The local and regional news page of 12403wc Hometown Christian Radio.
Friday, March 03, 2006
News & Sports For March 3rd
Arson At Wilkesboro Elementary
Wilkesboro police are investigating a series of arson fires at Wilkesboro Elementary. The first one happened on Tuesday, as a glass jar had been filled with fuel and ignited near one of the building’s corners. Some fire damage was done to the brick and also a nearby post. Evidence was taken from the scene by Wilkesboro police, who were called back on Thursday, after another glass jar filled with fuel was set out. This one however hadn’t been ignited yet and was also taken as evidence. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.
Wind Gusts Blow Through Wilkes
The warm weather yesterday brought a friend along for the ride, as wind gusts blew through the area, hitting 30 mph at times. A traffic light was knocked down in front of Wilkes Towers and several buildings in the county had shingles or other sections torn off. In addition, the dry conditions helped to fan a fire over in the woods near Rock Creek Church Road. Several crews from around the county were called out to battle the blaze, as it took most of the afternoon and into the evening hours to get things under control. However the windy weather left just as quickly as it came and in its’ place a cold front has moved in. Expect a change in pace this weekend, which highs in the 50s and lows once again dropping down to the lower 30s and possibly below that.
Parts Of Tyson In The Dark
Sections of the Tyson plant were left in the dark last night when a transformer blew. As a result, three second shift departments had to be shut down for the duration including the Wing Room, Fillet Debone and Line 6 Cut-Up sections. Officials at the plant said they expected things to be fixed and the plant to be back to normal by tonight’s shift.
Warrants Out On Police Impersonator
A Mooresville man is facing charges today after impersonating a police officer. While driving on Hwy 421, he repeatedly tried to force a Boonville woman to pull off the road. When confronted at a stoplight, he told her he was a Highway Patrolman and she was looking at a $500 fine for tossing out a cigarette butt. The woman repeatedly asked to see a badge, but the man refused and finally drove off in his car. She wrote down his license and turned it in to Wilkesboro police, along with a description of the car and the offender. Charges are now pending against 35-yr-old Darron Martin Deal.
Blood Drives Going On This Weekend
Each day, 1500 pints of blood are needed in emergency rooms across North Carolina. To help fill the need and keep the local blood supply above critical levels, two blood drives are going on in Wilkes County. The first is today at East Wilkes High School. It starts at 8:30am this morning and runs until 1:30pm. Then the second is tomorrow at Liberty Grove Baptist Church, from 10am til 2:30pm. And as always you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs before donating. To schedule an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.
Always Lock Up Before You Leave
Thieves broke into a Roaring River man’s vehicle while he was away this week. The man had parked at a building on Moravian Falls Road and left the truck while handling some business. He returned to find the rear window had been pried open and over $1000 worth of material had been taken. Stolen from inside was $20 in change, $180 in cassette tapes, a carton of cigarettes and several other items. That investigation continues.
Risk Of Fire Grows With Weather Changes
While by all accounts Wilkes County has had a mild winter. But rain, ice and wind have left behind their calling cards with downed trees scattered throughout the area. As we head into warmer weather, those trees can create even more problems. Rain from those weekend storms has also helped grass start to grow around the trees, creating a dangerous combination should there be a lightning strike. In order to protect your property, fire marshals suggest that you remove any downed trees before they can dry out. In addition, you can add some protection to your house by surrounding it with a few succulent plants. Those plants are 90% water and while they may be baked by the flames, they’re not usually burned easy. Instead the water inside can actually serve as a flame deterrent, slowing it down or in some cases aiding to put it out. Succulent plants include aloe, agave, stonecrops and cactus. It’s important to take steps and protect your home now as in the first three months of the year, there have already been several hundred brushfires throughout North Carolina.
3WC Techwatch: All Purpose Cell Phone
How would you like a cell phone that can help with your laundry? You may not have to wait long for one, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. IBM has developed a new type of cell phone, which is currently being tested by using Wake Forest students. The phones use a voice-activated linkup with the internet to help solve problems, such as if a student’s trying to catch a bus. All they have to do is ask “What time is the next bus?” A GPS system will then locate all of the nearby buses and tell the student how long it will be before they’re at his or her stop. In addition, it can be hard to fight for a washer and dryer if you’re living in a dorm. Thanks to the new phones, students will be able to find out if there are any available washers and where they are, saving time. Once the test is complete, IBM says they plan to offer the service to EMS teams, doctors and salesmen as a specialized product. But don’t kid yourself, if you want to save time, you’ll have to spend money, as it won’t be cheap.
Regional News
Massive Fire Spirals Out Of Control In Surry
Firefighters from Surry and Wilkes Counties battled a massive blaze yesterday that stretched across 750 acres near Dobson. Wednesday night, a controlled burn in the southwestern part of Surry County got out of control, igniting the blaze, which quickly spread. The dry conditions and wind gusts reaching over 20 mph didn’t do much to help and as of last night, the fire was still raging.
Caldwell County Teens Injured In Drag Racing Incident
Two teenagers are in the hospital today after drag racing in Caldwell County. Around 8am Thursday morning, the teens were racing another vehicle on the extension road next to Lowes’ Hardware when the two cars collided and then lost control, both going over the embankment. The cars went down a 60 ft. embankment before coming to a sudden stop. The high school students are both in the hospital, with one having to be airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center. The 19-yr-old who was driving the other car walked away from the accident, however charges are pending in the case.
State News
Flu Possibly On The Rise
Bad news for people across the state, as health officials are warning the flu is making a comeback. Over 70 doctors from all over North Carolina are reporting an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms. While most of the cases so far have been mild, over 50% are children. Doctors are suggesting that now is a crucial time to eat well, exercise and get enough sleep, to avoid catching the bug.
Jobs Leaving North Carolina
Overseas competition has cost some more North Carolina workers their jobs. Carolina Mills announced this week that it will be shutting down two of its’ plants in the Valdese and Newton area. The move was blamed on cheaper imported products, which despite recent treaties continue to affect textile and furniture sales here in the U.S. Plant #9 in Valdese will shut its’ doors by the end of April and then Plant #3 in Newton will follow one month later, at the end of May. Over 200 people will be out of work due to the cuts.
Sports Headlines
High School Baseball
On the baseball diamond last night, it was the East Wilkes varsity team over Wilkes Central in 7 innings 13-11. With the win, East improves to 1-1 while Central drops their opening game, going to 0-1. In the earlier JV matchup it was Wilkes Central getting the 14-13 victory.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at college basketball last night, it was UNC Greensboro over Western Carolina 69-65, while Appalachian State beat Wofford 66-65. DJ Thompson led the Mountaineers with 20 points as the team improves to 13-15. Gardner-Webb pulled out the 64-63 win over East Tennessee State, with a last second buzzer beater. The Running Bulldogs improve to 17-11 and advance to the second round of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.
Projects Paving The Way For New Drivers
In NASCAR, a new partnership has been created, in hopes of bringing diversity to the track. 10 historically black colleges & universities are working in connection with NASCAR to develop new curriculums and programs, with the hope that more minorities will want to get involved in the sport. The partnership was also spurred on by legislation passed in both the U.S. House & Senate, calling for more of a minority presence in NASCAR.
In other auto racing news, a great opportunity is becoming available for would be teenage drivers out there. East Lincoln Speedway has created a new entry-level racing series, open for any speedsters age 12 through 16 who want to gain experience on the track. The cars have to be front wheel drive four cylinder vehicles made in 1980 or later and additional safety features have to be added in. The drivers aren’t just racing for experience however as a $1000 college scholarship will be handed out to the series champion at the end of each year.
Panthers Have To Make Roster Cuts
With NFL labor talks at a standstill, teams are having to make hard decisions.
If the sides can’t come to an agreement, then the default salary cap goes into effect, putting each team’s salary at around $95 million if they don’t want to be penalized. As the Panthers and several other teams have salaries over $100 million, they spent Wednesday making cuts to get under the possible cap. Running backs Stephen Davis & Rod Smart along with defensive tackle Brentson Buckner were all let go. Davis and Smart are coming off knee injuries, with Davis still recovering from ACL surgery. Buckner and Davis are expected to possibly be resigned and invited to training camp once a new labor contract is in place. Currently the owners and players are separated by percentage points. The players union wants 60% of all revenue to come to them, while the owners are willing to give them 56.4%.
Felton Named Rookie Of The Month
In the NBA, Bobcats rookie Raymond Felton heads into tonight’s game with some good news. He was selected as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February, putting up double figures in all but two of the team’s games. He also put up 31 points last Saturday against Phoenix, the most by a rookie this year. So far in his first year Felton is third in points, averaging 15 a game and second in assists with 6 a game, just behind Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
Wilkesboro police are investigating a series of arson fires at Wilkesboro Elementary. The first one happened on Tuesday, as a glass jar had been filled with fuel and ignited near one of the building’s corners. Some fire damage was done to the brick and also a nearby post. Evidence was taken from the scene by Wilkesboro police, who were called back on Thursday, after another glass jar filled with fuel was set out. This one however hadn’t been ignited yet and was also taken as evidence. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.
Wind Gusts Blow Through Wilkes
The warm weather yesterday brought a friend along for the ride, as wind gusts blew through the area, hitting 30 mph at times. A traffic light was knocked down in front of Wilkes Towers and several buildings in the county had shingles or other sections torn off. In addition, the dry conditions helped to fan a fire over in the woods near Rock Creek Church Road. Several crews from around the county were called out to battle the blaze, as it took most of the afternoon and into the evening hours to get things under control. However the windy weather left just as quickly as it came and in its’ place a cold front has moved in. Expect a change in pace this weekend, which highs in the 50s and lows once again dropping down to the lower 30s and possibly below that.
Parts Of Tyson In The Dark
Sections of the Tyson plant were left in the dark last night when a transformer blew. As a result, three second shift departments had to be shut down for the duration including the Wing Room, Fillet Debone and Line 6 Cut-Up sections. Officials at the plant said they expected things to be fixed and the plant to be back to normal by tonight’s shift.
Warrants Out On Police Impersonator
A Mooresville man is facing charges today after impersonating a police officer. While driving on Hwy 421, he repeatedly tried to force a Boonville woman to pull off the road. When confronted at a stoplight, he told her he was a Highway Patrolman and she was looking at a $500 fine for tossing out a cigarette butt. The woman repeatedly asked to see a badge, but the man refused and finally drove off in his car. She wrote down his license and turned it in to Wilkesboro police, along with a description of the car and the offender. Charges are now pending against 35-yr-old Darron Martin Deal.
Blood Drives Going On This Weekend
Each day, 1500 pints of blood are needed in emergency rooms across North Carolina. To help fill the need and keep the local blood supply above critical levels, two blood drives are going on in Wilkes County. The first is today at East Wilkes High School. It starts at 8:30am this morning and runs until 1:30pm. Then the second is tomorrow at Liberty Grove Baptist Church, from 10am til 2:30pm. And as always you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs before donating. To schedule an appointment, the Red Cross number is 838-4563.
Always Lock Up Before You Leave
Thieves broke into a Roaring River man’s vehicle while he was away this week. The man had parked at a building on Moravian Falls Road and left the truck while handling some business. He returned to find the rear window had been pried open and over $1000 worth of material had been taken. Stolen from inside was $20 in change, $180 in cassette tapes, a carton of cigarettes and several other items. That investigation continues.
Risk Of Fire Grows With Weather Changes
While by all accounts Wilkes County has had a mild winter. But rain, ice and wind have left behind their calling cards with downed trees scattered throughout the area. As we head into warmer weather, those trees can create even more problems. Rain from those weekend storms has also helped grass start to grow around the trees, creating a dangerous combination should there be a lightning strike. In order to protect your property, fire marshals suggest that you remove any downed trees before they can dry out. In addition, you can add some protection to your house by surrounding it with a few succulent plants. Those plants are 90% water and while they may be baked by the flames, they’re not usually burned easy. Instead the water inside can actually serve as a flame deterrent, slowing it down or in some cases aiding to put it out. Succulent plants include aloe, agave, stonecrops and cactus. It’s important to take steps and protect your home now as in the first three months of the year, there have already been several hundred brushfires throughout North Carolina.
3WC Techwatch: All Purpose Cell Phone
How would you like a cell phone that can help with your laundry? You may not have to wait long for one, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. IBM has developed a new type of cell phone, which is currently being tested by using Wake Forest students. The phones use a voice-activated linkup with the internet to help solve problems, such as if a student’s trying to catch a bus. All they have to do is ask “What time is the next bus?” A GPS system will then locate all of the nearby buses and tell the student how long it will be before they’re at his or her stop. In addition, it can be hard to fight for a washer and dryer if you’re living in a dorm. Thanks to the new phones, students will be able to find out if there are any available washers and where they are, saving time. Once the test is complete, IBM says they plan to offer the service to EMS teams, doctors and salesmen as a specialized product. But don’t kid yourself, if you want to save time, you’ll have to spend money, as it won’t be cheap.
Regional News
Massive Fire Spirals Out Of Control In Surry
Firefighters from Surry and Wilkes Counties battled a massive blaze yesterday that stretched across 750 acres near Dobson. Wednesday night, a controlled burn in the southwestern part of Surry County got out of control, igniting the blaze, which quickly spread. The dry conditions and wind gusts reaching over 20 mph didn’t do much to help and as of last night, the fire was still raging.
Caldwell County Teens Injured In Drag Racing Incident
Two teenagers are in the hospital today after drag racing in Caldwell County. Around 8am Thursday morning, the teens were racing another vehicle on the extension road next to Lowes’ Hardware when the two cars collided and then lost control, both going over the embankment. The cars went down a 60 ft. embankment before coming to a sudden stop. The high school students are both in the hospital, with one having to be airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center. The 19-yr-old who was driving the other car walked away from the accident, however charges are pending in the case.
State News
Flu Possibly On The Rise
Bad news for people across the state, as health officials are warning the flu is making a comeback. Over 70 doctors from all over North Carolina are reporting an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms. While most of the cases so far have been mild, over 50% are children. Doctors are suggesting that now is a crucial time to eat well, exercise and get enough sleep, to avoid catching the bug.
Jobs Leaving North Carolina
Overseas competition has cost some more North Carolina workers their jobs. Carolina Mills announced this week that it will be shutting down two of its’ plants in the Valdese and Newton area. The move was blamed on cheaper imported products, which despite recent treaties continue to affect textile and furniture sales here in the U.S. Plant #9 in Valdese will shut its’ doors by the end of April and then Plant #3 in Newton will follow one month later, at the end of May. Over 200 people will be out of work due to the cuts.
Sports Headlines
High School Baseball
On the baseball diamond last night, it was the East Wilkes varsity team over Wilkes Central in 7 innings 13-11. With the win, East improves to 1-1 while Central drops their opening game, going to 0-1. In the earlier JV matchup it was Wilkes Central getting the 14-13 victory.
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at college basketball last night, it was UNC Greensboro over Western Carolina 69-65, while Appalachian State beat Wofford 66-65. DJ Thompson led the Mountaineers with 20 points as the team improves to 13-15. Gardner-Webb pulled out the 64-63 win over East Tennessee State, with a last second buzzer beater. The Running Bulldogs improve to 17-11 and advance to the second round of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.
Projects Paving The Way For New Drivers
In NASCAR, a new partnership has been created, in hopes of bringing diversity to the track. 10 historically black colleges & universities are working in connection with NASCAR to develop new curriculums and programs, with the hope that more minorities will want to get involved in the sport. The partnership was also spurred on by legislation passed in both the U.S. House & Senate, calling for more of a minority presence in NASCAR.
In other auto racing news, a great opportunity is becoming available for would be teenage drivers out there. East Lincoln Speedway has created a new entry-level racing series, open for any speedsters age 12 through 16 who want to gain experience on the track. The cars have to be front wheel drive four cylinder vehicles made in 1980 or later and additional safety features have to be added in. The drivers aren’t just racing for experience however as a $1000 college scholarship will be handed out to the series champion at the end of each year.
Panthers Have To Make Roster Cuts
With NFL labor talks at a standstill, teams are having to make hard decisions.
If the sides can’t come to an agreement, then the default salary cap goes into effect, putting each team’s salary at around $95 million if they don’t want to be penalized. As the Panthers and several other teams have salaries over $100 million, they spent Wednesday making cuts to get under the possible cap. Running backs Stephen Davis & Rod Smart along with defensive tackle Brentson Buckner were all let go. Davis and Smart are coming off knee injuries, with Davis still recovering from ACL surgery. Buckner and Davis are expected to possibly be resigned and invited to training camp once a new labor contract is in place. Currently the owners and players are separated by percentage points. The players union wants 60% of all revenue to come to them, while the owners are willing to give them 56.4%.
Felton Named Rookie Of The Month
In the NBA, Bobcats rookie Raymond Felton heads into tonight’s game with some good news. He was selected as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February, putting up double figures in all but two of the team’s games. He also put up 31 points last Saturday against Phoenix, the most by a rookie this year. So far in his first year Felton is third in points, averaging 15 a game and second in assists with 6 a game, just behind Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
posted by Scott Roberts # 4:19 PM
Thursday, March 02, 2006
News & Sports For March 2nd
Lights Go Out In Wilkes County
Some people in Wilkes County woke up without electricity Wednesday morning near the Millers Creek area. 2000 people were affected all total as Duke Power reported an equipment malfunction at a local substation. The incident happened around 6:30am and power was restored to everyone by 8:30am.
Thieves Break In To Rip Radio Out
Always lock your car when you leave. A Wilkesboro man found out why that’s a good idea this week, after returning to find thieves had paid him a visit. He had parked one of his cars at home Sunday night and forgot about it. Coming back to it on Tuesday, he found the CB radio inside had been torn out. All the wires had been cut, however nothing else was either missing or damaged inside the vehicle. That investigation continues.
Focus On Grief
All of us have to face the death of friends and family at some point. How we deal with that grief can affect our lives for months, years or possibly the rest of our lives. Still there really isn’t a strict set of rules to go by when dealing with grief. Coming up today on Focus on the Foothills, Brian's guest will be Margo Wheeler from Hospice. They'll be discussing ways of dealing with grief and also the upcoming classes on the subject put on by Hospice. That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Truck Damaged In North Wilkesboro
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he walked outside Tuesday morning. Over $100 worth of damage had been done to his truck, as someone had keyed the tailgate. There are suspects in the case and sheriff’s deputies are continuing the investigation.
Breaking The Bank Part IV: Planning Ahead
College is expensive for both the parents and prospective students. How can you afford a dorm room, tuition and the books you'll need? Throughout this week on the 3WC News, we’ve been taking a look at ways you can cover the cost without breaking the bank. But what if college is still a few years off for your child? One option for parents to consider is setting up a 529 plan. Each year over 7 million families use the plans to help in setting aside money for college. Coming up today in the 3WC News, Brian will be talking with Carol Owens from financial service Scott and Stringfellow about what the plans are and who qualifies.
Just Came By To Drop Some Stuff Off
Someone decided to use a Wilkesboro woman’s property as their own personal dump this week. She came to have a look around and found that a pile of cement blocks, tin, metal pipe and wire and been dropped off on her yard. It’s unknown exactly when this happened, as the woman had been gone for several months and the neighbors couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anything unusual. That investigation continues.
3WC Eye On Safety: Protect Yourself While Shopping
With the weather getting warmer, more people are shopping and taking part in local activities. But while you're out and about, it's a good idea to take some precautions and stay safe as we explain in today’s 3WC Eye On Safety. First, always keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up when leaving the vehicle. Over the past few weeks here in Wilkes several reports have come in of thieves opening unlocked doors and running off with items from inside. Also don't leave packages on the seat of your car. The reason being, would be thieves can see the items as they're walking by and it serves as a temptation to them. Once you buy something, put it in your trunk or behind the seat, out of sight. Finally, keep a grip on your purse, handbag or wallet and make sure not to set it down on either the top of your vehicle or off to the side when loading your purchases. That way thieves can't grab it and take off running before you've had a chance to react. Overall just watch out and enjoy the return of spring.
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 helping to solve that by 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.
State News
Troops Coming Home
Some good news for military families across North Carolina, as 200 soldiers made their way home this week. On Wednesday, members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division made their way back to Fort Bragg, marking the first time in over five years the entire division has been on leave. The 200 troops are the first of over 1100 that are expected to come back in the next few months from service in Afghanistan.
Gun Brought Into Fayetteville School
A 12-yr-old boy has been arrested in Fayetteville, after bringing a gun to his school. School authorities at Pine Forest Middle School discovered that the boy was carrying a fully loaded, semi-automatic handgun just before 1pm on Tuesday. He has since been arrested for bringing a weapon onto school grounds. No other information has been made available to the media.
Layoffs Coming For Winston Workers
Bad news for workers in Winston Salem today. US Airways has announced plans to transfer several hundred jobs out of the area beginning next month. As part of their merger with America West, US Airways will transfer their revenue collections department to the Tempe, Arizona area in a move expected to save the company millions of dollars. Company officials said that no jobs are being eliminated and that employees have the option of moving to the new location. If they decline, they’ll be given a severance package from the airline. The relocation is on track to start April 28th.
Accident With Gun Puts A Greensboro Girl In Hospital
A 6-yr-old girl is in the hospital today after an accident in a Greensboro store. The girl and her 9-yr-old friend were hunting for candy in a Mexican store owned by her grandmother, when they opened up a drawer and found a gun. The girl picked up the loaded weapon and as the boy tried to take it away, the gun went off. The 6-yr-old, whose name has not been released, was taken to Moses Cone Hospital for surgery and her family has asked that no information be released on her condition.
Cigarettes Taken From Store
The FBI are investigating a large scale theft that happened this week in Greensboro. Four tractor trailer trucks from Lorillard Tobacco had their cargo vanish, with several million dollars worth of cigarettes taken. Questions are being raised if the expiring contract with the trucking union had anything to do with the theft as it had been set to expire Tuesday night when the cigarettes went missing. While talks continue, the contract has since been extended to March 7th.
Sports Headlines
High School Baseball Tonight
With spring on the way, it’s time to toss the first pitch for our high school baseball coverage. Tonight we’ll be broadcasting from Moravian Falls, as Wilkes Central plays host to East Wilkes. Gametime is set for 7pm and we’ll go on the air with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45.
NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college scoreboard last night, it was UNC Charlotte over Duquesne 77-71. The 49ers got 27 points and 10 rebounds from Curtis Withers, improving to 18-10, good enough for second place in the Atlantic 10. Meanwhile in the ACC, it was a blowout on Senior Night, as North Carolina took care of Virginia 99-54. Senior David Noel led the way with a career high 26 points as the Heels improve to 20-6. And in a major upset, it was the unranked Florida State Seminoles beating the Duke Blue Devils 79-74. Duke got 30 points from J.J. Redick and 20 points along with 16 rebounds from Shelton Williams but it wasn’t enough to overcome the FSU attack. With the loss Duke drops to 27-2 and runs the risk of dropping in the rankings when the new Top 25 poll comes out next week.
NBA: Charlotte vs. Utah
Taking a look at the senior circuit of the NBA last night, it was Charlotte over Utah 104-89. Gerald Wallace had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks as the Bobcats improve to 16-43. Next up on their road trip is a visit to Dallas Friday night.
NHL: Boston at Carolina
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes had no problems getting back on track. Coming off the Olympic break, the team beat Boston 4-3 in front of the home crowd at the RBC Center. Aaron Ward had two goals to lead the Hurricanes, who improve to 40-14, tied with Detroit for the best record in the NHL.
NC Skater Working For Charity
North Carolina speed skater Joey Cheek already has plans to go to work now that the Olympics are over. Cheek, who picked up a gold and silver medal in speed skating, donated his bonus money from the games to help rebuild the war ravaged Darfar region of the Sudan. Now he plans to go to Zambia on a humanitarian mission. He’ll be working with Right To Play, a group that uses sports as a way to promote healthy lifestyles for children in the Third World. In addition, Cheek laid down a challenge when he donated the prize money, calling on his sponsors and other corporations to match the money. So far $300,000 has come in to help the charity, with more on the way from individuals.
Some people in Wilkes County woke up without electricity Wednesday morning near the Millers Creek area. 2000 people were affected all total as Duke Power reported an equipment malfunction at a local substation. The incident happened around 6:30am and power was restored to everyone by 8:30am.
Thieves Break In To Rip Radio Out
Always lock your car when you leave. A Wilkesboro man found out why that’s a good idea this week, after returning to find thieves had paid him a visit. He had parked one of his cars at home Sunday night and forgot about it. Coming back to it on Tuesday, he found the CB radio inside had been torn out. All the wires had been cut, however nothing else was either missing or damaged inside the vehicle. That investigation continues.
Focus On Grief
All of us have to face the death of friends and family at some point. How we deal with that grief can affect our lives for months, years or possibly the rest of our lives. Still there really isn’t a strict set of rules to go by when dealing with grief. Coming up today on Focus on the Foothills, Brian's guest will be Margo Wheeler from Hospice. They'll be discussing ways of dealing with grief and also the upcoming classes on the subject put on by Hospice. That’s coming up today at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Truck Damaged In North Wilkesboro
A North Wilkesboro man got a surprise when he walked outside Tuesday morning. Over $100 worth of damage had been done to his truck, as someone had keyed the tailgate. There are suspects in the case and sheriff’s deputies are continuing the investigation.
Breaking The Bank Part IV: Planning Ahead
College is expensive for both the parents and prospective students. How can you afford a dorm room, tuition and the books you'll need? Throughout this week on the 3WC News, we’ve been taking a look at ways you can cover the cost without breaking the bank. But what if college is still a few years off for your child? One option for parents to consider is setting up a 529 plan. Each year over 7 million families use the plans to help in setting aside money for college. Coming up today in the 3WC News, Brian will be talking with Carol Owens from financial service Scott and Stringfellow about what the plans are and who qualifies.
Just Came By To Drop Some Stuff Off
Someone decided to use a Wilkesboro woman’s property as their own personal dump this week. She came to have a look around and found that a pile of cement blocks, tin, metal pipe and wire and been dropped off on her yard. It’s unknown exactly when this happened, as the woman had been gone for several months and the neighbors couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anything unusual. That investigation continues.
3WC Eye On Safety: Protect Yourself While Shopping
With the weather getting warmer, more people are shopping and taking part in local activities. But while you're out and about, it's a good idea to take some precautions and stay safe as we explain in today’s 3WC Eye On Safety. First, always keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up when leaving the vehicle. Over the past few weeks here in Wilkes several reports have come in of thieves opening unlocked doors and running off with items from inside. Also don't leave packages on the seat of your car. The reason being, would be thieves can see the items as they're walking by and it serves as a temptation to them. Once you buy something, put it in your trunk or behind the seat, out of sight. Finally, keep a grip on your purse, handbag or wallet and make sure not to set it down on either the top of your vehicle or off to the side when loading your purchases. That way thieves can't grab it and take off running before you've had a chance to react. Overall just watch out and enjoy the return of spring.
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 helping to solve that by 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.
State News
Troops Coming Home
Some good news for military families across North Carolina, as 200 soldiers made their way home this week. On Wednesday, members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division made their way back to Fort Bragg, marking the first time in over five years the entire division has been on leave. The 200 troops are the first of over 1100 that are expected to come back in the next few months from service in Afghanistan.
Gun Brought Into Fayetteville School
A 12-yr-old boy has been arrested in Fayetteville, after bringing a gun to his school. School authorities at Pine Forest Middle School discovered that the boy was carrying a fully loaded, semi-automatic handgun just before 1pm on Tuesday. He has since been arrested for bringing a weapon onto school grounds. No other information has been made available to the media.
Layoffs Coming For Winston Workers
Bad news for workers in Winston Salem today. US Airways has announced plans to transfer several hundred jobs out of the area beginning next month. As part of their merger with America West, US Airways will transfer their revenue collections department to the Tempe, Arizona area in a move expected to save the company millions of dollars. Company officials said that no jobs are being eliminated and that employees have the option of moving to the new location. If they decline, they’ll be given a severance package from the airline. The relocation is on track to start April 28th.
Accident With Gun Puts A Greensboro Girl In Hospital
A 6-yr-old girl is in the hospital today after an accident in a Greensboro store. The girl and her 9-yr-old friend were hunting for candy in a Mexican store owned by her grandmother, when they opened up a drawer and found a gun. The girl picked up the loaded weapon and as the boy tried to take it away, the gun went off. The 6-yr-old, whose name has not been released, was taken to Moses Cone Hospital for surgery and her family has asked that no information be released on her condition.
Cigarettes Taken From Store
The FBI are investigating a large scale theft that happened this week in Greensboro. Four tractor trailer trucks from Lorillard Tobacco had their cargo vanish, with several million dollars worth of cigarettes taken. Questions are being raised if the expiring contract with the trucking union had anything to do with the theft as it had been set to expire Tuesday night when the cigarettes went missing. While talks continue, the contract has since been extended to March 7th.
Sports Headlines
High School Baseball Tonight
With spring on the way, it’s time to toss the first pitch for our high school baseball coverage. Tonight we’ll be broadcasting from Moravian Falls, as Wilkes Central plays host to East Wilkes. Gametime is set for 7pm and we’ll go on the air with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45.
NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college scoreboard last night, it was UNC Charlotte over Duquesne 77-71. The 49ers got 27 points and 10 rebounds from Curtis Withers, improving to 18-10, good enough for second place in the Atlantic 10. Meanwhile in the ACC, it was a blowout on Senior Night, as North Carolina took care of Virginia 99-54. Senior David Noel led the way with a career high 26 points as the Heels improve to 20-6. And in a major upset, it was the unranked Florida State Seminoles beating the Duke Blue Devils 79-74. Duke got 30 points from J.J. Redick and 20 points along with 16 rebounds from Shelton Williams but it wasn’t enough to overcome the FSU attack. With the loss Duke drops to 27-2 and runs the risk of dropping in the rankings when the new Top 25 poll comes out next week.
NBA: Charlotte vs. Utah
Taking a look at the senior circuit of the NBA last night, it was Charlotte over Utah 104-89. Gerald Wallace had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks as the Bobcats improve to 16-43. Next up on their road trip is a visit to Dallas Friday night.
NHL: Boston at Carolina
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes had no problems getting back on track. Coming off the Olympic break, the team beat Boston 4-3 in front of the home crowd at the RBC Center. Aaron Ward had two goals to lead the Hurricanes, who improve to 40-14, tied with Detroit for the best record in the NHL.
NC Skater Working For Charity
North Carolina speed skater Joey Cheek already has plans to go to work now that the Olympics are over. Cheek, who picked up a gold and silver medal in speed skating, donated his bonus money from the games to help rebuild the war ravaged Darfar region of the Sudan. Now he plans to go to Zambia on a humanitarian mission. He’ll be working with Right To Play, a group that uses sports as a way to promote healthy lifestyles for children in the Third World. In addition, Cheek laid down a challenge when he donated the prize money, calling on his sponsors and other corporations to match the money. So far $300,000 has come in to help the charity, with more on the way from individuals.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:28 AM
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
News & Sports For March 1st
Last Second Candidates Rush To File
The field is set for all political races in Wilkes County, as the filing deadline came and went yesterday at noon. Several newcomers put their name in the hat as only Sheriff Dane Mastin is running unopposed. Two seats are open for the Board of Education with Karen Reeves running for re-election. She’ll face competition from Fred McCall, Lyn Ashley and Frances Tharpe. For Clerk of Court it’s a five person field, with Joe Byrd, John Yates, Geoff Farmer, Brenda Barber and Janet Handy all vying for the job. In the 94th District of the North Carolina House, Tracey Walker is running for another term and he’s being opposed by Barry Brown and Judy Porter. In the 45th State Senate District, John Garwood is running for re-election, going up against David Blust. And in the race for county commissioner, two seats are open, with Luther Parks and Zach Henderson both running for another term. They’re joined in the race by a loaded field that includes David Day, Jason Carlton, Joanne Elledge, Robert Crews and Matt Ledford.
High Speed Chase Leads To Arrest In Boomer
Sheriff’s deputies were called out Monday night to a residence on the Hendrin Road, after reports of a disturbance came in. As deputies arrived on the scene, one of the people involved in the disturbance ran to his vehicle and drove off. To do so, he ran a stop sign and kept accelerating as deputies pursued. The chase went through portions of the Brushy Mountain Road, Lithia Springs Road and East Brocktown Road, hitting speeds of over 100 mph at times. The driver then turned onto Hwy 18 South toward the Caldwell County line, before pulling off onto High Rock Road and going down a 4-wheeler trail. Deputies couldn’t follow on the trail, but later found the vehicle abandoned, with less than a gram of marijuana inside. The Jeep Cherokee was seized and charges were filed against 30-yr-old Dwight Kelly Payne of failing to heed blue lights, fleeing to escape arrest, reckless driving, failure to yield the right of way, driving left of center and drug possession.
Money Stolen From Traphill Home
Thieves broke into a Traphill residence earlier this week, running off with two guns, a stagecoach box and over $400 in old money. It’s unclear exactly how the thieves gained access to the home, as there was nothing damaged and no sign of a break-in on the property. All total over a thousand dollars worth of material was taken from the home and that investigation continues.
Cheaper Way To File Taxes
With time running out before April 15th, it’s time to start thinking about filing your taxes if you haven’t already. Filing taxes this year could be a lot cheaper for people here in North Carolina, thanks to a new plan. The State Department of Revenue announced this week that two companies have agreed to offer free state tax returns through their website. The plan applies to anyone who makes $50,000 a year or less and can be accessed by going to www.dor.state.nc.us . That will let you link up with either TaxEngine or TaxSimple, the two companies providing the free services.
Red Cross Looking For Fundraising Help
We’ve talked a lot here on the news about the need for blood in Wilkes County. But thanks to last year’s hurricanes and the cost of relocating survivors, the local Red Cross needs help of a different kind as well. The local chapter continues to sell cookbooks, to help raise the money it needs to cover costs of daily operations. The cost of a cookbook is $10 and it contains recipes from chapter members along with their family and friends. For more information or to purchase one, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Focus On Grief
All of us have to face the death of friends and family at some point. How we deal with that grief can affect our lives for months, years or possibly the rest of our lives. Still there really isn’t a strict set of rules to go by when dealing with grief. And coming up this week on Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking about the subject with Margo Wheeler from Hospice. They’ll be discussing ways of dealing with grief and also the upcoming classes on the subject put on by Hospice. That’s coming up Thursday at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Money Stolen From Paper Rack
Thieves broke into the paper rack at Mike’s Bait & Tackle Tuesday morning. It appears that someone had cut the padlock off the rack, then just took the money and left. However the joke was on the thieves, as only about $2 is estimated to have been in the rack. That investigation continues.
Breaking The Bank Part III: Local Scholarships & Tips
Well you’ve got accepted to college and have searched high and low for ways to pay for it. In the third part of our financial aid series, we take a look at some local and nationwide scholarships you or a college student you know could apply for. Here in Wilkes, the Veteran’s Service office wants to help the children of soldiers pay for college by offering a scholarship. To qualify you must either be a veteran or the child of a veteran and for more information or to apply, all someone needs to do is first call ahead to the Veteran's Service Office at 651-7327 and set up an appointment, then drop by the office, located at 110 North Street in Wilkesboro to fill out an application. In addition across the United States, 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 this Friday, March 3rd and you can download an entry form by logging on to www.whymilk.com. Coming up tomorrow in our financial aid series, we take a look at how to plan a few years down the road for those parents whose kids have yet to reach the teen years.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A traffic stop by sheriff’s deputies led to a drug bust in North Wilkesboro. Deputies pulled over a car on Peace Street, after recognizing the driver, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. As they arrested 21-yr-old Christina Renee Stotler, deputies smelled marijuana in the car and did a search. Within a few minutes they found 4 grams of marijuana and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine. 24-yr-old Byron Anthony Parsons and 21-yr-old Kevin Dunnery were both arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
State News
Investigation Halted Into Morganton Plant
An investigation into what caused the explosion at a Morganton chemical plant has been called off due to structural damage. The January 31st explosion at Synthron Inc. severely damaged the building, to the point it’s not safe to go inside. Employees reported hearing a loud hiss in the building before the explosion, which investigators later traced back to a leaking chemical reactor.
Dead Body Found At Charlotte Douglas
Officials are investigating a strange delivery at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Tuesday morning around 3am a woman’s body was found in the Wilson Air Center, lying under a motorized car. Few details have been released, except that the police are treating the case as a homicide. The Wilson Center handles all food, fuel and repairs for corporate and private planes that pass through the airport. All flights went on as scheduled yesterday with no interruptions.
Robeson County Teacher Arrested For Drugs
A high school teacher in Robeson County was arrested on Monday for dealing drugs. 36-yr-old Kristy Leah West is now facing charges of conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud and conspiracy to traffic in heroin after being busted in Cumberland County for the offense. West has been working in the Robeson County school system since 1993, currently working as an English teacher at South Robeson High.
Street Named After Dr. King
The Charlotte City Council paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, renaming a street in his honor. The move has been at the center of controversy over the past month as a street has been selected. The original choice, Stonewall Street, was vetoed by members of the community who wanted it to remain as a tribute to another famous American, Stonewall Jackson. After going through a list of choices, it was determined that Second Street will now become Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Jobs Leaving Alamance For Mexico
Bad news today for people in Alamance County, as their jobs are heading south of the border. 133 jobs will be lost as Kidde Residential moves its’ plant to Matamoros Mexico. The company, which produces fire extinguishers, said that the move was necessary to help them stay competitive in the global market. Layoffs are expected to begin in September.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college scoreboard, it was Winthrop over Liberty 93-52, High Point beat Radford 87-84, Coastal Carolina knocked off UNC Asheville 78-62 and it was Boston College over Wake Forest 80-65. The Demon Deacons were led by Trent Strickland’s 15 points as they drop to 14-15 on the season.
New Top 25 Revealed
Speaking of college basketball, the new Top 25 poll has been released and Duke stays atop the list. The Blue Devils, coming in at 27-1 play host to Florida State tonight. Connecticut is back at #2, with Memphis #3 and Villanova rounding out the top four. Other North Carolina teams on the list are the UNC Tarheels, who move up to #13 and NC State at #22. Also making the Top 50 for the second straight week was UNC Wilmington, hanging around at #40.
Girls All ACC Teams Announced
On the girls side of the court, the All ACC team was announced this week, with three players from North Carolina on the list. Duke’s Monique Curry made the team, followed by Ivory Latta and Erlana Larkins from North Carolina.
NC College Player Auditioning For NFL
With the NFL’s draft combine wrapping up this week, one player from a North Carolina school is looking to get noticed. Chris Cook is a 6’1 ft 307 lb offensive lineman, able to play both guard and center. The Wingate native played four years at Chattanooga, then switching out for his 5th and final at Georgetown College in Kentucky. Cook is more athletic than most linemen, as he can run a 40-yd-dash in 4.9 seconds and do over 30 reps at a weight of 225 lbs. He’s at the combine trying to impress scouts and land an invitation to training camp.
Charlotte The Favorite For Hall Of Fame
In NASCAR, a major decision could be coming within the next month and it looks like good news for the Queen City. Charlotte is the frontrunner for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, according to several officials from the organization. The city has proposed a $137 million building near to the convention center and team owner Rick Hendrick is serving as frontman for the project. Another thing in Charlotte’s favor is the fact that most teams are based in the area and virtually all of the drivers live in the general vicinity. Despite all of that, NASCAR says a final decision won’t be made until the middle of March.
The field is set for all political races in Wilkes County, as the filing deadline came and went yesterday at noon. Several newcomers put their name in the hat as only Sheriff Dane Mastin is running unopposed. Two seats are open for the Board of Education with Karen Reeves running for re-election. She’ll face competition from Fred McCall, Lyn Ashley and Frances Tharpe. For Clerk of Court it’s a five person field, with Joe Byrd, John Yates, Geoff Farmer, Brenda Barber and Janet Handy all vying for the job. In the 94th District of the North Carolina House, Tracey Walker is running for another term and he’s being opposed by Barry Brown and Judy Porter. In the 45th State Senate District, John Garwood is running for re-election, going up against David Blust. And in the race for county commissioner, two seats are open, with Luther Parks and Zach Henderson both running for another term. They’re joined in the race by a loaded field that includes David Day, Jason Carlton, Joanne Elledge, Robert Crews and Matt Ledford.
High Speed Chase Leads To Arrest In Boomer
Sheriff’s deputies were called out Monday night to a residence on the Hendrin Road, after reports of a disturbance came in. As deputies arrived on the scene, one of the people involved in the disturbance ran to his vehicle and drove off. To do so, he ran a stop sign and kept accelerating as deputies pursued. The chase went through portions of the Brushy Mountain Road, Lithia Springs Road and East Brocktown Road, hitting speeds of over 100 mph at times. The driver then turned onto Hwy 18 South toward the Caldwell County line, before pulling off onto High Rock Road and going down a 4-wheeler trail. Deputies couldn’t follow on the trail, but later found the vehicle abandoned, with less than a gram of marijuana inside. The Jeep Cherokee was seized and charges were filed against 30-yr-old Dwight Kelly Payne of failing to heed blue lights, fleeing to escape arrest, reckless driving, failure to yield the right of way, driving left of center and drug possession.
Money Stolen From Traphill Home
Thieves broke into a Traphill residence earlier this week, running off with two guns, a stagecoach box and over $400 in old money. It’s unclear exactly how the thieves gained access to the home, as there was nothing damaged and no sign of a break-in on the property. All total over a thousand dollars worth of material was taken from the home and that investigation continues.
Cheaper Way To File Taxes
With time running out before April 15th, it’s time to start thinking about filing your taxes if you haven’t already. Filing taxes this year could be a lot cheaper for people here in North Carolina, thanks to a new plan. The State Department of Revenue announced this week that two companies have agreed to offer free state tax returns through their website. The plan applies to anyone who makes $50,000 a year or less and can be accessed by going to www.dor.state.nc.us . That will let you link up with either TaxEngine or TaxSimple, the two companies providing the free services.
Red Cross Looking For Fundraising Help
We’ve talked a lot here on the news about the need for blood in Wilkes County. But thanks to last year’s hurricanes and the cost of relocating survivors, the local Red Cross needs help of a different kind as well. The local chapter continues to sell cookbooks, to help raise the money it needs to cover costs of daily operations. The cost of a cookbook is $10 and it contains recipes from chapter members along with their family and friends. For more information or to purchase one, you can call the Red Cross at 838-4563.
Focus On Grief
All of us have to face the death of friends and family at some point. How we deal with that grief can affect our lives for months, years or possibly the rest of our lives. Still there really isn’t a strict set of rules to go by when dealing with grief. And coming up this week on Focus on the Foothills, Brian will be talking about the subject with Margo Wheeler from Hospice. They’ll be discussing ways of dealing with grief and also the upcoming classes on the subject put on by Hospice. That’s coming up Thursday at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.
Money Stolen From Paper Rack
Thieves broke into the paper rack at Mike’s Bait & Tackle Tuesday morning. It appears that someone had cut the padlock off the rack, then just took the money and left. However the joke was on the thieves, as only about $2 is estimated to have been in the rack. That investigation continues.
Breaking The Bank Part III: Local Scholarships & Tips
Well you’ve got accepted to college and have searched high and low for ways to pay for it. In the third part of our financial aid series, we take a look at some local and nationwide scholarships you or a college student you know could apply for. Here in Wilkes, the Veteran’s Service office wants to help the children of soldiers pay for college by offering a scholarship. To qualify you must either be a veteran or the child of a veteran and for more information or to apply, all someone needs to do is first call ahead to the Veteran's Service Office at 651-7327 and set up an appointment, then drop by the office, located at 110 North Street in Wilkesboro to fill out an application. In addition across the United States, 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 this Friday, March 3rd and you can download an entry form by logging on to www.whymilk.com. Coming up tomorrow in our financial aid series, we take a look at how to plan a few years down the road for those parents whose kids have yet to reach the teen years.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust
A traffic stop by sheriff’s deputies led to a drug bust in North Wilkesboro. Deputies pulled over a car on Peace Street, after recognizing the driver, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. As they arrested 21-yr-old Christina Renee Stotler, deputies smelled marijuana in the car and did a search. Within a few minutes they found 4 grams of marijuana and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine. 24-yr-old Byron Anthony Parsons and 21-yr-old Kevin Dunnery were both arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
State News
Investigation Halted Into Morganton Plant
An investigation into what caused the explosion at a Morganton chemical plant has been called off due to structural damage. The January 31st explosion at Synthron Inc. severely damaged the building, to the point it’s not safe to go inside. Employees reported hearing a loud hiss in the building before the explosion, which investigators later traced back to a leaking chemical reactor.
Dead Body Found At Charlotte Douglas
Officials are investigating a strange delivery at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Tuesday morning around 3am a woman’s body was found in the Wilson Air Center, lying under a motorized car. Few details have been released, except that the police are treating the case as a homicide. The Wilson Center handles all food, fuel and repairs for corporate and private planes that pass through the airport. All flights went on as scheduled yesterday with no interruptions.
Robeson County Teacher Arrested For Drugs
A high school teacher in Robeson County was arrested on Monday for dealing drugs. 36-yr-old Kristy Leah West is now facing charges of conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud and conspiracy to traffic in heroin after being busted in Cumberland County for the offense. West has been working in the Robeson County school system since 1993, currently working as an English teacher at South Robeson High.
Street Named After Dr. King
The Charlotte City Council paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, renaming a street in his honor. The move has been at the center of controversy over the past month as a street has been selected. The original choice, Stonewall Street, was vetoed by members of the community who wanted it to remain as a tribute to another famous American, Stonewall Jackson. After going through a list of choices, it was determined that Second Street will now become Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Jobs Leaving Alamance For Mexico
Bad news today for people in Alamance County, as their jobs are heading south of the border. 133 jobs will be lost as Kidde Residential moves its’ plant to Matamoros Mexico. The company, which produces fire extinguishers, said that the move was necessary to help them stay competitive in the global market. Layoffs are expected to begin in September.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at the college scoreboard, it was Winthrop over Liberty 93-52, High Point beat Radford 87-84, Coastal Carolina knocked off UNC Asheville 78-62 and it was Boston College over Wake Forest 80-65. The Demon Deacons were led by Trent Strickland’s 15 points as they drop to 14-15 on the season.
New Top 25 Revealed
Speaking of college basketball, the new Top 25 poll has been released and Duke stays atop the list. The Blue Devils, coming in at 27-1 play host to Florida State tonight. Connecticut is back at #2, with Memphis #3 and Villanova rounding out the top four. Other North Carolina teams on the list are the UNC Tarheels, who move up to #13 and NC State at #22. Also making the Top 50 for the second straight week was UNC Wilmington, hanging around at #40.
Girls All ACC Teams Announced
On the girls side of the court, the All ACC team was announced this week, with three players from North Carolina on the list. Duke’s Monique Curry made the team, followed by Ivory Latta and Erlana Larkins from North Carolina.
NC College Player Auditioning For NFL
With the NFL’s draft combine wrapping up this week, one player from a North Carolina school is looking to get noticed. Chris Cook is a 6’1 ft 307 lb offensive lineman, able to play both guard and center. The Wingate native played four years at Chattanooga, then switching out for his 5th and final at Georgetown College in Kentucky. Cook is more athletic than most linemen, as he can run a 40-yd-dash in 4.9 seconds and do over 30 reps at a weight of 225 lbs. He’s at the combine trying to impress scouts and land an invitation to training camp.
Charlotte The Favorite For Hall Of Fame
In NASCAR, a major decision could be coming within the next month and it looks like good news for the Queen City. Charlotte is the frontrunner for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, according to several officials from the organization. The city has proposed a $137 million building near to the convention center and team owner Rick Hendrick is serving as frontman for the project. Another thing in Charlotte’s favor is the fact that most teams are based in the area and virtually all of the drivers live in the general vicinity. Despite all of that, NASCAR says a final decision won’t be made until the middle of March.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:29 AM
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
News & Sports For February 28th
Fugitive Arrested In Wilkes
A fugitive from Alabama was apprehended by Wilkesboro police earlier this week. On Sunday, officers received information that 22-yr-old Jessica Michelle Darling was staying with a family in the area. Jessica is currently wanted by officials in Alabama on several charges and was located at a house on Cedar Lane. She’s cureently out on $10,000 bond, awaiting extradition.
Two Damaged In 421 Accident
Two cars were damaged in an accident Sunday afternoon on US 421. A Millers Creek woman was traveling down the road when she had to stop suddenly for traffic. The vehicle behind her, driven by a North Wilkesboro man, couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision. Thankfully no one was hurt in the crash however estimated damages were placed at $1100.
Wilkes Farmers Will See Tax Breaks In New Year
Some good news for Wilkes County farmers as you get set to fill out your taxes. 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.
Is Clean Water Worth One Billion?
Is clean air and water worth one billion dollars to you? That’s a question people here in Wilkes and across the state might have to answer on the ballot this fall. The group Land for Tomorrow wants to put an issue before voters, seeking approval for $1 billion in bond money. That money would go to protect historic places and to clean up air and water across the state. As it would be structured, $200 million would be used each year over a five year period on the project. The proposal has gone before state lawmakers, who will decide in the summer if it makes it to the voting booth come November.
Deadline Is Today For Wilkes Politicians
Today is the final day for anyone who wants to toss their name in the hat and run for political office in Wilkes County. Would be politicians have until noon today to file and submit their paperwork at the Board of Elections. Up for grabs are two county commissioner seats, two seats on the board of education, the office of clerk of court, the 94th District State House seat of incumbent Tracey Walker and the 45th District State Senate seat of incumbent John Garwood.
Breaking The Bank Part Two: Where To Search
So you’ve gotten accepted to college and have a slightly large tuition bill to pay. In the second part of our financial aid series, we take a look at options that are available when searching for scholarships. A lot of websites and companies will try and cheat you, saying that they have exclusive access to the scholarship listings that deal with your student’s field of study. 99% of the time, that’s a lie. If you have internet access, there are several free websites you can visit, that give listings on grants and scholarships. Number one among them is FASTWEB, which you can find at www.fastweb.com. There after filling out a profile, you can search a database of not only scholarships, but grants and loans as well, with information available on how to apply and the deadlines involved. Another good choice is www.scholarships.com, which works almost like fastweb, except like the name says it only deals in scholarships. Another website with the total package of scholarships, loans and grant information here in North Carolina is the College Foundation of North Carolina. Also on the site you can check your college application and use their financial tools to figure out a plan to pay for college. You can find that by logging on to www.cfnc.org. Now coming up tomorrow on the third part, we take a look at some local scholarships here in Wilkes and what you have to do in order to be eligible for them.
Mailbox Vandals Hit Another Wilkes Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out this week to deal with another case of mailbox vandalism, this time in North Wilkesboro. The incident happened on the Elledge Mill Road, as a man walked out of his house to find the mailbox had been damaged. An estimated $70 in damage was done, marking the second time in less than a month the homeowner has fallen victim to the vandals. That investigation continues.
Regional News
Foxx Named As Strong Conservative By National Magazine
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx was honored over the weekend by a national magazine, being labeled one of the most conservative members of Congress. The February 25th edition of National Journal rates Foxx as being more conservative than 91.3% of Congress, based on 111 votes that she took part in last year. Those votes included support to slow the growth of federal spending, voting to secure the border and permanently repeal the death tax among others. Foxx said that she was humbled by the magazine’s and would continue to stand up for conservative values.
State News
Gas Rates Continue To Drop
Some more good news for people across North Carolina, as natural gas rates are set to take another drop. PSNC Energy put forth a request to the state Utilities Commission, asking that they be allowed to lower rates by a 4% margin. That request has since been approved and beginning March 1st, all PSNC customers in North Carolina will save at least $5 on their bill.
Over 100 Cars Damaged In Weekend Spree
Vandals took aim at places all across Mecklenburg County over the weekend, damaging 116 cars in the process. All of the vehicles had windows shattered by a bb gun with estimated damages in the thousands. Most of the targeted vehicles were either mini-vans or SUVs, although it’s still unclear why. It’s also unknown if the crimes were the act of a group or one person.
Chapel Hill Searching For GPA Answers
Some changes could soon be coming for UNC Chapel Hill students. School officials want to increase the number of students who graduate during a four year period, as roughly 84% of the campus finish within five years. In order to do that, officials are considering a raise of the school’s GPA requirement. Also on the table are plans to hire more full time advisors and granting students an extended period to drop or add classes. A decision isn’t expected before the fall semester.
Lowes Reports Huge Earnings
Good news today for Lowes shareholders, as the company reported its’ highest profit increase in over three years. Profits rose almost 37%, totaling $695 million. For individual investors, that translates into 87 cents a share. In general sales climbed to $10.8 billion, a mark the company partially attributes to the hurricanes and other disasters over the past year. CEO Robert Niblock also told reporters that they expect even larger growth in 2006, with shares projected to climb anyway from $4.03 to $4.13.
Sports Headlines
Local Teams Come Up Big In State Championships
Two local schools were in action over the weekend, competing in the State 2A/1A wrestling championships. Overall in points West Wilkes came out as the better of the two local schools in the competition, coming in 13th with 38.5 points. North Wilkes meanwhile came in 21st with 31 points. However it was a North Wilkes wrestler walking away with a title after George Gianera won the 112 lb. division title 6-2, beating Matt Whittle from West Lincoln. Steven Branch from West Wilkes finished as the runner-up in his category, losing to Nick Gregoris of Cardinal Gibbons in the 145 lb division.
Panthers Put Tag On Foster
In the senior circuit of the NFL, the Carolina Panthers came one step closer to filling the holes in their roster last week. They designated DeShaun Foster as the team’s transition player, meaning they can match any offer he receives as a free agent this year. The Panthers want to make Foster their starting running back, but are concerned about his ability to play through a full season. 2005 marked the third time in four years he’s endured a season-ending injury. Before giving him a big contract, the team wants to see how Foster bounces back from a broken ankle.
Punter Will Come Back If Price Is Right
Another member of the Panthers is taking a look at the door, if the team doesn’t meet his price. The agent for punter Jason Baker said that he wants to stay with the team, but won’t do so unless Carolina offers him a contract on par with his market value. Last season Baker made just over $400,000 and is looking for an increase over $1 million. The 27-yr-old was 5th in the NFC last season with a punting average of 43.3 yards per kick.
NBA: Charlotte vs. LA Clippers
Around the NBA, it was the LA Clippers over the Charlotte Bobcats 95-87. Gerald Wallace had 15 points, 16 rebounds and a block as the team drops to 15-43. Coming up they’ll play Utah Wednesday night.
NASCAR Standings
Taking a look at the NASCAR standings after two races, it’s Jimmie Johnson in the lead, 39 points ahead of second place Casey Mears. Matt Kenseth is third after Sunday’s win, Kasey Kahne is in fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes in 5th, 68 points behind the leader. Teams have an off week and then head to Las Vegas March 12th for the DaimlerChrysler 400.
A fugitive from Alabama was apprehended by Wilkesboro police earlier this week. On Sunday, officers received information that 22-yr-old Jessica Michelle Darling was staying with a family in the area. Jessica is currently wanted by officials in Alabama on several charges and was located at a house on Cedar Lane. She’s cureently out on $10,000 bond, awaiting extradition.
Two Damaged In 421 Accident
Two cars were damaged in an accident Sunday afternoon on US 421. A Millers Creek woman was traveling down the road when she had to stop suddenly for traffic. The vehicle behind her, driven by a North Wilkesboro man, couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision. Thankfully no one was hurt in the crash however estimated damages were placed at $1100.
Wilkes Farmers Will See Tax Breaks In New Year
Some good news for Wilkes County farmers as you get set to fill out your taxes. 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.
Is Clean Water Worth One Billion?
Is clean air and water worth one billion dollars to you? That’s a question people here in Wilkes and across the state might have to answer on the ballot this fall. The group Land for Tomorrow wants to put an issue before voters, seeking approval for $1 billion in bond money. That money would go to protect historic places and to clean up air and water across the state. As it would be structured, $200 million would be used each year over a five year period on the project. The proposal has gone before state lawmakers, who will decide in the summer if it makes it to the voting booth come November.
Deadline Is Today For Wilkes Politicians
Today is the final day for anyone who wants to toss their name in the hat and run for political office in Wilkes County. Would be politicians have until noon today to file and submit their paperwork at the Board of Elections. Up for grabs are two county commissioner seats, two seats on the board of education, the office of clerk of court, the 94th District State House seat of incumbent Tracey Walker and the 45th District State Senate seat of incumbent John Garwood.
Breaking The Bank Part Two: Where To Search
So you’ve gotten accepted to college and have a slightly large tuition bill to pay. In the second part of our financial aid series, we take a look at options that are available when searching for scholarships. A lot of websites and companies will try and cheat you, saying that they have exclusive access to the scholarship listings that deal with your student’s field of study. 99% of the time, that’s a lie. If you have internet access, there are several free websites you can visit, that give listings on grants and scholarships. Number one among them is FASTWEB, which you can find at www.fastweb.com. There after filling out a profile, you can search a database of not only scholarships, but grants and loans as well, with information available on how to apply and the deadlines involved. Another good choice is www.scholarships.com, which works almost like fastweb, except like the name says it only deals in scholarships. Another website with the total package of scholarships, loans and grant information here in North Carolina is the College Foundation of North Carolina. Also on the site you can check your college application and use their financial tools to figure out a plan to pay for college. You can find that by logging on to www.cfnc.org. Now coming up tomorrow on the third part, we take a look at some local scholarships here in Wilkes and what you have to do in order to be eligible for them.
Mailbox Vandals Hit Another Wilkes Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out this week to deal with another case of mailbox vandalism, this time in North Wilkesboro. The incident happened on the Elledge Mill Road, as a man walked out of his house to find the mailbox had been damaged. An estimated $70 in damage was done, marking the second time in less than a month the homeowner has fallen victim to the vandals. That investigation continues.
Regional News
Foxx Named As Strong Conservative By National Magazine
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx was honored over the weekend by a national magazine, being labeled one of the most conservative members of Congress. The February 25th edition of National Journal rates Foxx as being more conservative than 91.3% of Congress, based on 111 votes that she took part in last year. Those votes included support to slow the growth of federal spending, voting to secure the border and permanently repeal the death tax among others. Foxx said that she was humbled by the magazine’s and would continue to stand up for conservative values.
State News
Gas Rates Continue To Drop
Some more good news for people across North Carolina, as natural gas rates are set to take another drop. PSNC Energy put forth a request to the state Utilities Commission, asking that they be allowed to lower rates by a 4% margin. That request has since been approved and beginning March 1st, all PSNC customers in North Carolina will save at least $5 on their bill.
Over 100 Cars Damaged In Weekend Spree
Vandals took aim at places all across Mecklenburg County over the weekend, damaging 116 cars in the process. All of the vehicles had windows shattered by a bb gun with estimated damages in the thousands. Most of the targeted vehicles were either mini-vans or SUVs, although it’s still unclear why. It’s also unknown if the crimes were the act of a group or one person.
Chapel Hill Searching For GPA Answers
Some changes could soon be coming for UNC Chapel Hill students. School officials want to increase the number of students who graduate during a four year period, as roughly 84% of the campus finish within five years. In order to do that, officials are considering a raise of the school’s GPA requirement. Also on the table are plans to hire more full time advisors and granting students an extended period to drop or add classes. A decision isn’t expected before the fall semester.
Lowes Reports Huge Earnings
Good news today for Lowes shareholders, as the company reported its’ highest profit increase in over three years. Profits rose almost 37%, totaling $695 million. For individual investors, that translates into 87 cents a share. In general sales climbed to $10.8 billion, a mark the company partially attributes to the hurricanes and other disasters over the past year. CEO Robert Niblock also told reporters that they expect even larger growth in 2006, with shares projected to climb anyway from $4.03 to $4.13.
Sports Headlines
Local Teams Come Up Big In State Championships
Two local schools were in action over the weekend, competing in the State 2A/1A wrestling championships. Overall in points West Wilkes came out as the better of the two local schools in the competition, coming in 13th with 38.5 points. North Wilkes meanwhile came in 21st with 31 points. However it was a North Wilkes wrestler walking away with a title after George Gianera won the 112 lb. division title 6-2, beating Matt Whittle from West Lincoln. Steven Branch from West Wilkes finished as the runner-up in his category, losing to Nick Gregoris of Cardinal Gibbons in the 145 lb division.
Panthers Put Tag On Foster
In the senior circuit of the NFL, the Carolina Panthers came one step closer to filling the holes in their roster last week. They designated DeShaun Foster as the team’s transition player, meaning they can match any offer he receives as a free agent this year. The Panthers want to make Foster their starting running back, but are concerned about his ability to play through a full season. 2005 marked the third time in four years he’s endured a season-ending injury. Before giving him a big contract, the team wants to see how Foster bounces back from a broken ankle.
Punter Will Come Back If Price Is Right
Another member of the Panthers is taking a look at the door, if the team doesn’t meet his price. The agent for punter Jason Baker said that he wants to stay with the team, but won’t do so unless Carolina offers him a contract on par with his market value. Last season Baker made just over $400,000 and is looking for an increase over $1 million. The 27-yr-old was 5th in the NFC last season with a punting average of 43.3 yards per kick.
NBA: Charlotte vs. LA Clippers
Around the NBA, it was the LA Clippers over the Charlotte Bobcats 95-87. Gerald Wallace had 15 points, 16 rebounds and a block as the team drops to 15-43. Coming up they’ll play Utah Wednesday night.
NASCAR Standings
Taking a look at the NASCAR standings after two races, it’s Jimmie Johnson in the lead, 39 points ahead of second place Casey Mears. Matt Kenseth is third after Sunday’s win, Kasey Kahne is in fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes in 5th, 68 points behind the leader. Teams have an off week and then head to Las Vegas March 12th for the DaimlerChrysler 400.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:34 AM
Monday, February 27, 2006
News & Sports For February 27th
Fire At Jacks
A fire yesterday afternoon at Jack's Drive In on D Street in North Wilkesboro is being blamed on a coffee warmer being left on. The fire, which took place around 3pm destroyed the main dining room at Jacks and left the kitchen and another dining room with smoke and heat damage. The restaurant had been open for breakfast and lunch but was closed at the time of the fire. Two North Wilkesboro firemen sustained minor injuries while fighting the blaze.
Wilkes Deputies Assist In Arrest
Wilkes County deputies helped to shut down a car theft ring over the weekend. 31-yr-old Marty Allen Gray was wanted in connection with a series of car thefts in Yadkin County and was caught attempting to flee on an ATV near the Wilkes County line. Yadkin and Wilkes deputies were involved in the bust. In addition to the car theft, Gray also faces other larceny charges as stolen property was found in one of the vehicles. Once arrested, Gray “admitted responsibility for the crimes”, according to officials from the Yadkin County sheriff’s department. He’s currently being held in the Yadkin County jail awaiting trial.
Wilkes County Schools Supporting Lawsuit
Thanks to a new law in North Carolina, incoming kindergarteners have to get an eye exam before entering class this fall. Those exams range in cost from $65 to $120, leading many people across the state to say they’re unnecessary and too expensive. 11 county school boards across the state have taken action, filing a lawsuit against North Carolina to get the exams thrown out. They say that it’s a violation of the state’s constitution, which calls for free public education. Dr. Steve Laws, Superintendent for Wilkes County Schools says that while the local school system has not joined in the suit, they support it 100%. He said that the Wilkes Board feels the exams are unnecessary and just add more to the cost of school for parents. A fund has been created by State House Speaker Jim Black, to help pay for the exams, although it’s unclear what a family has to do to qualify for assistance. Lawmakers do plan to re-examine the law before the beginning of school in the fall. To hear more of Dr. Laws comments on the issue, you can tune in the to 3WC News at 7 & 8am this morning, also 12 noon and 5pm this afternoon. And coming up tomorrow in part two of our interview with Dr. Laws, he gives an update on how plans are progressing for the new high schools.
One Car Totaled In Wreck On 421
One car was totaled and another damaged after an accident Thursday morning on Hwy 421 Business. A Moravian Falls woman was traveling down the highway when a car suddenly cut in front of her. She didn’t have time to slow down and slammed into the other vehicle, which had been attempting to merge into the left lane. The woman’s car was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $2500. The other car, driven by a Boonville man, sustained less than $500 worth of damage however he reported feeling neck pain and said he was going to get it checked out by a doctor.
Thieves Run Off With Survey Equipment
Another business in Wilkes fell victim to thieves last week. Someone broke into the storage building belonging to Hipp Construction Company, running off with over a thousand dollars worth of equipment. When employees arrived at the building Thursday morning, they found the lock was missing and several surveying items had been taken from inside. That investigation continues.
Breaking The Bank: How To Pay For College Part I
College is expensive for both parents and prospective students. How can you afford a dorm room, tuition and the books you'll need? Throughout this week on the 3WC News, we’ll be taking a look at ways you can cover the cost without breaking the bank. Now once you’ve sent in those applications, it’s time to find out how much money you’ll be needing. Students & parents can do this by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA form. If you haven’t already done so, you can do that by logging on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ or by requesting a paper copy from the student’s high school guidance counselor. Now you need to file that FAFSA out as quick as possible, as aid is handed out on a first come, first serve basis. In addition once that’s finished, you may want to get in touch with the school you’re applying to. Some universities require additional forms aside from the FAFSA and don’t let students know until after the acceptance letter arrives. A quick call to the financial aid department of the school will allow you to get the documents together and have an idea of how much money you need in terms of scholarships. And speaking of scholarships, coming up tomorrow we’ll take a look at a few free ways to find what scholarships are available and if you qualify for them.
3WC Healthwatch: Food For Thought
It turns out that mom was right about eating your vegetables, as we explain in today's 3WC Healthwatch. A study was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showing that people who eat foods rich in antioxidants are less likely to have vision problems as they get older. Foods rich in vitamins C, E and zinc, along with beta carotene help to lower the risk of macular degeneration, according to the study. Over a thousand people were used in the study, which took place over an eight year period. Those who had a diet containing carrots, eggs, grains, peppers and potatoes, among other antioxidant rich foods were 25% less likely to be affected by the disease. Doctors said that if people begin following such a diet now, it'll help prevent problems 10 to 15 years down the road.
Just Walked To Have A Look Around
Thieves broke into the Rivers Edge Skate Park last week, but turned around and left empty handed. Wilkesboro police noticed a building on the property had been broken into while on patrol, but nothing appeared to be missing or damaged inside. The Recreation Department Supervisor also confirmed that nothing had been stolen, although additional damage was found inside. That investigation continues.
Gospel Music News
Anthony Burger Funeral
Multi-award winning pianist Anthony Burger died suddenly on Wednesday evening, February 22 aboard a Caribbean cruise. According to the official medical examiner’s report, Burger’s heart simply burst. Burger was on board the ship with Bill & Gloria Gaither, many of his Homecoming friends and more than 1500 passengers, doing exactly what he loved best, playing the piano. Burger was 44 years old.
The family will receive friends at Christ Church in Nashville on Tuesday, February 28 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm, as well as on Wednesday, March 1 from 10:00am until 12:00 noon. A special celebration of the life Burger lived will be held at 1:00pm, also on Wednesday at Christ Church. The family will also receive friends in Cleveland, TN, at the Clingan Ridge Baptist Church on Thursday, March 2 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm, as well as on Friday, March 3 from 12:00 noon until 2:00pm. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gospel Music Trust Fund/Anthony Burger, PO Box 144, Goodlettsville, TN 37070 or visit http://www.gospelmusictrustfund.org/
Regional News
Jobs Coming To Caldwell County
Some good news today for residents of Caldwell County, as more jobs are coming into the area. New River Building Supply announced plans over the weekend to take over an abandoned furniture plant in Patterson, using it for the company’s wholesale lumber division. The move will bring an expected 40 jobs to the region.
State News
NC Textiles Have Better Chance Now
Things are looking up for the North Carolina textile industry, according to US trade representative Rob Portman. He spoke Friday at a function in Charlotte, explaining that recent deals to limit the amount of Chinese imports have kept the textile makers afloat. Portman also said that for the first time in several years, the nation’s textile industry is stable and is expected to stay that way.
Murder Suspect On Loose In Rockingham
Officials in Rockingham County are tracking a murder suspect today. 20-yr-old Henry Hayes is wanted for questioning in a February 7th murder. Hayes is believed to have shot and killed Jamal Whittaker and remains at large in the Rockingham area.
Immigrant Workers Get Paid
A North Carolina company is having to pay out some extra money today, to the tune of $141,000. KTC Services was hired to help with cleanup in the Gulf Coast regions last year, but now it appears they’ve been shortchanging their employees. The company promised wages of $13 an hr, plus food and housing. What the workers got instead was a paycheck of $7 an hour and little food. 106 workers in all were cheated by the company, who promised to reimburse them. KTC was working in the Gulf Coast as a subcontractor under KBR, a company belonging to the Halliburton Co.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the college scoreboard this weekend, it was Coastal Carolina over Radford 84-75, Charleston Southern knocked off UNC Asheville 75-71, it was UNC Wilmington over Georgia State 68-56, Gardner-Webb lost to Stetston 77-65 and Elon knocked off UNC Greensboro 87-82. In the ACC, it was Boston College over NC State 74-72 and Georgia Tech beat Wake Forest 76-61 despite 24 points and 15 rebounds from Wake’s Eric Williams. The UNC Tarheels had no problems taking care of Maryland 81-57, being led by Tyler Hansbrough’s 21 points and 7 rebounds. With the win and the Wolfpack loss, UNC moves into second place in the ACC. Finally it was Duke over Temple 74-66. Sheldon Williams had 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots to lead the Blue Devils, who improve to 27-1 with a trip to Florida State on the schedule this Wednesday.
History Made Saturday
The Duke Blue Devils were part of history on Saturday, as J.J. Redick broke yet another record. In the team’s victory over Temple, Redick scored 11 points, passing Dickie Hemric as the ACC’s all time scoring leader. Hemric’s old record of 2587 points stood for over 50 years before falling on Saturday. Redick will look to add to the new record of 2590 when Duke takes on UNC this weekend.
Western Carolina Hires Former Player
With football season still a few months away, Western Carolina University plugged a hole on their team by reaching into the past. The team hired former linebacker Don Powers, who played on the team from 1963 to 1967 to serve as defensive coordinator. Powers has also worked at the Citadel as head coach of their football team. He’ll take the place of Geoff Collins, who took a job this winter at Georgia Tech as the new director of player personnel.
Bobcats Lose Heartbreaker To Suns
In the NBA this weekend, it went down to the wire but the Charlotte Bobcats lost to Phoenix 136-121. Charlotte led for most of the game, but injuries again played a key part in the loss as only two big men were available for the game. Melvin Ely sprained his ankle, leaving Primoz Breznec and Jake Voskul as the only options for the team at center. Rookie Raymond Felton led the Bobcats with a career high 31 points, as the team drops to 15-42 with a visit to the LA Clippers coming later tonight.
NACAR Results
On the NASCAR track this weekend, it was Matt Kenseth taking the checkered flag with Jimmie Johnson running a close second. Carl Edwards finished third, with Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton rounding out the top five. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 11th and Tony Stewart wiped out, finishing 43rd at the back of the pack.
A fire yesterday afternoon at Jack's Drive In on D Street in North Wilkesboro is being blamed on a coffee warmer being left on. The fire, which took place around 3pm destroyed the main dining room at Jacks and left the kitchen and another dining room with smoke and heat damage. The restaurant had been open for breakfast and lunch but was closed at the time of the fire. Two North Wilkesboro firemen sustained minor injuries while fighting the blaze.
Wilkes Deputies Assist In Arrest
Wilkes County deputies helped to shut down a car theft ring over the weekend. 31-yr-old Marty Allen Gray was wanted in connection with a series of car thefts in Yadkin County and was caught attempting to flee on an ATV near the Wilkes County line. Yadkin and Wilkes deputies were involved in the bust. In addition to the car theft, Gray also faces other larceny charges as stolen property was found in one of the vehicles. Once arrested, Gray “admitted responsibility for the crimes”, according to officials from the Yadkin County sheriff’s department. He’s currently being held in the Yadkin County jail awaiting trial.
Wilkes County Schools Supporting Lawsuit
Thanks to a new law in North Carolina, incoming kindergarteners have to get an eye exam before entering class this fall. Those exams range in cost from $65 to $120, leading many people across the state to say they’re unnecessary and too expensive. 11 county school boards across the state have taken action, filing a lawsuit against North Carolina to get the exams thrown out. They say that it’s a violation of the state’s constitution, which calls for free public education. Dr. Steve Laws, Superintendent for Wilkes County Schools says that while the local school system has not joined in the suit, they support it 100%. He said that the Wilkes Board feels the exams are unnecessary and just add more to the cost of school for parents. A fund has been created by State House Speaker Jim Black, to help pay for the exams, although it’s unclear what a family has to do to qualify for assistance. Lawmakers do plan to re-examine the law before the beginning of school in the fall. To hear more of Dr. Laws comments on the issue, you can tune in the to 3WC News at 7 & 8am this morning, also 12 noon and 5pm this afternoon. And coming up tomorrow in part two of our interview with Dr. Laws, he gives an update on how plans are progressing for the new high schools.
One Car Totaled In Wreck On 421
One car was totaled and another damaged after an accident Thursday morning on Hwy 421 Business. A Moravian Falls woman was traveling down the highway when a car suddenly cut in front of her. She didn’t have time to slow down and slammed into the other vehicle, which had been attempting to merge into the left lane. The woman’s car was totaled, with estimated damages placed at $2500. The other car, driven by a Boonville man, sustained less than $500 worth of damage however he reported feeling neck pain and said he was going to get it checked out by a doctor.
Thieves Run Off With Survey Equipment
Another business in Wilkes fell victim to thieves last week. Someone broke into the storage building belonging to Hipp Construction Company, running off with over a thousand dollars worth of equipment. When employees arrived at the building Thursday morning, they found the lock was missing and several surveying items had been taken from inside. That investigation continues.
Breaking The Bank: How To Pay For College Part I
College is expensive for both parents and prospective students. How can you afford a dorm room, tuition and the books you'll need? Throughout this week on the 3WC News, we’ll be taking a look at ways you can cover the cost without breaking the bank. Now once you’ve sent in those applications, it’s time to find out how much money you’ll be needing. Students & parents can do this by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA form. If you haven’t already done so, you can do that by logging on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ or by requesting a paper copy from the student’s high school guidance counselor. Now you need to file that FAFSA out as quick as possible, as aid is handed out on a first come, first serve basis. In addition once that’s finished, you may want to get in touch with the school you’re applying to. Some universities require additional forms aside from the FAFSA and don’t let students know until after the acceptance letter arrives. A quick call to the financial aid department of the school will allow you to get the documents together and have an idea of how much money you need in terms of scholarships. And speaking of scholarships, coming up tomorrow we’ll take a look at a few free ways to find what scholarships are available and if you qualify for them.
3WC Healthwatch: Food For Thought
It turns out that mom was right about eating your vegetables, as we explain in today's 3WC Healthwatch. A study was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showing that people who eat foods rich in antioxidants are less likely to have vision problems as they get older. Foods rich in vitamins C, E and zinc, along with beta carotene help to lower the risk of macular degeneration, according to the study. Over a thousand people were used in the study, which took place over an eight year period. Those who had a diet containing carrots, eggs, grains, peppers and potatoes, among other antioxidant rich foods were 25% less likely to be affected by the disease. Doctors said that if people begin following such a diet now, it'll help prevent problems 10 to 15 years down the road.
Just Walked To Have A Look Around
Thieves broke into the Rivers Edge Skate Park last week, but turned around and left empty handed. Wilkesboro police noticed a building on the property had been broken into while on patrol, but nothing appeared to be missing or damaged inside. The Recreation Department Supervisor also confirmed that nothing had been stolen, although additional damage was found inside. That investigation continues.
Gospel Music News
Anthony Burger Funeral
Multi-award winning pianist Anthony Burger died suddenly on Wednesday evening, February 22 aboard a Caribbean cruise. According to the official medical examiner’s report, Burger’s heart simply burst. Burger was on board the ship with Bill & Gloria Gaither, many of his Homecoming friends and more than 1500 passengers, doing exactly what he loved best, playing the piano. Burger was 44 years old.
The family will receive friends at Christ Church in Nashville on Tuesday, February 28 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm, as well as on Wednesday, March 1 from 10:00am until 12:00 noon. A special celebration of the life Burger lived will be held at 1:00pm, also on Wednesday at Christ Church. The family will also receive friends in Cleveland, TN, at the Clingan Ridge Baptist Church on Thursday, March 2 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm, as well as on Friday, March 3 from 12:00 noon until 2:00pm. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gospel Music Trust Fund/Anthony Burger, PO Box 144, Goodlettsville, TN 37070 or visit http://www.gospelmusictrustfund.org/
Regional News
Jobs Coming To Caldwell County
Some good news today for residents of Caldwell County, as more jobs are coming into the area. New River Building Supply announced plans over the weekend to take over an abandoned furniture plant in Patterson, using it for the company’s wholesale lumber division. The move will bring an expected 40 jobs to the region.
State News
NC Textiles Have Better Chance Now
Things are looking up for the North Carolina textile industry, according to US trade representative Rob Portman. He spoke Friday at a function in Charlotte, explaining that recent deals to limit the amount of Chinese imports have kept the textile makers afloat. Portman also said that for the first time in several years, the nation’s textile industry is stable and is expected to stay that way.
Murder Suspect On Loose In Rockingham
Officials in Rockingham County are tracking a murder suspect today. 20-yr-old Henry Hayes is wanted for questioning in a February 7th murder. Hayes is believed to have shot and killed Jamal Whittaker and remains at large in the Rockingham area.
Immigrant Workers Get Paid
A North Carolina company is having to pay out some extra money today, to the tune of $141,000. KTC Services was hired to help with cleanup in the Gulf Coast regions last year, but now it appears they’ve been shortchanging their employees. The company promised wages of $13 an hr, plus food and housing. What the workers got instead was a paycheck of $7 an hour and little food. 106 workers in all were cheated by the company, who promised to reimburse them. KTC was working in the Gulf Coast as a subcontractor under KBR, a company belonging to the Halliburton Co.
Sports Headlines
NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look around the college scoreboard this weekend, it was Coastal Carolina over Radford 84-75, Charleston Southern knocked off UNC Asheville 75-71, it was UNC Wilmington over Georgia State 68-56, Gardner-Webb lost to Stetston 77-65 and Elon knocked off UNC Greensboro 87-82. In the ACC, it was Boston College over NC State 74-72 and Georgia Tech beat Wake Forest 76-61 despite 24 points and 15 rebounds from Wake’s Eric Williams. The UNC Tarheels had no problems taking care of Maryland 81-57, being led by Tyler Hansbrough’s 21 points and 7 rebounds. With the win and the Wolfpack loss, UNC moves into second place in the ACC. Finally it was Duke over Temple 74-66. Sheldon Williams had 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots to lead the Blue Devils, who improve to 27-1 with a trip to Florida State on the schedule this Wednesday.
History Made Saturday
The Duke Blue Devils were part of history on Saturday, as J.J. Redick broke yet another record. In the team’s victory over Temple, Redick scored 11 points, passing Dickie Hemric as the ACC’s all time scoring leader. Hemric’s old record of 2587 points stood for over 50 years before falling on Saturday. Redick will look to add to the new record of 2590 when Duke takes on UNC this weekend.
Western Carolina Hires Former Player
With football season still a few months away, Western Carolina University plugged a hole on their team by reaching into the past. The team hired former linebacker Don Powers, who played on the team from 1963 to 1967 to serve as defensive coordinator. Powers has also worked at the Citadel as head coach of their football team. He’ll take the place of Geoff Collins, who took a job this winter at Georgia Tech as the new director of player personnel.
Bobcats Lose Heartbreaker To Suns
In the NBA this weekend, it went down to the wire but the Charlotte Bobcats lost to Phoenix 136-121. Charlotte led for most of the game, but injuries again played a key part in the loss as only two big men were available for the game. Melvin Ely sprained his ankle, leaving Primoz Breznec and Jake Voskul as the only options for the team at center. Rookie Raymond Felton led the Bobcats with a career high 31 points, as the team drops to 15-42 with a visit to the LA Clippers coming later tonight.
NACAR Results
On the NASCAR track this weekend, it was Matt Kenseth taking the checkered flag with Jimmie Johnson running a close second. Carl Edwards finished third, with Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton rounding out the top five. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 11th and Tony Stewart wiped out, finishing 43rd at the back of the pack.
posted by Scott Roberts # 6:47 AM
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