Look For A Change In The Weather
Wilkes County can expect a change in the weather, according to local forecasters. While January was unusually warm, things are expected to get back to normal as we go farther into February. Across North Carolina, forecasters are predicting that a low pressure system is going to make its’ way into the area, bringing colder temperatures and possibly some white stuff along with it. As to why January was so warm? Blame the weather system known as La Nina. La Nina has cooled off the Pacific Ocean waters, which in turn triggers changes in the weather patterns across the globe. However if you’re expecting La Nina to completely disappear you might be disappointed. Forecasters say that the system will stick around in some form until possibly the early summer.

Gas Thieves Hit Another Wilkes Business
Gas thieves hit another business in Wilkes this week, targeting the Junction on White Plains Road. A man pulled up in his Chevy Camero, pumped $34 worth of gas and then drove off down the highway. Employees inside the store got a description of both the man and his vehicle, along with a license plate tag. After investigating the case, deputies were able to get in touch with the suspect’s family, who paid for the gas. No charges were brought in the case.

CD Player Stolen With No Clue How
A local woman came out of class at Mulberry School to find the CD player in her car had been stolen. Nothing else was bothered inside the vehicle and there was no sign of a break-in and no damage done to the car itself. However the woman insists that she locked the car before going inside. Deputies are continuing the investigation.

The Taxman Cometh Part V: Married & Divorced
For most people, getting married can be the best day of their life. But if they’re not careful, newlyweds can end up costing each other a lot of money come tax time, as we explain in the final part of our tax prep series. For any newlyweds filing for the first time as a couple, it’s important that the names on the tax forms match those on file with the Social Security Administration. Problems can arise if a bride takes her husband’s name but doesn’t let Social Security know about it. When the couple files their joint return, the IRS won’t be able to match up the name with a Social Security number. It’s a similar situation for anyone who’s recently been divorced. If a woman changed to her ex-husband’s last name and has now switched back to her maiden one, she has to let Social Services know. Otherwise in both cases the penalty can vary from an increased tax bill to a smaller amount on the refund check. You can let Social Services know of a name change by going to your local office and filing out Form SS-5. Or you can go online to www.ssa.gov and download the form there as well. Once filled out, the form usually takes two weeks to verify. And as always, you can call for more information at 1-800-829-3676 or go online to www.IRS.gov.

Vandals Hit Wilkesboro Apartment Complex
Wilkesboro police were called out on Wednesday to the Glenn Hill Appartments after vandals hit the area. Three separate people walked outside Wednesday morning to find all four of their tires had been slashed, causing a total of $600 worth of damage. There are no suspects at this time and it’s unclear why the three were targeted. That investigation continues.

WalkAmerica Kickoff This Afternoon
For anyone wanting to get involved with the March of Dimes, now’s your chance. The organization is holding their WalkAmerica Kickoff Luncheon today at the Wilkesboro Elks Lodge. Churches, businesses and anyone who wants to get involved are invited to attend the lunch, which starts at 12 noon. Volunteers from the March of Dimes will be on hand to explain how people can take part in the WalkAmerica campaign. The walk itself will be held May 6th with a target goal this year of $35,000. Proceeds from the walk will go towards the study and hopefully a cure for birth defects and premature infant deaths. For more information you can call 1-704-873-2554.

Wilkes County Talent Show
The Community Health Connection wants people to see what their kids are capable of and are inviting everyone out to the First Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro Saturday night for a talent show. Tickets are $20 at the door and the show will feature students from all four of the county’s high schools. The event itself starts at 6pm with dinner beforehand and for more information you can call the Connection at 651-7837.

Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest
A routine traffic stop for sheriff’s deputies led to an arrest on gun charges this week. Deputies watched as a vehicle passed by, with the passenger not wearing a seatbelt. They pulled the car over near the CVS on Hwy 18 North. It was soon discovered that the passenger, 25-yr-old Troy Clayton Braxley had outstanding warrants for his arrest. In addition, deputies found a .40 caliber pistol hidden under his seat. Braxley was arrested on the outstanding warrants in addition to being charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Blood Drive This Weekend
Despite the recent blood drives here in Wilkes, the local supply is still around critical levels due to several serious wrecks and other injuries. With winter weather in the forecast later this month, the Red Cross will be holding another drive tomorrow at Bethel Baptist Church in Ronda. The drive will last from 10am til 2:30pm and for an appointment you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

State News

NC Troops On The Way Home
Good news for some military families across North Carolina. Over 200 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are coming home. The soldiers, who are part of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment made their way home on Thursday. Over 600 more troops from the unit are expected back in the next few weeks. The 504th had been working to train Iraqi troops, guard a maximum security prison and hold combat patrols across northern Iraq.

Greensboro Groundhog Says More Winter Coming
Expect a few more weeks of winter, at least according to the groundhogs. From Punxsutawney Phil to Greensboro’s own Woody, the furry forecasters saw their shadow. So according to tradition, we can expect six more weeks of winter weather. Groundhog Day itself is taken from a German legend and is now a global event, with people from other countries getting involved.

Easley Faces Criticism Over Gas Tax
Governor Mike Easley is getting hammered by federal lawmakers over North Carolina’s gas tax. The grief comes after Easley wrote a letter asking President Bush to investigate oil companies, citing record profits this past year. Republican chairman Ken Mehlman responded by accusing Easley of deflecting criticism and placing blame where it shouldn’t be. 77 members of North Carolina’s Republican party have requested for a special session of the legislature to be held dealing with energy taxes. Governor Easley is against the idea, saying that the money being taken in is needed for road construction.

Federal Government Giving Money To NC
North Carolina is going to be on the receiving end of federal aid dollars as lawmakers pledge $15 million to the Triad. The money is supposed to help local economies recover from the massive manufacturing layoffs that have occurred and get the unemployed workers retrained for new jobs. $5 million will be handed out each year from the Labor Department, to go along with a one time contribution of $850,000 by private and public donors.

Prison Inmate Accidentally Released
Due to an error in the prison system, an alleged child molester was released from prison in Lillington North Carolina. This was back in October of last year and four months later state officials recognized their mistake. Devan Black was supposed to serve a six month sentence, but had only completed three when he was released. Black then went to Vermont, where he met up with a probation officer and got a job. On Thursday, the Department of Corrections admitted their mistake and went before a judge, who ordered Black to return and finish his sentence.

Sports Headlines

High School Basketball Tonight
The end is near for the regular season and all four county schools are in action tonight. East Wilkes plays host to North Stokes, while North Wilkes is away tonight against Surry Central. West Wilkes is also away, as the Blackhawks are traveling to Alleghany. And in a bonus edition of our 3WC Game of the Week, it’s Wilkes Central playing at home against Forbush. We’ll tip off our coverage with the McDonald’s pregame show starting at 7pm then turn things over to Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7:15 for the play by play.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college basketball scene, it was UNC Wilmington over Drexel 65-58, Matt Doherty’s Florida Atlantic team beat Campbell 95-90 and Wofford knocked off Appalachian State 60-59. DJ Thompson had 18 to lead the Mountaineers, who drop to 9-13 on the season. In the ACC, it was all North Carolina all the time as the Tarheels cruised to a 77-62 win over Maryland. Reyshawn Terry led all scorers with 20 points and 9 rebounds as the Heels improve to 13-5 on the season.

NC State Lands Another Recruit
It’s been a great week for NC State football. The team landed one more recruit, their 18th of the year as signing day came and went. Rashad Phillips, a senior from Virginia Beach committed to the school. The 6’4 ft 210 lb. Phillips was a jack of all trades at Landstown High, working as a tight end, H-back and linebacker. He had 23 sacks. 306 yards receiving and runs a 4.6 in the 40. In addition, Phillips plays basketball, averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds a game and could possibly join State as a two sport athlete. He turned down offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Kent State to sign with the Wolfpack.

Greensboro Football Team Has Name & Coach
The new Greensboro football team has a name and now a coach. Mark Saunders was introduced this week as head coach of the Greensboro Revolution, the new team set to debut in the Indoor Football League. The 45-yr-old Saunders is a Winston Salem native and former assistant coach at Winston Salem State. One of Saunders’ assistants will be James Clyburn, a former player with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The team kicks off its’ season Match 25th.

Foxx Responds To State Of The Union
After the President’s State of the Union address, several North Carolina lawmakers made themselves available to the press. 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx spoke out about the speech. The congresswoman said “President Bush gave a great speech and laid out a clear roadmap for our country’s future. As the President said, we are living in historic times and are facing historic challenges. We are winning the War on Terror, decreasing our dependency on foreign oil so we can lower our energy costs and we are addressing other critical issues such as health care and cutting the size of the Federal Government. As a Member of Congress, I am energized, focused and ready to work on the issues that matter to the American people.” And coming up next week on 3WC News, Congresswoman Foxx will be talking with Brian about the ways North Carolina can put the president's speech into practice right now.

The Taxman Cometh Part IV: What To Keep
So it’s the beginning of February and you’re staring at a pile of receipts almost as high as the ceiling. Don’t panic. In part four of our tax prep series, we take a look at what the IRS wants you to keep and what you can toss away. First of all, the IRS recommends that you keep receipts for three years, just in case your return is one picked to examine. However don’t be so quick to toss stuff out after three years. Things like a record of your stock transactions, IRA information and anything related to buying or selling a home should be kept longer, usually about seven years. Aside from that, you only need to keep the bills or other records if you’re going to use them as itemized deductions. If you do plan to itemize, the IRS asks that you keep all bills, credit cards, invoices, cancelled checks or other proof of payment. In addition, they also request that you hold on to any other items that will prove the deductions you claim on your tax form. If you don’t plan to itemize, feel free to take those credit card receipts and toss them in the trash. Now coming up in the final part of our series tomorrow, what do you do if you just recently got married or divorced? And how could either one make your tax bill higher? That’s coming up on the news tomorrow morning beginning at 6am. And as always if you have a question or want more information you can call 1-800-829-3676 or visit the IRS website at IRS.gov.

Thieves Hit Local Home & Steal Weapons
Thieves took advantage of a local woman’s good deed this week. The incident happened Tuesday on J.A. Russell Drive, as the woman was taking her grandson home from school. When they arrived at the house, there was a car already in the driveway and it’s owner was climbing back in. The woman asked what the man was doing there and he told her his car was out of gas. She gave the man a ride to Neighbor’s Store, where he bought some gas and then took off. Later that night when the homeowner returned, she found that a 9mm pistol was missing from inside along with several clips of ammunition. The suspect’s name and a description of his car were turned over to sheriff’s deputies. That investigation continues.

Insurance Rates To Drop
Some good news for all car owners in Wilkes County. Your insurance bill soon won’t cost as much. On Wednesday, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long issued an order requiring all companies in the state to drop their private passenger auto rates by 2.5%. In addition, all motorcycle liability rates must be dropped by 6%. Long said that after taking a look at current numbers, not only did he decline the insurance bureau’s request for an increase, but he felt that the rates should go down. All total, this will save North Carolina car owners an estimated $404 million in premiums. Each year on February 1st, the Insurance Commissioner sets premium rates for the next 365 days. This new decrease will take effect May 15th.

Open House Today At Central Wilkes
As students get set to wrap up the first month of the new semester, Central Wilkes Middle School is inviting parents and others in the community to come in and have a look around. Central Wilkes is having a Second Semester Open House coming up later this afternoon. That event will go on from 1-6pm and everyone is invited to come in and tour the school.

Focus On Smart Start
For most parents, between work and other commitments it can be hard at times to get all the information you need before your child enters school. But here in Wilkes Smart Start is there to help with the details. Janessa Byrd and Melinda Swafford from Smart Start will be Brian’s guests for this week’s edition of Focus on the Foothills. They’ll be discussing the different programs available and how parents can take advantage of them. That’s coming up tomorrow at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

Thieves Hit Millers Creek House
A Millers Creek man got a surprise when he went out to his storage shed on Tuesday. Someone had broke in and cleaned the place out. It’s unclear exactly when the incident happened, as the homeowner hadn’t been out to the shed in over a month. During that time however, no one had been caught around it and nothing seemed out of place. All total 15 different items including both parts and tools were taken. That investigation continues.

3WC Techwatch: Beware The Worm
A new virus could make February 3rd a day you’ll remember for a long time, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. Computer hackers have created a new virus, set to detonate on February 3rd. The first time any infected computer is turned on tomorrow, the virus will recognize the date and start deleting files, ranging from MP3s to any Word documents you still have stored. Across the world it’s already infected 300,000 computers via emails labeled “Hot movie” or “Give Me A Kiss”. The problem is that once it infects computers it accesses the person’s email address, so you think you’re opening an attachment from a friend. As to how do you stop the virus? All the major anti-virus software have updates that can recognize and clean it out, so just be sure that your software is completely up to date. And as always, just be careful when opening up an attachment in your email.

Blood Drive Going On Today
As we’ve mentioned before here on 3WC, Wilkes County’s blood supply is at critical levels. While the situation has improved in the past two weeks, blood is still desperately needed. To help solve the problem, a drive is going on throughout the day at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. It starts this morning at 7am and runs til 11:30am, after which there will be a short break. The drive will resume at 1pm and last til 5:30pm this evening. Please remember before giving you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To make an appointment you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.

State News

New Law May Be Repealed
Coming up in today’s Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking with Melinda Swafford from Smart Start about a new law affecting all children heading to kindergarten this year. As it stands, all kindergartners would have to have a comprehensive eye exam before they could begin the school year. However if some state Democrats have their way, that law will be a thing of the past. Democrats came out this week and criticized the new law, saying that it put added costs on parents. $2 million of state money was set aside to help parents pay for the exams, which supporters say would cut down on the number of kids who go through school untreated for vision problems.

Morganton Plant Has History Of Problems
Yesterday, 3WC told you about past problems at the Morganton chemical plant which exploded on Tuesday. Now comes word that the violations were more serious than previously thought. According to information from the state’s Division of Waste Management, Synthron Inc has been fined $87,600 since 2001 to due hazardous waste violations. The plant was cited for not providing appropriate training for their workers, keeping faulty records and not properly storing the waste. However state inspectors say that the plant was in compliance when last checked back in 2003.

Seven Arrested In Wake Of Protest
Seven people have been charged in Greensboro after a protest got out of hand during the President’s State of the Union Address. The group “World Can’t Wait” brought out 130 people for what they planned to be a peaceful protest. But things turned for the worse after protestors saw plain clothes officers taking pictures of both them and their vehicles’ license plates. Five of the protestors began assaulting the officer taking the pictures, leading to additional police being called in. All total seven protestors were arrested and later charged, five of them for assaulting a government official. The other two for creating a public disturbance.

State Opens Investigation Into Long Term Care Facility
An investigation has been opened into Careamerica, a long term adult care facility operating out of Leland North Carolina. The state’s Industrial Commission is trying to determine why the company isn’t paying its’ workers on time and if it’s been operating without workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Not having the insurance opens the company up to lawsuits from employees and also a fine of up to $100 by the state for each day they weren’t covered. Company co-owner Michael Elliot said that he had been promised by the insurer the policy had been renewed. Careamerica has 650 employees across North Carolina, taking care of almost 10000 elderly and mentally ill adults.

More Jobs Coming To Winston
Good news for people living in the Winston Salem area. US Airways is looking for workers. Company officials say they plan to add at least 100 new jobs at the Winston Salem reservations center as soon as possible. The reason for the increase? Officials said that outsourcing the jobs created more problems than it solved, as people couldn’t understand what the workers were saying. As a result, calls were taking 30 minutes or longer.

Sports Headlines

NC Football Teams Reload On Signing Day
Wednesday was signing day across the U.S., when high school players could officially commit to the school of their choice. Several North Carolina football teams were among those who reloaded with new talent. Wide receiver Jarvis Williams from Orlando Florida committed to play for NC State. Williams, who stands 6’4 ft. and weighs 200 lbs., caught 53 passes last season in addition to working as his high school’s punter and a defense back. Williams turned down offers from Wake Forest, Cincinnati and East Carolina to join the Wolfpack. In addition, Appalachian State got some help for their offensive line. Center Mario Acitelli committed to the school on Wednesday. The 6’2 ft. 270 lb. Acitelli was an All-State selection at Charlotte Catholic.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college scene, it was Birmingham Southern over UNC Asheville 75-61, High Point knocked off Radford 76-62, Marshall beat East Carolina 72-66 and UNC Charlotte took care of St. Bonaventure 76-60. Curtis Withers led Charlotte with 20 points and 15 rebounds as the 49ers improve to 12-8. In the ACC last night, NC State beat Virginia 66-64. Tony Bethel had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the Wolfpack, who improve to 17-4. And the Duke Blue Devils got a win over Boston College 83-81. The Blue Devils got the benefit of a questionable call with time running out, as it appeared Sheldon Williams had hit Boston College guard Tyrese Rice but there was no foul. J.J. Redick had 28 for the Devils, who improve to 20-1 on the season.

NBA: Atlanta at Charlotte
The injury list continues to grow for the Charlotte Bobcats, who lost last night to Atlanta 102-92. Small forward Bernard Robinson walked off the court after just five minutes of play with a sprained ankle, joining four other Bobcats on the bench. Raymond Felton led Charlotte with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists as the team drops to 11-36 on the season.

Orioles 2nd Baseman Picks Up Hot Stove Award
Taking a look at major league baseball, every year the Raleigh Hot Stove League gives out its’ Will Wynne Award. The trophy is handed to a North Carolinian who has the biggest impact on the major leagues and is named after William Avery Wynne, the first Wake County native to play for the big leagues. Players such as Catfish Hunter, Grady Little and former Marlins manager Jack McKeon have all won the award in previous years. This season it went to Baltimore Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts. This past season the 28-yr-old Roberts made his first All Star team, hit .314 and knocked out 18 home runs for the Orioles, before tearing a ligament in his elbow. Roberts is the son of former UNC Tarheel baseball coach Mike Roberts.

Air Force Pilot Playing Hockey
With injuries piling up, Fayetteville’s minor league hockey team knew just who to call for recruits. The U.S. Air Force. Fayetteville coach Derek Booth got a phone call from the Air Force coach, suggesting that he check out one of his former players. After reading his stats and giving him a tryout, 1st Lt. Scott Zwiers was signed up for a five game contract as a center for the Fayetteville FireAntz. In his day job, Zwiers flies the cargo planes that drop off troops and supplies for Fort Bragg and tonight he’ll start off a second job under the lights.

Eclectic Group Of Olympians Pack For Turin
With seven days left til the Winter Olympics, the U.S. announced its’ roster for the games. Included is a very eclectic list of people. The oldest competitor is 54-yr-old Scott Baird, a curler from Minnesota, while the youngest is 16-yr-old figure skater Kimmie Meissner from Maryland. Also included is Sarah Konrad from California. She becomes the first U.S. female athlete in history to qualify for two events in the Winter Olmpics. Konrad will be taking part in both the biathlon and cross country skiing.

The Taxman Cometh Part III: Should You Itemize?
Every year about this time, we pull out those boxes of receipts, preparing to itemize them on our taxes. But is it really worth the effort? In most cases the answer is no. In order for your itemized deductions to be used on your tax form, they have to add up to more than the standard deduction. To translate that, the federal government has a standard deduction for each person that varies based on their situation. A person who files as single has a standard deduction of $5000. In order to be used, his or her itemized deductions have to be more than that. For a married couple filing jointly, the standard deduction is $10,000. If you’re married and filing separate, the deduction is $5000. And finally if you file as the head of the household, the standard deduction is $7300. And for more information, you can call the IRS hotline at 1-800-829-1040 or visit their website at IRS.gov. Coming up tomorrow in part four of our series, now that you’ve decided if you want to itemize or not, what documents do you need to keep and what can be tossed away? We’ll explain what exactly the IRS is expecting you to have starting on the news tomorrow at 6am.

Vehicle Stolen From Ferguson Residence
A Ferguson man is looking for his car today, after it was stolen earlier this week. The man had left it behind at a friend’s house, with the key still in the ignition. When he came back to pick it up on Sunday, it was missing. The vehicle is a white 1989 Toyota Truck. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

Thieves Hit Home In Ronda
Always make sure that your doors and windows are locked. A Ronda man found that out the hard way on Monday. He returned home to find over $1400 worth of materials missing from inside. Thieves had gained access to the property by climbing in through an unlocked window near the porch. Then once inside, they unlocked the front door and pulled a vehicle up to the porch, loading up before taking off. Included in the theft was a watch, a box of CDs, a digital camera and several other items. That investigation continues.

Wreck On Hwy 16 Caused By Rain
The rain and wind outside was partially at fault for an accident Monday morning on Hwy 16/18. A 16-yr-old Wilkesboro boy was turning from Westwood Lane onto Hwy 16 North but he didn’t see the oncoming traffic. Attempting to avoid an accident, he accelerated and hit some wet pavement, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. He then hit the embankment and the car flipped over. EMS, Wilkes Rescue Squad, Wilkesboro Fire Department and Wilkesboro First Responders were all called out to the scene. The boy was taken by EMS to Wilkes Regional and estimated damage to the car was placed at $2500.

WCC To Help Small Businesses
Small businesses can sometimes find themselves up against a wall, fighting to compete with large companies. One of the problems facing such a business is they don’t know where or how to get supplies at a cheap rate like the retail stores do. Wilkes Community College is hoping to solve the problem by holding a seminar tonight called “Where Are The Wholesalers?” The program will run from 6-9pm at the Wilkes Campus and help local companies learn where they can buy the same materials but at cheaper prices. You can pre-register by calling WCC at 336-838-6210 or 336-838-6113. The seminar is open to everyone and there is no cost to attend.

Baby Teethers Recalled
Before you give that teether to your baby, there’s some news you need to hear. A recall has been ordered of five different styles of teethers, put out by The First Years Inc. 500,000 of the teethers have been called back due to a possible contamination of bacteria inside. The company has learned that in several liquid filled teethers, the bacterias aeruginosa and putida can be found. If somehow the teether gets punctured and a baby ingests the liquid, that can cause serious illness. The recall involves all Disney Days of Hunny Soft Cool Ring Teethers, all Disney Soft Cool Ring Teethers, the Sesame Beginnings Chill and Chew Teether, the First Years Cool Animal Teether and the First Years Floating Friends Teether. A hotline has been set up to get more information at 1-866-725-4407. You can also get information from the company’s website at www.thefirstyears.com.

Thieves Hit Residence On Windy Gap Road
A local man returned home from work on Monday, only to find that thieves had paid him a visit. The incident happened on the Windy Gap Road, as someone had pried open the garage door and gained access to the house. Stolen from inside was a jar of change, worth an estimated $700. All total, damage to the house was placed at $100 and this marks the third time the place has been broke into. That investigation continues.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A routine traffic stop in Elkin led to a drug bust for sheriff’s deputies. The incident happened Sunday night on Elk Spur Street. After getting permission to search the car, deputies discovered 60 grams of marijuana and slightly under an ounce of both roxicodone and cocaine, all of which was concealed in a makeup bag. In addition, used needles and other drug paraphernalia was found inside the bag. 23-yr-old Carla Renee Speaks was arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gospel News

Gold City Drummer Killed In Accident
Doug Riley, the drummer and songwriter for the gospel group Gold City was killed yesterday in a traffic accident. The 35-yr-old Riley was on his way to the recording studio when he suddenly lost control of his car, around 12:40 Tuesday morning. The vehicle went off the road and hit a utility pole before coming to a stop. Riley was the youngest son of Gold City founder Tim Riley and leaves behind a wife and two children. The family will hold visitation tonight from 5-8pm at Crosspoint Community Church in Gadsden Alabama and the funeral will be held on Thursday at 11am in the same venue. Sympathy cards can be sent care of Gold City PO Box 2100 Gadsden AL 35903.

State News

Explosion Rocks Chemical Plant In Morganton
At least six people were injured yesterday when a chemical plant exploded in Morganton. The incident happened shortly after 11am at Synthron Incorporated. Local people report hearing a loud explosion and then seeing a mushroom cloud rise from the area. Two people were airlifted to the local hospital with serious injuries. This isn’t the first time Synthron has found itself in the news. The company was fined $7000 back in 2002 for safety violations by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.

Wages Down As Unemployment Drops
It’s a case of good news/bad news for people across North Carolina. The state’s unemployment rate fell to 4.9% at the end of December, the lowest it’s been since 2001. However most of the new jobs are causing some people to complain. Instead of high paying manufacturing jobs, people are coming off the unemployment line to the lower paying retail market. State officials say however that the new jobs should be welcomed as a way off of unemployment and back into the workforce.

Fourth Graders Going To Middle School
A new plan for school kids at Pittsboro Elementary has some parents up in arms today. Beginning in 2007, all fourth grade classes would be switched to Horton Middle School on a permanent basis under the arrangement. Parents raised questions about sending their 4th graders to a school designed for teenagers, saying they weren’t sure if the kids would be ready for that environment. School officials said that the plan was just one of several put forth to help solve overcrowding at the elementary school. Currently there are 530 students at Pittsboro with more on the way as the town’s population is expected to triple by 2008.

NC Group Wants People To Start Planning A Vacation In Space
So where are you planning your next vacation? A Raleigh based company would like you to consider taking a trip into outer space. The World Space Center kicked off their marketing campaign this week, including an event at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh and a website. Center officials say they want to give people an idea of what life is like in outer space and to encourage space travel as a new vacation spot. Estimated costs for a spaceflight are in the $100,000 range and people can get information by visiting the website www.worldspacecenter.org

Salisbury Man In Jail After Bomb Threat
Officials in Salisbury have a suspect in jail after a bank robbery on Monday. The man, Tony Eugene Chor reportedly went into the Wachovia Bank On Innes Street and handed a message to one of the tellers. The note informed her that he had two bombs outside the building and requested $100,000 in cash. After taking the money, Chor attempted to flee before local police ran him down and arrested him. Chor is in the Rowan County Detention Center, facing charges of armed robbery, possession of a weapon of mass destruction and possession of a firearm by a felon. Police were not able to locate any bombs or other destructive devices around the building.

More NC Troops Departing For Iraq
More North Carolina troops are on the way over to Iraq as members of the 1451st Transportation Unit are leaving on Thursday. The group, which has its’ headquarters in Boone with additional detachments in Marion and Morganton, is expected to leave just after 6am Thursday morning. This will be the group’s first deployment in the Iraqi conflict and they will be used to operate the Army’s ground transport vehicles and other tactical units. 177 soldiers will be involved in the deployment.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Taking a look around the high school scene last night, it was South Stokes over West Wilkes 61-57. Also East Wilkes beat Bishop McGuiness 71-69. Meanwhile Wilkes Central knocked off North Wilkes 69-43. Central improves to 11-10 while North drops to 4-16.
On the girls side of the court, it was South Stokes over West Wilkes 60-41. The Lady Blackhawks drop to 3-19 with the loss. The Lady Cardinals of East fell to the undefeated Bishop McGuiness team 53-34. The Lady Eagles of Wilkes Central improve to 21-1 on the season with a 53-38 victory over North Wilkes. With the loss, the Lady Vikings drop to 6-13.

NCAA Scoreboard
Wake Forest fell apart in the second half as they lost to Miami 78-69. Justin Gray had 20 to lead the Deacons, who fall to 12-9 on the season.

UNC Women Make History
In college basketball, the North Carolina women’s team made history on Tuesday. For the first time since they joined the NCAA, the Lady Tarheels are ranked as #1 in the country. The climb comes two days after UNC knocked off the #2 ranked Duke Blue Devils in Durham. The Lady Tarheels are now the only unbeaten team in Division I basketball at 20-0.

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal
The Carolina Hurricanes kept the best record in the NHL with an 8-2 win over Montreal. Carolina got 3 goals and an assist from Eric Cole as the team improves to 37-11.

Hurricanes Make Trade
Before last night’s game against Montreal, the Carolina Hurricanes restructured their roster in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. Carolina picked up 35-yr-old center Doug Weight, a 4-time All Star and member of the U.S. Olympic team. Weight had 33 assists and 44 points with the Blues this season. In return, the team gave up right winger Jesse Boulerice, center Mike Zigomanis and the rights to draft pick Magnus Kahnberg, along with three draft picks. Carolina officials said they made the deal to strengthen the team and prove they were serious about making a run for the Stanley Cup.

Bobcats Walking Wounded
The Charlotte Bobcats may be back to full strength by the end of February. This week, team officials said that power forward Emeka Okafor will miss about 5 to 7 more weeks, while shooting guard Keith Bogans and small forward Gerald Wallace should be back in two to four weeks. First round pick Sean May still remains out recovering from his second knee surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the year.

The Taxman Cometh Part II: Which Form To Use
With tax time here again, it can be confusing at times to sort through all the paperwork. What’s the difference between a 1040A and a 1040EZ and which should you use? In the second part of our tax prep series, we’re taking a look at which forms to use. First of all, the IRS recommends that you use the simplest form possible, to avoid any chance of an error or mistake. For single people or those who are married and filing jointly, the simplest form is the 1040EZ. Other qualifications for the 1040EZ are that your income must be below $100,000 and you must be 64 years or younger. In addition, those filing with the 1040EZ cannot claim any dependents. By comparison, anyone can use a 1040A regardless of how you file. The only catch is that your income must be below $100,000 and you must be eligible for tax credits or deductions. If you don’t qualify for either of those, the only one available to use is a 1040. That applies to anyone whose income is $100,000 or more and reports income from a sale of property or self-employment. And once again if you have questions or concerns, the IRS hotline is available by calling 1-800-829-3676 or visiting their website at IRS.gov. Coming up tomorrow in part three of our series, we examine if it’s a good idea to itemize deductions.

Never Leave Your Credit Cards Behind
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a Wilkesboro residence over the weekend, investigating a case of fraud. A local man had discovered several purchases made on his gas card, in places he had never been. It turns out that sometime in the past month the card had been stolen from his vehicle, with the thief using it occasionally to fill up his own car. There is a suspect in the case and the investigation continues.

Thieves Break Into House On Hwy 421 West
Be careful where you keep your money. That was the lesson a Wilkesboro man learned over the weekend. He returned home Friday night to discover that thieves had broke into his home, stealing over $7000 in cash and coins. They had gained access to the house through a window in the basement, which had been shattered. After that, the thieves went through the house discovering money stored in several locations. There are suspects in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Thieves Raid Camper In Purlear
A Salisbury man returned over the weekend to a camper he had left behind on the Walsh Road before Thanksgiving. What he found however was that thieves had arrived first. Over $100 worth of CDs had been stolen from the camper, along with some shotgun shells and a few tools. All total an estimated $540 worth of items was taken. That investigation is ongoing.

Blood Drive Later Today
1500 pints of blood are used each day across North Carolina in emergency rooms and other trauma centers. But while the blood supply here in Wilkes has improved, it’s still right at critical levels. The Red Cross has set up a drive today at the Alleghany Memorial Hospital, which will last from 11am til 3pm. Even though the drive itself is in Alleghany, that county shares its’ blood supply with Wilkes so you’ll be contributing to the needs of the local community. If you’re in the area and want to give, no appointments are needed. However if you do want to set up a time and avoid waiting, the number to call is 838-4563.

Guns Stolen From Roaring River Home
A Roaring River man came home over the weekend to find that someone had paid him a visit. Thieves forced open the door to his house, then ran off with over $3000 worth of weapons. Taken in the theft was a 9mm Barell pistol, a .44 caliber double action revolver, a .38 cailber Smith & Wesson along with several other guns. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation is ongoing.

Open House This Thursday At Central Wilkes
As students get set to wrap up the first month of the new semester, Central Wilkes Middle School is inviting parents and others in the community to come in and have a look around. Central Wilkes will have a Second Semester Open House next Thursday, February 2nd. That event will go on from 1-6pm and everyone is invited to come in and tour the school.

Musical Thieves Hit State Road
Sheriff’s deputies were called out over the weekend to a home in State Road, after thieves paid a visit. The incident happened on Parks Farm Road, where a man had left an amp and sub-woofer in his truck. The vehicle was unlocked and thieves apparently walked right up and took the items. All total an estimated $600 worth of material was taken. That investigation continues.

Recall Ordered Of Recent Model Cadillacs
Some bad news today for Cadillac owners out there. General Motors has issued a recall of all 2005 and 2006 Cadillac CTS and STS series cars. The recall occurred due to a problem with the fuel system, where after a certain point gas will no longer be pumped into the engine. In addition, the low fuel indicator won’t come on. GM advises that you keep at least ¼ of a tank of gas in your car to prevent this situation from occurring. As for fixing the problem, you can take back the car for a free repair beginning March 1st. For more information a hotline has been set up at 1-866-982-2339.

Mailbox Vandals Strike In North Wilkesboro
Mailbox vandals hit another home in North Wilkesboro over the weekend. A woman on Windy Ridge Road walked out of her house to find that someone had tossed a rock at the mailbox and damaged it. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual but that investigation continues.

State News

The Lights Go Out In Raleigh
Works crews finally were able to turn the power back on in Raleigh Monday afternoon. The main campus of NC State University was in the dark for most of Sunday night and on into Monday morning, for reasons that are still unknown. The power was restored and classes went on as scheduled Monday, but officials are still investigating what caused the problem.

Onslow Sheriff Want People Out Of Jail
The Onslow County sheriff’s department has some people up in arms after several prisoners were released from jail. The department’s new policy states that jail is reserved only for those criminals deemed a serious threat. Everyone else is to be released from custody on unsecured bond after being charged. Sheriff Ed Brown said lack of space was the reason for his decision as the jail was holding almost twice its’ official capacity. The Onslow jail was built to hold 118 people but as of last week had 226.

NC Central Professor Missing
Officials in the Durham area are asking for help in finding a missing college professor. 36-yr-old Seong Hee Oak disappeared from her job at NC Central University on January 21st and hasn’t been seen since. Oak stand 5 ft., weighs 110 lbs and drives a 2005 Toyota Camry with the NC license plate SZH3296. Anyone with information is asked to call Durham Crimestoppers at 1-919-683-1200.

Stokes County Plant NC’s Dirtiest
The federal government has released information about North Carolina’s power plants and it seems that Stokes County has a problem. 6800 tons of toxic air pollutants were released from the Belwes Creek Steam Station in 2004, making it the dirtiest in the state. Duke Power has promised to cut down on toxins by installing new equipment, but that won’t be up and running for another two years.

NC Goes To Court
The state of North Carolina is filing a lawsuit to protect against pollution. State Attorney General Roy Cooper filed the suit on Monday, claiming that the Tennessee Valley Authority is damaging North Carolina’s health thanks to its’ coal-burning plants. Cooper cited the plants in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama as all having a negative effect on both North Carolina’s economy and its’ collective health.

Sports Headlines

High School Basketball Tonight
Time is ticking down til the end of the regular season and all four county schools are in action tonight. West Wilkes plays host to South Stokes, while East Wilkes heads up the road to face Bishop McGuiness. And in our 3WC Game of the Week, it’s Wilkes Central going into the House of Blue to face the North Wilkes Vikings. In the girls varsity game, the Lady Eagles are looking to solidify their place atop the Mountain Valley Conference. A win tonight and a loss by North Surry would go a long way towards locking up the regular season title for Central. And in the boys game, Coach Tommy Johnson welcomes his former team to North Wilkes in a rematch of their January 3rd meeting. The pregame show gets started at 7pm and we’ll join Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7:15 for the play by play.

NCAA Scoreboard
It was Georgia Southern over Elon 63-45, in double overtime it was Wofford over UNC Greensboro 84-78, Western Carolina knocked off Furman 85-76 and Gardner-Webb beat North Florida 69-68. Brian Bender led the Running Bulldogs with 22 points and 8 rebounds, as the team improves to 11-9 on the season. Finally it was Charleston over Appalachian State 64-53. The Mountaineers got 14 points from DJ Thompson, one of only two players to score in double figures. With the loss Appalachian falls to 9-11.

NBA: Cleveland vs. Charlotte
In the senior circuit of the NBA last night, it was Cleveland over Charlotte 103-91. The banged up Bobcats were led by Alan Anderson’s 14 points as the team drops to 11-35.

Panthers Lose Member Of The Team
The Carolina Panthers will be one man short when they take the field next year. Special teams assistant coach Paul Ferraro announced this week that he was leaving to join the Minnesota Vikings. Ferraro will be the special teams coach with the Vikings, serving under first year coach Brad Childress. Last season was Ferraro’s first in the NFL, after 23 years working in the college ranks

Mark Martin’s Son Joining The Family Profession
Another racing family is getting set to turn thing over to the second generation. Matt Martin, the son of Mark Martin will be racing a limited schedule this year in the American Speed Association’s Southern series, while also driving in the FASCAR pro truck series. The 14-yr-old Martin has already won a race in the FASCAR series this year, picking up the win January 8th at New Smyrna.

Fugitive Picked Up During Investigation
A theft investigation led to a fugitive being arrested last week. The incident happened on Buck Mountain, where the homeowner told deputies that someone had broke into his shed and stole an air conditioning unit along with a flat screen tv. He then reported seeing the air conditioning unit in the trunk of a car passing by. Deputies went to the man’s neighbors to ask some questions. Once inside, they found 26-yr-old Robert Bobby Pena, who is currently wanted in New Mexico on drug charges. After getting permission, deputies then searched the homeowner’s car, where the missing AC unit was located. The neighbor, 19-yr-old Tomas Miguel Gonzalez was arrested and charged with breaking & entering along with harboring a fugitive. His sister, who also lived in the home, 21-yr-old Rebecca Clara Gonzalez was also charged with breaking & entering

WCC To Help Small Businesses
Small businesses can sometimes find themselves up against a wall, fighting to compete with large companies. One of the problems facing such a business is they don’t know where or how to get supplies at a cheap rate like the retail stores do. Wilkes Community College is hoping to solve the problem by holding a seminar this Wednesday called “Where Are The Wholesalers?” The program will run from 6-9pm at the Wilkes Campus and help local companies learn where they can buy the same materials but at cheaper prices. You can pre-register by calling WCC at 336-838-6210 or 336-838-6113. The seminar is open to everyone and there is no cost to attend.

Purlear Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A Purlear woman fell victim to ID theft last week. She received a bill from Cingular Wireless, informing her payment was due on her account. The only problem was that she didn’t have an account with the company. It turns out that someone had gained access to the woman’s personal information and used it to take out a cell phone in her name. There is a suspect in the case and information has been turned over to Cingular’s fraud department.

The Taxman Cometh Part I: How To File
Well here we are at the end of January and you know what that means. It’s time to file income taxes. Unfortunately each year thousands of people file their taxes incorrectly, making it harder to process and delaying that refund check. Your federal tax filing status is based around two things, your family situation and martial status but that’s where people get confused. According to the IRS, one major problem in tax filing happens when people file based on their situation right now. For example if two people are divorced now, but were married on the last day of 2005, they have to file based on their status December 31st instead of today. The same goes with your family situation. All total there are five choices that you can file under. Now of course those who are unmarried, divorced or legally separated can file as single. Married taxpayers meanwhile have the option of filing together or separately. That includes widows or widowers whose spouse died last year, they can still file a married joint return with that spouse for 2005. A fourth option is available for unmarried people, who can file as head of the household. That applies if you paid more than half the cost of living for both yourself and another qualifying person such as a parent, sibling or child. Finally you can file as a qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child. If your spouse died during 2003 or 2004 and there are still dependent children living at home, you can file this way. And for more information, you can call the IRS hotline at 1-800-829-1040 or visit their website at IRS.gov.

Tools Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise last week when he got to work. Over $500 worth of material had been stolen from his business on Sparta Road. Thieves had busted down the front door and helped themselves to the tools inside, taking several chainsaws, several wrenches and other materials. Despite the damage no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual. That investigation is ongoing.

Certain Kids Clothes Recalled
Parents with kids younger than 12 years old might want to think twice before giving out that jacket to wear today. A recall has been ordered of several hundred thousand jackets, pullovers and sweaters put out by Steve and Barry’s University Sportswear. The clothes are being called back due to a choking hazard with the drawstrings. Each of the items have a drawstring on them and unfortunately accidents across the U.S. have proven that small children and drawstrings don’t mix. The specific items being recalled all have separate style numbers on them, which you can find either on the collar or a side label. They are 15178, 16105, 16168, 16230, 16231, 16257, 16509, 17197, 17285 or 18346. The company has set up a toll-free number to call for more information at 1-877-866-7776. Or you can log on to www.steveandbarrys.com

Would Be Thieves Scared Away By Deputies
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call on Jim McCarter Road last Thursday, after a woman reported that someone was breaking into her home. When deputies arrived, it appeared the place was empty, until they discovered the homeowner, who had locked herself in her bedroom. She explained that prior to their arrival, someone had started to open her back door and that’s why she had locked herself in. This is the latest in a series of attempted break-ins that have occurred over the past few months. Nothing however was taken or damaged from the home. That investigation is ongoing.

BROC Head Start Has Openings
For any parent who wants to get their child started early on an education, Head Start has some available spots left. There are currently several slots open for children ages 3 and 4 years old at the Lomax Center in Roaring River. Also applications are being taken for the Cub Creek and North Wilkesboro sites. Classes started in August of 2005 for this year’s program and will run until May. Students can enroll at any time up until March of this year. After that they’ll have to wait until the next term. The classes run from 8:30am until 2:30pm Monday through Thursday. The students are admitted based on their family income, as those in the lesser income bracket get taken first. For more information or to enroll your child, you can call Judy Mitchell at the Head Start office. Her number is 667-7174.

Driver Blacks Out And Wrecks On 352 Drive
One car was totaled last week on 352 Drive when a Wilkesboro man blacked out at the wheel. The man and his daughter were in the car when his eyes rolled back in his head and his leg hit the gas pedal. The daughter was able to grab the wheel and manage to steer the car away from a nearby house and then a light pole before slamming into a tree. No one was injured in the crash and the father came to after the crash. An estimated $6500 worth of damage was done in the wreck.

Regional News

Lenoir Man Arrested For Wife’s Murder
Twenty three days after the body of a Lenoir woman was found, authorities have a suspect in custody. Emily Anderson disappeared December 29th while out running errands, causing a statewide search. On January 7th, an anonymous tip led police to Duncan South Carolina, where the woman’s body was found stuffed in the toolbox of her pickup truck. Now police have arrested Emily’s husband, Jerry Anderson and charged him with the crime. Officials wouldn’t discuss any possible motive for the crime. Jerry Anderson is set to appear in court later today.

State News

More Jobs Leaving The Greensboro Area
One of the country’s oldest furniture companies will soon be closing its’ doors in the Triad. Nichols and Stone announced plans over the weekend to shut down their factory in Rural Hall. The move will put 100 people out of work effective May 1st. Company officials said that the move was partly due to labor costs and a market flooded with cheaper goods from overseas.

North Carolina Diocese Calls For End To Death Penalty
North Carolina should put an end to the death penalty. That was the decision handed down by the Central Carolina Episcopal Diocese this weekend. The group of over 600 delegates approved a resolution calling on state lawmakers to commute all those already sentenced to life in prison. Officials from the Diocese said that the death penalty goes against the concept of forgiveness.

Doctor Who Served In Iraq Honored At Camp Lejeune
A doctor who worked to save lives in Iraq is being honored today at Camp Lejeune. Dr. Richard Jadick (Jay-dick) is to be given the Bronze Star due to his heroic actions during the main battle to take Fallujah. Dr. Jadick risked his life to save seven badly injured Marines, dodging bullets and rocket propelled grenades to do so. A special ceremony will be held later this afternoon where the doctor will be presented with the Bronze Star.

Sports Headlines

Baseball Registrations Being Taken
With spring around the corner, it’ll soon be time to for kids to suit up and play baseball. The Wilkes County Recreation Department is now registering kids for the 2006 season in tee-ball, baseball and softball. You can pick up a registration form at Cook’s, the Recreation Department office and also online at www.wilkescounty.net The deadline to register is February 17th and for more information you can call 651-7355.

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene, it was North Surry over Wilkes Central 64-62 in a game that went down to the final seconds. The Greyhounds escape with a win, as a last second shot rimmed out for the Eagles. Wilkes Central drops to 10-9 with the loss. East Wilkes beat the North Wilkes Vikings 69-47. Matt Garris had 17 and Brent Poplin added 14 for the Cardinals, who improve to 8-11. North was led by Dylan Johnson’s 10 points, as he was the only player to score in double figures. North drops to 4-15 with the loss. Also it was Mount Airy over West Wilkes 85-35 in a game that saw West give up 53 points by halftime. No Blackhawk player scored higher than Curtis Lankford’s 9 points, as the team drops to 5-16.
On the girls’ side of the court, it was Wilkes Central over North Surry 56-46. The Lady Eagles improve to 20-1 with the win, one step closer to the regular season conference title. Amy Will had 20 points for Wilkes Central and Sarah Brown added 14. Also the Lady Vikings beat East Wilkes 65-59. North Wilkes had two girls score in double digits, with Blake Shumate putting up 29 and Ashley Wilcox adding 20. East meanwhile was led by Kasi Shaw and Tiffany Smith, both of which had 20 points on the day.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college scene, it was Coastal Carolina over Liberty 72-60, East Carolina beat Tulsa 59-45, Gardner-Webb took care of Jacksonville 77-73 and Appalachian State beat the Citadel 66-65. The Mountaineers were led by DJ Thompson’s 21 points, improving to 9-11 on the season. In other action, Georgia Southern beat UNC Greensboro 86-78, it was High Point over UNC Asheville 64-45, UNC Wilmington beat Northeastern 46-44 and Richmond knocked off UNC Charlotte 63-56. In ACC action, it was Duke crushing Virginia 82-63. J.J. Redick had 40 for the Blue Devils, who improve to 19-1. Meanwhile it was the UNC Tarheels blowing out Arizona 86-69. Freshman Tyler Hansborough had another big game for the Heels, putting up 21 points and 11 rebounds as North Carolina improves to 12-5. Virginia Tech beat Wake Forest 76-70 and it took double overtime but NC State beat Clemson 94-85.

Bobcats Fall To Wizards
Injuries continue to plague the Charlotte Bobcats. With only nine players able to suit up, Charlotte lost to the Washington Wizards 107-97. Primoz Breznec led the Bobcats with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Raymond Felton had one of his best games as a pro, with 18 points and 13 assists. With the loss, Charlotte drops to 11-34 on the season.

Hurricanes Put Away Another Win
On the ice, it was Carolina beating Atlanta 4-1 on Saturday night. Kevin Adams led the Hurricanes with a goal and an assist as the Hurricanes improve to 36-11, the best record in the NHL.