Man Injured In 4-Wheeler Wreck
One man was seriously injured in a 4-wheeler wreck on Thursday. The incident happened on the Billings Hill Church Road, as a local man was out riding late at night. He lost control of the vehicle, running off the road and soon overturning. Highway Patrol officers and Aircare were called out and the man was airlifted to a local hospital.

Local Man Assaulted & Robbed
A North Wilkesboro man was caught by surprise when going out for some supplies Thursday morning. He was at the Grocery Bag Store when another man came walking up and punched him in the face. As the victim was lying dazed on the ground, his assailant went through his pockets and took $25 before jumping into a car and taking off. The victim was able to give sheriff’s deputies a description of his assailant, as well as the car he drove off in. That investigation continues.

3WC Eye On Politics Part V: County Commissioners
Here on the 3WC News, we’re continuing our series on the political races in Wilkes County. Beginning with today’s newscasts, we turn the focus toward the candidates in the Democratic primary for county commissioner, starting with incumbent Luther Parks.
7am-Mr. Parks shares some things he’s proud of from this past term.
8am-Commissioner Parks discusses the current tax situation in the county
12 noon-Commissioner Parks will be discussing his take on how local government should interact with businesses
5pm-we’ll continue the conversation with Mr. Parks as his discusses his goals if elected for another term

Gun Stolen From North Wilkesboro Home
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a North Wilkesboro home earlier this week after thieves broke in. The incident happened on Statesville Road, as the homeowner returned to find the front door standing wide open. Nothing was damaged inside however a .303 British rifle was missing from the man’s bedroom. That investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today
With the Easter holiday upon us, some people will be on the highways today traveling to visit relatives. Unfortunately that also raises the risk of an accident on the road. To plan ahead, the Wilkes Red Cross is holding a blood drive today over at the Speedway Ruitan Club. Everyone who comes out to donate blood will receive a free umbrella, commemorating 125 years of the Red Cross. That will run from 2-6:30pm and to schedule an appointment, the number is 838-4563.

Broke In To Have A Look Around
Someone broke into a camper on the Vannoy Road earlier this week, but apparently just wanted to look inside. Nothing was missing from the camper and no damage was done, except for the aluminum door which had been pried open. An estimated $300 worth of damage was done to the door and that investigation is ongoing.

Know What The Roads Are Like Before Leaving
As people pack up today to visit family and friends, it’s important to know what road conditions are like across the county. For people in Wilkes that can be accessed now on the internet by visiting the state DOT webpage at www.ncdot.org/traffictravel. Once there you can click on the real time travel information option and it will let you know what roads are like and how long a delay you can expect on your drive into work. In addition, the DOT wants to remind people of the “Move Over Law” now in effect across North Carolina. Under the new law, drivers are required to switch lanes or slow down when passing EMS, police or any other emergency personnel stopped on the side of the road.

Warning Continues For Bronchitis Medicine
If you’re fighting bronchitis, there are some things you need to know before reaching for that bottle of medicine. Federal regulators are continuing their investigation into the drug telithromycin, commonly known as Ketek. It’s a prescription drug that is used to fight bronchitis, sinusitis and pneumonia. A recent series of deaths and heath problems could be linked to the drug, officials say. One patient at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte died earlier this year after taking the drug, while another developed hepatitis. There is no evidence proving that Ketek was responsible for the problems, however the FDA is asking anyone who is taking Ketek to immediately call their doctor if any signs of liver problems start to occur.

The Taxman Returns Part I: Stress Reducers
Well we are t-minus three days and counting til the dreaded tax deadline of April 17th. But if you haven’t filed yet, don’t feel bad. An estimated 35% of Americans wait to file til the last minute, due to job and family responsibilities. If you’re one of those last minute filers, the IRS has some suggestions. First, start today and organize your tax records. With four days left, you might be surprised how quickly the filing process goes once you start. If you need to, pull out last year’s tax returns to use as a guide in preparing your documents. Also if you have questions, the IRS will probably have answers. They have a free question and answer section set up online at www.IRS.gov. The IRS also suggests that you file electronically, as it will get your return sent out quicker and that refund check brought back a lot faster. So far, over 1.6 million Americans have filed online this tax season, some using a variety of free programs. Here in North Carolina, you can file for free through the State Department of Revenue’s website at www.dor.state.nc.us. That program applies if you’re making $50,000 a year or less. Coming up on Monday’s newscast, we’ve reached the end of the road and it’s time to get that return in the mail. But what if you can’t afford to pay the government what you owe? We’ll offer some suggestions to consider.

Spring Share-A-Thon
The Spring share-a-thon for Ebenezer Children’s Home on 3WC will be held on April 28th & 29th. Volunteers are needed, as always, to make the event a success. Help is needed to answer the phones at the radio station, to work at the hot dog stand, and stand at various intersections in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro and collect money. To get involved you can call the Home at 336-667-LOVE.

State News

Explosion Hits UNC Charlotte
An explosion rocked the UNC Charlotte campus Thursday morning, leaving students and teachers in the dark. Just after 7am, work crews were attempting to repair an electrical line underground when suddenly the ground exploded and fire started pouring out of the hole. It’s unclear what ignited the explosion, which knocked out the power across campus and caused classes to be cancelled for the rest of the day. Out of the four workers, one has been released from the hospital, two others are in serious condition and the last has been taken to the North Carolina Burn Center in Chapel Hill in critical condition. No one else was injured in the blast, which witnesses said could be heard almost a mile away. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has investigators on the scene, checking into what caused the damage.

Pinehurst Man Stages Kidnapping
A Pinehurst man is in jail today, charged with staging his own kidnapping. Earlier this month, Jarid Hardee was arrested for stalking his ex girlfriend. He was placed on house arrest but then vanished. Soon after, his mother started receiving text message threats about what would happen to her son. Detectives investigated and found Hardee unharmed, living under the ex girlfriend’s house. He had set up shop in the crawlspace under the woman’s home, complete with canned food, a scanner, a machete, duct tape and a ski mask. Officials believe that Hardee was listening to the detectives, sending out the text messages to throw them off course.

Thousands Stranded Due To Bridge Problem
A defect in one North Carolina bridge stranded thousands of travelers on Thursday. While doing some routine work on Wednesday, engineers discovered a structural problem on the Little River Bridge in Johnston County. By Thursday morning, work crews were on their way out to the site, but the bridge, which is part of a major Amtrak rail line, had to be shut down. In doing so, Amtrak cancelled all of its’ New York to Florida and Virginia to Florida trains, as they would all have to cross the bridge. Over 2500 people have already been stranded by the repairs, as they’ve had to take buses or altogether cancel their Easter plans. Workers estimate that the bridge should be back up and running by this afternoon.

Job Cuts Coming For Mental Health Facility
A plan to save the state money will end up costing some Guilford County workers their jobs. $1.6 million in funding was taken away from the Guilford County Mental Health Center when the state outsourced work to a Virginia company. That company will now handle all Medicaid cases at a cheaper price, saving the state but leaving patients and workers out in the cold. Under the new guidelines, the Guilford Center can no longer handle Medicaid recipients, meaning they’ll have to go to another agency for help. In addition, 135 workers see their jobs terminated between now and December.

New History Museum Opens Its’ Doors
If you’re heading out to the coast this summer, there’s a new attraction to check out. On Thursday, the long delayed Museum of the Albemarle opened its’ doors for the first time. The 50,000 sq. foot area is dedicated to the history of the northeastern part of the state, displaying items such as handmade silver, a restored farmer’s house from the 1700s and an old shad boat from 1904. The project has been over 8 years in the making, delayed first by Hurricane Floyd and then by poor economic conditions.

Sports Headlines

High School Scoreboard
Around the high school scene last night, it was the Elkin Bucking Elks beating East Wilkes in varsity baseball 15-7. In the jv matchup Elkin also took the victory, winning 11-4 and in softball it was East Wilkes beating the Lady Elks 8-0.

Redick Receives Top Award
While the Blue Devils season didn’t end as planned, Duke’s J.J. Redick continues to clean up the awards. On Wednesday Redick was given the Sullivan Award, handed out by the AAU organization to the nation’s top amateur athlete each year. In winning the trophy, Redick became the first men’s basketball player to do so since Bill Walton back in 1973.

UNC Charlotte Lands Recruit
In other college basketball news, UNC Charlotte officially landed another recruit for next season. High school senior David Booker, a 6’7 ft. forward from Mississippi, signed on with the team. As a senior for Moss Point High School, Booker averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds a night, scoring 50 points in the school’s first round game of the state tournament.

Bobcats Look To Reward Felton
In a season shot by injuries, the Charlotte Bobcats took a step toward securing their future by announcing this week they plan to pick up the third year option for rookie guard Raymond Felton. Felton has won back to back Rookie Of The Month awards in February and March and is giving Chris Paul some competition for Rookie Of The Year. The former UNC Tarheel says that the move makes him feel good, because he feels it was earned on the court.

Panthers Cornerback To Possibly Leave
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers could be minus one familiar face come training camp. Cornerback Ricky Manning is meeting with the Chicago Bears this weekend and is considering a deal with the team. As Manning is a restricted free agent, the Panthers have the right to match any offer but must do so within seven days. If the Panthers decline the offer, Chicago will owe them a third round draft pick.

Debuts Coming In Racing
Taking a look at the Busch racing circuit, this will be a debut weekend of sorts as drivers head to Nashville. Erin Crocker will be making her first start in the Busch series this weekend along with another rookie driver with a familiar last name. Steve Wallace, son of Rusty Wallace, will climb behind the wheel for his first Busch race as well.

Two People Injured In Overnight Wreck
Two people are in the hospital today after a wreck on the Brushy Mountain Road. The incident happened just before 9pm last night, as a Boomer man lost control of the vehicle he was driving.The driver, 24 yr old Jason Allen St. Clair drove off the road in his 4-Runner and slammed into a tree as the vehicle overturned. Both St. Clair and his passenger, 23-yr-old Elizabeth Miller were injured badly in the wreck, to the point they had to be airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Highway Patrol officers said that alcohol was involved in the crash.

Questions Remain In Community Center Fire
It’s being labeled one of the worst fires in Wilkes County history, so bad that it took ten fire departments to put out. Early Tuesday morning, the Clingman Community Center went up in flames, also damaging portions of the medical center which is housed in the same building. Crews were called out at 12:44am and spent several hours battling the blaze, which completely gutted the center itself. Fire Marshal Nikki Hamby said on Tuesday that the blaze started near the door of the building and while the official cause is undetermined, investigators are considering several possible sources. A suspicious container was found near the front of the door, which has been sent off to the SBI lab for analysis. In addition, the building’s electrical system could have played a part in the fire, as the outdoor light had been left on.

Forest Fire Labeled As Arson
A forest fire that torched 50 acres near the Wilkes-Alleghany county line is officially being labeled as arson. The fire ignited late Monday afternoon on the side of Highway 18 North and people were evacuated as several homes in the area were placed in danger. However no houses were damaged and fire crews, working with the forest service were able to get the blaze under control. Forestry officials now say that it appears someone intentionally ignited the blaze.

3WC Eye On Politics Part III: David Day
Over the next two weeks, 3WC News will be taking a look at candidates in the political races in Wilkes County. That series continues today with David Day, Republican candidate for county commissioner.
6am-Mr. Day explains why he's running
7am-Mr. Day discusses his views on the current tax situation
8am-Mr. Day talks about ways the current budget and tax rate could be cut
12 noon-Mr. Day gives suggestions as to what needs to change to help Wilkes County move forward
5pm-Mr. Day talks about his views and ideas for small business in the county

Thieves Run Off With Mail
A Jonesville woman woke up earlier this week to find her mailbox was missing. During the night, thieves had literally ripped it off the post and ran off, taking the checks she had marked to pay bills inside. Since then the woman has called her bank and cancelled all of the checks, however despite the theft, no one in the area could recall hearing or seeing anything unusual during the night. That investigation continues.

JobFair Coming Up Today
The job market here in Wilkes County has taken a hit in recent months, with over 200 people on unemployment since January. However coming up today there is a Job Fair going on at Wilkes Community College. The fair will stretch from 10am til 1pm at the John A. Walker Center and is put on by the Wilkes Joblink Center. People are asked to bring their resumes and dress to impress when attending, as there will be over 40 businesses represented.

Car Insurance Rates On The Way Down
Good news for car owners both here in Wilkes and across North Carolina as auto insurance rates are on the way down. North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Jim Long announced this week that the maximum rate companies can charge will be dropped starting November 15th by 2.9%. That’s in addition to a rate decrease of 2.5% set to take effect May 15th. Good news for anyone who’s been in a wreck or has a bad driving record, as your insurance bill could drop as much as $70 a year.

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.

Customers Asked To Stop Using Contact Solution
This next bit of news is for everyone who has eye contacts. The Bausch and Lomb company is putting a temporary hold on all its’ ReNu contact lens solution, stopping shipments to stores across the United States. The reason is that since 2005, 109 people who used the solution have been been infected with a fungus. This fungus grows inside the cornea and without treatment can cause its’ victims to go blind. Warning signs for the fungus include constant red eyes or pain, increased sensitively to light, blurred vision, increased tearing or some type of discharge. It should be noted that those infected might not have all the symptoms however if you are experiencing any of this, it’s advised that you get checked out by your doctor immediately. The FDA is also advising people to be sure and wash your hands with soap before handling your lenses. In addition, be sure to follow all cleaning and storage guidelines as given out by your doctor.

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.

State News

Murder Trial Postponed
An accident by one judge in North Carolina Superior Court this week has set back the start of a murder trial. Judge Abraham Jones sent prospective jurors home on Monday, after he referred to the defendant as a habitual felon. The entire pool of jurors was released from duty, as the judge believed his statement tainted their objectivity. The defendant Kenneth Wayne Maready stands accused of second degree murder in the case. He’s accused of stealing a car back in 2005, slamming into a Durham woman’s car while evading law enforcement officials. That woman was killed in the accident.

Winston Woman Arrested For Severe Child Abuse
A Winston Salem woman is in jail today, facing charges of felony child abuse. Earlier this month, Winston police were called out by a local man, concerned because his children and their mother had disappeared. He also told police that he feared for the children’s safety. The two children and the mother were located in Greensboro, however both kids were sent to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for needed treatment. One of the children, a five year old boy, had severe burns on both his legs and buttocks that hadn’t been treated. The mother, Paige Montrell Rouse is in the Forsyth County Jail, waiting for her court date.

Mandatory Fire Tax Being Proposed In Gibsonville
Dealing with a house fire could be a little more expensive for residents of Gibsonville, as the town considers a fire tax. The mandatory tax has made its’ way onto the May ballot and could mean increases of over $100 on property taxes. The local fire chief has said he plans asking for a 10 cent tax with the proceeds going to buy new materials for the firemen, some of whose equipment is over 20 years old.

Sports Headlines

High School Sports Changing Playoff System
There’s going to be a change next year in the way champions are crowned in some high school sports. Beginning in the fall, the playoff system in boys & girl’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball will all expand to a 64 team field. That was the recommendation made by a 20-person committee put together by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which made its’ report public this week. The recommendation will be voted on and is expected to be approved when the full association board meets in May. Council members said that one major reason for the change was to eliminate byes from the playoff format. Instead teams will go through a situation similar to that in college basketball, where the conference champions automatically get in and everyone else is selected by the board. However in this case, teams will be selected based only on their record within their classification. For example, if a 2-A school plays a 3-A team, regardless of the outcome, that game won’t count when it comes time to determine the playoff seedings. The recommendation will be voted on and is expected to be approved when the full association board meets in May.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard last night, it was the Greensboro Grasshoppers beating the West Virginia Power 4-2. Greensboro starter Chris Volstad, the Florida Marlins first round pick in last year’s draft, went seven innings and only gave up three hits to record his first win of the season. And up the road in Winston Salem, it was the Warthogs beating Myrtle Beach 5-1. Winston starter Lucas Harrell got his first win, going 5 1/3 and only coughing up one run. Warthogs infielder Chris Kelly kept his hitting streak going, which now stands at five games.

Bobcats Lose Another Player
And in the NBA, just when you thought the Charlotte Bobcats were safe, the injury bug strikes again. Bernard Robinson has joined the growing list of injured Bobcats as he’s out for the season. Robinson broke a finger last week in New Jersey and has been unable to dribble the ball or shoot effectively since. However expect the 2nd year player back in a Charlotte uniform next season, as coach Bernie Bickerstaff says Robinson is his utility guy, able to play all five positions on the court. The Bobcats take on Memphis later tonight.

Hurricanes Lose To New Jersey
On the ice last night, it was the Carolina Hurricanes losing to New Jersey by a score of 4-3 in overtime. Carolina players and fans alike are counting down the days, as there are only three games left til the playoffs begin in three weeks.

NASCAR Standings
Around the track in NASCAR, it’s almost dead even with less than 20 points separating the top two drivers. Jimmie Johnson is in first, 15 points ahead of Matt Kenseth. Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin are tied for third place, 46 points behind Johnson. Tony Stewart rounds out the top five, 97 points back of the leader.

Austin Man Arrested For Murder
A man from the Austin Little Mountain area has been arrested for a murder that happened over the weekend. On Friday two men got into an argument on the Austin Little Mountain Road. As the argument got heated, one of the men pulled out a small caliber weapon and shot the other several times in the body. 46-yr-old Richard Dale “Ricky” Johnson was found dead at the scene by sheriff’s deputies, who arrested his assailant just down the road. 22-yr-old Timothy Laurence Phelps has been charged with first degree murder.

Thieves Break Into C.C. Wright School
A 19-yr-old teenager is in custody today after breaking into C.C. Wright school. Sunday night sheriff’s deputies got a call about a break-in in progress over at the school and arrived to find the teen walking away from campus. Additional stolen items were found at the teen’s home and in the Ford pickup truck he had been driving. $30 in cash and change had been taken from the school’s safe, which the boy had cracked open. Also batteries, tools, markers, calculators and other items totaling over $4000 was taken. 19-yr-old Zachary Linville Huffman is facing charges of safecracking, breaking & entering, felony larceny and possession of burglary tools.

More Counterfeit Money Coming Into Wilkes
Counterfeit money continues to enter Wilkes County, this time at the Dollar General in Wilkesboro. Over the weekend, employees at the Wilkesboro store were going through the day’s receipts when they discovered some of the money handed out had been counterfeit. A fake $20 bill had been slipped in. The money was given over to Wilkesboro police and the investigation continues.

3WC Eye On Politics Part II: County Commissioners
Over the next two weeks, 3WC News will be taking a look at candidates in the political races in Wilkes County. That series continues today with Robert Crews, 21-yr-old Republican candidate for county commissioner. We'll be airing a different part of the conversation with Mr. Crews throughout the day.
6am-why he's running for office
7am-what qualifications set him apart
8am-what he sees as the responsibility of a county commissioner
12 noon-how he sees the current tax rate
5pm-how a tax decrease would affect local services
7pm-what he promises to focus on if elected

Highway Patrol Out & About
The Highway Patrol has started a new program as we head into the Easter Break. 174 teenagers were killed last year in highway collisions, a number the Highway Patrol wants to see drop through their Operation Drive To Live. Over the next two weeks, Highway Patrol officers will be speaking at high schools here in Wilkes and around the area as well as patrolling near campus.

Blood Drive Later Today
Every day 1500 pints of blood are needed throughout North Carolina. With that in mind, a blood drive is going on today at the East Wilkes Middle School, partially organized by the students. The drive will last from 2-7:30pm and if you want to come out and give the gift of life, the number is 838-4563 to make an appointment.

Break-In At Roaring River Home
Thieves hit a home in Roaring River earlier this week, but apparently just came by to have a look around. One of the windows at the home had been shattered and as the owner arrived, they found the radio on along with several of the lights inside. There is a suspect in the case and that investigation continues.

State News

Questions Being Raised About NC Executions
Executions scheduled for later this month in North Carolina may not go on as planned, as a federal judge has stepped in. Judge Malcolm Howard spoke in U.S. District Court over the weekend, questioning if the current way of administering executions is humane. State officials have until Wednesday to provide the judge with material proving the inmates will be unconscious when put to death and therefore feel no pain. Otherwise executions here in the state will be put on hold while a humane way of performing the task is found.

Four Month Old Murder Solved In Greensboro
Officials in Greensboro have solved a four month old murder. Back on December 2nd of 2005, an elderly couple was assaulted at their home with the man later dying at the hospital. Now two suspects have been arrested in connection with 79-yr-old James Shoffner’s murder. 17-yr-old William Alexander Brown and another 15 year old boy are facing charges of first degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. No motive has been given for either the robbery or the killing.

The Great North Carolina Cheese Robbery
Two employees of MBM Food Service in Statesville stand accused of stealing over $200,000 worth of meat and cheese. Local police say that the thefts occurred over a six month period that began last October and just recently ended, with the thieves taking 5948 cases of various items. 34-yr-old Wilbert Thomas Johnson and 36-yr-old Harvey Rayfield Archie Jr. would steal the food, then turn it over to 46-yr-old Anthony Eugene Burton, a truck driver from Atlanta. Burton would sell the stolen food in Georgia as damaged goods and all three would share in the profits.

Greensboro DA Asks For Investigation Into PD
The Greensboro police department is under investigation again, this time by the state. Douglas Henderson, Guilford County’s District Attorney, requested that the state Attorney General’s office step in to take over parts of the investigation of the Greensboro PD, to avoid a conflict of interest. The State Attorney General’s office will be going over actions of the department, to determine if any laws were violated. If any violations are found, the case will be turned over to the SBI for a full criminal investigation.

Sports Headlines

Free Baseball Clinic Coming Up
Baseball players ages 5-10 years old will have an opportunity next month to work on their skills with the Wilkes Wildfire team. On May 20th, a free clinic will be held over at the VFW Field from 2-4pm. The focus of the clinic will be on helping the kids develop their hitting skills. However space will be limited to just 30 kids for the clinic, so if you want to sign your child up, you can call 667-3867 or 927-3348.

Wolfpack Going After Memphis Coach
NC State has set their sight on a new candidate for the head coaching job in men’s basketball, one that’s no stranger to the Final Four. Memphis coach John Calipari is in negotiations with the Wolfpack administration, discussing a possible deal although one has not yet been reached. State will face some strong competition with Calipari’s current school, as Memphis officials are working to present a new contract worth almost $1.5 million a year.

Redick Given Wooden Award
The top award in all of college basketball was handed out over the weekend, with Duke’s J.J. Redick taking home the Johon R. Wooden Award as Male Player Of The Year. The 6’4ft Redick won in the voting by just 72 points over Adam Morrison of Gonzaga. Redick’s teammate from Duke Shelton Williams came in third, more than 2000 points behind the top two finalists.

The Race Is On
We’re still several months away from the start of college football season, but the games have already begun for the UNC Tarheels. For the first time since he took over the team, coach John Bunting is holding a competition for the starting quarterback’s job between junior transfer Joe Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam Sexton. Dailey appears to have the early edge, going into the fall practice. During last Saturday’s spring game, Dailey tossed for 65 yards on 8-of-15 passing while Sexton only threw for 13 yards, going 2-of-3.

Minor League Scoreboard
Taking a look at the minor league scoreboard last night, it was the Hickory Crawdads losing to the Lexington Legends 4-3. Hickory starter Derek Antelo gave up 3 runs in 5 innings of work and the Crawdad offense only generated 6 hits as Hickory drops to 1-4 on the year. Up the road in Greensboro, the Grasshoppers saw their unbeaten streak come to an end as they lost to the West Virginia Power 2-0. And finally it was Winston Salem beating Myrtle Beach 5-1 Monday night. Winston starter Adam Russell only gave up three hits in 5 innings as the Warthogs pick up only their second win of the year.

News & Sports For Monday April 10^th 2006

Possible Changes Coming For Middle Schools

Middle school students in Wilkes will possibly have some extra help next year, thanks to Governor Easley’s new budget. Easley outlined some of the plans he has for education in a conference last week, this time targeting middle schools. The 2006-2007 plan would include money to hire literacy coaches for 100 middle schools in the state, as part of a test program. These coaches would work with classes and individual students, to help improve both their reading and writing skills. The test program will cost $5 million and if the results are positive, all middle schools could see literacy coaches hired by the 2007-2008 school year. Schools will be chosen for the test program based on their current test scores, with the lowest being selected first.

Man Arrested After Shooting In Hays

Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a residence on Hays Thursday night, after reports of shots fired came in. The incident happened on the Dehart Community Center Road. The victim wasn’t hurt thankfully and told deputies that his nephew had come over to the house drunk and started firing a shotgun in his direction. Deputies arrested Arthur Mack Brown, who yelled to the victim as he was being arrested that he was going to blow his brains out. The 34-yr-old Brown was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats. His shotgun was also taken until the court date.

3WC Eye On Politics Part I: County Commissioners

With the primaries on May 2^nd just a few weeks away, we’re going to be taking a look at all the candidates here on 3WC News, starting with the county commissioners. Each day we’ll be talking with a different candidate about his or her views regarding issues in Wilkes County and what they plan to do if elected. On today’s newscasts we’ll be talking with current county commissioner Zach Henderson.

6am-What accomplishments he’s proud of

7am-How he views the current tax situation in the county

8am-Ways the county commissioners are looking into helping local businesses

12noon-What his plans are for a second term, if re-elected

Air Conditioners Stolen From Local Homes

Two Wilkes County residents fell victim to air conditioner thieves last week. Apparently the thieves were preparing for summer, as they ran off with air conditioners from a North Wilkesboro home and one on Arbor Grove Church Road. In both cases, someone just walked up to the house and ripped the AC unit out of the window where it had been kept. Information on both cases was turned over to sheriff’s deputies and that investigation continues.

Blood Drive Later Today

With the countdown on to summer, it’s important to keep the local blood supply out of critical levels. A drive is going on today at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, running from 3-7pm. Please remember before giving however, you must at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 lbs. To set up an appointment, the number to call is 838-4563.

Three Cars Totaled On Hwy 421

Early Friday morning, three cars were involved in an accident on Hwy 421. A North Wilkesboro woman was attempting to turn left onto 421 Business from Hwy 421 and thought her light was green. However the green light was actually on the other side of the road, as two vehicles had already started through the intersection. Those three vehicles collided, with the driver of that first car being taken to Wilkes Regional. An estimated $9500 worth of damage was done in the crash.

Recall Ordered Of Battery Charger

A recall has been ordered of several thousand battery chargers across the nation. Pelican Power is calling back an estimated 231,000 of its’ Brick Battery Charger. The problem comes due to a malfunction in the charger’s circuit board, which can lead to overheating and possibly a fire hazard after extended use. Customers are asked to call Electro Source LLC to receive a replacement at 1-800-263-1156 or through the website www.powerbrickrecall.net.

Car Abandoned In Moravian Falls

An abandoned car brought sheriff’s deputies out to Moravian Falls last week. Early Friday morning, deputies got a call about a vehicle parked in the middle of Cub Creek Church Road with no one inside. There was no sign of foul play, no damage done to the vehicle itself and it was towed away. As of this weekend, deputies hadn’t been able to get in touch with the vehicle’s owner.

State News

Hodge In Hospital After Shooting

A former NC State star is in the hospital today after a shooting this weekend. Julius Hodge, who was taken in the first round of the NBA Draft this year by the Denver Nuggets, was returning home from a nightclub when he was shot by an unknown assailant. Hodge had been at the club visiting a friend who was performing and then traveling home on I-76 in Denver, was shot three times in the leg. Officials say they don’t have any suspects and are clueless regarding any possible motive in the case. Hodge has been updated to good condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

One Man’s Junk Is Another Man’s Treasure

An Asheville woman got a surprise last week when she went to sell an old painting for $100. She took it to a local auction house, where the owner asked permission to check into the painting’s history before selling it. He found out the painting dated back to the Baroque period and was the work of Dutch artist Jan Havicksz Steen, done during the 1660s. Instead of $100, she ended up selling the painting this weekend for $397,000 at auction.

Children Injured During Rowan County Wreck

Several middle school kids were injured on Friday after their bus overturned. The incident happened in Rowan County, as the driver was attempting to avoid a wide load truck.. The driver swerved and got the bus back on the road, but lost control soon after and the vehicle flipped. About 20 students were on the bus when it flipped, with several reporting back pain. All of them were taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center and checked out, with officials calling the injuries minor.

Bomb Scare Causes Durham Evacuation

Durham police had to evacuate their headquarters on Friday after a bomb scare came in. A man came walking into the police station and told officers that he was concerned there was a bomb in his car, because he didn’t recognize one of the packages inside. The police station and portions of two local streets were shut down while the bomb squad investigated and later detonated the package. The package itself was determined not to be explosive and the man was taken to the local hospital to check his mental status.

Cabarrus County Candidate Claims Abuse

A candidate for sheriff in Cabarrus County is accusing his opponent of dirty tricks. Candidate John Brafford says that the current sheriff, Brad Riley, is using people in his department to attempt to scare him out of the race. Brafford claims to have been detained illegally for almost two hours recently by sheriff’s deputies. The deputies said in their incident report that they were keeping Brafford because he was both mentally and physically impaired, possibly due to medication. Sheriff Riley also swears that he had nothing to do with the incident.

Sports Headlines

Appalachian Invited To San Juan

Taking a look at college basketball, there’s a trip to the islands in the future of the Appalachian State team. The Mountaineers have been invited to take part in the San Juan Shootout , which will run December 17-22^nd. Appalachian joins a loaded field including Utah, Virginia, Central Florida, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbuilt and the native Puerto Rice-Mayaguez team. Games and times will be announced later on this summer.

Barnes Shoots Down State

NC State’s hunt for a basketball coach is continuing today, after their first choice shot them down. Texas Coach Rick Barnes officially declined the offer after speaking with State Athletic Director Lee Fowler earlier this week. The announcement leaves State without two of their top three choices, as Villanova Coach Jay Wright just signed an extension with the Wildcats.

Minor League Scoreboard

Around the minor leagues this weekend, it was Hickory beating Lake County on Sunday 9-4. Crawdads starter Todd Redmond went 5 innings, giving up one run and striking out 7. Hickory also got some help from shortstop Brent Lillibridge, who had two homeruns on the night. The win was Hickory’s first on the season, bringing them to 1-3. Meanwhile over in Greensboro it was the Grasshoppers on Sunday night shutting out Hagerstown 3-0. The win keeps Greensboro at a perfect 4-0 to start the season, with starter Sean West going 6 innings and only allowing two hits while striking out four.

NBA: Bobcats vs. Raptors

In the NBA last night, the Charlotte Bobcats beat Toronto 94-88. The Bobcats were led by Brevin Knight, who had 19 points, 10 assists and 3 rebounds in the winning effort. With the victory Charlotte improves to a franchise best 22-55, with their next game coming on Wednesday against Memphis.

NHL: Carolina vs. Atlanta

On the ice this weekend, Carolina took a step back as they lost 5-2 to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Hurricanes, having already locked up both a spot in the playoffs and first place in their division, are preparing for the postseason by letting their young guys have a chance to play. The loss drops Carolina to 51-21 on the year, with a game coming tomorrow night against New Jersey.

NASCAR Results

Wrecks and tempers ignited during Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500. Kasey Kahne took the checkered flag, with Matt Kenseth second, Tony Stewart third, Denny Hamlin in fourth and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five. Greg Biffle was in the hunt for the checkered flag, but got bumped by former teammate Kurt Busch and spun out, slamming into the wall and ending his day.