iWilkes County Is Growing
Some good news today for Wilkes County, as the population continues to grow. By July of 2005, there were 67390 people living here in the area, an increase of 1578 people form the same time in 2000. Taken over a 6 year period, that means an estimated 263 people are moving into Wilkes County each year. That’s good news for the county’s tax base, but also possibly some bad news as job growth has been sluggish, meaning that some of the people could find themselves on the unemployment line. Those numbers came from the U.S. Census Bureau, which released it’s annual population estimate this week.

Wishon Makes Top Ten List
Fans of Southern Gospel music have sent in their votes and a new Top Ten List has been released for this year’s Singing News Fan Awards. Fans can now cast their ballots to narrow the field down to five in each category and then those five will go on to the National Quartet Convention for a chance at being selected. Our own John Wishon made the Top Ten in the Small Market DJ Of The Year category. This marks the 7th year John has been nominated for the award, which he won back in 2002. However only Singing News subscribers can vote for the awards, so if you want to cast a ballot, you have to sign up for the magazine.

Hayes Woman Falls Victim To ID Theft
A Hayes woman got an unwelcome surprise this week, after receiving a phone call from a credit card company. They informed her that she had run up a $1100 bill, which came as a surprise seeing as she didn’t have a card with the company. It turns out that someone had used the woman’s name to get a card and then went on a spending spree. Information was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation is ongoing.

Gas Thieves Hit Wilkes Business
Gas thieves hit another business in Wilkes County this week, targeting Wikes Food Mart On Hwy 421 in North Wilkesboro. A man driving a black truck pulled up, pumped $38 worth of gas and then paid for it, telling one of the employees that the pump was slow and he planned to use another one. He then pulled his vehicle up to the next pump, put in another $38 worth and took off down the road. A description of both the man and his vehicle was given to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Wilkes County To Host Chi-Rho Choir
Wilkes County will play host to a nationally known group of musicians this weekend. The Chi-Rho Chorus from Wake Forest will be performing this Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Wilkesboro. The group has been in existence since 1991, touring the country and putting out albums, with former members including Aaron Mercer, now the Associate Director of General Licensing for BMI Records. The concert, which begins at 7:30pm is free of charge but a love offering will be taken.

Thieves Hit Wilkesboro Residence
Thieves hit a Wilkesboro residence this week. A neighbor came by to speak with the homeowner, only to find the door had been pried open. Inside the house there was a series a muddy footprints stretching from the living room on into the bedroom. Deputies were called out and the homeowner tracked down, as thieves had taken a jar of coins and some lingerie from inside. The estimated value of the coins was placed at $350. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
1500 pints of blood are used across North Carolina every day. But while the blood keeps coming out, there isn’t much coming back in, as low turnouts this week have dropped the supply back near critical levels. The Wilkes Red Cross is looking to solve that problem by holding another drive today at Avonte. You can come out and give from 12 noon til 4pm. The Red Cross also asks that donors please eat something and be sure to drink a lot of fluids before giving. The number to call to set up an appointment is 838-4563.

Thieves Break In To Watch The Game
March Madness apparently grabbed thieves in the North Wilkesboro area, as they broke into a local home. Taken from inside was the homeowner’s 27 inch color TV along with a Nintendo Gamecube game system. There is a suspect in the case and deputies are continuing the investigation.

Scooter Stolen From Thurmond Home
Be careful where you leave your vehicles. A Thurmond man learned why this week, as he looked outside Wednesday night to find his moped being driven down the road. Two men were on the scooter, heading down Hwy 21 towards Elkin. In addition to the bike itself, two helmets were stolen from the man’s house as well. Information has been turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Congresswoman Foxx Given Award
5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx was recognized this week by the US Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber gave Foxx its’ annual “Spirit of Enterprise” award, handed out for her strong support of programs and policies that have created job growth. The award is given out each year to lawmakers with at least a 70% rating in regards to certain votes and if they positively affected the economy. Foxx came in 1st this year with a 78% rating.

State News

NC Congressman Calls For US To Buy American
The U.S. Government should buy American products, according to several North Carolina Congressmen. House Representative Robin Hayes introduced a bill yesterday making it a requirement that whenever possible, military purchasers must buy American textiles. Recent information released from Homeland Security found that while the Department spends a lot of money on uniforms and other apparel, most of it is bought from other countries.

Fugitive Being Hunted In NC
North Carolina officials are working in connection with the US Marshals to try and track down a fugitive that is believed to be hiding out somewhere in the state. Kenneth Glenn Hinson is wanted in connection with several recent kidnappings and sexual assaults in the Darlington South Carolina area. Hinson is a registered sex offender and is believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding Hinson is asked to call the US Marshals at 1-843-662-0750.

Freshman Has Computer Taken By Secret Service
A college prank turned serious this week as the Secret Service got involved. Tim Willis, a freshman at Mars Hill College changed the lyrics of a Misfits song, to instead describe the violent death of President Bush. He then posted the lyrics on MySpace.com, which caught the attention of the Secret Service. Agents paid a visit to Mars Hill College and took Willis’ computer, declining to say anything about the case.

Police Use Tip To Arrest Bank Robber
Officials in Cary North Carolina have arrested a bank robber, thanks to tips from the public. After receiving a tip on the Crimestoppers hotline, police were able to track the man down and place him under arrest. 38-yr-old James Dennison Swisher is believed to have walked into the local Wachovia just before closing time on Monday, demanding and later taking cash from the teller. He now faces charges of felonious larceny and is currently being held at the Wake County jail awaiting his court date.

Happy St. Patrick's Day
Are you wearing green today? Across the world people are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. According to historical accounts, Saint Patrick, who wasn't really Irish, was the missionary credited with converting the Irish to Christianity. He was born around 373 A.D. in either Scotland or in Britain during the Roman occupation. His real name is said to be Maewyn Succat. At the age of 16, while living in Ireland, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery for 6 years. He escaped, went to France, and became a priest or bishop. At about age 60, St. Patrick traveled back to Ireland to spread the Christian word. He used the green shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, as a metaphor to explain the concept of the Trinity - father, son, and holy spirit. St. Patrick died in his beloved Ireland, March 17th, about 460 A.D. The land, which once enslaved him, he had set free. The first American celebration of Saint Patrick's Day was in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. As the saying goes, on this day "everybody is Irish!"

Sports Headlines

Softball & Teeball Signups This Week
As we head into spring, it’s time once again for softball and teeball. Signups are being held this Saturday at the Austin Community Center for boys and girls ages 5-15. The signups last from 9am til 12 noon and are one of three signup periods going on this month. You can also sign your child up on March 23rd from 6:30-8:30pm or March 25th from 12 noon til 3pm.

NCAA Scoreboard
Around the college basketball scene last night, it was Duke over Southern in the first round of the NCAA tournament 70-54. J.J. Redick had 29 points and Shelden Williams added 29 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots as the Blue Devils advance to take on George Washington this weekend. Meanwhile in other NCAA action, it was Winthrop losing in the final seconds to Tennessee 63-61. Torrell Martin led Winthrop with 14 points and the team will finish their season at 23-8. UNC Wilmington also came close but were eliminated from the tournament after an 88-85 loss to George Washington. T.J. Carter had 25 points to lead the Seahawks, who will end their season with a record of 25-8.

UNC Asheville Star Transferring
Also in college basketball, some bad news for UNC Asheville. Freshman Michael Ellis announced on Wednesday that he’ll be transferring at the end of this year. Ellis, who was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year, averaged 12 points during the past season while starting 12 games. No reason was given for the change.

NHL: Carolina vs. Montreal
The Carolina Hurricanes started a new winning streak as they beat Montreal 5-1 last night. Eric Staal got his 40th goal of the season and Justin Williams added two goals of his own in the win, which brings Carolina to a league best 45-15.

Panthers Have Fan In Wide Receiver
The Carolina Panthers are on the prowl for another wide receiver this offseason, looking for someone to team up and take the heat off of Pro Bowler Steve Smith. Now it turns out a former Pro Bowler wants to fill that position. Free agent Keyshawn Johnson said in a radio interview on Wednesday that he wants to play for the Panthers, saying that he’d like to suit up with QB Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith. Johnson also said that Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning was the best coordinator he’d ever worked with. However two things could stand in the way of Keyshawn joining the team. One is his age, as he’s 34 years old and the second is his asking price. He already turned down a $2.5 million offer from the Dallas Cowboys.

Fire Rages Out Of Control Near Liberty Grove
Firemen from six Wilkes County departments spent most of Tuesday battling a blaze near Liberty Grove Church Road. The fire went up near 152 Liberty Drive and quickly spread, causing the forest service to fly in buckets of water and officials to completely shut down the Liberty Grove Road. For several hours Tuesday afternoon, people could get out but no one was allowed in as firemen battled the blaze. Wind gusts reaching up to 25 mph at times didn’t help the situation, as they only fanned the flames.

Wilkes County Schools Practice For Severe Weather
Students will be taking time out of class today to prepare for something that hopefully never happens. At 9:15 this morning tornado drills will begin here in Wilkes and across the state, as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Government offices are included in the drills as well, in order to test how prepared we are in case of a major storm. Last year North Carolina was a severe storm magnet, reporting over 24 tornados, 116 flash floods and over 300 severe thunderstorms. As severe storm week continues, coming up tomorrow on the 3WC News we’ll take a look at some precautions you can take in case of a major storm.

Blood Drive Later Today
Poor turnouts have plagued the recent blood drives here in Wilkes County, to the point that more are needed just to keep the supply out of critical levels. A drive is going on today at West Wilkes High School from 9am til 2pm. No appointments are needed, but if you want to avoid the traffic as students go to and from class, you can call and set up a time to give. The Red Cross’s number is 838-4563.

Thieves Arrest Car Thief After Chase
A Millers Creek man was in bed Monday night when he heard his car start up. Looking outside he saw someone drive off down the road in the truck and called sheriff’s deputies. That same vehicle was spotted a few minutes later by deputies on Hwy 16 North. The suspect attempted to outrun the deputies in the truck and when that failed, tried to swerve and hit their vehicle. Speeds over 80 mph were reached as the chase continued on side roads before finally ending at a home on Parsonsville Road, where the suspect gave up. 20-yr-old Paul Ronald Brown Jr. was arrested and charged with car theft, fleeing to elude arrest, assault of a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and larceny for stealing a bow & arrow set that was inside the car.

Focus On Girl Scouts
This is National Girl Scouts Week, in honor of the organization that was founded almost 100 years ago. Wilkes County Girl Scouts director Angela Day will be Brian’s guest this week for Focus on the Foothills, as they’ll be talking about the history of the organization, how scouts earn their badges and about how girls can join a local troop. That’s coming up Thursday at 1:05pm right after the midday stock report.

3WC Healthwatch: Vitamin D Is The Key
So are you loading up on fiber to try and prevent cancer? You can lay off the bread as there's another way to possibly prevent the disease, as we explain in today's 3WC Healthwatch. Officials at the University of California at San Diego have released a study showing that Vitamin D plays a larger part than previously thought in the battle against cancer, reducing the risk by as much as 50%. The study appeared in the February edition of the American Journal of Public Health. Vitamin D helps balance calcium and phosphorous in your blood, but what many people don't know is that it also helps regulate cell growth and determine what a cell becomes. A lack of the vitamin weakens the body's defense, as there's nothing left to regulate the cell and it is more susceptible to cancer. So how can you get enough Vitamin D? People age 19-50 should get about 200 IUs a day of the vitamin, which balances out to at least two glasses of milk. People 50-70 should get 400 IUs and those 70 and older should get 700. In addition to milk, you can get enough vitamin D by taking walks and getting exposed to Vitamin D put off by the sun. Also it can be found in yogurt, cheese, orange juice and fatty fish. For example, one serving of salmon has 360 IUs, while a tablespoon of cod liver oil holds 2400.

Recall Ordered For Classic Sandwiches
You might want to hear this next bit of news before picking up that egg salad sandwich to eat tonight. Classic Delight Inc. has ordered a recall of all of their Egg Salad Sandwiches on Vienna Bread, due to a possible contamination. The company found out that certain sandwiches contained Listeria, a dangerous bacteria that can cause health problems in children and the elderly. All of the affected packages had a lot code of 5355 and were distributed out of Cincinnati Ohio. North Carolina was one of 31 different states the sandwiches were shipped to. A hotline has been set up for anyone with questions at 1-800-274-9828.

Hungry Thieves Hit Traphill Home
Some apparently hungry thieves targeted a Traphill woman’s home this week. Monday evening, the woman returned to find that the screen on her front window had been raised and food was missing from inside. Neighbors informed her that they saw two women inside the house earlier in the day. Taken in the theft was a loaf of bread and a 12-pack of Coke. There are suspects in the case and that investigation continues.

Regional News

Missing Hikers Found
A group of missing hikers has been found in Caldwell County, after they vanished Monday afternoon. The group was out hiking in Wilson Creek when they realized they were lost. Fortunately one of the hikers had a cell phone and used it to call authorities. Within several hours search parties had been organized as volunteers from over six different fire departments came out to help. Shortly after 8pm the group was located at a mountainous area near Collettsville.

State News

Steer Clear Of I-85
If you’re planning to head to Charlotte for a Bobcats game or maybe want to catch some NCAA action, expect to wait a little while. Both sections of I-85 North in Rowan County are undergoing road repairs this week and it’s led to some massive traffic jams. That section of I-85 is expanding to a four lane highway and impatience with the construction has led to several traffic accidents. There have been so many accidents in fact that the highway patrol is fining drivers who speed through the section an automatic $350 each, not counting insurance costs.

Officials Looking For Help In Bank Robbery Case
Officials in Cary North Carolina are asking for the public’s help in solving a case. On Monday afternoon, a man entered the Wachovia Bank on Walnut Street and threatened a teller, running off with an undisclosed amount of money. Security cameras and witnesses describe the suspect as a white male in his late 30s, about 5’8 ft and weighing around 165 lbs. He also has either light brown or dirty blonde hair. A reward of $2500 has been put out by the local Crimestoppers in Cary for information leading to the man’s arrest. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 1-919-226-2746.

No Jobs Lost Due To Fire
Good news for workers at one Rockingham County plant. A fire that ripped through the building on Monday didn’t do any significant damage, meaning that production will go on as planned and no jobs will be lost. There had been concern that due to the fire, officials at Southern Finishing would terminate some jobs to save on cost as they repaired. But damage from the fire was limited to the back of the building and shouldn’t take long to fix.

New Clues Found In Missing Persons Case
More evidence has been uncovered in the case of a missing Lee County woman. 23-yr-old Michelle Bullard was kidnapped at gunpoint from a friend’s house in Lee County and hasn’t been seen since. Now investigators have found Bullard’s wallet & license, on a road in nearby Cumberland County. The evidence was found near the home of David Wilson’s family. Wilson committed suicide the same day as the kidnapping, when he was approached for questioning by officials from Harnett County. Wilson fit the description of the alleged kidnapper however no physical evidence has been discovered to link him to Bullard. A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to Bullard’s recovery and people are being asked to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 1-919-775-5531.

Sports Headlines

Baseball Coming Up Tonight
High school baseball is in full swing and we’ll be out at East Wilkes tonight, as the Cardinals take on the North Wilkes Vikings. This will be the teams’ second meeting this season, with North Wilkes winning the first one. Bragging rights are on the line and we’ll go on air with the McDonald’s pregame show at 6:45pm then turn things over to Ken Byrd and Keith Briand at 7pm for the first pitch.

NCAA Scoreboard
Taking a look at college basketball last night, it was UNC Charlotte over Georgia Southern 77-61. Curtis Withers had 20 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocked shots to lead the 49ers, who advance into the second round of the NIT tournament. They’ll go on the road Friday to take on Cincinnati.

NBA: Charlotte vs. Washington
In the senior circuit of the NBA, it was Washington over Charlotte 119-114. Jumaine Jones had 18 points to lead the Bobcats, one of seven Charlotte players to score in double figures. With the loss Charlotte drops to 18-47 on the season.

Former UNC Charlotte Player Getting Chance
A former member of the UNC Charlotte 49ers is getting his shot at the NBA. Guard Eddie Basden was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls and then sent to the Developmental League. Now Bulls forward Darius Songaila is out for the rest of the year and the team is calling up Basden to take his place. The rookie’s first game was last night, as

NHL: NY Rangers vs. Carolina
On the ice last night, the Carolina Hurricanes snapped their two game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Doug Weight led the Hurricanes with two goals and an assist, as the team improves to a league best 44-15.

Panthers Continue Changes
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers continue to retool for next season. On Monday, they signed former first round pick Damione Lewis to a two year deal. Lewis, who was drafted by the St. Louis Rams back in 2001, is an athletic and quick defensive tackle able to help stop the run. With Lewis joining the team, it completes a revamp that began on Friday. Now there are six defensive tackles on the roster, all of which are under 30 years old.

Wilkes County Farmers May See Changes
Farmers in Wilkes County could soon see some much needed relief for their wallet, if several North Carolina lawmakers have their way. Energy costs for small farmers skyrocketed over the last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the tune of $5.2 billion. Such high costs are forcing several small farmers, such as those in Wilkes, to abandon the business. North Carolina House Representatives Bob Etheridge & Brad Miller are working to solve that problem, by developing proposals to lower the cost of fuel and create better trade agreements. Currently there are 2955 farmers within Wilkes County and if the farm reform proposal goes for a vote, each one could be seeing over one thousand dollars cut off their bills. Overall in 2005, Wilkes County ranked 5th in the state with $232,733 generated from farming.

Winter Weather To Make A Return
If you enjoyed those 80 degree days and sunshine, it’s time to say goodbye. A cold front is making its’ way back into the area and over the next few days those temperatures are going to drop back down. According to the National Weather Service, a cold front will move in later today, dropping the temperature over 20 degrees at times. Then it’ll be back below freezing this weekend, as a second cold front is expected to make its’ way through Wilkes, with temperatures falling to the low 20s and possibly even the high teens at times. The cold weather is going to stay around, with the highs not expected to climb out of the 40s next week.

Local Agencies In Need Of Help
Even though winter here in Wilkes County has been mild, the lack of jobs has sent people out in search of food. For most of the local relief agencies, that means their shelves are virtually empty. Wilkes Cares and Samaritan’s Kitchen both find themselves in need of any help possible. Everyone from retirees to those who just want to give a few hours in community service are asked to come out and help the organizations. You can call Samaritan’s Kitchen at 838-5331 or Wilkes Cares at 838-4900.

Newest Protection Against Fraud
As we head into spring, this is also a busy time of year for thieves, both the usual kind and those who travel on the internet. Credit cards, social security numbers and other personal information are major targets. But people here in North Carolina can take steps to protect themselves against ID Theft. One of those tools, the Identity Theft Protection Act, has only been available for the last three months but has already become an important weapon against thieves. It allows you to block access to your credit records, preventing any would be thieves from gaining access and ruining your finances. You will be able to do that thanks to a security freeze. The only problem is that while thieves won't be able to use your credit to purchase things, neither can you. Once the freeze is placed on, no company or business can check up on your credit history until its' lifted. If you do want to fill out an application for a credit freeze or just want more information, you can log on to the state Department of Justice website at www.ncdoj.com/idtheft.

Blood Drive Going On Today
Across the country, blood is needed every two seconds. To help build up our own local supply and also have enough to help other areas, the Red Cross is holding a drive today at Wilkesboro Civi Center. The event will run from 2pm to 6:30pm and will be open to the public. Just remember before going to donate, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To call the Red Cross for more information or to set up an appointment, the number is 838-4563.

3WC Techwatch: Some Help With The Housework
With spring not too far off, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else mow your lawn? Well help isn’t that far off, as we explain in today’s 3WC Techwatch. Throughout last week, genius inventors and would be creators made their way to Germany for the world’s largest high tech show called CeBIT. The event, which is held each year in Hanover, had some interesting solutions to any housekeeping problems you might have. NEC, a Japanese company, brought out a small robot that’s able to act as a watchdog, recognizing people on sight and alerting you that they’re coming. Also the Electrolux company, which makes vacuums among other things, has designed a new robotic lawnmower. All you have to do is attach the robot to your lawnmower set its’ clock, indicating what time of day you want the lawn mowed. Then the robot will turn itself on at that time, start the mower and cut your grass, before returning to the garage. And finally the German Vorwerk company unveiled an electronic carpet. It feels and looks just like a regular carpet, except tiny electric particles inside can communicate with vacuum cleaners designed by the company, informing the person about dirt or spots that were missed. However if you want the help from any of these new toys, your wallet will cry. The cheapest is priced at $2000.

Small Business Seminar Today At WCC
It can be hard starting up your own business, especially if you have to compete with larger companies. What business model should you follow? Can your idea even succeed in the current economic climate? Coming up this Thursday, the Small Business Center at Wilkes Community College will continue their Small Business Start Up Series. In this third seminar, the topic will be “Financial Planning and Record Keeping”. You can pre-register by calling WCC at 336-838-6210 or 336-838-6113. The seminar is open to everyone and there is no cost to attend.

State News

Possible Clues Coming In Missing Persons Case
Officials in Lee County believe they might have a break in a recent missing persons case. In January, Michelle Bullard was kidnapped from a friend’s house at gunpoint during a break-in. Now investigators are trying to see if a suicide later that day in the same area is linked to the crime. David Wilson matches the description of the man who took Bullard and the two are believed to be on a convenience store security camera. Police believe that if they can determine why Wilson killed himself, they might find out what happened to Bullard.

NC Doctors Are Violating Ethics Guidelines
Part of North Carolina’s execution process violates ethical guidelines, according to the American Medical Association. Officials from the association have come out against the fact that doctors here in the state are called to monitor executions and determine if a prisoner is alive or dead. This is in violation of the physician’s oath to first do no harm, according to the Association, as a declaration that the prisoner is still alive will result in more lethal drugs being injected. However under state law, a doctor is required to be on scene at each execution.

Questions Arise After Man Dies In Custody
Questions are being raised in Mecklenburg County after a suspect died in custody Sunday night. Around 11pm, police responded to a report of a fight on Equipment Drive, but only discovered one man at the scene, who was bleeding. The officers said the man became combative and so they had to put him in handcuffs. He collapsed on the way to Carolina Medical Center, dying just a short while later. The arrest is now the subject of both a Homicide and Internal Affairs investigation.

Asheville Up In Arms Over Coach’s Firing
What kind of league fires a coach whose teams always finish near the top of the division? That’s what some parents in Asheville are wondering today after Mona Nix was informed she wouldn’t be asked to return as a coach in the East Asheville Little League. Nix, whose teams always have finished either first or second in the league, believes it’s because of her gender. She’s the only woman coaching baseball in the area. League officials denied the allegations, saying that a committee chooses the coaches they want each year, based on the program’s needs. The decision is currently being appealed to the Little League board.

Sports Headlines

Softball & Teeball Signups This Week
As we head into spring, it’s time once again for softball and teeball. Signups are being held this Saturday at the Austin Community Center for boys and girls ages 5-15. The signups last from 9am til 12 noon and are one of three signup periods going on this month. You can also sign your child up on March 23rd from 6:30-8:30pm or March 25th from 12 noon til 3pm.

Two NC Schools Invited To NIT
While several North Carolina basketball teams made it to the NCAA, two schools from here in the state are just happy to still be playing, after getting invitations to the NIT. UNC Charlotte and Wake Forest both received invites to the tournament, which begins tonight. The 18-12 Charlotte 49ers will play host to Georgia Southern, with the winner of that game taking on Cincinnati this Friday. Wake Forest on the other hand, will tip off their tournament schedule on Wednesday, going on the road against Minnesota.

Bad News Comes For Bobcats
Some bad news for the Charlotte Bobcats, as the team prepares for tonight’s game against Washington. They may have to do it without their leading scorer. Gerald Wallace was injured during Sunday’s matchup with Detroit, spraining his calf muscle less than 5 minutes into the game. Team doctors think the injury will go away with rest, something that could leave the already depleted Bobcats shorthanded as they face back to back games tonight and tomorrow against the Wizards. Also rookie Raymond Felton is having problems with his left leg, after getting kicked in the shin Saturday night against New York.

Panthers Lose Two & Gain One
It’s a case of good news/bad news for the Carolina Panthers, as the team lost two players but gained a new one in the process. Starting linebacker Will Witherspoon said goodbye to the team on Sunday and joined the St. Louis Rams, thanks to a six year $33 million deal, with $15 million of that being guaranteed. The Panthers tried to keep Witherspoon but their offer was $4 million less than the Rams. With the departure of Witherspoon, Dan Morgan now becomes the only returning starter at linebacker. In addition, the team learned on Sunday that starting safety Marlon McCree had signed a deal with the San Diego Chargers. However the Panthers did get some good news in a key position as Tennessee Titans center Justin Hartwig agreed to a 5 year deal with the team. The 27-yr-old Hartwig will take over from 35-yr-old Jeff Mitchell, who opted to test the free agent market. Mitchell still could be resigned as a backup.

NASCAR Points Standings
Taking a look at the points standings after Sunday’s race, it’s Jimmie Johnson in first, followed by Matt Kenseth, who’s 52 points behind. Ksaey Kahne is in third, 85 points behind the leader while Casey Mears is 86 back in fourth. Mark Martin rounds out the top 5, 110 points behind Johnson.

Blust Challenges Garwood To Debates
A challenge has been laid down to 45th District Senator John Garwood. His opponent in the upcoming Republican Primary, David Blust, wants to organize a series of debates over the next few weeks and has set a deadline of March 17th for Garwood to respond. Blust said in a press release issued over the weekend that he was asking all local newspapers and radio stations in the 45th District to work together and coordinate the debates. As planned, the debates would have questioned submitted from a panel of media members, along with a series of questions that each candidate would ask the other. A deadline of this Friday, March 17th has been set for Garwood to respond.

Hays Man Gets Surprise In Bank Account
A Hays man got a very unwelcome surprise when checking his bank account this week. A total of $1000 was missing and checks had been written to the account for items he had never bought. After going through his checkbook, it was discovered that someone had apparently come in and taken the checks, as the first ten were missing. All of the used checks were turned over to sheriff’s deputies as evidence and there is a suspect in the case. That investigation continues.

Gas Thief Arrested In Millers Creek
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a woman last week after she was caught stealing gas from the Creek Stop. The incident happened on Thursday as a woman pulled up, pumped just over $32 in gas, broke the nozzle on the machine and took off down the road. An employee from the store followed & detained her til sheriff’s deputies arrived, at which time she gave them a false name. This despite having her real name tattooed on her neck. 23-yr-old Amanda M. Wyatt was charged with gas theft, damage to property, driving with a revoked license and giving false information to law enforcement.

Gas Savers Part Three: Checkup Before Filling Up
With gas prices continuing to go up, it’s more important than ever to conserve fuel. Today in the third part of our gas savers series, we take a look at some other ways to save you time and money at the pump. First of all, keep your engine in tune. That may seem like a small thing, but an out of tune engine can lower your gas mileage by about 4%. Also be on the lookout for worn out sparkplugs. They can drop your car’s gas mileage by 30%. Be sure and replace the car’s air filter when needed. A clogged filter can cost you an additional 15 cents a gallon. Finally make sure to check your tires. Underinflated tires wear down quick, offering more resistance and forcing your engine to work harder. The gas mileage on underinflated tires can drop by 15% or more in some cases. It may seem like a long list of things to do, but it’ll be worth it when you can spend more time away from the pump.

Two Cars Totaled on Oakwoods Road
Two cars were totaled after an accident last week on the Oakwoods Road. On Wednesday a North Wilkesboro woman was trying to onto the road, but didn’t see another vehicle coming. The other car, driven by a Wilkesboro woman, couldn’t slow down in time to avoid a collision. No one was injured in the crash however estimated damages were placed at $4500.

Bank Of America Providing Customers With New Service
Getting information about your bank account may only be a click away, thanks to a new service from Bank of America. Customers in Wilkes County and around the county will soon be able to receive warnings, alerts and other information on their computer or cell phone. Bank of America announced late last week that it’s beginning a new service to alert customers about their accounts. For example in the new program your email or cell phone would automatically receive a text message anytime that a deposit is made. Also you would get a warning whenever the account is in danger of being overdrawn or if an abnormal series of purchases was made on your debit card. The service is expected to be up and running across the nation by the end of this year. You can sign up now if you’re a Bank of America customer by logging on to www.bankofamerica.com

Parts Of Satellite Ripped Off Local Home
A Thurmond woman returned home last week to find someone had paid her a visit. Thieves had ripped off the Coax Converter on the woman’s satellite dish, causing about $99 worth of damage in the process. No one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anyone near the home, however that investigation continues.

3WC Healthwatch: Who Wants A Cup Of Coffee?
Most people love to have a cup of coffee before going to work in the morning, but could it actually be good for you? A study coordinated between three universities in the U.S. and Canada found the answer to be yes and no, as we explain in today’s 3WC Healthwatch. In the body there is a specific gene that breaks down caffeine and for some, it works slower than in others. That’s why the amount of coffee that’s healthy varies from person to person. Researchers from Harvard, the University of Toronto and the University of Costa Rica studied 4000 coffee drinkers, half who had fell victim to heart attacks previously and the other half who hadn’t. What they found was that for those coffee drinkers who had suffered from heart attacks, their system took longer to break down the caffeine, meaning that just one or two cups could increase their risk of heart problems. For the other half however, even as many as four to five cups of coffee didn’t cause any physical problems and in fact helped lower the risk of heart attack by a slight margin. However the test used to determine which version of the gene people have isn’t available to doctors or hospitals yet, so the researchers suggest you limit your coffee intake to no more than four cups a day.

State News

Football Employee Accused Of Embezzlement
The new owner of a Carolina football team got more than he bargained for with his purchase. Robert Boyd has filed charges against the team’s former general manager, accusing him of embezzling over $2000. Boyd took over the Carolina Ghostriders back in January and since then has discovered a paper trail leading back to former general manager David Dix. According to the police report, Dix made deals with people behind the owner’s back, agreeing to pay them without ever clearing it with the team. An audit is currently going on along with the police investigation.

Doctor Killed By Patient Over The Weekend
An Asheville doctor was killed over the weekend by a patient. On Friday, a man came in for his appointment, went into the examination room and then shot the doctor as he was coming in to check up on him. Once the gunshots rang out staff members tackled the shooter and held him until police arrived. Dr. Brian Ling later died at Mission Hospital. It’s believed that the gunman had a son who had died earlier this month while under Dr. Ling’s care.

UNC System Adding High School To University List
A 17th name has been submitted to the General Assembly by the North Carolina public university system, requesting that it be added. What makes this one a little different is the fact that it’s a high school. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics will if approved, join the UNC college system and be supervised by the UNC Board of Governors in how its’ run. Until now, the school had been listed as part of the UNC system, but the board had no control over how it was run or who was in charge. That raised concerns about how they could be accountable for a school they didn’t control.

Sports Headlines

Duke Takes ACC Title
For the seventh time in eight years, the Duke Blue Devils took the ACC conference title. This time it was after a 78-76 win over Boston College. J.J. Redick had 26 points in the win, as the Blue Devils roll on to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Tournament Seeds Revealed
The Blue Devils weren’t the only North Carolina team to make it into the NCAA tournament. Duke will take on Southern University, while the #9 seed UNC Wilmington will face off against #8 seed George Washington. NC State makes it in as a #10 seed, taking on #7 California in the first round. #15 ranked Davidson will take on #2 Ohio State, while the #3 ranked UNC Tarheels will face off against #14 Murray State. Times for each of the games has yet to be set.

Bobcats Fall To Pistons
A two game winning streak came to an end for the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday, as they lost to Detroit 94-78. Charlotte had to play for most of the game without leading scorer Gerald Wallace, who was injured in the first half. Raymond Felton led Charlotte with 18 points, as the team drops to 18-46 on the season.

Hurricanes Lose To Florida
The Carolina Hurricanes have hit a snag as the season winds down, losing their last two games. On Saturday they dropped an overtime game to Florida 4-3. With the loss the team drops to 43-15, but stays in first place in the Southeast Division.

Jimmie Johnson Takes The Win
Jimmie Johnson made his return to victory lane on Sunday, winning the Daimler-Chrysler 400. Matt Kenseth was second, Kyle Busch third, Kasey Kahne was fourth and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top five. The win Sunday is the second this year for Johnson, who also took the checkered flag in the Daytona 500. Next up is a trip to Atlanta for the Golden Corral 500.