating his business all destroyed. Neighbors told deputies that they heard noises at the house around 2am the night before. Estimated damage was placed at over $100 and the investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
With Thanksgiving less than a week away, the Red Cross is stepping up its' blood drives, to try and guarantee that we have as much supply on hand as possible for the holiday. A drive is going on today at East Wilkes High School from 8:30 this morning til 2pm this afternoon. No appointments are needed, but if you don't want to deal with waiting in line or kids going to and from class, you can call the Wilkes Red Cross and set up a time to give. Their number is 838-4563.

Wreck Wednesday On Wilkesboro Blvd
Two cars were totaled after a wreck Wednesday morning on Wilkesboro Blvd. With the rain coming down, two drivers had slowed down due to the traffic in front of them. A third driver, a Purlear woman, couldn't stop in time and created a domino effect, hitting the car driven by a Hays man, who in turn slammed into the vehicle in front of him, driven by a man from North Wilkesboro. Estimated damage to the first two vehicles was placed at $5000, while the third escaped unharmed. Thankfully no one was injured in the accident.

Christmas In Wilkes
With the holidays coming up, it can be hard for parents to afford both the bills and also a gift under the tree. Several organizations here in Wilkes are stepping in to help solve that problem. One of them is Christmas in Wilkes. For more information about sponsoring a child or the organization itself, you can call Christmas in Wilkes at 927-2969.

Regional News

Crafts Fair Today In High Point
For anyone looking to do some early Christmas shopping, a crafts fair is going on today in High Point. The 5th Annual Roy's Folks Crafts Fair, put on in part by WGHP Fox 8, will have over 40 different vendors. There will be items ranging from homemade yo-yos to log furniture and several other different gifts. It's going on at Providence Place, 1727 Westchester Drive in High Point and will go on from 6am this morning til 6pm tonight. Admission is $3, but senior citizens can get in for $1.

State News

Winston Salem Wants People To Buy Local
Buy from local stores this Christmas. That's the message the Winston Salem Chamber of Commerce is putting out by issuing CertifiChecks. These are gift certificates, that local businesses in the Winston area will accept instead of money. That includes retail stores, restaurants and even grocery stores. Officials said they came up with the idea to keep people from spending their dollars in other cities when shopping for Christmas gifts. The certificates can be picked up by logging on to www.winstonsalem.com or at the chamber's offices at 601 West Fourth Street in Winston.

Wreck On Charlotte Involves School Bus
A school bus driver was injured Thursday morning after a crash in Charlotte. The driver had been picking up kids to drop off at Oakhurst Elementary, when he was involved in an accident. A mini-van pulled in front of a tanker truck and swerved right into the school bus's path, as it was in a turn lane. Thankfully none of the children were hurt and only two injuries reported, from the driver of the bus and mini-van. Both were taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Great American Smokeout Kicked Off Thursday
Across the state, research shows that more college age adults are either continuing or beginning to smoke. As a result, the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund has put together a program, working with over 30 different universities and community colleges here in the state. Working in connection with the American Cancer Society, people are being asking to stay tobacco-free for 24 hours. Also at college campuses, information will be sent out discussing the dangers of tobacco, both chewed and smoked. This marks the first time anyone has targeted college-age adults specifically with a campaign.

Police Search For Elderly Robber In Charlotte
Charlotte officials are on the hunt for an elderly man in the eastern part of the city today. The man walked into the Eckerd Drugs near Sharon Amity Road Thursday morning, announced that he had a gun and demanded money. After receiving the cash, the man took off out the door. He's described as being a black male in his 70s, about 5'7ft and weighing around 170 lbs. He was last spotted running toward Sharon Amity Road wearing a green cap, green jacket and green sweatshirt. Police are asking those with information to call Crimestoppers at 1-704-334-1600.

No Football For Wilmington
Football fans in Wilmington will have to wait at least one more year before college ball comes to their town. School officials turned down a proposal this week to create a football program, because there's not enough money available to field a team. The reason being that under a 1972 law called Title IX, a girl's athletic team of some kind would have to be added, in addition to the football program, to make things fair. And with the latest round of budget cuts, there's not enough left for both. Athletic officials said that they're trying to work things out, but it could be a few years before anyone sees a kickoff by the sea.

Sports Headlines

Friday Night Football
There's still some football left to be played around the high school scene and one Wilkes County team is in the mix. Later on tonight the East Wilkes Cardinals will head up the road to Cherokee for the second round of the state playoffs. The 3WC Sports Team will be making the trip as well and we'll kick off our coverage tonight at 7:15 for the McDonald's pregame show. Then at 7:30 it's over to the field to hear from Ken Byrd and Keith Briand. All this on your home for local sports, 1240 3WC.

Wake Forest Falls Against Florida
Around the college scene last night, Wake Forest was upset by the unranked Florida Gators 77-72. Eric Williams led the Deacons with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Wake falls to 2-1 with the loss, as they advance to the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tournament later tonight.

Bethel To Play In Tonight's Opener
In other college hoops news, a familiar face will be suiting up tonight for the Wolfpack. Senior guard Tony Bethel is back with NC State, recovered from a groin injury that's kept him out for the entire preseason. Bethel's seen limited time in practice this week and coach Herb Sendek said that he'll be playing, but probably won't be seeing any starter's minutes for the near future. State plays Stetson tonight in the first of three games in three days.

Panthers Walking Wounded Into Chicago
Heading into Sunday's game at Chicago, the Carolina Panthers recieved some good news and bad from the practice field. The good news is that the cast on defensive end Julius Peppers' right hand is about ready to come off. Peppers broke his hand in the game against Detroit, but it hasn't slowed him down any. He's got four sacks in the last two games. On the other hand however, there are some players that could be sitting out this Sunday. Tight end Kris Mangum continues to recover from his knee injury, while center Jeff Mitchell was held out due to some problems with his hip.

NY Rangers vs. Carolina
In the NHL last night, the Carolina Hurriacnes got win number 14 as they rolled over the New York Rangers 5-1. Kevyn Adams had three goals for the Canes, who improve to 14-3 with the win and extend their first place lead in the Southeastern Conference to five games over second place Tampa Bay.

JR Motorsports To Begin Operations
A new team will be taking the field this Sunday in the Busch Series finale. JR Motorsports will be making their debut, with driver Mark McFarland behind the wheel. The team, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., wasn't content to wait until next season. Their No. 88 Chevy will be taking the field as part of the Ford 300 at Homestead Speedway. McFarland, who's moving up from the Pro Cup Series, will bring his crew chief along with him as Jefferson Hodges takes over in that position.

Flu Vaccine A Little Short
As we head toward the beginning of December, that means winter is right around the corner. And winter usually brings with it the flu season. However, despite having advance warning and preparing, it seems that portions of the country are going through a temporary shortage of the flu vaccine. The reason being that one of the company producing the vaccine is putting it out in smaller quantities than expected, although no there is currently no explanationa s to why. With that being the case, the Centers for Disease Control have asked county health departments to coordinate with local doctors and make sure that those at high risk of the virus are given the vaccine. Here in Wilkes, the Health Department is coordinating efforts with the healthcare community to distribute the supply they currently have on hand. The Senior Center here in the county will be holding an appointment only flu clinic for later this month, for which you can call now and secure a time. If you can't get in touch with the Senior Center, contact your doctor to see about the best way to get a flu shot. Now is the best time if you want to protect against the virus, as peak flu season isn't expected to hit until at least January.

Be Careful Who You Give Out Information To
It's always a good idea to be careful who has your personal information. A Roaring River man found that out the hard way this week, after a trip to his bank. While checking his account, he discovered that there were several debits for purchases he never made. After getting information from a teller, the man discovered that his debit card had been used all across Statesville over the last few days. The information was turned over to sheriff's deputies and there is a suspect in the case.

Fox Bill Set To Pass House & Senate
A bill created by 5th district Congresswoman Virginia Fox is set to pass both the House and Senate this week, providing help to military families. The plan would allow soldiers in combat zones to be able to take their money and put it in a tax deferred savings plan. Currently troops can't put their combat earnings into IRAs because the law doesn't allow tax free money to be put into a savings account without paying some form of tax on it. The only thing left to be sorted out before the bill goes for a final vote is when it will take effect. The House version would start retroactively on December 31st of 2004, allowing troops to put in earnings from this tax year. The Senate went even further back, installing a date of December 31st 2003. The Foxx Bill, called the HEROs Act has support from all corners and once a date is determined, would immediately be approved and go to the President for his signature.

Money Stolen From Thurmond Home
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a home in Thurmond earlier this week, after thieves ran off witha local man's money. The man had cashed his check and stored most of it in a box inside the house. But after the man went out, neighbors reported that another family member came by the home, appearing to be carrying something on the way out. When the homeowner returned, all $1400 in cash was missing from his bedroom. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Muzz's Gym To Help Support St. Jude's Hospital
Coming up this Saturday, working out at Muzz’s Gym can also help a good cause. The gym is holding a weightlifting competition on Saturday, November 19th to benefit St. Jude Children’s hospital. A bench press contest will be going on, with divisions for women, teen men, adult men and men over 40. Money raised from the contest will go to help St. Jude’s work to treat children dealing with cancer and other life threatening diseases. To sign up for the contest or to make a donation you an call 838-4345.

Guns Taken From Elkin Home
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a home on the Austin Traphill Road this week to investigate a case of theft. One that happened over two months ago. In September, thieves had broke into the house of a local woman, stealing her 9mm Beretta and .22 pistol. However she thought a family member that was out of town had taken them and failed to report it. But when that family member returned with no clue what had happened, the woman called sheriff's deputies. That investigation continues.

Winter Booze It And Lose It Program Begins
The Highway Patrol will be out in force over the next few weeks, as the annual Winter Booze It & Lose It campaign kicks off today. A special ceremony is going on this morning in Kitty Hawk at the Wright Brothers National Memorial to begin the event. A second ceremony will be held tomorrow in Boone. During the holiday season last year, 47 people in the state died due to alcohol related accidents. Checkpoints will be out in full force and troopers will be patroling over the next month to prevent any more fatalities.

Cars Stolen From Salvage On New Browns Ford Road
Thieves drove off with several cars from a salvage yard on New Brown's Ford Road. The owner returned to find his property intact, with no signs of a break-in or any damage. However 9 cars were missing from the salvage yard, totaling over $4000 in value. That investigation is ongoing.

Counterfeit Money Orders Entering Wilkes
Sheriff's deputies are investigating after a North Wilkesboro man fell victim to counterfeit money orders this week. The man had contacted a potential buyer for some of his property over the internet. Instead of the agreed amount, the buyer sent just over $6000 and asked that the extra cash be sent to an address in Africa. The victim agreed and sent the money to Africa, after which his bank informed him that the money order had been counterfeit and he was now out $4000, the amount he sent out. All the information was turned over to sheriff's deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Focus On Kids
As we head toward the holiday season, several different groups are working to help the less fortunate kids here in the county. Christmas for Kids is one of those groups and Rebecca Johnson from the organization will be Brian's guest today for Focus on the Foothills. They'll be explaining what the organization does and how locals can get involved. That's coming up today at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

State News

Columbine Style Attack Foiled In Charlotte
Two students at a Christian school in Charlotte have been arrested and charged for planning what police are calling a Columbine style attack. Recently officers were called out to Bible Baptist School, after a student told teachers that two classmates were planning to kill kids and members of the staff. The two 15-yr-old boys have now been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, after a police investigation, however due to their ages, names were not released. Officials refused to go into detail about the threat, only to say it had been prevented and the boys are now in a juvenile detention center.

NC Baptist Convention Adopts Policy On Homosexuals
One item has already been approved at this week's Baptist State Convention. North Carolina's state convention voted on and approved a policy condemning churches that allow homosexuals to be members. Such churches, the convention said, are "not considered friendly". Delegates also agreed that no church would be kicked out of the convention for supporting homosexuality, but such a stance would mean they're basically members in name only.

13-Yr-Old Thief Hunted In Shelby
A 13-yr-old car thief is being hunted by police in Cleveland County today. The boy first stole a van in Kings Mountain and made it into Shelby, where he ditched the vehicle and took an SUV from a local car dealership. After reports came in of the second theft, the vehicle was seen by a Shelby police officer and a high speed chase began, which at times reached above 80 mph. 15 minutes later, the boy crashed just outside of Boiling Springs and took off running. As he left the scene, the SUV rolled back and pinned the officers, preventing them from catching the suspect.

Wake County Employee Charged With Embezzlement
A teacher's assistant in Wake County is out of a job today, after being charged with embezzlement. Judy Dilahunt stands accused of stealing over $8500 from the county's Teacher Assistant's Association. Dilahunt worked at Rand Road Elementary in the Garner community, but was terminated once the charges came to light. It's unclear why she took the money or how she gained access to it, according to local officials.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
No good deed goes unpunished, as the saying goes. A man in Alamance County stopped to help a stranded driver and ended up in the hospital. He had pulled over on the side of Hwy 49 after a white female stood in the road, pleading for aid. As soon as the man stopped and got out of the car, the girl and two Hispanic boys pulled out knives and started attacking him. Before he escaped, the man was stabbed several times in the arm, neck and back. He rolled out from the car and watched as the thieves drove off down the road. Locals called police and EMS, getting him to the Alamance Regional Medical Center, where he's undergoing treatment. 16-yr-old Ashley Anema has been charged with assault and attempted murder, while the two boys, ages 13 & 16 were also later arrested, although their names have not been released.

Sports Headlines

Wake Signs 7 ft. Prospect
In other college hoops news, the calvary is coming in a big way for Wake Forest next year. The Demon Deacons added a 7 ft. center to their 2006 class as Chas McFarland committed to the team. McFarland joined this week as part of the NCAA's early signing period and gave up offers from Boston College, Pittsburgh and Marquette to join Wake. He averaged 16 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks as a high school junior last year.

UNC Tarheels Add Another Quarterback
With starter Matt Baker wrapping up his senior season, the Tarheels are facing an open competition next year at quarterback. And as of this week, another name was added to the list. B.J. Phillips, a 6-6 232 high school senior from South Carolina committed to the team this week. Phillips turned down offers from Kentucky and Vanderbuilt to play for the Heels. Scouts say that he's got a strong arm and can run the ball as well.

NC Central To Join Division I
In other college sports, another North Carolina team is making the move to Division I. NC Central University had the idea approved yesterday at a school meeting, ending their long association with Division II and the CIAA. The school so far hasn't made a final decision as to where they'l be playing, weighing options from the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Now NC Central will submit an official application to the NCAA and should start the five year process fairly soon.

Everham Makes Changes
Some more changes are coming for one garage on the Nextel Cup circuit, plans that will alter the very way their teams operate. Owner Ray Everham announced on Tuesday that he was changing things by getting rid of the crew chief on all of his cars. Instead, a three person group will take over the responsibilities, including a team director, car director and engineer for each crew. The move will take effect this Sunday, for the Ford 400.

Unemployment Checks Not Finding Their Owners
Here in Wilkes and across the state, people dependent on unemployment are wondering where their checks are. Several thousand people have been affected throughout North Carolina, as some of the nearly $40 million in benefits have disappeared. At the local Employment Security Commission here in Wilkes, the phones have been ringing off the hook over the last 48 hrs. as people call in asking when the checks will arrive. However if you have been waiting, it won't be much longer. The checks, all 23000 of them, were found on Tuesday, hidden under some equipment at the Raleigh post office where they had been dropped off. In Wilkes County alone, there are currently 1729 people unemployed with over $1 million in benefits at stake. Officials from the local Employment Security Commission said that the checks should be arriving within the next few days, now that they've been located.

Wilkes County Turns Out For Heritage Opening
The ribbon was cut and pictures taken as Wilkes County's Heritage Museum opened for business Tuesday morning. County commissioners, town officials and the media were all welcomed inside the old courthouse, as doors opened into the history of Wilkes. Inside seats from the North Wilkesboro speedway were found, along with some of the first radios in the county, dating back to the 1930s. Also you could read about the first settlers here in Wilkes, discover what the post office looked like back some 200 years ago and see what doctors used to treat patients back in the 1800s. The museum is open for tours and you can set one up by giving them a call at 667-3171. Or you can drop by, as the Museum is located at 202 Bridge Street here in Wilkesboro.

Three Involved In Wreck On 421
Wilkesboro police were called out after an accident Monday afternoon on Hwy 421 Business. The drivers of two cars both saw green lights at the same time and atempted to turn, thinking the other one would stop. Instead, both collided, with one spinning out and into a third vehicle waiting for his light to turn. The driver of the first vehicle, a North Wilkesboro woman, was taken by EMS to Wilkes Regional. Everyone else walked away from the accident. Estimated damage was placed at $6100.

Focus On Kids
As we head toward the holiday season, several different groups are working to help the less fortunate kids here in the county. Christmas for Kids is one of those groups and Rebecca Johnson from the organization will be Brian's guest this week for Focus on the Foothills. They'll be discussing the program, what's involved and how you can help to sponsor a child. That's coming up tomorrow at 1:05pm, right after the midday stock report.

Tools Stolen From Millers Creek Home
Apparently some thieves in Millers Creek just needed to borrow a few tools. A man had parked his car at home and walked inside, but soon heard voices and the car door open. He looked out to see two people running off and his tool box was wide open. Over $400 worth of items were taken in the theft, including a socket set and hunting knife. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Coming Up Today
While we need the rain, showers can also bring with them accidents on the highways. And with the blood supply still hovering around critical levels, one major wreck could possibly wipe it out here in Wilkes. With that being said, a blood drive is going on today at West Wilkes High School from 9am til 2pm. Before giving blood, please remember that you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs, for your own health's sake. No appointment is needed but if you don't want to wait in line, you can set up a time to come by calling the Wilkes Red Cross at 838-4563.

Wreck On Hwy 18 North Causes Traffic Delays
That accident on Hwy 18 Monday morning caused some more delays for drivers yesterday, as cleanup continued. A dump truck had been traveling up the mountain when the driver lost control and wrecked, with his cargo spilling out over the road. The cargo was cleaned up and removed on Monday, but that took so long officials had to wait until it got light on Tuesday morning to move the truck itself. That effort got started at 9am and stretched until 2:30pm, with both lanes of Hwy 18 North and South shut down.

Money Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro woman returned home this week to a strange sight. Her air conditioner unit had been pushed in, leaving the window wide open. Despite the damage, hardly anything was missing from inside, with the exception of $600 from a lockbox. No other damage was done to the property, however there is a suspect and that investigation continues.

State News

Former Judge Calls For Legalization
A former member of the North Carolina Supreme Court is calling for the legalization of drugs. Burley Mitchell, who served as chief justice on the court until 1999, said that the war on drugs has failed. His solution is to make all drugs legal, as he believes that would eradicate the industry of dealers and suppliers. Mitchell also said he believed that once legal, the demand would go down and we would see less crime on the streets. He told this to a group in Raleigh on Monday, while speaking on prison reform.

Man Appears In Spring Lake Without a Clue
A 21-yr-old man from Lumber Bridge is in the hospital today, after an incident near Fort Bragg. Christopher Murray was found by locals on a dead end road near the base, on the edge of the woods. His car had apparently been wrecked, altrhough there was no sign of another vehicle and no other damage, indicating that it had hit a tree or anything else. Murray is still in critical condition and police are investigating how the man ended up on a one way road and what he was doing there. He's currently undergoing treatment at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Missing Boy Found Safe After Father's Arrest
A 2-yr-old boy is safe in police custody today, while authorities still hunt for his father in Smithfield North Carolina. A search had been going on for Pablo Garcia, who had been living with his father in the area. However last week, his father, Pablo Silverio was charged with killing another man and disappeared, along with the boy. Police however found the boy, thankfully safe and unharmed, at a babysitter's house where the father had apparently dropped him off. The 29-yr-old Silverio is still on the run.

Bank Robbery In Durham
Officials in Durham are tracking two men after a robbery Tuesday morning. The Mutual Community Savings Bank on Fayetteville Street was robbed by two men wearing yellow gloves, hats and bandanas. One of them pulled out a gun and ordered the teller to hand over some money, although it's still not clear exactly how much they escaped with. The men are believed to be driving an older model gold Honda Accord. Rewards are being offered by both Crimestoppers and the NC Bankers Association totaling up to $6200 for information leading to an arrest in the case. To give out information you can call the NC Bankers Association hotline at 1-800-209-2293 or the FBI at 1-704-377-9200.

Search On For Missing Woman In Cumberland
Officials in Cumberland County are searching for a missing woman who vanished late Monday night. 27-yr-old Shannon Parker left her family's home in the Grays Creek area of the county and hasn't been seen since. Parker is a schizophrenic and is described as a white woman about 5'6ft with glasses. Family members have no clue how she left as normally Parker doesn't leave the house without someone coming with her. The Highway Patrol and local law enforcement are aiding in the search.

Sports Headlines

AP College Poll Released
In college basketball, the latest AP Top 25 Poll has been released, with two North Carolina teams making the list. Duke stays at #1, while Wake Forest drops one position to #19. Meanwhile NC State is ranked #34th, UNC Charlotte comes in at 33rd and the defending champion UNC Tarheels fall all the way to 34th place on the latest poll.

NCAA Scoreboard
In college basketball last night, it was UNC Wilmington beating Northwestern 56-48, UNC Greensboro beating Texas Arlington 61-49 and UNC Charlotte dropping to 0-2 on the year with an 87-78 loss against Wyoming.

Charlotte at Orlando
In the senior circuit of the NBA, it was the Charlotte Bobcats losing to the Orlando Magic 85-77. The Bobcats were playing for the second straight game without leading scorer Gerald Wallace, out with a fractured wrist. Keith Bogans led the Bobcats with 18 points and Sean May came off the bench to add 15 points and 10 rebounds.

NHL: Carolina at Ottawa
The Carolina Hurricanes started another winning streak on Tuesday, recording their 13th win of the season as they beat Ottawa 2-1. With the win, Carolina improves to 13-3 and stays atop the Southeastern Conference.

Kenny Wallace Taking Over For Busch
With driver Kurt Busch suspended for the rest of the season, Kenny Wallace will step behind the wheel for Sunday's Ford 400. Officials from Rousch Racing said that they were impressed with Wallace's performance this past weekend, where he started at the back of the pack but finished in 16th. Meanwhile Kurt Busch has been issued a criminal citation for the incident this past weekend with law enforcement near Phoenix.

Wilkes Heritage Museum Opens Today
The courthouse doors will open today and the Wilkes Heritage Museum will officially be in business. The 1902 courthouse has been completely restored and remodeled, with pieces of the county's history dating to the early 1800s and before. Junior Johnson's race car, World War II material and Civil War flags all lie inside, along with dozens of other exhibits and information. The Museum is open for tours or field trips for any organization or school group. You can also simply walk right in and have a look. The official ribbon cutting takes place this morning at 9:30am and for more information you can call Old Wilkes at 667-3712.

Dump Truck Overturns On Hwy 18
Traffic was backed up for several hours on Monday after a dump truck wrecked on Hwy 18 North. The truck had been heading up the mountain but the driver lost control and crashed, spilling his cargo across the road. Crews took a good portion of the afternoon to clean it all up.

Money Stolen From Local Restaurant
Wilkesboro police are investigating a break-in at Hardees over the weekend. Thieves somehow gained access to the building's safe, got inside and stole $1222 in cash. No damage was done to the property and there was no sign of a break-in. Officers have suspects and the case is still open.

Kerosine Tanks Damaged At Rock Creek BP
One driver was apparently lucky to walk away with their life earlier this week, after causing some damage at the Rock Creek BP station. Employees came in on Sunday to find the kerosine dispenser had been damaged, with evidence left behind from what was most likely a vehicle. Despite the damage, which was estimated at $200, there was no sign of who caused the problem and no witnesses to the event itself. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

Prank Calls Lead To Car Damage
An Elm City woman called Wilkesboro police earlier this week, after her car's tires were slashed. She had been staying at the Holiday Inn Express and recieving strange prank phone calls each night, where the caller would simply hang up minutes after she picked up the phone. All this despite the fact that she hadn't given out her number. Then walking out earlier this week she found her car's tires had been slashed. There are two suspects in the case and that investigation is ongoing.

Break-In At Wal-Mart Parking Lot
Thieves broke into a Warrensville man's car while he was shopping earlier this week. As the man was inside Wal-Mart, thieves pried open the passenger side window's weather stripping and got inside. They stole 100 music CDs, along with a pair of sunglasses, a palm pilot and several other items. Wilkesboro police are continuing the investigation.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A routine traffic stop by sheriff's deputies led to a drug bust earlier this week. Deputies got behind a vehicle on Hwy 421 that was having problems staying on their side of the road. After pulling over the car, deputies found that the driver had no license, as his had been revoked. In addition, electronic scales and marijuana were both found inside the vehicle. 21-yr-old Daniel McNeil II was arrested and charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving erratically and driving with a revoked license.

State News

Theft One Of The Largest In Surry County History
Eight people are facing charges in what law enforcement are calling one of the largest thefts in Surry County history. $2 million worth of material was stolen from Bassett Furniture this past April, at the company's Mt. Airy complex. The day after the break-in, pieces started to be recovered, later totaling over 300 items. Eight employees of Bassett Furniture have now been charged with the crime, each given seven counts of conspiracy to commit embezzlement. All eight, who had worked in management at the plant, were fired as charges were brought. They are 62-yr-old John Ronald Jarrett of Morehead, 46-yr-old Gary Moser of Pilot Mountain, 51-yr-old Randall Alex Lawless of Stuart VA and 47-yr-old Lisa Marie Martin, 44-yr-old Michael Wayne Pennington, 35-yr-old David Ray Slate, 55-yr-old Jerry Conrad Tolbert and 30-yr-old Michael Slate all of Mt. Airy. Officials are still trying to track down the other pieces of furniture, which were sold to organizations and groups in the area. Deputies are asking anyone who bought a piece from one of these eight to give them a call at 336-401-8900.

Officials Hold Conference To Stop Meth Use
With meth use still a problem across North Carolina, officials from around the state are holding a meeting this Wednesday at Western Carolina University. The object of the meeting will be to curb the growing problem, which wasn't destroyed the way attorney general Roy Cooper believed it would be when his office banned certain cough medicines containing pseudoephedrine unless the person had a prescription. The drug is a key component of meth and as of November, 289 labs had been destroyed here in the state. That's almost on par with last year's total, which stood at 322.

UNC Colleges Cut Funding
Less than a week after announcing that all university chancellors would be getting a raise, the effects are becoming clear. With more money being diverted to staff pay, several schools made cuts in their student programs. UNC Chapel Hill announced that due to budget problems, 46 classes were eliminated, while at NC State 60 were erased. All total, an estimated $31 million in school programs and needed equipment was cut from the budgets of UNC campuses to help fund the staff raises. The only way to prevent the cuts, officials said, was to raise tuition, which has been capped by the board of directors to allow no more than a 10% increase.

Forensic Institute To Open In Greensboro
Some people have been behind bars for years, serving time for crimes they didn't commit. A new project will hopefully change all that, as a forensic institute will soon be open in Greensboro. The America Judicature Society is scheduled to open their doors in January and, working with Elon University's new law school, plan to work on ways of preventing innocent people from seeing the inside of a jail cell. Outdated forensic practices are a major problem here in the state, as currently 400 untested rape kits are waiting to be processed, kits that could help solve hundreds of open cases.

Edwards Apologizes For Mistake
Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has come out with an apology, both for people here in the state and our troops overseas. Edwards wrote an essay, which was published by the Washington Post, in which he apologized for supporting the Iraqi war. He said the decision was a mistake and was sorry that people here at home, especially soldiers, had to pay for it. However Edwards doesn't believe that we should pull out now, but rather figure out a way to succeed and leave Iraq a better place than when we arrived. He also called on other countries to lend a hand, as the stability of Iraq affects their lives, not just our own.

Drug Bust In Mount Holly Nets Three
Three men are in jail after an undercover operation in Mount Holly. Officers were able to break up a smuggling ring that was transporting methamphetamines into North Carolina from Florida. Just over 3 pounds of the drug was found in an old car battery, worth over $280,000. Police in Gaston County are still unraveling leads, but it's believed the three arrested could be part of a bigger network operating out of the Florida area.

Sports Headlines

NCAA Basketball Scoreboard
College basketball season has officially tipped off and several North Carolina teams were in action last night. It was the number one ranked Duke Blue Devils beating Boston University 64-47 in the first round of the Preseason NIT. J.J. Redick led Duke with 19 points. Meanwhile it was UNC Wilmington beating Wyoming 62-59, UNC Greensboro beating Morgan State 62-49 and UNC Charlotte falling against Northwestern 61-47. Charlotte was led by Curtis Withers, who had 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Appalachian Adds To Next Year's Recruiting Class
In other college basketball news, Appalachian State continues to load up for next season. Their 2006 recruiting class got two more names over the weekend, as Ibrahim Graiba and Juan Pablo Montas committed to join. The 6-9 Graiba averaged 28 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks while playing for a club team in London while the 6-7 Montas put up 21 points and 11 rebounds while playing for his high school in the Dominican Republic.

Duke Football Lands Another Recruit
While the current Duke football team is struggling, help is on the way for next season. The Blue Devils received a commitment from offensive lineman Jeffrey Cowart, a high school senior from Georgia. The 6-6 Cowart can run the 40-yd dash in 5.28 seconds and helped Mary Parsons High School get into the state playoffs with an 8-3 record this season. Cowart turned down offers from Georgia Tech, Louisville and Memphis to join the Blue Devils.

Chase For The Cup Standings
Taking a look at the NASCAR standings, Tony Stewart stays atop the Chase For the Cup, 52 points ahead of second place Jimmie Johnson. Carl Edwards is third, 87 points behind while Greg Biffle comes in fourth, 102 behind Stewart. Mark Martin rounds out the top five, 162 points behind in the Chase. Next Sunday drivers head to Homestead Miami Speedway for the Ford 400.

France Begins His Restructuring Of NASCAR
Bill France announced over the weekend what some of the changes are going to be on the Nextel Cup Series next season. Owners can't have more than four cars in their garage and for those that already do, some compensation will be sorted out. Also as part of the new policy, drivers can only test cars at six of the Nextel Cup tracks. That includes Charlotte, Daytona, Homestead, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Richmond.

Fire At Rendezvous Mountain Spread From Exercise
A fire late last week at Rendezvous Mountain turns out to be the result of a training exercise that got out of hand. 38 acres of the forest burned before firefighters were able to get it under control on Thursday, with crews from both Millers Creek and Wilbar responding. Strong winds that blew through the area are apparently at fault, as they fanned the flames that had been created as part of a controlled burn. The mini-fire had been started for training exercises in the area, but soon grew out of control thanks to the wind.

Last Week For Energy Applications
With the economy still struggling here in the area, it can be hard at times for people to afford to pay their heating bill. But there is help, if you qualify. Social Service here in Wilkes has been taking applications for their Low Income Energy Assistance Program. This is the final week for people to come in and apply, which you can do at the Social Service office, located on College Street in Wilkesboro. Applications will be taken from today until this coming Friday anytime from 8:30am til 5pm. Also this Wednesday you can apply at the Clingman Family Resource Center. This will be a one time credit to help in paying for your heating costs this winter.You can call Social Services for more information at 651-7400.

Thieves Break Into Home On Dowridge Lane
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a home on DowRidge Lane last week, after thieves paid a visit to the residence. It appears the thieves climbed through a window to get inside, shattering the double pained glass and ripping out the screen. All total an estimated $175 worth of damage was done to the property. Once inside, they took $200 in loose change, a watch and three packs of Marlboro cigarettes. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Blood Drive Today At Pilgrim Baptist
Throughout the last week, several blood drives have been going on here in Wilkes County and we've been telling you about the need as supplies hang around critical levels. What you may not know is the fact that blood taken from drives here in the county isn't used just for Wilkes, but also Alleghany and the surrounding area. As those parts of the state are also struggling to keep a day's supply, blood has to be sent out to lend a hand. To do that and also provide more supplies for Wilkes, a drive is going on today at Pilgrim Baptist Church from 2:30-7pm. You can either make an appointment by calling the Red Cross at 838-4563 or simply show up and they'll take you as soon as possible.

Thieves Run Off With Wilkesboro Man's License Plate
Who would steal a license plate? That's what a Wilkesboro man is wondering today, after stepping outside this weekend to find his had been taken. The man had parked his car at home and was going inside when he noticed the license plate was missing. There wasn't any damage done to the vehicle and nothing taken from inside, virtually no indications that a thief had been around. Sheriff's deputies were called out and the investigation is ongoing.

Muzz's Gym To Help Support St. Jude's Hospital
Coming up this Saturday, working out at Muzz’s Gym can also help a good cause. The gym is holding a weightlifting competition on Saturday, November 19th to benefit St. Jude Children’s hospital. A bench press contest will be going on, with divisions for women, teen men, adult men and men over 40. Money raised from the contest will go to help St. Jude’s work to treat children dealing with cancer and other life threatening diseases. To sign up for the contest or to make a donation you an call 838-4345.

Wilkes Art Gallery Opens Christmas Show This Friday
Coming up this Friday, the Wilkes Art Gallery will begin its’ Annual Christmas Show and Sale. The event runs from Friday Nvember 18th til Christmas Eve. As a kickoff to the event, a reception will be held from 6-8pm at the Gallery this Friday, to coincide with the annual Light-Up Downtown celebration going on throughout the night. Over 50 different artists from here in the region will have their work on display during the show.

3WC Healthwatch: Sleep Or Fail
The amount of sleep a student gets could determine if they pass or fail, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A study was finished at Brown Medical School last week that took 74 kids, ages ranging from 6 to 12 years old and deprived them of sleep, letting them stay up as late as they wanted over a three week period. What they found wasn’t so much that the kids were tired, but rather their memory didn’t perform as well and also those who were deprived of sleep weren’t as creative as those who had gotten their rest. So how much sleep do kids need? According to specialists, 10 hours a night is suggested for elementary school students, while teenagers need at least 8.

State News

Raises Could Mean Problems For College Students
Some bad news today for students at colleges in the UNC system. The extra money put forth by the state isn’t going to help buy books or rebuild facilities. Instead, raises of anywhere from 8-16% have been approved for all of the university chancellors. This is in addition to a 2% raise given out to the chancellors already this year, along with all other state workers. Money for the move came from a special fund set aside by state lawmakers for that purpose.

Rewards Being Offered In Greensboro Investigation
Police in Greensboro are looking for help in solving a case of arson that went on over the weekend. A home on Park Avenue was torched with massive damage done. There were holes left in the roof and most of the rooms were gutted. Rewards are being offered for any information that can be given to Greensboro police. The number to call is 1-800-334-3000.

Skeleton Found In Harnett County
Boys investigating an abandoned house in Harnett County got a surprise this weekend. After climbing up into the collapsed ceiling of the home, they found a skeleton. The home caught fire more than a year ago, in December of 2003 and according to police had been abandoned for some time. But now it appears someone could have been caught in that fire or possibly left there later on. An investigation into the discovery is ongoing.

Parts Of History Up For Sale
In Albermarle, pieces of history are going up for sale this week. A news report from 1800, the original Gettysburg Address as printed in the New York Tribune and the first published photos of the Wright Brothers’ successful flight are all up for auction among other things, as a local collector tries to help a needy charity. Richard and Phyllis Davis have collected all these things over their lifetime, but are giving all proceeds away to Hopeline, a womens’ shelter in the area that needs a new home. It’s the only shelter for victims of domestic abuse in a six county area around Albermarle.

Water Restrictions Continue In Raleigh
While the mountain counties have experienced a slight bit of rain over the last few days, certain portions of the state still remain near drought status. To help keep the water running, Raleigh’s City Council has approved new restrictions that would hit offenders hard in the wallet. From now one, first time violators will have to pay $1000 for each offense, that’s up from the original target of $50. Lawns in the area can only be watered twice a week and if officials catch repeat offenders, those people will run the risk of having their water shut off. The reason for the increased restrictions is that the local water supply in Raleigh is down 8 feet from its’ regular levels.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
The playoffs kicked off in high school football this weekend and two Wilkes County teams were in the running. For West Wilkes, the season came to an end on a heartbreaking note, as they lost to Mount Airy 14-10. West had the Bears pinned down deep in their own territory, but Josh Johnson tossed a 65 yard touchdown bomb to give Mt. Airy the win. Meanwhile East Wilkes played at home against North Stokes and completely dominated, winning 27-12. The number seven ranked Cardinals will head up the road to Cherokee this Friday for a second round game.

ACC Scoreboard
In ACC football action, it was NC State falling to Boston College 30-10. State will have to win both of their remaining games to have a shot at the postseason. The UNC Tarheels find themselves in a similar position, after a 33-30 loss at home against Maryland. At 4-5, the Heels will have to beat both Duke and Virginia Tech to be eligible for a bowl bid. The news wasn’t any better for Wake Forest, who was blown out by Miami 47-17.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the rest of the NCAA, it was Tulsa beating East Carolina 45-13, Elon losing to the Citadel 21-0, Gardner-Webb beating Savannah State 31-21 and Appalachian State won the Battle for the Mountain Jug as they beat Western Carolina 35-7. Quarterback Richie Williams tossed for two touchdowns as the Mountaineers improve to 7-3 on the year.

Panthers Run Over Jets At Home
The Carolina Panthers made it six straight wins on Sunday, as they ran over the New York Jets by a score of 30-3. Stephen Davis ran for 81 yards and set a new team record with his 12th rushing touchdown of the season, as the Panthers improve to 7-2 on the year. Next week Carolina will head on the road to take on the Chicago Bears.

Hurricanes See Streak End
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes saw their winning streak come to an end, as they fell to the Atlanta Thrashers 9-0. The loss drops Carolina to 12-3 but they still stay in first place in the Southeast Conference.

Bobcats Lose In Miami
In the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats gave it their best shot but came up just short against Miami. The Bobcats lost 108-99, dropping to 2-5 on the year despite Sean May’s best game of the season. The rookie from UNC had a team high 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and a block. Next up is Orlando tomorrow night.

NASCAR Results
Around the Nextel Cup circuit, Kyle Busch took the checkered flag Sunday at Phoenix International Speedway. Greg Biffle came in second, Jeff Gordon third, Tony Stewart was fourth and Bobby Labonte rounded out the top five. But while the younger Busch brother was in victory lane, the older one saw his chance at a championship vanish as Kurt Busch was suspended for the rest of the season. Roush Racing pulled the plug on Busch after a run-in with police on Friday. When Busch was pulled over, officers said that he smelled like alcohol and was harassing them. Heading into Sunday’s race, Busch was eighth in the Chase for the Cup.