The local and regional news page of 12403wc Hometown Christian Radio.
Friday, January 20, 2006
News & Sports For January 20th
Help For Heating Bills In Wilkes
People in Wilkes could be suffering from a bit of sticker shock today, after opening up their power bill. With rising prices for natural gas and oil, it can be hard at times to pay for electricity and also have enough money to put food on the table. Gov. Mike Easley has allocated an additional $4 million to be split among the counties and here in Wilkes, people can get help from Social Services. Now you can go and request assistance in paying for your heating bill anytime during the agency’s operating hours from 8:30am til 5pm, but there are some things to know beforehand. First, you can only bring in a heating bill if it’s five days or less away from being disconnected. The reason for this being that the money is given out on a need based approach and so those facing disconnection take first priority. Once again be sure to bring the bill with you when you apply. In addition, Social Services can also help those who use propane heating as long as it doesn’t involve a camper as per state regulations. You can call Social Services and schedule an appointment at 651-7400 or simply stop by their office at 304 College Street in Wilkesboro.
One Car Totaled In River Street Collision
One car was totaled after a wreck on River Street Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened just after 2:30pm, when a light turned green at the intersection with School Street. A North Wilkesboro man was sitting at the light, waiting for it to turn. When it did however, he was a little slow in pulling out. The vehicle behind him, belonging to a Wilkesboro man, only noticed the light changing and didn’t pay attention that the car in front hadn’t moved. The driver of the second vehicle put his foot on the gas, creating a domino effect. Thankfully no one was hurt, however estimated damages to that second car were placed at $3000.
All For Some Free TV
What would you do for some free tv? For thieves in the Lakeview Drive area, the answer was anything it takes. A woman returned home Tuesday night to find that her satellite dish had been stolen, the second time this has happened in the last six months. Nothing else was missing or even touched at the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Recall Of Medical Devices
For the third time this week, 3WC has a recall to tell you about. This time the information affects all diabetes patients out there. Roche Diagnostics has recalled several thousand of its’ ACCU-CHEK Aviva Meters due to an electronic malfunction. The recall involves all of the meters with serial numbers that begin with the number 5250 through 5251, but not including those with a number of 52511 or higher. The malfunction could cause the meter to give a false result when a diabetes patient uses it. As of this week, 8 such malfunctions have been reported. For a replacement or just for more information you can call 1-800-858-8072.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Phone
It’s never a good idea to leave your phone behind. A North Wilkesboro woman found out why on Tuesday. She had finished eating at a local restaurant and got up to leave. However before she got out of the parking lot, the woman remembered her phone was still inside. When she went back in, no one could recall seeing the phone. Information was turned over to Wilkesboro police and the investigation continues.
Blood Drive Later Today
42 days. That’s how much time blood can be used after it’s donated. Once that time period passes, it has to be thrown out. With the local supply still at critical levels, poor turnouts at the recent drives hasn’t helped the situation. The Wilkes Red Cross is holding another emergency drive today over at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement. That will go on from 2-6:30pm this afternoon and is open to everyone. To set up a time to give, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Painkillers Stolen From Wilkesboro Home
A Wilkesboro woman let some family members use her car but later that night, found they took more than just the keys. This happened on Monday and after the car was returned, the woman discovered some painkiller pills of hers were missing. An estimated 100 pills of Percocet were taken in the theft. There is a suspect however and that investigation continues.
Scholarship Available For Wilkes High School Seniors
Some good news today for any parent concerned on how they’ll afford tuition costs. USA Today and the Got Milk campaign are partnering together to offer the SAMMY Awards. 25 student athletes across the nation will each be given a $7500 scholarship to the college of their choice, while winning other prizes as well. The winning students will be inducted into the SAMMY Hall of Fame and be featured in a Got Milk ad in USA Today. SAMMY stands for Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year. To be considered, students have to write a short essay, describing how milk is part of both their lifestyle and training program. The deadline to apply is March 3rd and you can download an entry form by logging on to www.whymilk.com.
Trailer Causes Accident On Winkler Street
One vehicle was totaled and another damaged after a wreck Tuesday afternoon on Winkler Street. A Concord man was pulling onto the highway, dragging along a trailer behind him. A Millers Creek man was coming from the other direction and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision, as the trailer was taking up both lanes of the road. That second man’s car was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $3000. Thankfully no one was hurt in the crash.
State News
Charlotte Native Named To NC Supreme Court
Gov. Mike Easley has appointed the next chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. 63-yr-old Charlotte native Sarah Parker will take over when current chief justice Beverly Lake Jr. steps down January 31st. Lake’s term is over due to the fact he turns 72 on January 30th and must retire in accordance with state law. Parker, an associate justice on the court, is the only Democrat and will become only the third female chief justice in North Carolina history.
Jobs Leaving Greensboro
Bad news for people living in the Greensboro area, as the local economy took another hit this week. Officials from Konica Minolta announced plans to close down their facility in Whitsett, which currently employs 258 people. The company said there wasn’t enough of a need for film cameras to keep the facility going. The plant will be shut down permanently in March of 2007.
Major League Baseball A Possibility In Charlotte
The Queen City may have another sports team to call its’ own in the near future. Officials from the Florida Marlins are going to be paying a visit to Charlotte in March, to consider relocating. The Marlins’ lease in Miami is up in 2007 and the franchise plans to leave south Florida due to the fact a deal couldn’t be reached on a baseball only stadium. Currently they play in Pro Player Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
NC Native Named As U.S. Representative
A North Carolina man was named this week as the US representative to the European Union. C. Boyden Gray, a Winston Salem native, was put into the post as a recess appointment by President Bush, this coming after two years of stalled votes by the House and Senate. Gray’s appointment will last until January 2008, where it will expire unless he’s confirmed by the Senate.
Kannapolis Holds Centennial Celebration Tomorrow
The town of Kannapolis is inviting people to come on Saturday and help them celebrate their 100th birthday. The Centennial Winter Fest will start at 12:30 Saturday afternoon with an opening ceremony, as items are put into a time capsule to be buried later on in the day. Also there will be ice skating, a chili supper, winter crafts, snowboarding video games, movies, storytelling and other events throughout the day. All of that will take place at the Kannapolis train station on South Main Street.
Sports Headlines
Boys Basketball Tryouts Taking Place
For any teenage boys wanting to play basketball, there’s a league being put together over in Jonesville. The Yadkin Valley 13U team will be holding tryouts tomorrow for any 13-yr-old looking to suit up and get on the court. Tryouts will be held at the Jonesville Elementary School starting at 1pm. If you want more information the number to call is 838-5339 after 5pm today.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at some college basketball from last night, it was Winthrop over Liberty 67-47, UNC Wilmington knocked off Towson 78-46, Campbell fell to North Florida 95-84, Coastal Carolina took care of Charleston Southern 63-62. Gardner-Webb beat Jacksonville 72-67, thanks in part to a 26-point performance from Brian Bender. The Running Bulldogs improve to 7-9 with the win. Finally in the ACC, it was Virginia beating the UNC Tarheels 72-68. The Heels only shot 36% from the field and only three players scored in double figures. Tyler Hansborough led UNC with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the team falls to 10-4.
Change Of Plans For UNC Charlotte Senior
UNC Charlotte’s basketball team learned this week that it’ll be one man short for the rest of the season. Senior forward E.J. Drayton will miss the rest of the year due to tendonitis in his knee. Drayton has applied for a medical hardship and doctors expect him to be back with the team in the fall.
Duke & State land Football Commitments
In the college football field, some good news this week for two ACC teams. Both NC State and Duke landed commitments that will help the offensive line. Senior Ryan Wischenfski from Melbourne Florida agreed to play for the Wolfpack. Ryan is 6’3, weighs 315 lbs and can play both the center and guard position. The Duke Blue Devils received a commitment from Marcus Lind, a 6’3 260 lb. lineman from Fort Lauderdale Florida. The high school senior helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas High School to a state 5A championship this past year.
NHL: NY Islanders vs. Carolina
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes made it nine in a row with a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Four different players scored for the Hurricanes, who improved to 32-10 with the win.
Jake Raising The Bar For QBs
With time ticking down til Sunday’s NFC Championship, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is among some truly great company. Delhomme currently has the highest playoff quarterback rating in NFL history, being ranked at 108.4 right now. That’s enough to pass 49er great Joe Montana, who was ranked at 95.6 and Bart Starr at 108.4. A victory Sunday against Seattle would also give Delhomme the most road playoff wins in NFL history. He’s currently tied with Len Dawson and Roger Staubach. Each has four.
People in Wilkes could be suffering from a bit of sticker shock today, after opening up their power bill. With rising prices for natural gas and oil, it can be hard at times to pay for electricity and also have enough money to put food on the table. Gov. Mike Easley has allocated an additional $4 million to be split among the counties and here in Wilkes, people can get help from Social Services. Now you can go and request assistance in paying for your heating bill anytime during the agency’s operating hours from 8:30am til 5pm, but there are some things to know beforehand. First, you can only bring in a heating bill if it’s five days or less away from being disconnected. The reason for this being that the money is given out on a need based approach and so those facing disconnection take first priority. Once again be sure to bring the bill with you when you apply. In addition, Social Services can also help those who use propane heating as long as it doesn’t involve a camper as per state regulations. You can call Social Services and schedule an appointment at 651-7400 or simply stop by their office at 304 College Street in Wilkesboro.
One Car Totaled In River Street Collision
One car was totaled after a wreck on River Street Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened just after 2:30pm, when a light turned green at the intersection with School Street. A North Wilkesboro man was sitting at the light, waiting for it to turn. When it did however, he was a little slow in pulling out. The vehicle behind him, belonging to a Wilkesboro man, only noticed the light changing and didn’t pay attention that the car in front hadn’t moved. The driver of the second vehicle put his foot on the gas, creating a domino effect. Thankfully no one was hurt, however estimated damages to that second car were placed at $3000.
All For Some Free TV
What would you do for some free tv? For thieves in the Lakeview Drive area, the answer was anything it takes. A woman returned home Tuesday night to find that her satellite dish had been stolen, the second time this has happened in the last six months. Nothing else was missing or even touched at the home. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Recall Of Medical Devices
For the third time this week, 3WC has a recall to tell you about. This time the information affects all diabetes patients out there. Roche Diagnostics has recalled several thousand of its’ ACCU-CHEK Aviva Meters due to an electronic malfunction. The recall involves all of the meters with serial numbers that begin with the number 5250 through 5251, but not including those with a number of 52511 or higher. The malfunction could cause the meter to give a false result when a diabetes patient uses it. As of this week, 8 such malfunctions have been reported. For a replacement or just for more information you can call 1-800-858-8072.
Be Careful Where You Leave Your Phone
It’s never a good idea to leave your phone behind. A North Wilkesboro woman found out why on Tuesday. She had finished eating at a local restaurant and got up to leave. However before she got out of the parking lot, the woman remembered her phone was still inside. When she went back in, no one could recall seeing the phone. Information was turned over to Wilkesboro police and the investigation continues.
Blood Drive Later Today
42 days. That’s how much time blood can be used after it’s donated. Once that time period passes, it has to be thrown out. With the local supply still at critical levels, poor turnouts at the recent drives hasn’t helped the situation. The Wilkes Red Cross is holding another emergency drive today over at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement. That will go on from 2-6:30pm this afternoon and is open to everyone. To set up a time to give, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Painkillers Stolen From Wilkesboro Home
A Wilkesboro woman let some family members use her car but later that night, found they took more than just the keys. This happened on Monday and after the car was returned, the woman discovered some painkiller pills of hers were missing. An estimated 100 pills of Percocet were taken in the theft. There is a suspect however and that investigation continues.
Scholarship Available For Wilkes High School Seniors
Some good news today for any parent concerned on how they’ll afford tuition costs. USA Today and the Got Milk campaign are partnering together to offer the SAMMY Awards. 25 student athletes across the nation will each be given a $7500 scholarship to the college of their choice, while winning other prizes as well. The winning students will be inducted into the SAMMY Hall of Fame and be featured in a Got Milk ad in USA Today. SAMMY stands for Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year. To be considered, students have to write a short essay, describing how milk is part of both their lifestyle and training program. The deadline to apply is March 3rd and you can download an entry form by logging on to www.whymilk.com.
Trailer Causes Accident On Winkler Street
One vehicle was totaled and another damaged after a wreck Tuesday afternoon on Winkler Street. A Concord man was pulling onto the highway, dragging along a trailer behind him. A Millers Creek man was coming from the other direction and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision, as the trailer was taking up both lanes of the road. That second man’s car was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $3000. Thankfully no one was hurt in the crash.
State News
Charlotte Native Named To NC Supreme Court
Gov. Mike Easley has appointed the next chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. 63-yr-old Charlotte native Sarah Parker will take over when current chief justice Beverly Lake Jr. steps down January 31st. Lake’s term is over due to the fact he turns 72 on January 30th and must retire in accordance with state law. Parker, an associate justice on the court, is the only Democrat and will become only the third female chief justice in North Carolina history.
Jobs Leaving Greensboro
Bad news for people living in the Greensboro area, as the local economy took another hit this week. Officials from Konica Minolta announced plans to close down their facility in Whitsett, which currently employs 258 people. The company said there wasn’t enough of a need for film cameras to keep the facility going. The plant will be shut down permanently in March of 2007.
Major League Baseball A Possibility In Charlotte
The Queen City may have another sports team to call its’ own in the near future. Officials from the Florida Marlins are going to be paying a visit to Charlotte in March, to consider relocating. The Marlins’ lease in Miami is up in 2007 and the franchise plans to leave south Florida due to the fact a deal couldn’t be reached on a baseball only stadium. Currently they play in Pro Player Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
NC Native Named As U.S. Representative
A North Carolina man was named this week as the US representative to the European Union. C. Boyden Gray, a Winston Salem native, was put into the post as a recess appointment by President Bush, this coming after two years of stalled votes by the House and Senate. Gray’s appointment will last until January 2008, where it will expire unless he’s confirmed by the Senate.
Kannapolis Holds Centennial Celebration Tomorrow
The town of Kannapolis is inviting people to come on Saturday and help them celebrate their 100th birthday. The Centennial Winter Fest will start at 12:30 Saturday afternoon with an opening ceremony, as items are put into a time capsule to be buried later on in the day. Also there will be ice skating, a chili supper, winter crafts, snowboarding video games, movies, storytelling and other events throughout the day. All of that will take place at the Kannapolis train station on South Main Street.
Sports Headlines
Boys Basketball Tryouts Taking Place
For any teenage boys wanting to play basketball, there’s a league being put together over in Jonesville. The Yadkin Valley 13U team will be holding tryouts tomorrow for any 13-yr-old looking to suit up and get on the court. Tryouts will be held at the Jonesville Elementary School starting at 1pm. If you want more information the number to call is 838-5339 after 5pm today.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at some college basketball from last night, it was Winthrop over Liberty 67-47, UNC Wilmington knocked off Towson 78-46, Campbell fell to North Florida 95-84, Coastal Carolina took care of Charleston Southern 63-62. Gardner-Webb beat Jacksonville 72-67, thanks in part to a 26-point performance from Brian Bender. The Running Bulldogs improve to 7-9 with the win. Finally in the ACC, it was Virginia beating the UNC Tarheels 72-68. The Heels only shot 36% from the field and only three players scored in double figures. Tyler Hansborough led UNC with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the team falls to 10-4.
Change Of Plans For UNC Charlotte Senior
UNC Charlotte’s basketball team learned this week that it’ll be one man short for the rest of the season. Senior forward E.J. Drayton will miss the rest of the year due to tendonitis in his knee. Drayton has applied for a medical hardship and doctors expect him to be back with the team in the fall.
Duke & State land Football Commitments
In the college football field, some good news this week for two ACC teams. Both NC State and Duke landed commitments that will help the offensive line. Senior Ryan Wischenfski from Melbourne Florida agreed to play for the Wolfpack. Ryan is 6’3, weighs 315 lbs and can play both the center and guard position. The Duke Blue Devils received a commitment from Marcus Lind, a 6’3 260 lb. lineman from Fort Lauderdale Florida. The high school senior helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas High School to a state 5A championship this past year.
NHL: NY Islanders vs. Carolina
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes made it nine in a row with a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Four different players scored for the Hurricanes, who improved to 32-10 with the win.
Jake Raising The Bar For QBs
With time ticking down til Sunday’s NFC Championship, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is among some truly great company. Delhomme currently has the highest playoff quarterback rating in NFL history, being ranked at 108.4 right now. That’s enough to pass 49er great Joe Montana, who was ranked at 95.6 and Bart Starr at 108.4. A victory Sunday against Seattle would also give Delhomme the most road playoff wins in NFL history. He’s currently tied with Len Dawson and Roger Staubach. Each has four.
posted by Scott Roberts # 5:54 AM
Thursday, January 19, 2006
News & Sports For January 19th
Wind Rips Through Wilkes County
The power flickered and trees fell as wind gusts reached over 25 mph in the county yesterday. There were no injuries reported due to the wind, however downed trees caused headaches for local homeowners, who were busy cleaning up their property. Wilkes appears to have got off easy, as over 8000 people were still without power yesterday in Forsyth and Randolph Counties.
Recall Of Children’s Toys
This next bit of news is for all parents of young children. A recall has been ordered by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission of just over 600,000 Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Musical Learning Chairs. Product testing has shown that children can get trapped between the seatback and side table of the chair, which could possibly lead to strangulation. So far across the country there have been three reports of children getting caught in the toy, but thankfully none that were fatal. The Laugh & Learn Musical Learning Chairs were sold from May 2005 until earlier this month and have model numbers of H4609, H47167 through H7173, H8157, H8998 and J0272 through J0275. You can find the model number on the underside of the chair’s seat. Fisher Price is offering a free repair kit that is supposed to solve the problem and you can get one by calling 1-866-552-3914.
All For A Twenty Dollar Bill
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise Tuesday morning. He was awakened by what he thought were scratching noises, but instead found a man in his kitchen. When the two made eye contact, the thief took off running out the door. Nothing was missing from the house except the man’s wallet and a $20 bill which was inside. The thief had apparently shattered a window in the nearby utility room, then used a stepladder to climb inside. An estimated $180 worth of damage was done and a description of the thief was turned over to deputies. That investigation continues.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
Sheriff’s deputies were driving down 421 near Lewis Fork Church Road on Monday when they clocked a driver going 72 in a 55. After pulling him over, a K9 was brought in to check the car for drugs. A smoking pipe was found wrapped up in a sock under the passengers’ seat, with marijuana residue on it. 19-yr-old Kevin Young Marsh was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Blood Drive Later Today
1500 pints of blood are used across North Carolina each day, with more being sent down to aid the Gulf Coast. With such a desperate need both here in Wilkes and around the state, a blood drive is going on today at New River Behavioral Healthcare. The drive starts at 10am this morning and lasts until 1pm this afternoon. Just remember before giving you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. No appointments are needed but if you want to set up a time to give, the number to call is 838-4563.
Focus On The Red Cross
With the new year, a lot of changes are taking place here in Wilkes. One of those changes involves the Red Cross, as the local chapter has a new executive director. Scott Glaze is taking over the position and he'll be Brian’s guest today during Focus on the Foothills as they talk about the Red Cross, some of the misconceptions about the organization and what the goals are heading into a new year. That’s today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Paper Rack Thieves Return To Wilkes
Deputies were called out after another paper rack went missing in North Wilkesboro. The thieves stole the rack from the Little Dipper on Hwy 18 North, grabbing it from the front of the store. That was over the weekend and then earlier this week, the rack had been dropped back off. The investigation into this and several other paper rack thefts continues.
State News
Natural Gas Rates To Drop
Some relief from high heating prices could be coming in the next few weeks. PSNC Energy announced on Tuesday that it will be cutting natural gas rates beginning in February by an average of $20 a month. The move would mean on average, natural gas customers across the state would be paying $133 a month, down from an average of $174 back in November.
Charges Dropped Against UNCG Students
UNC Greensboro announced this week that it’s dropping charges brought against two students for violating the speech code. Allison Jaynes and Robert Sinnott were charged with a violation of campus policy for helping to organize a rally November 16th. The event took place in front of the library instead of a designated “free speech zone”. Campus officials said that the free speech zones were created so that students wouldn’t be blocked from their classes during any type of rally, but they did agree to study the issue and consider changes.
Robinson Returning To Politics
Former 5th District congressional candidate Vernon Robinson is jumping back into politics. Robinson, who is also a former Winston Salem City Councilman, announced that he was entering the 12th Congressional District race against Democrat Mel Watt. He said that a formal announcement would be coming in the near future and explained that he’s needed in Congress because the country is under attack.
East Carolina Facing Problems
There are some issues facing East Carolina University, according to an audit done by the state. The report, which was released this week, found significant problems in the area of financial aid. The current situation places the school at an increased risk of errors and misuse of funds, according to the report. It was recommended that the university re-establish and strengthen control of the financial aid office.
Former Ag Commissioner Given New Position
Shortly after learning that a member of his cabinet was stepping down, Governor Mike Easley filled the post. Department of the Administration Secretary Gwynn Swinson announced this week that he was leaving later this month to take a job at Duke University. His replacement is no stranger to North Carolina politics as former agricultural commissioner Britt Cobb will serve in the position. Cobb’s new duties includes overseeing government operations such as building construction, purchasing and managing contracts and managing state vehicles among other things.
Sports Headlines
High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene last night, it was East Wilkes over Surry Central 58-55. With a minute left in the game, the Cardinals’ Noah Johnson stepped up and hit a three pointer to win. Johnson finished with 11 points while East was led by Brent Poplin, who had 17. Cody Cook also had 10 points for the Cardinals, who improve to 6-9 on the year. On the girls side of the court, it was East Wilkes getting their second win of the year, knocking off Surry Central 47-42.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the college basketball scoreboard last night, it was Radford beating High Point 96-76, Elon took care of Montreat 90-76, in overtime it was SMU over East Carolina 74-70. In the ACC, Duke improved to a perfect 17-0 with a 81-68 win over NC State. J.J. Redick had 28 points and Sheldon Williams added 21 points and 9 rebounds for the Blue Devils, while Cedric Simmons led NC State with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 blocks. Meanwhile Wake Forest got back on track with a 86-71 win over Georgia Tech last night. Justin Gray had 25 to lead the Deacons, who improved to 12-5.
Former Wide Receiver Returns To Appalachian
A familiar face is returning to help with Appalachian State’s athletic program. Rick Beasley, who played wide receiver at the school from 1978-1980, was named this week as an associate athletics director. Beasley will be working under athletic director Charlie Cobb to help with fund raising and also lead the financial campaign for new facilities. Beasley still has the school record for most receiving yards in a season at 3124 and most 100 yard receiving games in a career with 16.
Duke Lands Football Commitments
The Duke Blue Devils landed two recruits for next year’s football team this week. Cornerback Chris Rwabukamba, a senior from Windsor Ontario agreed to play for the school. The 5-11 173 lb. Rwabukampa turned down offers from Michigan State and Illinois to come play for the Blue Devils. Also cornerback Abraham Kromah committed to play. The 6-2 ft. 200 lb. Kromah had 11 interceptions over his three years as a starter at Tottenville High in New York
NBA: Charlotte vs. Indiana
The Charlotte Bobcats gave it all they had but came up just short last night against Indiana. They lost 98-92 to the Pacers, despite getting 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds from Raymond Felton. Charlotte drops to 11-28 with Orlando coming to town on Friday.
Several Panthers Limping Into Sunday’s Game
The news wasn’t so good for the Panthers coming off of practice on Wednesday. Fullback Brad Hoover, center Jeff Mitchell, guard Tutan Reyes and defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead are all listed as questionable for the NFC championship. Defensive tackle Jordan Carstens and safety Mike Minter both sat out practice on Wednesday as well, Carstens because he was sick and Minter because of a wrist injury, however both of them are listed as probable for Sunday’s matchup.
Warthogs To See Changes
In minor league baseball, some changes are in store for the Winston Salem Warthogs. Gone is manager Chris Cron, who’s been promoted to Double AA Birmingham. In his place comes new coach Rafael Santana, a former shortstop with the New York Mets. This will be Santana’s first time as a manager after serving as a first base coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2003-2004.
The power flickered and trees fell as wind gusts reached over 25 mph in the county yesterday. There were no injuries reported due to the wind, however downed trees caused headaches for local homeowners, who were busy cleaning up their property. Wilkes appears to have got off easy, as over 8000 people were still without power yesterday in Forsyth and Randolph Counties.
Recall Of Children’s Toys
This next bit of news is for all parents of young children. A recall has been ordered by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission of just over 600,000 Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Musical Learning Chairs. Product testing has shown that children can get trapped between the seatback and side table of the chair, which could possibly lead to strangulation. So far across the country there have been three reports of children getting caught in the toy, but thankfully none that were fatal. The Laugh & Learn Musical Learning Chairs were sold from May 2005 until earlier this month and have model numbers of H4609, H47167 through H7173, H8157, H8998 and J0272 through J0275. You can find the model number on the underside of the chair’s seat. Fisher Price is offering a free repair kit that is supposed to solve the problem and you can get one by calling 1-866-552-3914.
All For A Twenty Dollar Bill
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise Tuesday morning. He was awakened by what he thought were scratching noises, but instead found a man in his kitchen. When the two made eye contact, the thief took off running out the door. Nothing was missing from the house except the man’s wallet and a $20 bill which was inside. The thief had apparently shattered a window in the nearby utility room, then used a stepladder to climb inside. An estimated $180 worth of damage was done and a description of the thief was turned over to deputies. That investigation continues.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
Sheriff’s deputies were driving down 421 near Lewis Fork Church Road on Monday when they clocked a driver going 72 in a 55. After pulling him over, a K9 was brought in to check the car for drugs. A smoking pipe was found wrapped up in a sock under the passengers’ seat, with marijuana residue on it. 19-yr-old Kevin Young Marsh was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Blood Drive Later Today
1500 pints of blood are used across North Carolina each day, with more being sent down to aid the Gulf Coast. With such a desperate need both here in Wilkes and around the state, a blood drive is going on today at New River Behavioral Healthcare. The drive starts at 10am this morning and lasts until 1pm this afternoon. Just remember before giving you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. No appointments are needed but if you want to set up a time to give, the number to call is 838-4563.
Focus On The Red Cross
With the new year, a lot of changes are taking place here in Wilkes. One of those changes involves the Red Cross, as the local chapter has a new executive director. Scott Glaze is taking over the position and he'll be Brian’s guest today during Focus on the Foothills as they talk about the Red Cross, some of the misconceptions about the organization and what the goals are heading into a new year. That’s today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Paper Rack Thieves Return To Wilkes
Deputies were called out after another paper rack went missing in North Wilkesboro. The thieves stole the rack from the Little Dipper on Hwy 18 North, grabbing it from the front of the store. That was over the weekend and then earlier this week, the rack had been dropped back off. The investigation into this and several other paper rack thefts continues.
State News
Natural Gas Rates To Drop
Some relief from high heating prices could be coming in the next few weeks. PSNC Energy announced on Tuesday that it will be cutting natural gas rates beginning in February by an average of $20 a month. The move would mean on average, natural gas customers across the state would be paying $133 a month, down from an average of $174 back in November.
Charges Dropped Against UNCG Students
UNC Greensboro announced this week that it’s dropping charges brought against two students for violating the speech code. Allison Jaynes and Robert Sinnott were charged with a violation of campus policy for helping to organize a rally November 16th. The event took place in front of the library instead of a designated “free speech zone”. Campus officials said that the free speech zones were created so that students wouldn’t be blocked from their classes during any type of rally, but they did agree to study the issue and consider changes.
Robinson Returning To Politics
Former 5th District congressional candidate Vernon Robinson is jumping back into politics. Robinson, who is also a former Winston Salem City Councilman, announced that he was entering the 12th Congressional District race against Democrat Mel Watt. He said that a formal announcement would be coming in the near future and explained that he’s needed in Congress because the country is under attack.
East Carolina Facing Problems
There are some issues facing East Carolina University, according to an audit done by the state. The report, which was released this week, found significant problems in the area of financial aid. The current situation places the school at an increased risk of errors and misuse of funds, according to the report. It was recommended that the university re-establish and strengthen control of the financial aid office.
Former Ag Commissioner Given New Position
Shortly after learning that a member of his cabinet was stepping down, Governor Mike Easley filled the post. Department of the Administration Secretary Gwynn Swinson announced this week that he was leaving later this month to take a job at Duke University. His replacement is no stranger to North Carolina politics as former agricultural commissioner Britt Cobb will serve in the position. Cobb’s new duties includes overseeing government operations such as building construction, purchasing and managing contracts and managing state vehicles among other things.
Sports Headlines
High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene last night, it was East Wilkes over Surry Central 58-55. With a minute left in the game, the Cardinals’ Noah Johnson stepped up and hit a three pointer to win. Johnson finished with 11 points while East was led by Brent Poplin, who had 17. Cody Cook also had 10 points for the Cardinals, who improve to 6-9 on the year. On the girls side of the court, it was East Wilkes getting their second win of the year, knocking off Surry Central 47-42.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the college basketball scoreboard last night, it was Radford beating High Point 96-76, Elon took care of Montreat 90-76, in overtime it was SMU over East Carolina 74-70. In the ACC, Duke improved to a perfect 17-0 with a 81-68 win over NC State. J.J. Redick had 28 points and Sheldon Williams added 21 points and 9 rebounds for the Blue Devils, while Cedric Simmons led NC State with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 blocks. Meanwhile Wake Forest got back on track with a 86-71 win over Georgia Tech last night. Justin Gray had 25 to lead the Deacons, who improved to 12-5.
Former Wide Receiver Returns To Appalachian
A familiar face is returning to help with Appalachian State’s athletic program. Rick Beasley, who played wide receiver at the school from 1978-1980, was named this week as an associate athletics director. Beasley will be working under athletic director Charlie Cobb to help with fund raising and also lead the financial campaign for new facilities. Beasley still has the school record for most receiving yards in a season at 3124 and most 100 yard receiving games in a career with 16.
Duke Lands Football Commitments
The Duke Blue Devils landed two recruits for next year’s football team this week. Cornerback Chris Rwabukamba, a senior from Windsor Ontario agreed to play for the school. The 5-11 173 lb. Rwabukampa turned down offers from Michigan State and Illinois to come play for the Blue Devils. Also cornerback Abraham Kromah committed to play. The 6-2 ft. 200 lb. Kromah had 11 interceptions over his three years as a starter at Tottenville High in New York
NBA: Charlotte vs. Indiana
The Charlotte Bobcats gave it all they had but came up just short last night against Indiana. They lost 98-92 to the Pacers, despite getting 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds from Raymond Felton. Charlotte drops to 11-28 with Orlando coming to town on Friday.
Several Panthers Limping Into Sunday’s Game
The news wasn’t so good for the Panthers coming off of practice on Wednesday. Fullback Brad Hoover, center Jeff Mitchell, guard Tutan Reyes and defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead are all listed as questionable for the NFC championship. Defensive tackle Jordan Carstens and safety Mike Minter both sat out practice on Wednesday as well, Carstens because he was sick and Minter because of a wrist injury, however both of them are listed as probable for Sunday’s matchup.
Warthogs To See Changes
In minor league baseball, some changes are in store for the Winston Salem Warthogs. Gone is manager Chris Cron, who’s been promoted to Double AA Birmingham. In his place comes new coach Rafael Santana, a former shortstop with the New York Mets. This will be Santana’s first time as a manager after serving as a first base coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2003-2004.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:10 AM
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
News & Sports For January 18th
Run-In Damaged By Thieves
Thieves hit the Moravian Falls Run-In over the holiday, causing over $1000 in damages. Employees came in on Sunday to find a window had been shattered and beer stolen from inside. Nothing else was taken or even touched inside the store, as it appears the thieves simply shattered the window, grabbed the beer sitting directly behind it and left. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Car Stolen From Post Office
Be careful where you leave your vehicle. That’s the lesson a Ronda man learned this week. He had parked at the Ronda Post Office, leaving his vehicle behind while joining friends on a trip out of town. He locked the doors and had the keys in his pocket. Later that night when he returned, the vehicle was missing, with so signs of damage or any indication what happened. That investigation is ongoing.
Focus On Red Cross
With the new year, a lot of changes are taking place here in Wilkes. One of those changes involves the Red Cross, as the local chapter has a new executive director. Scott Glaze is taking over the position and he'll be talking about the job this week on Focus. Scott will be Brian’s guest as they talk about the Red Cross, some of the misconceptions about the organization and what the goals are heading into a new year. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Always Lock Up Before You Leave
Always lock up before you leave. A woman visiting friends on Statesville Road found that out the hard way this week. She left her cell phone in her car, but didn’t lock the doors. When she came back out, the phone was gone. That investigation continues.
Gun Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Thieves stole a handgun from a North Wilkesboro residence earlier this week. The homeowner told deputies he had left the gun on top of his washer & dryer before leaving the building. When he returned later that day, the gun was missing. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Recall Of Christmas Lights
If you went out over the last few weeks and did some shopping for next year’s Christmas decorations, it might be a good idea to wait before packing them up. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall this week of 861,000 sets of Christmas lights. All of the brands involved were sold at Target and include the “mini light” and the “chasing light” sets. Several of the packages have exposed wires and could lead to a fire next year when hung on the tree. The recall includes all 50-count multi-color, all 100 count blue and 140 count chasing light sets with “Mini Light Set” or “Chasing Light Set” written on the packaging. You can call Target for more information at 1-800-440-0680 between 7am and 6pm Monday through Friday for more information.
Wreck On 421 Totals Two
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on Hwy 421 Monday morning. The incident happened just before 11am when a Garner man was traveling through a green light. A Millers Creek woman pulled out in front of him from another direction and caused the crash. Despite serious damage to both vehicles, no one was hurt in the wreck. Estimated damages were placed at $9000.
Broke In To Steal A Washer
An Elkin man is trying to determine how someone managed to break into a building on his property without leaving any evidence behind. A pressure washer was stolen from the man’s shed, but there was no damage done to the area. There is however a suspect and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Scooter Stolen From Ronda Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda home to investigate a theft, one that occurred somewhere else. The homeowner had allowed her son to borrow her scooter and he had driven it to a friend’s house. He left it there and went back to get it earlier this week, only to find it missing. Information was turned over to deputies and that investigation continues.
State News
Supreme Court Rejects Annexation Plea
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t get involved with Fayetteville’s annexation battle. The decision was announced on Tuesday as justices refused to examine a court decision here in North Carolina on the subject. At the center of the controversy is the question do cities have the ability to annex outlying areas without their consent? The city of Fayetteville plans to annex 27 square miles of land, bringing over 40,000 people into the tax base. Citizens opposed the move, saying they were concerned about the cost of city sewage services and also increased taxes. A North Carolina court had already ruled in Fayetteville’s favor and the plans will go forward now that the Supreme Court declined to intervene.
NC Troops Find Weapons Cache
A group of North Carolina Marines made a major discovery in Ramadi. In a press release on Monday, the Marine Corps said that troops from the 1st Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune uncovered a weapons dump while patrolling the area this weekend. Inside were 11 separate caches of weapons including 137 artillery rounds, 56 mortar rounds, 47 rockets, some armor piercing bullets and 1900 pounds of explosives.
Duke & UNC Make Record Books
Students from Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill made history on Monday, getting their names into the Guinness Book of World Records. Starting at 8am Saturday, the students wrapped up a 2 ½ day basketball game at 6pm Monday night. That was enough to get them into the record book for the longest continuous basketball game in history. The final score from the 58-hr-marathon turned out in Duke’s favor, as the Blue Devil students won 3688-3444. Both schools also raised $60,000 during the game for the Hoop Dreams Academy, a charity that helps to improve the lives of kids with potentially life threatening illnesses.
More NC Troops Heading To Middle East
Some more North Carolina soldiers shipped out this week for the Middle East. Just over 200 troops from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro were deployed on Tuesday, with some heading to Iraq and others to Afghanistan. The group, which includes air crews, pilots and ground crews will be split up and assigned to units where they’re needed as replacements. The deployment is supposed to last four months.
Sports Headlines
NC State Loses Football Recruit
Some more bad news for the NC State football team as they’ve lost a player before he even arrived on campus. High school player Gavin Smith announced this week that he’s changed his mind and would no longer honor his commitment to the Wolfpack. Smith, a defensive end at Wakefield High School, said that he changed his mind after getting more information about the school itself. Before committing, he had just checked into the football program and nothing else. The 6’4 ft. 280 lb. Smith said that he’s considering Virginia, South Carolina or possibly UNC Chapel Hill and expects to make a decision by next week.
Peppers Expects To Play
Some good news for the Carolina Panthers, as defensive end Julius Peppers says that expects to play on Sunday. Peppers had to sit out part of the second half against Chicago with a shoulder injury but he said he should be ready to go when Sunday rolls around. Coach John Fox however was more restrained, saying that the team is just taking it one day at a time.
Charlotte Knights Land New Manager
In baseball, the minor league Charlotte Knights will have a new face in the dugout come spring training. The team introduced new manager Razor Shines this week. The 49-yr-old Shines was the Southern League’s Manager of the Year in 2005, working with the Double A Birmingham Barons. He’ll inherit a team that went 57-87 last year and has only one winning season in the past five years.
Thieves hit the Moravian Falls Run-In over the holiday, causing over $1000 in damages. Employees came in on Sunday to find a window had been shattered and beer stolen from inside. Nothing else was taken or even touched inside the store, as it appears the thieves simply shattered the window, grabbed the beer sitting directly behind it and left. Deputies are continuing the investigation.
Car Stolen From Post Office
Be careful where you leave your vehicle. That’s the lesson a Ronda man learned this week. He had parked at the Ronda Post Office, leaving his vehicle behind while joining friends on a trip out of town. He locked the doors and had the keys in his pocket. Later that night when he returned, the vehicle was missing, with so signs of damage or any indication what happened. That investigation is ongoing.
Focus On Red Cross
With the new year, a lot of changes are taking place here in Wilkes. One of those changes involves the Red Cross, as the local chapter has a new executive director. Scott Glaze is taking over the position and he'll be talking about the job this week on Focus. Scott will be Brian’s guest as they talk about the Red Cross, some of the misconceptions about the organization and what the goals are heading into a new year. That’s tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Always Lock Up Before You Leave
Always lock up before you leave. A woman visiting friends on Statesville Road found that out the hard way this week. She left her cell phone in her car, but didn’t lock the doors. When she came back out, the phone was gone. That investigation continues.
Gun Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Thieves stole a handgun from a North Wilkesboro residence earlier this week. The homeowner told deputies he had left the gun on top of his washer & dryer before leaving the building. When he returned later that day, the gun was missing. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Recall Of Christmas Lights
If you went out over the last few weeks and did some shopping for next year’s Christmas decorations, it might be a good idea to wait before packing them up. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall this week of 861,000 sets of Christmas lights. All of the brands involved were sold at Target and include the “mini light” and the “chasing light” sets. Several of the packages have exposed wires and could lead to a fire next year when hung on the tree. The recall includes all 50-count multi-color, all 100 count blue and 140 count chasing light sets with “Mini Light Set” or “Chasing Light Set” written on the packaging. You can call Target for more information at 1-800-440-0680 between 7am and 6pm Monday through Friday for more information.
Wreck On 421 Totals Two
Two cars were totaled after a wreck on Hwy 421 Monday morning. The incident happened just before 11am when a Garner man was traveling through a green light. A Millers Creek woman pulled out in front of him from another direction and caused the crash. Despite serious damage to both vehicles, no one was hurt in the wreck. Estimated damages were placed at $9000.
Broke In To Steal A Washer
An Elkin man is trying to determine how someone managed to break into a building on his property without leaving any evidence behind. A pressure washer was stolen from the man’s shed, but there was no damage done to the area. There is however a suspect and deputies are continuing the investigation.
Scooter Stolen From Ronda Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Ronda home to investigate a theft, one that occurred somewhere else. The homeowner had allowed her son to borrow her scooter and he had driven it to a friend’s house. He left it there and went back to get it earlier this week, only to find it missing. Information was turned over to deputies and that investigation continues.
State News
Supreme Court Rejects Annexation Plea
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t get involved with Fayetteville’s annexation battle. The decision was announced on Tuesday as justices refused to examine a court decision here in North Carolina on the subject. At the center of the controversy is the question do cities have the ability to annex outlying areas without their consent? The city of Fayetteville plans to annex 27 square miles of land, bringing over 40,000 people into the tax base. Citizens opposed the move, saying they were concerned about the cost of city sewage services and also increased taxes. A North Carolina court had already ruled in Fayetteville’s favor and the plans will go forward now that the Supreme Court declined to intervene.
NC Troops Find Weapons Cache
A group of North Carolina Marines made a major discovery in Ramadi. In a press release on Monday, the Marine Corps said that troops from the 1st Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune uncovered a weapons dump while patrolling the area this weekend. Inside were 11 separate caches of weapons including 137 artillery rounds, 56 mortar rounds, 47 rockets, some armor piercing bullets and 1900 pounds of explosives.
Duke & UNC Make Record Books
Students from Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill made history on Monday, getting their names into the Guinness Book of World Records. Starting at 8am Saturday, the students wrapped up a 2 ½ day basketball game at 6pm Monday night. That was enough to get them into the record book for the longest continuous basketball game in history. The final score from the 58-hr-marathon turned out in Duke’s favor, as the Blue Devil students won 3688-3444. Both schools also raised $60,000 during the game for the Hoop Dreams Academy, a charity that helps to improve the lives of kids with potentially life threatening illnesses.
More NC Troops Heading To Middle East
Some more North Carolina soldiers shipped out this week for the Middle East. Just over 200 troops from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro were deployed on Tuesday, with some heading to Iraq and others to Afghanistan. The group, which includes air crews, pilots and ground crews will be split up and assigned to units where they’re needed as replacements. The deployment is supposed to last four months.
Sports Headlines
NC State Loses Football Recruit
Some more bad news for the NC State football team as they’ve lost a player before he even arrived on campus. High school player Gavin Smith announced this week that he’s changed his mind and would no longer honor his commitment to the Wolfpack. Smith, a defensive end at Wakefield High School, said that he changed his mind after getting more information about the school itself. Before committing, he had just checked into the football program and nothing else. The 6’4 ft. 280 lb. Smith said that he’s considering Virginia, South Carolina or possibly UNC Chapel Hill and expects to make a decision by next week.
Peppers Expects To Play
Some good news for the Carolina Panthers, as defensive end Julius Peppers says that expects to play on Sunday. Peppers had to sit out part of the second half against Chicago with a shoulder injury but he said he should be ready to go when Sunday rolls around. Coach John Fox however was more restrained, saying that the team is just taking it one day at a time.
Charlotte Knights Land New Manager
In baseball, the minor league Charlotte Knights will have a new face in the dugout come spring training. The team introduced new manager Razor Shines this week. The 49-yr-old Shines was the Southern League’s Manager of the Year in 2005, working with the Double A Birmingham Barons. He’ll inherit a team that went 57-87 last year and has only one winning season in the past five years.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:27 AM
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
News & Sports For January 17th
Speedway One Step Closer To Re-Opening
The dream of hearing engines revving at the North Wilkesboro Speedway came one step closer to reality over the weekend. Save the Speedway, the organization who has been working to buy the track from its’ current owners, announced that they have got a commitment from one investor. One million dollars has been committed toward the purchase, with hopefully more on the way. The organization said in a press release that they hope to find investors willing to commit a total of six million dollars. The hope is that money, combined with what they already have, would be enough to end negotiations and finalize the deal.
3WC Healthwatch: Signs Of Parkinsons
There are some warning signs for Parkinsons that older Americans need to be aware of, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A new study was released this month by Dutch scientists, who discovered a link between certain behavior and Parkinsons. The scientists discovered that adults who begin to have a hard time maintaining their balance, falling or suffering tremors are 71% more likely to get the disease. This comes after a five year study of over 6000 people. 56 of those studied contracted the disease and almost all reported at least one of the behaviors beforehand. Discovering the biological links will not only help a patient get diagnosed earlier, but it could also lead scientists to a cure.
Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as it can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is taking applications for their financial assistance program. The program is open to anyone who can demonstrate a need for help paying utility or rent bills. However before going out, please remember that you can only be seen with an appointment, during either Tuesday or Thursday from 1-5pm. Also there is a limited amount of money available to help, given out on a need based approach. The Salvation Army is located in the Wilkes United Way office building, at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information or to set up an appointment you can call 651-7800.
Newest Protection Against Fraud
January is a busy time for shoppers, working to hit those winter sales and clearance specials. But thieves are also keeping occupied this year, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information are severely at risk. But now, people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. The Identity Theft Protection Act, a new law that went into effect December 1st will allow you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. The only problem is that while thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.
Cold Medicine Now Behind The Counter
Some bad news for anyone suffering from a cold or runny nose. You have to see a pharmacist to solve the problem. Gone are the days of over the counter cold medicine, that you could run in and buy. As of this past Sunday, all medicine containing pseudophedrine or ephedrine can only be found behind the counter at the pharmacy. In order to buy the medication, you must be at least 18 years old and can only purchase limited quantities. In fact, pharmacies have to record who is buying the drugs, just like they would for any prescription medication. The reason for the change is due to the fact that pseudophedrine is used to make meth. Before the year 2000, only 9 cases of meth making were reported in North Carolina. In 2005 alone, there were 328.
DirecTV Offering Refunds
Good news for any DirecTV customers in Wilkes County. You may be eligible for a refund. North Carolina's attorney general has reached a settlement with the satellite company, requiring DirecTV to pay back customers who feel they were lied to. The small print in DirecTV's ads proved to, on occasion, contradict the offer on the same page. Now to avoid a legal battle, DirecTV customers can appy for a refund. You're eligible for a refund if you believe to have been overcharged for anything by the company since 2001. That includes contract terms, installation problems, programming issues or cancellation charges. To apply for a refund, you need to mail a complaint to DirecTV Complaint Program P.O. Box 29079 Glendale California 91209-9079.
Wilkes Cares Needs Help
As we head into the new year, many families face a struggle to put food on the table. Wilkes Cares has been there to help, providing food and also clothes to needy families here in the county. But now Wilkes Cares is facing a problem of their own, as their shelves are almost empty of food and they don't have enough clothes to give out. One of the major needs is for childrens' coats, especially with winter weather constantly in the forecast. If you have any children's clothes or extra food to donate, you can drop it by to Wilkes Cares. They're located on the Elkin Hwy in North Wilkesboro. You can also call at 838-4900.
State News
Serial Arsonist A Concern In Stokes
Officials in Stokes County are concerned they possibly could have a serial arsonist on their hands. Over the past four months, a series of suspicious fires have ignited in the county, all targeting abandoned buildings close to the road. Officials are still investigating and believe that the cases could be linked to several more fires in Forsyth County.
Charter Schools Want Lottery Dollars
North Carolina needs to fund charter schools just like they do public ones. That was the claim on Monday as representatives from 20 different charter schools launched their campaign. The schools are requesting for Governor Easley to include them in as a piece of the pie when lottery money is handed out next fall for education. Charter school officials said they believe their students deserve the money just as much as those who attend public school, as both are funded by the state. The only differences are that charter schools are privately operated and don’t have to follow all the rules which govern other so called secondary schools. An estimated $350 million is expected to divided up among the state’s public schools
Help On The Way To The Classroom
Some good news for North Carolina public schools. Some more teachers could soon be on the way. The State Board of Community Colleges has assembled a new program it hopes will recruit more people to teach. All 56 colleges will be allowed to offer lateral entry programs. That would allow qualified people to begin teaching, while also working on getting their license. The board will meet this Friday to consider the program and possibly vote on it.
Universities Struggling To Meet Healthcare Need
More and more, a new field is rising to the top of the list of needed workers in North Carolina. Universities across the state are asking for more money and teachers to help in training nurses. As the baby boomer generation gets older, nurses are needed both in hospitals and home healthcare situations. Unfortunately at the same time, a lot of nurses in the field are getting ready to retire. Currently there are about 650 nurses in programs, while at least 1300 are needed to keep up.
Water Cut Off In Madison
People in Rockingham County had some problems on Monday, after a water main broke. It’s unknown what caused the main to break, however 50 homes were without water throughout the day as crews worked to repair the damage.
FBI Investigating Greensboro Police
Greensboro’s police department is under investigation by the FBI, according to Bureau officials. Agents are checking into claims of civil rights violations, including rumors of a covert operations unit in the department that racially profiled their own officers. This comes less than a week after police chief David Wray resigned from the force, under rumors of corruption.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college scoreboard last night, it was NC A&T over Bethune Cookman 69-67. Coastal Carolina knocked off UNC Asheville 84-72, Western Carolina took care of UNC Greensboro 87-76. Winthrop beat Charleston Southern 79-61 and Wofford beat the Citadel 67-52. Finally it was Chattanooga all over Appalachian State 73-57. The Mountaineers got 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals from DJ Thompson but they just couldn’t seal the deal. With the loss, Appalachian drops to 7-10.
Duke Lands Recruits For 2008
The Duke basketball team continues to reload, this time stocking up for 2008. Two of the county’s best high school juniors agreed to play for the school this week. Nolan Smith from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and Taylor King from Mater Dei High School in California both committed. Smith is a 6-3 guard regarded as the 16th best in the junior class, known for his great defense and his 62% shooting percentage. Able to play either point guard or shooting, he’s the son of former NBA player Derek Smith. Meanwhile the 6-7 King averages 26 points a game and is being compared to former Duke star Shane Battier.
New Orleans vs. Charlotte
In the NBA, injuries continue to plague the Charlotte Bobcats. Playing most of the game without any center or power forward, Charlotte lost to New Orleans 107-92. Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks as the team drops to 11-27.
Foster Out For Season
It’s a case of bad news, good news for the Carolina Panthers, as they get set for Sunday’s game in Seattle. The good news is they’re in the NFC championship game for the second time in three years. The bad news is they’ll have to play without starting tailback Deshaun Foster, whose season is over. Foster broke his ankle during the third quarter of the game against Chicago. Taking his place on Sunday will be Nick Goings, who has been rotating out with Foster over the last two weeks. Behind Goings will be Rod Smart and Jamal Robertson for Sunday’s game, which starts at 6:30pm.
NASCAR Reconsiders Car Of The Future
The car of the future may not be arriving for a while. NASCAR had plans to unveil its’ new designs this fall at the Talladega race, but those ideas have hit a snag. The car has yet to roll off the assembly line, according to auto makers, because NASCAR isn’t providing the needed information regarding the vehicle’s body configuration. Several prototypes are going through testing, but it looks like 2007 will be here before the new cars will hit the track in force.
The dream of hearing engines revving at the North Wilkesboro Speedway came one step closer to reality over the weekend. Save the Speedway, the organization who has been working to buy the track from its’ current owners, announced that they have got a commitment from one investor. One million dollars has been committed toward the purchase, with hopefully more on the way. The organization said in a press release that they hope to find investors willing to commit a total of six million dollars. The hope is that money, combined with what they already have, would be enough to end negotiations and finalize the deal.
3WC Healthwatch: Signs Of Parkinsons
There are some warning signs for Parkinsons that older Americans need to be aware of, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. A new study was released this month by Dutch scientists, who discovered a link between certain behavior and Parkinsons. The scientists discovered that adults who begin to have a hard time maintaining their balance, falling or suffering tremors are 71% more likely to get the disease. This comes after a five year study of over 6000 people. 56 of those studied contracted the disease and almost all reported at least one of the behaviors beforehand. Discovering the biological links will not only help a patient get diagnosed earlier, but it could also lead scientists to a cure.
Salvation Army Offering Help
Many families can find themselves in a time of need as it can be hard to pay the bills and also put food on the table. The local Salvation Army is taking applications for their financial assistance program. The program is open to anyone who can demonstrate a need for help paying utility or rent bills. However before going out, please remember that you can only be seen with an appointment, during either Tuesday or Thursday from 1-5pm. Also there is a limited amount of money available to help, given out on a need based approach. The Salvation Army is located in the Wilkes United Way office building, at 910 C Street in Wilkesboro. For more information or to set up an appointment you can call 651-7800.
Newest Protection Against Fraud
January is a busy time for shoppers, working to hit those winter sales and clearance specials. But thieves are also keeping occupied this year, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information are severely at risk. But now, people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. The Identity Theft Protection Act, a new law that went into effect December 1st will allow you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. The only problem is that while thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.
Cold Medicine Now Behind The Counter
Some bad news for anyone suffering from a cold or runny nose. You have to see a pharmacist to solve the problem. Gone are the days of over the counter cold medicine, that you could run in and buy. As of this past Sunday, all medicine containing pseudophedrine or ephedrine can only be found behind the counter at the pharmacy. In order to buy the medication, you must be at least 18 years old and can only purchase limited quantities. In fact, pharmacies have to record who is buying the drugs, just like they would for any prescription medication. The reason for the change is due to the fact that pseudophedrine is used to make meth. Before the year 2000, only 9 cases of meth making were reported in North Carolina. In 2005 alone, there were 328.
DirecTV Offering Refunds
Good news for any DirecTV customers in Wilkes County. You may be eligible for a refund. North Carolina's attorney general has reached a settlement with the satellite company, requiring DirecTV to pay back customers who feel they were lied to. The small print in DirecTV's ads proved to, on occasion, contradict the offer on the same page. Now to avoid a legal battle, DirecTV customers can appy for a refund. You're eligible for a refund if you believe to have been overcharged for anything by the company since 2001. That includes contract terms, installation problems, programming issues or cancellation charges. To apply for a refund, you need to mail a complaint to DirecTV Complaint Program P.O. Box 29079 Glendale California 91209-9079.
Wilkes Cares Needs Help
As we head into the new year, many families face a struggle to put food on the table. Wilkes Cares has been there to help, providing food and also clothes to needy families here in the county. But now Wilkes Cares is facing a problem of their own, as their shelves are almost empty of food and they don't have enough clothes to give out. One of the major needs is for childrens' coats, especially with winter weather constantly in the forecast. If you have any children's clothes or extra food to donate, you can drop it by to Wilkes Cares. They're located on the Elkin Hwy in North Wilkesboro. You can also call at 838-4900.
State News
Serial Arsonist A Concern In Stokes
Officials in Stokes County are concerned they possibly could have a serial arsonist on their hands. Over the past four months, a series of suspicious fires have ignited in the county, all targeting abandoned buildings close to the road. Officials are still investigating and believe that the cases could be linked to several more fires in Forsyth County.
Charter Schools Want Lottery Dollars
North Carolina needs to fund charter schools just like they do public ones. That was the claim on Monday as representatives from 20 different charter schools launched their campaign. The schools are requesting for Governor Easley to include them in as a piece of the pie when lottery money is handed out next fall for education. Charter school officials said they believe their students deserve the money just as much as those who attend public school, as both are funded by the state. The only differences are that charter schools are privately operated and don’t have to follow all the rules which govern other so called secondary schools. An estimated $350 million is expected to divided up among the state’s public schools
Help On The Way To The Classroom
Some good news for North Carolina public schools. Some more teachers could soon be on the way. The State Board of Community Colleges has assembled a new program it hopes will recruit more people to teach. All 56 colleges will be allowed to offer lateral entry programs. That would allow qualified people to begin teaching, while also working on getting their license. The board will meet this Friday to consider the program and possibly vote on it.
Universities Struggling To Meet Healthcare Need
More and more, a new field is rising to the top of the list of needed workers in North Carolina. Universities across the state are asking for more money and teachers to help in training nurses. As the baby boomer generation gets older, nurses are needed both in hospitals and home healthcare situations. Unfortunately at the same time, a lot of nurses in the field are getting ready to retire. Currently there are about 650 nurses in programs, while at least 1300 are needed to keep up.
Water Cut Off In Madison
People in Rockingham County had some problems on Monday, after a water main broke. It’s unknown what caused the main to break, however 50 homes were without water throughout the day as crews worked to repair the damage.
FBI Investigating Greensboro Police
Greensboro’s police department is under investigation by the FBI, according to Bureau officials. Agents are checking into claims of civil rights violations, including rumors of a covert operations unit in the department that racially profiled their own officers. This comes less than a week after police chief David Wray resigned from the force, under rumors of corruption.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college scoreboard last night, it was NC A&T over Bethune Cookman 69-67. Coastal Carolina knocked off UNC Asheville 84-72, Western Carolina took care of UNC Greensboro 87-76. Winthrop beat Charleston Southern 79-61 and Wofford beat the Citadel 67-52. Finally it was Chattanooga all over Appalachian State 73-57. The Mountaineers got 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals from DJ Thompson but they just couldn’t seal the deal. With the loss, Appalachian drops to 7-10.
Duke Lands Recruits For 2008
The Duke basketball team continues to reload, this time stocking up for 2008. Two of the county’s best high school juniors agreed to play for the school this week. Nolan Smith from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and Taylor King from Mater Dei High School in California both committed. Smith is a 6-3 guard regarded as the 16th best in the junior class, known for his great defense and his 62% shooting percentage. Able to play either point guard or shooting, he’s the son of former NBA player Derek Smith. Meanwhile the 6-7 King averages 26 points a game and is being compared to former Duke star Shane Battier.
New Orleans vs. Charlotte
In the NBA, injuries continue to plague the Charlotte Bobcats. Playing most of the game without any center or power forward, Charlotte lost to New Orleans 107-92. Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks as the team drops to 11-27.
Foster Out For Season
It’s a case of bad news, good news for the Carolina Panthers, as they get set for Sunday’s game in Seattle. The good news is they’re in the NFC championship game for the second time in three years. The bad news is they’ll have to play without starting tailback Deshaun Foster, whose season is over. Foster broke his ankle during the third quarter of the game against Chicago. Taking his place on Sunday will be Nick Goings, who has been rotating out with Foster over the last two weeks. Behind Goings will be Rod Smart and Jamal Robertson for Sunday’s game, which starts at 6:30pm.
NASCAR Reconsiders Car Of The Future
The car of the future may not be arriving for a while. NASCAR had plans to unveil its’ new designs this fall at the Talladega race, but those ideas have hit a snag. The car has yet to roll off the assembly line, according to auto makers, because NASCAR isn’t providing the needed information regarding the vehicle’s body configuration. Several prototypes are going through testing, but it looks like 2007 will be here before the new cars will hit the track in force.
posted by Scott Roberts # 5:47 AM
Monday, January 16, 2006
News & Sports For January 16th
Wilkes County Celebrates Martin Luther King Birthday
People around the county are gathering together to pay tribute to a great American today. January 15th is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and here in Wilkes a celebration will be going on at the old Lincoln Heights school. Stephen McCloud, a deacon from Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, will be speaking at the event, which begins at 7pm tonight. Dr. King was only 39 years old when he was gunned down on April 4th 1968 in Memphis Tennessee.
Wilkes Farmers Will See Tax Breaks In New Year
2006 brings some good news for Wilkes County farmers. There is a tax break coming for all farmers here in North Carolina on supplies and farm equipment. Certain items are now exempt from all sales and use tax, including grain, feed or soybean storage equipment. Also exempt are all farm machinery parts, attachments, lubricants and repair parts. In addition, farmers won't have to pay sales tax on any containers bought to use in planting, cultivating, harvesting, packaging or transporting farm products. Under the previous law, those products all had a tax assessed of 1%. In order to have proof on hand that they qualify, farmers need to fill out Form E-595E, known as the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement Certificate of Exemption. The forms are available online at www.dor.state.nc.us/downloads/sales.html or you can also call and get it mailed to you at (877) 252-3052.
News From WCC Trustees Meeting
The trustees at Wilkes Community College met last Thursday at the John A Walker Center to discuss some ongoing projects. Construction is progressing on the new science and technology building, with 34% of the work completed. The college has also been picked to serve as one of 15 pilot sites for the state’s new Career Readiness Certificate. The certificate is designed to serve as verification for potential employers that a person has developed the basic skills of reading, writing and processing information. People can go to the local JobLink center and test their skills, then get help in setting up any additional training they may need to qualify.
Search Continues For Missing Girl
Sheriff’s deputies are continuing the search today for a missing Ferguson girl. Tiffany Nicole Griffith was last seen January 9th at the Wilkesboro Sonic. She disappeared after being fired from her job at the Sonic and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Tiffany is a 18 year old white girl, about 5’3ft and weighing 138 lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair. If anyone has information regarding Tiffany’s whereabouts, please call the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department at 903-7600.
Wreck Totals Two On 421
Two cars were totaled after an accident on Hwy 421 last week. A Millers Creek woman was merging back onto 421 from a side street, but didn’t notice the oncoming traffic. She pulled out right in front of a Wilkesboro man who wasn’t able to stop in time to avoid a wreck. No one was injured however estimated damages were placed at just under $11,000.
Fish Recall
Before you sit down and eat that fish for supper tonight, you might want to take a look at where it’s been. Whole Foods Market is issuing a recall of all Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout. Packages of the trout were found to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can prove deadly to young children or the elderly. North Carolina is one of 11 different states where the food was shipped to stores. No reported cases of sickness have been reported yet, but testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture earlier this month uncovered the bacteria. An investigation continues as to how the bacteria got inside the food, but anyone who purchased the Whole Foods Smoked Trout can return it to the store for a full refund. The product has since been pulled from shelves and a number has been set up for anyone with questions. You can call 1-512-542-0656. Once again the affected packages are all “Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout” and the UPC code on the affected boxes is 9948241183
Health Department Offering Car Seat Help
85% of child safety seats across Wilkes County were not installed correctly, according to the local SafeKids organization. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it’s still high enough for concern. However if you’re still trying to figure out what the right way to install one is, you don’t have to wait until the next safety check. The Wilkes Health Department is partnering with SafeKids to help show parents the right way to install the seats. You can contact the Health Department and make an appointment anytime during the week by calling Jean Edwards at 651-7478.
Check Road Conditions Before Leaving
With rain and wind in the forecast, it's important to know what road conditions are like across the county. For people in Wilkes, that can be accessed now on the internet by visiting the state DOT webpage at http://www.ncdot.org/. You can also check out information on proposed road projects and how the weather might affect both their schedule and your traffic conditions at www.ncdot.org/projects/wilkescounty/. There you will find information on public meetings, schedules, and area maps.
State News
New Jobs For Textile Workers
Some good news today for unemployed textile workers in the Tarboro area. They may be going back to work. Glenoit Corporation closed down their operation in the area last year, but now a new company has bought out the plant and plans to reopen. Tarboro Textiles, a local business created by former Glenoit workers, will reopen the plant in the next month and hopes to have 140 people on the payroll by March.
Answers Coming Regarding White Sludge
Officials finally have some answers regarding the white substance covering a Raleigh creek. Tests have determined it’s a type of dead algae, mixed in with deposits of calcium. The calcium is used by a nearby water treatment plant to remove chorine. It’s not toxic, however the calcium will burn exposed skin it comes into contact with. It’s still unknown how exactly the calcium is leaking out, but officials are continuing the testing, to make sure there’s no risk to the population.
Rockingham Gets Shot In The Arm
Some good news today for people in Rockingham County. Plans are moving forward to build a $10 million equestrian center in Reidsville. The center would be used for regional horse shows and current projections believe it could generate up to $15 million a year in revenues for the county. When plans are finalized the center will be just off US 29 on a 152 acre spread.
Sports Headlines
High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene, it was the Lady Cardinals of East losing to Mount Airy 37-23 in a game of missed free throws and turnovers. The Lady Cardinals drop to 1-11 with the loss. It was Ashe County over the North Wilkes Lady Vikings 63-40. Blake Shumate had 16 points as the only player in double figures for the Lady Vikings, who drop to 4-8 with the loss. The West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks gave it their best shot but weren’t to knock off Bishop McGuiness, losing 72-29. Lauren Overton led West with 14 points. Meanwhile on the boys side of the court, it was Mount Airy knocking off the East Wilkes Cardinals 68-57 in a game that was a lot closer than the final score. East led for most of the second half, being led by 17 points from Matt Garris and Brent Poplin, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the Granite Bears’ offense, as East drops to 5-8 on the season. North Wilkes lost to Ashe County 76-54 despite 16 points and 7 rebounds from Aaron Church. The Vikings fall to 3-12 with the loss. And it was West Wilkes losing to Bishop McGuiness 66-49 despite 15 points from Chad Lankford.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at some college basketball over the weekend, it was Maryland over Wake Forest 90-86. Justin Gray had a career night, scoring 38 for the Deacons but it wasn’t enough as Wake drops to 11-5. Also it was Florida Atlantic over Gardner-Webb 72-51. The loss drops the Bulldogs to 6-9. It was Birmingham Southern over Coastal Carolina 77-64, Charleston Southern over UNC Asheville 70-68, Xavier knocked off UNC Charlotte 78-65, Elon beat UNC Greensboro 62-56, it took triple overtime but Hofstra beat UNC Wilmington 92-87. It was Appalachian State over Montreat 105-57. Appalachian was led by D.J. Thompson’s 18 points and 7 assists, as the Mountaineers improve to 7-9. NC State beat Georgia Tech 87-78 thanks to a balanced scoring effort led by Cameron Bannerman’s 16 points. It was Miami over the UNC Tarheels 81-70. Carolina got 25 points from freshman Tyler Hansborough as they drop to 10-3. Finally it was Duke over Clemson 87-77. J.J. Redick had 34 points for the Blue Devils, who stay undefeated at 16-0.
Bobcats Lose To Detroit
The Charlotte Bobcats gave it all they had but came up short Saturday, in a 114-91 loss to Detroit. Primoz Breznec had 18 to lead Charlotte, as the team drops to 11-26 on the season. They’ll take on New Orleans later today.
Panthers Advance To Championship
In the NFL last night, the Carolina Panthers came one step closer to the Super Bowl with a 29-21 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Panthers got 218 yards and 2 touchdowns from Steve Smith, while quarterback Jake Delhomme tossed for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day. Next the team will head up to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in the NFC championship.
Hurricanes Keep Winning Streak Going
In the NHL, it was the Carolina Hurricanes over the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Eric Staal had 3 goals and an assist for Carolina, who improve to 30-10 with the win.
People around the county are gathering together to pay tribute to a great American today. January 15th is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and here in Wilkes a celebration will be going on at the old Lincoln Heights school. Stephen McCloud, a deacon from Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, will be speaking at the event, which begins at 7pm tonight. Dr. King was only 39 years old when he was gunned down on April 4th 1968 in Memphis Tennessee.
Wilkes Farmers Will See Tax Breaks In New Year
2006 brings some good news for Wilkes County farmers. There is a tax break coming for all farmers here in North Carolina on supplies and farm equipment. Certain items are now exempt from all sales and use tax, including grain, feed or soybean storage equipment. Also exempt are all farm machinery parts, attachments, lubricants and repair parts. In addition, farmers won't have to pay sales tax on any containers bought to use in planting, cultivating, harvesting, packaging or transporting farm products. Under the previous law, those products all had a tax assessed of 1%. In order to have proof on hand that they qualify, farmers need to fill out Form E-595E, known as the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement Certificate of Exemption. The forms are available online at www.dor.state.nc.us/downloads/sales.html or you can also call and get it mailed to you at (877) 252-3052.
News From WCC Trustees Meeting
The trustees at Wilkes Community College met last Thursday at the John A Walker Center to discuss some ongoing projects. Construction is progressing on the new science and technology building, with 34% of the work completed. The college has also been picked to serve as one of 15 pilot sites for the state’s new Career Readiness Certificate. The certificate is designed to serve as verification for potential employers that a person has developed the basic skills of reading, writing and processing information. People can go to the local JobLink center and test their skills, then get help in setting up any additional training they may need to qualify.
Search Continues For Missing Girl
Sheriff’s deputies are continuing the search today for a missing Ferguson girl. Tiffany Nicole Griffith was last seen January 9th at the Wilkesboro Sonic. She disappeared after being fired from her job at the Sonic and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Tiffany is a 18 year old white girl, about 5’3ft and weighing 138 lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair. If anyone has information regarding Tiffany’s whereabouts, please call the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department at 903-7600.
Wreck Totals Two On 421
Two cars were totaled after an accident on Hwy 421 last week. A Millers Creek woman was merging back onto 421 from a side street, but didn’t notice the oncoming traffic. She pulled out right in front of a Wilkesboro man who wasn’t able to stop in time to avoid a wreck. No one was injured however estimated damages were placed at just under $11,000.
Fish Recall
Before you sit down and eat that fish for supper tonight, you might want to take a look at where it’s been. Whole Foods Market is issuing a recall of all Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout. Packages of the trout were found to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can prove deadly to young children or the elderly. North Carolina is one of 11 different states where the food was shipped to stores. No reported cases of sickness have been reported yet, but testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture earlier this month uncovered the bacteria. An investigation continues as to how the bacteria got inside the food, but anyone who purchased the Whole Foods Smoked Trout can return it to the store for a full refund. The product has since been pulled from shelves and a number has been set up for anyone with questions. You can call 1-512-542-0656. Once again the affected packages are all “Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout” and the UPC code on the affected boxes is 9948241183
Health Department Offering Car Seat Help
85% of child safety seats across Wilkes County were not installed correctly, according to the local SafeKids organization. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it’s still high enough for concern. However if you’re still trying to figure out what the right way to install one is, you don’t have to wait until the next safety check. The Wilkes Health Department is partnering with SafeKids to help show parents the right way to install the seats. You can contact the Health Department and make an appointment anytime during the week by calling Jean Edwards at 651-7478.
Check Road Conditions Before Leaving
With rain and wind in the forecast, it's important to know what road conditions are like across the county. For people in Wilkes, that can be accessed now on the internet by visiting the state DOT webpage at http://www.ncdot.org/. You can also check out information on proposed road projects and how the weather might affect both their schedule and your traffic conditions at www.ncdot.org/projects/wilkescounty/. There you will find information on public meetings, schedules, and area maps.
State News
New Jobs For Textile Workers
Some good news today for unemployed textile workers in the Tarboro area. They may be going back to work. Glenoit Corporation closed down their operation in the area last year, but now a new company has bought out the plant and plans to reopen. Tarboro Textiles, a local business created by former Glenoit workers, will reopen the plant in the next month and hopes to have 140 people on the payroll by March.
Answers Coming Regarding White Sludge
Officials finally have some answers regarding the white substance covering a Raleigh creek. Tests have determined it’s a type of dead algae, mixed in with deposits of calcium. The calcium is used by a nearby water treatment plant to remove chorine. It’s not toxic, however the calcium will burn exposed skin it comes into contact with. It’s still unknown how exactly the calcium is leaking out, but officials are continuing the testing, to make sure there’s no risk to the population.
Rockingham Gets Shot In The Arm
Some good news today for people in Rockingham County. Plans are moving forward to build a $10 million equestrian center in Reidsville. The center would be used for regional horse shows and current projections believe it could generate up to $15 million a year in revenues for the county. When plans are finalized the center will be just off US 29 on a 152 acre spread.
Sports Headlines
High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene, it was the Lady Cardinals of East losing to Mount Airy 37-23 in a game of missed free throws and turnovers. The Lady Cardinals drop to 1-11 with the loss. It was Ashe County over the North Wilkes Lady Vikings 63-40. Blake Shumate had 16 points as the only player in double figures for the Lady Vikings, who drop to 4-8 with the loss. The West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks gave it their best shot but weren’t to knock off Bishop McGuiness, losing 72-29. Lauren Overton led West with 14 points. Meanwhile on the boys side of the court, it was Mount Airy knocking off the East Wilkes Cardinals 68-57 in a game that was a lot closer than the final score. East led for most of the second half, being led by 17 points from Matt Garris and Brent Poplin, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the Granite Bears’ offense, as East drops to 5-8 on the season. North Wilkes lost to Ashe County 76-54 despite 16 points and 7 rebounds from Aaron Church. The Vikings fall to 3-12 with the loss. And it was West Wilkes losing to Bishop McGuiness 66-49 despite 15 points from Chad Lankford.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at some college basketball over the weekend, it was Maryland over Wake Forest 90-86. Justin Gray had a career night, scoring 38 for the Deacons but it wasn’t enough as Wake drops to 11-5. Also it was Florida Atlantic over Gardner-Webb 72-51. The loss drops the Bulldogs to 6-9. It was Birmingham Southern over Coastal Carolina 77-64, Charleston Southern over UNC Asheville 70-68, Xavier knocked off UNC Charlotte 78-65, Elon beat UNC Greensboro 62-56, it took triple overtime but Hofstra beat UNC Wilmington 92-87. It was Appalachian State over Montreat 105-57. Appalachian was led by D.J. Thompson’s 18 points and 7 assists, as the Mountaineers improve to 7-9. NC State beat Georgia Tech 87-78 thanks to a balanced scoring effort led by Cameron Bannerman’s 16 points. It was Miami over the UNC Tarheels 81-70. Carolina got 25 points from freshman Tyler Hansborough as they drop to 10-3. Finally it was Duke over Clemson 87-77. J.J. Redick had 34 points for the Blue Devils, who stay undefeated at 16-0.
Bobcats Lose To Detroit
The Charlotte Bobcats gave it all they had but came up short Saturday, in a 114-91 loss to Detroit. Primoz Breznec had 18 to lead Charlotte, as the team drops to 11-26 on the season. They’ll take on New Orleans later today.
Panthers Advance To Championship
In the NFL last night, the Carolina Panthers came one step closer to the Super Bowl with a 29-21 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Panthers got 218 yards and 2 touchdowns from Steve Smith, while quarterback Jake Delhomme tossed for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day. Next the team will head up to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in the NFC championship.
Hurricanes Keep Winning Streak Going
In the NHL, it was the Carolina Hurricanes over the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Eric Staal had 3 goals and an assist for Carolina, who improve to 30-10 with the win.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:29 AM
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